Being punctual

For as long as I can remember, I have always been punctual. That has been me from small till now but that also has been and still is my problem because most of time, I am the only one on time. Others are late. What is worse is they feel nothing about it. It is normal. So, most of the time, I am made to wait. I would make sure I arrive on time only to be disappointed because the other party is nowhere to be seen. Its frustrating! If only we can changed this rubber time of ours.

Time keeping

Yesterday, very early in the morning I was already on the road. I had an appointment at eight in the morning. To avoid the morning jam, I left my house at 6.45am, just like I used to when I was still among the work force. I reached my destination by 7.30am. After taking my breakfast, I was ready for the appointment. As usual, I waited and ....... waited and...... waited. The person I was to meet only arrived at ten past nine. Sigh.....

Emerging market

Every time I read about emerging markets, Indonesia will always be mentioned as one of them. The country is a favourite of investors for the moment. Don't be surprised if the country emerged as the new economic frontier in the next decade. Vietnam has lost its lustre while China, India, Brazil and Russia has reached their pinnacle already. They are not expected to expand much further, at least not in the scale seen before. Malaysia? Political and market reform need to take place first.

2011

A lot of things happened in 2011.
My number one disaster for the year has to be the earthquake followed by a tsunami followed by a near nuclear meltdown that happened in Japan. The fight to prevent a nuclear horror was certainly one of the greatest human stories of the year.
2011 was also the year of the Arab spring. Who would have thought that a death of one person would trigger a reaction that reverberated throughout the Arab world. It is still being felt even now with Syria the latest country under siege. I'm sure it won't be the last.
The sporting event of the year must be the Rugby World Cup with New Zealand deserving winners after twenty four heartbreaking years. Favourites every time but fail when it matters. This time they come good.
As for me, 2011 is the year to remember for ...........

Didn't I say so

Didn't I say so! The market went up although not as high as I expected. Nevertheless, it broke through the 1500 barrier. That's definitely a good sign. As I'm writing, the markets in Europe are all positive. We are still waiting for the market in the US of A to open in a few hours time as well as some important figures that are due. Whatever, I believe the good times are here, at least until the new year. Tomorrow I am anticipating another good day. Cheers!

A good day today

I'm expecting the market to be up today. Boxing day sales in England has been brisk despite the tube strike. Earlier, John Lewis, the biggest retailer in Britain reported a surge in sales during the run up to Christmas. These plus the fact that markets in Europe and US closed in positive territory just before the holidays add up to my optimism. It will be a good day today.

Its a passion

Its been almost four years since I first started blogging. When I started I never thought I would last this long. It was just something I wanted to do as every other people were doing it. Besides, starting a blog is as easy as one two three. Today, almost four years later, I'm still blogging. It is kind of an outlet for me. I write what I want to write. Even if nobody reads them, it is not my concern. As long as the passion remains, I will continue blogging.

A story to tell

The final of the TV reality series 'Solehah' was really something. Some of the finalists moved me to tears with their presentation. Yesterday I watch a movie on TV. Again tears flowed freely from my eyes. Somehow nowadays, I'm easily moved. Perhaps as one gets older, this is normal because it never happened to me before. Or perhaps its because of the emotional experiences that one acquire as one goes through life. A story to tell, a scar so deep, an event etched forever in the heart. Like everybody else, I have had my share too.

The year that was

Nobody saw the phenomena now known as the Arab spring coming. It brought down four governments. Nobody foresee the money woes that would affect the Euro zone countries at the beginning of the year. It also brought down four governments. Nobody thought there would mass protest in Russia. How will this story play out? All these happened in 2011. What have 2012 in store for us? I really can't wait to know.

Trading in oil

Investing in equities is risky especially now when markets all over the world are struggling. What more when predictions for next year are all negative. 2012 is going to be a difficult year economically. So, where can you put your money? Arts? Gold? Properties? How about trading in oil? Some are predicting it will hit 150US dollars! Why? Iraq is in turmoil. Just one week without the US army, the political tension is rising while the killing mayhem has started again. In addition there's Iran with its nuclear ambition, Saudi Arabia possibly facing a belated Arab spring while Libya is still recovering. All these factors will push up the oil price higher. Sure?

Its nothing

I don't understand what's all this fuss about bringing down a picture. The way they say it, it is as if an illegal act or a great sin has been committed. Funny the way some people see it. To me it is nothing but a spontaneous act that happened in the heat of the moment. Why...they even had the courtesy to put the picture back! I don't see much wrong in it. Juts a few students who got overzealous, that's all.

What a strange wolrd

A psychopath of a mother killed two of her daughters with the help of her two sons. A daughter lost during the tsunami came back out of the blue after seven long years. A man was caught for stealing women stockings. Apparently he has a craving for it. There are hundreds or thousands more of these kind of stories. What a strange world this is. Perhaps that's why it is only temporary. The permanent life is in the hereafter.

