Around DB January 2024 by Around DB Magazine

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D I S COV ERY B AY ' S O R I G I N A L CO M M U N I T Y M AGA Z I N E - P U B L I S H ED S I N C E 2 0 0 2

The no-sweat way to getting your finances in shape

FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

Meet Anna Sze, 11, DB’s newest and likely youngest, published author

Ringing in

City Management! PUTTING RESIDENTS FIRST THROUGH FUN AND MEANINGFUL CAUSES AND EVENTS

PA R E N T I N G

JA N uA rY 2 0 24 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

2024 with

Welcome Chef Massimo!! Chef Massimo Santovito, from the southern region of Italy, Puglia. With over 30 years of experience cooking, he is here to provide an enjoyable experience for customers by cooking and presenting with precision.

慶團圓盆菜及賀年糕點 CHINESE NEW YEAR POT OF FORTUNE AND DELICACIES 臘味蘿蔔糕 (600克) Radish Cake With Preserved Meat (600g)

椰汁年糕 (600克) Coconut Milk Rice Cake (600g)

HK$138^

HK$108^

(原價 Original Price: HK$178)

(原價 Original Price: HK$138)

糕點禮盒 CNY Gift Box 臘味蘿蔔糕及椰汁年糕各一盒 Radish Cake & Coconut Milk Cake(One Each)

HK$208^

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HK$1,188 (四人用 For 4 persons) HK$1,988 (八人用 For 8 persons) *敬請兩天前預訂 Kindly order two days in advance

(原價 Original Price: HK$268)

^早鳥優惠預訂日期:2023年12月27日至2024年1月25日 ^Early Bird Order Date: From 27 Dec 2023 to 25 Jan 2024

慶團圓盆菜訂購表格

Pot of Fortune Order Form

賀年糕點預訂日期: 2023年12月27日至2024年2月9日; 提取日期: 2024年1月26日至2月9日 Chinese New Year Delicacies Order Period: From 27 Dec 2023 until 9 Feb 2024; Collection Period: From 26 Jan to 9 Feb 2024 慶團圓盆菜提取日期: 2023年12月20日至2024年2月24日 Pot of Fortune Collection Period: From 20 Dec 2023 to 24 Feb 2024

查詢及訂購 Enquiries & Orders : + 852 2215 0833 SHOP 153A, 1/F, DB PLAZA 愉景廣場1樓153A

賀年糕點訂購表格

CNY Delicacies Order Form

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4 BEDS | 2 BATHS Ref: #298434

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APPLY

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admissions@dbis.edu.hk

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JANUARY 2024 W W W. A R O U N D D B .CO M

FEATURES 20 PROFILE Former DC student Anna Sze, 11, discusses her first fantasy novel The Lore of the Foe

24 COMMUNITY CM continues to put residents first through fun and meaningful causes and events

32 PARENTING Skills you can teach kids to help them be more happy, more often as they move into 2024

36 INSIDER

The no-sweat way to save, invest, or grow your money: get yourself a financial advisor AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

REGULARS

AGENDA

08 DB NEWS

20 QUESTIONS Penguin Day Quiz

ESCAPES Montreal: City of Festivals

RECIPES Classic all-Italian pasta dishes

31 WISH LIST 42 PUZZLES 50 CLASSIFIEDS

C O M M U N I T Y

14 EVENT ROUND-UP

OUT THERE Peter Sherwood talks back

L O C A L

I N F L U E N C E R S

L I F E S T Y L E

D I S COV ERY B AY ' S O R I G I N A L CO M M U N I T Y M AGA Z I N E - P U B L I S H ED S I N C E 2 0 0 2

PA R E N T I N G

JA N uA rY 2 0 24 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION The no-sweat way to getting your finances in shape

FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

24 O N T H E C OVE R CM’s Paddle for a Good Cause campaign

53 LOCAL NUMBERS WE AL S O P UB L IS H ISL AND -WIDE NEWS

LOC AL INFLUENCERS

2024 with

City Management! PUTTING RESIDENTS FIRST THROUGH FUN AND MEANINGFUL CAUSES AND EVENTS

LIFEST YLE

COMMUNIT Y SNAPS

WIN PARK TICKETS TO HK HAPPY DISNEYLAND HOLIDAYS

THE TRUSTED PROVIDER OF ISL AND -WIDE NEWS AND INFORMATION

W W W.LIFEONL ANTAU.COM

DEC EMBER / JANUARY 2 0 2 3

IN THE SPIRIT XMAS EVENTS, COCKTAILS, QUIZZES AND GIFT IDEAS

Meet Anna Sze, 11, DB’s newest and likely youngest, published author

Ringing in

PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com & courtesy of CM

MAD ABOUT GOLDEN IMOGEN SHORT ERA LISTEN UP WHEN SHE DISCUSSES WOMEN, WORK AND PIVOTING FOLLOW US

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Publishers in Lantau since 2002

MUI WO’S AGRICULTURAL HEYDAY

DB NEWS

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philip@ba y media.com.hk RACH E L AI N S L E Y Managing editor

rachel@ba y media.com.hk S ARIN AL E Art director

sarin@ba y media.com.hk KAY L I L I EBEN B E RG Client services

kayli@ba y media.com.hk

NEW FS-1 CLASS AT DBIS

Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) is launching a new FS-1 class at its Early Years Foundation Stage campus, starting February 2024. The class offers a unique opportunity for children who have already turned three to join the DBIS community part way through the academic year and enjoy the school’s superb facilities for young learners. To apply for a place, go to dbis.hk/admissions. For more information about DBIS, visit www.dbis.edu.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF DBIS.]

RAY AU, I M OG EN CLY DE, NICO LE I N N O CEN T I , ELIZA B E TH K ER R ,

PETER S HE R WO O D

P HOTOGRAPH E R

STUFF TO KNOW

RICHA R D GO R D O N

www.richardgordonphotography .com

P RI NTI NG

C HA M PI O N DESI G N & PROD U CTI ON CO LT D

BECOME A DB FAMILY FARMER

Flat C & D, 9/F Sing Teck Factory Bldg, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Rd, Hong Kong

With the goal to bring the community closer to nature, CM is again offering residents the chance to take part in DB Family Farm projects at Community Green Square and Central Park. There’s the opportunity to plant seedlings, nurture growing plants and harvest your own crops. To find out more and enrol to farm in 2024, call 2238 3601 or email dbrc@dbsml.com.

B AY M EDI A GRO UP

Flat 6E Elegance Court, Hillgrove Village, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island

D I S CL AIME R

The long-awaited renovations to DB Ferry Pier are nearing completion. The waiting area is already more attractive and more comfortable with extra seating, a wonderful skylight and plenty of potted plants. There’s a 7-Eleven, and Uncle Russ Coffee is scheduled to open this month. [PHOTO BY Nicole Innocenti.]

s g in n e Happ

CO NTRI BU TORS

The views expressed in Around DB are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or contributors. The publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion or statements published in good faith. The publisher, contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission.

FERRY PIER REVAMP

FIT AND FABULOUS AT REGAL AIRPORT HOTEL Looking to hit the reset but ton to recharge af ter all the Xmas celebrations? You can enjoy 50% of f a 55 -minute Swedish Massage at OM SPA at Regal Airpor t Hotel (discounted price HK$490, original price HK$980), and 25% of f all other spa treatments. Alternatively, you can sign up for gym membership at a discounted HK$50 0/ month (original price HK$1,20 0/ month). Gym membership includes access to the hotel’s wellequipped and spacious gym room, heated indoor pool, sauna room and yoga-and-dance room. To find out more and take advantage of these limited-time of fers, call 2286 6266, or visit w w w.regalhotel.com/en/regalairpor t-hotel/Promotions. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Regal Airpor t Hotel.]

8 8 AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

DB NEWS

BUTTERFLY ORCHID FLORAL WORKSHOP

Learn how to create a beautiful arrangement of butterfly orchids at Community Green Square on January 20 from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Known for their showy flowers and honey-like fragrance, butterfly orchids are also resilient and can flower indoors for up to 10 years. Use a soilless potting medium, place in bright, indirect sunlight and water little and often. To enrol in the workshop for HK$480, call 2238 3601.

! s t n e v E &

IN JANUARY!

JOIN DB YOUTH ORCHESTRA

DB resident of 27 years Tim Chen, the music/ orchestral direc tor of Asiar tic Camerata, founded DB Youth Orchestra in November last year, working with teachers at Discover y Bay International School and S.K.H. Wei Lun Primar y School. The orchestra is open to children aged five to 16 years old with rehearsals taking place at DB Nor th Communit y Centre on Monday af ternoons. Anyone who can read music and has learnt the basic s of playing their instrument can join. To find out more and enrol, WhatsApp 9494 9119. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Tim Chen.]

SOUND PRACTITIONER AT SHAKTI

DB residents Per vin and Stephen Clasper have a new recruit at Shak ti Healing Circle in Central: Cer tified Cr ystal Healing and Sound Therapy Prac titioner Vanessa Hui. Vanessa, who is passionate about empowering others on their wellness journey, is of fering regular group cr ystal bowls evenings, as well as individual sound healing sessions. To find out more, visit w w w.shak tihealingcircle.com.

