22.9.2026 Tuesday - the Bahai

I have a hit of tennis with Ho (and later Robert) and feel good about it, happy with my ball contact and movement. And it feels nice to be in the sun again, although it is a bit hazy.

Kamal invites us over for dinner, I am feeling very privileged - two dinner in two nights. I have not been to his house in Kuching before, so we are both quite taken aback with the size of the house compound and the maturity of the trees in the garden.
There are some familiar faces amongst the dinner guests, as expected because Kuching is a small village after all. Sam and I have a good time chatting with Kamal's sister Shirin and her husband, Payam. Their daughter, Lian is a delightful young lady - we offer to cook for them when they next visit. Jowie offers to take them pickle-balling then.  Kamal's family is Bahai, and have the loveliest way about them, although this is first time we have met this family - it feels like we have known them for a long time.

21.9.2026 Monday - several pomodoros later...

I should not have to resort to time management methods to get work done. But this morning, I do just that, just to get the ball rolling. The timer in my computer is set to 25 minutes and I start work on the 3D of the new housing. It works, and I get plenty done before noon. 

Mike Ho ring to invite me for dinner tonight. I will go and see others, but I fear because of the time apart, instead of catching up with new news, we simply run out of conversation. 

 

20.9.2026 Sunday - unloading

 

I load the car with things for recycling - old books, shoes, a couple of old suitcases; the pier looks better immediately. After that, I eat a simple breakfast with Sam and then go to the office to work for a couple of hours. I have not been to Turbo Fitness for quite some time, so I go and use the kettlebells - it is good to use the heavy ones. 

I decide to cook again, a similar dinner to last night's dinner - for a different set of dinner guests. I invite SW who has just returned from China, she looks well and rested and tells us stories about her trip, about her husband's study plans and about her wedding dinner in December.

I like cooking in this new kitchen; everything is so central and I get to use Sam's ingredients in the fridge, washing up is straightforward with the large drying counter. After washing, I simply turn off the lights and go to bed upstairs.

19.9.2026 Saturday - cooking as therapy

Today is a fruitful day. There is fun and games for exercise followed by a simple breakfast before going to the office for a meeting. We make some good decisions after the meeting, and I stay on to work on the 3D for Sean's housing.

Sam takes me to lunch after which I meet the man, and tell him about this morning's meeting. He has lost weight, he tells Sam who agrees 'your trousers are not so tight now'

18.9.2026 Friday - moving day postponed

I plan for young Liew to help us re-locate our long table and bench today. But he has missed the deadline, which I half expected. But it is ok, I am asking for a favour. So we reschedule to Saturday afternoon, fingers crossed. 

Tonight, Sam and I eat dinner at the small marble table in front of the television. It is different, but not uncomfortable and there is no space for our extra messes. I like the compactness and efficiency. 

Today someone asks for information which we have sent earlier, I re-send with some additional information which she needed to prepare a poster for our career talk. She replies 'wow, you are really efficient!' Perhaps it is from waking up early each morning. 'success does not happen by accident'.  Ok, I will take it as a compliment.

Behind from the right:

Chin Kim Yew, Daniel Su, David Chan, Philip Chang, Peter Sim, Simon Voon, Vincent Yong/ Jong, Sim Poh Leng, Joseph Sim.

Front from the left:

Jerry Sum, Ting Ing Chew, KL PAM president Cheong Kok Cheow,  Lankie Simbas.

17.9.2026 Thursday - talking about education

Today I have two conversations about teaching; once with Mervin and later with Dr. Azmah. The upshot of which is the possibility of me teaching again next year and being invited for design crits in the meantime.  It has always been at the back of my mind to return to teaching when the opportunity arises. When I look back, I have always enjoyed the teaching sessions; at UCS, at LKW and at UNIMAS. I feel that I am even more equipped now, with a team of up and coming architects in the office.

walking home and met him

a lazy dinner, I ate some carrots sticks earlier

PH's project in Miri

we are moving the long table (again) and this time, we will be buying a sofa

16.9.2026 Wednesday - Malaysia Day

Today is a good day - full of activity and achievement. 

6:40 a.m. - I cycle to the club for pickleball at 7:00 a.m. it is good to be outdoors again after the haze. I take the highway which gets me to the club in 20 minutes. I play for an hour, including some singles and I am happy with my movement. 

8:10 a.m. - I cycle home ( I left my phone at home) after weighing myself at the gym (81kgs). I get home to find Sam right behind me in her car. SHe had driven to the club hoping to find me and pass me my phone. 

9:00 a.m. - I am in the office, I offer to review the housing plans with Sean if he is up to it. He is and we decide that his plan works and will develop it into a working scheme.

Afternoon - Sam and I sort out the bags of books from Sara's room; some of them are ours so it is good to be re-acquainted with them again. We decide to give much of the young teens and children's books to our friends.