Moving from Singapore to London, drinking water, as far as I am concerned, has not changed. Well, maybe over here, I do sometimes take one extra step to filter the "hard water".
Bottled water goes for a premium back home, though I clearly remember "mineral water" going for 35cts at Guardian few years back.
The media here has been playing up on the "pureness" of bottled water. Rather the lack of it and the public misguided perception of its cleanliness.
Bottled water 'a waste of money'
Research commissioned by a Swiss-based conservation group indicates that bottled water is often no healthier or safer to drink than tap water.
The World Wide Fund for Nature argues strongly that bottled water is not only environmentally unfriendly but also a waste of money
Read the full BBC article here.
.. and this from National Geographic...
Bottled Water Isn't Healthier Than Tap, Report Reveals
A bottle of spring or mineral water has become the lifestyle accessory of the health-conscious. No longer a luxury item, the beverage has become a common sight worldwide.
But according to campaigners, the planet's health may be suffering as a result.
Read the full article here.
I would think this would be a non-issue back home since Singaporeans, being Singaporeans i.e. cheapo, either go for the basic (free) "plain water". Or fizzy drinks. Well, until this in The New Paper...
EAU couture
By Esther Au Yong
November 24, 2007
TAP water is cheap. At most restaurants, cafes and bars, it's free. But ordering tap water is just so... ordinary.
The thirst-quencher of choice among trendsetters these days is exotic, unique and branded bottled water.
Designer water is already a big trend in the US and Europe, and it's only just starting to take a foothold in Singapore.
Of course, long-time industry leaders like Evian and Perrier are still widely sold, but others, like artesian water, are starting to infiltrate the market. Read more here.
So who's right?
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
730 days and counting...
I said goodbye to family and friends. The flight was the longest I have ever taken. I remember huffing and puffing, excited by the "hot air" coming out of my mouth. The streets were very clean, totally different from my expectations - until I was told I was going down the Queen's stretch, just outside Buckingham Palace. The chauffeur dumped me outside Canary Central - with no keys and no one I could ask for help. The heater was on at full-blast but one-bedroom apartment felt so cold. I tried to calm myself down and to hold back the tears.
It has been two years. And it seems like yesterday.
It has been two years. And it seems like yesterday.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The world's weirdest cases
From the man who sued God to the man who sued TV for making his wife fat, people turn to lawyers for the strangest things...
1. In 2004, Timothy Dumouchel, from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin sued a television company for making his wife fat and transforming his children into “lazy channel surfers”. He said: “I believe the reason I smoke and drink every day and my wife is overweight is because we watched the TV everyday for the last four years”. The case kept at least two of America’s then 1,058,662 lawyers occupied for a while, but did not go to the Supreme Court.
2. In 2005, a Brazilian woman sued her partner for failing to give her orgasms. The 31-year old woman from Jundiai asserted in her case that her 38-year old partner routinely ended sexual intercourse after he reached an orgasm. After a promising start the action ended in something of an anticlimax for the claimant when her case was rejected.
3. In 2004, a German lawyer, Dr Juergen Graefe, acted for an elderly pensioner from St Augustin, near Bonn, who was sent a tax demand for €287 million, even though the woman’s income was only €17,000. Dr Graefe fixed the problem with one standard letter to the authorities, but as German law entitles him to calculate his fee based on the amount of the reduction he obtained, his fee came to €440,234 (£308,000). It will be met by the state. There is no evidence that he pushed his luck by writing a thank-you letter.
4. In 1972, at Wakefield Crown Court in Yorkshire, Reginald Sedgwick was prosecuted for stealing Cleckheaton railway station. The defendant, a demolition contractor, was alleged to have destroyed the disused stone building and cleared the site of 24 tons of track with dishonest intentions. He admitted the deed, explained that it was done for an untraced third party, and his lawyer demolished the prosecution’s case, securing an acquittal.
5. In 2005, the Massachusetts Appeals Court was asked to rule on when a sexual technique was dangerous. Early one morning, a man and woman in a long-term relationship were engaged in consensual intercourse. During the passionate event, and, without the man’s consent, the woman suddenly manoeuvred herself in a way that caused him to suffer a penile fracture. Emergency surgery was required. The court ruled that while “reckless” sexual conduct may be actionable, “merely negligent” conduct was not. It dismissed the man’s case.
6. In 2005, Marina Bai, a Russian astrologer, sued NASA for £165 million for “disrupting the balance of the universe”. She claimed that the space agency’s Deep Impact space probe, which was due to hit a comet later that year to harvest material from the explosion, was a “terrorist act”. A Moscow court accepted Russian jurisdiction to hear the claim but it was eventually rejected.
7. In 2007, a court in India was asked to decide whether a vibrating condom is a contraceptive or a sex toy. The condoms contain a battery-operated device, and, for the avoidance of doubt, are marketed as “Crezendo”. Opponents argue it’s a sex toy and thus unlawful in India, whereas the manufacturer says it’s a contraceptive and promotional of public health.
8. In 2006, a young man from Jiaxing, near Shanghai, found himself in legal trouble after failing to take advice before putting his soul up for sale on an online auction site. The posting was eventually removed by the auctioneer and the seller was told that the advert would be reinstated only if he could produce written permission to sell his soul from “a higher authority”.
9. In 2004, Frank D’Alessandro, a court official in New York, sued the city for serious injuries that he sustained when a toilet he was sitting on exploded leaving him in a pile of porcelain. He claimed $5 million compensation. Reflecting on the demanding physical therapy in which he must now engage every morning before work, D’Alessandro declared: “It’s a pain in the ass to do all this stuff.”
10. A Las Vegas law prohibiting strippers from fondling customers during lap dances was ruled by the Nevada Supreme Court in 2006 to be valid. The issue was whether the local law was unconstitutionally vague and therefore unenforceable. The law states that “no attendant or server shall fondle or caress any patron” with intent to arouse him. Lawyers discussed at length whether grinding (of dancers’ bottoms into men’s laps) amounted to a fondle or caress, and whether the brushing of breast into patrons’ faces was prohibited conduct. The local law was declared valid because the court thought enforcers would be able to know a fondle or caress if they saw one.
11. In 1964, the Exchequer Court of Canada was asked to decide whether the expenses of running a “call girl” business in Vancouver were deductible from gross income for the purposes of income tax. The madam and seven call girls were all convicted and imprisoned. And then taxed. Claims for tax deductions in respect of the ordinary parts of the business, such as phone bills, were allowed. Other types of expenses were disallowed because the business couldn’t prove them with receipts, including $2000 for liquor for local officials and $1000 paid to "certain men possessed of physical strength and some guile, which they exercised when set to extricate a girl from difficulties".
12. In a notorious case heard by Baron Huddleston in November 1884, Captain Thomas Dudley and Edwin Stephens were prosecuted for the murder of a cabin boy, Richard Parker. When the yacht they were sailing from Southampton to Sydney capsized, they found themselves on a dinghy 1,600 miles from shore. After 20 days adrift, they killed Parker, eating his liver and drinking his blood to survive. They were rescued four days later by a German vessel and were convicted of murder at Exeter Assizes, although their death sentences were later commuted to six months imprisonment without hard labour. Their defence of “necessity” was rejected.
13. Cathy McGowan, 26, was overjoyed when a DJ on Radio Buxton told her that she had correctly answered a quiz question and had won the competition prize: a Renault Clio. Ecstasy collapsed into despair, however, when she arrived at the radio station and was presented with a 4-inch model of the car. In 2001, she sued and a judge at Derby County Court ruled that the now defunct station in Derbyshire had entered into a legally binding contract with Miss McGowan and ordered its owners to pay £8,000 for the real vehicle.
14. In 2005, Pavel M., a Romanian prisoner serving 20 years for murder, sued God, founding his claim in contract. He argued that his baptism was an agreement between him and God under which, in exchange for value such as prayer, God would keep him out of trouble..
15. In May, 2004 in Connecticut, Heather Specyalski was charged with the homicide of Neil Esposito. He was thrown from a car that prosecutors said was being driven by Specyalski when it spun out of control and crashed. The defendant argued that she couldn’t have been driving because she was in the passenger seat performing oral sex on Esposito, whom she alleged was at the wheel. Esposito was found with his trousers down but prosecutors argue this could have been because he was “mooning” or urinating out of the car window while in the passenger seat. The jury acquitted Specyalski of manslaughter, sparing her a possible 25-year prison sentence.
16. Sentencing a young woman at the Magistrates’ Court in Port Adelaide, Australia, in 2003, a magistrate said:
“You’re a druggie and you’ll die in the gutter. That’s your choice... I don’t believe in that social worker crap. You abuse your mother and cause her pain. You can choose to be who you are. You can go to work. Seven million of us do it whilst fourteen million like you sit at home watching Days of Our Lives smoking your crack pipes and using needles and I’m sick of you sucking us dry”.
He then concluded:
“It’s your choice to be a junkie and die in the gutter. No one gives a shit, but you’re going to kill that woman who is your mother, damn you to death.”
He gave the woman a prison sentence, unaware that that was unlawful in the type of case in question. Her appeal was successful.
17. In 1874, Francis Evans Cornish, while acting as a magistrate in Winnipeg, Canada, had to try himself on a charge of being drunk in public. He convicted himself and fined himself five dollars with costs. But then he stated for the record: “Francis Evans Cornish, taking into consideration past good behaviour, your fine is remitted”.
18. In 1980, Lord Justice Ormrod, Lord Justice Dunn and Mr Justice Arnold ruled in the UK’s Court of Appeal that a wife from Basingstoke who rationed sex with her husband to once a week was behaving reasonably. Lord Hailsham later revealed that the ruling had provoked some newspapers to try to interview the wives of all the judges in the case.
19. A father from Zhengzhou, in China, was refused legal permission to name his son “@” after the keyboard character. Permission was declined on the legal basis that all names must be capable of being translated into Mandarin.
20. In September, 2004, Judge A K M Patabendige, in Walasmulla, Sri Lanka, jailed a man for a year for yawning in court. N V P Ajith, a defendant in a criminal case, stretched out and yawned in a way that so infuriated the judge, the punishment for contempt was immediate.
