The CNY gambling streak continues.
Lose lose lose.
Lucky didn't have to use my blank cheque or credit cards last night at Eugene's place.
Boo hoo.
And there was abit too much of alcohol too. Though the Cordon Bleu was vintagely excellent, I've gotta say.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Round What?
Wow. The news came so sudden. Again. So unexpected.
Another round of retrenchment exercise. How many more to come? How many more can we survive?
Time to hunker down and work extra hard.
Sigh.
It is indeed gonna be a tough year ahead.
Stay positive and optimistic bah! :)
Another round of retrenchment exercise. How many more to come? How many more can we survive?
Time to hunker down and work extra hard.
Sigh.
It is indeed gonna be a tough year ahead.
Stay positive and optimistic bah! :)
Monday, January 26, 2009
Welcome, Year Of The Ox!
Happy Chinese New Year everyone!
While I await to go for another sumptuous dinner, might as well blog abit.
Somehow the CNY spirit isn't that enthusiastic. Probably largely due to the economic conditions we're facing. And everywhere you read the papers are harping that the Year of the Ox will be a grim one. Even Barry Lee says we must all appreciate what we what right now. Hopefully we'll ride out this recession soon and everyone's situation will get better.
There's alot of lousy crappy news from all over the place of retrenchments, layoffs and dire work situations. Makes me wonder how safe my job is too. And the word on the street is that after CNY, alot of the bad shit will hit the fan in many industries. Sigh. Tough.
So this year, it is probably time to REALLY cut down on the alcohol, save as much money as I can, be a better person in general (do more good things). Easier said than done, but I'll keep this in mind and hopefully things will work out good for me.
I've started off by making a SGD 100 donation to the Salvation Army today! Whee!
Maybe it's time to take up a new hobby. I am right now thinking along the lines of ... COOKING! Haha...
Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!
While I await to go for another sumptuous dinner, might as well blog abit.
Somehow the CNY spirit isn't that enthusiastic. Probably largely due to the economic conditions we're facing. And everywhere you read the papers are harping that the Year of the Ox will be a grim one. Even Barry Lee says we must all appreciate what we what right now. Hopefully we'll ride out this recession soon and everyone's situation will get better.
There's alot of lousy crappy news from all over the place of retrenchments, layoffs and dire work situations. Makes me wonder how safe my job is too. And the word on the street is that after CNY, alot of the bad shit will hit the fan in many industries. Sigh. Tough.
So this year, it is probably time to REALLY cut down on the alcohol, save as much money as I can, be a better person in general (do more good things). Easier said than done, but I'll keep this in mind and hopefully things will work out good for me.
I've started off by making a SGD 100 donation to the Salvation Army today! Whee!
Maybe it's time to take up a new hobby. I am right now thinking along the lines of ... COOKING! Haha...
Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Late Late Show
What's with the new ratings for blog posts? I'm under pressure now to post something good all the time? Where'd that come from?
Went to the Manchester United cafe at Boat Quay last night. It was so so so small! Hardly any memorabilia aside from some pictures of those who wore number 7s (Ronaldo, Beckside, Cantona, Best...) Even tried their Manchester Club sandwich for dinner which was just so-so kinda ok. For SGD14.30 (gst inclusive). Somewhat disappointing, the whole setup.
Luckily Man U won of course. I almost thought it was gonna be a draw liao and then Tevez crossed for Berbatov to head in. Damn shiok. Of course the late, late, late show at Stamford Bridge (which the Football channel happily moved to after the final whistle at the Reebok stadium) was quite a dampener. I thought it was gonna be 0-1 to Stoke and then had the agony of watching them equalise followed by Lampard scoring at the death. Pui! Copycats!
I think we're gonna win some major shit this season. Quadruple perhaps?
Its a blah weekend.
Think I'm having the worst run of luck in recent weeks and there doesn't seem to be much letting up. A slight respite over the weekend (should try to stay at home more). Think I should go see a fortune teller or something. Maybe need to tweak the bed-facing a little. Or buy To-To?!??!
Anyone got a good one to reccommend that won't anyhow cross-sell me a truck load of elemental fengshui mumbo-jumbo?
Blah blah blah...
Family is an exclusive premium that we take all too much for granted almost always.
Economic conditions are getting worse. I think Citigroup is really going down (I'm not trying to start a bank run here). This is all too similar to the lead up to Lehman's collapse though the US gahmen will probably step in to bail it out. If you've got too much money in there, its time to take some out and put it in any other non-American bank right now.
I'm still hoping for another major leg down to unravel in the coming weeks. Maybe a little upside when Obama starts as President and Barry Lee announces the Budget 2009 (more goodies for us common folk please!) but afterthat when reporting season goes into full swing, we should see some major global downside.
