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George and I have a good solution for Kensington, only to be superceded by Freddie who gave an even better option - bringing the unit count to 286 from our 267.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.

 

20.8.2025 Wednesday - Eric frames an idea

I passed my 'wallet' to the Leo to buy beers, they caught on and are mimicking me

I am very productive today, aware that we will all be away for ten days starting tomorrow (tonight for me).  I even find time to have lunch with Don and Da, and an early dinner with Eric who is in town for 2 nights. 

Two of his students leave this weekend, so we sit down for a nice dinner - and talk about work programmes, project briefs (he is meant to give SY and I an outline) and listen to the young students, face flushed after a few beers talking their plans in the coming weeks. I cannot know for certain, but I think like me, we older ones were re-living our university days, when problems were some much lighter compared to the ones now. 

Helping PH with plans, I know he must be busy sorting out his boys before leaving for Japan

18.8.2025 Monday - eating cheese naan while presenting a design idea

 

9.8.2025 Saturday - Sara comes home

Sara returns home after weeks away minding her grandfather, she seems relieved to be free of that task. She tells us funny anecdotes about her experience there with the relatives, and concludes that West Malaysians are wired differently.

I do not cook with the Taiwanese students, and am relieved for it - I have been feeling a little tired especially after the heavy kettlebells session. 

It appears that they are all very capable (innovative even) cooks, and do not need my help at all

1.8.2025 Friday - Jenny's farewell lunch and a screening

 Today is Jenny's last day in the office, we cook lunch and the office eat together. Sam cooked most of the food, and she joins us - normally she does not but Jenny must have left a mark on her. When Jenny decided to stay on Kuching, Sam was the one who found her a place to stay, prepared dinners to share with Jenny (often texting Jenny to see if she will eat with us that evening). So, Jenny's farewell is quite a milestone. And it coincides with the arrival of our Taiwanese interns, who are here to intern for a month.

Later that evening, we go and attend our medical screening at the Spring Mall - some of the results are unexpected. After some thought, Sam bought some supplement for us to take - partly also because young Emily, the pharmacist is so convincing. We brought EH and Bel along to the screening, later Sia and Ivy (and Kieran) join us for dinner at the food court downstairs.

3.5.2025 Saturday - home to cook for friends

We get home before 10 a.m. I keep my promise to cook a Taiwanese themed dinner for close friends. I really like how it all comes together - 

Radish and carrot soup with red dates and gojiberries (me)

Chapchai cooked in miso with red fermented bean curd (me)

Tainan oil rice (glutinous) with mushrooms (Sam)

Soy braised pork (Sam)

Corn omelette (Peggy)

Ginger venison (Ivy)

Oolong tea cake (Eunice)

Pineapple balls (Dexter)

Satay (Ian and Marc)

I think it is lovely that every one took it seriously and made an effort to contribute. We are feeding already when Peggy Chai drops in as we are eating; bringing her dish. I am sure my friends take note of this and quietly wonder how it works for us. I feel that this is a result of years of friendship and nurturing. KW is in town and wanted to see Sam and I, he drops by with LH and Jenny. 

Ian our god-son arrives with Mark Liaw, we think that they are a couple and will wait for Ian to tell us. Unlike SPS who asks loudly - 'friend?' - which is just like him to try to be funny but ends up being mean and slightly cruel. I like Mark and think that we should have him/them over again .

 

10.11.2024 Sunday - other peoples' children

Today's post is about other peoples' children and the different experiences and expectation gained by both parties. In the first experience, I learnt that our own children were infinitely more well-behaved other I have recently met. One of them is verging on being 'feral' - he screeches when not getting his way, he poked me in the face while asking for a fruit juice, he punches his older brother and he sulks when he does not want to follow instructions. Sam thinks that he is still young, but I think he is evil.

Sean is taking care of Arlene's children for the weekend, and though it seems like a chore in the beginning - I can sense that he is starting to warm up to the task. Especially because Mao remembers him; and the variety of responses he gets from the variety of pets are rewarding. So, the chore have become a charm, he is fortunate. He has just rewarded himself with a large soft serve ice-cream. I should tell him that Arlene asks him instead of Sam because Arlene can sense that there is a growing maturity and with it, a sense of responsibility. And indirectly, it might be Arlene's way of nurturing a young person. 

In Chongqing, stories are being told abut our trip prompting Lin's mom to label me as their 'enlightenment' teacher (启蒙老师 qi-men lao shi) - an imparter of rudimentary gems of knowledge?. Just life lessons because I have lived for so much longer than them. They want to travel with us again - they say that they were very happy during the trip; easy to be with, and talk to. Just like cool parents, I thought to myself...

 

18.5.2024 Saturday - talking about collaborations with Taiwan

5.5.2024 Sunday - working hard on Sufficiency.

 

16.4.2024 Tuesday - pools and ramps

I start the day early, to work on Sean's pool - and to have some time to think and write. I decide to continue with my personal diary, which I have lapsed in upkeeping. My current diaries are all related to work, some are travel related but none are for personal thought and planning. 

It is a sign that work has over taken my life. This is ok, I enjoy this. My challenge now is to see how to continue to produce good quality work with our young team. I need to sit with them and  work side by side more often. 

Sitting side by side is what we do when attending the kick off meeting for our new project, some of us to lead the project, others to support and some to learn. 
 

A little bonus at the end of the day - Eric texted from Taiwan inviting me to join them for a crit in May. Sam will now have a chance to visit Taiwan

Reunion in Wulai