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THE ETHIC A ISSUE L

February 2019

Top tips

for plant-based parenting

How to do sustainable fashion

PLUS

Snow fun in South Korea

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

ENJOY AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHINESE NEW YEAR

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CONTENTs 2

Editor’s letter

48

Hello from the hot desk

4

55

Travel Hong Kong E-Prix deals and snowy South Korea

What’s on Dates for your diary

12

Big day out February fortune tellers

Contributors Meet this month’s team

7

ISSUE 057

64

Things you should know

Flailing spouse Entertaining the kids

It’s all about the pig...

14

News The monthly round-up

17

55

Me & my big idea Milking a babywear start-up

18

Book review What’s cool for kids

20

My Hong Kong

30

17

Saving the animals

22

Cover story How to dress ethically

29

Schools Bus news

36

14

Life & style Environmental ideas for Chinese New Year

38

Health & wellness All in a bind

41

Food Where’s hot this month, plus veggies for kids

47 20

Scan and visit our website expat-parent.com

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editor’s message

who’s in charge?

Editorial editorial@hongkongliving.com Editor Carolynne Dear

Managing Editor Gemma Shaw

Contributing Editor Nicole Slater

Editorial Assistant Becky Love

Digital Editor Apple Lee

Design sonia@hongkongliving.com Design Coordinator Sonia Khatwani

Sales & Marketing talk@hongkongliving.com

I

t’s been a busy start to 2019 and to be honest I’m quite looking forward to a few days off this month. Chinese New Year is one of my favourite festivals of the year and after the craziness of Christmas, it’s a real gift to be able to enjoy a relaxed week at home.

This month we’re all about environmentalism. I was lucky enough to be able to catch up with Christina Dean of sustainable fashion promoter Redress just before Christmas, as she flew into Hong Kong to promote the launch of 2019’s Redress Global Fashion Awards. Redress is a pioneering non-government organisation that has been working tirelessly since 2007 to reduce textile waste and promote environmental sustainability in the fashion industry. We both felt that 2019 was perhaps the year when people might finally start thinking a bit more about what they’re wearing and how to address an industry that is, rather depressingly, the world’s second-biggest polluter.

So with ‘green’ top of the agenda, this issue is crammed with a ton of helpful ideas for dressing ethically, plus tips on buying recycled lai see, raising a plant-based family and we also spoke with Jill Robinson of Animals Asia about her work over the last three decades saving caged and tortured animals across the continent.

I hope you enjoy the read, it’s been a real labour of love this month.

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Senior Sales and Marketing Executive Isamonia Chui

Sales and Marketing Executive Corrie Tang

Sales and Marketing Executive Mathew Cheung

Events ran@hongkongliving.com Event Executive Ran Chan

Accounting charles@hongkongliving.com Assistant Operations Manager Charles Lau

Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@hongkongliving.com

Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 | Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong

about the cover

Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

Our cover models Maisie Dowding and Isabella Djokovic braved the cold this month for a piggy-inspired Chinese New Year shoot. The girls are both dressed in handsewn, custom-made qipao dresses, stitched with locally sourced, limited edition fabrics in small batches.

A selection of dresses and bags are available at Partytime (Prince’s Building, Times Square and Repulse Bay) and Hong Kong Design Gallery at Hong Kong International Airport. chinadollkids.com.

The cover photo was shot at Toi Chung basketball courts by photographer Wayne Wong. wayne-wong.com.

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Director of Partnerships Hilda Chan

HONG KONG hongkongliving.com Expat Parent is published by Hong Kong Living Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Expat Parent cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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contributors

Amy Overy

Kate Farr

Amelia Sewell

… Tour guide Amy explores how to find out your Chinese New Year fortune.

My plans for Valentine’s Day are… a lovely surprise from my husband (and I’m making sure he and everyone he knows reads this!).

The most environmental thing I’ve done this month is… ensuring myself and my team are all using reusable water bottles for our walking tours - it’s not a big change but hopefully it will make a difference.

…Freelance writer Kate digs the dirt on how to raise vegan children.

My plans for Valentine’s Day are… nonexistent. The whole concept of V-Day makes me cringe, so if my husband suddenly decides to surprise me I’d have to assume he’d suffered some sort of head trauma.

The most environmental thing I’ve done this month is… stocking up on packaging-free basics at Live Zero’s upgraded Sai Ying Pun store.

… Expat Parent’s education editor takes a tour of Nord Anglia International School.

I will be spending Valentine’s Day... in a pottery class at Lump Studio. In the pursuit of doing something different, my husband and I decided to take an evening course together.

The most environmental thing I’ve done this month is... investing in a reusable coffee cup. Every little helps.

@hongkong_greeters

@katefarrwrites

Want to write for Expat Parent Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com

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@bundlesewell

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what’s on

Diary dates

UNTIL FEB 17

‘Flights of Fancy’ celebrations at Pacific Place Artist Queenie Law has painstakingly created over 60 kites to soar through Pacific Place and celebrate Chinese New Year. The Admiraltybased shopping mall will also be hosting dance and musical performances throughout the month and a traditional lion dance on February 12. pacificplace.com.hk expat-parent.com 7

what’s on THROUGHOUT FEB

FEB 2

Chomp your way through Whampoa and learn about the five flavours of Chinese cuisine sweet, spicy, salty, bitter and sour. Mondays and Thursdays 3-7pm. Adults, $688, Children, $458. humidwithachanceoffishballs.com

Slip your apron on and make your own Neapolitan pies with a hands-on lesson from professional chefs, plus enjoy wine and antipasti throughout the afternoon. From 3pm. $248 + $58 for free flow prosecco or wine. 15 Ship Street, Wan Chai. motorinopizza.com

Off the Eaten Path Food Tour

UNTIL FEB 17

Motorino Pizza Making Party

KidsFest 2019

Chinese New Year Events JAN 25-FEB 24

Lunar New Year Thematic Lantern Display Enjoy the beautiful lantern displays at Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront, with this year’s theme Glittering Peacocks in Full Bloom.

JAN 30-FEB 5

Featuring old favourites such as The Tiger Who Came to Tea, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and The Gruffalo. Times vary. Tickets from $195.

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai. kidsfest.com.hk

Chinese New Year Flower Markets Located across Hong Kong with the biggest market taking place at Victoria Park. Victoria Park, Hing Fat Street, Causeway Bay.

FEB 5 FEB 4, 7-9

Faust’s Chinese New Year Programmes

UNTIL FEB 17

The AIA Great European Carnival Hong Kong’s annual winter fair. Adults $130 (includes entry and 10 tokens), Child (3-11) $90 (includes entry and 7 tokens), bundles available. 11am-11pm. Central Waterfront Event Space, Central. tgec.asia

FEB 5-7

FEB 7

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Public holiday lasting three days.

Welcome in the Year of the Pig.

Strike it lucky on the first races of the year at Sha Tin Racecourse starting at 11am. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Sha Tin Racecourse Stand, Sha Tin.

Lululemon New Town Plaza Run Club

A fantastic chance to learn to sew!

Designerooms offer technical support and tutorials to help you with your creative projects. Beginners welcome. $35 per hour.

Designerooms, Unit A2, 9/F, Ka Wing Factory Building, 19-21 Ng Fong Street, San Po Kong. facebook.com/designerooms 8 expat-parent.com

FEB 5-21

Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival

FEB 6, 13, 20, 27

Fashion Sewing and Pattern Making Workshop

Watch the show along Canton Road, Haiphong Road and Nathan Road in TST at 8pm.

For ages four to 13. Faust International Youth Theatre has innovative drama and creative writing programs.

Early bird prices: $790 for one day; $1,610 for three days. Faust Studio, 5/F Nan Dao Commercial Building, 359 & 361 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan. faustworld.com

Chinese New Year

FEB 1

The Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade

Join in the eight kilometre fun run along the Shing Man River followed by a circuit workout at Sha Tin Sports Ground. Every Wednesday in Feb from 7.30-9pm. Free. eventbrite.hk

FEB 9

Millinery Workshop During this workshop each student will create a fascinator in the shape and colour of their choice. 3-6pm. $1,200. Artisan Blossoms, 2/F, 37 Staunton Street, Central. artisanblossoms.com

Be a part of a long established tradition and make a wish at The Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees, a popular shrine located in Fong Ma Po village near to Tai Po.

FEB 6

Chinese New Year firework display Watch Victoria Harbour light up with Hong Kong’s biggest firework display at 8pm.

Chinese New Year race day

FEB 16-19

Lunar New Year Lantern Carnivals Spectacular lantern displays and traditional performances across various locations. 7.30-9.30pm. Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, North District Park, Tin Shui Wai Park and Ginza Square

tell me more FEB 9

Valentine’s Day Race The seventh annual race, consisting of two trails, Tough Love with a distance of 14km and Easy Love with a distance of nine kilometres. Both races start and finish at Treasure Island, Pui O Beach. $498 per team. thetrailhub.com

mum-about-town

FEB 9

Hong Kong Shark Foundation Beach Clean-Up Get the family together and join in the Butterfly Beach Clean Up to raise awareness about shark conservation. 2-4pm. A donation of $100 includes a t-shirt, pair of gloves and clean up bags. Butterfly Beach, Lung Fu Road, Tuen Mun. hksharkfoundation.org

FEB 10

Freespace Happening Free outdoor and arts event with creative workshops, music, dance and a handicraft workshop. Art Park, West Kowloon. westkowloon.hk

FEB 10

Tong Chong Street Market Stroll through the open-air food market with overseas and local vendors, plus live entertainment and games. 11am-5pm. Free admission.

Tong Chong Street, Taikoo Place.

FEB 11, 18, 25

Free Play Sessions at Nord Anglia International School

All the action at Longines Masters

Giddy up Longines Masters gallops into town this month with a huge line-up of equine events. It’s part of the Longines Masters Series which is considered the ‘grand slam’ of indoor show jumping, stopping in Paris first, then Hong Kong and finally New York. Expect three actionpacked days of jumping, as competitors vie for over US$650,000 in prize money. Plus there will be a heap of family ents in the Prestige Village with opportunities to grab autographs from the riders. Head to AsiaWorld-Expo, Feb 15-17. longinesmasters.com

Play sessions at Nord Anglia International Pre-schools run by UK-qualified teaching staff in bespoke pre-school learning environments. For ages two-and-a-half to threeand-a-half years. 3-4pm.

Registration online nais.hk/ freeplayfebruary

FEB 12-17

Hong Kong Race Week Local and international competitors will descend on Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Middle Island clubhouse for one of the Club’s most exciting events of the year, with more than 230 boats competing across four race tracks. hongkongraceweek.com

Join the Hong Kong Living baking workshop

Bake-it with love I am seriously looking forward to brushing up on my cooking skills and tucking in at the Hong Kong Living Valentine’s Baking Workshop on February 12. Under the professional guidance of cooking school The Mixing Bowl, I’ll be learning how to create a delicious raspberry and chocolate tart with special tips on icing sugar-based decoration techniques. A complimentary afternoon tea is included, as well as a Valentine’s-inspired goodie bag. $680 per person, 1-4pm, Feb 12, 22-26 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan, hongkongliving.com/shop expat-parent.com 9

what’s on FEB 12

FEB 16

Valentines workshop

The Ultimate Detox – A Yin-Yang Yoga Workshop with Nicky Hadjithoma

Hong Kong Living’s first ever cake baking/ chocolate making workshop. Professional bakers will teach you to bake sweet treats to share with your loved ones during this threehour workshop. 1-4pm. The Mixing Bowl, 23/F, The Pemberton, 22-26, Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan. hongkongliving.com/shop

Detox with Nicky Hadjithoma to learn how to cultivate yin and yang qualities to support a harmonious and healthy way of life. 10:30am1:30pm. $1,187. Pure South, The Pulse, Level 1, The Pulse, No.28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay. pure-yoga.com/hongkong

FEB 14

Valentines Day Don’t forget the roses!

FEB 14, 21

Harrow International School Hong Kong Open Mornings Prospective parents and students can meet staff, view facilities and interact with current pupils. Feb 21 for ages two to nine years and Feb 14 for ages 10-16 years. 8.45-11am.

Register online. Harrow International School, 38 Tsing Ying Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories. harrowschool.hk

Meet author Jacquiline Hamilton as she reads her new book in a fun-filled afternoon with face painting and snacks. Dress your children up as police officers and get 10% off a copy. 3-5pm.

