RBS Woes.... Sir Fred

The former boss is having none of it – no one should touch his pension as RBS recorded its massive losses. I feel I contributed to the losses to after closing my account there last year but nobody should touch my pension too!



Let's see who will blink as the pressure mounts, some have even suggested these financiers should be in jail.

Weekend is here ... AGAIN!

I came across the cartoon just after my interview - I think from The Times. Something to make me smile.

Another hectic week has gone by – I get fidgety and restless when I’m put on hold or rather when looking forward to something (read interview). My life has simply been on hold throughout the week – I got an email at end of last week inviting for an interview (honestly I’m tired of this, why can’t someone just call to surprise me with a ‘you’re hired!’). I could not remember ‘applying’ for the role but what the heck I asked for the job description and confirmed that they had my details right. From the CV they had I was still in the UK. The last time I can remember applying for a role on there website was around January 2008!

I have no problem getting such calls – but from the little experience I’ve had dealing with regional organisations is the slow pace of events. The process can drag FOREVER! Did I mention that in late November I attended another interview up to now a decision has not been made – initially I was told it would take 2 weeks for my fate to be known. We were 3 candidates as far as I know two of us were interviewed on the same day the 3rd guy missed his flight and therefore his interview was re-scheduled.
Up to now our fate is unknown – well I still keep in touch with the guy I met at the interview. Of course contacting the HR office I’m informed to keep on waiting! So much when dealing with foreign funded project roles – probably funding was not forthcoming.

So it is impossible to maintain a standard routine at the moment. Just getting ready for an interview kind of takes over my life – I’m literally forced to prepare (though it is the same questions!)

I’m waiting AGAIN! They were frank to apologise that it is a slow process it could take like a month. I don’t mind but could someone tell these people it would be nice to inform me of the progress.

PS: I had to cancel my trip to Nakuru – 3rd time! Someone down there must really be getting pissed with me. To think that I don't get enough time to even write more - even read - someone is slowly taking over my life I suspect.
Damn!

Bargain hunting

Although I look after my pennies I have to confess bargain hunting is not my strength. Usually after glancing through a range of products or services I’m a mid table kind of guy. Take the maximum price and the lowest see how much I have to spend – most likely I will be in the mid range. Unless of course it is a life or death scenario – they rarely come though – where you throw caution out of the window.

I honestly cannot remember if I have ever had anything that is on the ‘top range’ in the market. I dress simply to cover nakedness I’ve noticed, if it is a computer it simply has to do its job, a car of course it has to be able to move without much persuasion when I’m on the steering wheel. Actually when I see an advert of Chrysler 300C available in Kenya (thanks to DT Dobie) for US$ 72,600 – surely it is not meant for me; I would look at the cheapest model they have and probably climb a little higher to the mid range models!



So next time you see someone walking in the building and you don’t really notice the guy – it could be me! Probably I will have an old beat up car if the public transport system is not in existant!

I’ve been helping mum as she continues to finish the new place. Every now and then I’m called upon to help in deciding big issues like the tiles for the kitchen and bathroom among other things. Last week and early this week I was dragged to help in deciding the on the colour and exactly how much should be spent.

You get my drift I was in the middle mum understandably was sensitive on price my sister was more onto ‘quality’ – I was more on affordability/quality. I did not see any bargains, confirming my theory they don’t exist. Starting from somewhere near Tom Mboya Street we ended up on Mombasa Road where the deal was done on Saturday and Monday morning. On Monday I had to wait for the delivery while at the same time my mind focused on the up coming interview.

My theory bargains rarely exist the market is almost perfect. Don’t get me wrong you can still get a bargain but at what cost? I fit the commonly held view that guys do not enjoy shopping – honestly I dread the exercise. Moving from shop to shop or was it website to website. I end buying something because I have to and I see I need it otherwise I drag the options till I have none left.

In retrospect most of the gadgets I bought were actually recommendations from a buddy of mine. I only appeared on the last day to check out the specs and price of course armed with credit card.

All Fall Down

After spending the last few days mulling over what had to be done – I knew what to do it just felt bad – maybe brooding is the right word.

“This is not working”

That’s the expression we use when we wish to terminate a moribund relationships (nothing to do with Valentine’s Day). I saw it coming I hope they were not caught unawares. It was a civilised parting of ways though I must confess I feel cheated – you know how it feels after settling a divorce case (I don’t) but I suspect that is almost how it feels. But as the saying goes life goes on, I hope I have learnt from that, besides it is life you win some you lose some.

Feeling the blues



Roman Abramovich is one person who has ‘lost’/spent, depending on how you look at it, so much in the past few years in his investment at Stamford Bridge. 3 managers gone – at a hefty fee, in the process paid off his ex-wife too as if that’s not enough the price of oil has fallen remarkably. Sad for the blues we are staring at grim season – what started out as a promising prospect suddenly became a nightmare. I’m justified in boycotting watching the rest of the season.

Interesting song if you get the chance to listen to Country music - Brad Paisley feat. Alison Krauss (get it on youtube)

Licking my wounds

I should have known better.

After my plans to open a CDS Account were indefinitely postponed I ended up investing in my mums Balanced Fund Trust investment (that's a mouthful!)and I've been watching the prices going down really fast.

I thought this would be a safe haven for my few earthly possessions, well until I get settled. From around KES 112 by Friday it had fallen to 96.91 to redeem the units bought. Top on the agenda next week is to get the chums and put them under the pillow - probably having them close/next to me will make me think fast!

On a serious note my small sis is contemplating getting a mortgage - with the rents in Nairobi that is a good idea. I'm even thinking we could do this together. I'll provide the down payment and let her sweat with the monthly payments. Fingers crossed I get some source of income soon. I think as a family we could pull this deal - I can't afford on my own and since she's already paying rent why not get her own place (oops actually get our own place!)

Of course it is just a thought at the moment - I'm not even sure where we can get a house. The indicative prices are honestly exorbitant as expected I can't think of anywhere in the big cities where getting into the property ladder is easy.

Let me go and lick my wounds in the meantime - I hope it doesn't get worse.
I should have known better!