Horoscopes

Written in the stars Our soothsayer reveals what’s in store for you this March

Feb 20 – Mar 20 What’s your favourite street food, Pisces? Personally, I’m partial to the egg puff. This delicacy is flipped halfway through cooking, so the batter coats the mould to become crisp on the outside, but with a soft hollow on the inside. Be like an egg puff, Pisces; If you give yourself space to grow, the results will be so much more impressive.

Jun 22 – Jul 22 For some, Cantopop all sounds the same. But did you know that writing Cantopop lyrics is one of the hardest jobs there is? The truly skilled Cantopop lyricist is able to arrange it so that the word tones match the tune. I’m not saying you have to love Cantopop – but remember that even schmaltz takes mastery.

Oct 24 – Nov 22 When’s the last time you told a really good story? Here’s something to start you off: “Once upon a time, a beautiful Hong Kong princess lived in a big house on The Peak. She had fine food, an army of domestic helpers and enough loo roll to last for eternity – everything her heart could desire… except for love.” Can you get to the happily ever after?

Mar 21 – Apr 20 Some fortune tellers like to read tea leaves. Me? I just like a cup of tea. My favourite is Longjing “dragon well” tea, with the most valuable consisting of the very youngest shoots, hand-picked over just 10 days before the Qingming festival. This tea is prized for its delicate aroma. What time-sensitive aspect of your life is worth the effort?

Apr 21 – May 21 Hong Kong’s tram network is more than just a cheap way to get around town. These trundling, stately beasts also offer a time for introspection and reflection in an otherwise churning world. Board your next tram with no agenda and no destination, Taurus. Hop on and let the tracks lead you through gentle streets to quiet endings. You’ll be glad you did.

May 22 – Jun 21 Smog, smog and more smog. It’s the Hong Kong way. But now and then, the rain arrives and washes away all the particulates and we’re left with stunning views of our city. Be the rain in your life, Gemini. Wash away the dirt and grime and you’ll be left with something far more beautiful than you remember.

Jul 23 – Aug 22 For many Hong Kong youth, love hotels are the price of doing business, as it were. With no space at home, they have to take their pleasures where they can find them. Leo, what joys are you delaying because you don’t have room for them? What do you want to do that demands a love hotel of one’s own?

Nov 23 – Dec 21 Ideally, you want your life to mirror a ferry ride: choppy at first, turning into smooth sailing in the end. In truth, the choppiness is never quite that short-lived and we spend plenty of time bobbing in the harbour. But take heart and look around: everyone else is on the same ferry too, and we’re all just trying to get to Lamma.

Aug 23 – Sep 23 Consider, if you will, the humble Lantau water buffalo. This gentle giant makes his way from village to village, sprawling across roads and blocking traffic. So what if a row of cars and buses are honking at it? This is where it’s decided to lay its stately bulk. You could learn from the buffalo, Virgo; sometimes, being a little obstructive and sedentary is the right call.

Sep 24 – Oct 23 Mong Kok is an exhausting place. It’s full of jostling crowds and screeching noise. But that’s the glory of it, too. Ten minutes in Mong Kok is two hours anywhere else. Take it in, revel in it (but remember to wear your face mask)… then go get a quiet foot massage to recover. To have just one would be too much. To have both is what it’s all about.

Dec 22 – Jan 20 Capricorn, were you meaning to write that email response for the last two months, but never got around to it? Do you think you’ve left it so long, you can’t possibly write back now? It’s OK. I give you permission to write back, with the following excuse: “Sorry I didn’t write back sooner. My Chinese New Year break went on longer than expected” - it’s believable given the current state of affairs.

Jan 21 – Feb 19 Aquarius, you’re the water bearer. So let me tell you about one of the first times I hiked the Wilson Trail with a single small bottle of water… in skinny jeans. It wasn’t my smartest moment, and I soon regretted the choices I had made. Don’t be as unprepared as I was, Aquarius. A little planning will get you much further down the trail.

This is Pregnant by Marie Leopard Meet Marie, the Parisian girl next door who is living in Hong Kong with her German husband Wolf. She has just been diagnosed with PCOS, a condition implying her ovaries are lazy as “F”. One hormonal pill at a time, Marie travels through her wild journey into motherhood. Based on their true story, every day is filled with laughter, tension, and most importantly, hope. Can she juggle it all: work, love, and a baby in this fast-paced society? Grab this five-stars chick-lit romantic comedy for $120. amazon.com

A Picture Book About Coronavirus Prevention by Marina Watt Amidst the chaos of coronavirus, little ones can feel a bit lost. It can be difficult for them to understand why they are missing out on classes and why mum and dad are stockpiling face masks. A Picture Book About Coronavirus Prevention is an awesome illustrated e-book which aims to answer general questions regarding the symptoms and prevention of the virus and hailing the reader as a `brave virus fighter”. This story exudes hope and positivity for Hong Kong. E-book available on cutt.ly/brianstorm

