Cannot do without the computer

When I looked at the clock, its already 12 noon. That means I have been sitting in front of my computer for almost three hours. Sure I took a break every now and then to go to the loo, watch TV, read the papers but the three hours were mostly spent in front of the computer. Looks like I have joined the millions of people who have become computer junkies. I wonder how we managed to get by when there was no computer!

Congratulations

The third in my family to obtain a degree. This one from UIA, accounting degree. All the years of toil and hard work boils down to just one thing. The Degree. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.

Thinking of another trip?

Retirement age

I read with wonder that the retirement age in England is sixty five. I'm even more astonished that this age is going to be raised to sixty seven by 2026. Chances are it would be raised higher till seventy as life expectancy further increases. Wow! Working till you're seventy. Unbelievable. I worked till I was fifty five and I found that hard enough. To have to go on for another ten years......

Its anybody's guess

What a roller coaster ride it was. The Euro swing from high to low to high to low throughout the day. I'm sure many a trader must have had their heartbeat beating faster that they can count their money. Rumours of a breakthrough in the Euro crisis pushed up the markets worldwide. Alas, the market back home was closed so we missed out that rally. Hopefully, today, the rally will continue. As for the Euro, its anybody's guess!

Life is

You can never anticipate what life has in store for you. All you can do is to make do the best you can, whatever the situation. For example, once retired, I thought I would be 'winding down'. Life then would be about reaping the fruits of the past thirty years, enjoying it while slowly riding into the sunset. But God has other plan for me! Yes, my life changed after retirement but in ways I could never have anticipated. Still, I am grateful to God....grateful to God.....

Never stop learning

I thought my days of attending seminars and workshops are over once I retired. How wrong can I be cause in the last few weeks I have been attending workshops and seminars like nobody's business. The only difference is this time I attend them because I want to, not because I have to. One workshop I attended went from morning right till eleven at night! Wow! Anyway, I'm learning new things and picking up new skills. The learning never stops.

Euro on the brink

What is going to happen to the Euro? The contagion is fast spreading, with no respite in sight. Greece, Italy, Spain and possibly France. Even Germany couldn't find enough buyers for their bonds recently! Is a collapse imminent? It was unthinkable just a few months ago but now, it is a real possibility. The next few months will be intresting.........
Meantime, I'm taking a short ride on the Euro

The New Assembly law again

I don't understand how there can be two totally different views on the proposed new Assembly law. We have the opposition saying it is even more oppressive than the present law. On the other hand, the government MPs are full of praise for the new law. They say it is progressive, the way to go forward. However, if even the laws in Myanmar can give more freedom when compared to ours, then I must say we are actually making a few steps backward.

New Assembly Law

Been reading on some of the comments made on the proposed new Assembly law. Seems like the new law is going to be worse than the present one. It will give more powers to the police and place more restrictions on freedom of assembly. So, where is the promise of greater freedom then?

Tahrir square again

Egypt is stirring again. Eight months after the revolution, the people are unhappy because it seems that their revolution is going nowhere. The army is still in control, just like before. The leaders are still the same group of people, just like before. After the euphoria of the revolution, eight months on, things are still more or less the same, just like before. So, its back to Tahrir square!

The world in trouble

Us of A is in trillions of debts. They are struggling to contain it. Europe is in trouble. One by one, the countries in Eurozone are facing up to the fact that their debts are becoming unsustainable. Germany remains strong but for how long? Japan has long been in trouble, unable to get out of the rut they are in. Meantime, China is booming and so is Indonesia. Malaysia?

Malaysia to win

Who will win tonight? Malaysia or Indonesia. The way I see it, if Malaysia play the way they can, they will win. The Indonesia supporters will intimidate them while the importance of the occasion will get to their nerves. They need to snuff out all of these, get on with the game, play their normal self, follow instructions. They can do it!

Amazing

I read in the papers about a house that has been broken into eight times in the last two years. It is unbelievable. After the last break in, the owners have had enough. They will be moving out. I am amazed that they have waited so long. To me one break in is one too many. I'd be looking to move out of the house immediately. Off course, it is not so simple but twice would be the last straw.

Just Another Day

Woke up in the morning feeling lethargic. Perhaps it's because I have not jog for about two weeks already. Getting lazy I guess. Need to start jogging again before my body gets even lazier.
Went to a friend wedding do at Ampang this afternoon, his son wedding actually. We were college and university mate from our days in England. Was hoping to meet more of them from those days but unfortunately I had to leave early for another appointment.
Went to Damansara after that to hear a talk on financial investment opportunities. The talk was very convincing. Don't know if it really work in reality.
Came back watch the football match between Malaysia and Myanmar live on TV. Malaysia won 1-0 and will be in the final. Tonight there'll be more football matches, the Premier League.

Safe Investment

The last few weeks I have been looking at the financial opportunities available. There are so many of them like gold, properties, stocks, unit thrust, forex, land etc. etc. Some of the investment options are so attractive it makes you wonder if this is another Pak Man Telo in the making while others carry with them risks as all investment do. Buy stocks if you have the time. Otherwise just buy unit thrust. Buying oversea land is attractive but it takes a long time to bear fruit. Properties is okay but is not so liquid. The fastest is forex trading but the risk is also fast and high. So, what is the best type of investment? It depend on your risk appetite....

