Good morning folks and a Happy and prosperous New Year to all readers.
Last night was the first New Years Eve that I didn't go to a party or have a few
drinks in over ten years so I feel as fresh as a daisy this morning which I
guess is a good start to the year.
First
things first, I hope I can get the year off to a great start with Tarquinius in the 3.10 at Fairyhouse.
Myself and the lads were at Leopardstown on Saturday and backed this one at 9/2
from Gordon Elliott's stable. He won with plenty in hand and gets away with
today's race with just a 4lb penalty. There's also an amateur jockey booked so
that knocks another 7lbs off. Could be an interesting race and I'm going to
back it at 2/1. On the favourites strategy, Hawkes point is the selection in the 2.40 at Exeter.
***
As regards the New Year and resolutions and all that lark,
I've said before that I'm not really one for making my mind up to do something
on a certain date like January 1st as life is an ongoing affair from start to
finish. However, humans love to break time into chunks and the 1st of January
is as good a time to take stock as any I suppose. The New Year is a time for
being positive but I'm acutely aware that some people may not be doing so well.
Plus we all most likely lost some people in our lives over the past twelve
months and some things did not go our way so I think it's OK to look back with
both happiness and sadness and it's good to be mindful of those that may not be
in a great place as we enter 2013. If you are not in a great place, make a few
baby steps in getting out of that place.
I was having a look through last year's goals
for 2012 and I'm happy to say I met most of them. Going to have a quick
look at each now and see what I want for 2013.
FINANCIAL TRADING
For 2012, I wanted to learn as much as possible and I wanted to get up every day at 6.30am to trade to 8.30am. I did learn quite a lot and read a few books on the topic. I also get up at 6.30 about 3 days a week but not 5. Perhaps this is something I can work on in 2013. The good news is that my account showed a profit for the year which is no mean feat so I'm proud of that. The one thing I didn't do was a 'trading plan' which is pretty much like a business plan and it makes you write down clearly where you are going and what you are doing. Trading, after all, is a business just like any other. There's a template for a business plan in one of the books I read:
For 2012, I wanted to learn as much as possible and I wanted to get up every day at 6.30am to trade to 8.30am. I did learn quite a lot and read a few books on the topic. I also get up at 6.30 about 3 days a week but not 5. Perhaps this is something I can work on in 2013. The good news is that my account showed a profit for the year which is no mean feat so I'm proud of that. The one thing I didn't do was a 'trading plan' which is pretty much like a business plan and it makes you write down clearly where you are going and what you are doing. Trading, after all, is a business just like any other. There's a template for a business plan in one of the books I read:
I've been mainly
trading the S&P500 Gap and a bit of gold and that's what I think I should
concentrate on to keep myself in profit before moving on to a new strategy. Specialising is key and I'll continue to do that.
2013 goals: Complete financial trading plan. Know the S&P Gap inside out. Read any outstanding books on my list before moving on to new books. Aim to be earning a 5pc profit on my account every month.
2013 goals: Complete financial trading plan. Know the S&P Gap inside out. Read any outstanding books on my list before moving on to new books. Aim to be earning a 5pc profit on my account every month.
BETFAIR TRADING
This is one I really let slip in 2012. I was supposed to set myself time to trade but it never seemed to work out that way. I'm still in the old habit of hopping on and off whenever I feel like it and that's not good. I need to become more structured. Some things came up through the year which meant I needed some cash and had to tap into my trading banks. I need to keep it all separate and don't let that occur again.
2013 goals. Create set times to trade (eg: Saturday afternoon, evening summer racing). Continue to test out the two automatic strategies I'm working on. Aim to earn 5pc profit per month on my account. Keep my trading banks completely separate from everything else.
This is one I really let slip in 2012. I was supposed to set myself time to trade but it never seemed to work out that way. I'm still in the old habit of hopping on and off whenever I feel like it and that's not good. I need to become more structured. Some things came up through the year which meant I needed some cash and had to tap into my trading banks. I need to keep it all separate and don't let that occur again.
2013 goals. Create set times to trade (eg: Saturday afternoon, evening summer racing). Continue to test out the two automatic strategies I'm working on. Aim to earn 5pc profit per month on my account. Keep my trading banks completely separate from everything else.
RACING
I said last year that I wanted to continue to show a profit for my Irish Independent column and that's obviously a goal for 2013 too. I'm still working on the final figures for the 2012 columns but I had a couple of nice winners through the year. I also wanted to give the form study bets a lash with some decent money. I gave it a go with a monkey (€500) just as it turned the (wrong) corner and I lost a couple of ton. Not the end of the world but they have been hovering in and out of profit for some time now and I wonder if it's worth the effort. Rather than studying every race, I think I need to get back to being more selective and specialised. For example, years back I used to make a packet on all-weather handicaps. It's poor racing and a bit boring but feck it, if it pays the bills...
Things like the favourites strategy have been going well and I want to do more similar work.
2013 goals: Show a decent profit in the Irish Independent. Specialise with what races I bet on. Continue work on the favourites strategy and other similar strategies.
I said last year that I wanted to continue to show a profit for my Irish Independent column and that's obviously a goal for 2013 too. I'm still working on the final figures for the 2012 columns but I had a couple of nice winners through the year. I also wanted to give the form study bets a lash with some decent money. I gave it a go with a monkey (€500) just as it turned the (wrong) corner and I lost a couple of ton. Not the end of the world but they have been hovering in and out of profit for some time now and I wonder if it's worth the effort. Rather than studying every race, I think I need to get back to being more selective and specialised. For example, years back I used to make a packet on all-weather handicaps. It's poor racing and a bit boring but feck it, if it pays the bills...
