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How to choose an international removal company that you can rely on, and what questions you need to ask Surveys show that moving home is more stressful than going through a break-up or divorce, getting married or having children. Of course, the anxiety is compounded if you are moving overseas. Finding a firm you can trust with your precious belongings means you have one less thing to worry about in the lead-up to a move. So how do you go about it? 1. Do your research. Talk to friends who have recently moved overseas and ask them for recommendations. You can also look to the testimonials on removal company’s websites to get feedback from former customers. Once you’ve selected a few firms that seem to suit your needs, request an estimated quote and pre-move survey. During the survey, which takes place at your home, you will get an understanding of what each firm provides – and meet the people who will be in charge of your shipment. Selecting the right relocator can take time, so try to start the process a couple of months ahead of your move date. 2. Go with your gut. You need to have faith in the removal company that will be making your shipment, so it’s important to monitor the staffs’ responsiveness and efficiency from the get-go. How was the initial call? Were the team conducting the pre-move survey professional and polite? Were they friendly, well-organised and uniformed? 3. Check the fine print. All international relocators provide insurance for the goods they ship but it’s important to check exactly how much coverage is provided. For your own peace of mind, you may find you need to arrange extra cover with your own insurance company. It’s also important to ask about storage. Does the firm you are talking to have storage facilities both in Hong Kong and at your destination? What are the additional charges involved if your move-in date is pushed back and you need to store your belongings for longer than expected? Equally important: if a shipment is delayed, will you be compensated? Ask too about the procedure should you need to make a complaint. Reputable firms have a membership with a removals trade association or organisation; these organisations have dispute resolution procedures in place to resolve any matters that give you cause for complaint. 4. Get the details taken care of. Be sure to choose a removals firm with a global presence that can handle all aspects of your move. Your relocator will need to be able to deal with all the logistics of a move, including overseas customs regulations and security requirements. But what if you need more assistance? The bigger firms will be able to provide additional services, from pet relocation, to helping you find a new school for your kids, or organising your immigration paperwork and visas. 5. Let them wrap it up. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that your shipment arrives safely and undamaged. You need a team of expert packers who have been properly trained. Make sure your relocator also has the specialist packing materials required – and a team at your destination to help you unpack your new home.

You won’t be able to look at artist Gary Melsom’s latest work for very long, but that’s OK by him. Elizabeth Kerr reports Gary Melsom is one of those guys with a story for every passing comment. A long, rambling conversation outside at Moojoo on a balmy March afternoon unearths all manner of nuggets that indicate a life well lived. The UK native and artistic autodidact tried to study art formally in Harrogate but couldn’t get funding. He’s a qualified teacher; he holds certification in vegetarian catering and nutrition. Mention the film that just hit cinemas, One Love, and Gary drops a casual, “I saw Bob Marley in 1980, at the Rainbow in London. You never know what the future is going to be.” More tales from the life vault? Gary once shared art studio space with sculptor John Somerville, known for his life-sized busts of David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. He’s clearly a rock ’n’ roll guy, but has never heard of Living Colour and boggles at the notion that circuits in the 1980s couldn’t get past the fact the band was black. He was in Gigolo of Chinese Hollywood, starring Eric Tsang in 1999, and worked as voice talent in Hong Kong for 12 years. He taught in a Guizhou village school that averaged 100 students per class. He’s passionate about planting trees, and is known to give away his homemade cookies. A slight guy with shaggy brown hair that puts you in mind of singular character actor Julian Richings, Gary is so top heavy with stories he gets off track easily. And he’s clearly well-known in the community, with or without his signature straw hat. As we speak, he raises a hand twice to greet passersby, and gets his Café en Français tutor, Alexandre, to stop for a minute. “He’s amazing. He knows everybody. And you're hearing about me through him really, because he’s how your editor came to hear about me.” A native of Watford, about 25 kilometres west of London, Gary has been living in Hong Kong for 30 years; the last four of those in Discovery Bay with his wife of 25 years, Bonita. It’s a familiar story. Gary stopped in Hong Kong to see friends on his way home from a trip through Asia in 1993 and never left. In fairness, he was fleeing the cold and damp of the UK following a bout of rheumatic fever in 1990. “I lost about 15 kilogrammes. I used to be really,” he puffs his chest to indicate being buff. “If people touched me in the pub or something, they’d be really apologetic. But I'm not like that,” he says with a chuckle. He went to Bangkok first with an old girlfriend, then on to Kolkata where she had family. That’s where he cemented a commitment to art. “Her uncle knew a guy who ran an operation called Silence, mostly blind or deaf people, a few with polio, making stuff for Oxfam. I had to be somewhere warm, so I thought well, I'll work there and actually do something.” It was at Silence that Gary perfected making the moulds that would eventually become the foundation of his earliest sculpture work. By the time he landed in Hong Kong, Gary had honed his sculpting – model-making to be more accurate – and was making a living as an artist. His mirrors framed with Western and Chinese zodiac and Aztec-influenced icons, made from a homemade dental plaster and papier mâché combination, were a particular hit. He took a concession in the old Seibu loft, and a maker stall at the Gold Coast – where he met Bonita, also a teacher by trade. “She teaches belly dancing, yoga; she plays the piano; and she plays in a band,” Gary says with undeniably goo-goo eyes. He got an exhibition at the Fringe (What’s Going On?) in 1995, yet he still hesitates to call himself an artist. “I feel embarrassed when somebody comes along and asks ‘Are you an ar tist?’ Well, I'm an ar tist, but I feel like, you know, kind of not really? I really like Richard Crosbie. I respect guys like that, who do proper ar t. I must get one of his paintings.” Perhaps not surprisingly, being an artist didn’t reliably pay the bills, so Gary decided to find something more stable to do, heading back to the UK for a stint to get CELTA accreditation. Since then, he’s taught in more than 100 schools in Hong Kong. Teaching took up a lot of time – he made his own textbooks too – and put sculpting on hold for nearly 20 years, with the exception of the occasional dinosaur, Sponge Bob or Star Wars character for nephews’ birthday cakes. Gary took his last teaching job after COVID, but found that the rules, regulations and Zoom classes took the joy out of the job. “I did it for a year but it didn’t feel the same. I just felt like I shouldn’t be doing this anymore. It was time to retire.” Now as a semi-retired man of mostly leisure, Gary has decided to spin his sand sculpting into a business. His office is the DB beachfront, his workshop of four years. Most of us will conjure kids making sand castles with a spade and a bucket, but Gary’s game is extremely elevated. He parks on the beach and after several dozen buckets of water and a great deal of compacting he has a plain sand block, to which he takes a cement trowel. Think of Michelangelo’s marble blocks before they became David. The sand can be fussy, but he makes it work. He’s done installation sized sculptures – a five-metre train, a snooker table, a sports car for Valentine’s Day, a replica of the Angkor Wat Apsara dancers –and fan-favourites Snoopy and Woodstock, Hello Kitty, Pikachu and Minions (check them out at www. sandae.online). The best part about the public sculptures is how social and interactive they are. “I think there’s more potential here than there was just making little artefacts for people, just moulding them and selling them in the shops. There's no connection there,” says Gary. He’s already earned commissions for community events like DB’s dragon boat gala, and birthday parties are regular requests. “The sculptures work even better when they’re interactive. If you make, I don’t know, a sofa that people can sit on, it can also be for team-building. I think there’s quite a bit that can come from this … It's nice to come down here and make something. “DB is really international, and the sand sculpting helps me connect to people,” Gary adds, giving the story of a Croatian neighbour who stopped to watch him at the weekend as an example. “She found it very therapeutic when I gave her the job of smoothing an area. This is one of the reasons I’m giving sand sculpture lessons. Like anything, it's easier and more fun, when you know how. And what could be more sustainable?” And therein lies the rub. For all of Gary’s creativity, if you’re not there to see it, you never will. “People ask if I’m sad that it just gets washed away?” He finishes, answering with a little shrug. There’s always more sand.

