New Hope New Toy

It is dangerous to have nothing to do on a warm Saturday even to make matters better Chelsea have just beaten Man U. So in the spirit of celebration and hopefully an interesting end to the Premiership I felt maybe I should loosen up a bit.

Anyway I had to do it today given that my contract ended yesterday and plus I hate receiving all these calls from sales agents who know my contract is ending. Over the phone they explain they can get this or that phone with such and such 'free' minutes. For heavens sake you are talking to the wrong person if I had my way I would make sure we all had mobile phones with fixed 200 minutes throughout the month. Once you finish the minutes you have to wait till the following month to make any calls.

What is unlimited minutes across network any time? Surely unless it is for business what is it for. I'm sure VERY few people NEED that. I remember last night coming home this fit looking lady was yapping and yapping over the phone - saying nothing really just making noise for the rest of us. Like the descent people we are everyone pretended it was affecting us; but this old man stood up to challenge the idle young one to stop disturbing everyone. She did the obvious - hurled insults left right and centre suddenly her beauty disappeared. That's the life we lead - turn away when it turns ugly.





Have a less nuisance day on the phone especially when in public.

Sentimental

I wouldn't consider myself an emotional or sentimental guy - I mean it is hard to show emotion in public. It is just un-manly (!?).

Yesterday I went back to my old work place to say bye to most of the guys - not that I'm moving out of town I will still see them every now and then.

Almost 5 years - that's a long time no wonder I feel attached to the place...but it was the right time I know. I was attached to the routine. Wake up at the same time get the same train that's how interesting and imaginative I was.

I strongly hope I will not fall into a pattern again - be creative? Maybe especially not staying in one place for a long time. I am thinking alot about that.

In hindsight, there are a lot of things I could have done differently. But in the context of the facts as I knew them and my role, I’m inclined to think probably not.

Smell Of Coffee

Still a rookie.

Today I had like 2 cups of coffee - I don't normally drink coffee but my system maybe needed it.

It must have something to do with Obama's defeat in PA I finally managed to convince myself to wipe the guilt away. Actually I never expected him to win after listening to all commentaries and opinion from those in the know. Still it left a sour taste or even worse is to listen to Hillary giving her victory speech. It is obvious now that Obama has one option - fight harder, dirtier and meaner (in that order preferably!). That's that.

Back to coffee.
That's a cute story on why I have been drinking coffee of late - maybe again it is the new environment. Gr owning up I can remember very few times I had Kahawa No.1 - Nowadays it tastes different - but my parents discouraged us from drinking coffee. So I grew up knowing it was harmful slightly below smoking and alcohol. Strange that I still LOVE the smell of coffee. I noticed that is why I love this bookshop that has a Costa Coffee shop especially on a rainy Weekend morning. Smell to die for.

Am coffee lover in the closet? By the way it is hard to come by conclusive scientific text to explain whether coffee kills or not. One day you hear one thing the next day another - One will tell you wine is good for you another will tell you otherwise.

Moderation!

What's a brother got to do to get nominated?

Listening: Musiq Soulchild's "When I'm With You" must be my fav or is it "Make You Happy".... anything he does is beautiful I guess

Another Day

You can never win everyday and today was one of those days. I got an email of my unsuccessful application to be part of an organisation I have always wanted to be part of. The timing is particularly on the spot given my patience I believe had run out.

The interview was conducted in February with the decision expected within 4 weeks - I got it today during my lunch break. In fact after being patient for so long I sent an email to one of the individuals who organised the interview.

I think I coerced her into delivering the sad news - life has to go on I bet.


Sometime ago I read a post on Kenyaunlimited that KQ is experimenting on allowing usage of mobile phones on its plane. Be it on plane or other public transport systems - including the underground! - slowly technology is taking over our lives. Suddenly we have become so important 8 hours without using mobile phone or the Internet can kill us.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who down with the trend - as I found out from Brooklyn Heights Blog.


