Joanna's 21st

Happy 21st birthday bestie!!

Joanna with her Prince Charming, whom asked me to get her present months before her actual birthday, in February. He is wonderful, always planning ahead and go extra lengths to surprise her.

Joanna pretending to blow the cake after the candle went out. The wind in Look-out point was too strong...

Daarling Charisse came back too for summer break... :D

The guys with the birthday girl and her beau.......

Final group picture...

Thanks babe for always being there for me,

Love you babe.

It's not easy to become a hedge fund manager - you need passion and instinct

Hedge fund managers – hedgies for short – hit the news last week when new standards were announced for an industry that rakes in vast sums but operates in a shroud of secrecy. But just what do they do and is it something that anyone can get into?

The answer is, yes – and rich rewards lie in wait. One hedgie, John Paulson, recently bagged himself £1bn for a year's work. But getting into this fiercely competitive market takes brains, dedication, and above all, passion.

"The hedge fund manager is the person responsible for physically managing the monies, and it isn't the type of role that you can pick up straight from university," says Peter Elliott, director of Emerson Chase City, a recruitment firm specialising in hedge funds. "A fund management position is nigh on the pinnacle of the industry."

Sarah Butcher, editor of eFinancialCareers.com agrees. "You can't just be someone off the street and set up a hedge fund," she says. "Investors want to put their money with someone who has a track record."

This is because the investors are entrusting large amounts of cash to hedgies who promise an "absolute return" – profits regardless of whether markets rise or fall. They do this by using various investment tactics, one of which involves literally hedging their bets on two different commodities.

It's a job that relies on being one step ahead, so you need to be bright. A 2:1 or a First from one of the better universities – usually in something relevant such as maths, science or even engineering – will get you over the first hurdle. "An MSc would help," adds Butcher, "or advanced maths. A maths-related PhD can also be beneficial."

Firms are reluctant to reveal any information that might give a competitor the edge, so the second hurdle is just hunting out these companies. "It's difficult to find out exactly what funds are out there as many don't even have a full website," says Elliott. Most hedge fund websites just have a holding page, displaying the most basic company information. Beyond that, it's members only. The way to get around this is to register with one of the industry websites, such as Hedge Week, Hedge Fund Review or Hedge Fund Intelligence.

The London School of Economics students' union recently ran its second annual alternative investments conference, with over 30 prominent firms represented, which proves that there is some information available to graduates.

Otherwise, just get yourself down to the City. "A lot of them have been traders in investment banks," says Butcher. "Many have worked on the proprietary trading desks – trading using the banks own money. If you've worked there and have a strong track record, you can go in that way."

Professional qualifications can help too. A good way in is to become a market analyst, and according to Andrew Lodge, managing director of Nedgroup Investments, which works with and funds hedgies, the Chartered Financial Analyst qualification is becoming an industry standard.

But there's more to it than just impeccable academics. "If it were just pure maths we'd get a computer to do it," says Lodge.

Indeed, as a hedgie you must be furiously competitive, and have nerves of steel. After all, you're dealing with unimaginable sums of money belonging to powerful investors. You need to be confident in your own abilities. You must also have a feel for the markets – insiders say some can just "smell it": they can read the markets and pick a winner like a seasoned gambler betting on a horse.

But the most important thing, says Butcher, is credibility. "After all, you've got to get people to give their money to you," she says.

In return you must give of yourself. Stories of 100-hour weeks are common. But, says Lodge, that's not the whole picture. "[Hedgies] have a passion for what they do and some do work long hours. But they're not chained to the desk. We like our managers to have a social life and social skills, because it's healthy."

It's a career that has its rewards. It allows a greater level of individuality than other areas of the City. As hedge funds are generally smaller than investment banks, it gives hedgies greater intimacy and control. "There's nowhere to hide; you're not just a number," says Elliott, "which means, if you're doing well, you get noticed quickly. But also if you're not doing well, that's like a beacon."

So, do you want to be a City-type in an immaculately tailored suit with a flashy car? Then, I'm afraid you're exactly the person that won't make it as a hedge-fund manager.

"I'm not saying that these guys don't enjoy all the benefits," says Lodge, "but the real buzz is how they make their money. They trade on small imperfections in the market and that little bit of expert knowledge. That's what turns these guys on."

Tips for becoming a hedgie

* You need a good degree, preferably in a numerate subject. An MSc could also help as could a CFA (chartered financial analyst) qualification.

* Show an interest in the stock market by trading your own stocks

* Get yourself a job in the City to sharpen your teeth as a trader, analyst or by trading with the banks' own money.

* Be successful, passionate and incredibly driven – but try to find room for a private life too

* Be reliable and trustworthy

* Keep your eye on the websites Hedge Week, Hedge Funds Review or Hedge Fund Intelligence.

