In Memoriam : 24th June, 2026

my dream, stoic supporter has left ... 

The indisputable Leader, Caregiver & Living Angel is the Mother, in spirit & in every imaginable way she protects her young at all costs including sacrificing her life

She never let 'poorness' & poverty hinder her determination to give the best to her children

For nine months, she gives from within [her] & every childbirth is not without risks 

I used to have a younger brother who had cerebral palsy and he lived past 10yo and my mother had walked half the globe looking for a cure for him; western medicine, TCMs, Gods & whatnots, deities and bomohs... anyone who can offer a cure or to cure him ~ hopes vs miracles. The best arrived when he left & relieved the family from further sufferings, especially my mother - the caregiver

Suffers? Yes, we all suffered together but my mother never, never shed her responsibilities nor show weaknesses but keep everyone well, together & alive, healthy and taken cared of ~ money was short but we lived by and weather the challenges. We were never left hungry and the family remains happy 

In our early days, she worked as a washerwoman, a general worker at ZhiChar stalls, as a hawker & participated in tontines; saving for a rainy day & saved every cent - the ever-thrifty woman who kept the family afloat & running

We sold breads door-to-door in the four blocks of HDB flats daily & my mum allowed credit as some could not pay until their payday. Guess what, she empathized with the poor, but several moved away without paying. Bad debts are common, say 10% ~ her only word was 'never mind, they are going through difficult times too'

She was the sole breadwinner, the stalwart & bedrock of the family

My mum is fiercely independent & a hard(est)working-type; come rain or sunshine, she brightens up

Complaints? NIL - there is simply 'no time' to take a breather to survive, let alone complaint

手停口停Hands stopped, mouth stopped

The photos on the left are taken recently; everyone in the family plays a part to cheer her up

Amongst the many of us, she has her favorite child & grandchild. Me? I'm unranked but a good punching bag. My niece rated me as the "Safety Net & the family's BedRock"

I have lost my SuperMother & only memories remain  世上（界）只有妈妈好

It was only two months ago [10th May, Sunday] on Mother's Day, while having breakfast with her at the hawker center, that I heard my mum humming this song; it's all memories now

I take comfort that I had provided for her, cheer her up whenever possible, come rain or sunshine, taken punches & fleeting reprimands without an iota of angry response; I used humor & simply laughs it off & never allow discord to brew tensions

好好说话 保持沉默 好说好说 什么都可说

良言一句三冬暖  恶话伤人六月寒 

My religious belief allows me to reject criticism, curses, 'misfortunes', unfriendliness and all things negative and embrace positivism & motivational vibes  

I (try to) no longer get angry, frustrated, 'hates', vigorously 'fight-back' and meet 'head-on' over unreasonable issues 沉默 I allow the bodhisattva in me to manifest

My SuperMother is now free in the next realm ~ the Godly Realm ~ & her memories live forever

[My mother left us at age 90yo suddenly ~ I can still vividly imagine her at her home & recall that I'd visit her as often as my time allows to chitchat, have meals & listen to her advice, stories & recollections]

It's all memories now

July ~ Success Continues Into The Next Half Year

when fire mixes with water ...

Fire & water do not mix

While water may dose out fires but, even without water, fire burns out by itself

It's calamity when fires recur above waters ~ never? You find these in underwater quakes, burning lava floating into the open seas, underwater flares & flammable gas (methane)

In stock & commodity markets, when fires & water mix, the result is Fire火 - burn - water水为财 in a sudden collapsed situation. The Fire火 will burn itself out [after force-selling, cutting losses] 

Water cuts through rocks; almost nothing can stop water [flows]. Water - 水为(钱)财 Money grease every day's life

Whether it's depression or recession, MONEY talks 钱不是万能 但没有钱是万万不能 

Water down your expectation but fire up your efforts, drives & ambitions; the world is yours to explore & conquer

Life is a bicycle ride; continue and you'd reach your destination & as far as you wanna go ~ efforts equal results

Looking back is never a choice just as a banana does not split twice

Walking in the rain cools the Soul & hides the tears - the aloneness is absolute ~ by yourself, for yourself

