Ball watch-ing

Recently I am into watches. Fine watches. I am surprised at the number of fine watches brands there are in the market. Don't mentioned the usual fine brands such as Rolexes, Omegas, Tag Heures, Breitlings, Longines... there are also the Patek Phillipes, IWCs, Frank Mullers, Oris... and much much more. There is this brand that caught my eye... BALL. No kidding, the BALL watches are cool man. Check them out...




My friend Davian who is a watch collector, asked me to look at pre-owned Rolexes and Omegas. Pre-owned - a nicer name for 2nd hand. The reason for this recommendation is that they have "resale" value and they are better known brands - and by wearing one of them on my wrist will look good on me especially for a businessman. Hmm... Does a watch determines one's social status? I have seen nice Seikos, the Premier range costing around $700 - $1000... and when I mentioned about this to other friends, some will laugh and say: " who'd buy a Seiko for $1000?!" ... ignorance? or... just brand conscious?



Kelvin and I went into The Hour Glass a couple of weeks ago... we are not at all appropriately dressed. You can see that the salesman is not at all interested in serving us. I believed that the story will be different if we had a Rolex on our wrist or my skin or hair is of a different colour... but no. We do not have one and we damn look local loh. Is this the service standards that we expect in our own turf? Even our people look down on ourselves.



How many times did we engage in conversations like ... what car a mutual friend drives? where is he/she staying now... working as... how much salary that he/she may be drawing? Let's face it... we like to compare. For good or worse, sub-consciously or not, we do it.



"Let's not compare" easier to be said than to be done.



I'm currently still wearing my Titus watch - with a new leather strap, while waiting to send my Seiko for servicing.

Pray pray

Rayden doing the pray pray - something he picked up by seeing what Po Po does everyday.









"See? I'm very religious."

Down the pecking order...

I'm so sad.

It seems to me that Rayden preferred the maid more than me. So, when we are in the house, it's hakkagal 1st choice, maid 2nd choice, bo bian, lan-lan Pa Pa last choice. In the shop, it's Po Po 1st choice, Gong Gong 2nd choice, maid 3rd choice... bo bain, lan-lan followed by Pa Pa...

Why Rayden?

After a long break...

Ok ok... It's been more than 1 month since my last posting. Many things had changed since then.



CBPL participated in Cosmobeaute Indonesia in Jakarta for the first time. My auntie who had cancer, passed away, on the 6 Sept - the day we reached Jakarta. We, CBPL advertised for the first time in Zaobao and Wanbao for New Stock Arrival Offer. Rayden now can walk, run and imitate sounds he heard... e.g. motorcycle, areoplanes..etc.



I'll talk about the passing of my auntie first. She was admitted to SGH's ICU with her lung full of fluid. The doctor mentioned that her days were limited. I visited her on the Monday or Tuesday, the exact day, I couldn't remember before our departure to Indonesia on Thursday - 6 Sept. She looked weak but I sensed she has a strong will to live. She has grown so thin that she's almost unrecognisable. It was not a pleasant sight and I am pretty upset over it. We were in the hotel when we received the news from hakkagal that she has passed away. Thus, my father, my brother and myself didn't get to send her off on her last journey. Auntie San has been a great relative to us. Well, she's actually very careful with her money - or to put it bluntly, sometimes she's very stingy. But she'll never stinge on her children and even on us and to those she care. When we are about to set up our shop, we didn't even ask and she offered her financial assistance immediately. She's a great parent to her children, sometimes, I felt that she has gone too far, done too much.... but that's her. Auntie San, you'll be deeply missed and whereever you may be, may you find peace and happiness and I'm sure you'll look over your family and those you cared from far. Bye bye Auntie San.

Cosmobeaute Indonesia.... we thought it'll be a great event, but... who knows which level eat $ until little promotion was done. Thus, the staff of the exhibitors, organizers, and contractors more than the visitors. Got abit of tulanz on their custom policy too.... You see... if you see any on the equipment, the customer has to wait for 3 weeks as the goods have to wait in the bonded warehouse for the custom to clear. Somemore.... the customer has to pay, import licence fee US$150, and handling charges of US$100.... meanwhile the equipment cost less than the above mentioned charges... WTF! You think customer will pay and wait for their goods? Some mentioned that they rather buy it in Singapore and handcarry back ... without paying those stupid $.

We have finally invested money on advertising. And the response is not too bad. Some of my promotion goods flew off the shelves - or floor rather.... since most are too big for the shelves. Think we will continue to invest on this area of marketing.

