31.8.2024 Saturday - National Day

 

I call out 'chiak ah' and they all come for their dinner

I tell Eric how we enjoyed the company of these young people. I like how they have made themselves at home: running up and down the stairs, hanging laundry here and there and the sudden burst of laughter or loud discussion. 

This is what this house is for; my father would have understood it as would my grandmother for one was the benefactor of such a generosity. And the other the beneficiary. 

In reply, Eric tells me this:

During this period, I’ve often discussed with my students. Thank you for helping this group of young people understand what ‘home’ is, what life is, and what friendship means. We will also strive to carry on these values!

30.8.2024 Friday

29.8.2024 Thursday

28.8.2024 Wednesday - form, craft and programme

 

27.8.2024 Tuesday - not a favourite

 

26.8.2024 Monday

 

25.8.2024 Sunday

 

24.8.2024 Saturday

23.8.2024 Friday

22.8.2024 Thursday

21.8.2024 Wednesday

20.8.2024 Tuesday

19.8.2024 Monday -

 

18.8.2024 Sunday - meeting Eric again

 

17.8.2024 Saturday - free breakfast and another good idea from Freddie

 

16.8.2024 Friday - losing my religion

 An early day, to sum up the week. To prepare myself for the weekend; I make a list

15.8.2024 Thursday - highlights

 

14.8.2024 Wednesday - making friends, and then making models

 

13.8.2024 Tuesday - something's brewing

 

12.8.2024 Monday - chatting with friends

members of the Taipei-Kuching discussing the imminent arrival of 16 students for a research and design workshop at Kenyalang Park

 Mondays are usually busy, especially for me as I prepare work for the folks in the office. I review their drawings and offer suggestions, instruct changes and confirm directions. We have a sit down office meeting, we discuss work loads, deadlines and inform that RF will be leaving us at the end of the month. All the while, I have several other deadlines on my mind - foremost is the presentation deck for new hotel/apartment project. 

Sani rings and offer some new ideas about the project; PV panels for the screens, tree-like canopies for the pre-function spaces and ideas for the staggered windows. Later at noon, we meet up with Eric who is on the way to KL and later Kuching. It seems like there is a slight change to the plans, and like professionals that we are - we take it in and go with the flow. 

6 of the students will arrive tomorrow evening, they will be entertained by the young ones from our office. And they will stay at No. 40

11.8.2024 Sunday - at home

 

After this nice run in the Taiwanese running slippers, I ask Eric to get two more pairs for me.

An early start to the day - Lance invites me and a few of the young ones in the office for a Sunday run. Just like the old days - a gentle 6K round the block. It is a bit late for my usual runs, but I accept. Glad for the company and happy that he is taking the initiative - our young people are friends. 

I start slowly behind them, giving my ankle to get into stride. I trail behind them until Timberland when I overtake MC. I overtake Sean at Cityone, glad that my legs feel fresh enough to race up the highway. 42 minutes for 6KM - I am happy and encouraged to run more often

We spend the day at home, mom arrives early and we had planned to see Tua Kim at noon. But change our minds as Sam is coughing and mom is happy to have a nap instead. I enjoy myself watching BBC crime series on UNIFI TV, before heading to squash at 4pm. I have started to use the old PRINCE racket now that I am stronger in the shoulders and arms, it generates a lot of pace and I have more dexterity with it. I will continue to use it. 

10.8.2024 Saturday - speaking to Simon (and Mark)

 

“Agnus Dei”, Francisco De Zurbaran, 1635 – 1640, Museo del Prado, Madrid. 

These images are from a podcast by a favourite art historian (Sir) Simon Schama, who talks about his visits to several art galleries in the world - this time the Prado in Madrid which I have visited with Sam, and the other are the Whitney Museums in the New York. I realised that there are 2 of them; one by Marcel Breuer and the other by Renzo Piano. I prefer the early building, for its Brutalist ideas but I think Piano's building has better public space, light, and links to the city.

All this when I should be working on the weekends - but no; I am listening to BBC podcasts and updating my blog. But it is ok, I tell myself; it is for my mental well-being.