If it is any consolation I'm listening to Jennifer Knapp - see my tastes are varied.

African Problems

Business as usual? New PM and a bloated cabinet. I guess we have to give them a chance (yes the politicians! I can’t believe I’m saying this). I was excited maybe because all the political wrangling had just become too boring and I had to let my colleagues at work know that finally against all expectations we made it through. But excuse my ignorance as I wonder loudly what exactly is the PM’s role? – any ideas on his job description? And am I justified to say soon the President and PM will try to outdo each other.

Quiet diplomacy?
While still in Africa – what is the matter with even the most sober looking among us? Thabo Mbeki sees no crisis in Zimbabwe and he is the chief mediator – someone remind him you cannot be a mediator where there is no crisis. So what is a crisis when election results have not been made public after is it 3 weeks? Or even the fact that most Zimbabweans have been forced into exile.
Maybe the solution would be to form like a grand coalition! Let’s sweep issues under the carpet – the future will take of itself. I hope I’m right
Only in Africa.
I always stood by Mugabe, in my myopic view thought we should not let the west dictate but he lost me a long time ago.
And please for the love of God I don’t want to hear any more of this ‘African crises should be dealt with by Africans’ nonsense. If lives are at stake the world should be involved – if the Americans can come in so be it. We’ve lost so many lives in the conflicts just look at Darfur.

I don’t whether like me you have a sneaky feeling that there is a huge chance that actually Mugabe won the elections and decided not to embarrass the opposition by with holding the results!
Do not give the enemy ammunition to hit you back with – I know Hillary is doing the same.
Finally: “I don’t want to explain the inexplicable; we just need to say this is ridiculous. Pretoria presents a false dichotomy between quiet and megaphone diplomacy, as if the alternative to quiet diplomacy was sending in tanks. In fact SA’s stance provided political support ton a regime, which has been encouraged to behave with impunity.” - Elinor Sisulu

Life Goes On

It has been an eventful week making decisions. Major not just about like what to eat, wear or even when to go to bed. Finally I got an offer and started this more interesting job - officially started on Friday. There I was all dressed up to get to the office and everyone is dressed casually! It was good anyway.

I think what was more refreshing is to wake up at 10am today - it is a long time since I had so much rest, it must have been stressful dealing with the choices. It is not easy to walk away from the security you are so used too. So I took it easy today read some of last weeks papers in bed till almost noon. I hope it works out the way I want it to be.


Quote of the week:

“Those you hold dear may not necessarily hold you dear. And those whom you don’t hold so dear may be the ones who will cross oceans for you.”

Got that from a beautiful blog I got just randomly.

Bear Stearns's New Hires Become Job Seekers.
I kid you not it must be tough I also gather that some of the ivy league graduates who went successfully through the interview process at Citi and Bear Stearns were turned away.

Too bad right? But if they are that good to be a success in an interview at such competitive levels - they need not panic they cannot sleep hungry!

Risk Management

I hate to be the standard bearer (or is it the SI unit) of scepticism especially when it comes to investment in the NSE.

But it does not escape my notice that whereas 'everyone' is excited I seem to have at the back of my mind a lingering thought that it is just not for me. Now whether it is because I have little faith in the regulatory issues surrounding the whole market or, God help this is not true, I just don't want to make a quick buck, I'm still searching my heart.

And the clock ticks on.

Again is it just me? I mean can the 'whole' world be wrong and I am right?

In the midst of all the noise do we have anyone who is critically looking at the numbers? Everything that has been raised unfortunately has been done by politicians therefore it has ended up dividing us further and exposing us to a dangerous scenario where reason flies out. The only solution in my opinion bringing transparency and expertise is the solution - I'm not aware of any independent advisor apart from stockbrokers - well if they are the advisers anyway. Let's assume they really care about your well being.

I distinctively remember when Uchumi suddenly 'collapsed' forget about the way it happened suddenly - nobody saw it coming? Forget that nobody was actually held responsible. Yeah and life goes on I only hope that this is not something that will haunt us.


