reading guide
Alan’s identity?
One or two readers have pointed out that there is no banker called Alan Alanson in Hong Kong. I’m not quite sure how it is possible to work this out, perhaps calling the reception desk of every bank in the city and asking for Alan Alanson? In any case, I’m pretty sure that they’re right, otherwise the real Alan Alanson would definitely have called me and asked me to stop ruining his reputation.
So it’s a pen-name. I have a full time career in investment banking and it would be a little embarrassing if my clients, my boss or my staff were to find out that they are regularly appearing in the SCMP.
And of course, not everything in the columns is 100% real, but if I was using my actual name, I would have to make everything up and that would be a whole lot more work for me.
So Alan’s identity enables me to bring you stories of real events in the witless world of banking, and keep my job at the same time.
Anagrams
The ruse would obviously be over pretty fast if I used anybody else’s actual name too. So these are also changed most of the time and some of these characters have been getting anagrams for their names. Here’s a guide in case you haven’t noticed:
Tim Sawtree - time waster
Leman Monetary - not my real name
Norlate - not real
Mark Tomartek - mark to market
Seyasell - easy sell
Tegart - target
Incentaur - uncertain
Linstoven - insolvent
Heavenly Tritones - are they insolvent
Obviously you know how to read, but there are a couple of things you may not have realised. At least, there are a couple of things that I think aren’t obvious that I want to point out.
