Smiling Girl

Today I was walking my girl to the Camp. She is attending a holiday camp that required to stay out. Along the walk, she told me that she is not sure why she is always smiling to everyone and making her face very exhausted (using too much facial muscle...haha)

I told her this is good as long as she does not attract any unwanted glares and too much boy's attention. This will going to impact her studies if the boys started to woo her because she keeps smiling at them (she is so charming)

The ones on the left with the Victory sign is my little girl. She is the flower girl for her aunt's May Goh's wedding.

Hope that she will keep her smiles always.

Cheers,

Jouver's Coming Birthday

My little boy's 5th birthday is coming! This sweet little one has been charming his mother to hold a little celebration @kindergarten. of course, who can resist his charm.... Her mother has ordered a cake and dragged me to the supermarket to purchase for the goodies bag. Things likes chocolate, crackers, ice-pops, sweets etc

The entire family is mobilised into preparation of the goodie bag. Of course, Jouvers, again, request for additional goodies bag for himself and his sister..

My new JOB@Checkpoint

I have been Checkpoint since 1st Nov 2008. Till date, almost a month. My personal experience is that people is friendly and there is explicit protocol need to follow. The obvious ones is to wearing long sleeves and tie for any customer's meetings; and not forgotten the suite for stage performance. Wow, a total informal culture in ex-company. However, there are alot of implicit "protocol" that need to be observed dealing with ex-company's management! Hence, I may look formal, but actually, I am more relax in dealing with peers and the management team.

So far, the pace is fast with alot of catch up with the products are necessary. Moreover, I also requested to pass my certification as well. Really hope to achieve it by Jan 2009 (looking at my overseas trip and the need to prepare the rest of the solution slides and POC, it seemed that I have lesser time for the preparation for the certification and for the family)

Time is flying @Checkpoint, but very fulfilling as there is new challenges and that keep my adrenaline high! Focus (with alot of listening & learning) will the key for my success.

I do hope that I can travel with my wife for our holiday as we have not been able to holidaying for the past 2 years. I think that next year, despite of the anticipated downturn, I can get a time off with my wife for at least a short trip (maybe Bali, Taiwan..... wow, I do have a long list of countries to visit...haha)

Financial Lessons

Someone wrote me something @25/11/2008 that changed my view of "long-term investment". Very insightful. Here is goes:

1. Citigroup's stock quote in NYSE is C, how appropriate. If you are thinking of buying/punting into C, just remember AIG.

2. This is not the end of it. There will be more blow ups to come. More banks, GE, GM, Ford and many others. But the market may rally for a few days, just as an expression of relieve that Citi is bailed out. Yet another dead-cat bounce, in my opinion.

3. I have covered half of my shorts over the past few days, once I feel that this short rally is over, I will short again.

4. Did anyone watch last Sunday's Channel 8 gala show on 45 years of broadcasting? It brings back a number of media artistes, especially from the 1990s. Also reminds me that STI is back to 1993 level, certainly not a pleasant experience to those that adamantly believe in "long term investment". If you are into properties, you will also note that Singapore property prices are now back to roughly 1994-95 level. And still falling, if I may add.

5. I am amazed at the continued popularity of "long term investment strategy". After almost 20 years of lousy results, vast majority of people are still firm believers. When will people start to examine the basis of all the academic studies that promote "long term investment", and realize that these studies are largely based on data derived from a very unique period of ONLY US stock market from 1900 - 2000?


6. If you must make only one distinct investment, would you rather bet on China (current GDP per capita less than USD3,000), or on Singapore (current GDP per capita about USD35,000)?

Wow! Now, after the age of 42, I finally realised what is meant by Financial Cycle - definitely not 10, 20 years.... lah... but such cycle may be as short as 5-7 years. It is important to liquidate the returns and treading the market with extra care!

I realised that the best learning path is not from the text book, but rather talk to the expert. It may be confusing initially, but this will complement the text book learning... Learning commenced from a period of confusion before clarify emerged!

Let un-learn to re-learn.

Lehman Brothers minbond

The subprime crisis started to topple major banks ranging from Bears Stearns, Lehman Brothers, AIG to name a few... created wave of panic selling resulting global meltdown... with STI went down to 1,900 points (3 years low).

