Thursday

Not a great new thing, but good enough! My friend gave me a lift home in her new car! Thanks Maria!

Wednesday

I go to see an old lady as part of my Alz Society befriending and she has just moved, so her new bungalow was today's new thing, as well as doing the Mail crossword with her. And I'm the one the Mail warned her about, to quote a t-shirt slogan...

Tuesday

New thing was the newly-opened Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe in the town, not only to stock up on sweets but also to see how it was doing as I spent quite a few months last year thinking about opening up one of these franchises. Hope it goes well - it certainly looked busy when I was in there.

Monday

"From Here to Eternity" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_reftTX0Ayg

Boxing Day

And so we're leaving already. Boo. It's been a great holiday and nice to escape from the UK's cold clutches, although when we first arrived in Honkers it was quite cold. To the point where people were travellling high into the mountains to see frost for the first time! We've seen some old friends (and young!), relatives and of course my mum.
New thing was Food Junction in the airport where we had prawn noodles at a place called Chen Fuji which was less than impressive and quite expensive. Then a blimming long flight where I watched so many films that my eyes hurt:

Inception: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66TuSJo4dZM
Despicable Me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo9-bcbLn1Q
Dinner for Schmucks - terrible remake of Le Diner de Cons.
A Christmas Carol.

Christmas Day

After a hilarious family Christmas at my mum's, I wanted to see the new Hayao Miyazaki film, The Borrowers Arrietty (Karigushi no Arrietty):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak_ogRodsdw

We went to the Grand Central cinema at the utterly amazing Elements shopping centre in Kowloon Tong, a brand new shopping centre that is shiny, clean and lovely. Unfortunately, the film only had Cantonese subtitles so not ideal for us, although I love his animation so much that I would have been happy to watch it in silence even, but Mr SN was steaming drunk, so we had an ultra fast look round a couple of bookshops and headed home.

Christmas Eve

We headed to Peng Chau for my cousin's birthday and started the new things with her new house and then onto Tung Wan bay where my mum told us how she nearly drowned as a youngster. In fact, had my cousin's dad not stepped in, neither my mum nor I would be here now.

After a walk around this lovely island, and through the high street, which is essentially an alley way, we had a plate of prawn toast at the Kai Sum cafe which is quite famous for this dish. However, I was more taken with the fact that the place hasn't changed for 50 years and also by the awesome ginger tea that was served to me which seemed to clear my airwaves and instantly heal my cold.

Totally unrelated to the prawn toast, but I started feeling really ill and got the boat home and then the luxury of a taxi back to Mei Foo where I slept all afternoon, awakening to watch Dial M for Murder which I'd never seen before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qWwFvsBVic

Thursday 23rd Dec

Spent the morning visiting my ancestors' graves with two uncles, an aunt, three cousins and my mum, and Mr SN, which is always emotional yet fascinating. My mum wanted to tell her mums (she had two, her real mother died aged 29 when my mum was 3 and she was brought up by her stepmother who died in 1997) that I'd got married and that my sister had had a baby. So today's new thing was going to a fish restaurant in Aberdeen for an immense meal... before taking Mr SN to Cat Street and its antique shops and curio stalls. via a bar called P58. In Cat Street, much to Mr SN's horror, I bought a Chairman Mao ashtray (having had relatives killed under his regime, I'm not too amused by souvenirs with his face on them but the ashtray seemed interesting). He tried to talk me out of buying it and then later bought it from me.....
We had a slow saunter back via Man Mo temple and Harbour City in Tsim Tsa Tsui before ending up in a restaurant in Mei Foo that I've walked past about 100 times and will continue to do so after I ordered a dish that never arrived...

