Weekend 31/3/2013

For this week, there are a few things I need to achieve.

1. I have to change my diet. Although I exercised in the morning but having heavy meal in the afternoon is a waste of effort. I will have to control my appetite from today onwards. 
2. To go to gym at least 3 times a week. 
3. To spend at least one hour studying to study basic financial terms. I.e. at least I can read the balance sheet, Profit & Loss account and cash flow of a company.
4. To plan what I want to do exactly in April by the end of this week
5. To read "How they started Global Brand." by David Lester
6. To reduce my coffee session to once at work.

My short term goal 2013

I would like to review my personal goal this year. 

1. To manage USD 30K investment portfolio by the end of 2013. Why? because I think is important to be brave and have part of my assets in the market for me to learn and grow.
2. To have a passive income of at least 2.2 percent monthly. Why? So that I could learn on how to be financially free and spend more time with things and people I love. 
3. To reduce my body fat from 23% to 17%. Why? So that I could dress up and be more confident. 
4. To be able to give a speech or pitch an idea in front of a crowd without fear. 
5. To attend at least 4 seminars. 

I will copy and update this post regularly from time to time. Just to see how far I am from my goal. 

9/3-19/3/2013

My last post was on 8/3/2013, couldn't believe that it was like 2 weeks ago already. Quite a lot of things happened during that past two weeks. Let's do a brief recap.

From 9/3/2013, I went back to KK for 2 nights for my Grandma's wake, the trip was very short and I believe I had massive homesick by the time I flew back to Singapore, the feelings were strongest when the aeroplane is taking off from KKIA. Looking at the familiar island from above ground reminds me of home.

On 15/3/2013, I attended company dinner at Marriott hotel Orchard at 8pm. It was a small gathering buffett dinner at Marriott Cafe. It was good to have all the colleagues gather together and share some information together like a big family. I guess, as a site personnel in Boustead Project, company event like this is really important for me to bond with my colleagues, as the time I spent in the office is less than a day per month.

On Saturday, 16/3/2013 while working half way through, I received a call from Uncle Guan, a relative of mine in New Zealand, who is transiting with his family after my grandma's funeral service. I met up with him, my aunty and Ephraim, my younger cousin. I became a tour guide and brought them to Marche in Somerset for a quick meal, travelled along orchard road, MRT to Chinatown and finally back to Terminal 3.
I am glad, that we were able to catch up with each other after awhile. Guan asked me to encourage Ephraim to get an education in Civil Engineering field. However, I think Ephraim himself is not really interested with civil engineering and is interested with Chefing & Hospitality instead. I wasn't surprised, and I didn't insist on the civil engineering course to him. As I believe Ephraim is mature enough to decide what he really wants in the future.

After a light catch up, I took taxi straight to north bridge, famous fish head steamboat to meet Chai Ann, Serene, Ken and CCY. By the time I reached, it was about 0930pm, and they had finished their meal. We sat in the restaurant for awhile and decided to go for a second round in a exquisite bar near by in beach road. I had forgotten the name of the restaurant by the time I am writing this post, but it was a cosy bar. I liked their interior design.

On Sunday, 17/3/2013. I decided to have a breakfast with Calvin Tsen and Anthony, as Calvin is going to New Zealand for a period of time in early April. After a long hour brunch in Macdonalds, Chian Yee suggested to come to their place as they will prepare some Thai food for me. It was some sort of refreshing mee hon. I don't know exactly the name of the dish, but the companion and catch up session with them make all the feeling right and the name of the dish doesn't matter. Having said, the food is good quality.

After our light meal, we decided to play some badminton in open area near their place in Bishan. The game was fun, especially when we need to consider the wind direction and people, especially hot chicks looking at us. Zen and Yi Tsin, Calvin's sister joined us for the badminton session. After the badminton session, we were tired and hungry. We decided to go for some light meal in the nearest Indian restaurant to resume our catch up session.

After that, we went back Calvin's place for awhile and continued our chat. And around 8pm. They brought me to the nearest tze char from the place, it was tasty and dead cheap. I had dinner with Anthony, Tsen and Chian Yee. After the dinner, I should have went back home but I end up in Tsen's place instead.

