Member Info for CHEQUEMATE

GG, I was deeply offended by your neolithic comment. After all I've tried to help you with!. No, not really, I know you were only being cheeky!.......love it my friend, brings a smile to my old fissog, keep it coming. Highlight of my day. Sad isn't it!. Time off for Christmas is Christmas Day and Boxing Day, plus the next 2 days which happen to be my normal days off on a weekly basis. New Years Eve and New Years Day are normal working days, reduced hrs on NYD, but since I am paid hourly that means I get less pay, no time and a half. Meanwhile big boss is out in Kiwi Land for 6 weeks spending all the money we have worked hard to earn for him!. Eastenders.....what's that?. Can happily say I have never, ever watched a single episode. Good heavens GG, how could you even contemplate the thought!. Whoops...........maybe you watch it!. No, I hope to be out walking in the fells with or without a woofer and/or out on the bike. Might find some snow/ice on the fells, crampons and ice axe, yo!. What about you?. C8, back to serious things. I was sorry to read about your mother having to go into a home. That would have been very hard for you. I do understand, my father had to go into a home once my mother could no longer manage to nurse him after 8 years or more after a stroke. It was, as you have said, heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you. I know we have strayed off topic folks, forgive me. It's good to have friends though. Regards CM (aka Yoda) Oh blimey.............that programme about the end of the world in 2 days time is on again!. Oh glory!. Now I really AM miserable!.............wait a moment.......won't that mean?........yes it does!........I won't have to work this weekend!, yo, yippee!.

You're ok GG, I guessed you hadn't been drinking last night; I understood your post. Jange had posted on wrong board. However, after todays retrace perhaps we should all have a drink. I wasn't too surprised about the retrace just perhaps by the yesterdays gain. Looking at the graph the picture from early November continues. The confirmation of the change in price trend hasn't materialised; we are back to where we were. Disappointing though when market generally seems to be steady and yet my shares have under performed. Need to have confidence in my criteria and reasons why I invested. Hope others have had a better day. C8, I think you are very wise by your approach to more slow burning shares. We should all ask ourselves what return would we be happy with over the course of a year?. If we could get a return from a bank and/or building society of between 10% and 20% then I think there would be investors banging at their doors; too good to be true. Yet as investors we seem to be disappointed at such a return, call it greed I guess. We want to see instant returns. Of course if we are looking for high returns then it usually comes with a high degree of risk. So what risk appetite do we have?. That will be different for one person to another. Guess we all want high return with low risk...., that can happen but only with a lot of luck. If anyone finds one of those babies please let me know. In the meantime my 10-20%s are ECK, NET, PEN and UFG.........if I can have the patience!. "Please Lord grant me patience but don't take too long; NOW would be good!". GAH, SAA, may well make more than the 10-20% C8. I may re-invest in SAA, sold out with a small loss a short time ago on the back of anxiety about the general market. In retrospect it was the wrong decision, but it seemed right at the time, especially as the sp fell further. Have CCVU on my radar, after latest Naked Trader diary. No further news from him though about investing more in GBG. Come ON, do your stuff matey boy!, stuff your mince pies.......and your turkey for that matter.......give us the real meat. Regards CM

Just put plasters on my knuckles GG, having dragged them along the ground a lot today whilst walking!. Neanderthal eh?, huh!............guess I deserved that........thanks for the compliment friend. Ho, ho. A good day here. Up 2p, back up to 94p. Still a little early to say this is a trend reversal but heading in the right direction. A 3rd day of positivity would be good. Interestingly, I have had a look at the share price chart for 3 months and 6 months showing Bollinger Bands for moving average of 9 and 20 days respectively. The two charts show a slightly different picture. In both instances the share price has crossed the lower band (what we want) and heading up towards the upper band. Using the 3 month chart the upper band is located at around 95p, but using the 6 month chart the upper band is located at around 98p. What does this refer?.........well, that there is more upwards movement to the upper band if we use the 6 month chart. Looking at the 1 year chart and a moving average over 50 days the Bollinger Bands look more positive, they are flat as opposed to pointing down. As I have stated before, Bollinger Bands move, so lets see that upper band move North. Far more encouraging. Still need confirmation of trend reversal for me to consider investing anymore in GBG, but not much. GAH - a share which came up a number of times when doing my trawl through the indicies a while ago using the criteria within the Zulu Principle and has had a number of buy recommendations. Can't invest in all the shares highlighted using the ZP, but interesting to note that it is another one doing well. Another one which has risen and makes me wonder if I have missed the boat.......but, who knows, it could rise a lot further and is a far better bet than many out there. QPP - good to see a rise for you today C8. QPP do seem to issue a RNS regularly, guess if RT was to sneeze they would consider issuing one. Still, keep an eye on this one. Watch out for further issuing of shares to acquire other companies. Good luck. Nice to read your portfolio is looking better GG; mine too, at last. Heard there has been some progress made across the Pond between the Democraps and Republicoons, lets hope so, that too may help our course. All the best folks. Off to count sheep in the land of nod shortly. Regards CM