No 1, 1/F, Wan King Path, Sai Kung.

Faust International Youth Theatre presents, Peter Pan & Wendy on stage. Various times.

Tickets from $240. Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Theatre Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. urbtix.hk

Trail running and hiking across Sai Kung.

Distances of 12km, 22km or 50km. Start and finish at Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung.

Shuttle Buses available. $480-$730 to enter. actionasiaevents.com

FEB 21-MAR 23

One of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world. Admission to the Prestige Village is free. Tickets for competition sessions $200-$980, family and concessionary tickets available as well as premium VIP packages.

AsiaWorld Expo, Airport Expo Boulevard, Chek Lap Kok. longinesmasters.com/en

All genres of performing arts are represented in this month-long programme. Times, prices and locations vary. hk.artsfestival.org/en

Sai Kung 50

Hong Kong Arts Festival

FEB 23

Fairchild Junior Academy Open House Visit the Reggio Emilia inspired campus and talk to educators while children enjoy sensory play activities. 2-5pm. 22/F Park Commercial Centre, 180 Tung Lo Wan Road, Tin Hau. fairchild.academy

FEB 22-24

Vegetarian Food Asia 2019 Learn more about a healthy and sustainable vegetarian lifestyle. Feb 22-23, 10:30am7:30pm free; Feb 24, 11am-8pm $20. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai. vegfoodasia.com

FEB 15-17

The Great Gatsby

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The Sai Kung Police Officer’s book signing

FEB 23

FEB 15-17

FEB 22-24

Ode to the Silk Road Photo credit: Dean Alexander

Performed by the Hong Kong Ballet, enter the glamorous world of New York high society. Times vary.

Tickets from $140.

Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai. hkballet.com

FEB 23

FEB 21 - 24

Peter Pan & Wendy

Longines Masters of Hong Kong

The day’s theme will be ‘Reading Around the World’ to encourage children to discover and to share the joys of reading. Dress up is welcomed! 1-4pm. Malvern College PreSchool Hong Kong, G9-12, Coronation Circle, 1 Yau Cheung Road, Southwest Kowloon. malvernpreschool.hk

The Hong Kong Dance Company transports you on a magic carpet ride through traditional dances and music representing the culture of the Silk Road’s ethnic groups. 3pm & 7.45pm. $120-320. Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium, 12 Hing Ning Road, Kwai Chung. hkdance.com

FEB 23

Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong Open Day

FEB 23-24

Refresh and Recharge Workshop with Greta Lai Greta Lai presents this two-day workshop on healthy eating and yoga to revive body, mind and spirit. 10am. $1,993. Pure Yoga Starstreet Precinct, 3-19 Wing Fung Street, Starstreet Precinct, Wan Chai. allnood.com/workshops

FEB 23 & MAR 2

Living with Joy and Peace: A Meditation Workshop with Heidi Poon Two-weekend workshops to find a moment of peace and quiet during the fast-paced life of Hong Kong. 9.30am-1.30pm. $2,250. Pure Yoga, 25/F Millennium City 5, 418 Kwun Tong Tong Road, Kwun Tong. pure-yoga. com/ hongkong

APR 20-21

Pinkfong Baby Shark Live Musical Direct from Korea and conducted in English, follow Pinkfong on his journey to return the missing Baby Shark. Features the hit song ‘Baby Shark’ - what more could you possibly want?! 10:30am, 2:30pm, 5:30pm. Tickets from $280. Star Hall, Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, Kowloon. hkticketing.com

MAR 3

MAR 10

Bookazine will again be hosting Children’s Bookfest. Kids of all ages will be able to dive in with story-telling sessions, arts and crafts, signings with authors, an outdoor library and a scavenger hunt. And feel free to come along dressed up as your favourite book character. facebook.com/ bookfestbybookazine

Mix it up with trailing running, kayaking, swimming and tactical navigation. Designed for teams of four with two course options, including a Challenge route at 16km or Elite route at 20km. Register online at fringebacker.com

Children's Bookfest

MAY 10-26

BOOK NOW

War Horse

The National Theatre of Great Britain’s Tony Award-winning production, based on the Michael Morpurgo novel, premieres in Hong Kong, bringing horses to life on stage. Times vary. Tickets from $395. Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai. hkticketing.com

Outward Bound Adventure Race

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things to know

1

The pig is the twelfth and last of all the zodiac animals. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor invited all the animals to a party but stipulated that the one to arrive last would take final place in the order.

Apparently the pig overslept and arrived late.

ac odi z t las al The anim

3

Pigs like to enjoy life. They’re not wasteful, but they are a little bit materialistic and enjoy entertainment.

They are energetic and enthusiastic and enjoy positions of

4

Ladies born in the Year of the Pig are full of excitement. They enjoy social events and have an easygoing personality. At home they are terribly organized and enjoy playing with children. They also have good fortune with wealth.

2

In Chinese culture, pigs are the symbol of wealth, and in yin and yang, the pig is yin.

Things you need to know Porcine promises

5

Piggy men are optimistic and gentle.

They trust easily and are generally not great with money. They are warm and have a large social circle, but are not great conversationalists.

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What will the Year of the Pig usher in?

6

If you were born under the pig, this year will traditionally be an unlucky one, with trouble and danger around every corner. You’ll experience emotional ups and downs and will have to work hard to avoid the year’s pitfalls.

7

Romance will not be on the cards for those born under the pig this year. Instead, it is advised to focus on networking and making new friends.

If you’re already in a relationship, communication will be key to prevent it from breaking down.

expat-parent.com 13

news

Piggy prints Seed Heritage has unveiled its new collection which features playful outfits for boys and girls printed with pig imagery and lucky words. The pieces are sized from 0-16 years. seedheritage.com

Fun festivities

Say it with a stamp

Chinese New Year decorations at IFC

Hong Kong will be decked out in fine style this month to welcome the Year of the Pig. IFC shopping mall was one of the first venues to launch its Chinese New Year decorations, featuring The Garden of Fortune in its main atrium. With pinwheels to welcome good fortune and embrace new changes 14 expat-parent.com

as well as a good luck lai see tree and floral arrangements, the decorations will be on view until February 17.

Visitors can take part in a pinwheel game and receive downloadable ‘fai chuns’ - good luck posters - from local calligrapher Rita Lee. ifc.com.hk

You don’t have to master the art of giving lai see to celebrate Chinese New Year, pop down to the post office and buy some stamps to get you in the festive spirit. The post office has issued a series of philatelic products to pay homage to this year’s zodiac animal, the pig. Specially designed stamps, prepaid postcards and red packets feature piggies are now on sale at your local post office and online. hongkongpost.hk

news

Song stress Draft legislation unveiled last month announced that the Chinese National Anthem is to be made a compulsory part of the curriculum for all schools in Hong Kong.

This law will require that students learn about the history behind March of the Volunteers as well as how to sing the anthem. The anthem, originally commissioned in 1935 for patriotic movie Children of Troubled Times, was written by playwright Tian Han, and includes lyrics

On the buses such as: “Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!”

Although there is no specific punishment for schools failing to comply, for anyone who publicly and intentionally insults the anthem, penalties include a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years in prison. The National Anthem Bill is expected to take effect within the next six months. The Education Bureau is in close contact with international schools to give further guidance on the requirements.

SCAD fashion showcase success Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) hosted the fifth annual SCAD Hong Kong Fashion Showcase last month to highlight the university’s commitment to preparing young design talent for creative careers.

Senior fashion students and recent alumni from the four SCAD campuses presented their collections to over 450 selected guests, including renowned Hong Kong supermodel Kathy Chow, as well as industry

representatives. Dramatic runway shows curated by Michael Fink, dean of the SCAD School of Fashion, took place in one of the courtrooms of the former North Kowloon Magistracy campus in Sham Shui Po. SCAD offers the world’s first MA, MFA and degree programmes in luxury fashion management and currently has four campuses across the US, France and Hong Kong. scad.edu

Dont miss out on public transport rebates

SCAD students and their collections

As of February 16, people who use their Octopus card when commuting may be eligible for subsidy collection.

The new public transport fare subsidy scheme allows anyone with public transport expenses exceeding $400 per month a subsidy of 25% of the total expenses, subject to a maximum of $300 per month.

Commuters can collect the public transport fare subsidy of the previous month by tapping their Octopus through subsidy collection points, via all outlets of 7-Eleven, Circle-K and Wellcome supermarkets, the Octopus app or Octopus service points. The subsidy is credited back to your Octopus automatically. More information on the scheme can be found at ptfss.gov.hk expat-parent.com 15

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me & my big idea

Soft and sound

Stylist Claire Chivell explains how she set up ethical babywear brand, Milk Linen with the adherence to basic design principles.

Quality design will always result in a sustainable product because you are using the best materials and processes and considering the lifecycle of the product. There is definitely a growing demand for natural products in Hong Kong. Sustainability is something I feel strongly about because as a consumer, I don’t like to see the things I buy breakdown and have to be thrown away. Milk Linen pieces will last for multiple babies if cared for correctly. Buying thoughtfully and minimally is the best thing you can do for the planet.

What were the challenges of setting up a business?

Hong Kong’s proximity to China presented an amazing opportunity to develop my ideas. We moved from Australia when our baby girl was six months old, so finding the time to develop Milk Linen was challenging at first. I’m not a skilled craftsman, so finding someone who could help realise my designs was key to the process.

Milk Linen made in small quantities by a second generation, family-run business based in Hong Kong. Their factory near Guangzhou maintains high standards in terms of working conditions; many of the workers have been with the family for 20+ years.

We road-test all our samples at home, and have spent many many months searching for fabrics, improving designs and altering sizing. My daughter has quite the collection of sleepwear!

Where is the collection available?

Claire Chivell with her linen babywear collection

So what’s the big idea?

Milk Linen is a natural fibre sleepwear brand for babies. We make 100% linen sleepsuits and grow-bags for six month old babies to large toddlers. While ensuring our product is supersoft and comfortable, we also have a strong focus on sustainability.

How did the idea come about?

It began as the seed of an idea sometime before the birth of our baby girl, which is nearly two years ago now. The name Milk Linen came from spending many nights awake feeding my newborn - it was a time when the ideas flowed and Milk Linen was shaped and formed.

When searching for the best fabrics, I kept coming back to linen. It becomes softer the more you use it - it’s like a cloud on a baby’s skin but very tough. I knew that anything in cotton would pill and eventually breakdown and I wanted to produce something beautiful that I could keep. Something soft I could put away and say “you slept in that beautiful fabric every night, and here it is and it still looks, feels and smells the same as it did when you were a baby”.

Tell us about the environmental aspect…

Through our website milklinen.com. You can also find us on Instagram @milk_linen and on Facebook. Prices start from $550 for 100% natural fibre linen sleepsuits and grow-bags for summer and winter. All our sleepwear comes with a free linen wash bag to help your product last.

What’s in the pipeline for 2019?

I have a lot of new ideas - my baby is growing, so naturally I’d love to expand our sleepware to suit bigger kids. We have wraps and blankets for smaller babies and newborns in production.

Linen is a beautifully diverse product and there are so many avenues I’d love to explore. milklinen.com

The environmental aspect went hand-in-hand expat-parent.com 17

book review

Out this month The Boy Who Flew With Dragons

The Day I Was Erased

Andy Shepherd

Lisa Thompson

Tomas’ little dragon Flicker is his best friend. With his pals Ted, Kat and Kai, he loves growing dragons on the dragon-fruit tree in the garden. But his promise to his Grandad that he will let the dragons go back to where they belong isn’t easy to keep when they’re having so much fun.

Especially when Tomas is so close to uncovering the true story of the mysterious dragon-fruit tree.

Maxwell is always in trouble.

But although he’s a menace to his teachers and his family, he also rescued his dog Monster from being run over and checks on his elderly neighbour after school. One day he finds himself erased from his own life. It’s great being able to walk around without being yelled at, but Maxwell soon starts to miss his old life.

Marvel Fearless and Fantastic! Female Superheroes Save The World Illustrated comic-book profiling more than 50 female superheroes from Marvel Comics to inspire girls of all ages to be powerful, passionate and persistent. All the superheroes use intelligence, strength, kindness and courage to save the world.