PS: This just a thought and by no means an advice. But we have to remember that understanding the early warning signs in business deterioration is critical to safeguarding assets.

One of those Days

Terribly diasppointed at the slow progress this whole exercise has been. Tommorrow I have to d o what I got to do (A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do). I was s'pposed to get someone's help and he seems to be dragging his feet - and you know when it is a favour you are seeking the options are limited.

You don't want to push too hard but also you can't let issues drag on FOREVER!
When I'm in one of those cranky moods I dig deep into my cd collections and go back way back into time. Not surprising I listened to Bebo Norman - In "Myself When I am Real" I love all of the tracks

Long Way Home:

It's a long way home, and the crying is done
But the sorrow is still wet upon your face
Our colliding hearts sometimes break apart
But now the pieces are gathered up in grace.

When we dream this dream for the last time we'll see
That we lived this love for a lifetime...

Collateral

For the second time this week I watched 'Collateral'. Not sure why, nothing exceptional about the movie and yes it is not because of Jada Pinkett (though she is cute as always - since the days of Jason's Lyrics)

Max (Jamie Foxx) is described as living a mundane life as a cabbie - unimaginative or just ordinary - for 12 years (!). The worrying part is he still got this dream of one day owning a fleet of limos for hire. That is how time flies I guess holding on to a dream that others would not understand.

Quotes:
Annie (Jada): Well how many cabbies do you know get you into an argument to save money?Max: If there were two of us I'd have to kill the other one. I don't like competition

The first time Max realises that he is carrying an assassin:

Vincent (T. Cruise): Max, 6Bn people on the planet, you're getting bent out of shape cause of one fat guy?M: Well, who was he?
V: What do I care? Have ever heard of Rwanda?
M: Yes, I know Rwanda.
V: Well, tens of thousands killed before sundown. Nobody's killed people that fast since Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Did you bat an eye, Max? Did you join Amnesty International, Oxfam, Save the Whales, Greenpeace, or something? No. I off one fat Angelino and you throw a hissy fit.
M: Man I don't know any Rwandans.
V: You don't know that guy in the trunk either.

I liked it

Brand New Day

If you do good then definately positive things are bound to happen. One way or the other.

I'm stepping out now, it's a brand new day and possibly a new contract. I'm excited was this not what I wanted and more?.

I'm about to take a new step and like I wrote earlier it is dangerous to be recklessly prudent!

Quote

“The line separating investment and speculation, which is never bright and clear becomes blurred still further when most market participants have recently enjoyed triumphs. Nothing sedates rationality like large doses of effortless money.”

That's Warren Buffet advising us to get a grip of our emotions

The question of what to do with my money is universal so I skimmed through the pages and found the few pages I glanced interesting. This is especially true now that everyone is talking about Safricom IPO - we all have different motives but the bottomline we all expect to make a profit.

So it was God send that on a rainy and cold Tuesday morning I made my was to the bank only to find that I was there too early. Luckily nearby there is this Waterstone Bookshop which is just beautiful. I fell in love with the place not sure whether it was the smell of coffee or the clean carpet and comfortable seats. I hope it is because of the books I skimmed through while waiting for the bank to open.

"Smarter Investing: Simpler Decisions for Better Results" By Tim Hale

'Smarter investing is not about saving. There is nothing wrong with putting money aside into interest bearing accounts especially for small contingencies that may arise in the short term.
But if you have quite a few years until you need this money, a cardinal sin is to be recklessly prudent and save.'

I think it applies to me I seem to place more value in saving rather than investing - that is not being risk averse it is worse!

He goes on further to attack me by advising me to have a heart to heart talk with myself.

'Get smart have a word with yourself. While we all like to think we are capable of making rational decisions, it appears that is not so when it comes to investing.'

It will be nice once in a while instead of sleeping till 9am on a Saturday morning to make it to this bookshop and scan the books. Have a lay in or Waterstone? I must be crazy.