Around DB December 2024

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

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PA R E N T I N G

D Ec EM b Er 2 0 24 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

PARTY PEOPLE

The Birthday Happiness Asia team giving disadvantaged kids something to celebrate

MAGIC MOMENTS

5 parenting styles you’ll see more of in 2025

FESTIVE FORECAST Hot holiday-decorating trends

Season’s Greetings!

OUR MERRIEST AND BEST XMAS ISSUE EVER

Wok & Roll

Festive Charocoal Dinner Buffet

A magical Christmas celebration with premium holiday dishes and traditional favorites.

Date: 21 - 23, 26 - 31 Dec 2024 Time: 18:30 - 21:30 Price: Adult $588* Child $318*

Xmas Set Menu

Take your taste buds on a Merry Christmas adventure with our Chef's festive creations!

Date: 2 - 31 Dec 2024 Time: 12:00 - 21:30 Price: $388*

Xmas Charocoal Dinner Buffet

Enjoy the festive flavours where every bite is a holiday celebration!

Date: 24 - 25 Dec 2024 Time: 18:30 - 21:30 Price: Adult $588* / Child $318*

Early Bird # Reservation Discount 1 - 20 Dec: 20% OFF # FULL payment is required

Goodies Counter Satisfy your sweet tooth at our Goodies Counter!

Grab festive treats and goodies leading up to Christmas!

Date: Now - 27 Dec 2024 at Hotel Lobby

Christmas Room Package Book a Christmas stay for two, with accommodation, meals, and Gingerbread cookie decoration DIY workshop^.

Date: 21 - 25 Dec 2024 ^Workshop also open to public for HK$120 per set

*Terms and conditions apply.

The offer is subject to 10% service charge.

Santa Claus and Clown Ho ho ho! Meet Santa and our jolly clown for giggles, fun and photo opportunities.

Date/ Time: 1) 24 Dec: 18:45 - 20:45 2) 25 Dec: 13:00 - 14:30 &18:45 - 20:45

COMEDY NIGHT 7.DEC 7:30PM

KARI GUNNARSSON

DONALD MA MUK V TICKETS: VIP 350 (FIRST ROW) STANDARD 250 CALL 9848 1101 OR EMAIL: THOR@DBRASSERIE.COM SHOP 151 1/F BLOCK C, DB PLAZA (BUS TERMINUS)

RYAN HYNEK

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4 BEDS | 4 BATHS Ref: #16352 Golf cart included

SUBJECT TO OFFER

$120K incl.

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Positano Discovery Bay 愉景灣悅堤

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4 BEDS | 3 BATHS Ref: #292192

Peninsula Village - Coastline Villa 蘅峯 - 碧濤軒

1,405 SF (S)

3 BEDS | 2 BATHS

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加入

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1,556 SF (S)

$9.8M

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$88K incl.

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Founding Member of

福布斯全球物業聯盟香港唯一創始成員

現正招聘有經驗的地產代理 加入愉景灣團隊 有意者請聯絡 cs@okay.com

OKAY Property Agency Limited (C-036846) | Flat E, 19/F, Elegance Court, Hillgrove Village, Discovery Bay

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Midvale Village - Island View 畔峰 - 觀港樓

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$58K incl.

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Presented by

Originated by

主辦機構

創作機構

The Hong Kong Photo Heritage Programme 香港影像留真計劃

VOYAGE THROUGH TIME Hong Kong Maritime Photographs, 1940s - 1970s Photos by Hedda Morrison, Brian Brake and Edward Stokes

歲月遊蹤

香港海事攝影展 - 1940年 代 至 1970年 代 Hedda Morrison、Brian Brake 及 Edward Stokes 攝影作品

The exhibition photos, taken between the 1940s and 1970s, portray Hong Kong’s harbour, its port, shipping, maritime life, and the boat people. The images cover about 30 years. Those decades saw Hong Kong recover from the war.

Then, despite challenges and severe setbacks, gradually both an economic and social resurgence took hold. 是次展覽的照片攝於1940年代至1970年代，記錄了當年香港海港、港口、貨運和海事活動的實況， 以及水上人家的生活面貌。照片橫跨約三十年，亦即香港戰後復甦的年代。 面對種種挑戰與挫折，香港一步一腳印地走出磨難，經濟及社會逐漸復甦。

ENTRY TO THE EXHIBITION IS FREE

中環8號碼頭香港海事博物館

Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Pier 8

展覽為免費入場 The Voyage Through Time exhibition offers free entry, while museum gallery admission requires ticket purchase.

13 .11. 2024 – 31.3. 2025

「歲月遊蹤」展覽為免費入場，參觀博物館其他展館則需購票。

©2024: President and Fellows of Harvard College ©2024: Wai-man Lau | ©2024: Edward Stokes

Monday to Friday : 09:30 - 17:30 Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays : 10:00 - 19:00 Photo by Richard Gordan

hkmaritimemuseum.org

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

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FEATURES 20 PROFILE Meet the islanders behind Birthday Happiness Asia, bringing joyous parties to local kids in need

24 COMMUNITY Christmas countdown: strategic hacks to help you get organised well ahead of the big day

32 PARENTING Easy when you know how: five practical parenting styles you can expect to see more of in 2025

38 INSIDER

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Festive forecast: unwrap this year’s coolest home decorating trends, starting with Pinkmas!

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

REGULARS

AGENDA

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08 DB NEWS

20 QUESTIONS Xmas movie quiz

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ESCAPES Hokkaido: more than a ski trip

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RECIPES Good enough for Santa

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C O M M U N I T Y

OUT THERE Peter Sherwood talks back

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L O C A L

I N F L U E N C E R S

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L I F E S T Y L E

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

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PA R E N T I N G

D Ec EM b Er 2 0 24 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

PARTY PEOPLE

The Birthday Happiness Asia team giving disadvantaged kids something to celebrate

MAGIC MOMENTS

5 parenting styles you’ll see more of in 2025

FESTIVE FORECAST Hot holiday-decorating trends

Season’s Greetings!

OUR MERRIEST AND BEST XMAS ISSUE EVER

14 EVENT ROUND-UP 28 XMAS SHOPPING 44 PUZZLES 51 CLASSIFIEDS 53 LOCAL NUMBERS

24 O N T H E C OVE R Enjoying Winter Wonderland in DB PHOTO BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com

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

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LOC AL INFLUENCERS

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T R AV E L

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COMMUNIT Y SNAPS

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DECEMBER 2024 / JANUARY 2025

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN UNWRAP OUR FESTIVE SHOPPING GUIDE

TIME TO PARTY

SOUTH ISLANDERS BRINGING BIRTHDAY HAPPINESS TO LOCAL KIDS IN NEED

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

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NORTH POLE POST As you shop the DB Christmas Market on December 8, be sure to stop by the Vi Galerie stall where you can pick up festive produc ts of all kinds – from personalised keepsakes to handcraf ted ornaments. Vi Galerie is also famous for the Nor th Pole Post, where children get to write their let ters to Santa, and ever yone is guaranteed to receive a reply.

For more on Vi Galerie, a small local business focused on homeware produc ts and seasonal home decor and accessories, visit vigalerie.com.

P HOTOGRAPH E R Richa rd Gord o n

P RI NTI NG

Produ c ti on Co. L t d

2/F, 20-24 Kwai Wing Road,

Kwai Chung, New Territories

B AY M EDI A GRO UP

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

© BAY MEDIA GROUP 2024

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STUFF TO KNOW

Youth across DB have been training hard for this year’s Team FE AR Challenge which takes place across the coastlines, villages and hills of DB on December 1.

Par ticipant s compete in teams of t wo, and there are t wo courses of var ying length and dif f icult y – an 8.5km course for Juniors (U9, U10, U11) and a 10 km course for Intermediates (U12, U13, U17). All competitors are ready to trail run, climb gorges, coasteer, kayak, tackle an obstacle course and do a water jump.

C hampi on D e s i g n &

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

s g in n e Happ

TEAM FEAR CHALLENGE

www.richardgordonphotography .com

D I S CL AIME R

Book now to have a personal Christmas photo shoot in December with a professional DB photographer. It’s a great way to create lasting memories, and you can opt to make an e-card or have one printed. To book a session, WhatsApp Richard Gordon at 9127 0977.

Richard’s photos regularly feature in Around DB and you can see more of his work at w w w.richardgordonphotography.com.

The f irst teams (boys, girls and mixed) usually cross the f inish line in t wo hours and all competitors are expec ted to f inish within four hours. The course is well marked with ribbons and there are marshals along the entire route providing guidance and backup. Racers must wear gloves and a bike helmet or equivalent head protec tion at all times; they must also carr y suf f icient water for their own use. Registration is at the DB Plaza pier from 7am to 8am, with awards presented for the fastest teams and runners-up per age categor y at 1.30 pm.

An impor tant element of par ticipating in Team FE AR is raising money for Youth Outreach (yo.org.hk). Youth Outreach ( YO) suppor t s local young people from less advantaged backgrounds by providing award-winning education programmes, youth mentoring and counselling ser vices.

Teams can raise money for YO by collec ting sponsors, and ever yone in the communit y is invited to make a donation. In past years, Team FE AR has been able to hand over a cheque of over HK$10 0,0 0 0 to YO. You can make a transfer to HSBC Account No: 652215526 - 838 (Far East Adventure Racers). To f ind out more, email info@ team-fear.com or visit w w w.team-fear.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Team FE AR.]

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

ST NICHOLAS VISITS

One World Spirit Association has arranged for St Nicholas, the thirdcentur y Catholic saint who inspired the modern version of Santa Claus, to pay a visit to DB homes on December 7. Families with children aged t wo to six years can sign up for a visit, and then prepare a small gif t for St Nicholas to deliver when he knocks on their door. Email admin1@1worldspirit.org to enrol. [PHOTO COURTESY OF OWS.]