Source: TimesOnline
1. In 2004, Timothy Dumouchel, from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin sued a television company for making his wife fat and transforming his children into “lazy channel surfers”. He said: “I believe the reason I smoke and drink every day and my wife is overweight is because we watched the TV everyday for the last four years”. The case kept at least two of America’s then 1,058,662 lawyers occupied for a while, but did not go to the Supreme Court.
2. In 2005, a Brazilian woman sued her partner for failing to give her orgasms. The 31-year old woman from Jundiai asserted in her case that her 38-year old partner routinely ended sexual intercourse after he reached an orgasm. After a promising start the action ended in something of an anticlimax for the claimant when her case was rejected.
3. In 2004, a German lawyer, Dr Juergen Graefe, acted for an elderly pensioner from St Augustin, near Bonn, who was sent a tax demand for €287 million, even though the woman’s income was only €17,000. Dr Graefe fixed the problem with one standard letter to the authorities, but as German law entitles him to calculate his fee based on the amount of the reduction he obtained, his fee came to €440,234 (£308,000). It will be met by the state. There is no evidence that he pushed his luck by writing a thank-you letter.
4. In 1972, at Wakefield Crown Court in Yorkshire, Reginald Sedgwick was prosecuted for stealing Cleckheaton railway station. The defendant, a demolition contractor, was alleged to have destroyed the disused stone building and cleared the site of 24 tons of track with dishonest intentions. He admitted the deed, explained that it was done for an untraced third party, and his lawyer demolished the prosecution’s case, securing an acquittal.
5. In 2005, the Massachusetts Appeals Court was asked to rule on when a sexual technique was dangerous. Early one morning, a man and woman in a long-term relationship were engaged in consensual intercourse. During the passionate event, and, without the man’s consent, the woman suddenly manoeuvred herself in a way that caused him to suffer a penile fracture. Emergency surgery was required. The court ruled that while “reckless” sexual conduct may be actionable, “merely negligent” conduct was not. It dismissed the man’s case.
6. In 2005, Marina Bai, a Russian astrologer, sued NASA for £165 million for “disrupting the balance of the universe”. She claimed that the space agency’s Deep Impact space probe, which was due to hit a comet later that year to harvest material from the explosion, was a “terrorist act”. A Moscow court accepted Russian jurisdiction to hear the claim but it was eventually rejected.
7. In 2007, a court in India was asked to decide whether a vibrating condom is a contraceptive or a sex toy. The condoms contain a battery-operated device, and, for the avoidance of doubt, are marketed as “Crezendo”. Opponents argue it’s a sex toy and thus unlawful in India, whereas the manufacturer says it’s a contraceptive and promotional of public health.
8. In 2006, a young man from Jiaxing, near Shanghai, found himself in legal trouble after failing to take advice before putting his soul up for sale on an online auction site. The posting was eventually removed by the auctioneer and the seller was told that the advert would be reinstated only if he could produce written permission to sell his soul from “a higher authority”.
9. In 2004, Frank D’Alessandro, a court official in New York, sued the city for serious injuries that he sustained when a toilet he was sitting on exploded leaving him in a pile of porcelain. He claimed $5 million compensation. Reflecting on the demanding physical therapy in which he must now engage every morning before work, D’Alessandro declared: “It’s a pain in the ass to do all this stuff.”
10. A Las Vegas law prohibiting strippers from fondling customers during lap dances was ruled by the Nevada Supreme Court in 2006 to be valid. The issue was whether the local law was unconstitutionally vague and therefore unenforceable. The law states that “no attendant or server shall fondle or caress any patron” with intent to arouse him. Lawyers discussed at length whether grinding (of dancers’ bottoms into men’s laps) amounted to a fondle or caress, and whether the brushing of breast into patrons’ faces was prohibited conduct. The local law was declared valid because the court thought enforcers would be able to know a fondle or caress if they saw one.
11. In 1964, the Exchequer Court of Canada was asked to decide whether the expenses of running a “call girl” business in Vancouver were deductible from gross income for the purposes of income tax. The madam and seven call girls were all convicted and imprisoned. And then taxed. Claims for tax deductions in respect of the ordinary parts of the business, such as phone bills, were allowed. Other types of expenses were disallowed because the business couldn’t prove them with receipts, including $2000 for liquor for local officials and $1000 paid to "certain men possessed of physical strength and some guile, which they exercised when set to extricate a girl from difficulties".
12. In a notorious case heard by Baron Huddleston in November 1884, Captain Thomas Dudley and Edwin Stephens were prosecuted for the murder of a cabin boy, Richard Parker. When the yacht they were sailing from Southampton to Sydney capsized, they found themselves on a dinghy 1,600 miles from shore. After 20 days adrift, they killed Parker, eating his liver and drinking his blood to survive. They were rescued four days later by a German vessel and were convicted of murder at Exeter Assizes, although their death sentences were later commuted to six months imprisonment without hard labour. Their defence of “necessity” was rejected.
13. Cathy McGowan, 26, was overjoyed when a DJ on Radio Buxton told her that she had correctly answered a quiz question and had won the competition prize: a Renault Clio. Ecstasy collapsed into despair, however, when she arrived at the radio station and was presented with a 4-inch model of the car. In 2001, she sued and a judge at Derby County Court ruled that the now defunct station in Derbyshire had entered into a legally binding contract with Miss McGowan and ordered its owners to pay £8,000 for the real vehicle.
14. In 2005, Pavel M., a Romanian prisoner serving 20 years for murder, sued God, founding his claim in contract. He argued that his baptism was an agreement between him and God under which, in exchange for value such as prayer, God would keep him out of trouble..
15. In May, 2004 in Connecticut, Heather Specyalski was charged with the homicide of Neil Esposito. He was thrown from a car that prosecutors said was being driven by Specyalski when it spun out of control and crashed. The defendant argued that she couldn’t have been driving because she was in the passenger seat performing oral sex on Esposito, whom she alleged was at the wheel. Esposito was found with his trousers down but prosecutors argue this could have been because he was “mooning” or urinating out of the car window while in the passenger seat. The jury acquitted Specyalski of manslaughter, sparing her a possible 25-year prison sentence.
16. Sentencing a young woman at the Magistrates’ Court in Port Adelaide, Australia, in 2003, a magistrate said:
“You’re a druggie and you’ll die in the gutter. That’s your choice... I don’t believe in that social worker crap. You abuse your mother and cause her pain. You can choose to be who you are. You can go to work. Seven million of us do it whilst fourteen million like you sit at home watching Days of Our Lives smoking your crack pipes and using needles and I’m sick of you sucking us dry”.
He then concluded:
“It’s your choice to be a junkie and die in the gutter. No one gives a shit, but you’re going to kill that woman who is your mother, damn you to death.”
He gave the woman a prison sentence, unaware that that was unlawful in the type of case in question. Her appeal was successful.
17. In 1874, Francis Evans Cornish, while acting as a magistrate in Winnipeg, Canada, had to try himself on a charge of being drunk in public. He convicted himself and fined himself five dollars with costs. But then he stated for the record: “Francis Evans Cornish, taking into consideration past good behaviour, your fine is remitted”.
18. In 1980, Lord Justice Ormrod, Lord Justice Dunn and Mr Justice Arnold ruled in the UK’s Court of Appeal that a wife from Basingstoke who rationed sex with her husband to once a week was behaving reasonably. Lord Hailsham later revealed that the ruling had provoked some newspapers to try to interview the wives of all the judges in the case.
19. A father from Zhengzhou, in China, was refused legal permission to name his son “@” after the keyboard character. Permission was declined on the legal basis that all names must be capable of being translated into Mandarin.
20. In September, 2004, Judge A K M Patabendige, in Walasmulla, Sri Lanka, jailed a man for a year for yawning in court. N V P Ajith, a defendant in a criminal case, stretched out and yawned in a way that so infuriated the judge, the punishment for contempt was immediate.
Source: TimesOnline
Monday, November 12, 2007
Watch out for the exhaust pipe
Hampshire police thought it would be a good idea to advertise on the rear of a bus.
They obviously aren't very smart.
They obviously aren't very smart.
From Theatre of Dreams to a close Nightmare
I have only been to the Emirates Stadium and Highbury in my two years in London. So when the opportunity to visit Manure at Old Trafford came knocking, it was not difficult to make a decision. After all, watching the second-best football team in Manchester makes a Sunday well-spent.
It normally takes slightly over two hours to get to Manchester from London. Somehow going up north today is a scheduled four hours from Euston. No problem, catch the 8:34am train to arrive in Manchester at 12:41pm for a 3pm kick-off. Nice. BUT Murphy Law's kicks in on arrival at Euston. Track problems, train will be delayed and route detoured = another 1.5 hours. We ended up arriving in Manchester past two. Hungry and thirsty, we had to make do with a quick BK burger.
Metrolink took us to walking distance of OT. Very impressive stadium from the outside and quite similar to the Emirates. Housing 72,000 people, we had to make our way up eight levels to our seats. Great. Nice view but the slopping roof meant that you can't see the opposite crowd.
The match had a good atmosphere, me the only Blackburn supporter (only for the day!) amidst the Red Devils. 30 minutes gone, goal-less with Blackburn hitting the post meant I was the only happy one in the crowd. Then two moments of magic from Ronaldo and Tevez made this game a two-nil win for Manure. A victory made easier by the sending-off of David Dunn. Sunil (travelling partner for the day) was ecstatic at the win and disappointed by the lack of more goals. 5pm and the game was over. Nice game and a worthwhile visit to OT (did I mention that the £300+ ticket came free for me?)
The real nightmare was about to begin. With 1hr 45mins to get back to Manchester train station for the ride back to London, we reckon we had enough time to take pictures and stroll around the stadium since Metrolink took us only 20 minutes to get from the main train station to OT. As we walked to Metrolink, we were advised by policemen to try alternative transport as the trams are crowded. The buses were packed and drivers refused to pick up passengers at the OT bus stops. Two former NSFs should be well-trained to venture a road march in 1 hr.