DB FANTASY AUTHOR

Anna Sze, an 11-year-old DB resident with a budding passion for storytelling, has published The Lore of the Foe, her first fantasy novel, available on Amazon and Kindle. A former Discovery College student, now boarding at Harrow International School Hong Kong, Anna is working on her second book. You can follow Anna on Instagram and Twitter @A.B.Sze, and find out more by turning to page 20. [PHOTO BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY JANUARY 6 | GATHER AT THE PLANT MARKET in DB Community Green Square from 2pm to 4pm. Visit Facebook @DynamicDB.

JANUARY 14 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP! Meet at the gate to DB/ Nim Shue Wan at 2.10pm. Email dana@plasticfreeseas.org to RSVP.

THROUGHOUT JANUARY | DONATE PRELOVED FURNITURE to

people in need through DB Mothers & Friends. To arrange for pickup, visit Facebook @dbmf.collection. AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

DB NEWS

OWS’ SPRING COURSES

One World Spirit Association is providing a series of spring courses from mid-Januar y through Februar y to help ring in Chinese New Year. There’s a Putonghua Course focused on conversational skills, a Chinese Calligraphy Class, where you can learn the basic brushstrokes and make your own CNY Couplets, and a Classical and Modern Chinese Dance Course, which comes with performance opportunities. To find out more and enrol, WhatsApp 6219 3817, or email admin1@1worldspirit.org.

WINE PAIRING DINNER AT PEONY

There are seven courses on offer at the Cesari Wine Pairing Dinner at Peony on January 26, plus at least five, high-quality Italian wines and a welcome glass of Prosecco from Gerardo Cesari Winery. Highlights include Shallow-fried Tilefish with Sea Urchin Sauce paired with Cesari JEMA Carvina 2016, Slow-cooked Angus Beef Rib with Cesari Amarone Valpolicella CI DOCG 2018, and Roasted Pipa Duck with Cesari della Amarone Il Bosco 2016. To know more and make a booking, call 2215 0833. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Peony.]

NEW CHEF AT IL BEL PAESE GROUP

New at Il Bel Paese Group, chef Massimo Santovito came on board in DB in December with a mission to create new dishes and recipes, and super vise and train staf f. His inf luence is already being felt at Il Bel Paese, The Rink and European Touch. A s a highly business- oriented chef, Massimo has over 30 years’ experience direc ting food and beverage ser vices for restaurant s, and as a private chef and cooker y tutor. Born in Apulia, Italy he specialises in Italian and European cuisine. [PHOTO BY Sarin Ale.] 10

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

TURNING PASSION INTO PERFORMANCE Island Dance teaches Freestyle Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet and Acro at 13+ locations across Hong Kong including DB. You can see students perform a full dance showcase at the AIA Carnival on January 27 at Central Harbourfront. Managing Director Madhu Kashyap is also excited to announce that the school’s elite dancers will be performing at the world-renowned Chinese New Year Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui. They will be dancing with Ocean Park’s troupe of professional dancers, and you can catch them live on February 10 on T VB. Moving further into 2024, plans are already underway for the Island Dance annual show – Dancing Through the Decades – which will be performed on June 18 and 19 at the Y-Theatre, Chai Wan. The Island Dance motto is “turning passion into performance,” and in 2023, Island Dance students performed at multiple events across Hong Kong including the DB Dragon Boat Gala, Youth Arts Festival’s Arts in the Park and Hong Kong Football Club’s Christmas fair, Party on the Pitch. To find out more or enrol for a class, visit www.islanddance.com.hk. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Island Dance.]

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SPONSORED CONTENT

A L L - N E W S U N DAY B RU N C H E X P E R I E N C E Make your way to Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong for sublime food in a stunning al fresco setting PHOTOS BY Sarin Ale

If you’re like me and where you eat is as important as what you eat, there’s no better place than Lounge bord de Mer, Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong. As you sit in the light, bright interior or out on the terrace in the sun, taking in the lush mountain backdrop and panoramic sea view, you can really kickback and relax. And it’s here you can enjoy Auberge’s all-new ‘Sunday Brunch at the Hidden Oasis,’ weekly, 11.30am to 2.30pm. The experience begins with a fabulous selection of seafood, such as Alaskan Crab Legs, King Prawns, Jade Whelks, New Zealand Mussels, Kings Clams and Cooked Abalone in Soy Sauce. The Live Boston Lobster is a highlight, charcoal-grilled at your table. Everyone gets one lobster and… a scratch card. If your scratch card has the number two or three on it, then you’re in luck: you get to eat two or three lobsters. Further gourmet items, offered on rotation, include Charcoal-grilled Lamb Chops, 48-Month Iberico Ham with Bone and Fresh Figs, Black Label Prosciutto di Parma with Bone and Swiss Raclette Cheese. There’s also a wide selection of desserts (my favourites are delicately flavoured with Twinings’ tea) and all of the 12

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

fruit is premium quality, imported from Japan – deliciously sweet and pleasing to the eye. It almost goes without saying that the brunch includes as much coffee, tea and freshly squeezed fruit juice as you can drink, plus the option of hot chocolate for kids. If you choose (and make no mistake you should), you can pay a little extra for luxury add-ons: Superior Oscietra Caviar On Ice and three hours’ free-flow Moët & Chandon Champagne, red and white wine. For adults, ‘Sunday Brunch at the Hidden Oasis’ is priced at HK$788, HK$988 with the add-ons (caviar, champagne and wine), and for over 65s, it’s HK$788 with the add-ons. For children aged 12 or below, you’re charged HK$188, HK$388 with the addition of caviar. Children aged five or below can enjoy the buffet (without caviar) for free, if they are accompanied by one paying adult. Prices are inclusive of 10% service charge. To treat yourself by booking a table, call 2295 8299, WhatsApp 6317 3526 or email cafe@aubergediscoverybay.com.

! t u o b A Out &

EVENT ROUND-UP

WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO! AT THE HLG KART RACE

Upwards of 80 children competed in the HLG Kart Race on November 25 with a 16-foot-long ramp set up on Discovery Bay Road cycle lane. As well as providing a wild ride for DB kids, the organisers, Harvey Law Group, set out to support local children of diverse needs through Heep Hong Society, donating HK$20,000. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Harvey Law Group.].

PODIUM FINISHERS Age 7:

Champion: 703 – Seaton Wan Second Place: 718 – Liam Wright Third Place: 712 – Jessica Tordoir Age 8:

Champion: 817 – Jiao Feng Second Place: 810 – Rafael Pinho Third Place: 811 – Kilyann Sharma Age 9:

Champion: 916 – Amyas Wardenburg Second Place: 906 – Yip Tat Chung, Truman Third Place: 904 – James Tinker Age 10:

Champion: 1001 – Alberto Lavenia Second Place: 1012 – Sung Gon Kang Third Place: 1003 – Michael Tordoir Age 11:

Champion: 1104 – James McGinlay Second Place: 1102 – Gabriel Norden Third Place: 1111 – Mahtani Krish Ajay Age 12:

Champion: 1203 – Enzo Redel Second Place: 1204 – Ayaan Manilal Third Place: 1202 – Nicolaas van der Walt

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

EVENT ROUND-UP

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

EVENT ROUND-UP

DBRC TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

An incredible 192 competitors (129 adults and 63 kids) took part in the DBRC Tennis Championships which were held every weekend from November 4 to 26 at the club. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DBRC & by Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com.].

CHAMPION WINNERS Men’s Open Singles: Alexandre Ahmadi Women’s Open Singles: Yelena Bracovic Men’s Doubles: Dean Jones & Peter Richter Women’s Doubles: Gigi Cumahig & Amy Wu Mixed Doubles: Amy Wu & Anderson Chan Men’s Legends Singles: Markus Loeffler Parent/ Child Doubles U10: Maximilian & Christian Lohoff Parent/ Child Doubles U14: Parth & Pushkar Sane Junior Singles U10: Maximilian Lohoff Junior Singles U12: Aaran Kotecha Junior Singles U14: Jamie Chen Junior Singles U16: Jamie Chen Junior Doubles U10: Jiho Kim & Maximilian Lohoff Junior Doubles U14: Parth Sane & Jamie Chen

PL ATE WINNERS Men’s Open Singles: Anderson Chan Woman’s Open Singles: Joji Peaker Men’s Doubles: Pushkar Sane & Grant Gilson Women's Doubles: Bashuli Sane & Verity Kriegler Mixed Doubles: Mai Mai Lee & Jamie Chen Men's Legends Singles: Frederic Parbey Parent/ Child Doubles U10: Jack & Lael Gilson Parent/ Child Doubles U14: Fernanda Morales & Cristina Vallejo Junior Singles U10: Alienor Silvestro Junior Singles U12: Angus Holland Junior Singles U14: Dora Gu Junior Singles U16: Kabir Mirza Junior Doubles U10: Flora Fu & Felicity Strobl Junior Doubles U14: Zak Suardi & Junmo Yang 16

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

EVENT ROUND-UP

DBIS’ GREEN SCHOOL RUN

On December 1, students and staff from Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) joined together to form their annual walking school bus. Wearing varying shades of green and/ or well-loved clothing, the school community used leg power rather than vehicles to make their way to campus, with the intention of raising environmental awareness in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DBIS.]