! s t n e v E &

PETER PAN, THE PANTO

DB NEWS

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You k now you want to! Oh yes you do! It ’s time to book ticket s for Hong Kong Player s’ Peter Pan, The Panto: Return to Neverland running through December 8 at the Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Ar t s Centre, Wanchai. Hong Kong Player s’ pantomimes have been a highlight of the Chris tmas fes tivities for over 60 year s and with Peter Pan, we c an ex pec t clas sic panto fun for all the f amily – plus a generous helping of f air y dus t. To book ticket s, visit w w w.popticket.hk. For more on the Hong Kong Player s, visit w w w.hk player s.com.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF Hong Kong Player s.]

IN DECEMBER!

CHRISTMAS PARTY TAKEAWAY

XMAS TREE DELIVERY

X masTreeOnline.hk has been delivering direc t to DB homes for over a dec ade.

You c an pick out Douglas Fir s (f rom HK$1, 558), Noble Fir s (f rom HK$1,758) and Nordmann Fir s (f rom HK$1,758), plus those es sential acces sories – tree s t and s, f air y- s tring LED light s, baubles and wreaths. The team deliver s to DB and Tung Chung daily, 9am to 2pm, in early December. The fee is HK$258, with an additional charge of HK$50 per f loor if your building doesn’t have an elevator. A removal and rec ycling ser vice is provided in Januar y. To place your order, visit x mas tree.online.

Auberge Discover y Bay Hong Kong is taking the stress out of the holidays, providing a full Christmas Par t y Takeaway through December 27. Enjoy free deliver y within DB for orders over HK$2,0 0 0. Scan the QR code or email cafe@aubergediscover ybay.com for the order form.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DEC 7 | GATHER AT THE PLANT MARKET in Community Green Square from 2pm to 4pm. Visit Facebook @DynamicDB.

DEC 8 | SHOP THE DB CHRISTMAS MARKET in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.

DEC 8 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP! Meet at the Nim Shue

Wan gate at 2.10pm. Email dana@plasticfreeseas.org.

ALL MONTH | DONATE PRELOVED FURNITURE to people in need through DB Mothers & Friends. To arrange for pick-up, visit Facebook @dbmf.collection.

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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DB NEWS

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WILD ANIMAL SPORTS! On December 17, Sean Doher t y, a DB resident of seven years, is launching Wild Animal Spor t s! Woodland Birds at Bat, the third title in his Wild Animal Spor t s! series of board books. Colour ful illustrations and interac tive element s on ever y page ensure that children have a blast reading, while exploring with their sensor y skills. To coincide with the launch, Sean is organising a Q& A session where kids can ask questions of the star player in the book ( What sApp 9866 5959 to enrol). The entire Wild Animal Spor t s! series is available on Amazon and Whimsy Pages Publishing, at Bookazine, Kelly & Walsh and Hong Kong Book Centre.

SANTA MEET AND GREET Treat the kids on Christmas Day and Boxing Day by taking them to DB Nor th Plaza for a Santa Meet and Greet at 3pm or 6pm. This is their chance to grab a photo with Santa and, if you time it right, they can also pick up a free Christmas Egg Waf f le Giveaway (at 2pm, 4pm and 5pm). To f ind out more, visit w w w.visitdiscover ybay.com.

DBIS CHRISTMAS CONCERT ON THE PITCH A l w ay s a hig hlig ht of t h e D B c a l e n d a r, D i s cove r y Bay I nte r na t io na l S c h o ol ’s Ch r i s t ma s C o n ce r t o n t h e Pi tc h t a ke s p la ce o n D e ce m b e r 11. A ll a re we l co m e – h ea d a l o n g to e njoy a n a r r ay of fe s t i ve t u n e s a n d re f re s h m e nt s . W ha t a wo n d e r f u l w ay to s t a r t t h e h olid ay s ea s o n! To f i n d o u t m o re, v i s i t w w w.d bi s .e d u.h k . [PH OTO CO U R T E S Y O F D B I S .]

DB OPEN FIGURE SKATING CHALLENGE Make your way to Discover y Bay Ice Rink from December 6 to 8 to watch the DB Open FS Challenge.

ISIA sia f igure skaters of all levels are grouped according to their test level in solo, ensemble and speed-racing categories. Spin Master, in which skaters per form without music, and Jump Fiesta, in which skaters per form three required jumps in any order with a minimum of connec ting steps, are new event s for 2024. To f ind out more, visit w w w.dbicerink.com.

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AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

OPEN-AIR WINE WALK Make your way to DB Nor th (Auberge main entrance) from December 13 to 15, from 2pm to 9pm, to savour DB’s first open-air Christmas Wine Walk. While admission is free, a HK$180 wine pass entitles you to three tokens redeemable for wine and food, wine-tasting privileges and a wine glass with holder. Shop over 30 stalls packed with international fine wines, gourmet treats, Christmas-themed produc ts and local craf ts. To find out more, visit w w w.visitdiscover ybay.com.

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DB NEWS

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CWCC S1 ADMISSION

Tung Chung-based Caritas Wu Cheng- chung Secondar y School (CWCC) is enrolling student s for the 2025/26 school year. S1 admission runs from Januar y 2 to 16, and you can sign up for a school visit on Januar y 3 from 4.15pm to 5.15pm. A renowned, government-funded secondar y school (Grade 7 to 12), CWCC is multicultural and fully inclusive, with student s and teachers harking from over 30 countries. The HKDSE curriculum is taught in English alongside a small Cantonese stream. To know more, visit w w w.c wcc.edu.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF CWCC.]

THE SNOWMAN & THE BEAR

Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman & The Bear (with Film) are two heartwarming Christmas adventures set to animated film and enchanting music by Howard Blake.

Watch them on the big screen as City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong performs the orchestral score alongside young solo singers and storyteller Debra Jones, a DB resident. It’s a wonderful Christmas treat for the whole family, suitable for kids aged three and up! For tickets to this year’s performances at Shatin Town Hall Auditorium, on December 21 at 2.30pm and 5pm, visit www.eventbrite.com or www.urbtix.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Snowman Enterprises.]

IL TRITTICO

Musica Viva is bringing Il Trittico – three one-ac t operas

by Puccini – to the Concer t Hall, Hong Kong Cit y Hall on December 13 and 14 at 7.30pm, and December 15 at 2.30pm.

The first opera Il Tabarro sees a love triangle unfold with fatal consequences; the second Suor Angelica, said to be Puccini’s favourite, is an uplif ting tale of religious redemption; and the third, Gianni Schicchi is a farcical romp in which an avaricious family are tricked out of their right ful inheritance. For tickets, head to w w w.urbtix.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Musica Viva.]

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AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

THE BRIDGE LAUNCH Rachel Humphreys is launching The Bridge, a small independent learning centre for student s who learn dif ferently, in DB Nor th Plaza on Januar y 6. Small class sizes (4:1) will enable Bridge educators to create bespoke, highly personalised learning experiences, suppor ting student s, aged 12 to 18 years, to grow in conf idence, gain qualif ications and have a positive direc tion for the future. The f lexible curriculum, ideal for student s with ASD, ADHD, SpLDs and Anxiet y will of fer a range of pathways including the Ontario High School Diploma and DfE-approved Func tional Skills in English, Maths and Digital.

An af ternoon learning programme, including health and wellbeing, work-based learning and Hong Kong adventures will be available for student s who can manage a full- day timetable. To f ind out more, email Rachel, the former principal at DMPS, at rachel.humphreys@bridgelearn.net.

XMAS WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOP Sign up solo, with a par tner or as a group of three to make your own one - of-a - kind Chris tmas wreath on December 21, f rom 11am to 1pm, at Discover y Bay O f f ice Centre.

The work shop is led by the team at Let Hope Bloom Floris t and kid s / beginner s are welcome. The fee is HK$3 0 0 per group, and you c an enrol at forms.gle/myTs sa9NchM1w Cc79.

GIVEAWAY

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PRESTIGIOUS FOODS IS GIFTING 38 BOXES OF PREMIUM MEDJOOL DATES TO THE FIRST 38 WELLNESS ENTHUSIASTS WHO SENDS THEM THE MESSAGE “GIFT38” OVER WHATSAPP E xper ienc e the thr ill of super- sof t organic Medjool dates – a natural energy boost packed with f lavour and nutr ients. Rich in f ibre, potassium and antioxidants, Medjool dates suppor t digestion, muscle rec over y and sustained energy. Whether you’re cr ushing f itness goals or overc oming a sugar craving, they ’re the ultimate go -to treat.

Grab your chanc e to indulge in a snack that powers your day and pleases your taste buds. Sc an the QR c ode and WhatsA pp Prestigious Foods to claim your c omplimentar y box of premium Medjool dates. For more from Prestigious Foods, visit w w w.brandprestigious.c om.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST ISSUE’S WINNERS

Rebecca Tolian and Amy Yuen who have each won two tickets to see Hong Kong Players’ Peter Pan, The Panto: Return to Neverland on November 30.

HOW TO WIN!

Around DB prizes are incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you have until the 10th of the month to apply. Simply scan the QR code or go to www.arounddb.com/giveaways, select the giveaway you want, and enter your details into the online form. (Terms and conditions apply.)

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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! t u o b A & Out

EVENT ROUND-UP

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WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO!

