Covid test

Preparation for this week's procedure. My first Covid19 test, not the invasive one where they tickle your tonsils or attempt to clear the sinuses but the test where you spit into a cup (apparently this isn't as accurate?). Filling up a cup with saliva from the depths of your throat is actually quite challenging, especially if there's only saliva generating the bulk of the sample. Couple of loud hocks and we're done.

Cost: 1200 HKD (200 AUD)

Update: I'm Covid Negative

A "Virtual" Graduation

It's been almost an entire year since my last exam. Without labouring the point, the year has been nothing short of pedestrian and despite completing all the coursework I don't feel like I've actually graduated. Thankfully, there have been no nightmares of turning up to an exam unprepared. There has been a slight sense of lost knowledge, with the desire to apply what I studied and learnt to the real world. That in itself forms part of the larger question about what my next steps are.

Regardless, there are essentially two outstanding components that remain which lends to the fact that my graduation feels incomplete. One, well we haven't had the official graduation ceremony and two, I still have not received my physical degree. So today, 22nd November 2020, is the Virtual Ceremony. Each student has been asked to upload a photograph of themselves which then had a gown and hat superimposed for the purposes of the virtual degree conferment. 

The inevitable Fourth Wave

The much anticipated Hong Kong to Singapore travel bubble has been postponed, two days before launch as fears of a Fourth Wave grips Hong Kong. Each time Hong Kong feels like it's in the clear, a cluster emerges. Complacency combined with what appears to be a high contagious disease, results in the dance of social distancing rules being relaxed and tightened; and so the dance continues. The latest outbreak has been tied to the Starlight Dance club, which on face value looks to be a fairly innocuous establishment, until you research and see what was really happening at these meet ups.

So, as expected Hong Kong has re-implemented social distancing measures and will look to reduce venue capacities and operating hours in attempt to stem the latest outbreak. It's quite timely, as I was just saying to myself "It's time to get back into the social scene" - the introverted side of my had completely embraced covid and the pause that it had provided for my social life. In all honestly I'm surprised there hasn't been a cluster at bars or restaurants with many floating the social distancing and mask wearing requirements. 

As we draw towards the pointy end of the year, it is a known fact that most people have back-loaded their annual leave, hoping for a Christmas Miracle. However, with corporate looking to wrap up in early December suddenly the Christmas and New Years period is looking less appealing for taking annual leave. 2020 maye have one the strangest silly seasons to date.

Redeployment of capital

First dabble into cryptocurrencies - probably not the best time to enter the market, with the major coins trading at almost all time highs.

BTCUSD: 17,800 USD

ETHUSD: 480 USD

XRPUSD: 0.33 USD

GOLDUSD: 1780 USD

Close your eyes, buy and forget

Finally got a BBQ

A "Virtual" Wedding

In what seems to be the accepted norm, events are moving online. Everything from virtual graduations (more to come), to virtual dates, to virtual conferences, and now, virtual weddings. My living room, TV and laptop are becoming common place items in a sequence of virtual events. 2020, as somebody looking in, seems to be a great excuse to do things. By things I mean, we've seen the announcement of expecting parents, engagements and marriages. 

The couple who were planning to get married next year in Bali decided to move ahead and tie the knot virtually. Despite being all around the world, there was an element of celebration and seeing familiar faces in different timezones still made for a special occasion.

Currently reading: "The Happiness Hypothesis" 

An acquisition

After multiple IPO attempts and countless rumours about acquirers, we have been sold. The initial sentiment has been a mix of speculation and disappointment. Let's start with the disappointment, the acquisition price seems to have left a few shareholders slightly disappointed, I say this as it places a value per share well below the lofty highs of yesteryear. For me, this is less of an issue, my equity stake is so minimal that the return for myself is not going to be of any material difference. 

Speculation is the main sentiment running through the organisation. What is the intention of the parent company? What will the effect on the existing business lines and personnel? What does this mean for our push for market share?

We will have a clearer picture in early 2021, starting with headcount and renumeration talks.