12.4.2026 Sunday - tidying up around the house, without my help

after visiting grandfather, they visited Suzen for her roast pork noodles

quite a task shifting the large timber shelf, it almost fell on them but did not. 

We try to make this like any other Sunday, going out for breakfast followed by an mini excursion - this time to buy second hand books. The young ones have very sweetly decided to pay their grandfather a visit at the columbarium, both their partners went along which is a lovely gesture on their part.

In the afternoon, mom visits as usual although her visits are getting shorter (she gets picked up at 445pm). Sam and Sean set to work cleaning up the car porch, in time for Sean's car charger to be installed. I like the new look, and realise that this would be my new carpentry area in the future.

The wound is healing nicely and it has stopped bleeding, I am able to move my foot a bit but still not putting any weight on it. Tonight, I will sleep downstairs, and this will be the next space to tidy up in the house.

11.4.2026 Saturday - recipe for Roast vegetable pasta with siew-yuk

trying out a new series for my social media posts

still able to cook though it is a bit clumsy, we invite Wawa over dinner; a small reprieve from caring for SJ. She packs a small pasta supper for him, when she returns for 'night-duty'.

10.4.2026 Friday - a good person

Sean and I were working for this the whole afternoon, only to have it pop up on my FB post.

In my capacity, people have been helpful - doing things for me. They are still getting the hang of it, I don't think that they are used to seeing me less than 100% - I say this because my own child neglects to get me a drink from the kitchen once in a while. I can't carry a coffee mug while using crutches.

KM thinks that I have a positive mind-set and that this will take me far - this comes quite easily to me, so long as I exercise daily (gym, weights, sit-ups, press-ups). I don't miss playing squash, I do miss tennis a bit (being in the sun) and pickleball (because Sam is starting to play).

Jowie is disappointed that we cannot continue our pickleball sessions, I discovered that she is vey concerned about my condition. She asked for a photo update and asked if I am in pain. She is very sweet and thinks that folks around me help out because I am a nice person. I have not thought of myself this way before, perhaps last year's resolution to be kind(er) is worked.

I feel that it is also a good thing for people to NOT have me around to do things for them all the time. 

 

9.4.2026 Thursday - sharing misery

 Starting to construct things in Revit, though I am far from anything useful yet. But it is a start, and I can see how precise and productive we can become once we master this software. I have a feeling that our tutor is also on the road to fully learning, and it is ok - we can develop together. 

My ankle was looked at this morning by the surgeon who thinks it is healing well (we shall see). I have not missed the sports so far, and this morning Sam and I go to the gym for a joint Tabata workout. 

This evening, we have dinner at Sean's with the objective of feeding this young one; she has been nursing her husband who had a fall and hurt his spine. He is in the hospital so she pops by to share a meal and a drink with us, and talk about things over than health problems

8.3.2026 Wednesday - new routines required

Back at work, bright and early so that Sam can park nearby and push me up to the office. I am getting used to the crutches, tomorrow I will use them all the way to the office. 

Sean suggested that I use my spare time to learn Revit, so I start by listening to the lessons Henry sent me. It does not seem too complicated, I understand what is going on. 

At lunch, Chuan brings his nephew Xiong to our office, he has been practising in Bali and is curious about local practices. I wonder how many other offices Chuan brought him to see - I ll ask. 

Once again, our website comes in handy, Sean and I explain some of our projects and some of our work habits - it all seems to interest the young man, and I offer him a base if ever he has work in Kuching or KL.

7.6.2026 Tuesday

 

6.4.2026 Monday - stepping up

I am out of action today - registering at 10 a.m. for surgery at 2 p.m. (my first ever) which should take one hour. I tell my folks and among their responses:

'don't worry about the meeting. Have faith in the doctor, not to worry'.

' wishing you a smooth surgery, rest as instructed by the doctor'.

They know a thing or two about me - that I worry too much and I do not take instructions well.

In any case, they are stepping up; taking over some of my duties while I am 'out'. I wonder if this is a sign that we are growing up and I can slowly step back and run things from a distance. I will test out this theory over the next few months.