We are all made differently but many take leads from others & make decision based on what others think, instruct & influence - you are living another's life & he is writing your Fate

We work to live & do not live to work henceforth, do not enslave yourself - be free from bondage

Your journey is not GOD's plot ~ be free

It's already July, 2026; what have you achieved for the past 6 months? I have achieved little, but I have laid the path to the future ~ slow but steady, not a choice though

You need not loss sleep if you've achieved nothing or little. P Trump has also achieved little ~ he has lost directions too

Do your best & leave the rest 可以放下 不能放弃

There will be a better tomorrow, but today's the BEST as tomorrow may never come

Whether more successes will crystalize in the next six months is for you to create

Make June Your Winning Starts

fight or flight or stay ...

It used to be fight or flight, but another option is to stay, watch, be patient & calculated and strike when opportunity presents

If there is a need to fight, fight to win; do not just fight ~ bare the fists

In the Iran war, Iran fights to win - Iran retaliated where it hurt most, not cursory bombardments

In [US] threatening China with tariffs, embargo, confiscation & restraints, China kept quiet, beef up her strengths, prepares alternatives & ignore the 'barks'. Actions speak louder than words

The recent global, from Japan to Taiwan, Europe & USA to China, New Zealand & Australia, resentment, frustration and protests against Indians had revived shouts of racism. But Indian refers to nationality, not a race. It refers to Indians from India ~ that is not an isolated irritation, I suppose 

Lately, this S Asian nationality hogs the limelight for the wrong reasons but whether to stay, fight or flight is their choice - in Rome do what the Romans do

Interestingly, Wall Street is seeing new highs, with stratospheric valuations. Newly listed Space X is valued at more than $2trillion market cap. 

The top 10 chips#AI#data centres companies are pushing new boundaries, drawing billions$$, with bloated valuations; should you fight[hold or buy], flight[take profits & move aside] or simply watch[hold or do not buy]? The choice is yours

The new rounds of tariffs, trade frictions & embargo and inflation do not seem to scare the trailblazing Wall Street ~ it pays to err on the cautious side

Civilization collapsed due to recklessness rather than wrong judgement. Ego & envy are potently dangerous

You can choose peaceful coexistence instead of extermination & bloodletting 

Not every conflict must end with bloodshed ~ politicians have used race & religions to incite violence & to stay in power

Soldiers must take and respect orders unconditionally & act on the command of their supreme leader unquestionably, but when the crooked, corrupted & incorrigible leaders send you to Hell, are you blind to reality? Whose war are you fighting; for the people or for the leader? History has plentiful of leaders who ran down their country & absconded - Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, S Vietnam, Uganda... others

The baseline to fight, flight or watch is your instincts, if not, your conscience 

Whatever your choice, if you aren't going to be alive after things turn better, you know you've made a wrong choice - it's too late

Like the dodo, you are history

 

 

June - Be Safe, Not Sorry

uncertainty disrupts stability but ...

There is a fine line between confidence and hope ~ confidence is the positive start while hope is the hidden negative motivator

You can confidently execute your plan but only hope for the best outcomes, that which you so desired

The truth is success is measured in dollars and cents; the more you receive, the higher the satisfaction & sweet victory 

Uncertainty creates opportunity 危机

Risks/Returns rewards are inversely related ~ the higher the risks, the greater the returns 

However, avoid taking risks blindly as the fool and his money will soon part

Your entitled fortunes are sowed by yourself 种果得果

I was a sapling growing up next to the grand old oak tree. Nobody takes notice of me & I was given space to grow as I was no threat to anyone. Strong winds and rough weather threatened the oak's survival while I dance merrily in the breeze

Ignorance is bliss. The youthful ignorance & ambitions allow you to unlock & vigorously explore the unknown future, henceforth conquering new frontiers

Health is the definitor without which nothing can be achieved. Money cannot buy health & nobody can 'suffer on your behalf' ~ Steve Jobs could only stare at his life support machines towards his end of life 

The world has experienced unexpected disruptions through wars, geopolitical shifts, contraction of economies and traces of provocations.