Wednesday

Lamma Island, getting the ferry to Yung Shue Wan instead of Sok Kue Wan where we normally go. New things were checking out the craft shops (a really nice one and another selling really nice clothes but to the accompaniment of a very loud film) and then walking, via a dip in the beach (but not a swim thanks to the power station 100m away) to the other side of the island to get the ferry from there. Lamma is only 20 minutes from HK, but is a world away, it's peaceful, green and quiet, and the only traffic is the electric buggies that people drive at top speed carrying bamboo, food and other provisions. Apparently, human settlements on Lamma Island can be traced back to around 1600 BC, and Chow Yun Fat hails from here.

before having a wonderful and cheap meal at the Lamma Hilton restaurant:

Then we went for a drink in Soho after taking the escalator. (Mr SN had no idea that the island was so steep that they decided to build an escalator so people can commute up and down the island, so this provided a lot of amusement.) I bought my mum a Christmas decoration (an angel called Paula since you ask) and then we had a cocktail at an organic cafe decorated with a Tao bell:

Tuesday, 21st December

Started with a visit to the photo shop near ma mere's house where they promised to have my photos ready even before I told them just how many there were (about 1,000). We then visit a flower seller downstairs to get some flowers for my mum to thank her for yesterday. We then go to Tsui Wah (a different branch this time) for lunch where Mr SN orders a plate of Chinese noodles, with fish and then a ham sandwich??????

Our next new thing is going to Knutsford Terrace which is a parade of restaurants representing almost every type of world cuisine. En route to the Balalaika Bar, I stop in an outlet shop where the seconds of everyday brands in the UK are sold, before I have a dilemma when I see a woman wearing a t-shirt that says something about a brothel on it. I have to tell her but then when I stop her and try to tell her in my faltering Chinese, I decide to mind my own business. We keep walking and end up at the 1881 Heritage House which used to be the Marine Police Headquarters (it is a small mercy in HK that they renovated it rather than knock it down. They like knocking down old buildings in HK). It now hosts premium brand shops, and today, it also hosts a magazine shoot which amuses Mr SN no end:

We have a Chinese pint at the DG Cafe and then about 20 more when we spot a sign that advertises "two hours' all-you-can-drink) at a place called Buzy Susie where the view was amazing but I was more impressed by the lovely toilets which had one of those Japanese Taikyo drummers' Cds playing, and the toilet paper smelt of incense (and this was before it had been used...).

We finish off with a visit to a restaurant called Star of Canton at the top of the iSquare building (another view of the harbour) before returning home to Mei Foo.

Monday, 20th December

Yesterday was my cousin, today it was our turn to get married. Since this is our second wedding, I'm interested to know if I will subsequently need two divorces?
Anyway, we started the day with the most incredible plate of hor-fun noodles at a little cafe in Mei Foo, think it's called Buk Kai or something. Then onto the Eaton Hotel for the big day which basically entails me being shouting at by the wedding planner man who snatched my drink out of my hand when I tried to toast my mum, then shouted at me later that I had to toast my mum and replacing the glass of wine in my hand with a glass of tea which he calls brandy. Then he shouts that I must place a strawberry in my husband's mouth and he must do the same to me, calling it a Chinese tradition. It is not, and nor is coming into a RESTAURANT to the Bridal Chorus by Lohengrin, nor is forcing us to stand by the door when our guests are finishing their meal to make them leave. While I am complaining about these niggles, it was actually the most fascinating evening, anyone who knows me will confirm that I am not a huge fan of being told what to do...

When the guests arrive, we kneel down and hand the older ones a cup of Chinese tea while they give us "lucky money"in red envelopes to wish us well. There are of course hundreds and hundreds of the obligatory photographs to be taken. Then it's onto the food, 15 courses which arrive as soon as you've started the previous one (I'm moaning again, aren't I?), and then a speech and toasting each table.

A wonderful evening and a great opportunity for Mr SN to meet my enormous Chinese family (they're not all enormous, in fact, I'm the only one who is).

Sunday, 19th December

My cousin's wedding in the Harbour View Room of the Excelsior was today's new thing (although we've frequented the bar at the top and stayed here in 1988). A lovely day seeing lots of relatives and old friends and enjoying a western buffet! Then the other new thing was Hane Sushi in Mei Foo to fill up on sushi (and lovely service) for a bargain price. My trousers are now starting to feel distinctly tight.