Determined to harness wealth and prosperity heading into Dragon Year, Joe Dobbs explores the similarities between racetrack betting and successful stock-market speculation Looking back, I realise that gambling is in my blood, as is my ability to spot a winner. In the UK when I was growing up, my father bet on the horses (and on occasion the dogs). He relied on tips from fellow punters, and in the press, but most of his bets were based on a hunch, little more than a feeling for a horse’s name and good odds. Dad never bet more than he could afford to lose, and sometimes he’d win big. Those successful race days, when we’d come home with our pockets stuffed with 20-pound notes, are the ones I remember. Of course, most people who bet on horse races not only lose money, they lose much more money than they should lose based on chance alone. What this means is that someone making purely random bets on horses, will, over a long period of time, lose the track’s “take”. The take is a fixed percentage, usually in the 10 to 20% range, that is extracted by the track (or jockey club) out of the total amount of money bet on each race. The remaining 80 to 90% is paid out to the winning bettors. However, the average Joe actually loses 33 to 100% of the money he shells out over the course of each racing day. While the vast majority of people lose at the races, some betting professionals consistently win. These professional bettors generally do not have inside information or any resources that are not readily available to members of the public. Nor is it usual for them to be highly educated. So how do they do it? FORM STUDY Studying horse racing form is a way of directly informing yourself about the competitors in a horse race, based on their achievements to date. Punters take into account the horse’s weight and progeny, its trainer, jockey, current weight and recent race history. They even factor in the weather, since some horses show a marked preference for running on a particular ground or “going”. For example, one horse may show his best winning form on ground that is “good” or “good to firm” (on a track where there has been little recent rain). Other horses will run to their best form if the ground is wet, if the going is described as “soft” or “heavy”. Form study can be profitable, but it is often misleading and difficult to read; like anything else in life, the more seriously you study it, the better the results. And the same goes for the stock market. For serious speculators, it’s all about analysis – working out how to base decisions on the current price/ value of an asset coupled with its future expected outlook. ON THE MARK Doing due diligence certainly puts you ahead of the game. But to my mind, the real key to coming out tops in any speculative game is to bet against popular opinion at all times. This principle certainly applies to the stock market and is the reason I spend so much time analysing sentiment indicators. If my analysis is on the mark, then I know what other speculators are thinking and can, at the appropriate time, do the opposite. While the vast majority of people lose at the races, some betting professionals consitently wine. So how do they do it? There is, of course, added complexity in the stock market or any financial market for that matter, since there isn’t a fixed pool of money that is distributed at fixed points in time based on a set of clearly defined rules. There is, therefore, a critical timing element in the financial markets that is not present when betting on horses. In horse racing, betting against the public involves the identification of “overlays”. These are situations where the odds assigned (the odds at which a horse runs are determined by the amount of money bet on that horse relative to the amount of money bet on the other horses in the race) are longer than they should be. In other words, the risk/ reward ratio is in favour of the person betting. For example, if a professional determines that the correct odds for a particular horse are 2:1 whereas the public’s betting puts the horse at 10:1, then he has identified an overlay and may decide to bet on that horse. If a professional determines the correct odds to be 2:1 and the horse is quoted at 2:1 then he would certainly not bet on that horse because in such a case the likely upside and downside are the same. PUNTER’S PARADISE This leads me to another important difference between the consistent losers (the public) and the consistent winners (the professionals). Most racegoers bet on every race, whereas the professionals only bet on those races in which they have identified an attractive overlay. The principle of only putting money at risk in cases where there is an attractive overlay applies perfectly to stockmarket speculation. An overlay in the stock market would, for example, occur if the stock of a company is dramatically under-valued based on the cash that it is currently generating, or is likely to generate in the future. In other words, the market value assigned by the public is low compared to the company’s intrinsic value. Another factor contributing to the public’s losses in the game of horse racing, and in all speculative endeavours, is something called “switches”. It’s my belief that it’s not the races that beat the amateurs, it’s the switches. Whereas the professionals develop a plan and stick to it, amateurs are continually changing (switching) the bets they make, the amount they bet and the way they select horses. Most speculators in the financial markets have experienced the frustration wrought by switches: that is, they will at some point have been coaxed by a market to switch strategies at exactly the wrong time. Successful market players and racetrack bettors have figured out a way to avoid switches. An important part of this avoidance is only ever to speculate in those instances when you have identified an attractive overlay. Do this, and you might soon be winning like a pro.