Late in the morning, the young man comes in for a chat. He had booked me earlier on Friday but I was not in the right frame of mind, nor had the time. It seems that he has another plan after his resignation from his company. It is curious for me that he would pick me for a chat. I have not spoken much to him, at work or about other things. He claims that I have always been a mentor, so I suppose I should listen and offer my opinion. And I should take that as a compliment. He leaves happier, with much options to consider.

9.8.2024 Friday - talking more than drawing

 

8.8.2024 Thursday - what does it mean?

 This is one of the first time we have done a scheme for a client, only for him to to tell us that he will be reviewing another scheme by a different architect. Freddie is positive about it and has a few suggestions on the way forward, I will take his advice. I am fortunate to have sensible young partners, PH and George worked hard to develop this scheme. 

I go and get a dose of cough medicines from the TCM. Then I go and get a dose of bright sunshine having a hit of tennis with Cindy, the first in weeks. Energised, I continue with squash - this time using the old PRINCE racket, it works well today. 

7.8.2024 Wednesday - Renna

 

The tower crane is coming down. The side netting is down. Some walls have been painted, ready for the external glazing. 

We have frank discussions with the building team. Spirits are up. The projector director invites us for lunch. PH, Fiona and George are nearby, they join us. We talk about swimming in the Olympics, he has a lot to share. 

On the way back, GW invites me to join their hotel project. As another pair of eyes and ears - I agree. Grateful to contribute and be useful to the team. The other team. 

6.8.2024 Tuesday - busy and slightly chaotic on my mind

This image is here to remind me to work more often at No. 40 - and since Sam is installing an AC today in the front room, it is likely to happen. I ll use the bike more often and read the books I bought. 

Much happening today - I start the day without my workout, aiming to do so before my lunch with SY and SL. That works out well, but in the office there were some lose ends - one with the road cert for PD and the other related to a chat about colleagues with FL. I dealt with one, but will think a bit more about how to/if I should deal with the other. 

The term used was 'toxicity' I have not sensed it myself, but Sam would say that it is because of me/ my persona. SO, perhaps this person would work directly with me ( I did mention that I would like to keep 'good people' around me. he has always been good to me) I do not take his departure from office as a slight. 

Water collection pot for the AC

Making plans to build more shelves for the rest of the book, and maybe the ones from home can come here. My life has a way of coming full circle (Upper China St and my childhood), so moving back to my family home might not be such a stretch of the imagination. Perhaps this time I ll form a proper bond with the house.

 

5.8.2024 Monday - designing drop offs

PH is here this week, and George is with him. Good to have the full team here, and not just for me - FL and JY like the assurance PH brings, especially in matters related to authorities. We have an early morning chat about the Satok project, and George starts on it while they go to the Corliss meeting. 

Later that day, Leong has a room full of people talking about his IB hotel project. Looks promising - and it is good that he asks for my input, my people handling and sizing up skills perhaps.

I don't plan for tennis, etc as yesterday's run has left me a little flat - I cannot finish my 5K run properly.

 

4.8.2024 Sunday - run to squash

3.8.2024 Saturday - more stringent intermittent fasting

 Work till noon, then I go to the gym to work out back, and use the 16kg kettlebells. Then we go for a 230pm lunch with mom, and I go home to work on the Toorak House. 

Lance tells me that he is planning to run again, and invites me to join them. I am a little hesitant as my pace is likely not up to par. But I ll join them. 

2.8.2024 Friday

 

1.8.2024 Thursday - another CCM, good outcome

 Today is the second client-consultants meeting for the TSSB folks, Sean has been chairing and he does so again today. He is getting better at it, with some help from Freddie they are able to brief well, and ask pertinent questions. More importantly for me, they are able to switch to topics outside the agenda which one should expect when Teck is at the meeting (he had earlier declined but attended - which was good because we confirmed that way forward on the Tasik Project). 

We also got an affirmation from the client that we will be working on the Satok project as the land purchase has gone through and he asks for a re-briefing of the scheme at the meeting. 

I take an earlier afternoon off to have a nap, then off to squash buzzing.