My purchase of the minibonds has vanished - most probably to reduce mini, if not totally wiped off. Hopefully, HSBC Trust, MAS or even NTUC former-CEO, Mt Tan can perform some miracle for the small retail investors like us. Losing 20K is not small amount and the lessons learnt is great! Seemed that my wife has taken the news with lesser fear and anger by my choice of investment. This really bond us together. Moreover, despite my failed investment, I am still very optimistic about the finance market for the years to comes as today's global ecomonic, financing and crediting is an essential services. In the years to come, I may be more risk-averse and perhaps, put more monies into fixed deposits and bonds... (even insurance may not be most secured!)

Again, hopefully, I can get some "mini-s" from the investments! Good luck to me!

I bought the entire family to the BirdPark 5/9. Unlike the previous few days whereby the sky pours like cats and dogs, today is a good weather with a cooling temperature to begin. We started off to watch the performance of the "birds and buddies" show with tucans, flamingoes, pelican, vulture and many unknown birds..

Next, we proceeded with the Peguin Expedition. Penguin Expedition is home to endearing penguins. The five species on exhibit are the Humboldt, the Rockhopper, the Macaroni, the Fairy and the majestic King Penguin. We watched the feeding process and swimming of the peguins. One of the rare discovery is that one of the King Penguims has been hatching its egg making my little girl excited!

Besides the show and a slow stroll over the parks to discover more birds regardless whether they are owls that parked in the darkness or the bald eagle that flying down from the man-made cliff; or having a wonderful time largest artifical water-fall, all of us enjoyed alot. However, both my kids enjoyed the best is at the Splash N Slide station, whereby they played the watergun, water shots or splash and got themselves totally wet.

We will plan for the next expedition....8)

Hurray! Exams Over

Finally, my 1/2 year specialist diploma in Security has completed. Just Last week, I have completed all my 3 papers. Actually this course's pace is alright, however, with the need to coaching of my little girl and spending time with my family, I found that squeezing quality time is not easy. Hence, with the mindset just to get a pass (that I think I will obtain it) will mean that I cannot spend too much over books, but just need to pay attention in the class and get more exams from the lecturers.

I felt bad when I came to know that my girl has dropped from 14 to 29 position. This is the results that I do not coached her properly. Hopefully, with my free time now, I can extend my support to her and ensure that she can completed her primary 3 with better academic. But, the most importantly, try to encourage to mix with her friends and get herself befriend with other classmates.

My next target is to complete either one of the security certifications - CISSP or CISA to prepare myself for the career change.

Also, I will need to prepare for the 6KM Safra Run @24/8. Need some phyiscal training to get myself trimmed down first, haha.

Go and run for it....

My little girl's smile

I have a strange look from my little daughter, Joaquim. She "told" me secretly that "she hate study" by writing on the paper...and continue with "if I don't study I don't feel good, how?" She is only 9, Primary 3. She further elaborated that she does not Primary 3, she should like to go back to Primary 2 or even Primary 1, whereby she was liked by her teachers. When I asked her why and reminded her that I have noticed that she is more cheerful in last year than this year. She explained that no one in the class like her inclusive of her teachers. I have contacted her form teacher several times via personal calls and emails. The given impression is that "she is not attentive in the class and did not hand up the assignment on time. Moreover, she was disliked by her classmates as no one want to pair with her during her PE lesson". After hearing such comments, I was hurt. Not because she may not performing well in academically, but I can sense that she was disliked by most of her classmates and her teachers too.

My girl is lonely. She further explained she only enjoyed in music, art (whereby her Primary 1 form teacher is teaching her), and detest especially Math and English! For Maths, I can understand as she does not have a logical thought and always need more time in her problem sum. However, for English, I was stunned by the remarks. She did scored well in Primary 1 and 2 with achievement of BAND 1.

I think this may due to her inattentiveness and because of that, she slowly lagged behind. With her behaviour in class, I believed that the English teacher may not like her too much as well and started not to focus over her.

Moreover, the overwhelming homeworks may be another reason why she is not happy either.

I really hope to change the situation.

Before she turn in, she gives me a big smile. She is so beautiful and adorable. How can I let my angel suffer?

Hope that I can find a solution sooner.

Joaquim, daddy love u.