One of the projects I have been considering around the yard is a small retaining wall to reduce the debris that the winds & the bush turkeys create onto my drive.
How many hours have I spent tiding up after them?
Yes a very overdue trip to the beach on Sunday & the immediate reason was a very unproductive Saturday.
So to be productive it was defined to be an early start as the best time for the beach is an early as possible.
Ask any surfer that & yes it depends on the swells & tides & winds & maybe the night before.
Mount Blanc
So what was the highlight of your trip I asked Ann* last night.
Climbing Mt Blanc
How high is that ?
Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco, both meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps and the highest in Europe west of Russia's Caucasus peaks. It rises 4,808 m above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence. Wikipedia
I.e. higher than Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height since 2014 is listed as 3,724 metres, down from 3,764 m before December 1991, due to a rockslide and subsequent erosion. Wikiped
And Mount Kosciuszko, at 2,228 metres (7,310 ft) (Highest mountain on the mainland.
Although I have known Ann* for 20+ years it was only after a major traumatic event some years ago that I have known her better.
What I observed last night was that Ann* appeared so much healthier & happier.
Now that may be because she actually had two months away in Northern Italy & France. In fact she was reluctant to travel home & has plans for next year.
It maybe because she achieved a major goal.
I recall every time I jog up the bush behind us a talk I heard from an Aussie softball medallist.
That was ‘ don’t look up’ & ‘just one step at a time’.
Yes that helps & Ann* did go up with a guide & a man who was slower than her.
Now this is one of 5 goals of the day actioned.
Let’s do.
Yes sir
Yes, it is our way to say thank you to the Boy Scouts when were in our early years.
I still recall Harry G who was our scoutmaster.
He had a clump foot which I now realise was a war injury.
I still recall Alistair & Tony who were in my scout troop back then.
Those were good days & many camps with tents with flys & newspapers in the sleeping bag.
Cooking flapjacks for breakfast & beef for dinner over a smoky wooden fire.
Badges on the sleeves & I now wonder what badges the scouts do these days.
In fact I was asked by my parents to leave the scouts as the school marks were not up to their expectations.
Instead of the “Bobs for Jobs’ that I did when in the scouts, the scouts now do the fund raising by delivery various gardening supplies to our door.
So that is garden lime before the rain & not the hail stones that I expect will appear about the 1st two days of the Ashes cricket test.
Almost a Gabba pitch.
It was David who delivered locally to us.
He has opened a small brewery close by so I have to say thanks by enjoying his Beer.
In a small way.
I meet Mark recently who not only has 4 growing children also spends most weekends & most of the week end being a scout master & also a leader of the Venturers.
To Harry & David & Mark thank you for your enthusiasm & care in doing your part in helping myself & boys learn more out of school than they often learn in school.
We are all very grateful to you.
Thank you.
Yes sir.
I was indifferent who should win. What I watched was 2 athletes at the top maximising everything body & heart & soul to achieve what they set out to do. Two completely different styles with Maria blasting 40+ winners & 40+ errors & Simone with a dozen + of each. And it was ‘never over until it was over’.
It was Showtime in Les Vegas on the weekend when I saw the announcer introduce the commencement with Showtime. How appropriate with 300 Million to be shared. Consider the multiplier effect when Connor’s bar tab later was 138,000. Yes the IRS would have been happy as well even if Connor shows his Irish colours with the flag over him.
I also did watch a rugby test played where my late father once described was ‘a Pot with a Lid on.’ It was also after seeing a very drab 6 – 3 test he stated he would never watch a test again. After this last test he may well watch more.
The rugby test in Belfast was also a test & passed by all teams & players who played in the tournament.
When I heard today that the average crowd for the AFL team, the Tigers, was 53,000 per game I also commented how amazing a number that is.
All amazing athletes & yes these are on the big stage on the big TV screen.
However everyone playing sport from the back yard up to this level is doing the same striving up & beyond their capabilities & achieving & evolving.
So is the 3rd violin player in the orchestra.
So do are those with Stravia maps displayed on Facebook.
As another John would say ‘you can’t be serious’.
Yes sir.
How do I look after the grand kids??
Or other nieces, family, friends, charities…
Today I spoke to Carol* who has 6 grandchildren & to Barry* who has 4 grandchildren & one is to his ‘other ‘ daughter.
As both are ‘around ‘ my age then I, as I do, wondered on how they plan to look after their grandchildren later.
As, & I can only guess ,they are both in very good financial position & so would have complicated estate planning strategies such as separate testamentary family trusts.
However, as in maths, is there an easier way?
Allison presented her very simple alternative solution to Robyn & myself on Friday.
Allison mentioned that she had just received a $6m cheque from a widow to leave to her 2 sons later.
But ‘that amount is unusual’ says Allison.
When you & I own personal assets then every asset goes through the will.
Our other investments such as super do not go through the will as they are owned by a trustee or a company or joint or other.
Allison’s solution
- does not go through the will.
- It goes directly to a nominated beneficiary & no one needs to know which eliminates the disputes that often goes with estates.
- I want everyone to be happy.
- It doesn’t even need a Taxx File Number which maybe a privacy concern.
- It doesn’t need a will, which as 50% die intestate, is also relevant.
- I am in control of it & can access it until I pass on.
- The benefits are taxx free unless & I access it ‘early’ .
- There is no limit on what I can contribute & the is no CGT.
- It reduces legal costs.
- It also has a very good case for business protection.
I wanted to hear Allison again to remind us why I have 2 of them.