Finding the consistency

After a long time, I am now finding the consistency again in my exercise routine. I used to jog every other day. Then I got lost a bit, jogging only once or twice a week or sometime not at all. This went on for almost eight months, since my retirement to be exact but now I am back to doing it every other day. I will try to maintain this consistency for as long as I can. Nothing beats the healthy feeling after a good jog.

Retirement has its advantages

Among them, enjoying a quiet read ........on a lazy afternoon

Time waits for nobody

I thought time would pass by at a snail's pace once in retirement. I would while away the time reading the newspaper, watching the TV and surfing the internet while fighting away the boredom of the days that would be slow, long and dragging. How wrong was I. For all I know, time seems to move at just the same pace now, if not faster. Tomorrow is Friday already while it seems only yesterday I was performing the last Friday prayer. Soon, the new year is upon us already. Wow! Come to think of it, its frightening sometime the way time moves. Just like what the Quran says.

Highways that are highways

Some highways are really worth their money. Guthrie for example. Then there's Duke. They make driving a breeze in busy Klang valley. My life become a lot simpler using these highways. I'm sure there are a few others that have the same effect. On the flip side, there are highways that doesn't do much to help alleviate the traffic congestion. They just increase our traveling cost but doesn't make the travelling any easier.

Pathetic!

I don't understand some people. They make public statement criticising their own party knowing full well that what they are doing will certainly be ammunition for the opposition. Yet they say they love their party and want to continue staying in the party. How pathetic! If you don't agree with the way the party is going, just go. Nobody will cry for you.

Have I missed something?

Yesterday, the Dow Jones finished in positive territory. Very much so. Earlier, Europe was also all positive. This morning, from New Zealand to Australia to Japan to Hong Kong to China to Malaysia, everywhere it is positive. What triggered these reversals? Have I missed something? Hope this trend continues till the new year.

Terrible

I don't like going to shopping malls during the school holidays, even on weekdays. Its too crowded. On weekends, it is worse. Parking is another problem. Finding one will take at least half an hour. Terrible. Yesterday I had to go to one for an appointment. Sure enough, parking was a problem. Inside the mall just as I had expected. Swarming with people!

I predict

I predict the general elections will be held next year. I predict the opposition will win more seats than the ruling coalition in the peninsula. I predict the opposition will still find it hard in Sarawak and Sabah. However, I predict a new government will be formed in the country.

Could China be next?

China's growth over the last ten years have been nothing less than phenomenal. As a result, it is now an economic powerhouse, overtaking Japan as the second biggest economy in the world. Only the US of A is bigger. But recent figures have been worrying, if you read Paul Krugman. Signs of strain are showing in its economic armour. Japan, USA and now Europe. Could China be next?

A great mosque

I have been to the Sultan Salahuddin mosque in Shah Alam a few times. What impressed me most about the mosque is the hive of activity that goes on there. Day, evening, night, even after the Isya prayers, the activities continue unlike others where everything shuts down after nine at night. During the school holidays, the mosque is crowded with schoolchildren from the very young to the teen age attending one kind of program or another. The mosque is also wired, I mean free Wi Fi is available throughout the mosque. There'a also a foodcourt within the mosque compound. Its a great mosque. A nice place to relax and unwind.

Out of this world

How do you play against an opponent who don't give you the ball? That's what Santos discovered when they played Barcelona. Barcelona had so much possession its a joke! Santos were totally outplayed. For Barcelona, possession is the name of the game. Its a simple philosophy. The opponent can't harm you if they don't have the ball. How long will Barcelona domination continue? I bet it won't be long cause Maurinho will surely find a way to play them.... soon.

Escaping the traffic

When driving around KL, I always try to find the route that I think will give me the least hassle in term of traffic congestion. In other word, no jam. If I have to drive a few kilometres extra, so be it. If I have to pay extra toll, so be it. What is important is I get to my destination faster because of no jam. It was this attitude that saved me last week when some parts of KL was flooded. Otherwise it would have curtains......for sure.

Neymar, the new superstar?

Brazil have been producing great footballers for as long as we can remember. Everybody have heard about Pele, the greatest of them all. Then there's Zico, Ronaldo, Socrates, Rivaldo, just to name a few. Now there's a new name on the horizon. He is Neymar. Just nineteen years old but already a superstar. Will he be as great as the rest of them? Only time will tell.

I'm quiting .... for a while

I have decided to take a break from trading for a while. The tension is proving to be too much for me. I can feel the blood pressure rising. Its not good for my health. Its even worse than when I was working, the tension I mean. In retirement I need to relax and take it easy, not getting involved in something akin to a pressure cooker. I don't know how those traders can do it. Me.....I'm getting out, at least for a while.

Reinventing myself

After spending all of my working life as an engineer in a utility company, reinventing myself into a market trader is really tough going. I have to learn new skills while immersing myself into a different kind of environment and try to make sense of what is happening in the financial world. Equity, bond, forex are some of the familiar ones. Tankan survey, non farm payroll, treasury yields, libor rates are the Greek ones for me. Perhaps that's why my blood pressure has been borderline lately.

