10.2.2026 Tuesday - back on my feet

 Feeling good about my ankles, but taking it easier in squash (3-game limit) and then going for a few games of pickleball followed by a jump into the pool. I miss walking about so after dinner I go for a quiet stroll around the neighbour, it is supposed to help with one's digestion. 

I am reminding myself not to go easy on the gym work and swims now that I am able to play sports

9.2.2026 Monday - recovering well

 His text said 'Min, is Friday's dinner still on?

How rude, I thought - no salutations, no blessings (or do they reserve those for believers). I get friendlier texts for my colleagues and squash mates. As Sam says I am the eldest and should take the lead in organising this; the pre Chinese New Year dinner. This time, it will be at No. 40 which he is not seen yet, so it will be a nice experience for everyone including my nephews and nieces. I am quite looking forward to it, and playing big brother. 

8.2.2026 Sunday - hot and busy

after letting the soil settle for several weeks, the planting has started

mint drops by for dinner and a chat

a bike ride to and from pikabol followed by a quick swim, and plenty of hydration

and in the meantime, sam has crafted her planter bed

 

7.2.2026 Saturday - leaning into it

I cycle to play pickleball at the club, and after the game I can feel the strain on my ankles. The good news is that they recover and the aches are gone the next day. The other improvement is my ability to walk comfortably. I will text the doctor and tell him this good news on Tuesday which is one week after the steroid injections

The true test is running, and when I am able to jog slowly for 20 minutes say, then I will consider my recovery complete

6.2.2026 Friday - dinner and a lunch catch up

I didn't think that we would have much to discuss, but he is open and gives a good story about people and places. I buy him lunch and we promise to keep in touch via publication, and mutual friends such as Dicko. 

Later that evening, on the way to a nice dinner hosted by Jotun Paints - SY and I talk about how some of us can easily point out one of our built projects, while many senior folks cannot do this because they have not built anything significant though they are in their 40's

I must remind Sean about this, or at least ask him if this is already on his mind

5.2.2026 Thursday - lunch at the ritz

Sam and Sara were thrift shopping in the OXFAM on the right, while I sketched this view, I like how the road descends as it sweeps around the corner. It is the Aberdeen Library

We have lunch - the first in a long time, everyone is busy travelling or dealing with family matters. I always feel 'heard ' at these lunches and it is very satisfying. Another satisfying thing is returning to the squash courts, the footwork is a little clumsy but I am able to take two games from the doctor (we only played 2 games - I am leaning into sports activity as advised by the physio)
 

4.2.2026 Wednesday - re-activate

This morning, I hear of a disagreement about design copyright infringement, a local architect and acquaintance has used images of a landscape architect's work without acknowledging her. The client got wind of it and mentioned to me during a site walk. I listened without offering an opinion. I discuss with Freddie, we think the architect is wrong, it is not about how the LA has reacted - yes, perhaps there is no need to broadcast her grievances on social media or in the project group chat (that is how the client heard about it) - it is still unprofessional to make use of another person's work without prior permission or acknowledgement.

 

3.2.2026 Tuesday - more needles

The doctor is convincing and confident about the issues troubling me, and he proposes a series of steroid injections straight into the ankles. Before that, he tests (mock-ups) by injecting anaesthetics into the inflamed spots - one is in between two tendons. He tells me that I am on the mend, and I can 'lean' into working my ankles harder - which is good to hear. 

I feel better immediately. 

2.2.2026 Monday - lunch with George

A working/ non-working day, a spare day before the doctor's appointment so I decide to do a bit of work. With George, who suggested BALA - an Indian place in Bangsar - very nice, ate too much. We talked about what we can do after he passes his professional exams; set up a sole prop, continue as a director in our firm - have freedom and support at the same time. He can team up with Sean, although I feel that that they are too alike in character - so their team up can be like SML and us. A loose collaboration for projects - although GL might have other contacts if the project is in KL.

We can provide them with a basic wage until their firm is on steady feet, and they can still work with us on our larger projects and earn a fee share like Freddie. 

He tells me that he has not thought about it yet, and we ask him if JianMing has thought about it.

After eating, we talk about K2 - and arrive at some firm ideas, we agree that I will start the planning while he does the massing.

After lunch, Sam provides me with exercise by taking me to Ikea to shop for easy chairs for Marc's visit. She assembles them while I finish the planning for Kensington with GL. Later, she orders some small pizza which we eat on the floor like students, and enjoy a lovely evening after that - we work well together.

 

1.2.2026 Sunday - Prudence's Pink birthday

Looking for reasons to travel to KL, to see the doctor, to see Dad (which we did not this time) and to spend time with Sam, like how we did during the university days; albeit with a larger food budget.

We use this trip to see friends as well, this time Sam's high school friends, some of whom seems to have taken me into the fold.