P. Trump military adventure against Venezuela was least expected and boosted by fast victory, he waged against Iran; an 'ill-thought' moves. His wild intent to grab Greenland, Canada, Cuba amongst others is all about grabbing resources and to project superior power 

Can the world accept an aggressor who threatens, grabs and destroys as their unquestioned leader? NO, no one would like to live as slaves

 

June ~ what have you achieved, if any

Few people can walk out alive, unscathed yet prosper in uncertain times

Do not let greed lead you down the path of destruction

If unsure, stay away - there is no free lunch

Ask yourself if you would spend $10,000 in a moment of thrill? "Buy now, buy now and save 40%"! If you did, you are $6,000 poorer. If you didn't, you saved 100%

I have achieved little except wider knowledge and wisdom over the last six months and is still learning ... 前人栽树后人乘凉 the earlier people planted trees, and the future generations enjoy the shade. A fairly similar meaning is "you read and learn from others mistakes and avoid falling into the same", that is, you enjoy the peace and harmonious environment

 

May You Make Lots Of Money

money make the world goes round ...

Making money isn't difficult but many prefer to sell their skills & knowledge for a fee [employment] instead of being entrepreneurial

There is a limit to how much you can earn as salary whereas an entrepreneurial employee gets the additional moolah from performance bonuses & commissions ~ the downside is backroom & administration are considered as costs center

Investments in capital markets & traders are entrepreneurial pursuits ~ you are your own boss, but you need to have some capital to start though, not unlike starting a business

Like every industry, you need knowledge, guts, directions and internally tested SOPs & strategies - a fool and his money will soon part

Stockmarkets: Mid-Year Review

Lead WallStreet has been piercing new highs and recovered after several falls. 

Traders buy ahead of expectations "Buy on rumors, Sell on facts" 

The Iran war & the closure of Hormuz Straits were negatives but the persistent talks of halting the war and the Straits reopening have given much hopes of 'global economic recovery & lower energy prices after war"

Smart moneys are likely to "cash-out" upon any announcement of cessation of war and to reset their portfolio instead

Market reads ahead of reality as they unfold

The capital market is riddled with half-truths, misinformation, insiders & fake news. Truths are stale news by the time they are reported in MSM

This is a time-cycle chart & some people swear by it ~ guess, it's a good guide but not absolutely accurate [in timing]. It's a "big picture" 

When unsure, stay out - The fool and his money will soon part

In the very long run, strategic investments yield dividends, enjoy industry growth & ride yet neutralize the inflation-ladder

Having a high yielding portfolio is wealth creation

We work to live and not live to work as money is a means to an end

Go forth and multiply; be productive

 

May You Be Wise

retreating into 'aloneness' is not loneliness ...

We came alone & shalt return alone too but many struggle, fight, bleed, challenge, plot - to accumulate as much as possible along their ways in life

There is no "right nor wrong"; efforts mostly equal rewards but not all rewards are 'made to order' & within expectations

You win some & loss some, so long as you win more than you loss and the most rewarding achievement may not be material but an emotional conquest

The wealthy person may wish & pray for a healthy life when his body is pierced with life-support machines & the person in the hospice just wanted a life without pains and sufferings whilst the pauper pleas for a satisfying meal 

It is good to have ambitions but not perfection

The world of politics is about "Oneness"; I am the only leader who can lead you [the flock] to higher grounds ~ the convincing empty promise

The shrewd leader surround himself with less endowed, blindly loyal people while some engage smart underlings but will leave them to fight amongst themselves in committee, task force, groupings ...

Extraversion, narcissism and populism expound "Oneness" and command & control so much so that the population develops Stockholm Syndrome aka trauma bonding  

Aloneness empower the person who retreats to discover himself whereas Oneness seeks to dominate & control

It's "lonely at the top"; successful top achievers, entrepreneurs and leaders are lonely by choice & structure

The capital markets are never a 'lonely' play; herds instinct rules and rampages. Warren Buffet-types are rare - Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful - Warren Buffet

Most investors, especially the retail investors, are hooked on 'hopes' than reality; the hunter is sometimes being hunted

Many wants to make profits, but few are willing to do their homework 

Nobody can be truly alone, not even a recluse nor nomad. However, retreating into 'aloneness' is not loneliness