I was going to post that at least you can sell your shares!..........but then I thought better of it!.........so I won't! Don't want to be ducking missiles thrown at me all the way from Cambridge and other points North, South, West and East!. Ho, ho!. C8, my Mum had a fall a month ago and fractured her pelvis. She is now at home and making a good recovery. Thanks for asking. Catch you folk later, at library and my time is nearly up. "Too true" says Gardengirl, after my opening comment!. Regards CM Small but nice rise here so far.

Lets hope for another positive day today folks. It would be nice to have 2 days up in a row and start a reverse trend. C8 - a positive RNS from QPP this morning. Expect a rise in share price. See where it goes on the back of it. Good luck all. Off to work here. Regards CM Just 3 days to the shortest day of the year and then the days start getting longer again......yo!.

Saw your post after my long epistle to poor old C8, hope he doesn't think I am a bully or bashing him; not what I intend. Don't worry about feeling a plonker.......you're posting to one here!. You know, sometimes the hardest thing to do is to do..........nothing!. We don't have to buy or sell every week; and in truth, it takes up so much time and effort, particularly the more company shares we hold. I believe it IS timing the market though and not time IN the market if we are to get the best return, but that DOES mean far more work. Boy is it tiring though, can be exhausting. Need to take a break at times. Didn't know Olympic highlights were on. Watched SP12 last night. Strange; there was a feeling going through me from years ago, twitchy feet, narrowing of eyes and the words focus, focus, focus. Silly old fool......well...not really; I enjoyed it. Need to find or rather put into action one of my plans, (not a cunning Baldrick plan!), to walk from Chamonix to Zermatt or cycle tour in Europe to ease my frustration or I'll go stir crazy!. Hope you got your presents wrapped. Think I have done my cards, last day for 2nd. class tomorrow!. Take it easy. You're no more a plonker than me.........err........no...... you are not a plonker. Don't worry about posting your thoughts, it brightens my day, brilliant. CM

Hello again C8. My concern re. QPP and why I was asking your thoughts is the reason i sold out was because I was concerned about the share dilution after all the new shares being issued to fund the acquisitions. I was amazed that there appeared to be no dilution, which in my opinion defied logic. At present a company taking on debt to acquire other companies is largely a no no; banks are not keen to lend and there is always the question of the company being able to service the debt. Naturally there are costs relating to issuing new shares, these will be shown in the financial statement at the next results. It would appear the issuing of new shares to acquire other companies is the way to go just now. I could see no reason why QPP could have such a huge market cap for such a young company. Prospects are good I admit. Naturally revenue and profits will be up for the year; due to acquisitons. But, again in my opinion, a company can not suddenly be worth more just by issuing new shares; the value of your/my shares just has to decline. Now, I am not deramping QPP, don't get me wrong, and I really do wish you the very best of luck with it; I have no reason to wish you otherwise. I am just bringing my concerns to your attention from years of experience and seeing the value of my shares fall. What you do must be your choice. Most AIM shares have been marked down over the last couple of weeks or more. What we have to determine is, is this a general mark down?, which yes it is to an extent, but is there something more stock specific?, which if it is then what are we going to do?. It could be that the issuing of so many new shares is only now having the affect of diluting the share price. There are over 3 BILLION shares issued; that is enormous and shows no sign of settling at that level. So what price can QPP reach?, at 20p it would give a mkt. cap of over £650m.......over half a billion pounds. What is the fair value?.....I don't know, I can only guess. Be careful of resigning yourself to holding for the long term; that is quoted so often by so many investors when they see the value of their shares fall back. The other thing investors do is average down!. I'm no expert C8, but I have had my fingers burnt many times. Yes the bossman does have big ambitions for company; I've read he has mentioned a sp upward of £1, moving up to the main list etc. What I have posted above re. QPP goes for ALL companies folks, not just QPP. I am not meaning to scare you C8, I am not suggesting you sell, you must do what is right for you. But.....you did say you were a novice to share dealing and any help would be appreciated. Keep an eye on QPP. The very best of luck to you and everyone. Regards CM