Now for my dear Rayden.... I don't think I need to train for IPPT. Just chase after him, carry him .... can do the job. He is running all over the place - at home, in the shop, outside.... just have to be extra careful with him. He'll make the motorcycle "rooooommmmm" sound, areoplane "ssssssssssssssssss" sound... he is so so funny. Will post it next time.

Ok, got to go... very busy leh.

Taking a break

Business is unusually poor this 2 weeks. I'm wondering whether it has to do with that extra 2% of GST... Well, I take it as a well deserved break for awhile. Hope this will not last too long, else hakkagal will start to notice more white hair on my head.

I'm taking a break on the stock market as well... Damn that Wednesday's announcement by gahment... Those shares that I was "playing" got a little tired. I need a little time for recovery. Damn it!

For now, I'm preparing (mentally and of cos other preparation) for my next week business trip to China. Never really like it when I'm travelling... Firstly, need to endure the 4 hrs flight... then the hotel, the food, the walking, the negotiation...etc We are not talking about MNC here which we can travel at least on SQ, stay at a 4 star hotel, eat at proper restaurants... etc I travel on Budget airline - Tiger Airways, stay at budget hotels (similar to Hotel81.. maybe even more economical) and eat at roadside stalls... Boy, I'm going to miss home.

And yes, we will be having a jamming session (bloody long overdue) this Saturday @ Boon's Studio. Hopefully, we can have a decent sesison! Oh... I forgot to include my new piece of intrument... I traded in my Yamaha Bass to a 2nd-hand Fender custom. The condition is still very good and the sound is ... mm... warm. The Yamaha one has been giving me problem and it'll cost some $ to get it fixed... might as well loh. Have been playing it this few days to have a feel of it, and at the same time, practice my fingerings and technics. The joints are abit stiff but I think with some time, it should get better. And yes.... that Thai song from Big Ass - ... nice "Gert-Mah-Kae-Ruk-Gun"... should be jamming this song this weekend.

Investment / Punting update

Contra-ed Aqua Terra @ $0.49 last week. Profit of $635.98 to be shared with Hakkagal.

As for Datapulse & Frontline... still holding. Same for Miyoshi and Popular... holding.

Popular's final report of their performace is slightly below expectation and have declared dividend of 0.7cents - work out to be $7 per 1000 shares. Don't think will wait till the exercised date for the dividend - somewhere in Sep'07. As long as there's abit of movement, I'll let it go.

Correction day SGX

The STI was down by 55.23 pts ~ 1.5% down from the previous close of 3580.33. I have some technical problems with my PC/internet connections, plus was quite busy in the morning and by the time I checked the market, I have 3 counters which I have Q to buy earlier fulfilled.

I started to panicked a little as it was quite a substantial amount. Never will I do this again.

Luckily for me, Aqua-Terra which I bought for $0.455 climbed back up and at closing, the last done price is @ $0.48. Safe for now. Will try to contra tomorrow.

As for the other 2... Datapulse & Frontline, I think it'll take a couple of days before I can let them go.

Rafa, Rafa, Who'd you sign?

Rafa's remaining calm despite the inactivity in the transfer market. I would say the same thing if I were him since there's nothing much he could do if all the best players cost a bomb and there's no support (yet to be seen) from the new owners . With that in mind, don't think they'll be able to challenge for the EPL title again.

ManU seems to have moved the fastest and improved from where they left off. Top 2 finish for them for sure. Couldn't say much for Chelsea except that they get some players for free. To think that they have one of the world's richest man as the boss. Arsenal.... what can I say... T. Henry going to Barca and with no real big names coming in... I think they'll probably be fighting to qualify for european football next season.

On the positive note

Contra Aqau-Terra @ 0.485 today. My profit is $315.41. Hooray!!

Life's like that...

I guess me has no luck in the stock market...

I sold off my existing 25,000 Chuan Hup Holdings @ $0.36 2 days ago and it went up to $0.405 today. I sold off my existing 2,000 SPH @ $4.52 yesterday and it went up to $4.70 today... Both of them I have been holding for some time... in fact, quite long.

I'm holding on to my Popular and Miyoshi since I have already paid for them... I think they both can push for a couple of more cents before I let them go.

Bought 15,000 of Aqua-Terra @ $0.46 today. Closing is @ $0.475. Hmm.. See whether can contra tomorrow or not.

Rayden is finally crawling ... and clapping

Rayden finally discovered the magic of moving around... and there's no stopping him. He's so active that we are very worried that he'll somehow injure himself in the process of discovering this wonderful experience.




