17th December 2023 Sunday - Sean's birthday and office party

 Today is a special day, for the office; it is our end of year celebration, for Sean; he turns 29 tomorrow, for No. 40; it turns 52 this year and has now a new lease of life (mine). And today's party is a way for all three events to brings people together; friends and colleagues collected from different parts of our lives. 

It is still a construction I told them when they arrived, people from the office, formerly from the office, former students, from Sam's gym, friends from UNIMAS, parents of our interns, interns who did not make the cut, clients, former clients, my mom, my niece and nephew (their parents dropped them off but did not come inside).

Dyan's boy, Charlie (I think)

Mom did not recognise the house in its new form, we did not try to remind her. 

8 May 2023 Monday - we are almost fully loaded today

Today is a good day for work, it was almost ideal in terms of the work done and the people around me. I came in at 715 and worked on the Sibu Condo, to pass it to Sean when he arrived (still a little bit late) then I progressed to Elev8 and sorted out the quotation documents. Penghui arrived to set up and we talked about Tuesday's meeting with IB, and set up a meeting with Alan about waterproofing systems. The showroom BP went to Lekheng who looked a little out of sorts, he has a lot of his plate. 

Later that morning, Freddie came over with Louis to meet with the steel fabricator for Impiana. Just then Teck texted to tell me our payment is ready.

At lunch, Sam arrived to sit opposite me to do her work, she is also doing intermittent fasting - I made tea and we talked about making a trip to Penang via Singapore. Meanwhile, the whole office left for lunch with PH - it is Melvin's office today. 

In the afternoon, we met with Alan and YKC all good productive people in one room. It seems that we will be rid of the SIKA system soon, (nothing wrong with the system but the local rep is not good to work with). 

At 350, I left for tennis and a swim - to be collected by Sean for dinner in the office with Jenny and Sherlin. JY was still working on the Block 13 proposal, Sherlin was thinking about the YKS proposal, Sara is writing personal statements for me in the website and Jenny was busy as how Jenny gets busy. 

26th November 2022 Saturday - building plans

 

24th November 2022 Thursday - rushing for work

Folks in the office were working late tonight, including Sean; we are preparing for a meeting with Rewi tomorrow. He likes to have a projects update once in a while, we have 6 with him. 

1. There is a condominium project in Sibu, every unit has a garden/outdoor terrace attached to it. We agreed to have planning submission ready before Christmas. (above)

2.There is a housing project with an Australian architect, we have submitted that for a building permit - we will brief the Australian architect next week as a matter of courtesy. 

3.We also have a housing scheme in Matang for bumiputras; a practical and well thought through scheme - we submit for building permit in December. 

4.We are also building a showroom and offices we are working with SML on this one from years ago, we should note that some projects can take years to get build; meaning cash flow can be slow.

5. Last week, we were given 44 units of affordable housing; I will work on the with Sherlin - good training for everyone. 

6. Lastly, we have the office park development which has been submitted for a planning permit. We are now developing the scheme for a building permit. 

 

He seemed excited about the meeting; preparing small bites and coffee to sustain us - I briefed initially, then Leong and Sean took over for Sibu and later still, Fiona took over for the office park with the engineers. As they briefed him, I got up and served coffee and sandwiches - how I wished someone took a photo of me doing that. 

30 Aug 2022 Tuesday - George and Louis

George will be based in KL to support PH and SL

Today is a busy day, site meeting with the full team and sorting out many of the back-logged items. The builder has a lot to do in the next few days, we are not sympathetic as much of it is due to their own inertia. We will observe from a distance and assist when we are able, or come down on them on non compliance.

By noon time, things took an upward turn as we ate lunch with Leong and Freddie. I was waiting to have a meeting with George and the engineer for a housing project.  

George was one of the original team members when we left DNA to set up MWA. I see his return as a sign of things coming full circle, and reinforcing our team's strength. 

Talking to Yap about flat slabs and fin walls

Louis is another strong candidate who has decided to re-join our team; he will be based in Kuching and will work closely with Sean and hopefully sit for their professional exams with LH, SL, and George.

Louis at the hotel site, photo taken before he was scolded for stepping on the pod before it was secured to the building structure

21 June 2022 Tuesday - work partnerships

I am working upstairs again, and enjoying it. It is quieter, and I missed being around my stuff (books, sketches, photos) I also missed our chats (Leong and I) about work, design, people. He looked over my shoulder as I talked my way through this design. We worked out the creases and finalised the design concept: of providing a garden at the doorstep of each unit. 

As we talked about the design, I decided (and told him) that Sean would work under his guidance if this project were to proceed into the next stage. Sean is working out the CAD details while I sort out the massing and unit mix. He agreed, I think he will be a good mentor for Sean. 

31 May 2022 Tuesday - thinking of moving again

 

6 May 2022 Friday - break through

At the Roxy site with Freddie and the client's project team

Sean and I spoke about him coming home to work with us; I asked him what were his thoughts about it. Many of his projects have come to a halt, and he is mainly doing CAD-work - though he is not the type to complain about it. I have been prompting him to think about continual learning, about professional registration exams - he can do this at our office. And we are getting busier. 

He thought I should either be his dad or his boss - words that summed up our roles nicely in the coming months and years. He once said I was the hardest boss to work for, maybe because he saw me at home as well as at work. 

This time round, I place him under the care of Freddie, someone closer to his age who can guide him and supervise his work, and in return Freddie will get a design partner and assistant. 

Freddie had other ideas; thinking that Sean can go into the deep end and take responsibility for his action and decisions. Sam agrees.