Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Signz can I just quit soon?

That's like something that is at the back of my mind whenever crap appears in work. Again nothing related to the actual teaching or pupils or marking. It is another admin crap that arises and that really gets me thinking again of this question. Cos its draining, stressful to have unrealistic tasks dumped upon and later have to sit through tonnes more of crap. All these crap just drains me.

It left me very very tired like now. Last nite after the movie, went home by bus. Before that was already very very tired. Perked up after eating the food in the theatre. The movie was quite light and insightful esp to the credit card problems of working women. Anyway I reached home, went online to check stock market and lastly practiced a bit of guitar. It was near 1am when I climbed into bed. I remembered putting on hazeline on my face and then just laid down to rest my tired eyes. The next thing I know, I woke up around 5am to find that I had fallen asleep without switching off the light. Switched it off and went back to bed.

Today is another long day. Its kinda stressful and irritating cos of the above problem stated that left me stoned, empty after. I ask myself many time, is it worth it? The pay? The hours? The effort The frustration and irritation? Mainly not for stuff related to actual teaching.

Continued for my 2 weekly swims in a bid to lower my weight further. Didnt feel up to it initially but exercise is a good way to de-stress. Though the medium pool was crowded with lots of adults learning swimming. Did manage to swim my 12 laps, and again doing it quickly so that I can get out without squeezing with the rest. Again finishing up around 45mins later. Headed home to eat out cos parents are still in msia and my sisters and I are home-alone with one another.

By now finished updating the stocks. The initial drop on Monday, yesterday has recovered to Friday levels. Hope it can keep rising past some resistance level so that I can start realizing gains as they hit investment targets asap. Wishing fervently that I can make big gains so that I can rely less on conventional work instead.

Later I am going to play some guitar. Lemme recover my 'chi' level a bit with stoning infront of the tv first.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Almost a "New" guitar

Yep this weekend has been a bit short for me. Mainly cos I spent half of Sat doing work at workplace. Cos I couldnt dabao home to do, surely not done plus urgent. Though I did clear some marking, 1.5 stacks. Tom going in a bit earlier to clear it up.
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The rest of the Saturday was spent travelling home, eating lunch and buying 4D on the way home to bring out my guitar. I wanted to bring it down to be re-stringed. Found the shop, asked the opening hours and rates liao. So just get it over and done with. Also wanted to enquire if the strings could be lowered more down to the fret, cos I couldnt bar chords at the 7th fret onwards.

I travelled down with Geoky, her heading to watch ManHunt, which she later saw a very shuai judge. She told me later she was staring at the judge instead of the contestant.

Okay so I headed down to the shop and to my pleasant surprise, the guy could lower the strings by filing away part of the grooves at both the top and bottom part of the guitar where the strings are at. The cost is okay, $30. If it can be done, I dont have to buy a new guitar. So its definitely affordable for me.

Plus several years back, I had the guitar adjusted once for $25 I think. So that brought the strings closer but still not close enough to match the ones I used in the music school. In fact those are under Maestro brand and its so easy to press that I had thought they had stringed nylon strings instead of metal strings to the acoustic guitar. Okay plus restringing, service charge $10 and new softer strings $9. Total $49, and I had to wait 2hours.

So met up with Tab who was wandering the streets of Orchard after her work too. She was with FH. All 3 of us were very stoned. All of us had slept very late, >2am on friday 'nite' and woken up <8am for work, reservist stuff. Hence all very very stoned by 5pm. We had an early dinner and sat through alot of crap from FH, especially his remarks about his love-handles and the HUGE advertising potential IF he took part in ManHunt. LoL, luckily by then, I had finished eating.

After dinner, both Tab and FH headed home. I headed to collect my guitar and headed home. Really fell asleep on the bus journey but didnt overshoot, just nice. Reached home, bought fried rice cos all the rest of the hawker really sells unhealthy food.

Roti prata - oily, Mee goreng - oily, Western food - heaty, oily, Chicken rice - oily, fattening, Laksa - not healthy cos of coconut, fried kuay tiao - oily, hokkien mee - damn fattening too. Dont like noodles food. So left Zhi Cha, and dabaoed fried rice.

It was just nice that Earth hour started when I reached home. I think its not much if everybody just only switched off consciously for 1hour in the whole year. More of doing it every day, saving a bit. So I still switched on the lights, though only those lights that I need. Cos I couldnt eat in the dark, change clothes in the dark, tidy up the house in the dark. After eating, went straight to playing the guitar. Its so new-looking and the strings are much much closer to the fret than before.

Btw, the clip on tuner I bought was damn cool too. Its got a mic and clip function. You clip on the guitar and can adjust the screen, turn it around to face you, cool. It has a nice face also. If its not the correct note, everything is red. Once its correct, everything turns green. Easy to use. Friendlier and also much much smaller. Tab and FH were using it to measure their voices over dinner. I've noticed that even guitar bags, non hard cases have zips closer to one side such that it opens up like a case instead of our old ones where the zip is in the middle. Nevermind, if its not broke, I am not going to just buy for such a marginal small change.
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Today woke up later, thank god can sleep more but it was still early than what I wanted, 9.15am. The room was too bright to continue sleeping. Tidied up home a bit cos parents not here, went back. Yingel went for chalet. Geoky still sleeping. Then watched tv a bit, read newspaper and mainly practiced guitar. Around noon, I went next door to eat, just ate Zha Fan cos its healthier in the sense, that you can choose different vegs with the meat instead of the rest which are either high fat, high calories, little vegetables etc.

Then Geoky and I headed to see the sinseh. We had an appointment to be checked. He asked me to guess a number from his unique dream. Then later we went to buy it. But the number jumped by one number again. Oh well. Stock market go high, high I even more grateful cos can also make $$$ from there.

The plan was to go swimming on the way back so I had brought my stuff. My sister didnt cos Yingel maybe joining so she can bring for her instead. But by the time we were done, Geoky didnt feel like it. So I headed there, doing banking errand on the way. It was around 5.50pm when I started.

