London Calling Journal

Today is December 21st 2016.

I am starting this Journal to keep on track using a system called Trading Made Simple

This thread was started by one of the most respected members back in 2011 by username Eelfranz (a.k.a. BE)
Since December I started to use this system and it was a real game changer for me. I deeply respect Eelfranz (who passed away) for his efforts to help other traders succeed.

Who am I?

My name is Jan Ceulemans, living in Belgium. I started as a musician, playing in the Opera House of Ghent and Antwerp (Beglium). Later on in my life circumstances forced me to change profession ending up as a programmer. My musical carreer ended but I would still be active as a freelance musician.

Trading Carreer

Trading since 2000, so a lot of time. Gained some, lost a lot. Took courses, investigated a lot of theories, use of indicators, trading naked, using support/resistance, multi time frames, Supply and Demand, Market Profile... you name it.

After a learning curve of many years, blowing up some accounts I am where I am today.
My last BIG mistake took place in November 2016 when I was trapped in an open position and decided to let it run over the weekend. It caused a huge drawdown from which I am still revovering.

My game changer appeared when I discovered the 'Trade Made Simple" thread over here at FF. After reading Big E's first post I was blown away. I saw the length of the thread (over 3700 posts) so it had to be something. Since I started using it and being very strict on the original rules I have not known any failure anymore.

These days I trade that system and I use only sometimes my knowledge about supply and demand (and other basic stuff) to confirm what I see developing on the charts using the TMS Teplate.

My Journal

I will start today with posting what I did today but the official launch of using my journal will be set to the second week of January 2017. We are near Christmas now so this is not the most exiting time to start a journey

I hope this journal may contribute to the community since I firmly believe the system used can be of huge value to many users over here.

December 21st 2016,
Jan Ceulemans

For those who want to know more about Trading Made Simple:

Read all about it over HERE

Hello J.C.
I'm curious about it, if only because I think "Trade Made Simple" is bullsh*t, ...whithout invoking any sh*tstorm with my statement.
Nevertheless I wish you success & happiness!
FXcube

Thank you Forexcube for your wishes.

Merry Christmass and happy trading for you as well.

December 21st. NY Session.
I normaly trade the 4 Hour Chart. But on this 30 Minute Chart a little present was shown which I could take easy.
As the TDI Green Line crossed the Red one and since we were on a resistance area I could take this tread:


extra confirmation was provided by the USD Index as the TDI Green Line over there crossed up showing new strength for the dollar against it's major counter parts:



Good analyses and good trading

22 December 2016

Opened USDJPY Buy Positions on 4 HR Chart on Crossover TDI


Edit 1:

As often price moves against my position in the first place. This the excersise we all have to overcome: controling our mind and emotion.
TMS setup is valid so it should be trusted.


Edit 2:

We are now one hour before NY open. Switched to the H1 chart to see progress.
On this chart we see change in direction to our favor. In fact, it would be a valid TMS signal
Waiting and trusting


Edit 3:

This is an example of the USD Index as provided by FXCM (My Broker)
Why do I show this? This chart serves me well because it shows the USD strength against it's most important counterparts.
Here you see that now (1 hour before NY open) the Dollar gains strength. In fact there would be a valid TMS Signal.
This means one can consider trading for example:

EURUSD ->Short
USDJPY ->Long
USDCHF ->Long
GBPUSD ->SHort

Now there is much more about it of course, not just jumping into those trades, but you get the idea.
In my case it confirms the first setup when I took the trade may still be valid.



Edit 4:

First Position closed with modest profit.


Edit 5 (Last Update)

Second position was trailed. Trailing went into profit and was hit leaving me with a small overall profit for today.

I just started reading the TMS thread, and saw that you were still keeping that thread going. Thank you for that. I will follow you on this thread also and hope to learn from you here as I begin this different style of trading. ( 4 hour candles seem so foreign to me). Wish you luck with this thread sir, and thanks for sharing.

Comments on today's Trading:

The original Signal on the H4 chart worked and was respected.
During London Session price struggled and went against me.
Opened a second buy position.
At the end of the London Session, one hour before NY open price began to turn into my favor.

When in Profit I closed the first one manualy.
The second was stopped out by trailing stop in profit.

I did not extend trading for we are close to a red News announcement and we are approaching hollidays. Not safe to trade at this stage.

