This is such a tiresome week for me. Just completed my 2nd paper of my 4th semester at SIM today. It's a paper based on IT. Thought that since I learned this in TP, should be not so difficult. However, upon seeing the question paper I almost choked. Really stupid questions that they ask man.

"Name 3 different coding scheme used in a computer. Identify and contrast the difference between them. Based on it, explain which coding is better for Chinese characters" *the question something like that la.

Well, the 3 are ASCII, EBCDIC and UNICODE. *surprised that I can remember this kind of stuff*



My point is, who the hell doing a business course needs to know this kind of stuffs? Lucky I browse the notes and happened to mentally note the information. Well, there were some crazy questions in there too.. and I'm mortified at the level of difficulty of this paper. If me, an experienced guy in IT finds it tough, imagine the rest of my classmates who are all older than me (some are even parents long time liao) ... Some left after 30mins into the paper. They gonna aim for the supp paper instead.

Anyway, one last paper to go. Business Finance. This is the toughest. Die lah. One day tomorrow to study before the paper on Friday.

On a good note, lucky me made another sale - Lady Luck smiling on me.



Took less than 3 weeks to close this sale of a 2+1 condo at Costa Rhu. Apparantly the Tanjong Rhu stretch is currently extremely active due to the proposed IR in 2009. Most funny part is that I already start to ease off marketing activities due to my pending examinations to study when another agent called me.

"Kenneth ah. My customer called wanna arrange viewing again. I think he might make an offer"
Another viewing later and the offer was made and finalised within 2 days. At least I don't have to worry that unit for now. Ironically my first impression of the family was that they probably won't want to even consider making an offer. I guess sometimes you can't just assume everything.

My next job is to market 3-4 units of apartments at The Icon @ Tanjong Pagar. This one is a new territory for me as the development is still in progress and will be only ready for occupation in 2007 July. This is what we call a Sub-Sales whereby the ownership of the apartment change hands before the place has been built. Recently The Sail@Marina Bay has garnered attention whereby investments made a killing over there and pushed record prices to a new high. I'm hoping the high prices over there is going to divert some investors over at The Icon. We'll see after I complete my exams this week.



Meanwhile I'm just gonna hang out with my classmates after the exams and take a long deserved rest and hopefully go get a tan this weekend!

Just a casual surfing of my good'o friendster to see how all my dear friends are getting on a beautiful Thursday morning. Guess what I've discovered?

If my dear o'friend (u know who u are!) u are reading this, all I can say is.. That's the best eye-mask I've ever seen. You must be sleeping well these days with that on.

So what are you using for the haze these days huh?

or view the website here

Videos of the Evolution in action. Dream Car. Period.

I'm in front of the computer, having a bowl of maggi mee before I embark on my project. Sigh. Ever since I graduated from National Service, my time has been split mostly between work and studies (decided to enroll into SIM) and of course the GF. It's not that studies is bad but there seems to be no time for anything at all outside the usual office hours. I need to seriously reconsider whether I shall continue furthering my studies when I get my diploma.

I miss hanging out with all my friends. I miss playing computer games. I miss rollerblading. I miss sun tanning. I miss the times when I had nothing to worry about, just thinking only what I shall do next to entertain myself.

The times I truely enjoyed was just before I entered NS. At the computer store where I was most familiar with. My colleagues were part of my life and we slogged like mad. I could still keep in touch with friends because they would look for me once they had problems with their computer. I enjoyed helping fix their computers as they felt so happy after that. I felt happy too! Then after work it was off to party at Zouk or Mhd Sultan. Or enjoy a nice Japanese meal with hot sakae at our favourite Nanya Monya at Bugis. I still remembered Sharon the nice waitress who got the chef to make a Japanese omelette with letterings on top. Everyone in the restaurant sang the birthday song for me. I had to gulp a cup of sakae with every one who did. Crazy times!

Damn, why I always reminisce in my blog.

Another long while since I blogged.

Latest changes in life include a friend going overseas for her course for 6 months alone. Awesome. I wished I had chances like these to forgo work and go to study/play but I've gotten used to earning my own keep so it's no go for me unless I strike toto/big sweep/4D but the probability is zero coz I'm too niao to even spend $2 to try my luck. :P It's not as if my luck is very good anyway.. Hope my friend have a good trip abroad.

Alas, recently got into my first car crash along at Eunos highway also. I got distracted as too many things going into my head that moment and I left my eyes off the road for a short moment and suddenly I was braking for my life on the right most lane fast approaching cars that seemed to pop up over the slope(which was not easily seen). Turns out a bottleneck jam up ahead and everyone e-breaked to zero. Apparantly I was around 100km/hr when i saw the jam ahead. Whamp bamp and "oh shit" ...

Although I braked hard and skidded, it was still moving when I hit the Honda City in front. Came out of the car and the guy's pretty new car had the rear bumper dented real bad. As I slowly turned my head to look at my own half-expecting to see my front all tore up, I blinked and wondered.

