Around DB June 2021

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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

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J U N E 2 0 21 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

A NEW PLACE TO GATHER

DB Community Green Square

MAKE CHESS SING

Cool moves to get you started

BETTER TOGETHER

The proven benefits of inclusionary education

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J U N E 2021 W W W. A R O U N D D B .CO M

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FEATURES 24

Profile Marine biologist and educator Estelle Davies

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Community What we can expect at DB Community Green Square

32 42

Education

The inclusionary approach to teaching and learning

Insider How to master chess (and open with the Queen’s Gambit)

10

Introductory feng shui

46 HELPLINE

Support for FDWs

52 DB FACES

Community snaps

DB EVENTS

22 GIVEAWAYS 54 CLASSIFIEDS 58 LOCAL NUMBERS

60 OUT THERE

Peter Sherwood talks back

SUMMER CAMPS ROUND-UP ON THE COVER 28

- PAGE 36

W E ALSO PUBLIS H YOUR GUIDE TO HONG KONG’S ‘GREEN JEWEL’

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REGULARS

Leong Kam Chun – aka Franky – a DB landscaper of 20 years

2019 / 2020

PHOTO BY Richard Gordon

www.richardgordonphotography.com

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D I SC LAIME R 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. © BAY MEDIA GROUP 2021

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W H AT Y O U ' V E B E E N U P T O !

DB COMMUNITY GREEN SQUARE

PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com

DB Community Green Square opened on April 10 in the previous location of DB Nursery opposite Haven Court. Residents enjoyed a flower-basket arrangement workshop on April 24, and the second in a series of monthly plant markets on May 8. To find out more, turn to page 28.

DB EVENTS

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MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATIONS PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com

DB mums and their kids enjoyed a special second weekend in May with Mother’s Day falling on May 9.

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DB EVENTS

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PETA LIFE DOGA THON PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com

On May 2, PETaLIFE hosted a charity dog walk to support Sai Kung Stray Friends. Participants and their pouches walked from Peninsula Park to DB Plaza. Later in the day, Sai Kung Stray Friends, which homes 150 stray dogs, had a stall at the flea market and outside Hemingway’s selling giant soft toys.

BLOOD DONATION DRIVE

PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com

DB residents Ada Wong and Tanya Inkin organised a blood donation drive at Bayview House of Children on May 15, at which 47 donors successfully donated blood and 30 bone marrow donors registered.

The team held a bake sale on the same day, raising HK$4,000 in proceeds for the Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC). Ada and Tanya hope to bring a large HKRC donation truck to DB Plaza in August.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

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VIRTUAL TRAIL RACES PHOTOS COURTESY OF Country of Origin & TransLantau

Both the Country of Origin and TransLantau turned virtual this year due to ongoing social distancing regulations. On Saturdays throughout May, trail runners tackled the 23-kilometre TransLantau Hybrid 25. For the Country of Origin Virtual, extended through May 30, teams of three ran a 30-kilometre trail loop, starting and finishing at Lantau Base Camp in Mui Wo.

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DB EVENTS

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FOR RAF

NEW RECYCLING SPOT

FATHER'S DAY PROMO

DB resident Niki Parrington’s new EP, For Rafe, is dedicated to her late friend and fellow Island School alumni Rafe D’Aquino. The EP – three electronic tracks the duo had been collaborating on – was released on May 4. (Rafe was a big Star Wars fan.) Have a listen on Spotify or Apple Music, or purchase for download at Bandcamp. [PHOTO

Thanks to DB Green, City Management has agreed to have a team from Tung Chung Community Green Station come to DB each week to collect clean and sorted recyclables, including polyfoam, small electrical appliances and rechargeable batteries.

Head to the Green Icon, opposite Parkridge Village, every Tuesday from 10am to 1pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm. To find out more, call 2499 2308.

You’ll be looking to treat Dad to all his favourite things on June 20, and if you’re planning on cooking at home, you may want to order from Lekker Laa, the online food and wine business founded by DB residents Neil Schonken and Ainslie Vosloo. Use the promo code DBDAD to receive a 5% discount plus a free bottle of wine with any purchase over HK$500.

Order on WhatsApp 6857 1620, or visit www.lekker.hk.

! s t n e v E & s g in n e Happ STUFF TO DO IN JUNE! COURTESY OF WHAT THE FOX.]

FROM FARM TO TABLE

Every weekend in June, Cafe Lantau, at the Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung, is taking the farm to table concept to the next level, enabling diners to meet the local farmers who produce their food. The tapas-style plates on offer are all made from locally grown organic produce. To book a table at Cafe Lantau and chat to a farmer, call 2535 0021. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung.]

HKILA @ HK EDUCATION AWARDS

HKILA, the DB-based private school that aims to make education accessible to all children, is a finalist in two categories in the HK Living Education Awards – Special Education School of the Year (TailorED) and Principal of the Year (Primary). The awards ceremony will be held later this month. For more on HKILA, visit www.studyhkila.edu.hk or turn to page 32. [PHOTO BY Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com.]

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY JUNE 13 | SHOP THE DISCOVERY BAY SUNDAY MARKET in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.

JUNE 13 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP at Nim Shue Wan and Cheung Sha Lan from 2pm to 4pm. Visit plasticfreeseas.org.

JUNE 20 | BRING YOUR DRINK CARTONS, COFFEE CUPS/ LIDS AND

POLYFOAM for recycling at the waterfront side of Hemingway’s from 9am to 11am.

Visit the DB Green Facebook page.

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DB EVENTS

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REUSABLE FACE MASKS BEACH TENNIS Head to Tai Pak Wan on June 6 for a Ladies Doubles Tournament organised by DB Beach Tennis Hong Kong. DB’s beach tennis community now numbers over 150 players with regular tournaments, events and classes on offer. To get involved, WhatsApp Fabio Matos on 9613 1099.

[PHOTO BY Richard Gordon -

Jonny Haines and Tim Tait at Lantau Paddle continue to endorse the reusable face masks made by Tsunami Sport, a local brand founded in 2003. The eco-fabric used in the masks is made out of repurposed plastic bottles, and all Tsunami Sport packaging is water soluble. The masks are made to order, which is the most sustainable option. Place your order for the latest edition masks at www.lantaupaddle.tsunami-sport.com or www.tsunami-sport.com before June 13. [PHOTO

www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

COURTESY OF Jonny Haines.]

THEO’S TEEN TUTORS DBIS student Theo Robinson, 16, started his tutoring service for DB kids, aged 5 to 14, out of his home studio with TR Music School, and he’s just expanded his offering with TR Tutoring, a mobile maths tutoring service.

Theo’s tutors are all his own age and they work hard to keep their prices low and the quality high. To enrol your child, visit trtutoringdb.com or trmusicschool.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Theo Robinson.]

CHEAPER EATS vSHAREv is a new community platform enabling residents to group buy a wide variety of food stuffs at affordable prices. Simply register as a member, place your order and select a pick-up time from the vSHAREv holding cabinets at the ferry pier. To get involved, visit app.vsharev.com.

LANTAU CRICKET CLUB U11S BIG WIN The Lantau Cricket Club (LCC) U11 team, captained by Discovery College student Ryan Carrick, won the Cricket Hong Kong U11 Junior League Championship on April 24. The LCC U13s also had a great season, making it to the semi-finals on May 23. To find out more, call Coach Nafe on 6019 5169 or visit the Lantau Cricket Club Instagram or Facebook page. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Amanda Carrick.]

COLLECTIVE PORTRAITS Thirty-one pet owning families feature in Mihaela Tudor’s Collective Portraits of South Lantau Pet Owners. In putting the collection together Mihaela says she was inspired by the beauty of Hong Kong’s natural landscape and its people – and the fact that every other family in Lantau has a pet. You can view the portraits at mihaelatudor.com/special-projects. [PHOTOS BY Mihaela Tudor.]

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AROUND DB

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DB EVENTS

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GET YOUR SKATES ON! Harry Lee, head coach at DB Ice Rink, is thrilled by the way residents have embraced the new leisure facility, which opened on May 4, and he’s looking forward to introducing more DBers to the ice this month.

Ice-skating classes are already in place at the rink, in line with social distancing protocols, and Harry, a six-time Hong Kong champion figure skater (world ranking 130), heads up a team of seven professional ice-skating coaches. The classes follow Ice Skating Institute Asia guidelines, taking skaters from beginner to competition level.

Ask Harry what he enjoys most about ice-skating, and he says: “I enjoy the speed.” And what do beginners get out of it? “It can offer you a lot of advantages with rhythm, coordination and balance,” he says. “I mostly teach kids, aged five to 10 years, but it varies – I once taught a 60-year-old.”

DB Ice Rink is open from 10am to 9pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 10pm at the weekends. Ice-skating classes for kids aged three years and up are on offer, with coaches focusing on fun, technique and stamina. The DBees are also holding trials for new ice-hockey players at the rink every Sunday morning in June. To find out more, visit the DB Ice Rink Facebook page. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DB Ice Rink.]