For mums-to-be

PODCAST REVIEWS

For kids in Hong Kong

Dragons and Boxers Kyle Fiske captures a perfect east-meetswest moment as he brings us back to Northern China in the 1900’s. An American is caught amidst the turbulent state of the nation and has to fend for himself. The story illustrates his journey during the boxer rebellion movement and how he skills himself in martial arts. Fiske is one of the few authors that has genuine fighting experience making the reader experience all the more impactful. Available for $200 from earnshawbooks.com

For Chinese historians

Fool Me Twice Lamma resident Jules Hannaford released her true crime podcast Fool Me Twice in October last year. The thriller follows the true story of Jules, who was catfished, scammed and assaulted in the world of online dating. In less than three and half months, the series has hit 100,000 downloads. Subscribe to Fool Me Twice on Apple Podcasts or at foolmetwicepod.com

Hong Kong Confidential Bringing unheard stories of Hong Kong, Jules Hannaford is on a roll with Hong Kong Confidential - a series in which she interviews guests from all walks of life to share their wisdom and stories. From the gut-brain connection by a psychologist to overcoming self-loathe by abuse survivors, the stories cater to all tastes and interests. Running for three years now, Hong Kong Confidential has gained in popularity with over 100 episodes to date. Listen online at hongkongconfidential.net

Eat Drink Asia Brought to you by South China Morning Post, Bernice Chan and Alkira Reinfrank explore food and culture in Hong Kong and across Asia. This podcast takes you further than just restaurant menus as you uncover the origins of certain Asian cuisines and the history behind what made certain dishes popular worldwide. If you are a foodie and love learning about different cultures, listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. scmp.com

Ask a vet...

Dr Pauline Taylor answers your pet questions

We are preparing to relocate our dog. What can I do to help prepare him for a long-haul flight? I’m sorry to hear you are leaving this wonderful city and wish you well in your travels. First make sure your dog is healthy and fit to travel. A once over by your vet, maybe some tests, depending on his age and some routine preventive care for external and internal parasites. Vaccinations must be up to date and satisfactory for the country of import. Countries differ and change their rules so be sure you get the most up to date regulations. Prepare your dog by getting him used to his travel crate and drinking from a bottle. If your dog is small you may be allowed to take him as hand luggage so contact the airline to see if they allow this.

With the recent cold snap, what can I do to keep my cat warm? Normal healthy adult cats thermoregulate: this means they have the ability to maintain their temperature within certain boundaries between 37.7-39.1C (100-102.5F). Most mammals can do this. If cats feel cold they will move to a warmer spot. If that isn’t enough, their internal physiology kicks in; vasoconstriction helps to reduce heat loss via the skin, hairs will stand on end to trap air which further insulates and shivering helps to generate heat from muscle contractions. You can help by leaving a nice enclosed bed or box with blankets and window seats provide the opportunity to lie in the sunshine. Be aware that kittens under four weeks have difficulty controlling their body temperature because their metabolic activity isn’t yet developed. As such, it is important to keep them in warmer environments.

I’ve just adopted a new puppy. What are some non-harmful ways to teach him correct behaviour? It sounds like you are looking for tips on positive reinforcement training. It can be done easily so long as ALL family members are consistent and you start as young as possible is best. The main things to remember are: 1. No punishment 2. Avoid putting your pup in a situation where it could do something wrong and 3. Reward good behaviour. I’d introduce one word into his vocabulary that gently means “no”. I used “Uh Uh” with my new pup and when he stopped chewing I rewarded him with a treat or toy - even a cuddle may suffice. He soon got to learn that he gets rewarded for being good. Don’t forget however that at a young age most pups don’t know right from wrong so they need to be trained in order to recognise boundaries.

Spring comes in and brings along with it the enticing sweetness of the petrichor, just like how the soil sings when rain soaks it up at dawn. Now you can hear sprouts break the ground as they peek into the brand new world. I, for one, am excited to experience a new season, so grab your shovel and let the winds of change blow. What to plant in March

Cuttings of Hydrangeas planted in January should now be rooted and may be potted. Propagate Coleus for pots and beds. Caladiums will now be starting to sprout and should be potted. Pot off Chrysanthemums from cutting pots. Prune Poinsettias. Transplant annuals sown at the beginning of the month into boxes or pans. Give shrubberies a dressing of manure.

Seeds of the following may be sown: Mustard and Cress, Radish, Turnip, Chinese Spinach, French Beans and Ochroes. Plant out any seedlings ready from last month’s sowings Canvalias should be planted about 10 feet apart. Get stakes ready for Cucumbers, Canavalias (Sword Bean) and Chinese Long Beans. Put in the call to England for vegetable seeds. Procure manure so that it may be in good condition for winter crops. Jerusalem Artichokes may still be planted.

Do not panic if your garden is still recovering from the cold. As with all things in life, progress shows in due time. It is important that we learn from our mistakes and make improvements. Who knows? One day you might earn a green thumb.

By William James Tutcher F.L.S. (1867-1920) Superintendent of Hong Kong Botanical Gardens. Paraphrased from his seminal 1906 work Gardening for Hong Kong.

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