You're Not Worthless

Love being taken for granted

Types of Relationship

The Break-Up

A break-up is hard to get over, depends on the length of the relationship and how much hopes you have for it. People say that the amount of time needed to get over someone is half the time you guys are together, which is untrue.

What determines how fast or how easy to get over someone is based on two factors:

1) During the time you were with your partner, how often you spent time together.

2) How high your beliefs that that someone is "The One" for you

They say that girls nowadays are easier to move on after a relationship than a guy. Guys tend to have more difficulties moving on. By looking around, I see that is quite true.

Whenever a breakup occurs, usually the guy is the one to blame. Like he isn't being considerate enough or good enough or isn't doing enough.

Unlike girls, most guy suffer in silence. They would rarely talk about their breakups even if they do, they talk to very few people; unlike the girl who talks to almost everyone she knew and asked about their breakup. In other words, the girl gets more support which increases her speed of recovery.

Plus, if the girl is a decent looking one, another guy is bound to sweep her off her feet; making her feel all wanted again. Who knows, there is another guy eyeing her even before she breaks up and start charging towards her.

You might say that after a breakup, not only guys would "chase" the newly single girl, girls would also "chase" the newly single guy. Though it's true, it does not help the recovery of the breakup. Because guys love challenges, most guys want to be the one to chase. Girls who offered themselves would only be used temporarily when they are lonely. After breaking the girl's heart, the guy is back to square one again; being depressed.

There are five stages which you would occur after breakup:

1)Denial- You denied everything that has happened. You believed that it is only a bad nightmare or only temporary.

2)Anger- You tried to patch things up with your ex but your ex refused to. You are very angered that the ex does not even want to try to work things out.

3)Bargain- You tried begging for your ex back, promising you would change.

4)Depression- After the bargaining failed, you sink into depression. You felt lost and deeply wounded. Sometimes you start to wonder if you're not worth the second chance.

5)Acceptance- You come to accept that the relationship is over. You had already forgiven yourself and the ex and ready to move to the next chapter of your life.

These stages may repeat itself over again and often the person stays too long in stage 4.

The key for recovery is at stage 4. Sometimes, it could be disasterous if the person stays too long in that stage.

Let's go back to the factors of recovery.

1) The amount of time spent together.

How often you spent time together. If you used to spent so much of time with each other, the chances of you recovering quickly is very low. Your bedroom, the living room, your car, the places that you often visit, it is haunted by the images of your ex. Your heart silently shrieked in loneliness. Everything doesn't feel right.

During the time you guys spent together, you have given up the previous life you used to have to be together with your beloved. So your new life with your beloved is somehow combined, customized in order to make the relationship work. After the breakup, you felt lost. The worst loss isn't the person or the life you miss; it's you. Before you got together with your beloved, you were someone else. After getting together with her, you also became someone else.(During a relationship, we learnt the art of giving and taking, and found the softer,more emotional side of us to share with them) After the breakup, you don't know who you are.

Because suddenly you had too much free time.

This lost feeling, the sudden confusion and loneliness;

Made you believe that it will go away if you get back your ex again.

Recovery from the pain is not the main objective to feel okay again.

Pain will always be there, whether more or less significantly felt.

Your main goal is to build a new life again, a new you again.

Once you get used to the new lifestyle,

Then you'll feel okay again.

This new life you built; once you had successfully built it,

You wouldn't want your ex back again.

"Out of sight, out of mind."

Put away all things that remind you and your ex.

Even the pictures.

Hide them somewhere else or remove it.

There is no need to remove your ex from social networks,

Just hide them from your newsfeed.

Learn something that you always wanted to learn.

Sharpen skills that you are naturally good at.

Get a job that you'll love.

Hangout with friends but don't talk about relationships.

Laugh about nothingness.

When the night comes, don't feel lonely.

Talk to someone but not about the relationship.

Don't listen to sad songs.

Do some exercise to get you tired.

Read a book.

Or play some stupid games to make you tired.

On the other side, if you rarely spent time together during the relationship, it would be much easier to get over someone.

2) How high your beliefs that someone is "The One" for you

The more you idealize that someone is the one for you,

The more you believe that you couldn't find anyone like that again,

The harder for you to get over it.

If someone has cheated on you or left you for someone else,

Then there is no need for second thoughts.

Let the loser take away your liability.

Everything that happened, happened for a reason.

Because God may have a better plan for you than to be stucked in that intoxicated relationship.

Ever wondered how some people can get over their exes so quickly?

Because they just knew that the exes weren't right for them

And they are not going to justify and question it over and over again.

Being the "Indifferent Ex" is much cooler than the "Psycho Ex."

In conclusion, one must learn to let go, to accept that it is over and to stop believing they could feel okay again if they got back their ex.

