big fish...

Came across an ad of a property priced at approximately 7% below market value on sale last month but after (very) much procrastination, the property was 'JUST' sold by the time I lift up the phone to make an enquiry.

Having studied the rental rates of similar properties, it's probably going to fetch about 9% rental yield, at least. Or better still, I've come across investors who's getting 12% for the same type of property.

Oh well, that's a big fish that escaped.

Anyway, I guess I'll need to be more alert next time, but it's gonna be hard considering that the BLR has dropped to 6.5%, with news that it's going further down in the coming months. Good news for current landlords, yay, bad news for slowpokes like me, nay...:(

baking day...

Had a family baking day yesterday, not surprisingly, considering Chinese New Year's round the corner.

This will be more like a picture posts, so just enjoy the photos and spare the words!

Some of the ingredients of the Kerabu dish for dinner.

Our Kerabu's sauce. Yummy!

Egg yolk to apply on the biscuits.


Not sure what these 'fluffy' biscuits are called.


Sweet Almond biscuits.

Family favourite Pineapple Tarts.

Had some dough left and we've decided to make some themed-biscuits.

'Doggies' lining up in the line of fire.

They make pretty good gifts in a box.

"Crap, why do I have to be the bottom one?"

How would a tortoise biscuit look like when baked?

Hmm, pretty okay I guess, though the head's slightly deformed.


What about this blind old man?

Went for a hair-dye.

And finally, my favourite biscuit. How will it turn out to be?

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Not too bad for a 'Hedgehog' biscuit. ;)

pancit...

It's pretty much a norm in the last decade that Liverpool loses steam in later stages of an 8-month season.

Last night, Man Utd won 1-0 against former Liverpool man Emile Heskey's Wigan Athletics. As much as I hoped that Man Utd lose, it's apparent that they'll be able to grind out a victory no matter what. They always do, don't they?

Anyway, back to current standings, Liverpool are only leading at the top by 2 points, with Man Utd having played a game less. Winning against Bolton will see Man Utd topping the table and ahead of Liverpool by a point.

Heartwrenching?

Not really.

Not that I don't have any feelings about it, I'll be heck disappointed in fact, but in a way to summarize it better, it's not unexpected.

Liverpool have never got the steam to last the entire season for so many previous seasons, they either start up slow, or slowed down in the second half of the season. Plus, the many inconsistent displays throughout the seasons see them lose unnecessary points.

We went through some great moments during the turn of the new year, solid displays to thrash both Bolton and Newcastle, only to be let down by mediocre showings against Stoke. How did it happen?

This season looks more exciting than the previous years because, unexpectedly, all the top teams are dropping points at some stage in the course of the season. Man Utd started slow, Arsenal's choking here and there, and Chelsea in the midst of a crisis in confidence. Liverpool too, are having some major hiccups before Christmas, and it sure looks like we're going to have few more blips before the season ends.

But this is definitely one of the better seasons to watch in recent history. If there's a need to lower my expectations, I only hope that Liverpool will last the pace and be in contention for the league title in the last couple of matches.

That'll be some great finale.

hoglets all grown up...

About 10 weeks ago, Quills gave birth to three little female hoglets.

Considering that the first mating session didn't work out, I was somewhat not expecting her to be pregnant during the second mating session when Cactus looked to be injured and there were stains of blood on the body less than 48 hours putting both of them together.

30 over days later on 21 Oct, while I was away in Tawau, I received an unexpected call from my girlfriend telling me that I've became a grandfather of three.

Last Tuesday, the first hoglet left for her new home.

The other two hoglets will soon follow suit when suitable buyers come along.

It has been a wonderful 10 weeks watching these few little 'rambutans' grow from the size of my thumb into the size of my palm.



Hope my hoglets will all end up with loving and caring owners, who'll be able to shower them with lots of affection!

2009...

First...

post...

of...

the...

year.

And I'm back to work. Yay.

Alright, not to be too gloomy, but I've had a good 10 days break from work to be fair (although I did receive countless calls related to work in each of those days).

It's still pretty early to get back into shape (as a workaholic), what more the market is pretty quiet here in this field, and I can still afford to linger around during weekends.

Pretty quiet everywhere else too, wonder what's everyone up to these days?