Follow the weekly journal, the reasoning behind each decision, and the wider archive.
Greetings from Scotland! Over the past week, we've been making the most of the school break by travelling to this beautiful part of the world. We've explored Edinburgh…
As of October 16, 2026, our options-selling-powered dividend stock portfolio stood at $13,456, marking a weekly decline of 1.37% compared with the previous week.This…
As of October 9, 2026, our options-selling-powered dividend stock portfolio stood at $13,643, showing a decent weekly increase of +0.72% compared with the previous week.…
The portfolio gained 0.95% during the week, bringing the total year-to-date return to 22.67%.On a year-to-date basis, the portfolio is now up 22.67%, outperforming both the S&P 500, which has gained 10.39%, and NVIDIA, which is up 14.77%.Most of this week's trading activity focused on NVIDIA (NVDA), which experienced considerable volatility following its earnings report. At one point, the stock traded below $210, placing pressure on my existing bull put credit spread.Instead of waiting for the position to move closer to expiration, I decided to manage the trade early. I rolled the spread forward to a later expiration date and adjusted the strike prices higher.The roll gave the position…
Shot at the end of April 2026, on a calm and lovely Sunday morning, this video started with a simple plan: go out and hunt for morels - murķeļi. Spring, fresh air, perfect timing… everything looked right.But plans shifted quickly.After the first attempts turned up nothing, we didn’t push too hard — instead, we adapted. Rather than chasing mushrooms all day, we pointed the car toward the city of Gori, letting the trip evolve on its own. And that turned out to be the right call.We decided to start our Gori stop the right way — with food. First stop: Erisoni Restaurant. A reliable favorite. Solid Georgian dishes, generous portions, and exactly what was needed to reset the day after an…
This week was focused on managing positions after NVDA earnings, collecting another round of options premium, and continuing to grow the underlying stock portfolio.Nvidia reported strong results, but the market reaction was relatively muted. NVDA pulled back slightly after the announcement, which is often where option sellers can find new opportunities.Because most of my short-term income comes from bull put spreads and covered calls, a modest decline is not necessarily a negative development. Lower implied volatility after earnings can also benefit existing short-option positions.As of May 22, 2026, the portfolio was valued at $12,740, representing a 22.48% gain year to date. For…
When planning a family trip to Berlin with children, most travelers immediately think about the Berlin Zoo — and rightly so. But if you are spending a few days in the German capital with younger kids, another solid half-day activity is the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre BerlinWe visited it in April 2026 together with our 7-year-old daughter during our Berlin trip. Alongside the zoo, it turned out to be one of the easier and more relaxed family activities in the city center.Interestingly, this was already our second LEGOLAND experience. The first one was in Turkey a few years ago. To be honest, our daughter seemed much more obsessed with LEGO back then. Kids change quickly, and at age seven the…
In 2023, we bought Ādģēri in an online auction.Price: just over €30,000.Financing: ~6% interest.Total expected payment over ~5 years: ~€40,000.Status (April 2026): more than half already paid.On paper, it was a bad deal.Realistically, we overpaid by at least 5–6× relative to what the property was objectively worth at the time. No serious buyer would justify that valuation based on fundamentals: location, condition, income potential—none of it supported the price.But auctions don’t run on fundamentals. They run on adrenaline.And that’s the whole point.What We Actually BoughtStrip away the imagination, and here’s the asset:~1.24 hectares of landAn old house (not really a manor, despite the…
This week produced the highest options premium income since I started tracking the portfolio.While the portfolio gained a relatively modest 0.36%, the underlying trading activity was considerably more interesting. A sharp rally in NVIDIA, the introduction of Netflix bull put credit spreads, and a strategic shift away from Pfizer all contributed to a record premium-generating week.NVDA Continues to Drive the PortfolioThe biggest story this week was NVIDIA.At one point, NVDA shares traded above $230, extending an already impressive rally. Strong stock performance is generally welcome, but it also creates an interesting challenge for covered call sellers.Our existing NVDA covered call had…