Hang on to your cash, keep your family close, and hunker down in the office. Be safe, all.
And try to manage a smile whenever you can :)
Went to the Manchester United cafe at Boat Quay last night. It was so so so small! Hardly any memorabilia aside from some pictures of those who wore number 7s (Ronaldo, Beckside, Cantona, Best...) Even tried their Manchester Club sandwich for dinner which was just so-so kinda ok. For SGD14.30 (gst inclusive). Somewhat disappointing, the whole setup.
Luckily Man U won of course. I almost thought it was gonna be a draw liao and then Tevez crossed for Berbatov to head in. Damn shiok. Of course the late, late, late show at Stamford Bridge (which the Football channel happily moved to after the final whistle at the Reebok stadium) was quite a dampener. I thought it was gonna be 0-1 to Stoke and then had the agony of watching them equalise followed by Lampard scoring at the death. Pui! Copycats!
I think we're gonna win some major shit this season. Quadruple perhaps?
Its a blah weekend.
Think I'm having the worst run of luck in recent weeks and there doesn't seem to be much letting up. A slight respite over the weekend (should try to stay at home more). Think I should go see a fortune teller or something. Maybe need to tweak the bed-facing a little. Or buy To-To?!??!
Anyone got a good one to reccommend that won't anyhow cross-sell me a truck load of elemental fengshui mumbo-jumbo?
Blah blah blah...
Family is an exclusive premium that we take all too much for granted almost always.
Economic conditions are getting worse. I think Citigroup is really going down (I'm not trying to start a bank run here). This is all too similar to the lead up to Lehman's collapse though the US gahmen will probably step in to bail it out. If you've got too much money in there, its time to take some out and put it in any other non-American bank right now.
I'm still hoping for another major leg down to unravel in the coming weeks. Maybe a little upside when Obama starts as President and Barry Lee announces the Budget 2009 (more goodies for us common folk please!) but afterthat when reporting season goes into full swing, we should see some major global downside.
Hang on to your cash, keep your family close, and hunker down in the office. Be safe, all.
And try to manage a smile whenever you can :)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Sunday, January 04, 2009
First Post Of 2009!
Here we go! Welcome to the new year everyone! Hopefully it'll be as good if not better for all who read this post!
Let's start off with Resolutions 2009! Somehow I came up with five three days ago but until now I can't remember what's the last one, so I've just replaced the fifth resolution haha. If I can't remember it then it might not be as important as I thought, no?
1) Eat healthier
More fruits, eat more breakfasts,and less fast food. Thats after watching the Mock-umentary, Super Size Me (I recommend that everyone should watch the show at least once). Probably the aim is to have fast food less than 4 times a week.
2) Improve level of exercise
I achieved my aim last year but this year we gotta take things up a notch. Exercise at least 3 times a week. The weekly corporate games are still there and the weekend soccer's still there, so that leaves time for one gym workout a week. 'Least I gotta do is make use of the gym more than just for after-work baths.
3) Spend more time with family
A married man is a family man. Less time partying outside and more time making home a warmer place than it currently is. Also more time with parents, siblings and in-laws. This calls for the entertainment room to become a reality!
4) Make more money from investments
Since the job now pays me a fixed salary, I can't expect to grow this aspect much. The other way to increase income is via investments. Hopefully 2009 will ring in good returns! Target to increase investment return by 100% by year end.
5) Less alcohol consumption
Beer is an acquired taste. And I have acquired a favourable taste for beer. Time to cut that down along with the hard liquor. Time to cut down the hardcore parties as well. Will try to party less than once a week = only one day a week of hard liquor consumption.
_________________________________________________________________________
My economic analysis for 2009
Looking forward, given the current economic situation and the brewing war in the Middle East, I figure things will still be bad for a while. There's probably gonna be another leg down for the stock markets before any signs of recovery. Most Q1 reporting will be quite dismal from the fallout of the credit crunch (even locally) so I think we're headed for another major selldown quite soon (in the next couple of weeks?).
Probably wanna stay away from property till after mid '09. Alot of talk that property prices will crash in 2009 given the huge supply and the pulling out of alot of hot money. Corporate cutbacks also mean firesales and less expats coming over to look for a place to rent. Alot of property companies also overbidded beyond their means to secure alot of enbloc sites, expect consolidation in this industry when they run out of money to develop these sites. Office rental to come down as well given the glut of office space. There's so much new space being built in Raffles Place but all I read about are companies pulling out or cutting down on staff here.
Still maintain that cash is king for now, but by Q2-Q3 can consider getting slowly back into the stock market. Look for companies with strong cashflow and as little debt. Think of what can survive over the next few years and go defensive (SingPost, ST Eng anyone?).