The medium pool was rather empty, the sun hadnt set yet, the weather was cool cos it had stopped raining much earlier and had a blast swimming 7 laps rather quickly. Even tried doing a continuous 2laps with no stopping. Suddenly there was 3 swimming classes with kids swimming the breath of the pool.. Argh. Continued to swim the rest of the 5laps, taking care to let them through, stop to let them swim by first. After that, I left the pool 6.35pm. Went to shower cos didnt want to continue with so much interuptions. Also target achieved though it wasnt an hour.

Headed home, bought stationary and an Oolong tea at Ginza. Dabaoed more Zha Fan home to eat. Bathed, watched tv, tidied up my table a bit. Updated share prices tracking and read and blog. Wanted to practice more guitar but think too tired now.

Tom I look forward to more share market action, but I dont look forward to work.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Umbrella Obama

Long day tomorrow. Have to wake very early so dont think I can blog or monitor stock market.

Today just key in any orders. Which unfortunately is none cos the prices seems to be heading up. Just reaching break-even, slight profits. Not enough to sell yet.

My sister, Geoky has been watching this video on her laptop beside mine and I overheard the song, thought it was out of tune. Today I saw her watching again, even searching for the lyrics.

Mad Tv's Paraody of 'Umbella' featuring Obama and Hillary.
N-18 rating lol.



Quite funny with explicit yet witty lyrics.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Weight Loss 66.8kg now!

Though I havent eaten yet, but I had taken a crap and drank a big cup of water, I went to weigh myself. Usually this is how I weigh myself even for the heavier days of 69kg.

Down further to 66.8kg. A loss of 0.9kg from 67.7kg last week. To make sure that its not just water loss, I will weigh again a few more times later. But this is a fast, way faster method of weight loss so far and effective too.

Just have to control the urge to eat heavily after the swim or buy any sweetened drinks. So at times, just swimming so much in the water where everything smells chlorine, makes one less hungry after a workout. The thirst can be quenched with plain water or 0 calorie Oolong tea.

Yingel was telling me that she had checked online about the calories spent in an hour of swimming. For breast stroke, its about 500-700 calories. That's a lot remembering an adult's daily calorie intake is 2000-2500 calories. We take the lower end of 500 calorie as a gauge but dont really go count calories. Its just a good thing to know at the back of one's head. She wanted to lose further more weight from 58kg but seems to have reached a plateau so she is adopting a 5 small meals thingy so that the body will have energy throughout the day and get used to using energy all day.

Incidentally, most who dont take proper meals, eg extreme cases of 1 meal a day dont really succeed in losing weight because the body goes into 'starvation mode' and conserves energy. So in spite of eating less, the body uses lesser, so nett effect is the same. Also the body would accumulate and hence result in 'over-eating, eating non-stop' in some cases to replenish what it needed.

My Mom started a food diary and lost 1.5kg. My sister and I used food diary too. Hers is more elaborate, stating time of meal. For mine, its simple, a week at a time, with just 7 lines for Monday to Sunday, 3 extra lines per day, B, L, D and I just list down exactly what I had eaten or drank for each meal. I update it about 1-2 days at a go. It reminds you to be conscious in the selection of food. It doesnt mean that I cant eat Sweets, Desserts or Supper or Fried food, but its just that if I ate once in the week already, just consciously refrain from another in the week. Now I added a stick-person swimming as a icon for days I had exercised. Its like monitoring but much more lax manner. Think the swimming is helping a lot.

I will use this further weight loss as a motivation to go this Thursday too, despite it being an ULTRA long working day for me, spanning 11+ hrs. Then can use Sat and Sun as R&R days.

Target: University weight of 62kg and if can, 60kg
Time frame: this year until next, gradual weight loss
.
By the time I can fit into my 3/4 pants, older ones, I would most likely be there liao.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

An short clip poking fun at Twittering, or excessive amt of it :)



Favourite line "You are simply bragging about your unexceptional life."

Same for blogs I guess depending on what function you treat it as. Some treat it as free advertisement, product endorsement and go all out to have posts to keep readers occupied. Others like myself treat this as a diary, a place to store memories. My main audience is still myself. Also use it as a tool to check on friends. Something like that.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Need more Patience & Refrain

Well the reason for this post is not to brag but to highlight and remind myself to have more 'patience'.

On Friday I sold off 2 lots of shares, making a profit of $880 nett. It wasnt at my target price at all, in fact it was lower by 14 cents ie $140 difference per share. The reason to sell was to 'free' up trapped capital, realize the profit about 21.8% so that I could invest elsewhere with Volume effect.

Little did I know, TODAY the same share shot up to past my old target price in one day alone. If I had sold them just one day later, could earn $1190 nett. Walao, a difference of $310 in a day... Sian. The upside is that the SG stock market shot up strongly today. For some counters, they are almost hitting or hitting 'Break-even' prices, for a few, slight profit but I wont be selling them yet.

I dont intend to sell anymore unless they are in the region of my target prices... learnt my lesson liao. I've been making the same mistake about 6 times liao so far in my 6 sell orders... The good thing is I still made profit but the downside is that I could have earned more. In some cases, much more... Signz. Really need to practice 'PATIENCE' and 'REFRAIN'.

Profit hasnt hit my arbitary target of $10k/15k, though I would like to up that target to $20-25k region first as that is a more realistic target of alternative income. Now is the 'patience' and also look out for opportunities, given that I had freed up some captial so can re-invest that part.