DB Community Arts Integration Programme, the latest CSR initiative from Love.Together@DB, is aimed at building a closer DB community, and it sees residents connecting with artists from St. James’ Creation. Ray Au reports DB Community Arts Integration Programme brought to us by Love.Together@DB is already well underway. Around 100 DB residents were invited to take part in a series of ceramic art workshops hosted by St. James’ Creation (SJC), an NGO that provides a platform for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to create and share art. “With this brand-new CSR project, Love.Together@DB has given DB residents the opportunity to learn how to make ceramics from the professional tutors and talented artists – known as Ci-Fu Jai (師傅仔) – at SJC,” opens Sara Lai, Senior Principal Manager, Community Relations, Hong Kong Resort Company Ltd (HKRCL). “The DB-themed ceramics, including some made by the Ci-Fu Jai themselves, will be installed at DB Community Green Square in May for the whole community to enjoy. “In joining hands with our community partner SJC, we hope, first and foremost, to promote social integration,” Sara adds. “Through this meaningful project, DB stakeholders and artists with ASD have been able to work together and exchange ideas. We have set out to bridge the gaps between the different groups by promoting interaction and mutual understanding. The collaboration has allowed the Ci-Fu Jai to demonstrate their talent and creativity, and it serves as a catalyst for interaction, bringing people of different abilities and backgrounds together to work towards a common goal.” Artistic Collaboration Among the DB residents taking part in the DB Community Arts Integration Programme are students from S.K.H. Wei Lun Primary School, Discovery College and Discovery Bay International School, alongside elderly DB residents, members of the DB Elderly Group and young families from The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council (NAAC) and Discovery Bay Alliance Church Community Centre. “Love.Together@DB, the community caring platform established by HKRCL in 2012, constantly strives to engage and connect DB stakeholders via diversified community relations programmes,” Sara explains. “With the DB Community Arts Integration Programme, we want to show people that regardless of age or ability, we can all learn something new together and have fun.” During the workshops, the DB participants were taught how to make ceramic potato-head flower pots and ceramic leaves. Those making the flower pots were shown how to incorporate DB elements (e.g. local birds and butterflies, their own pets) into their designs. Those who made the ceramic leaves were asked to bring along “real” leaves that they had collected in DB, and they were shown how to develop them into unique ceramics, well anchored to the DB theme. The flower pots and leaves were glazed and fired after class by the Ci-Fu Jai and SJC tutors. The workshop participants will not see their creations until the grand reveal at DB Community Green Square in May. True to the spirit of integration, the Ci-Fu Jai joined the DB residents in making DB-themed flower pots, taking their design concept from the HKRCL nature guidebook A Breath of Discovery. The birds, flowers, butterflies, bats and buildings realised in their creations can all be seen locally. Two larger sculptures, Don Don (a DB boy) and Bon Bon (a DB girl), are still in the making, and will be revealed in May. Meaningful Dialogue In setting out to bring people with different abilities and backgrounds together through the arts, Love.Together@DB has hit upon a win-win for all those involved. “We provided this platform to enable DB stakeholders to form relationships with their neighbours and the Ci-Fu Jai, and to learn more about autism, and about people with ASD. Giving DB residents a firsthand look at what the Ci-Fu Jai can produce enables them to recognise their talents and strengths,” Sara says. “We learned a lot from the Ci-Fu Jai in the workshops and thoroughly enjoyed our time with them.” For the Ci-Fu Jai, the DB Community Arts Integration Programme is proving equally beneficial. It has provided them with a new opportunity not just to demonstrate their artistic talent, but also to build their confidence and interpersonal and communication skills, all while making lasting relationships with the DB participants. “Artistic activities are a powerful tool of social integration, connecting people across their differences. The workshops have created a unique opportunity for the Ci-Fu Jai to bond with DB residents,” says Tang Kar Po, Arts Development Manager, Rehabilitation Services, SJC. “By focusing on what people can do, we build social connections that are meaningful and fulfilling. “We would like to thank HKRCL for organising this programme: it is a wonderful way to open doors for the Ci-Fu Jai, allowing them to create and explore something new. The co-production of art pieces has created a space of dialogue and exchange. The Ci-Fu Jai have been empowered to express their ideas, thoughts and feelings effectively, even though verbal communication can be challenging for them.” A Sense Of Belonging While the DB Community Arts Integration Programme serves to connect DB residents with the wider Hong Kong community, it is equally DB-centric, aimed at developing close-knit relationships and a sense of shared purpose here at home. “The Love.Together@DB ethos is ‘Embrace Diversity and Build a Loving Community’. We set out to foster strong bonds and a sense of belonging within the DB community,” says Simon Tu, General Manager, DB Operations, HKRCL. “Participation in the DB Community Arts Integration Programme will lead to a greater understanding between people with different backgrounds and of different perspectives and experiences. Ultimately, it will promote social cohesion and empathy; it will help build a more inclusive DB society. “HKRCL is steadfast in it s commitment to creating a harmonious and unified living environment in DB for resident s,” Simon adds. “By fostering meaningful par tnerships bet ween HKRCL, NGOs, DB student s and resident s via initiatives like the DB Communit y Ar t s Integration Programme, we provide a plat form for fruitful engagement and collaboration.” Home to around 20,000 people hailing from 50+ countries, DB is indeed a unique place to live. Unique in its cultural mix, but also in how happily residents of different nationalities, backgrounds and ages coexist. This is thanks in no small part to Love.Together@DB’s numerous CSR initiatives, notably now the DB Community Arts Integration Programme. The programme has given residents the opportunity to come together and forge friendships, while having fun. Through connecting with the CiFu Jai, they have experienced the joy of working in an environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their differences. It is hoped that these friendships – and the experience – will prove fruitful long into the future. “Going forward, we hope experiences enjoyed during the DB Community Arts Integration Programme will encourage residents to work together to create an ever more vibrant, inclusive and socially conscious DB community,” Sara says. Importantly too, participation in the DB Community Arts Integration Programme has given residents the opportunity to give something back. Once installed at DB Community Green Square, the collaborative pieces of ceramic art will beautify their surroundings, making the neighbourhood an even more attractive place to live. “All this fosters not only a sense of ownership but also a sense of belonging. DB students, elderly residents and families have built something together with the Ci-Fu Jai, and their ceramic art pieces will be displayed for all their friends and neighbours to enjoy,” Sara says. The ceramics made by the DB participants and Ci-Fu Jai will be installed inside the greenhouse at DB Community Green Square, where families involved in the DB Kids Farming Programme plant their crops. The DB Kids Farming Programme, launched in May 2022, is another Love.Together@DB initiative that helps residents build relationships through shared activities. “Don Don and Bon Bon, the larger installations created by the Ci-Fu Jai, will be ‘Green Buddies’ safeguarding the children’s farms,” Sara explains. “They will stand as a symbol of the success of the DB Community Arts Integration Programme and of the community’s commitment to inclusion.” A ceremony will be held in May at DB Community Green Square to mark the successful completion of the DB Community Arts Integration Programme. All participants will be invited to join. Stay tuned for a full Around DB report in the June issue!

