30.8.2026 Sunday - mind cleared but haze remains

 By the time I come of my morning shower, my problem with a difficult person has been solved. On the way to pickleball, I run through the matter with Sean who thinks that I will be alright. 

my ankles are holding up, and I am playing ok but not a full speed yet.

In the afternoon, we move the fridge into the new kitchen and place the timber step in place. It sounds like a small matter, but quite momentous for Sam who will finally have her larger and airier cooking space. Young Marc offers to cook dinner for us tomorrow night before he leaves for uni in the UK. His parents think he has a bond with us, normally he does not socialise with adults. Yes, I think we do have a bond with young people; we have time for them.

29.8.2026 Saturday - haze

We play pickleball in the morning, it is not so hazy although by 8 a.m. you can see it creeping in. Freddie joins us today, I have asked him to come back for more. Last night's dinner reminds me that I am fortunate to have all these young people in my midst; their energy and innocence, bright and happy with life. And to top it off they are good friends with each other, Roosh shows up as does RF and Marcus. They have a good time playing UNO, I don't get it but Freddie tells me that when he was that age, that is what they did.

I have a niggling problem which I cannot solve, it stays at the back of my mind and spoils the day. Sam and I have a nice lunch and spend some hours at the office, out of the haze and in the air-cond. 

28.8.2026 Friday - farewell party

 Let's what I got up to yesterday: (15 out of 30 items done, which means that I have to be more efficient or have more hours in the day). 

1. 49 - updated the client about the planning status; took me 15 minutes although it has been worrying me for days.  
2. campus render - Ty tried out using AI, I have asked her to do a proper one. This task is not done, it has been delegated.
3. Library meeting - met the school folks who were pleasantly surprised that we are doing this pro-bono. I thought they had known. In any case, there is a little toilet project to be done; Nicole can help do that.
4. Sim is leaving - we did go the airport after our dinner to send him and SW off to TianJin. Sam says she feels a little sad, I try to feel excited for him.
5. Joseph's Letter of Appointment - I go to the office early to print and sign the letter, and send it to George, who got the client to sign it (but neglected to tell me until I asked at dinner time).
6. get lunch stuff for Friday - Sam help me buy. As she was dropping the groceries off at the office, we were returning from our library meeting, and the Fukadas came by with prawns for the laksa..
7. BSC L&E - call Ma - he gave me an update, which simply means more to do today.
8. MC's RWDP - AI issued.
9. Fiona's minutes - reviewed when I was having my kopi break
10. Au's garden walk - commented, but she is still busy with my stuff so it looks like I am updating the skp.
11. tell Beko to bring a pot back - done. the pot needs to walk to the office for me to cook laksa this afternoon.
12. ask Lau about the Simon's signature - he showed me the forms on Simon's table; I realised that there are several candidates; 2 former chairpersons and a secretary. 
13. ask Aziz about 22 semi-Ds - he was on leave, but Sam and JY sorted things out in a good and efficient way. JY has a philosophical way of seeing it - 'at least they agree to pay'.
14. sports hub - can we submit? Sean told me late in the evening that it has been submitted, Ty helped. Sean is a good mentor in the office.
15. swim today - I did after shelling prawns and a gym workout, when the rain stopped.

I got 2 assurances about a fee payment from the client's office, so that is a nice way to end the day.
Sam and I go for an IZAKAYA dinner, we will go back soon.

27.8.2026 Thursday - a lot on my mind

 I like making long lists, for the pleasure of crossing items out when they are done (or delegated)

1. 49 
2. PD awnings
3. campus render
4. Lim's kitchen
5. Toorak roof 
6. call Jeff
7. Library meeting
8. Sim is leaving
9. front canopies - do the party walls stick out?
10. Joseph's LOA
11. Sam's photo for website
12. get lunch stuff for Friday
13. Victor's testimonial
14. BSC L&E - call Ma
15. MC's RWDP
16. check HP's drawings
17. Fiona's minutes
18. Au's garden walk
19. bring a plant to the office
20. tell Beko to bring a pot back
21. ask Lau about the Simon's signature
22. ask Aziz about 22 semi-Ds
23. P.1 fees - call CK
24. start the masterplan
25. theatre submission
26. sports hub - can we submit?
27. swim today
28. PH's ex building chart
29. SEDC costing
30. Henry's Revit

This is for today - some will take 25 minutes, others less as they are only a phone away (but might generate another series of tasks) - I will update this list tomorrow. 

26.8.2027 Wednesday - office meeting

 We have our first office meeting in 2 months. It sounds like a long time, but things are worked out on a daily basis amongst ourselves. On most days, you will see small groups having a chat in front of someone's screen or a couple of them wandering over to seek my opinion or confirmation. I joke that they often do so just when I am about to leave for my 4pm swim, or make me late for pickleball at 5pm. This morning, we talk about some key deadlines to be met before our trip to KL, Taiping and Penang. For a young team, it is important to also explain why certain decisions are made, it teaches them about our policies, about how we deal with other people and not just about design and implementation. This is good for their personal development. We also discuss the arrangements for our trip and Friday's farewell lunch for JK and Victor. I will miss Victor, he has been a good intern; polite and hardworking, bright and well spoken, works well with his colleagues and participates in office activities. I will write a testimonial for him. (he started his internship on a Friday with an office lunch as well, his mom made him bring some treats to share). 

25.8.2026 Tuesday - Prophet Muhammad's birthday

we have a japanese chef

 Today is a free day, so I split it up into home, work and play. Most days there is work and play but on 'free' days - there is the extra component of home, which for today means the tidying up of some plants to take to the office. It is highly successful as we manage to move a large monstera to the office lobby. I will slowly add to this collection of plants in the coming weeks. 

I finish off the campus presentation, and then we go play p-ball again. I joke to Sam that it has taken 40 years for us to find something that we can play together. It is a nice outing with Daniel and Soh Koon, Derrick and Sally, and Foo. Sean joins us as well.

In the evening, we cook a simple dinner, Yoshi cooks Hamburg Steak and Leong joins us for a chat and something to eat. He asks after June.

24.8.2026 Monday - dinner bouquet

An interesting work day - half the office is away; site, slight illness due to the haze - my request for an office meeting falls through but it is ok, we talk anyway. I worry about fees, but Sam tells me not to. I worry about 49 but Sean finds out that the authorities have given their first comments which gives us something to work on - good news. 
Just as I am about to leave for pickleball, the team wants to chat; I am running late but they have put in the efforts so I listen and offer suggestions and confirmations.  We play, and then rush off to a nice dinner with the Hongs to celebrate Judy's birthday. It is always nice to sit and chat with Kelvin. It is nice to see the two young ones sat next to each other, chatting and distributing to the conversation now and again.