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Summer is the ideal time to do something that will give your child a huge advantage when school resumes in the fall: Accelerate their math skills with Mathnasium.

While most students experience math learning loss over a normal summer, disruptions due to the pandemic have caused many kids to fall behind even more. Mathnasium’s personalized Learning Plans are proven to improve grades and help kids catch up and get ahead in math. With live face-to-face instruction, either in-center or online.

And don’t worry — your child will still enjoy their summer. Because we make learning math fun.

You can always spot the student who spent their summer with Mathnasium.

ASK ABOUT OUR SUMMER OFFER. MATHNASIUM DISCOVERY BAY 6897 9991 (WhatsApp) / 2628 3362 (Phone) mathnasium.com.hk/discoverybay Shop 105-B North Plaza

GIVEAWAYS

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IS IS OFFERING OFFERING ONE ONE READER READER AA PLACE PLACE ON ON AA WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMP WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMP (WORTH (WORTH HK$900) HK$900) The The Beat Beat Summer Summer Camp Camp for for children children aged aged six six years and up provides an exciting mix of Latin years and up provides an exciting mix of Latin dance, dance, boxing, boxing, yoga yoga and and fitness. fitness. Kids Kids wind wind down down at the end of each session with some mindfulness, at the end of each session with some mindfulness, educational educational group group talks talks and and quiet quiet time. time. Week Week One starts July 5, and Week 2 July 19.

Each One starts July 5, and Week 2 July 19. Each session session runs runs from from 2pm 2pm to to 4pm 4pm on on a a Monday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Cost: HK$1,800 Wednesday and Friday. Cost: HK$1,800 for for six six sessions over two weeks; HK$350 for a drop-in sessions over two weeks; HK$350 for a drop-in class. class. Enrol Enrol before before June June 30 30 for for a a 10% 10% discount. discount.

Around DB DB prizes prizes are Around are incredibly easy to get incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you your hands on, and you have until the 10th of have until the 10th of the month to apply. the month to apply.

Now Now operating operating out out of of two two locations locations in in DB, DB, The The Beat is a boutique fitness-and-dance studio Beat is a boutique fitness-and-dance studio dedicated dedicated to to meeting meeting all all your your fitness, fitness, health health and and wellness needs.

To join The Beat community, wellness needs. To join The Beat community, call call 5721 5721 3000, 3000, email email info@thebeat.com.hk info@thebeat.com.hk or or visit visit www.thebeat.com.hk. www.thebeat.com.hk.

Simply scan the barcode Simply scan the barcode or go to www.arounddb. or go to www.arounddb. com/giveaways, select com/giveaways, select the giveaway you want, the giveaway you want, and enter your details and enter your details into the online form. into the online form.

CO CO N NG GR R AT AT U UL L ATI ATI O ON NS S TO TO L LA AS ST T II S SS SU UE E '' S S W W II N NN NE ER RS S

Irene Irene Pappas Pappas and and Dougal Dougal Pitt Pitt who who both both received received a a Felix Felix & & Co. Co. Body Body Balm Balm (worth (worth HK$350) HK$350) from from Found.

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YOGIKA

IS OFFERING ONE READER A ONE-DAY DETOX SET (WORTH HK$550)

Yogika’s one-day detox set comprises six 500ml fresh juices to help you reset and renew for a cleaner, healthier body. The juices, including ‘Activate,’ a popular blend of apple, beets, carrots, lemon, orange, ginger and turmeric, are delivered to your door in sustainably packaged, returnable glass bottles.

Founded by DB residents Evy and Jorge Best, Yogika is a health and wellness platform dedicated to nourishing the mind, body and soul through Kundalini yoga, gong bath meditation and detox. Find out more at www.facebook.com/yogikahk.

HOW TO WIN!

Around DB prizes are incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you have until the 10th of the month to apply.

Simply scan the barcode or go to www.arounddb.com/giveaways, select the giveaway you want, and enter your details into the online form.

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AROUND DB

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Many 6 hour first aid courses split over 2 days, available for all 8-14 year olds this summer break To book your child a place:

Tel: 2517 8248 Email: enquiry@t8-firstresponse.com

ESTELLE LEADING A LIVING OCEANS FIELD TRIP IN DB

WE CAN'T ALL BE DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, BUT WE CAN TRY...

ESTELLE HAS LIVED IN DB SINCE 2008 24

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PROFILE

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AQUAWOMAN Marine biologist Estelle Davies heads into her second summer teaching kids stuck in Hong Kong about the wide world under the water. Elizabeth Kerr reports PHOTOS COURTESY OF Estelle Davies

O

n an increasingly swelter-y Monday afternoon, marine biologist and educator Estelle Davies is sitting in Pascucci in DB Plaza, her non-motorised scooter tucked in a corner. Her fair hair and long limbs make her look as if she were born on the water, which is actually not that far from the truth. Born in Cyprus to British parents, Estelle arrived in Hong Kong in 1979 when she was just nine months old. Her father had signed up with Cathay Pacific Airways and the family promptly carved out a life in Sai Kung and

Clear Water Bay. “There was even a car ferry to cross the harbour back then,” she recalls with a laugh.

Estelle is relaxed and fast with a quip; always ready with a story or comment.

It’s easy to see how she came to be in her communicative line of work.

Conversation rambles, from earthquakes in the SAR, skinny buildings in Happy Valley, childhood science educator heroes – David Attenborough, Carl Sagan and David Suzuki pop up – terrace hazards and the documentary Seaspiracy.

COUSTEAU NATURALIST Estelle fell in love with the ocean early, and by 16, she was in Belize “doing expeditions… I was fascinated by this world under the ocean; this life, that could exist on its own,” she says. “I was fascinated by how little it needed us. I felt like I needed to share this knowledge with others.” And a career path was born.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in marine and environmental science at St Andrews University in Scotland and a master’s in Tropical Marine Ecology from James Cook University in Queensland (with a stop in London for a postgrad certificate in education), Estelle joined Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society’s (OFS). As a Cousteau naturalist, on the Ambassadors of the Environment Marine Exploration and Adventure programme, she found herself travelling the world’s oceans, giving lectures to guests on all things marine, ecological and sustainable – an experience she credits with instilling her desire to educate young people.

In 2005, OFS offered Estelle the opportunity to run the Ambassadors of the Environment programme in French Polynesia aboard the award-winning M/S Paul Gauguin cruise ship. This involved snorkelling and diving in some of the most pristine waters in the world – and teaching young travellers and their families about sustainability and protecting the islands’ ecosystems.

Of Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of Jacques Cousteau, famous explorer and conservationist, Estelle shares: “Jean-Michel is kind and thoughtful and one of AROUND DB

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PROFILE

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ESTELLE TEACHES KIDS TO SEEK TO PROTECT MARINE LIFE

the most inspiring individuals I know. He is a very modest man and his life is dedicated to ocean conservation, especially education.

He believes, as do I, that people only protect what they love. So, we need to go out and make people fall in love with the ocean, the coral reefs and the animals that live there.”

Home eventually beckoned and Estelle returned to Hong Kong to settle in Discovery Bay in 2008 with her sisters. They’re not neighbours, but they’re a stone’s throw away from each other.

“We chose DB because it’s close to the airport and also because one of my sisters already lived there with my nieces and nephew,” Estelle explains. “I love Sai Kung but for getting around ideally you need a car.

“DB has hiking and the outdoors and everything we want. And, of course, it’s on the water – I row so I spend a lot of time at the Lantau Boat Club.”

LIVING OCEANS For the second summer in as many years, COVID-19 travel restrictions have meant that DB, and Hong Kong, kids who might normally jet off to see family overseas are staying at home. And like the kids she teaches, Estelle will be in town for the summer.

Which actually isn’t the worst thing that could happen.

As the founder and director of Living Oceans Education (LOE, www.livingoceanseducation.com), Estelle has been on a mission to raise environmental awareness, promote sustainable living and inspire better guardianship of the natural world in the next generations since 2016. She is carrying on the work she did as a client relationship manager at Asia Pacific Adventure, where she helped kids develop a better understanding and appreciation for Hong Kong’s spectacular environment and how to live more sustainably.

This summer, LOE’s signature field trips and beach explorations are still on (overseas trips are, obviously, on hold). The programmes run three or four days and explore the coastal environments around Lamma, Peng Chau, Sai Kung and, of course, Lantau and DB. Groups are small, and activities are designed to be eye-opening for kids aged six years and up.

“At LOE, I teach students in Hong Kong about life in our oceans and to value nature,” Estelle says. “We lead outdoor field trips to snorkel a coral reef, visit mangrove forests and introduce them to 26

AROUND DB

| JUNE 2021 ESTELLE LEADING A LIVING OCEANS FIELD TRIP IN DB

the rich biodiversity of Hong Kong. People don’t realise just how much is here, right on our doorstep. Thankfully people are starting to explore to learn themselves because it’s so easy, but there’s always more.”

