Winter Of Life

 You know... Time has a way of moving quickly
And catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young,
Just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.
And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,
And I wonder where all the years went.
I know that I lived them all...

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams...
But, here it is... The winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...

How did I get here so fast?
Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well...
Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those
Older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off
That I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...

But, here it is...
My friends are retired and getting grey...
They move slower and I see an older person now.
Some are in better and some worse shape than me...
But, I see the great change...

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...
But, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those
Older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!
And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory!
'Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared
For all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability
To go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come,

And I'm not sure how long it will last...
This I know, that when it's over... Its over...

Yes, I have regrets.

There are things I wish I hadn't done...
Things I should have done, but indeed,

There are many things I'm happy to have done.
It's all in a lifetime...

So, if you're not in your winter yet...
Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.
Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!
Don't put things off too long!!

Life goes by quickly.  So, do what you can today,
As you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...

So, live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember...
And hope they appreciate and love you for all the things
You have done for them in all the years past!!

Life is a gift to you.

The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.
Make it a fantastic one.

~ And, Remember ~

"It is health that is real wealth

And not pieces of gold or silver."

~Author, Unknown~

Justice Bao and Bail-outs

When I was in primary school, I remember a Taiwanese TV serial on Justice Bao was all the rage in Singapore.

“Kaifeng you ge, Bao Qing Tian. Tie mian wu ser…” The rest of the song I forgot liao…

I remember one memorable story was about the Grand Tutor’s only son of around 20 plus. 

This prodigal son lived a life of privilege and decadence. Always bullying others and getting his way. His family had always bailed him out whenever he ran into trouble or afoul of the law.

One day, this prodigal son’s luck ran out when he murdered a man due to taking liberties with the man’s wife. 

And when Justice Bao presided over the case, he bravely sentenced this Grand Tutor’s son to death by his famous Tiger head guillotine.

Apologies for skipping much of the details especially the interesting scene where the prodigal son’s Granny challenged Justice Bao with her dragon-headed tongkat (staff) – this staff can be used to discipline the Emperor!

But Justice Bao had his “execute first; petition later” imperial sword from the Emperor… So in Singlish, it’s a case of “My one more power than yours!” 

What I want to highlight is the scene on the night before the execution.

The granny visited her grandson in prison for his last meal.

Can you guessed what happened?

The prodigal son on realising that this time there are no bail-outs – like all the previous times – started scolding and blaming his granny…

“Why didn’t you scold me when I broke the vase as a child?

Why wasn’t I punished when I took things that did not belong to me?

Why was I able to get away with beating our servants?”

Why, why why!? Well at least before the end, both the prodigal son and his granny realised what they did wrong. You would almost feel sorry for the both of them…  

Funny, I wonder why this scene flashed to my mind recently.

Was it because of how some parents were in the news over how they tried to “bail-out” their children?

Or was it because that young descendant of old wealth has “wisely” decided to drop his appeal (or has someone knocked some sense into him?) over his prison sentence? How would it look if the other 47 men all got prison sentences and he is able to get away with a slap on the wrist for committing the same act? 

Or is it about the criticisms of central bankers – especially the US Fed – for bailing-out speculators and sacrificing pensioners and savers on the altar of “too big to fail”?

Some even say the NASDAQ and US property bubbles were caused by the Alan Greenspan Put… Every time the economy got into trouble, the Fed will come to the rescue – just like the Granny in the above Justice Bao story.

Or is it about the “slow motion train wreck” happening in Europe now? Everyone looking at Germany to bail-out everyone else? Just as long it's not your money right?

It’s so easy of me to take the philosophical view. And I know it! 

Come on, we all know what’s right and wrong... Or is it…

What if I had whole-life and/or endowment insurance policies with AIG USA?

What if I worked for General Motors?

Most of you and me, fellow investors, also got bailed-out or profited from QE1 from March 2009. So I ain’t complaining! 

My most frightening fear is:

What if it’s me personally or my child that’s facing the music?

Wouldn’t I want a bail-out too?

The brain is humbled by the heart... 

Busy Doing Nothing

What bliss!

You know what?

I've been busy the whole past week doing lots of fun things! 

Nothing serious, or done with a purpose, or any management by objective.

Come to think about it, I've been busy busy doing nothing!?


I just had this epiphany after eating my moon cake and tea. 

Isn't it great?


Have you had this similar experience before? Busy doing nothing?

Or have you experienced "a flow" or "in the zone" kind of feeling?


The past week was like it:

I heard the pool was calling me; I swam.

I had a food craving; I ate.

I wanted to visit this place; I went.

I saw a contra trading opportunity; I executed - made a quick 500 cups worth of coffee :) 

I felt like taking profit on a 3 weeks swing trade; I sold - my trip to Shanghai next month is paid for :)


Now why can't every week be like this week? LOL!