The walk seemed like an eternity. We met some kids who told us that the train station is a 10 minutes walk. We walked for 15 minutes, met another group of students who told us the train station is on our right and can be reached in 10 minutes. We met two Viet gals after walking for 15 minutes and were given differing directions. And was told it can be reached in 10 minutes. Fifteen minutes later, a Spanish group told us we were walking in the right direction but needed another 10 minutes. We met two other groups who told us, with five minutes to go, we are another 10 minutes away. We jumped into a cab straightaway (and the driver told us we are only five minutes away but who cares!). Luckily, we made it to the train platform with 30 seconds to spare.
Lesson of the day: If you are told 10 minutes twice, you know the town is using a different kind of clock!
It normally takes slightly over two hours to get to Manchester from London. Somehow going up north today is a scheduled four hours from Euston. No problem, catch the 8:34am train to arrive in Manchester at 12:41pm for a 3pm kick-off. Nice. BUT Murphy Law's kicks in on arrival at Euston. Track problems, train will be delayed and route detoured = another 1.5 hours. We ended up arriving in Manchester past two. Hungry and thirsty, we had to make do with a quick BK burger.
Metrolink took us to walking distance of OT. Very impressive stadium from the outside and quite similar to the Emirates. Housing 72,000 people, we had to make our way up eight levels to our seats. Great. Nice view but the slopping roof meant that you can't see the opposite crowd.
The match had a good atmosphere, me the only Blackburn supporter (only for the day!) amidst the Red Devils. 30 minutes gone, goal-less with Blackburn hitting the post meant I was the only happy one in the crowd. Then two moments of magic from Ronaldo and Tevez made this game a two-nil win for Manure. A victory made easier by the sending-off of David Dunn. Sunil (travelling partner for the day) was ecstatic at the win and disappointed by the lack of more goals. 5pm and the game was over. Nice game and a worthwhile visit to OT (did I mention that the £300+ ticket came free for me?)
The real nightmare was about to begin. With 1hr 45mins to get back to Manchester train station for the ride back to London, we reckon we had enough time to take pictures and stroll around the stadium since Metrolink took us only 20 minutes to get from the main train station to OT. As we walked to Metrolink, we were advised by policemen to try alternative transport as the trams are crowded. The buses were packed and drivers refused to pick up passengers at the OT bus stops. Two former NSFs should be well-trained to venture a road march in 1 hr.
The walk seemed like an eternity. We met some kids who told us that the train station is a 10 minutes walk. We walked for 15 minutes, met another group of students who told us the train station is on our right and can be reached in 10 minutes. We met two Viet gals after walking for 15 minutes and were given differing directions. And was told it can be reached in 10 minutes. Fifteen minutes later, a Spanish group told us we were walking in the right direction but needed another 10 minutes. We met two other groups who told us, with five minutes to go, we are another 10 minutes away. We jumped into a cab straightaway (and the driver told us we are only five minutes away but who cares!). Luckily, we made it to the train platform with 30 seconds to spare.
Lesson of the day: If you are told 10 minutes twice, you know the town is using a different kind of clock!
Friday, November 09, 2007
What is going on?
I was preparing to go for lunch when my boss shouted across to me - What happen to Barclays? How come the shares are suspended? I am supposed to be the know-it-all as far as news are concerned since I spend a good part of my morning dissecting financial newspapers to prepare a noon update commentary for the bank.
I, of course, have no idea since I was just about to hit the "Send" button on the email for the commentary distribution. Hold on a minute, I went straight to Bloomberg and saw a Barclays-related headline - "Barclays's del Missier Takes Over Credit Trading". Has someone been sacked? After all, Stan O'Neal of Merrill Lynch and Citi's Prince left in the last two weeks amid heavy losses suffered at the two banks due to subprime problems. Instinctively I shouted "Change of Leadership!" (not wrong - right?). Then I soon realised this change of responsibility has already been announced in September, so Bloomberg was just picking up old news. I felt really silly. So much for being in the know.
The afternoon was very eventful as credit spreads swung and FTSE/Wall Street plunged. Many websites such as Bloomberg, CNBC started posting rumours reports. For once, I believed the nightmare might be real. Writedown of 2 billion pounds ? 5 billion? 10 billion?
The sword of Damocles was finally lifted when Barclays PLC chief executive came out to reassure the market - all things' good.
Lesson learnt - it's so easy to jump to conclusion without exercising discernment, very much like me shouting across the room. It would be so easy for someone to pick up that and pass it on. A rumour without ANY ground. Amid the recent disclosure ad fears about subprime losses, it is even easier to jump on the bandwagon. Then again, we all know who look silliest at the end.
I, of course, have no idea since I was just about to hit the "Send" button on the email for the commentary distribution. Hold on a minute, I went straight to Bloomberg and saw a Barclays-related headline - "Barclays's del Missier Takes Over Credit Trading". Has someone been sacked? After all, Stan O'Neal of Merrill Lynch and Citi's Prince left in the last two weeks amid heavy losses suffered at the two banks due to subprime problems. Instinctively I shouted "Change of Leadership!" (not wrong - right?). Then I soon realised this change of responsibility has already been announced in September, so Bloomberg was just picking up old news. I felt really silly. So much for being in the know.
The afternoon was very eventful as credit spreads swung and FTSE/Wall Street plunged. Many websites such as Bloomberg, CNBC started posting rumours reports. For once, I believed the nightmare might be real. Writedown of 2 billion pounds ? 5 billion? 10 billion?
The sword of Damocles was finally lifted when Barclays PLC chief executive came out to reassure the market - all things' good.
Lesson learnt - it's so easy to jump to conclusion without exercising discernment, very much like me shouting across the room. It would be so easy for someone to pick up that and pass it on. A rumour without ANY ground. Amid the recent disclosure ad fears about subprime losses, it is even easier to jump on the bandwagon. Then again, we all know who look silliest at the end.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
The web provides a valuable alternative
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Photos up!
The Icelandic photos are finally up (300+!). It took such a long time as I have to retrieve the photos from several sources. Looking back, it has been some time since we last went on holiday and WILL be some time before we go for our next holiday (back to Singapore for CNY perhaps?).
P/S: You are listening to Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis, winner of last season's X factor, UK version of America Idol. Leona is supposedly the best thing outta UK in a long time. In Simon Cowell's words - "absolutely the best contestant" he has ever come across on the show.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Normal Order Resumed
A month seems like a long time, especially when you are disconnected with the virtual world. After an abrupt termination by Bulldog, I managed to get a new subscription with O2. No longer subject to intermittent reception, sudden block-out and legal letters from debt collectors.
So what have I/Wee been keeping ourselves busy in the past month?
So what have I/Wee been keeping ourselves busy in the past month?
- I have started school, again. Yes, this time I am committed to finishing this course. After all, I did not have a good start the last time, being placed into the class in the middle of their curriculum. So far econometric methods have been fine. Well, until my boss asked me to apply the studies to work! Gosh, will I be found out soon?
- TV is down. Good thing the broadband connection came just when the TV is sent for repair. Barely 2 months into regular service, the 32" LCD went into silent protest, with sound dropping off randomly and more frequently in the last week. Hopefully having a proper internet connection will keep us happy.
- Most US investment banks have announced Q3 results. Except for Goldman Sachs, the likes of Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns have been reporting bigger losses due to the sub-prime crisis. The former's chairman and CEO has to retire as part of this debacle. For $161m - ouch. Citigroup's Chuck Prince might be next.
- Two weeks and it will be two years in London for me. Time passes really fast. I have also committed to staying in London for some time before returning to Singapore for good. Now in the process of transferring to a UK contract. Writing about the stuff in the Credit world has been very interesting with all the recent credit events (Q3 losses, sub-prime fallout, rates cut impact). Never know when I will find out about my job loss in the papers. Hopefully "Barclays slashes 20% of work force" was just a headline I saw in the dreams. No, nightmare.
Friday, October 05, 2007
5 Don'ts when you are sleeping
A colleague sent this to me.
1 DON'T SLEEP WITH WATCH
Watches can emit a certain level of radioactivity. Though small, but if you wear your watch to bed for a long time, it might have adverse effects on your health.
2 DON'T SLEEP WITH BRA
Scientists in America have discovered those that wear bras for more than 12 hours have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
So go to bed without it.
3 DON'T SLEEP WITH PHONE
Putting the phone beside your bed or anywhere near you is not encouraged.
Though some of us will use phones as alarm clocks, but please put the phone as far as possible.
Scientists have proved that electrical items including mobile phone and television sets emit magnetic waves when used.
These waves can cause disruptions to our nervous system.
Therefore if you need to put your mobile phone near you,
switch it off first.
4 DON'T SLEEP WITH MAKE UP
People who sleep with make up might have skin problems in the long run.
Sleeping with make up will cause the skin to have difficulty in breathing and problem in perspiring.
You will also need a much longer time to go into deep sleep.
Lastly.....
5 DON'T SLEEP WITH OTHERS' WIFE / HUSBAND
You may never wake up again. : )
1 DON'T SLEEP WITH WATCH
Watches can emit a certain level of radioactivity. Though small, but if you wear your watch to bed for a long time, it might have adverse effects on your health.
2 DON'T SLEEP WITH BRA
Scientists in America have discovered those that wear bras for more than 12 hours have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
So go to bed without it.
3 DON'T SLEEP WITH PHONE
Putting the phone beside your bed or anywhere near you is not encouraged.
Though some of us will use phones as alarm clocks, but please put the phone as far as possible.
Scientists have proved that electrical items including mobile phone and television sets emit magnetic waves when used.
These waves can cause disruptions to our nervous system.
Therefore if you need to put your mobile phone near you,
switch it off first.
4 DON'T SLEEP WITH MAKE UP
People who sleep with make up might have skin problems in the long run.
Sleeping with make up will cause the skin to have difficulty in breathing and problem in perspiring.
You will also need a much longer time to go into deep sleep.
Lastly.....
5 DON'T SLEEP WITH OTHERS' WIFE / HUSBAND
You may never wake up again. : )
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Here to stay... just for a while
Interesting article by a blogger on Financial Times which explains the differing pictures seen in the credit and equity world at the moment.
The recent credit turmoil has hurt many banks (and investors) yet the recent massive losses disclosed by Citigroup, UBS and other US investment banks have not exactly hurt them. In mind-blowing contrast, their share prices have rocketed and the Dow Jones closed to a record on Monday.