The other lesson is the 'over-investing' part. Seriously I had missed out GREAT discounts, DAMN low share prices due to being over-invested. For some counters, the rebound within these recent 2 weeks, could nett me easily 25% - 30% returns compared to their very very low share prices just 2 weeks ago compared to now. SIGNZ...just have to continue to monitor and make better decisions. So far so good, given overall I still made gain, though not huge in region of several Ks per sell order (I wish).
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Today I went swimming alone cos sister having her monthly thing so she's taking a break first. The other didnt jio to go. So I packed into my bag and just headed straight after work. It was very very tempting to just go home but I mentally reminded myself that I HAD ALREADY packed the suit, goggles and towel liao so bo bian, headed there alone. Sian, the lanes very crowded. Had to share 1/2 lane. So I swam faster, with shorter breaks between laps and chop chop finished 12 laps and left. All done in about an hour.

Then went home to eat dinner though again, very very tempted to eat outside food. But didnt want effort to go down the drain, so refrained from buying outside food and drinks. Reached home, ate dinner and drink more Honey lemon for my sore throat and plain water, tea instead.
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Work sucks still. Not the pupils but the adults, the people in power, know what I mean? Performance Bonus aka PB came in and it's a welcome contribution to my Reserve Fund, which would STILL take me until end of this year to recover... I am okay with the amount given I didnt work myself to the grave or did much fanciful. In fact, I took more time to somewhat recover personal energy level severely depleted the year before. But this year, performance bonus is in jeopardy due to very strange and chaotic practices at workplace. Seriously how do you expect me to work well when many things are so chaotic? So performance suffers and also PB though, I rather use the time and earn more from trading and investing in shares.
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Guitar playing is still painful for my fingers due to the Guitar dilemna. This sat I intend to bring it down to get it re-string and see if it can be adjusted. Think have to buy a clip-on tuner so I wont lose it. Also a small treat to myself. If seriously cannot, then I have to decide on a new guitar? Signz.

At this point in my life, I am rather satisfied with myself, outside of work. Feel much empowered by taking on courses, learning stuff and even exercising regularly now. If only work is in the same league, then life'll be perfect but then again, is there such as thing as PEFECT? If so, I dont mind a handsome and well-to-do boyfriend too :P

Sunday, March 22, 2009

A kinda plain day (edited)

Incidentally my Chibi Cai Shen has dropped off from my bag. Oh no, a sign?

So I am asking my sisters if they are buying key chains for me to get me another one. I feel so insecure without one.


You are The Wheel of Fortune


Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success


The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.


What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.



K going to practice guitar and see if by evening, there's any interesting stuff happening.

Err I fell asleep after playing the guitar. Woke up and went next door to pay bills, buy 2 items from supermarket. So uneventful. BUT seriously I didnt want to head down to Orchard area, cos I was there on Friday and Saturday already. Even if I reached there, I cant really think of a place I wanna go so reluctantly stayed home. Came back, ate dinner, played more guitar then went online to update Stocks prices. Been unable to access the Poems account for 2 days due to maintainence. Then while surfing around, found this few old music videos. Think is 70s, 80s? Catchy tune.

The Rasuptin song last heard in the Poltergay movie.



Moskau, a song I had never heard before but it has a nice dramatic introd and the tune kinda catchy. Nice 80s song? Most music in those era feature dramatic sounds, with nice melody tunes.



Friday Night, kinda nice too. Reminds me of Mama Mia.


Didnt realize that those are older mtvs despite the strange costumes hinting at the era until I realized that performers dont dance like that anymore. This dancing style is characteristic of earlier eras. Enjoy the songs.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

My fingers, ouchy

Yes, yesterday I brought my guitar for lesson. It did take a bit of effort to travel down with it. Maybe wont do this as often even during holidays. Anyway the classmate offered to help me tune it cos it sounded a bit off. I still havent found my tuner. Its still lying somewhere in the room.

After tuning, the strings got so much much tigher than usual plus the fact that my guitar model is such that the strings are quite far from the fret hence it meant its harder to press and it would cause more pain. Also pressing the 7th fret onwards, the sounds dont come out well cos the strings are quite far from the fret in the middle and even much harder to press down. Sian.

Managed to catch up with last week's song that I had missed and then did another new song with new strumming style. The instructor extended a bit to finish covering both songs, esp going through with me. Recommended a nearby guitar place for me to re-string cos the strings are rusty liao. Yar my area has no guitar shops to re-string. So after that met up with the rest for dessert at MOF and later ate at Fong Seng, prata and tissue prata. I reached home and practiced guitar until 3am plus. Then still couldnt sleep, I watched a dvd until 4.30am then slept.

The thing is though I had mastered the new strumming style and the 2 songs but my fingers are swollen, esp the left middle and ring finger. I want to practice more so today also practiced again. Even more pain. I am reminded painfully of the time when I had first gotten this guitar and how I had to master the pain to play the basic chords and strumming. Seriously this guitar is not good for a beginner. Even now, though I can play better than before, but still its not an easy guitar to use when tuned.

So I was thinking of how to get about this dilemna. To either try to fix this guitar so that I can play it with less pain, or buy another guitar that has closer strings to fret. The cost is not the issue. The storage space needed for 2 guitars, plus maybe with new guitar, the first guitar is rendered useless and hence might as well throw or just kept aside. BUT the first guitar holds many memories. It is still my first guitar and the one I used to go through the inital learning and pain and stuff. SIGNZ. Been thinking about it the whole day and cant really decide.

Then later in the afternoon, headed down to check out the guitar shop to find out its operating hours, cost of restringing etc. Its open everyday. Too bad I didnt bring the guitar down together. Cos I didnt want to risk going down with it and then its not open and then have to lug it around. Since its open, think next weekend, I'll bring it down for restring first. See if can readjust further and the cost involve. If not, then a new guitar with tuner. Restringing is okay at $10 service charge excluding strings. Then I walked around and noticed that within the same building, there are like 6 guitar shops, numerous lan gaming shops, a tattoo parlour, a rather empty and big pool parlour and arcade inside. Woah, cant judge a book by its cover cos the shopping centre is quite old and dinghy looking.

