My body is a temple

As my body is supposed to be a temple, I made a decision last week that it is time for me to do something about it to make it worthy of worshipping.  Living in the Mid-Levels in Hong Kong is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.  If you are weak-willed - as I can be - and you are surrounded by countless bars and restaurants within easy stumbling distance, it is too easy to be lured astray on a daily basis.  It is not uncommon for David and I to go for a quick glass of wine during happy hour, only to forget to go home once happy hour has finished and to fall through our front door, many glasses of wine down, having forgotten to eat dinner.  This sort of behaviour is perfect for instigating post-wine paranoia and the booze blues the following day - far from ideal when you have a nagging homesickness that keeps rearing its head.

So, taking my positive, healthy future into my own hands, I took myself to an open day at i-detox on Saturday - a wellness education centre in Central.  Initially I thought that I would attend the open day talk on Superfoods and take my new found knowledge and start to make some little changes to make my lifestyle a little less toxic.  However, having completed the questionnaire to determine how 'toxic' my body is, I was horrified at the possible impact that everything I happily shove into my mouth appears to be having on my health.  Before I could mutter 'goji berries', I was signing up to a 12 day detox programme and handing over my credit card - convincing myself that this was an investment into my future.

My detox foods

Having had my 'last supper' on Saturday.... and then again on Sunday... Monday was 'D-day' and my new healthy regime was activated.  No longer do I smoke, drink alcohol or caffeine, eat meat, dairy, wheat or gluten.  My diet is filled with fruit, vegetables, pulses and brown rice - accompanied with previously unheard of superfoods including spirulina, flax seeds, cacao nibs and raw vegan rice protein.  As uninspiring as it may sound, the foods are surprisingly tasty, if you know what to do with them.  As you can imagine I don't have a clue on how to cook anything vegan but fortunately I have been provided with a few recipes and we have an organic restaurant very close by which serves vegan food that - hand on heart - is absolutely delicious!

Delicious zucchini pesto

Today is day three of detox.  Monday and Tuesday were difficult days - I'll spare the details, suffice to say that I needed to remain close to a toilet - and I suffered terrible headaches.  However, today I have woken up and feel as though the rain cloud has been lifted from my head and I definitely feel brighter and more energised.  I have also lost 3lbs already - wooohoooo!

Only 9 days left before my body is converted to a fully-restored temple.  I will keep you updated on my progress and I will happily start a wager on how long it takes for me to revert from a clean-living vegan to a smoking, drinking carnivore!

My Little Posh Dresses

Today was a very exciting day as David bought a parcel home for me that had been delivered to his office.  Ripping the paper off like an over-excited three year old playing pass-the-parcel, I was thrilled to find four dresses inside from the brand new The Little Posh Dress Company.  Each dress is hand-crafted in the UK and made by one individual from start to finish.  The dresses are all in one classic style - empire line falling on the knee - but they come in a wide range of fabric designs which can completely transform the look of each dress.  As there will only be a limited number of each dress produced, I shouldn't experience the embarrassment of turning up to a friends house to find we are wearing matching outfits.

My new dress collection

The sophisticated linen look - perfect for staying cool in the office on a typically hot and humid Hong Kong day

Vintage floral - ideal for afternoon tea at The Peninsular... hint hint David Walder!

Flirty red spotty look - perfect for sitting in a bar sipping a Lychee Martini

The classic floral design - ideal for a night at Happy Valley horse racing

The dresses are incredibly flattering and now that the weather is getting hot and steamy here - they have arrived in perfect time for the summer.  I will keep you posted on My Little Posh Dresses trips out here in Hong Kong.

My Fat Right Foot

Us Brits love a good moan and a favourite topic to whinge about is the NHS from "I can't believe it took me so long to get an appointment to see my GP" to "My local hospital is not going to be able to operate on me for 3 months".  The reality is though, that despite its short-comings, you know how it works, how you get referred to secondary care and where to go to.  Moving abroad, you realise that you are going to have to quickly negotiate your way around an entirely new system.  And, inevitably you are going to park this thought until you genuinely need medical advice.