Once opend my trade this morning, I followed the rules for open positions and I let the markets do it's thing.
Emotions were under control and THIS is the reason why I ended up in profit.

Very often when you open a position you may be tempted to seek for confirmations all over. You will seek them in indicators but also by talking to people.
Very often you will receive advice in numerous ways.

One of the main rules for being succesfull is to stick to your analyses, your feeling and your chosen system

December 22 2016 End of NY session.

Tomorrow it is friday. Then Hollidays start so my trading for this year may be over
What will I do next weeks next to spent time with my family?

One of the things Eeltranz (Big E) suggested was to learn his system (Trading Made Simpel) by studying old charts.
This will help to see how things have worked and it wille help to recognize the real good setups.

So, my homework for next two weeks is obvious. Going into study-modus.

The time passed by when I started using TMS has resulted in only profitable trades. I was far more confident and relaxed during trading and if I may add a modest comment, I am proud about myself for I succeeded to stick strictly to a working system, not being distracted by anything or anyone else.

I think 2017 may become my turning point

Happy Hollidays to all who read this thread

Jan

December 28th 2016.

Later on NY Session. USDCAD Sell order opened on H4 candle. Green Line crossed Red line downwards.
Slope down and confirmed by stochastics.
HeikenAshi first candle.


Is this a good move? Normay I would say, yes, it is. Now where we are at the end of the year being in Hollidays modus not so sure.
On the other hands I have missed already some nice setups because I thought there would be nothing interesting these days and yet they happened. So let's give this one a shot

EDIT: 45 min. after open.

Closed the position manualy. 1.8 percent loss. Safest thing to do since this was not a good idea during this time and period. Lesson leard.
the good thing is, I traded exact like Eelfranz taught including taking a loss at an early stage. Nothing to regret here.

December 28th 2016.

After messing a bit with some pairs ( and loosing the trades ) this is my next set up
USDJPY H4 Sell Order. All signals in TMS are valid. Going to let this one run as it should.


Update 1: 30 minutes after NY close
Went into profit. Trailing Stop is engaged. Running a risk free trade right now.


Update 2:
Closed Trade Manualy because on lower timeframe green line crossed red line up. Trade was profitable.

December 28th 2016

Decided to take another trade also.
USDCAD H4 Sell order for minor profit. Signals of TMS all valid.


EDIT: USDCAD order closed manualy. Reason: Almost end of trading day. Hollidays so only expecting minor profit opportunities.

December 29th Asian Session:

USDCHF H4 Short position. TMS Signals Valid
Trade opened near the 50 percent level at TDI. Therefore this is not the most probably profitable setup. However, accepting the risk.


Update 29th London Session:

Trade was closed by Take Profit

Interesting Jan, keep up the good work. Many can learn from you

December 29th NY Session

An opportunity encountered on EURNZD H4



This trade was taken where all signals were confirmed. In this case I checked the lower timeframes to see what price actualy was doing.
This is not the best entry but still has some winning chances.

EDIT: Closed Manualy due end of day and and of year.

30th December 2016
GBPUSD H4 LONG on TDI Signals.

Risky trade since it is 30th of December. Going for a smal profit (estimated about 10 pips)

EDIT:

About 10 minutes after opening... position closed by trailing stop. What a nice gift at the end of the year

January 3rd 2017:

First trade this year:

EURUSD SHORT

Trade decision was made by
Analysing Daily Chart
Analysing 4H Chart
Confirming 1H Chart which had the actual last confirming signal.



EDIT:

Trade Closed by TakeProit

January 3rd 2017
Opened:
NZDUSD SELL 4H

hi Jan
why do you have such small TP targets? considering the SL being far (do you close the trade before hitting a SL ?)

The reason for my small TP's for the moment are two-fold:

1) We are still at the very beginning of the new year, so in these first weeks I am not so confident in what markets may do.
2) My SL. To be honest, theoreticly they do not make any sense. If you would take the R:R ratio from the books this would be a catastrophic setup

However, I have learned in al long time that placing SL too tight will cause more stopouts in general thus causing more loss on the long term.
Therefore, and since I monitor my trades anyway I allow myself to put the SL as layed out by Eelfranz, realising I have to stay near.

Till now, it only delivered profits but it takes a lot of confidence in the system (TMS) to do such thing.

Jan