Home in January

We returned to Hong Kong in early Jan and immediately noticed the pollution.   In the taxi from the airport we could feel the air irritating our eyes and throats, and the visibility was very poor.

Low visibility:  ICC from Stonecutters bridge

This wasn't just the comparison with New Zealand.   While we had been away light winds and lack of rain had allowed the level of pollutants to build up to an unusually dangerous level  (scmp link)

Low visibility:  sunset over Shatin

Low visibility:  Victoria harbor from ICC

This motivated us to buy an air-purifier for the bed-room.  An Paralda HEPA filter from Alenair.

Minimi was very pleased to see us at home.

Soon after we returned Rika was smitten by very bad headaches.   She was even hospitalized for 2 nights while the doctor ran tests like MRI scans to rule-out the most dangerous of the possible causes.  Fortunately she didn't have a brain tumor or a stroke and the headaches eventually cleared up.

While Rika was ill I had to look after Hannah and make sure she was properly fed.

Hannah took these photos of her Papa diligently looking after her.

In mid-Jan Hannah was very excited to get a 'Landseru'.  This is the traditional Japanese children's school pack, which she had really, really, really wanted for months.   I think it is based on a Prussian model.

Rik had not wanted  to buy a Landseru since they are very expensive, heavy and a bit impractical.  And we thought Hannah would eventually lose interest.  But she didn't, and after 6 months of nagging wore-down Rika enough to get a somewhat less expensive Chinese copy.   It is vinyl not the traditional hand-stitched leather, but was very well-received all the same.

Hannah says:   "I love it!"