It made sense as I like the K.I.S.S. Keep it Simple Solution.
K.I.S.S.
Yes Sir.
As there is a grade 10 maths exam shortly then preparation for the real exam is to attempt past papers.
In the 2nd of two of the past papers provided a question on compound interest is
You invest $2360 in a bank earning interest of 6% p.a. compounding annually for 4 years.
a) Find the amount which this would grow to in this time. 1
b) How much interest was earned in this time? 1
c) Compare this investment to one offering 6% p.a. compounding monthly for the same time. 3
Which takes us to today’s real world problem as we read this week.
Many people are entering retirement entirely dependent on the Age Pension
And Despite 25 years of compulsory superannuation, about 80 per cent still retire on to at least a part Age Pension.
a) suppose you invested 10,0000 per year for 25 years at 6.% p.a.
then an answer is 421K
b) and then suppose you had invested 8,500 per year for 25 years at 4.5% p.a.
then the answer is 291K
c) and WHY the difference is 130K……
Is that right & let’s check it.
How many marks Sir for this?
Yes as the solution to the real world problem is not mathematical then ask others and not us.
I did ask way back in 1987 but Kim B didn’t have the answer then.
I am not the examiner and I would love an answer.
Now on to the probability question.
Yes Sir.
That was a question that I was asked on Facebook recently & so a way to answer that is what I were doing that same day.
I was at a Professional Development PD day with others in our national group of 270 financial advisers.
The agenda for the day & it was a long intensive day included
- Paul who spent 10 years In London doing what is called the Fixed Income Markets & explained why & where bonds fit into your portfolio.
- Tom who has been involved in the IT space for wealth management firms talking about so called Robo Advice & its future for you as clients & advisers.
- Andrew from a bank talking about family protection strategies & where the family tree is also very important for families.
- Then there was Stephen who was evangelistic & is out to disrupt all the big boys & in particular the banks & their so called investment platforms. i.e. feed the banks less so you the client has more working for the client.
- Peter from the insurance underwriting section of a local bank explained why & how to have a life insurance application accepted far faster that traditionally it takes.
- Let’s not forget Compliance & so Mark, Head of Compliance, spoke of the expectations from ASIC, the Dealer group , you & of course myself. Lets comment it is costly for all. A colleague asked would this reduce the premiums of our PI insurance?
- After Lunch then a technical Rob explained the tips & traps of life insurance in SMSF. This is what I don’t do as who wants to be a trustee of a super fund when there are easier & compliant & these days cheaper solutions to your super.
- Dana then spoke on Aged Care & yes all my contempories were attentive. They have parents & clients at that stage & Dana explained that ACAT approval is the passport but not the ticket into a place. There is a shortage of 50,000 spots & a waiting time of 3 months to 2 years.
- Finally Peter spoke on ‘What if Steve Jobs didn’t think different?
Does that answer the Question on what do I do?
Yes Sir.
Well you could sit on your hands as cold hands on a steering wheel prompted me to say.
I wonder if I can do it as I demonstrated for a second.
Do you know what that means?
Patience
Nope, doing nothing
As so further along we read
Itwasnotmyfault.com on a bumper bar
Probably a solicitor I comment
What is a solicitor & what does solicit mean?
A lawyer
So onto the freeway & as we do reading the names on the number plates.
We have science today.
So what time did you get to bed last night as the assignment is due today
12.30am
So see if you can stay engaged & awake during class today
Yes maybe sat on the hands for the assignment.
Consequences is a word that we first heard teachers use at primary school.
Great word.
Seeing the lawyer or the High Court this week would leave us cold.
12.30am is also cold.
So two words that are IMHO not so good are ‘Should & but’
Huge reasons I live here is that I listened, actioned & it is much warmer.
Let’s say Yes more often & not sit on our hands.
It’s been school holidays & unlike many I know the family has stayed home.
No fancy trips, not even to the museum & changing out of pyjamas was a challenge & certainly not every day.
As some stage however having reread the favourite books out came the board games.
Connect 4 & Trouble.
No other & I certainly thought of suggesting others.
It sounded great fun.
I haven’t heard such laughter or banter between both ,maybe ever.
Bets were placed.
Competitions were first up to 9.
This went on for days and nights.
It was great communication.
Away from the computer although it was admitted that early on M.C. Minecraft was played.
It was all good communication.
I must thank younger Maths teacher brother for introducing us to connecting over Connect 4.
I also had the rare opportunity to catch up with a name sake who I meet say every 12 years.
I once was handed down his shoes so I was that close.
Another very happy connecting moment.
Last night I had a couple over who also had a good connecting weekend away.
Out of the house & away from the TV.
Holidays discussed & reminisced & planned for.
Thursday night is Educational Travel Information Evening.
Let’s do.
This was in the school notices this week & the family had read that & informed us of their attendance. That was a huge step forward in their personal development but #HarryPotter HP is also a major interest.
So last night the family practiced an online 100 question quiz.
The score was 82 which was nowhere near the expected result although the online marker commented that a 76 was an Owl = Outstanding result with A mind like a steel trap as over 76 was the benchmark.
So this morning the same quiz but different order was attempted & 98 was the result.
It will be fascinating what the live score competing at lunch time will be.
Live competition with other students & in public is another personal challenge.
Of course the parent & past maths teacher suggests why not do the same with your maths exam preparation.
You have told us many times.
Maybe a reward to HP land in LA or England might just be the inspiration for a maths 98.
Now that’s an idea.
Yes to that.
will I pre book the flights?
