14 Feb 2008

It's been sometime since I last updated my blog.

Today is a special day. I know.... it's valentine's day, and today is also Ryanne's 2nd anniversary.

Dearest Ryanne,

How are you? Just want to let you know that you are still in our heart no matter where you are now. You know what? Read it from the Mind Your Body yesterday that today, 14 Feb is also a Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day. So.... er... Aps right?

Your little brother Rayden is very funny. He knew he had a sister and you are not with us anymore, but I think he cannot understand why you are only represented in a photo. Sometimes, when he received a new toy, we'd ask him to show it to you. He'll say "No" but after sometime, he'll bring it to put it infront of your photo.

When we bring him to visit you at the Hall of Gratitude at Bright Hill today - he knew exactly where you are even though we have brought him there only once. Did you hear him call you "jie-jie" today?

It's been 2 years since you left us. It had been 2 busy years for us. Firstly we set up a shop with Gong-Gong and Po-Po, and your arrival of your little brother, Rayden. If you have noticed, he can be very difficult at times - behaving like a little tyrant. Papa has to do some travelling from time to time. Business is picking up and thus, we are geting busier. As for Mummy, she's also super busy nowadays. Thanks to some silly colleauge she has to work with. Now, everything she does, or not going to do, she has to think about covering her ass. And I don't think she'll appreciate me putting that down. Whatever.... Pls forgive us for not visiting more often, but you are right here - in our heart and mind.

Anyway... We hope you are at peace. And please help to watch out for your little brother who can be very naughty and clumpsy at the same time. Take care Ryanne. Papa love you and miss you alot.

Love you,
Papa

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