8.9.2025 Monday - a bit out of sorts

I am a bit out of sorts - because I did not exercise this morning, because I have not had a chat with FL for a while, because I have not see SY and gossiped about random things since Japan, and because my faulty ankle still slows me down, and because we have work which needs doing. 

I need to tell myself that it is good to have a morning exercise routine (and I can see the results from those kettle-bell exercises), and that FL is busy with his own thing and yet replies my queries (I am happy that he is busy with own work), and that gossiping about things we are not involved in and rather not to be involved in is a good thing (I should spend my time more productively), and that my ankle is telling me to take it easy (I am not as young as I want to be) and to have work to do is a good time, not having control over everything is expected, (I need to get better at dealing with what I am given - it might not be as bad as I think - just because my preferred consultants were not selected).

We are making a trip to Melbourne for Dianne's memorial - Marc is organising. Sam and I might take atrip to Deakin and wander around the campus, and maybe a another one to Bendigo or Ballarat. Or simply wander around Melbourne and visit the Art galleries and museums.

7.9.2025 Sunday - food love

 

6.9.2025 Saturday - Purpose and Process

 

5.9.2025 Friday - the Prophet's birthday

Time to reflect on what we have and what we need to do; we have enough food to eat (we need to eat less and not waste food), we have a roof over our heads (we have several now, and need to either take better care of them or sell one of them), we have enough money to use (we need to spend less on things and more on services, experiences and other people), we do not have enough time. During public holidays, I find myself wanting to spend time catching up instead of doing a new thing (planting, painting, cleaning)

4.9.2025 Thursday - farewell and housing warming

Today is a watershed for me; I feel it when I potter around Sean's apartment as he gets ready for the arrival of his guests. This will be his home; I look around and see what he has done to the space, and what he needs to get to complete the job - larger pots for his plants in the balcony, pillows, and crockery. All in good time, I suppose - he will do it in his own time. I wonder if my father thought about these things when he visited us at Jalan Stampin all those years ago. A quiet assessment of  our achievements and mental notes about what to discuss with mom on the car ride home. 

Sean has combined Khaliq's (and the Taiwanese students) farewell, with his house warming. The food is home-cooked, the furniture is insufficient and the crockery non-existent. But what is present is the camaraderie amongst colleagues, an appreciation of what we are doing; taking an extra step, showing care like a parent, and the generosity of a family. 

A touching moment comes towards the end of the evening, as Khaliq prepares to leave - he went around thanking everyone in the way he was brought up - 'salam-ing' each of us; longer for his elders; Sam, myself, Fiona and Penghui. I hug him and Sam hug him - like parents sending a child off to university (which is what he is doing). There is a smattering of applause from the young ones, a few slaps on his back and he is gone.

3.9.2025 Wednesday - designing cloisters

 

2.9.2025 Tuesday - holiday over, back at work

 

Ankle getting worse, but I am hopefully and will cope by changing my exercise regime; I lift weight and work on my legs (calves esp) in the meantime. Such an irony - especially after buying so many pairs of new sports shoes. I want to glide across the courts again, and if I have to rest in order to do this - then this is the plan.