And yes... he knows how to clap his hands now.

Rayden playing peek-a-boo

Investment updates

Didn't get to contra Miyoshi, so lan lan go to the ATM and pay up on Friday evening. Bought 15,000 of Popular @ $0.34 on Friday. This will be another short to mid term play.

Received news that Lantrovision is proposing a special dividend and rights issue... could worth a punt on Monday.

Keep it up baby!

Up, up and away!

Everything is going up.

Coffee in Kopitiam increased from $0.70 to $0.80

Petrol and diesel price increased

GST is increasing from 5% to 7%.

NETS commission is increasing from 0.5% to 1.9%

Starhub cable TV basic group is increasing by $4, Sports chanel is increasing $15 to $25

Minister's pay is increasing

BUT.... if we increase the price of our products, we will be cursed by our customers.

Where got meaning?

And yah... talking about NETS... I believed if we buy 4D/Toto by NETS, there's a levy of $0.20. How come Singapore Pools can do it and the other merchants can't? So how? Cancel the bloody NETS service?

Starhub? Cancel the sports chanel and watch EPL in coffeshops?

Catching up with the stock market fever

I have laid low for awhile on the stock market. Haven't been trading in fact for months... or maybe a year or so. It seems that I have not much luck in investment.

Looking at the stock market, it seems like the bulls are never tired. So... I have decided to try my luck again.

Bought 15,000 shares of Datapulse yesterday at $0.26 and I sold them off today (contra) at $0.275. After minusing all the brokage fee, access fee, Gst... I made a decent $168.49 (4.29%). Not a bad start.

Bought 20,000 shares of Miyoshi at $0.25. And I hope that the next update is a positive one!

Updates on Rayden

Dear Rayden,

You are now 9mths plus. You can now stand with support. Your crawling still sucks big time. Most of the time, your gearbox is at the reverse gear, i.e. you gostan instead of going forward. You like to walk around your playpen with support. You still demand for milk in the middle of the night - 1 to 2 times. And if we are slow - or maybe reluctant to give in, you will wail like there's no tomorrow. You are saying more things now besides "ma", "da", "pa"... "jie" (are you calling your sister too?) You have 4 teeth now - 2 on top, 2 at the bottom. You like the birds, cats and dogs... and how you wished you can catch all of them with your small little hands. You have no fear at all for these creatures. You are starting to throw things at will and look at your mess you have created in delight. You have a great sense of humour and will laugh at any incongruities in life. You no longer jump into strangers' open arms when they offered to carry you. You would stare at them as if you are saying" Excuse me... do I even know you?" You like to listen to (ok, at least I believed you liked it) the story of Three Little Pigs & The Big Bad Wolf (and that's the only story I can tell)... You have passed your hearing test, catched up in the immunisation jabs and you are at least 10.8kg now, and thanks to you, I have confidence in my Chin-Up station during IPPT.

Love you,

Papa

How now brown cow?

I was feeling really down today... Things are not smooth sailing at work. Maybe it's due to lack of resources, or maybe due to bad luck at times, or maybe it's just me... not good enuff.

Business is growing at a good rate. I'm struggling with all my responsibilties in the business, from purchasing, marketing, sales, delivery, accounting...etc Yah, I know one will only have that much of a time and stamina to do things... and I know I'll need help, sooner rather than later.

Things could also be of too much of a routine, and a lack of personal time - just for family or myself. Go to work with Rayden & maid, get stressed, busy, .... get back, watch some TV... and not forgetting the equation of a more and more demanding baby in between all these mentioned. At the end of the day, I'm totally exhasted.

How?

Move on?

Was having thoughts of moving... maybe somewhere nearer to AMK. And was even thinking of maybe getting a bigger place so that we can stay together with my parents. But the property market is way too hot now and cheap places don't come easy. I don't know.... maybe I'll still wait and see.

Swimming session in AMK

Dear Rayden,

It seems that you enjoy swimming, and have no fear for the water. Despite me letting you drink some of those pool water (by mistake... you don't drink enough water anyway), you'd just move on and won't make a single nosie. Well done, big boy!

Rayden & Rachael in AMK swimming pool

Love you,

Papa

Better update blog...

It's been more than a month since I last updated this blog. I've been busy... rather... lazy.

Had a good rest during CNY, esp. so when I caught the stomach flu bug on the 1st day of CNY. Spent the whole of Day 2 either in the loo or in bed. Nearly slept in the loo. The frequency is too high. Went to see the doctor during midnight on day1 of CNY. Guess how much is the consultancy fee alone? $70!! Ooch!! Stomachache, Anus-ache and Pocket-ache.