Exciting possibilities

Many people thought the general election will be held this December. It didn't. Now people are speculating that it will be in May/April next year. I believe it will be sometime next year but not before the reform committee has finished their work. Otherwise, a tsunami in the name of Bersih 3.0 will happen, which will certainly be a setback for the ruling party. Anyway, these are exciting days. For the first time, there are possibilities........a change in government maybe?

Kaput

Yesterday my Astro went blank. Normally if it rain it will do this but I didn't see any rain this time. Don't know what cause it but it sure wasn't working. With no TV, I on my computer to do some reading but guess what! There's no internet! Damn.........

Living the life

These days I spent my time doing things I enjoy doing. Its a luxury most people don't have. I was one of them. From ever since I can remember, it was schooling, then university, then working. Sure, they're different things at different period of my life but they all have one thing in common. There were deadlines to meet, KPIs to achieve while there never seem to be enough time. How different things are now! Its a life to live!

World in crisis

The world is so intertwined that the crisis playing out in Italy is felt the world over. A drop in the Dow Jones will surely caused the KLCI to drop as well. Since 2008, talk of world recession has gone on unabated. Why have we come to this situation? Its people living beyond their mean! Countries living beyond their mean! Borrow, borrow and more borrowing. Until you can't pay. Not so long ago it was USA. Last week it was Greece. Now its Italy. I don't know what's next.

How lucky can you get!

How lucky can some people be. They get millions of dollars in loan from the government to do business. Two hundred and fifty million in fact. With that amount of money, I will be a rich man beyond my dream!

Absolute mayhem

The problem in Italy is now full blown. Its absolute mayhem at the market last night in Europe and US. I'm expecting a bruising day this morning at the Asian markets. Seems to me the people in Europe are clueless on how to solve their problem. Germany is the one country that can help. It has done some but people are expecting more. Meanwhile, the market is going south. For those brave enough, this is a good time to find easy pickings.

Smoking Joe

I know Joe Frazier mainly because of his three fights with Muhammad Ali. The fights were legendary. The whole country, if not the world, were captivated. The roads deserted, offices stop working, all because people were glued to their television set watching the fight. Because of the popularity of Muhammad Ali, to most people, Joe Frazier was mainly the villain. I remember the fight in Manila especially, for its ferocity and brutality. The 'Thrilla in Manila' as Ali would called it. Those were the days when boxing captured the world, the heavyweight division that is. Today I hardly know who is champion!

Danau Maninjau

View from Pak Hamka's birthplace

The Kaabah and me

Makkah

Terrible display

Saw the Malaysia vs Singapore football match yesterday. At one time I felt so bored I almost fell asleep. They had difficulty controlling the ball, what more to put more than two passes together. On this display, we still have a long way to go before we can match the likes of Japan and Korea. Looks like the World Cup is a very long long way away.

Who's next

Brought my car to the workshop to replace the break pads. Since then been waiting for it to be done. Getting bored waiting while they do the repair. While the Greek problem is more or less stabilised, the Italian problem is beginning to rear its ugly head. This, I read, is going to be an even bigger one. Wow! One by one, they are showing up. I wonder who's next? France?

Aidil Adha

Hari Raya Aidil Adha is not celebrated on a big scale, unlike Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. For most people, including me, the day come and go without much activity. Early in the morning I went to the mosque for the 'sunnat' prayer. After that I was in the house doing nothing much. Nevertheless, my heart goes to the millions of pilgrims in Mekah. They are now in the midst of the 'Haj' ritual, which started yesterday with the 'wukuf' in Arafah. May God bless them all.

That's life

Somebody knocked into my car a few days ago. As a result, one side of the car is dented with scratches here and there. Then last night while driving, a signal appeared, telling me by brake pads are worn out. Sigh......looks like my pocket will be some ringgit lighter.

New toy

After more than three years with my net book, I have bought a new, faster and bigger laptop. Its heavier but not so much. The battery can also last longer. Just what I like. My daily activities now involves a lot of computer use. My new laptop will certainly help.

Debts

Germany was a powerhouse before, conquering Europe with its army. Now, its conquering Europe with its money. Of all the Euro zone countries, Germany is the most stable, financially off course. Greece is in trouble, unable to pay their debt. Euro will help, with a lot of it coming from Germany but with a condition. Greece will have to go on an unpopular austerity drive, driving more people out of work and out of money. But what can it do.....there's no other alternative!
What about us? Our debts are increasing, at a pace so rapid its frightening!

Euro woes again

I looked at the unemployed figures for the young in Europe....its scary. Spain 48%, Greece, 42%, Italy 30%.... No wonder they are all worried. Greece is number thirty two in the world economy league but what is happening in Greek have implications far beyond that number. The world is suffering. Latest, the referendum is off after some hard twisting from Germany and France but who knows what will happened tomorrow!

Crazy

First it was thought they had problem finding a solution to the Euro debt crisis. Then a deal was announced. Everybody went home happy, thinking that it is finally being solved. Then, all of a sudden, Greece wanted to have a referendum on their problem. That jolted everybody out of their slumber. Wow! Never ending problem. Meanwhile, markets all over the world go crazy, depending on what the news is for the day. What it does for my heart need not be said.........