5.4.2026 Sunday - something's afoot

 

4.4.2026 Saturday - a nice family gathering

 

 

3.4.2026 Friday - a baptism by the sea

 

2.4.2026 Thursday

1.4.2026 Wednesday

31.3.2026 Tuesday

30.3.2026 Monday -

29.3.2026 Sunday

28.3.2026 Saturday - reading a story

In which the female character reminds me of Sam - not in the way she behaves or speaks  More in the way people respond to her;  inviting yet out of reach, friendly but with boundaries. Young men fall in love with her slightly, despite knowing that nothing will happen, some admitting only now - decades after they first encounter her. 

27.3.2026 Friday - clarity and a lesson learnt

 Last week, I met a young builder PC, who was building our house extension. I found out that one of our client had invited him to tender for a project we designed. I like and trust this client, and trust his judgement in dealing with people. 

This morning, I discover that PC knew my father, who was his team manager when PC was playing State level basketball. This is a nice surprise, and confirms some ideas I have about finishing of our renovation project. We meet for breakfast and talked about his trip to Perth with my dad in 2006, about how my father was exhibiting symptoms of dementia even then. Despite its label as a 'city', Kuching is actually a small town where most folks know each other - Sara's boyfriend is the son of one of Sam's gym friends, and Sean's girlfriend is the daughter of one of my high-school friends.

 

26.3.2026 Thursday - lunch with Jiayan

 I enjoyed today. 

430am up to start the drawings for our Taiwan installation, which is due for construction in May. In July, we visit the completed structure and attend a design conference courtesy of the contractor. Fiona has agreed to join us, so it will be a good experience for everyone. 

900am discussion with our apartment builders, I like these two project managers - proactive and good in their coordination of works. We settle the nagging queries related to roof steel, it seems that this is all I have been doing in the past months; resolving roof framing... 

11am meeting Dr Lau about a potential project; the overall configuration is deemed viable with only final sizes and layouts to do. Jiayan and I have a good chat over lunch. She paid for my drinks which I thought was very kind of her.

25.3.2026 Wednesday - getting ready for the seaside

730am SY texts early to say he is ready for breakfast, we were meant to meet at 830am with TTY to finalise our drawings for our Taoyuan installation. They both meet with the contractor, and he briefs me on the time lines and deliverables, etc - it all sounds very exciting. Something to look forward to in July. 

230pm Fiona and I meet with the Chung Hua Middle School No. 1 principal and the chairman of the school board, Richard Wee. My uncle.

It seems like we have a project, 2 projects in fact - a library renovation and upgrade to school hall and entrance. I'm glad that we met on 'site' and spoke to the end users. 

The library renovation will be funded by a donor, a fellow architect whose father left money for this purpose. Timely then, as I informed our clients that we will not be charging any fees for the school projects. 

24.3.2026 Tuesday - setting the tone

Thinking about our latest project, drawing things up and testing it with our team. George in particular, he will update the perspectives, he and I have been working together for many years, since he was my diploma student. I have good people that I can depend on while I get other aspects of our work done - a sketch and a phone-call and we are set for the rest of the week.  

23.3.2026 Monday - K2

It is still a public holiday, I go for a long walk to test my ankles (they hold up) and wait for Sam to join me for breakfast at Rock City Cafe. 
 

22.3.2026 Sunday - Yoshi makes onigiri

 R

21.3.2026 Saturday - books

 

20.3.2026 Friday

 

19.3.2026 Thursday -

 

18.3.30206 Wednesday - Bali again

 SL rings to say 

17.3.2026 Tuesday - a slight shift in habits

I sense myself getting ready to let go of sports, perhaps squash first since I am only playing with one person on a regular basis. And it is not a though we are playing the standard version of the game, only condition-games for the exercise. Tennis I enjoy because I get to be outdoors, pickleball because it is quite social, and Sam is starting to play so that is something we can do together. Swimming I can still do regular and enjoy as a way to end the day. Running is the thing I want to get back to, it will be the final gauge of me returning to total fitness. 