AT THE DB DRAGON BOAT GALA

The DB Dragon Boat Gala on October 27 saw fiercely contested mixed, open, ladies, over 45 and community races at Tai Pak Wan. [PHOTOS BY Sarin Ale & Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

THE RESULTS DBCOC Mixed Race (Cup) 1st place: 中國路橋對面海 2nd place: Seagods Red

3rd place: Team Mushu Black

DBCOC Mixed Race (Plate) 1st place: Today Fit 2nd place: GSIS Dragon Team 3rd place: Team Mushu Gold

DBCOC Mixed Race (Bowl) 1st place: DBS Bank Red Dragons 2nd place: LTA Dragon Boat Club 3rd place: Sea Cucumbers

Discovery Bay Transportation Services Gala Race 1st place: KML - The Barrels 2nd place: 中國路橋對面海 3rd place: MBTA

F.H. Security & Fred & Willie Community Race 1st place: 正誠自由龍 2nd place: DBDB 3rd place: Dutch Connexion

SINOPEC Ladies’ Race: 1st place: Renegades 2nd place: RHKYC 3rd place: LoveTogether Filipino Dynamo

Man Truck & Bus A45 Race 1st place: MBTA 2nd place: Lamma Dragons 3rd place: Sea Cucumbers

Hong Kong ResortLoveTogether@DB Open Race 1st place: KML - The Barrels 2nd place: A+ Travel Dragon 3rd place: Youthful Dragon

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AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

EVENT ROUND-UP

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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EVENT ROUND-UP

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CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN There was plenty of spooky fun to be had in DB at the end of October with a Halloween Kids Costume Contest and night market on October 27, plus trick-or-treating on Headland Drive on October 31. [PHOTOS BY Sarin Ale.]

DB WINTER WONDERLAND LIGHTING CEREMONY HKRCL kicked off the Christmas festivities on November 22 with a Winter Wonderland Lighting Ceremony in DB North Plaza. Attendees enjoyed a colourful parade complete with marching band, a Santa meet-and-greet, Italian masquerade dancing and acrobatic performances. [PHOTOS BY Sarin Ale.]

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AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

EVENT ROUND-UP

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AT THE DB 10K

Some 300 runners competed in the DB 10K on November 8: Hideo Harry Loasby came first in the men’s category, Rachel Ashcroft in the women’s. Over HK$70,000 was raised for RUN Hong Kong. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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EVENT ROUND-UP

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ENJOYING A VOYAGE THROUGH TIME A fair few VIPs, including Guest of Honour Bernard Chan and key members of past and present governments, were spotted at the November 12 launch party for Voyage Through Time: Hong Kong Maritime Photographs, 1940s–1970s. The exhibition, curated by 10-year DB resident Ed Stokes, runs to the end of March at Hong Kong Maritime Museum and features photos

by Hedda Morrison (1940s), Brian Brake (1960s-70s) and Ed Stokes (1979). Admission to this exibition is free. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Kachick; photo copyright Vincent Chen.]

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AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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! s w o ll e F d oo G y ll o J

PROFILE

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TIME TO PARTY

Elizabeth Kerr sits down with the South islanders bringing birthday happiness to local kids in need PHOTOS BY Sarin Ale & courtesy of Edward Fernandes

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t ’s an unseasonably warm morning in Mui Wo, and Pete Mank telow and Edward Fernandes are sit ting at a table facing the water at Village Kitchen. The gregarious Pete looks casual in a Hong Kong Freemasons charit y run polo shir t and chinos, toting a knapsack. Edward, however, is dressed properly: a classy three-piece suit and starched shir t; he carries a briefcase. Along with a third par tner, Hong Kong islander David Streat field, and occasionally Edward’s youngest son Francis, they run Bir thday Happiness Asia (BHA). It s concept is simple: throw bir thday par ties, “joyous par ties”, for underprivileged children, including the roughly 50,0 0 0 living in cage homes – in 2024.

“It ’s a ver y, ver y special cause,” begins East Sussex native and Pui O resident since 1994 Pete. “A lot of people complain and say, ‘HK$6,0 0 0 to organise a bir thday par t y for children is ridiculous. Why don’t you put it in education?’ This is more for children’s mental health. Having all those special memories is impor tant.”

SECURING CHARITABLE STATUS BHA of ficially launched in Oc tober af ter securing it s critical sec tion 88 charitable status; an achievement that took four years of tr ying. As a finance and corporate ser vices pro, that was Pete’s primar y goal for BHA once he’d set up the business side. BHA sprang from it s earlier iteration, Bir thday Happiness Hong Kong, founded by Edward and his wife Marilou Edora. Af ter Marilou passed away, Edward star ted afresh with BHA, which pulls double dut y as a way to memorialise his wife as well do good.

The BHA team held an of ficial launch par t y at Club Lusitano in Central on Oc tober 28. Nearly 150 leading business people from Hong Kong and Singapore at tended, alongside a good turnout of 20

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

academic s and diplomat s, including the Consul General of the Netherlands.

The organisation is already flying: BHA has bir thday par ties planned in Yau Ma Tei, Wong Tai Sin, Yuen Long, Sham Shui Po, Aberdeen and Kowloon Cit y to take it through to the end of the year. Armed with charitable status, the team is gearing up for a busy 2025, but despite his contributions, Pete keeps a low profile.

“I’m the back- of-house-t ype person. Edward’s front of house. He’s the one with the shining face.”

OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED At its core, BHA is based on an existing concept – a spin on a programme star ted in Argentina in the 1970s. “Two guys went into local orphanages where there were children that had been abandoned on the streets due to the economic crisis. They threw traditional bir thday par ties for these kids, and the idea spread to the rest of South America, Central America, and so on,” Edward explains. Thanks to the inspiration from Argentina, and and Edward and Marilou’s shared experience of growing up in large families without a lot of spare cash, BHA was born.

“Unfor tunately, my wife and I never had that,” says Edward. “But we made sure that our children and our grandchildren did.” Now, as the saying goes, he’s paying it for ward.

BHA gets suppor t from Caritas Hong Kong, Love 21, Hong Kong Student Aid Society, Tung Wan Mok Law Shui Wah School, Ebenezer School and the Society for Community Organization among others. Thanks to that new charity status, interest from par tnering organisations is expanding, and the number of par ties BHA can hold monthly is increasing. Know that BHA is constantly on the lookout for more sponsors, volunteers and par tnering organisations;

PROFILE

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“IT’S A VERY, VERY SPECIAL CAUSE. THIS IS FOR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH. HAVING ALL THOSE SPECIAL MEMORIES IS IMPORTANT

- PETE MANKTELOW AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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PROFILE

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donations of cash, par ty supplies and gif ts are also welcomed. There are numerous ways to get involved: check w w w.bhasia.org.

As of now, BHA works on a lean budget, with Edward its sole full-time staf f. Born in Kenya, Edward and his family moved around a lot, emigrating to the UK in 1966 before eventually settling in Hong Kong.

It’s here he met Marilou and had two sons and two daughters. Af ter Marilou’s untimely death, he gave up a career in international proper ty to dedicate all his time to BHA.

BRINGING FOOD AND FUN TO THE TABLE A par ty with BHA is like any other. Edward and a few volunteers arrive at the designated location, usually a community space of some sor t, and proceed to set up. This involves decorations, food stations, game stations and gear for any special requests – if Batman’s on the guest list, for instance, he’ll need an outfit. Also par t of the prep is a rundown for the staf f about what the celebrant or celebrants and their guests might be dealing with in their daily lives. Edward does his homework and uncovers any specific challenges; making sure, for instance, that he and any male volunteers tread carefully around girls who may have been sexually abused.

The volunteers then get down to the business of throwing a par ty – gif ting, games, cake and a rousing rendition of “Happy Bir thday” – in any number of languages upon request.

There’s no taking the cheapest option either. BHA budgets HK$200 to HK$300 per toy, and opts not to get Shenzhen knock-of fs. Edward only cuts corners where it doesn’t impac t the children. “A volunteer, long gone now, once asked me why we don’t find cheaper toys. I turned around and asked if they’d cheap out on their own children.” That’s a mic drop.

BHA makes sure the food is nutritious and fun (that is possible), and allows for a few sodas. It’s a special occasion af ter all. The smiles are wor th it.

BROADENING HORIZONS But why a bir thday par ty? Many of us have heard about that author, doc tor, ar tist or ac tivist who encountered someone who altered the course of their life as a kid. Edward insists that kind of value exists in BHA’s par ties, and that those intangible knock-on ef fec ts should be accessible to all children. The par ties have the ability to open doors and minds, and broaden horizons.

“A couple of months ago we had a par ty in Tin Shui Wai, and the cakemaker went back to the school later and gave the kids a cooking lesson on how 22

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

JOYOUS PARTIES FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS

to bake a cake and make a pizza from scratch,” he describes. “That’s broadening horizons. One of those children might go on to become a chef.

Marilou insisted the toys we give out don’t promote sexism, racism or violence, and we hope those toys will last a lifetime as a physical reminder of a happy memor y. Maybe one of these celebrants is thinking of ending their life and suddenly remembers when a bunch of complete strangers came in celebrating their bir thday.”

The larger goal is to truly put the “Asia” in BHA, and several organisations across the region have expressed interest in taking up the baton. “That’s been our dream for a long time… expansion across the region, with the headquar ters in Hong Kong. That’s where we’re looking long term,” says Edward. So far, there’s solid interest in Shanghai, the Philippines, Singapore and Australia. Locations like Indonesia, Malaysia and India would obviously demand exper tise on the ground to cater to cultural considerations. “We’ll give you the model. We’ll give you the methodology. And you can run with it,” finishes Edward. Because despite language or culture, there are disadvantaged children ever y where who could use a little joy. “Save one, save the world, right?”

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! in g e B s e m a G e th Let CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

There aren’t many sleeps left until the big day, so to help you get organised, Trisha Hughes shares her idea of a strategically planned DB celebration PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com

I

take my hat of f to all the amazing women who “wing it” over Christmas. The only way I know how to “do” the festive season is to organise it with militar y precision and stick rigidly to a to - do list from December 1 onwards. I have to adhere stric tly to this list because if I don’t, ever y thing snowballs and total chaos ensues.

