Middle-class millionaires

The term millionaire is a little over used with high net worth individuals gainfully employed and living among the middle-class workers.

There are plenty of financially secure individuals that blend in so well in the middle-class that the average person is unable to distinguish between high rollers and middle-class millionaires.

In my experience, these high net worth individuals tend to be very modest and rarely speak about money outside of professional networks. They have nothing to prove to anyone except themselves - they don't need to brag.

Middle-class millionaires work together with us, play sport with us, drive second-hand cars and live in modest homes. These tend to be people who are self made through hard work and endeavor; they may be self-employed or professionals that are highly motivated and strong money managers.

In Australia, trades-people fall within the spectrum of a skilled workforce possessing the knowledge, skills and attributes to succeed as entrepreneurs. Through hard work, a strong savings ethic, prudent investment and educating oneself on investment matters - there are plenty of high net worth individuals among us and we mostly don't know that they are.

The Longines HydroConquest

The Longines HydroConquest, a stunning dive timepiece from Swiss watchmaker Longines is sometimes overshadowed by well known dive watches such as the Rolex Submariner, the Omega Seamaster or the TAG Heuer Aquaracer.

Without researching watches, you are not able to objectively compare the features, style, differentiating factors or pricing of each individual timepiece. In the initial stages of research for the purposes of comparison, price is not a factor - naturally that changes as you begin to eliminate timepieces.

I was looking to upgrade my dive watch as I have a quartz and I wanted an automatic, a somewhat unusual situation as I dive exclusively with a dive computer these days. Still, I enjoy a high quality dive watch and want a dive capable timer. 

When I'm overseas diving as I would prefer to keep my watch with me and not left in the hotel room or on the boat. I researched an Omega Seamaster Diver 300, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer and the Longines HydroConquest with the Omega being the most expensive and the Longines the least expensive.

I do like the style of the Longines, so I spent some time at a number of watch retailers to get a feel of the watch, you can undertake plenty of online research but you can't beat the feel of the watch sitting on your wrist. 

From the screw in crown, 300 metre water resistant case, screw in case back, scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating, this timepiece is well built. 

Looking at all the images online, I wasn't able to determine if the bezel was ceramic, it wasn't until I wandered down a watch retailer to try one on and I found the bezel is not ceramic so that is negative as both the Omega Diver 300 and TAG Heuer Aquaracer are fitted with ceramic bezels.

The uni-directional bezel, Arabic numerals on the face, luminous hands and a H-link bracelet and locking clasp - this is definitely a dive watch. You have a choice of movements with an ETA automatic or a quartz. 

This is a quality watchmaker with a long heritage of manufacturing stylish timepieces at very competitive prices. Ultimately, I went with the Aquaracer but the value for money of the HydroConquest made the decision so much harder. 

How long until you void a restaurant booking?

I was at a lovely open air Balinese restaurant overlooking Double-Six Beach when we desired a prime position table in the open air section of the restaurant - the key words here being open air. As the people seated close to us were chain smoking and blowing their dirty smoke in our direction - so we requested to move.

The restaurant staff dutifully informed us the table we requested in fresh air was unavailable as they had a standing reservation - fair enough. We ended up at a less attractive table but this is still better than breathing dirty air so no complaints. What I did notice as the table where we were unable to sit was still empty, now more than an hour had passed since the time on the reserved sign had lapsed and I asked myself, how long can you hold a table?

It is unfair to the restaurant, it is unfair to diners and it is just rude. You can be a little late, that happens but any more than 15 minutes and either a phone call is made or the booking is relinquished after 30 minutes as diners are inconvenienced and the restaurant is denied income from the table. In this instance, we could have been seated with an excellent view of the beach and when we left the table was still vacant. So while I don't know if this reservation ever filled, these people should be more respectful to diners and the restaurant.

Scuba Fundamental - Start diving the right way

The trilogy of dive books is now complete with renowned diving author Simon Pridmore completing Scuba Fundamental. Supporting Scuba Confidential and Scuba Professional; this latest work focuses on individuals seeking to become scuba divers.

