Lost

Played around with the blog template. Wanted to try a new one. Getting bored with the old one I guess. Ended up lost. Don't know how to update because the new template don't show how. It took quite a while before I found the way. What a frustrating time. Anyway I'm okay now!

Big games coming

I watch the All Blacks vs France match on TV. Thought the All Blacks were a bit nervous the first few minutes. They were defending most of the time with the French dominant and attacking. Somehow, a lucky break saw the All blacks scoring a try against the run of play. That calmed the nerves. After that there was only one winner. Can't wait for the World Cup to get to the knockout stage where the big teams will play each other. They will make for intruiging matches.

Shawal in KL

This is the last weekend of Shawal. From what I've heard, the roads were jam yesterday and today as well. Everybody busy driving to open houses everywhere. I don't know about other countries or even outside of KL but this is the tradition over here. For those trying to do the six days of fasting in Shawal, it really is a challenge especially for those working. Almost everyday there are invitations. Thank God I'm retired......

Another day of mayhem

Stock markets all over the world are taking a beating. As I'm writing, the Dow is down by over three hundred and fifty points while earlier in Europe, losses were as much as 4%. Don't know how the market in Japan, Hong Kong and more importantly Malaysia will react come morning. Looks like it will be another day of mayhem. Meanwhile, I'm waiting......just waiting....... to strike. Wow! some ambition!

Food for Shawal

As have been the tradition, Hari Raya is celebrated for a month in KL. Throughout the month of Shawal, there'll be open houses everywhere, especially so during weekends. At the offices, every department will be having their own open houses. So, for the whole month, its food, food and more food. Sometimes I just worry a bit, healthwise!

Sick for a day

Woke up yesterday morning, feeling sick and body aching all over. To make it worse, I had two appointments for the day, both of which needed to be done. By the time I'm done, I was feeling so bad I could hardly walk. Took some medicine after visiting the doctor and rest in bed for the rest of the day. By night time, I regained my appetite. Come this morning, I'm back to my normal self! Alhamdulillah.

Market woes

Its downhill all the way. I have a feeling this trend will continue for quite a while. Perhaps it will reach the thousand mark by the end of the year. I don't see any positive indicators anywhere in the world at the moment. Everywhere, its bad news as Europe struggles to contain the problem in Greece while in the US, it is not much better. As for me, maybe its time to take a closer look at our market! Bargains could be just around the corner!

Hooray.......no haze

On a clear day, you can see........KLCC

Stock monitoring

Years ago, monitoring stocks on the market was a hassle. The broker's office was the only way of monitoring the prices. The phone was the other alternative but it was not attractive as the phone can prove to be frustrating. However, these days, monitoring is easy as ABC. Its available anytime you want it....on your laptop.

No way out

Everyday I'm reading that the world economy is tottering on its feet. It cannot sustain the way countries are spending their borrowed money away. They might end up defaulting on their payment. There have to be a determined effort to cut spending, go on an austerity drive. But doing so will only make it worse. People will be out of job, there'll be less money to spent, businesses will suffer etc. etc. So what's the way out?

Two for one

The ISA is going to be abolished! Done away! For good. Wow! I could hardly believed it when I first read the news. Must be one brave act by the government to do such a thing but wait. Yes....it will be abolished but it will be replaced by two new acts. What? Why? This is really mind boggling.

A lot of nothing

I attended a seminar on property recently. Thought it would give me more insight on how the property market is doing, prospects for the future, investment opportunities etc etc. As it turned out, I got almost next to nothing. If I want to know more, it will be at another program where this time I will have to pay a hefty sum to get in....sigh....

Buy low, sell high

I have been watching the market with interest lately. Prices are going down, down, down. Analysts are predicting this trend will continue for quite sometime yet. Economic woes from US to Europe to everywhere else are certainly not helping. I'm just watching at the moment. Who knows? With prices racing south without any brake in sight, some stock might just be ripe for the picking. I might do a Warren Buffet, buy low sell high! hi...hi.... dream on.........

Ten years on

Memories of September 11 2001 has been dominating the media since a week ago. Its been ten years since it happened. What do I remember of that day? Not much except I remember turning to CNN and suddenly saw this building on fire, almost collapsing. Later on I learned that a plane has crashed into it. Not long after, the building collapsed. It was a spetacular sight, something extra ordinary, almost unbelieveable! I remained glued to the TV for hours after that, watching as the event unfolded.