Perhaps it is time to make gains in the stock markets while the euphoria is still bubbling. And remember to get out before the bears come mauling.
The recent credit turmoil has hurt many banks (and investors) yet the recent massive losses disclosed by Citigroup, UBS and other US investment banks have not exactly hurt them. In mind-blowing contrast, their share prices have rocketed and the Dow Jones closed to a record on Monday.
Perhaps it is time to make gains in the stock markets while the euphoria is still bubbling. And remember to get out before the bears come mauling.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The disappearing dichotomy between science and religion...
Thanks to the environment. Well, to a tenny-weeny extent.
Faith upon the earth
Religious groups and environmental scientists are teaming up—albeit sometimes reluctantly
“THERE was a functioning bridge until 1470 AD,” says Praveen Togadia, a Hindu fundamentalist, smoothing out his dhoti. “Due to natural calamities, it was disturbed, and parts went into the sea.”... click for more.
Faith upon the earth
Religious groups and environmental scientists are teaming up—albeit sometimes reluctantly
“THERE was a functioning bridge until 1470 AD,” says Praveen Togadia, a Hindu fundamentalist, smoothing out his dhoti. “Due to natural calamities, it was disturbed, and parts went into the sea.”... click for more.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Facebook.com
Not that I am particularly busy right now to post any articles but I am having too much fun on Facebook nowadays!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Banking
A career in banking has always been my goal ever since I dropped out of pilot school. The financial products and their intricate workings intrigue me. The prospects of pitting my wits against the brainiest enticed me. My first encounter with "banking" was during my internship with Arthur Andersen. Thereafter I joined KPMG because of its strong Financial Services arm. I spent three years in KPMG learning about the banking world. So it was no surprise that I left when Barclays Capital came calling - first it being a bank and secondly, a career in London.
And it is not further surprising that Singapore graduates have placed banks as their preferred employers upon graduation. It seems that banking brings in the money. Hearing and reading young men and women banking (pun not intended) hundred of thousands per annum in bonus and wages is very enticing and tempting. In fact, I have a close mate my age who buys a new condo apartment every bonus time. MY has on his blog mentioned a career switch to banking. Another friend also recently asked for advice on ways to get into banking.
This contrasts sharply with a recent Bloomberg feature where only one investment bank made it among the Top 10. Maybe it is the survey respondents(one mainly Singaporean graduates and the other, a more cosmopolitan post-grads who have perhaps "seen the world". So I asked my colleagues where they are in banking. Most do not like to be in banking - one wanted to be a sports masseur and another wants to be a farmer in New Zealand. The reason why they are around in banking is to pay the mortgage.
Perhaps it is the values and principles that one holds that determine his preferences. For Singaporeans who have "prosperity, wealth and fame" inculcated from a young age, this could have led us (yes me!) to value money and status over work-life balance. So it was certainly very interesting to read the Bloomberg report (the print edition was more detailed and interesting).
Life is definitely more than money. This may work in Singapore but it just shows the kind of leaders we have in SAF.
And it is not further surprising that Singapore graduates have placed banks as their preferred employers upon graduation. It seems that banking brings in the money. Hearing and reading young men and women banking (pun not intended) hundred of thousands per annum in bonus and wages is very enticing and tempting. In fact, I have a close mate my age who buys a new condo apartment every bonus time. MY has on his blog mentioned a career switch to banking. Another friend also recently asked for advice on ways to get into banking.
This contrasts sharply with a recent Bloomberg feature where only one investment bank made it among the Top 10. Maybe it is the survey respondents(one mainly Singaporean graduates and the other, a more cosmopolitan post-grads who have perhaps "seen the world". So I asked my colleagues where they are in banking. Most do not like to be in banking - one wanted to be a sports masseur and another wants to be a farmer in New Zealand. The reason why they are around in banking is to pay the mortgage.
Perhaps it is the values and principles that one holds that determine his preferences. For Singaporeans who have "prosperity, wealth and fame" inculcated from a young age, this could have led us (yes me!) to value money and status over work-life balance. So it was certainly very interesting to read the Bloomberg report (the print edition was more detailed and interesting).
Life is definitely more than money. This may work in Singapore but it just shows the kind of leaders we have in SAF.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Back to Singapore Part III
SQ321
Depart London - 05 Feb, 22:05
Arrive Singapore - 06 Feb, 18:45
SQ322
Depart Singapore - 23 Feb, 23:20
Arrive London - 24 Feb, 05:25
Plus a trip to Phuket in-between (13-15 Feb). Anyone interested in joining us?
Depart London - 05 Feb, 22:05
Arrive Singapore - 06 Feb, 18:45
SQ322
Depart Singapore - 23 Feb, 23:20
Arrive London - 24 Feb, 05:25
Plus a trip to Phuket in-between (13-15 Feb). Anyone interested in joining us?
Monday, September 10, 2007
Will you be interested?
Looking to hire the best qualified ACA candidates to work in the Finance division. Candidates should be team players with a keen desire to become an expert in their field and an interest in the Investment Banking industry. In return, you have a great opportunity to establish a successful career.
And, of course, an impressive pay package.
- Two 12 month rotations within targeted areas of Finance to suit your skills and career aspirations.
- A deep insight into how our global business works and exposure to most key functions.
- A structured training curriculum throughout the program.
- A unique opportunity to build a network across Finance.
And, of course, an impressive pay package.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
The Guessing Game - Who's the Time Bomb?
The subprime contagion seems to have stretched its hands of terror into the money markets - the source of funding where banks borrow or lend money between themselves and other institutions. The central banks in Europe and the U.S. have to step in to quell the problems in the markets and provide liquidity.
So what's the problem now?
The banks need to borrow funds in the money markets to fund their assets e.g. loans made to retail consumers e.g. housing loans and corporates for their investments. The deposits that you and me place with the banks are insufficient to meet their needs, so the banks have to borrow in the money markets to meet any shortfall, often to meet regulatory requirements. While they can lend from the central banks, the banks often avoid that because borrowing from the central banks could be perceived as having credit problems. They hence borrow in the interbank market even though the interest rate is slightly higher.
However, recent credit events have caused banks to distrust one another because everyone thinks that there is a joker in the pack. That one big bank may be holding massive unannounced losses and am trying to borrow money in the market to close its gap. To avoid a second Barings - where the unsuspecting lending banks essentially lose their loans where the veritable institution collapsed.
Over in London, this has caused the interbank lending rate to shoot up, trading at more than 1% over the Bank of England lending rate, essentially telling one another -"I am not interested in lending to you. Borrow from the Daddy".
The million-dollar question - who's the time bomb?
Or is there ever one?
So what's the problem now?
The banks need to borrow funds in the money markets to fund their assets e.g. loans made to retail consumers e.g. housing loans and corporates for their investments. The deposits that you and me place with the banks are insufficient to meet their needs, so the banks have to borrow in the money markets to meet any shortfall, often to meet regulatory requirements. While they can lend from the central banks, the banks often avoid that because borrowing from the central banks could be perceived as having credit problems. They hence borrow in the interbank market even though the interest rate is slightly higher.
However, recent credit events have caused banks to distrust one another because everyone thinks that there is a joker in the pack. That one big bank may be holding massive unannounced losses and am trying to borrow money in the market to close its gap. To avoid a second Barings - where the unsuspecting lending banks essentially lose their loans where the veritable institution collapsed.
Over in London, this has caused the interbank lending rate to shoot up, trading at more than 1% over the Bank of England lending rate, essentially telling one another -"I am not interested in lending to you. Borrow from the Daddy".
The million-dollar question - who's the time bomb?
Or is there ever one?
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Miss this cute rascal
This little boy and the Lees should be back in Singapore now. Once again, the house seems unusually quiet without Jeiel. He is such a cute and playful yet obedient boy. Haven't had so much fun with a kid before.
This small legend has the ability to charm almost anyone on the streets. Hopefully his picture will charm you too!
Iceland Getaway (Day 2)
The second day was arguably the toughest and "longest" day for us. Leaving Reykjavik, we had to drive along Iceland's western coastline, going past Helgafell before turning east towards Skagafjordur for water-rafting and horse-riding activities. We estimated a travelling time of six hours to hit Varmahlid for our day of fun and three hours thereafter to travel to Husavik.
Iceland is a extremely pricey place, told to us by travellers and locals. Barely two hours into the journey, we couldn't resist the KFC sign-posts for a stop. A 12-piece meal we shall shared. That coupled with three packets of chips, two more sides and a bottle of Pepsi amounted to IKR 2784 or S$65!!! We were hungry and prepared to pay but the shock didn't go down too well. Must be some premium chicken I guess.
Due to the long distance, we had agreed on three drivers for this trip - Patrick, Lynn and myself. I drove a bit in Reykjavik but reckoned that I am more suitable to navigate, hence leaving Patty "Initial-D" Wong and Lynn to hold the fort. I have to accompany the driver in "staying awake" as the journey entails high cliffs and rocky gravel roads. Lynn took over the middle section of the track which was probably most exciting as Kan-Cheong Spider Ong had to remind her frequently to steady the car and once having to take over the steering from the passenger seat (and yes, we drove a Landrover Defender aka SAF army jeep which trembles at 110kmh. Squeezing six persons and four suitcases and managing another four gals' moods ain't easy).
We did arrive in Varmahlid on time, but not before getting back sores. We started with water-rafting down the East Austari River. The session was about an hour, not very exciting for experienced rafters but since we had two newbies, I thought it might be safer to choose a less stressful route. The water was extremely cold (about 1deg) and rafting through a glacial valley was new for all of us. We also had fun jumping off the cliff into the rushing river. Xueyan even had to be rescued (who on earth swim breast-stroke in a gushing river?). We top off the experience by relaxing in a natural hot spring.
We then moved on to horse-riding. What meant to be one-hour session turned out to be two-hours ride on the open fields and trotting across shallow rivers. The two instructors were very nice and we have a laugh with Xueyan repeatedly coaxing her horse to move. Mine even had time for a poo-and-wee session during the ride!
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
This wun happen in Singapore (as long as PAP is in power)
Our flat is a 10-mins walk from our office in Canary Wharf. Colleagues and friends often asked why we want to stay in a dull place - an area bereft of food, drinks and life come evening weekdays. On weekends, the area is a dead town - similar to Shenton Way (imagine staying in Shenton Way - w/o the 24/7 kopitiams).