Well, a positive day at long last; not much but I'll take any rise thank you very much. Not enough to take the sp above the lower Bollinger Band just yet. Too early for me to think of investing any more funds just yet. We need a run of positive days here, ideally with large volume. Not expecting any trading update until end of next month/begining of February on past announcements. unless there is any other news to give to the market. Again, I will check on the GBG website and if I see anything not announced to the market I will keep informed. Gardengirl - re. ATUK; I wondered if you would post on there having noticed a RNS this morning. You really do amuse me; it could have been me posting; I've been where you are with ATUK with other shares in the past; not wanting to sell, then when you do the flipping share price goes up. It is as if someone is watching over you, saying "go on......sell.........that's it, that's it......yes!......ho, ho............now......where is that positive RNS?!". I can imagine you talking to yourself, cursing under your breath, even shouting out loud.......yeap......been there. Really frustrating. But.........that's investing for you. Difficult to let go of some shares isn't it?. At least the Christmas and New Year break is coming up and there will be no trading for a while.......what will you do with yourself?. Trip down South went ok. Thankfully I was at my mothers' house when she was released from the hospital on Friday so I was able to help, including doing any cooking, washing, dog walking. You see, despite being a bloke I am quite domesticated..........well.......sometimes.....when I HAVE to be.......not when I want to be!. No, I'm like the dog, needing to be out in the fresh air chasing balls and squirrels (similarity here....not literal!). Have a good evening (all) Regards CM

Sorry C8, I made a typing error last night in the article about ASW. End of 2nd.paragraph it should have read "........increase in total revenue under contract to reach £115.5m" not 3115.5m.........now that would have been impressive!. Incidentally, I see you are invested in QPP; what are your thoughts on the share?. I invested in QPP early days, bailed out and took a loss, re-invested at a higher rate and then sold out for a very small profit. Regards CM

you forgot to prdix your post with the words DRAT DRAT DRAT Have a good day my friend CM

Hello again C8. This is the article on ASW from growthcompanyinvestor.com. Healthcare and business managment software specialist Advanced Computer Software (ASW) saw profits take a 45% leap to £4.5m on revenues which had similarly improved to £56.8m (2011: £47.3m) for the six months ended August. Net cash levels had moved to £1.5m, improving on the company's debt position of £25.3m last year. Recurring revenues are clearly a saving grace for the business which admits it is otherwise facing harsher trading environments. Recurring revenues totalled 56% on contract which was then combined witha 335% increase in total revenue under contract to reach 3115.5m. Chief executive Vin Murria believes the company is now "substantially cash generative" and confirmed the anticipation of a maiden dividend at the year end. She told Growth Company Investor that the cash conversion was particularly impressive given the acquisition of Fabric Technologies made during the period for £4.6m. Analysts at finnCap are forecasting pre-tax profits of £23.4m on refenues of £14.6m for the year to February. Considering this business didn't even exist 4 years ago, 1000 people are now imployed and the company is debt free. Strong cash flows could now underpin the business to repeat this success over the next few years. Buy. Hope the above is of interest. Apologies to others for being off topic (not unknown for CM!). Lets hope this coming week is a good one for all. Regards CM

Good evening C8. Just back from Kent, a long way but necessary and worth it. The more I do it the nearer it seems. Right, charts!. I spend some time some time ago trying to get my head around charts. Too much time to be honest. Charts are useful but I only use them as a tool to try improve my investments paying more attention to the fundamentals of a business and the latest news and statements. Charts only reflect what has happened to the share price and won't predict what will happen, at least not with any certainty. You may be right about resistance being around the 90p mark, I see it more at around the 85p mark. I think you have to be very careful about investing just now in almost anything. Many shares are being marked down regardless of the fundamentals including GBG. It is a very strange market right now. The chart I use most is the 3 month, 6 month and 1 year chart using Bollinger Bands with a moving average base of 9, 20 and 50 days respectively. Use the charting facility on LSE to help you. There are 2 Bollinger Bands, an upper and a lower band. The share price tends to trade within these two bands most of the time. These bands move up and down, they are not constant. Sometimes the share price will be above the upper band, sometimes below the lower band, but they will at some time revert to trading between. What does this tell us?. Well, it can give an indication where the sp is likely to go. Key, is when it crosses either band. If it is above the upper band at some time it is going to cross the upper band and head down towards the lower band (possibly a time to sell) and conversely, if it is below the lower band at some time it is going to cross the lower band and head up towards the upper band (possibly a time to buy). Take a look at the latest sp for GBG. HOWEVER, it is not guaranteed. The sp can cross a band and then revert to its previous direction. In my opinion, there needs to be confirmation of a change in sp direction. This can/will mean we won't get the best price but it does mean we are less lilkely to get caught out. I used this for my last 2 purchases of GBG, thinking it was strong enough, but despite the fundamentals GBG has fallen further. Generally using Bollinger Bands work best in a sideways moving market or non volatile market so care has to be taken; as it always should be. My advice to you C8, (careful CM), would be to await a change in direction for the GBG sp and confirmation of the change before investing. I realise that will mean you won't get the best price, but that may be better than gambling on the sp having bottomed. None of us know where that will be. A sudden positive RNS would be nice but at present I'm not sure how long that will have a positive effect on the sp having seen TRCS give out a good RNS last week giving a rise in sp of 4.5p one day and see it retrace by 2p or so the next. You must do what you feel is right for you at the time. Good luck all CM

