Discover what the holiday season holds in store with our horoscope

ARIES
MARCH 21 – APRIL 19 It’s time to sit back and relax, with your mind and body truly deserving a break after 11 months of hard work. Tie up loose ends and complete tasks at the beginning of the month, then allow yourself to indulge in a little luxurious pampering. You will thank yourself for it later. Aries of the Month: Lady Gaga (Singer-songwriter, 28 March, 1986)

TAURUS
APRIL 20 – MAY 20 Waves of nostalgia hit you this month, bringing back happy memories of times past. The end of the month, though, will be downright hectic, so plan ahead to stay ahead. It is also a time for romance between you and someone you suspect you should really stay away from. Taurus of the Month: Blac Chyna (Model, 11 May, 1988)

GEMINI
MAY 21 – JUNE 20 While this is certainly a busy month, you may find exciting opportunities opening up as you take on new responsibilities. Your belief in hard work, though, may not be helpful, with certain parties now expecting you to display a knack for leadership. You don’t want to be seen as a mere foot soldier after all. Gemini of the Month: Kanye West (Rapper, 8 June, 1977)

CANCER
JUNE 21 – JULY 22 Your schedule is filling up quickly, so start being more selective or you may not have time for the truly important things. It’s okay to pass on an assignment to a colleague or to decline a Christmas party invitation from a friend of a friend. Cancer of the Month: Lionel Messi (Football champion, 24 June, 1987)

LEO
JULY 23 – AUG 22 Expect the unexpected. The universe will try to put a damper on your plans, and you may be subjected to illness, lost property, or other unforeseen circumstances. On the bright side, your confidence will allow you to set higher goals – and to accomplish them. Leo of the Month: Isoroku Yamamoto (Japanese Admiral, 4 August, 1884)

VIRGO
AUG 23 – SEPT 22 Playfulness and impulsiveness dominate your moods this month, signaling that it’s time to let loose and have a little fun – just watch out that you don’t sign up for anything too extravagant. A sudden burst of creativity will allow you to brainstorm a new business venture you’ve been tinkering with for way too long. Virgo of the Month: Jack Ma (Business magnate, 10 September, 1964)

LIBRA
SEPT 23 – OCT 22 If you’ve been feeling a little out of sorts of late, a simple fix is to take a trip or try an adventurous activity. You need the shock of the new to shake you out of that complacency. The 13th and 14th are ill-starred financially. Libra of the Month: Andy Lau (Hong Kong actor and singer, 27 September, 1961)

SCORPIO
OCT – NOV 21 It’s time to give back to the community. You’ve been paying lip service to the idea for some time now, but a sense is creeping in that it’s all just been window dressing. Take on a real commitment with both your time and funds. The ultimate beneficiary of your altruism may actually be you. Scorpio of the Month: Lorde (Pop singer, 7 November, 1996)

CAPRICORN
DEC 22 – JAN 19 Trust your own instinct when it comes to making decisions, even if that means overhauling detailed plans someone else made long ago. Due to your heightened sensitivity at present, you may also find yourself overreacting to negative events. Remember that these issues inevitably tend to blow over quickly. Capricorn of the Month: LeBron James (Basketball player, 30 December, 1984)

AQUARIUS
JAN 20 – FEB 18 Be wary of those touting deceptively convincing quick fixes to a niggling financial issue. The cure is almost certainly worse than the malady. Wedding bells may also be ringing for Aquarians who have been in a relationship for more than a year. Aquarius of the Month: Oprah Winfrey (Television personality, 29 January, 1984)

PISCES
FEB 19 – MARCH 20 Several situations are testing your patience at the moment. While the majority of them require a cool head and a wait-and-see approach, one of them will only be resolved by tactically blowing a gasket or two. The question is – which one? Choose your moment to act very carefully. Pisces of the Month: Chelsea Clinton (Presidential daughter, 27 February, 1980)

Happy birthday, SAGITTARIUS

NOV 22 – DEC 21 A well-deserved vacation is in order, but first, you must clear several hurdles in both your work and personal life. A number of new tasks appear to have your name attached, with at least one of them appearing hugely unsuitable for your skill set. Re-appraisal, though, will swiftly reveal that the challenge is not actually what it seems. Apply a little lateral thinking and employ some analogous skills and the solution will prove surprisingly simple – at least to you. Among others, your reputation for problem-solving wizardry will go up several notches.
A figure with a shared educational past will also emerge on the scene this month. Recalling the academic misdemeanors and misadventures of yesteryear may, in part, prove a little melancholic, but there’s a joy to be had too. This voyage of rediscovery may rekindle within you certain sentiments and aspirations that have been dulled by time. Turn them to your advantage with a degree of charm and joie de vivre.