This week, for no reason, the ball of my right foot has swollen up dramatically, making it painful to walk on and almost impossible to wear shoes.  Having done a bit of self-diagnosis online, I have short-listed my issue to:
Metatarsalgia
Sesomoiditis
Gout

Naturally, I would rather it wasn't gout as that would make me a 50-something fat ruddy-complexioned posh man with a penchant for port, ales and steak.  However, I can't rule it out so I am basically treating myself for all three issues simultaneously in the hope that something works and I don't have to resort to navigating around Hong Kong's unfamiliar healthcare system.  My current treatment plan involves:

1)  Sitting on sofa with foot elevated on cushions
2)  Regularly administering ice-packs and tiger balm
3)  No alcohol or meat
4)  Drinking lemon juice and eating cherries
5)  No exercise

So, I am firmly glued to the sofa, snacking on fruit and vegetables and feeling ever so slightly sorry for myself - while praying that something cures my fat right foot!

Embracing My Inner Tai-Tai

Today, amongst other things, I decided it was time for me to embrace my inner Tai-Tai.  So, like every good lady of leisure, I pottered around our apartment browsing recipe books to choose a culinary extravaganza to wow my husband with on his return from a hard day at the office.  Having settled on Tom Khaa Kai - a Thai chicken soup - and David's favourite (and rather dull) pork with sweet and sour sauce and rice - I gathered my shopping bags and headed to the wet market in Sheung Wan.

I had visited the market once before and left empty handed, too intimidated and unsure of the correct etiquette to buy anything.  Were you meant to pick out the fruit and vegetables you wanted or were you served?  How were you even meant to know what type of animal, let alone what cut of meat was on display?  Did you choose a live fish and did they then kill and gut it for you?  Were you meant to haggle over the price?  So I just wandered around open-mouthed gazing at the polystyrene boxes full of fish gasping for breath, cages crammed full of live frogs, jars of unrecognisable dried stuff, containers of unfamiliar vegetables and the animal tails hanging from the butchers' stalls.

This time, I decided I would ease myself into the wet market experience gently by just buying my fruit and veg from the stalls.  This proved to be remarkable easy and I went from stall to stall buying the various items I needed.  Business was conducted without the stall owners speaking a word of English besides 'hello' and without me speaking a single-word of Cantonese - except for 'Tai-Tai' and it wasn't really the right situation for me to use my one and only phrase!

Sheung Wan Wet Market

Although I was only purchasing the easy stuff today, I did take a quick peek into the fish and meat section which I swiftly regretted.  In front of me was a stall filled with live chickens in cages with two domestic helpers choosing the chickens they wanted.  The chickens were then killed, plucked and gutted in full view of anyone unfortunate enough to be looking.  Now, I know I am only too happy to eat meat - and chicken is my favourite - so it is a bit hypocritical to complain, but there was something rather heart-breaking about chicken death-row.  It didn't stop me from dropping by the supermarket on the way home and buying chicken breasts though.

Weighed down with my purchases and feeling like an ever so slightly smug 'Tai-Tai' I headed home.  I was in the process of washing my vegetables when the phone rang and I was over-joyed to see that it was my husband.  I picked up the phone and gushed about the success I had had at the market and started enthusing about the gourmet banquet I planned to prepare for him tonight.  When David finally got a word in edge ways I could tell from the tone of his voice that there was a problem.  Reluctantly he announced that he wouldn't be coming home tonight as he had to fly to Beijing for a couple of days.  So now I have a vat of Tom Khaa Kai soup and a fridge full of fresh fruit and veg  - and no one to share it with.  I simply don't think I am destined for this 'Tai-Tai' business!  

Right I better go - I have some Tom Khaa Kai soup to work my way through.

