Around DB September 2023

ARTIST RICHARD CROSBIE DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM HIS SURROUNDINGS

DB BAKING COMPETITION 2023

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This year’s DB Baking Competition is themed Bake To Be Kind and the submission deadline is September 17. DB-based teams of two are asked to share a favourite bake recipe, anything from cookies, cakes, scones, muffins and brownies to bread and pies, that they love to make as a gift. Entry submissions emailed to LoveTogetherDBbaking@gmail.com must include the complete recipe and list of ingredients, plus six photos showing the ingredients, the bakers baking, the finished product and the bakers gifting their bake to a special someone.

Shortlisted entrants will be announced in the October issue of Around DB ; the winners will be decided by an online vote, running October 1 to 15, on the Around DB Facebook page. To find out more, turn to page 27.

Happenings STUFF TO KNOW

OPEN WATER RACE AND TRIATHLON CHALLENGE

DB’s first Open Water Race and Triathlon Challenge, taking place on September 23, is open to competitors of all ages and abilities. Race day consists of three solo swim races (3.8km, 1.7km and 400m), a family 400m-swim/ relay, aquathon, duathlon and triathlon races (solo/ relay). Venues and times for registration for each event vary, to find out more and enrol, visit www.eventshorizons.com/2023-fdbc.

MICAH SANDT’S GWEILO

Pants Theatre Production is showcasing a re-run of Gweilo: The Rite of Passage of a Golden Boy in Colonial Hong Kong from September 15 to 24 at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre theatre. The mesmerising one-man drama is adapted from British writer Marin Booth’s bestselling memoir, and tells the tale of British colonial Hong Kong through the eyes of a seven-year-old boy. Gweilo is performed in English and Cantonese by FrenchFinnish actor and former DB resident Micah Sandt. For tickets, visit www.urbtix.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Pants Theatre Production.]

ONE-ON-ONE MEDITATION TRAINING

Long-time DB resident Stephen Clasper leads the free, weekly, guided meditation sessions at Shakti Healing Centre in Central. He is now offering private training sessions for people who want to learn how to develop a regular meditation practice in their own time. The goal is to put together specific meditation and breathing techniques that will help participants manage stress, sleep better, have more effective communication with others, and find greater purpose at work and in relationships. To find out more and make a booking, visit www.shaktihealingcircle.com.

& Events!

LARRY FEIGN’S LOVE LETTER TO LANTAU

Writer/ cartoonist Larry Feign’s latest book is scheduled for release on September 13: published by Earnshaw Books, it will be available at local bookstores including VIBE in Mui Wo. The Village at the Center of the World is a memoir, a love letter to Wang Tung, the Mui Wo village where Larry lived for 32 years. The book began as a blog, in which Larry set himself the limitation of only writing about people and things within the village; the book title derives from Larry’s own historical speculation that Wang Tong was once the capital of China… Larry is an award-winning satirical cartoonist – the creator of The World of Lilly Wong and Aieeyaaa! – and the author of The Flower Boat Girl . He has recently moved to Portugal. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Larry Feign.]

MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL CELEBRATION

One World Spirit Association in collaboration with the Traditional Chinese Archery Alliance is hosting a special MidAutumn Festival event from October 1 to 2 on Lamma Island. There’s the option to sign up for a day camp or overnight stay with archery workshops, a Hanfu clothing experience, festival food, lantern riddling and a Hong Kong history quiz. To find out more and get involved, WhatsApp 6219 3817. [PHOTO COURTESY OF OWS.]

DOUGH BROS ON D’DECK

Known for its handmade sourdough pizzas and succulent filled donuts, Dough Bros has expanded to Lantau, with a brand-new shop on D’Deck. The signature sourdough pizzas offer a delightful combination of crispy and chewy textures, and are freshly made to order. Providing takeawayonly, the store also caters large-scale parties and events. To order online, visit www.doughbroshk.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF HKRL.]

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

SEPTEMBER 2 | GATHER AT THE PLANT MARKET in DB Community Green Square from 2pm to 4pm. Visit Facebook @DynamicDB.

SEPTEMBER 10 | SHOP THE DISCOVERY BAY MARKET in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.

SEPTEMBER 10 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP! Meet at the gate to DB/ Nim Shue Wan at 2.10pm. Email dana@plasticfreeseas.org to RSVP.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER | DONATE PRELOVED FURNITURE to people in need through DB Mothers & Friends. To arrange for pickup, visit Facebook @dbmf.collection.

PLAY BEACH BOARD HK

Former DBIS student Hinako Nishi has created Beach Board HK, a boardgame to educate and engage young people about the issue of marine pollution in Hong Kong. Hinako, a Grade 11 student at Carmel School, created Beach Board HK as part of a project for the Middle Years Programme, and she is looking to get it into homes and schools. Hinako has covered the costs of the game’s production herself and will donate any proceeds to charity: A Plastic Ocean Foundation and Plastic Free Seas. Beach Board HK is aimed primarily at primary-age children, and is available for HK$220 at www.beachboardhk.com.

CHINESE LANTERNMAKING WORKSHOP

Residents of all ages are invited to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by learning to make Chinese lanterns. The workshop is scheduled to take place on September 23 from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Community Green Square. Participants get to create and take home one lantern each. Scan the QR code to register or visit Facebook @DynamicDB.

LANTAU ATHLETES AT OUTRIGGER CANOE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hong Kong’s Women Masters 50 Outrigger Canoe Team, sponsored by Cathay, achieved an impressive sixth place at the Outrigger Canoe World Championships of the Samoa IVF Va’a World Distance Championships 2023 in August. Lantau Boat Club’s Polly Snaith was part of the dedicated team as was Adrienne Ng, founder of Treasure Island and member of South Lantau Paddle Club.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF Treasure Island.]

REGISTER TO RUN LANTAU 2 PEAKS

Register today for the CBRE Lantau 2 Peaks. Action Asia Events is offering a 10% discount to Around DB readers who enrol this month using the code VIPBAYMEDIA. In the trail race, being held on October 8, competitors choose to run either the 23km (two peaks) or 15km (half peak) course, solo or in mixed teams of four. To get involved, visit www.actionasiaevents.com.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF Action Asia Events.]

ONLINE DATING IN DB

Hong Kong-wide online dating service Loveawake.com now has a free, dedicated DB site tailor-made for residents who are looking for love. Leave Tinder and Bumble in the past because, with Loveawake.com, you can find potential partners in your community who live just five minutes away. Loveawake.com provides secure DB-only chatrooms for singletons and the unique experience of matching algos. To get swiping and dating, visit www.loveawake.com.

Dancing With Their Hearts!

TIMELESS COMMUNION WITH NATURE

Hong Kong Dance Company is thrilled to open its 2023/ 24 season with A Dance of Celestial Rhythms , an inspirational new work by Artistic Director and Choreographer Yang Yuntao

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Hong Kong Dance Company

For the 2023/ 24 dance season, Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDC) has put together a diverse range of dance performances under the theme “Rebirth and Transcendence”. The experience begins with A Dance of Celestial Rhythms , a dynamic tribute to nature, which is being performed from September 29 to October 1 at the Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall.

Choreographed by Artistic Director Yang Yuntao and Associate Choreographer Xie Yin, A Dance of Celestial Rhythms is themed around the “24 Solar Terms,” a strict temporal order rooted in ancient Chinese philosophical thought. In preparing for the performance, Yang Yuntao and his team have been involved in hours of research, studying and collecting data from diverse sources old and new, such as poetry, prose, painting, dance and videography.

The solar terms represent a full orbit of the sun and are split into 24 segments, each lasting about half a month. Historically, the terms were used to mark the seasons, weather and natural variations, providing a timeframe for farmers to plan crop production and farming, as well as daily life and festivals. The solar terms allowed the ancients to live in harmony with nature and their continued relevance is clear in that they have recently been included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

“We have become increasingly aware of the rich and far-reaching connotations of the 24 Solar Terms,” Yang Yuntao opens. “But our mission with this new work goes beyond that. There is nothing old-fashioned or retro about A Dance of Celestial Rhythms . We have not set out to reenact the lifestyle and rhythms of ancient Chinese farming civilisations, rather we want to reflect on the various aspects of modern life by drawing on ancient wisdom. Metaphysically speaking, A Dance of Celestial Rhythms is both a tribute to the natural world around us and a call for its protection.”