With a foreword by Marvel Comics writer Kelly Thompson and divided into four chapters entitled Determined, Daring, Compassionate and Curious.

Everyday Journeys of Ordinary Things Stella Gurney Why does a light come on when you flick a switch? Where does your poo go when you flush the loo? These and many more questions are answered with illustrations and text clearly explaining how everyday processes work. Ecological processes are also touched on, including recycling and water cycle. For children who wonder “how?”

All books are available with free shipping from bookdepository.com

Pig tales Author Sarah Brennan introduces Ping Pong Pig, the heroine of her latest - and last Chinese Calendar Tale So what’s the story about?

My final Chinese Calendar Tale, The Tale of Ping Pong Pig, is a real corker (I’d like to say porker, too). It’s about a happy little pig who lives in the lanes of Beijing, just outside the brand new Forbidden City in the early 15th century, during the reign of the Yongle Emperor (or Emperor Zhu Di), who built the Forbidden City when he transferred the seat of power of the Ming Dynasty to Beijing.

The Yongle Emperor loves everything about his new palace - but most of all he loves pork. So when Ping Pong is lured into the palace by the Emperor’s wily Minister of Most Important Things, her tasty hide is in terrible danger. She flees from room to room and, as a would-be actress, dons a new disguise each time. But will she escape being served up on a Ming Dynasty platter?

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What are your feelings now you’ve reached the end of your Calendar Tales project?

As both author and publisher of The Chinese Calendar Tales series for the last 13 years, it’s fair to say that it has dominated my life for over a decade. It’s also been the opportunity for so much learning, travelling and huge fun working with kids and schools all over the world. So I’m very proud indeed that I, and my wonderful artist Harry Harrison, have managed to complete a 13 book series over 13 years without a hitch - it’s a publishing feat which, without any false modesty, I believe any publishing company anywhere in the world would have been proud to have achieved. It’s been an adventure and a challenge every year, and I will truly miss it.

However, it’s not the end of the life of our

book review lovely series, and I intend to be travelling far and wide introducing the Tales to more schools in more countries, especially in Asia and mainland China, over the coming years.

Last year I also had a lovely, unexpected success with Storm Whale, an illustrated children’s book that has collected shortlistings for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and Queensland Literary Awards, a CBCA Notables listing in Australia, and the Runner Up prize in the UK’s TeachPrimary Awards. It was also longlisted for the UK’s Kate Greenaway Medal. This has opened some fantastic doors for me both in the UK and Australia and I have several more books in the pipeline in the same style. Storm Whale is also, rather wonderfully, on the Irish primary school curriculum this year, so I hope to be visiting some Irish schools later in the year.

I hear there is a Chinese Calendar Tales boxed set in the offing?

The Boxed Set is absolutely beautiful and I’m hugely excited about it. It contains all 12 Chinese Calendar Tales as well as The Tale of Pin Yin Panda, a story book with stickers which explains how all the animals got into the Chinese Zodiac – and why the panda didn’t make it. The box is available in Hong Kong bookstores now, and will be formally launched, alongside The Tale of Ping Pong Pig, at Bookazine Exchange Square on Saturday January 26. It’s going to be an extra-special event this year, with a story reading, book signing, quiz with prizes for young and old, pictures to colour in, and this year Harry Harrison will be doing some live drawing of characters from the series. AND it’s a costume launch, so kids are invited to dress up as ‘their’ Chinese zodiac animal, with a Boxed Set as the prize for best costume.

Local author Sarah Brennan

What is your own Chinese zodiac sign?

I was born in the Year of the Rat, and I must say that I’m a typical Rat! I’m ambitious and driven, and I love being on the go constantly – in fact, just like zodiac Rats, I get very ratty if I’ve got nothing to do.

What does the year of the pig mean for 2019?

Pigs are just lovely (in fact my husband is a perfect Year of the Pig pig!). Pigs are sincere, hard-working, generous and helpful to others. They pursue their goals with great concentration, and are quick to apologize if things go wrong. On the down-side they can be a bit gullible and easily tricked. They make great caterers, entertainers, interior

decorators, vets and doctors – just like Ping Pong Pig in my story.

How will you be spending Chinese New Year?

Up to Chinese New Year and just afterwards I’ll be very busy visiting schools in Hong Kong, Beijing and Brisbane. So I plan to do as little as possible over the Chinese New Year holiday, except, of course, watching the fireworks - and walking and bird-watching with my family in the beautiful Nature Reserve near our home in Tai Po. Of all the tales, do you have a favourite?

I’m afraid I can’t answer that question, or

the beasties that I’ve left out will come to haunt me in my dreams! Actually, kids ask me this question a lot, and what I tell them is true: the Tales are like my children, and like all good mums I’ll never choose a favourite, and I love them equally though for different reasons. I do tend to be more protective and pay a lot more attention to my baby in the series – which this year of course is The Tale of Ping Pong Pig. Sarah Brennan will be launching her latest tale, The Tale of Ping Pong Pig, 2-4pm, January 26, Bookazine, Shop 305-07, One Exchange Square, Central. sarahbrennanblog.com expat-parent.com 19

PEOPLE

My Hong Kong the animal lover Jill Robinson MBE tells Carolynne Dear why saving Asian animals is her life mission I moved to Hong Kong in 1985 and as soon as I arrived I fell completely in love with the place. I’ve lived in Sai Kung for 33 years; it’s changed massively from the quaint fishing that it was but it still has a fantastic energy and I don’t think I ever want to leave.

I’m from the UK and and have always loved animals. I began working life as a programme secretary for the BBC and then for Thames Television and loved the research side. I intended to pursue this when I got to Hong Kong.

But a year after we arrived I started working for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. I was doing undercover work in live animal and dog markets in South Korea, the Philippines and China, investigating the use of animals in traditional medicine.

In 1993 I infiltrated a bear bile farm and was left reeling with shock. Tortured, caged bears were being ‘milked’ for their bile for medicine. One bear touched me on the shoulder and as we looked into each other’s eyes, I knew that I wanted to devote my life to ending such cruelty.

So along with a group of friends, I took a giant leap of faith and began a locallyinspired organisation to help wild and domestic species of animals from across the continent. This was the beginning of Animals Asia.

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Jill Robinson founded Animals Asia after infiltrating a bear bile farm in China

I knew that if we built a sanctuary, the bears would come. I was fortunate enough to receive funding from a Hong Kong philanthropist. He pledged enough funds to give us the confidence to sign on the dotted line and start building. At that time, I had absolutely no idea that one small sanctuary in China would ultimately lead to two - one in Chengdu, Sichuan province, and another in Tam Dao National Park near Hanoi in Vietnam. We’ve rescued over 620 bears and counting.

the globe, raising money to help as many animals as we can.

The most challenging part of setting up a charity is sourcing funding and staff. I knew from the beginning that we should have a qualified vet, a lawyer and an accountant on the team to set us off on the right foot. There were many late nights spent stuffing envelopes begging for funds, while at the same time working in the field and actually trying to help the animals. To this day we have passionate but overworked and underpaid staff across

My day-to-day role is varied. We have three core campaigns - bear bile farming, cat and dog welfare and captive animal welfare. I can be dealing with the flood of emails we receive each day at our head office in Hong Kong; or on-site at our sanctuaries in China and Vietnam working on strategies, meeting VIPs or just enjoying being with the bears; or making presentations and meeting supporters and media in the US, UK or Australia.

In 1998 I was awarded a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the Queen. It was a proud moment because I felt it put animal welfare on the map and made it something to be respected. I was invited to Buckingham Palace and because my elderly, wheelchair-bound auntie was with me, my family were given front-row seats. It was a wonderful experience.

PEOPLE down grassy embankments, splosh in pools, or run themselves giddy with friends.

Robinson with two of her rescue pups.

My favourite part of the job is being with the bears. I can’t describe how it feels to watch a moon, sun or brown bear finally enjoying a life without fear of being harmed.

Medical attention and tender loving care changes them from violently aggressive or fearful animals into happy, curious creatures.

Bears who were barely alive on arrival tumble

Amazingly, last year we celebrated our 20th anniversary. Our main projects this year include building on a promise we made with the Vietnamese government in mid2017 to end bear bile farming and rescue the remaining 800-or-so captive bears by 2022.

And two non-bear related programmes are also enjoying phenomenal success. In Vietnam, previously chained elephants are now roaming free in Yok Don National Park and we’ve closed down eight circuses and delivered 30 enclosure improvements in Vietnamese zoos. For cats and dogs, we’ve outfitted 13 animal shelters in 13 Chinese cities and provided emergency support for hundreds of dogs rescued from the illegal meat trade.

Hong Kong is a mixed bag with regards animal welfare. The standard of veterinary care is generally superb, but far too many pedigree cats and dogs are being bred in horrible conditions and bought by people who could so easily rescue a pet from a shelter.

Animal protection laws are too lax and it’s rare that people are prosecuted for acts of cruelty. Smuggling is rife and Hong Kong remains a hub for smuggled, endangered animals and their parts.

The older I get, the more precious family time becomes. I miss my sister and my family in the UK, but we try to catch up once or twice a year, which is really special. I have great friends in Hong Kong and enjoy meeting up in Sai Kung for a meal. And of course I also have my family of bears and our teams in the sanctuaries - staying on site really is food for the soul.

I love that Hong Kong is increasingly embracing plant-based diets. There are so many new restaurants popping up and serving tasty, nutritious vegan and vegetarian food, with fewer people dismissing it as a fad.

What drives me nuts about Hong Kong?

The construction! Along with the refusal to properly address single-use plastic and the banquets that produce such a huge waste of food. animalsasia.org

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C ST OV O ER RY

How to dress ethically

Photo by: Anna Schulteisz

Christina Dean, founder of sustainable fashion promoter Redress, tells Carolynne Dear why it’s time for the whole family to embrace sustainable dressing

Christina Dean pictured with two of her four children in Pizza Express, Sai Ying Pun. The restaurant operates a clothing donation bin.

I

’m going to come clean and admit that I love shopping. I love rifling through racks of new-season clothes. I love finding ‘that’ dress and matching it with shoes, accessories and other fripperies. I love dressing up to go out in the evening mentally pairing tops with skirts with shoes with coats while I’m showering and putting my makeup on. I love following Instagram influencers to mine more ideas and recommendations for clothing companies I might never have otherwise heard of. I love friends chirruping, “wow, love your dress/ top/shoes/pants!” when I’m out.

But the trouble is, what I also really love is trying to save the planet. I recycle

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my household rubbish as much as I can. A bamboo coffee cup and recycled shopping bag are now permanent fixtures in my handbag. I try and eat plant-based whenever possible. I catch the MTR rather than driving into town.

But while I’m more than happy to have a new item of clothing placed in my recycled bag rather than the posh shop bag, and have my receipt emailed to me to save paper, it turns out that the item that I’m buying is a total planet-wrecker. The production of one pair of jeans alone requires an eye-watering 3,625 litres of water, 3 kg of chemicals and 111 kilowatt hours of energy. And having gone to all this effort, most clothing is

discarded at an alarming rate, or perhaps never even worn at all. Every year, 300,000 tonnes of fashion waste finds its way into landfill. That’s the equivalent of about one dumpster truck of textile waste every second. In short, I really need to rethink the way I shop.

And nobody is more aware of these alarming statistics than Christina Dean, founder of environmental non-government organisation Redress and advocate for ethical change in the fashion industry.

Dean started Redress in 2007 over ‘concerns’ about what fast fashion was doing to the environment.

“To be honest, the industry is so

R VE Y O R C TO S

broad you can almost take your pick of which horror you want to focus on, from agriculture, to water, to human rights,” she says. “But for me it was a public health and human rights issues. It was like this really annoying monster rolling around in my mind, a worm that got deeper the more questions I asked and the more people I spoke to. So I thought, right, I need to do something.”

And, Dean realised, the problem seemed particularly acute in this part of the world.

China is the world’s largest exporter of textiles and clothing and this year, for the first time, will overtake the US as the world’s largest fashion market.

So Redress began with the humble ambition of raising a little bit of awareness in Hong Kong about the impact of fastfashion on the environment. But a decade later things have escalated into what Dean describes as “an obscene ambition” on her part to change things.

The textile industry as a whole is the world’s second biggest polluter and the fourth largest emitter of carbon dioxide.