Christmas is a time for socialising and making merr y but it’s not all fun and games, especially if you’re juggling kids’ activities and a full-time job in the leadup. Advance planning is needed to put you in the driver’s seat. Star ting now means you’ll spend less money and keep the credit card from skyrocketing to Mars. A long lead-in to the holiday season also cuts out the frantic panic-buy on December 24, which sees you staring wide-eyed at empty shelves, alongside your equally frazzled neighbours.

Keeping all that in mind, I’d like to share my idea of a strategically planned DB Christmas with you.

DECEMBER 1 TO 3 Assuming you’ve already done your online shopping, you will feel a cer tain well- earned smugness in early December when you star t receiving the parcels in the mail. Find time to wrap present s as they arrive, and pop them straight in the post if they’re headed overseas. Write and post your Christmas cards now too, remembering that Toysland has an excellent selec tion.

Next up, take stock of your decorations. It’s always fun putting up the tree and decorating the house but af ter all the festivities are over, packing them away properly is of ten way down on our list of 24

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

priorities. So check your “decks” now, and don’t panic if any thing has weathered badly. You can find replacements at the DB Christmas Market on December 8 (more on that later) and if your fair y lights are bust, you can pick out some new ones at Japan Home Centre.

This is the weekend to buy the ingredients for the Christmas cake to end all Christmas cakes, so get ready to make the first of many “festive” trips to Fusion. You’ll need the dr y fruit and the brandy at this stage because the mixture has to soak for at least two weeks, more if you’re organised. While in the supermarket, you can also pick up your Christmas pudding, or the ingredients to make it.

DECEMBER 4 TO 10 This week is “set up the Christmas tree week”.

Remember the golden rule: t wo weeks before to assemble and t wo weeks af ter wards to take it down. You may well have an ar tificial tree that you bring out ever y year but, if you like the real thing, XmasTreeOnline.hk delivers Douglas, Noble and Nordmann firs to DB, plus those essential baubles, fair y light s and wreathes.

Forgot ten a present, or three? It ’s the DB Christmas Market on December 8, so you’ll be able to search for that per fec t gif t: an Angel Wong Image fascinator maybe, a singing bowl from Himalayas Craf t or a personalised Christmas stocking from Vi Galerie. Wander the stalls in DB Plaza to pick up some ex tras for your Christmas table or decor, and be sure to drop by the House of Fine Wines booth not just for a couple of cases of first- class wine

COMMUNITY

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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but also for some impor ted gourmet goodies – the truf fle sauce is to die for.

To save yourself the possible disaster of either a tough or too pink turkey, order a pre- cooked one this week. The Auberge is providing takeaway turkeys, and as many trimmings as you like, right through to December 27, and Epic Foods’ annual festive catering menu is also well wor th a look. If tradition is what you like and cooking your own is a must, then you’ll want to pre- order a turkey or ham. For holiday meat s (and treat s), I’ll be looking to European Touch and Market Place, and I can’t do Christmas without Il Bel Paese’s deli/ par t y snacks.

DECEMBER 11 TO 17 By now the fes tivities will really have kicked in and you’ll have neighbour s dropping round for celebr ator y drinks, so be sure to head to Wat son’s Wine to load up on Prosecco and your Chris tmas spirit s of choice. Don’t forget the r um for the r um balls (Bundaberg r um is fabulous) bec ause this week is “r um ball week”. Make them now and they ’ll be even yummier in a week ’s time, having soaked up the r um in a sealed cont ainer at the back of the fridge.

This week too, it ’s DB Chris tmas Wine Walk, r unning December 13 to 15 at DB Nor th ( Auberge main entr ance). Pick up a HK$180 pas s for exclusive wine -t as ting privileges, and shop over 30 s t alls packed not jus t with wine but with gour met treat s, Chris tmas-themed produc t s and loc al cr af t s.

This one always get s pushed to the bot tom of the to - do list but tr y to find time this week to pamper yourself. My guess is you live in walking distance of either Spa Botanica or DB Bay Spa. Hopefully you can spare an hour or so for a much-needed facial or massage, but at the ver y least you’ll want your nails looking their best on the day. Have them done now (Dream Nail does a grand job) or book an appointment for the 21st. Think about your hair this week too. Will you have time to squeeze in a blow dr y on December 24? Make your booking at Af flatus Hair Workshop or Salon De Coif fure now to avoid disappointment.

DECEMBER 18 TO 24 Things are star ting to heat up now but take it easy, you’re well ahead of the game! All of your presents are wrapped, your cards are on their way to family and friends back home and your tree is shimmering and heav y with ornaments in the corner.

There is however a downside to being so prepared.

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DB HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A WINTER WONDERLAND

You’ll probably find that the case of wine, the chocolates and the rum balls that you made last week have disappeared. You’ll need to find time to replenish your stock.

Four days to go: book a table for Boxing Day lunch, somewhere fresh and al fresco like DBrasserie or Pasha. Head for your pre-booked mani-pedi, buy some flowers at Bloom or Gillian Florist, and dash home to do any last-minute wrapping and to recharge the camera.

Two days to go: now’s the time to shop for fresh fruit and vegetables. There will undoubtedly be others like you, madly waving their lists around, so be prepared for the long haul. After that, start defrosting the turkey and… OMG, make the Christmas cake!

One day to go: if you weren’t already doing it, panic! Make the stuffing, locate the kids’ Christmas stockings, leave a mince pie out for Santa. Oh, and buy more Prosecco (and Alka-Seltzer) because someone’s bound to drop by for a nightcap.

CHRISTMAS DAY Just breathe. Laugh a lot and enjoy.

Of course, some of you will have opted to head down to the Auberge on Christmas Day for a fussfree festive lunch at Café Bord de Mer. In that case, the same rule applies. Laugh a lot and enjoy.

Merr y Christmas ever yone!

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Experience the unique flavours of DB Brew’s home-brewed craft beer available in 330ml cans. DB Brew releases a new type of beer every eight to 10 weeks, with Stout and IPA on offer over the holidays. To ensure you receive the freshest beer, the DB-based team only begins canning after order confirmation.

Orders below HK$500 are available for self-pick-up; orders over HK$500 qualify for free delivery (within DB).

European fine food specialist Cheese Club has crafted an amazing Christmas offer comprising seafood, cold cuts, celebration meats, cheese of course, gourmet treats and drinks. Must-tries include the Baby Kis oysters, readyto - eat roasts, brie with truffle and Don Giovannino panettone. Pre- order by December 8 for the best prices. Missed the date? Shop the online store for delivery to DB, TC and SL.

De La Valley sources and selects only the finest cuts of meats from the best international producers. Backed by 25 years in premium meat sourcing, the team guarantees value for money, with wholesale prices. Fish, seafood, caviar, dairy products, groceries, wine and more are also on offer. De La Valley delivers to DB every day for orders over HK$1,200; use coupon code XMASDB25 this month to get 25% off on your full order.

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AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

FINE FOOD

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P L A N T I N K AV I A R I w w w.plantinkaviari.hk Plantin Kaviari, by Gourmet en Provence, has supplied Hong Kong homes and restaurants with gourmet goodies since 2009. The Kaviari Paris Caviar Gift Box, pictured, is customisable with the caviar t ype and size of your choice, and priced from HK$710. Seasonal bestsellers include fresh white truffles, turkey, capon, foie gras and oysters. Order by December 12 for home deliver y by Christmas Eve.

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Niche grocer Prestigious Foods With a online vision to celebrate Indian artistry specialises in nature’s candy: superwhile providing high-quality, affordable soft organic Medjool Packed options for those looking dates. to enhance their with nutrients and natural sweetness, living spaces, Mahika’s Label delivers -friendly energy boosting, aketo wide range ofand home accessories with they’re a guilt-free treat, and superb a focus on table, bed and bathalinens. preIn - and post-workout fuel, supporting creating her line, Mahika blends digestion, muscle recover and traditional craftsmanship with ymodern sustained energy. designs, ensuring thatPrestigious each pieceFoods tells a delivers to adds DB, TC and to SL:any allow t wo story and warmth home. to three days after placing your order.

Focused on bespoke diamond engagement rings and diamond and gemstone fine jewellery, Valentina Fine Jewellery has all its pieces handcrafted at its Hong Kong atelier. The adorable bee charm pendant, pictured, is handcrafted in 18k yellow and white gold, with black, yellow and colourless diamonds. Each bee and chain is made to order and can be customised: allow a two -week lead time at Xmas.

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For all those interested in sound healing, Himalayas Craf t impor ts its handmade singing bowls direct from Nepal. The range includes both antique and new, decorative and plain singing bowls, with sets priced from HK$5,500 to HK$11,200, and iindividual bowls from HK$100 to HK$2,500. Shop online using the promo code HCLDB024 to get 20% of f all December orders.

With a floor space of 4,000 square feet, Toys Club is packed with toys, books and gif ts for kids and adults of all ages. Take your pick from new- born, STEA M and educational toys, LEGO, outdoor and par t y toys, and classic toys.

The wide range of card games and board games make for perfect Xmas gif ts. Shop online or at the Central store.

At House of Fine Wines (HOFWS) you get to eat well, drink well and live well! The 4,000 square feet of warehouse space is stocked with over 500 different wines, plus a fabulous selection of imported gourmet food including Valnerina Truffles, Mulino Le Pietre Pasta and Biscottificio Belli.

World-class products for every budget are directly sourced, with free delivery for local orders over HK$1,000.