My wet market purchases

My Tom Kha Kai

My Hong Kong Top 10

Having been in Hong Kong for just over five weeks now I feel as though I am only just beginning to scratch the surface.  However, I thought I would compile my Hong Kong Top 10 based on my experiences so far.

1)  The Country Parks
Before arriving here it never occurred to me that we would have so many green spaces within such easy reach.  Within 10 minutes we are in Lung Fu Shan Country Park encompassing The Peak - and from there we can easily access Pok Fu Lam Country Park.  My regular hikes up to The Peak have increased my fitness levels dramatically, given me bulging calf muscles and introduced me to a surprising passion for walking up very steep hills.

The VERY sweaty hiking look

It's worth the sweat for the view at the top

2)  The food
Hong Kong is a foodies paradise.  The sheer quantity and variety of fantastic eating establishments in Hong Kong is overwhelming.  From dim sum to duck, sushi to salads, pasta to pizza, curry to crab, fry-ups to fajitas - you name it, I've probably had it in the five weeks we've been here... hence the importance of hiking in the country parks.  Without a doubt there is something to suit everyone's taste buds and if you love your food you are never going to run out of new places to go out for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

My favourite food so far - Dim Sum Bento Box at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental

3)  The shopping
Shopping is the national past time of the Hong Kong people and their needs are catered for in the staggering variety of shopping malls, boutiques, stalls and department stores.  My personal favourite is the fabulously glossy IFC mall which is the home to the Apple store where I have already parted with far too much money in exchange for an iPhone 5, an AirPort Express router and Apple TV.  Apple TV is proving to be a life-saver as amongst other things I can access UK radio stations so I can keep in touch with the latest music rather than forcing myself to become a fan of Canto-Pop.

4)  Dogs
I can't reiterate enough just how much I love the Hong Kongers passion for their four legged friends.  Where we live we back on to a veterinary clinic, a pet shop and the obligatory doggy bakery!  Dogs are treated like children  accompanying their owners to bars and restaurants - where I have witnessed a dog sitting on a chair at a table with its family, being fed cake off a fork!  They have their own domestic helpers to walk and feed them and there are countless grooming and clothing options to ensure they are always beautifully turned out.

Dog in shoes

Strangely groomed spaniels

5)  Expat community
Before I arrived here I had been told by other expat friends of mine about how welcoming and inclusive the established expat community is.  I have been astounded by the kindness and warmth David and I have been shown so far and how easy it is to meet people.  It appears that as none of us have our family support network close at hand, we all pick up that role to bolster each other.  As everyone has been in the position of being 'the new kid on the block' at some point in time, they will go out of their way to help settle you into the community.

6)  Transport
Arriving here I have discovered that it really is possible to have a clean, efficient, fully-functioning public transport system that does not cost you half of your monthly salary to use.  In addition to the fabulously effective MTR, trains, buses, mini-buses and trams, there are the incredibly cheap taxis - often driven by lunatics who are very heavy on the accelerator, break and horn - but miraculously get you from A to B in one piece nonetheless!

7)  Bars
Living in the Mid-Levels we are spoilt for choice with bars right on our doorstep.  This has already resulted in a few accidental impromptu sessions.  Whether you like swanky wine bars, cocktail bars, English pubs or the obligatory Irish drinking hole - it is all within easy stumbling distance of home.

Cocktails watching the light show in the Intercontinental Hotel

8)  Octopus Card
Having moved out of London just before Oyster cards were introduced, I never really experienced the full benefits of an Oyster card.  However, here in Hong Kong I love the versatility of my Octopus Card.  I can go to the 7/11, put money onto it and then travel around the city using all forms of the public transport system,  I can pay for my shopping and coffee, and I can earn supermarket points.  It is super convenient and helps make life very easy.

9)  Member's Clubs
There is a tradition in Hong Kong for members clubs and many people are members of at least one club.  Ranging from the prestigious Hong Kong Club and China Club, through to special interest clubs such as the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the Foreign Correspondence Club.  These clubs are little havens from the hectic city and generally provide a range of facilities from restaurants and bars, swimming pools and gyms, to bowling alleys, libraries and video rental shops.  We are waiting for me to get a job before taking the plunge and committing to joining one of these clubs and in the meantime we are trying not to abuse the generosity of club members who have invited us to experience their coverted retreats.

