7.12.2025 Sunday - Martin Parr

 https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/aug/24/theres-something-very-interesting-about-boring-martin-parr-on-his-life-in-pictures

I had the run of Parr’s house and he did everything I asked of him. His wife, Susie, kindly made us some coffee and got on with other things while we did the shoot. At the end, I suggested I could do a portrait of them together and we walked a little way down the street, where I photographed them on a steep hill. Using that hill worked quite well, as it accentuated Parr’s physical stature. Asking them to lean together and support each other was also symbolic, because no man is an island.

1970s. Paris - Susie

6.12.2025 Saturday - breakfast at the market, lunch at the club

 I find myself gravitating to the more distant of Sam's relatives, cousins from Kuantan, the in-laws, random babies and  young people at the lunch. The others I don't have time for - Yasmin pointed that out - that we use the word time as a commodity of how we value our relationship with a person. As in 'I have more time for Bob rather then Jane' and 'I won't have lunch with him'.

Family members - I don't know what to say to them about the greetings. 

She used to be so vibrant and full of enjoyment of the good life; laughing out loud (usually at other people, including me). Now dumbed down, what a waste of an education. The men are the same, there is too much tact in the conversation, I don't what to say to them. I chat to the wives, one of them is very annoying and does not know it - she invites us to join them on a trip to China. The drunk is still the drunk, I am truly tired of him - it is not funny anymore. 

Saujana Club: grilled chicken, fruits, fried bitter gourd and red wine, Dinner was chicken as well, with veg/potatoes on the plane.

Eating too much food, three meals a day; chee cheong fun with Selinna at ICC Pudu

5.12.2025 Friday - working by a nice window, and later dinner with lovely people

 

BL chilli pan mee at KIN2 restaurant, Lunch: roast meats, KT soup, kaya puffs and egg tart

coffee and cake at Paris Baguette

D: rice with rendaing, veg, sate, omelette at Madam Kwan's

4.12.2025 Thursday - repairing so that a bit of the skill continues to live on in the object repaired

My left ankle is getting better, and I am quietly optimistic. I leave for KL this afternoon so I decide to go to work earlier but not before walking for a bit, listening to Irish people talking about how the Japanese repair broken porcelain and how differently the Chinese do it. Kintsugi embraces the notion of beauty in imperfection; wabi-sabi. 

My first time in the PJ house since mom passed, we spend a long time in the Grab car before deciding to change restaurant; a Szechuan type that specialises in spicy fish dishes, chicken with dried chillies and peanuts. To our surprise Dad really enjoyed the food, and also Lynn whom we invited to join us for dinner and a beer. She is Dad's new live-in helper, she is 48 with 4 kids - 2 in Malaysia, one of whom is 30 years old. 

too much food: noodles for lunch, rice on the plane, and this nice Szechuan dinner with Dad and Lynn (Armelyn Aquino)

3.12.2025 Wednesday - roofs, EOT and a long lunch

 We finally sort out the roof for Springvale, and the EOT with AK and JP, Lai is there as well and after a short explanation, we convince them of our assessments. Sam joins us for lunch, PH replaces GW - and I realise that AK knows many of the people I met when we are growing our careers. It is good that Sam joins us, so that she can enjoy the 'people' part of professional practice. She adds a soft vibe to the whole meeting as well. It is twice in recent days when she had lent us her vibe - once with Adzlan and now with AK and Lai.

Earlier this morning, I have a nice morning chat with SY, we talk about Johnny's video, his new office and the upcoming PDF events. He is not attending either, I sense that he is simple serving time until his term runs out and he wants also to disassociate himself from these folks.

assigning ideas and tasks 

L: fried fish, cucumber, sambal and some rice. D: grilled ch w/out the skin, salad of pumpkin, carrots, tomatoes and brocolli

2.12.2025 Tuesday - the kids plan a birthday

We decide to round up some friends to celebrate a birthday. At the same time, I receive an invitation to the Christmas dinner with the members of the local chapter of the Malaysian Architects Institute (PAMSC). It was for long serving members of the committee, I was there some 14 years but I turn it down. It is on the same evening as Sam's birthday party. I don't belong in the current fellowship, I feel that they are there to make the numbers, to tick boxes (attendance). They have little relevant experience to do anything  meaningful for the profession. More worryingly, they seem to echo the sentiments of our cousins in the KL Council. I am not lending them my presence, nor am I going to be associated with them.  

Sean and Judy are making good progress with the Johnny Sim video

L: 2pm one pot ch.rice. D: cheese and bacon quiche, coffee, dark chocs from the States

1.12.2025 Monday - drawing in old books

 The foot doctor says that pickleball is ok, but lay off squash until January. I think I will give it a go tomorrow and play an easy game with Kok, who deserves to win this time. There are signs that my feet are healing, fingers are crossed. I cycle home in the rain, Sam has started feeding us non-carb dinners.