Such is the breadth of the industry, it’s environmental impact is vast. The growing of cotton for clothing accounts for 10% of total global pesticide use; textile dyeing is the world’s biggest polluter of clean water; clothing made from synthetic materials such as nylon and polyester releases microparticles of plastic when washed.

But, critically, Dean, like me, loves fashion. Because shopping for clothes is so ingrained in the psyche of most women, to simply say, “Stop! Don’t buy any more clothing!” would be futile and lead nowhere.

Rather, we need to think more about what we’re buying and why we’re doing it. Do we actually need that cute tee-shirt in Zara, or have we just had a bad day, or are filling time, or are we just looking for the dopamine rush that comes with walking out of a shop clutching something new? Research has found that around 40% of clothes purchased by women are impulse buys, rather than considered investments to be worn over the long term.

“You need to be intellectually involved with what’s happening,” says Dean. “Fashion has the ability to make people so happy, so don’t get a whip out and chastise yourself.

You need to get to that point where you’re intrigued by and interested in clothes. It’s a bit like the food industry, people tend to ‘get’ food and can consciously choose items that are going to make them feel healthy and enjoy a healthier life; it’s exactly the same with fashion. If you can unlock food, you can unlock the closet.”

What makes Dean really angry is unrelenting consumer demand for cheap clothing.

“Most people have more sh*t than they can possibly wear and they’re still moaning about the price. How can you genuinely want the best for the planet, and believe in fair pay and human rights, and then expect cheap-as-chips clothing that you’re probably going to end up chucking away anyway? The (fashion) industry is working hard to clean itself up, but its price-point framework is

How can you genuinely want the best for the planet and still expect cheap-as-chips clothing? totally unsustainable.”

Changing the way we talk about fashion would be a start. The Duchess of Cambridge re-wearing a dress or a coat still makes headline news, which is crazy. Most of us

re-wear sections of our wardrobe over and over again so it shouldn’t be portrayed as something astonishing or even shameful.

I sheepishly admit that the track pants I’m wearing during our interview are at least five years old. “Fantastic,” says Dean. “If they’re working for you, why would you go out and buy a new pair?”

I agree that we need to move the conversation on and not constantly worship the shiny and the new. We need to reach a point where it’s ok to say, “yes, isn’t it great?

I’ve had these shoes forever and worn them at least fifty times and don’t they still look fabulous?”

After years of fighting to bring sustainable fashion into the collective consciousness, Dean does believe that awareness is at last becoming mainstream. But it hasn’t always been so. She admits that in the early days it was so unknown that a famous name publication (“I’m not going to name and shame”) genuinely thought ‘green’ fashion was the colour green, as in green garments.

“To be honest, a lot of industry people thought it was just a bit of a trend - an ‘eco this season, leopard print next,’ sort of thing,” she says. “And there’s been a huge amount of ‘greenwashing’ (false claims, or very light claims, about the ‘greenness’ of products) to jump on the bandwagon. You know, selling an eco-bag here and there and stocking a

Dean takes to the stage at last year’s Redressed Global Fashion Awards (l); last year’s Global Fashion Award winner, Tess Whitfort.

expat-parent.com 23

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R VE Y O R C TO S

couple of organic tee-shirts at the back of the store. But in terms of the main players, and I’m a very optimistic person, I really believe the people running these businesses genuinely want to do the right thing by the planet. I don’t think they’re crooks trying to pull a fast one, it’s just an incredibly complicated industry to clean up.

“The trouble was, nobody really knew where to start and the eco-bags and organic tee-shirts got slammed by the media and the companies moved from greenwashing to greenhushing - as in a lot of environmental work was going on (such as sourcing sustainably, trying to implement

take-back programmes and supporting charity collections) - but nobody wanted to talk about it in case they got ridiculed again. And so began a stalemate, with consumers assuming brands weren’t taking environmentalism seriously.”

But if change is really going to happen, all the indications are that 2019 is the year when it might seriously kickoff. Dean believes there are definitely changing attitudes around ethics and overconsumption.

“The most sustainable thing you can do,” she says, “is to wear your clothes for as long as possible. You don’t have to necessarily

buy less, just buy better. Try re-styling a few items and don’t shop for a couple of months so you have a chance to wear what you’ve already got. Get a stylist in, curate your closet - most people have got more than enough.”

But above all, don’t feel overwhelmed and give up. From small seeds grow big trees, so start with baby-steps. Maybe browse a pre-loved fashion site, or take some bits and pieces to a local donation bin or centre. “Every gesture helps, so don’t beat yourself up about it,” says Dean. “And remember, fashion should be enjoyed.” Just in a more sustainable way. redress.com.hk

Child’s play

How to dress your children sustainably. By ‘minimal living’ Hong Kong mum Emily Kelleher Introduce us to your children…

I have four children, three girls and a baby boy, aged between 15 months and 11 years.

When did you start thinking about clothing provenance?

I was listening to a Ted Talk about sustainable fashion by Christina Dean. I’d also just gone vegan, so the ethical ‘switch’ was already happening to me. I’d gone from a full-time job in advertising to a stay-athome mom in the ‘burbs so suddenly I had a lot of time on my hands. I read a million articles and started a handmade, ethical baby clothing line.

How did you start dressing ethically?

My family’s capsule wardrobes came about when we moved from massive, walk-in closets in the States to tiny IKEA wardrobes in Hong Kong. With four kids I needed a plan, so I decided to dress them in neutral colours that could be matched with everything else in their closet. They only ever have four pairs of shoes each, four or five dresses that can transition through the seasons, and the same number of tops and bottoms that can mix and match. I always buy a couple of sizes too big and I always buy quality over quantity. I never go shopping for an event and I always buy with a list in mind.

Emily Kelleher with her eco-dressed children.

Why sustainable fashion important to you?

I had no idea how polluting the fashion industry is and how much waste is generated. I want the planet to be healthy for my kids to enjoy.

What advice do you have for other mums?

Start by collating their wardrobes. Layering is key - this tends to be popular with adults but nobody thinks about extending the idea to the kids closet. Work out what suits your children and stick to neutral colours - I can

ask my kids to go pick out an outfit and I know it’s going to match because everything in their wardrobe matches. Nobody’s perfect, but just be conscious of your choices and do the best that you can.

Where do you shop?

Everything in my kids’ wardrobes comes from local preloved kids clothing store, Retykle (retykle.com). I’m also in the process of developing my own ethical baby range called Bébé Melon, which is due to launch later this year. Watch this space! emilykelleher_ expat-parent.com 25

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How to green your wardrobe Edit your wardrobe If you’re struggling, get a professional in.

We’ve all stood in front of overloaded closets and wailed, “I’ve got nothing to wear!”

Stylists will make sense of the chaos, bring your wardrobe back to life and encourage better buying habits.

Don’t be a fashion victim

donating and buying pre-owned designer womenswear. thehula.com

Rumi X - activewear and yoga apparel made from materials including recycled plastic bottles and upcycled coffee grounds. rumixfeelgood.com

Meraki - founded by Hong Konger Yosha Gupta, Meraki employs Indian artists to upcycle pre-loved leather bags with stunning designs. memeraki.com Make My Wardrobe Work wardrobe editing and revamping service. makemywardrobework.com

Try not to buy things on impulse and stay away from online shopping if you don’t have anything you specifically need. Ecoclothing guru Emily Kelleher swears by sticking to what works for you and spending accordingly. “A classic white shirt is something I know I’ll wear again and again, so I’m happy to spend a little more on it,” she says. Don’t be sucked into spur of the moment, fast-fashion purchases.

Luxarity - pop-up charity fashion sales and donations supporting causes including The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel. luxarity.com

Take care

On The List - members-only flash sales

Marie Kondo is making headlines with her decluttering advice. Like her, if something brings you joy, treat it well. Make sure clothes are clean - but not over-laundered - in good condition and stored correctly.

If you’re not good with a needle, find a seamstress to carry out minor repairs rather than binning items when they lose a button or a hem comes undone.

of past-season items from luxury brands. onthelist.hk

Style it up Fashions come and go, but with a few changes there might be no need to get rid of items. Find an expert to lengthen or shorten hems and sleeves, add accessories or pare things down. Add a belt or a brooch, rework summer dresses with a jumper, add boots to cropped pants for a winter look - think outside of the box.

The Fashion Clinic - repairing, reshaping and redesigning service for clothing. fashionclinic.co

A Boy Named Sue - online ethicallysourced fashion pieces from eco-conscious designers with a social conscience. aboynamedsue.co Yeechoo - online occasional rental including millnary, accessories and clothing, delivered to your door. yeechoo.com

Globally vestiairecollective.com - buy and sell pre-loved big-name designer pieces.

Where to shop in Hong Kong

ohsevendays.com - based in Istanbul, ohsevendays has access to endless supplies of ‘runoff’ fabric rolls that would otherwise end up in landfill. Promotes slow fashion by delivering just seven, capsule pieces per season.

Salvation Army Family Stores

everlane.com - Californian-based slow

- welcomes clothing donations for sale throughout its family stores in Hong Kong and Macau. Collection centres are located in Wan Chai, Yau Ma Tei, and Kwai Chung. salvationarmy.org.hk

fashion promoter that partners with ethical factories around the world who support fair wages, reasonable hours and environmental practices.

The Hula - online marketplace for

including swimwear made from recycled plastic bottles and plant-based yoga wear.

Free shipping internationally.

depop.com - social media shopping app. Buy and sell clothing by uploading onto the easy-to-use Instagram-like grid layout.

Discover anything from student hand-medowns to barely worn high-end fashion pieces. marketplaceasos.com - scour the Vintage section for authentic, pre-loved retro pieces from a variety of vendors. Less chaotic than a thrift store and many vendors will accept requests for specific pieces if you have something in mind. shethinx.com - good-looking, menstruation-proof undies that neatly eliminate the need for sanitary products.

Ethically produced in Sri Lanka supporting female leadership, employee well-being and environmental sustainability.

Fast fashion facts Eighty billion pieces of clothing are consumed globally each year.

We buy 400% more clothes today than we did 20 years ago.

Twenty percent of what we buy is not even worn once.

One top chief executive officer earns the equivalent of 16,000 Bangladeshi workers.

Clothing production consumes 32 million Olympic-sized swimming pools of water each year.

Just 10% of charity clothing donations are re-sold - the rest goes to landfill.

Clothes made from polyester can take up to 200 years to breakdown.

Women on average wear an item of clothing just seven times before tossing it.

thinklovelive.com - eco-friendly clothing from Australia’s Gold Coast expat-parent.com 27

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Road trip

schools

Amelia Sewell asks how safe are our school buses?

T

In a space-starved city, many schools now have mandatory school bus services to ease conjestion

wo school bus crashes in December shone a light on an important topic. School bus services are a necessity for many in Hong Kong; the combination of congested roads, working parents, limited parking and, in some cases, schools in far flung parts, means that communal transport is often the only viable option.

However it is crucial that parents can have confidence in the standards of the service that the schools provide.

I spoke to a number of principals and bus coordinators to ask them how they manage the bus system.

The primary point that these schools made was the importance of developing a professional relationship with the bus mother and driver. Marie Marchand, principal of City Kids, believes that a strong mutual understanding is a crucial

factor in the success of the service for everyone. “The manager of our bus company is very friendly and we have a great relationship. He is on top of things regarding calendar dates, pick up times, who is who and where they live. And although the bus mothers are mostly all Cantonese speakers, we develop a nice relationship with them and they do care about our children.”

Many schools require bus staff to have training specific to their own requirements, meaning that the driver and bus mother appreciate the standards to which they will be held.

Whilst this is not a stipulation from the Education Bureau (EDB), many schools now deem it an absolute necessity. Nord Anglia, for example, runs compulsory in-house child protection training; the Woodland group provides written

instructions in Cantonese on school policies; HKA holds daily briefings in addition to twice yearly sessions.

As Nicole Bolle, director of facilities & operations at Hong Kong Academy explained, “We conduct interactive training sessions twice a year and, like all [our] employees, the bus staff go through background checks.”

The condition of the buses is another factor that responsible schools should monitor. At Mount Kelly Hong Kong, staff regularly run intermittent inspections to ensure that they are fit for purpose.