Only the number plate was bumped up and cracked.. but the car was physically alright. Hurzzzzz.. Lucky me.

Anyway, noticed another similar accident the next week at the same stretch. Only that it involved 5 cars this time. LOL. But that crash really shook me up and I also bought a new bluetooth headset to prevent getting caught using phone while driving. Last time while closing a deal I got pulled over by some police car in front of me. Was too engrossed talking over the phone and didn't realise some officers seated at the back was staring at me! Luckily he let me off with a warning. Phew.


Moving on to daily life, been pretty involved in work/studies. Examinations are headed towards me in 1 month time and we had to submit 3 individual and 3 group projects this week. What's with all the projects man!!! .. As i'm blogging now I have to head to SIM later in the evening to meetup for another project submission tomorrow. Give me a freaking break!!!

Work seems rosy this month. Closed assignment of a childcare centre at Frankel Ave and i rent ed out another big restaurant unit at Merchant Square in the month of September alone. The sale of the shophouse at New Upper Changi Rd is due for completion near end of Oct and I've almost secured a new tenant for the new owner.

It seems that I have started to move up the ladder to take on bigger projects rather than the HDB 1/2 shop ones that I did when i just started out. In a way it is difficult and slower but somehow it's challenging as well. Besides with studies it's tough trying to have dinner and get to SIM after each viewing. Just 4 more months to end of my studies, endure and endure! More opportunities and listings headed my way now but I'll go nuts if I accept them during my examination month. Arghh.. The Icon, 4-Rm HDB Flat, Nail Spa takeover, People's Park Complex leasing, etc.. stress ah...

Although things seem to be better for me, however I might think of leaving the company together with my Dad to join a new agency. With my track record I can probably negotiate a better commission sharing scheme rather than the one I have now. But it's still in the works and I probably will do only obtaining my CEHA realtor certification course. My heart always aches when my commission gets smaller after the company gets a cut. Sigh.

Hope things get less crazier after my examinations and perhaps I can get a tan and go clubbing like the past!

I'm so blardy pissed off with the IT deal that I was handling out of goodwill. Over this period of time, it took me at least 4-6 trips down to the company to service their server network and hardware.

My cousin James took up the offer of reinstalling their server network and in the end got implicated in their pickiness as well. Whenever their server network is down, I get bombed with their calls and sometimes I have to be there immediately coz they can't do their work when the server is down. It's a small size company so they don't have the budget to employ an IT staff.

I made nothing from it yet I had to go down to their new office so many times and do this and do that. For what? Fuck. Each time I'm down, they will take the opportunity to ask me do this and that. Waste my blardy time which can be spent on closing deals which is worth frankly to be honest - more worthwhile.

For example, I helped a family-run business to sell off their business after 3 months! I did it while others couldn't. In the process, I helped the old tenant get some money for retirement, helped the new tenant with arrangements and solved the leasing executive's problems. I charged full commission from all 3 parties. Nobody bargained at all because of the amount of negotiation discussions I had to do. All parties involved in this became friends with me and we chatted beyond official stuff each time! Well, the only thing was that they demanded that I buy durians after we finalise the takeover sometime later this month to celebrate. Haha. This is what I call job satisfaction. And they want me to handle their property matters after this - referrals. Cool yah?!

Compare this with the IT shit I've been losing appetite over. Why should I put myself in this position? Especially since I'm now doing property full time and I have to study my SIM course 3 times a week.

Tomorrow I gotta ask them to look for someone who is really into IT servicing. It would be fair to both me and them I feel. I can't neglect my full time job (ok it's flexible hours but it's demanding as well) and they can't afford to have down-time. It would be in everyone's interest that I shall not handle their servicing issues anymore. I can't please everybody. But the least I could do was do something true and fair to myself.

I want a break.

Sian sian sian.

Deprived of food at home as home emphasis on healthy eating (which means sucky food lah), mood is at an all time low!! Argh. What's it with brown rice and plain veggies and a occasional meat dish DAY AFTER DAY!? Healthy living? I'll die earlier diagnosed with food intake mistreatment. I don't mind health food actually. Just not the same o' shit everyday.

*sulk*

School starts!

So far school has been a boring affair. I managed to attend 2. I missed today's lesson because I was packed back to back with work. Literally! I hate myself for letting work interfer with my studies. In fact it started to already in the first week of school. If this goes on, my grades is going to suffer in the long term. I tried to hard to get improved grades last semester. Although nothing fanciful, at least my effort paid off. I firmly believe in the phrase "you reap what you sow".