WhatsApp/ Tel: 9158 9181 Email: himalayascrafts@gmail.com

Tel: 2167 8474 Email: toysclub@hotmail.com

Tel: 9339 6322 Email: sean@hof ws.com

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

29

WISH LIST

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CAVIAR GIFT BOX BY KAVIARI PARIS, PLANTIN KAVIARI, FROM HK$710 WWW.PLANTINKAVIARI.HK

THE GLENLIVET 200 YEAR ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION, THE GLENLIVET, HK$538 WWW.THEGLENLIVET.COM

CHRISTMAS SET MENU, DBRASSERIE, HK$498 WWW.DBRASSERIE.COM

TIME TO PARTY ‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry: check out these holiday essentials

CHATEAU PONTET CANET 2006 PAUILLAC CRU CLASSE, HOUSE OF FINE WINES, HK$4,320 PER CASE OF SIX

FROZEN NZ BIG GLORY BAY HALF KING SALMON 2.8KG, SOUTHSTREAM MARKET, HK$1,008

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FULL CELEBRATION DINNER TREAT, CHEESE CLUB, HK$1,474 WWW.CHEESECLUB.HK

CHRISTMAS PARTY TAKEAWAY, AUBERGE DISCOVERY BAY HONG KONG, FROM HK$208 WHATSAPP: 6317 3526

1910 COFFEE BAG GIFT BOX, BACHA COFFEE, HK$258 30

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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WISH LIST

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HOLIDAY CHEER SLEEVE FOR CLASSIC CANDLE, DIPTYQUE, HK$920 WWW.DIPTYQUEPARIS.COM/EN_HK LUCKY CAT PENDANT IN 18K GOLD, VALENTINA FINE JEWELLERY, HK$32,000 WWW.VALENTINAFINE.COM

PERSONALISED VELVET CHRISTMAS STOCKING, VI GALERIE, HK$230 W W W.VIGALERIE.COM

MADE YOU LOOK Santa Claus is coming to town: here’s what we hope he’ll have on his sleigh

NATURAL VEGETABLE-TANNED LEATHER HAND-STITCHED LUGGAGE TAGS, ATELIER BOUCLIER, HK$800 W W W.INSTAGR AM.COM/ BOUCLIER _ ATELIER

SPEAR 14K GOLD FLEX CUFF, JOHN HARDY, HK$64,350 WWW.JOHNHARDY.COM

NATURAL VEGETABLE-TANNED FLORENTINE-LEATHER HAND STITCHED GLASSES CASE, ATELIER BOUCLIER, HK$1,500 W W W.INSTAGR AM.COM/ BOUCLIER _ ATELIER

HANDMADE NEPALESE SINGING BOWLS, HIMALAYAS CRAFT, HK$100-HK$2,500 WWW.HIMALAYASCRAFT.COM

BESPOKE DOG BED IN LEATHER WITH GOLD BASE & IVORY CUSHION, THE LIEBLING, HK$20,500 W W W.THELIEBLING.COM

TOP TRUMPS WORLD FOOTBALL STARS TOP 200 CARD GAME (6 PACKS TO COLLECT), HK$119 PER PACK W W W.ITOYSCLUB.COM AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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PARENTING

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! d r a o b n O s d Ki MISSION POSSIBLE

To raise great children, you first need to become a great parent. Check out five trending methodologies that will set you up for 2025 PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

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AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

A

s we approach 2025, several key trends are emerging that reflec t parents’ everevolving priorities and challenges. These trends encompass mental health awareness, technology-driven innovations, personalised education options and a deepened focus on sustainability and inclusivity. Parents are also learning from the past: jettisoning the overly permissive parenting styles of recent years in favour of – dare we say it – more of an old-school, authoritative approach that’s tried-and tested, and proven to make family life easier.

Let’s dive into some of the trends that parents are embracing in order to set the stage for a generation that is resilient, empathetic and well-prepared for the future.

LIGHTHOUSE PARENTING Lighthouse parenting, currently trending, is something we can definitely expec t to see a lot of in 2025. The term was popularised by Dr Kenneth Ginsburg, a paediatrician and author, who coined the phrase to describe a grounded and everpresent parenting style that combines a desire to nur ture and protec t with an understanding that children need the freedom to find their own way. As Dr Ginsburg puts it, “Our job as parents is to stand steady, like a lighthouse, to guide our children, not to steer ever y move they make.”

Lighthouse parenting strikes a balance bet ween t wo ex tremes – on the one hand, there’s helicopter parenting with parent s ever-ready to swoop in at the first sign of distress. On the other hand, there’s hands- of f parenting, which prioritises children’s independence above all else. Lighthouse parenting takes the middle ground, emphasising guidance over control, and resilience over dependence.

Lighthouse parenting means being emotionally available and creating a home environment where kids feel safe to express their feelings, ask questions and make mistakes. It’s also about guiding children through challenges rather than solving problems for them. There’s an understanding that children who are allowed to take risks and work through problems on their own tend to be more resilient and better equipped to handle stress. By promoting self-efficacy, lighthouse parenting builds a strong foundation for emotional intelligence and problem-solving. It encourages kids to see challenges as oppor tunities to grow rather than crises to be avoided.

Having reflec ted on the mistakes that created the “snow flake” generation – a term that denotes weakness, self-entitlement and an inability to cope with life’s realities – today’s parents are refusing to

PARENTING

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PARENTS ARE DECIDING TO TAKE A BACKSEAT – LETTING CHILDREN FIGHT THEIR OWN BATTLES AND COME OUT STRONGER AS A RESULT mollycoddle. The aim is to protec t children, without engendering dependency; to make children feel special, without enabling egotism or complacency; to inform children about the world, without encouraging irrational anxieties, vic timism and nihilism. (No easy task!)

At the end of the day, overprotec tive parenting is a habit that’s begging to be broken. “Benign neglec t” is a buzzword for 2025 that’s not as contentious as it sounds. Does it mean ignoring children completely?

Of course not. But it does mean taking a step back from intensive parenting styles and letting kids, well, be kids. Parents are deciding to take a backseat – letting children be bored on the bus instead of handing them a tablet, letting them fail a class instead of doing their homework for them, letting them fight their own battles and come out stronger as a result.

GENTLE-ISH PARENTING The gentle parenting philosophy has been saturating parents’ social media feeds for some years; the goal being to raise confident, independent and happy children through empathy, respect, understanding and discussion. But moving into 2025, gentle parenting continues to morph into a new form, with parental authority getting more of a look in.

Instead of focusing on punishment and reward, gentle parenting focuses on improving a child’s selfawareness and understanding of their own behaviour.

But all too often it is confused with permissiveness… which is where gentle-ish parenting comes in.

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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Children need limits and a cer tain amount of structure to best function – and increasingly, parents want to be more consistent with discipline. Rather than feeling they have to accommodate children’s negative behaviour, they want to know they can set limits and follow through with consequences.

Impor tantly, today’s form of discipline is not about punishment: rather than spanking and timeouts, parents are instead putting strong boundaries and limits in place, giving children a roadmap for the behaviour that’s expec ted of them. Gentleish parenting leaves room for discussion – there’s an acceptance that modern children need to understand the “why” behind parental rules in order to comply with them – but there’s also an acceptance that there are times when parents have to stand firm and rule the roost.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS As concerns about climate change and sustainability become even more pressing, eco-conscious parenting continues to grow in impor tance.

Parents are becoming increasingly aware of their environmental impac t and are striving to raise their children with values that prioritise sustainability.

This trend encompasses ever y thing from using ecofriendly nappies and baby produc ts to choosing sustainable clothing, toys and even educational resources. Additionally, eco-conscious parenting involves making greener choices in day-to-day life, such as minimising plastic usage, opting for secondhand items, and suppor ting brands that prioritise ethical produc tion and environmental stewardship.

Eco-conscious parenting involves not just teaching kids to care about environmental issues but also implementing the eco-for ward ideas they bring home, cour tesy of their peers and teachers. The aim is to empower children in their ef for ts to “be the change” whether that’s by putting them in charge of the recycling, helping them eat sustainably or allowing them to host a clothes swap for friends.

TECH-SAVVY PARENTING With the rapid advancement of technology, techsav v y parenting is expec ted to continue evolving through 2025. Parents are increasingly relying on apps and devices to monitor their children’s wellbeing, whether it’s through smar t baby monitors, AI-powered educational tools, or healthtracking wearables.

Technology is playing an essential role in making parenting more ef ficient and informed, of fering 34

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

TEACHING RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY-USE REMAINS A PRIORITY

parents data on their child’s sleep patterns, nutrition, or even emotional health. However, along with the benefits, tech-sav v y parenting also requires parents to navigate the challenges of screen-time management and digital safety. Many parents are becoming more deliberate in teaching their children about responsible technology use, emphasising digital literacy and helping kids balance their onand of f-line lives.

With this in mind, sharenting – posting the highs and lows of raising children online – is finally, definitely over. Growing concerns about AI-generated imager y, as well as facial recognition and the commercial use of personal data, mean that parents are becoming much more cautious about sharing content related to their children on social media.

There’s also children’s digital footprint to consider: something sharenting creates, of ten long before the child can even understand what that means.

PERSONALISED EDUCATION The education landscape is undergoing a transformation and, in 2025, personalised education options are expec ted to be more mainstream. Flexible schooling models, such as hybrid homeschooling, online learning platforms and micro-schools, are becoming increasingly popular among parents who want a more tailored approach to their children’s education. Parents are seeking out educational environments that cater to their child’s unique learning style, of fering more individualised attention than traditional schools.

This shif t is par tly driven by dissatisfac tion with the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional schooling, as well as the increasing demand for digital skills in the modern economy.

In this new model, parents are taking a more ac tive role in their children’s education: as with all the trends we’ve looked at for 2025, the main aim is to ensure kids grow up resilient and well-prepared for the future.

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26/11/2024

12:44 PM

! a i v i r T f o t i B e A Littl 20 QUESTIONS

/

XMAS MOVIE QUIZ How much do you know about Christmas on the silver screen?