40 years on and the punk revolution remains irreversible

Punk’s Not Dead” is a legend you will still find defiantly scrawled on leather jackets or semi-demolished walls. Once the rebellious call to arms of a dedicated, subversive sub-culture – one with a particular penchant for loud, fast melodies and a defiant embrace of neo-libertarian, anti-fascist ideals – today it can seem little more than a nostalgic conceit. Many, though, maintain that its rebellious ethos persists and that one of the most potent youth movements of the 1970s is still far more than just a novelty.

This year, with punk celebrating the 40th anniversary of the days when it first detonated on to the music scene, some would maintain it’s still in (very) rude health. As a musical discipline, at the very least, it has cemented its place as one of the most memorable sub-genres in rock history, easily as seminal as rap or heavy metal. That said, contemporary punk is a far cry from the explosive, anti-authoritarian movement that saw a disgruntled, disillusioned generation first find its voice some four decades ago.

As with any organically-formed musical movement, putting an exact time and place on the birth of punk is nigh on impossible. Depending who you ask, the first punk chords rang out anywhere from New York to London to Brisbane. What is undeniable, however, is that punk was born out of the imperial ashes of a post-war industrial boom, ultimately embraced by an increasingly alienated and marginalised generation coming to terms with the economic recession that would define it.

Regardless of your allegiance, it is not difficult to pinpoint the bands that catapulted punk from cult obscurity to public outrage. The bands widely acknowledged as the pioneers of the genre are legion – The Ramones, The New York Dolls, The Damned, The Clash, The Stranglers, Crass, The Buzzcocks, Siouxsie and the Banshees and, to a slightly lesser degree of notoriety, The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, The Saints and Stiff Little Fingers to name a few. Towering above them all, of course, was the mighty Sex Pistols.

While each different scene – be it in London or New York – had its peculiarities, the first wave of punk bands were united by common ideologies and a uniquely raw and unpolished sound. The wider world, though, first became aware of the phenomenon in the wake of the infamous Sex Pistols’ June 4, 1976 concert at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall. This has rightly been hailed as the gig that changed music forever.

Such was the anti-establishment sentiment at the time, punk was embraced by a vast tranche of an apparently lost generation. More than just a musical genre, it was a fierce ideology and one that lent itself to an unprecedentedly raucous lifestyle. Malcolm McLaren, the Pistol’s messianic manager, and Vivienne Westwood, the doyenne of punk design, were the key movers in establishing the genre’s DIY aesthetic – safety pins, leather jackets and bondage gear.

With the music press of the day anointing the movement as “punk”, it wasn’t long before it became a truly global phenomenon. Conquering mainstream radio, popular music charts and giving rise to an explosion of musical offshoots and subgenres, its influence on the contemporary scene should not be underestimated.

Arthur Urquiola, a musician and founder of the independent Hong Kong music label Artefracture, which still releases punk-style rock, says: “I always saw punk rock as an entire universe that existed outside of what was directly in front of you. It started with music that sounded different – and better – than the stuff with the Giant Machine behind it.

“There was also literature, live music, film and an entire subculture built on the idea of doing more for yourself. Today, you will find that the people behind the music, zines, and websites are hugely like-minded people with similar aspirations, many of whom have been trying to do things in a way that doesn’t require huge resources.

“The idea of being self-sufficient has stuck with me. To me, DIY is the defining characteristic of punk.”

Although remote from many of the cultural cues that gave birth to punk, Hong Kong was far from immune to the phenomenon. In the early 90s, as a second wave of bands coalesced around 924 Gilman Street, California’s legendary punk incubator, Hong Kong began to take notice.

Inspired by this generation of US bands – Operation Ivy, Green Day and Bad Religion – the Hong Kong music scene was transformed by the arrival of the Pregnant Men, Star Whores, Tokyo Sex Whale and That Guy’s Belly. While the scene was small and didn’t have the impact of its US or UK counterpart, it had a hugely immersed following. Ultimately, it gave rise not just to bands, but also to such esoteric publications as Defecation Fanzine and Thrown Overboard, magazines that defined a way of life for the initiated.