Went to PS to finish off the tokens I had for quite a while. Then returned home near 5pm. Watched Dvd that I had bought until 7.20pm. Headed to swim second time of the week with sister. Cos we hadnt eaten so early on into the 7th lap or so, felt tired liao. Persisited and we left after 13 laps. Drank the ginger soup at the tang yuan place and then dabaoed bao bing and reached home to eat dinner. Will aim to swim Monday and Thursday so that can free up weekends for rest and recreation.

At this point, I still want to go strum and pluck the guitar a bit despite the pain. So far this year, going for guitar is still the best thing that has happened to me. Its like my past fillers for the ealier years. Initially it was Japanese lesson in level 1/2 during early working days. Then it was gym going during contract days. Later was more of friday evenings out. Then Toto and 4D last year. This year its guitar and the active trading of shares. Hope both will have gains. Found a school for electric guitar but will only consider after I have finished at the current one.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Cute Pom Puppies

I had thought I only like Lessie type dogs and the minature Shetland dogs.

But this video made me rethink. Think I like Pom puppies too, just this particular breed in the video. The rest I goggled the pics didnt like.



The 'break' is almost over. Today heading out for Guitar with my guitar. Dun care, it'll be the only time up until the June holiday that I will attend classes with it.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Swimming Saru

Tab had been teasing me about my swimming since she read about it in my blog. Calling it my 'Drowning Saru' style based on the description of how things are like in my first 2 forays into breast stroke.

The matter of fact was that I had gone for swimming lesson only late into upper primary and passed Beginner level. Only learnt breast stroke. So that's all for swimming lessons up until now.

Today I am proud to say, I mastered swimming an entire lap at one go without stopping, with breathing and blowing bubbles. Though the first lap, I managed at first 1/3 lap without stopping then the 2nd lap I could do 1/2 lap at one go. By the 3rd lap, I surprised myself by swimming non-stop for 1 lap! Thereafter, I could swim a lap at one go. In fact challenged myself and swam a total of 16 laps. Still feeling energetic enough. The only thing is that I stop to catch my breath after a lap and then continue swimming. Found my stamina has improved cos previously 12 laps by then quite tired liao. One more for the week, most likely Saturday evening to make it twice weekly.

Thereafter when work resumes, I would try to put it either Monday and Thursday or Thursday and Saturday, evening swim. An hour plus to cover minimum of 12 laps. It would coincide with 2 sessions that my sister, Yingel goes. She goes 3 times and I try to piggy back on her determination to push myself to go dilligently too. With this, then dont have to worry about knee or ankle injury/stress on them. Also it would match the 2-3 times of exercise per week. The duration is long enough.

Of course continue with eating proper meals, reduce sweet drinks and dessert eating. If taking sweet drinks, no dessert to add on calories. If eat dessert, then no extra sweet drinks. Something like that to balance out the intake of calories.

Hopefully I would see even more results soon. I did notice that my tummy was a bit flatter from the usual flab and that's what caused me to suspect I had lost some weight. Lemme monitor it and shed more so I'll have no tummy left. That itself is a motivation.

Time and Me

This 'holiday' seems so short. Already its more than mid-week and I didnt really do much. Been recovering from the bout of flu, been staying at home due to that, partly due to laxative taken up until wednesday. Only yesterday did something more meaningful by going to JB thereafter had to go for jap class in the evening. Then hang around with Tab a bit after dinner.

Today thinking about work and stuff. Sian, that would most likely take up most of the afternoon cos I dont intend to head in until near noon. Then evening plan to go swimming with sister to continue going at least twice a week. That's about 1 day gone liao.

Then brother going back today and due to the fact I intend to head for work, wont be able to see him off. Also previously I brought him around when he came out. This time, either too sickly or too occupied to bring him around. Maybe next round, go E-max and play gaming, yay Guitar Hero here I come.
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That Nil right is NOW currently at a much higher price that if I had sold off at this current price, I could cover almost cover back all the transaction costs. Sian. I didnt want to take that gamble. Oh well.

Another two counters that I had bought in cos I wanted to take a quick bet turned out to be a wrong bet. In fact if I had taken those amount and invested in another correct bet on another counter, I could have started making money from sg market. Signz. Hind-sight is always perfect. Nevermind, I shall wait it out for those 2 counters and reap the dividend.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

JB shopping

Following the earlier post, I asked my dad if he wanted to drive in to JB. He didnt mind so me and him headed out around 11am. Man the new Iskandar complex is such a poor design of extreme bottlenecks that by the time we cleared the new custom, it was already 12.40pm. An hour 10mins of jamming.

We headed to CitySquare and ate at Vivo. After that we headed to the youth belt named Inner City where dvd sellers are about. Spent RM$150 there alone. There are also games, T-shirts, lots of funky teens stuff there, much like Hereen. Saw some funky T-shirts and PSP games but didnt want my dad to wait too long, so just walked past most shops.

Headed to walk around a bit more, just walking past the shops from top to bottom. Saw a BodyShop and headed inside. For all Oceanus lovers, Msia bodyshop are carrying Oceanus scent whereas its completely stopped in Sg. Also I bought 2 bottles of Gardenia and 1 bottle of Cherry Blossam perfume for RM$196! One is for my mom since she quite like the Gardenia scent I am using. Then saw the Cherry Blossam one and it smelt pleasant too. So got that. Later let her choose which one she wants. Ouch, my RM$400 bucks almost all gone. My dad offered to loan me in case I wanted to buy more. But as I replied him, "borrow to invest, still can but borrow to spend, better not."

We headed back and reached around 3.50pm. Its a good trip despite the hiccup with the Msia immigration going in. Later still have Jap class. I will try to reach there on time for a change.

My first realized loss of $68.64

Yar realized my first loss courtesy of that nil right that I bought. Sold it off at a loss of $15 but after adding commission both ways, total loss is $68.64. Now I am looking at the stock prices, the price of the nil right has gone up to the price I had bought it at... so I could have sold it off at a lower loss of purely transaction cost both ways.

