Define Beauty

I just finished playing my first netball match since leaving school. I am the new defender for the Opals, Kowloon Cricket Club's netball team. The girls are all lovely and it is already feeling like a good commitment to have made while I am here. The season runs from September to May, from February the dragon boat teams start training and I am still keen to join that too. We sadly lost the match tonight but we were lucky to play as it had started to drizzle and the court was becoming slippery. There is something I really love about playing sport with a team. It is a great community to be a part of and a great way to meet new people in Hong Kong. I really want to improve my lifestyle and become healthier. It is something that is really important to me and when I am at my optimum health my whole life becomes more pleasurable. By signing up to teams, marathons and continuing my morning running I am hoping to find my way back to my former fitness. It's easy to be unhealthy, but I like to take care of myself, something I haven't been doing too well at recently as I have been getting caught up in the moment and not thinking of the long term effects.

I want to end the year on a high, and as I am off to the Philippines, there is no better goal than the beach. I'll also have more energy the healthier I get, which is of course another incentive in a city that is all go.

I have a new netball kit and I get paid tomorrow so I can buy some new trainers.

On Wednesday I was invited to the Discovery Channel launch party. The theme was black and gold. I ran around the market after work trying to find something big and garish for the event. Full on tack was what I was after, the market stall owners didn't get what I was after and thought I wanted to buy it for serious reasons, I had ludicrous quotes of $500 for something that would normally belong in my fancy dress box. Another longing for my possessions that are thousands of miles away. Oh to nip home and bring another suitcase back to Hong Kong.

The party was amazing. Discovery Channel knows how to throw a good party. It was like an awards ceremony. There were bars serving everything you could imagine, I opted for champagne, food from every country and games with prizes. I went and had my nails painted, while things got going. Champagne and nail painting, it was shaping up to be a fun night. Matt introduced me to lots of people and we indulged in all the food that was on offer. I met some people from National Geographic and had to hold back saying 'Bridges of Madison county is my favourite'.

The CEO of Discovery made a speech, I was a little confused of the message, were they promoting gold digging around the world? It seemed a little twisted to be promoting finding gold in countries struggling to feed their population!! Not the place for a political speech from me, so I kept quite and enjoyed the night and all that was on offer. We ate, everything and then we ate some more. It was amazing. It felt like we were children again, something I am keen to keep up in my spare time. At work; adult, outside of work; child!!! I'm not ready to grow up 100% yet! Matt and I had an epiphany while discussing the life balance: diversity in the balance and dynamic. What a night to remember.

On Thursday I went to netball training and then I became ill, really ill. I guess after three months in Asia it was bound to happen sooner or later, that I would get sick. I felt weak, sick and feverish. Friday was a struggle and as soon as I woke up I knew I was going to struggle through the day. I had to go to a team lunch, where my local colleagues tucked into the local delicacy of chicken feet and pork knuckle, not what you want to witness when your stomach is turning and sending pain to every inch of your body. I couldn't wait to leave, go home and get into bed. I was frozen all afternoon every though it was hot, my temperature was all wrong and my head hurt and my eyes ached. I had a disagreement with one of my colleagues but didn't have the energy to fight my corner. I yearned for 6pm. When the clock finally turned 6pm I walked home with Aimi, who made sure I got back safely. I hadn't felt this dizzy or weak in a long time.

I text my mummy for some mummy sympathy and spoke to my sister. Family connection was what I needed at this moment. By 7pm I was spent and fell asleep.

I didn't wake till 9am the next day and felt a little better although I had not an ounce of energy. Saturday was going to be unproductive, as much as I wouldn't leave my bed to regain some energy and give my body some much needed rest. I watched hours of TED talks and read my book. Paul came over to offer some company, and swiftly fell asleep on my bedroom floor. Although there wasn't much conversation passed, it was surprisingly comforting just having someone there. Passive companionship for the day. He slept and I carried on my day in bed. He had been out all night and I needed to stay in bed. I entered an amazing place of utter relaxation. It was bliss. I should take this feeling away, that I should let my body shut down before I allow myself to relax.

I went to meet Aimi for some dinner and to watch the new James Bond, Skyfall.

We couldn't decide where to eat so we ended up in an over priced tourist hot spot. This happens sometimes in the city. You have too many recommendations and you either try somewhere new, go somewhere you've been before or end up going somewhere like we ended up. You win some you loose some. The conversation and company made up for it. We talked about life experiences and our emotional maturity.

We sat in a lovely little cafe before the film and were joined by a few more.

Skyfall was brilliant, the best Bond film in years. Fantastic cinematography, some of the scenes were visually beautiful, like the Union Jack flags over the coffins, the 'Macau' (I'll get back to this later) lantern/water scene, the whole Shanghai building, glass skyscraper scene and Scotland!!! I thought the story was strong, the acting was superb and the one-liners hilarious, as they should be, and the general England references, wet and miserable very accurate. On the other hand, the product placement was ridiculous, but I’m glad they kept it all in the first 20 minutes, I mean really 'oh, just three Volkswagen Beatles'. The single scene Omega shots. Tut tut!!

A few other pointS. London Underground at rush hour does not and never has been that empty. where did that random tube train come from the wall??! Who was the angry 'I want to kill M' chap!?? And Macau......Macau Macau Macau.....you've heard of it right?? I've been there TWICE. Wherever they have filmed this is NOT the Macau I have visited. Clearly some Macau PR is happening here. I can confirm, it does not look anything like that. They have missed out the concrete jungle, high-rise casinos and mass developments. Thanks James Bond movie makers for making it very difficult for me when any visitor comes to stay and their perception of Macau being THAT. Hopefully no one will make the connection between the Macau in Bond and the real Macau that we go to regularly from Hong Kong.

Sunday morning I was feeling better, though my energy was definitely not back to 100%. I sent some texts out to see what everyone was up to and Matt got back to me to suggest a day on Lamma. Perfect. Some sunshine, fresh air and to escape the city was just what I needed, no need for doctors orders here, I know the power of sun, sea and fresh air and what it does for me. It turned into a wonderful day.

We talked about films, poetry, music and culture. We talked about experiences, the future, expectations and dreams. We talked about feeling the moment and we did. We sat in the sunshine, swam in the sea and truly appreciated how amazing our current now was. I decided I needed to live on Lamma again. I realise again, that as long as you stay true to who you are, people will walk into your life who you connect with. You don't always need years, it can happen almost instantly sometimes, but only if you are 100% yourself. Real relationships happen when you are real.

I was happy to have had a weekend where I had had the time to relax and enjoy no time scale. To allow myself some time to stop. Time to realise that nothing is imperative.

I sat on the beach as if it was a mid July day. It is bonfire night in the UK and I sat on a beach, soaking up the vitamin D from the sun and rejuvenated back to health in the salty sea, with good company, without a worry in the world.