LOE does a great deal of its work during the school year, hosting after-school programmes and customising presentations and mini-seminars based on school curricula, most of which pivoted to an online model over the past year. Estelle will grant that Zoom got the job done, but it wasn’t quite as engaging as classroom visits, where hands frantically wave and oohs and aahs frequently erupt.

WATER BABIES “I think most kids are born with a curious mind and a passion to learn, but at some point they get pushed into being afraid of the unknown and, sadly, sheltered from the environment around them,” Estelle theorises.

And while there are dozens of Hong Kong organisations that teach climate change and the hazards of plastic pollution, a resonant connection is often missing. Admittedly you’d need a master’s degree to truly understand the link between fossil fuel production, climate change and the price of tuna, but Estelle does her best to “pose the right questions.”

“A lot of kids don’t go to the beach and have an ‘It doesn’t affect me’ attitude about [the ocean]. But if we connect it to their daily lives or the food they eat for example, then the connection becomes a little clearer… Why should this worry us? Why should we be concerned? At LOE I’m trying to connect kids to nature, and show why we need each other; why we should care. How does warming, plastic in the ocean and overfishing ultimately affect us?”

Estelle wants kids to “fall in love with” marine life as she did as a child, and after they’ve connected with it, she wants them to strive to protect it.

Being the change is a constant battle especially now, with pandemic living’s reliance on surgical masks and plastic takeaway food packaging creating a sense of two steps forward, one step back. Estelle’s modest about her own impact. “Does my little contribution make a difference?” She shrugs. We can’t all be David Attenborough, but we can try.

COMMUNITY

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THE DB LANDSCAPE TEAM

! r e tt e B Ever

A PLACE TO GATHER DB Community Green Square serves to highlight the natural beauty of DB and encourage residents to join together in healthy outdoor activities.

Elizabeth Jerabek meets the DB landscape team to find out more

D

PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - richardgordonphotography.com & COURTESY OF City Management

iscovery Bay landscaper Anna Li is happy to have spent the day getting her hands dirty with DB residents at a series of flowerbasket arrangement workshops, and she is excited to show me what the participants have planted in their flower baskets.

“I don’t think of myself as a teacher,” says Anna, who

has been an officer with the DB landscape team for over two years. “I wanted to provide lots of different plants for people to choose from at the workshop, and I was really curious to see how everyone would mix and match to make their own unique flower basket. I wanted to encourage people to be creative and think outside of the box.”

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The flower-basket arrangement workshops were held at DB Community Green Square on April 24 and, due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, they were the first opportunity that the DB landscape team has had to directly interact with residents in over a year. Similar to the collaborative approach with DB landscapers and residents at the workshops, creating a partnership between City Management (CM, officially Discovery Services Management Ltd), and residents is one of the main objectives behind DB Community Green Square.

“The mission is even part of the name,” says Eddie Heung on behalf of CM’s community relations team. “The ‘Square’ in the

name is the result of DBers (residents and CM) – DB2 – working together to create a new gathering place.

COMMUNITY

“When DB Nursery was moved to an upland location near

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DB Golf Course last December, HKR, as the landlord, gave CM permission to replan the site as DB Community Green Square. It’s a new spot for residents to enjoy leisure and landscaping activities.”

DB Community Green Square launched on April 10 [opposite Haven Court] with the first in a series of monthly community plant markets.

DB’s low-density residential planning is unique in Hong Kong and that – along with residents’ interest in gardening – is what has made a horticultural space like DB Community Green Square possible. The aim is threefold – to highlight the natural beauty of DB, to encourage residents to participate in healthy outdoor activities, and to enable local experts to share their knowledge about gardening and landscaping and thereby give back to the community.

GROWING TOGETHER One of the most appealing aspects of DB Community Green Square is that it is designed to forge a connection between

DB PLANT MARKET

all those involved – residents, the landscape team and the community relations team. Residents are being encouraged to register as ‘Green DBers’ so that they can participate in plant workshops and other leisure activities. “We hope that someday the Green DBers will become workshop leaders too and share what they’ve learned from our colleagues with other residents,” says Eddie.

DB Community Green Square also includes an area of ‘community farmland', which CM has invited a group of residents – the Green Elite – to tend together with the DB landscape team. The new collaborative will grow produce (such as corn, squash and tomatoes) to sell at the monthly DB plant markets. Indeed, cultivation is already underway and the first members of the Green Elite have had the opportunity to contribute to the site’s overall planning.

Leisure activities such as yoga and meditation classes, unplugged music concerts and classes for children may also feature in the upcoming programme of events. “No matter what kind of events happen in DB Community

ORGANIC VEGETABLE STALL

Green Square, it is a way to build up good community relationships,” says Eddie.

“It is definitely a place that belongs to the residents. In fact, we have already received a number of excellent suggestions for events that could be held at DB Community Green Square. For now, our event offering is limited by COVID-19 social distancing restrictions but we are confident that we can find a balance.”

As a communication platform, facilitating interaction between residents and between residents and CM, DB Community Green Square has so much potential. It will be a two-way street where residents can learn from the landscape team, and the landscape team can learn from residents. It will be a space where CM can fast-track residents’ ideas for outdoor events. And, perhaps most importantly, it will enable everyone

FLOWER BASKET ARRANGEMENT WORKSHOP AROUND DB

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My colleagues and I are responsible for beautifying DB; we always work towards its betterment — FRANKY LEONG

DB LANDSCAPERS ANNA LI AND FRANKY LEONG

involved to work together to improve quality of life and further

communicating with residents very much and I think they are

beautify DB.

very kind,” he says. “Sometimes, when I care for the plants in

ENHANCING THE LANDSCAPE

landscape knowledge with each other.

Anna, for one, continues to be amazed by DB’s natural beauty – it’s fresh air and wide-open spaces. “When I first came to DB to work with the landscape team, I did not feel like I was in Hong Kong anymore and I was reminded of Auroville, the utopian community in India,” she says.

different villages, some residents talk to me and we exchange

“My colleagues and I are responsible for beautifying DB; we always work towards its betterment,” Franky adds. “It can be hard work, especially in the summer, but sometimes DB residents show their appreciation of our gardening work. I am always really glad to hear it and, as our team leader says, it becomes motivation for work.” Talk about a two-way street!

There’s no doubt that DB is an innovative example of green and sustainable residential development, and Anna has enjoyed becoming part of the community through her work. “I really like the ‘Discovery’ part of the name, and here I have discovered many new skills and interests,” she says. “Similarly, I hope DB Community Green Square can be an opportunity for residents to grow and discover more about the beautiful landscape around them.

“I look forward to reaching out to the community to share stories about the plants we use in the landscaping and to increase the community’s awareness of how the landscape team cares for the environment in DB,” Anna adds.

With over 20 years of experience, Leong Kam Chun – aka Franky – is a veteran member of the DB landscape team and he takes his responsibilities seriously. “We mainly consider how we can beautify the DB environment and enhance the natural atmosphere,” he says. “I heard from colleagues that some DB residents are amazed by the lotus pool, which they compare with the wetland area in north-west Hong Kong. Generally speaking, residents love DB because it's quiet and peaceful and they can enjoy nature everywhere."

Like Anna, Franky is looking forward to working closely with residents at DB Community Green Square. “I enjoy 30

AROUND DB

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DB COMMUUNITY GREEN SQUARE

DB Community Green Square provides a platform for local experts to share their knowledge about gardening and landscaping. Leisure activities such as yoga, unplugged music performances and classes for children are also in the offing.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

June 5 and July 3: Monthly plant market June 16: Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) workshop June 19: Succulent arrangement workshop Interested in becoming a Green DBer? Scan the QR code to register for upcoming workshops and events.

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**All transactions are subject to our Company's Standard Trading Conditions (copy is available upon request or download from our website), which in certain circumstances limit or exempt our Company's liability.

EDUCATION

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JUSTINE BARLOW WITH A YOUNG STUDENT

! e v i s u l c All In

BETTER TOGETHER

Justine Barlow, founding Head of Academy at HKILA, reveals why she rejects the ‘one size fits all’ approach to teaching and learning

H

PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwani – www.evoqueportraits.com

istorically, the education experiences for students with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) can be said to have been one of either exclusion (one in which students are prevented from or denied access to education) or segregation (one in which students are educated in separate spaces, following programmes

designed specifically to respond to their various needs, away from typically developing students).

In the 1960s, educators began to favour integration, which sees students with SEND placed in mainstream classrooms, where

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they are expected to adjust to a standardised ‘one size fits all’ approach to education.

In 1994, UNESCO concluded that the experiences of children with SEND in education were in urgent need of review, and called for ‘education for all,’ regardless of physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic or other differences. This resulted in The Salamanca Statement (UNESCO 1994), in which the international community agreed to endorse the approach of inclusive schools.

