16.8.2026 Saturday - sitting quietly and falling in love

After the early morning pickleball, Sam comes to collect me. Usually on the drive home, we decide where to have breakfast but today we are undecided so we arrive home to eat carrots, tomatoes, cheese and apple with slices of bread washed down with cups of coffee. I have the music on instead of the telly, and both of us potter about the houses doing odd jobs and finishing my tasks until late in the afternoon. Then at 4pm, a message comes inviting us for a game - new friends from pickleball with their wives; a chance to meet other people. One of the wives remember Sam from years ago (30) having worked together on a project. Sam has that special something which people remember; it is a kindness in her personality I think. 

15.8.2026 Friday - taking care of the aged

A rainy morning in Penang, troublesome but we have a task in hand - to meet a potential client about an aged care facility. She was introduced to us by our hospital client; an important referral which I thought we should act on. We arrive early, and depart several hours later after being briefed about the future plans for this facility. It will be a long term plan, they are doing good work so it is for us to patient and contribute instead of thinking about reaping rewards. I think we struck the right chords, she takes us out for lunch before we head off to catch our flight - it is a good outing event if the project does not take shape we have met a person who has invested time and effort planning how to improve the quality and sustainability of aged care in Penang. 

 

14.8.2026 Thursday - Doris, Terry, Grace and Luna

Today will be a long day, made longer by the extra meetings we plan, with people we want to see in different places. 

Doris and I have met twice; the first time was when she crossed the seminar hall to greet me - 'Hi, you must be Min, we are Facebook friends'. And the second time is this morning, she in in Kuching to meet her boyfriend. I invited CY who also knows her from their interactions on the Art Festival in Taiwan. It turns out that she knows SL as well - it is a small world.

Our flight takes us to Penang by 2pm in time for a 4pm meeting, even after waiting for PH's delayed flight. Work is work, there are a few areas that I have to work on still - there were gaps on both sides. But I think it can be sorted within the next week. By dinner time, it has been a long day, and I did not get a chance to talk with Grace. It is lovely to see her little family though hard to imagine when we met her as an intern ten years ago - hardworking but the system fails her, answered for but stuck in a rut (the drummer boy). She kept in touch and over the years we would meet up, hear snippets of news about her milestone, celebrate them with her - we threw a 'wedding party' for her in Kuching complete with tea ceremony at No. 40.

Our hotel room reminds me of line in the Eagles's song 'Hotel California'. - we are able to leave but I want to go back.

13.8.2026 Wednesday - fellowship

There are distinct highlights and lowlights today - an uncompliant roofer, bad air quality because of the haze contrasting with a request for me to apply for a PAM fellowship, and dinner with mom at home. There will be many more days like this. I am glad that I have a team who can handle the irritants and a home cooked dinner to come home most nights. 

12.8.2026 Tuesday - learning to make the most out of it

We have to return for a site inspection this week, and although it does not directly concern us, our attendance was requested. We could write back and tell them that, but I decide it is simpler to just show up. There might be nothing for us to contribute, but we can hear what the problem is and what the solutions are, we can meet new people who are taking over the project, we can let our presence reassure those who are there, and we can use the opportunity to settle some other outstanding matters with the builder, and we can have a nice lunch after the meeting.

 

11.8.2026 Monday - Mahatma Gandhi

 

10.8.2026 Monday - roadside dining

 Today is a good day for work, FL shows up to update me about the housing project. Sean joins us to prepare for tomorrow's meeting  for this project. The other FL and I had earlier planned to meet to discuss the hotel and the new masterplan project so we continue the design discussion with GW joining us as well. GW has another project to discuss; the house on the hill. We break just before lunch with way forward for these projects - the whole day's work done in half a day. 

It is not a good day for SY whose mom passed away this morning. Sam and I pay our last respects after pickleball. She was only 70 years old. After the wake, PS suggested that she joins us for a drink while we eat a late dinner. We have not been to this place before - they moved the tables to the roadside, onto the car parking lots next to a backdrop of giant yam plants (alocasia). A simple meal of fried rice, stir fried kangkong and an omelette for two finished with langsat. Talking about travel plans and garden lights, about pickleball and dinner on Sunday; traffic sounds and a soft breeze fill the gaps in conversation.