Wednesday, June 23, 2010

You are the one (for the time being)

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Almost religiously I have been going to nikonrumors.com every day, hoping to see some news about the D700 replacement, and since I don’t have a decent camera at the moment (after my D90 was stolen) the whole thing of not having a proper camera is driving me crazy.
 
After reading several sources, it looks like the camera I am waiting for may not come out this year at all, so I have been looking at something respectable that will get me by until the ‘one’ comes out (still hoping it would be sooner and later).
 
So a couple of weeks ago I had started  looking into the 4/3 system,  my choices were quite limited either Panasonic or Olympus… I was ‘this’ close in forking out for a GF1, then suddenly, this one came out from the blue, Sony Nex 5, an APS-C sensor mirror-less system. Being the first iteration, it isn’t perfect, but to have something this small with the same sensor as my stolen D90 was just too much… There are loads of great and in depth analysis (
www.dpreview.com or www.imaging-resource.com are probably the best two), of course I could have gone with the Samsung NX10 (same ASP-C sensor), but it was just a little big.
 
What really helped was a hand on testing I managed to get at Siam Paragon, just like all of the reviews I have read, the menu system was a bit strange (very point and shoot orientated), but like all other people who enjoy photography, I do have my own need (requirement) namely, fast autofocus, semi manual control (aperture, shutter speed, +ve –ve exp., and so on), fast continuous shooting, flash, great back LCD and a couple of little things. The only thing that is missing for me was an EVF… :)

So I am definitely going for this one, instead of the Canon G11, Panasonic GF1 or the Olympus Pen E-P2, but my thirst won’t be quenched straight away, the darn camera won’t be coming until early next month, I am hoping I can have one before going off to Shanghai again next month.

Time for a drastic change :)

For the past couple of months or so, your mother and I have been very busy (especially your mother) with a very important personal project, rushing around from here to there like a headless chicken on speed, and what or who was it all for, ‘You’, of course.
 
Soon you’ll be starting your nursery school, judging by the way you like to be around others we don’t see any problem for you, but what would be a problem is getting you to the school on time. Just imagine this scenario… The school starts at 08:00 sharp, morning traffic is so bad so we have to allow at least an hour and a half for being on the road, meaning leaving the house at 06:30, add about an hour for getting up, wash & change, that would take us up to 05:30… and your mother have to make your breakfast, meaning your mother have to be up just a little before 05:00… WHAT??? 05:00??? There is no way I am going to put you and your mother through that (on top of that you’ll probably have to have your breakfast in the car).
 
Money Illustration So I have decided to get a condo. in town, and that is why we have been so busy lately, I am so glad to tell you that we have already found a place, but it is super expensive (many people are playing the speculative game, driving up property prices like crazy around here). So for the first time in my life I am going to be in debt with the bank, the dreaded mortgage ;) for the next 22 years I’ll be enslave, feeding into the machine that makes the world go round… the debt machine :)
 
My parents are a bit apprehensive for me to take out such a large mortgage, but just the thought of how much this will improve your mother’s and your quality of life, all the difficulties just pale in comparison. Just wish me luck and hope everything works out in the end.
 
Love you.
 
Dad

Monday, June 7, 2010

Almost a week?

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Well, I’d guess this couldn’t be avoided, since you were born I have tried to avoid overseas business trip as much as I could… and with a record of  over 2 years without leaving your mother and you for a single day, well I should definitely get a badge for that :)

Well, all good things must come to an end, tomorrow I am off to Shanghai for about a week, even thinking about it now fills me up with butterflies, a bit silly really, you and your mother have you own routine (which I have never been a part of), and there are lots of back up support (your grandparents), but I am still going to miss you terribly :)

The world is so small now, at the most I am only a tweet away, may be FB would be more appropriate (the roaming charges will definitely go through the roof this time :)

I am soon with all the meetings these few days will fly like Superman on Speed, but when things slow I’ll be glued to my iPhone for sure :)

Pic came from http://cheapoair.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/business_travel.jpg