Brendan Sheridan, a songwriter and guitarist in That Guy’s Belly, was also the driving force behind Defecation. Recalling its heyday, he says: “It was about questioning authority and being true to your ideals. The bands and zines were a lot of fun and affected our lives as well as those around us, even if just in a minor way.”

ce the battle cry of an entire generation of disillusioned youth – a movement that was pervasive enough to cause real concern among the establishment – has now morphed into something quite different. Today, it is seen as an authentic art form, one with an unshakeable identity and an enduring look.

Acknowledging this, Urquiola says: “Punk’s not dead and I wouldn’t say it’s even grown up. It has had to change with the times, though, and redefine itself.”

“It’s a very different world to back when I first discovered punk, just as things were wholly different 15-20 years before that.”

Understandably, things are also wholly different now for many of punk’s founding fathers. Steve Ignorant, 58, back then the singer with Crass, is now a lifeboat man, while Terry Chimes, 59, the onetime drummer for The Clash, is now a chiropractor. Looking back from his 40-year-on perspective, Chimes says: “The experience of challenging and changing the establishment was good for everyone at the time. Whatever you do after that, you always take that with you. You never lose that sense that things don’t have to be the way they are.”

Not everyone, however, has moved on quite as dramatically as Chimes. John Lydon – the punk formerly known as Johnny Rotten during his years as the frontman of the Sex Pistols – is still making music. He now composes and performs with a number of bands. Similarly, Jello Biafra, the former lead singer of The Dead Kennedys, remains heavily involved with the Alternative Tentacles record label.

As the first generation of punks turned to gainful employment – with many of them now contemplating retirement – a wholly new lot picked up the baton and ran with it. Today’s punk bands have lost none of the zeal and gusto of their forefathers. While the look and ideology remains largely the same, the only real difference is that many of them are now considered almost mainstream.

In line with this, bands such as Green Day, Blink 182, Bad Religion and Good Charlotte are pretty much household names. This is all the more surprising given that contemporary technology provides ever more DIY avenues for bands to shun the conventional channels to success. As ironic as this mainstream acknowledgement may seem, the punk message remains robustly anti-establishment. While some hardcore devotees to the cause see this wider acceptance as tantamount to selling
out, others maintain it is just a sign of the times.

Urquiola says: “I think it’s all a little less black and white now. Back in the day, the notion of bands selling out meant signing with one of the music industry’s corporate giants, as opposed to sticking with the DIY world where everyone helped each other out albeit in a much smaller musical universe. Now the overall music industry is a lot smaller and signing to a major label might not be quite the advantage it once was.

“By the same token, even much smaller operations – whether they’re just tiny labels or even solo bands or musicians – can do so much on their own. It’s easy to get connected and present your music, wherever you are, to anyone anywhere in the world.

“An alternative way of looking at it, though, is that it is this very ease of access that makes it difficult for anyone to get noticed. It could be argued that signing with a major label isn’t so much a shortcut as a smart option. It means you can have professionals overseeing the different ways in which you operate as a band. Selling any number of records through this avenue is still pretty admirable.”

With the torch well and truly passed, even 21st century Hong Kong still boasts a small but devoted handful of punk bands – most notably Oi! Squad, Defiant Scum and Two Finger Salute – as well as Artefracture, a record label dedicated to helping such bands find an audience. So the next time you see a green mohawk or a safety-pinned nose, don’t just come over all nostalgic and think: “These kids should have been there back in the day… ” Instead, just reflect on the fact that Punk’s Truly Not Dead and that the world’s an arguably far better place for its persistence.

G by Godiva treats the taste buds to exotic new flavours

Chocolatier Godiva’s latest collection – G by Godiva – is said to treat the taste buds to exotic new flavours and fillings, all fused with the brand’s tried-and-true recipe for solid blocks of white and dark chocolate. Toasted coconut, orange and ginger, hazelnut crisp and salted caramel are all among the new ingredients on offer. Made from Mexican cocoa beans, the 68 percent dark chocolate blends liquorice plums with a hint of tobacco leaves. Its sweeter sibling, the 42 percent milk chocolate, has notes of white flowers, peaches, apricots and vanilla. All G by Godiva confections come packaged in an elegant box displaying the brand’s iconic G insignia.

www.godiva.com.hk

Gafencu celebrates its 10th anniversary in style at the Conrad Hong Kong hotel

Gafencu held a star-studded Gala Dinner at the Conrad Hotel on 4 November to celebrate its evolution from a men’s magazine to a publication now serving both sexes.

After 10 years of being the leading publication for the most successful, affluent and discerning men in Hong Kong and mainland China, Gafencu will now also serve the growing number of successful and high-profile women in its two core territories.