Finding solace amidst serenity is an achievement

I have tried unsuccessfully to retreat into 'aloneness' ~ there are enough distractions to disturb your intent & desires for inner peace

After all these years, the best teacher is when you are downtrodden, broke and drowning in 'hopelessness' ~ that's where the SELF reigns

At that point, you gutfully accept that "at the lowest, you cannot fell any lower & the only way is up" - this is the turnaround moot

When you boldly acknowledge that GOD will not give up on you, you gonna leave everything to GOD ~ you just need to live fruitfully & pursue your dreams, however negligible 

From nothing to nothing, you loss nothing 

Being alone allow you to reinvent & manifest

Be wise

May ~ The Calm Before The Storm

instead of asking for more, just accept whatever come...

When you go with the flow, resistance reduces, stresses ease and life energy rekindle

Carry on is not easy but resisting changes is worse

Like day & night, all shalt pass 酸甜苦辣 are flavors of life, not unlike 春夏秋冬 ; enjoy whatever comes

You are at liberty to accept, reject or stay neutral & non-committal; avoid the toxic people in your life

No man's an island but the island is influenced by its surroundings ~ flood, drought, heat ... whatever must happen, will happen & influence

When you accept whatever come, you are not resigned to Fate, but you dictate what can or cannot affect you - when your heart is clear & uncluttered, darkness and daylight is simply part of the day

Rains cool the Soul & the sun warms the heart

With expectations, come disappointments. Needs, wants & desires are three distinct silos. We have basic needs, but we may want more. Frustrations arise when needs and wants become desires  

Money is the root of all evils, but without money most things cannot be done [materialize] 钱不是万能 没钱万万不能 

Having money is a blessing but how much is enough? Limitless; Only those who accepts "money is a means to an end, not an end itself" will they live satisfactorily & satisficing   

You're rich or feel rich when you are willing to spend on yourself, family and for a cause without any need to conserve nor with hesitation 要用就有 想用不必三思

If you are born between 1900-2000, you lived through 2 World Wars. For those born after 1950s, you live with more uncertainties as time is compacted and information, including misinformation and fakes, are rampant. Anxieties, depression, gossips and indifference are daily norms

Living blissfully & sanely require shutting off the noises

When the elephants fight, the grass suffer. The contest for world leadership has fragmented the world [order], with US edging towards isolation, breaking up of G7, concretization of newer economic blocs, birth of new banking settlement system, economic contraction, disputes and distrusts & loads more ... how are you, as an individual, able to absorb so many changes and challenges? Live & let live and wait for the dusts to settle

Take shelter and let the ill-winds pass ~ the storm will clear up

It ain't over till the fat lady sings

May the world slow a little and certainty manifests  

The best is yet to be

  

 

 

May You Live & Let Live

finding happiness by being selfless ...

The more you give, the more you receive 舍得  有舍才有得 ~ 施舍

The more you delve into correcting other's faults, the more frustration you get

Those who didn't think they are wrong will never change; they're in deep self-denials. Conceitedness is incurable yet destructive to others

Give them enough ropes to 'hang themselves' is the best antidote. The stupid person is like the dead; he doesn't feel the pains of everyone around him

Perfection is like water ~ like ideals, there is no perfection. When you very nearly achieve your ideal, your desire & goal change ... so is perfection

Water has no permanent shape nor size - go with the flow

I deliberately attempt to ignore those vindictive, quarrelsome, vain and self-righteous persons to minimize and zeroize frustration and anger    

Everything takes time

Forgiving others is not necessarily because we are magnanimous, but it is to unshackle & free ourselves from the hurts & hatred brewing within ~ the drag on the Soul

Forgiveness doesn't make the other person right, it makes you free - Stormie Omartian

In this complex world where winning is everything, many are determined to win at any costs; walk away to avoid the hurts & disruptive emotions

Go to the hospice & notice that many are just wishing for another day of 'no pains & sufferings'. For those that are living on the streets, a warm meal saves the day. In the warzone, a day without carnage is a Godsend-peace

A grain of sand in the shoe makes the journey irritable and painful. Halt! Slow down! Take a moment to remove the grain & comfort returns 

