Sending 2013 off and welcoming 2014

Guess it had been more than 8 years I need to work until the very last day of the year, but I am not complaining at all. Indeed I'm glad. Looking back, year 2013 had been a great year to me with goals achieved and new surprises too. I am glad that I got a chance to learn investing (and yes investing & not speculating) in the share market through Equities tracker after all these years of wanting to do so but doesn't know where to start. Finally I am building up my investing portfolio slowly, one step at a time. This year too I had been doing more baking other than the forever cheese cake, with biscuits, tiramisu, mille crepe etc.

Other than that I manage to change my 7-yeared old car.

and continue dreaming about my 'dream car'

Got my 2nd camera, a lighter semi-pro digital camera, Sony Nex-6 after 3 years of thinking about it.

And I managed to make 2 trips overseas this year and still coping alright with my finance. Manage to compile our 1st book of the trip together, and will continue the next few as one of my main project in 2014.

Also, this is the year when I had make the most expensive purchase in my life so far - an apartment to continue our journey together after all the hoo-hah that had been going around to secure a loan...

And not forgetting to continue cooking delicious dishes with my partner...

Overall, this had been a good year to me, with ups and down and full of memories. I'm eager to go onto 2014 with more challenges. Although it might be a tough one, despite all the price hikes, I hope year 2014 will bring me and my family more joy and fun. Not forgetting also to hope the coming new year to give all of us the courage to face all the challenges and sail through 2014 smoothly.

A BLESSED NEW YEAR WITH GOOD HEALTH & WEALTH 2014 !!!

What you can learn from travelling SOLO

An interesting article to share from the author of The Solo Traveler's Handbook, Janice Waugh .....

.... travel is an education. And travel helps put your formal education in context. You learn about countries and cultures afar. And, as you do, you learn about your own country as well. Travel solo, and you also learn about yourself. Here are just five personal discoveries awaiting you on a solo trip.

1. Discover who you are when no one’s looking
At home, people have expectations of you. They expect you to act in a certain way. Subtly, they control your language, likes and dislikes, laughs and reactions. This is not necessarily a bad thing but what would happen if they disappeared? Or, more likely, if you left their influence for a bit. By traveling solo you can find this out. You get to experience the world your own way, discover who you are and settle into being more solidly you.

2. Uncover your real interests
Traveling solo, there is no need to compromise so you can do what you want. You can go where you want, when you want. Doing so, you’ll uncover your real interests. Do you have an unrequited passion for something? Maybe it’s cooking, museums, flea markets, watching football...? With no one in your way you can explore your real interests.

3. Learn self-confidence
Self-confidence cannot be taught but it can be learned through experience. As you navigate a new city alone, go to a restaurant and eat alone and/or connect with people at a hostel and spend the day together... as you explore the world solo and discover how capable you are you gain self-confidence.

4. Realise your resilience
Traveling solo, you alone, are responsible for handling all the challenges that come your way. Like self-confidence, as you face these challenges you learn that you are capable of handling them - that you can figure your way out of situations, whether it is by asking for help or asserting your needs. Traveling solo, you’ll learn how resilient you are.

5. Know that you are in charge of your destiny
As you travel solo and you get to know yourself better, grow in confidence and understand your resilience, you will soon realize that you are in charge of you. Because you’re capable, your destiny is in your hands. Seize it. Yes, with every trip you’ll discover more about yourself. Traveling solo, you’ll grow as a person.

Give it a try....I wonder when I could do that again.....

Dogs.....

What is your B.A.N.K code?

Attended a small workshop today talking about deciphering the personality code of a person/ prospect you met, so that you can close the deal more easily by understanding them beforehand. When we say about closing deal, it's all about SALES. You might loudly defended that "I am not a sales person, sales got nothing to do with me" But in fact, each and everyone of us "are" involved in sales, indeed everyday. Why do I say so? Sales equals to Influence. Think deeper, when you are saying "I am not a sales person", aren't you in a way or so, selling yourself to the audience, trying to influence them that you are not a sales person? When I'm in my 20s, I used to say that line quite often, "I'm not a sales person", and I had avoided myself in however ways to be involved in sales. Only until when I get older, I started to realize that it's in us everyday, and everyday we are selling ourselves to the others. Just that a lot of us doesn't realize it. Back to the BANK code, it is related to 4 categories of personality and values found in the people around you. B stands for Blueprint - involved people who like things to be nicely plan and predicted, A for Action - for people who like fun, and straight to the bottom line, N for Nurturing for people who care about human relationships and act with heart, and K for knowledge - is for people who likes to analyse and decide with logics and facts. Listening to the speakers analyzing what each categories values are and how one can tackled the way we communicate with different personalities category in order to catch their attention in less than 5 minute, I'm now so anxious to apply all these to the new challenges I might be venturing into after election. Hoping that all goes well. Let's hope.

So, what is your B.A.N.K. code according to your priority?

Stepping on the Clouds?

How I wish!

Recipe of the day - Citrus Mackerel

Click on the image for the recipe

Road to Hell?

If this door leads to the hell, will you still step in?