BY Nicole Innocenti

1. In which year was Home Alone released?

A. 1983 B. 1986 C. 1990 2. Who creates Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas?

A. Dr Frankenstein B. Dr Finkelstein C. Dr Finkelwho 3. Who plays Meredith in The Family Stone?

A. Sarah Jessica Parker B. Dianne Keaton C. Rachel McAdams 4. What does Santa give Hero Boy in The Polar Express?

A. A silver bell B. A reindeer C. A snow globe 5. Who plays Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street?

A. Edmund Gwenn B. William Frawley C. Percy Helton 36

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

20 QUESTIONS

6. Who takes Esther to the Christmas Eve Ball in Meet Me in St Louis?

14. In Serendipity, when do Sara and Jonathan first meet?

A.

A. Christmas Eve

John Truett

B. Colonel Darly

B. Christmas Day

C.

Her grandfather

C. Boxing Day

7.

What are the siblings’ names in The Holiday?

A. Graham and Amanda B. Graham and Iris C. Miles and Amanda 8. Which Christmas movie is the highest grossing?

A. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York B. A Christmas Carol C. The Grinch 9.

Why does Fred get arrested in Fred Claus?

A. Breaking and entering B. Drunk driving C. Charity fraud 10 What song does Frank and his crew sing at the end of Scrooged?

A. Put a Little Love in Your Heart B. Last Christmas C. The Little Drummer Boy 11. In Elf, what is Buddy’s job at the North Pole?

A. Chef B. Medic for reindeers C. Toy tester

/

15. Which song has featured the most in Christmas movies?

A. Jingle Bells B. Silent Night C. Deck the Halls 16. In Bad Santa, what does Thurman want for Christmas?

A. Xbox B. Pink elephant C. Toy car 17. Which book is A Christmas Story based on?

A. The Gift of the Magi B. A Christmas Memory C. In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash 18. In Edward Scissorhands, what decoration does Edward make at Christmas?

A. Christmas tree B. Angel ice sculpture C. Reindeer topiar y 19. What is the angel’s name in It’s a Wonderful Life?

A. Clarence Odbody B. George Bailey C. Mar y Hatch

12. Who directed the Christmas rom-com Love Actually?

20. Who sings the title song of White Christmas?

A. Hugh Grant

A. Bing Crosby

B. Richard Cur tis

B. Perr y Como

C. Andrew Lincoln

C. Doris Day

13. Which Bond movie is based on the Christmas story?

A. No Time to Die B. For Your Eyes Only

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

C. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

37

INSIDER

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! s p i T p To

HOLIDAY DECORATING Check our festive forecast to unwrap the coolest trends for Christmas 2024

T

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

his year ’s Christmas decor trends are as diverse as they come, drawing on ever y thing from nature to retro glam. It ’s time to invest in a pink Christmas tree (if you don’t already have one) and a couple of glit ter balls. Other must-haves to refresh your festive decor include paper snow flakes, hessian ribbons, jewel-toned baubles and iridescent tree ornament s.

Now more than ever, you are free to lean into the unique with your Christmas decor – you don’t have to follow tradition. There’s a greater emphasis on personal preference: from taking on DIY projec t s to re- evaluating the colour wheel, ever y thing is focused on what speaks specifically to you. Take a look.

COLOUR AND SPARKLE While red and green might come to mind for Christmas, and blue and silver for Hanukkah, 38

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

your holiday decor doesn’t have to stick to those traditional colour palettes. You can get creative with almost any Pantone in the book and, this year, we can expec t to see a lot of white, cream and silver.

The sparkling white Christmas look has taken a backseat in recent years, but for 2024, it ’s back and shining brighter than ever. Decorate your living room with delicate paper snow flakes and whimsical polar pals, and introduce ornament s in silver, blue and even lilac to enhance the wintr y palet te. Flocked or all-white trees are the per fec t centrepiece for this serene snowscape: dripping with cr ystal and glass, they catch ever y glimmer of the (all-white) fair y light s.

Alternatively, you can light up your home by embracing brilliant jewel tones. Think oversized baubles in ruby and emerald or, better, sapphire and amethyst. There’s something special about these rich colours for a time of year that’s filled with so much spirit. When you colour outside the lines, you also give your guests something to talk about.

INSIDER

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RETRO GLAM If you’re a Barbie fan, you’ll be pleased to know many of us are celebrating Pinkmas again this year, turning ever y thing from trees to candles Margot Robbie-pink. Pinkmas is about going all out (pack in as many pink decorations as possible), and be sure to add in a glit ter ball to cement the glam, retro look. Glit ter balls are ever y where this year: hang them on the tree, from the ceiling and even as wreaths.

Looking for more retro glit ter and sparkle?

Iridescent tree ornament s are making a splash this year, and tinsel is back. Metallic s are also bang on trend: you can embrace classic gold for a timeless glow, or set a wintr y scene with silver.

Trees decked out from top to bot tom in silver and gold are showstoppers, and you can even opt for shiny, sculptural metallic trees.

Candyland retro is also big for 2024, with gingerbread, cupcakes, candy canes and macarons – all that sugar y “goodness” – heading into our homes once again. The Candyland theme may be a bit kit sch but it ’s also ex tremely versatile.

Traditionalist s plump for candy- cane stripe, gingham and gingerbread. Pinkmas people bring out their all-pink af ternoon tea set s laden with scones and strawberr y jam. True fans use invisible string to hang oversized candy gumdrops, cupcakes and ice cream cones not just from the tree but from the ceiling. Treat yourself to a Nutcracker statue.

NATURAL TOUCHES If retro doesn’t speak to you, you c an look to the natur al world for inspir ation this Chris tmas.

There’s a focus on simple decor ations, using natur al materials and f lor als, that feel fes tive without over whelming the living space. Consider layering in natur al accent s like br anches, ber ries and pinecones. Tr y incor por ating or anges, apples and pomegr anates: the colour s of the fr uit look well agains t the Chris tmas greener y adding a brightnes s that feels per fec t for the holidays.

Likewise, the woodland theme never goes out of s t yle. Ear thy tones of brown, r us t, ter r acot t a and green create a rich backdrop for collec tions of fores t creatures, both my thic al and real. Reindeer, hedgehogs, owls, squir rels and foxes look fes tive whether hung from the tree, or nes tled at it s base.

If you choose to add a few woodland elves, be sure to prepare some mushroom homes for them.

Eco -friendly materials echo the woodland theme with designs in felt, wood and cor k par ticularly popular, alongside or nate painted glas s. In fac t,

MAKE EVERYTHING MARGOT ROBBIE-PINK

IF YOU’RE A BARBIE FAN, YOU’LL BE PLEASED TO KNOW MANY OF US ARE CELEBRATING PINKMAS AGAIN THIS YEAR AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

39

INSIDER

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our ef for t to reduce Chris tmas plas tic has brought a variet y of natur al materials to the fore. Think or nament s in papier- mâché, felt and s tr aw; r at t an tree collar s and LED -lit baubles; hes sian ribbon and bows; and wood - beaded garlands.

DIY NOSTALGIA In line wit h eco consid er ations, t he c all for hand mad e Chr is t mas d ecor ations is par tic ular ly s t rong t his year. T here are a lot of DI Y holiday dis plays on s o cial me dia, wit h up c ycling, home c r af ting and re p ur p osing kee ping cos t s and our e nvironme nt al foot p r int low. Mak ing your ow n gar land s, or nament s and eve n c andles b r ing s s o muc h joy to t he holiday s eas on, and allow s you to s p e nd time wit h love d ones. Plus, you’ll likely us e t hes e pieces for year s to come.

T he holidays have always b ee n an exc us e to b r ing bac k t he me mor ies and s t yles of yes ter year and now, more t han ever, t here’s a d esire to e mb r ace f amily heir looms and uniq ue vint age pieces. It ’s all ab out nos t algia: mak ing t he holidays more p er s onal by incor p or ating pieces t hat mean s omet hing to us, or have b ee n hand e d d ow n to us. Using well - love d or vint age - loo k or name nt s, and mi x ing old wit h new, c an c reate a s oulf ul, layere d ef fec t.

THINK CANDYLAND RETRO

Done well, t he nos t algic t re nd s ees t he cos y, homes p un c har m of t he pas t reimagine d wit h mo d er n elegance. It ’s our c hild hoo d Chr is t mas s ee n t hrough ros e -tinte d s p ec t acles; it ’s t he q uintes s e ntial Chr is t mas à la Nanc y Meyer s’ s et c reations in The Holiday. Cher r y- re d and teal acce nt s s t yle up a s ere ne bac kdro p of pale gree n, s of t b row n and w hite. Hand c r af te d or name nt s, k nit te d s to c k ing s and r us tic w reat hs e mp hasis e aut he nticit y over p er fec tion. Forget s t uf f y, f r illy, or over ly f luf fe d – t his is live d - in comfor t wit h a f res h, air y t wis t.

TROPICAL WONDERLAND

LOOK TO NATURE FOR INSPIRATION

L as t but not leas t, why does it have to be a winter wonderland? A nd who says Chris tmas trees have to be fir? You c an ex pec t a surge in alter native fes tive centrepieces this year, with people shedding the conventional tree and decor ating exotic pot plant s for the holidays.

par adise. But why s top there? Bring on the whimsy with but ter f lies, hummingbirds and lizards. E xotic animals, like f lamingos and leopards, are making their fes tive debut this year, replacing the usual robins and polar bear s.

The tropic al fes tive trend is rooted in a rich green palet te that moves from deep juniper right through to lime. You c an go all-in green, or add a splash of contr as t with pink, pur ple and gold. It ’s about creating a vibr ant look that feels like a holiday in

A nd don’t forget the jewel- bright cock t ails and fies t a f lower s to go with. Follow this play ful, upbeat trend to tr ans for m your home into a tropic al Chris tmas wonderland – and prove that the holidays c an be any thing but tr aditional.

