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

 

13.1.2026 Tuesday - Sam returns from KL and makes an assessment

We think we are in a poor situation util we experience what others go through; rude nieces, undecisive siblings, irresponsible adults. And then we realise that we are doing ok. This should NOT be the way to deal with our own happiness, but it is a good gauge to see where we stand in the general scheme of things.

We talk about cars and Sean tells me that the gauge of the car one should buy is our annual income, which means that his upgrade is not a much bigger car. Sara thought she would like Sean's Iris while he gets himself a new one. A change in our normal dinner time conversations - children are growing up. 

 

12.1.2026 Monday - Taiwan connection re-established

 

settling layouts with Henry

This evening, we re-connected with Eric who wanted us to visit Taiwan and take part in a design and construction on some installation in July. He also confirmed my attendance at the design review in May, Sam and I might take this opportunity to re-visit Japan (perhaps no Australia trip this year)

11.1.2026 Sunday - a mixture of young and old

 

10.1.2026 Saturday - meeting a fellow mentor

 

9.1.2026 Friday - small sense of achievement

 Sam is going to KL tomorrow, to attend a dinner hosted by the Malaysian Nature Society to honour dad's contributions - she and the kids feel that this is an important occasion for him and should be attended by kin. The other kin are kinda quiet, so the Sarawakians are stepping up. Means that I will be home alone for 3 nights - which I will use to clear up around the house and tidy up my mind. Looks like I will try and paint as well, decide which room to take over, which one has better light. I think it will be Sean's room.

SY and HJ came by to drink the rest of the beers in the office fridge, we talked about doing things, finishing tasks and feeling a sense of small achievements, which drives one onto the next series of small tasks and assignments. While I think it is fun to reflect on how well we did as a team publishing the local newsletter - it is time to move on. Which most of us have, her with her building projects with SL and IJ, and him doing BES and BAJ with me who is editing The Borneo Architecture Journal.

8.1.2026 Thursday - why is he always walking so fast?

some of the young ones briefing on their projects, Thursday seems like a good time of the week to do this you have Friday to tidy things up if needed.

What's the hurry? Perhaps if one slows down and take in the view, you might say there isn't much of a view. But what if it is not a view but an interaction with some old men having an early morning coffee - remarking on my bike: how small it folds, how long I have had it, how much it costs.. A few smiles, a few words exchanged - it's a good encounter allowing them a new subject to continue their morning's chat.

The RM1 kopi is now RM 2.20 - reason to make it last longer. 

7.1.2026 Wednesday - a good idea from Fiona

 We talked about the office meetings, whether our former method of sitting down on Monday mornings work better than my recent way of speaking to individuals or small groups. Fiona is diplomatic, and says both work but suggests that letting the others know what their colleagues are working on is more informative and provides better learning. She recounts how sorting her internship the studio gets together on Friday to share news about projects, and report on progress.

So we're trying it out tomorrow, let's see how we go. 

6.1.2026 Tuesday - a small hotel in Bali

 

The construction costs for our little hotel in Bali is about twice the allocated budget, so Ricco and I are looking at ways to reduce the floor area. 

Suen Ling and I chat about how to reduce the cost of construction (400SGD for the building and basic finishes, plus potential another 60SGD) at the moment. I mark out our thinking which:

1. omits the mezzanine within the rooms (reduce costs of slab and staircases)

2. instead the communal areas (dining, lounge, check-in) will be large and will have a mezzanine so that guests can enjoy views of the padi) - this is accessed via one staircase, close the the kitchen at the rear.

3. the number of the rooms remain at 20, their width have been reduced to 3250mm (construction grid reduced from 7m to 6.5m)

The roof form will still be quite interesting though modular in nature, I will brief the client soon, so that they don't worry and start chasing us for results. Usually when they start to do that, it takes away some of my enthusiasm for the project. 

5.1.2026 Monday - drawing in sheets of recycled print outs

 

4.1.2026 Sunday

 

3.1.2026 Saturday - day after the reunification

 

2.1.2026 Friday - last pig out for the new year?

 It's afternoon tea (which merged into dinner) - a simple way to close out the first work day in the new year. I like how the young ones get into the spirit of things cooking bird's nest drinks and helping with the food preparation. Fiona brings James, someone I have met at the club (we say hi to each other while he goes to the gym and I am playing squash). Rachel and Chloe are delightful in their chatter and their energy - they spent a lot of money on their food gifts.

After this, I will follow a new eating plan to reduce calorie intake. I have the will power so it should be easy, use the focus and routine which I use for my exercise routine for the eating plan. And get into a habit.

another milestone for BAJ, videos of Pioneer Architects in Sarawak, by Punch and Judy

1.1.26 Thursday - a very rainy start to the year.

 One of our customised greeting cards - one if the nicest response is from HJ who says 'with friends like us this is not wishful thinking, but reality'.

The rain continues, it puts a damper on things - no racket sports for 3 weeks already. And I have become slightly addicted to swimming at the PD pool. 

31.12.2025 - taking stock

 

More than 10 years of running this practice, there are some days when I feel alone. This happens when folks are busy or on their holidays, I miss our chats that confirm and re-assure ourselves.

We tidy up our office, and decide to convert the lobby into a space for plants. Our team gotong royong very well, I'm glad to see. After seeing how much effort Si Yong has put in to his new office, it's very nice and welcoming. But it's not us, we are the simple restaurant that dishes surprisingly nice home cooked meals.

We submit Roxy Impiana for PAM Awards, let's see what happens.