Asian currencies should get stronger. An escalation of war may power the USD, but it is still fundamentally weak. EUR which looked good when the USD was getting beaten up looks overvalued given its exposure to Eastern European drag. Expect alot of volatility. GBP may be abit oversold for now at 1.45. AUD and NZD looks to have limited downside, can consider getting some exposure given that they yield the highest interest rates of the Majors for now (AUD ~ 2+%, NZD ~ 3+%). Fixed deposits or a nice resort in Milford Sound isn't very expensive anymore.
__________________________________________________________________________
Just watched Bedtime Stories staring Adam Sandler. Didn't really like it. Not much in the news except for the turmoil in the Middle East and Thailand. Dunno how to continue business in Thailand if things are looking so bad. And the worst is probably not over.
Man U has its own cafe in Singapore down at Boat Quay! Will definitely go visit soon.
Nothing much has happened over Christmas and the new year. Spent it quietly with the wifey and the family.
Looking forward to buying a new TV and the XBox asap for the entertainment room!
Just bought a giant 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle and the wifey's spending alot of time on it! Gotta contribute abit though all I get to do are the boring parts like the plants and the brick wall :(
Let's start off with Resolutions 2009! Somehow I came up with five three days ago but until now I can't remember what's the last one, so I've just replaced the fifth resolution haha. If I can't remember it then it might not be as important as I thought, no?
1) Eat healthier
More fruits, eat more breakfasts,and less fast food. Thats after watching the Mock-umentary, Super Size Me (I recommend that everyone should watch the show at least once). Probably the aim is to have fast food less than 4 times a week.
2) Improve level of exercise
I achieved my aim last year but this year we gotta take things up a notch. Exercise at least 3 times a week. The weekly corporate games are still there and the weekend soccer's still there, so that leaves time for one gym workout a week. 'Least I gotta do is make use of the gym more than just for after-work baths.
3) Spend more time with family
A married man is a family man. Less time partying outside and more time making home a warmer place than it currently is. Also more time with parents, siblings and in-laws. This calls for the entertainment room to become a reality!
4) Make more money from investments
Since the job now pays me a fixed salary, I can't expect to grow this aspect much. The other way to increase income is via investments. Hopefully 2009 will ring in good returns! Target to increase investment return by 100% by year end.
5) Less alcohol consumption
Beer is an acquired taste. And I have acquired a favourable taste for beer. Time to cut that down along with the hard liquor. Time to cut down the hardcore parties as well. Will try to party less than once a week = only one day a week of hard liquor consumption.
_________________________________________________________________________
My economic analysis for 2009
Looking forward, given the current economic situation and the brewing war in the Middle East, I figure things will still be bad for a while. There's probably gonna be another leg down for the stock markets before any signs of recovery. Most Q1 reporting will be quite dismal from the fallout of the credit crunch (even locally) so I think we're headed for another major selldown quite soon (in the next couple of weeks?).
Probably wanna stay away from property till after mid '09. Alot of talk that property prices will crash in 2009 given the huge supply and the pulling out of alot of hot money. Corporate cutbacks also mean firesales and less expats coming over to look for a place to rent. Alot of property companies also overbidded beyond their means to secure alot of enbloc sites, expect consolidation in this industry when they run out of money to develop these sites. Office rental to come down as well given the glut of office space. There's so much new space being built in Raffles Place but all I read about are companies pulling out or cutting down on staff here.
Still maintain that cash is king for now, but by Q2-Q3 can consider getting slowly back into the stock market. Look for companies with strong cashflow and as little debt. Think of what can survive over the next few years and go defensive (SingPost, ST Eng anyone?).
Asian currencies should get stronger. An escalation of war may power the USD, but it is still fundamentally weak. EUR which looked good when the USD was getting beaten up looks overvalued given its exposure to Eastern European drag. Expect alot of volatility. GBP may be abit oversold for now at 1.45. AUD and NZD looks to have limited downside, can consider getting some exposure given that they yield the highest interest rates of the Majors for now (AUD ~ 2+%, NZD ~ 3+%). Fixed deposits or a nice resort in Milford Sound isn't very expensive anymore.
__________________________________________________________________________
Just watched Bedtime Stories staring Adam Sandler. Didn't really like it. Not much in the news except for the turmoil in the Middle East and Thailand. Dunno how to continue business in Thailand if things are looking so bad. And the worst is probably not over.
Man U has its own cafe in Singapore down at Boat Quay! Will definitely go visit soon.
Nothing much has happened over Christmas and the new year. Spent it quietly with the wifey and the family.
Looking forward to buying a new TV and the XBox asap for the entertainment room!
Just bought a giant 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle and the wifey's spending alot of time on it! Gotta contribute abit though all I get to do are the boring parts like the plants and the brick wall :(
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