Category Archives: Numbers

Jibber Jabber, Malaysia, Numbers

Cross Continent Exchanges

Exchange rates have been favourable this past week. So, I moved some personal savings from Malaysia to Belgium yesterday morning. It was enough to raised a red flag at my Belgian bank, which led to me having to talk to a bank employee, digitally signed a document before the transfer was cleared and deposited into my account. What I thought was a small sum was apparently not. I shall definitely tread lightly from now on.

Today, I exchanged and moved funds to another non-Malaysian account. The process was seamless. However, I did end up having to talk to a bank employee in Malaysia to put my online banking access back in order. Dumb mistake, long story…

I shall take a break from playing with my finances for a while.

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Numbers, Travels

A Minute

Today at ten fifteen in the morning, I have to attend a scheduled visa application interview at the US Embassy in Brussels.

D and I drove off at eight, we arrived early but it was for the best. The whole process took almost an hour, most of it was spent waiting in line. The two schedule and security checks were a breeze, and checking-in was uneventful. However, lining-up for a new photo (mine was not in the right format) at the photo booth was annoying at best because not everyone is tech-savvy. Then, there was a preliminary information and photo check, more waiting, and finally the interview.

The interview lasted probably around half a minute to a minute. Why do I want to go to the US? What do I do for a living? Is my partner traveling with me? Do we own a house? And just like that, my tourist visa was approved! There was no interrogation. Well, it is logic and to be expected though, the United States and I go way back to the early 90s. 😉

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Flashbacks, Numbers, Wealth & Creativity

Pause & Propel

If memory serves me correctly, the first pause period in my life would probably be the couple of months that I have after my SRP exams at age sixteen. I spent that time re-reading the books I love. When the second life pause came two years later, I ransacked my parents’ home library and read almost everything I can get my hands onto. After that, I propelled out of my home town Lahad Datu and was going to upper secondary in Kota Kinabalu. Not knowing at that time that I will be going through these sort of launch sequences several more times in life.

1992 was a year-long pause for my sister and I. Then, the two of us propelled to college and university lives for the next few years. In 1994, my sister took her biggest step forward in life. We did not know it then but she left Malaysia for good 30 years ago.

I spent 1995 till 2000 in a personal semi-pause, while propelling my mother’s life insurance business ahead and launching my youngest brother off to university. Then my life got on to the fast lane from 2001 till 2007. The first three years were filled with design school activities. After graduation, I moved from Michigan to California for work and ultimately ended up in Nevada. Those were interesting years…

And just when things started to become familiar and a bit settled, I made the decision to up and move to Belgium!

Are my European years a very long pause? Not really…

In the past decade, I have steered events, built foundations, built launch pads, and changed lives. When and where will I propel my life to next? 😉

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Jibber Jabber, Numbers, Simplify

Seventy Two Hours

It has been three days since D and I got home. The following are things we have done so far:

  • Unpacked and put away things.
  • Three loads of laundry.
  • Ironed.
  • Plums – harvested, gave away and freeze.
  • Peas – harvested and freeze.
  • Mowed lawn.
  • Bought potatoes.
  • Washed car.
  • Unload yard clippings and miscellaneous items at container park (recycling park).
  • Decalcified rain shower head.
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Numbers, Travels

Amsterdam Kortrijk

Yesterday was the last full day the family have in Amsterdam. Thus, we took it easy and went for a short walk after breakfast. We did some sightseeing and had drinks at Café Doffer. In the late afternoon, the six of us ate Cantonese take-away in the hotel dining lounge.

This morning, I had a very early breakfast with my parents at six thirty. Then D and I saw my family off at the front entrance of the hotel when they left for the airport at eight.

With many hours to spare until checkout, D and I went for a leisurely breakfast, took two walks, and spent some time in the hotel room before taking the tram to the train station. We took photos of the surroundings, drank beers, and got on a rather full train bound for Antwerp at two twenty.

Our two train rides took three and a half hours in total, and we reached home safely by eight thirty.

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Belgium, Numbers, Travels

London To Kortrijk

Today’s travel itinerary: St. James’ Park Underground – King’s Cross – St. Pancras International – Lille Europe – Lille Flandres – Kortrijk.

D and I left the hotel at half past two in the afternoon and reached home before nine o’clock. London is not far from home. 😉

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Flashbacks, Numbers, Travels, Wealth & Creativity

C2 to DS4

Yesterday afternoon, D and I went to pick up the car.

The entire replacement process of the trusty C2 to an almost new DS4 has taken about two and a half months! I am pleased that the papers are finally in order, that the car is in our possession, and that D is adapting and driving this beautiful machine…

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Numbers, Wealth & Creativity

Auto Convert

This morning, I set up an automatic conversion of the Dollar to Euro in my multi-currency account. I also did a wire transfer from Malaysia to the United States.

In the evening, D and I had an early dinner and then biked to the library for a talk about investment. The young speaker only touched on fundamental investment basics, and did not offer any special tips. I have a feeling that the majority of his listeners probably have more investment know-how than him.

After the talk, D and I went to the café and had a beer each. I was pleasantly surprised to find my Dutch teacher sitting there with her friends. I have not seen her for more than a decade! We chatted a bit and then went on to do our own things.

D and I got home by ten.

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