At a time when many of us are troubled by the contemporary disconnect between man and nature, A Dance of Celestial Rhythms sets out to help bridge that gap. “The performance is an initiation encouraging us to ponder, together with our audience, the way nature and humanity coexist,” Yang Yuntao says. “Learning from the past and understanding the present, this is how a tradition can be carried on by generations. In timeless communion with nature, we dance!”

THE PRODUCTION

Watching A Dance of Celestial Rhythms , the audience is invited on a journey of discovery, starting in autumn and moving joyfully and systematically through the four seasons. The programme is divided into sections of varying length, mirroring the temporal sequence of the 24 Solar Terms. Some of the terms are narrated

by groups of dancers, some as a duet, some solo. Through the HKDC dancers’ virtuosity, the audience is encouraged to delight in each of the solar terms: essentially, to get back in touch with nature – with the seasonal changes that unfold around us all the time and that we have a tendency to ignore.

After three years of pandemic, HKDC presents this work when the global community is returning to a state of normalcy, which admittedly is a time of serious reflection and introspection. Yang Yuntao says: “Staying in an air-conditioned room with constant temperature and humidity all year around, for how long have we not experienced the invigorating cold of winter and the sweaty thrill of midsummer? Living in the crowded city, occupied with the trifles of life and work, how can we appreciate and understand nature as much as we should? The global spread and devastating effect of COVID has been a warning, alerting us to the need to respect nature and treat the environment kindly.”

Since its origin, dance has been a powerful way for people to pay tribute to the world around them, and in A Dance of Celestial Rhythms , the choreography brings nature to life through dynamic dance sequences that are by turns harmonious and rigorous. HKDC constantly strives to innovate, breaking away from traditional routines and adopting a more relaxed way of expression – dancing with the heart. As the performance draws us through the natural cycles of time and life, our senses are further captivated by stunning visuals, generative art, inspiring music and state-of-theart lighting effects.

In presenting A Dance of Celestial Rhythms , HKDC has invited Korean composer and costume designer, a digital image designer from Taiwan and a fragrance sponsor, Aēsop, to collaborate with local artists who work in different disciplines. “The aim is to arouse the audience’s visual, auditory and olfactory senses so that they can immerse themselves in the work and gain a more profound and vivid understanding of the laws of nature,” Yang Yuntao concludes.

EXCLUSIVE 10% DISCOUNT OFFER

HKDC is performing A Dance of Celestial Rhythms from September 29 to October 1 at the Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall. Use the promotion code DCR090 at URBTIX to enjoy this exclusive offer.

Out & About!

WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO!

WELLNESS AUGUST

DBSML encouraged residents to make self-care a priority last month through a specially themed programme of events. Wellness August comprised various healing workshops including Forest Bathing at DB Lookout Point on August 4 with Amanda Yik, founder of Shinrin Yoku HK. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

AT NEXTWAVE BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Music lovers had a blast at the Nextwave Beach Music Festival on Tai Pak Wan from July 29 to 30. More than 20 local and international singers, music groups and DJs performed everything from pop and rock to hip-hop. Headliners included Jay Fung, Jeffrey Ngai, Eric Chou and Crowd Lu. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF HKRCL.]

TAICHI KHO AT THE OPEN

Congratulations to long-time DB resident Taichi Kho who competed in the preliminary rounds of The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in the UK in July. Taichi’s golfing journey began at Discovery Bay Golf Club (DBGC) and he became the first Hong Kong player to qualify for The Open on winning the World City Championship in March. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

AT SKATE ASIA

We got to see over 1,400 figure skaters perform at Skate Asia 2023, which was held from August 7 to 15 at DB Ice Rink. The ISIAsia-sanctioned competition was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see top skaters from across the region perform. Participating countries included China, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. [PHOTOS BY Richard

Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

CHINESE TRADITIONAL ARCHERY EXPERIENCE

One World Spirit Association, in collaboration with the Traditional Chinese Archery Alliance, held a Shoot the Five Venoms event in July with 50 people taking part in a three-hour trial workshop. According to Chinese folklore, the five venoms (namely the snake, scorpion, centipede, toad and lizard) are awakened by the summer heat that arrives after Tuen Ng Festival. It therefore became customary for archers to put up drawings of the five venoms as archery targets, shooting them to free the world of poison. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF OWS.]

AT THE CANTONESE OPERA

Adults and children, aged five years to 90, took part in the Sing for Love Annual Cantonese Opera Show on August 15 at DB Community Hall, DB North. DB’s Cantonese Opera Training Programme, co-organised by Sing For Love and Love.Together@DB, is open to everyone who lives or studies in DB. Members get together to practice and receive training every week at Club Siena. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

Preschoolers Class 3-6 years old

STEAK KING

IS OFFERING TWO READERS TWO TICKETS EACH – TWO FREE-FLOW BAR TICKETS (EACH WORTH HK$600) AND TWO FOOD & BEVERAGE TICKETS (EACH WORTH HK$300) – TO THE SOUTHSIDE MARKET LONG LUNCH

Southside Market Long Lunch by Steak King is back, this time supporting the South African Association of Hong Kong. The festival is being held on September 24, from 12pm to 5pm, at My Seaside Park, Cheung Sha. Steak King is aiming to give the Lantau community a big day of family fun on the beach, and is catering various barbeque stalls with burgers, hot dogs, sausages, spit-roast lamb and boerewors rolls. You can also expect plenty of Steak King-provided entertainment – live music from local musicians and DJs, a hot dog eating contest and a Hawaiian T-shirt competition, plus artsand-crafts, a bouncy castle, beach volleyball and water sports for the kids. There are various packages on offer, providing access to the onsite F&B and festival activities. For tickets, head to https://rb.gy/rza62.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST ISSUE’S WINNER

Tina Li for two tickets to see Deborah and Friends perform on August 18.

HOW TO WIN!

THE RACE IS ON!

Fresh Perspectives!

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Long-term DB resident Richard Crosbie embarks on a new career as a watercolour artist, taking a hard look at the Hong Kong he missed.

Elizabeth Kerr reports

PHOTOS BY Beatrix Malan - www.atscollective.com

The last time we heard from toy designer, singer and now artist Richard Crosbie it was as a DB representative of the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir (HKWMVC), way back in November 2021. At the time Hong Kong was basking in the glory of low COVID infections and relatively normal life. The choir was getting ready to resume its Christmas performances. Pride cometh before a fall as the saying goes.

On this day, the 20-year Discovery Bay resident has scheduled his interview at a coffee shop in Central. It’s handy; it’s near the restaurant where he’s going with his wife for her birthday later. As with most people catching up post-pandemic, the subject of COVID comes up – what we did during lockdown, haircuts or lack thereof, subsequent revenge travel. For the record, Richard didn’t shave for a year. He flashes a photo, showing off some distinctly Nick Offerman in The Last of Us vibes. But he’s been busy, recruiting for the HKWMVC (he’s still just one of three actual Welshman on the roster), singing with the a cappella DeciBelles and partaking in this summer’s Barbenheimer (he’s yet to see Barbie ).

PAINTING THE TOWN

Ultimately COVID was a good thing for Richard –relatively speaking – as it birthed his new life as an artist. The former toy designer left the toy game in March 2020, just as COVID erupted, and found himself at a loose end. “I made lemonade out of lemons,” he recalls. “I couldn’t go anywhere. I didn’t have a job. No one was hiring. I wasn’t in the mindset to design toys. In hindsight I used my time wisely. I didn’t know it would lead anywhere but if COVID hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

By this Richard means the (mostly) watercolours of Hong Kong scenes and life he’s been doing since August 2020. Unemployed and trapped at home, Richard dug up an old, unused sketchbook, went down to the beach area at DB North and started drawing. After studying product design at art college and working in industrial, computer-based toymaking, he realised he hadn’t picked up a proper paintbrush in decades. “When I left my job, I was far away from the creative side,” he says. “I hadn’t done anything artistic in 30 years.”

Richard started with scenes of DB, eventually expanding to other parts of Hong Kong: Tsing Yi, Wanchai, Peng Chau. “I realised I’d missed it, missed Hong Kong,” he says. “I’ve been here 27 years, and I started looking at Hong Kong in a new way. I was seeing it all over again, and appreciating it in a lot more detail.”