Anger, frustration & dissatisfaction are emotional thorns that must be tamed, removed and eliminated before the body & mind fall sick 

Victory is the sweetest revenge

Wallowing in self-pity, regrets and annoyance destroys confidence 

When in (dis)stress, take a long walk, breathe well, enjoy the surroundings, disregard your wondering mind, be a mindless traveler and see the wide new world

Listen to the birds sing, enjoy the flowers fragrances; the colorful & picturesque portrait of Mother Earth overwhelm and recharge

Let go & let the mind free 放下不放弃
When you do good, blessings return in the most unexpected manner & your mind ogles, not lecherous though    

Live and let live - Do not scorch the Earth & rule over ashes

Happiness is a state of mind that money cannot buy whereupon forgiveness empowers happiness  

May ~ The Lucky Month

there's an ending to everything ...

When you are born, death is about 36,000 days away; some sooner & few exceeds

Like a blank A-4 paper, you dot it, draw it, paint it, smear it or color it, whatever; you are the author of your life

Nobody knows their end result, but everyone dashes forward with confidence, convictions and zeal! Some chases are cut short though

Asians believe in cause & effects 因果  ~ 种那个因 得那个果

Destiny is not cast on stone. Like everything else, there is room for allowance, GOD willing

Do whatever fits but within your means ~ a 1,000cc car can't possibly beats the beastly mobiles on the F-1 pitch

Successful people keep chasing their dreams & goals, not blindly but mindful of the readily available resources & their personal capabilities; the winning formula is 1 + 1 = >2

Educational excellence, geniuses and outstanding candidates do not equal success; no dreams are made equal. Efforts do not equal desired results 天时地利人和 还要运气

LUCK is the decider ~ everything! Ask a loser

Luck is where preparation meets opportunity

Chase your dreams but be empowered: learn the skills, build your abilities, imbue knowledge, be prepared & ready. When opportunity presents, pounce

Without actions, every goal is a dream. If you don't get up to work on your dream, it will forever be ~ a dream

May is an uncertain month; Maybe, may happen, may not -  May expresses possibilities 

In the capital market, "Sell in May & go away" vaguely implies the plausibility that the month of May is likely to experience an upswing, creating profit-taking opportunities

May 1st is the Labor Day where the labors of the world celebrate jobs, joblessness, inequity & inequality, fulfilment, frustration, dream jobs & 'dreaming of jobs'; the proletariat build for a 'fee' whereas the capitalist enjoy bountiful gains

The world will never be equal

With technology, AI, robotics & mechanization, there will be less need for labor/human ~ contrary, Man is not born to work. The world has enough resources for all Man to survive comfortably

Man will never be united as one

In a major natural calamity, eg, TangShan Earthquate, Indonesian Tsunami, Man will offer help to fellowmen regardless of nationality, race, religion, language or culture

But the ugly thirst to dominate, control, influence and dictate surface and manifest in 'peaceful' time 

May ... Maybe... Man will learn to coexist and live peacefully together some day ~ It will be too late when Earth becomes inhabitable

Be The Master Of Your [Own} Fate

in the alley of reflection ...

Every 10 years cycle is a 'formative' year where you experienced changes, knowingly or unknowingly

From child to adolescent to teenager, then adulthood arrives. Career development and family building follow. At a blink, twilight years set in ~ reflection is next

Everyone is walking towards the end ~ the end of life ~ rich or poor

It is harder 'not to do anything' than it is to be busy; one can be busy over anything, but no one can laze, do next to nothing yet feel accomplished

If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done - Bruce Lee

Time look infinite but life is finite - nobody knows when their time will be up but those who live well are those who enjoy every moment 活在当下 活好自己

What drives you in your life? When you are poor and hungry, it's food. When you are wealthy, gaining power, fame and status maybe your goal. In the hospice and at critically-ill wards, surviving another painless day beats anything ~ chase your dreams while you can

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking - Steve Jobs

Whether you are a billionaire or a pauper, your time on Earth is limited & you cannot pay another to suffer on your behalf; for sickness knows no wealth barrier