‘Inclusion’ replaced the term ‘integration’ and the quality of education for children with disabilities in mainstream schools was targeted for systematic improvement.

EDUCATION

By the early 2000s, UNESCO’s definition of inclusion had developed into the ‘removal of barriers to high quality education for all children and the process of celebrating and responding to diversity in schools.’

This ethos was my springboard for establishing HKILA in Discovery Bay in 2010. I made a conscious decision to move towards creating a school that delivered an effective, inclusive and adaptable curriculum that catered for the needs of all students. At the heart of the school is the absolute belief that ‘we’re better together.’

Before we can enter into a discussion on inclusive education today, we have to understand what inclusive education is.

The Education Bureau here in Hong Kong draws its definition from a 2000 OFSTED report, Evaluating Educational Inclusion: Guidance for Inspectors and Schools: ‘An educationally inclusive school is one in which the teaching and learning achievements, attitudes and wellbeing of every young person matters.

Effective schools are educationally inclusive schools. This shows, not only in their performance, but also in their ethos and their willingness to offer new opportunities to pupils who may have experienced previous difficulties.’

Clearly then, inclusive education is a broad concept and one that needs to be considered from both a practical and rights perspective.

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keeping a high teacher: student ratio is, we believe, the most important element in effective inclusive education. Knowing our students’ strengths, weaknesses, personalities, preferences, likes and dislikes is essential to understanding how we can best motivate and support each of them individually and offer them a more enriching and rewarding education. A high teacher: student ratio is not exclusive to smaller schools and can be easily replicated in larger schools.

In 2014, the Hong Kong Government published a Whole School Approach to Integrated Education paper outlining their commitment to supporting mainstream public schools develop an inclusive learning environment, along with curriculum guides and resources aimed at facilitating the learning of students with SEND. The document includes resources to support students with ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, and visual and hearing impairments in mainstream schools. There is limited general data available on how well the recommendations have been implemented, but current statistics show that the number of students with ASD in mainstream public schools has increased by 6,660 since 2010.

There can be little doubt that attitudes towards students with SEND have changed for the better in the past few years. Although globally, there are countries that have been slow to move from segregation to inclusion, the number of students with SEND educated in inclusive settings is higher than ever before. Inclusive education has come a long way since Salamanca, but there is still

THE BENEFITS OF INCLUSION

work to be done.

Research consistently shows that schools that practice

children with ASD, found that although 71% of these students

effective inclusion support excellence for all students. Inclusive

were placed in mainstreams schools, these schools were often ill-

classrooms can (and do) impact positively on the social and

equipped to provide the quality support and provision necessary.

emotional development of typically developing students by promoting acceptance of human difference, tolerance of others and growth in self-esteem. At HKILA, I have witnessed these qualities develop in our students first hand. Not only that, I have seen how these qualities have fostered life-long friendships between students and their families. It is this that drives my team and I forward.

Research also indicates that students with SEND who are taught in general education classes, academically outperform their peers educated in segregated settings. This is also true for students

Analysis of research conducted in the UK on the experiences of

Furthermore, research conducted just last year suggests that 27 years on, little advancement has been made when it comes to the further development of inclusive practice. So, what’s stopping us?

MAKING IT HAPPEN! The benefits of inclusivity are well documented. So why is it then, that so many schools still struggle to implement effective inclusive education successfully?

that spend a larger proportion of their school day alongside their

At HKILA we understand that effective inclusion requires a

typically developing peers in mathematics and language.

fundamental change in culture and instructional practice from

SO WHAT’S NEW? The support available for students with SEND varies across Hong Kong’s private education sector. Some schools are very open about their limited support for students with SEND, others offer integrated activities, and a number of schools offer fully inclusive education for their students.

everyone in the school community. It is a process dependent on collaboration, cooperation, responsibility and restructure.

School leaders must work to address any concerns from parents or staff about the effects of inclusion on typically developing students and answer any questions they may raise in relation to academic progress, teacher time and attention and undesirable behaviour in the classroom. A comprehensive review of studies drawing on research from 26 countries into these concerns found

Private schools tend to be smaller than public schools and so by

that the academic progress of typically students was either not

default are better designed for inclusion. There are, of course,

affected, or affected positively by inclusive education. Sharing

other benefits associated with smaller schools. At HKILA, small-

this information is key in helping to change long held attitudes

class sizes are non-negotiable. However, our commitment to

and beliefs.

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EDUCATION

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HKILA'S HIGH TEACHER:STUDENT RATIO Schools must also work hard to ensure that staff are

places where educators foster the development of empathy,

adequately skilled and trained to assist them in their

acceptance and tolerance. They become places where there

development as inclusive practitioners and to cope with the

is respect for others, high expectations and solid academic

challenges this undoubtedly brings.

performance. They become places that motivate, engage and

Curriculums should be designed to be flexible and creative, and offer equal opportunity for students to achieve learning

inspire students to aspire to excel.

Excellence is for everyone.

outcomes. Consideration needs to be given to students’ learning styles as well as teaching approaches. For HKILA, this meant choosing a curriculum partner (Dimensions UK) that shared our ethos and worked with us to develop a tailor-made strength-based curriculum.

Developed with the guidance of UK-trained therapists Speak Up! and Hands Up! are two specially-designed programmes, unique to HKILA, which aim to support and complement our core curriculum.

Speak Up! sessions are designed to enhance receptive and expressive vocabulary, language fluency, speech articulation and social skills. The Hands Up! programme encourages the development of gross and fine motor skills, core muscle stability, hand-eye coordination, sensory integration and more. As part of these sessions, we recently incorporated a renowned US-based programme: Bal-A-Vis-X. Standing for Balance, Auditory and Visual Exercises, the programme addresses visual tracking deficiencies, auditory imprecision, impulsivity, balance and anxiety issues, and has been linked to significant improvements in behaviour, focus, attention spans, memory and academic results.

There is no doubt that moving towards effective inclusion is challenging. But, as we have seen for ourselves, in doing so, schools enrich the experiences of all students. By implementing strength-based approaches, schools become 34

AROUND DB

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INCLUSIONARY SCHOOLS MOTIVATE, ENGAGE AND INSPIRE Justine Barlow is the founding Head of Academy at HKILA, a private, DB-based international school that aims to make education accessible to all children.

HKILA follows the latest UK National Curriculum objectives and caters for students from Year 1 to Year 9.

It provides specialist education provision for students who need a little extra support, an online learning curriculum for students who prefer the flexibility of at-home learning, and a fun after-school programme.

To find out more, visit www.studyhkila.edu.hk.aborum.

Baking Science Summer Camp

Discovery Bay July 12 - 16 Junior bakers, age 4+ learn about science through fun baking and science experiments! Bake and decorate delicious desserts and other savoury treats. For more information, contact Ms. Hong:

www.facebook.com/flourhk Email: flourhk@hotmail.com

Activites Guide for Lantau Kids BAKING ART

B&S ART GALLERY w w w.bsar tgaller ystudio.com B&S Ar t Galler y + Studio’s kids summer programme runs from June 1 to August 31 at T- Bay, Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung. The 60 - minute ar t classes for kids aged 3 to 5, 6 to 9, and 10 to 14 are for a maximum of five students.

Classes focus on creativit y and technical skill, and all materials are provided.

Tel: 2493 8895 WhatsApp: 6085 3715 Email: info@bsar tgaller ystudio.com

FLOUR w w w.facebook.com/flourhk From July 12-16, FLOUR cake designer and primar y school teacher Lan Hee Hong is bringing her popular Baking Science Summer Camp to DB. Junior bakers (aged 4 and up) bake and decorate delicious desser ts and savour y treats to share with their family – and they learn about science through fun baking experiments at the same time.

Tel: 9386 5696 Email: flourhk@hotmail.com

CODING CREATIVE CODING w w w.creativecoding.hk Creative Coding’s fun five-day Summer Camps are held at Discovery Montessori Academy in DB and Code Studio in Tung Chung. Kids, aged 6 to 12, choose from Minecraft STEM & CODE Camp, ROBLOX Code & Create Camp, Fun S.T.E.A.M Maker Camp and EDCREATE Lego & Robotics Code Camp. The camps run from June 28 to August 6 for three hours a day. Kids need to bring their own device.

Tel: 2707 6577 Email: info@creativecoding.hk

DANCE ISLAND DANCE w w w.islanddance.com.hk

DANCE

DRAMA FAUST

DANCE FOR JOY

w w w.faust world.com

Held in Tung Chung, Dance for Joy’s summer programme comprises fun, energising performing ar ts classes for kids aged 2 and up. Students learn choreography and technique, while developing their understanding of rhythm, body awareness and selfexpression. Each week, from July 2 to August 28, students learn a new set of dance routines and combinations. All levels are welcome.