But it is time like this where we appreciate the little joys of walking to/fro office from home. These Metro staff are probably some of the best-paid (and under-worked) blue-collar workers in London, possibly taking home £50k/year. Yet more than enough is never enough. Such "defiance" will never happen in Singapore (note my disclaimer above).
Yes, we may be living close to work, in a "lifeless" place (then again, all bricks and concrete do not have lives!). But we are certainly for the better in this case.
But it is time like this where we appreciate the little joys of walking to/fro office from home. These Metro staff are probably some of the best-paid (and under-worked) blue-collar workers in London, possibly taking home £50k/year. Yet more than enough is never enough. Such "defiance" will never happen in Singapore (note my disclaimer above).
Yes, we may be living close to work, in a "lifeless" place (then again, all bricks and concrete do not have lives!). But we are certainly for the better in this case.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Iceland Getaway (Day 1)
Xueyan's "sick" of cathedrals and palaces, so we reckon it's time to explore other interesting parts of Europe. We heard some bits of Iceland prior to this trip but nothing fascinates more us than seeing it upclose and upfront. Iceland is totally not as "ice"-landish as we thought.
This trip is very different from all other adventures as we filled our schedules with activities, rather than sight-seeing and I also drove a left-hand drive for the first time. While sights are not a priority, the fusion of lava, barren land, icebergs and volcanic rocks in one setting left us totally amazed.
We "did" Iceland in a clock-wise direction, starting off with the Blue Lagoon, where we soaked and relaxed in steaming bath and literally masked ourselves with silica. It was very refreshing and intriguing to see hot water and steam pouring out of a small "crater" and to swim/float amid vapour. The sulphuric-laced water was not exactly pleasing though.
After spending 90 minutes at the Blue Lagoon, we proceeded with our drive tour of the Golden Circle. Our first stop was at Þingvellir, one of the most important places in Iceland and where one of the oldest parliamentary institutions of the world was founded. It is also the place where the Eurasian tectonics plate meets the North Amercia plate. You could hence see a deep fissure and distinct rocks and soil formation in and around the area. We then moved on to the geysir park - our first sight of water-sprouting spings in action. The Geysir was certainly very impressive. Apparently, it is more consistent than Old Faithful at Yellowstone Park. It was also a funny sight to see the girls getting excited and ready for the next eruption. What was supposed to take 20-30 mins for sight-seeing ended up a two-hour photo-taking session.
Our last stop for the day brought us to Gullfoss, a deep-falling waterfall. During the first half of the 20th century and some years into the late 20th century, there was much speculation about utilizing Gullfoss to create electricity. During this period, the waterfall was leased indirectly by its owners to foreign investors. The waterfall was later sold to the state of Iceland with plans to utilize Hvítá (the river source for the waterfall). A popular story has Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of the original owner, who was determined to save the waterfall from utilization and even threatened to throw herself into the waterfall. A stone memorial to Sigriður, located above the falls, was then created (although she did not fall eventually).
Horse-riding at Varmahlíð
Whale-watching in Husavik
Dog-sledding on Mýrdalsjökull
End to a windwhirl week
Finally back to London after 3 hours on a delayed train ride from Paris. It has been a crazy week indeed, first leaving for Reykjavik on Saturday and covering Iceland in 4 days and over 2000km, then returning to London on Wednesday afternoon and rushing to Emirates Stadium to watch our first Champions League game between Arsenal and Sparta Prague. I have had not much luck with goals at the new ground but watching the Gunners spank the Spartans thrice made the rush worthwhile.
As many of you are aware, the Lees are holidaying in London and Paris at the moment. We met up with them in Paris on Thursday. It was AWESOME. The first ever trip where we were not concerned about sightseeing but pure shopping. Myself, Weifu and Jeiel trailing behind two value-hunting tomahawks. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel - you name it, we went there (and Weifu does surprise us with his knowledge of the leathery!). Tax refund rebate provided an incentive and impetus for the wallets to open.Right now, it's just time for us to unpack and get the house in order!
Friday, August 17, 2007
I will not (no?) play football again
When I signed up for the London Marathon last October, I twisted my knee on the day I received confirmation of my successful application. I told myself I will NOT play football again.
Or so I thought.
Ten months on, after weeks of training and feeling good about my physical state, I went to play football on Wednesday. Twisted my knee - again. And just three weeks left to the Duathlon.
I will not play football again.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Knackered!
Less than 4 weeks left to the Duathlon. Seeing that we have been running the same route for the last 2 months (and for SD who has been doing the same route for the last eight years), we decided to change the running scenery yesterday. From Canary Wharf to Greenwich. I have always thought of doing that route since Greenwich is seemingly a nice place for a run. Lush park with good slopes.
So off we went, running down Westferry Road before hitting Greenwich Tunnel which links Docklands with Greenwich across the Thames. That is when I realised my stupor and when I have not ran this route since my last a year ago. Long flights of steps going up and down the tunnel. And a killing slope up to the Royal Observatory.
View from Royal Observatory (of Canary Wharf)
We did manage to make it back to Canary Wharf less than an hour for the 10km. It probably provided a beter reflection of the condition for the Duathlon next month at Richmond Park. But right now, I am just knackered. My knees and calves are aching.
Yes, I wun be doing this same route for some time.
So off we went, running down Westferry Road before hitting Greenwich Tunnel which links Docklands with Greenwich across the Thames. That is when I realised my stupor and when I have not ran this route since my last a year ago. Long flights of steps going up and down the tunnel. And a killing slope up to the Royal Observatory.
View from Royal Observatory (of Canary Wharf)We did manage to make it back to Canary Wharf less than an hour for the 10km. It probably provided a beter reflection of the condition for the Duathlon next month at Richmond Park. But right now, I am just knackered. My knees and calves are aching.
Yes, I wun be doing this same route for some time.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Yet another week
Had my first presentation to the Credit team on Friday. Surprisingly it went well despite my tender months in Credit and talking about a subject (ABX indices and subprime market) which I do not deal with on a daily basis.
It was a rather eventful week, first with counting down the days to Kay's departure on Friday. She was the de-facto manager in my team, despite reporting up to two associate directors since she was the most experienced in the team. Although the recent desk move had us sitting next to each other for only one month, we managed to strike a good camaraderie due to some "common interests". So it was quite sad to see her go. We raised a good amount for her farewell and had an exceedingly nice and long lunch at a French restaurant on Friday.
I mentioned earlier about my dislike for line control and, this week, I managed to negotiate a move out - courtesy of an arrangement between my immediate boss and the department head (SD). And in two weeks! What a pleasant surprise. Myself and SD has been working very closely together since the launch of our PCG credit research and, thank God, he has been sufficiently impressed to keep me and allow me to do stuff that would interest me.
Speaking of interest, we had to put aside our daily routine of watching the Hong Kong serials due to the "death" of our Wharfedale TV - a £40 acquisition when I first came over to London. I was determined to get a new TV this time round, hoping to "upsize" on the 26" TV and not hemorrhage my wallet at the same time (You folks back home in Singapore better be thankful for Sim Lim and Funan). Every other 28" TV costs around £150 - 250. Out of desperation and taking a longer-term view, I splurged on the following.
Nothing fanciful - a made-in-China, assembled-in-Czech 32" LCD but half the price of an equivalent Sony or Samsung. Might not be as spectacular (well definitely not as good from what I see) but if it works and provides a good return on investment, who cares.
After all, I am still an accountant.
It was a rather eventful week, first with counting down the days to Kay's departure on Friday. She was the de-facto manager in my team, despite reporting up to two associate directors since she was the most experienced in the team. Although the recent desk move had us sitting next to each other for only one month, we managed to strike a good camaraderie due to some "common interests". So it was quite sad to see her go. We raised a good amount for her farewell and had an exceedingly nice and long lunch at a French restaurant on Friday.
I mentioned earlier about my dislike for line control and, this week, I managed to negotiate a move out - courtesy of an arrangement between my immediate boss and the department head (SD). And in two weeks! What a pleasant surprise. Myself and SD has been working very closely together since the launch of our PCG credit research and, thank God, he has been sufficiently impressed to keep me and allow me to do stuff that would interest me.
Speaking of interest, we had to put aside our daily routine of watching the Hong Kong serials due to the "death" of our Wharfedale TV - a £40 acquisition when I first came over to London. I was determined to get a new TV this time round, hoping to "upsize" on the 26" TV and not hemorrhage my wallet at the same time (You folks back home in Singapore better be thankful for Sim Lim and Funan). Every other 28" TV costs around £150 - 250. Out of desperation and taking a longer-term view, I splurged on the following.
Nothing fanciful - a made-in-China, assembled-in-Czech 32" LCD but half the price of an equivalent Sony or Samsung. Might not be as spectacular (well definitely not as good from what I see) but if it works and provides a good return on investment, who cares.
After all, I am still an accountant.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Someone has to take the blame
Bear Stearns has taken a lot of heat in the recent subprime debacle. The closure of two hedge funds and a recent entry into hall of credit junk bonds.
Someone gotta take the blame - here's the scapegoat?.
Someone gotta take the blame - here's the scapegoat?.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Counting down the days
My first post of August and a week since I last posted. It has been a mad week, both in terms of work (since it's my "first" month end running the books) and activities. I have been counting down the days to 23 Nov, the last day of my programme in London. And because it's just slightly more than three months away, my current boss and ex-bosses have been talking to me re my next step i.e. permanent position after the three rotations. This sounds like PSLE isn't it? Where I have to choose to go to a particular "school".
Line control is out for me. Running marcos, preparing P&L and correcting misbooking is so "not attractive". And it is good that my current boss (SD) understands the situation and knows that it is a job that just has to be done. I might just be a square peg in this round hole. So he shared several exciting plans with me which I will share in due course. And I am glad that I am working for such a nice boss who trusts me and, most importantly, believes in my capabilities. That's after working with Chin Chin and Shoops who are the best bosses I have ever had (if you wanna join KPMG, make sure you join their dept). Then again, most of the bosses I have worked with in Barcap has been nothing short of excellent.
