For the past 10 years, we have seen outsourcing in companies, in government, and even in homes.
Companies like DHL, Singapore Airlines, Nokia, Apple, outsourced their unimportant function like call centres, repair services, cleaning services to local or other companies.
Government sectors, like army outsourced their food catering, security services and call centres to private operators.
Closer to home, families outsource their childcare services, financial planning, and buying of food and running errands and even finding a partner.
As in all things, there are pros and cons to it. For my situation, I remained unconvinced that families must outsource financial planning to insurance agents, financial planners. This is because there is no one, absolutely no one more familiar about your own finance that you yourself. As such I have always rejected the services of financial planner from any company. As for child care, I believe that there is no one who can take better care of babies other than their own parent. Not a trusted nanny, reliable maid or even a grandparent or relative. This is because as parent, sometimes, we get irritated by our own babies as well. At least, we will be sorry to our baby and get it over quickly. But who can predict what a trusted nanny or a reliable maid can do in a moment of anger, frustration or irritation. On top of this, this nanny or maid may also have their own family or relationship problem no one knows.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Dairy Farm – a stock I missed 10 years ago
10 years ago, Dairy Farm, which owns Cold Storage, Giant, 7-Eleven, Guardian, etc chain of retail stores was trading at $1. It first came to my attention when it announced share repurchase. Somehow, I missed the opportunity to buy and today, it is traded at $12 without counting the years of dividend received. Wow, it is a 12-bagger in 10 years and more.
Today, as I walked past its business whether, is it Giant, Guardian, 7-Eleven, Cold Storage, I can still scold myself for hesitating to buy it. My excuse not to buy it then was to wait for it to go lower than $1. That day never came. Well, at least I knew it was good, just that I wanted to buy it at a lower price.
Recently, we heard that Carrfour has exited the supermarket business after 10 years of operation in Singapore. The retail business must be very competitive. At minimum, one thing I noticed is that its business is not as good as NTUC supermarket, Watson, etc… Perhaps, one day, Dairy Farm’s business will edge towards a bankruptcy and it will become a turnaround story. This will ensure a great buy. I am dreaming and waiting for that day.
Today, as I walked past its business whether, is it Giant, Guardian, 7-Eleven, Cold Storage, I can still scold myself for hesitating to buy it. My excuse not to buy it then was to wait for it to go lower than $1. That day never came. Well, at least I knew it was good, just that I wanted to buy it at a lower price.
Recently, we heard that Carrfour has exited the supermarket business after 10 years of operation in Singapore. The retail business must be very competitive. At minimum, one thing I noticed is that its business is not as good as NTUC supermarket, Watson, etc… Perhaps, one day, Dairy Farm’s business will edge towards a bankruptcy and it will become a turnaround story. This will ensure a great buy. I am dreaming and waiting for that day.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Child abuse
There are many forms of child abuse:
1) One of them happened a few blocks from my house. What I heard from outside the house was this:” Must I train you like a dog? Even a dog is easier to train than you!” a lady in her 30s was shouting in the house. Her child, probably 3-4 years old was crying badly. I was angry and sad that something like this can still happen in modern Singapore, said to be the world richest city.
2) Another type of abuse is deliberate neglect. The grandma is looking far away, totally indifferent to her grandchild’s needs. She seemed in a world of her own. Her grandchild, 4-5 years old, is playing 5 -6 metres away by himself.
Could this be the right way to bring up a child? I wondered.
1) One of them happened a few blocks from my house. What I heard from outside the house was this:” Must I train you like a dog? Even a dog is easier to train than you!” a lady in her 30s was shouting in the house. Her child, probably 3-4 years old was crying badly. I was angry and sad that something like this can still happen in modern Singapore, said to be the world richest city.
2) Another type of abuse is deliberate neglect. The grandma is looking far away, totally indifferent to her grandchild’s needs. She seemed in a world of her own. Her grandchild, 4-5 years old, is playing 5 -6 metres away by himself.
Could this be the right way to bring up a child? I wondered.
The final test in life
When we are as young as a sperm, we were competing to see which one of us will hit the jackpot( or egg first). After we have grown 9 months inside mummy’s tummy, we were competing to see if we can come out to see the world successfully.
After we were given birth, we were tested on ears, eyes, to see if we are generally like the majority of our peers. Soon after, we were sent to schools to compete in science, maths, English etc. Major tests like PSLE, GCE O’ Level, GCE A’ level , degree, diploma, driving test, medical test followed. The final test in life is to take care of our own children and our marriage. This is life’s hardest test in which our character traits like patience, love, discipline, responsibility, reliability, were all tested to the core.
If we are successful, we will be blessed with happiness. I wish you all the best.