31.1.2026 Saturday - dinner postponed luckily

 I meant to cook dinner for friends and family at No. 40 - but instead spend the morning collecting presents for Prudence's birthday and having kolo-mee and laksa in nan old kopi tiam that we have not been before.

leftovers for dinner, after getting work done with Sean's steel drawings

30.1.2026 Friday - Taiwan collaboration

 

29.1.2026 Thursday - safe harbour

The same sky

The settlers arrive by sea; they look for safe harbour.

An overhanging rock, clump of trees, a cave

to set up 'home'.

The settlers look for a refuge with a prospect;

high ground with a view of the water that carried them,

ripples of memories fading already.

This cave-like home is present but temporary.

It has a low door, for safety

and for heads to bow in gratitude.

and only then to look up at the same sky,

whose rain falls with voices from home.

28.1.2026 Wednesday - K2

27.1.2026 Tuesday - change of plans

 

26.1.2026 Monday - skis and villas

I meet Tay and Suan who just returned from a trip to Xian, they went skiing - prompting me to remind Sam about our plans to go skiing again. I am trying to finish our the Bali proposal, to keep our end of the promise, but SL tells me that the client has cold feet. 

I tell her that I'll finish my part of the bargain and send off the drawings, I follow up with a text to Lina - and leave the ball in her court. She offers us a weeks' stay in her Villa at Kaba Kaba Estate in Bali.

25.1.2026 Sunday - a rainy day but surprisingly productive

 

24.1.2026 Saturday - Gala Dinner

Henry arranged for a few of our former teachers to have a meal together, including some of our classmates. Unfortunately, I have no time for one of them, we were not in the same class and he is not a nice person. I thought about declining but then thought 'I would just go and enjoy what I could of the afternoon'. And I am glad that I did. Our teachers are getting older, with health problems though they seem to enjoy the chatter. I wish for a larger group with more people around the table

Today is a day of doing not much, except cooking at No. 40 for Bel and EH - Sean was telling stories during dinner time, entertaining us about the silly antics of the office interns. It is good - like Louise said 'your children seem happy, you have done a good job'.

23.1.2026 Friday - finalising some ideas

final sketches for our presentation for Eric's land art installation in July

These office meetings on Thursday are a good idea, we have one more day to sort out things, call people, send out confirmation emails, final drawings before the end of the week. Fiona and I have a discussion about the Precinct One housing, and arrived at a good conclusion. We asked GW if he would be interested in getting involved in TSSB's projects in the future, he said yes. And added that he enjoys drawing details, etc, as do I. OK, one thing settled (as per Freddie's suggestion). 

We also send out this little project in Taipei, keeping our promise to send out by Friday - not sure if the water people have sent theirs. I think that they are still busy with the gala dinner preps. 

George and I have a good solution for Kensington, only to be superceded by Freddie who gave an even better option - bringing the unit count to 286 from our 267. I look forward to marking out the drawings for the team to work on next week. 

We have drinks by the pool before having a hot pot dinner with the children, and Louise. Nice end to the week - we might  make this a routine.

This week's Friday dinner is at Sean's place, we have drinks by the pool followed by a steamboat dinner with Rudy, Valerie and Louise. I jokingly said that Sam and I would like Sean to cook dinner on Fridays, and we simply swan in after our swim and eat and drink.

 

22.1.2026 Thursday - two good meetings

He is a good mood, confessing that he was concerned about the planning approval of the Kensington project. But all good now, we have a plan to appeal for a few more units and a few more floors - the important thing is that we have a new project and an agreement for our payments. His sons take part in the design discussions, giving opinions and listening to ours - we agree that we will invite the Thai architects to design the interiors and landscape. 
We revert with new drawings in 2 weeks' and start consultants' meeting to move the project forward. 

Later in the afternoon, we have our office meeting; going through tasks and chatting about things to do and people to see. After which, we go for ice creams - I like how well these young people get on with each other.

21.1.2026 Wednesday - major project approved

Sam suggests that we should all go for a meal, since George and PH are in town - it would be a pre CNY gathering. So we decide to go for a nice Japanese lunch. During which, we chat about today's government planning meeting - Fiona ever alerted checks the office email and discovers that the Kensington project is approved.  Minutes later, T rings to inform me (he is a little disappointed that he is not the first one to tell me the news) and tells me that the approval is for 16 storeys and not the 26 we applied for - but we can appeal. I ring off and tell him that we will discuss in detail tomorrow. 

20.1.2026 Tuesday - doing Sketchup

 

19.1.2026 Monday - school project

 

18.1.2026 Sunday - Sean buys some bowls

 

17.1.2026 Saturday - Khoon returns home

 

16.1.2026 Friday - land art idea sorted

 

15.1.2026 Thursday - working lunch

The workers did not come to work today - so Sam picks me up for a swim and lunch

 

14.1.2026 Wednesday - Lukas Roth