Actor, tech pro and returning DBer Philippe Joly has a ton on his plate. Just the way he likes it. Elizabeth Kerr reports Multi-hyphenate Philippe Joly is sitting outside at an Admiralty bistro, not far from the home he just gave up for Discovery Bay – again. We last spoke to Philippe for Life on Lantau in Before Times, otherwise known as 2019, and even though the Russian-French actor-stunt performer-directortech entrepreneur-writer-festival director didn’t get out of town much during the pandemic, he says he’s never been as busy as he was in COVID. Philippe has plenty to tell. He speaks enthusiastically about the intervening years, his new flat, projects on the go and guerrilla filmmaking. He and his girlfriend have been back in DB for about four months, a decision born of a combination of economics and luck. “It’s been eight years since I lived in DB full time. A ton has changed,” he says. “We were looking at six months down the road but then we saw this place with a huge terrace. I wanted outdoor space with room for a pool table. I took the ferry at 10am, visited at 12pm and signed a lease at 4pm.” So far, the three of them – there’s a rabbit – are happy with the new digs. “The rabbit has a palace. It lives in every room.” And yes, there is a pool table on the terrace. Peak Performance Time has been good to Philippe, who barely looks like five years have passed. He’s still got a salt-andpepper beard that serves him well for his work as Hong Kong’s premier movie bad guy who always dies – an SAR Sean Bean as it were. “They need a bad guy in every movie, he’s often nonChinese, and he almost always dies,” Philippe says gleefully, about his path to cornering the market on movie villains – often Russian or Italian mafia types. His first role in Lawrence Gray’s Lust and Found, quickly led to From Vegas to Macau with Chow Yun-fat, and Pound of Flesh with childhood idol Jean-Claude Van Damme. Over the years, he’s worked with the likes of Jackie Chan, John Cusack and Adrien Brody; Andy Lau, Tony Leung ka-fai, Lau ching-wan and Louis Koo. Philippe’s sanguine about the downtime that came with COVID but argues that at the same time a lot of other things were possible. He couldn’t hop a plane to China for feature film roles, but there was nothing stopping him from creating his own. Which he did with friends every weekend. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t have been making short films every single week. It was like practice. Go three years without doing something and you ‘forget’ how,” he recalls. “They were various levels of quality but a couple were really good. And it was fun.” Philippe’s on-screen whirlwind continued after lockdown. He and a skeleton crew shot a rash of shorts (find him on YouTube), like Family Business, a six-minute gangster comedy about the notorious toilet paper crisis of 2020. Then there was an indie starring Byron Mann (The Modelizer), a segment in The Goldfinger as a leader of the KGB, and a role in TVB’s Flying Tiger as Russian villain Ivan. “I beat up Michael Wong and then gave a very hard time to the leads Bosco Wong and Oscar Leung,” he says with a smile. Philippe faced Andy On in Abduction, played a part in Herman Yau’s The White Storm 2: Drug Lords, and appeared in Battle of Defense 2, starring Robert Knepper. Meanwhile, City Intruder heads to mainland screens this year, and though 2021’s Ultimate Code got eaten by four huge blockbusters, he’ll get another chance when the same crew reunites for a sequel. Philippe’s most famous roles, though remain unseen: Juno Mak’s now mythic Sons of the Neon Night is in production limbo, and the Chinese sci-fi behemoth Variant vanished into thin air. “The Friday of the release comes, Variant is supposed to be out and I don’t even see it on the box office list,” Philippe says, throwing up his hands. Variant’s release was cancelled abruptly due to COVID and Philippe hopes it will be out this summer. “It’s a riff on the greatest sci-fi ever. I cut off someone’s head with a light sabre and get eaten by a monster! It’s my most original death so far,” he declares with a chuckle. “And I hope Sons comes out eventually. All my scenes are with Lau Ching-wan and Tony Leung Ka-fai. It’s the biggest role I’ve ever had in terms of who I’m working with and it’s frustrating no one has seen it.” Matters In Hand Philippe may be resigned to things beyond his control, but he’s not one to sit idle. His considerable energy is going into honing his filmmaking skills and entering events like the Nikon Film Festival (in France) and working on a feature-length documentary about submarine tourism and wine (coming soon). That took him to Curaçao, and on the way home he stopped to see his daughters in Los Angeles. He’d never been to the US. Philippe also decided to rework The Art of Dying for a Living, his pseudo-memoir backburnered in 2019. He took out 100 pages and is confident he’s got a winner. “Originally The Art of Dying focused on working as an action and stunt performer, and on safety, but then I thought why not just write a guide to acting as a foreigner in this region,” he asks, shaking his head like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s very different from Hollywood or Europe, and there’s lots I can talk about. I hope to have it out by summer.” That’s assuming he can find the time for a final polish while he organises the Aotearoa International Film Festival (in Hong Kong, aotearoaiff.com), a rollicking community event aimed at celebrating New Zealand and Hong Kong cinema. “There’s about 3,000 Kiwis in Hong Kong, and I think plenty of Hongkongers will like it too. Both cultures are heavily influenced by the movies. I hope we’ll get a haka onstage. Go big or go home, right?” Entrepreneurial Spirit The final iron in the fire is the app and NFC-powered BLK Cards (www.blkcards.com). “You come up with solutions for problems that you have, and a business comes from it,” Philippe explains of the genesis of the all-in-one name card that brings together your most frequently referenced digital information on a single platform. It’s ideal for anyone with multiple jobs, job titles and businesses – like Philippe. “Traditional business cards still have a place in Asia, but I need more than one. With this I’ve reduced costs and it’s more sustainable. I print less.” BLK Cards is a personalised, contactless tool that brings together multiple functions in one app allowing users to share their information as they see fit. Philippe’s biggest market is the US right now, but given the brand-new, wearable option, it’s likely to gain more traction everywhere. As if on cue, the cash register “ka-ching” notification sounds on Philippe’s phone. “There’s definitely a travel opportunity to this,” he says. “When you’re travelling, you don’t take business cards with you. When you’re surfing or by the pool, you don’t want a bunch of stuff. This is waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about it. Everything you need is with you.” Given he’s been letting his entrepreneurial flag fly for the last 20-odd years, and that acting, which started as a hobby, has become another arm of his career, what does Philippe call himself? An actor? A filmmaker? A tech pro? “Both. All. I’m like Batman,” he finishes. “You can’t have just one basket, because if something happens, you don’t eat for three years. And I’d rather just do it, whatever it is, than not. The worst that happens is you try and it doesn’t work out. I like being busy. I don’t like being bored.” You don’t say?

Planning a date night with your Valentine on February 14? Here are the ingredients you need for a fancy, romantic night in OYSTER AND CAVIAR Serves 2 1½ tbsp lemon juice 1tsp minced shallot ½tsp pink peppercorns, crushed 2tsp chilled prosecco 12 oysters on half shell 55g caviar Combine the lemon juice, shallots and peppercorns in a small bowl. Refrigerate for about 1 hour to let the flavours marinate. Just before serving, add the prosecco to the mignonette sauce and season with a pinch of salt. Chuck the oysters and spoon over the desired amount of sauce. Top each with a dollop of caviar. Serve immediately. SAFFRON RISOTTO Serves 4 1.2l chicken stock 2tbsp butter 1tbsp olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 350g arborio risotto rice 125ml dry white wine ½tsp saffron 50g parmesan, grated 1 egg yolk Heat the stock in a pan over a very low heat. Melt the butter and olive oil in a high-sided, non-stick frying pan. Add the onion and a large pinch of salt, then cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant but not colouring. Tip in the rice and coat it in the oil and butter. Cook for a few minutes until the rice begins to toast. Pour in the wine and stir until it’s absorbed. Add the saffron and begin to add the warm stock, a ladle at a time, stirring continually. Add more stock as it’s absorbed. After 25 to 30 minutes, all the stock should be absorbed and the rice should be creamy and al dente. Add the parmesan and stir until melted. Turn off the heat and stir in the egg yolk.

