4.6.2026 Thursday - cooking with Sam

When we first moved into No.34, I did a fair bit of the cooking as Sam was busy with the young Sean and Sara. My dishes were simple, similar to the Asian dishes I cooked when we were in Uni. Sometimes mom would supplement our dinner with a chicken dish or a fried fish - passed to us when we collected the children after work.  

In the intervening years, especially after Sam stopped working, I only cooked on special occasions; on weekends or for birthdays. At those times, I would cook western meals; a pasta, a roast, a loaded salad - which I still do on the weekends, nowadays at No. 40. 

Tonight after our swim, I cook a simple tomato sauce pasta in our new kitchen. It is a quick meal; easy to prepare, full of nutrients and tasty - Sean wonders if anchovies were the special ingredient in this simple dish. It isn't. I used fish sauce to boost the umami, and added chick peas for extra protein. 

3.6.2026 Wednesday - drawing with Sean.

 

2.6.2026 Tuesday - today is Eng Hooi's birthday

 

1.6.2026 Monday - Day 3 of working holiday

Started the day early - I decide not to put off calling a client, I know it is a public holiday but I thought I would see if he would reply. He does, clarifies a few things. Instead of getting upset about it, (it was his fault) I decide to treat this as a way to improve the scheme's efficiency, for me to speak to PH closely about a project, and get a project out of it. 

After that mind clearing, I arrive at a few solutions which PH agrees to develop - things are looking positive already.

In the evening, Sam side-lines me and cooks the entire roast lamb dinner for EH's birthday - we eat in the new kitchen and chat about this and that. 

 

31.5.2026 Sunday - Juney leaves us a gift

 

We ask her to continue to visit and stay if this 'travel' arrangement suits her; coming in from the sticks with her two dogs to stay at No. 40. She sleeps downstairs on the timber bed, her dogs in the tea room barking occasionally at strangers walking by. She leaves the house spotless, and some snacks and drinks for 'our next party'. 

30.5.2026 Saturday - cleaning up

 We call off the pickleball and decide to have breakfast together instead and spend a long time, sharing food and stories about each other. After that, I start Day 1 of my holiday work - got some troubling feedback from a client, but am able to get help from PH. One of the benefits of having partners at work as well as at home. 

To take my mind off work, Sam and I go shopping for a new jet cleaner; we do not really need one (we are not that clean) but she says it would help her with the gardening, so we got an economical one which one can use for up to 30 minutes before the pump overheats. This is OK we tell the shop assistant (we are not so hardworking). 

These excursions remind me of the ones we go on during university days - armed with a simple itinerary which we over complicate with hours of aimless wandering about and debate about which sandwich shop to get lunch from. 

29.5.2026 Friday - frustration and relief in equal measures

SY comes for a chat, I think he wants to air some grievances and also to update me on the latest news from Taoyuan. I listen as he tells me about his plans for the July trip; we will visit the job site upon landing, followed by a trip south to Taichung on Day 2 and 3, after which we will return to Taoyuan for the launching of the landart exhibition, and then maybe spend one day roaming the outskirts of Taipei instead of attending the design forum. I will frame this into an itinerary and share w the others before telling Eric. 

He also tells me that their firm has won a prize for a school project, I am happy and envious in equal measures. I am  glad it is them, but wish our school project will more forwards.

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Today we have some long chats about work matters about getting any drawings done. I am determined to draw during this long holiday break, I will go the office daily.