27.10.2024 Sunday

 

26.10.2024 Saturday - who moved my drawings?

I am making more space for myself, more space around me so that Sam can come to work in the afternoons. I took over Peggy's station last week, though it looks like I might have to do with Bat's space. Someone has moved my stuff away and placed himself there. But it is ok, this is better actually - so now Sam and I will sit side by side at work.

I spend the day preparing tomorrow's post - it is about our first World Architecture Day celebrations in 2011. We build the first 'cardboard city' read more about it in link below

https://www.borneoarchitecturejournal.com/installation/cardboard-city-1-0

Gym, and run at 630pm after mom leaves. There's a lovely surprise when I get home, Sean has cooked dinner. Kimchi Tanghoon, we share a punnet of grapes and watch She Said - it's about Harvey Weinstein. Sara comes home, feed the upstairs cats and leaves the aircon on for me. As Don says - I'm truly blessed. 

25.10.2024 Friday - an important lunch for Louis

Today it is mostly social, though these days there is a fine line between work and social. 

I see Don and Da for breakfast, the nicest part of that was the quiet time reading about The Sydney Opera House while waiting for them. I missed out on Bat and Peggy's farewell lunch to talk to Ricco and Louis, Louis seems lost, but is a loyal employee so he stays focused. I can see that he is lacking in exposure and mentoring. After the lunch, he sends a text saying that our chat has re-invigorated his dream about owning a business in architecture. I am glad.

My afternoon tea taxes me but it is rewarding. I am surprised at my resolve. Afternoon flows into evening and we eat at the Club - Don, Da, Mike Ho and Sidek, Mongyong and Solomon. We chat about everything and nothing - 4 of them are single/divorced, one is gay only two are married although I have not met his wife.

Gym - squats and chest. My inner thighs are sore

24.10.2024 Thursday - Sam flies to KL, fee collected and an apology,

Sam takes off in the morning, to KL for a gathering with school friends, to check up on parents and also to meet 2 friends from university long out of touch, recently reconnected. 

While I am very self sufficient and able to fend for myself capably; get about, feed myself, occupy and entertain myself. When Sam is away, I don't sleep well even though Sean helps out with the kittens in the bedroom. The best remedy is to keep busy, very busy.

23.10.2024 Wednesday - a site walk, a VIP at lunch and a disturbing conversation

 

22.10.2024 Tuesday - drawing a master plan model most of the day while the others are out for an inspection

I walk to the gym, but change my mind at the bridge. The 3D for the masterplan needs doing, this is my way of testing a work relationship. I want it to go well, I want to impress the other team members. Besides, I really enjoy the process of building up the models. The others are out for the condo CPC inspection, only three of us are left in the office.
 

Later, Arlene announces Friday's lunch menu - we are going for Japanese. A farewell for two team members; one going to another firm DDR while the other plans to stay in Taiwan for several months to 'find herself'. I am happy for both, and also for myself; it is a weight off myshoulders.

21.10.2024 Monday - chat with Allister, a final payment and then CPC

I arrange for an early morning meet up with Allister over breakfast (his, not mine). We chat about site possession, Practical Completion and direct vendors, we also talk about LD and defects. 

Later Leong and I visit the SPA to sort out our appeal for the condominium in Sibu. It looks like they will support our justifications. I explain the submission of 48 to Azizah.

Sam text me after lunch (broccoli, carrot and tofu omelette) and tells me our fees from 2022 is finally paid. I cannot figure out why there is such a delay in payment by this particular client. To my face he says he is happy with our work, he implies that 'management' might have different perceptions. 

Later I find out that he is the top 'management'. 

But I am relieved that it is finally over, we can move on. It was never the money, we have a healthy cash flow. It is the disappointment of having someone whom I held in high regard let us down. Since the beginning, we were watching out for his best interests and going the extra mile (to settle site issues, coordinate his direct vendors, the provide advice on technical and statutory requirements) Generally, treating him like a work partner or a friend.  

