Brother under pressure

I got home yesterday - sorry is it home really? - and was disappointed. Well you know in 'normal' homes usually it is the man of the house who does that (I think). I've been doing that for a long time especially since I have been blessed to live around ladies.
But it beats logic for the bin bag to be full and someone to continue piling up rubbish. I was disappointed yesterday - ignored went to bed hoping some miracle would happen and it will disappear. Miracles are far and in between nowadays - I swallowed my small pride to the rubbish out and left the house.


Of course it is natural for one to be under pressure after releasing poor performance. That is what ML's Stan O'Neal is going through at the moment according to the FT this morning. In business there is always someone looking at ways to exploit any sign of weakness - so this gives others a chance to aim a shot at ML.

I needed the cold breeze I'm feeling much better now - but maybe rules should change I should not be the only one taking the rubbish out. Especially when one can clearly see that the bin bag is FULL (Is that asking too much?). One wrong move can ruin an otherwise successful rein.

It is going to be a good weekend I can feel it.

Mid-Life Crisis

I guess - it is sad to admit it but I'm not growing any younger. So when you are concerned that I'm more interested in health matters then please understand - I'm in one of those stages.

A colleague at work is about to retire and he is always complaining of some sort of pain, he is asthmatic, diabetic - you name he's got it. The other he joked that he was on his way out - we all laughed but it set me thinking. He came to the UK many years ago from Cyprus after the Turks invaded their country. So he's tasted the rough life before getting to where he is now. One thing about him is he does not like spending his money. Instead he has been a heavy smoker over the years with almost no physical exercise (he loves just going home and watching TV); he's diet to judge from what he brings to work leaves a lot to be desired. Now he is struggling with his weight (same song everyday)

With the credit squeeze - it is tough to just throw money around - but I believe I should not compromise with eating healthy. It does not cost that much to have a fruit a day.

Chess Game:
I played chase a long time ago and managed to witness some great talents in Kenya. The one who taught me the game always told me that usually a game is lost during the first few moves. Sooner or later with a weak defence the centre can no longer hold. That is what life is all about. You build slowly - I do not have to wait till I'm old to try and lose weight or be forced to eat healthy I'm starting now.

It's my move I guess.

Excess Luggage

I like to think of myself as being proactive in issues that I feel strongly about. My attention is easily drawn to issues of the day - and I'm proud to say that it has all worked out fine for me so far. That said I still struggle with the fact that I've always wanted

The current debate on obesity seem to have taken over the media's attention - I only hope that everyone is following. It is not complicated to find out the reason why this is an issue here - I mean in Africa this is hardly a problem. Sure we have individuals who are obese here and there but again they do work hard to achieve that! Kids here have no space to play - I remember growing up we used to play EVERYDAY - no time or chance to gather excess weight. Now it's different you can play with the remote control comfortably on the couch, playstations etc... etc.

Obesity is the in thing now – what is the society to do with all the excess weight we seem to be carrying around. Forget global warming!

After dealing with smokers a range of issues are being suggested whether they will come to pass remains a mystery. Manufacturers could be banned from adding salt and other unhealthy substances to food; employers could be required to provide exercise facilities and of course time for employees to use the facilities!
Since a report on health profile published reveals that prevalence of obesity is higher than any other EU members. Someone suggested that when one person eats more - it can only mean he/she is eating somebody else share - is that why most are slim in Africa?

I hope the government finds the solution because the society seems to be helpless my suggestion: People have become just too comfortable, hence the excess luggage

ML Got Burned!

Forget what the Citigroup is going through ML announced an $8bn write following recent credit squeeze at Wall Street - the biggest reported by a bank so far. Serious credibility issues especially since the figure is $3bn more than the bank had predicted. "The bottom line is we got it wrong...we...I am accountable for the mistakes just as I am accountable for the performance of the firm overall" - Stan O'Neal.

Stan O'Neal is facing some criticisms and for sure heads will roll - isn't it amazing how jobs are created and lost in this banks? Bank of America has announced 3000 are being laid off mainly within the investment bank.

I'm sure others are watching the reaction of the market especially here in the UK where there are all sorts of speculations on the impact of the credit squeeze. Alistair Darling is meeting ~I think the parliamentary Finance Committee to respond to the concerns.

What a Weekend!

Nothing much to say about the weekend... only that it sneaked in and sneaked out - almost unnoticeable!

A friend is getting married (another one!) and this weekend he had a get together (?) unfortunately conveniently I was absent as usual I was extrememly busy (as in more than just busy!). When I'm alone unlike other people who dream ferrari's or even beyonce (What?....lol - this is Monday blues)I had time to reflect.

It became clear to me that many relationships inevitably run their course and there is very little I can do about them. I couldn't face people I knew back in the day hence I missed the get together. Some things are just not meant to be and I am struggling with these truths. These are guys I met in the UK when I just came into the country but somewhere along the line something happened and we don't talk no more. For one reason or the other we lost touch they are doing their thing and me I'm just me.

Hopefully this is just a phase I'm going through and at the end of it all I will sit back contented that I took the right course.

So apart from a weeping nation I am still in a sensitively consious mood - nothing to do with rugby or formula 1.

I hope others as usual had a grand weekend, I'm looking forward to the next one. Did I say nothing much to say... actually I had a lot to say but maybe another time another place.

