Lamma Gardens Tour Apr 18 - "Gardens, Photography and Food: Enjoy Easter Saturday exploring gorgeous gardens,..."

The Guestroom Interviews Alain Jaquier Apr 17 - "I first met Alain on a beach on Lamma Island."

Lamma Youth Dragons Debut Apr 16 - Alysha Tarr - paddler of the new Lamma Dragons Under-18s writes:

Looking for a Golden Goose Apr 15 - Like my new poster? Should I get it printed to display it in a few selected places? P.S. Happy & Delicious Easter...

Weight-Loss Surgery Might Stop Diabetes Apr 14 - Latest article from WebMD: Evidence Weight-Loss Surgery Helps Against Diabetes.

Chan Clan Feast Apr 13 - Even after more than 12 years living on Lamma, I still discover new, major, yearly, local events with zero "Gweilos".

Bike Parks Apr 10 - We're still not sure if this will be a full reclamation or just the promised platform, similar to the ferry pier?

Lamma Sunsets Are Back! Apr 9 - Shot from our rooftop last night:

Many-Banded Krait Family Apr 8 - "Beauty lost its mother on a fresh spring day... Here's a little Many-Banded Krait who had left the nest."

Postboxes, Rocks, Glass & Seaweed Apr 7 - "Yesterday's walk inspired me to do a collage of some of ... unique post boxes."

Lamma Grill Moving to Pizza Milano Apr 6 - "Caroline & James are pleased to inform you all that in July we will be opening in our..."

Ex-Lammaite Wedding! Apr 1 - "How do two ex-Lamma residents meet? Neither Jules Meaney nor Bike Mike had ever encountered ... on Lamma."

 

Return of the Official Court Glutton Mar 31 - "After years of not writing, I have been badgered and cajoled into writing mode."

Day Ends to Great Applause! Mar 30 - "What do you get when you have a beach, music, meat, 4 dragon boats and lots of friends? One hell of a party!"

Outdoor Underground Festival Mar 29 - "OMG!!! It's TONIGHT!! I'm going to be NAKED on stage at the Underground Festival!"

LamMarathon (Wo)men Mar 28 - "Everyone was a winner today at LamMarathon. A heroic effort raised HK$3,658 for Children with Cancer UK."

Sewerage Works Office @ Power Station Beach Mar 27 - Lamma Village Sewerage Phase 2.

Planet Lamma's Black Hole Mar 26 - This looks like one of Lamma's famous Black Holes. But those infamous Gravity Pockets are usually located...

Ex-Lamma Quarry Plans: EIA Deadline Mar 19 - Deadline for comments on the EPD's EIA study: This Friday, Mar 21!

The Lamma Space Mar 14 - New takeaway place in the former location of the waffle shop, just after the former Diesel's.

Doubling Lamma's Population! Mar 13 - "Plan unveiled for high-rises at Sok Kwu Wan to double island's population."

Tree Conservation by Green Lamma Green Mar 8 - The Conservancy Association, GreenLammaGroup, volunteers & Lammaites...

Macro-Micro Party @ Open Space Mar 1 - "Party Purpose: to drive out recently-awoken egg-layers, incl. snakes, centipedes etc...."

Alysha Tarr - Paddler of the new Lamma Dragons Under-18s writes:

The Start Line - Shatin Dragonboat Races, 6^th April 2014

"As a new team on the race line against 23-year-old men and woman, you could say it was quite frightening. We got into the rocky dragon boat surfacing on the coca-cola coloured water and we paddled towards the starting line. All the bystanders watched and clapped and our nerves settled for a moment as we became proud to be apart of such a great group and representing the first Lamma Dragons U18s team.

Once we arrived, we realised there was no turning back. We heard so many noises; cheering, screaming and the staccato breathing of your fellow paddlers but everything seemed to quieten when we heard our drummer shout, 'Quiet in the boat!' and now all we could hear was the deep inhales and exhales of your own breath as our goal becomes clear. The finish line.

And then the voice came over the speakers: "ATTENTION!" and that was it, as soon as the horn went off it was paddle, paddle, paddle. There was an adrenaline rush that automatically filled our bodies as we used all your strength in the first 5 strokes. Your focus was no longer on the other teams, it was on your drummer and making sure your techniques was synchronised with the paddler in front of you.