Other bosses have been "tempting" me with offers e.g. doing exotic products control, senior management exposure. This is usually the best part before a move. I learnt that an AD in my dept was wined and dined by the bosses before he joined us. Only to realise he has been dragged into a tough role. But that's i-banking for you. If it's easy, might as well get monkeys to do it. On my side, I will have to pray for discernment and wisdom. After all, I have Singaporean bosses to be accountable to and it is important the intentions and plans of all parties are taken into serious consideration.
On another good note, the colleague next to me has accepted a move to the front office - as a business manager this week. Having a good offer is like purchasing a wonderful set of make-up, evidenced by the bliss and freshness on her face. Possibly the best controller on my desk (given she was doing alone what six of us are currently doing now). Guess what, "her ticket outta hell" was actually helped by SD who knew that she was unhappy and wanted out. So SD went around, calling on his contacts and even negotiating an earlier release for her so that she can go travelling before she starts her new role! Amazing but also because SD does consider the welfare of each individual. It's not making things easier for him but it's all about the human factor at the end of the day.
That gave me fresh confidence and clarity of the road ahead. FYI, it's less than 80 business days to the finishing line!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Good and Bad
It hasn't been easy and definitely not smooth. When times are bad and God seems so far away, you start wondering if He actually listens. Until I am reminded -
"Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 1:10)
"Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 1:10)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Treat them well
While audit firms face the challenge of being relevant in the marketplace and calls to raise their technical competence, it is no doubt a great place to work despite the long hours.
Is that due to the camaraderie developed from working long hours together or pure people management acumen by the partners and firm? KPMG London was voted the best employer last year in the UK. Perhaps if they know that they can't pay staff well, the least they can do is to treat them well.
Is that due to the camaraderie developed from working long hours together or pure people management acumen by the partners and firm? KPMG London was voted the best employer last year in the UK. Perhaps if they know that they can't pay staff well, the least they can do is to treat them well.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Be warned about Viator.com
I was recommended to Viator by Andy a couple of years ago and had made several travel bookings through their website. On most occasions, I have relied on the reviews and ratings to formulate a decision. Recently we booked a Last Supper tour while in Milan through Viator. I left some honest but possibly damaging feedback on the tour and was expecting the review to be updated on the website.
Looks like the Viator is not keen on letting serious travellers know the truth. Any one doing his/her due diligence would have recognised the red flags when virtually every review was a "Absolutely loved it". Mine definitely wasn't. So if you are considering a particularly exotic tour package - you have been warned!
Friday, July 20, 2007
A Recruiter's Nightmare
From the recruiter:
'I am writing as a follow up action to your noted absence for the interview at xxx for the Project Manager role.
We are very disappointed that you did not attend the interview as arranged and the client also expressed his disappointment in your absence. It would have been courteous of you to let us know well in advance that you were not going to attend the interview, and also to respond to the voicemail messages and text messages we sent you before and after the arranged interview time.
We find it very disappointing when candidates do not attend pre-arranged interviews without good explanation as we consider it is a waste of our time and efforts, not to mention the damage it causes to the relationships with our clients. If there are circumstances that arose which prevented you from attending the interview then we appreciate that, however it is only courtesy that you inform us of such circumstances, either before or certainly after the scheduled interview.
Please do contact us to explain your absence, however if you do not, it gives us no other option than to freeze your details on the database and no longer represent you for future roles which is a shame as we considered you as an excellent candidate'.
Concise response from the candidate:
Click here for the reply.
'I am writing as a follow up action to your noted absence for the interview at xxx for the Project Manager role.
We are very disappointed that you did not attend the interview as arranged and the client also expressed his disappointment in your absence. It would have been courteous of you to let us know well in advance that you were not going to attend the interview, and also to respond to the voicemail messages and text messages we sent you before and after the arranged interview time.
We find it very disappointing when candidates do not attend pre-arranged interviews without good explanation as we consider it is a waste of our time and efforts, not to mention the damage it causes to the relationships with our clients. If there are circumstances that arose which prevented you from attending the interview then we appreciate that, however it is only courtesy that you inform us of such circumstances, either before or certainly after the scheduled interview.
Please do contact us to explain your absence, however if you do not, it gives us no other option than to freeze your details on the database and no longer represent you for future roles which is a shame as we considered you as an excellent candidate'.
Concise response from the candidate:
Click here for the reply.
Why can't the auditors get it?!?
Good article from The Economist on the issues relating to fair-value accounting of exotic derivatives such as the current problems with CDO. And precisely why auditors, who are called to be the safeguard of the capital markets, can't live up to expectations.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
This frightens me.
This probably doesn't bother most non-FOOTBALL or non-Arsenal fans, but it scares me. Cesc wants to be the next captain? Gosh, if I can remember well, captaincy seems to be the step before departure.
Whatever happened to Thiery Henry, Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell?
Whatever happened to Thiery Henry, Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell?
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
It's tough being rich...
Most people gripe about the rich getting richer and statistical data appears to provide strong evidence of an ever-widening rich-poor divide. Whether in a down or up economy, the rich, with easy access to financial advisers and most financial products, can make money. As for mere mortals, we can either hope for a strong savings rate or a bull stock market. Why?
Because exotic financial products are only available to the sophisticated investors or the private wealth. Expecting rates to go lower? Get an inverse floater. Not from your local retail banks though. Enhanced yield in time of low rates? Get a leveraged bond or super senior tranche. Expecting bad credit/equity news for a particular company. Shucks, as a retail investor, contra is not exactly a good/wise idea and there are high transaction costs associated with short selling. Not for the sophisticated who can buy protection via the credit default swaps market.
So this article caught my attention - "There Has Never Been a Tougher Time to Be Wealthy". Hmmm, must the regulators coming down hard on the wealthy. No way, it's actually about the increased cost of desired items - for the wealthy. What a letdown. If this is going to bother the rich (well, probably just a tickle), what's for the heartlanders?
Monday, July 16, 2007
The undesired ending...
The trip to Edinburgh was planned months ago. While the accommodation and sight-seeing tour can be planned, a flight delay is totally out of my control. We touched down at Gatwick around 1045pm, which left us 30 minutes to get to the train station which leaves for London Bridge at 11:15. Missing that would mean another hour's wait till 1215pm. We waited and waited and waited for the luggage . It eventually came off the belt but the "air-train" to the rail station was the bottleneck and having 20 girls on a hen's night fighting every space with us proved to be our downfall. We sped off when the doors opened. Shucks, 30 secs late and an very unforgiving end to a good trip.
What was meant to be a "relaxed" trip turned out to be rather intense as we waited aimlessly (and tired) for another hour. Upon arriving in London, we took a mini-cab home. This was Xueyan's first ride in a London cab and, my, wasn't it so forgettable.
The trip up north was our first to Scotland since we came over. Friends shared about the "nice weather, whiskey aplenty and sexy Scots". It did not disappoint, other that me hoping to go up there again as I thought we only had a glimpse of Scottish hospitality. We went in search of Nessie and the Holy Grail. While the Knights Templar was not to be found, we did find Nessie.
What was meant to be a "relaxed" trip turned out to be rather intense as we waited aimlessly (and tired) for another hour. Upon arriving in London, we took a mini-cab home. This was Xueyan's first ride in a London cab and, my, wasn't it so forgettable.
The trip up north was our first to Scotland since we came over. Friends shared about the "nice weather, whiskey aplenty and sexy Scots". It did not disappoint, other that me hoping to go up there again as I thought we only had a glimpse of Scottish hospitality. We went in search of Nessie and the Holy Grail. While the Knights Templar was not to be found, we did find Nessie.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Touchy...
The topic of scholarships is always an interesting one and potentially a divisive one among friends and in Singapore. Given the government's "encouraging" stand on this, I am surprised to read this in The New Paper:
Rethink scholarships, give only to needy to help them climb up
THE rich give their children a leg up the beanstalk to wealth by making sure their children are well-educated - the best pre-school, private tuition, enrichment classes, overseas exposure.
Is there a way to give more people the chance to move up the education beanstalk in pursuit of their share of 'golden eggs'?... Last year , it was revealed that students from better-off families made up about half of government scholarship holders last year. ... Financial expert Leong Sze Hian has an idea: Reshuffle the chips for each generation by giving scholarships only to the poor...
I wonder how far this can go (means-testing again?). While it's probably true that some scholars that I know come from very comfortable and well-to-do families, most of my closer "scholar friends" are pretty much your typical HDB heartlanders (VS - neighbourhood school mah). They will most probably not be given this push in life if they hadn't had a paid scholarship. Moreover the state of economy and culture in Singapore is hardly comparable to the States to make meaningful analysis.
So if there are rich folks/scholars out there reading this, would you ever take a "scholarship with honours - meaning no money, in name only"?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Good times in Singapore?
Someone sent me an email the other day, with news relating to the massive increase in graduates' pay back home in Singapore. From $2k starting pay last year, fresh graduate auditors are now paid between S$2,400 - $2,600. As for the banks, they are paying up to $3.7k for a fresh graduate. Times have indeed changed - and for the better. I could recall working for 3 years in Singapore and not even close to earning the starting pay of a newbie banker (This even after 20-35% increment p.a). This I applaud the government for driving a growing (but sustainable?) economy in the midst of a seemingly volatile market.
London is the probably the next BIG thing after Wall Street, well poised to take over the latter as the top banking market in the next years. Seeing Singapore as an example, I thought the graduates here might be positioned for more good times. At least until...
Graduate jobs rise, but pay down (BBC)
The jobs market for graduates continues to remain buoyant - but there are signs in some areas that starting salaries are declining, research has suggested.
A major twice-yearly employment survey shows a 13% increase in graduate jobs - the fourth consecutive annual increase.
But the survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters shows that starting salaries for university-leavers in London and East Anglia are falling.
Full article here.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Raised rates and stakes
Interest rates went up again in the UK this week, from 5.5% to 5.75% - which is extremely rewarding for the savers and hard on the mortgage home buyers and small businesses. The benchmark rate has been growing steadily over the last year as the government seeks to rein in inflation. Wars have started on the high street as many banks have started enticing campaigns to lure customers - check out the benefits of opening a bank account here - firstdirect, Abbey, Halifax. Over our time here, we have opened a few bank accounts and got rewarded with an Ipod and some cash. And credit cards have no yearly subscription charge here. This, I think, should be followed in Singapore.
