Time to take my life back....

Back to the basics

Yes I think I found it! I had to compromise and gather courage to accept that maybe the best way to go up is to step back look around again and then move on.

A common strategy for businesses which feel like in the midst of all the commotion and excitement the way was lost. It is common for most businesses to be caught up in a rat race when there is an initial increase in opportunities. Look at most conglomerates which are struggling and you realise good intentions are not enough. Just because you can afford it you have to evaluate whether you are adding value on acquisition. (I'm not talking about marriage for those that maybe are lost in this maze!)

Look at the merger and acquisition mania that has seem to grip the market.
It is dangerous to have surplus funds and instead of distributing to shareholders you think you can diversify on their behalf. (Someone said something to this effect – my memory fails me!). Shareholders are better placed to diversify their investments.

With good intentions in acting in the best interest on shareholders behalf companies stray into businesses that distract them from their core strengths. It is recommended to periodically review investments – especially where acquisitions are made is it value adding?
Aw sorry all I wanted to say I’m moving to a new place this coming week – a modest place in itself. I had for a minute forgotten what exactly I was after so I’m going back to the basics – one step back so I can leap (that’s the strategy – off loading non-core activities)

My current place:
Not the most comfortable place but VERY convenient. A flat next to a busy road so frequently I get all this traffic noise – even worse when we have these road works – I can almost taste the exhaust fumes. You have to get used to the thundering lorries, vans and scooters running past and I swear there are times you can feel the building shake.
This new place is in a residential area away from the street – quiet – but I get to make a big compromise I share the bathroom (aarrrggh!). I noticed I had to settle for that - time is not on my side (Yes desperation). And the damage £400 every month inclusive of all expenses.

Wish me luck (I'm making it sound like it is painful - I'M FREE!)

House hunting and morality

‘Walk the talk’

No one like a hypocrite – so the saying goes. We sometimes profess to live by one set of standards, but acts upon another, most of the time driven by an insidious hidden agenda.
Today I went to see a property that was advertised over the Internet. Apart from the fact the owner was still repairing it everything about it was good. I mean the privacy – own shower room and kitchenette but sharing toilet (I don’t mind that). Someone explain to me why I am so obsessed in having my own shower room?

Anyway with the time frame I had it was not possible to wait for him to finish the repairs. I am a suspicious guy I noticed – at the back of my mind I couldn’t help wondering why the couple were so eager to let me have it.

Like companies our lives are driven through life process with goals that direct our actions – success will be measured by the achievement of the goals along the way.
I saw a small article today Britain and France calling on EU to get tough on Bulgaria and Romania over ‘serious’ corruption issues. But what can be more corrupt than scrapping an inquiry into alleged bribery involving arms deal?
That’s what the British government did – the Americans among others (me too) are not too impressed. How will they give us lectures in future on corruption?

Simply put I was not honest with the property owner - I'm afraid I gave him the indication that I will call him later during the week knowing very well I need a place by the weekend.

I'm a liar!

Love Gone Under

I always suspected something was amiss.
Bermondsey tube station has been voted the most romantic and likely place to get a date while rushing to work at the same time.
Damn I should use the tube more my chances would drastically improve

I should be in bed

Somebody tell me to go to bed - it's past 1:30 am.
Just making sure I have cancelled all the standing orders - I mean the rent. And the damn council tax was charged twice. They must think I'm a millionaire!

Is it not revealing that a guy would still be up at this time - What does it imply?

That's for another day.

Goodnight.

... Another one of those days

By the this time next week I will have moved to a new place (fingers crossed) - It's about time I know it should have happened ages.

Tomorrow I have a place to check out - quite a distance from where I am at the moment but all I'm hoping it will look like what the 'landlord' described. It has not been easy getting even time to move around - you see something quickly make a call and the answer aw it's just been taken.

Maybe I'm too choosy?

I just need a room my own shower and a kitchenette - surely that is VERY basic. They range from atleast £100 a week - you can get something lower than that but you have to make compromises.
Why not - I should be playing hard ball. Remember I'm not desperate (yet). At least I got offers for a place to crush should the worst arise.

Sharing a place almost makes you almost dependent on others - which does us no good. Well you are so used to 'saving' that you imagine it would be impossible to live on your own (or is it survive?)

With my small budget I'm going to see two places tomorrow and hopefully they meet my BASIC standards.
£100 per week - wish me luck


It is for the best that I move on - Why did it take me so long to realise that?

..Summer Stress

It has been a concern about over-crowding on the public transport system, the government and train operating companies mostly have been under a lot of criticism. Funny when I get on the trains during peak hours I still see a lot of room unoccupied.

Times have changed I remember when I used to board some of the manyangas and be packed like sardines (or is it mbuta in my case?). An ingenious individual has been thinking ahead of how to reduce stress during the 'crush' hours. The academics have recommended that you could reduce stress by admiring attractive around you!

That should work but you will look like a pervert - I mean it's summer most likely she will be economical in her dressing. I'm the shy type (as if you didn't know) - I wouldn't know where to look in some instances.
Picture this I'm in church and this lady in front of me when she stands up I can see her thong. I know it is just a thong but where do I look - it has happened to me a


Next time you are in a fix - fellas admire the ladies cramped up next to you - it helps relieve your stress! Ladies do what you have to do maybe pretend you have not noticed or something, we are just working hard to avoid stress.

... Nice Weekend

It is said that time flies especially when you are having a good time.
Thanks to a friend, I was reminded that it is London Marathon weekend. What? Again? Was it not just the other day I was watching them run past my crib?

It can only mean one thing - time is really flying.

Therefore sunday same place same time - I'll be watching.

Or should I look for something better to do - I mean get a life!