“We often do spot checks, just to confirm that they’re in good working order, particularly in regard to seat belts,” said Lisa Milanec, principal at MKHK. Sandra Logan, head of school at Woodland Harbourside was keen to point out that the school bus system is an ongoing challenge for everyone, not least the bus companies who are, generally speaking, flexible and open to new arrivals and time changes.

“You also have to look at it from their point of view; during the school holidays they have a full bus fleet but little income apart from a few summer schools. Being realistic, it’s not an easy business to run. And in my experience, they are as accommodating as possible,” she said.

What some do not perhaps know is that the government limits the number of vehicles that bus companies are permitted to own. When you consider that each year we see another flux of schools opening in Hong Kong, we are left in a situation where demand outstrips supply. The results of this is that companies have to squeeze more trips into a very limited time frame – because all schools start and finish at similar times - so the pressure is on the drivers to keep to a very tight schedule.

Orchestrating a bus service is no mean feat for anyone involved; some schools see over 100 buses dropping off and collecting twice a day. Keeping this system in working order is nothing short of a military operation; one that depends on good communication, mutual understanding and a bit of patience. expat-parent.com 29

schools

Friends in high places

Amelia Sewell discovers how Nord Anglia International School is thinking out of the box when it comes to STEAM-based learning

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ord Anglia Hong Kong is a school that seems to have the best of both worlds. On the one hand, it is part of an impressive international group with a strong educational history and a wide reaching network. On the other, it is afforded a liberating amount of autonomy to construct an education tailored specifically to children growing up in Hong Kong.

Despite running 55 schools around the world, there is no cookie cutter approach from the powers-that-be at Nord Anglia Education headquarters; no requirement that the staff teach a predetermined syllabus or that the extra curricular activities conform to a list. Instead, the Principal, Brian Cooklin, has been given free rein to develop the right kind of school for Hong Kong.

Students in year nine are currently selecting GCSE options.

In practical terms this manifests itself in areas such as the curriculum; in the early years, the school follows the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). However, rather than teaching the Tudors and Stuarts as would be done in the UK, the children learn about the history of the Silk Road.

Once classes are over, there are 120 extracurricular activities (ECAs), run by staff for free. The topics and themes of these are as broad as they are varied.

“Every member of staff voluntarily runs one extra curricular activity,” says Cooklin.

“I told them that they can choose anything the like; I don’t mind what, they just have to have enthusiasm for it.”

Cooklin also decided to install a house system that runs across the three campuses. This was done primarily for the pastoral care benefits and peer-assisted Fun and games in the early years.

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schools

STEAM-based learning is an important part of the Nord Anglia curriculum

learning that it encourages.

“The children get into the habit of working with each other across year groups; they collaborate. Year 9 are currently choosing their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) subjects and we find they go to the Year 10s in their house to ask for their advice.”

The house system also shows its strength when the children transfer from one of the two pre-school campuses to the larger Lam Tin campus.

Ruth Hanson, head of school at the Tai Tam preschool, says, “We are three campuses but it is one school. When transitioning from one to the other, it’s important that the children feel secure and we find that comes from the house system and knowing that they are already part of a whole school.”

Whilst Nord Anglia reaps the benefits of being able to dictate its own path, there are also significant upsides to being part of a larger, global network. An example?

Each school within the Nord Anglia family profits from the associations that have been established with the Juilliard School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Juilliard is a New York-based school of performing arts, which has spent the last hundred years providing world-class teaching in music, dance and drama. The unique collaboration with Nord Anglia Education is multifaceted; from a broad

There should always be time for a dress-up day in primary!

expat-parent.com 31

schools

perspective, the Juilliard professionals train the NA staff to be able to deliver an enriched curriculum, far beyond the standards of a typical school. The performing art syllabus has also been developed under their guidance and each of the three performing arts is taught separately by specialised teachers, from preschool upwards, rather than grouped together as a general subject.

Additionally, throughout the year Juilliard artists and alumni will visit the Nord Anglia schools to give workshops and performances in addition to professional development classes for the teachers.

Outside of term time, Juilliard runs the Nord Anglia Summer Performing Arts programmes in Shanghai, Geneva and Florida for students wanting to excel to the next level.

For the pupils, this collaboration gives unprecedented access to the highest calibre of performing arts on a day-to-day basis. It is something that Cooklin views as essential to a well-rounded education, both academically and socially. “I think those subject do something special for a child’s confidence. I think 32 expat-parent.com

Young students follow the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

they’re transformational and that spills over into other things,” he says.

Ensuring that the pupils’ creative and academic skills are evenly honed, Nord Anglia’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) programme is also greatly enhanced by an affiliation, this one with MIT, an establishment that obviously needs little introduction.

At a time when schools are falling over themselves to demonstrate the excellence of their STEM curriculum, I can’t help but feel that Nord Anglia really is holding an ace here, because the association with this world leader provides its students with an extraordinary opportunity to marry their studies to real world innovation.

One way in which this is done is with MIT setting the Nord Anglia students a challenge each term. Tasks such as these require the pupils to experiment and create, collaborate and think critically. One such challenge started with MIT posing the question, What are you curious about?

What emerged from that was the group decision to look at pollution in Hong Kong.

This lead to five year old pupils taking water

samples from differing areas around the city and the fifteen year old pupils teaching them how to perform pH testing in the science labs.

“What I love about the challenges is that everybody is involved across the age groups”, says Cooklin.

The latest MIT challenge was centred on superheroes and this January, the Hong Kong school hosted the Nord Anglia schools in China for a STEAM festival, Comic-Con. The real feather in their cap though is the opportunity each spring for senior pupils and staff to travel to the US to experience MIT in action. Together with the Nord Anglia schools globally, they meet with professors and tour the world-renowned facilities, taking part in group challenges. En route, they also swing past Harvard to see a little of what student life there is like.

Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong has succeeded in striking just the right balance; the balance of being part of a bigger, global establishment while still being the master of its own destiny.

Both internationally and day to day, there is tremendous opportunity here. nordangliaeducation.com

School Report Curriculum: EYFS / IGCSE / IB Fees: Please see website Year groups: Through-school (age 3 – 18) Address: 11 On Tin Street, Lam Tin, Kowloon / Redhill Plaza, Redhill Road, Tai Tam / 385 Hong Kin Road, Tui Min Hoi, Sai Kung Tel: 3958 1428 Website: www.nais.hk Any upcoming open days: Follow us on Facebook for latest events and news @NAISHongKong

expat-parent.com 33

life & style

Green packets

Illustrator Penny Creedon gives us the low-down on eco-friendly Chinese New Year greetings

W

Penny Creedon is passionate about using properly recycled paper

34 expat-parent.com

ishing someone seasons greetings with a lai see packet, a handwritten note or a beautifully wrapped gift is a good feeling. But what about the environmental impact of the paper being used? Let’s be honest, paper products are always going to have some environmental impact, but wouldn’t it be great if that footprint could be as small as possible?

That’s why when I founded my business, Paper-Roses, I made the decision to use only high-quality, uncoated, Forest Stewardship Council Certified (FSC), 100% post-consumer recycled paper in all of my paper products.

Added to that, I also made the decision not to use any metallic inks, foiling or embellishments on my products. So not only do all of my products start their life in a good place, they can also be easily recycled when they’re finished with and so continue the recycling process.

I’m often asked if using recycled paper is really worth it. The short answer is yes, absolutely. Using recycled paper as a raw material helps to preserve forests by reducing the demand for wood. But, I hear you say, isn’t that what responsible forestry practices are for? And aren’t trees a renewable resource?

While individual trees do regrow and, don’t get me wrong, replanting schemes are a really good thing, tree farms do not equate to healthy, bio-diverse, viable forests and habitats. Old-growth forests and wetlands have taken generations to become the lovely, natural places full of all sorts of animals, birds, creepy crawlies and plants that they are.

Now for one of those caveats. Paper can only be recycled a finite number of times – roughly five to eight - so virgin fibres have to be brought into the system at some point.

But ideally, the amount of virgin fibres should be kept as low as possible and they should be sourced from certified producers using less energy, less water and fewer pollutants.

Producing one tonne of recycled paper uses 27% less energy, around 30,000 fewer litres of water and fewer chemicals and chemical processes than producing one tonne of paper from virgin fibres.

life & style

Chinese New Year greetings cards

If paper isn’t recycled, it ends up in landfill – which is truly one of the worst places for it – or it’s incinerated. Paper that goes into landfill eventually decomposes into methane – a very potent greenhouse gas with 21 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide.

And paper which has been contaminated in some way, perhaps with food, or is mixed or coated with another material - like plastic or foil - cannot always be recycled.

Unfortunately a lot of these materials end up in landfill and to be honest, incineration might be a better approach here – at least this way there’s an option to capture the energy produced.

And then of course there’s the “sludge” to think about – the leftovers from the recycling process. Luckily much of this is reincorporated back into the paper making process or reused in other industries, such as for making ceramics or cement. But the remainder will be incinerated or put into landfill. Fortunately there’s much less waste than there would be if the paper wasn’t recycled.

Unfortunately when a paper product says that it’s recycled, not not all recycled paper is created equal. Lack of credible certification can mean that some ‘recycled’ papers contain only a small percentage of pre-

loved fibres. Waste fibres are sourced from different places and is classified either as post-consumer waste (paper that’s been used by the consumer and returned for recycling rather than being placed in landfill), preconsumer waste (by-products of the printing process) or recovered fibres (trimmings and scraps that are collected on site at the paper mill). Added to this, some recycling plants use fossil fuels to process the waste paper, others are committed to using only green energy.

Full certification means that that the paper contains a high proportion of post-consumer waste and is produced using green energy.

The best use of the fibres from a tree used for paper making is to recycle them as many times as possible, which means reusing wherever possible and then recycling. So be careful with your Paper Roses wrapping paper, iron it on the reverse side to remove wrinkles and use it again.

But I’m still learning about recycling best practice and am always eager to know more. If you want to add your voice to the discussion, please get in touch. paperrosesdesigns.com

expat-parent.com 35

life & style

Lion Dance 8 Piece Candy Bento Box $898 from Sugarfina sugarfina.com.hk

TUMI Voyageur Witney Backpack (APAC Exclusive 2019 CNY Collection) $3,490 from TUMI TUMI.com

Lucky Pigs Gift Box $25 from Sugarfina lanecrawford.com.hk

Rattan Pig $895 from TREE tree.com.hk

Seeing red Style-up your Chinese New Year celebrations

Chinese Zodiac Cord Bracelet - Pig $198 from Goods of Desire god.com.hk

Pig Chinese Zodiac Mug $98 from Goods of Desire god.com.hk

Roast Pig Chopstick Rest Sets $168 from Goods of Desire god.com.hk 36 expat-parent.com

Matteo Cibic Pig medium sculpture $10,800 from Lane Crawford lanecrawford.com

Curly Pink Decanter $1,990 from Riedel townhouse.com.hk

life & style The Zodiac Race: Paolo the Pig by WC Jefferson $99 from Bookazine bookazine.com.hk

Cerise doll in red $1,160 from Bonpoint bonpoint.com Salt and pepper shaker bun $240 from Mirth Home mirthhome.com

Greetings card $30 from Lion Rock Press thelionrockpress.com

Ava Cheongsham dress (for one to seven years) $338 from Mirth Home mirthhome.com

Pig Stool Toy Box $670 from Homeless homeless.hk

Lai See packets $40 for 8, from Lion Rock Press thelionrockpress.com Pink Lady Piggy Bank $885 from Homeless homeless.hk Zodiac Pig Bookend and Paperweight Set $1,060 from Zuny lanecrawford.com.hk

Baby Striped Pig $510 from De Rosa townhouse.com.hk

expat-parent.com 37

HEALTH & wellness

Tummy time

Carolynne Dear untangles the benefits of body-wrapping

I

was recently invited to try a postpartum body-shaping service. Sure, I say, I’ll come along and have a chat, but my youngest ‘baby’ is now ten-years-old, so I’m not sure I really count as postpartum.

And to be honest it’s going to take more than a bit of binding to sort out my baby belly, which rolled in circa 2008 and appears to have no intention of leaving anytime soon. If Weightwatchers, HIIT, a spate of half-marathon running and a spot of ‘5:2’ dieting have failed to shift it, then I 38 expat-parent.com

Taking care of your body after birth is crucial for new mums

can’t see how wrapping it up in a bandage would have any kind of significant effect.