Strangers soon began appreciating the detail too. After roughly a year of uploading on social media Richard was thrilled when messages and positive feedback started coming in. Like any artist he was hoping his work would connect, and it did.

Browsers started asking for copies and prints, and it snowballed from there. He had his first market stall at DB Sunday Market in May 2021, and he’s been slowly generating a buzz through pop-up events at locations like K11 Art Mall, Clockenflap and the Arca Hotel. (Find him on Instagram:www.instagram.com/ richardcrosbie_art).

Richard’s work encompasses both “urban sketching” and “en plein air” painting created on location, as well as detailed works of art created in his DB studio. He uses pen, ink, acrylics and pastels, as well as the aforesaid watercolours, and is continually inspired by his surroundings.

“I’ve been told that my style is quite distinctive,” he says. “The words ‘perspective’ and ‘detailed’ come up a lot. Now that I am creating art, I feel like I have awakened and can see Hong Kong anew. My art has taught me to observe carefully my surroundings. The more I look, the more there is to see.

“I love living in Hong Kong and everything about it,” Richard adds. “I enjoy seeing the vast vistas and the tiny details, from cityscapes and harbour views, bustling market and street scenes to observing reflections in puddles and slowing drying paint on fire hydrants, I love it all.”

“NOW THAT I AM CREATING ART, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE AWAKENED AND CAN SEE HONG KONG ANEW. THE MORE I LOOK, THE MORE THERE IS TO SEE

- Richard Crosbie

CREATING A BUZZ

Richard’s landscapes and street scenes have emerged at a time when Hong Kong, and Hongkongers, have become more reflective. The upheaval of the last three years has prompted more investigation and celebration of all things Hong Kong among locals, from craft gins to traditional crafts (think of those red post boxes). And while Richard recognises the recent changes and the wave of emigration, he’s not terribly intimidated by them.

“Hong Kong will always be here. It’s very transient and people will always come and go. I’ve lived through the handover, two financial crises, pig flu, bird flu, camel flu, SARS, COVID and every time people have said ‘This is it. It will never be the same.’ But Hong Kong’s never been ‘the same.’ It’s always evolving. People always want things to be what they remember.”

Richard throws down a Welsh word, hiraeth , meaning “longing,” or “a feeling of home,” then launches into a story about a painting he did for a woman in Vancouver who asked him to look for a chestnut roaster in Mongkok she and her aunt visited when she was a child. Amazingly, the guy was still there, and the woman loved the painting Richard did for her. “That’s what I’m picking up and detecting when people look at my work. It might not be a Hong Kong that exists, but it exists for them,” he says.

Some of his most vivid work includes biro sketches of a DB garbage collector and a couple of guys on bamboo scaffolding, a Star Ferry staffer grabbing a mooring rope, a Causeway Bay taxi queue. Then, there are the watercolours of DB, wider Lantau, Ma On Shan and Connaught Road. Richard’s work flirts with impressionism in its skewed scale and soft edges, and realism with its encapsulation of the city’s most recognisable images.

It won’t be long before Richard pushes beyond the boundaries of social media. He’s already had some exposure at exhibitions like Lights On at the Fringe Club, Joy in Art at Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre and at the PMQ. In May he landed a space at the Affordable Art Fair (AFA), which was a bit of an ironic event. “I try to be accessible to everyone but evidently I was too affordable,” he says with a laugh. “I couldn’t sell any of my prints because they were priced under their threshold. And they weren’t numbered, so I had to sell originals.”

Richard would like to return to the AFA next year, and ideally find an opportunity for a solo exhibition before that. “My work will make more sense that way,” he finishes. “I think I’m in a lucky position. I have a pretty good understanding of the customs and culture, and I like living here. I like recording the crazy things that make Hong Kong what it is.”

RICHARD CROSBIE IN DB WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

SUCCEED

Our services include:

- Private 1-2-1 individually curated tuition

- Preparation and invigilation for entrance to overseas schools

- Preparation for locally sat international examinations (e.g. IGCSE, A Levels and IB Diploma)

- Help with preparation for the HKDSE, and for tests set by the UK and the US systems (e.g. SSAT, IELTS, UKiset, ISEB Common Pre-test, ISEE, and many others.

Entrepreneur of the Month!

NICHOLAS WORLEY

Crossfitter and father of three Nicholas Worley was born and bred in Hong Kong and moved to DB just four years ago. A family man first and foremost, Nicholas launched Inalife in July, a digital family legacy platform which allows subscribers to share memories and time delayed messages with their loved ones and descendants. The former PR consultant turned tech start-up founder has some inspirational advice for budding entrepreneurs.

REPORTING BY Kayli Liebenberg

PHOTO BY Sarin Ale

o Nicholas, what’s the single most important thing to consider when setting up a business? “You need to ask yourself, does something like this already exist in the universe, or can I do it better than someone else. That’s what I admire about Steve Jobs. He changed the world with the iPod, Mac, iPhone, all that stuff, now everyone uses it. The impact he’s had on society is amazing.

“I created Inalife specifically because there was nothing in the market that could do what I wanted. So, having an original idea is the thing, that and passion for what you are setting out to achieve.”

You should only start a business if you’re personally invested in it? “Yes, 100%. There are always going to be challenges along the way and if you’re not passionately committed, you’ll just stop… you’ll take the easier, softer option, like going back into corporate. To make a success of a start-up, you also need patience, because things are never going to go exactly the way you want them to. And you have to be adaptable, you have to be willing to power through and make alternative plans.

“One of my favourite quotes is Dulcius Ex Asperis –“sweeter after the struggle”. It’s one of the mottos I live by. If you achieve something really easily, that’s fine. But if you work really hard at something, like I do with Olympic weightlifting, and all the work pays off, it’s truly gratifying. If you’ve put the effort in, you feel like you deserve your success.”

Do you have other motivational maxims to share?

“Yes: “this too shall pass” or to put it another way, “you can’t stop to smell the roses”. Once you start something, you have to keep moving; you have to keep thinking about the next step. If things aren't going well from a business perspective, don’t dwell on it. Think: What’s next? How do I move on?”

Do you need a business plan in place to help with that? “Yes, the launch of a business is one thing but when you reach the end of your first year, you should have already planned for the second and third year, and figured out your long-term objective. Your plan should be flexible, but if you have something mapped out, you can constantly look back and ask yourself: have I hit my objectives? What do I have to adapt here? What’s missing from a short-term and long-term perspective?”

Looking back, how did you find the courage to launch your own business? “It was hugely personal. The idea for Inalife first came to me when my grandparents passed away in 1999 and, on and off through the years, it’s always been in my thoughts,

driving me a little bit. Should I do this? Maybe I'll give it a try. How do I do it? When my motherin-law passed away last year, leaving next to no digital legacy, I finally decided that I wanted to go full-forward with the start-up. I saw it firstly as a platform for my family to use and, of course, I hoped it would interest and benefit other families. My sister provided me with some great advice in the early stages: she told me to start making Inalife real – to choose a website name and get a logo done.

“You really need your family behind you to make something like this work. My wife and kids are constantly supportive, as are my sister and parents who live in in South Africa. They check in all the time, they call, they WhatsApp; they’re very involved in the site. And this works both ways: I always put my family first. Here’s a tip my former boss gave me – no matter how passionate you are about work; you need to prioritise family. This will make you happier and want to work more and better.”

So what’s your definition of entrepreneurial success? “If you create something that you want to use and others want to use it too, that to me is success. You need to define what success looks like for you. If your goal is entirely to make money, then that’s your success aspiration. If it’s to create the best fish and chip shop in town, then that’s where you’re headed.

And finally, what’s your endgame? “My ultimate goal is to raise the profile of digital legacies. To me, success would be having everyone in the world really thinking about their digital legacy and working out how they want to be remembered. Inalife will grow, subscribers will go up, but for me that’s what success would be. Obviously, I’d like everyone to use our site and platform, but I’m also very keen to educate people because, especially post-COVID, there’s been a huge uptick in interest. I want to get people to stop and think about their legacy: you’ve got 100 gigabytes of data or whatever, what do you want to record?”