There was no time for thinking, as were nearly neck and neck with other teams, which was actually quite surprising. Looking at twelve to seventeen year olds who have had only two or three practice sessions compared to twenty-three-year-olds which most likely have been training for a while, it was quite exciting.

If you are interested in joining the Lamma Dragons U18 team, please contact claudiatarr@gmail.com."  (Photos by mum Claudia & Christopher Guinness.)

P.S. Want to have a look at the Lamma Dragons Newsletter April 2014:

"For those who attended glorious Shatin, you would have witnessed another historical day for the Lamma Dragons with the first-ever race of our kids team. There was many a tear in proud parents' eyes at the end of the race.
Yes, we're talking about you, Brad!
Paddles up!"

Latest article from WebMD, plus many similar articles in the medical press and in hospital news: Evidence Weight-Loss Surgery Helps Against Diabetes.

Having undergone Weight-Loss Surgery in Queen Mary Hospital Hospital 6 years ago, I was one of the lucky quarter of patients whose former massive, long-term diabetes has gone into full remission, requiring no more drugs, diet or any treatments since then. "A quarter of the people in the sleeve gastrectomy group had remission of type 2 diabetes," so I consider myself pretty lucky!

My other weight-related "co-morbidities" like blood pressure, severe sleep apnea, knee pain, digestive issues, etc. have also completely vanished. I have been completely medication- and symptom-free for several years now, with an almost perfect glucose level and yearly, extensive blood and diabetes complication screening results.

The great QMH doctors reduced only the size of my stomach to the size of a single full rice bowl, via Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, leaving my digestive tract untouched otherwise. It's a much simpler and reduced operation than the much more invasive and more common Gastric Bypass ("routes food directly to the small intestine, which means it bypasses the stomach, duodenum and large intestines".) No long-term dietary issues and restrictions with my VSG, unlike in a Gastric Bypass. But we save half the money in eating out, only having to order a single set meal for the two of us,... and we might have left-overs to take home.

A single glass of alcohol per day is still permitted, but enough to make me tipsy, as my small stomach absorbs any alcohol very quickly. I'm a really cheap date these days and Lamma-Por appreciates that, I hope.

Yes, I can eat sweets and desserts again, no problem, but in moderation to keep my weight steady. I might share a single donut.

Having kept my weight very steady for the last several years, the full remission of my diabetes & related health problems is the main motivation to maintain my weight, not looks (Still fogly - fat, old and ugly! ;-)

The diabetes and other co-morbidities would surely return right away if I'd regain a major part of my former massive weight, making my life and health pretty challenging again! Let me enjoy life in my 50s to the fullest, walking/hiking/biking, living on a traffic-free island is a fine place to remain healthy and fit!

Index of my ongoing weight-loss story: Only Half the Man I Used to Be.

A Chan family - Chans start enjoying chicken feet early (2y, 4m old Charlotte)

Even after more than 12 years living on Lamma, I still discover major, yearly, local events with zero "Gweilos" I've never attended before and that are only promoted word-of-mouth. Even the long-time, non-local residents of Tai Wan Village I asked had never been invited to or attended this almost yearly event, on Palm Sunday, Apr 13, 2014.

The Chan Clan's feast is being held basically to celebrate being a member of the large and influential Chan Clan "ruling" over a number of local villages. Chairman Chan of the Rural Committee of North Lamma greeted Lamma-Por and me, but there was a large number of VIPs and families from the Yu, Chow, Wong and other local, major clans, the "usual suspects" and many Tai Wan villagers, of course.

We were invited by the wife of a senior Chan Clan member (Thank you, happy and successful flat-for-rent Lamma-zine advertiser!). As the only Gwailo at the event, I was treated very friendly and warmly encouraged to dig into the very nice, huge, frequently refilled, home-made buffet, with several roasted suckling pigs. After the feasting, the piles of left-overs were filled into lunchboxes and we enjoyed free food sufficient for the next day. There was even half a donated bottle of fine red wine left that they insisted on me bringing it home.

Some firecrackers outside the Chan Family Temple, some drumming, great weather and a big free feast just outside the Hans Andersen Centre with local families and friends; it was a great and fun event, demonstrating the best of Lamma village life. We're looking forward to Lamma Day on Easter Sunday!