AT THE LANTAU 50

Runners from Japan, Nepal and Hong Kong were top finishers in the Bupa Global Lantau 50 Asian Skyrunning Championship on December 2. The trail race is organised annually by Action Asia Events and features three distances: 16km, 27km and a blistering 54km. [PHOTOS COURTESY of Action Asia Events.]

DBFC VETS IN PHUKET

The DBFC Vets, led by Baz Brown, entered a team in the Phuket Soccer 7s (45s) over the weekend of November 25 and 26. Good football on the Saturday saw them get to the semi-finals on the Sunday only to lose out on golden goal. This year’s tour was joined by DBFC vice chairman Mike Collier and DBFC sponsor, Tanner de Witt partner Tim Drew. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DBFC.]

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

EVENT ROUND-UP

AT CAROLS ON THE PITCH

Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) welcomed DBers back to its ever-popular Carols on the Pitch on December 13. A true highlight of the DB calendar, this festive community event saw DBers join together for an evening of magical music performed by DBIS students. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DBIS.]

ENJOYING CAROLS BY THE BAY

DB Chorus’ Carols by the Bay: An Afternoon of Christmas Carols, at DB North Plaza Community Hall on December 3, was led by director Maneesh Dasanayake. Everyone was welcome to join in, singing Christmas classics like Once in Royal, Joy to the World and Silent Night. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

ST NICHOLAS VISITS

On December 3, One World Spirit Association arranged for the third-century Catholic saint, who inspired the modern version of Santa Claus, to drop in on children aged two to six years. Parents were asked to prepare a small gift for St Nicholas to deliver, and to make a donation t o O W S ’ c h o s e n c h a r i t i e s . [PHOTOS COURTESY OF OWS.]. 18

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AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

PROFILE

! s t r a m S Book

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Not even a ’tween yet, Anna Sze is DB’s newest, published author, and it’s probably the tip of the iceberg. Elizabeth Kerr reports PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com

antau is over flowing with authors. Anna Bella Sze – A.B. Sze – joined the scene in midNovember last year when her first Young Adult fantasy novel, The Lore of the Foe was selfpublished. There’s one minor detail that sets Anna apar t from her peers: she’s 11. To arrive at this Starbucks on a weekday afternoon before Christmas for the first stop on Anna’s publicity tour, for lack of a better word, you have to rewind to when her family arrived in Discover y Bay when she was around five. Her parents, Anita and William (who’ve vanished to do some shopping after setting Anna up at a table), had been working in Beijing and Singapore, but relocated to Hong Kong when Anna’s rare eye disorder, Dissociated Ver tical Deviation (DVD), finally demanded surger y. DVD certainly hasn’t gotten in the way of Anna’s life. She jokes about doctors not letting patients leave their office “until they’ve told you something terrible,” and about her vast array of eyewear: three sets of contact lenses and multiple pairs of glasses. And lest you forget she’s 11, she can be a first-rate prankster. “Sometimes, when I don’t notice, my eyes will go in different directions. My friends just say, ‘Your eye…’ but sometimes I can control it, and I’ll do it on purpose to troll people,” she says with a sneaky giggle. She’ll need one final operation when she’s closer to 18, but that’s years away. She’s also aware things could have been much worse had she not gotten a huge hand from her Discover y College Year 1 teacher, Ms Dunn, who kept her current on classes while she had three surgeries. “I’d probably be in Year 5 right now if I didn’t.” Which takes us to Discover y College Year 5, and 10 months of writing. To hear Anna describe it, she

star ted for the fun of it; her earliest career aspirations were in law. But she star ted making solid narratives out of her daydreams – her words – and her debut novel grew from there. “It wasn’t really a book to star t. I was writing and just went with the flow during my free time. I’m not a big planner,” she laughs again. “The characters are based on my friends mostly because I can’t make up names. I forget my daydreams really quickly, so they’re lost if I don’t write them down. I wrote and wrote and my English teacher found out – Mr Steed – and he helped with my grammar and stuff when I first star ted. He was kind of my editor.” Anna jokes about her lack of planning backing her into a corner. Upon review of one stor y, she discovered two characters were distant cousins; she has pages upon pages of semi-complete work stored on Google Docs, and she admits to cheating if she finds herself struggling to express something. “I brush it off like it’s not that impor tant.” But don’t think for a second Anna is flailing around aimlessly. Ask her if she’s a good student and she shrugs. “I guess so.” She prefers English and drama, and has some strong views on other subjects. “I don’t believe in histor y, because it’s written from one person’s perspective. Harrow teaches philosophy so maybe that got me thinking about it. It’s interesting, yes, but it’s hard to believe.” Then she star ts talking about books. Regardless of her fondness for writing it, she wonders if her time with high fantasy has passed. She’s bored with Harr y Potter and The Hobbit, ironically doesn’t hate historical fiction, but finds romance “cheesy”. “I like layered stories but I find detective stuff quite boring. The reader knows ever ything but the characters are AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

PROFILE

mindlessly looking for clues. I get frustrated and I want to tell them what to do,” she argues. She’s a fan of science fiction for its connection to the present and complicated stories. “Fantasy takes place in the past when it was all swords and tents. I’d like to change that,” she says, arguing there’s no reason not to have mobile phones and “another level of magic” in the same book, and referring to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series as an example. Also on her recent reading list is Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone, and Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem. She’s getting pushed out of her room by her books. Which brings us to Starbucks. Currently a boarder at Harrow International School in Tsuen Wan, Anna has no idea how she got in. “I’m in Year 6 again, because my bir thday is November 29.” Barely 11, right? She has set her sights on writing as a career, which doesn’t seem outside the realm of possibility. Christopher Paolini published Eragon at 15 and he’s still going strong. The Lore of the Foe follows 12-year-old hunter Willow and her companion Prince Solace on their mission to aver t a war in Alanoria between mythical griffin-type creatures and human hunters. There’s a magical gem that’s the key to stopping the fight, and all the trappings of solid fantasy. A pair of Amazon reviews called the book graceful, captivating, hear twarming, and a “cool puzzle”. Both mar velled it was written by a 10-year-old. Still, Anna nitpicks over typos, formatting glitches and cover ar t, but she’s engaged about the publishing process (it took about four months), promotion – and what exactly a trade paperback is. At a time when ar t that speaks to specific groups is in demand, why not have a book by an 11-year-old for 11-year-olds? Anna’s not so sure, and she’s not sure things will change drastically any time soon. “When I look at the authors on my own book shelf, 25% of them are dead, and almost all the rest are over 30 years old. And I feel awkward writing characters that are older than me. I’m 11! I can do one that’s 12 – or a million years old. The adult characters in The Lore of the Foe are ver y minor, and most are based on my mom. I know kids,” she pauses. “I don’t know if anyone will take me seriously when I’m 14 or 15.” Until then she plans to concentrate on finishing the semi-sequel novella to The Lore of the Foe and doing some actual planning for her much more ambitious first series (it involves a heist). But what is Anna doing when she’s not at school or writing? “Reading!” she declares, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Okay, so if she’s not at school, writing or reading? “Plotting out characters.” In reality she plays netball, piano and the classical Chinese erhu, and will put in some time on Nintendo or Minecraft. She expects the books will come together during the 22

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

ANNA AKA THE AUTHOR A.B. SZE

"FANTASY TAKES PLACE IN THE PAST WHEN IT WAS ALL SWORDS AND TENTS. I’D LIKE TO CHANGE THAT...

- ANNA SZE

Christmas break the family, which includes her nineyear-old sister, is taking in Harbin. “I’m visiting my grandmother and my chickens. My sister and I got them in the summer and now they’re huge. They literally play in the snow.” They’ll dabble in the city’s snow festival and do some skating. But Anna’s committed to some serious multi-tasking. “It’s, like, minus 30 degrees up there. I’m going to spend most of the time inside, in the heat, writing, and with my granny.” She does an eye trick and chuckles. “And the chickens.”