Inalife allows users to connect with family members on a safe and secure interactive family tree, share personal memories on a personal profile page for loved ones now and in the future to learn about them, and record Time Delayed Messages for loved ones to receive in the future. It is available on desktop and as an app. To know more, visit www.inalife.com.

Sweeten Someone’s Day!

BAKE TO BE KIND

In this year’s DB Baking Competition, we are being asked to share a recipe that we bring out when we want to bake a gift for someone special.

Ray Robertson

provides some inspiration

Bake To Be Kind is the theme of the DB Baking Competition 2023, and it’s got me thinking about all the times we do in fact bake to brighten someone’s day. We bake a cake for a family member on their birthday, we bake banana bread for an elderly neighbour to show them we care, we bake ginger biscuits for friends who are busy with a new baby and may not have time to cook for themselves. We bring brownies to hospital when a friend is sick and a fruit pie to a dinner party to take the pressure of food preparation off the host.

We bake to be kind or, rather, baking enables random acts of kindness.

In this year’s DB Baking Competition, we are being asked to share a favourite bake recipe, anything from cookies, cakes, scones, muffins and brownies to bread and pies, that we love to bake to show someone that we care. The submission deadline is

September 17, and the winners will be decided by an online vote running October 1 to 15. The idea is to involve everyone in the community, and to show them how much kindness can be found, shared and devoured in every batch of homemade baked goods.

It’s no coincidence that this year’s DB Baking Competition coincides with World Kindness Day (November 13), with recipes by the winner, 1st runnerup and 2nd runner-up published in the November issue of Around DB . By entering the competition,

Find out how to enter the DB Baking Competition 2023 on page 29, the submission deadline is September 17!

bakers can show their commitment to being kind, to making kindness the norm, which is what World Kindness Day is all about. A worldwide movement, introduced in 1998, World Kindness Day serves to “highlight and promote good deeds, focusing on the positive power and common thread of kindness which binds people across the globe, bridging the divides of race, religion, politics, gender and location.” We are encouraged to be kind whenever possible –not only on World Kindness Day itself – and we are reminded that kindness is always possible.

Of course, the objectives of World Kindness Day are very close to those of DB Baking Competition organisers Love.Together@DB, the community caring platform established by Hong Kong Resort Company Ltd (HKRCL) in 2012. Through various DB-wide initiatives, involving everyone from young students to the elderly, Love.Together@DB strives to build a caring, sharing, tightly knit community with a culture that is based on inclusion and good old-fashioned neighbourliness. DB is uniquely multicultural, and Love.Together@DB encourages residents of all nationalities to spend time together, get to know each other and bond.

“Love.Together@DB works hard to promote a loving and caring community culture, and so we are thrilled to ask DB bakers to join us in celebrating World Kindness Day by taking part in DB Baking Competition 2023,” says Sara Lai, Senior Manager, Community Relations of HKRCL. “The Bake To Be Kind theme is totally in line with what Love.Together@DB sets out to do. We are encouraging the bakers to share their creations, which are packed full of love and kindness, with their friends and neighbours.”

BAKE IT FORWARD

If you’ve decided to enter DB Baking Competition 2023, and are looking for a little inspiration, be sure to check out #BakeItForward: Recipes to bake kindness and sprinkle joy by New York-based Executive Pastry Chef and Culinary Instructor Tracy Wilk. The book is full of inspiring bake recipes old and new… and the backstory is just as motivational. The idea for #BakeItForward came to Tracy in the pandemic, when she found herself baking up a storm during lockdown. Once her kitchen was overflowing with sweet treats, she decided to share the love, dropping off boxes of freshly baked goods with essential workers in her neighbourhood – everyone from frontline doctors and nurses to firefighters and grocery store clerks. This grassroots adventure soon turned into a worldwide movement of acts of giving, inspiring others to #BakeItForward.

When it comes down to it, baking a gift for someone is the perfect way to reach out, connect and pay it

forward. It’s satisfying to get hands on and active, baking something at home rather than taking a shortcut and buying ready-made. And it’s gratifying to see the joy on the recipients’ faces when we give them the fruit of our labours – a treat that’s all the sweeter because we have taken the time to bake it ourselves.

One other thing to note: the act of giving kindness (in this case baking for others) is simple, positive and… healthy. According to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, “Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer.”

Know too that baking provides us with a great opportunity to treat ourselves, be kind to ourselves. It is not just how we treat other people, it is how we extend those same kind behaviours and intentions to ourselves as well. So bake more cookies than you intend to gift a friend and keep a couple back for yourself. Bake yourself a chocolate cake if you’re feeling blue, and go extra heavy on the sprinkles.

So, it’s time to commit to taking part in this year’s DB Baking Competition. Choose your baking partner, pick a tried-and-trusted recipe and decide who is going to be the lucky recipient. Bake To Be Kind!

DB BAKING COMPETITION 2023 BAKE TO BE KIND!

1600 x 2000px) showing the ingredients , the bakers baking , the finished product and the baker’s gifting their bake to a special someone

2nd runner-up are published in the November issue of

Should there be any disputes, the organisers reserve the right of final decision.

Love.Together@DB is a community-caring platform initiated by Hong Kong Resort Company Limited dedicated to serving the Discovery Bay community. The platform has been supporting and coorganising diversified corporate social responsibility initiatives with NGO’s, community leaders and volunteers to promote the loving and caring culture in the sustainable and multicultural DB community.

Full Marks!

WELCOME MR WICKES

Having achieved so much over the past five years, Malvern College

Hong Kong is looking to the future with the arrival of its new headmaster, Paul Wickes

Ask Paul Wickes, the newly appointed headmaster of Malvern College Hong Kong (MCHK), what he is most looking forward to in the coming months, and he hones in on the pupils. “My style of leadership is one where I’m constantly walking around the campus and poking my head into classrooms and interacting with pupils, talking to them,” Paul opens. “You can’t lead a school from behind a desk. I’ve already scheduled a series of meetings with the pupils, year group by year group. The first thing I want to do is to hear from them.”

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Originally from the south-east of England, Paul comes to MCHK with over 30 years’ teaching experience. An expert in English Additional Learning (EAL), he earned a B.Sc. (Econ) from the London School of Economics, followed by a post-graduate Diploma in EAL from RSA/ University of Cambridge. He continued his academic journey by obtaining a Master of Arts in Education from University College London.

Paul explains how he “fell into teaching” as a young graduate fresh from London School of Economics, and eager to see the world. He initially headed overseas, teaching English as a Foreign Language in Portugal, where he subsequently set up his own school. A dedicated and ambitious educationalist, Paul went on to enter the Malvern fold in 2006 when he took up the role of Senior Housemaster and Teacher of Economics, Politics and Theory of Knowledge (ToK) at Malvern College UK – a position he held for over 12 years. Prior to joining MCHK, Paul served as Head of Site at The British School in Rio de Janeiro for five years, where he drew on his time at Malvern College UK to transform the school’s culture and raise academic standards.

Newly ensconced in Hong Kong, Paul is embracing two of his passions – the Malvern educational ethos and expat life. “The opportunity to rejoin the Malvern family was just too exciting to turn down,” he explains. “I lived the Malvern ethos for over 12 years and it’s something I’m passionate about, it’s something that comes naturally to me. At the same time, this is my third international posting. I spent

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCHK

six years in Portugal, five years in Brazil and now this is an opportunity to come to Asia, which is entirely new to me.

“There are so many things to do in Hong Kong, so many things to see,” Paul adds. “I’m looking forward to a really active social life, a really active cultural life and to getting out on those trails and getting some hiking in.”

THE MALVERN ETHOS

Paul is joining MCHK as it celebrates five years of exceptional academic achievements. How does he plan to build on the solid foundation that has been laid? “What has been achieved in five years is really remarkable. I think my responsibility now is to make sure that the 5 Centres of Excellence and the Malvern qualities, like resilience, selfawareness, kindness, integrity and humility, are embedded in everything we do, on a day-to-day basis. We want to encourage pupils to take responsible and educated risks because that way they can be innovative, they can be creative, and they can do things in a way that’s different from the way they were done in the past.