At the start of April 2026, during our roughly five-day trip to Berlin, we finally visited the famous Berlin Zoo for the first time - or at least the first time I can actually remember. There is a chance my mom might have taken me here sometime in the early 1990s, but if so, those memories are long gone. This visit felt completely new, and honestly, it turned out to be one of the highlights of our Berlin family trip.Berlin offers countless museums, historical landmarks, and trendy neighborhoods, but if you are traveling with kids, the Berlin Zoological Garden (Zoologischer Garten Berlin) should absolutely be on your list.Easy To Reach And Surprisingly AffordableWe took a Bolt taxi from our…
In April 2026, I had my first experience with Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) while flying the Riga–Berlin–Riga route with airBaltic. This was my first time using Berlin’s main international airport, and overall, it left a solid impression—modern, functional, and relatively easy to navigate. About a decade ago, I had the chance to travel through the now-closed Schönefeld Airport.Landing at BER was straightforward. The airport is clearly designed with efficiency in mind—wide corridors, good signage, and a layout that doesn’t feel chaotic despite Berlin being a major European hub.From the airport, I opted for convenience over cost.I ordered an Uber to reach our hotel on Chausseestraße. The…
Portfolio Value: $12,323Weekly Change: +0.86%YTD Return: +16.51%Options Premium Collected: $89As of May 8, 2026, the stock and options portfolio increased by 0.86%, reaching a total value of $12,323.On a year-to-date basis, the portfolio is now up 16.51%, outperforming both the S&P 500, which has gained 7.88%, and NVIDIA, which has gained 13.98% over the same period.Continuing the NVDA Credit Spread StrategyNVIDIA continued its impressive rally this week, trading above $215 per share. As a result, the previous week's bull put credit spread expired worthless, allowing the portfolio to retain the entire premium collected.Despite the strong move higher, I decided to continue the strategy…
It has already become something of a tradition for us - escaping the cold during our daughter’s winter school break and trading grey skies for warmth, color, and a slower rhythm of life. Each year, we carve out about three weeks to leave Tbilisi behind and head somewhere sunnier. And more often than not, that “somewhere” turns out to be India.Our latest trip follows a familiar yet always exciting route: from Tbilisi to the buzzing metropolis of Mumbai, before retreating to our beloved Palolem Beach in South Goa. Another three weeks in India — and once again, it proves why we keep coming back.The journey itself feels like a transition between worlds. Leaving behind the quiet, wintery streets…
Portfolio Value: $12,218Weekly Change: +0.97%YTD Return: +15.48%Options Premium Collected: $58As of May 1, 2026, my options portfolio increased by 0.97%, closing the week at $12,218.While many investors dislike seeing their holdings decline, this week served as another reminder that selling options often changes the way market pullbacks are viewed.After rallying above $210, NVIDIA (NVDA) retreated below $200. From an options seller's perspective, that wasn't necessarily negative. Strong rallies tend to compress option premiums, making it harder to establish attractive new trades. Moderate pullbacks often improve premium levels while reducing the temptation to chase momentum.This is one of…
On April 24, 2026, DGFI, in collaboration with Forbes Georgia, hosted a conference on Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization at the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel in Tbilisi. The event brought together representatives from financial institutions, regulators, brokerage houses, and emerging fintech players to discuss the evolving landscape of tokenized finance in Georgia.I attended primarily to track local initiatives, assess institutional direction, and expand my network within the Georgian financial ecosystem.The dominant focus of the conference was not real estate tokenization - as one might expect from broader global RWA narratives—but rather:Tokenized bonds and debt instrumentsRegulatory sandbox…
As usual, we planned our spring around the school break at BIST (British International School of Tbilisi). This year we again split the time — one week in Latvia working on the frame house in the west, and the other in Berlin for business meetings related to the translation company.Returning after winter always comes with surprises. This year didn’t disappoint.The biggest “welcome back” moment: a broken bathroom faucet. Not a minor drip — water was shooting out from the side under full pressure. That turned into an emergency replacement before anything else could move forward.Not exactly how you want to start a work week, but typical for a house that’s still in progress.This year we finally…
