Village Bakery turns 1

Kit baked herself a cake.

BBQ dance party

Sounds fun. I like the "partners optional" bit. Hyuk hyuk.

Pun choi preparations

The temporary marquees set up in Shap Long means its pun choi time again. The big basin meal of abalone, goose web, chicken and other yummy stuff is a yearly celebration in the small village. 

 The pun choi all ready to be heated up.

A Mui Wo Christmas

I waylaid Santa as he was on his way to deliver sweets to the old folks' home in the village – on his bicycle, of course.

 Kit at the Village Bakery has fresh mince and pumpkin pies and gingerbread cookies.

At first I thought, well that's a funny place to sit, wouldn't the beach be better? Turns out that they were doing an audit of the public transport. On Christmas Day.

Village Bakery's grand opening

Kit's shop is open! The opening ceremony was so sweet, it felt like you were invited to a family gathering.

They're selling only white sliced bread today but the full variety will be up on Monday. So don't forget to stop by for a loaf.

Weekend happenings

Really looking forward to the next few weeks. The Village Bakery's grand opening is this Sunday. I walked past there and saw they are already starting to blow up the balloons and put up buntings so don't forget to check out the party at 11am.

The Discovery Bay flea market is on September 22... a Saturday for once. But if you miss that, there's the Chapel Flea Market on October 1 and 2. This flea market is my absolute favourite. I can spend a while day there shifting through the clothes and knick knacks.

Mui Wo rocks!

We may not have a bun festival which goes back hundreds of years but we do have a hip music festival that's into its seventh year. This year, despite the typhoon, there was a huge turn out for the weekend's bash. I even spotted metal barriers at the ferry pier... surely a first?

They also had more music stations, starting with one just outside the seafood centre. That was good because it set the mood for those coming off the ferry and heading to the beach. 

And the bands were good. This one, particularly... I think they were called Buskic. They didn't have expensive equipment – their drum box was just that, a box – but they managed to attract a large crowd. The lead singer had a lovely voice.

Silvermine Beach Resort, one of the festival sponsors, really got into the spirit of things. Their pub and snack store did a roaring business.

Apparently, they had quite a few famous local and Taiwanese bands playing over the weekend but I'm not savvy with the Cantopop scene. The leaflet mentioned ToNick, Yellow, Kolor, Killer Soap, Supper Moment and Ignite the Hope... must go and google them.

People had fun, and I think that was the most important thing.

Famous band being interviewed. Anyone know who they are?

Hope the festival will be even bigger next year!

Party on the pier

What's happening on top of Pier 6? They've been setting up what looks like an outdoor disco for ages but there doesn't seem to be any signs giving us a clue as to what it is.

More importantly, why are we not invited?

Easter egg hunt in Pui O

Want to win a remote-control helicopter? The egg hunt at Pui O Dreams (behind the garden centre in Pui O) is on today and tomorrow.

Happy egg hunting grounds?

They're also selling popcorn, candy floss, wines and organic teas... pity the food and drinks weren't ready when we were there.

Sevens heaven

Every year, we've watched as Mario and his pals board the ferry home after a night of Sevens partying and told ourselves: "We really must try it sometime." The LKF party was as good an excuse as any.

The calm before the storm.

Crazy crazy crowds.

But everything was in good fun.

Workshop Christmas party

Why do they hold these things on weekdays when I can't attend? :(

I so wanted to go for the charity concert at Cheung Sha too but it was on a Friday – when I was busy earning enough to keep Buffalo Wilbur in espressos.

Anyway, for those who can go, the Workshop X'mas Party is on Thursday, December 22, 2-5pm, with a gift exchange at 4.30pm. The Workshop is in Chung Hau village. Bet the party will be fun!

Nice noise

Some people complain that Mui Wo is getting noisier.

As I type this, there are sounds of Friday night revelry in the restaurants, loud conversations on the waterfront and thumping music from some of our neighbours next door. Somewhere, there is a faint clack of mahjong tiles being "washed".

But you know what, I really like it. I like that the place now seems to come alive on Friday and Saturday nights.

Last week, someone had a party on their rooftop or terrace, sending 80s music reverberating round town. Buffalo Wilbur and I danced to the music in our living room, uninvited guests to that party.

And folks round here are quite considerate so everything quietens down after 11pm anyway.

It's nice noise – the sound of people having fun in Mui Wo.

Trick or treat!

Mui came alive with the living dead – plus a few witches, fairies and princesses – at Bizzie Lizzie's Halloween Walk this afternoon.

There was a Harry Potter, a few pumpkins and a police girl but Spidey appeared to be the costume of choice.

At the end of the walk, there were a few tired faces... even of those who didn't actually walk.