“Well come anyway”, says Flora Wu, founder of FH Remodel postpartum care, “and we’ll see what we can do”. As it turns out, the offer of help extends to women up to 12 years postpartum.

I admit that I did have a brush with body contouring after giving birth to baby number two. Following a dramatic birth and a very large baby, I was recommended by both the midwife and physio to wear a sort of

‘suck-you-in’ body bandage, in a ‘Spanxmeets-Medicare’ kind of solution. It went a long way to helping my diastasis recti (a widening of the gap between abdominal muscles caused by excessive innerabdominal pressure during pregnancy) and also gave me a mental boost.

The rigors of an extremely complicated and stressful natural birth meant my battered insides felt like a shapeless, baggy old sock. The belly bandage not only quite literally held me together, it also meant my

HEALTH & wellness severe diastasis recti was reduced enough that I was finally able to begin gentle, core exercises and slowly navigate my way back to full strength.

It also ensured I was back in my prepregnancy jeans within six weeks. Ok, it was sort of cheating and I know, we’re not supposed to care about the size of our body after birth, but the mental high that came with being able to zip up those pants was enormous, particularly after a bout of postnatal depression. So I was interested to find out what Wu had to offer.

Her clinic is located in trendy Sai Ying Pun and is a sea of calm. It turns out, like me, she is a firm believer in the importance of mental health post-birth.

“A good postpartum care kit is essential for women to recover fully both physically and mentally,” she tells me over a cup of tea. “After giving birth, not only will the new mum’s outward appearance changed, she may also be suffering from weakened or stretched muscles leading to conditions like diastasis recti, internal organ prolapse or a widening and weakening of the pelvis that can cause incontinence.”

Her company, FH Remodel, came about after Wu became a mum herself and was looking for an efficient body-shaping treatment and chanced upon body binding.

“Postpartum binding is a special kind of physiology that doesn’t just reshape a mum’s body, but also fixes the position of internal organs and bones which may have been separated or moved during the pregnancy,” she explains. “Each mother has her own unique situation, so our binding technique is tailored individually to maximize postpartum recovery.”

Wu is a highly proficient binder, as I am to discover, and unlike many other binding services, she wraps by hand and tailors the process to the area of the body that most needs work. Some days I was bound towards my ribs, other days over my hips.

FH Remodel’s postpartum treatment takes around 10-15 sessions within an eight-hour period each day. Significant improvement can be seen from the third to fourth day of treatment. The body will appear unchanged during the sixth to eighth day, and then dramatically reshape in the last few days of the treatment. For those who are suffering from diastasis recti, the space between the muscles can be reduced to zero or one finger, from a space of up to three fingers before the treatment. “The pelvis of one of our clients narrowed from 42 inches to 37 inches,” Wu adds.

The treatment requires a degree of commitment, with daily, hour-and-a-half sessions in Sai Ying Pun. I am treated to a navel candling abdominal massage to improve intestinal movement and blood circulation, and then a medical-grade far infrared (FIR) machine is placed over my tummy. FIR technology basically passes thermal energy to the body and has been proven to heal, soothe, stimulate and detox.

During each 30-minute FIR session I am encouraged to rest. I would imagine as a new mother who’s been up all night feeding, a half-hour lie-down in a warm and cosy treatment room is manna from heaven.

There is then a tailored tummy massage to enhance blood circulation and detox

Good postpartum care is essential for women to recover both physically and mentally.

the lymphatic system, and then finally the binding takes place. A strip of fabric is wrapped around the body, starting from the pelvic bone and up to the chest bone. Wu expertly adjusts the force at each wrap to make the most suitable girdle.

You are encouraged to keep the binding in place for as long as possible, ideally up to eight hours. A word to the wise, it is quite restrictive so tailor your day’s plans around not being able to walk very far and being slightly short of breath. I think it is no big surprise that women’s liberation only really began to gain momentum when the corset was finally discarded for good.

On day one, I sat rather awkwardly at my desk and patiently worked until 6pm, but on the walk to Central MTR that evening I found myself ducking into Gap changing rooms and ripping it all off. I’d lasted six hours. The relief was indescribable, but better still, my stomach was already looking slightly more ‘together’.

By day four, it was time for some ‘after’ shots to compare with those taken on day one, and I was amazed at the difference. My stomach was taughter, flatter and looking

more like a tummy than an old sock.

The real challenge for me was to continue leading a working life around the daily sessions and having to wear baggy clothing to accommodate the binding.

However, if you’re on maternity leave, have a bit of help at home and are able to ‘park’ your normal schedule for two or three weeks, then I would imagine things are a whole lot easier. I would also suggest spring is a more comfortable time to be wrapped rather than in the heat of summer.

By the end of the three weeks I was flashing my before and after shots to anyone who would look. The change was obvious and better still, my clothes were sitting a lot more loosely around my waist.

But the best news of all, my ten-yearold diastasis recti had finally closed up. fhremodelhk.com.

Before embarking on any postnatal programme, check with your doctor first.

The origins of body binding Postpartum wrapping has a history stretching back over thousands of years in Indonesia, Singapore, and other regions of southeast Asia. In Indonesia, postpartum binding is a tradition for local women for up to three months after birth.

Postpartum binding has received recognition from doctors and Chinese medicine practitioners all over Asia. Sagging internal organs is believed to be one of the main culprits for women’s health issues and aging problems. The pelvis is also considered to be as important as the spine in human bone structure, and pelvic bone abnormalities can cause a variety of female health issues.

So ensuring the correct position of the pelvis after giving birth is highly beneficial to new mums both physically and mentally.

expat-parent.com 39

40 expat-parent.com

Food news

food news

Fun Valentine nights on the town

F

orget the candles and the hushed waiters this Valentine’s Day, it turns out new kid on the block, Franks, is where all dining action’s at.

The Red Sauce Group newcomer opened its doors before Christmas - red sauce restaurants are a style of casual US eatery renowned for old-fashioned hospitality and good, honest American Italian food. Think big, bold sharing dishes of pastas, meats and breads, well-mixed cocktails and a lively soundtrack.

Franks is a sister venue to Elgin Street’s Posto Pubblico and Central’s Linguini Fini (now rebranded as Fini’s) and has been inspired by owner Todd Darling’s early career in New Jersey. The moniker pays tribute to his mentor, New York restaurateur Frank Amen.

The restaurant is centrally located in SoHo where Arbuthnot Road meets Wyndham and Hollywood Streets (there’s a clever, ‘Franks goes to Hollywood’ 80s-inspired headline in there somewhere) and you’d be hard-pushed not to notice the bright red, illuminated signage.

Downstairs is an ‘unfussy’ cocktail menu and a selection of bar snack antipasti inspired by southern Italian street-food, including suppli (rice balls), deep-fried croquettes and six-inch Italian-American ‘bar pizzas’ - all served up to the beat of a vinyl soul soundtrack.

After a couple of Negronis, we headed

Classic cocktails are the order of the day

Franks has opened on SoHo’s Wyndham Street

upstairs and were seated at a semi-banquette, round table.

Recommendations made by our on-theball waiter did not disappoint. We started with meatballs, breads and Californian oysters. It was all tasty, hearty and convivial. Moving on to pastas, we again let our waiter lead, and again he came up with the goods. After a day in an unheated office and a lot of trailing around Central on appointments, there really is nothing like a cheerful bowl of carbs to pep things up. The highlights of this course were the pappardelle alla vodka and the ricotta gnudi dishes - it took all my willpower not to load my plate for second helpings, knowing that we had ‘secondis’ to come.

The chicken parm came highly recommended but for me it was not the highlight. It’s tasty, but it’s served on the bone and by this stage I’d had one too many Negronis to be bothered picking the meat off.

Worth noting however are the beautiful vegetable dishes - they arrive colourfully presented and are sourced seasonally from an

More-ish gnocco

organic farm in Hong Kong’s New Territories.

I’ve long been an advocate for Hong Kongproduced veggies and for me this is more than enough reason to return to Franks.

The vibe is such that you want to linger over your meal, share a few laughs and enjoy the relaxed ambiance. And when you’ve been married for as many years as me and the mister, an easy-going Valentine’s night is right on the nail.

Franks Italian American, 79 Wyndham Street, frankshk.com expat-parent.com 41

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Dine with the animals

food news

Light bites

Hong Kong’s first animal-themed dining experience, Cafe Animojo has opened on Hollywood Road. The cafe was born out of a passion for unusual creatures and homestyle food. With an environmentally-friendly menu focusing on vegetables and secret home recipes, including pastas and seafood dishes, founder and conservationist “Goatee” Toni Kingston aims to spread the word on wildlife conservation.

He has made Animojo an urban base for Hong Kongers to come into contact with animals, each of which visit the cafe on rotation and no more than twice a month. They include Matthew the snake, Spike the lizard, Amy the hedgehog, Booboo the sugar glider, Jabber the frog, as well as tarantulas, chameleons and more. Don’t be alarmed though, the animals stay in their secure terrariums mimicking their natural environment, so you can relax and eat in peace. 19, Hollywood Road, Central. animojo.hk

Coffee with a smile from Kim of Kim & Co

Cafe Animojo on Hollywood Road

Truffle time Like a pig in muck, as they say, I was more than happy to go snout down at DiVino restaurant this month to celebrate black truffle season. These ‘black diamonds’ are now available in all DiVino establishments, including DiVino, DiVino Patio, Spasso and Carpaccio. I dropped in at DiVino’s on Wyndham Street, Central, to have a nose.

The prize-winning truffles, or ‘tartufo’, hail from Norcia in Umbria and, unlike the white truffle, the flavours of the black variety are optimised when gently heated.

Chef Michele can add truffle to dishes according to impromptu requests from diners, as well as in specially crafted dishes. I was lucky enough to enjoy Angus beef carpaccio and black truffle petals, zolfini bean veloute and melanosporum (Perigord) truffle, St Helen beef sirloin ‘tagliata’ with truffle shaving, and black truffle with a delicate burrata risotto.

All were exquisitely cooked, but the luxurious truffle shavings took the dishes from good to outstanding.

The chefs heading up the three other DiVino Group restaurants have all developed their own dishes, but with availability until just March 31, the challenge will be fitting them all in. DiVino, 73 Wyndham Street, Central. divinogroup.com

DiVino’s chef Michele is behind this month’s black truffle menu

Castelo has added yet another eatery to its repertoire. Kim & Co Cafe has opened, serving homemade cakes and coffee, as well as a selection of sharing plates, baos, salads and casual mains. There’s also an extensive breakfast menu, including hearty plates of shakshuka, eggs benedict, porridge and pancakes, as well as vegan-friendly options. Drop in at 151 Hollywood Road. casteloconcepts.com

Scrummy teas Hong Kong might be famous for serving brunch in every contrivable style and cuisine but this former colony knows that afternoon tea is a sacred custom not to be meddled with, writes Amelia Sewell. It can however be tweaked; and that is the case at The Verandah at The Repulse Bay which this month unveiled its new afternoon tea, including truffle scrambled egg tartlets and chocolate caramel pastries topped with popping candy.

“The menu challenges the traditional idea of afternoon tea with unexpected tastes and visually attractive colours,” says Franck Studeny, Director of Food and Beverage.

But while the food may be a twist on the traditional, the setting is as quintessential as it comes: served in the beautiful balustraded gardens on nostalgic, tiered chinaware, afternoon tea at The Verandah is the essence of a perfect English garden party - and of course there are plenty of scones, cream and jam. therepulsebay.com expat-parent.com 43

food news

Ladies who lunch Ifat Hindes and friends check out SHÈ

Dim sum for all

Ifat Hindes enjoying a contemporary Chinese lunch at SHÈ

I was recently lucky enough to try SHÈ, the elegant, Chinese fine dining eatery that has opened inside Lane Crawford in IFC. I was there with a group of friends and we all came away mightily impressed.

Lots of smiles and a whole blast of positive energy greeted us on arrival and we headed straight for the gorgeous cocktail bar to sample SHÈ’s ‘Tea Tails’. The Asianinspired drinks mix premium teas and traditional spirits for a refreshing pre-dinner tipple.

We enjoyed our cocktails on the restaurant’s al fresco terrace, which has been beautifully decked out and offers stunning views over Victoria Harbour. Right on cue, the sun began to set as we sat down. Inside the restaurant, there is floor-to-ceiling glass to make the most of the backdrop.