Beyond Baker Street and the Final Frontier, Benedict Cumberbatch takes on his Strangest role to date

He’s intrigued, infuriated and amused as the 21st century incarnation of Sherlock Holmes, the world’s greatest detective. In the rebooted Star Trek franchise, he nearly saw off Captain Kirk and his crew before their re-tooled five-year mission even had a chance to get out of space dock. Now, he is about to debut his take on one of the most remarkable characters in the Marvel Comics universe – a universe that is already home to the mighty Avengers, the extraordinary X-Men and the somewhat eccentric Guardians of the Galaxy.

Doctor Strange, however, Marvel’s master of the arcane arts, is said to represent the greatest cinematic challenge the comic book group has ever tackled. Not only does his multi-dimension, hopping backstory require an unparalleled display of special effects, bringing to life the central character – otherworldly, aloof and almost omnipotent – in a way that could engage the modern blockbuster audience but it also calls for a leading man with a certain magic of his own. It didn’t require a huge leap of faith, then, to cast Benedict Cumberbatch.

The film’s director, Scott Derrickson, certainly had no doubts that Cumberbatch was the man for the job. At first, though, despite the obvious fit, it seemed it wouldn’t happen. The actor was already contracted to play Hamlet in a London stage production at the very time the film was scheduled to shoot.

“Sherlock might be on the side of the angels, but don’t think for one second that he’s one of them”Derrickson recalls: “Although he was the only actor we seriously considered, it just wasn’t possible. To his credit, he said: ‘I can’t bail out of Hamlet, I’ve given my word.’”

The film’s producers then looked at possible replacements, including Ryan Gosling and Jared Leto. Derrickson, though, insisted on getting his man, reportedly telling Marvel Studios: “It’s got to be Benedict.” Ultimately, he prevailed. In almost an unprecedented move, Marvel agreed to postpone both the filming schedule and the release date of Doctor Strange. Cumberbatch was in.

It was a decision that Cumberbatch clearly welcomed. He said: “I really thought I had to kiss it goodbye. If you can’t jump on board when the ride’s going past, that’s usually it. It was a huge compliment when they came back to me. I knew then I had to fulfil their faith in me.”

“Sherlock might be on the side of the angels, but don’t think for one second that he’s one of them”

Playing the lead in a Hollywood blockbuster is the latest milestone in the remarkable rise to fame of the 40-year-old British actor. It was only six years ago, however, that he seemingly sprang from nowhere to international acclaim in Sherlock, the BBC’s multi-award winning reimagining of Conan Doyle’s classic detective tales.

It’s clear Cumberbatch adores playing the 21st century Holmes. He says: “I was thrilled with how Sherlock was received. It was such great fun to film. It’s so rewarding when something you enjoy doing is so well received.”

The show, a co-production with PBS, a US network, has now run for three series, with a fourth set to be screened early next year. Its clever and imaginative adaptations of the original Conan Doyle stories have proved a hit with audiences from Beirut to Beijing. For all its story-telling genius, however, it’s Cumberbatch’s portrayal of the strange, sociopathic, emotionally austere Sherlock that has made the show such a hit.

So what does the actor make of his somewhat damaged alter ego? He says: “I don’t think he’s damaged at all. I think it’s all self-inflicted. I think there’s actually an adolescent inside him that is being deliberately repressed in order for him to try and become the ultimate, calculating deduction machine.

“What we do is remind the audience that somebody they have fallen in love with has had to let vulnerability into his life. He has a moral compass of some kind and is actually on the side of the good guys. That, though, shouldn’t make him any less terrifying.

“As Sherlock himself says: ‘I may be on the side of the angels, but don’t think for one second I’m one of them.’ He’s violent and incredibly dark, largely because of what he deals with. There should be moments where you are very uncertain of this person, times that you find him eccentric and rude, but still attractive.”

Cumberbatch also believes that Sherlock’s trademark social awkwardness is a deliberate ploy. He says: “He knows how to turn it on. He knows how to be charming. He knows how to play all the games we play in every social interaction. Yet he withdraws from them.

“The new Sherlock series is going to be very dark. We’re talking end of the universe dark”

“It’s an athlete thing. He’s reserving what he needs for when he needs it. That’s a huge difference between him and me. I kind of spend myself too easily. I’m far more of a putting it all out there person, whereas he’s incredibly controlled. That is what’s remarkable about him.

“It’s all about control. He just wants control. I think what he realises – and what Dr Watson (his friend and collaborator) teaches him – is that it’s all very well to understand human behaviour, but you have to be human to really get the benefit of it.”