Scuba Confidential focused on existing divers seeking to develop knowledge, skills and techniques developing confidence and capabilities to become a safer diver. Scuba Professional is focused on objective advice for current and would be dive instructors and dive operators as well as regular divers seeking a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes activities to make a dive operation run.

So what is Scuba Fundamental all about and who should read this book? Simon wrote this book for potential divers seeking to gain certification right up to their first twenty dives as new divers. This book allows potential divers to prepare for their first dive course to make informed choices. This is not a diver manual, Scuba Fundamental will not teach you how to dive, that is the role of the dive instructor.

Scuba Fundamental will however provide a novice to with enough information to select a dive instructor, what to expect from the dive centre and what type of dives they should be undertaking straight out of their entry-level dive certification course. I can thoroughly recommend Scuba Fundamental - Start Diving the Right Way to all potential divers.

A trade is a respectable career option

I am involved in training and have been so for more than a decade yet, I am so concerned with the prevalence of the high school system to only pursue tertiary education as a pancrea for all career options. High school guidance councilors only focus on university placements to the detriment of technical trades - this is really bad advice.

Many university graduates are saddled with high education debts to pay off when they finally get working - many not in their chosen career. Even worse, students drop out without finishing a bachelor degree but still racking up significant university debts.

Notwithstanding, students may complete a degree, find themselves unemployable in their field of study so they either undertake a double degree or they may undertake a masters degree in a totally different area without first gaining any quality workplace experience.

Trade-based training on the other hand sees apprentices paid whilst attending college with many employers paying tuition fees for students. Trades such as mechanics, welders, machinists, mechanical fitters and electricians are skill-sets in high demand.

With technology dominating industries including agriculture, manufacturing, mineral extraction, mineral processing, oil and gas exploration and petrochemical processing; these industries are basing their operations on productivity increases from the adaptation of technologies.

Whilst Donald Trump campaigned on a platform of protecting American jobs from outsourcing to low wage countries, the greatest threat arises from automation.

Yes, manufacturing based jobs from advanced industrial economies such as the United States, Australia, Germany, France, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom are being sent off-shore to developing nations of China, Mexico, Bangladesh, India and the Philippines to name just a few.

However, the greatest threat comes from technological advances that are replacing jobs throughout the developed world. However, automation must be maintained, faults diagnosed and break-downs repaired - that is where the jobs are found.

Holidaying in Seminyak

A popular destination for Australians heading off overseas is a short hop to Bali. Staying out of the main centre of Kuta, Seminyak is becoming a popular locality with its restaurants, bars and upmarket shopping. For me, I don't much like the area, the beach isn't much, the restaurants are expensive and I think the area just lacks the excitement of Legian, Kuta or Sanur.

I don't like to stay more than a week in Bali, it is not a great destination for me; instead, it is a place to unwind and de-stress. I don't like to go shopping, clubbing or stay out drinking all night; I like hanging around the pool, reading my required text and write up an essay on my laptop computer.

I dislike the lack of quality beachfront of the area, the continuity of the streets and the distance between places of interest; I get this closed up feeling. I won't be staying in this area again on my next short holiday - I will be looking elsewhere.

Summer rains are better than fertaliser

Summer in Perth, you can almost forget about rain in February as this is usually the hottest month. But 2017 is throwing up a highly unusual summer with the most rain I can ever remember. Most years I am pouring water on my front lawn mixed with fertaliser in a pretty lame attempt to keep the green going.

I had laid two bags of chicken manure down a few weeks before the big January downpour and my lawn just took off, it was looking more than a little jaded after my Christmas break where not enough water was put down whilst I was away. I expected the whole of the summer would be spent nursing the lawn back to some form of health.

The lawn just exploded with growth after the three days of rain in late January and while it may be accredited in some form to the nourishment from a fortnight before, every other poorly maintained lawn in my street also exploded in growth and colour.

The excellent soaking combined with the sunlight is incredible, it is normally so difficult to get the water to actually soak in. This is also compounded by the fact that I have a sloping lawn with very high runoff rates.

Even though I have laid down extra topsoil over the years, the soak in rates haven't really improved. This year is different and the lawn has never looked better although it feels like we never had a summer in 2017.