The main reason for selling off is that I am left with 3 more days to sell it, ie it will be delisted this Friday. Then those who are holding onto the nil right will have to subscribe for the Right share or let it lapse. I dont want to commit even more capital to what I had already committed for the Right issue I got. So I rather get back mostly the sum I paid for the nil right, about $100+ than to commit another $820 for it.

Nevermind, its a lesson learnt about the whole Right Issue thingy. Next time I am more aware. Anyway if I stay home for one day without going out to spend, should cover back this cost.
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I am somewhat divided on whether to go back to workplace to clear work left, about 6-7 piles versus staying at home. The reason, I felt I have not rested enough and dont want to start the term feeling more dog-tired than before. Feeling tired and not exactly motivated to go clear work irregardless of the pile. Still contemplating which day to go back. Maybe tomorrow? maybe not at all.
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Most of all, I wanna go out. Hang around. Do stuff like lan gaming, playing guitar, or guitar hero, walk around those sort of stuff but most friends are working. Also partly why I dont go out is the fact that I am logging online to monitor stock market in real time. Seriously I am not making money from the Sg market but from Msia counters instead. The bulk of earnings come from Msia counter instead. Sg are mostly in the reds, just somewhat recovering to the level that I had bought into, so it meant some are just breaking even. As my brother said 'Kettles being watched dont boil', looking at it doesnt mean it would go up soon.

Also was doing up the maths for building up of reserve, it would really take me until the end of this year to recover the amount through saving up a portion of the monthly salary. Hmm this meant that my decision to take a break would have to be pushed back though it doesnt mean that I was exactly going to quit after midyear. Its more of the consideration of things and the timeline for things. Hmm... "Payout versus Rest", "Money versus No Money", "Fixed Income versus Variable Income" and "Work verus Interest", a whole lot of consideration. Let me take one day as it comes.
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Hmm got errands to run. Sinseh was saying my luck will change around June. Wont be as lucky in 4D. Prizes if tio are small prize consolation and starter. So will cut down on amount spent in that around that time period. Then he is right, that period would be to protect wealth. Yar in-line with the consideration of having to save dilligently to recover reserve level up til the end of this year.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Chinese Medicine, Laxative and Me

Went to see the sinseh on Sunday, and he said I looked like crap due to the flu. He said I had alot of heatiness inside and its causing the illness, so if I took a huge crap, I would be better cos the heatiness is trapped inside, mostly in the intestine area. Hence he gave me some chinses medicine with mild laxative inside cos I complained that I didnt want to crap my pants as I still had to work on Monday. Reached home, I took a western laxative pill instead of 2 so that I can crap it out before I go to work. That meant I couldnt go out after for fear of crapping my pants.

Unfortunately it didnt work. On monday, I didnt go to the loo instead. I reached home in the evening and took another 2 western laxative pills so that I could crap all I wanted since I dont intend to head to work today. Then this morning, I felt the pangs and went to the loo about 3 times. Think that's still not done yet. BUT today, the toilets will be fixed cos the pipes damn old and my dad feared that crap would land on his head while he's in the loo hence the workers are coming very soon. SHIT! What if I felt pangs and needed to go? Both toilets wont be working leh! OMFG! Got errands to run but fearful of crapping so didnt go out. Sian.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Distress & Coma PV - Gazette

Yay go Gazette, new PV out for their new single. It sounds haunting yet soothing. They help keep the songs in my mp3 and PSP PV collection fresh.

Distress & Coma


Sian, today went on weighing machine first thing in the morning, back to my 68.5kg? Was that a fluke? I just went swimming yesterday and didnt pig out or anything. Nevermind, I shall stick to monitoring food intake and swimming.

Feeling restless at home. Soon may go out again to explore. Dunno if I am supposed to go to see the sinseh but I know my mom's going. Dont feel like gaming at home. See how later.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Signz missed guitar lesson

Due to my blurness from being sick, I missed seeing the doc in the morning and later in the afternoon. Hence I had to see him during the evening slot. It meant I couldnt reach in time for guitar. So I called them to tell them I was sick. Will try to catch up. It meant, I have no new song to practice. Nevermind, today I went online to the virtual library from the music school and searched for new chords for the current style playing. Found 2 and printed out. They'll keep me occupied until next friday.

I also intend to bring along my guitar next friday. Its been ages since I've brought out my guitar. The last being contract days but I have no intention to reveal to current working place my ability to play. Dont want to tio arrow for other stuff when I am not exactly strong in music theory. Just in beginner stages and thankfully there's Quetzal to explain the mind-boggling theory to me in simpler ways.
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Finally the break is here! Though I have to go back on a couple of days but its a welcomed break from it all. My bro is out today. Though I started on a sickly note, I did somewhat recovered today and went swimming in the evening with Yingel. Swam about 12 laps, with float 4 laps, others is my work-in-progress breast stroke or as Tab dubbed it 'drowning' for 8 laps. I tried to improve the breathing part but still need correcting and practice. Later I could swim the breadth of the pool without stopping once. Though later few tries, couldnt maintain. Its something to work on. Hope to see more weight loss soon. Next session, Monday evening.
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Nil right trading strategy.

If the mother share price is rising, the nil right will increase in value cos it allows one to buy a Right share at a fixed price. So if the mother share price is rising, a Right share is seen as more valuable cos its at a steep discount. So nil right price will rise because there is a demand for the Right share. So its value will rise. Though this is similar to a Warrant, but a nil right is only valid for max of 2 weeks or so, compared to longer period for Warrant. So I can only hope that the strong showing in Sg will persist so I can either get rid of the nil right or exercise it for a more valuable stock. Though I would rather get rid of it.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Signz... Rights Issue

Right Issue

This post will be to explain the Rights Issue process and the various components of it that I had experienced.

A Rights Issue is a way to obtain capital from investor by issuing new shares at a discount to current share prices, about 45% region. It by-passes loaning from banks and avoids interest repayment.