Price of oil

I thought the price of oil would shoot up because of the worry over Iran. It did go up for a few hours but yesterday it was down and down and down. Many amateur traders I'm sure would be caught by this changed of direction. Apparently OPEC had a meeting yesterday. Member countries agreed to increase production to counter for this worry plus also Libya continued shortfall. Will it remain at this level?

Still crowded

With gloomy news everywhere, you would think the shopping malls would be empty of shoppers but no! I was at Mid Valley last week. The place was teeming with people. Parking was a hassle. I had to go round and round until I finally found one half an hour later. People are still buying or are they just window shopping?

Hopes

Everybody knows the general election is near when the road in front of the house suddenly gets redone, the street lamps start to function and the government starts dishing out all kind of money, never mind if its pittance, even as it waste billions elsewhere. Will the people finally see through the folly of it all? I hope so.

Latest me

A public holiday

Yesterday I went to the bank to do some payment. To my surprised, the bank was closed. How can this be! For a while I don't know what to make of it. For a fleeting moment, it even crossed my mind that perhaps this branch of the bank is closing down for good. I saw a guard nearby and asked. He said its a public holiday, that's why its closed. What? A public holiday? That's what retirement has done to me. I hardly can tell if its a weekend or a weekday, what more a public holiday!

What to do?

The Samsung Note has really caught my eye if for nothing else but its size. Not too big and not too small. It would be just perfect for me. The only problem is I already have a Samsung Galaxy II. Otherwise I would surely have bought the 'Note'. My experienced with Samsung phone has only been good. I also like the android platform that they use.

Its a long dark tunnel

Yesterday the market was up a bit. Today I'm sure it will be in the red once again.Why? Cause last night Europe and US were all down. No matter what they try to do in Europe, the market is still not impressed. I can see a long, long dark tunnel ahead with no light at the end of it.

Up up and away

All the markets in Europe finished in positive territory last night. The Dow Jones also advanced. Are we going to see the same in Asia come Monday? Its about time we see get some relief. It has been terrible the last few weeks. Has Europe finally solved its problem?

A warning

My doctor said retirement has not been good for me. I've put on weight while my blood pressure is unusually high. Too much of the easy life. He suggested I start working again to get my adrenaline active. I was given three months to put my health back on track or he will have to provide some remedy.

The saga continues

Three times before MAS went through revamps because of losses. All were unsuccessful because now it is in yet another revamp, the fourth in a decade. Every time there's a revamp, one of the thing they say they will do is to stop flying unprofitable routes. This latest revamp is no different. The question is, why are there still unprofitable routes when they should have been done away with in the previous revamps?

One crowd too many

I was at Mid Valley yesterday for an appointment. Wow! The place was swarming with people. Parking was next to impossible. I had to drive round and round for almost half an hour before finding one. Then I remember. Its the school holidays off course. It makes me wonder. The big mega malls are pulling in the crowd but are they spending?

Clueless

I am tired of hearing about the Euro zone. Everyday I hear about its trouble. Everyday I also hear about what is being done to solve the problem. Yet, everyday the news is not getting better. Is it so difficult to solve it? Perhaps they haven't a clue. That's why they have been clutching at straws!

Time is.....

Why is it when things can go wrong, they go wrong. Why can't for once they go right? It really is tough when things are not going your way. Life then becomes a struggle but as always, time is the greatest healer. Just bear it out, keep your faith in God. Everything will be all right.

Everything will be okay

Its been two years since Tiger Wood won anything. I didn't realise it has been that long. Seems only yesterday when he was involved in the accident that triggered the start of his troubles. It was downhill from there on. Looking back, time for sure is the best healer, for anything and everything. Just bear it out. Over time, everything will be okay.

Almost a hurricane

The wind was very strong. The rain continuous. The road was slippery for sure. To make it worse, fallen trees branches and leaves were scattered all over. For once, I thought a hurricane was brewing. Thank God it was not that bad although the papers today contained stories of cars crushed under fallen trees. Still, it was frightening while it was happening.

Green green grass of home

A Wedding in the Kampong

This senior citizen having a good time belting out a song. Who cares if my singing is in tune or not. The important thing is I'm having a good time.

Highway moves

It rained all the way to Seremban yesterday. Luckily traffic was moving although slow but on the way back to KL, traffic was at a standstill everywhere. I made it back home in good time but after some highway maneuverings. I moved from KL Seremban highway to NKVE via the KLIA highway, then to the Federal highway, to Duke highway, to MMR2, all the time running away from the jam.

I love the green

Not my cup of tea

Although I was not interested in the going on at the PWTC recently, I can't help but noticed it since it was given a lot of publicity. From what I can see, the election is nearing as the speeches were all geared towards it. I don't agree with most if not all that were said. I cannot understand the logic nor the thinking behind it. They seem so out of place......

Suddenly Sick

Last night I suddenly fell sick. Don't know what caused it. I didn't do anything different. I remember drinking a cup of coffee before that but I have been drinking coffee all my life. Never been sick because of coffee! Before that I was lying on the bed with the fan at full blast. Could this be the reason? Then again I have never been sick because of the fan!