shopping with the strange species

There are three key rules to making this successful. Speed, price and ego stroking. Make sure it is not a Saturday, and enlist a good shop assistant who works fast, the male attention span is short and you need to be quick. Remember this is like buying groceries to them, a necessity, not a pleasure. I suggest you go somewhere mid range price wise. Zara is perfect, they have modern clothes erring on trendy but are not too expensive. Men don't understand brands or designer price tags. Encourage them to understand fabric and texture and don't be offended when they shout "gay" at 75% of the items you put in front of them. Regularly shout "can we have this in extra large please". They love it. Tell them what to wear with what, colour matches etc, this is not patronising to men, it is factual. Last, but not least, congratulate them on the fabulous purchases which will make them look like a GOD. Men need ego stroking like women need chocolate. Often and in large doses.

a retail explosion

Well who would have thought I'd be writing that title a year ago. Ted Baker has just moved into Pacific Place. Whilst not my first port of call for clothing they do have some great winter dresses (Aneeka and Mimmi are gorgeous) perfect for the awkward December wedding, 78 millionth black tie do and the hideous office party. Gosh, do I sound stroppy? Sorry, on a lighter note poke your nose into some gems along Staunton Street. My advice is to book dinner for about 8pm at Tribute or Chez Patrick and then head up there at 7.15, give yourself an hour of boyfriend free browsing and then rock up and say the traffic was AWFUL!!! Newcomers include Mint & Lemongrass at number 32, stocking designery dresses, knitwear and coats. Present at 41 has yummy lace and silk slinky undies in gorgeous colours and Elements up at 61 has cute knitwear and fab bright velvet clutches which make ideal Christmas presents. An uber fashionable friend (who claims to have an allergy to shopping) recommended Select 18, a vintage store further down on the left, past the Aberdeen Street turning. It reminds me of a Notting Hill Boutique. They were asleep when I popped by, so make sure you call first (91273657 or 93106168). If you want more go to trusty Tiare at 53, for fab US labels and squirt on some of their baby spray (trust me), and then try on every single pair of jeans at Indigo at 32. Now hot foot it to dinner and smile sweetly.

joyce thinks she has big thighs

I mean, honestly, she's the size of a cotton bud. Joyce and I are close, we share the same views on boys, clothes, shoes, handbags, all the vital things in life. She is a style queen, she makes me laugh and the thought of losing touch with her makes me cry. Her hubbie doesn't like her vampy nail polish or her fab smokey eye make up, I tell her she looks like a fox. She is gorgeous, intelligent, kind and funny. She's also a seriously good shopper. I seethe with envy every time she returns from lunch with awesome new clothes, which she gets for the price of one of my pedicures. Yesterday I was lucky enough to be taken on a trip to her fave place on Wing Kut Street in Sheung Wan, to a small stall about half way down on the left. You have to hunt but they have great coats, dresses and tops for around HK$58 - HK$250. To find it look for all the fashiony types hovering around prizing out the great designer inspired pieces. Joyce bought a gorgeous cropped navy jacket with a wrap over collar. I got a teal polo neck for HK$50 and next door snaffled a cosy cardigan which was HK$89. On the way back we stopped off at her favourite bargain jewellery store, KingsiCe Camkang at number 30, it is totally overwhelming, you have to stand back and drink in the necklaces, hair bobbles, earrings and quite a bit of naff stuff. Success again, we purchased three great necklaces and I couldn't resist a hair bobble with a krispy kreme donut on it. Joyce bargained us down to HK$350 for the lot. Joyce you rock x

like mother like daughter

M&S (or "Marks and Sparks", or just "Marks") has been a lifelong institution in my family, thanks to my extremely stylish Mother and Grandmother. Despite Granny's 91 years she still hankers after a pair of Per Una silver pumps and absolutely loves her trips to the M&S food hall for Chicken a l'Orange. I popped by the large M&S branch in Kowloon Bay recently (having spent an hour in B&Q pulling my hair out) and told myself I deserved a little pressie. It came in the form of exhibit a (left), a cropped jacket in a divine teal blue with pearly black buttons. Smart with black trousers for work and cool enough with jeans at the weekend. At HK$550 Mother would be proud. Thank god it is finally getting cold enough to wear it.