No terrace? No yard? No problem. With a carefully decked-out balcony, you can enjoy time outdoors year round Usable terraces and rooftops in Hong Kong come at a premium, and functioning yards are few and far between, even in Discovery Bay. Nonetheless, it seems everyone wants a little bit of the outside to come in – even when accompanied by the dulcet tones of jackhammers. Older buildings are hit and miss, but developers are increasingly building apartment blocks that include balconies. How much a balcony is used comes down to a number of factors. How comfortable are you 101-storeys up? Is there any sort of view? Is it a good size or just a sliver suitable for waxing poetic with a dude in pantyhose? Either way, a balcony is a valuable bit of space that’s easy enough to exploit with a little thought and at a variety of price points. EXPANDING YOUR SPACE If you own your flat, depending on the size and placement of the balcony, you could knock down a few walls and incorporate the space into the fundamental layout. This can be done assuming you meet specific requirements. First, you need to arrange for an authorised person to do the submission to the Buildings Department (BD) for Alteration and Addition work, which states the change of the outlook of the building and function of the balcony to that of a domestic area. If passed by the BD, you then need to have further approval in order to change the appearance of the building and you must assign a registered contractor to carry out the work. Also? No heavy loading where the original balcony was. A balcony can be redesigned illegally of course – and on the cheap. It’s common enough but the downside is getting caught by the BD and being compelled to reinstate the balcony to its original state. No one is suggesting you try this in DB. If you want to go down the legal route then you can enlarge the opening or windows, assuming the wall onto the balcony is not a structural wall. Visually that makes the apartment feels bigger. This involves calculating the spare allowable gross floor area, which often comes to a whopping zero, and then submitting plans to the BD. This is an option for owners as the process can be expensive. It will cost upwards of HK$70,000 for a trained accredited professional to do the plans and submit them. FILLING IN THE DETAILS Tenant or owner, the first step is always determining the end goal. What goes onto a small- to mid-sized balcony, how many uses the space will ultimately have and even considering which way it faces will solve those problems. And then it’s time to think about buying a few key pieces. Traditionally, those 15, 25 or 50 square-feet have been put to totally prosaic ends: small balconies were used simply for hanging clothes or as a kids’ play area. It’s clear that functionality and size are interlinked but even the tiniest outdoor space can be better utilised. If your balcony is really cramped then you can add a small extendable table, one or two chairs and some plants to at least create a comfortable place to sit and relax. Go with your gut instinct – it makes perfect sense not to over-design miniature balconies, especially in rentals. Hong Kong has one of the harshest environments in the world (a deadly cocktail of heat, sun, humidity and pollution), meaning you’re limited in your use of natural materials. Since maintenance and cleaning are issues, quick-dry foams and Sunbrella fabrics are your go-to. Fortunately, you can take a hose to almost all contemporary outdoor furniture, with synthetic rattan and weaves, synthetic leathers by Ferrari and so on. We’ve come a long way from plain old white plastic. And the good news is that many existing pieces, that have perhaps become redundant inside the home, transfer well to a balcony. Myriad materials exist just as easily outdoors as in: the spectrum ranges from bamboo and cement, to rattan and wicker. If you like a timeless look, wood, particularly teak, which was originally used on boats, is a good bet. Let it weather to its natural silver grey, and it will last forever. Arguably, no outdoor space is complete without a barbeque and happily, they now come as small as you like. Scads of websites and shops will bombard you with tips, but the key to choosing a barbeque comes down to the basics. First, go with gas not charcoal. Second, purchase brand-name items that come with strong product warranties, good customer support and are easily assembled. Third, choose a grill with at least 400 square inches of cooking space. There’s nothing worse than staggering too many items for larger gatherings, or making people wait during intimate dinners. Lastly, don’t get suckered by bells and whistles: select features that are essential, like stay-cool dials and adequate storage. Preparation surfaces are nice, but if space is limited, simply do your chopping in the kitchen. HEATING THINGS UP If you’re lucky, light will spill outside from whatever room the balcony is accessed, but lighting, heating and cooling sometimes need to be considered. A licensed electrician can often rig a power source to run a small fan or space heater, helping you out in the dog days of summer and dead of winter. As for light retailers, you can unearth understated wall-mount lights inexpensively from IKEA or your friendly neighbourhood hardware store. A novel alternative, providing both light and heat, is a fireplace. Yes, a fireplace. Safretti makes eco-friendly, space-saving fireplaces that do not require a power source, outlet, piping, or chimney. While the single-burner models are purely decorative, the regular models are strong enough to serve as outdoor heat sources. Check out the stackable, floor-standing Cube fireplace and the classic, wall-mounted Gaya: both are simple, elegant and compact. Likewise, fire-pit tables are a chic al-fresco feature, giving off much-needed heat in the winter months. The perfect spot for friends and family to gather around and chat, they are also a great tool for toasting kebabs and of course, marshmallows. Taking it to the next level, Guy Ritchie’s Wild Table 4, which doubles as an outdoor grill and heater, provides a wow-factor focal point and is compact enough (1.22 metres long, 1.05 metres wide) to sit on even the smallest balcony. If a little heat is all you need, however, there are plenty of stylish, free-standing, weather-proof heaters to choose from. Look to Hiland’s range of 360-degree radiant heaters that can be easily moved around and provide multi-directional, adjustable heat wherever needed. Stunning looking when lit, they’re guaranteed to make a statement without overpowering a small balcony. And overpowering might just be a balcony decor’s cardinal sin. Don’t overcrowd it. That’s the biggest thing. At the end of the day, you won’t use it and it won’t be inviting. Go smaller rather than bigger and you’ll actually enjoy it more.

