Today is a calm one after a busy few days — a string of moments, big and small.
People are Watching — Spooky……
At school alumni drinks — my first in a few years — people kept mentioning my weight loss. It’s been just over two years, so I’d almost forgotten about it myself. The same came up with others I caught up with over the weekend who I hadn’t seen in a while. But what struck me more was how many of them have been following my journey on social media. The thread is consistent: they’re watching. They’re interested. They’ve been following a story I didn’t fully realise I was telling.
Feral Children
On Friday, I joined my kids and their school on a beach cleanup — something I’m able to do now with my new set-up, without feeling guilty about being glued to my phone.
Watching primary school students genuinely care about the environment was encouraging. But the real win? Seeing my children actually play. They went wild in the sand — running, digging, soaked and sandy, laughing without complaint. I worry constantly that kids growing up in Hong Kong’s concrete jungle are too “precious”, too resistant to getting dirty. We’ve tried taking our kids to the beach before only to have them refuse point blank. So watching them lose themselves in play, getting their feet and shoes wet and sandy without a single complaint? That was my biggest win of the week.
In Court — phew, not in trouble!
On Saturday, I was finally admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong. It’s an odd milestone — I’ve been practising law here for 20 years, but never needed to get admitted as I wasn’t practising Hong Kong law. The final step — my practising certificate — is in progress.
This was also my first time in a Hong Kong courtroom. It was a formal affair — fully suited with robes (no wigs though). We were in open court, with a judge administering proceedings, and court rules were observed throughout.
As many of you know, this is part of Rupen 2.0. The paperwork was lengthy. The partner at GPS Legal LLP, who moved me, said some genuinely touching words during the moment. My only concern: my son has now decided he wants to be a lawyer too.
Consistency
I’ve been struggling to keep writing recently. There’s been a lot on, but I’m honest enough to admit I’m also procrastinating. The irony is that when I actually push myself to write — like now — it flows and feels rewarding. I write almost every day, but most of it stays private. The reminder I keep coming back to: consistency and showing up matters more than perfection.
Encore!
Yesterday, my children performed at a piano recital at City Hall. They’re still very early in their piano journey, but stepping on stage publicly is a genuine achievement at any level. My daughter later admitted she was nervous — my son, true to form, insisted he wasn’t — but you wouldn’t have known it from either of their performances. Composed and confident throughout. We celebrated with lunch and ice cream afterwards.
Small wins and big milestones. Consistency. Showing up. That’s the week.