Dwell on possibilities ... the more you believe that "it is possible", the higher the chances of you succeeding in your pursuits. When you pursue earnestly and with enthusiasm, you see solutions whereas a negative mind sees only obstacles

Today's speed of change and the impactful turn of events is clear signal that 'tomorrow is never promised' 

Do whatever fits; you are answerable to yourself 

The world rotates & affects all, big & small. Politicians promised 'the sun & the moon' but deliver none yet the electorates trust them blindly; loyalty is exchanged for empty promises

Politics is played by few, and the mass are indifference yet submissive. Trust is traded for empty promises, and more Laws are enacted to limit freedom of speech & to control behavior. Social engineering, 'divide & rule' & cronyism dilute unity & breed suspicions amongst the previously united people

History has shown that 'every time a country falls into a crisis, the leaders are the first to get free flights of freedom to sympathetic countries' and lived well with their illegally endowed wealth while the commoners were left to fend for themselves

Death the leveler does not seem to apply to political leaders

Nature is an Art in Motion

When you love something, you admire its beauty, let it manifest & grow

You do not profess your love yet destroy their existence 

Similarly, whatever you do out of passion & interests, you'd excel

Do not live in isolation ~ the world is not a silo

Happiness is a choice ~ enjoy it to the fullest

Never indulge in regrets of the past & fear of the future; long after you are gone, only memories remain

Be thankful for today 
    

The April Surprises - Stockmarkets Bottomed Out

tension is elastic & can ease or manifest...

In my last article, 29th March, I wrote "April 2026 is the short term 'bottoming-out' but with increased volatility. Wealth creation is an Art while wealth preservation is about survival"

The globe is spinning faster than usual with minute spikes in reactions to everchanging worldly events

Will peace returns? The elements of conflicts are Man(made) whose thirst for power, control, fame, greed and contempt destroy harmony & peaceful coexistence

Like fire, when the substance [of contempt] is completely burnt, the fire stops; from the ashes rise the phoenix

US needed to extract itself out of the mess and is unlikely to adopt the 'scorched earth' approach as the extent of religious flavor in wars know no boundaries

It's gonna be equally MAD ~ Mutual Assured Destruction, nukes aside

The casualty arising from the recent oil price hike is the global economy, inflation & plausibly stagflation 

The distrusts were rooted when P Trump contemplated to take Greenland, Canada, Cuba & took action against Venezuela ~ the Laws of The Jungle reigned instead

Leaders at EU had removed US commands at/from NATO; a new alliance will evolve

De-dollarization will eventually happen as new trading Blocs are born out of realignment of countries; businesses are only done between friends. When distrust is sowed, especially trades between nations, the equation changes

US will still [contemplate to] be the No 1 Leader, a position nobody, especially China, wanted

Historically, China thrives on trades. Within 30 years of opening up, China alleviated poverty of her bottom >600mil population

Just when this wave of tragedies in the US/Israel vs Iran war are almost over [doesn't mean it is over], 'smokes' are rising in Northeast Asia; the two Koreas, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan

Geopolitics is fluid

Fortunes favor the brave

Stock & Commodity Markets [Written on pkwekblogspot 29 March 2026)

52wk              Hi            Lo            27 March     Broke Previous High      

DJIA             50,512      36,611       45,166                -                                 

S&P500        7,002        4,835         6,368                7,147

Nasdaq        24,019       14,784       20,948             24,519

Nikkei          59,332       30,792       53,373               59,688 

STI               5,041        3,372        4,898                      -                                     

HSI              28,056        19,260    24,951                    -

FT Bursa     1,771        1,386        1,712                        -

IDX              9,174        5,882        7,097                        -

Oil                  119            54            101                        -

Brent             119            58             114                        -

Gold            5,586        2,970        4,489                        -

Silver             121             27            69                          -

Bitcoin        126,198    60,074      66,724                     -               

Wealth creation is an Art

The world held its breathe when the possibility of using nuke was echoed; fortunately, sanity prevailed  

Let us enjoy the temporary reprieve and relieve ... as life crawled back to normalcy

Will the world hit the brakes again? Yes, quite likely as the world's leadership pole position is perceived to being challenged

We survived to see daylight amidst unusual political sideshows