“I’d also really like to build on Malvern’s global network,” Paul adds. “MCHK is in a very privileged position because we’ve got sister schools all over the world, including in Chengdu and Tokyo. We’ve got a fantastic opportunity to expand pupils’ global international mindedness, and give them – and their teachers – the opportunity to have exchanges.”

In joining MCHK, Paul is uniquely qualified to share his first-hand experience of Malvern College UK. “Even though MCHK is a day school, we’re able to copy the best elements of pastoral care that are given to pupils at Malvern College UK. And we’re able to provide a very strong programme of co-curricular activities, which is another feature of a traditional British boarding school. I’m looking forward to assisting MCHK transfer the values of Malvern College UK to Hong Kong students.

“One of the features of a Malvern school is its academic rigour – it’s got very high academic standards,” Paul adds. “But we firmly believe that a narrow academic programme won’t provide pupils with the soft skills and interpersonal skills that they need to be happy and fulfilled as individuals. When they’re doing their co-curricular activities, if they’re doing sports, for example, or they’re doing music or drama or robotics, they’re learning

things like leadership and teamwork, independence, organisation and prioritisation.”

A HOLISTIC EDUCATION

MCHK’s dedication to holistic education is wellknown, and it’s an approach that Paul champions. “Traditionally, education was often seen as a way of transferring information from the teacher to the pupils. It was a one-way process and a very passive process, in which the “best pupils” were those who were able to absorb the most information and regurgitate it in exams. That’s a very old-fashioned way of looking at education,” he says. “Now we know that we need to educate not just the mind but also the body and the soul as well.

“We want school to be exciting. We want it to be fun,” Paul adds. “We want the pupils to learn not just about maths and science which is important, but also to learn about the world around them, to learn about each other, to learn about themselves, to contribute to the local community and to understand their place in the wider, global world.”

Paul’s leadership style is centered on integrity, humility, mutual respect and leading by example. He is quick to point out that providing pupils with a strong moral compass is an essential part of holistic, whole-person education – Malvern students learn to do the right thing even when no one’s looking. “We should be doing as educators what we try to do as parents,” he says. “When I try to educate my daughters, I don’t just want to stuff their heads full of facts. I want to teach them to be well-rounded people that I’m proud of.

“That’s my aspiration: as the Head of MCHK, I want to do everything in my power to make sure that I’m proud of every single one of our pupils.”

Malvern College Hong Kong (MCHK) draws upon the rich heritage and ethos of Malvern College UK, a co-educational day and boarding school founded in 1865. An authorised International Baccalaureate World School, MCHK provides high quality, holistic education for boys and girls aged 2 to 18 years. To find out more and to read Paul’s mission statement, visit www.malverncollege.org.hk.

PAUL WITH PUPILS AT THE START OF THE 2023/4 ACADEMIC YEAR

MY CHILD IS STRUGGLING IN MAINSTREAM SCHOOL, WHAT DO I DO?

As a parent with the onus on you to make a choice about which school your child should go to, you will undoubtedly follow your personal belief of what a “good” school looks like and make every effort to get your child access to that school. And frankly, if everyone was able to get their children into the school type of their choice and those children then thrived and flourished in that school, all would be well in the world. But it doesn’t work like that.

Far too many children flounder – some obviously, some less so – but there is a tendency to persevere, to hope things will turn out alright or to feel that’s just the way it is. And that can often be traced back to that foundational belief of what a “good” school is. If you have chosen a “good” school according to your principles, then the school must be good, and the fault must lie with the child. But it’s not really a question of blame. It’s just a fact that schools have to deliver a fairly homogeneous experience to a population that is inherently heterogeneous and thus there are always going to be children who do not thrive in that particular school. And don’t forget, your child is not you.

One answer of course is to change from one type of mainstream school to another. For younger children especially, this is almost always the best (or at least, least worst) approach because the crucial work for these age groups is socialisation and varied group activity. It can be a solution for older teenagers as well, but it does depend immensely on how well you have identified the reasons your child is not thriving. We have seen, for example, increasing rates of children diagnosed with ADHD in the past two decades. Whatever the reason for this, the main concern for those diagnosed, and their families, is how it impacts on crucial elements of growing up, including schooling and education and the outcomes from them. Staying in a mainstream school is often not the ideal way forward.

If your child is not thriving in a traditional school environment, you must be prepared to ask the hard questions around whether an alternative would be better. Keeping the kids in mainstream school is the easier route, but surely if they are struggling then it is only easier for you. Not them.

Younger children can be considered for home schooling if a) you feel competent to manage it and deliver some of it, b) you have the time and resources to do so and c) you have a network of homeschoolers to make your community (much easier now with online options). For teenagers completing high school though, home schooling is not usually a good idea. You will not have the competence to teach, or even manage, their curriculum; they will not have the competence to learn or manage their preparation. That is where ITS Education Asia comes in.

At ITS Education Asia, our full-time students have exited mainstream schooling for a host of reasons and found their feet in a completely different environment. One-on-one teaching, FLIP pedagogy, adjusted timings, flexible arcs to exams – there are all kinds of elements that can be adjusted to fit the system to the child instead of the child to the system.

If your teenager is struggling in school, come and chat. What we do is not for everyone but at least you will have done something.

Danny Harrington , Founder and Managing Director of ITS Education Asia, has some solutions

Danny Harrington is the Founder and Managing Director at ITS Education Asia, Hong Kong’s only alternative schooling provider accredited with Pearson for IAL and IGCSE. To sign up for a consultation, visit www.itseducation.asia.

Please Be You!

GOOD GIRL JAILBREAK

Instead of teaching girls to be good, we need to teach them to self-affirm and stand up for themselves. We need to nurture their inner bad-ass. Joanne Hay reports

PHOTOS BY Beatrix Malan - www.atscollective.com

Lots of young girls are conditioned to be good – they are taught to always be polite and considerate of other people’s feelings, even if it compromises their own happiness. Without realising it, we are teaching them to peopleplease, to ignore their own needs just to keep everyone else happy. This type of conditioning can manifest in any number of negatives, such as fear of disappointing people, fear of speaking up for oneself, fear of conflict and lack of healthy boundaries. We need to create awareness around good girl conditioning, how it comes about, the dangers and implications. By highlighting this issue, we can explore more positive ways to parent young girls; ways that are focused on building their self-esteem and self-worth. The key message for our daughters is “Don’t be good. Be kind and firm”.

GOOD GIRL CONDITIONING

Good girl conditioning comes from good intentions – we want our daughters to be well-behaved, to care for others, to make others feel comfortable, to study hard, work hard and so on. But like everything else in life, it’s all about balance.

When young girls only get loved for being good, they grow afraid of being judged, abandoned, disliked and unaccepted, so they put aside their own emotional needs to make other people happy. They will constantly feel they are not worthy of love, that they are not good enough; they will then do their best to avoid confrontation as they don’t know their own true value. When people don’t know who they are, they become chameleons, who want to blend in with everyone around them.

Good girls thrive on being told they’re good; they worry about how others see and judge them. They struggle to set healthy boundaries or show up as their authentic self because they need to be liked and accepted.

Good girls are socialised to please other people; they think their worthiness is defined by how likeable they are and who they can be to others. They constantly look externally to obtain the validation and praise that will make them feel secure and worthy. They are always looking for the right answer to get that tick, that “gold star”, the good girl confirmation from people around them.

Good girls pretend to agree with everyone because they are afraid to be disliked. They over-explain themselves because they feel guilty for saying “no” or disagreeing with others. They apologise all the time because they lack self-esteem.

Good girls suffer silently, they take on more than they can handle because they can’t say “no,” and if they dare to speak up, they are afraid to be labelled as overly emotional, dramatic or sensitive. They tend to be very agreeable, avoiding conflict at all costs because they are afraid to rock the boat.

Good girls behave as they do because they think it is the only way to build strong emotional connections. In fact, the opposite is true. People tend to mistake a good girl’s kindness as a sign of weakness, they cross boundaries and take advantage.

Good girls feel responsible for how other people feel – they become very uncomfortable if someone is angry with them, which means they hide their own opinions. They feel their own needs, their own thoughts don’t matter. As a result, they have difficulty forming authentic relationships. They struggle to stand up for the things or people they truly believe in because they lack self-worth.