After we were given birth, we were tested on ears, eyes, to see if we are generally like the majority of our peers. Soon after, we were sent to schools to compete in science, maths, English etc. Major tests like PSLE, GCE O’ Level, GCE A’ level , degree, diploma, driving test, medical test followed. The final test in life is to take care of our own children and our marriage. This is life’s hardest test in which our character traits like patience, love, discipline, responsibility, reliability, were all tested to the core.
If we are successful, we will be blessed with happiness. I wish you all the best.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
When to draw the line?
When I read that parents have to draw a fine line between protecting their children and overprotecting their children, I am reminded that our schools, army camps, government etc may overprotect our people.
For example, in the army camp, recruits enjoy welfare like sleeping on branded King Koil mattress, taking air-conditioned ferry services to camp, eating commercial-standard chicken rice etc. In stark contrast, based on stories or accounts from army recruits 30 years ago, the recruits slept on unbranded low-end mattress, eat horrible food cooked by inexperienced cooks and took open-air ships (called RPL) to camp. Could this welfare be excessive? Are we spending too much money on material stuff and not focusing on the emotional and training needs of our recruits?
30 years ago, I understand that pregnant ladies go for medical checkup only a few times during pregnancy. Now, pregnant woman go for check up at least every month. Are we paranoid and wasting too much time and money on checkup? Do we over-exaggerate our minor illness or pain or do we over-value our life?
The reasons for this excessive care in our society, be it army camp or hospitals could be due to the emergence of the rare Singaporean due to our low birth rate, too much funds in the army camp or in family, the higher expectations of highly educated parents and the power of media. Could this ultimately be good for our society?
For example, in the army camp, recruits enjoy welfare like sleeping on branded King Koil mattress, taking air-conditioned ferry services to camp, eating commercial-standard chicken rice etc. In stark contrast, based on stories or accounts from army recruits 30 years ago, the recruits slept on unbranded low-end mattress, eat horrible food cooked by inexperienced cooks and took open-air ships (called RPL) to camp. Could this welfare be excessive? Are we spending too much money on material stuff and not focusing on the emotional and training needs of our recruits?
30 years ago, I understand that pregnant ladies go for medical checkup only a few times during pregnancy. Now, pregnant woman go for check up at least every month. Are we paranoid and wasting too much time and money on checkup? Do we over-exaggerate our minor illness or pain or do we over-value our life?
The reasons for this excessive care in our society, be it army camp or hospitals could be due to the emergence of the rare Singaporean due to our low birth rate, too much funds in the army camp or in family, the higher expectations of highly educated parents and the power of media. Could this ultimately be good for our society?
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Taking care of babies
I have seek wisdom from people around me on taking care of babies and children. My question to them is “when taking care of babies, what do you think is the most important thing?”
Here are their answers:
1) “Discipline. Never beat them or lay hands on them. Do not pamper them too much or they will walk all over you. “advised a mother of 4 children.
2) “Health” came from a grandmother.
3) “Happiness and freedom,’ said my mum
4) “looking after them,” from my mother-in-law
5) “Understanding our children”, from yours truly.
The best gift to give a child is a happy childhood. This is priceless. - Quoted my mum. I fully agree with what she said.
What do you think?
Here are their answers:
1) “Discipline. Never beat them or lay hands on them. Do not pamper them too much or they will walk all over you. “advised a mother of 4 children.
2) “Health” came from a grandmother.
3) “Happiness and freedom,’ said my mum
4) “looking after them,” from my mother-in-law
5) “Understanding our children”, from yours truly.
The best gift to give a child is a happy childhood. This is priceless. - Quoted my mum. I fully agree with what she said.
What do you think?
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Insiders selling
Recently, I took a look at Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank and found out that many directors are buying the shares. This usually means the bank is doing well. Until one look closer.
A closer look revealed many officers selling the shares. For the many directors buying, I noted that they are buying at zero cost a share. In short, the directors buying does not mean much as they pay nothing to get more shares. It is the many officers (insiders) selling that woke me up. How can the company be doing well if so many middle rank staff is selling the shares? Do they know something that we outsiders don’t?
Surely, we outsiders know less about the bank than the insiders. I suspect it is wise to follow the track of insiders to be careful of banks stocks such as Bank of America and Fifth Third Bank now.
A closer look revealed many officers selling the shares. For the many directors buying, I noted that they are buying at zero cost a share. In short, the directors buying does not mean much as they pay nothing to get more shares. It is the many officers (insiders) selling that woke me up. How can the company be doing well if so many middle rank staff is selling the shares? Do they know something that we outsiders don’t?
Surely, we outsiders know less about the bank than the insiders. I suspect it is wise to follow the track of insiders to be careful of banks stocks such as Bank of America and Fifth Third Bank now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)