Fishing - So complicated

Nightmare: You get a call concerning a job application
"Hallo can I speak to a Mr. FrugalAfrican? I have your CV in front of me and I have a question, can you speak French?"

Ah... I beg your pardon.

Well apparently they actually wanted a person fluent in French - how else can you conduct an Internal Audit without speaking the language? Is it just me or have the goal posts changed? I guess it has become so competitive that a degrees and professional qualifications are not enough. A tragic though if one is aiming too high (whatever that is).

With the internet it is less complicated to locate vacancies around the world - whether that is good I don't know. Because the whole process in my opinion has become informal - I mean filling out a form is different from giving me a blank sheet of paper and telling me to explain why I am suited for a role within say Microsoft. Even worse I hear that companies are using candidate-sifting software in the recruitment process - not sure how it works but would imagine that it looks for specific words and terms to select. Woe unto you if you have limited vocabulary! A professor once made a point in a Business Unit I was taking that it is not just the certificates you collect but talking your way to the top. Of course he was warning non-English speaking students of what to expect especially if they want to work in the UK.

Gone are the good days when fishing was not complicated, back to the basics.

Customer Services - A myth?

It is a nightmare dealing with outsourced customer services over the phone.
I know they are just doing their job and rarely are they to blame. How do you deal with customer service?

After calling my ISP provider's customer services I was just about to get really angry and throw tantrums - then I remembered that would not solve my problems. I needed to sort out access to the internet - for heaven's sake the lady is in India!.

There is nothing more humbling to me than to lose a fight. So if I'm not in it to win then let it slide is my principle. My natural response would have been 'You are not helping me, can I speak to your supervisor?' or 'I'm going to complain about this, what is your name?'

Every morning I see this at the train station and it amuses me - you come without a ticket for whatever reason, the consequences - the inspector might penalty fare you. I've seen grown up men in kids bodies being drawn into an argument and eventually losing the battle. You rush to obtain a complaints form and think that you've done yourself a favour. As sure as the sun rises every morning if you come back tomorrow the same inspector will still be around.

There must be another way to deal with injustice - throwing tantrums is not one of them! OK let me call customer services and swear at the unhelpful staff - I'm sure in the background they are all laughing at me.

Another one bites the dust

Of Course I'm Mad!

I must have rejoiced too soon.
The internet service that I subscribed too suddenly is turning out to be a nightmare - I thought it was straightforward judging from the first few weeks.

Yesterday I spent almost an hour on the phone with one of the technical customer service guys - uninstalled the whole thing set it up. Suddenly I could access google, got excited thanked the genius and hang up!

What?!

I can only get the google page but cannot even access the links! What is this all about? When I try to access any other websites it seems like the pages are being loaded then suddenly there is a connection failure.

One of my strengths (depending on how one looks at it) is that I am a VERY patient guy. I'm one of those guys who when angry would not say it verbally - but one can easily sense it. Only that today I'm kind of tied up but I think the only logical thing is to cancel the whole thing. Imagine just after my first direct debit is when the problem arises.

Even more important - where do I stand legally?

Honey, we need to talk

A colleague just got a call from his 'partner' that she though unconfirmed she might be pregnant. Nothing new here - it is only natural that there are consequences in every action. The guy could not concentrate at work he had to go home early.

Of course set off the usual deep thoughtful discussions that guys have about relationships - of course it is like ladies are playing the fellas. I realise that it takes two to tango.

The victim (watch 'the bachelors') is almost 50, divorced and has two kids from previous marriage

So today I came across a post on wsj that is interesting. And since the link might not work copy and paste the link below on your browser hopefully it will work.

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2007/10/10/rich-banker-fires-back-at-gold-digger/?mod=homeblogmod_thewealthreport

More changes

Changes have also been announced at GSK.

JP Garnier steps down next May at a young age of just 60 to be replaced by Andrew Witty the group's Head of European pharmaceuticals after he beat Chris Viehbacher (Head of American business) and David Stout. For the 'losers' I guess it's time to move on - they will be fine.

All Change

It's been ages since I was last year - no good explanation. Like everyone else I guess the campaigns are tight (is that not a good excuse?).

Two weeks ago - approximately - I read a newspaper caption that kind of made me proud. For the first time in a long long time there was a small feature in the business pages of the promotion of a black African (French passport holder) in one of the leading insurance companies here. Prudential had poached a high-flying executive from Aviva and placed him as a Finance Director.

African-born, French trained Tidjane Thiam was a former senior member of the Ivory Coast government until a coup in the late 90s. Apart from a five figure salary, he is positioned as a candidate to succeed the current CEO – do not hold your breathe on that though it is too early.

Since it seems the norm here to moan and whinge I was just about to complain why The Daily Telegraph forgot to include his picture with the story, I turned to the FT and they had he's picture. I don't why I'm happy it is obvious we have very few role models especially here in the UK given that there is a huge number of individuals with African (read black) but not represented in the business world.

Last week I read a brief interview of the great Spike Lee and of course the interviewer asked him whether racism was still rife in Hollywood (duh!). Apparently he is tired of going to meetings and the only time he meets brothers is at the door manning the gates!

Anyway in whatever you are up to good luck

Maybe next is to have Black girls as page 3 models - not that I'll notice!