So after a Rights Issue is announced, the word CR appears beside the counter. It means 'Cum Right' meaning that buying the share, sometime later the rights issue will commence.

What does a Right Issue do to share prices? Well after the Excute date of the rights issue, XR, the share price immediately falls to accomodate the dilution effect of having more issued shares.

Imagine a company has value of $1 and issued only 1 share. Hence the Net Asset Value (NAV) of the share is $1 / 1 share = $1 per share. If the company comes up with a right issue of 1 for 1. It means for 1 lot of share owned by you, you get 1 right share. In effect it means now a share NAV is $1 / 2 shares =$0.50 per share.

SO if you do not take up the Right Issue, you will face dilution of your shares. So you are allocated a certain number of units based on your current share holdings. If you take up, it ensures your holdings is not diluted but it meant you have to top up more capital. That's the deal.
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Nil Right

Also one more thing I learnt today, crap going to be an expensive lesson cos I went and bought 1 nil Right only to learn later that its not what I think it is. Only managed to ask my Dad after I just bought it....

Basically after the Right Issue is executed. The nil Rights are distinct from its Mother share. So if I do not want to exercise this nil Right, I can choose to sell this nil 'Right' to buy a Right share. So if I buy it, it means I have bought an extra 'Right' to buy another Right share. So if I have a very short period of 1 week to get rid of it or face losses. Since I bought a nil Right. It meant by the end of next week, I have to exercise it to buy the Right share or let it lapse and lose the money I paid for it. Damn. I should have asked my dad before I go itchy finger.
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Hopefully today's strong showing in the sg stock market can continue next week. Many lost opportunities due to lack of extra capital and being overinvested. But at least its not so red anymore. Hopefully things go up from now.

Woah!

Oh? I stepped on the weighing scale yesterday and I saw 67.2kg. Woah! Just a swimming practice and already lose weight? So power? Just to double confirm my weight, I checked my weight today and its still that. Okay, keep to try swimming/drowning 2 times a week first plus continue to monitor eating habits and reduce snacking.

But so far hadnt gone for the 2nd time yet cos of the monthly thingy and had been battling the flu for the past week. Today I surrendered. Mom told me not to head out for class this evening but I will see how first. Most likely just head down, have class and then return straight.

Monday, March 09, 2009

Swimming start

Piggy-backing on Yingel's strong spirit of persistence, me and Geoky headed to the pool together this evening. BTW, she lost her tummy.

It was so bloody cold and I felt chilled especially at the chest area, I went to buy some Ginger soup from the Tang Yuan stall in a nearby coffee shop first. After drinking, I felt warm enough to start.

Its so long since I've went to the pool. Think the last time was in JC. Thereafter didnt go the pool. No reason cos I cant swim well enough. It was rather empty so we started in the medium pool. Used the board for a few laps, then tried swimming on my own. My breathing method not good, after a few strokes, I had to stand. But still persisted throughout the 1hr 15min. Technically swam about 8-10 laps. Lost count after a while, though it was continuous. Swam, stood up but continued. A couple of time, I got it, can swim > 10 strokes, even to 1/3, 1/2 the lap at one shot. Mostly is about 4 strokes then stand up. Signz lots to work on. At least my sister taught me the proper leg movement and hand movement.

Going again around Thursday. Then maybe once more of Sat or Sunday if timing allows. Will endeavour to stick to this, using Yingel's 3 times routine plus her weight loss success to motivate myself to go.

At the end of it, time went past very quickly indeed. Unlike at the gym, I had to keep counting down especially on the treadmill even for a mere 10minutes. Plus didnt feel tired too. Though by the last 1-2 laps, I switched back to using the board and kicking. Swam slower and slower... Well at least its not straining on my knee nor my ankles.

Reached home with a bit of gastric though I did munch a muslie bar beforehand. Ate dinner hungrily. Cold weather, swam plus half a bowl of noodles for lunch. Hence kinda hungry.

K weight loss, here I come. I give myself 3 months to see some result? Even more toned legs are welcomed.

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Walao, excuse me while I go sulk at the corner and drop into the depths of despair

I woke up late today cos of 2 late nighting. Playing guitar during the wee hours of Saturday. Watching cable tv in the wee hours of Sunday.

First thing I heard when I went into the kitchen was my youngest sister telling me that my other sister had lost 5kg already. She had verified that. So my sister is down to 58kg, while my youngest is 60kg, and I am 68.6kg. SIAN!

Excuse me while I went to the toilet and sunk into the depths of despair. My other sister was also despairing though jokingly. That sister did it in 2.5 months. Within that 2.5mths, I came down from about 71.5kg to my current weight but couldnt drop more despite writing a food diary. I did consciously eat proper meals and avoided snacking but compared to 3 weeks ago, neligible difference of 0.5kg.

Been spraining my ankle and other knee crackling for the past 3 weeks. Havent gone to the gym cos no point aggravating things. Then weights also put off. Signz think I will have to resort to swimming too.

So after grovelling in the dirt, my sister, me and mom went next door to the food centre where there was an official opening ceremony that invited some Getai show to come. While my mom stood there to watch, the disinterested sister and I ate hawker food brunch. Later after eating, my mom found the volume of the speakers too loud, so we went to buy more lemons at the supermarket. By the time we got home, it was before 1pm.

I was tired so watched a hour show on cable tv. Then I felt bored. Wanted to head out. Went to sister's room, they were having the same discussion of being bored, wanting to go out but very sian of going to the same places. So we threw out ideas of places to go, Vivo, JP, IMM, clementi central, east coast, orchard, sommerset, dolby ghaut etc etc. All of these places were very sian cos either frequently go there, very far away. Even remote places like Yishun, Bishan, Novena, Turf city at Kranji didnt sound appealing.