Increase your self-worth and value, invest in yourself, as you are the best and greatest asset you would ever have.

Forget about increasing your self-esteem or to cure that loneliness by getting someone new.

It's just a waste of time investing in other people.

Hadn't you had enough?

Let love come naturally, when you learnt to accept and love your new self.

Disclaimer: I WILL not be liable for any inaccuracies or loss suffered based on the information given. I am not a certificated counsellor or psychologist. I do not even hold a degree in psychology. So be it, read it, practise it, question it or deny it, really, it's none of my business.

Conversations

I have a little problem with conversations nowadays.

I find it hard to talk with most people.

What do people wanna talk about and hear anyway?

Gossips? About other people?

About other's people's fortune or misfortune?

How can you find that entertaining?

Stories?

That are suppose to be funny?

Which really aren't funny at all?

Interests?

Sounds more like comparison between who's good at it?

Problems?

A problem wouldn't feel so real if you do not keep talking about.

Sometimes too many opinions are just a waste of time and unhelpful.

Solutions?

Perhaps it's time to be independent.

Ideas?

My favourite topic.

But most people, in fact; 70% of the population are Sensors.

Sensors don't like to talk about ideas.

Unless they are going to do it.

I can't talk about what I like to talk about all the time.

I love to talk about growth or discussions on how to make things better or why something/incident has happened.

Unfortunately, people just sometimes, just wanna enjoy talking instead of screwing their heads.

Jokes?

Let's go HaHaHa.

That would be fun and pointless.

And boring when it reach to a certain extend.

I got a little frustrated to the point that I almost bought a book,

"How to have a conversation with anybody."

Why don't you shed some light on me for this?

About what you usually talked about with people; or the kind of problems you faced and how you get over it?

Warren Buffet Quotes

Warren Buffet is my guru now. Here are his quotes and my interpretations in brackets:

"Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken."
(It's hard to realize your bad habits and difficult to break them)

"Derivatives are financial weapons of mass destruction."

(Financial derivatives are pure speculation-a gamble.)

"I always knew I was going to be rich. I don't think I ever doubted it for a minute."
(Do not doubt yourself and your capabilities)

"I don't look to jump over 7-foot bars: I look around for 1-foot bars that I can step over."

(Set realistic goals; not over ambitious ones)

"I never attempt to make money on the stock market. I buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years."

(Make long term investments-the kind of investments that are not largely affected by the market conditions)

"If a business does well, the stock eventually follows."

(Analyze the nature of the business and the financial statements rather look at the stock movements; as stock movements will follow/reflect whether the company makes loss or a profit)

If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians.
(Do not look at past successes as indication of success in the future)

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.
(Be an individual of values)

It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction.
(Mix with people better than you as you will become a better person. Do not be afraid of feeling rejected or low)

Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked.
(How about I let you guess this one? :] )

Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.
(Go for a sure win strategy)

Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1
(My favourite quote)

Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago
(Do not be afraid of making long term investments and be greedy of short term ones)

The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body.
(You are what you read)

Wall Street is the only place that people ride to in a Rolls Royce to get advice from those who take the subway.

(Financially smart people are smart in their spendings)

Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.

(One of his best quotes. "Be fearful when others are greedy" it means that when other people are busy buying up a certain stock; be aware because by the time you buy the stock, the stock price may have reached its peak and you may barely gain from there. "Be greedy when others are fearful" means that people will be fearful then sell their stock, which drives the prices down. This is when you should start being greedy and buy up the stocks at a low price. Don't give me the crap about worrying the company will go bankrupt and you will lose all the money you invested. Look at the long-term prospects. People start selling because of their fears when a certain news is being released. That's when prices will fall. That's when you should buy."

"Why not invest your assets in the companies you really like? As Mae West said, "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful".

"Wide diversification is only required when investors do not understand what they are doing."

"You do things when the opportunities come along. I've had periods in my life when I've had a bundle of ideas come along, and I've had long dry spells. If I get an idea next week, I'll do something. If not, I won't do a damn thing."

"You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong."

"It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price."

"Our favorite holding period is forever."

"Price is what you pay. Value is what you get."

"Look at market fluctuations as your friend rather than your enemy; profit from folly rather than participate in it."

"The rich invest in time, the poor invest in money."

"If you are in a poker game and after 20 minutes you don't know who the patsy is, then you’re the patsy."

"Beware of geeks bearing formulas."

"Never invest in a business you can’t understand."

"We've used derivatives for many, many years. I don't think derivatives are evil, per se, I think they are dangerous. ...So we use lots of things daily that are dangerous, but we generally pay some attention to how they're used. We tell the cars how fast they can go."

"I buy expensive suits. They just look cheap on me."