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COMMUNITY

DB RECYCLING DAY

! 4 2 0 2 Ri ng in PADDLE FOR A GOOD CAUSE FOOD DONATION

DB DRAGON BOAT GALA

BRIGHT FUTURE

Moving into the new year, City Management will continue to put residents first through a series of fun and meaningful causes and events PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com & courtesy of CM

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

iscover y Bay Ser vices Management Ltd (Cit y Management, CM) rounded of f 2023 as it means to go on with t wo high-profile, communit y-building event s. DB Dragon Boat Gala, held in Oc tober, ser ved to promote spor t s and a healthy lifest yle, and it bir thed Paddle for a Good Cause, a CM-led campaign aimed at suppor ting Hong Kong’s underprivileged. DB Rec ycling Day meanwhile, held in December, set out to inspire resident s to live greener and fully embrace all the eco initiatives already in place in DB. Both event s will be reprised in 2024. “Cit y Management ’s aim is multi-faceted: to help resident s build relationships through shared ac tivities, to celebrate DB’s multicultural demographic and to promote communit y ser vice,” opens Ernest Lee, Assistant Direc tor of Discover y Bay Ser vices Management Ltd (DBSML). “We are delighted to help resident s enjoy their lives through dif ferent kinds of ac tivities specifically tailored for them.”

DRAGON BOATING Think back to October 29, 2023 and you’ll recall that Tai Pak Beach was packed with paddlers – and spectators – enjoying the DB Dragon Boat Gala. Upwards of 500 people showed up to cheer on the competitors, and there were six fiercely contested race categories: Open, Ladies, A45, Community, Gala and Mixed.

COMMUNITY

lies in the strength of the connections that we have with each other.” Despite having to be rescheduled due to Typhoon Koinu, DB Dragon Boat Gala 2023 saw 35 local teams par ticipate, and over 80 VIPs were on hand to present awards to the winners. In setting out to engage more residents, CM added many new elements to the 2023 race-day lineup. There was a Row-on Verandah – with handicraft stalls and face-painting booths – to up the familyfriendly factor, plus the oppor tunity for kids to take par t in a mini dragon boat race. Live per formance ar t was provided by DB-based sand sculptor Gar y Melsom from Sandae, who created a dragon-shaped sculpture using just sand, water and his imagination. Notably too, DB Dragon Boat Gala 2023 was filled with a joyful, carnival-like atmosphere thanks to live per formances by DB-based song and dance troupes. These included The Beefy Brothers, The Decibels, YRock, DMR School of Ballet, Island Dance, Goggin Stewar t School of Irish Dance, Tumbler Cheerleading Team and RG Pro Gymnastics Team. “DB Dragon Boat Gala 2023 was bigger and better than ever before thanks to all the new elements introduced by City Management,” says Ernest. “We also found a new way to discharge corporate social responsibility and reach out to the wider community by collaborating with Foodspor t, a local social enterprise that helps underprivileged Hongkongers through spor ts events and food donation.”

“A DB tradition of 30+ years, the DB Dragon Boat Gala is a significant event aimed at unifying the community; it’s designed to bring residents of diverse cultures, age groups and interests together,” says Ernest. “Competing in a spor t, or simply watching it, is a power ful bonding mechanism. City Management sets out to help forge these bonds by organising events of this kind. The strength of our community

THE DECIBELS PERFORMING LIVE ACAPELLA

COC CUP WINNERS SEAGODS RED

GUESTS JOINING THE EVENT AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

COMMUNITY

“PADDLE FOR A GOOD CAUSE WAS JUST A FIRST STEP. WE ARE EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO HOLD MORE MEANINGFUL EVENTS IN 2024 SENT TO FOOD PACKAGES WERE IES 100 HONG KONG FAMIL IN NEED

COLLABORATING WITH FOODSPORT Foodsport’s calorie-drive campaign is becoming increasingly well-known across Hong Kong. The idea is that while sport can promote good health, it can also facilitate altruism, providing a way for people to give food to those in need. The concept is surprisingly straightforward: the number of calories burnt by participants in a sport event is calculated by a professional nutritionist and food of equivalent calories is then donated to the underprivileged. CM collaborated with Foodsport for the first time at DB Dragon Boat Gala 2023, setting up the Paddle for a Good Cause campaign. A Foodsport nutritionist calculated that during the dragon boat races, competitors burnt over 1 million calories. Food of equivalent calories was then packaged in DB and donated to 100 Hong Kong families in need. 26

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

- Ernest Lee

Assistant Director of DBSML

“City Management was delighted to make this donation via Feeding HK, a local charity and food bank that fights hunger, assisting low-income families and the elderly,” Ernest says. “Importantly too, Paddle for a Good Cause was just a first step. We are exploring opportunities to hold more meaningful events in DB in 2024.” The Paddle for a Good Cause food packaging took place on December 14, 2023 at Discovery Bay MultiPurpose Hall. Representatives from CM and Hong Kong Resort were in attendance, alongside local community stakeholders and representatives from Foodsport, Feeding HK, DB's dragon boat teams and S.K.H. Wei Lun Primary School. Since Christmas was just around the corner, CM elected to include festive treats in the food packages to bring additional smiles to the faces of the beneficiaries.

COMMUNITY

DB RECYCLING DAY The second, high-profile CM event held at the end of 2023 was the DB Recycling Day, which brought the community together to protect the environment. Brought back for the first time since the pandemic, on December 2 in DB Plaza, it will be held annually in the years to come, endorsing CM’s focus on longterm eco-friendly living and sustainability. Residents enjoyed a fun and meaningful day with environmental game booths and exhibitions, ecofriendly product demonstrations and the oppor tunity to learn about different green/ eco topics from CM’s green par tners. There was a special focus on all the community-wide initiatives that are already in place to help DBers be kinder to the planet, such as the DB Food Waste Collection Scheme, DB Family Farm Project and Green DBers Programme. “The annual DB Recycling Day ser ves as a platform for DB residents and stakeholders to share ideas about green living,” Ernest explains. “City Management sets out to update and inform par ticipants about the latest advances in green living in a fun and interesting way. Education is the key to environmental protection and, going for ward, the recycling days will continue to ser ve an educational purpose for all. With waste charging being implemented on April 1, 2024, residents wanted to learn how to avoid having to pay more to dispose of their waste. So, the timing for the 2023 event was ideal.

(with products from local farms) and a leaf print workshop, where residents had the oppor tunity to design tote bags decorated with natural-leaf pigment and flower petals. There was a dance per formance by DB’s Elderly Fun Day par ticipants, and songs from the adults and kids of DB-based choir Sing for Love. “City Management initiatives are designed to inform residents, while encouraging them to have fun,” Ernest concludes. “We look for ward to giving back both to residents and the wider community by providing more events of this kind in 2024.”

ORGANIC VEGETABLE MARKET

“Building an engagement platform between residents and City Management strengthens and gives coherence to the green living ethos already established within DB,” Ernest adds. “The DB Recycling Day was suspended for a few years due to the pandemic, and we were delighted to bring it back in 2023 on a larger scale with more par ticipants and more activities.” On the day, the Environmental Protection Depar tment (EPD) provided a Municipal Solid Waste Charging Exhibition and a Smar t Recycling Promotion Vehicle. There was also the oppor tunity for residents to pose for a photo beside “Big Waster,” the EPD’s mascot designed to promote waste reduction and energy saving in Hong Kong.

HOOL STUDENTS LUN PRIMARY SC EI W H. K. S. BY ECO SHOW

Environmentally responsible children are springing into action across the planet, so it’s no surprise that local students were well represented at the DB Recycling Day. S.K.H. Wei Lun Primar y School students per formed an eco-themed show, set 50 years in the future, to encourage viewers to reflect on and improve their eco-actions. And in an impassioned presentation, Discover y College’s Green Cobras shared their mission to promote ecoawareness in the community and among their peers. Fur ther highlights of the DB Recycling Day included a flower and plant market, organic vegetable market

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE EPD’S “BIG

WASTER”

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

! a i v i r T f o t i B e l t Lit

20 QUESTIONS

PENGUIN QUIZ Penguin Awareness Day falls on the 20th of this month. Find out how much you know about these super-cute flightless birds BY Nicole Innocenti

1. What is a group of penguins in the water called? A. A waddle B. A raft C. A school 2. How many recognised species of penguins are there? A. 12 B. 17 C. 18 3. Which species of penguins are at high risk of extinction? A. Yellow-Eyed Penguins B. Adelie Penguins C. Chinstrap Penguins 4. How do penguins migrate? A. Individually B. In pairs C. In groups 5. How many penguin species can breathe underwater? A. 0 B. 6 C. 18 28

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

20 QUESTIONS

6. What do penguins do to keep warm?

14. Which colour can’t penguins see?

A. Huddle up in a big bunch

A. Violet

B. Dig holes and hide in them

B. Red

C. Rely on their feathers

C. Green

7. Which Emperor Penguin parent incubates the egg?

15. What is the highest a penguin can jump?

A. Mother

B. 2.4 metres

B. Father

C. 3 metres

A. 1.8 metres

C. Both 8. What is the smallest penguin species?

16. Which of these are not penguin predators?

A. Gentoo Penguin

A. Sea lions

B. Fair y Penguin

B. Killer whales

C. Emperor Penguin

C. Polar bears

9. Which of the following do penguins eat?

17. When do adult penguins shed their feathers?

A. Seaweed

A. Januar y/ Februar y

B. Squid

B. March/ April

C. Seals

C. October/ November

10. How many eggs can a penguin hatch at once?

18. Where do penguins live?

A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 11. Which of these penguins was not in the movie Madagascar? A. Skipper B. Private C. Mar ty 12. What don’t penguins have? A. Teeth B. Tails

A. In the southern hemisphere only B. In the nor thern hemisphere only C. Antarctica only 19. Which pasta is associated with penguins? A. Tor tellini B. Far falle C. Macaroni 20. How fast can penguins swim? A. 5km/hour B. 20km/hour C. 30km/hour

C. Feathers 13. How long can an Emperor Penguin hold its breath? A. 4 minutes B. 7 minutes

You can check your score at www.arounddb.com> 20-questions>penguin-quiz.