In the end, it was Tampines cos there are 3 shopping centres in the vicinity of each other. So that being decided, we headed out near 2.30pm via train. I was updating my stock in a booklet and also my food diary, the other two played with PSP. We reached there and headed to the ladies first. Then we walked around. I bought 2 non-black polo t-shirts. Ate at the Halah food court there.

There was a Fila sale but didnt see anything. Later walked past the Fila shop, and I bought another T-shirt, again not black. While walking more, we walked past this Arena outlet that sold swim wear. Remembering that I should try to swim, didnt have my own swim suit plus goggles, and there was a sale 50%, plus given my knee and ankle condition, should go for low impact stuff. At first not sure whether to buy, but went back later and decided to just do it.

Headed in, tried the swim wear (not swim suit, is the one that covered the thigh type) and tried it. Okay fit, buy, add a pair of goggles. Tada, I am ready to go try swimming anytime. I can swim the breast stroke, having passed beginner level but not confident. My sister offered to teach me cos she is still taking swimming lesson and has successfully taught the other sister to swim better. In the end, both of them also bought a swimsuit (covered thigh type too) each. Ours each are a different colour. We headed home by cab.

Tom we will all be going swimming in the evening after work. I will piggy-back on my sister's persistence to go swimming at least twice a week, about 2hrs each. Hope to have a slimmer self in a few months.

Work 0, Life 1

Absolutely no work done so far. Dabaoed 4 stacks but my Work-Life balance meter prevents me from working.

Guitar is getting interesting with more difficult songs and also now 3 students in total. Other 2 being guys. While I was telling the rest about secretly taking their pics to show them cos they quite okay looking. Tab suggested that it was very easy. Just do the girly thing, say you brought a camera and wanted to take a pic together. She totally forgot about how I look, behave plus sound. Man, its so laughable to imagine me doing the I-got-a-camera-so-lets-all-take-a-pic-girly act. Think they will all run away from class.

This morning I cracked my brains to come up with 4D numbers for Candle and Quetzal. Its very tiring. I thought about it on the bus journey, while I was eating and finally paced around more than 15mins outside the Toto outlet thinking. So much so by the time, I reached home, I was so tired. I fell asleep from exhausting the mind so much. But dunno if got luck cos the events didnt happen to me exactly. Nvm anyway.

Then the rest of the day spent practicing guitar, watching tv, later going out dinner, then going online watching Naruto that I had missed out for several weeks. Very irritating to have to wait 40mins when the streaming limit is reached.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Listen to your elders... maybe save you some grief, before Experience gives you a bashing

My parents are back. My father seeing me logging online, asked me the msian stock prices. I told him and he told me his perspective that cash is king now. I shouldnt over-invest. Bear market now, the longer one waits, the cheaper stocks get but have to catch the recovery cos it will be fast.

SIGNZ...

He was saying that he made the same mistake when he was younger and over-invested, plus went in too early.

Guess the real deal about life is that One is destined to repeat the mistakes of the parents, despite their good intention of telling/sharing with you their experiences, in hopes to save you from making the same mistake. To save the time, effort and anguish. Yet like the cycle of life, we as the inexperienced, know-it-all often always choose not to listen and instead went ahead to try and later come to learn the value of the lesson. Not that it was any different from the mistakes of parents/elders but cos the lack of experience meant that it cannot be 'experienced through a thought experiment' and had to be lived through.

Oh well. But again, that doesnt mean that all things your parents tell you about, based on their own experiences are valid. Cos there are prejudices, new developments, new technology. But on the other hand, there are truths to be gleamed from their wisdom. Do listen more carefully and not turn a deaf ear.

Monday, March 02, 2009

A lesson indeed.

Sian. Stock market in Sg now reeling from the bad news and uncertainities in US and falling below their historic low prices from previously.

Sian. It meant I am sitting on paper losses.

Sian. It meant this could be a good opportunity to pick up cheaper stuff but I am out of capital for the near-term.

Sian. I have to build up my reserve that is depleted from investing and that could take me until the end of this year. By then, opportunities could have disappeared. Signz, went in a bit early and over-committed.

A lesson indeed.
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Work sucks but the rest of the time was still kinda mundane. Nothing exciting except I went to a nearby ATM to pay for the Right Issue (which is something that used up my remaining bits of capital), practiced guitar until finger pain a bit, online checky stock prices and record.

My fried salmon and later fried rice turned out dry and untasty... Think need more practice in frying. Think used too little oil to fry, so had to clean the bits stuck to the bottom of the pot after cooking twice.

Man I wish I could stay at home. Its such a nice place to stay and do nothing for a change. Though initially it could be boring during the adjustment period, but I think I have enough games piling at home to keep me occupied for a LONG LONG time indeed. Have games from PS1, PS2, PSP all waiting for me to play them. The game consoles are gathering dust sitting there idle.

The plan to exercise more regularly is seriously not working out. Especially I keep spraining my feet, this is the 3rd time in 3 weeks from work and it prevents me from going to the gym. Maybe I should go learn swimming like my sister and at least those are lesser impact? Signz busy enough and tired enough from work alone, plus Jap and Guitar. Can I handle more? Really dunno. My energy level is not like previous days of temping and teaching tuition. Think I never really recovered the energy.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Heading out to reduce boredom

Late morning, I woke up to help my mom and dad carry their bags downstairs as they were heading back to Msia for a relative's son wedding. Incidentally he's my age.

Then after lazing around, washing my hair and letting it dry, I headed out with my sister, me - cutting hair, she - going to buy something. I brought my usual picture along to the usual salon I have been going for more than a year.

Reason? They can cut out the style I wanted and nicely too. Though its pricer compared to neighbourhood salons, but heck, if I dont spend some money to cut a nicer hair when I am already in my late 20s, and still young-looking enough to carry it off, and delay until I am in my late 30s, 40s then regret and start acting young, kinda off lor. Plus they did do a good job so far in my so many visits. My previous hair stylist quitted so I am without a fixed hair stylist. Though the handsome one did my last hair cut. I didnt make an appointment and just headed down as walk-in.