Portfolio Value: $12,101Weekly Change: -0.72%YTD Return: +15.38%Options Premium Collected: $67As of April 24, 2026, the portfolio declined slightly by -0.72%, closing the week at $12,101.Since the portfolio is sensitive to movements in the euro, part of the weekly decline was caused by currency fluctuations. The U.S. dollar strengthened against the euro, with EUR/USD trading around 1.17.For international investors, exchange-rate movements can affect reported portfolio values even when the underlying stock and options positions remain broadly unchanged.Despite the weekly decline, the portfolio remains up 15.38% year to date, outperforming both the S&P 500, up 4.43%, and NVIDIA, up 10.87…
The New Synagogue in Berlin is one of the city’s most recognizable historical landmarks, located on Oranienburger Straße, within walking distance of Alexanderplatz. Its striking golden dome rises above the surrounding buildings, making it visible from afar and hard to miss even during a casual walk through the neighborhood.Originally inaugurated in 1866, the synagogue was once the largest in Germany and a central place of worship for Berlin’s Jewish community. Designed in a Moorish Revival style, its architecture stands out from typical European religious buildings, blending oriental elements with modern 19th-century engineering. At its peak, it could accommodate over 3,000 worshippers,…
Portfolio Value: $12,189Weekly Change: +2.6%YTD Return: +15.33%Options Premium Collected: $46As of April 17, 2026, the options income portfolio increased by +2.6%, closing at $12,189. This was the first time the portfolio crossed the $12,000 mark.On a year-to-date basis, the portfolio is up 15.33%, outperforming both the S&P 500 (+3.88%) and NVIDIA (+6.06%) over the same period.NVDA Rally Makes Put Selling More DifficultThis week I was traveling in Berlin and paid relatively little attention to the stock market.I did notice, however, that NVIDIA (NVDA) was moving toward the $200 level. This is positive for the long-term stock position, but it also makes opening new options trades more…
Portfolio Value: $11,880Weekly Change: +3.38%YTD Return: +13.69%Options Premium Collected: $55Greetings from Riga International Airport.I'm writing this update while waiting for a flight to Berlin after spending a productive week in Latvia working on our family frame house. Most of my attention was far away from the stock market. I nearly finished installing the kitchen cabinets, while my better half planted more than 40 peonies in the garden. Our daughter enjoyed every minute of it.Back to the portfolio.As of April 10, 2026, the options income portfolio increased by +3.38%, closing at $11,880.On a year-to-date basis, the portfolio is up 13.69%, outperforming both the S&P 500 (-0.28%)…
Portfolio Value: $11,491Weekly Change: +2.76%YTD Return: +11.14%Options Premium Collected: $68As of April 3, 2026, the options income portfolio increased by 2.76%, closing the week at $11,491.The trading week was shortened ahead of Easter, while market sentiment remained heavily influenced by developments surrounding the conflict involving Iran. Energy prices, geopolitical uncertainty, and currency fluctuations continued to contribute to market volatility.Because the portfolio is measured in euros, it briefly moved above the €10,000 level several times during the week before finishing slightly below that threshold.On a year-to-date basis, the portfolio is up 11.14%, outperforming both the S…
At the start of March, it was Book Week at the British International School of Tbilisi. Year 3 students were given a fun assignment: create a short video about their favourite book and take photos of themselves reading in unusual places.We slightly misunderstood the task and ended up focusing entirely on reading in unusual places, turning it into a little family adventure around Tbilisi. What started as a simple school project became something much more fun than expected.During filming we had several unexpected moments along the way — we even bumped into the Danish national basketball team, rode the Tbilisi Funicular, and enjoyed some delicious ponchiki while exploring the city.In the end,…
Portfolio Value: $11,183Weekly Change: -0.24%YTD Return: +8.50%Options Premium Collected: $66As of March 27, 2026, my options income portfolio declined slightly by 0.24%, closing the week at $11,183.The decline was largely caused by currency fluctuations rather than weakness in the underlying positions. The U.S. dollar strengthened against the euro, with the EUR/USD exchange rate trading around 1.15.Because part of the portfolio reporting is sensitive to exchange-rate movements, currency fluctuations can materially affect the reported portfolio value even when the underlying stock positions remain relatively stable.Year-to-date, the portfolio has returned 8.50%, significantly outperforming…
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