C. 22 minutes AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

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We put a lot of focus into teaching our kids to clean their rooms, act responsibly and do their homework. These things are important, but there’s one thing that’s more important: teaching kids to enjoy life PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

s parent s, there is nothing we want more than to make sure our children are happy. Their contentment and wellbeing, af ter all, is – in some ways – within our power. But what makes a happy child? Is it giving into their ever y whim – and gr anting them more screen time – or is it about building secure at t achment s, validating their ex periences and encour aging autonomy? Being happy, proud and fulfilled aren’t jus t emotions that leave us feeling war m and fuz z y. Concrete positive outcomes are life -af fir ming, and they are as sociated with bet ter school at tendance, bet ter ac ademic per for mance, bet ter self- es teem and bet ter over all health. So how do we r aise our children to be happy?

WHAT MAKES A CHILD HAPPY? While happiness may seem rather basic – one is either happy or not – many things can contribute to a child’s happiness. External stimuli, for example, may make a child happy (or, conversely, it could make a child sad). Validation can result in peace and contentment, and friendships can be full of pleasure and joy. But there is no one thing which makes children happy. There is also no way to ensure a child is always happy. Full-time happiness is a myth, something that is impossible to attain. Still, there are skills you can teach your children to help them enjoy life to the full. Nur turing resilience is essential: empowering children to be resilient sets them up for positive, constructive experiences and helps them learn how to deal with difficult situations. It can also help them bounce back, when stressors occur. Encourage your children’s ability to successfully adapt, positively transform and return to their baseline despite being surrounded by stressors and adversity. Teaching kids to believe in themselves is never a bad decision, so instead of mollycoddling or overprotecting, focus on building autonomy and self-efficacy. Once children have control over their own decision-making and become confident in their decisions, they feel empowered to take an active par t in creating their own happiness. Encouraging problem-solving – in school, with friends and with you – is a first step. By talking through difficult situations, you help your child learn how to handle the problems they’re facing currently and that they will face in the future. Empathy, being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, is a skill ever yone should learn. Children benefit from appreciating each other’s similarities and differences, and the ability to empathise with the people around them helps them build fulfilling relationships. Likewise, it’s impor tant for children to understand the need for emotional regulation

PARENTING

CHILDREN NEED TO BE INSPIRED BY YOUR OWN ATTITUDE TO LIFE AND WILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE HAPPINESS... and impulse control. Incorporating mindfulness into their routine and encouraging them to be aware of their feelings helps with this.

POSITIVE PARENTING Children need to feel suppor ted (and loved) in order to become happy and healthy. They also need to be inspired by your own attitude to life and willingness to embrace happiness. Here are a few ways you can do that. Foster connections: let your children see that you are actively involved in other people’s lives and, most impor tantly, their own. Spend quality time together having fun. Have meaningful conversations with them about school, friends and hobbies. Talk through and validate their experiences, and be open and honest about your own. Model what happiness means to you: from prac ticing self-care to meditating, reading and moving your body, engaging in ac tivities that bring you happiness will encourage your child to do the same. One of the best things you can do for your AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

PARENTING

SPEND QUALITY TIME TOGETHER HAVING FUN

child’s emotional (and physical) wellbeing is to attend to your own. Prac tice gratitude: help your children feel safe, secure and happy by expressing thankfulness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, prioritise their health, deal with adversity and build strong relationships. So how do you foster gratitude in children? One simple way is to ask them to take time daily – before or during a meal, for example – to name aloud something they are thankful for. Then, make it a regular ritual. Discourage consumerism: children need to understand that while money can give them the oppor tunity to be happy, they can’t consume their way to happiness. How do you teach them this? Star t by explaining that shopping is not a recreational ac tivity, and follow through by limiting time spent in stores and malls. Many children get so much stuf f nowadays that it quickly becomes overkill. By giving children too many gif ts, you encourage them to believe that having things brings happiness – so tr y to avoid that, even on bir thdays. As for your own bir thday, use it as an oppor tunity to reinforce your values. You might discourage gif ts and instead ask your child to share a memor y with you of a favourite family ac tivity. You can also help your children dream up gif ts for your spouse that will be meaningful, like a handmade card, a homebaked cake or a self-penned poem. Play games with your children to demonstrate how much fun can be had with a simple deck of cards. Make a treehouse or bake a cake with them to show the pleasure of a produc tive ac tivity. Go to a museum to show them the pleasure of an intellec tual ac tivity. 34

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

DON’T TRY TOO HARD It sounds counterintuitive, but the best thing you can do for your children’s long-term happiness may be to stop tr ying to keep them happy. If we put our children in a bubble and grant them their ever y wish and desire, that is what they grow to expec t… but the real world doesn’t work that way. To keep from overcoddling, recognise that you are not responsible for your child’s happiness. If we feel responsible for our children’s emotions, we have great dif ficulty allowing them to experience anger, sadness, or frustration. We swoop in immediately to give them whatever we think will bring a smile to their face, or solve whatever is causing them distress. Unfor tunately, children who don’t learn to deal with negative emotions are in danger of being crushed by them as adolescents and adults. Once you accept this, you’ll be less inclined to tr y to “fix” their feelings – and more likely to step back and allow them to develop the coping skills and resilience they’ll need to bounce back from life’s inevitable setbacks. Of course, if you really want to bolster your child’s self-esteem, focus less on compliments and more on providing them with ample oppor tunities to learn new skills. Master y, not praise, is the real selfesteem builder. The great mistake good parents make is doing too much for their children. While it can be difficult to watch our children struggle, they’ll never know the thrill of master y unless we allow them to risk failure. Few skills are per fected on a first tr y, becoming proficient in something takes practice. And through repeated experiences of master y, children develop the can-do attitude that lets them approach future challenges with the zest and optimism that are central to a happy life.

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AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

INSIDER

ome young friends nipped over from Sheung Wan to visit my wife and I a few weekends ago, primarily to ask for a bit of financial advice. I’m a bond trader, not a financial advisor, but I was happy to share my two cents’ wor th, par ticularly when I learnt that the lovebirds had just lost rather a large sum to some dodgy insurance scam. I hear too many stories about young or simply gullible people, who are attempting to save for their future, making ill-informed choices, or quite simply getting conned. (Consider pyramid schemes, and the fraudsters who deal in them.) When it comes to making finance-related decisions, the most impor tant thing to recognise, as I told my weekend visitors, is if something sounds too good to be true, it is. The second is just as straightfor ward – get yourself a trusted financial planner and don’t move without his say so.

WHY YOU NEED A FINANCIAL ADVISOR My young friends were rather taken aback when I advised them to employ a financial planner – more so when I advised them to pay him 1% of their annual assets. But to me this is absolutely essential. Whether you are just star ting out, or well on the road to retirement, you need someone to watch over your finances for you. By having an independent financial planner on call, 12 months of the year, you get all the advice you could possibly need. What’s more, the cost involved is negligible since you are gaining exper t advice that will help you pay of f a mor tgage, fund your children’s education and enjoy your retirement. When choosing a financial planner, my first tip is that you avoid those who rely on commission for their income. Advisors who profit from enticing you towards par ticular produc t s can’t help but be biased. Bet ter pay someone an annual fee or, if your needs are really simple, a flat fee for a financial plan, topped up with a few hourly consultations over the year. Tip two: make sure the advisor you choose has an advanced diploma in a relevant discipline such as finance, economics, accounting or financial planning. On top of this, he should ideally be a Cer tified Financial Planner, or CFP professional. As you can see on the Institute of Financial Planners of HK website: “CFP Cer tification is the world’s oldest and most recognised advanced cer tification for financial planners. It is the pinnacle of financial planning excellence and CFP professionals are required to meet stringent initial and on-going standards on competence, ethics and prac tice.” To get the CFP credential, an advisor has gone through a two-year cer tification process, he is also

BE PREPARED TO ASK AND ANSWER A GREAT MANY QUESTIONS

committed to keeping up-to-date on the information you need through continuing education. Note that advisors who rely financially on what they sell (insurance policies, securities or mutual funds) have professional relationships with the providers they work with. To avoid a conflic t of interest, CFP professionals are bound by a stric t code of professional conduc t – they are ethically obliged to put your needs above their own. You are looking for a fiduciar y – someone who has sworn to ac t in his client’s best interests at all times. A financial planner, who is not a fiduciar y, is bound to sell you financial produc ts that suit your needs but that’s it – they don’t have to be ideal or in your best interests.