aim stocks being sold off indiscriminently at present folks. Not good and don't know how long it will last. Lot of investors nursing sore heads this week. Meanwhile main indicies are ok. Gbg stronger than most shares, difficult right now. Not easy for me to post, but I'm around. Sleep well folks, CM

Heading all the way down to Kent, probably via Derby (A50) to M1. Tough job being landscape gardener at this time of year. Re. ASW, there was a buy recommendation on growthcompanyinvestor.com end of last month at around 64p. Don't know how to post link and I don't know if it will work anyway since it is subscription. Happy to post it longhand when I get back if I remember and/or you remind me. Regards. CW

Good evening all. Firstly, thanks Gardengirl for the post, you have no idea just how much you picked me up by it since I was having a pretty rotten day. I wasn't aware that most AIM stocks were having a poor run, thought it was largely mine. Read or rather my eyes briefly caught an article in the weekend FT (I think) that consideration is being given to allow shares in AIM stocks to be allowed in an ISA. I was pushed for time so I didn't read the article in full. Maybe someone knows how to look the article up and put a link on here. I posted earlier that I could see no reason why GBG should be driven higher nor lower. Well, in retrospect, yes I can; it's called market makers manipulation. What I mean by that is that the mm make their money by the volume of shares traded so if few are being traded then they make little money, hence the large spread on more illiquid stocks. It may be that the mms have been trying to boost volume by creating volatility here, giving the tree a shake. It matters not a jot to them whether the share price rises or falls so if they can get a reaction by dropping the price then they are quite happy. It can lead to pi deciding to bail out fearing losses until others see a buying opportunity and dive in. Volume today has been higher. I posted on Monday that we had seen a similar share price fall back in August. Looking further back there was another retrace back end of April. I was just as nervous then. Both times the share price recovered and became stronger; I see no reason why this time it should be different. Is this a 4 monthly occurance?. GG - took opportunity to buy few more shares in PEN around midday having seen the sp recover from last week, paying around the same price as initial investment. Emphasis is on the word FEW. Likewise with UFG, very small purchase, prefering to buy in with the sp rising rather than with the sp falling. Went ex divi today which would normally push the sp down but didn't, unlike NET which went ex divi today and did fall back a little. Why does that happen?, it's like the mms saying "no, you can't have your present; you can only look at it before you have to give it back!". Pretty much sums those rascals up (in my opinion.........of course!). GG - if GBG gets to £2 I'll DEFINITELY take you up on you joining me on a ski holiday!!!. Any preference to a destination?. Roll on!. AND I will STILL buy you a bottle or two of wine. YO!. Whoops...........off day dreaming now. Right, out of contact next few days. Heading South, but please keep posting folks. I will be able to read but not easy to reply. What's that?......horay did I hear? Regards CM Hope you enjoyed your evening GG.

Good evening Mogie; how are you doing?. Bought a few more shares in PEN today having seen a rise in share price around midday. Prefer to invest into strength and not gamble or guess where the bottom may be and what could be further weakness, although having said that none of us what is in store. Paid about what I paid previously but for less shares, wanting to keep some funds back just in case. Glad to see a rise in DRV today on back of results. Had a very quick look before setting off for work this morning and put a buy limit on at 71p, only to take it off because I hadn't done proper research. Reckoned it is better to do research first even if it means paying a little more for the share rather than miss something and regret buying in. The limit wouldn't have executed anyway; and if this share is good to invest in today then it will probably still be tomorrow or next week. Not a great day for my other shares, seems like AIM shares are being hit a little at present. Made a very small top up in UFG (fairly new investment meeting ZP), went ex divi today but didn't affect share price, up a fraction infact. Regards CM

Fall back today not surprising, with it being ex divi date. Wish my other shares that have fallen today had only fallen by 1/4p. Still a hold imo. Regards CM