Saturday

After yesterday's foot treatment, my mum starts at the other end today, and books me a facial at a place called "Physical" (cue constant playing of Olivia Newton John by my brain) where I had various things applied to my face for an hour. Apparently I am glowing afterwards as we head to the Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant in Mei Foo for lunch with ma mere and her lovely best friend. Can't remember if I've been here before or not.

Then we meet N at the Bird and Flower Markets, before heading to a new hotel in Tai Koo Shing called East where there is the most wonderful view (even from the toilet)...

Mr SN was taken by the fact that the bit with the pink floor (see "Slinky" here: http://www.east-hongkong.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/pdf/en/EAST%20Brochure_final.pdf ) can be hired for private parties.

After seeing as much as possible from here (and my sneaking out to buy a dress for my cousin's wedding tomorrow, as I forgot to put one in the case), we head to the Habitat Bar in Wanchai.

View:

We finish up with a place that I think I've been to before as a child, a noodle shop selling Shanghai style noodles and owned by the fourth generation of the founder's family.

Friday

New thing was getting my feet scraped at Wendy KWH Beauty Spa in Mei Foo, by a man wearing a miner's lamp....

Then other new things included going to two traditional wedding shops in Mong Kok to hire a red wedding "qua" - a red shirt and skirt embroidered with the Chinese dragon and phoenix for good luck; and a pair of red shoes to go underneath. Then onto what Hong Kong offers best: food. We had a meal at one of the Tsui Wahs for noodles and then onto Central for the other thing that HK does; shopping. I'm not a great shopper, but even I'm impressed by the variety of what's on offer. Then we meet my lovely friend who I haven't seen for six years and head to the top of the Peak, along with his partner, before heading to his brother's flat in Mid Levels. The driveway is so steep that the taxi driver hesitates several times, asking if it is indeed straight on? We meet his brother and his partner who have a fantastic apartment - one of the very few I've ever been to in HK which isn't overlooked, and even onto the rooftop where there is a breathtaking view of Happy Valley and a HAMMOCK!! It's so lovely to spend an evening with brilliant, adventurous people. My friend is one of those exceptional people who know that life is to be enjoyed. He works hard, but plays harder and has travelled to places on earth that I didn't even know existed. He is one of the most intelligent people I've ever met and has an aptitude for learning. He speaks Japanese, is incredibly creative (one of his paintings adorns my living room wall) and is a pleasure to be around. His friends were the same. One of them, also fluent in Japanese, took a job, aged 21, volunteering as a translator on a cruise ship which travelled around the world in 3 months. What an experience!

Anyway, I must stop gushing, but highly inspirational people and just what I need right now. We then head to Heaven on Earth for Shanghai Cuisine, which is superb and varied, and top it off at various bars around Lan Kwai Fong, a place which changes so quickly that I've not been to any of these bars before; the Garden Bar and then a few others that I can't remember as I've drunk too much. After parting from our friends, we get it into our heads to head back to the TOTTs bar at the top of the Excelsior for cocktails and the same band (and songs) that were on when we were here at Christmas last year!

Wednesday 15th December

New thing today was Frankfurt airport, before accidentally ending up in Shanghai as our flight was delayed, forcing us to miss our connection. I do not recommend forgetting your China visa or heading there without one, as not many of the staff there had seemed to have heard of the concept of being in transit....

Monday

First new thing was A and P Hardware in Hungerford where they have every type of lightbulb - except the weird one that the previous occupant of our house chose.
Then had a meal at the Carnarvon Arms - have been here before but never eaten here before.

Tuesday
New thing was the Tesco in Gerrards Cross. This one: http://www.nce.co.uk/tesco-finally-restarts-work-at-gerrards-cross-tunnel-collapse-site/1965393.article

Saturday

Down in Dorset today, so new thing was heading up to the back streets of Bristol before visiting new shops in Sherborne - including a WHSmith rather disappointingly.

Sunday
New thing was walking off the week's excesses in Peasemore before a brilliant lantern parade in Newbury. This is another one of the Corn Exchange innovative outdoor events (funded by the Greenham Common Trust). Children were invited to make lanterns and then carry through the streets accopmanied by live music, culminating in an exciting display in the Market Place.