The overnight success of Sherlock sometimes obscures the fact that Cumberbatch was actually a successful actor before the show came along and remains so beyond it. Despite his fondness for the role, he was recently quoted in online media saying that series 4 of Sherlock “feels like the end of an era” – hinting that he may not return to the show as his increasing popularity and work commitments crowd his hectic schedule.
Cumberbatch studied drama at Manchester University, before graduating to LAMDA, the prestigious theatre academy. His first professional appearances were at London’s West End, before breaking into TV while still in his 20s.

He is often bracketed as part of a generation of “posh boy” actors, alongside the likes of Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston (a close friend of his). In fact, all of them were educated at some of Britain’s most expensive private schools – he went to Harrow, for example, while Redmayne and Hiddleston both attended Eton.

While he’s on record as decrying “posh-bashing” in the popular press, he is unapologetic about his background. He says: “I am desperately proud of my parents for sending me to Harrow. It was a huge stretch for them. They were working actors who often never knew when the next payday would come along. My parents wanted the best for me. I wasn’t sent to the school my dad went to. I’m not a hereditary peer or anything like that.”
In the past, Cumberbatch has suggested that his social class has hindered his acting career, limiting the number of roles that he is considered for. Post-Sherlock, however, that seems much less of a handicap.

In the last few years, he’s starred as the British war-time code-breaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game – a role for which he was nominated for an Oscar. He’s also played the pious plantation owner William Prince Ford in the award-winning movie 12 Years a Slave and provided the voice of Smaug, The Hobbit’s terrifying dragon. He also turned in a mesmerising performance as Khan, the arch-villain in Into Darkness, the second instalment in the rebooted Star Trek franchise. Although Doctor Strange is set to take Cumberbatch to another level entirely, he is quick to put the role into a broader perspective. He says: “I’m very excited about the opportunities that a bigger audience gives you, but that’s all it is, really. It’s another source of work. People look at being in big films as a sort of zenith. It’s really not.

“For me, every single job is a new beginning, a new starting point where you can learn again and begin again. It’s never a case of: ‘I’ve made it.’ Don’t get me wrong, I count my blessings every day — it’s been wonderful. I do, though, try to treat each job as a job, no matter what scale it is. Otherwise, it could get quite overwhelming. If you ever started believing your own press, you could go a little insane.”

What comes next for Cumberbatch in the wake of Doctor Strange is still unclear. In the immediate future, though, there’s series four of Sherlock to look forward to. The BBC has already confirmed the titles of the first two episodes – The Six Thatchers (a take on the Conan Doyle story The Six Napoleons) and The Lying Detective (a reference to The Dying Detective, an adventure where Holmes narrowly escapes being poisoned).

The pre-publicity has already suggested that Moriarty – Sherlock’s arch-enemy – is set to make a comeback, despite having apparently died in an earlier instalment. There’s also the likelihood that a third Holmes brother – possibly played by Cumberbatch’s pal Tom Hiddleston – will put in an appearance. Meanwhile, the show’s creators have heralded the arrival of a new bad guy, one that they describe as “purest evil, the most evil villain we’ve ever had.”

For his part, Cumberbatch isn’t giving much away, while still promising plenty of surprises for viewers to look forward to. He says: “We’ve moved on to a new step in the evolution of Sherlock in the new series. It will be dark, though. Myopically dark. We’re talking about end of the universe dark…”

Happily, this won’t be the end of Sherlock, as Cumberbatch has already signed up to a fifth series. With his movie career about to go stratospheric in the wake of Doctor Strange – with the Sorcerer Supreme already rumoured to appear in the next Avengers outing – it may be a while before we actually return to Baker Street.

Jonathan Young, co-founder of Tassels, explains how he stays in-step

You grew up in Hong Kong. Can you tell us a little about your childhood?
I was born here and lived in the city until I was 12. We then moved to Beijing, which was quite unusual back in the 1980s. At the time, most people were looking to move to Canada, the US, the UK or Australia. As my father was going to work in Beijing, he thought it would be good for me to experience life there for two or three years. I studied at a local school and began to learn Mandarin. I’m glad I did. It’s so much easier to learn a language when you’re young. In total, I spent two years studying in Beijing, then I went to boarding school in the UK.

As China is such a big country, my father believed that – in time – it would offer a huge number of business opportunities. He always encouraged my brother and I – and indeed the whole family – to travel. He was a fervent believer that the more you see, the more you learn. It’s so important to get to know different cultures and it’s a lot easier to learn by seeing, feeling and talking to people rather than just by reading books. As a result, my family travelled to more than 30 countries. We would travel every summer and every Christmas. To this day, I still love to travel.

