30.5.2024 Thursday - GBI meeting

I receive news that the Segamat hospital will be shelved. The land issue took too long to resolve and the competitor's hospital has taken root. I ring HL and ask "are we going to build another hospital? she confirmed that she is working on something at the moment but cannot share the details. I tell her 'so long as you are still working, we will be OK'

Today is a long day, we get home after 9pm - and I started at 5am. Surprisingly I am not tired, it is past (way past) my bedtime. 

A kindness - AS passes me his racket 'because I am not using it and it is just there collecting dust'

A re-encounter with Sharon whom I have not seen since 1984, she has not changed much. She lives in Perth now.

We had our first GBI tutorial tonight, after squash I expected to be tired but was not - perhaps it is the energy of the young people in my group

 

29.5.2024 Wednesday - sloppy planning

 

28.5.2024 Tuesday - we got paid

Early morning meeting with client, consultants and the contractor at their HQ, the senior engineer attends and proves everyone correct, of their impression of him. Long winded and condescending without wanting to be accountable - what a waste of space. I leave quickly without saying goodbye, don't want to encourage him to talk more. 

Another client sends me a text with an image of a cheque for our fees - a nice booster for a busy day.

Another meeting in the afternoon, with a different client and his young team - different challenges. It is mostly about managing people, but one good thing happened, we know the QS and he is a steady hand.

At home, we eat meat for dinner, and Sam overslept this morning (must be the TCM meds)

27.5.2024 Monday - project coming to a close

Walking at PD site, it seems like finally coming to a close - after the pandemic, a few false starts and hiccups. 

 

26.5.2024 Sunday

 

25.5.2024 Saturday - GBI final day

 I like how GTH put young Joon in a group of 3 with me, she sees that he is young and might need more guidance. Mature thinking by this young lady. 

24.5.2024 Friday -

 

23.5.2024 Thursday - GBI

 

22.5.2024 Wednesday - submitting Springvale

 

21.5.2024 Tuesday -

 

20.5.2024 Monday - vegetarian lasagne

 

19.5.2024 Sunday - longish run in slippers

 

18.5.2024 Saturday - talking about collaborations with Taiwan

We go to a seminar at the PAMSC Centre, I am not overly impressed but that's not because of 

17.5.2024 Friday - fruitful and troublesome day

Freddie arrives early for a chat about the office block, we arrive at a few good decisions; a garden ensuite for the boss, repeated on the floor below for outdoor deck, bringing the curtain wall framing to the mezzanine floor and also at the topmost roof level. 

We had to re-print a whole set of building plans, there were some omissions on our part. Nothing serious, but I think the client is annoyed because I haven't been giving him (personally) my full attention. Fragile ego, but never mind I'll treat this as a lesson for young Peggy and soldier on.

That evening, I enjoy playing with the new squash balls that Patrick bought. He didn't enjoy the game so much. 5-1

16.5.2024 Thursday - submitting BP

In the middle of the afternoon, I walk over to Sean and JY and ask 'what are we printing the BP dwgs for Springvale?'. His answer - 'now'. Good news - the client can sign off this chapter and we can move on to the construction stage. 

Later this evening, I find out the Teck has been calling Sean directly about Springvale, this is a good thing. Both are training their sons to take on new responsibilities and work scope. 

15.5.20224 Wednesday - back at work

After this trip and observing how some of my friends in Taiwan work - I am determined to be more focused in my work and do more. More detailing, more detailed work, more face to face reviews with colleagues, more site walks to see progress and quality of work. 

I start the day back at the gym; running on the new slippers and feeling good about myself, and worrying about Sam's shoulder ( I hope it is only a pinched nerve).

At the office, I start with phone-calls; to Aziz about septic tanks and appointment of the right engineer, to Pui about job scope, to PH about status of his projects, to Kamal about rain water harvesting, Rewi about submission dwgs and so forth. Texting is fine, but sometimes it takes a chat over the phone. 

I play squash with Kheng (1-1), and Patrick (5-1) who complains about not playing for a week and poor form. I think to myself, I have not been playing either. I think his problem is consistency, not just fitness - he tries too many low percentage shots. Fitness is both cardio vascular and muscle; if you are both out of breath and your muscles are tired; many things go wrong. Anyway, I am glad to be back in the courts.

we find out the Teck is considering using a China contractor to build the hotel complex

14.5.2024 Tuesday on the way home

 

13.5.2024 Monday Taipei to Hsinchu

12.5.2025 Sunday - final review

11.5.2024 Saturday - Jiaoxi to Zhongli, just in time to see the Children's Centre by Riken Yamamoto

10.5.2024 Friday Yilan to Jiaoxi

 This morning, I wake up early and take photos of the house and the surroundings. Then I sit at various parts of the house, and sketch. Sam wakes up and we climb up in the roof.

HSY arrives and eats breakfast with us, he's still telling stories about his work. After that, we thank our host, and leave with HSY to visit the sand dunes. He is constantly talking about his work, the people he works with, the state of the country - I wonder if he is like this with other guests. We hear about his mother who leaves nearby with a few of his staff (mom gets them to spy on him, and he in return gets them to look in on her). 

We finally arrive at his office, a house rented from a staff member and eventually bought over, and renovation numerous times until it has taken over a Field Office vibe internally.

