Hallu!

I'm migrating to blogspot.

I won't be posting here anymore.

See you there!!

Ciao

I like to think that I am at a crossroad at the moment, career-wise. My permanent placement, which is due in mid-February, will more or less decide my career path, I think. Even though I don't have the final say, my presentations, assignments, and also relationship with the managers can ultimately sway the decision into my preference.

I prefer to reach this crossroad with a mind set on my next destination. But it is not. I don't really know where to head next. I roughly know that I have two options, to go to the investment side (anywhere... Corporate Finance, Corporate Services, Investment Operations, International Fund Management), or to the unit trust business side (ASNB Product Development, Unit Trust Operations and not forgetting, Executive Director's Office). Oh yeah... Maybe there's the third option, Research Department, even though most of the other jobs mentioned before are research-based. 

Not to elaborate long on each choice's pros and cons, the followings are the ones on top of my head at the moment.

Investment Side (pros)
- Where the sexy businesses are done. Everyone in the investment industry wants the chance to be  a fund manager.
- Chance to work overseas (IFM!!)
- Where my skills will be most relevant. Furthermore, I'm doing my CFA soon.

Investment Side (cons)
- Too many scholars are already there. The competition for advancement is great.
- I don't really know the top management from that side.
- So far, I haven't found any good mentor-candidate from the investment side.

Unit-trust side (pros)
- I'm quite settled here.
- There is a very good mentor-candidate.
- Lack of competition, not too many scholars. Great chance for advancement.
- Potential of doing a lot of things, as there are many areas that need to be fixed.

Unit-trust side (cons)
- The working environment is a bit laid back. Most people go back at 5. Departments are filled with clerical staff rather than executives.
- This might not be the thing that I want to do for the whole of my career.
- There isn't any specialised area where I can focus on. Unlike in investment, where I may eventually specialise in areas such fixed-income securities trader, equities trader, fund manager, analyst etc.

So, those are my concerns at the moment. Whenever my mind sway on one of the option, the cons come into the picture, and I will revert back into being indecisive.

As at now, I'm heavier towards the unit trust side. This is because I think the division is going somewhere good, and I want to be part of it.

Come February, I don't know whether I will feel the same. Hopefully, by that time, I will already set my mind on one.

Final score: Liverpool 1 Arsenal 3.

A better performance by Liverpool in the second half. However, all the good work was undone by Carragher's mistake that led to Henry scoring Arsenal's third goal. If that had not gone in, Liverpool might have a fighting chance till the end.

Simon Jordan, the Crystal Palace Chairman, commented in an interview with The Observer recently. His comment was something like this. "An experience football fan had gone through enough ups and downs to not feel over excited for a win or overly disappointed for a loss." I don't think I'm at that level yet. Bitterly disappointed, I am, at the moment. Don't think that I will watch any other FA Cup games this season.

Loser's talk: We don't care about FA Cup, because we are going to win the Champions League!! The last time Liverpool went out at Round 3 under Rafa was two seasons ago (against Burnley). Remember what happened on May 25th that same year in Istanbul??

We are at the last stretch of the 4-day weekend. Stayed at home the whole day today, except for a half-hour lunch at Giant Hypermarket's Burger King. Don't you think Burger King is a bit expensive compared to other fast food chains? A regular Whopper meal is RM 11.50. Whereas, at McD, a regular quarter-pounder meal is only RM 7.30. I must have had a lot of fast food lately, because all these prices are on top of my head. Haha...

Last night, I watched The Guardian at TGV One Utama. I do think it is a good movie, even though Ashton Kutcher doesn't look a bit like a champion swimmer. Anyhow, after watching the movie, I think being a Coast Guard swimmer is one of the coolest job anyone could have. How do they find the courage to jump into the deep freezing sea over and over again?? 

Liverpool played really well last night against Bolton. Two quick goals from Crouch (similar like the one he scored against Galastasaray) and Gerrard finished off the contest. I am glad that Kuyt got onto the scoresheet too. He is, by far, the most consistent Liverpool player this season. His tireless attitude has not gone unnoticed by most of the fans, as shown by the standing oviation he received when he left the pitch.

Anyway, internet connection hasn't really recovered since the Taiwan earthquake. Some websites take hours to load. Let's just hope that things get better soon.

Ciao...

Random intros:
-Selamat Tahun Baru, and Selamat Hari Raya Haji (belated).
-I saw cows being slaughtered for korban today (first time in my life).
-I spend almost an hour and a half in the traffic jam inside The Curve's carpark after the New Year's fireworks.

The highlights of 2006:
-I graduated (not with flying colours though).
-Went to watch England play at Old Trafford. Good team, great atmosphere, so-so stadium (haha...)
-Started working in PNB. 1800 to 2307.... yes!!
-Travelled alone to Berlin and Amsterdam, and watched Holland play Australia in Rotterdam. Hup Holland!!
-Enjoyed a little bit of British summer. Scotland was wonderful. One of the nicest place I've been to. London was great too...

Looking forward to 2007:
-Work work work.
-Hopefully I will be posted to a 'good' department in February.
-Secure my financials. Time to buy my first property?? Jump onto the stock market bandwagon?
-My brother's wedding in March (or is it April??).
-Girlfriend?? Not this year, I think. Haha..
-Start doing my professional papers.
-Spend more quality time on myself; reading, learning Spanish, and keeping myself fit (I haven't been doing the latter two for quite a while).

That's all for now.

Happy new year!!

P.S. The group's resolution: To have a plan for the next New Year's Eve.

Merry Xmas everyone...

It's already 1.15 a.m on 25th December here, and I'm still waiting for the Santa Claus to land on the roof. Hopefully I will get something this year. I didn't get anything last year, maybe because I was awake the whole of Christmas Eve watching Prison Break. Haha...

Two third of the three-day weekend is gone, and I still haven't got a chance to lepak-lepak at home. Spent the past two days hanging out with friends, and preparing for tomorrow's BBQ at moon's place. We are having a 'Congratulation-Ded-and-Welcome-Home-Sab-and-Maya-BBQ'. Moon's parents are away, so it is time for us to party!! Haha...

If you want to go out for a nice dinner, please do it on some other night than Christmas Eve. Sya's birthday fall on the 24th of December (together with Chot, who is currently away at his family's home in Teluk Intan). We, the PNB people, together with Ded, Byn and Maya decided to go out for a nice dinner somewhere in KL. Instead, we ended up in Chili's at BSC. Why?? All the nice restaurants in the city are having some special Christmas Eve thingy and the prices are really really expensive compared to other time. And we had to endure a one and a half hour wait at Chili's before getting our table!! What a 'nice' dinner we had....

While browsing for restaurants in KL, I came across a few which are very well presented on the net. Our first choice was actually Rahsia, but they were having some Christmas set dinner thingy, so we skipped that. Our next choice was Saffron in Bangsar, but we had to choose other venue because of the same reason as Rahsia's. Finally, Sya chose to go to Bijan, but I indirectly vetoed it. Why?? Go figure... (Hint: check the menu.. haha). That was how we ended at Chili's.

To round things up, another few quick pointers:

1) There is no good movies showing at the cinema at the moment. Yesterday, we watched a Japanese movie called Haunted Apartment. Not too bad, but it is not worth the RM10 ticket.
2) Liverpool are playing well. They have been playing attacking football, and not conceding any goal at the same time. Even Bellamy is scoring goals nowadays.
3) Hari Raya Haji is next weekend. The Hari Raya Puasa decorations are still hanging in the office. Maybe we shall let them be until Chinese New Year. Haha...

ciao..

p.s Almost 2 a.m. Still no sign of Father Christmas... santa santa where are you??