Closing the gap

South Africa beat Wales by the skin of their teeth. France had a scare against Japan. England win through tries late in the match. Australia only beat Italy in the second half. Even the All Blacks don't look very convincing against Tonga. The favourites are finding the going tough in their opening matches. Scoring a try is not that easy anymore. Lets hope it continue this way. It will definitely make the tournament more intresting.

Morning of 1st Shawal - after the prayer

KLCC....where are you?

Hazy days

The haze is definitely getting worse. From where I'm sitting, KLCC should be visible but not today. I can only see white smoke or smog or cloud or whatever you call it. Terrible. Seems like nowadays, we get this haze every year without fail.

History is for the victorious

The current controversy over Mat Indera only serve to remind us that histories are written by the victors. More often than not, they glorify the victors while the defeated are forgotten. Worse, they often ended up as the wrong side, labelled as rebels, communist, traitors or whatever. For all we know, it is they who are on the right side. That's why when reading about history, Islam for example, I like to read books that go against the grain. These books tend to give you more detail, telling it from different perspectives, opening up your mind to new possibilities.

Para Pencari Tuhan

I have been following the Indonesian TV series, Para Pencari Tuhan since it was first shown on TV last year. At first I paid no heed to it but after a while, I got hooked. Now, I try to watch it whenever I can. Its a comedy yet it teaches you about Islam. I guess it must be very popular cause it ran to four series although over here, they are only showing the third series.

Investment options

Property makes good investment but the past one year, prices have sky rocketed so high that I believe a correction is imminent. So its not a good time to buy property. The stock market is also on the way down after being on a high for so long. So that eliminate stocks. Unit trust is not attractive cause its too slow moving. Gold? Also on the way down. So what then? Put your money under your pillow!

World Cup in New Zealand

Can't wait to watch the Rugby World Cup which is starting very soon in New Zealand. In fact as I'm writing now, the first match is hours away from starting. The All Blacks will have a lot to prove this time. Consistently rated no 1 in the world, playing on home soil, there's no excuse anymore if they don't win it this time!

Fasting in Shawal

On the fourth day of fasting in Shawal, Alhamdulillah. Been dragging my feet on when to start actually. Every year its the same. To get started is the problem. I prefer to start early, from the second day of raya but off course that is not always possible. Once started, I also prefer to do it in one go, six days straight. So, Insha Allah, in two days I will complete it for this year. Next year, now that's another story.

Living the healthy life

Now that Ramadhan is over, I need to start my jogging again. I will complete my six days of fasting in the month of Shawal, Insha Allah and then it will be all system go. The seventy year old man who became the oldest man to swim the English channel recently has given me the impetus to continue with my fitness regime. I will not be so ambitious off course. Just enough so that I remain fit and healthy, that's all.

One month of raya

Its already the sixth day of Raya. KL folks must be back in town, ready for work come Monday. As usual, the Raya celebrations in KL will continue throughout the month of Shawal. Weekends and even weekdays will be full of invitations to open houses. Like it or not, looks like the stomach is going to have to work real hard, taking in all the food served on the table.

Umrah vs giving

I used to be critical of people who go to Makkah repeatedly to do the Umrah. To me, once is enough (to do the Haj) cause that is a must. Anything more is putting your money at the wrong place. Instead of spending say RM5000 to do the Umrah, why not give it to the needy. Isn't it 'wajib' to help the poor while it is only 'sunat' to do the Umrah second, third or more times. Anyway, after doing the Umrah recently, I'm not so sure now. The call of the Kaabah is too strong. The feeling of wanting to be there time and again is difficult to resist.......

Morning prayer

As usual, the mosques will be filled to the brim for the Raya prayer. What an irony cause in terms of religious obligation, it is not obligatory. You can do it if you want. You can also not do it if you don't want. If only the crowd is like that for the five daily obligatory prayers. wow!

Its a different raya

Talk about wanting to do something different during Hari Raya because year in, year out it has been the same old thing. Morning prayer and then visit relatives around KL. By night time, its back home, tired and worned out. Its been six years of the same thing. Well, this year, its an entirely different Raya for me. Different in every which way yo can imagine......