QUESTIONS TO ASK In order to choose the right financial planner, the one who will best ser ve your needs, you have to be prepared to ask a lot of questions. As a star ting point, ask friends and colleagues, who are of a similar age and earning capacit y, for their recommendations. If you have children, ask other parent s; if you are a recent graduate, talk to other graduates. Be war y of (run from) any financial planners who “cold call” you – a successful advisor doesn’t have to hunt for client s. AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

INSIDER

AN ADVISOR SHOULD FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION BEFORE SUGGESTING WAYS THAT HE CAN HELP YOU, OR ASKING YOU HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE TO INVEST While a friend’s recommendation is a good sign, rely on your own judgment. Be prepared to inter view several advisors before you plump for one. Take your time, as you may like the first person you talk to but be totally blown away by the second or third. Approaches to finance var y widely, so explore the alternatives in order to find your per fec t match. In an initial meeting with an advisor, assess not only his qualifications but also his experience. Will you feel happiest being advised by someone newly graduated with high qualifications, or by someone older with fewer qualifications but more on-thejob experience? Some financial planners work with their client s direc tly, and others have a team of people working with them. Make sure that you meet (and warm to) the person who will ac tually be assisting you. It ’s impor tant to assess whether an advisor t ypically deals with client s in a financial situation comparable to your own. Ask him about his other client s and request let ters of recommendation. This way you can judge if he has the experience to deal with your issues and goals. Assess the advisor ’s t ypical line of at tack. Make sure his approach to investing isn’t too aggressive (or too cautious) for your needs. Impor tantly too, 38

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

check that he is familiar with any financial produc t s you currently own. Watch to see that he focuses on the ser vices and strategies he can of fer you, rather than the produc t s he can sell you. Once you have a couple of potential advisors shor tlisted, run a background check on each of them. Have they ever been convic ted or accused of a crime? Ask which organisations they are regulated by and contac t them. ( The CFP Board keeps records on the disciplinar y histor y of it s members). Ask too about the advisors’ qualifications and credentials and make sure their claims are true and current. You can find out through Google who administers the designation in question, then call the administrator for verification. One final piece of advice. An advisor should fully understand your financial situation before suggesting ways that he can help you, or asking you how much money you have to invest. A good financial advisor will therefore ask you a great many questions when you first meet – about your physical health and your financial health (debt / savings situation), and whether you have an existing will, insurance scheme and retirement plan. Be as open and honest with him, as you want him to be with you.

DMR School of Ballet Annual Performance Each year, DMR Dancers showcase their hard work, passion and fun costumes in our annual performance. We can't wait until ‘The Toy Box’!

Hong Kong Disneyland Our dancers, aged 6+, have an amazing and exciting opportunity to perform at Hong Kong Disneyland, along the parade route!

We help people experiencing homelessness to transform their lives At non-profit ImpactHK we have a vision for an inclusive Hong Kong where everyone has a safe place to call home and cares for their neighbour. We work with people experiencing homelessness to help them settle in a safe home, restore their mental and physical wellbeing, build their self-esteem and discover their purpose.

Other Performances We are excited to have the opportunities to perform at different venues around Hong Kong such as DB Dragon Boat, and at the AIA Carnival.

WHAT WE DO

RAD Ballet

People supported by our outreach

serving Meals daily

providing People with shelter

Our Ballerinas can participate in our graded classes following the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Syllabus and focus on strength and grace.

creating employment opportunities

ISTD Modern and Tap Modern (Jazz) is a great to gain flexibility, technique and grow as performers. Our tap classes focus on rhythm, line and style, and confidence!

Support Our Work impacthk

impacthkCHARITY

impacthk.org

ImpactHK Limited is a charity registered in Hong Kong: 91/15122

info@dmr-hk.com

+852 5210 7208

Unit 21, 1/F, DB North

! e im T Vacation ESCAPES

LA MÉTROPOLE DU QUÉBEC The City of Festivals REPORTING BY Nicole Innocenti PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

KNOWN FOR ITS EUROPEAN AMBIENCE and chic French-

speaking inhabitants, Montreal is all about the ar ts, festivals and food. Centred on the Island of Quebec, on the banks of two rivers, it’s the second largest city in Canada and arguably its most attractive. In 2006, Montreal was named a UNESCO City of Design – a design capital of the world.

AS THE NO.1 NORTH AMERICAN HOST CITY for international events,

Montreal is big on entertainment year-round. It boasts the world’s largest jazz festival, comedy festival and French-language music festival. Visit this month, and you can catch Igloofest, the “coldest music festival in the world,” from January 18 to February 10.

MONTREAL’S MUSEUMS ARE LEGENDARY, starting with Musée des

Beaux-Arts, which homes centuriesworth of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts. Jim Dine’s iconic Twin Six Hearts stands right outside. Musee McCord, meanwhile, is the place to find historical artifacts that celebrate life in Montreal, and Biosphere is dedicated to the environment. 40

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

ESCAPES

VIEUX MONTREAL, A HISTORIC DISTRICT with

French- colonial buildings dating back to the 17th centur y, is also Montreal’s enter tainment central. Here you can take a ride on La Grande Roue (Canada’s tallest Ferris wheel), zipline of f the Old Clock Tower and, in the winter months, take a turn on an outdoor ice-skating rink at the Old Por t.

PERCHED HIGH ON A THREEHEADED HILL, Parc du Mont-

Royal offers up a range of outdoor activities, from jogging and horseback riding to bird watching. Visit in winter for crosscountr y-skiing, tobogganing and ice-skating. Head to the Camilien-Houde and Kondiaronk Chalet lookout points for stunning views of the city.

AT THE BIODOME, ESPACE Pour

la Vie there are five different ecosystems to explore. From walkways within the building, you can experience the Antarctic islands, walk through rainforest, spot lynx in the Laurentian Forest and get an underwater glimpse of the Gulf of St Lawrence. There’s also an Insectarium, Planetarium and Botanical Gardens.

MONTREAL’S HISTORY (not the usual biblical scenes) is displayed

in the stained-glass windows of Basilique Notre-Dame. This 19th century Gothic Revival landmark has a breathtaking interior with gilt stars shining from the ceiling vaults, complex wood carvings, gilded sculptures and beautiful religious paintings. AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

! d or w ss o r C u Lanta PUZZLES

TRAILS & RACES

Lantau Trails & Races

ACROSS

3. Hong Kong’s toughest

6. Follows the path of the cable car 7.

70km loop around Lantau

10. National dress required

11. Known for its waterfalls 10

12. In memory of Nic 15. Once frequented by monks 16. Booze at checkpoints

17. Features a set of Olympic pictograms 18. Includes an ultra-distance 140km

12 13

DOWN 1. Two in one

2. Uphill to find a vase 4. From a reservoir to Ngong Ping

5. Named for a big cat 8. Fast finish by the bay

9 . Tung Chung to Tai O 13. Hong Kong’s longest country trail 18

14. Race to beat the sun

SUDOKU

Across Hong Kong's toughest Follows the path of the cable car 5 71 70km2 loop around Lantau 10 National Dress required 2 9 1 8 11 Known for its waterfalls 12 In memory 9 6 of 7Nic 3 15 Once frequented by monks 16 Booze at checkpoints 8 17 Features a set of Olympic 4 3 5 9 2 pictograms 18 Includes an ultra-distance 6 140km 3 6

Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.47)

8 2

H Answers

4 4

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 14 07:53:34 2023 GMT. Enjoy!

Down Two in one Uphill to find a vase From a reservoir to Ngong 8 2 6 3 Ping 5 5Named for a4big cat 3 9 8 Fast finish by the bay Tung 69 2 Chung to Tai O 7 13 Hong Kong's longest country 7trail 9 5 14 Race to beat the sun 1 2 4

Puzzle 2 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.58)

7 7

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 14 07:53:34 2023 GMT. Enjoy!

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RECIPES

Pasta la vista, baby! Master these classic pasta dishes and you’ll soon be coming back for more BY Nicole Innocenti PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

SPAGHETTI CARBONARA Serves 4 400g spaghetti 1tbsp olive oil 200g smoked pancetta 3 eggs 75ml double cream 50g parmesan 2 garlic cloves, crushed

Boil a pan of salted water. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Fry over a high heat for 1 minute until lightly golden. Remove from the heat and set aside. Crack two of the eggs into a mixing bowl. Separate the yolk from the third egg and only add the yolk to the bowl. Beat together, along with the double cream, parmesan and some seasoning. Add the garlic to the pancetta. Fry over high heat for 1 minute until the garlic is cooked and the pancetta warmed through. Next, drain the spaghetti. Pour the egg mixture over the pasta, followed by the hot pancetta, garlic, any fat and oils. Toss quickly and thoroughly with pasta tongs to form a smooth, creamy sauce. Serve immediately with extra parmesan and freshly ground pepper.