SHÈ prides itself on preparing its menu using premium ingredients, prepped in a healthy, home-cooked style. Dishes cover all 44 expat-parent.com

Stellar views from the terrace at SHÈ

bases, from vegetarian bites to contemporary Chinese seafood platters and dim sum.

If you pop in earlier in the day, the SHÈ Signature Afternoon Tea Set comes highly recommended, as do the Modern Chinese lunch boxes.

The SHÈ lunch boxes are actually amazing - you can choose from the vegan, meat and dim sum sets, and they all arrive with a variety of healthy small plates.

While we’re on the subject of health, the restaurant also serves a delicious doubleboiled fish maw nourishing soup, made with Chinese herbs and boiled for a minimum of 12 hours. The pot is high in collagen and great for blood circulation - I plan on having this at every opportunity I can. It was my first time trying fish maw, but my connoisseur friends admitted the pot was one of the best they’d eaten.

We also tucked into Yin Yang-style salted egg yolk and horseradish prawns, roast goose and possibly the best crispy salt ‘n’ pepper tofu I’ve ever had - perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and creamy within. The stirfried M5 Wagyu beef and wasabi was a bit of a spicy power punch, but I must admit I did keep going back for another bite.

Unfortunately we overdid it somewhat which meant there was no room for dessert, but we will be back!

If you’re looking for a great venue to come together with friends and enjoy food, drink and killer views, SHÈ has it all. sherestaurant.com.hk

expat-parent.com 45

food

Veggie vibes

Kate Farr finds out how to nurture a plant-based family

“

I think there is a misconception that being vegetarian or vegan is incredibly hard work,” says Amy Krywawych. The Discovery Bay-based English teacher and her husband Andy are both vegetarian, and they are also raising their children Isabel, aged three, and one-year-old Reuben, to follow a plantbased diet. “I haven’t experienced negative feedback, but I’ve had some raised eyebrows – more so because people are surprised that it’s sustainable,” she says.

Krywawych cites ethical concerns as a major factor in her decision to ditch meat.

“Although I was raised as a meat eater, essentially, having children changed my way of thinking. I did a lot of research, and with the global issues of climate change, a rise in cancers and other health issues that are surfacing around the world, I thought it best to do away with meat.” She believes that this decision has been an overwhelmingly beneficial one for the whole family. “I feel that my children look very healthy and fit. I definitely think their physique would be different had they not followed this diet.”

In agreement is Shek Tong Tsui resident Emily Sim, who is mum to three-year-old Henry.

A vegan for over six years, Sim also manages the Veg Parents Hong Kong Facebook group, and, alongside omnivorous husband Kevin, is choosing to raise Henry on an entirely meatand dairy-free diet.

“Hong Kong is becoming increasingly vegan friendly, and is a wonderful place to be vegan,” she enthuses. “For specialised vegan products, there’s a huge range of options in a whole range of shops. Not to mention over 200 vegetarian restaurants.” Sim believes the move towards meat-free diets opens up new opportunities to connect with like-minded families, “The veg community is made up of so many amazing, cool and inspiring people. There are lots of events where you can meet others and enjoy good vegan food.”

So how do vegetarian or vegan children maintain their diet while at school? Sim’s experience is – perhaps surprisingly – pretty positive. “My son attends a local kindergarten and they have been very accommodating in adapting food for him, and letting me pack food for him. Many schools participate in Green Monday (where participants commit to one meat-free day per week) by offering vegetarian “Plant-based? No problem, mum!”

Three-year-old Henry Sim tucks in

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food

Peggy Chan of Grassroots Pantry

meals, but it needs to go further, ideally offering vegan meals every day.” She believes that education – both at school and in the home – is the key to raising happy, healthy, plant-based children. “The most important thing when raising vegan kids is to learn about nutrition.

All major dietician groups worldwide agree that vegan diets are suitable for all stages of life, including infancy, childhood, pregnancy, lactation and elderly.”

The most important thing when raising vegan kids is to do your nutrition research.

Naturopathic Physician Dr Benita Perch often works with families who choose to transition to a meat-free diet, and echoes the need for solid nutritional education before taking the plunge. “There are three important factors that parents choosing a plant-based diet for their children should consider before changing their diet,” she says. “Are their kids adventurous

eaters, do they have any nutrient deficiencies or behavioural/anxiety issues (as these kids will need better levels of amino acids), and do they really understand what an effective plant-based diet is? Parents need to know what (their food) should contain to get all the essential nutrients.”

Dr Perch explains that nutrient deficiencies – predominantly protein, iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D – can sometimes be an issue in poorly planned vegetarian or vegan diets. “These factors can lead to fatigue, poor concentration, immunity issues and mood or behavioural issues.” As such, she recommends tofu, tempeh, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds as good substitutes for meat and fish, plus they can be easily incorporated into children’s meals. She also suggests that parents consider adding a daily supplement into their children’s diet. “A good multivitamin is important, and children may additionally need extra iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and an algae-based Omega 3.”

Mum-of-three Lisa Terauchi has taken the desire for good quality, plant-based nutrition one step further, launching Sheung Wan restaurant Confusion Plant-Based Kitchen last year to cater to Hong Kong’s growing meat-free population. Far from the ‘beige food’ stereotype, Confusion’s menu bursts with colour and flavour, and includes plenty of child-friendly options such as tofu tacos, veggie

burgers and quesadillas.

“The decision to open the restaurant was more of a desire for people like me to have someplace they could eat without having to ask questions about how to sidestep ingredients like dairy or eggs,” says Terauchi. And it’s not just vegan customers walking through Confusion’s doors. “We find that 70% of our clients are omnivores just looking to eat more vegetables and be more conscious about their health and the impact of their food choices. And as we are almost always busy, I’m confident this is more than just a trend.”

An enduring voice on Hong Kong’s meat-free dining scene is chef Peggy Chan whose restaurant, Grassroots Pantry, has become a byword for delicious vegetarian food. Grassroots recently launched a dedicated children’s menu, reflecting the increase in diners of all ages looking for healthier options. Chan explains, “Nowadays people are looking at plant-based diets and other more conscious choices for their families. Children are sponges – they absorb what you tell them, show them, and what you open their eyes to.”

Chan suggests that an increased awareness of environmental issues will naturally increase the number of people adopting meatfree lifestyles. “This information needs to begin young, so it’s good that many schools in Hong Kong are generating sustainability as a priority.

A plant-based diet is just a stem of suitability as a whole, but everything from reducing waste, to recycling goes hand-in-hand with plant-based eating, which means lessening the carbon footprint. Knowing that these children are going to be our future, we need to take the steps right now to inspire them to make the right choices for the remainder of their future years.”

Taking into account the environmental, health and ethical considerations of meat, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of us are looking for an alternative. As Emily Sim puts it, “There’s no need for animal products in our diets. So why contribute to so much animal cruelty and environmental destruction when there’s another way?”

Banana nut cake with salted caramel ice cream at Confusion

expat-parent.com 47

big day out

Temple tales

Wong Tai Sin temple in Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon

Amy Overy takes a walk on the spiritual side

S

trolling the streets of Hong Kong, it’s easy to stumble across a temple hidden away in the backstreets, a random roadside offering being performed or a hillside which has been filled with statues of many abandoned gods.

Let me introduce you to one of the most popular places to visit this Chinese New Year, Wong Tai Sin Temple.

This Taoist temple is never empty, and

48 expat-parent.com

during the run up to Chinese New Year, you may have to wait up to 90 minutes to get in.

If you don’t like pushy crowds then avoid over this period!

It’s extremely popular because the god for whom the temple is named is believed to answer your wishes on command. And who wouldn’t want a piece of that luck for the coming year?

Like all Taosist gods, Wong Tai Sin was a

real person who lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (around 328 AD). He was a shepherd who dedicated his life to the following the Tao at a young age and after years of dedication, is said to have performed a miracle by turning the rocks on the hillside into his flock of sheep (three sheep also happen to be the temple’s emblem).

You can visit any time of the year to interact with Wong Tai Sin, such as if you

big day out are at a crossroads in life and need help with making a decision, but the Chinese New Year signals new beginnings, so now is a great time to go and ensure your luck for the coming year.

There are two popular ways to do this, using fortune sticks (kau cheem, 求籤) or the Buddha lips, which are the crescent shaped stones shaped like lips or the yin and the yang symbol.

Buddha lips – these can be used in combination with the fortune sticks to confirm you have shaken the correct number, or just on their own. The stone lips should be thrown to the ground and the yes answer is when they land in an opposite arrangement (one side up, and one side down). If they land flat side up, it is a straight “no”, but if they both land curved side up – this is the Buddha laughing at you… saying “what sort of silly question is that?!”

Fortune sticks – these pots full of bamboo sticks must be shaken with two hands in front of the main altar. They contain 100 sticks numbered 1-100, each one having a different meaning if dropped to the ground.

Be sure to have made a good offering to the god first, you can’t expect him to look after you if you aren’t looking after him – Wong Tai Sin likes pork, poultry and fish, washed down with a good shot of rice wine.

Keep thinking of a question whilst you are shaking to pot in front of the god, and after some time (and if you have the rhythm right) a stick will start to emerge. Your number is the first stick to fall to the ground – be careful not to drop them all (this is quite easy to do).

You need to start again if more than one does stick falls at once.

When one and only one fortune stick drops, it will reveal the number that answers your question. Make a note of the number and double-confirm with the Buddha lips if you wish. You can ask as many questions as you like, so you may want start again with a new question.

Each temple has a different interpretation to the numbers, and a reference book can be bought to find them for Wong Tai Sin. However, if like me, your Chinese literacy is non-existent, there is one very easy way to find out the answer – by visiting the fortuneteller, and Wong Tai Sin happens to have close to 200 of them located on site.

The fortune tellers Looking for a Chinese name for your child?

Have an important wish? Want to know what the year has in store for you? Then read on…

Chinese New Year signals new beginnings

The fortune tellers serve a very serious purpose, and that is to give you good guidance and warn you of any changes you need to make if your path is not likely to run so smooth in the coming year.

They have many strings to their bow, but the two main readings they are employed to interpret are the fortune stick readings (only $15-30), or to provide a longer 20-minute reading from the face and palm ($400-500), price depending on the skill and experience of the fortune-teller.

The fortune-tellers are located on the west side of the temple complex under the green roofs. They are multi-lingual and will advertise the languages they are comfortable giving readings in. There are two levels and two corridors onsite, so take a good walk around and see who most appeals to you.

Most of the stalls are open by 11:00am, and will stay open until the temple closes at 5:00pm As well as the main altar to Wong Tai Sin, there is a second Taoist altar to the Three Saints and Yuet Lau, the God of Marriages – you may be lucky enough to catch a wedding

at his altar.

Underneath the main altar there is a hall to the Sixty Year Gods, the Tai Sui Yuenchen Hall – if you happen to be the same Zodiac animal as this coming year, you may want go and pray inside to your Year God to look out for you in this new and very high-tech facilty ($100). They say it will be a year of great conflict or a big decision-making year when it is the same year as your Zodiac sign. Anyone from the Year of the Pig should definitely be heading down there this month as soon as they possibly can.

The temple also has the two other major Chinese religions represented within the grounds, being host to a Buddhist and Confucian altar. There is also the Good Wish Garden at the back of the complex which is great for some peace and serenity.

You can easily spend over an hour visiting this fascinating place, but it is all the more interesting if you get involved with what is happening as well. Hopefully this guide will encourage you to do this in 2019!

Wong Tai Sin Temple, Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon. expat-parent.com 49

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Travel news

MYANMAR MOMENTS Sea gypsies in Myanmar will now be sharing remote Pila Island with the Awei Pila resort. The luxury tented resort opened in December and fronts a white-sand beach amongst a labyrinth of 800 islands, atolls and reefs.

Around 700 indigenous sea gypsies, or ‘Moken’, live on the island. memories-travel.com

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E-Prix races into town Hong Kong’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel is offering a special Hong Kong E-Prix room package when the event hits Central on March 10.

This season’s programme features 22 drivers from 11 teams racing the 1.86 km Harbourfront circuit. There will also be family activities, dining options and live performances.