When good girl conditioning is reinforced over and over again, girls disconnect from their own intuition and a pattern of existing to please and appease

kicks in. This makes them vulnerable to manipulation and abusive situations because rather than asserting themselves or setting healthy boundaries, they continue to please others to gain a sense of approval and acceptance. Blindly following authority figures can lead to dangerous situations, especially for girls who may be vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Good girl conditioning can lead to resentment, frustration, anxiety and depression. By constantly repressing their emotions and ignoring their own needs, good girls grow up feeling disrespected, ignored, alienated and burnt out. So how do we put a stop to good girl conditioning? It’s time to nurture our daughters’ inner bad-ass.

NEW MESSAGES FOR OUR DAUGHTERS

Girls need to understand that it’s not their role to get approval from other people. Their role is to understand and connect to their emotions, to

understand and clearly express their needs, to place boundaries or limits to keep themselves safe, and to fully express themselves. Here are some important messages to share with your daughters:

Your self-worth cannot (and should not) be based on external factors. What you think of yourself is far more important than what others think of you. You don’t need to be liked by everyone, and you can’t possibly be liked by everyone. Some people are authentic and some are here to take advantage of you. Your self-worth should be based on you, not someone else. Get to know yourself, who you are, what your core values and non-negotiables are, what truly matters to you.

Be your authentic self – accept and love yourself for who you are; you are only human, no one is perfect, you have your flaws and that’s fine. Accepting yourself and prioritising your wellbeing and inner peace over everyone and everything are what should matter to you most. Stay true to yourself, don’t succumb to peer pressure; don’t feel you always have to be liked and included.

Focus on your own personal journey rather than an outcome (i.e., good grades) that will win others’ approval. Don’t chase the “good girl, well done” affirmation, chase learning and growth.

Attract authentic people into your life, people who respect your autonomy, your boundaries, and who celebrate who you really are. Surround yourself with a caring support system, friends who will hype you up, talk you up and stay loyal to you in your presence and absence.

Set healthy boundaries – say “no” when you don’t have the emotional capacity to hold space for someone, say “no” if you don’t want to drink one more drink.

Speak up if somebody disrespects you, don’t ignore it. If somebody is being rude, point it out to them. If somebody tries to change you, tell them you’re happy with who you are. Have the courage to disappoint people. And don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and deserve.

Know that standing your ground and respecting others are not mutually exclusive. Looking out for yourself doesn’t make you a selfish person. It’s hard to say “no” to someone you care about; it’s hard to show up as your authentic self. Choose your “hard”.

Learn to love yourself! By accepting yourself for who you are, knowing your self-worth and truly listening to your inner voice, you will come into your true power. Don’t be good. Be kind and firm.

JOANNE WITH HER DAUGHTER AND SON FOR WHOM SHE WROTE HER TWO EMPOWERING CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Fifteen-year DB resident and mother of two Joanne Hay is the Director of Leadership Development at premium workspace provider, The Executive Centre Hong Kong. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), accredited by the International Coach Federation; a corporate trainer and the author of two books, Please Be You and I Am Me , aimed at fostering self-love and resilience in children. You can follow her on Instagram @beyoubook.

ALittle Bitof Trivia! HOBBIT DAY QUIZ

It’s Hobbit Day on September 22, Bilbo Baggins birthday. How well do you know the first of JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth Cycle books?

1. Who is the title character of The Hobbit ?

A. Bilbo Baggins

B. Frodo Baggins

C. Gandalf the Grey

2. What does Bilbo lose in his escape from Gollum?

A. The Ring

B. His shoes

C. His brass buttons

3. What animal does Beorn turn into?

A. A bear

B. A deer

C. A crocodile

4. What is the answer to this riddle posed by Gollum? “Alive without breath, As cold as death; Never thirsty, ever drinking, All in mail, never clinking…”

A. A knight

B. A fish

C. A worm

5. What name do the goblins give to Thorin Oakenshield’s sword?

A. Smiler

B. Screecher

C. Biter

6. What is the alternative title to The Hobbit ?

A. The Adventures of Bilbo Baggins: A Hobbit

B. There and Back Again

C. Bilbo Baggins and the Philosopher’s Stone

7. What does Bilbo name his sword?

A. Sting

B. Gash

C. Slice

8. Who leads the company of dwarves?

A. Kili

B. Gloin

C. Thorin

9. Who guards the treasure under the mountain?

A. Gollum

B. Smaug

C. Sauron

10. What is Gollum’s name for The Ring?

A. Beloved

B. Precious

C. Darling

11. What happens to trolls when they are exposed to daylight?

A. They explode

B. They turn to dust

C. They turn to stone

12. What power does The Ring give Bilbo?

A. Invisibility

B. Speed

C. Strength

13. Who lives in Rivendell?

A. The Dwarves

B. The Hobbits

C. The Elves

14. What is the name of Bilbo’s hillside home?

A. Clearwater Bend

B. Crookhollow Bend

C. Bag End

15. What does Bilbo find upon returning home?

A. His home being auctioned off

B. His house full of dwarves

C. His nephew Frodo tending his garden

16. When Smaug boasts of his attributes, he likens the flapping of his wings to a hurricane. But what does he call his breath?

A. Fire

B. Death

C. Acid

17. Bilbo spots a flaw in which of Smaug’s body parts?

A. His tail

B. His left breast

C. His right eye

18. How do the dwarves know which hobbit hole Bilbo lives in when they start their journey?

A. There is a sign outside Bilbo’s house

B. There is a trail of popcorn leading to Bilbo’s doorstep

C. There is a carved marking on Bilbo’s front door

19. How does Bilbo try to obtain freedom from Gollum?

A. He challenges Gollum to a riddle-answering contest

B. He challenges Gollum to a canoe race

C. He challenges Gollum to a sword fight

20. Which finger does Bilbo put The Ring on?

A. His thumb

B. His ring finger

C. His index finger

You can check your score at www.arounddb.com>

20-questions>hobbit-quiz

Top Tips! HOW TO BECOME A VEGETARIAN

Going meat-free doesn’t have to be restrictive. By experimenting with some great tasting food and making sure your body gets all the nutrients it needs, you’ll enjoy the ride. Imogen Clyde reports

There are many reasons to switch to a vegetarian diet. For some, vegetarianism is a way to eat healthily and avoid the hormones used in animal foods. For others, eating this way has more to do with animal rights, environmental concerns or religion. For myself, it’s simply about the taste. Over the years, I’ve developed a love for lentils and beans, root vegetables and leafy greens which overrides my desire for meat. The condiment, you might say, has become the main event.

If you’re considering becoming vegetarian, the first step is to decide how far you want to go. In following a vegetarian diet, you don’t eat meat, poultry, or fish, but you may choose to include certain dairy and animal products in your diet. For instance, lacto-ovo vegetarians eat dairy products including eggs; lacto vegetarians eat dairy products but no eggs; ovo vegetarians eat eggs but no other dairy products. And then of course there’s the option to go hardcore vegan. If you’re following a vegan diet, you don’t eat meat, poultry or fish, neither do you eat dairy products or other animal products, like gelatine or honey.

GOING MEAT-FREE

Any lifestyle change requires a little bit of effort so, when going meat-free, you need to set yourself up for as easy a transition as possible. Should you go cold turkey or take a more gradual approach? That’s up to you. You can wipe the slate clean, switch your pantry to all-vegetarian and start as you mean to go on. Or you may prefer to take it slowly, first giving up red meat, then poultry, then fish. If you already practice “Meatless Mondays,” you may decide to take it even more gently, adding more days as you get used to your new vegetarian diet.

Another tip: make a point of trying new vegetarian foods instead of focusing on what you can’t eat. Invest in a couple of vegetarian cookery books: this will encourage you to experiment with new preparation methods and vegetables that you haven’t eaten before. And take the opportunity to expand your horizons, there are great vegetarian dishes from all over the world – from India to the Mediterranean – that you can add to your repertoire. In the process, you may discover flavours you didn’t know you liked.

Know too that you may still be able to cook many of your favourite recipes with a vegetarian or vegan twist. Often, you can replace the main protein with a vegetarian source, like tofu or tempeh. If the recipe has an animal-based stock, you can use vegetable stock instead. If you’re avoiding dairy, try a non-dairy milk such as almond or soy. Likewise, you can find all sorts of meat-like alternatives, like veggie burgers and “chicken” nuggets, though you

EAT A VARIETY OF PLANT-BASED PROTEINS: THAT WAY YOU WILL GET SUFFICIENT AMOUNTS OF ALL THE ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS YOUR BODY NEEDS

need to avoid products that are heavily processed as these will impact your new focus on “clean,” healthy eating.