As for Rayden... Let's look at some of his recent photos...

Rayden in his "new" Exersaucer which was passed to us by Auntie Catherine.

Rayden and Sheryln caught in the same bed playing balls... Oops! Hee!

Rayden on his debut swimming session at Uncle Mark's Park Green pool.

And... before I forget, you got your bottom 2 teeth this week. Mummy had to remind you not to bite her or else, next time you won't get to .... you know, nurse on her. NO PICTURES ON THAT. SORRY!

Ryanne's 1st anniversary

Yesterday, 14 Feb 07 was Ryanne's 1st anniversary.



Hakkagal and myself got off on the wrong foot early in the morning. Apparently, our "5 triple 1"'s battery went flat. She had forgotten to switched off the lights - not the headlamp, just the interior lights. She panicked and woke me up so that I can send her to work. I was grumpy (since I haven't got my cup of coffee) and probably said something stupid. We didn't speak a word throughout the journey to Pasir Ris.



Since it was Ryanne's 1st anniversary, I thought of visiting her at KMS - Hall of Gratitude. So, I dated Hakkagal to visit our daughter on Valentine's day... ok, jokes aside... I couldn't bear to listen to the radio yesterday. You know... all they're playing was love songs plus the CNY songs which weren't appropriate at all for me. Anyway, we visited Ryanne, stayed for awhile, talked to her a little before we left. Didn't do much after that. I watched my rented Prison Break VCD at night - (next season, it'll be DVD man... can't take the quality of VCD liao), Hakkagal, as usual, knocked off by 10pm (kudos to her... had to wake up at 5am every morning to tend to Rayden). It' not until after midnight, yah, 15 Feb 07... that I whisper "Happy Valentine's Day" to her. Dunno she heard it or not... doesn't matter lah.


(pictures put together by hakkagal)


Dear Ryanne,

I hope you are happy whereever you maybe. Things have changed alot since you were last here. You are a Big Sister now. Papa, together with Gong Gong and Po Po had started a shop in AMK. Things are looking good for us... Wished you were here. Just want to let you know that you are still in my mind and heart, and whenever Papa sing some of your favourite songs to your Di Di, there'll still be tears in my eyes. Hope to see you in my dreams... So long now, Ryanne.

Love you always,

Papa

Master Sky's SMS

Received this SMS from Master Sky:

"Everyone responsible for the way they live. Our current living style, may sacrifice our whole future toward enlightenment. So we must ready, wisely, accept death, change our future karmic, avoid again fall into painful cycle. This life, this time, is what we can do, thru pratice.

When you die tomorrow. You will be what you are now. What is your mind state, what you are now, if you never change and improve, you will die at what you are. This is why we must use this life and time, while we still can do it better, purify our mind stream, purify our basic gen and natural character.

You will only become what your state of mind are when die, whjen you still nonsense you will did and become nonsense. So we must try best to purify and let our nature buddha hood return before die."

For a moment, I was scared, to be honest. I thought he may be hinting that my time's up. I asked, and he said this is a general advise.

Well, let's continue to strive to be a better person, cherish what we have now and be ready to let all go when our time is up.

Greeting Card

Received this greeting card from Aik Eu, a friend from Penang. I must admit that I'm always the one who will try to return a greeting card when I received one. Meaning, I'm not someone who has been diligent enough to send cards to friends. Maybe, I should change for the better.

Hey, Eu! I received your card and thanks for visiting this blog. Next time, include your mailing address behind. You know I'm always losing things like contact numbers, addresses etc...

Thanks for the card and your kind words and warm wishes. I hope to visit you soon, together with my family. Wishing your family and you a Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year!

Hakkaboyz

Ray's 5.5mths old

Dear Rayden,

You are 5.5 months old and you weigh 9.5kg. Looking at the growth chart, you are, er... well, ard the 90 to 95 percentile. Phew... still within the curve. Boy, you are heavy! Auntie Renna is feeling the effect of carrying you, you know. She has been complaining of backaches!

You caught the flu bug recently, and we suspect (I think confirm) that you caught it from Gong Gong. He has been unwell lately too. I don't think you enjoy taking the medicine from the look of your expression. No choice lah! Please get well soon!

Love you,

Papa

Update on my auntie's condition

It's lung cancer.

