4.3.2026 Wednesday - Samantha plays pickleball again

 

3.3.2026 Tuesday - school is still out

 Childish

Indecisive

Power hungry

2.3.2026 Monday - Kung2 arrives in Kuching

 

1.3.2026 Sunday - a kindness

She reminds me of Ellie (whom Sam calls Ellie Bellie) so if she had decided to stay with us, I was going to call her Bella. She seems sprightly and friendly despite being cautious and keeping a steady radius while assessing me. I sit down by the bin, and give Sam a fright when she looked out the window. She thought I had fainted on the road, but no - I am just going out for a walk when Bella distracts me. Sam puts out some food for her, and will try to entice her into our garden.

Yvonne buys us lunch at Wonderboom, we have never been - it has nice food and very pretty. Our lunches with these two are always full of laughter; at ourselves, about our mutual friends, but all with kindness. I have time for them, there are two more of Sam's cicaks; Yasmin and Ileana. It is getting harder to get all 4 in one place at one time - much like playing Sudoku

 

28.2.2026 Saturday - Sam likes pickleball

 

27.2.2026 Friday - a long walk in Kampong Baru

My quick walk took longer this morning, through Kampung Baru, and back to the apartment in a roundabout way. Along the way, I met traffic (both foot and vehicular) - I'm glad that we don't live and work in KL.

I treat Sam to a latte and do a bit of work before heading to Yut Kee for brunch; tasty but expensive. I think we both have had enough of the city, as we make our way to the airport. We treat the trip as a little reward for ourselves, and a lunar new year celebration with the relatives. 

26.2.2026 Thursday - school reunion

 Today is the day of the (last) follow up for my ankles, they have been recovering. Today - the doctor confirms it and tells me to 'go away'. He reminds me that he might visit us in Kuching, and Sam tells him that we will host him and his family. This is only the beginning of the recovery, it comes with rest and rehab in the midst of the sports and the running (soon) - to finally do all this without any pain. 

As a celebration, I go and play pickleball with Selina's friends - it is good to meet new people. The highlight of the trip to Aurora Palace is the eggy cheese sandwich I have for lunch. One of the players, Alvin tells me about Deep Drive which sells pickleball paddles at a reasonable cost, including some discounted demo paddles. Sam and I head there and try some out before buying two for Saturday's game.

In the evening, we have a lovely 'school' reunion at the Bottega PJ with our borrowed children - Yasmin calls our conversation and reminisces - the silliness, Ileana tells me later that if felt like Kuching all over again - I tell her we are very fortunate to have them in our lives; the laughing out loud, the silliness, the care for each other and hope for their future.