PROTEIN SOURCES FOR VEGETARIANS

In turning veggie, most of us lose weight – which is often a plus – but when making any radical change to your diet you need to ensure your body continues to get sufficient nourishment. The good news is that a well-planned meatless diet can provide all the nutrients you need, including protein, you just have to work at it a bit.

The first thing you need to know is that protein is made up of chains of molecules known as amino acids. There are 20 amino acids found in nature that your body can use to build protein. Out of these 20 amino acids, nine are considered essential, because your body cannot produce them itself – you need to get them from your diet. The remaining 11 are considered non-essential, as your body can produce them from the nine essential amino acids.

Animal protein contains all nine essential amino acids in sufficient amounts. Plant protein also contains all nine essential amino acids, however most contain a limited amount of at least one essential amino

First an exception to the rule: soybeans are a “whole” source of protein, providing all the essential amino acids you need. Tofu, tempeh, and edamame all originate from soybeans; soy milk is made from soybeans and can be a great alternative to dairy milk.

Most types of beans, including lentils, kidney, pinto and chickpeas, are staple foods across cultures not least because they contain high amounts of protein. The same is true of nuts, nut butters and other seeds, like chia and hemp. And a word about grains. Wild rice contains approximately 1.5 times as much protein as other long-grain rice varieties, including brown rice and basmati. Ancient grains, like spelt, barley and teff (which is gluten free), are also high in protein. These ancient grains are a healthy alternative to other grains, such as wheat and rice, and they can be used in many recipes ranging from baked goods to risotto. Likewise, oats contain higher quality protein than other commonly consumed grains. Seitan is another popular protein source for many vegetarians and vegans. It’s made from gluten, the main protein in wheat. Unlike many soy-based mock meats, it closely resembles the look and texture of meat when cooked. Also known as wheat meat or wheat gluten, it is one of the richest plant protein sources available.

than vegetables. Those containing the most include guava, mulberries, blackberries, nectarines and bananas.

GETTING THE VITAMINS AND MINERALS YOU NEED

In general, vegetarians replace meat with more nutritious foods, such as fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains and so on. If you do that, you will be getting more of the nutrients your body needs, giving you better health and more energy. But you need to make doubly sure that your diet is sufficient in certain vitamins and minerals, like vitamin B-12 and omega-3 fatty acids.

Vitamin B-12 isn’t found in many plant foods, so animal sources play an important role in protecting against deficiency. Lacto-ovo vegetarians can find plenty of vitamin B-12 in dairy products: eggs, milk, cottage cheese, feta, gouda, edam, gruyere, brie, cheddar, fontina, mozzarella, provolone. If you follow a vegan diet however, you’ll need to drink plenty of fortified soy milk, oat, or almond beverages and/ or take a vitamin B-12 supplement.

The omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients to include in your diet. Omega-3 is often associated with seafood, but go-to vegetarian sources include chia seeds, ground flaxseed, hulled hemp seed and walnuts. Nuts and seeds are also high in protein, so you’re on to a win-win. Enjoy!

EXPERIMENT WITH VEGETABLES THAT YOU HAVEN’T EATEN BEFORE

DMR School of Ballet

Enrol now for September 2023

Enrol now for our new academic year, starting in September 2023 Classes are filling up fast so don't miss out on your chance to dance!

Annual Performance

Each year, DMR Dancers showcase their hard work, passion and fun costumes in our annual performance We can't wait till the next one!

Hong Kong Disneyland

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

RAD Ballet

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

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!

COMMUNITY SERVICE

When Matthew Bentley and Jason Crisp co-founded Island Cleaning Solutions (ICS) in August 2020, they did not specifically set out to target Discovery Bay but the cleaning and wellness firm has quickly become a go-to for home and business owners across the community.

“This has everything to do with the nature of our customer base,” Matt says. “Our services include cleaning of air-conditioning units, soft furnishings, upholstery and leather, as well as whole-home/ office deep cleaning and disinfecting. We are geared towards those who appreciate attention to detail and high standards.

“I also feel like our brand image, service pillars and uniforms go a long way to getting our teams recognised within the community,” Matt adds.

The fact that Matt is a DB resident and Jason is a former DB resident, now living in Peng Chau, further explains the firm’s local appeal. “Jason and I have a lot of contacts in the area and most of our first clients were DBers,” Matt says. “At the start, all of our advertising was through word of mouth. When a customer is impressed with our service and gives a personal recommendation, for instance through one of the local Facebook pages, like DB Mums, it has a big impact.”

Matt and Jason also like to keep it local when recruiting staff. “When we were looking to expand our team, we reached out to the community and received a lot of interest,” Matt says. “We continue to use DB Facebook groups for recruitment: we’ve employed a lot of DB residents full-time and we also offer internships – part-time employment to DB students returning on gap years.”

THE DB TEAM

At the time of writing, ICS has three DB residents on staff: Andrew Escott (supervisor), Brandon Samuels (supervisor) and Jayden Gough (technician). Andrew came on board three years ago, during the pandemic, when the company he worked for was in trouble – he was recruited by Jason. Brandon, a former sports coach, joined at about the same time – his dad and Jason are buddies. Jayden was recruited just 10 months ago when he was fresh out of school and waiting tables – he and Jason got chatting in a DB coffee shop.

locally

Ask the DB trio what they get out of working at ICS and they all focus on the enjoyment they gain from being part of a dedicated team. “At ICS, we have a really good bunch of guys,” Andrew says. “We’re all striving for the same thing; we’re very ambitious about what we do and there’s great camaraderie in the company.”

“We follow five core pillars at ICS,” Brandon adds. “We call it DIRTA: Development, Integrity, Respect, Transparency and Ambition. Learning these has made me more responsible, punctual and disciplined. That’s why I’m a supervisor now.”

What then makes ICS so successful according to the core DB team members? “When we go to a client’s house, we explain exactly what we’ll be doing and we clean everything to our full potential; we also tell our customers if there’s a problem, for instance if an aircon needs replacing,” says Brandon. “And we always show up on time,” Jayden adds with a grin. “I think our customer service is great.”

Andrew elaborates: “First of all, we take each other very seriously, and we hold each other accountable. My personal background, like Jason’s, is the British military, so we approach the job with military bearing in terms of punctuality, what we wear, the way we conduct ourselves. That, coupled with the camaraderie, makes for a very good working environment and it means we work to a very high standard.”

Island Cleaning Solutions is a big hit in Discovery Bay not least because the founders are islanders and they like to recruit

PHOTO BY Sarin Ale

Air conditioning

● Pre/Post tenancy

● Whole-space disinfection

● Mould treatment

●

Vacation Time!

SEOUL MINI-BREAK

Hide out in the South Korean capital

SEOUL HAS TO BE ONE OF THE HOMELIEST cities in Asia. Sure, the South Korean capital is quietly gentrifying, but for now its distinct charms lie in its parks and pavilions, back alleys and side streets. Don’t look for the Tokyo-esque or the Londonlike in Seoul. If you’re going to get elbowed by an excitable ajumma (woman of marriageable age), it may as well be for an authentic experience.

GANGNAM IS THE AFFLUENT

part of Seoul, with so-called good schools and fancy shopping. The wide boulevards and shiny malls have inspired residents to dub the area Seoul’s Rodeo Drive. But there’s more to it than meets the eye: Tony Apgujeong is in Gangnam, location of the trendy Platoon Kunsthalle – a shipping container reconfigured as a chic cultural centre.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HAN river, Gangbuk is the more diverse, much older, generally more interesting part of the city. Anchored by the remaining three great gates (Dong-, Seo- and Namdaemun) that once fortified it, it’s known for hip Myeongdong and Dongdaemun markets, and Chungmuro, home to Korea’s annual International Film Festival. And those aforementioned classical parks and quaint back streets? Rife on this side.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

TAKE A STROLL ALONG

CHEONGGYECHEON, a creek that cuts through Gangbuk’s Jongno (Central) district. A multi-year urban renewal project that was long buried by asphalt, Cheonggyecheon is now a pedestrian route that hits most of Seoul’s key downtown sights. It’s a great orientation tool and a walk along it is a good way to figure out what’s worth a second visit.

