The 15 Kb solution

Praise Me!

Every now and again, I go to look for my past to see how it has developed. Last night I did just that and I came across this story:

I also remember Duncan Williamson, my instructor in Financial Accounting. My personal experience with him was very interesting. There was the last exam, which I could not attend due to personal circumstances. I asked the professor beforehand to let me take it separately, so he gave me a very interesting assignment to complete. 

It was financial statements of 20 unnamed companies from different industries. I had to determine which statement belongs to the aviation industry, which to the hotel management sector or oil and gas production, and so on. No other hints. 

At first, I was shocked. How can I possibly identify these companies? Luckily, there was and still is a great library _____. I spent three days there trying to identify sources of information. Fortunately, I found a guide from Robert Morris Associates: a guide to all US companies from different industries. I checked the list and was more or less sure in 10 companies. For example, one balance sheet had very large indicators in leased assets. I realised that most likely these are airlines, because airlines lease their planes. Thus, I was certain in half of the answers and the second half I just completed by trial and error. 

I ended up getting a B. I was very happy. I remembered this assignment for the rest of my life. I realised that even without any knowledge in the very beginning you could come to solutions by searching for information. 

I am grateful to this professor for giving a chance to not fail the course and for giving me such an interesting assignment.

I have to admit that I do not remember that story but it clearly meant some thing to my former student, wh is now the deputy CEO of a major bank!

DW

28th February 2025

Me Me Me! Images

It's a day to see me as others see me.

Firstly, a software updated version of a photo of myself:

And this is how daughter Abi, age nine and three quarters sees me this evening!

And here are two fill page images:

One of my own and one that Abi and I did jointly.

Mine first:

Now the joint effort:

Good stuff, don't you think?

DW

9th February 2025

1962 Land Rover

I saw this 1962 Land Rover parked in the street and could not resist taking this photo.

Lucky for me that the owner and restorer just happened to come out as I was there so I had a chance to share a few insights with him.

Year of manufacture 1962

BHP 60 ... 60!!

1,500 post restoration miles

Fully restored including air conditioning!

I don't think I've ever seen a Land Rover in that colour before and I found it stunning!

He's turned it into a sort of a song kaew for his daughter and her friends!

A great find!

DW

9th February 2025

Schindler's List

It's almost thirty years since I first started to watch Schindler's List and said to a friend of mine then that I had only watched the first half of it and I thought it was a terrible story, in spite of all of the hype at the time.

My friend said, no, you'll understand once you've seen the rest of the film. Well, I have seen the second half of the film now and my friend, Carl, was right.

It is both an horrific story and something like redemption: is that the right word?

Lesson learned, don't form a judgement until you know the whole story and I'm glad I watched it all the way through now.

DW

9th February 2025

Phetchaburi River

Over the weekend just gone, we took a trip to the Phetchaburi River: about 30-40 minutes' drive from our home in Hua Hin. Here are some of the photos I took of the various places we stopped at and I am sure you will find it as attractive as I did.

We didn't go there but there was a camp site near to our first port of call and I am sure it is a bit of a dream to set up camp somewhere like that. Remember, this is Thailand and even though it is officially winter, the lowest temperature in 24 hours is something like 25 degrees and the maximum 34 degrees. You're not going to need to be togged up like a Himalayan Mountaineer, are you!

We skimmed stones here: I got 7 skims on one attempt. The kids all got, PLOP! Yet to learn how to do it properly.

Here is another spot, just down the river a short way:I have always loved the structure of trees like this one: you can see from the label it is a Yellow Oleander. It's the roots that grab me!

This is a photo of Mrs W admiring her favourite Durian  ... if you know Thailand, you may well have come across that incredibly smelly but very popular Durian fruit. It stinks but it is easy to eat even though you are banned from taking it on the BTS in Bangkok, into most, if not all, hotel rooms ... I met a Durian farmer on this trip and he told me Durian trees are like young children in that he goes to see them every day to see what else they've been up to!

Isn't that a fabulous image? Looking out of the cafe into the sun, the trees and the meadow. Children are free here: there is so much space for them to explore and burn some energy.

There you are! A lovely spot and we went on to a quad bike riding place near here. Everyone else went but I stayed at the base camp! I would have done something that only a clot would have done! They enjoyed themselves anyway.

Good trip!

DW

4th February 2025

Eyes Glued

Yesterday we went to buy Abi a new pair of football boots. As we arrived, a sales assistant was standing at their counter, hunched over her phone. We stood there for a couple of minutes discussing this and that. The assistant didn’t move.

Mrs W asked the assistant something and she slowly turned around, still tapping away in her phone. Mrs W asked again … tap, tap, tap.

I said, OK, let’s go somewhere else and we left.

In a similar situation, years, ago, I left that shop and never went back.

DW

24 Jan 2025

Coconut and Burnt Onion Celery Stew

 I made a simple stew comprising half a sliced onion, sliced celery sticks, thinly chopped carrots, half a can of chick peas and half a can of green peas. Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a pan then add the onions … soften … add the celery … soften … add the carrot. Then add the chick peas and peas and simmer until the carrots are cooked to your liking. I added a small packet of Thai stew made from plants.

Once cooked, I set this aside for a couple of hours to let the flavours develop.

Meanwhile, I thinly sliced half an onion a fried it in a small amount of oil until it was heavily caramalised.

Return the stew to the heat and add coconut milk to create a a runny sauce that you will now reduce to your preferred consistency.

Serve your stew with mashed potatoes or rice or buckwheat. Sprinkle the onions on your potatoes and the stew.

DW

5/1/2025