10)  Pacific Coffee Company
I am a total convert to Hong Kong's home grown coffee franchise - the Pacific Coffee Company.  No longer do I crave and hunt down Starbucks - instead I get my morning hit of caffeine from the Pacific Coffee Company with one outlet conveniently located directly underneath our apartment.  And when I am having a particularly trying day, I will indulge in an afternoon Chillino - Pacific Coffee Company's answer to a Frappuccino.

Just to balance this list a little and in the interest of not painting an unrealistic picture,  I am balancing these positives with the negatives I have experienced so far:

1)  Recruitment consultants
This doesn't extend to all recruitment consultants but I take great pleasure in naming and shaming Michael Page Hong Kong who do not have the vision to understand the concept of transferable skills.

2) Cost of wine
A bottle of Oyster Bay costs around HK$160 (£13) from the supermarket and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc at a restaurant will typically cost around HK$400 (£34).  As such, we have rarely been out for dinner with friends and ordered a second bottle of wine and we don't often have wine at home.  Perhaps the UK government should raise the price of alcohol significantly as it certainly does curb the binge drinking!

3)  Bad hair days
Every day is a bad hair day thanks to the humidity.  I have nothing more to add on this point!

4)  Mosquitos and cockroaches
To date we have had one rogue cockroach in our apartment which I discovered at 3am on my way to the loo.  This resulted in me screaming and waking up David who leapt out of bed with no clothes on.  He pursued the evasive cockroach around our flat while I screeched from a distance, until he managed to maneuver it onto a piece of paper and chuck it out of the window.  It would have made entertaining viewing for any of our many neighbours who overlook our home.

In addition to the cockroach incident, it appears that I am particularly tasty to the mosquitos and gnats here and not a single bite-free day has passed yet.

5)  The weather
Seriously Hong Kong - sort it out - I have barely seen the sun since I arrived here!

So, without a doubt there are so many more positives than negatives and I hope this blog will help to persuade some of you to come and try out all that Hong Kong has to offer.

Onwards and Upwards

Don't panic - I haven't thrown myself out of our 15th floor apartment window since writing my last slightly maudlin blog!  In fact, if anything my blog and the reaction that many of you had to it made me have strong words with myself, encouraged me to stop feeling sorry for myself and kick started me into grabbing this amazing opportunity that David and I have here in Hong Kong. Thank you to all of you who sent me supportive messages, texts and phone calls which lifted me out of my gloomy mood.  It was particularly reassuring hearing from so many other expat friends who related to my frustrations and emotions and have come through the other side successfully.  

The hunt for a job has snowballed with all my networking really beginning to pay off, but it has literally filled every single day this week.  I have had numerous meetings, put together proposals for project work and talked through my CV relentlessly.  The turning point was a meeting with the Managing Director of Edelman - the world's largest PR agency.  He was a confident, sharp and very personable Australian who was so positive about my experience, claiming he would employ me in an instant if he had a vacancy to fill.  Regardless of whether he was giving me lip service, it bolstered my waning confidence and made me realise that approaching the International PR agencies is going to be a more fruitful exercise than the advertising and media planning and buying agencies where there appear to be fewer regional opportunities.  So, leaving the meeting at Edelman with a change in direction and  a fistful of other PR agency contacts to follow-up, everything started to alter for the better and very rapidly.  As a result next week I have a meeting with senior management within three further very well known PR agencies so hopefully I am a step closer to securing a job and regaining my identity!

So, I am in a much happier place now and feel positive that if I keep up the networking, an exciting opportunity will present itself soon.

Rewarding myself after a networking meeting with a McDonald's while wearing Vivienne Westwood (sorry about the strange facial expression - I was feeling a little self-conscious about taking a photo of myself)

Do you know who I am? Right now, neither do I!