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“When the police first saw the state of the car, they assumed we were all dead”

After living in HK and Beijing, moving to the UK must have been a bit of a culture shock…
Moving from Hong Kong to Beijing, in the first place, involved a degree of culture shock. Back in the ’80s Beijing was very different to how it is now. Today, it’s quite an easy place to live. Back then, though, they had no idea about customer service for instance. They’re getting there now, though. Back in the ’80s, we had to argue with the sales staff all the time.
The UK was very different again. The way that UK people think is quite different to the way Chinese people think. In Hong Kong, for instance, academic success is very important. At boarding school in the UK, though, there was a broader approach. They believed you should not limit yourself to just one area of activity. There was a belief that you should grasp every opportunity and see what you enjoy. In truth, it’s only by trying different things you find out where your strengths lie. It ended up being a much more rounded education.

In terms of Tassels, why do you think it has become such a success in Hong Kong?
Well, we are very selective in terms of the brands we work with, all of which tend to have a considerable heritage. While most of them date back more than 100 years, they are still family-run businesses, all run by people who genuinely love shoes. Another reason is that we are all very knowledgeable when it comes to footwear. When it comes to dealing with customers, we can all talk to them about shoes and share ideas and knowledge. We have become something of a shoe gathering place. People come and see nice shoes and then discuss related issues.

Have you ever had a near-death experience?
When I was 11 years old, I was involved in a major car accident. To this day, my hand still carries the scar. I lost skin and bone so I had to have surgery. They grafted skin from my foot onto my hand and shaved half of the bone from my toe to replace my finger. It all happened when we were driving along the Tolo Highway, when my mom passed out. It was just as she was turning, so we struck a slope and rolled down a flyover. I was thrown out of the car as I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt – that was never a requirement in the ’80s. My brother was also thrown out as the car flipped upside down.
When I opened my eyes, my finger was dangling off my hand. There was blood everywhere. Luckily that was the worst injury. My brother had to have seven stitches on his head and my mother had to have stitches on her finger. All in all, though, it was a very lucky escape. The roof of the car was totally flattened. When the police first saw the state of the car, they assumed everyone had died. Luckily, though, my mother and brother were able to walk to the hospital, while I was taken in a wheelchair.
The police contacted my father to tell him we had been in an accident and advised him to come to the hospital immediately. He was expecting to find us all on stretchers. When he saw us walking out of the ambulance, he was hugely relieved.

Which profession do you consider the most overpaid?
I don’t feel any profession is overpaid. It is a free market so pay reflects the value you add. If you are indeed overpaid, the market should automatically adjust to match the value you add and the demand for your services.

What is in your wallet right now?
Some cash – although I don’t usually carry a lot – some credit cards, ID, of course, and some shareholder cards. I have a stake in several bars and restaurants – including Lilly and Bloom, Play and Studio – so I carry my shareholder cards around. Name cards of course, my joint bank account card with my wife, my Jockey Club card, some receipts and a bunch of different SIM cards for when I am travelling.

Where do you tend to travel to most often?
For business, I travel to the US, the UK and Italy. When it comes to leisure, I travel to Europe once a year for skiing, I love skiing. We try to arrange a ski trip every year to France or Austria. I also love scuba diving, preferably in Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines.

Where are your favourite diving haunts?
Sipidan is beautiful and I went to Tubbataha on a live-a-board which was amazing. It is about 16 hours from Palawan Island so you travel out on the boat overnight. The next morning, you are at the dive site and then you just dive, dive, dive for five whole days. You don’t see any land at all, just reefs and two atolls beneath the water. A scary moment came when I saw a six metre whale shark and a tiger shark swim right towards me. While not quite a near-death experience, it was one of the scariest moments I have ever had.
We were diving off a cliff and I was the one furthest out. I was looking out into the distance and suddenly I saw this Great White headed right towards me and I thought: “Hang on a minute, why am I seeing a Great White in the tropics?” I just froze, it was so big. It was not long, but hugely bulky. All I could see was teeth. All the time, I was thinking: “If it keeps on swimming towards me, what am I going to do?”
When it turned, I could see its stripes and I realised it was a tiger shark. We had been told there were sometimes tiger sharks there, but we were lucky to see one. It was clearly a curious shark and it was definitely checking us out.