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

RECIPES

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

RECIPES

HOMEMADE PESTO PASTA Serves 4 300g linguine 85g almonds, roughly chopped 25g pecorino cheese, grated handful of basil leaves, roughly chopped 50ml virgin olive oil 4 small tomatoes, chopped

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

Boil a pan of salted water. Add the linguine and cook until al dente: Meanwhile, put the almonds, cheese, most of the basil and all of the olive oil in a food processor. Blitz to form a chunky pesto paste. Drain the pasta, then stir through the pesto and tomatoes. Serve sprinkled with extra parmesan, freshly ground pepper and the remaining basil leaves.

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LOCAL NUMBERS

TUNG CHUNG

EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station HOME & REPAIRS Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Mr Chan 24-Hour Handyman Papabo Shun Yu Engineering HOTELS Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Regal Airport Hotel Sheraton Tung Chung The Silveri Hong Kong - MGallery LEARNING CENTRES Clement Art School Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Primary School Greenfield International Kindergarten Salala Kids’ House Sun Island Education Foundation Tung Chung Catholic School YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College MEDICAL Bayside Dental Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre North Lantau Hospital North Lantau Physiotherapy Quality Health Dental Quality Health Care Medical Raffles Medical Raffles Medical Emergency

REALTORS 2988 8282 HomeSolutions 3483 5003 2988 1898 3661 1999 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 2109 2330 ReloSmart 2561 3030 9343 3718 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 5541 1502 2988 1488 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Caribbean Coast Clubhouse 2109 9277 Caribbean Coast Management Office 2109 9288 2179 6678 3969 1888 Coastal Skyline Clubhouse 2179 6621 3602 8888 Coastal Skyline Management Office 3473 8700 2286 8888 Seaview Crescent Clubhouse 3473 8833 2535 0000 Seaview Crescent Management Office 2403 6770 3602 8989 Tung Chung Crescent Clubhouse Tung Chung Crescent Management Office 2109 1222 RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY A Tavola Bar & Grill 2321 5500 Andante, Novotel Citygate 3602 8828 Cabana Breeze 2777 8982 Café Aficionado 2286 6238 Café Lantau, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0021 Funky Monkey 2427 1111 Jasmine Tung Chung 2162 8018 La Rosabelle Bar & Grill 2881 8788 La Vista 2368 6866 2535 0023 2185 6550 Lobby Lounge, Sheraton Tung Chung 2330 0131 2109 9396 Maison Du Mezze 3500 5885 2109 2288 Man Mano Italian Restaurant 2762 8077 3467 7000 Mint & Basil 2116 8149 2194 0020 Moon Lok Chiu Chow 2907 6918 2403 6613 My Thai 2234 9199 2403 6623 Nha Trang Vietnamese Cuisine 2297 3588 2261 2626 PizzaExpress 2261 0999 Regala Café & Dessert Bar, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6618 9757 9157 2987 8070 2915 0666 2162 5538 2611 9193 2420 1068 2121 0884 2988 8123

Rouge, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6868 Skycity Bistro, SkyCity Marriott 3969 2500 Sunset Grill, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0025 The New Chapter 2907 6988 The Tavern 2907 6822 Upper Deck 2757 8889 Yue, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0028 Velocity Bar & Grill, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott 3969 1888 RETAIL FTC Apparel Lantau Balloons

2428 2566 9733 5483

SPORT & RECREATION Asia Pacific Soccer Schools 2385 9677 Aqua Gym 2914 0658 B & S Art Gallery 2493 8895 Dance for Joy 9264 8597 Edge ’n Pointe Dance Centre 6688 2167 ESF Sports 2711 1280 Fitness in Motion 9744 4736 HK Dragons 2987 4274 Kinder Kicks Soccer 2385 9677 Perun Fitness 6443 6597 Rugbytots 5307 6677 Tung Chung Public Swimming Pool 2109 9107 Tung Chung Sports Centre 2109 2421 Tung Chung Rugby Club 6079 0825 VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Royal Pets (Pet Sitting) Tung Chung Animal Clinic Tung Chung Vet Centre

6314 9887 2988 1534 2328 7282

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Max Beauty Spa OM Spa, Regal Airport Hotel Tung Chung Nail Ninjas Quan Spa, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott

2162 5752 2286 6266 9551 6468 3692 1888

The Gallery The Kitchen Treasure Island Beach Club

2980 2582 5991 6292 5236 7013

RETAIL Bella Ciao Lantau Friendly Bike Shop Garden Plus Island Wines Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. Lantau Base Camp Lantau Grocer Red Hall Chinese Antiques Steak King Mui Wo Tony’s Salon Value Vigilantes VIBE Book & Music Shop

9321 0487 2984 2278 2980 2233 9521 8481 2984 8346 9889 4375 2702 0050 2988 1368 5988 2005 2984 0990 6132 9120 9088 2370

SPORT & RECREATION Long Coast Seasports South Lantau Paddle Club Treasure Island Beach Club

5545 5625 6058 8843 2546 3543

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Pause by the Banyan Spa Ambiance

9708 0187 2984 2488

SOUTH LANTAU EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Lantau South Police Mui Wo Fire Department

MEDICAL 3661 1696 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 2984 1570 REALTORS HOME & REPAIRS Findley Leung 2984 8334 Koon Wah Hardware 2984 8487 HomeSolutions 3483 5003 Lee Wo Construction Engineering 2984 1802 Man Shun Construction & Engineering 2984 9833 REMOVALS & RELOCATION New Look Design 9783 5840 Akash Removals 2421 8088 Papabo 5541 1502 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Lee Hing Loong 2984 2268 HOTELS ReloSmart 2561 3030 Silvermine Beach Resort 6810 0111 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 Tai O Heritage Hotel 2985 8383 RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY LEARNING CENTRES Bathers 2504 4788 Ashville International Kindergarten & Nursery 2109 9886 Bella Ciao Lantau 9321 0487 Buddhist Fat Ho College 2985 5365 Cafe Isara 2470 1966 Lantau International Kindergarten 2984 0302 Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 Lantau International School, Reception, 2984 0302 China Bear 2984 9720 Lantau International School, Lower Primary 2980 3676 La Pizzeria 2984 8933 Lantau International School, Upper Primary 2984 0302 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten 3689 7033 Long Island 2320 2001 Mui Wo Language Cafe 5511 6107 Pause Cafe 5267 5549 Silvermine Bay School 2984 0006 The China Beach Club 2983 8931

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

LOCAL NUMBERS

DISCOVERY BAY BUSINESS SERVICES Monx T8 Consulting Ltd

5286 0155 2517 8248

EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 China Light & Power Emergency DB Fire & Ambulance Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Police Report Room

2728 8333 2987 7502 2435 4511 3661 1694

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of China 2160 8585 HSBC 2233 3000 HOME & REPAIRS Chameleon Design & Interiors China Light & Power Information DRS Company Good Luck Engineering Island Cleaning Solutions May’s Furniture & Curtain Design Rich Point Hardware Materials Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department Well Supreme Laundry

9219 8169 2678 2678 9156 0360 2987 1313 6091 5176 2987 0222 2987 0789 2811 0788 2824 5000 2987 5151

HOTELS Auberge Discovery Bay

2295 8288

LAWYERS & INSURANCE Harvey Law Group International law firm offering a wide range of commercial & personal legal services. Meeting facilities available in DB. Contact 24168618, dboffice@harveylawcorporation.com,

Manulife 9172 9152 LEARNING CENTRES & SCHOOLS Discovery Montessori School A reputable & well-known international school for authentic Montessori bilingual (English & Chinese) education for children aged 1 to 12 years. Beautiful campus & highly qualified teachers. Contact 2987 1201, enquiry@dms.edu.hk, www.dms.edu.hk

EpicLand Billed as Hong Kong’s tallest indoor entertainment centre, EpicLand is home to the city's first ‘air trek’, complete with eight sky-high obstacles, trampolines, slides and more. Contact 2441 0098, reception@epiclandhk.com, www.epiclandhk.com

Bayview House of Children 6114 2436 DBIS 2987 7331 DBIS Kindergarten 2914 2142 Discovery College 3969 1000 Discovery Mind International Play Centre 2987 8088 Discovery Mind Kindergarten 2987 8088 Discovery Montessori Academy 2812 9206 Dr Bear Education Centre 9685 7856 Elevate English Centre 5445 8228 EpicLand 2441 0098 Funfit 6302 6327 Guidepost Montessori (DB) 2185 6134 HKILA 2416 3198 La Petite Enfance Kindergarten 8191 0813 Mandarin for Munchkins 2480 3909 Mathemagic (home tutoring) 9135 4724 Rigolo comme la vie 5495 8810 SKH Wei Lun Primary School 2987 8608 Treasure House 2987 4217 Woodentots 6108 9131 Yifan Mandarin 9208 7611 54

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

Zhi Zhi Chinese 9648 2966 MEDICAL Bayside Dental Practice 2987 0855 DB Medical Centre 2987 5633 Health & Care Dental Clinic 2666 6183 Island Health 2987 7575 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 Quality Health Medical Centre 2987 5633 Quality Health Physiotherapy 2473 6200 Lok Kwan Home Care Service 2803 2103 Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Lok Kwan District Support Centre (Islands) 2548 0060/ 2546 3739 Yulana Stynder Physiotherapy 5514 1008 PLACES OF WORSHIP DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB Anglican Church DB International Community Church Trinity Chapel

2987 8136 2987 4210 2987 7061 3590 8017

REALTORS Headland Homes 2987 2088 Kingsland 2987 2987 Land Master Property 2987 6238 Okay.com 2102 0888 Savills 2987 1919 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals FTC Relocations ReloSmart SwiftRelo

2421 8088 2814 1658 2561 3030 2363 4008

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES DB Office Centre DB Lost & Found DB Management The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Typhoon Signal Enquiries

2238 3388 3651 2345 2238 3601 2259 3422 2835 1473

RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY The Rink Italian Kitchen Located in DB Plaza Extension, the THE RINK Italian Kitchen offers guests a unique gastronomical experience of authentic Italian flavours. To reserve a table, call 3709 6451.

