Well, I’m mostly packed and, after today’s outings, I’ll be heading back to the UK. I’ll be back to HK for more meetings at the start of May and I’m very much hoping that, when I make my next visit, I’ll have my investment visa, allowing me to work here - meaning I can finally move out.
This latest week in HK has been something of a trial – there were a lot of firsts. It was the first time I’ve been to HK and not stayed with Mr & Mrs L and I wasn’t sure what difference that would make. I’ve never been to HK without staying with them and without spending the majority of my time with them. As I flew here, I was asking whether I really loved HK or whether I just loved spending time with them and that the city was immaterial. As much as I love spending time with them, I’m pleased to be able to say that I love the city. This week was very different and I saw a very different side of the city but still a whole lot of fun.
I also got to meet most of S’s family – including her daughter (never have I wanted an eleven year old girl’s approval so much), her cat, her sister and two of her three brothers. Meeting her siblings was unexpected and occurred under very sad circumstances. S’s father was in hospital and sadly died yesterday morning. It was a terrible thing to happen but also a bit of a release for him, as he was suffering and the doctors didn’t seem to know what to do for the best. I was very glad that I was here to support S and I did, briefly, get to meet him (with the family’s approval) at the weekend. I’ve seen pictures of him (S looks a lot like him) and he seems like he was a very cool guy; I wish I could have known him better.
But, as S often says, “this is life” (Mr L often says something very similar, which makes me smile) and we have to deal with it. The funeral ceremonies are on 25th and 26th April, which I won’t be here for, sadly, so if you can keep a warm thought in your heart on those days, I’d appreciate it. So, now it’s back to packing and practicing my Cantonese (S’s daughter is teaching me some handy phrases: Cantonese is brilliant for expressing great disbelief and for sounding really, really pissed off); we’re off for Dim Sum shortly (my favourite) and then out for the afternoon before we come back home and I’ll cook dinner. After which, it’s the airport and the snowy UK…
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