Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Operation Finland Underway
Friday, October 14, 2005
Words from a Property Investor
Word, word, word.
There you go. There are my words.
Having handed over the cheque for the final deposit on my apartment, I can now strut around as a property investor.
Let's face it though - who really needs a reason to strut?
One property down - lots to go.
There you go. There are my words.
Having handed over the cheque for the final deposit on my apartment, I can now strut around as a property investor.
Let's face it though - who really needs a reason to strut?
One property down - lots to go.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Almostvoyerism
This morning, when I should've been working, I found this website:
PostSecret.
I'm not sure exactly what it was about it, but the whole concept appealed to me. Probably not to the point where I would bother sending a postcard the US, but I like it nonetheless.
That is all.
PostSecret.
I'm not sure exactly what it was about it, but the whole concept appealed to me. Probably not to the point where I would bother sending a postcard the US, but I like it nonetheless.
That is all.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Popping my Funereal Cherry
No, this isn't a post about my first experience with necrophilia. Relax. Sit back. Put away the Vaseline.
I attended my first funeral today, for Maggie Grey - my favourite university lecturer, and while I am sure that it was a very 'nice service' or whatever compliment you are expected to bestow upon such events, I did develop a couple of thoughts on all things funerary.
Funerals, in my incredibly limited experience, are odd things. I don't fully understand their purpose. I find it hard to comfortably celebrate someone's life whilst they are lying in a polished wooden box in the front of the room. At the same time, I don't think I could tolerate the more traditional funerals, complete with heavy religious overtones and regular invocations of God.
Why have these ceremonies at all? Nobody enjoys them, and the 'guest of honour' (so to speak) is beyond caring. I'm not saying that friends and loved ones shouldn't have an opportunity to say goodbye and get some grief out, but the idea of turning the whole process into some kind of ritual strikes me as peculiar.
Perhaps that's just me.
My weekend was a bit more uplifting - I attended a 60th birthday/Father's day event (for my Father, funnily enough) in Dorrigo. The only downside was the 4.5 hour drive there and back. The upside? Well, I borrowed Katrina's car. You know, just to blow out some cobwebs before she gets back.
There are some great winding roads between Grafton and Dorrigo - with little enough traffic that you are only occasionally concerned with things like 'staying in your own lane' and never concerned about trivialities like 'police' and 'speed cameras'. The kind of roads that appear in sports car commercials, with sweeping curves and beautiful scenery whipping by. Fun by the bucketload.
Of course, now I need to wash the bloody car again before Friday (when she gets back). I guess that's really a small price to pay...
I attended my first funeral today, for Maggie Grey - my favourite university lecturer, and while I am sure that it was a very 'nice service' or whatever compliment you are expected to bestow upon such events, I did develop a couple of thoughts on all things funerary.
Funerals, in my incredibly limited experience, are odd things. I don't fully understand their purpose. I find it hard to comfortably celebrate someone's life whilst they are lying in a polished wooden box in the front of the room. At the same time, I don't think I could tolerate the more traditional funerals, complete with heavy religious overtones and regular invocations of God.
Why have these ceremonies at all? Nobody enjoys them, and the 'guest of honour' (so to speak) is beyond caring. I'm not saying that friends and loved ones shouldn't have an opportunity to say goodbye and get some grief out, but the idea of turning the whole process into some kind of ritual strikes me as peculiar.
Perhaps that's just me.
My weekend was a bit more uplifting - I attended a 60th birthday/Father's day event (for my Father, funnily enough) in Dorrigo. The only downside was the 4.5 hour drive there and back. The upside? Well, I borrowed Katrina's car. You know, just to blow out some cobwebs before she gets back.
There are some great winding roads between Grafton and Dorrigo - with little enough traffic that you are only occasionally concerned with things like 'staying in your own lane' and never concerned about trivialities like 'police' and 'speed cameras'. The kind of roads that appear in sports car commercials, with sweeping curves and beautiful scenery whipping by. Fun by the bucketload.
Of course, now I need to wash the bloody car again before Friday (when she gets back). I guess that's really a small price to pay...
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Hey Man, Now You're Really Living!
I bought an apartment today, and it was everything I had hoped for and more.
Well, OK, it wasn't really anything more than I was expecting, and technically I have only reserved it - I am signing contracts on Monday. Regardless, that sucka is mine!
After a drawn-out inner dialogue (well, argument really) I decided to grab some lunch from Red Rooster, which is pretty much totally irrelevant, except for the fact that I picked up a copy of Rave Magazine (which was free and just lying around on a counter there).
Granted, the magazine is about 50% advertising, but it is a great source of information on local gigs - past, present and up-coming. It was timely too, because it did inform me that tickets for the Eels went on sale today. Being the loyal fanboy that I am, I bought some without hesitation.
On a side note, I bought the Eels' latest album, the sublime double CD 'Blinking lights & Other Revelations'. It has a similar ambience to 'Electro-shock Blues' and a couple of really pretty instrumental interludes. I cannot wait until their show in October!
The problem is, that I saw about half a dozen other gigs that I now want to go to, including (but not limited to) The Mountain Goats, Electric Six and Reel Big Fish. Looks like I am going to need a comission, and soon!
Anyway, Rave is great and you can download the latest issue from their site in PDF format to find out all about gigs in south-east QLD.
Well, OK, it wasn't really anything more than I was expecting, and technically I have only reserved it - I am signing contracts on Monday. Regardless, that sucka is mine!
After a drawn-out inner dialogue (well, argument really) I decided to grab some lunch from Red Rooster, which is pretty much totally irrelevant, except for the fact that I picked up a copy of Rave Magazine (which was free and just lying around on a counter there).
Granted, the magazine is about 50% advertising, but it is a great source of information on local gigs - past, present and up-coming. It was timely too, because it did inform me that tickets for the Eels went on sale today. Being the loyal fanboy that I am, I bought some without hesitation.
On a side note, I bought the Eels' latest album, the sublime double CD 'Blinking lights & Other Revelations'. It has a similar ambience to 'Electro-shock Blues' and a couple of really pretty instrumental interludes. I cannot wait until their show in October!
The problem is, that I saw about half a dozen other gigs that I now want to go to, including (but not limited to) The Mountain Goats, Electric Six and Reel Big Fish. Looks like I am going to need a comission, and soon!
Anyway, Rave is great and you can download the latest issue from their site in PDF format to find out all about gigs in south-east QLD.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Saab Wars: Revenge of the Nils
In a slighly surprising, but wholly satisfying conclusion to this little story, I received an email today informing me that a cheque equal to the value of the costs I incurred repairing the mistakes of the people who installed my alarm will be in the mail shortly.
Win!
Win!
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Let's Push Things Forward
It may well be attributed to an overdose of Kiyosaki and similar stimulants, but I have finally got off my arse and established the whole company/trust/separate bank account trifecta as of today, with the impending purchase of my first investment property to take place this weekend.
The unit in question is in a refurbished hotel/apartment building in Broadbeach and should be able to give me a return well above most of the local property - in fact, it should work out about cash flow neutral - which is nice. Because I am technically buying for a trust that I have a controlling interest in, rather than for myself, I can also get paid a commission on the sale.
The tough part now? Finding a second property to meet my lofty standards - I know that they exist, the hard part is getting to them first...
The unit in question is in a refurbished hotel/apartment building in Broadbeach and should be able to give me a return well above most of the local property - in fact, it should work out about cash flow neutral - which is nice. Because I am technically buying for a trust that I have a controlling interest in, rather than for myself, I can also get paid a commission on the sale.
The tough part now? Finding a second property to meet my lofty standards - I know that they exist, the hard part is getting to them first...