Transparency

The people at WestLB are fascinating.
Or is bringing to question the German regulatory system.

They suddenly announced this week that it had a 14 per cent stake in Daimler Chrysler! and nobody knew about it. Well they had not disclosed it up to this week. Regardless of when they bought the shares it is normal practice to be open when you own a huge stake in another company - well they did not see why they should do that, even when they clearly heading to be the largest shareholder?

At least they had a good reason for non-disclosure by blaming the new disclosure rules in Germany for the incident.
If 14 per cent is not material then what is material? Remember the Safaricom debacle - all along there was someone else holding shares and we thought only two groups existed. How naive of use to think that accounting rules would ensure transparency!

The reason the WestLB story is interesting is the previous week they lost 100m Euris in a failed speculation in the VW shares. A few heads did roll.

'The Riza Deal'

Interesting week right?
Scientists informed us that apparently there is a gene in some of us that is making us fat! And the World Bank president is in hot soup. He is still waiting for the members to decide in a vote I think - why waste every one's time.

In fact what's up with all this so called leaders?

One of the reasons the Republican party lost ground during the last primary elections was the undoing of the 'conservative' leaders I am made to understand. Yeah I know the war in Iraq is VERY VERY unpopular but aside from the problems in the White House - we sometimes set very high standards on others and end up falling.
Just before the elections a leading Republican supporter was found to be in a compromising relationship with a male escort - well he actually explained he was hooked to some type of drugs.
My point is not whether he was innocent or not - imagine the standards the WB has set especially for African leaders. They all think we are the most corrupt creatures on earth.

Was it not Pattni who said something to the effect 'People leaving in stone houses should NOT throw stones', since that day I saw Paul Muite in a new light

Simply Mr Paul Wolfowitz - I feel what he is going through but again he expects others to be descent let him do the descent thing. It is not enough to apologise - he has lost face even among his staff.
You can't have the cake and eat too.

My fear is that the man is a politician - so he is used to being villified and means he will not bulge - I told you I love politicians (In their own small world they think the world has gone bananas and the are the only descent people remaining.)
Imagine what he would have said if Kibaki did the same (I'm just trying to make a point here Kibaki is the first name that came to my mind!)

On a positive note the weather is lovely today and the ladies are tempting - enough said. My standards are high but again I am human! The sun is already affecting me.

So I'm looking for a place OF MY OWN - I think it's way past time to do that.

Easter business

"DaimlerChrysler undoubtedly has the potential to create sustainable value for you, our shareholders, and concurrently for our customers, our employees and society in general. My colleagues and I will make every effort to ensure that we realize this potential."

Dr. Dieter Zetsche

Well the shareholders must realy love him now - give him a break he came after the deal had been put through. Fingers crossed maybe he will find a suitable suitor for Chrysler. But I'm sure nobody will want to take the burden off him - no one wants rejects


Happy Easter weekend

Chrysler on the table

It has been suggested by those who know better about matrimonial issues that marriage starts after the wedding ceremony. Before then usually its all rosy and romantic. It is after the wedding day you wake up in the morning, look at the person sleeping next to you and realise - 'Am I stuck with her for the rest of my life?'

The sad (depending on how you look at it) thing this week was at DaimlerChrysler - finally the chairman confirmed what we all feared that the marriage was on the rocks. Daimler is looking for potential suitors as it considers selling Chrysler.

I remember when the deal to form a partnership between the two company (yes it was a partnership on paper) - what a German and American? What were they thinking? Nothing against either it is just that the cultures are so different.

A story is told of the first full Board meeting after the partnership was announced. The German executives flew all the way to the US after making extensive preparations and ready to thrash out issues (at least that was what they knew Board rooms are for), they were shocked that the Americans do not conduct business issues at Board meetings. Actually Board meetings are just used to rubber stamp issues already discussed at the golf club.

The rest is history - the Germans took over the company.

(There is no thing as a merger because it is extremely difficult to find two companies that are equal in every sense - usually there is one party that would be more domineering - hey if I have lost you this is business not a matrimonial bliss!)

Like all well meaning couples it was touted as the merger of equals - Good intentions are not enough. The ceremony cost alot of shareholder funds and now the exits are also very costly - marriage can be painful.
("I know sometimes I don't make sense when I stand before you all - forget all that I've taught you in this few weeks remember one thing: about marriage don't just do it!" - M. Wainwright)

Oh you are having a good day? Damn I must've missed it!

Gavin Banek: 'How can you live with yourself?'

Stephen Delano: 'I can sleep with myself alright, at the end of the day I do more good than evil. Is there any standard better than that?

In business we are all interested in profits (or rather some form of economic gain) - in that case does it really matter what form of ownership exists? ' We' are all motivated by the same desires (I assume) whether we are part of the

Private Equity

or public equity.

The main advantage of a private equity has always been difficult business decisions can be made away from the glare especially of the press. (Look at Airbus and the way the management has continually struggled to make decisions - so many interested parties are involved.
Also public companies have had trouble getting to tap into the enhanced returns that come from financial engineering and leverage. Remember Private Equity is mostly heavily leveraged.

What is scary as the fear of what next after - I mean are they not notorious for asset stripping? hence the term corporate vultures? Though again if we accuse them of short terministic goals I wonder is it not taking care of the short term ultimately ensure a successful long term outlook?

All this is being debated as KKR bids for Alliance Boots. Check this out:
Mr Pessina holds a 15 per cent stake and acts as the deputy chairman has ganged up with KKR to make the bid. He is the same guy who sold to the shareholders on the benefits of Alliance Unichem and boots merging. Now his jumping ship?

Ok lets see how he will convince us shall we or let the money do the talking!