17.4.2026 Friday - thinking about lighting and ending with steel and trees

lighting ideas for our librarian, blatantly adapting from Neri&Hu

 

saving trees - why would they think it is ok to chop it down without asking first

Just another day of work, and eating, and weight training (this time just before dinner time) - which gives me plenty of time to think; about growth both personal and professional, about mine and the others. I come to the realisation that the young ones will overtake the elders unless the seniors continue to develop, adapt and learn new skills. 

On that note, I ring a client and we talk about reviving a dormant project. He rang back later with a promise of a new project, I tell one other person only; reluctant/careful not to get too carried away with myself. 

Later in the afternoon, another client ring and we speak for 30 seconds during which we managed to save a tree on one of our building sites. Another highlight for the day. 

I enjoy this, I am likely an engineer or steel fabricator in another life

16.4.2026 Thursday - a slow day

I feel mentally slow today; maybe it is the heat and maybe is the foot injury. But I am heavy headed and achey - the lunch with Sam and the gym session does not help. I am in bed early and wake up late. 

There are several highlights though; HP comes on her own accord to see me about site planning issues. I hope to see more of that. Freddie comes over to discuss project fee claims with Sean, and does not include me (I see that as a sign of independence, which he sees in Sean as well), I have a good chat about the website with my two elves - they have ideas about how to improve traffic. And later in the evening, JY has a chat about the apartment layouts with Freddie (who happened to be sitting nearby) and had some firm ideas about design, which I am very happy to see and hear. 

I saw this and though of some ideas for the Toorak House

15.4.2026 Wednesday - the act of carrying

 I observe how Sam has to carry my backpack as I get on the crutches, and decide 'actually, I do not have to take work home'. I don't do any work from home anyway, if I feel the need to, I can do two things:

1. use the laptop at home

2. come to the office (it is ten minutes away)

It is silly to carry all that stuff to and from daily, if there is something to bring home daily, to have with me all the time - that would be my sketchbook (and a pen). My team are carrying much of the weight of our office's work, and I do not have to do this anymore. This means that nothing is so urgent that it requires me to work at home, this will be a new phase for me. I will do something else in that 'free' time.

Taking work home was a habit learnt from my days in a large corporate firm in the 90's, instead of staying late in the office, I would take my work home and do it on the coffee table while minding Sean and Sara. Once my manager confronted me with an accusation - that I have been distracted from work because Sam has just started her own design company and I was busy helping her over hours. (instead of spending my 'after hours' doing the company's work). Needless to say, I exploded at the little man (as I was prone to do in my 30's) - 'I am at home writing minutes and answering letters for your company, and just because I don't do a big show of it by staying back late at the office, you immediately think the worst of me. Shame on you - was I late with any of my deadlines?' That little man is still there, and I am not. 

So, new chapter starts this week - do other stuff at home, just not work. 

another milestone - we are officially linked to the PAM magazine website

14.5.2026 Tuesday - stressful but folks are still kind

 

13.4.2026 Monday - allowable protrusions into the setback

No exercise this morning and although Sean was going to take me to the gym in the evening, it rained heavily so we went home instead. Some highlights of the day to share: JY, MC and I had a good laugh about our understanding of a planning guideline; at my age, I should be able to explain this clearly to them already. But no, we had to debate and then arrive at the correct interpretation of the Rule. The highlight is the camaraderie that I see in our team; they learn and teach each other (including me).

Another highlight comes from West Malaysia; the editor of AM (Architecture Malaysia) offers to link their website with ours in Borneo. This is good for several reasons; one is the wider reach in readership, the 

12.4.2026 Sunday - tidying up around the house, without my help

after visiting grandfather, they visited Suzen for her roast pork noodles

quite a task shifting the large timber shelf, it almost fell on them but did not. 

We try to make this like any other Sunday, going out for breakfast followed by an mini excursion - this time to buy second hand books. The young ones have very sweetly decided to pay their grandfather a visit at the columbarium, both their partners went along which is a lovely gesture on their part.

In the afternoon, mom visits as usual although her visits are getting shorter (she gets picked up at 445pm). Sam and Sean set to work cleaning up the car porch, in time for Sean's car charger to be installed. I like the new look, and realise that this would be my new carpentry area in the future.

The wound is healing nicely and it has stopped bleeding, I am able to move my foot a bit but still not putting any weight on it. Tonight, I will sleep downstairs, and this will be the next space to tidy up in the house.

11.4.2026 Saturday - recipe for Roast vegetable pasta with siew-yuk

trying out a new series for my social media posts

still able to cook though it is a bit clumsy, we invite Wawa over dinner; a small reprieve from caring for SJ. She packs a small pasta supper for him, when she returns for 'night-duty'.