7.5.2023 Tuesday - Kch. KL. Taipei

Talking to Yr2/3 students about 'Sufficiency' in architecture and design. Eric is helping with translation, the man on the right (seated) is the Chairman of the architecture school. 

Taoyuan Airport

Vale of Spring

Eric takes us to a nice hot pot dinner, you select your meats from the market next door, and the restaurant provides the vegetables, soups, sauces and desserts. 

The living room of our hotel, the door leads to a common staircase and lift lobby to the other parts of the student centre

 

They gave us 2 single beds, but we didn't mind

There is a walkway beneath the trees, that leads to our lift lobby

6.5.2024 Monday - first technical meeting

I sign up at the gym, after my last session with Even. He has reignited my interest in strength training: it might be my imagination but I feel trimmer. 

But the weight lifting tires me out, I fall asleep at my desk. And wake up in time for the first Corliss technical meeting, and site walk with the new contractor. It is a good outing, meeting Jong, Joshua and the 2 Dominics. 

Sean is getting busy after our meeting with Francis, good thing George is here. Freddie volunteers to design the front steel cage with Sean, I tell him to go hard. Young people will learn, and get better. 

 

5.5.2024 Sunday - working hard on Sufficiency.

 

4.5.2024 Saturday - cleaning up files in the laptop

 

3.5.2024 Friday - clarity as last

 I'm in the office office especially early this morning - 6:30, I was unable to sleep I wanted to finish the thing for YJ. At 7:00 I hear a key in the front door of the office, Jenny is here but it's not her, it's Fiona. She sees me and gives me an embarrassed smile 'I wanted to finish this thing before noon'. 

Same here. 

I have a 9:00 with Teck, so I finish the perspectives, send them out for comments and then go downstairs to have a coffee with Freddie. He makes 2 important suggestions - one about the layout, it's better to still give Tony the entry statement and use that to link the 2 wings together. The second suggestion is to continuing working with her, giving work packages with deadlines, keep her occupied. She's good, let's keep her doing what she's good at. She's happiest when she's productive.

We all are. Today's a happy day for me.

I have a nice lunch; beer and sushi, and good company.

2.5.2024 Thursday - long list of things on my mind

handwritten lists are the best - this is from years ago, likely recorded after a site meeting or CCM. this was circulated to all members of the expansion team

 There is a long list of things on my mind; some are for action and the others I have not decided if I should act on them. One of these things is the matter is the young architect from yesterday's meeting - the behaviour was unacceptable but her work is good. I decided to speak to some folks about this before I speak to her. 

Other items are more straightforward - a matter of review and issue, or review, discuss and issue. Managing work flow and making decisions - I remind myself to save some time to draw, and think, and design.

This morning's PT focuses on legs; and I have not had my legs put through the mill this way for a long time. I really see why some people need a Personal Trainer, Even pushes me past my perceived limit and get two more out of me. Halfway through the session, he asked me how long I have been strength training. Since uni - I tell him, after which he asks if he can take a photo of me for his father. 

1.5.2024 Wednesday - Bye Ellie.

Ellie left me today, she came into our lives 14 years ago when Sam rescued her from Psycho Kevin. Our interns had rented a room from Kevin, who stole a days-old puppy but was unable to care for it. Sam got wind of this, drive there, kicked down Kevin's bedroom door and took Ellie home with her. She left RM50 for the repair of the kicked in door. 

Over the following weeks, we were bottle feeding Ellie. I say 'we' but it's mostly Sam. We took Ellie with us everywhere, feeding her every few hours until she stabilised open her eyes and started to nurse from the bottle.