So, we thought all along that smoking is the cause of lung cancer... nop. Not this time. This is bad luck. My auntie has been (to my best knowledge) very careful with the food she took in, doesn't smoke, doesn't drink alcohol, not in close contact with smokers (rule out 2nd hand smoke)... so, this is purely bad luck.

Checked with my master Sky. Never did enough good deeds - or never done any good deeds or charitable acts. She herself admitted it. You see... all her life she's been prudent of what she spends on, even though she's one of the better-offs relatives. So, is it due to karmic effects? Even though she never harm or cause distress to anyone?

Someone mentioned to me before, our 福气 or 福份 will be used up if we don't continue to accumulate it. Yes, even though we never do any 伤天害理 things. Our luck will run out.

So what are you waiting for? Go do something good today. I am reminding myself.

She's been strong. Taking her medicine and going for her Chemo. I have introduced her one more thing. Chanting Amitabah. I wished her best of luck and I'll try to remember to 回响 the merit to her whenever I chant. Amitabah!

Busy busy busy

Qiqi mentioned that I did not update my blog often enough.... I'm so sorry.

The fact is that I have been really busy. Went over to China for business trip, came back, sort out paper work, and the best part is that the business had been alright... ok, slightly more than alright for us this month.

Now, I'm worried that I'll face the backlashed in Feb. Especially so, when there's a CNY holiday period in the middle of it. So, my excuse for not updating my blog in Feb is.... I need to find more business.

Sports-boy-ship

Just finished watching the 1st leg of the Asean Football Championship Final between Singapore and Thailand - on tv. Couldn't believed my eyes when the Thai players walked out of the pitch when the ref award a controversial penalty to Singapore. Talk about sportsmanship... that looks like school boys playing in a park and once they couldn't agree with each other, they walk out...

Alamek. How to improve the sports in this region to compete with the rest of the world when men behaves like boys.

The story behind my new HP iPAD

Well, I sort of gotten myself a new phone - high tech one somemore, a HP iPAD.

This friend of mine, passed me some money... in fact, quite alot of money to buy a phone in China. Initially she said she wanted something like what I'm carrying... err.. was carrying. After that she stuffed me with more money and say something like PDA phone. Ok loh... if you want PDA phone, I buy PDA phone loh.

When I passed the HP iPAD to this friend of mine... she asked how come never buy the phone that that I was carrying... why I bought this one?! I was stunned. Well, lesson learnt.

No more next time, brothers and sisters.

A trip to Gleneagles

Visited Ah San Auntie at the Gleneagles Hospital today. She was amitted after a scheduled regular treadmill ECG - well, she didn't have to go thru the treadmill as the nurse noticed that she's not looking too well. After some checks and scans, they found that the lung was flooded. Results are not out yet but the doctor mentioned that it's either TB or lung cancer. Hope that everything will turn out fine for her...

The thing is... the trip to Gleneagles brought back memories of Ryanne. I remember her regular trips to the Singapore Baby and Child Clinic to visit Dr. William Yip. I remember the day that we nearly lost her and rush her to Gleneagles A&E only for the doctors on duty to refer us back to KK. I remember the tough nights we had with her, since she took so little milk that she has to feed every 1.5 to 2 hrs - just to keep her alive. Much of the memories came rushing into my head. It'll be Ryanne's 1st anniversary soon...

Ryanne, Papa remembers you, and will always love you... always.

I'm a D-List Blogger

With 2 links in the last 180 days, Technorati places hakkaboyz.blogspot.com in the low authority group.

That makes you a D-List Blogger!



The Low Authority Group [D-List Bloggers]
(3-9 blogs linking in the last 6 months)
The average blog age (the number of days that the blog has been in existence) is about 228 days, which shows a real commitment to blogging. However, bloggers of this type average only 12 posts per month, meaning that their posting habits are generally dedicated but infrequent.

Are you a A-List Bloglebrity?

Happy Anniversary!

Dearest WenX

We have been thru alot for the past year and the episode has make us and our love stronger.
You asked whether I remember our wedding vows... To be honest, no. To me, they are mere words that we were made to say out loud at the Singapore Marriage Registry infront of our parents and of cos, Mrs Tan-Lee Tai Sum, Asst Registrar of Marriages. I know that I love you for the way you are. For being there for me when I am lost and down. For being a wonderful friend who shares my vision for the future. For being an excellent advisor who seems to always have an answer or explantion to everything. For being a wonderful mother of my children. For being a caring, understanding and loving wife. For being you. Thank you for everything.


Happy Anniversary!

Lots of Love,
hakkaboyz