Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2008 Round-Up.

As always, the end of the yr always feels like a punch in the face - completely unexpected.

End of the yr is also used as a moment of reflection of the how's, when's and why's - after all, isn't this the time to dust out the ol memory cabinet i.e racking the brain to see whether one has achieved their goals (if any) for the yr?

I will not go into the whole resolution thing yet - that goes into a completely different reflection time altogether but perhaps use this to see whether I have achieved anything at all in 2008.

Lets see -

1. I did a fair bit of travel this yr -


I know that I told myself that I would not travel as much in 2008 but the reality is, it is our lil vice - travel, and whilst I can afford it, I see no harm in indulging in a lil getaway before or until we get shackled by the responsibilities of children and old age.


2. I was asked, and the reply was "yes" aka I got engaged.

  • Hmmm...some ppl are still surprised that I said yes, and I do still forget to wear the ring that "brands" me as engaged but unlike the other rships I have been in, I am not feeling like it is a burden to be in the rship. Perhaps it is true what the magazines say that Women like to be with men who make them laugh.

3. Workwise, it was a great yr.

  • My yr-end performance review went great, I KNOW I did well overall and even though there is a slight smidgen of a cloud with the possibility of that US-based investment company wanting to take over the company, I am pretty certain that we will weather the storm even if we are bought over.

4. Not so debt-free anymore.

  • Finally started thinking "adult" and got onto the property market. It felt like the right time and the place felt like home. In a nutshell, perhaps this would mean of my fancy free and footloose ways and the start of the more serious less gallivanting side of me perhaps - who knows?

Overall, 2008 was a good yr for me. Yes, my bank balance is definitely a lot smaller (think non-existent even) and my buffer is gone towards the home deposit and extensive travelling but do I regret anything I've done in 2008? Not by a long shot.

2009 will prove an interesting yr - indeed.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Broke - but celebrating ....


It is done. I am now a property owner.
My offer was accepted and I have received the signed contract by the vendors. Next will be paying the deposit (it was a private sale hence there is more time for certain things esp with all the holidays we are having) and then settlement in March 2009.
I am still surprised that my offer was accepted! The offer was slightly below what the vendors were after. Plus, I knew that the agent was going to the vendors with another offer at 6pm and when I did not hear anything from the agent by 730pm.. I resigned myself to the fact that I did not get it and had even started looking for other potentials.
Received the call from the agent around 8ish and he says that even though the other offer was higher, my offer was better in terms of settlement and long term rent-back etc so its mine!
Just got back from the conveyancer but there you go. Am officially broke - but in a good way :)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Home Sweet Home ...

If no one else puts in an offer come COB Monday - I will be the the proud owner of a 3 bedroom house.

Oh shit.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Holiday snaps - Europe 2008





























Some of my favourite holiday snaps from last month. Now that I am refreshed and rejuvenated - I can concentrate on the house-hunt and the next snowboarding trip to Japan in Jan :)