The daily commentary which I sent out has been quite a hit, as far as my boss is concerned. What was initially meant for my department and colleagues in Credit Product Control has taken a wider audience than intended. In fact the Front Office e.g. traders and sales people have requested to be put on this email. While it certainly increased the commentary's profile, I felt that a albatross has been placed over my neck.
There are many researchers and analysts in the firm and the last thing I need/want is for this email to be considered an equivalent. No doubt research is an interesting career path but to "screw up a move" via this daily task may well close all doors.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Thinking like a 18 year-old
Barely a month after I started running with my department's running club and just three run sessions so far, I have signed up for the London Duathlon in September.
This is what happens when a 28 year-old starts thinking like he's 18 at the water cooler. I was asked if I am interested in doing a run with the rest of my colleagues. I thought - easy - and agreed readily without more questions. I later found out that the run is due in two months and I am tasked to run the 10km part of the race.
No wonder I had to join them for the session today. 67 more days and counting down.
This is what happens when a 28 year-old starts thinking like he's 18 at the water cooler. I was asked if I am interested in doing a run with the rest of my colleagues. I thought - easy - and agreed readily without more questions. I later found out that the run is due in two months and I am tasked to run the 10km part of the race.
No wonder I had to join them for the session today. 67 more days and counting down.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Trouble brewing at KPMG
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Very well, thank you...
Flooding hit UK, hardest in the northern region in the week just passed. "Worse than a third world country" was the line I kept hearing on TV. Andy Ang came over to London this weekend with Lian Hong for a short break. We drove up to Strafford-upon-Avon, birth-place of William Shakespeare (din know he wrote so many books and plays) and then to Bicester for a few hours of shopping.
The car-bomb found on Friday definitely got the attention of most people and was the first thing after Hello when I called Singapore. Not sure if we are "Londonised" but it did not ruffle many feathers in office, including mine. After all, such news reports are quite common. It was when we returned to London after the sight-seeing and shopping that we experienced, at first-hand, the aftermath effects. We were stopped before we could enter the Canary Wharf area and kept seeing police cars hot on sirens zooming past on the roads. Cars were stopped for random checks and we had to allow our rented car for inspection. Guess what? It makes me feel really safe to have all these checks and seeing the police officers with the sub-machines on the road/airports.
P/S: Patrick and myself were on our way to return the car (at London City Airport) when we were stopped at a road block. The police officer asked me - "What business do you have at the airport?". Patrick whispered to me - "None of your business". God knows which section of the local newspapers we will feature if the grim man-in-blue ever hear that.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Can you tell the difference?
Reading the news
My job has gotten a little more interesting nowadays, especially since I have requested for research to be incorporated into my job scope. I spend a good part of my morning reading news articles on Bloomberg, Reuters, BBC, Financial Times etc to produce a mid-day daily commentary about the significant events and their financial impact. This goes out to my colleagues and enable them to know (a little) about the reasons driving the numbers that they are seeing.
I thought I should share some interesting articles or knowledge about what you commonly see on the newspapers but have too little time to find out. The main issue hogging the financial headlines recently (other than TH14's £16m transfer to Backside Loner) has been the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the U.S. and, in particular, the fiasco at investment bank Bear Stearns.
Sub-prime mortgages are, simplistically, loans made to borrowers who do not qualify for loans from mainstream lenders. Sub-prime business has exploded in the last few years as investors consider the high returns to be an adequate cover for the underlying risks. Unfortunately with recent interest rate increases, borrowers have been unable to repay their mortgages which impacted the flow of funds to the investors. And if you are still interested, you might want to visit FT's website, which carries an in-depth analysis of the sub-prime lending crisis.
I thought I should share some interesting articles or knowledge about what you commonly see on the newspapers but have too little time to find out. The main issue hogging the financial headlines recently (other than TH14's £16m transfer to Backside Loner) has been the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the U.S. and, in particular, the fiasco at investment bank Bear Stearns.
Sub-prime mortgages are, simplistically, loans made to borrowers who do not qualify for loans from mainstream lenders. Sub-prime business has exploded in the last few years as investors consider the high returns to be an adequate cover for the underlying risks. Unfortunately with recent interest rate increases, borrowers have been unable to repay their mortgages which impacted the flow of funds to the investors. And if you are still interested, you might want to visit FT's website, which carries an in-depth analysis of the sub-prime lending crisis.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Almost met my...
Indeed. With 30 minutes to go before our Eurostar train departs Brussels for London, we were still lost on the streets looking for the nearest Metro. A subsequent 10 minutes wait doesn't help, and we had to put on our speedy Gonzales boots the moment we got off the tram and just managed to sneak through customs, passport control in time for our ride. That's just about the most exciting part of our rest-and-relax weekend trip to Belgium.
This definitely beat our breath-taking taxi ride to the airport bus when we were in Barcelona, where we just managed to get onto the bus as the last passengers (Ryanair bus does not entertain standing passengers and leaves on the dot). This exciting journey aside, we actually managed to enjoy a leisurely time in Belgium, visiting Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Waterloo (yes that famous battleground). We had time to swim in the late evening, tucked into hot waffles in Bruges and scanned the killing fields from Butte du Lion.
Many friends preferred Bruges to Brussels and we were also advised to spend more time in Bruges but I have to say Waterloo was the highlight for me. Luckily it wasn't mine.
P/S: I just got back and will upload the photos soon!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
So near, yet so far
Just when I thought I can finally get a new lease of life, I failed at the final hurdle. Sigh.
Hang in there, mate.
Hang in there, mate.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The 2nd Andersen (avoided)
Some of you may be aware of this. That I was supposed to start work with Arthur Andersen before its demise in 2002. Because of that I had to seek alternative pastures and eventually landed up in KPMG.
Bloomberg today reported KPMG was facing a possible bankruptcy scenario due to its sale of tax shelters. This follows a recent article in Wall Street Journal, aptly titled "What did KPMG know?"
Stay tuned for exciting days ahead.
Bloomberg today reported KPMG was facing a possible bankruptcy scenario due to its sale of tax shelters. This follows a recent article in Wall Street Journal, aptly titled "What did KPMG know?"
Stay tuned for exciting days ahead.
If you wanna buy a house, go study first...
The Japanese introduced Hello Kitty, manga and Sudoku; now there is something new from Japan again. This time it might be very appealing to most of us here who are keen property buyers - lower mortgage interest rates for "intelligent" customers.
I wonder if this is akin to some kind of discrimination and I can imagine the uproar in Singapore if this is introduced. I, for one, would like to take such exams to qualify for a discount. And I guess this would widen the already-wide-enough rich-poor divide.
What's next - Extra fish balls if you can spell "mee-pok"?
I wonder if this is akin to some kind of discrimination and I can imagine the uproar in Singapore if this is introduced. I, for one, would like to take such exams to qualify for a discount. And I guess this would widen the already-wide-enough rich-poor divide.
What's next - Extra fish balls if you can spell "mee-pok"?
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Another Weekend Gone...
Xueyan's persistent coughing and sneezing meant a sleep-in for us this weekend. I was up early today to do the laundry, giving Ms Wee some time off to rest. The weekends are what kept us going at the workplace. Saturday was spent window-shipping, first polishing the chickens off the plate at Nando's, then getting Xueyan's bracelets fixed at Tiffany's, finally a stroll from Old Bond Street to Leicester Square. Have not had such a leisure walk for quite a while.
I mentioned earlier that I met up with a long-lost friend last week and this "meeting old friends" theme seems to run on, and guess who we met today? Ms Goh Pei Pei - yes, from CFCC! I know she's here in London and staying in the Canary Wharf area but I have not seen her in my 20 months here. And of all places, to meet at the Reebok gym. We reminisced about the time in Singapore, her disdain for local food and intolerance of the cold British weather. And we endeavoured to meet up for dinner soon, now that we are finally in touch.
I had intentions for a "photo-visit" to the Motorexpo, held on the open grounds of Canary Wharf but was too lazy to bring my camera along. From the classic Morgan Aero to the awesome(and of course expensive) Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren coupé, they definitely set many mouths drooling (and wallets dripping). Xueyan was tempted enough to sit behind the steering wheel of a BMW Z4 (can see, can touch, cannot buy). So many posh cars, even a Maserati Quattroporte looks normal. One car did catch my attention though - Audi R8. A truly unstated beauty which seems to have that perfect combination of power, performance and pulchritude.
And there goes the weekend. Can only hope the next will be better.
I mentioned earlier that I met up with a long-lost friend last week and this "meeting old friends" theme seems to run on, and guess who we met today? Ms Goh Pei Pei - yes, from CFCC! I know she's here in London and staying in the Canary Wharf area but I have not seen her in my 20 months here. And of all places, to meet at the Reebok gym. We reminisced about the time in Singapore, her disdain for local food and intolerance of the cold British weather. And we endeavoured to meet up for dinner soon, now that we are finally in touch.
I had intentions for a "photo-visit" to the Motorexpo, held on the open grounds of Canary Wharf but was too lazy to bring my camera along. From the classic Morgan Aero to the awesome(and of course expensive) Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren coupé, they definitely set many mouths drooling (and wallets dripping). Xueyan was tempted enough to sit behind the steering wheel of a BMW Z4 (can see, can touch, cannot buy). So many posh cars, even a Maserati Quattroporte looks normal. One car did catch my attention though - Audi R8. A truly unstated beauty which seems to have that perfect combination of power, performance and pulchritude.
And there goes the weekend. Can only hope the next will be better.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
How rich are you?
My friend told me of this website, which supposedly ranks you on the list of richest people in the world. Very bo liao but quite fun initially. On the strength of the sterling pound, the minimun wage earner in UK is still amongst the top 10% richest in the world.
So how rich are you?
So how rich are you?
Friday, June 15, 2007
Tagged!
Releasing the curse of the tag.
Rules of the game:
1. Each player of this game starts off with ten weird things or habits or little known facts about yourself.
2. People who get tagged must write in a blog of their own ten weird things or habits or little known facts as well as state this rule clearly.