Disappointing day so far with further downward movement. However, I don't see anything has changed the greater pictture. I am getting interested again in buying more but want to await confirmation of a reverse trend first; means I won't get in at the bottom, but that would be guess work. Not completely surprised at movement, I was wondering if it may test the high 80s. When I re-invested in the high 90s it ws on the back of seeing the sp cross over the lower Bollinger Band as it was then, but jumped in too quickly rather than wait the confirmation which didn't come. Don't panic is what I would say here, hold fire, a nervous time again but there MAY be a buying time not far off (not ramping). Some investors will be getting nervous and may sell (have some profits or less of a loss before Christmas). You/we must do what we feel is right for us; personally, for other reasons I really could do without this but it may teach me patience. If there is anything on the GBG website I will get back. I don't see anything to drive this up at present but neither do I see anything to drive it down. Come on Naked Trader, this is the opportunity you were waiting for.........BUY!. Regards CM

Good evening Bezz, good to hear from you and welcome to the board too. Thanks for your post. Sorry it is a bit late, just got in from the cold. Seems like you invested at the same time as I in GBG at around 58p. I think you are absolutely right about the bumps along the way, just that some of us do worry a little more than others about it. Believe it depends very much on the stock just how much we worry or should worry and in that I feel pretty comfortable about GBG. Interesting comment about Giles Hargreaves, any particular reason why you are an avid follower; apart from the 200 per cent rise since you have invested?. I will try to look at his fund holdings when I have some time. Will need to look up ASW. As for CZA, well, here goes (sorry Gardengirl), it's another company I have held shares in, yes, yes I know you must be thinking what shares has CM NOT invested in, can seem that way. I invested a few years ago at around 64p, rode it to around 130p?, bought back in at around 150p only to sell out at a loss that time at 129p (luckily in retrospect). Kept my eye on it from time to time with half a thought of reinvesting at around 65p again some time ago but declined. Remember a good while ago Shares magazine ran an article about CZA saying it was "on the cusp of greatness"........hmm......, just shows you that you have to be careful in what you read, although in truth it wasn't easy seeing the troubles that lay ahead. As far as my in depth opinion goes on GBG, well........I try and do a fair bit of research to improve my chances with this or any company rather than just plunge in (still tempted at times nevertheless), having made far too many mistakes in the past. Doesn't seem to work at times since my portfolio has been slipping ever since Nov. 16 despite my investment criteria; really has to be a case of sitting and believing things will turn around. I believe the more you can know about a company the better. If GBG reaches the dizzy heights of £2 Bezz, I will personally drive all the way to Hampshire and buy you a beer!, stopping off at Cambridge on the way to drop off a bottle or two of wine to Gardengirl.......red or white GG?. We'll see. I try not to think of targets because they can be very unrealistic, although £2 in the longer term, who knows. Far better value here than in many other stocks. Good to hear from you again C8. Right, it's mighty cold here, mind is ahead of my fingers on keyboard and had it not been for modern technology and being able to erase all the typing errors this would have read like something out of ancient Egypt or Greece. Possibly would make more sense at times. Hope you're all keeping well and warm. Good luck folks. Regards CM Hope you are feeling better today GG and not so blue. Take it easy.

Hey GG, how are you?, thought you maybe taking a break from shares due to fatigue, would fully understand. It's easy when things are going well, but so tiring when not. I appreciate you asking about my Mum, kind of you. She is improving and more mobile but a little way of being released from the hosp. just yet. I travel South again on Thursday to visit for a few days and assess the situation. She has many good friends which helps too. We are definitely related GG!. Know exactly what you mean about struggling during winter; for me it is usually from end of October to end of February, co-inciding with dark mornings and evenings. Need to see and be out in the sunshine or I suffer from SAD. Roll on Dec 22. Houses tend to be an open mouth always wanting to be fed, I still need to get the fireplace dealt with after the tremor I mentioned before, as well as a number of other jobs. I do know what you mean by feeling blue, at times it is difficult to do anything. You are allowed to be blue though. But try to keep your pecker up. Thanks for the update on the fiscal cliff. Nothing would surprise me but do expect something positive to neutral to come out of the talks. Makes you want to bang their heads together and scream "Why the ****** **** couldn't you just have done that in the first place you load of *********** rather than play the big guy, I'm not going to blink first". Just watching prog about the end of the world on 21 Dec 2012!, so it won't really matter about any of our shares will it!. Need to be up some mountain in France I think to hitch a lift with the spaceship that is going to appear out of it!. According to the Mayan Calender. Don't know what they had been drinking but whatever it was........I'll have a double!. Ho, ho!. Keep smiling. CM