16.3.2026 Monday - some new plans

 

15.3.2026 Sunday - cooking dinner two nights in a row

Another day torn between working or stay home and watch movies, play with Halia, finish travel sketches, start painting, planting seedlings, swim. Or simply nap - I am only truly relaxed when I started cooking at No. 40. Sam has taken Dan and Lyn for a river cruise, Sean is finishing his workshop while Sara is traveling from Matang with Rudy and Val. I am all alone, but happy for a few hours roasted vegetables, cooking pasta and making a shatshuka.

 

14.3.2026 Saturday - personal projects on the weekends

One of San2's kids is surprised that I am 60(2) - my health is getting better. The physical health is better than my mental health, I should give myself time off. I will work harder during the week, so that the weekends are completely free from work. From next week onwards I won't take work home on the weekends. I am constantly torn between resting, and doing some work.

Perhaps I'll leave my Friday evenings free to complete whatever I want to do at work, and leave it all behind when I shut the door. 

Spend weekends doing more of these, nothing at work is that urgent actually... 

Dad is still here, Rudy's family invite us all out for lunch. Tonight I cook at no. 40 so that Sam can have a break, she's still coughing. I cook a simple home style Chinese dinner - sardines with onions and tomatoes, a cabbage and carrot omelette, and my Nyonya chap chai (I think I'll soak the tang hoon separately and add in before serving). Lee Siong shows up, CK brings him along with Tay&Suan and Sim&Wah2. Dad enjoyed the attention, I enjoyed the youthful company. They seem less guarded than our usual dinner companions whom I have not begun to miss yet. 

13.3.2026 Friday - the new kitchen is coming along

I feel a bit listless today, so work isn't going as well. I'm not as productive as usual. 

There are one too many to coordinate: one is getting out of a completed project - I pave a way for her. It is better for her to focus on upcoming projects. Another isn't learning as I had hoped - I decide to work more closely with her, and not set her aside. She'll be a personal project. 

12.3.2026 Thursday - solving problems one at a time

 

11.3.2026 Wednesday - happy team

 

10.3.2026 Tuesday - getting carried away again

I get carried away with sports and my ankles are suffering, the right one especially. I do not enjoy the squash games, because my movement is still not 100%. I tell myself that I am happy to give up this sports if I am able to move with ease (and perhaps start running again). Here I am talking to myself - during my early morning walks; I am glad to be able to walk without pain so I do it - wake up, out the door, 30 minutes without ear pods etc just thinking and planning the day, and the week.

One of the mentor's role is to set a good example at work and in society, another is to test the student's limits and help her achieve them. 

8.3.2026 Monday - early start to move closer

 An early walk to the office, to complete a cardboard model that young Declan started. Then I have a coffee with AS to discuss PD defects and solutions. Freddie takes me to the meeting with Teck, who has many questions which we are well prepared for. We reduced the hotel rooms to allow Ember to have a loft for cigars and whisky. After our briefing, he leans back and says ' this is not too bad'. A compliment I know, but I prod him - 'not bad only? (in Hokkien). He laughed and agreed 'good la, many things settled - I want to start construction soon. 

Today is a good day for me because I am able to draw and confirm most of the planning issues for this project, which I run through with PH for his agreement. 

7.3.2026 Saturday - Yoshi and Jowie

New friends met through other friends of Sam, whom I warm up to quite quickly - a funny Malaysian-Japanese couple who met because of the Japanese husband poor pronunciation of Kota Bahru (his intended destination) which was mistaken for Kota Kinabalu. He was duly transported to KK, where he met his future wife who was the landlady of the tour guide Yoshi had befriended. 

6.3.2026 Friday - laksa party

The end of a week full of meetings, today we meet with Uncle Richard and his committee to discuss the way forward for the temple stage building. The design is generally accepted though we will have to work more closely on the planning and usage. Meetings with busy people are often chaotic, Fiona and I gently guide them back on track as they wander off. There are several points of debate but we have a way forward for this project. Next we arrange to meet him and his school committee. 

For this meeting, we were 'rewarded' with some mandarins and Hokkaido egg tarts (fresh).  

 Sam cooks a nice laksa dinner for our friends and Sara's gang to celebrate her 30th - who would have imagined that we have a 30-year old daughter...

5.3.2026 Thursday - Sara turns 30