Discovery Bay International School psychology and science teacher, Neil O’Maonaigh-Lennon reflects on perhaps his biggest challenge to date: the TransLantauTM 140 by UTMB®. Claire Severn reports www.richardgordonphotography.com=">www.richardgordonphotography.com"> As trail runs go, they don’t come much tougher than the TransLantauTM 140 by UTMB®. Dubbed the “ultra beast,” the race sees participants traverse the peaks and troughs of Lantau’s country parks, covering a distance of 140km in less than 40 hours, with an overall elevation gain of 6,900m. It’s not a race for your average Hong Kong hiker. Part of the Mont Blanc World Series, the event attracts elite runners from across the globe and requires entrants to have previously completed a 100km race, or a 50km race in less than 12 hours, within the previous three years. For Neil O’Maonaigh-Lennon, psychology and science teacher and head of year 9 at Discovery Bay International School (DBIS), the latest instalment of the TransLantau was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. No stranger to long-distance races, Neil arrived in Hong Kong two-and-a-half years ago already a veteran of ultramarathon challenges, having taken part in multiple events in his native UK. “I’ve been running ultramarathons for over a decade now, so I’m very used to longer distances, especially overnight experiences,” he explains. “The races I did in the UK were mainly along canals though, so they were mostly flat. I never really did much hiking there, but since moving to Hong Kong, I’ve become addicted to the mountains. Living in DB, where you’re only ever five or 10 minutes away from getting up into the hills, it’s become one of my weekly habits.” DEDICATION TO THE CAUSE Neil isn’t exaggerating when he says he’s enthusiastic about hitting the trails. Before taking part in the TransLantau, he’d already completed each of Hong Kong’s big four (Hong Kong, Maclehose, Wilson and Lantau) in under 24 hours – and his preparation for the 140km involved taking part in the Coros Spark 100 (reduced to 72km due to safety reasons following autumn’s red and black rainstorms) and the 40kmlong Moontrekker. “That was a brilliant event,” says Neil. “We had a staff social in Mui Wo that evening and the race didn’t start till 8 o’clock, so I walked over Tiger’s Head with some of my colleagues to get an extra 10km in.” Hong Kong’s extreme weather impacted the TransLantau too, with parts of the course deemed unsafe as a result. The “beast” was subsequently tamed to a mere 129km, not that that made things much easier. “It’s certainly one of the hardest races I’ve done,” says Neil, citing the elevation aspect, the cut-offs (participants have to reach each checkpoint within a certain time in order to continue), and the fact that so much of it takes place at nighttime. “The race starts in the evening, so unless you’re really quick like the winner, who did it in 16 hours, you’re facing around two thirds of it being in darkness. The second night was one of the hardest aspects, when it was getting dark at around 6pm and there were 11 or 12 hours of full darkness ahead on no sleep.” Neil’s low point came on that second night, when he was heading down Sunset Peak. “It was raining quite heavily,” he says, “and it was very muddy. It was hard to get a grip, and I wasn’t using poles. There was one instance where I lost my footing and I slid straight down the mountain, just trying to hold on to anything.” The highlight of the race for Neil? “It has to be the DBIS checkpoint. It was wonderful coming down the steps and seeing so many students, friends and colleagues there, as well as my family. It was really uplifting. The checkpoint itself was excellent – it had an arch to run through, which made it feel like an unofficial finish line. The organisation that had gone into it by my colleague Helen, in conjunction with UTMB, was fantastic. It was amazing how many people gave up their time to volunteer that weekend – thank you to all of them. The fact that so many people also came to the checkpoint on the Sunday morning to show their support gave me the motivation to go on and finish – it was a great show of DB’s community spirit.” The spirit of community and goodwill carried right through to the end, when, 39 hours after star ting, Neil joined with some of his fellow runners to complete the race. “There were four of us who had been leapfrogging each other from DB to Mui Wo,” he explains. “When we got to the end, we all held hands and ran across the finish line together. It really symbolised the camaraderie among the runners.” NURTURING TOMORROW’S EXPLORERS Of course, a race like the TransLantau doesn’t just require physical fitness; it needs a large dose of mental strength too, which was where Neil’s expertise as a psychology teacher came in handy. “I put a lot of different psychological strategies in place,” he says, “a lot of positive self-talk… That really helped keep me focused during the night; it kept me attuned to my surroundings and helped me to stay positive. “From a psychological perspective, the race actually served as a good learning experience for my students too. I asked my year 13 psychology class how they could make it into a psychological experiment. We talked about how you could use it to test the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance, running comparison tests before and afterwards. It was definitely a good example of that!” Neil’s trail racing also gives him the chops to encourage students to get up and out there. As head of year 8 last academic year, he introduced his cohort to the Green Bird Award, which comprises four aspects: service, skills, physical recreation and excursions – you might have seen a few groups of festive young hikers heading over Tiger’s Head with Santa hats on that December! Green Bird lays the foundation for the Hong Kong Award for Young People, which Neil led at DBIS last year and continues to actively support. He also gets his students involved in initiatives such as marathon and ultramarathon challenges in an effort to further promote their physical and emotional wellbeing, and he leads by example. THE (LONG) ROAD AHEAD You might think that having just run/hiked 129km, Neil would have enjoyed some well-deserved downtime. You’d be wrong. Just one week later, he was back at it – taking part in a “small-scale” 10-hour distance challenge, organised by Institute of Endurance Science and Technology, in which participants had to run between DB Pier and the reservoir as many times as they could. Neil completed 56km. Next up was the 92km Tinworth Trail, which Neil ran in December. “That was the final piece of the jigsaw for the major Hong Kong trails,” he says. “In my opinion it’s the toughest of the big ones.” Neil was grateful to friends and colleagues, many from DBIS, who took it in turns to join him for sections of the trail. Where will Neil’s adventures take him next? “Australia!” he says with a broad smile. “It’s always been a dream of mine to run from Perth to Sydney. That’s what all of this is building up to. I’m going to attempt it in two years’ time for my 45th birthday. I’ve floated the idea with my wife – she’s always known my love for adventure and has been greatly supportive of my need for challenge – and the plan is that she will follow with the kids.” (Neil and his wife Cici are parents to Ella, 9, Eoin, 7 and Edward, 3). “In fact, I’m going to attempt the Guinness World Record and try to do it in under six weeks. If I’m going to do it, I might as well try to beat the record if I can!” Well, why not?

