Reinis Fischer
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Frame house - Capšu Zeme

Frame House Upgrades: Big Windows, New Porch, and Apple Trees Planted in Latvia

In mid-April, during our kiddo’s Easter school break, we traveled to Latvia for about 10 days — a trip packed with projects, energy, and transformation. A lot of pre-planning had gone into it before we even arrived: we ordered the windows, sourced the plants, and mapped out the main tasks. Once we landed, it was all about execution — and we got a lot done.One of the most transformative updates was installing our huge 3x3 meter windows. In the…

Week 7 / How I’m Using Covered Calls and Credit Spreads to Pay Off Margin on NVDA Stock

As of May 23, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio stands at $6,888, reflecting a -0.93% week-over-week decline (down $64.48). Year-to-date, we are down -9.33%, as we navigate volatility while optimizing our options income strategy.Rolling NVDA Calls for Controlled UpsideThis week, we rolled our NVDA covered call to the June 27, 2025 expiry, raising the strike to $109. Should NVDA close at or above that level at expiry, the position would…

Latvia

Pūre Horticultural Research Station

In mid-April 2025, we took an exciting step toward our vision of a Latvian craft cider brewery by purchasing several Antonovka apple trees and other varieties from the renowned Pūre Horticultural Experimental Station (Latvian: Pūres dārzkopības izmēģinājumu stacija).This wasn’t a random choice. Pūre is one of Latvia’s most respected institutions in plant cultivation and horticultural research. With decades of hands-on experience in the Latvian…

Week 6 / Doing Nothing, Gaining 1.98%: A Covered Call Strategy That Pays

In the world of trading, action often feels like progress. Placing new trades, adjusting positions, chasing setups—these behaviors can give us the illusion of control. But sometimes, the most profitable move is to simply do nothing.As of May 16, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,952, reflecting a 1.98% week-over-week gain (+$134.96). That’s a modest but welcome increase, especially considering that we didn’t place a single…

Living in Georgia

Samshvilde Canyon Hiking

Embedded thumbnail for Samshvilde Canyon Hiking

Our go-to hiking spot in Georgia has always been Birtvisi Canyon. With its striking rock formations, narrow passages, and unbeatable views, it’s a place we return to again and again. But last Sunday, we felt like trying something new.So we picked a place we’d heard about but never explored properly: Samshvilde Canyon.In fact we almost find it few years ago, but turned our car around because the road didn't seem proper. See: Hiking at Birtvisi…

Week 5 / NVDA Rally Forces Covered Call Adjustment: Rolling Up and Out for a Credit

As of May 9, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,818, reflecting another  1.42% week-over-week gain (+$95.42). Despite the recent uptick, we remain down -9.63% year-to-date.Currently, the entire covered call portfolio is allocated to NVDA stock.With NVDA rallying sharply, our May 9 $107 call moved deep in-the-money. Although my initial plan was to let the shares be called away and then re-enter via cash-secured puts, I…

Drupal & Servers

How I Upgraded XTRF on Ubuntu with PostgreSQL 14 (and Fixed Every Broken Dependency)

Upgrading an XTRF instance—especially one that has aged alongside older OS and database stacks—is never a walk in the park. In this article, I’ll walk you through the real-world path I took, upgrading from Ubuntu 18.04 all the way to 22.04, aligning PostgreSQL to a supported version, and overcoming the nuanced issues involved in deploying XTRF on Jboss. Most importantly, I’ll highlight how AI—specifically ChatGPT—helped me tackle the hard…

Georgia

David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia and Georgian-Jewish Relations

Tbilisi is a city full of hidden corners, rich history, and quiet treasures, one of which I recently discovered: the David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia and Georgian-Jewish Relations.Over the years, I've gradually learned that Georgia has a deeply rooted Jewish presence. There's even a Jewish Quarter in Tbilisi, which I came across during my many walks through the city's charming old streets. Historically, Jewish communities…

Week 4 / NVDA Covered Call Strategy: Earning $83 This Week To Pay of Margin Debt

As of May 2, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,722, reflecting another strong 4.85% week-over-week gain. However, we still remain down -11.61% year-to-date. Our covered call portfolio at the moment is centered around NVDA stock exclusively. As of today our covered call position was in the money and, I decided to roll forward this position, Here is the trade setup:Bought back the May 2 $107 call for $7.75Sold…

Stocks

April 2025 Stock Portfolio Update ($6,629)

At the end of April 2025, the total value of our stock portfolio stood at $6,629 (€6,594), down from $7,124 a month earlier. That’s a -6.94% decrease in portfolio value, or -$495 in dollar terms.Yes, it stings — ouch — but it’s also part of a larger strategy pivot. We’re confident that with the NVDA covered call strategy, we’ll not only stabilize but begin generating consistent returns starting May.April was a transformative month — both…