40

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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! e im T Vacation ESCAPES

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HOKKAIDO More than a ski trip

BY Kayli Liebenberg

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

JUST 800 KILOMETRES OFF RUSSIA’S southeastern coast,

Hokkaido is Japan’s second largest island. Fly into Sapporo, the capital, and wrap up warm as temperatures can drop to -6°C. There’s plenty to see and do before you hit the slopes – take a stroll through Oduri Park, and tour Sapporo Beer Museum to sample some local brews.

THE CHARMING PORT CITY of Otaru is known for its beautifully preserved historic buildings – and resident artisans. This is the place to pick up glassware, antiques, music boxes and kimonos. The Otaru Canal is particularly picturesque, lined with old warehouses that have been converted into museums, shops and restaurants.

NATURE LOVERS MAKE A BEELINE

for Shiretoko National Park: the 380-square-kilometre UNESCO World Heritage site is a haven for wildlife, including brown bears, deer, foxes and orcas. You can sign up for a boat tour to enjoy the dramatic coastline or explore the remote wilderness on foot, walking on drift ice and snowshoeing through forests.

42

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

NOBORIBETSU-ONSEN IS HOME to Hokkaido’s

ESCAPES

/

most famous hot springs: choose from a selection of baths with different mineral compositions, each providing unique health benefits. The town itself is surrounded by stunning natural scenery, including Hell Valley (Jigokudani), where you can see volcanic activity up close.

SNOWMOBILE RIDING IS

something you really must experience, as is the unrivalled romance of reindeer sledding.

With the kids in mind, there’s also igloo-making at Niseko Outdoor Centre and snow tubing at Hanazano Tube Park.

Many of Hokkaido’s ski resor ts and guesthouses provide sleds free for guests’ use.

HOKKAIDO HOSTS MANY WINTER FESTIVALS and two

of the best are held in February.

At Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, you can explore ice caves, enjoy ice slides and participate in traditional winter sports, like ice fishing and dog sledding. At Sapporo Snow Festival, artisans gather at the city’s parks to create intricate ice and snow sculptures.

OF ALL HOKKAIDO’S SKI RESORTS , Niseko is the most famous: the japow

(powder) is legendary thanks not only to its abundance but also its quality – low water content means the slopes are almost entirely ice free. The Hokkaido ski season runs from November to early May, and Niseko delivers with a world-class mix of challenging runs and beginner-friendly slopes.

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

43

! h c r a e s d or W u Lanta PUZZLES

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RECIPES

/

Christmas Classics

These simple treats are good enough for Santa himself, and they’re sure to get the party started

BY Nicole Innocenti PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

CRANBERRY MARTINI Serves 2 1 lemon wedge

2tbsp Cointreau

4tbsp vodka

2tbsp lemon juice

4tbsp cranberry juice

2tsp sugar syrup

To frost the t wo mar tini glasses, smooth an even layer of sugar on a plate and cut a notch in a lemon wedge. Run the lemon wedge around the rim of the glass and then tilt the glass and roll its outer rim in the sugar. The goal here is to get the sugar on the outside of the glass only so none of it drops into the drink itself.

Place the vodka, cranberr y juice, Cointreau, lemon juice and sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.

Shake for 15 seconds until cold. Divide the drink into t wo frosted mar tini glasses. Garnish with cranberries and a sprig of rosemar y to ser ve.

46

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

RECIPES

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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47

RECIPES

/

GINGERBREAD MEN Makes 12 40g unsalted butter

1tsp bicarbonate of soda

100g dark muscovado sugar

2tsp ground ginger

3tbsp golden syrup

1tsp ground cinnamon

350g plain flour

2 balls stem ginger, chopped

Heat the oven to 200˚C. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment.

Melt the butter and sugar in a pan and add the golden syrup. Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ground ginger, cinnamon and a pinch of salt in a bowl.

Stir in the butter mix and stem ginger to make a stiff-ish dough.

Wait until cool enough to handle, then roll out the dough to about 5mm thick.

Stamp out your gingerbread men, re-rolling and pressing the trimmings back together and rolling again. Lift onto baking sheets. Bake for 12 minutes until golden. Cool for 20 minutes, then decorate with piped icing.

48

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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

FTC Relocations 2988 8282 ReloSmart 2988 1898 Rocket Movers 3661 1999 SwiftRelo

2814 1658 2561 3030 5134 0044 2363 4008

Sunset Grill, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0025 The New Chapter 2907 6988 The Tavern 2907 6822 Upper Deck 2757 8889 Yue, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0028 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Velocity Bar & Grill, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott 3969 1888 2109 9277 Wok n Roll 5182 7646 2109 2330 Caribbean Coast Clubhouse 9343 3718 Caribbean Coast Management Office 2109 9288 2179 6678 RETAIL 5541 1502 Coastal Skyline Clubhouse 2428 2566 2988 1488 Coastal Skyline Management Office 2179 6621 FTC Apparel 9733 5483 3473 8700 Lantau Balloons 6206 3497 Seaview Crescent Clubhouse Seaview Crescent Management Office 3473 8833 Tung Chung Crescent Clubhouse 2403 6770 SPORT & RECREATION 2385 9677 3969 1888 Tung Chung Crescent Management Office 2109 1222 Asia Pacific Soccer Schools Aqua Gym 2914 0658 3602 8888 B & S Art Gallery 2493 8895 2286 8888 RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY 5182 7646 Dance for Joy 9264 8597 2535 0000 3 Italiani 2321 5500 Edge ’n Pointe Dance Centre 6688 2167 3602 8989 A Tavola Bar & Grill Andante, Novotel Citygate 3602 8828 ESF Sports 2711 1280 Basic Bistro 2305 5508 Fitness in Motion 9744 4736 2777 8982 HK Dragons 2987 4274 2987 8070 Cabana Breeze 2286 6238 Kinder Kicks Soccer 2385 9677 2915 0666 Café Aficionado 6443 6597 2162 5538 Café Lantau, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0021 Perun Fitness 2988 8674 Rugbytots 5307 6677 2420 1068 Handi Indian Resturant 2162 8018 Tung Chung Public Swimming Pool 2109 9107 2121 0884 Jasmine Tung Chung 2881 8788 Tung Chung Sports Centre 2109 2421 2988 8123 La Rosabelle Bar & Grill La Vista 2368 6866 Tung Chung Rugby Club 6079 0825 Lobby Lounge, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0023 2330 0131 VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS 2185 6550 Maison Du Mezze 3500 5885 Royal Pets (Pet Sitting) 6314 9887 2109 9396 Man Mano Italian Restaurant 2762 8077 Tung Chung Animal Clinic 2988 1534 2109 2288 Mint & Basil 2116 8149 Tung Chung Vet Centre 2328 7282 3467 7000 Moon Lok Chiu Chow 2907 6918 2403 6613 My Thai 2234 9199 WELLBEING & BEAUTY 2403 6623 Nha Trang Vietnamese Cuisine PizzaExpress 2297 3588 Max Beauty Spa 2162 5752 Regala Café & Dessert Bar, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6618 OM Spa, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6266 2421 8088 Rouge, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6868 Tung Chung Nail Ninjas 9551 6468 2636 8399 Skycity Bistro, SkyCity Marriott 3969 2500 Quan Spa, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott 3692 1888

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

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

The Gallery The Kitchen Treasure Island Beach Club

2980 2582 5991 6292 5236 7013

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

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

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

5545 5625 6058 8843 2546 3543

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Pause by the Banyan Spa Ambiance Thai Palin Massage

9708 0187 2984 2488 9062 0148

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DISCOVERY BAY BUSINESS SERVICES Monx T8 Consulting Ltd

5286 0155 2517 8248

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

2728 8333 2987 7502 2435 4511 3661 1694

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of China 2160 8585 HSBC 2233 3000 HOME & REPAIRS Chameleon Design & Interiors China Light & Power Information DRS Company Good Luck Engineering Greenland Pest Control Island Cleaning Solutions

May’s Furniture & Curtain Design Rich Point Hardware Materials Synergy Pest Control Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department Well Supreme Laundry

9219 8169 2678 2678 9156 0360 2987 1313 9871 0771 6091 5176 2987 0222 2987 0789 5604 3950 2811 0788 2824 5000 2987 5151

HOTELS Auberge Discovery Bay

2295 8288

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

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

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

Bayview House of Children 6114 2436 DBIS 2987 7331 DBIS Kindergarten 2914 2142 Discovery College 3969 1000 Discovery Mind International Play Centre 2987 8088 Discovery Mind Kindergarten 2987 8088 Discovery Montessori Academy 2812 9206 Dr Bear Education Centre 9685 7856 Elevate English Centre 5445 8228 EpicLand 2441 0098 Funfit 6302 6327 Guidepost Montessori (DB) 2185 6134 HKILA

2416 3198 Jungle School Discovery Day 9095 7250 La Petite Enfance Kindergarten 8191 0813 Mandarin for Munchkins 2480 3909 Mathemagic (home tutoring) 9135 4724 Rigolo comme la vie 5495 8810 SKH Wei Lun Primary School 2987 8608 54

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Treasure House Woodentots Yifan Mandarin Zhi Zhi Chinese

2987 4217 6108 9131 9208 7611 9648 2966

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

2987 8136 2987 4210 2987 7061 3590 8017

REALTORS Headland Homes 2987 2088 Kingsland 2987 2987 Land Master Property 2987 6238 Okay.com 2102 0888 Savills 2987 1919 REMOVALS & RELOCATION AGS Group