Queen of the French Riviera THE FIFTH LARGEST CITY IN FRANCE, Nice oozes chic with its glamorous beaches and chateaux, its treasure-filled museums and atmospheric old town. Recognised by UNESCO as a winter resort town, it enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate year-round and close proximity to the Alps. PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS, the renowned walkway that overlooks La Baie des Anges, stretches for 7 kilometres and enjoys beautiful sea views. You can rest up on iconic Mediterranean-blue deckchairs, or rent skates, scooters and bikes to discover impressive La Prom landmarks, such as the art-deco Palais de la Méditerranée. APPRECIATE ART at the Musee Matisse, which homes a wonderful selection of Henri Matisse’s oil paintings, drawings, sculptures and tapestries. Fans of Marc Chagall can also drop by the Musée National Marc Chagall to view the largest public collection of the painter’s work. GET CULTURED at the Musee Massena, which was originally built as a home for Prince Vector d’Essling, the grandson of one of Napoléon’s favourite generals. The museum documents the origins of Nice, the history of the French Riviera and the impacts of tourism, and the enduring importance of February’s Carnaval de Nice COURS SALEYA MARKET dates back to 1861. It’s filled with a plethora of glorious Mediterranean produce – flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables – and transforms into a flea market on Mondays. As you wonder the pedestrianised marketplace, treat yourself to local specialties like pissaladiere (onion and anchovy tart) and socca (chickpea flour pancakes). PARC PHOENIX zoological garden features everything from flamingos and peacocks to crocodiles. Built around a central lake and spread over seven hectares, it’s home to more than 2,500 plant species. There’s also a huge greenhouse, the Diamant Vert, in which a total of six tropical climates are recreated. GET YOUR GLAM ON year-round at La Galet. There are four miles of pebble-strewn beach to explore in Nice – this is the capital of the Côte d’Azur, after all – and La Galet has to be one of the most picturesque. It’s also one of the best places to see the Carnaval de Nice march past.

Ray Au outlines what we can expect from 2024, the Year of the Wood Dragon According to Chinese astrology, each year corresponds to one of 12 zodiac animals (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig), in a cycle that repeats every 12 years. To complicate things a little, each year also corresponds to one of five zodiac elements (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood), in a cycle that repeats every five years. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon (the last one was in 2012). More specifically, it is the Year of the Wood Dragon (the last one was in 1964). So, what does that mean for you? The first thing you need to know is that the Dragon is the only mythical animal in the Chinese zodiac. The most majestic beast in the lineup, the Dragon has super powers. He’s a supreme being, who can control the elements, soar through the skies and quite literally move Heaven and Earth. This means that we can expect big things from a Dragon Year: a fiery 12 months full of potential and adventure. THE DRAGON’S FIERY INFLUENCE In predicting what 2024 will bring, we need to take a good look at the Dragon’s characteristics. First and foremost, we know him to be synonymous with yang energy — vitality, vision and vigour. Gifted with innate courage, tenacity and intelligence, Dragons are charismatic, enthusiastic, confident and ambitious. Fearless risk-takers, they are not afraid to pursue their dreams and goals. Consequently, 2024 is forecast to bring us opportunities, changes and challenges in equal measure. We can look forward to dramatic turnarounds, intense emotions and big decisions. Dragon years, like 2024, are all about action, ambition and achievement – very different from 2023’s playful and laid-back Year of the Rabbit. Dragons are innovators and problem solvers; they are also loyal and fiercely protective: they make great leaders. They strive to break with tradition and pave the way for a brighter future. Therefore, 2024 is predicted to be a good year to start new projects, explore new opportunities and find yourself a mentor or mentee. 2024 is also an auspicious year to have a baby, and for good reason. Unparalleled in power and ability, Dragons symbolise nobility, honour and, wait for it, prosperity. They are seen as benevolent money-bringers, (their ability to control wind and rain, and provide farmers with plentiful harvests has been celebrated for centuries). 2024 should therefore be a positive year for all of us financially – filled with promising career changes and developments. March and April are the best months to change jobs or cash in on all that Dragon-year energy by starting new, independent projects. Now a word of caution: Dragons have a tendency towards recklessness, instability, dominance and hot temper. You’re dealing with a fire-breathing, scale-clad supernatural beast: he can be aggressive, and when he’s angry or his pride has been hurt, he can do terrifying things. Dragon years, therefore, can be very explosive: tempers will flare and there’ll be plenty of drama. This can apply to personal relationships and, on a larger scale, the world around us. Be sure to calm down, relax and think before you speak (or act) in 2024. And what of the Dragon’s relatively poor showing in the Great Race? The competition was held by the Jade Emperor to decide the order of the animals in the Chinese zodiac, and the Dragon, with his ability to fly high, was the predicted winner. Surprisingly, the Dragon placed fifth, crossing the finish line after the Rat, Ox, Tiger and Rabbit. Why was this and what does it tell us about the year ahead? As it turns out, the Dragon was delayed by a series of kind-hearted detours that reveal his caring side – his soft underbelly. On his way to the finish line, he saw a village stricken by drought and famine, so he flew across the clouds to make rain and ease the villagers’ suffering. Back in the race, the Dragon soon caught up with the Rabbit who was being chased by a wolf. He allowed the Rabbit to go on ahead, while he dealt with the wolf, thereby coming in fifth, after the Rabbit, and before the Snake. Within this story lies the true message of a Dragon Year – strength is a gift to be lent, not a power to be wielded. ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE The Year of the Wood Dragon is special because it is a rare combination of the power of the Dragon and the creativity brought by the Wood element. The Wood Dragon is the most creative and visionary of the dragons. Optimistic, ambitious and adventurous, Wood Dragons like to explore new ideas and challenge themselves. 2024 is therefore a year to pursue our dreams, express our ideas and expand our horizons. Best advice for 2024: control that Dragon-year pride, while drawing on his drive and determination. The Wood element also represents compassion, loyalty and honesty, something that sits well with the Dragon’s benevolent, humanitarian side. 2024 is therefore a year to be generous and empathic, just as the Dragon was to the Rabbit during the Jade Emperor’s Great Race. Looked at another way, the Wood element can be seen to add fuel to the fire, enhancing the Dragon’s innate intensity and instability. If change is what you’re after, get ready to be happy, courtesy of a slash-and-burn path to newness. In a global context, a Wood Dragon Year could equate to unrest and upheaval – progress at a price. The lesson the Dragon is here to teach is not compromise, wherein someone or everyone loses something, but creative solution, in which everyone gains more than they ever expected. To take it back to the Great Race, when we help others get to the proverbial shore, we earn not just respect, but our own place in the circle. LUCK AND COMPATIBILITY How we will fare in the Year of the Dragon also depends on the year we were born – on how well our “birth animal” gets on with the Dragon. The Chinese zodiac animals most compatible with the Dragon are the Monkey, Rooster, Ram and Pig, which is fantastic news for all Monkeys, Roosters, Rams and Pigs heading into 2024. The Monkey’s love of the limelight, the Rooster’s readiness for a fight, the Ram’s idealism and the Pig’s perseverance all vibe well with the power-hungry Dragon. These are the advisors he wants by his side. Likewise, Tigers, Rabbits and Snakes should do well in 2024, since they also have a lot to offer the Dragon. The Tiger’s courage and flamboyance appeals, as does the Rabbit’s plucky vulnerability and the Snake’s sly intelligence. However, if you’re born in the Year of the Rat, Ox, Horse, Goat or Dog, you should brace yourself for a bumpy 2024, with some power struggles and financial challenges ahead. Meanwhile, those born in a Dragon Year are not in as powerful a position as you might think. According to Chinese astrology, we offend the Tai Sui gods in a year that is governed by our birth animal, meaning we can expect many challenges and unexpected changes. In 2024, Dragons are advised to tread with caution, and invest in some tried-and-tested feng shui remedies. Be sure to carry a lucky rooster trinket… and wear red underwear. Gong Hei Fat Choy!