France

Postcards from Marseille

It’s been nearly two years since our last trip to Marseille, a sun-drenched jewel on France’s southern coast that left an indelible mark on our memories. That summer of 2023, we set out to explore the city’s vibrant beaches and winding old town, arriving and departing through the bustling hub of Marseille St. Charles train station. As I sit down to write this, the sights, sounds, and scents of that journey come flooding back—postcards from…

Georgia

Fish Market near Gori

This Fish Market is located about 2 kilometers outside Gori, right off the Tbilisi highway, that we hit up at the end of March 2025. Me and a few friends drove over from Kabitskhevi because someone swore the smoked fish there was worth it. Spoiler: they weren’t wrong.The place isn’t hard to spot—just a little setup with a fish farm, a small shop, and a restaurant tucked in there too. We didn’t wander in by accident; we came straight for it. The…

Week 3 / How Weekly Covered Calls Are Funding Our NVDA Position

As of April 25, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,411, reflecting another strong 9.76% week-over-week gain. However, it still remains down -15.87% year-to-date. Our covered call portfolio at the moment is centered around one stock only - NVDA. I'm selling 1 covered call only, with average buy price at $118.22 (using margin), while thanks to premiums collected in previous weeks, our current break-even price is $106.53On…

France

Plage des Catalans: A Shrinking Memory in Marseille

Plage des Catalans, a sandy crescent tucked along Marseille’s coastline, holds a special place in my travel tapestry. I first visited this beach in the summer of 2003, a carefree stop during my early adventures in the city. Back then, it felt like a haven—close to the bustling port yet offering a slice of Mediterranean calm. When I returned 20 years later, in the summer of 2023, I was taken aback by how small it seemed. Had my memory…

Living in Georgia

Georgia Almond Farms: The New Frontier for Agricultural Investment

As an expat who has called Georgia home for over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the country’s agricultural landscape evolve in fascinating ways. From fish farms to cow farms and the aromatic allure of lavender oil fields, Georgia’s farmland investments have always piqued my curiosity. But in recent years, one trend has stood out above the rest: the growing interest in nut farms, particularly almonds. This shift has turned…

Week 2 / Covered Call Portfolio Update: $146 in Premium, 11.9% Week Over Week Growth

As of April 17, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio is valued at $5,841.36, reflecting a strong 11.92% week-over-week gain. However, it remains down -23.42% year-to-date. Despite ongoing market volatility and macroeconomic headwinds, I’m doubling down on a focused strategy centered around selling covered calls on NVDA stock to stabilize returns and drive long-term growth.Our average buy price for NVDA stock is $118.22 (using margin),…

France

From Paris to Marseille by High Speed Ouigo Train

Traveling from Paris to Marseille is a rite of passage for anyone craving the thrill of France’s high-speed rails. Twenty years ago, in the summer of 2003, I first made the 900-kilometer journey by TGV, marveling as the countryside blurred past in just three hours. That memory—of speed, comfort, and the promise of Marseille—stuck with me. So, during our latest trip to France in the summer of 2023, I suggested we relive it. This time, we…

Georgia

Gladius Jiu Jitsu Club in Tbilisi

For the past few years, we have been proud members of the Gladius Jiu Jitsu Club in Tbilisi, Georgia. It all started when we decided to enroll our then 4-year-old daughter in their kids’ jiu jitsu program. What began as a way to channel our little one’s boundless energy has turned into a rewarding journey that we’ve stuck with ever since. At the heart of our experience is our coach, Mr. Giorgi, a truly remarkable individual. Not only is he…

Week 1 / How I'm Generating Options Premium with NVDA Covered Calls

As of April 10, 2025, the value of our covered call stock portfolio stood at $5,219.50, reflecting a -28.65% decrease year-to-date. Despite the broader market volatility and economic headwinds, I'm doubling down on a focused strategy to stabilize and grow the portfolio.This week I was managing a covered call on NVIDIA. Currently we are holding 100 shares of NVDA, acquired at an average buy price of $118.22 (using margin), though due to…

France

Aix-en-Provence station

Aix-en-Provence railway station is one of two serving the city of Aix-en-Provence in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of southeastern France. The other station, served by long-distance high-speed TGV trains on the LGV Méditerranée line, is Aix-en-Provence TGV, and lies about 12 km southwest of the city centre.Amodest yet charming stop on the TGV line, sits just outside the picturesque Provençal town it’s named after. Unlike the grand hubs of…

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I share ongoing portfolio progress with a focus on generating income through covered calls on quality stocks. Each update includes positioning changes, trade rationale, and forward-looking adjustments based on current market conditions.

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