Reflection on My First Day Back at Work – Lessons in Project Risk and Management

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
Today marked my return to work after the festive season and the beginning of 2026. I did not expect the day to bring such an eye-opening experience — one that made me smile, reflect, and learn. I was confronted by five frustrated workers from the appointed contractor for the JCPU Administration Building project. One of the workers had just been released from temporary detention at the police station after the contractor reported them. You can imagine the emotional state of someone who had just come out of detention — stressed, confused, and upset. I took time to talk with them and quickly noticed several failures in the current project management that contributed to this situation. I believe these setbacks are rooted in the early stages of the project, particularly in the following areas: 1. Procurement system of the project 2. Planning phase, including costing and scheduling 3. Lack of written agreements between the main contractor and subcontractors 4. Incompetence and poor leadershi...
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A Dreamy 2:30 PM: Between Procurement Manuals and Island Grilled Fish

By Ivory waki / Solvoice

 It’s 2:30 PM, and the afternoon feels soft around the edges—dreamy, almost floating. I’m sitting here in front of my computer screen, wrestling with ACOM’s Procurement Manual, which stubbornly sits at one-quarter complete. It’s a challenge, yes, but one I’m determined to master.


But my thoughts today… they are an entanglement.

Half of me is deep in procurement clauses and approval workflows. The other half wanders back to my little house project—completion of concrete slab, required mesh wires, the quiet dreams of a home taking shape. 

Incomplete slab
In-complete Slab [ Personal Project]















And somewhere in between, another thought pulls me completely off course: that irresistible craving for island grilled fish. The kind cooked over open flames, with a side of fresh vegetables and sweet boiled banana. A simple plate, yet powerful enough to shake the entire afternoon awake.

Grilled Fish
Grilled Fish
 














Sometimes I wish I could grow wings like a free bird—gliding above the heavy clouds, rising above deadlines and manuals and responsibilities. Just soaring. Just breathing. Just being.

But maybe that’s what moments like this are for—to pause, drift, and let the mind taste a little freedom before diving back into the work that shapes the future.

If you like reading this, Also read An Evening Walk from All Saints to Mt Austin.

💬Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below👇

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