“There was a Great White swimming towards me. All I could see was rows and rows of teeth…”

Do you believe in the death penalty?
I don’t. Not because no crime should be punishable by death, but because any judgement could be wrong. Someone could be innocent, wrongly convicted and executed. There is no going back after that. Okay, otherwise, they could have spent time in jail that they didn’t deserve. You can try and compensate for that. You can’t reverse the death sentence though.

How did you propose to your wife?
I proposed in Australia. We had planned a trip there over Christmas. My wife had not travelled as much as I had, so she was keen to see more of the world. As we both like the great outdoors, we decided on a caravan trip. We flew to Perth and rented a 4×4 caravan so we could drive along the trails and go off-road.
I had told myself I would propose during the trip. At first I thought I would do it in the desert, but that didn’t have the right feel and there were too many tourists around. One night, I suggested we drive out to the beach. It was a beautiful beach. We sat and watched the sunset with a bottle of wine. At the time, I thought this is just perfect.
Then, all of a sudden, the wind picked up and there was sand everywhere. It blew into our faces and into our wine glasses. I was left thinking: “This is so bad. It’s not the right time”. Despite this, my fiancée – as she then was – remarked how romantic it was. That persuaded me that it was the right moment after all. As the sun set, I popped the question. And she said yes.

Marie-Christine Lee discusses giving children a sporting chance

Marie-Christine Lee is the founder of both the Sports for Hope Foundation and Sport Max.

You are the founder of the Sports for Hope Foundation. What led you to set up this particular charity?

I have always loved sports, ever since I was a child. I fundamentally believe that sport can be hugely beneficial – both mentally and physically. Sport gives people a goal and it teaches them to be persistent in many other areas of their lives. It instills in people a never-give-up attitude, something that is essential to have no matter what your aim in life.

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“I tend to trust people too much and sometimes that leads to mistakes”

“There is one person in my life who is my greatest indulgence and my biggest secret”

I decided to set up my own charitable sports organisation five years ago. I really want to give back to society by helping financially-in-need children here in Hong Kong, particularly through the medium of sport. Overall, we try to use sport as a way of reaching out to help children in need, those who may come from poorer backgrounds. We aim to improve their self-respect and boost their confidence. Overall, we give them something to look forward to and help them with their self-esteem.

Is there anything that keeps you awake at night?
There is nothing that keeps me awake at night. If there is a problem it can be solved eventually. I like to be proactive. You can’t just reflect on a problem. You have to find ways to tackle it and that takes time and effort.

Do you enjoy fancy dress parties?
I kind of like to give people surprises. It’s a fun thing to surprise people in that way. My favourite fancy dress experience was when I dressed up as a character from Avatar because it was challenging to paint my whole face and body, standing up for two hours.

What is your favourite aroma?
Rose. It’s pure and elegant. Very romantic.

Are you a good listener or a good talker?
I think I’m a better talker than a listener. My friends always say to me: “Will you please listen to me before you talk.” That may be because I’m a very confident person, but it’s also a weakness. I may be the most confident, but I’m not necessarily the best or the most intelligent. I do have a lot of compassion, though, and a lot of empathy. Usually, I find the right thing for me to do is to talk first because I always talk from my heart.

Do you know your blood type?
Yes, I do. It’s B-positive.

What’s your favourite colour?
Blue, especially denim blue. I also love the sea. I love the bright, blue sky. They give out energy, hope and happiness.

English or Cantonese?
My mother tongue is Cantonese. But when it comes to expressing my feelings and emotions I feel more comfortable with English.

Famously, you rode a bike across the Uygur region of northern China. That must have been challenging…

It was part of a fund-raiser and a way of kick-starting my foundation. Whenever I can, I like to take myself out of my comfort zone, as I’ve been very fortunate with my own upbringing. I have always had a lot of love from my family and a lot of support from my friends. As a result, I’ve always lived in a very comfortable environment. So I realised, when I started the Foundation, that I had to show people that you shouldn’t always stay in your comfort zone. Everyone can take on new challenges.

The Uygur region was new to me and I’d never even thought about trying mountain cycling in my life. To make matters more challenging still, even though I had professional riders with me, they had never been there before either. So the whole thing was planned so that we could complete our mission through sheer determination and our ability to adapt to the unknown – the environment, the climate, the culture, the whole thing.

Do you have a secret you could share with us?
I only share my secrets with my family and best friends.

What was the last thing you got for free?
I never get anything for free.

What do you want to be remembered for?
Compassion. Empathy for people. Love for people.

What’s your astrological sign?
Aquarius. While I’m not too knowledgeable about astrology, I’ve been told I am a typical Aquarius. They are very passionate people and they’re very sensitive. It’s also a water sign – and that suits me too. I love the water.