3. At the end you must choose six people to be tagged and list their names.
4. No tagbacks!
1. As with most boys after watching Top Gun, I wanted to chase the flying dream. I signed on as a pilot trainee with the Singapore Air Force when I was eighteen. Three months into the training, I was "chopped" - on my birthday. So much from the people who are paid from the taxes inflicted on my parents and friends.
2. I have a history of self-inflicted injuries. My nose bridge is crocked from an childhood accident when my knee said Hi to the nose as I ducked under a tree branch while running. The scar on my right wrist was a result of me stepping on the hand after doing a triple-jump routine. I was wearing spiked shoes then. Ouch.
3. Ever since I saw Sundram do the bicycle kick against Brunei in 1994 at the National Stadium, I harboured hopes of doing the same in front of an appreciative audience. I practiced the routine every day on my bed and had the chance to pull it off when I was playing my first competitive match for VS. The boot met empty air instead. Tata to a trial with the Gunners.
4. Army was not where I learnt the art of killing. My first "kill" was a harmless pigeon which I rescued from the void deck when I was around 9-10 of age. Seeing that it was limping, I brought it home for a shower and tried to feed the bird. Unfortunately it didn't fancy a clean-up and was on a hunger strike. I tried to smoke out the nostrils and it died from CO2 poisoning. I buried it at the playground near my place.
5. My left hand is the only limb left untouched by surgeons. Both knees have undergone reconstruction and I was actually proud to cite competitive injuries as cause for their imperfection. Playing "catching" at the local playground and fracturing the right arm after a mis-guided jump probably didn't win me many followers in the neighbourhood.
6. My first real ambition was to be a PE teacher since I was into sports in school and was very close to my PE coaches. A neighbour, who was (and still is, I think) a history teacher, probably crushed my idealistic vision of a PE teacher when he quoted the following: "If you can, do it. If you can't, teach. If you still can't teach, do PE." - How motivating.
7. I then wanted to do economics in Uni, having struggled with impractical subjects like Physics and Chemistry (they don't change the economy, do they?). Then came a friend who told me Accountancy is the fastest way to getting a professional degree with honours in three years. And having the fairer sex as the majority in the cohort. I did not have to think twice.
8. I was probably a fantasy customer for retailers, at least until 2 years ago. It doesn't take much to convince me to buy anything. As long as the sales staff is nice and keep asking questions or giving me information, I will end up buying the product. I once shocked my friends when I "upped" the quoted price in Bali when a pretty Balinese tried to sell me some wooden monkey figurines. From Rp10,000 to Rp 20,000. She probably thought I was Li Ka-Shing.
9. I don't like to eat pork or beef. Beef because I was a Buddhist and is still not accustomed to eating beef after years of abstinence. Pork because I had an overdose of cold pork cubes in the Army. Funnily enough I liked char siew.
10. Speaking about char siew, I was a regular patron of the corner char siew rice stall at KFC (Kallang Food Centre) when I wa in Upper Sec. I faithfully ordered that culinary delight, topped with a hard-boiled egg and accompanied by a Ice Kachang for dessert, whenever I went there for lunch. So if you want to be like me, you know the dietary requirements!
My tag victims - Amy, Merlin, Weifu, Eliza (twice now), Xueyan and Kevin!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Taxes
I mentioned earlier that there are two certainties in life - death and taxes. You can't avoid the former but you also try to shun the latter.
So this article makes for interesting read - do people actually enjoy paying taxes? And I bet the likes of ST and The New Paper will soon carry abstract of this report as part of the gahmen's propaganda. Speaking about taxes, especially personal taxes, Singapore is a real haven. In the three years that I worked in Singapore, I hardly paid taxes. This is possible with the many tax benefits available to Singaporeans. And to think I used to complain when I had to pay the paltry $300 tax when April comes round.
Over in the UK, the tax system runs on a Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) basis. Seeing >30% of your monthly salaries deducted as taxes and National Insurance is akin to ordering a plate of wanton mee and having to share the char siew with the neighbourhood bully. It is of no exaggeration that the taxes paid here in a year is equivalent to 60 years of taxes in Singapore (based on my last tax paid to IRAS).
It's tough enough having to survive in a taxing job. Taxes just made it worse. I wonder how the Americans can live in Texas all their lives. Maybe that explains for President Bush's Bushisms.
Note: The tax system in Singapore is on a "deferred basis" i.e. you pay taxes only after the end of the financial year. There was talk to align this current tax system to a PAYE but that may require one year of tax waiver OR double taxation in the inception year of PAYE - gosh!)
So this article makes for interesting read - do people actually enjoy paying taxes? And I bet the likes of ST and The New Paper will soon carry abstract of this report as part of the gahmen's propaganda. Speaking about taxes, especially personal taxes, Singapore is a real haven. In the three years that I worked in Singapore, I hardly paid taxes. This is possible with the many tax benefits available to Singaporeans. And to think I used to complain when I had to pay the paltry $300 tax when April comes round.
Over in the UK, the tax system runs on a Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) basis. Seeing >30% of your monthly salaries deducted as taxes and National Insurance is akin to ordering a plate of wanton mee and having to share the char siew with the neighbourhood bully. It is of no exaggeration that the taxes paid here in a year is equivalent to 60 years of taxes in Singapore (based on my last tax paid to IRAS).
It's tough enough having to survive in a taxing job. Taxes just made it worse. I wonder how the Americans can live in Texas all their lives. Maybe that explains for President Bush's Bushisms.
Note: The tax system in Singapore is on a "deferred basis" i.e. you pay taxes only after the end of the financial year. There was talk to align this current tax system to a PAYE but that may require one year of tax waiver OR double taxation in the inception year of PAYE - gosh!)
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Lunch time run
Near the start of our run - River Thames on the left
It is quite funny to see ang mohs in running gears galloping down Shenton Way on a hot Wednesday afternoon. Yes, I used to think those guys have nothing better to do than to sweat it out during lunch hours, taking in very polluted air and missing out on kopi-time with colleagues.
Well I did just that today - in London. Running is quite a big thing here, given that London hosts one of the world's premier marathons. So off I went, with absolute irreverence for the fact that I have not ran outdoors for 4 months, hoping to survive this 8km route.
We (just three of us) began at a rather fast pace, cutting by River Thames from the Docklands to the Tower of London. I heard that this is a popular and scenic route. And it did fill up to its name. It's amazing how people can take time off to run in this searing heat and dry weather but I see so many people running. Familiar faces at work, young and old, they were all in for the adrenaline and to take their mind off work.
The route was indeed scenic, first the cobbled streets and pretty townhouses down Narrow Street and past Grapes where Charles Dickens used to get a pint or two. Then we proceeded to Shadwell Basin, a nice enclosed water body where ducks swam and kids canoed. We then hurried past King George's Park and before arriving at Saint Katherine's Dock - a really quaint place with nice flowing mini waterfalls, houses by the river and a very serene feeling. However, at this point I was more than half dead and it doesn't help that Nelish and Ryan were a good 200m in front. I then pressed on and on seeing the Tower, doubled my pace and turned around at Guoman Hotel, just next to the Tower. The route back wasn't easy and I was tempted to walk but knowing that an hour was all I have, I had to drag the 160lbs worn machine back.
Totally knackered was how I felt after a cooling shower. Staying awake was itself another challenge for the rest of the afternoon. Good thing I had interesting stuff to do which kept me on.
Today's run is a huge challenge and it has strengthened my determination to do this on a regular basis. Perhaps London Marathon 2008 may not just be a dream.
P/S: I have told Xueyan about this route and hopefully we can take a run, if not stroll, and take in the sights. More pictures will be provided!
Friday, June 08, 2007
Goodbye Our Friend
Every Sunday without fail, she will come by our place to fetch us to church... We also made it a point to have dim sum or dinner once a month... She said she wanted to leave when we first met her, they said she has been saying it for the last five years...
Now she's finally leaving - for Singapore.
For many of us in the cell group, she is a faithful sister who gladly host us at her place every Friday. She was our CGL who would pray for us and counsel us. Her after-cell group tea would be greatly missed. So it was no wonder that many of us wept (in joy/sadness) as we gathered for her last CG session in London, sharing how she has blessed us and then passing the leadership mantle to Richard.
It reminded me of the legacy that I hope for. Will I be remembered for the things that I have or what I have done?
I’m but a stranger here, heav’n is my home;
Earth is a desert drear, heav’n is my home.
Danger and sorrow stand, round me on ev’ry hand;
Heav’n is my fatherland, heav’n is my home
Thursday, June 07, 2007
A Step into the Past
It has gone a little quiet on the blog space recently. Well except for Mr Yao's audacious wishes. Glad he was only joking (Quote: "Call me shameless, call me disgusting.. but I'm just having fun la") ;) You can't stop someone from having fun, but it's dangerous to take fun too seriously.
Anyway the completion of Xueyan's CFA exams heralds the new DVD/VCD season for us. We start off with
A Step Into the Past, a TVB serial starring Louis Koo and Michelle Saram. I think this show has been out for a few years but, considering my inclination towards Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is no surprise that I fell in love with the show in the first episode.
As if a kid starved of toys, we piled through 19 episodes over 4 evenings. We will plonk down on the sofa once home, with eyes glued on the TV while taking intermittent breaks for our take-aways. Still-sane Xueyan reminded me to "re-focus" and I managed to ply myself away from the TV to meet up with Albert Bong - literally a long-lost college friend who has been working in London since we parted after college.
Finally time for a rest and a return to blog writing. Maybe I should take some time for my wishful thinking to think aloud.
Anyway the completion of Xueyan's CFA exams heralds the new DVD/VCD season for us. We start off with
A Step Into the Past, a TVB serial starring Louis Koo and Michelle Saram. I think this show has been out for a few years but, considering my inclination towards Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is no surprise that I fell in love with the show in the first episode.
As if a kid starved of toys, we piled through 19 episodes over 4 evenings. We will plonk down on the sofa once home, with eyes glued on the TV while taking intermittent breaks for our take-aways. Still-sane Xueyan reminded me to "re-focus" and I managed to ply myself away from the TV to meet up with Albert Bong - literally a long-lost college friend who has been working in London since we parted after college.
Finally time for a rest and a return to blog writing. Maybe I should take some time for my wishful thinking to think aloud.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