9.5.2024 Thursday - Taipei to Yilan

Lin SF's assistant send us to the Taipei Bus Station, buys our ticket for Yilan about an hour's trip to meet HSY. The bus ride must have been comfortable because I fall asleep, and when I wake we are at the Yilan bus terminal.

The architect for the terminal is there to meet us, and immediately gives us a tour of his project. He then drives around town for a quick tour as dusk falls. Dinner is at an out of the way family restaurant, in the rice fields not far from the sea. 

At 8pm, we arrive at our home in Yilan. There is another family there, who knows HSY and one of his staff, Ching Han - a fan of HSY obviously as he has stayed here several times. As the architectural tour continue, the house owner arrives and greet HSY like an old friend. He brings out two of HSY's books so that the master can brief this 2 backwater tourists.

Eric texts 'how is everything?' 'All good, eating watermelon, he's talking'. And he does - about work, life, staff, teaching, his wife, family life, succession. I realise that he and I share many common traits regarding how we work with our colleagues-

8.5.2024 Wednesday - Zhongli to Taipei

Our room faces the street behind this building. The campus is very welcoming to the local neighbours who walk through, exercise and play sports in the grounds. 

That afternoon, we arrive in Taipei hungry but in luck. We joined this queue for this locally sought after lunch of braised pork rice. 

Our lunch, about 200 TWD. RM 30 plus

Our room isn't ready after lunch, so something sweet with a coffee. 

At 9am Eric takes us for breakfast nearby, it's recommended by one of his students - a 'young' place serving comfort food. It is not the street breakfast I am hoping for, but never mind. Eric wants me meet some of the folks at the review, I am thinking that it's like a warm up for me.

He introduces me to 小王, an old gentleman who is Sheng Feng's business partner. SF has mentioned me to him, saying I'm a good architect. This is a compliment I'm not used to hearing, and think that they are simply being gracious like how Taiwanese are.

11 am. We take the board to Taipei, no seats but it is a cheap fare. After locating our hotel CitizenM we have lunch nearby: stewed pork, fish and rice.

We enjoy our room until early dinner time, and went for walk. As usual, we cannot decide what to eat, but settle on a soupy portion rib noodle sharing a table with a local. Tomorrow, we have Lin SF at 1pm to visit his newly completed National Museum of History. 

7.5.2023 Tuesday - Kch. KL. Taipei

Talking to Yr2/3 students about 'Sufficiency' in architecture and design. Eric is helping with translation, the man on the right (seated) is the Chairman of the architecture school. 

Taoyuan Airport

Vale of Spring

Eric takes us to a nice hot pot dinner, you select your meats from the market next door, and the restaurant provides the vegetables, soups, sauces and desserts. 

The living room of our hotel, the door leads to a common staircase and lift lobby to the other parts of the student centre

 

They gave us 2 single beds, but we didn't mind

There is a walkway beneath the trees, that leads to our lift lobby

6.5.2024 Monday - first technical meeting

I sign up at the gym, after my last session with Even. He has reignited my interest in strength training: it might be my imagination but I feel trimmer. 

But the weight lifting tires me out, I fall asleep at my desk. And wake up in time for the first Corliss technical meeting, and site walk with the new contractor. It is a good outing, meeting Jong, Joshua and the 2 Dominics. 

Sean is getting busy after our meeting with Francis, good thing George is here. Freddie volunteers to design the front steel cage with Sean, I tell him to go hard. Young people will learn, and get better. 

 

5.5.2024 Sunday - working hard on Sufficiency.

 

4.5.2024 Saturday - cleaning up files in the laptop

 

3.5.2024 Friday - clarity as last

 I'm in the office office especially early this morning - 6:30, I was unable to sleep I wanted to finish the thing for YJ. At 7:00 I hear a key in the front door of the office, Jenny is here but it's not her, it's Fiona. She sees me and gives me an embarrassed smile 'I wanted to finish this thing before noon'. 

Same here. 

I have a 9:00 with Teck, so I finish the perspectives, send them out for comments and then go downstairs to have a coffee with Freddie. He makes 2 important suggestions - one about the layout, it's better to still give Tony the entry statement and use that to link the 2 wings together. The second suggestion is to continuing working with her, giving work packages with deadlines, keep her occupied. She's good, let's keep her doing what she's good at. She's happiest when she's productive.

We all are. Today's a happy day for me.

I have a nice lunch; beer and sushi, and good company.

2.5.2024 Thursday - long list of things on my mind

handwritten lists are the best - this is from years ago, likely recorded after a site meeting or CCM. this was circulated to all members of the expansion team

 There is a long list of things on my mind; some are for action and the others I have not decided if I should act on them. One of these things is the matter is the young architect from yesterday's meeting - the behaviour was unacceptable but her work is good. I decided to speak to some folks about this before I speak to her. 

Other items are more straightforward - a matter of review and issue, or review, discuss and issue. Managing work flow and making decisions - I remind myself to save some time to draw, and think, and design.

This morning's PT focuses on legs; and I have not had my legs put through the mill this way for a long time. I really see why some people need a Personal Trainer, Even pushes me past my perceived limit and get two more out of me. Halfway through the session, he asked me how long I have been strength training. Since uni - I tell him, after which he asks if he can take a photo of me for his father.