Faust’s summer programmes (Summer Theatre, Creative Writing and Musical Theatre) run from June 21 to August 27 in seven locations across Hong Kong, including Summer Theatre in DB and Mui Wo. The week- long camps, for children aged 3 to 16, offer a fun filled learning experience to boost creativit y and confidence. Halfday Saturday workshops are also available for kids, aged 4 to 16, in Sheung Wan.

Tel: 2987 1571 WhatsApp: 9159 0663 Email: info@islanddance.com.hk

Tel: 9264 8597 Email: info@danceforjoyhk.com

Tel: 2547 9114 Email: info@faust world.com

FITNESS

FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL

w w w.thebeat.com.hk

HK DRAGONS

The Beat’s DB Summer Camp for children aged 6 and up provides an exciting mix of Latin dance, boxing, yoga and fitness. Kids wind down at the end of each session with some mindfulness, educational group talks and quiet time. Week One star ts July 5, and Week Two July 19. Each session runs from 2pm to 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

VIKINGS FOOTBALL CLUB

dragons.hk/camps - 3

w w w.vikings.hk

HK Dragons Summer Camps, U4 (2017) to U11 (2010) and U12 (2009)+, run from July 5 - 30 in Pui O, Stanley and at Discover y Bay Nor th Plaza Pitch. The five - day camps, led by experienced coaches, are open to players of all abilities. Fun training sessions are based on daily themes like dribbling, passing, receiving, finishing and possession.

Vikings Football Club’s summer programme, for children aged 3 to 12, runs from July 12 to August 2 at the Discover y College pitch in DB. Professional, cer tified football coaches encourage children to hone their physical skills, have fun and develop a lifelong love of the beautiful game.

Tel: 6417 3303 Email: theoffice@dragons.hk

Email: enquir y@vikings.hk

Island Dance is running t wo weeks of Dance Intensives at Club Siena from July 5 -16 for dancers aged 5+ (2.30pm to 4.30pm) and 9+ (4.30pm to 6.30pm). Dancers learn technique, conditioning and choreography from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, there are Jazz and Contemporar y open workshops for dancers aged 10+ with new choreography taught by different teachers.

w w w.danceforjoyhk.com

THE BEAT

Tel: 5721 3000 Email: info@thebeat.com.hk

Tel: 9367 7243

LANGUAGES

YIFAN MANDARIN w w w.yifancamps.com

LANGUAGES

MIXED

HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGES

DMPS

w w w.hklanguages.com

At Yifan Mandarin’s weekly Mandarin immersion programmes, children learn Mandarin through fun, hands- on activities with varied, daily themes. The DB camps for kids aged 3 to 8 run from 9.30am to 12.30pm, starting July 5.

From August 2-13, Yifan is also running a Mandarin Theatre Camp for kids aged 7 to 11 at Discover y College, DB – a great way to boost kids’ confidence and teamworking skills.

From July 5 to August 27, the school is offering immersive language workshops in French, German, Spanish, and Mandarin for kids aged 4 to 12. Fun and educational, the language workshops are culturally enriching with an emphasis on the spoken language to encourage children to express themselves and become actively involved in the lessons. Contact them today for an Early Bird discount!

Tel: 2486 9012 Email: learn@yifanmandarin.com

Tel: 2877 6160 WhatsApp: 5421 0288 Email: info@hklanguages.com

w w w.discover ymind.edu.hk/ summercamp Discover y Mind Primar y School’s Kids Summer Programme runs from June 28 to July 16 at its Tung Chung campus. Kids aged 5 to 12 enjoy fun classes that build self- esteem, develop social skills and ensure learning oppor tunities continue throughout the holiday.

Tel: 2915 0666 Email: primary_tc@discoverymind.edu.hk

MIXED

OUTDOOR

OUTDOOR

ESF

TREASURE ISLAND

ASIA PACIFIC ADVENTURE

w w w.esf.org.hk/camps

w w w.treasureislandhk.com

w w w.asiapacificadventure.com

At Treasure Island’s award -winning Summer Surf and Adventure Camps, children, aged 5 to 16, have the oppor tunit y to learn surf skills and ocean safet y at beautiful Pui O Beach, and join in other adventure spor t activities. The camps run from June 21 to August 27, with lunch and snacks included.

Asia Pacific Adventure’s Hong Kong wide summer programme, Camp APA, runs from June 21 to August 13.

Four themed day camps – explorer, adventurer, navigator and ecology – are on offer, plus three overnight camps. The adventure activities, such as kayaking and snorkelling, give children, aged 7 to 15, the oppor tunit y to make new friends and learn useful life skills.

Tel: 52367016 Email: enquires@treasureisland.com.hk

Tel: 2792 7160 Email: camp@apa.co

Open to kids aged 3 to 16, ESF summer camps are held at Discover y College in July and August. At the Swim Clinics, kids experience a positive introduction to water and swimming as a spor t. The Multi - Spor ts Camps aim to establish a core range of skills and introduce children to many different t ypes of spor ting activities.

Tel: 2711 1280 Email: spor ts@esf.org.h k

GEOMANCY

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i u h S g Fen

WORKING WITH ENERGY

For a positive vibe in your home, look to sage, rose quartz and oranges.

Samantha Wong reports PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

E

THE MORE YOU WORK WITH ENERGY, THE MORE YOU FEEL IT

energy flows " Positive freely like a life-giving river

verything consists of energy – including objects and the space between them. This is something modern-day quantum physicists have proven and feng shui masters have known for centuries. Feng shui says you need to monitor the energy levels in your home; and you need to know how to bring in positive energy (sheng chi) and dispel negative energy (si chi).

Some people are better able to pick up on energy levels than others. They do so intuitively. But the more you work with energy, the more you start to feel it – and to know if something isn’t right. Pro tip: If you have an argument in a room, if the air in a room feels stale or heavy, or if you feel down after spending a little time in it, then you have some negative energy to shift.

GET THINGS MOVING As a first step, take a fresh look at your home and think about the way energy flows within it. Feng shui says that positive energy flows freely like a life-giving river, AROUND DB

| J U N E 2 0 2 1 39

GEOMANCY

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door and walking around your home in a clockwise direction.

Oranges are like gold when it comes to clearing negative energy, since their shape, colour and scent invokes bright, yang, sun energy. Just like the sun, oranges are bright and lifeaffirming. A bowl of nine fresh oranges will ensure the energy in a room is light and bright, or you can spritz regularly with an orange essential oil mist.

You can also use plants, which represent healing and growth, to boost the energy levels in your home. Top tip: Choose plants with nurturing, rounded leaves for the interior, keeping spiky plants, like cacti, outside, where their thorns act as protective swords keeping out hostile energy.

CRYSTAL PROTECTION

ORANGES BRING IN BRIGHT SUN ENERGY

negative energy is blocked and unmoving like a stagnant pond.

In rooms that are cluttered and overstuffed with furniture, energy will not have the space to flow freely. So have a clear out, and rehome any items you don’t need.

Top tip: If the energy in a room still feels stuck after you’ve decluttered, move 27 things within it. This could involve totally rearranging the furniture, or simply rotating 27 objects by a few degrees, either way you’ll soon have freed up the energy in the space and created some good vibrations.

Be sure to also check that your bed, desk, and stove are in the command position. This means that when you are lying in bed, sitting at your desk, or cooking at your stove, you are facing the door without being directly in front of it. By simply shifting your position, your perspective changes and you’ll feel more supported by the energy in the room.

CLEANSE YOUR SPACE Space clearing is a great way to release any accumulated negative energy, and you’ll want to have your own daily ritual in place. A simple way to do this is to open all the doors and windows each day – for a minimum of nine minutes between 11am and 1pm. You can also burn off negative energy with incense or essential oils – use sage or frankincense – but for many, the only real solution is to smudge with sage.

Crystals have been used over the centuries for a myriad of purposes – from healing and protection to decoration. In feng shui, crystals are widely used in living spaces for the specific energy they bring, or more broadly for positivity and protection.

Rose quartz is best known as a stone that invites or boosts romantic love but you can also use it to promote positive energy in your living space. Top tip: Rose quartz is best placed in pairs and you can ground its buzzy, effervescent energy with an amethyst cluster.

Black tourmaline, meanwhile, is a fiercely protective crystal that can absorb and transmute harmful energies. You can use it to ward off any incoming negativity by placing it by your front door, either indoors or out. For example, if you have potted plants in your hallway, you can place the black tourmaline stones on top of the soil or at the base of your plant pot.

Blue kyanite dispels negative energy without absorbing it, and the best way to use this stone is in conjunction with clear quartz.

Create a grid of protection by placing blue kyanite in the four corners of your home, then place a clear quartz in the centre of the grid to amplify the protection.

Ancient, fossilized snail-like ammonite is another go-to if you are working with energy. Like the shell of a snail, ammonite offers protection for your home, while its spiral shape also encourages energy to flow freely. Last tip: Place ammonite in the centre of your home, so you can benefit from its grounding support.