Whether you are looking to save, invest, or grow your money, a financial advisor can help you achieve specific goals. Joe Dobbs reports Some young friends nipped over from Sheung Wan to visit my wife and I a few weekends ago, primarily to ask for a bit of financial advice. I’m a bond trader, not a financial advisor, but I was happy to share my two cents’ worth, particularly when I learnt that the lovebirds had just lost rather a large sum to some dodgy insurance scam. I hear too many stories about young or simply gullible people, who are attempting to save for their future, making ill-informed choices, or quite simply getting conned. (Consider pyramid schemes, and the fraudsters who deal in them.) When it comes to making finance-related decisions, the most impor tant thing to recognise, as I told my weekend visitors, is if something sounds too good to be true, it is. The second is just as straightforward – get yourself a trusted financial planner and don’t move without his say so. WHY YOU NEED A FINANCIAL ADVISOR My young friends were rather taken aback when I advised them to employ a financial planner – more so when I advised them to pay him 1% of their annual assets. But to me this is absolutely essential. Whether you are just star ting out, or well on the road to retirement, you need someone to watch over your finances for you. By having an independent financial planner on call, 12 months of the year, you get all the advice you could possibly need. What’s more, the cost involved is negligible since you are gaining expert advice that will help you pay off a mortgage, fund your children’s education and enjoy your retirement. When choosing a financial planner, my first tip is that you avoid those who rely on commission for their income. Advisors who profit from enticing you towards particular products can’t help but be biased. Better pay someone an annual fee or, if your needs are really simple, a flat fee for a financial plan, topped up with a few hourly consultations over the year. Tip two: make sure the advisor you choose has an advanced diploma in a relevant discipline such as finance, economics, accounting or financial planning. On top of this, he should ideally be a Certified Financial Planner, or CFP professional. As you can see on the Institute of Financial Planners of HK website: “CFP Certification is the world’s oldest and most recognised advanced certification for financial planners. It is the pinnacle of financial planning excellence and CFP professionals are required to meet stringent initial and on-going standards on competence, ethics and practice.” To get the CFP credential, an advisor has gone through a two-year certification process, he is also committed to keeping up-to-date on the information you need through continuing education. Note that advisors who rely financially on what they sell (insurance policies, securities or mutual funds) have professional relationships with the providers they work with. To avoid a conflict of interest, CFP professionals are bound by a strict code of professional conduct – they are ethically obliged to put your needs above their own. You are looking for a fiduciary – someone who has sworn to act in his client’s best interests at all times. A financial planner, who is not a fiduciary, is bound to sell you financial products that suit your needs but that’s it – they don’t have to be ideal or in your best interests. QUESTIONS TO ASK In order to choose the right financial planner, the one who will best serve your needs, you have to be prepared to ask a lot of questions. As a star ting point, ask friends and colleagues, who are of a similar age and earning capacity, for their recommendations. If you have children, ask other parents; if you are a recent graduate, talk to other graduates. Be wary of (run from) any financial planners who “cold call” you – a successful advisor doesn’t have to hunt for clients. While a friend’s recommendation is a good sign, rely on your own judgment. Be prepared to interview several advisors before you plump for one. Take your time, as you may like the first person you talk to but be totally blown away by the second or third. Approaches to finance vary widely, so explore the alternatives in order to find your perfect match. In an initial meeting with an advisor, assess not only his qualifications but also his experience. Will you feel happiest being advised by someone newly graduated with high qualifications, or by someone older with fewer qualifications but more on-the-job experience? Some financial planners work with their clients directly, and others have a team of people working with them. Make sure that you meet (and warm to) the person who will actually be assisting you. It’s important to assess whether an advisor typically deals with clients in a financial situation comparable to your own. Ask him about his other clients and request letters of recommendation. This way you can judge if he has the experience to deal with your issues and goals. Assess the advisor’s typical line of at tack. Make sure his approach to investing isn’t too aggressive (or too cautious) for your needs. Impor tantly too, check that he is familiar with any financial products you currently own. Watch to see that he focuses on the services and strategies he can offer you, rather than the products he can sell you. Once you have a couple of potential advisors shortlisted, run a background check on each of them. Have they ever been convicted or accused of a crime? Ask which organisations they are regulated by and contact them. (The CFP Board keeps records on the disciplinary history of its members). Ask too about the advisors’ qualifications and credentials and make sure their claims are true and current. You can find out through Google who administers the designation in question, then call the administrator for verification. One final piece of advice. An advisor should fully understand your financial situation before suggesting ways that he can help you, or asking you how much money you have to invest. A good financial advisor will therefore ask you a great many questions when you first meet – about your physical health and your financial health (debt / savings situation), and whether you have an existing will, insurance scheme and retirement plan. Be as open and honest with him, as you want him to be with you.

Master these classic pasta dishes and you’ll soon be coming back for more SPAGHETTI CARBONARA Serves 4 400g spaghetti 1tbsp olive oil 200g smoked pancetta 3 eggs 75ml double cream 50g parmesan 2 garlic cloves, crushed Boil a pan of salted water. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Fry over a high heat for 1 minute until lightly golden. Remove from the heat and set aside. Crack two of the eggs into a mixing bowl. Separate the yolk from the third egg and only add the yolk to the bowl. Beat together, along with the double cream, parmesan and some seasoning. Add the garlic to the pancetta. Fry over high heat for 1 minute until the garlic is cooked and the pancetta warmed through. Next, drain the spaghetti. Pour the egg mixture over the pasta, followed by the hot pancetta, garlic, any fat and oils. Toss quickly and thoroughly with pasta tongs to form a smooth, creamy sauce. Serve immediately with extra parmesan and freshly ground pepper. HOMEMADE PESTO PASTA Serves 4 300g linguine 85g almonds, roughly chopped 25g pecorino cheese, grated handful of basil leaves, roughly chopped 50ml virgin olive oil 4 small tomatoes, chopped Boil a pan of salted water. Add the linguine and cook until al dente: Meanwhile, put the almonds, cheese, most of the basil and all of the olive oil in a food processor. Blitz to form a chunky pesto paste. Drain the pasta, then stir through the pesto and tomatoes. Serve sprinkled with extra parmesan, freshly ground pepper and the remaining basil leaves.