18.6.2026 Thursday - managing one's own time

Some of our friends said yes, only to rescind when the time comes; citing work commitments and family duties - my first reaction is anger at their lack of accountability. On thinking further, I decide that perhaps they simply do not have control over their own time; they have bosses and spouses to take into account, and that I am the fortunate one, having Sam to collect me for a late morning swim and a nice lunch after that. 

19.5.2026 Tuesday - a wish comes true

The day ends well, Sam joins me for a swim and she says that she enjoys it

Today starts with a target met; drawings of an initial idea is sent off for tomorrow's meeting. I remind myself myself not to fall in love with the idea, and not to worry about what will happen in the meeting. It is a bad habit, one which draws energy from me - I must work and think in the present. 

Keeping to that mindset, I speak to a young man about his work programme and tell him that I expect more from him. I want focus, he agrees to work on that. In return, I take one project from him so he has more time on his hands. I speak to him about his overlong lunch break; he returns home to eat with dad who cooks lunch for the both of them. This is a nice break which I am sure the father looks forward to, but sometimes the cooking is late and as a result the young man returns late to the office. I suggest that he gets dad to text him when lunch is almost ready, and then he leaves the office. A simple solution, like the chat itself is a simple solution to a problem which has been nagging at me for several weeks. 

Should have done it earlier.  

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

 

7.10.2025 Tuesday - an X-ray, an ultrasound and a prescription

Energised by yesterday's meeting with Faiz - I volunteer to design the new Semi-D and spend the afternoon happily drawing and listening to The Cultural Life - Alison Balsom the classical trumpeter is being interviewed. 

Earlier this morning, I visited the sports medicine doctor who prescribed rest and anti-inflammatory pills. Actually, she prescribed sugar injections (but I opted for a less invasive remedy first). 

Cooling my heels literally with a swim this evening

23rd August 2023 Wednesday (day 12) - just the two of us

 

19th Jan 2023 Thursday Sara meets Ah Teck

We prepared several projects to discuss with Teck today; the lakeside hotel, his office complex and a masterplan. The MAC2 was an additional project which Sara was working on, it was not on the list but I included it unofficially because I thought she would benefit from working on it with me and PH (only her). I thought the results of the project would be a good antidote to lethargy, mental stagnation and general out-of-sort-ness. I thought that meeting a client like Ah Teck would also be a good experience for her, since she had met him years earlier. She was quite tickled by the experience I think thought experience tells me that she has a ways to go yet, much of the present work was not her own and she had plenty of help (mine included).

I got her to think about 'what's next?'. I got her to text PH and pose this question. She was asked to re-do the sketch up based on the current cad and refresh her skp skills. I'll let PH lead for a while, he seemed to relish the idea of re-teaching her.

I rewarded myself with an Indian lunch, and an early afternoon departure from the office. The hampers were raffled off and the young ones trotted off with the giant baskets of new year treats. Sean showed good upbringing by offering his to LH who did not get one, it was a small gesture but it still show maturity I thought. 

Today is the 2nd day of swimming for 30 minutes.

Things are going swimmingly..

One afternoon last week, I stole away from work to take my father swimming. His memory is starting to wane. It is important for him to stay active and interactive; to have highlights and digressions from his daily routine of walks and arguments with my mom. I asked Sean to come along and we walked to the pool nearby - a newly completed but poorly executed sports complex where my father swam lengths while ten year old children practiced diving from the high platform.

Sean does not know it yet but this is a subtle plan to show him filial piety at work - after all, I want to taken for swims and movies when I grow old and my memory too, starts to wane.