When you smudge, be sure to leave the windows open so that any negative energy can escape. And here’s another top tip: Once you have cleared a space of negative energy, you will need to replenish it with positive energy. After you’ve smudged, follow up by lighting a little incense – rose, geranium or cedar, whatever scent you find uplifting.

Beautiful sound vibrations moving through a living space can cut through negative energy and transform it, so you are ahead of the game if you play an instrument or sing like an angel. (Prerecorded music, no matter how good your sound system, is not so effective.) Metal or crystal singing bowls are especially powerful space clearers. Use them daily, starting at your front 40

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LEAVE THE WINDOWS OPEN WHEN YOU SMUDGE

DB EVENTS

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RECENT COMMUNITY EVENTS

Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit has brought sexy back to chess AROUND DB

| JUNE 2021

INSIDER

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! s p i T p To

MAKE CHESS SING! Are you curious about chess? Want to start playing chess? This article by Boon Tiong Tan is for you PHOTOS BY Koesen Wong & COURTESY OF Adobe Stock & Pexels

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etflix’s The Queen’s Gambit has brought sexy back to chess; it’s cool and popular again. But why the title? The Queen’s Gambit is actually the name of a chess opening in which the white (always makes the first move of a game) dares the black to take a seemingly free pawn on the queen’s side. And yes, there’s an opening named the King’s Gambit where the pawn offered is on the king’s side. While the difference seems tiny, these two openings develop into wildly different games.

Chess is a game of skill not chance, and it has fascinated people for hundreds of years.

Karl Marx, when not thinking about making society more just, and much to his wife’s exasperation, would disappear with his friends for days at a time on chess binges.

So, if you want to give chess a try, how do you start? Like almost everything, you can learn the basics, like the names of the pieces (the chessmen) and how they move, on YouTube. Know that a typical game has an opening, a mid-game and an endgame.

During the opening, you have two main aims – to take control of the centre and develop your knights and bishops. Now that my daughters have mastered this, beating them is a lot harder. The good old days of me checkmating them in a few moves is history.

PLAYING MIND GAMES Chess is a board game with 32 pieces played over 64 squares. How complicated can that be? The answer is, it is extremely complicated. The permutations are mind blowing, and there are an infinite number of possible move combinations – more than all the sand in the world. Little wonder chess has always been considered a game for the intelligentsia, and the strongest grandmasters have IQs of 180 plus.

In his autobiography, Sir Alex Ferguson wrote that if he were to start his football managing career all over again, he’d want all his players to learn how to play chess.

Athletes need both brains and brawn, after all, and chess teaches you how to focus and think a few moves ahead.

As well as training analytical minds, chess teaches responsibility. You make the decision for every move. If you lose, you can’t blame the weather or put it down to rotten luck.

Russian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov thinks every school should teach chess.

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INSIDER

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COMPETITVE STREAK Is chess a sport? If you think this is an absurd question and your answer is a resolute no, read on. The reigning World Chess Champion, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, prepares himself for a tournament exactly like an elite athlete. He runs, he plays soccer and he does yoga. He has a personal chef and he watches his diet.

While Roger Federer needs to run around a tennis court for an hour to burn 600 calories, Magnus Carlsen burns the same amount in two hours simply by sitting and moving his arms across a chess board intermittently.

In extreme cases, top chess players can lose up to 20 pounds in one tournament. (The World Championship Series is often played over a matter of weeks, to allow each player time to recover from the mental exertion of the games they have played, as much as to allow time for the games themselves.) On average, world chess champions peak in their mid-30s.

GOING INTO BATTLE Chess probably originated in India 1,500 years ago. The Arabs brought the game to Europe in the 7th century and it evolved into its current form in the 15th century.

The first World Chess Championship took place in 1886, but it didn’t hit many people’s radars until 1972, when the eccentric American genius Bobby Fischer beat Boris Spassky, smashing 25 years of Soviet chess hegemony. Two decades later, machines entered the fray. Garry Kasparov took up the challenge to play against Deep Blue, an IBM supercomputer. He won in 1996 but lost the following year’s rematch.

The machine never looked back.

As almost anyone can tell you, to win at chess you need to deliver a checkmate (trap your opponent’s king). Your chessmen are your army, and the queen is the most powerful piece on the board. This is largely due to her mobility – she is able to move any number of squares vertically, horizontally or diagonally. How powerful is the queen compared to other pieces? There is a simple point system to answer this question. A queen is worth 9 points, a rook 5 points and a minor piece (bishop or knight) is worth 3 points.

THE KING CAN BE FORMIDABLE DURING AN ENDGAME The king is much less mobile than the queen – he can move only one square in any direction – but during an endgame, he can be formidable.

COOL MOVES The terms ‘knight,’ ‘en passant’ and ‘grandmaster’ lend chess a certain mystique but the game is easy to learn with only a few rules, and it’s fun to play with limitless possibilities. You just need to download a free chess app (like www.chess.com) and you can start playing with tens of millions of chess enthusiasts all over the world.

Just like in amateur tennis, the winner of a chess game is not the player who hits the best shots but the player who makes the least mistakes. Avoid the following and you will immediately up your game.

Many beginners like to move their queen during the opening. Top chess players almost never do that. While the queen is powerful, she is not invincible – if you leave her unprotected, she can be chased around the board by your opponent’s chessmen. Without support from other pieces, she can end up being trapped and ‘killed.’ Picture a lion being brought down by a clan of hyenas.

While it is true to some extent that offence is the best defence, no good chess player can afford to focus solely on offence. You need to play offence and defence at the same time, all the time. Just look at Liverpool FC: Despite a formidable attacking force, their success came only after they acquired goalkeeper Allison Becker and defender Virgil van Dijk. When Liverpool lost their central defenders to injuries this season, they lost an unprecedented six matches in a row at Anfield, their home ground.

In a football match, a team that has 20 shots at the goal but none in the net loses to the opposing side that has only one shot and BOON TIONG TAN with his youngest daughter Reese, 12 one goal. It’s the same with chess. Checks do not win a game, only a checkmate does. Beginners love to check when there are other better moves to make. Don’t check too much.

BOON TIONG TAN WITH HIS YOUNGEST, REESE, 12 44

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DB resident Boon Tiong Tan (CFA) has worked as a trader with banks like HSBC and Morgan Stanley for over 20 years, and he is the author of A Stock Investment Book For The 99% . For information about the one-on-one courses (money management, stock investment, options trading and CHESS) that he provides for both adults and kids, email tbt444@gmail.com.

HELPLINE

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Enrich HK is an awardwinning Hong Kong charity providing financial and empowerment education to migrant domestic workers.

For a free, confidential oneto-one financial counselling session and to learn about the courses on offer, visit w w w.enrichhk.org. If you have a question you would like to have answered on this page, email info@enrichhk.org

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HELPLINE

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SENDING MONEY HOME

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Help for migrant domestic workers from the team at Enrich HK! PHOTO COURTESY OF Enrich HK

or domestic workers, the experience of sending money home (remittance) is well known. Many of you probably provide for at least four to five family members, regularly sending a large part of your salary home to support them. Your remittance is also a huge contributor to your country’s economy – for example in 2020, Filipinos in Hong Kong sent home a staggering US$821 million.

if possible, remit only once a month to save on this cost.

Remember to check that companies with these low charges are also legal and reliable.

June 16 is International Domestic Workers Day, and it’s also the International Day of Family Remittances, so it seems appropriate for us to dig a little deeper into remittances this month.

Lastly, always remit money through legitimate and secure channels to avoid losing it. Only remit money through reputable/ credible companies and never through individuals.

Check how much it will cost you to remit money to your hometown, as the price might differ from area to area. If your family needs to travel to pick up the remittance, take into account the transportation expenses.

REMITTANCE CENTRES VERSUS ONLINE APPS

Always request an official receipt on the spot when handing over the money for remittance. If you are using an app, keep a screenshot or record of the transaction.

It can be confusing to pick a remittance company if you’re not sure what to look for, but the good news is that there are many options in Hong Kong, whether physical or online.

CAN A COMPANY LOSE YOUR REMITTANCE?

Before we look at what to consider when you choose a company, let’s quickly explore the pros and cons of remittance centres versus online apps. Banks or remittance centres have the benefit of being established and reliable.

They may have a wide presence in your home country (making it easier for your family to access a branch) and you might feel some security in the physical process. However, they might also charge high fees or demand additional charges, and the remittance might take a few days to arrive.

Additionally, you might have to make the transfer in person, using cash, which might be inconvenient.

Money transfer apps are appealing because they can make the remittance process much quicker. Some apps also offer better exchange rates and fees. On the downside, the convenience of an app can make it tempting for you to remit money too often – whenever it’s requested – even if doing so takes you over budget. Be careful to stay disciplined!

Many established remittance centres also have online transfer services these days, so in the end, how can you choose the best one for you? Here are some things to consider.