Things like the favourites strategy have been going well and I want to do more similar work.
2013 goals: Show a decent profit in the Irish Independent. Specialise with what races I bet on. Continue work on the favourites strategy and other similar strategies.
HEALTH & FITNESS
Last year, I aimed to be running 3 days a week and do a workout 3 days a week. I've been successful with the running but I think including the workout was aiming for too much. Perhaps if I keep up the running and add a workout once or twice a week it would be more achievable. I would like to complete the Insanity workout which I got last year but never did:
Last year, I aimed to be running 3 days a week and do a workout 3 days a week. I've been successful with the running but I think including the workout was aiming for too much. Perhaps if I keep up the running and add a workout once or twice a week it would be more achievable. I would like to complete the Insanity workout which I got last year but never did:
It's an intense 60 day workout and is meant to be mad tough
but it would be a good challenge. I also was training to do the Dublin Marathon
last year but missed the application deadline. Doh! I think I'll do it this
year.
2013 goals: Go running 3 days a week. Workout 1 day per week. Do the Insanity workout. Run the marathon. Eat a bit healthier and get the 5 a day.
2013 goals: Go running 3 days a week. Workout 1 day per week. Do the Insanity workout. Run the marathon. Eat a bit healthier and get the 5 a day.
BOOK
Last year, I wanted to write at least one chapter of a fiction book I was writing. I actually went a different direction and started a different book - I'm writing a book on sports trading at the moment. I need to get kicking on that and get it finished but it's going well. I'm about 75pc finished at the moment.
2013 goals: Finish the book by the end of March.
Last year, I wanted to write at least one chapter of a fiction book I was writing. I actually went a different direction and started a different book - I'm writing a book on sports trading at the moment. I need to get kicking on that and get it finished but it's going well. I'm about 75pc finished at the moment.
2013 goals: Finish the book by the end of March.
DRIVING
Last year, I was new to driving and wanted to pass my test. That's done and ticked off the list!
Last year, I was new to driving and wanted to pass my test. That's done and ticked off the list!
FAMILY
Last year, I wanted to spend more time with my daughter in the evenings after work which I've achieved. Myself and the missus probably don't get out enough together but she's in her final year at college so is studying hard.
2013 goals: Continue to make time away from work/writing/racing for my family and go out a bit more with the missus when she's done her exams! Get up early to get work done to make more time.
Last year, I wanted to spend more time with my daughter in the evenings after work which I've achieved. Myself and the missus probably don't get out enough together but she's in her final year at college so is studying hard.
2013 goals: Continue to make time away from work/writing/racing for my family and go out a bit more with the missus when she's done her exams! Get up early to get work done to make more time.
MONEY
Again, I won't go into too much detail on a public website but I've been meeting certain goals, clearing some debt and saving a bit. I've a few things I want to do for 2013 including the wedding and getting some money together for something.
Again, I won't go into too much detail on a public website but I've been meeting certain goals, clearing some debt and saving a bit. I've a few things I want to do for 2013 including the wedding and getting some money together for something.
WEDDING/TRAVEL
We stayed in Ireland last year for a holiday - I've no real travel plans this year as we are saving for something very important. Myself and herself are getting married (properly this time) in October and having a decent day out and honeymoon. Ten years ago, we got legally married for various reasons (don't ask!) in a registry office with just a few people present. We always planned on doing a proper wedding when we had the money but just never got around to it. 2013 is the year!
2013 goals: Pay for the wedding without getting into debt. Have a nice honeymoon. Possibly pay for a trip for herself to Canada to see her family that can't make the wedding.
We stayed in Ireland last year for a holiday - I've no real travel plans this year as we are saving for something very important. Myself and herself are getting married (properly this time) in October and having a decent day out and honeymoon. Ten years ago, we got legally married for various reasons (don't ask!) in a registry office with just a few people present. We always planned on doing a proper wedding when we had the money but just never got around to it. 2013 is the year!
2013 goals: Pay for the wedding without getting into debt. Have a nice honeymoon. Possibly pay for a trip for herself to Canada to see her family that can't make the wedding.
EDUCATION
Last year I enrolled in a psychology course at Trinity College and I'm loving it. I'm going to do another evening course again this year - perhaps a financial trading one again. I think it's good to keep the brain ticking over and learning new things.
2013 goals: Continue to read - finish that stack of books under the computer!! Do another evening course, possibly in financial trading.
Last year I enrolled in a psychology course at Trinity College and I'm loving it. I'm going to do another evening course again this year - perhaps a financial trading one again. I think it's good to keep the brain ticking over and learning new things.
2013 goals: Continue to read - finish that stack of books under the computer!! Do another evening course, possibly in financial trading.
I think that's about enough for now. Another goal is to
REVIEW THESE GOALS (!) halfway through the year and report back on progress. If you haven't done it before, it's worth writing down what you want to achieve in the coming year and reviewing it every so often. You can then set baby steps to get there. I'm not one of those for the 'follow your dreams and you can achieve anything' bullshit but I do think that every journey starts with a single step. Starting something is usually the hardest part and as they say in Irish, 'tús maith leath na hoibre' (a good start is half the work).
Best of luck throughout the year and thanks for reading in
2012.
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