2885 9666 Akash Moving 2421 8088 Crown Relocations 2636 8399 Expert Mover 2566 4799 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Links Moving 5595 9500 Nauzer Moving Service 6076 2500 ReloSmart 2561 3030 Rocket Movers 5134 0044 Royal Movers 9341 9209 SwiftRelo 5976 2208 UniGroup Asia 2418 4333 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES DB Office Centre DB Lost & Found DB Management The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Typhoon Signal Enquiries

2238 3388 3651 2345 2238 3601 2259 3422 2835 1473

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

Café Bord de Mer & Lounge Coffee Academics DBrasserie Dough Bros Ebeneezer’s Epic Foods Figos Seaside Café il Bel Paese Island Café JOO Korean Grill & Bar Koh Tomyums Thai La Creation & Châteraisé Levain Bakery Lekker Laa McDonald’s & McCafe

2295 8299 2882 2280 9848 1101 2408 0448 2987 0036 2172 6111 2987 2995 2987 0202 2987 9311 2234 6118 2987 0767 2987 1829 2726 4922 6857 1620 2987 1033

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DISCOVERY BAY MOOJOO Lifestyle Cafe 5122 5928 ÓNA 3619 0937 Osmanbey Turkish Restaurant 5401 8350 Paisano’s 2673 4445 Pasha 6340 0903 Peony 2215 0833 Pho Bay 3619 0932 PizzaExpress 3164 1340 Shanghai Breeze 2987 7808 Subway 2914 0005 Sushi No En 3705 9984 Taste of Thai 2987 2010 The Chippy 2987 8688 The Pier Bar 2520 2166 Three Sheets Marquee Bar 2987 0966 The Rink 3611 8369 Uncle Russ 2840 1188 Viet Bu Tong Kitchen & Bar 2338 8970 RETAIL & DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven 2299 1110 Bloom 6117 7653 Circle K 2991 6337 Cosmo Computers 5136 1799 DB Post Office 2987 6046 european touch 2918 0868 felix and mina

2130 7013 Fusion by PARKnSHOP 2987 7486 Garden A rtemis 9137 4833 Gillian Florist 2529 8256 Greenmont Kids 5345 1451 Havana@ DBay 2918 0868 Island Wake 2636 0601 Japan Home Centre 2987 1041 Market Place and IKEA 2947 9092 Nomadic

2987 8460 Open Kitchen 2987 8720 P-Solution 2987 1777 Tai Fat Hardware Store 2987 0789 The Optical House 2987 1368 Toysland 2987 7859 Watson’s Pharmacy 2987 4089 Watson’s Wine 2987 0268 SPORT & RECREATION HK Dragons Football Club Football for girls & boys aged 2.5 years to 14 years. Contact 2987 4274, dragons.hk

Island Dance ISTD Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, Tap & AcroDance classes at DBRC, Club Siena & DB Plaza.

Five professional instructors, teaching six days a week.

Contact 2987 1571/ 9159 0663, info@islanddance.com.hk, www.islanddance.com.hk

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

BMSE Community Centre 2259 3422 Caissa Chess 6938 7603 Club Siena

2987 7382 Daruma Judo 6244 6093 DBees

9867 9240 DB Ice Rink 2234 0187 DB Pirates 9255 6133 DB Golf Club 2987 7273 DB Recreation Club 2987 7381 DMR 5210 7208 Dream Sports Academy 3462 2626

Embody 6624 8712 EpicLand 2441 0098 EMS Fitness Hong Kong 6200 2463 Gallery Jeeum 9819 7176 Harry Wright International 2575 6279 HK Yoga 6113 6770 Kaisei Ryu Ju Jitsu 5315 0227 Kipmovin 6436 3308 Korea Taekwondo Cheung Do Kwan 9663 8077 Lantau Yacht Club 2987 9591 The Golfbay 2856 5188 Tinytots 3488 7724 Yoga Bay 6704 9851 Yogika 6749 7836 YogaUP 6805 4996 Yrock 6180 0817 Zumba with Dionina De Guzman 9317 6793 TRANSPORTATION DB Golf Cart Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2914 2727 2987 7351 5303 3489 2987 9368

VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Island Veterinary Services

My Pet Shop Pets Gallery Pet Space Club Ready, Pet, Go! The Dog's Garden

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

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Ingredients of Wellness Mindfulness training for children, teens & their parents and teachers. Offering Mindfulness Matters, Mindfulness in Education (for adults), AMT Mindfulness Teacher Training.

Contact 9048 5425, angie@ingredientsofwellness.com, www.ingredientsofwellness.com

Afflatus Hair Workshop Bay Spa Herbal Health Care Hypnotherapist Margaret Liu Nailed It! Salon De Coiffure Sophia Essentials Spa Botanica, Auberge Discovery Bay

2987 0283 9837 0969 2834 7276 5925 3469 2987 2266 2987 4112 2527 0118 2295 8129

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @ www.arounddb.com To add your own directory listing box, call the Bay Media office on 2987 0167, or email info@baymedia.com.hk AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

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THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK IS TICKING Peter Sherwood receives a not very merry Christmas call PHOTO COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

A

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nother c all from my uncle Bill in outback Aus tr alia. I greeted him with mer r y Chris tmas. “Don’t mer r y Chris tmas me, mate. I’ve had a bad day,” was his reply. I mis t akenly followed up with ‘tis the season to be jolly. Then he let rip:

of Aus t r alia. Bee n f roze n for 70 0,0 0 0 year s.

Do you k now w hat ’s und er t hat?” Gold was t he w rong ans wer. T he n he got angr y. “Met hane!

Tr illions of tons of it!” Come on mate, you jus t told me it comes f rom f ar ting s hee p. He was get ting impatie nt.

This bloke down the pub says he’s a climate scientis t. Like a weather man on T V, I said. “No, that ’s a meteorologis t, one of many climate disciplines.” Before I could ask what a discipline is, he s t ar ted on a r ant. “The climate is changing fas t and it ’s get ting hot ter.” Well, I said, it ’s always been hot ter here, hot ter than Brisbane any way. “The c ause is anthropogenic.” A nthro what? “Humans bur ning fos sil fuels, oil and coal, tr apping heat in the atmosphere.” So what? Heat rises. I lear ned that at school. “CO2 s t ays s tuck and heat s the land and oceans.”

But Aus tr alia is clean, right? “Wrong. We’re delusional. We f log billions of tons of filthy coal to China and India, and duh! Air has no inter national border s; the pollution circulates.” He had a point, at leas t until his nex t cr ack pot s t atement.

“E x pec t it to get wet ter and drier.” This bloke’s a scientis t?! Geez, I lef t school age 12 and even I k now it c an’t be wet and dr y at the same time.

If that wasn’t silly enough, he s t ar ted on about animals far ting! “They produce vas t amount s of methane which is 28 times wor se than CO2.”

You’re kidding, right? “Sheep and c at tle, making hundreds of thousands of tons of the s tuf f.

Aus tr alia alone has 25 million c at tle and 30 million sheep.” W hat had this idiot been drinking? “The war ming of the planet is a dangerous ex ponential c ycle.” W hat, say? “It means the hot ter it get s, the hot ter it get s. Glacier s are melting, c ausing sea levels to rise.”

I playe d along to humour him. “ Wor s e, t he p er maf ros t is und er t hreat of melting.” OK, s o w hat ’s a bit of melte d f ros t? “Hey, 18 million s q uare k ilomet res, t wo and a half times t he size

T he clow n p er sis te d. “Huge at mos p her ic r iver s are for ming, d umping more r ain in one place t han it s ees in many year s.” River s in t he bloo d y air. I s hould have s t aye d home. “It ’s es timate d one of t hes e mons ter s could b e 27 times bigger t han Mr s Sip py.” W ho t he hell is t hat?! “E x p ec t more f loo d s and drought s.” T here he goes again, wet and dr y toget her.

“It will be ex treme.” I reminded him we hadn’t seen r ain here for a dec ade and that ’s pret t y ex treme. He was get ting ir rit ated with me making him wrong all the time. Tr ying to cool him down, I asked if he were an optimis t or a pes simis t. “A n optimis t, but only bec ause I’d other wise be out of a job. Bet ween you and me, I agree with the late, great theoretic al physicis t, Stephen Hawking: ‘ We will des troy our selves through greed and ignor ance.’” I told him I hope it ’s not tonight. I’ve got a leg of far ting Xmas lamb in the oven.

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

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AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2024

SPRINGTERM TERM 2025 2025 春季課程 SPRING 春季課程 OPENFOR FOR ENROLMENT ENROLMENT 現正招生 現正招生 OPEN Club Siena, DiscoveryBay Bay 愉景灣海澄湖畔會所 Club Siena, Discovery 愉景灣海澄湖畔會所 6th Jan – 15th Mar 2025 2025年1月6日至3月15日 6th Jan – 15th Mar 2025 2025年1月6日至3月15日

Join any time! Our classes are pro-rated, so you only pay for the lessons left in the term when you sign up. Don't wait, join Join any Kong’s time! Our classes are pro-rated, Hong Premier Swim School Today!

so you only pay for the lessons left in the term when you sign up.(由報名當日至課程 Don't wait, join 游泳課程按堂數收費 Hong Kong’s Premier Swim School Today! 結束)，報名時只需付餘下堂數即可，歡迎 您隨時參加！

Indoor Heated Pool

Low Ratios

Pro-Rated

Enrol at Club Siena or DBRC Reception Members & Non-members Indoor Heated Pool Low Ratios Pro-Rated

Enrol at Club Siena or DBRC Reception Members & Non-members

游泳課程按堂數收費 (由報名當日至課程 結束)，報名時只需付餘下堂數即可，歡迎 +852 2575 6279 swimming@harrywright.com.hk 您隨時參加！

www.harrywright.com.hk

Seasons Greetings from all of us at Bay Media!

We wish you a happy and healthy 2025!