It was fairly inevitable that there would come a time, shortly after arriving in Hong Kong, when the honeymoon period wore off and the reality of being so far away from my friends, family and everything that is familiar struck.  Over the past week that has, without a doubt, become a reality.  The catalyst for this has been the realisation that I am unemployed and as a result I feel like I have lost my identity and what defined me.

When  you meet new people one of the first questions in the polite conversation repertoire is generally -  "what brought you to Hong Kong?".   When I respond that it was my husband's job there are usually two different responses.  The first response is an assumption that I am simply an expat lady of leisure or 'Tai Tai' in Cantonese (one of the few words in Cantonese that I have reluctantly picked up).  The second response is the follow-up questions - "so, what do you do?" - and when I respond that I am looking for a job in PR and marketing, this is often followed up with the assumption that I am a 'Tai Tai' in denial.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against ladies of leisure, it is just not a role I want to adopt yet.  If I had come out here with children, I would have felt comfortable with being a 'lady of leisure' and spending quality time with the kids.  And to be perfectly honest, I know that spending a full day with children is exhausting and unrelenting - hardly 'leisure' as far as I'm concerned!  However, it seems a bit self-indulgent, as a married woman with no children, to skip between coffee, the gym, lunch, the spa, afternoon tea, tennis lessons and dinner.  For one - I need more purpose in my life, and secondly David needs to be making much more money so I can afford that lifestyle!

It has also become apparent that the quest to find a job here in Hong Kong is going to be more tricky than I had anticipated.  Most of the recruitment agencies will only put you forward for a job if your CV is a precise carbon copy of the job specification - transferable skills are an unknown concept to most.  I had a run in with one of the recruitment agencies who, on receiving a job application from me, instantly emailed back to say that I would not be put forward for the role.  When I asked why - they explained that it was because I had no digital marketing experience.  I pointed out that my CV clearly stated that I had digital marketing experience and every role I have worked in since 1997 has involved digital marketing and I reiterated my precise digital marketing skill-set.  The recruitment consultant responded to say that she was still not going to put me forward for the job.  Again, I asked why - and this time the response was that I only had UK experience.   I referred her back to my CV again and to the fact that I have been working for an international PR and marketing agency for the past three years.  Nevertheless she was still adamant that I would not be put forward for the job and eventually snapped that it was because I didn't speak Cantonese - which she knew I could not dispute!

From speaking to other expats it is clear that my experience is the norm, and the best way to find a job is to network, network, network.  I have been extremely lucky in that the General Manager and Marketing Consultant at David's company have introduced me to some fantastic senior level PR and marketing contacts.  Also, I have got in touch with people from my London agency days, who are based in Asia and they in turn have made invaluable introductions for me.  In the two weeks since I started scoping out the job market here in Hong Kong, I have met with and been put in touch with almost thirty people.  Fortunately I am comfortable with networking and enjoy meeting new people and I am sure that it will pay off in time.  There are simply a limited number of senior level roles where Cantonese or Mandarin are not a requirement - and it is all about speaking to the right people at the right time.  As a result, looking for a job is becoming a full-time job in itself.

So, right now I fill my days with emailing new contacts, meeting new people and scouring the job sites in a desperate attempt to rediscover my identity and shake off my 'Tai Tai' label.

My Office

Doggy Delights

Following on from my earlier blog on Pampered Pooches - I have seen a couple of dog eateries and dog snack specialties that have made me giggle away to myself.  Firstly, there was the Dog Bakery which I haven't yet ventured into as I thought that may be a little odd seeing as I don't have a dog here to feed doggy doughnuts to.

However, the one that really made me roll my eyes with consternation was at the Ice Cream stall at the top of The Peak where I noticed a sign advertising Doggie Gelato in beef or cheese flavours.  I thought it was particularly thoughtful that a vegetarian option had been developed for the more health conscious or morally responsible pups.