9.8.2026 Sunday - working from home

Sam's forehand is getting better, and I think she gets the hang of the flight of the ball now. She is strong so her drives are powerful, surprising some men expecting girly pats. We do a typical Sunday couply thing; go for breakfast after 'exercise', followed up with a bit of shopping - flower pots for the office garden. We buy some sewing supplies as I plan to fix the elastic of my shorts this weekend. 

We have mom early this Sunday, so we return home to sit and River Cottage on telly while I work on the KD house. Later that evening, we are treated to a nice dinner by Andrew and Helen.

8.8.2026 Saturday - little gifts

 I like coming into the office and finding little gifts on my table, left for me by unknown persons. Usually it is food, other time it is cough mints when I was coughing, today it is inhalers from Thailand. I try and guess who this person is, but I usually get it wrong.

I got it wrong this time as well, these were from Rachel.

7.8.2026 Friday - a compliment and a new project

Our postponed meeting is replaced by a late breakfast at Kenny Hill Bakers, I have not been to this location. I like it. I like the sweeping low rise housing with commercial outlets on the ground floor. Fortune favours the brave, and sometimes it favours the fat, dumb and happy. I get a text from a client asking if we can work on a new project with them. Answer - yes. They pay us a compliment, and although there are some non-standard conditions to the proposal - I think we can work through them.

Brian has much on his plate; being a parent is not easy, I could told him that (if he had asked)

 

6.8.2026 Thursday - meeting postponed

the view in front of Baba Low's

Sam and I fly into KL for a meeting with a potential client tomorrow, but she cancelled while we having an early dinner. The client is under the weather, no choice but to wish her a quick recovery and replan our meeting. She enquired if we flew in especially to see her. She has been referred to us by another client, so we thought we had better make an effort. I tell her this. We decide that we will meet her and visit the site next week. Time to make alternative plans. Not difficult as I always have plenty to do.

5.8.2026 Wednesday - symmetry

There is an email from a young student looking to train with us for a year, her family name and address reminds me of a former house mate in Geelong, also an architect. So I ask him. She is his second daughter. I ring him and we chat about his expectations, her intentions and logistics. She will stay with relatives, if everything works out. I tell him that the young people in our office are good at guiding and nurturing young graduates. 

I'll leave it to the young lady to contact me, and if she does train with us there will be a symmetry starting from the time when we looked out for her father when we shared a flat in Geelong, and finishing with Sean mentoring Alena for a year. 

4.8.2026 Tuesday - going forward

Looking forward to this morning's meeting, we have new information and ideas to share with the client; way forward in an exciting new project. The engineers have been proactive as well; following up with site planning and we conclude in good spirits.

The afternoon meeting is more dreary, reminding the builder about his responsibilities and so forth, but the journey is enjoyable as I have not had a chance to chat with GW for quite a while. 

A good workout and swim to end the day, Sean joins me at the gym and we head home to dinner with my mom. I give my mom my beer nuts, she enjoys them but cannot name them. She's happy today. I think it's because she is having dinner with us - Sean fetches her a drink to wash down the peanuts which she cannot name. She is from a wealthy family, used to the good things in life; home cooked meals, servants, treats and snacks - maybe she's happy to relive those days. 

3.8.2026 Monday - plans for a quick trip

 A client referred us to a potential client, I wait until Monday 8 a.m. to text this person who replied promptly. I offer to meet and have a chat about the possibilities of working together - so it looks like we are going to KL. Some contracts matters are overdue, we resolve it online with the QS - I have reason to be upset with the oversight but decided that it is just Life reminding me to stay on top of things. And besides, the parties involved are dealing with it in good spirits and in a productive way - so all is good.