Later that evening, we receive a notice of CPC inspection - another project coming to a close. This one is physical closure while the other one was financial.

Tennis in the evening 500-630pm

20.10.2024 Sunday - 23,000 steps

Feeling extremely agile and active, I walk to the club for tennis. Arriving at 720 am, Richard and I play for about an hour before Sam collected me and we go for breakfast at Sexy Popia. The sexy one says we have not seen each other for 'several hundred years' - the popia is RM 5 now. Sam buys the 'bee-pang' rice puffs for her friends in KL. She will be away for 3 nights starting this Thursday.

I work on the PDF review with Sean and Jenny, who end up doing most of the writing, she writes well. Better than me in this instance. Sean provides the sketches recording each speakers' work. The review was published late Sunday as bedtime reading (Sam and I decided to treat Jenny to a nice Uniqlo gift voucher.)

https://www.borneoarchitecturejournal.com/design/reimagining-urbanscape-from-art-to-architecture

In the evening, I play Patrick (4) followed by the Doc (3) and then Fauzi (3 normal games). Fauzi tested me physically which I am glad for, as I have registered for a competition in end of November. 

At 7pm we enjoy a nice family dinner at Petanak, Sarah Lim is back so her parents treated us. I enjoy chatting with the young people; Sarah to my left and Ricco to my right.

walk/run, tennis 730-830am squash 4-6pm

19.10.2024 Saturday - PDF 2024, re-meeting interns as adults

This years design forum is held at the Theatre, there are 6 speakers and the event turned out well. I enjoyed the Chinese speaker and enjoyed looking at the Thai speaker (Jojo). I enjoy more the interactions with my former students and interns. First thing in the morning, Vivian practically skipped up to me and showed me her hands. People watching must think this rather strange, she wanted to show me that her hands have healed because 'she knew I would ask'. She knows that I worry about my young people. 
 

Later at lunch , another young lady asks if I remember her. Not sure if she is a former student or supplier - I ask her my standard opener 'when did we last meet?' 10 years ago - she replied. Student - I heard about her; young architect returning to lead the building section in a local council.

We chat about her experience at DNA where she interned with about another 12 others; happy days.

She gives me a number to call on work matters. 

18.10.2024 Friday - a meeting with the Dream Team, lunch with David, squash and a night spent networking.

 

17.10.2024 Thursday - office lunch because we got OP

 

16.10.2024 Wednesday - what are you doing today?

I mark up the revisions to the school scheme today, as a pre-emptive measure to a client's call next month. And also as a chance to work with a young Malay architecture graduate in the office. He is from the other office, but we collectively thought that he would benefit from wider exposure.

In the evening, I go home to see mom. She fell down this morning attempting to assist another oldie. She seems fine, having forgotten the incident, I think the aches and pains will come later. Ricco and Sara eat dinner with us - I tell Sara that I sleep better when she does, and indeed I do.

15.10.2024 Tuesday - new collaboration

 

A little private retreat, on a site with a stream and beautiful trees

A day spent struggling with the right tasks to complete; construction details or design sketches - not effective. I suspect that it is because there are no deadlines from the client nor ourselves. It is a good day but not the most efficient, I end up finishing a design presentation with Freddie. We are both happy with it, so that is the most important. 

After squash, Sam drives me home to Sara and Ricco already home. The young man might be able to work with us, to help with BP drawings. I tell him to come more often for dinner, he can eat and run (we know he has to close shop etc). I tell him it is a good thing also because we see more of Sara then. By chance, I ask him if he still remembers his CAD, he says he does. And is looking for work...

14.10.2024 Monday - new desk

I go to the office, to a new desk. PC has left it slightly dusty but no matter, I clean it up and put the large drawings on it for checking later.

A few days earlier, I had told Freddie of my wish to wish with TC. I feel it is good to have the 'cross border' exchange. Since I'm working regularly with TC's partner, it feels like TC and I should be partners as well.

So, this afternoon they come over for a chat about a potential project. It is a long shot project. And that's good - deadlines are longer, the programmes are loose, the proposals meant to initiate conversations with new client. I thought that the directors would work on this, and not involve the 'work force'.