Bones & Blades 2383 0792 Café Bord de Mer & Lounge 2295 8299 Caffe Pascucci 2591 1426 Cali-Mex 2904 7698 Coffee Academics 2882 2280 Dough Bros 2408 0448 Ebeneezer’s 2987 0036 Epic Foods 2172 6111 Figos Seaside Café 2987 2995 il Bel Paese 2987 0202 Island Café 2987 9311 JOO Korean Grill & Bar 6706 7520 Koh Tomyums 2987 0767 La Creation & Châteraisé 2987 1829 Levain Bakery 2726 4922 Lekker Laa 6857 1620 McDonald’s & McCafe 2987 1033 Moofish by Zak’s 2987 6318 MOOJOO Lifestyle Cafe 5122 5928 Osmanbey Turkish Restaurant 5401 8350 Paisano’s 2673 4445 Peony 2215 0833 PizzaExpress 3164 1340 Shanghai Breeze 2987 7808 Subway 2914 0005 Sushi No En 3705 9984

LOCAL NUMBERS

DISCOVERY BAY Taste of Thai 2987 2010 The Chippy 2987 8688 The Pier Bar 2520 2166 Three Sheets Marquee Bar 2987 0966 The Rink 3611 8369 Uncle Russ 2840 1188 Viet Bu Tong Kitchen & Bar 2338 8970 Zak’s 2987 6232 RETAIL & DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven 2299 1110 Bloom 6117 7653 Bones & Blades Butcher 2383 0683 Bookazine 2987 1373 Circle K 2991 6337 DB Post Office 2987 6046 european touch 2918 0868 felix and mina 2130 7013 Fusion by PARKnSHOP 2987 7486 Garden A rtemis 9137 4833 Gillian Florist 2529 8256 Greenmont Kids 5345 1451 Havana@ DBay 2918 0868 Island Wake 2636 0601 Japan Home Centre 2987 1041 Market Place and IKEA 2947 9092 Nomadic 2987 8460 Open Kitchen 2987 8720 P-Solution 2987 1777 Tai Fat Hardware Store 2987 0789 The Optical House 2987 1368 Toysland 2987 7859 Watson’s Pharmacy 2987 4089 Watson’s Wine 2987 0268 SPORT & RECREATION HK Dragons Football Club Football for girls & boys aged 2.5 years to 14 years. Contact 2987 4274, dragons.hk

MGK Fight Club 9303 2996 Tinytots 3488 7724 Yoga Bay 6704 9851 Yogika 6749 7836 YogaUP 6805 4996 Yrock 6180 0817 TRANSPORTATION DB Golf Cart Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2914 2727 2987 7351 5303 3489 2987 9368

VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Island Veterinary Services My Pet Shop Pets Gallery Pet Space Club Ready, Pet, Go! The Dog's Garden

2987 9003 2987 8873 2987 0428 2788 1599 5721 6181 2987 2077

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Ingredients of Wellness Mindfulness training for children, teens & their parents and teachers. Offering Mindfulness Matters, Mindfulness in Education (for adults), AMT Mindfulness Teacher Training. Contact 9048 5425, angie@ingredientsofwellness.com, www.ingredientsofwellness.com

Afflatus Hair Workshop Bay Spa DB Pure Spa Head to Toe Spa By Nailed it Herbal Health Care Hypnotherapist Margaret Liu Nailed It! Salon De Coiffure Sophia Essentials Spa Botanica, Auberge Discovery Bay

2987 0283 9837 0969 9794 0918 2988 1188 2834 7276 5925 3469 2987 2266 2987 4112 2527 0118 2295 8129

Island Dance ISTD Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, Tap & AcroDance classes at DBRC, Club Siena & DB Plaza. Five professional instructors, teaching six days a week. Contact 2987 1571/ 9159 0663, info@islanddance.com.hk, www.islanddance.com.hk

Tekkerz Football programmes for boys & girls for age groups U5 up to U14. Contact 9770 4548, train@tekkerzfootball.com, www.prosportsasia.com

BMSE Community Centre 2259 3422 Caissa Chess 6938 7603 Club Siena 2987 7382 Daruma Judo 6244 6093 DBees 9867 9240 DB Ice Rink 2234 0187 DB Pirates 9255 6133 DB Golf Club 2987 7273 DB Recreation Club 2987 7381 DMR 5210 7208 Dream Sports Academy 3462 2626 Embody 6624 8712 EpicLand 2441 0098 EMS Fitness Hong Kong 6200 2463 Gallery Jeeum 9819 7176 Harry Wright International 2575 6279 HK Yoga 6113 6770 Kaisei Ryu Ju Jitsu 5315 0227 Kapuhala Train-in-Space 6101 8434 Korea Taekwondo Cheung Do Kwan 9663 8077 Lantau Yacht Club 2987 9591

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @ www.arounddb.com To add your own directory listing box, call the Bay Media office on 2987 0167, or email info@baymedia.com.hk

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024

OUT THERE

par t. This was a worr y until a covid test, then bingo! The Thing had hacked my ner vous system, plus the accompanying joy of pneumonia.

COVID’S NASTY AFTERMATH Moving into 2024 has Peter Sherwood resolved to look on the bright side of life? Not exactly. But he has learnt how to be a patient patient PHOTO COURTESY OF Pexels

There followed isolation in a large, windowless room wearing pyjamas designed by the Prison Officer’s Union and made in a Karachi carpet factor y. Leaving bed was prohibited; no pain, save the embarrassment of a diaper, but let’s not get into that. Too exhausted to be bored, the worst moments were relieved by the gift of hallucinations; sharp and clear and jolly, enough to save me from panic. Someone should package and sell it. I wrote like a madman, brilliantly funny stuff, all in my delusional head, but what the hell; it wasn’t depression. Unhappily I retained taste and smell as I discovered with a shudder when lunch arrived, a disturbing heterogenous swill of unknown origin. But at least it was free, or so I thought, until I could not produce my ID card which was stolen days before – to make my year complete. “Pay up, Sher wood!” yelled the Hospital Computer, “a photocopy of your ID card and police repor t won’t cut it.” The Machine began churning out bills totalling HK$80,000 that filled those par ts of the bed where I wasn’t. Later some friends confronted the beast and got it slimmed down to a tidy HK$1,180, including the beige gruel and something reckoned to be congee, but I remain suspicious. Nurses were efficient and if you’re looking for bedside manner or a little TLC, you’ll need to Google it. With the language barrier, ignorance (mine) was absolute, and when, unannounced, they wheeled in a medieval torture device I nearly… well, I said I wouldn’t get into that. It was a weighing machine and it hoisted me up like a side of beef. Confinement at home for 166 days on going to seven months on going is only tedious if you’re fit, otherwise you live the dream: bed all day and no work. And you find out who your friends are: some, for whom you did a lot when they were ill, are suddenly struck with retrograde amnesia.

COVID, OF COURSE, ROBBED MONA LISA OF HER SMILE, THOUGH ONLY TEMPORARILY

ovid is not always accompanied by flu symptoms, it can be as full of surprises as a Thai escor t ser vice. I’d spent an hour in the gym (admiring abdominals of per fect definition), and next morning struggled to get out of bed. Enter an ambulance and hospital where I lay in a corridor like a spare Prince Harr y before someone thought an X-ray might be handy. My finely honed body was declared magnificent as ever but missing the athletic

While it took months before I could write something amusing, at least covid’s famed mind fog didn’t whack me, but how would I know; mine has always been a bit of a swamp. On the final day of hospital, a covid test was authorised before I could shamble out on my shiny HK$279 government crutches. Cleared to go, had I tested positive I would have had to stay, and was too spent and institutionalised to care. Covid can do that to you. It’s hard to celebrate being at home with muscular pain for months, although it must be said that as a rent payer you do get your money’s wor th.

Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 20+ years. The former head of an international public relations firm, he is the author of 15 books and has written around 400 satirical columns for the South China Morning Post. 56

AROUND DB / JANUARY 2024