What has been the best birthday present you have ever received?
My best birthday present is love and respect from my children.

If you could bring about world peace or end global famine, which one would you go for?
Can I say both? I don’t think the world’s problems can be separated out. You can’t establish a priority because the two can only be solved jointly.

Are you a radio listener?
Yes, if it’s about sports and health issues.

What are your favourite sports?
My favourite sports are the two I was introduced to when I was very young – tennis and swimming. I’m very competitive and that’s part of the fun of taking part in any sport. Of course, you also have to like the sport – and I love those two in particular.

“When it comes to expressing my feelings and emotions I’m more comfortable with English”

When you’re swimming, you’re basically competing against yourself and basically always striving to beat your personal best. With tennis, of course, you’re competing against others, so there’s also interaction in the mix. I basically love anything outdoors. I much prefer to swim in the sea or outside rather than in an indoor pool. And tennis always has to be outdoors for me.

What do you consider to be your biggest mistake?
I tend to trust people too much and sometimes that leads to mistakes.

Do you have a favourite food?
Rice. Steamed. I can even eat rice for breakfast. It’s very much my staple. I cannot eat anything if it’s not accompanied by rice.

Chopsticks or cutlery?
Chopsticks, of course, because my favourite cuisine is Chinese and Japanese.

What has been your greatest indulgence?
Does it have to be materialistic? Can my indulgence be a person? There is one very special person in my life that is my indulgence. This, though, I will keep a secret…
What’s next for you?
I am still very much committed to giving back. So, since the Foundation launched five years ago, I have had to keep coming up with events to raise funds and awareness. I need to spread this concept to the rest of Hong Kong to help make it a more sports-nurturing place. This is affected by the demographic of the city. We have very limited space and the school system is more geared to academic achievements than sporting excellence. On top of that, parents don’t see being an athlete as a long-term thing. They believe it’s better for the children to become doctors, engineers, accountants, lawyers…
I truly don’t believe that is the case. While not everyone can be an Olympian, as long as you have a passion for a particular sport, that will benefit your whole mindset – as well as every other aspect of your life.

Thank You

Tea for tots: Simple, whimsical tableware by Gien

The images adorning Gien’s new tableware set, Le Secret, are both simple and whimsical – foxes nuzzling in a bush of blue flowers, a bird chirping into a deer’s ear, a bat clinging upside-down to a vine. While these would not seem out of place in a colouring book, they are a pleasant surprise on a plate or mug. Designed by Emilie Vast, the renowned author and illustrator, and based on her book of the same name, the collection is said to be perfect for both children and imaginative adults. Items available include a variety of plates, a cake platter, serving trays, bowls, mugs, paper napkins and a child’s tableware set.

www.gien.com

Omega adds to its Seamaster Planet Ocean watch collection

For the devoted diver, a dependable timepiece is every bit as essential as a working oxygen tank. Accordingly, then, the new additions to Omega’s Seamaster Planet Ocean collection aim for absolute precision, with their Master Chronometers all certified by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology.

The 45.5mm Chronograph boasts a blue ceramic dial and 18K Sedna gold case, while the 43.5mm Auto’s features a striking alveoli pattern on the caseback. A third option, the 43.50mm GMT, sports a bi-ceramic black and white bezel ring and bi-directional rotating bezel.

www.omegawatches.com

For a truly rosy complexion, try a little flower power

Black orchid extract is the key ingredient of Guerlain’s Orchidée Impériale Black cream. The flowery essence is blended with other anti-ageing ingredients to prevent wrinkles and blemishes. A specially designed applicator is provided to massage the cream deep into the skin.

Delicate pink pearls of rose oil are blended and broken down by a salt serum base to form the revitalising Absolue L’Extrait Ultimate Rose Serum Mask by Lancôme. The fragrant five-minute mask is topped off with Absolue L’Extrait Ultimate Beautifying Lotion for a soft, radiant finish.

Givenchy’s Le Soin essence oils – paired together in a Noir and Blanc set for night and day application – are designed to restore balance in the skin’s energy flows. The key ingredient? Extract from a blue alga that is among the most ancient life forms on Earth.

SK-II’s do-it-all R.N.A. Power regimen targets 10 signs of ageing, such as firmness, dryness, lack of radiance, roughness and, of course, wrinkles. The Radical New Age eye cream mixes natural yeast and soy with its Pitera product and lupine-alfalfa extract, among other ingredients.

Tickled-pink perfume