21st present

[T2K]

I'm slightly concerned that Patrick and Rys are fictional creations of the same person writing back and forth to him or herself.

[Snaffled]

Heh, me also.  There seems to be rather more detailed discussion on the trappings of monetary wealth than necessary.  

[FoxyLady]

I love it!!!!

[Rys O'Connell]

I don't think so...

[Rys O'Connell]

Snaffled,

Azania asked a question as to why Patrick would invest in Italian bonds given the volatility of Italian investments of late (which is a good point). Knowing Patrick as I do he would consider not answering the question rude, so he did.

I fail to see how Patrick answering someones financial question make Patrick and myself one and the same. Can  you please explain it to me because you obviously know something that I don't?  

[Patrick Mason]

Amusing to say the least, i'm not sure how Rys and I can stretch several thousand miles... i'm a large man, but not that large my deary!

[Azania]

Patrick - I am only an investor inasmuch as most people who through hard work and good fortune find themselves at a point at which "under the mattress" wont cut it.

I have always tended towards the traditional route of property and gilt edged for the long term although I do chance my arm in commodities futures and options for the short and medium term .

I also like to chance my nether regions with the odd flutter on the AIM in the UK, and have had varying degrees of success with the odd failure. Happy to report that its not been too bad, and if the urge ever took me , I would still be capable of spawning some more offspring.

Back to your original question, if I think back to when I was 21, I would probably been happy on the day with the frivolous, but as time went by, would be grateful for the wiser present.

So why not give him a bit of both, and a bit of "bling bling" for the day, and a small portfolio which contains a few solid longtermers, and some really volatile stocks that will give a reason to watch them and make timely decisions.

oh "snaffled" - Discussing wealth is not necessarily flaunting it. Most people would agree that discussing it is often the key to making or losing it. It all depends on whose advice you take when you are forming an opinion.

[T2K]

OK, now I'm sure.  Answering 3 minutes apart at 0733 and 0736 on a Sat morning?  The whole "conversation" is too contrived.

Next time, make it two guys bragging about the hotties they pulled, comparing notes, making plans to get more, competing to see which one can get the highest score, etc.  At least that would be more entertaining than talking about gifts and bonds <yawn>.

[FoxyLady]

Possum, I suspect Patrick and Rys and both in the office early on a Saturday morning finishing off the week with their calls to New York before they can enjoy their weekend. Just a coincidence, surely?  

[Rys O'Connell]

Rys, also happens to be in the office on a Sunday morning too!

[This message has been edited by Rys O'Connell (edited 04-09-2005).]

[FoxyLady]

Bless!

[Patrick Mason]

I think that's a great idea.  I am now leaning towards buying him a mixed portfolio of long-term bonds; a mixture of blue chip and speculative stocks and a nice little BMW 318 for his birthday.

The wine i think i will pass on; it's an investment but probably one he won't fully appreciated for another 5-10 years, by which time he probably will have drunk the lot.

Azania, are there any particular bond issues that you are fond of right now?

[Azania]

I dont do much in the way of bonds, opting as I say, for property as a medium to long range proposition. However, the fact that eventually I will settle in New Zealand has meant I have purchased some of the Government bonds which they issue for non-residents.

I think New Zealand has an economy that has so much in the way of resources and room for development that the only thing they are really lacking is manpower, a fact that is rapidly changing.

The SOE's also issue bonds in their own names, and they are fidelity fund insured, so the risk is somewhat lower.

What do you about China? They reckon it will still be at least 5 years before foreign competitors can join local stock exchanges or participate in domestic securities activities, and the last bond issuance I can think of was CNOOC about 3-4 years back?

Personally I dont get involved there because of the lack of transparency but I have friends who are taking everything on offer, and I think we are destined to see some issuances soon because their bond market (for foreign investors,anyway) has been stagnant of late.

[This message has been edited by Azania (edited 08-09-2005).]

[Rys O'Connell]

Thanks to all of you who contributed ideas for a 21st birthday present. The party was last month. We (patrick and I) decided to go with the wine collection  and a BMW X5 4WD as a gift. They were both well appreciated.
Thanks again.

[headspace]

The "my deary" gives it away.

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