Everyone calls me Wazza but here's who I am and literally, where I came from.  This is not a great photo I'll admit, but there is no way I am re-doing the photo collage that contains it any time soon - so it stays for continuity purposes.

I love reading books - check the latest list here; and watching films - here's the list of recent viewings.

I have a tendency to take on too many things at the same time:

If you want to mind-meld with me, you can reach me via the communication page.  Cheers!

thought croft

february 2005

Thought Croft is keeping us clothed and fed and has become "normal" for us.  Wazza has a couple of good clients in the consumer travel industry and Caroline has been able to take a necessary break while Olivia was in utero and since her birth.  Following on from the success of the SPIN investment club, Thought Croft has become trustee of The Bainsworld Superannuation Fund, the history of which can be viewed at this blog.  We truly feel in charge of our own destiny, as far as anyone can be.

april 2003

Our business is growing with revenue this year up 200% on the same period last year.  We have billed over 1,600 hours in the past 12 months and formed good relationships with our key customers.  We have also launched a simple company website at www.thoughtcroft.com.  Even though the IT sector is still experiencing a significant downturn, it is starting to feel as though we can live well by working for ourselves.

background

Thought Croft Pty Ltd is our family company.  We hope that Thought Croft will give us flexibility in our work arrangements so we can spend more time with the children and enjoy a better quality of life. Our great logo was developed by Suzanne Tawansi, a talented graphic designer friend of ours.  It depicts Thought Croft's purpose: turning ideas into reality.

Caroline is a training consultant specialising in Microsoft Windows, Office and Project products.  Wazza is a management consultant with project management, business and technology strategy and market / business / financial analysis skills.  We have had to learn accounting, financial management, taxation rules and all the other gumpf that goes on with running a business.  Wazza installed MYOB and designed Thought Croft's end of week / month / quarter / year procedures to make life as simple as possible.

investment club

february 2005

SPIN lost another two members at the end of 2004 but gained seven new enthusiastic investors!  The club is going very well with a unit value of $14.99, investment return is running at 29.3% since inception and member return (after costs but before tax) is 16.7%.  Current portfolio is Billabong International, BlueScope Steel, Centennial Coal, CSR, Fisher & Paykel, GWA International, Invocare, Leighton, Mirvac, NAB, Pacifica, Paperlinx and Toll Holdings.  Wazza developed an Excel based Company Analysis Tool and we are keenly scouring the market for under-valued companies.

april 2003

SPIN lost three members at the end of June 2002 but the remaining "dirty dozen" have invested in five companies which have generated returns of 21.7% although due to start-up costs the total return on investment for the club as a whole is 4.6%.  Our unit value is $11.19 (starting point was $10) and we now hold investments in GWA International, Mirvac, OPSM, Paperlinx and United Energy.

background

In 2000, I started thinking about creating an Investment Club after hearing a friend of mine and his colleagues were investing in the share market.  The idea took root and grew as I read books such as Tim Hewat's Welcome to the Investment Club, or Chantiri, Beck, Hill & Robinson, The Money Club. 

I decided that an investment partnership which acted on Contrarian Principles was the way to go (think Warren Buffet) and started recruiting friends to join me.  Luckily I had some!  In mid-2001, fifteen of us finally created the Share Prophet Investment Network.  So far we have developed an Investment Methodology and started researching investment opportunities in the Australian Share Market.

lizard lounge

In late 1999, Sam and I constructed a vivarium for his pet blue-tongue lizard, Sonny.  It has two glass sliding-doors, a thermostat-controlled heating lamp, timer-controlled fluorescent lights, and looks like a classy piece of furniture!  We designed it ourselves and put about 50 hours and $700 into it ...check out photos of the Lizard Lounge here.