Apart from my usual property matters, I am handling con-currently a company IT deal as well. Oh man I feel so damn tired. I would have skipped the company IT deal if I had the chance. But since I was serving them since NS times, I can't stop now. Anyway, it's extra income for me. I just hope I don't screw the server up as it has been giving a bit of problems here and there. The company's data is so important. I'm recommending a emergency power backup unit + backup solutions for them. I hope they don't complain and give it a miss. Coz once the server konked out and i was forced to go down within hours. What if I was elsewhere? What if I was overseas? What if I was not free? Their operations just stopped there. No one was able to work as all their data was on the server. No Internet. No emails. It was nerve wreacking for me. What if I couldn't repair it on time? I realised that their company server was mission critical. I must make sure it's 100% up.

Anyway this month is been a fulfilling month for me! I closed a commercial shophouse deal within 1 week! I'm jubilent over this deal because 1) It's my first sale, the rest were rentals 2) I asked for above market commission, which the owner gave! :)

I should hopefully be closing an eating house deal next Monday. I hope the tenant won't run away..... I spent alot of time on brokering the deal. If it goes... Sigh. I'll hate myself for it. I lost an office deal today as well. I guess you'll never close the deal all the time. I just have to learn handle the disappointment when things don't go 100% your way.

Hopefully I'll be able to close the 2nd deal next week and I'll be another step closer to buying my favourite car. I'm literally staring at the car pictures day after day. It's what keeps me moving.



BMW 320i - Nice butt! But I believe the experience of driving it is just a simply press and go kind of feel. Not worth paying the premium for the brand though.






My long time affair with Mitsubitshi Evolution. Now in it's 9th incarnation, I wonder which series it'll be by the time I got $$$ to buy one.









The Toyota Mark-X. Parallel imported only. Looks good. The boot looks like a BMW. And the price is the cheapest of the lot. And you get quality without paying a premium. I think this car suits me best actually.






I guess I shall just go to sleep now and stop daydreaming.

Closed a deal finally! Rental as usual!

My first office rental is about to close soon, client given in-principle intention to lease the office. Finger's crossed. Next week hopefully I can get the deposit! Fat commission for this one.

Busy week for me. Friend's mom in town to source for a HDB flat. My first HDB transaction. I hope I don't make any bloopers. Later going for viewing at Toa Payoh.

Almost securing exclusive agent rights to a HDB commercial shophouse. Tomorrow I will stage my client and get them to sign it. Hope my sincerity will allow them to give me the rights. Then I can finally market the property as "Sole Agent". Then with the proceeds from the sale, I can help source another property for the owner. Hopefully the proceeds from both deals I can put a downpayment for an Evo? Fat hope I guess. Sigh.

Another coffeeshop talk is that someone is selling his commercial shophouse at a very good price. I must move fast on this one. Due to changes in CPF regulations in July, wonder how's the market reacting to it.

I'm also sorta like involved in a sourcing for a developer for an en-bloc project worth multi-millions in River Valley. As this is a super big deal, I enrolled the help of some senior associates whom I can trust. If by miracle of God and all conditions fit like a jigsaw puzzle, cowabunga!

After a empty month during the World Cup, the market seems to be moving again. Will I be able to ride the wave and be able to balance relationships of my family, gf, friends? I hope so.

Oh yah, school is reopening. Shit.

It's been a empty month for me. Two deals flown away, I'm still awaiting an answer from a customer for an eating house near Club Momo. Hopefully I'll know the answer by Tuesday afternoon. I hope this month will be not so quiet for me. It's tough being a commision based earner and having such heavy expenses. Maintaining a car and advertising take a huge chunk off my pocket every month. Shucks.

Went to Jas's birthday party at MOS. Kinda happening as he held it in the special red room on the 2nd floor that is out of bounds to outsiders. Everyone had fun. Saw Ann Kok there. Bumped into Phyllis Quek outside too. Didn't do much there though. Just have drinks and accompany my little pig as well as do a little bit of catch up with everyone. But I still get tired everytime before everyone else. Had to leave early again. Sorry guys.

We went the next day to Clarke Quay to watch World Cup final. Apparently it's organised by FHM Singapore and we had tickets. And this was the only match I get to watch for WC 2006!! *evil grinz*

The event is in open air at the middle of Clarke Quay square below the giant umbrella structures and surrounded by conservation shophouses. There were lots of FHM girls, foosball competitions, Tiger beer and there was also a fashion show by the FHM girls.

Before the show started, there was a lucky draw. Although I did not close any deals this month, guess what?

A new funny Japanese prank! Super funny as well!

The Japanese are really farking funny people.. Hahaha! Share this with everybody!!

Concerns were raised in the papers today regarding podcasts and the world of blogging's effects on the recent General Election. I'm not going so much into the details. But here's a link to the "The Persistently Non-Politically Podcast" by the MrBrown show which is damn hilarious. Talking about a man who order bak chor mee and claims that he didn't want pig liver. The mee uncle proved him otherwise with a footage of his IN-STALL CCTV and demanded the guy to explain why he claimed he said he didn't want pig liver when in fact he didn't mention anything about it at all. Damn hilarious!

the mrbrown show 1 May 2006: the persistently non-political podcast no. 6