I ring PH, and we agree to start. One week for the first review, with TC and Freddie.

That evening it rained heavily, no tennis so I ran for an hour. 

13.10.24 Sunday - sleepy lunch again

Wesley Hotel Room (with a window)

Sushi and half a bagel for lunch. Then squash, good thing Patrick shows up, and gives me a really good work out; 10 games. I am really tired from the whole day's exercise

12.10.2024 Saturday - and back again

 

11.10.2024 Friday - Kuching to Penang to Bukit Mertajam

 

10.10.2024 Thursday - starting a new school programme with Azrul

 

9.10.2024 Wednesday - long dinner with former students

 

8.10.2024 Tuesday - long chat over lunch

About work methods, work partners and their habits - SY describes what his normal work day is. It's challenging and makes me appreciate PH, Leong, Freddie, Fiona even more. Their support and voices of reason is what enables us to do much more in the office. 

Which prompts me to say this to Freddy the QS at lunch. He walks by and asks me 'how are you?'. I am sitting with PH, Fiona, MC and HP. 

'Very good' - I reply. He stops mid-stride and comes over to our table. 'I rarely hear people say that'. 

'Say what?' I ask. 

'That they are very good'. 

'Well, my children are listening to me, my wife talks to me, and my colleagues are sitting down to lunch with me - so I think I am very good' - followed with a big smile. 

7.10.2024 Monday - much to do

But can't complain, because work is a blessing. Some of us understand that better than others, but they will soon learn when they grow up. Freddie drops by and we chat about the additional details needed for the lift lobbies, and the pool, and the toilets, and the roof, and so forth. The delight is that we are able to resolve these problems/ details by talking and sketching on the large printed sheets. Even PH was able to contribute when he stopped over for a browse - he helped me resolve the canopy of the drop off. 

Later we sit at opposite end of the conference table and draw over the CAD print out for several hours. 

6.10.2024 Sunday - new watch, new plans?

Quite a milestone today, running 5K into town at a fair pace to meet Lance and Yasmin. All 5 kilometres are under 7 min pace - so I am happy with myself. Furthermore, Sam has bought a new watch with GPS, and it can sync with my phone which gives a print out like this one above.

She has blossomed (again) and we talk about her plans to return to Kuching in the future.

Later that evening, we get a full house at No. 40 - dining with Eric and newcomer, Na-na who is a lecturer from China teaching Art Management at UNIMAS. Eric talks about the future of his collaborations in Kuching, about some people he would rather not work with any longer. I have not seen him so agitated, I think it affects him mostly when he feels that his assistants/students are taken advantage of.


 

5.10.2024 Saturday - in Kuching

 

4.10.2024 Friday in Songkhla

 

3.10.2024 Thursday - in a van

 

2.10.2024 Wednesday KCH - PNG

 

1.10.2024 Tuesday - a very full day

8 a.m. Breakfast with Si Yong

9 a.m.

1. Enrico

2. Singgahsana lift quotation, 10k difference & colour scheme

3. Tasik biru early commencement of work

4. Springvale construction

5. Roxy Impiana enhance fee

6. Singgahsana trees

7. Springvale triangular land

8. ⁠outstanding fee claim.

11 a.m.

1. road widening 

2. 6 to 5 storeys

3. keep the bin where it is

4. 80 to 70 units ( 2 penthouses)

1 p.m. lunch with Joseph Chai

2 p.m. meeting consultants with Joseph

4 p.m. squash

7 p.m. dinner with Sara

30.9.2024 Monday - a bit worrying

 A bit worrying all these deadlines - some which we impose on ourselves, others imposed upon us. Our young team is trying to cope; some succeeding better than others. 

After a quick briefing, I relax by doing a concept design for the food park for Freddie to chat with the owner this Wednesday. PH text to say that Andrew the house client has requested for a meeting to discuss fees, I hope PH stands firm but I also know that he is a softie.