The rather handsome looking guy helped me washed my hair (though again, I cant see very clearly due to not wearing my spectacles, signz.) but he was not cutting, just doing washing. Another guy cut for me. It ended up shorter than the normal ones I cut under previous stylist and I look 'guy-ish' with this shorter version instead of 'femine' when the handsome one cut for me in the last visit. Okay, note to self, I shall just make an appointment for the more handsome guy to cut for me instead. So far his is the best version of the hairstyle. That will be another 2-3 months time again.

My sister doesnt believe in paying $35 for a hair cut. Then she saw the good looking one when she walked past and I headed in and she somewhat was saying, maybe when her hair got longer, she'll head there to try... LOL!
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After I was done, I went home first. Before that, my youngest sister Geoky was complaining of being bored at home, being bored with life, being bored with going out cos she knows what are the stuff around already. She did comment I looked very 'butch' with the spiked-up hair when its gelled. Signz.

I told her I was heading out to buy more colourful looking polo work tshirts cos after throwing away a couple from wear and tear, I am left with 5 black ones, 2 in other colours. My mom was telling me cos she go and tell the sinseh about my near miss in 4D, that I shouldnt wear all black so often, it affects the luck. Okay fine, I shall wear my other colour t-shirts during weekend and mix more other colour polo t-shirts for work. I asked her whether she wanted to head out. Cos bored at home, bored go out, might as well go out and still be bored. Do something, suspend judgement and maybe wont be so bored anymore. She agreed.

I headed to Central to buy Polo Ts first but only managed to get 2 colours, blue and white. The rest were so off, purple, dark maroon blue, orange. The nicer colours of brown and light grey didnt have my size. WTF? Have to look for them later in other outlets. We headed to Sommerset and arrived with pouring rain.

We walked firstly to Hereen cos she wanted to check out the Manhunt thingy, oh btw its on the next 2 sat somewhere late noon, cant remember. Err dun think is my taste or her taste. We went to the toilet and looked around the basement and Altitude dining for dinner options. She didnt want those, so we headed over to Cineleisure. I was telling her about BBQ Chicken and trying it.

We walked over to look and loh and behold, Tab was there with her DF. They were about done by the time they saw us. DF kindly gave a 20% discount coupon (Thanks) and we used it. I ate Original chicken and my sister ordered Charboil chicken sandwich. Its nice and filling. We headed over to get a drink at Koufu (reason, was wanted a hot drink. For my stomach, its best I dun overwork it by drinking cold drinks after a meal, its extra burden for the stomach)

While we continued to scan the crowds for 'eye candy' and found none, we ate, drank and headed up to E-max to check out this store that sold Japanese idols pics etc and found it closed off. Then I saw quite a number of pple playing shooting games including gals. Maybe its the zombie game and counterstrike. I saw WII or was that X-box with Guitar Hero. Tempted but with sister and the cold weather, didnt play.

We walked over to Takashimaya to avoid the rain and walk through underground. Nothing much else. Headed to Isetan at Shaw cos she said she found this cheaper green tea ice-cream from the japanese supermarket and its really good. Surprisingly a big cup about $2.20 but it didnt come with spoon, so bought a pack of disposable ones to use. We headed upstairs to Shaw to eat and watch movie trailer. Its good and affordable Japanese brand green tea ice cream. Mmmmm... something to get the next time round, if I head there.

Later we headed to Far East to looksey and then took a direct but longer bus ride home. Very glad for a seat all the way home, as my legs were killing me. Cos just saw sinseh on Sat for sprained ankle plus other leg, the knee cap making crackling sound. The sinseh says is occupational hazard, I stood too much, the vein harden and affected the knee. The other is weight on foot. So I have to sit more during work and think I need to strengthen leg muscles and lose some weight.

Think overall, my sister wasnt as bored cos went to quite a bit of places, ate well too.

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Now (10.45pm) I am going to fry the salmon that my mom defrosted but then left in the fridge. Lemme try my salmon-frying skill. Maybe that be my supper too or my breakfast or lunch.

Financial Implosion Curse

Msny years ago, about 5 years, I was an intern at ShittyBank. Was very surprised by how small the unit was, the number of bitches that I encountered, the slowness of the computers used; never seen a 486 until I went in. Though it is somewhat a norm that there is no station for temp/intern but that really was the most WORST compared to the rival HCBS. Seriously the culture of 'takaning, bitching' was most damaging.

After I completed the internship, I moved on. But the bitterness it left caused me to curse ShittyBank. NOT with financial explosion (imagine a building exploding) like Enron, but with financial implosion (imagine a building collapsing on itself) after Quetzal has left.

Friends who heard me cursing were all saying things like 'impossible, unlikely' cos despite the lousy state of the backroom, the front image is prestigious, premium. My brother whom also encountered Shitty experience working as sales in ShittyBank Msia also joined in to curse.

Years passed by and there was no sign of financial implosion. I refused to get a ShittyBank credit card or account or anything related. Though as years passed by and time healed, plus one forgets, the curse is still remembered and uttered time to time. There seems no end in sight...

Until....

1) 2008, ShittyBank received a capital infusion from Spore Inc and Dubai parties.

2) Near the end of 2008, ShittyBank went to US govt for bailout.

3) Feb 2009, ShittyBank needed capital and got US govt and Spore Inc to convert the preferential shares to ordinary shares to raise capital. Cos the conversion from a preferential to ordinary, was at an option price of $35-36. But the reality of the matter was the ordinary shares was trading for near $1.50. So to pay $35 for something worth $1.50, meant paying a premium of $33.50 aka the capital infusion.

Wonders how many more of such implosion incidences more to topple it. Though its true that the American operations is distinct from its Sg or Msia operation units but still the experience has tainted them all in my eyes. Implode them all since Quetzal has already been let go and left.