Shop around for the best exchange rate you can get for your hard-earned money. Note that sometimes, a company which previously gave you the best rate might not necessarily do so in the future, so explore your options regularly. Secondly, look out for the lowest cable charge per remittance and,

This doesn’t often happen but there may be times when your remittance doesn’t reach your family when you expect it to.

What do you do?

If the money isn't received by the transfer time you’ve been promised (likely three to five days), contact the company to find out what the issue might be immediately (e.g. on the sixth day).

It might be that the recipient’s name or bank details were input incorrectly. It could also be that a weekend/ public holiday has delayed the process or there are extra security checks in place.

If you aren’t satisfied with the company’s response, you could try to cancel your transfer (easier with an online process), though that might not be possible if the transfer is almost complete, and you might be charged a cancellation fee (even if you get a full refund of your remittance amount). You could also try lodging a formal complaint with the company.

If the company refuses to return your money within the time they’ve promised, you can file a complaint to the Customs and Excise Department in Hong Kong which manages all money service operators (like remittance/ money transfer companies). Call the 24-hour hotline 2543 4942 or email crimereport@customs.gov.hk. You could also seek free legal assistance from our friends at HELP for Domestic Workers or Mission for Migrant Workers.

Most importantly, keep good records of your transactions, so you can protect yourself in these situations.

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! n w o D w Cho RECIPES

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Cantonese comfort food with a fresh modern twist PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

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RECIPES

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CHICKEN CHOW MEIN Serves 4

3 garlic cloves, crushed Chunk fresh root ginger, grated 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped 1tbsp light soya sauce 2tbsp tomato purée 2 chicken breasts, cut into chunky strips 3 blocks dried egg noodles ½ a head broccoli, broken into florets 3 carrots, cut into thin sticks 1tbsp vegetable oil 300g beansprouts 3 spring onions, halved and sliced into long strips 1tbsp oyster sauce

Mix together the garlic, ginger, chilli, soya sauce and tomato purée, then add the chicken and leave it to marinate. Cook the noodles, broccoli and carrots in boiling water for 4 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Heat the vegetable oil in a wok, tip in the chicken and its marinade, then stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes until cooked. Toss in the noodles, vegetables, beansprouts and spring onion to warm through, then mix the oyster sauce with 2 tablespoons of water and stir this in just before serving.

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RECIPES

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CRAB AND SWEETCORN SOUP Serves 4

1.2l chicken stock 2 corncobs 225g fresh white crabmeat 5tsp cornflour ¼tsp root ginger, finely chopped 2 spring onions, shredded 1tbsp light soya sauce 1tbsp rice wine 1 egg white, lightly beaten Bring the stock to the boil. Meanwhile, stand the corncobs up on a board and slice away the kernels. Add the corn to the stock and simmer for 5 minutes.

Check over the crabmeat for small pieces of shell, keeping the meat in the largest pieces possible. Mix the cornflour to a smooth paste with a little cold water, stir it into the soup and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the crabmeat, ginger, spring onions, soya sauce and rice wine. Season to taste and simmer for 1 minute.

Now give the soup a good stir, remove the spoon and slowly trickle in the beaten egg white, so that it forms long thin strands in the soup. Simmer for 30 seconds and serve immediately.

BEEF AND BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Serves 2

½tsp olive oil 1tbsp black bean sauce 400g rump steak, sliced 1 red chilli, deseeded and cut into strips 100g onion, chopped into squares 500g green peppers, cored, deseeded and chopped into squares 200ml beef stock 1tsp cornflour Heat the oil in a non-stick sauté pan over a high heat until hot. Add the black bean sauce and stir-fry for a few seconds. Then add the sliced beef and stir-fry for about 1 minute until half cooked.

Mix in the chilli, onion and green peppers, and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the hot stock and bring to the boil. Mix the cornflour to a smooth paste with a little cold water. Slowly stir the cornflour paste into the sauce until it has thickened and become transparent.

Serve immediately.

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This is your chance to win a complimentary coffee from Uncle Russ, or a beer from The Pier Bar every day for a week. We will contact the winner via Instagram. Good luck!

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Spacious 600 square-foot apartments – quiet with sea views over park, near Club Siena & DB Tunnel. Fully furnished with washer/ drier, bed linen, kitchenware, 55” TVs, wi-fi, NOW TV & sound bar. Contact the owner on 9317 0624, nialady2011@gmail.com

If you are looking to rent or sell a property and would like to see it listed on this page, email info@baymedia.com.hk AROUND DB

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LOCAL NUMBERS

LOCAL NUMBERS

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TUNG CHUNG EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999

HOME & REPAIRS Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Mr Chan 24-Hour Handyman ShunYu Engineering

2109 2330 9343 3718 2988 1488

HOTELS Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Regal Airport Hotel SheratonTung Chung

3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888 2535 0000

LEARNING CENTRES Clement Art School Discovery Mind International Play Centre Greenfield International Kindergarten Salala Kids’ House Soundwaves English Education Centre Sun Island Education Foundation Sunshine House International Preschool Tung Chung Catholic School YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College

9757 9157 2987 8070 2162 5538 2611 9193 2164 7210 2420 1068 2109 3873 2121 0884 2988 8123

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

2185 6550 2109 9396 2109 2288 3467 7000 2194 0020 2403 6613 2403 6623 2261 2626 2261 0999

REALTORS HomeSolutions

3483 5003

REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Caribbean Coast Clubhouse Caribbean Coast Management Office Coastal Skyline Clubhouse Coastal Skyline Management Office Seaview Crescent Clubhouse Seaview Crescent Management Office Tung Chung Crescent Clubhouse Tung Chung Crescent Management Office

2109 9277 2109 9288 2179 6678 2179 6621 3473 8700 3473 8833 2403 6770 2109 1222

RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY ATavola Bar & Grill 2321 5500 Airport Izakaya 2286 6668 Andante, Novotel Citygate 3602 8828 Café Aficionado 2286 6238 Café Lantau, SheratonTung Chung 2535 0021 China Coast Bar & Grill 2286 6898 Curry Lounge 2960 1977 Essence, Novotel Citygate 3602 8808 Kimos 2886 3646 McDonald’s Delivery 2338 2338 Moccato Coffee Shop, Novotel Citygate 3602 8838 MyThai 2907 6918 Olea, Novotel Citygate 3602 8818 PizzaExpress 2297 3588 Pizza Hut Delivery 2330 0000 Regala Café & Dessert Bar, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6618 Resto 2886 3156

Rouge, Regal Airport Hotel Skycity Bistro, SkyCity Marriott Sunset Grill, Sheraton Tung Chung Tung Chung Pizza Yue, SheratonTung Chung Velocity Bar & Grill, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott

2286 6868 3969 2500 2535 0025 2466 1010 2535 0028 3969 1888

RETAIL FTC Apparel Lantau Balloons

2428 2566 9733 5483

SPORT & RECREATION Asia Pacific Soccer Schools 2385 9677 Aqua Gym 2914 0658 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 ChungVet 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 969 21888

The Gallery The Kitchen Treasure Island Beach Club

2980 2582 5991 6292 5236 7013

SOUTH LANTAU MEDICAL North Lantau Hospital

3467 7000

REALTORS Findley Leung HomeSolutions

2984 8334 3483 5003

EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Lantau South Police MuiWo Fire Department

3661 1696 2984 1570

HOME & REPAIRS KoonWah Hardware LeeWo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering New Look Design

2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 9783 5840

HOTELS Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

6810 0111 2985 8383

REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Lee Hing Loong 2984 2268 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008

LEARNING CENTRES Ashville International Kindergarten & Nursery Buddhist Fat Ho College Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School, Reception, Lantau International School, Lower Primary Lantau International School, Upper Primary Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten MuiWo Language Cafe Silvermine Bay School

2109 9886 2985 5365 2984 0302 2984 0302 2980 3676 2984 0302 3689 7033 5511 6107 2984 0006

RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY BahçeTurkish Restaurant 2984 0222 Bathers 2504 4788 Cafe Isara 2470 1966 Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 China Bear 2984 9720 La Pizzeria 2984 8933 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 Long Island 2320 2001 The China Beach Club 2983 8931

RETAIL Friendly Bike Shop 2984 2278 Garden Plus 2980 2233 IslandWines 9521 8481 Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. 2984 8346 Lantau Base Camp 9889 4375 Lantau Grocer 2702 0050 Red Hall Chinese Antiques 2988 1368 Tony’s Salon 2984 0990 ValueVigilantes 6132 9120 VIBE Book & Music Shop 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

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LOCAL NUMBERS

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DISCOVERY BAY 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 Parsons White Wealth Management 2433 6981 The Stephen Putnam Practice 2914 0388 HOME & REPAIRS China Light & Power Information DRS Company Good Luck Engineering Hung Kee Co May’s Furniture & Curtain Design Rich Point Hardware Materials Water Fault Reports