Friday

Ah, the lovely Hungerford Extravaganza - always a lovely Christmassy event with the town's dignitaries in Victorian dress.
Before the parade, we had a quick shop, buying lots of mulled cider and a blue cardigan for Mr SN, and seeing Felix Francis (son of Dick) signing his book Crossfire in the Hungerford Bookshop. My new thing was visiting Gaia wellbeing, a holistic healthcare shop in the courtyard, before rushing back to see the parade which seemed a bit short this year (maybe due to the nasty car accident at the very top of the street), but the street looked like it did 100 years ago with Punch and Judy, steam engines and lots of stalls, topped off with fireworks.

Thursday

Yesterday's new thing was going up St . Michaels Road on my way back from volunteering as I was in a hurry and totally uninspired. Thursday's new thing was far more interesting. About 18 months ago, Mr SN and I had a very, very long walk around the grounds of Cliveden (Cliffden), once the home of Lord and Lady Astor, and I remember, covered in mud, walking past the doors of the elegant tearooms where a number of well-heeled people were enjoying afternoon tea, looking out onto the beautiful autumnal scenery and the River Thames beyond. Unbeknown to me, I would be back, a little less muddy, for our Christmas party. After driving past the impressive gates about 17 times (and dealing with an unbelievable bit of road rage), believing them to be locked, we finally saw a Range Rover pull up to the gate, press a button and the gates open, so I nipped in behind them, very possibly the first person ever to turn up here in a hatchback.

We arrived and were welcomed by a huge Christmas tree in the Gerat Hall, a marvellous oak panelled room full of 16th century paintings and a magnificent staircase and the biggest fireplace I have ever seen in my life. Brought from Rome, it was bigger than a climbing wall, but in marble and had a lovely roaring fire underneath. My colleagues were already here and each of them had also driven past the gates numerous times.

We had a wonderful evening, starting with pink champagne, then a starter of langoustine and artichoke jus, followed by turbot with lime sauce and then a fantastic warm chocolate tart topped with Irish stout, which was fitting as - although this won't rival the scandal that erupted when John Profumo met Christine Keeler in this very building - it turns out that my colleague's boyfriend may well be a distant cousin of mine from Ireland...

Tuesday

New things were various things around Basingstoke, including my Christmas shopping at Festival Place and other shops, and then heading to Martins Renault to watch a prize winner get his car!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTHa2nFgKTk

Monday

Cough, cough, ahem, ahem. Today I watched a film that everyone has seen. Even my mum. Cough..

Sunday

Met a friend this morning and was early so went for a little wander around Old College Road, which quite coincidentally was designed by a guy who used to work in the office next door to mine, and nowhere near Newbury.

Saturday

New thing today was going to the Christmas carol concert at St Nicolas Church is Newbury which was a joyous occasion and very festive. As well as a marvellous performance from the Exultate Singers, violin and flute performances by the local winners of the local Young Musician of the year competition, there were some hilarious and touching readings. It's a huge fundraiser for local cancer charities, so a wonderful evening!

This isn't the choir in question, but gives a good idea of how lovely this was...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqCtbR8PktU

Friday

New thing was popping into a Chinese takeaway on my way to the monthly open mike night in town. I was going to order some prawn crackers, but fortunately, after waiting patiently in the queue, the woman behind the counter took a phone call without apologizing to me or indicating that she'd be with me shortly, so I thought of my waistline and came out again....

Thursday

Oh dear, this doesn't sum up my day, but the only new thing I did was giong to Waitrose's cafe to meet a friend for coffee.

Wednesday

First thing was Apple Print in Newbury who were charming and also printed our orders of service. Then MrSN took me to the very top of the Corn Exchange where there is a very cosy cinema to see the French film "My Afternoons with Margueritte" which was a charming story about a semiliterate handyman who meets Margueritte and strikes up friendship with her in a park. Very heartwarming on such a cold night!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CEfRMNbQJ4