AN

EVENING’S ENTERTAINMENT

is easily had in Seoul: look for the neon and listen for crowds. It’s almost impossible to spend time in the city and not wind up at an Itaewon watering hole for cocktails. The main road (outside Itaewon subway station) is dotted with every type of nightclub and bar, and you can find live music and take in the expat scene (now a little quieter with fewer US troops) on its back streets.

GANGBUK HOMES THE MAJOR HISTORICAL LANDMARKS including four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Any hotel concierge is going to recommend you see Gyeongbokgung Palace which dates back to 1394, and Sinchon Railway Station – the oldest in the city, built in 1920. A browse through Namdaemun Market (with the locals) is another must, as is a walk through Seodaemun’s glorious Independence Park.

EATING WILL TAKE UP A MAJOR

CHUNK of your time in Seoul regardless of what else you plan to do. Koreans take food very seriously and a good hanshik (sort of a table d’hôte) can take hours. Street food ranges from dried squid snacks and ddeokbokki (rice cakes in red pepper sauce) to pastries and dumplings, and seemingly any vendor located near a busy central intersection or strip of bars provides great food – cheap.

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

Creamy and comforting, hearty and healthy, veggie curries are bursting with flavour and surprisingly easy to make

SLOW COOKER DHAL

Serves 4

300g yellow split peas

1 onion, chopped

200g chopped tomatoes

Thumb fresh root ginger, finely grated

1tsp ground cumin

2tsp ground turmeric

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced

10 freeze-dried curry leaves

700ml hot vegetable stock

1 green bird’s eye chilli, thinly sliced

2tbsp sunflower oil

1tsp whole cumin seeds

Lemon wedges, to serve

Place the split peas, onion, tomatoes, ginger, cumin, turmeric, crushed garlic, curry leaves and stock in a slow cooker. Add most of the chilli and stir to combine. Cook on high for four hours, until the peas are tender. Season to taste.

Just before serving, heat the oil in a saucepan. When the oil is very hot, add the whole cumin seeds and the sliced garlic. Fry until the garlic is golden-brown and the cumin smells toasty and almost smoky. Spoon the oil over the dhal, scatter with the remaining green chilli and lemon wedges for squeezing.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

PALAK PANEER

Serves 4

500g spinach

3tsp cornmeal

6tsp sunflower oil

400g paneer, cut into chunks

1tsp cumin seeds

20g fresh root ginger, finely grated

20g garlic, finely chopped

125g onion, finely chopped

2-3 green bird’s eye chillies, chopped, seeds in

1tsp ground turmeric

2tsp garam masala

Tip the spinach into a saucepan and pour over 500ml of water. Bring to the boil and cook for 4-5 minutes until tender. Drain, reserving 50ml of cooking water. Transfer the cooked spinach to a bowl. Add the cornmeal and reserved water. Blend to a smooth purée. Set aside. Heat 2tsp of the oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the paneer chunks until evenly browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

In the same pan, heat the remaining oil. Add the cumin seeds. As soon as they begin to sizzle, add the ginger and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the onion and chillies and cook for another 7-8 minutes until softened. Stir in the turmeric, garam masala and 1tsp of salt and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the puréed spinach, lower the heat and cover the pan. Cook for another 4 minutes, then add the cooked paneer and cook for 2 minutes.

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Bay Media Rewards Club gives you access to a range of exclusive discounts and lifestyle benefits.

Bay Media Rewards Club gives you access to a range of exclusive discounts and lifestyle benefits.

COMMUNITY SNAPS

WITH THE NAAC CHOIR AT DB NORTH

PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com

UNCLE RUSS INSTAGRAM COMPETITION

SHARE A PHOTO #AROUNDDB TO WIN PRIZES FROM UNCLE RUSS COFFEE AND THE PIER BAR!

Your mission this month is to share your favourite photo of DB on Instagram #arounddb. You have until the 15th of the month to enter. This is your chance to win four complimentary drinks from Uncle Russ and The Pier Bar. We will contact the winner on Instagram #arounddb. Good luck!

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST MONTH’S WINNER: Gina @crusado_a_traveller

Packing, Moving & Storage Services. Fixed price quote upon onsite survey or choose from the rates below:

Hire a Truck: HK$220/hour. Minimum 3 hours.

Short Trips: HK$200 & up.

Hire Movers: HK$120/hour per mover. Minimum 3 hours.

Cartons and Packing Materials:

16x14x14" (Small): HK$12.

23x15x15" (Medium): HK$15.

24x18x16" (Large): HK$18.

36x23x11" (Flat Carton for Hanging Clothes): HK$30.

24x22x47" (Wardrobe Boxes): HK$90.

Plastic Wrap: HK$60/roll.

Packing Paper: HK$160/ream.

Bubble: HK$50/roll.

Packing Tape: HK$8/piece.

Plastic Boxes & Used Cartons can be provided free of charge. (Subject to availability.)

Serves Lantau, DB, Tung Chung and the rest of HK.

Did you know you can ONLY recycle plastic bottles #1 and #2, paper, metal and glass your building's recycling bin?

To recycle other plastics, inclu liquid cartons (Tetra Paks energy saving light bulbs a take it to the WEEKLY RECY

Find out more at the Islands Recycling Station FB page.

LOCAL NUMBERS

TUNG CHUNG

SOUTH LANTAU

DISCOVERY BAY

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,

The Rink Italian Kitchen

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

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

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.

Discovery Montessori School

TENNIS BALLS, RESULTS AND REALITY

We can all try to up our game – that’s admirable, says Peter Sherwood . But at the end of the day, we are who we are

Stick with me, I’ll get to the point eventually. For three years I walked past a tennis court where twice a week the coach worked with a bloke whose style was as arthritic as the Chinese National People’s Congress, and no matter the pleading instructions from the opposite end, most shots ended up robotically in the bottom of the net. Or the back fence. Here was accuracy worthy of a champion – if only the persistent problem of direction could be overcome.

Thousands of hours pounding tennis balls and the improvement hurdle was a Sydney Harbour Bridge too far. Lessons aren’t cheap and that’s a lot of loot for being right about something you already know. Coach shouts instructions, bloke reliably whacks the intruding net. Finally, money is exchanged, everyone seems happy, while coach goes off to see his therapist on matters of preventable suicide, and to try for a discount introducing his statuesque star pupil. (If Wimbledon is the destination, I can recommend the number 44 bus from Central London). Where am I going with this? Off on another tangent.

A friend I’ll call Barry to protect his identity (his real name is Richard) who worked for the same company for five years was notoriously underpaid and when bonus time came around suffered from MMGS: Mysteriously Moving Goalposts Syndrome – until

he found a job in Europe. Soon his wealthy former boss came crawling, offering a return to the fold at double his former salary. So, after being royally ripped-off, Barry accepted.

He’s pretty happy and he shouldn’t be. Here’s why: people don’t change; we are who we are. If I can mistreat you for years, then my integrity could use a little work. And I’m guaranteed to do it again. Am I willing to pay you massively more because I now realise your true value? No, I always knew your worth. Eventually, I will repeat the tawdry performance to show you how reptilian I really am because you didn’t get it the first time.

Now, to the point –and you can take this to the bank. For a true picture of where we are in life, I believe we should examine our results. Results don’t lie. Everything else is fantasy or wishful thinking. Based on results my talented and dedicated friend was cheated, and by the same enduring universal truth he will be burned again. Then he’ll be back in Europe starting over. Yes, there is an argument for even the worst among us gaining increased awareness, but new personal insights are just that “from within” –internal from the same scoundrel.

And I’m reminded that awareness plus 35 dollars will get you a cappuccino. The 5% of the iceberg (read human consciousness) above the water might well be expanded to 10, but it remains the same chunk of ice. In other words, Putin is unlikely to go from KGB thug to Nobel Peace Prize winner, and there are few bets on Donald Trump and the truth falling in love any time soon. As for the tennis bloke, try hitting against a wall, it’s cheaper.

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.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

RESULTS DON’T LIE