Water Supplies Department Well Supreme Laundry

2678 2678 9156 0360 2987 1313 2987 5087 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, www.harveylawcorporation.com

Manulife 9172 9152 LEARNING CENTRES 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 Lingostars Providing Mandarin & Korean education: Afterschool Mandarin for Year 1-13 & adult Mandarin classes in a communicative & interactive setting at DB North. Contact 6375 2015, info@lingostarshk.com, www.lingostarshk.com Little Explorers The longest running playgroup in DB, Little Explorers eases the transition between home play and kindergarten for children aged 18 months and up. Contact 6331 7215, littleexplorersdb@gmail.com Tree of Joy A fun, engaging & supportive environment in which children play & learn. Programmes include a drop-off nursery class, parent-toddler class, afternoon camp & cooking class. Contact 9787 2755, info@treeofjoydb.com, www.treeofjoydb.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 Mind Primary School 2914 2202 Discovery Montessori Academy 2812 9206 Dr Bear Education Centre 6762 6264 Epic Adventurers 2441 0098 Eye Level Education Learning Centre 9366 0000 Funfit 6302 6327 HKILA 2416 3198 HK International Learning Academy 2416 3198 58

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Kumon 2459 8808 La Petite Enfance Kindergarten 8191 0813 L’Ecole Pierre et Marie Curie 8191 0813 Links Parenting 6114 2436 Mandarin for Munchkins 2480 3909 Mathemagic (home tutoring) 9135 4724 Mathnasium 2628 3362 SKH Wei Lun Primary School 2987 8608 Sunshine House International Preschool 2987 8143 Treasure House 2987 4217 Woodentots 6108 9131 Zhi Zhi Chinese 9648 2966 MEDICAL Bayside Dental Practice DB Medical Centre Health & Care Dental Clinic Island Health North Lantau Hospital Quality Health Medical Centre Quality Health Physiotherapy

2987 0855 2987 5633 2666 6183 2987 7575 3467 7000 2987 5633 2473 6200

PLACES OF WORSHIP DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB Anglican Church DB International Community Church Trinity Chapel

2987 8136 2987 4210 2987 7061 2987 9909

REALTORS Headland Homes 2987 2088 Kingsland 2987 2987 Land Master Property 2987 6238 Okay.com 2102 0829 Savills 2987 1919 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Hoi Yu Transportation 2987 4488 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 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 22º North 2987 2298 Bones & Blades 2383 0792 Café Bord de Mer & Lounge 2295 8299 Caffe Pascucci 2591 1426 Cali-Mex 2904 7698 Coyote Mexican Cantina 2987 2848 Ebeneezer’s 2987 0036 Epic Foods 2172 6111 Figos Seaside Café 2987 2915 First Korean Restaurant 2987 9123 Hemingway’s 2987 8855 il Bel Paese 2987 0202 Island Café 2987 9311 Koh Tomyums 2987 0767 La Creation & Châteraisé 2987 1829 Lekker Laa 6857 1620 McSorley’s Ale House 2987 8280 Mirch Masala 2987 1337 Moofish 2987 6318 Pacific Coffee 2987 1662 Paisano’s 2673 4445 Peony 2500 1950 PizzaExpress 2465 2426

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DISCOVERY BAY Solera 2555 0772 Starbucks 2246 8372 Subway 2914 0005 The Pier Bar 2520 2166 Three Sheets Marquee Bar 2987 0966 Uncle Russ 2840 1188 RETAIL & DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven 2987 4401 Bones & Blades Butcher 2383 0683 Bookazine 2987 1373 DB Post Office 2987 6046 Fotomax 2914 2378 Fusion by PARKnSHOP 2987 7486 Gillian Florist 2529 8256 Japan Home Centre 2987 1041 P-Solution 2987 1777 Rapee-living 2987 7082 Sloowood 2944 5189 Star Mart 2366 6534 Tai Fat Hardware Store 2987 0789 The Optical House 2987 1368 Nomadic 2987 8460 Red Velvet 9010 5832 Toysland 2987 7859 Watson’s Pharmacy 2987 4089 Wellcome 2947 9092 Wing On Department Store 2987 9268 Yours Electrical Centre 2987 4428 SPORT & RECREATION HK Dragons Football Club Football for girls & boys aged 2.5 years to 14 years.

Contact 2987 4274, dragons.hk

Island Dance A ISTD Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, tap & Bollywood classes at DBRC, Club Siena & DB Plaza.

Five professional instructors, teaching six days a week.

Contact 2987 1571, 9159 0663, info@islanddanceom.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

MGK Fight Club 9303 2996 Yoga Bay 6704 9851 Yogika 6749 7836 YogaUP 68054996 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 Ready, Pet, Go!

2987 9003 2987 8873 2987 0428 5721 6181

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 2987 0283 Bay Spa 9837 0969 DB Pure Spa 9794 0918 Herbal Health Care 2834 7276 Maximum Care 2987 2060 Nailed It! 2987 2266 Nest Care 2499 8826 Salon De Coiffure 2987 4112 Sophia Essentials 2527 0118

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @

www.arounddb.com

The Beat Dance & Fitness Studio A premium fitness centre situated in two convenient locations at north and south plaza.

Offering group fitness, pilates reformer, barre, yoga, kids fitness, personal training and latin dancing. Contact 5721 3000, info@thebeat.com.hk, www.thebeat.com.hk

BMSE Community Centre 2259 3422 Club Siena 2987 7382 DBees 6473 4277 DB Ice Rink 2234 0187 DB Pirates 9255 6133 DB Golf Club 2987 7273 DB Recreation Club 2987 7381 DMR School of Ballet 2987 4338 Embody 6624 8712 EpicLand 2441 0098 Fit 852 9680 7665 Future Stars Dance Academy 2987 6867 Greenwich Yoga School 9685 8366 Harry Wright International 2575 6279 Kapuhala Train-in-Space 6101 8434 Lantau Yacht Club 2987 9591

To add your own directory listing box, call the Bay Media office on 2987 0167, or email info@baymedia.com.hk AROUND DB

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OUT THERE

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on! o p m a L DB

DOING IT THE HARD WAY Peter Sherwood explores the clichés and euphemisms of carving out a career in Hong Kong

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PHOTO COURTESY OF Unsplash

he other day some bloke asked when I’d come to Hong Kong. “Wow! That’s 45 years ago,” he yelped. Congratulating him on his uncanny grasp of mathematics, I said it was serendipitous, but that’s too cute a term for having arrived from terminally grey London with the rear out of my fake Levis and shoes falling apart like soggy corrugated cardboard. A stopover on the way back to Sydney was extended (to 45 years) after someone foolishly offered me a position for which my experience was on the sparse side of limited.

The job didn’t last long: Bluffing Your Way In… and An Idiot’s Guide to… take you only so far. The smarter decision was for my employer to euphemistically decline my contract extension, propelling me into Struggleland until I stumbled into what was comically called my own business – by way of a desk and a cheap business card.

Now, a clue as to how I got away with it.

I’d gate-crashed for the canapés to keep starvation at bay.

He published promotional material for the travel industry.

“A journalist, you say?” “That’s right,” I replied nervously.

“Travelled a lot, have you?” Excited at being able to reply without trampling on the truth, I said, “Yes, and almost nothing else since leaving school.” “So, what do you know about filming?” I gulped, “Not much.” “And do you know Singapore well?” “I spent a few days there once.” “Good.

You’re just the chap I’ve been looking for…”

Three days later I was roaming the island state with a camera crew and a script I’d scribbled on the plane.

Objective: two five-minute travel pieces.

Back in Hong Kong and after a day with a good editor – a craft of which, like cinematography and sound recording, I knew diddly-squat – we had a couple of usable travel promos. I learnt a great deal. Thankfully, I have never been asked for a repeat performance.

These Google-weary days there’s a cliché for everything.

At the time a popular phrase for sneakily ‘learning on the job’ was called ‘fake it till you make it;’ a strategy born of desperation. (I even made it as a tennis coach at a summer camp in the US and was successful enough to be invited back the following year. No easy feat.)

Naturally I have suffered from impostor syndrome even though clients were pleased enough with the results to part with hard cash.

And results are what count. Results don’t lie. Everything else is fantasy. For example, I had never written satire.

Sweating with the terror of rejection and failure, I sent a couple of speculative pieces to the South China Morning Post. They were accepted, and Sherwood was suddenly a newspaper columnist. It took a while from feeling like a fraud to being convinced it was me who was writing this stuff. I’d stumbled upon an infinite and unlikely resource by way of some weird subconscious confidence.

‘In between opportunities’ (as goes the unemployment euphemism), I met a man at a hotel cocktail party, which

Peter Sher wood has lived in DB for 20+ year s. The former head of an

FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT

international public relations f irm, he is the author of 15 books and has writ ten around 400 satirical columns for the

South China Morning Post.

60

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