I stayed there for awhile and went off around 1130. What a Sunday.

On Monday, 18/3/2013- My mum's birthday. I sent her a text in the morning, " Happy Birthday Mum, Love" and my brother arranged a dinner with my family to celebrate my  mum's birthday in her favourite restaurant. I guess, I am getting used to celebrate birthdays abroad. Missing her so much now.

At night, after work, I attended the VIOS gathering in Outram. I spoke to a few stock analysts, full time investor and also remisier for Phillips securities. The knowledge that I have gathered from that night was priceless. After all the research they have all done, they just shared willingly that night. I am impressed with how eager they are to impart their skills and knowledge to others.

After the gathering, serene and ccy sold some options on the spot, I think is a company related to gold. After that, serene, ccy, Jonathan and I were celebrating our options sold in hawker centre nearby.

After that, we "kidnapped" serene to Clark Quay, went to TCC @ clark quay and celebrated her birthday. Two celebrations in one night. After our light celebration, we decided to go for G-Max, it was an impromptu  and exciting one.

Grandma

My grandma passed away on 8/3/2013. I was told by my cousin this morning while I am on my way to work .

A sudden urge of crying,i can feel both my eyes filled with tears. Fading memories flashed in my mind reminds me how powerful my grandma used to be. She is one of the strongest women at her age I have met in my entire life. She could controls the WONG family. Especially her beloved son & daughters. She somehow has this special power in herself to arrange things in the entire family. Sometimes, my father do have to attend what they call a family meeting. It is amazing how she has got so much power within the family tree. 

There are things I would like to write down on this blog is the time I spent with her when I was in Sabah. 

Every Saturday, she will go to her favourite salon in Sinsuran. Sometimes, I would basically become her Chauffeur for half a day. Basically to fetch her from my uncle's place and drop her in her favourite salon. I guess she would like to present her self at her best in church. Apart from that, she could catch up with some of her friends, who were in the salon as well. I guess my grandma is bringing the trend. She is rather influential. 

After that, she would buy a few biscuits from a nearby bakery shop and bring home for tea time. She always buy some for me. despite I am rather overweight that period of time. Occasionally, she would give me some pocket money for driving her around in the morning. Sometimes, we would go to some coffee shop, sit down and enjoy a quick lunch together. My favourite Kon Lau Mee with her near Damai would be a nice place to have our lunch. After lunch, I would drop her off, and will see her around again at night. 

Every Saturday, we would bring her out for a dinner, this has become our weekly ritual, and my parents would bring her to her favourite restaurant in KK for a meal. there, we always talk about interesting stories of life. 

I guess, these are part of the stories, that I would like to record it down at the moment. 

RIP grandma.Love you. x

March Tuesday

I wake up at 6am, realising that I accidentally slept at 11 yesterday. I showered, packed and went off to Gym in Novena. Today will be my 1st day to go gym before my working time. I am still working on the habit of waking up early in the morning. :) 

Although it feels good, but it needs a lot of discipline to sleep earlier @ night. 

After gym, I went to pamper myself with a Traditional Set breakfast in Kopitiam for SGD 2.00. The breakfast and the view are awesome. 

After a long day at work, I was invited by my sub-contractor to attend a dinner in Akanoya@ orchard parade hotel near Tanglin Mall. Most of the servers/waiter & waitresses are Japanese. There are three huge table in the entire restaurant. Every table is about 10- 15 people and the seats are arranged as such is surrounding the cooking area. The food wasn't that fantastic but the ambiance is good. Apart from the patron, the place really feel like is in Japan. 

During the dinner, it was really nice to hear good comments and feedbacks from sub-contractors regarding my performance at work.

Work aside, the dinner lasted for about 2 hours and we drank most of the time. 

I guess the best dish I would say for Akanoya would be the Wagyu Beef, the meat literally melted in my mouth. 

Monthly expenses March 2013

I am readjusting my monthly expenses after trial and testing for the last two months as follow:

1. Rent- 17%
2. Groceries-10%
3. Entertainment and Eating out- 14%
4. Saving & investment- 50%
5. Telephone- 5%
6. Transport 4%

Referring to my previous blog, I have basically increased 4% on my entertainment and eating out. I think this would help on my social life. :)