The hotel is situated right alongside the urban street-circuit with some of the best viewpoints in town. The hotel is offering E-Prix packages with 10% off Hong Kong E-Prix Grandstand tickets, overnight accommodation in a Statue Square View Room or Harbour View Room, breakfast-fortwo in The Clipper Lounge or Cafe Causette and a complimentary Captain’s Bar silver beer tankard per person. Room rates start at $4,300 per night for a Statue Square View Room, and $4,600 per night for a Harbour View Room.

Hong Kong’s E-Prix takes place on March 10

Hong Kong E-Prix Grandstand tickets cost $2,880 per adult and $1,440 for children, with a ten per cent discount for guests staying on the evenings of March 9

and 10. Room reservations and Hong Kong E-Prix Grandstand tickets must be booked collectively and are available until February 22. mandarinoriental.com

Launch offer from Marriott Ocean Park The official opening of Marriott Hong Kong Ocean Park will take place on February 25, following a four-month ‘soft’ opening phase.

The launch is being celebrated with a ‘grand opening’ Stay for Extra Fun package aimed specifically - as you would expect - at families.

The package includes one night’s accommodation for a family comprising two adults and one child under the age of 12, with complimentary breakfast in the hotel’s Marina Kitchen buffet restaurant, Ocean Park tickets with Ocean Park FasTrack, access to the hotel’s M Passport kids activity programme, an Ocean Park cash voucher to the value of $300, complimentary car parking and a 30% discount on the dinner buffet at Marina Kitchen (blackout dates apply).

The offer starts at $2,890 per night and runs until February 28.

The 471-room hotel is the first-ever city resort and is located on Hong Kong Island’s Southside, adjacent to Ocean Park. The hotel is linked by a footbridge to Ocean Park MTR. oceanparkmarriott.com 56 expat-parent.com

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Arabian nights London-side Enjoy an Arabian-themed weekend in London at Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Knightsbridge this spring.

The hotel’s ‘Arabian Nights’ package includes one night’s stay at the hotel as well as tickets to see the award-winning West End musical, Aladdin, at London’s Prince Edward Theatre.

Further package benefits include

full-English breakfast, access to The Peak Health Club & Spa, two tickets for the show, a brochure signed by the cast and a complimentary car transfer from the hotel to the Prince Edward Theatre.

Prepare to be wowed - the musical adaptation of the popular Disney movie sees over 350 lavish costumes, stunning sets and a fabulous cast and orchestra.

Aladdin is playing in London’s West End

The package is available from now until July 31 and prices start at GBP520 per double room per night, based on two people sharing a Superior room. The curtains are due to close on the award-winning musical in August following its successful three-year run. It is rumoured another Disney musical, Mary Poppins, will be taking over at the theatre in the autumn. jumeirah.com

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Winter wonderland

Kate Farr travels to South Korea for a snowy family adventure 58 expat-parent.com

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Balcony view from the Elf Pension

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f you’re looking for a last-minute snow break that won’t break the bank, or are planning ahead for next winter’s adventures, then the Land of the Morning Calm might be just the place for your next cold-weather holiday. Just under four hours’ flight from Hong Kong, South Korea – host of the 2018 Winter Olympics – has a wellestablished and affordable winter sports scene that runs through until early April, with plenty to offer families.

The seeds of our recent Korean adventure were sown when our seven- and three-year-old boys – both bone fide Hong Kong kids who have never experienced a ‘proper’ winter – declared that they were desperate to see snow. As their only goal was to “have at least one snowball fight every day”, we decided to look at destinations that offered more in the way of activities than simply hitting the slopes, which eventually led us to South Korea’s Olympic region. Here’s how our trip panned out...

Christmasy vibes in the hotel lobby

Day one The ski region of Pyeongchang County is a relatively easy two-and-a-half-hour drive from downtown Seoul or Incheon Airport.

Collecting our hire car, we headed down the highway, pulling into Bongpyeong-myeon at around lunchtime. Home to the Phoenix Ski Resort, which hosted many of the 2018 Winter Olympics’ ski and board events, this small town is centred around the slopes,

Bedroom at Elf Pension

Seven-year-old Alex checks out the white stuff

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travel with plenty of coffee shops, restaurants and ski hire shops lining its main street. Although there are apartments and a hotel at the main resort, the region also has plenty of independent lodges and pensions, offering families a little more space and flexibility.

Grabbing a few supplies from the local supermarket, we headed to our accommodation at Elf Pension. A series of wooden lodges overlooking a quiet valley just outside of Bongpyeong-myeon, each of Elf’s suites comes with its own private balcony or terrace plus charcoal barbecue.

Aimed squarely at families, Elf’s grounds are ringed with child-friendly nature trails, and feature a small sledging hill, playground with bouncy castle, on-site convenience store, barbecue restaurant, and even a candyfloss machine. Although relatively basic in terms of décor, our two-bedroom family suite worked well for our needs, with a small kitchenette and living area, a kids’ bedroom packed full of toys… and the all-important under floor heating!

Day two The temperature had fallen dramatically as we’d driven up into the mountains, rarely climbing above -12°C during daytime hours, and bottoming out at a breath-taking -21°C during our stay. Having quickly realised that our Hong Kong winter coats and thermals were no match for Pyeongchang’s frigid temperatures, we headed straight into town to hire ski gear for the day ahead. While the multi-coloured waterproofs may not have seen us at our most stylish, we were mercifully warm and ready for a day of snowy fun.

Although Phoenix Park has a ski school for budding boarders aged four and above, our kids just wanted to get straight into the snow, and so we headed up to the resort’s sledging park. A powder-covered hill carved into six steep and slippery lanes; grab a helmet and a lightweight plastic sledge at the bottom and you’re all good to go. The course is well-supervised by friendly staff who were on hand to fish speeding kids out of drifts, or to help them back onto their sledges when they (frequently) came flying off, and at just HK$85 per adult and HK$70 per child for four hours’ entry, this was easily the biggest bargain of the trip. Tickets are valid for re-entry, and there is a convenient mall and food court opposite the park, so you don’t have to venture far from the action to thaw out every couple of hours – necessary when the mercury doesn’t nudge -10°C all 60 expat-parent.com

Day three

The drinks are on Zach!

day! The sledging track was just as fun for the adults as for the kids, and we thoroughly enjoyed a day of hurtling down the slopes.

An added bonus activity was the tenlane bowling alley in the nearby food court basement. This gave us a handy bribe when it was finally time to leave, and was a fun way to round off an extremely active day.

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival is an annual celebration of all things fishy. During the month-long event, up to 30,000 people per day descend on the sleepy town of Jinbumyeon to seek out the region’s most famous fish. Fortunately, the festival is also a hugely fun family day out, featuring plenty to keep even the most trout-averse entertained.

At 10am the festival was already in full swing, with long lines at the food court, where you can sample everything from trout sushi to trout pizza. Those wishing to try their hand can opt to rent equipment for tented ice fishing; we headed instead to what is modestly described as the ‘playground’ – actually several fields and frozen lakes packed with exciting activities.

HK$175 per person buys you unlimited entry to tube sledging, petrol go-karting across a frozen lake, ice-biking, skating, ATV riding, ice-dodgems and – a clear winner with my daredevil children – being dragged at high speed behind a snowmobile in a giant inflatable ring. There is also a small selection of fairground rides, along with snack tents that are warmed with giant wood-burning stoves for when the cold gets a little too intense.

A full day of high-octane activity required some serious refuelling, and so we stopped at Daegwalnyeong-myeon on the way home

Fun at Phoenix Park

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Checking out the terrain at The Pyeongchang Trout Festival

to eat at Hanwoo Town. A Korean barbecue restaurant with a twist; buy your own meat, veggies and even locally produced cheese at the on-site farm shop, before cooking them up yourself over charcoal burners in the casual restaurant. Finally, a good reason to play with your food.

Day four

Three-year-old Zach and brother Alex

Leaving Pyeongchang after three exhilarating days of snowy fun, we reluctantly made our way back towards Incheon Airport, and the relative warmth of a Hong Kong winter.

And although it will take a little while for me to drum up the enthusiasm for another round of numb fingers and red noses, the boys are already clamouring for a return visit, meaning that I need to find a good compromise for our next trip.

I hear Dubai has a great indoor ski slope‌

Snow-rafting is fun!

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flailing spouse

High days and holidays Chinese New Year beckons for our struggling mum

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aving just about managed to scrape the Boy Child away from Fortnite and the Blonde Child off of YouTube (“oh my god mum, you have to see this squirrel falling out of a tree! It’s so funny!” You have the entire knowledge of the whole world at your fingertips, I keep telling her. But no, a concussed rodent in a hole is apparently far more mind-blowing), the children are now brushing down the beanbags ready for another week of screen-based fun.

Yes, Chinese New Year is fast approaching and it seems like only yesterday they were cluttering up the living room on their Christmas break. Wait, actually it was only yesterday. Or it seems like practically yesterday when your offspring are following a southern hemisphere timetable at the Australian school. They returned to class after a SEVEN WEEK BREAK on January 21, which means I have had just ten child-free weekdays to myself since the mists of 2018.

And of course my husband has now been urgently summoned away on a work trip.

“I just can’t get out of it,” he tells me in a pained, if-only-I-could-stay-in-Hong Kong-while-the-kids-are-at-home-again kind of voice. “A client wants to meet with me in Singapore.” It would be churlish of me to insinuate that he doesn’t work very hard indeed, but after years of experience I also know that Singapore means twilight golf and a catch-up with the ‘London boys’ at the Singapore Island Country Club so they can reminisce about life in the Square Mile back in the ‘90s when they were young, free and single and didn’t have to make up dubious reasons for not being at home during the Chinese New Year school holidays.

Anyway, I digress. This year is going to be different. There will be no lolling around the house to cries of “I’m bored!” There will be no badly researched days out (2016’s classic was leading the children on a ten kilometre hike to a restaurant that turned out to be shut for the holidays - which meant a ten kilometre ‘hangry’ hike back to car. Yes, there were tears, and mostly mine). This year we will be Marie Kondo-ing the cupboards, we will be getting lots of fresh air on properly googled hikes with plenty of snacks, we will be enjoying a plethora of fun craft activities

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at acquiring friends with upmarket holiday homes in attractive parts of the world.

And such is my excitement at being able to enjoy one of the world’s most cultured capitals ON MY OWN, I am prepared to go the extra mile, hell, the extra ten kilometres, during Chinese New Year. After all, in just a few weeks time I will be taking my ‘cafe con leche’ on Calle de Serrano, stopping for a quick ‘chocolate con churros’ outside the Almudena Cathedral, and generally enjoying a great city without four whiny children in tow. I won’t at any point have to google ‘water parks’, ‘theme parks’, ‘child-friendly restaurants’ or ‘things to do in Madrid on a rainy day’. Instead, I’ll be able to achieve a lifetime mini-ambition of wandering around El Escorial (A-level History) at leisure, and browse upmarket clothing stores with European sizing that don’t have ‘Top Shop’ in their name.

Our columnist is a long suffering expat wife, and mother to several energetic, third culture children.

She lives in Hong Kong. that I will have carefully pre-prepared, and we will also be practising our times tables via a stack of educational books I’ve gone out and bought specially.

We will also be taking the Christmas tree down (I know, a year of bad luck because I was just too tired to get it all packed away

by Epiphany, but to be honest it’s been quite nice having it twinkling away during the most depressing month of the year). And this year we will be carefully curating and packing the ornaments in tissue paper rather than just chucking everything in a cardboard box and ramming it under the nearest bed.

Yes, this year I will be trying extra-hard during the Chinese New Year break because I have just been invited on a girls-only week (week! Not just a weekend!) to Madrid in March! I might be rubbish at keeping my house and children in order, but by some quirk of personality it turns out I’m quite good

There will be no lolling around on the sofa and cries of ‘I’m bored!’ this year.

So for the five days of Chinese New Year holidays, my children can expect my undivided attention and a nice hearty, healthy meal on the table every evening.

Or at least that’s what I had planned on doing, until the Boy Child arrived home from school with a pile of Chinese Holiday Camp flyers.

“Mum can I sign up for soccer, all my friends are doing it?” he asks, thrusting a crumpled piece of paper into my hands. Five full days of soccer with lunch included, I read.

Drop off at 10am, pick up at 5pm.

“Just let me find my cheque-book, darling,” I purr as I quietly slide 101 School Holiday Activities For Kids back onto the bookshelf.

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