It’s been a busy week that aside from work has included:

• A check-up and clean at the dentist;
• Our favourite tree at our home in Australia being removed due to it’s death, possibly as a result of a lightning strike;
• A pre-dawn hike up Lantau Peak for a sparkling and chicken breakfast. As the second highest peak in HK, we were surprised to find a group of photographers had reached the summit earlier than us, especially as they were locals and most don’t tend to be out and about until after 10am. They were surprised by our dog and decided to take photos of her as well as the sunrise; and
• A buffet and champagne brunch at the Intercontinental which was a Christmas present we gave to ourselves. The guy next to us ate his money’s worth in three lobsters. I’m writing this and digesting simultaneously. I’d probably be better off if I just focussed on digesting.

With Chinese New Year approaching, it is necessary to have everything cleaned and scrubbed prior to the start of the festivities as it eliminates evil spirits. I’m not sure if this applies to teeth too but I didn’t want to take any chances in these uncertain times.

This was my first dental appointment in HK. A number of people had recommended the same dentist who happens to be conveniently located to my work so I had little excuse to delay an appointment.

I sat in a dental chair which closely resembles the one that I have at the hairdressers but the sink was beside me rather than behind and there was no offer of gossip magazines. There was no offer of tea or coffee either, just some disgusting tasting liquid to rinse my mouth. Instead, they had some great music playing through a surround sound stereo system as the dentist checked my pearly whites.

Deeming them to be “beautiful”, I’m happy about that because I’m still filling free, he then escorted me into the oral hygienist’s room. I guess it is not cost effective to have the dentist clean my teeth. There I lay in a similar chair and would have fallen asleep had it not been for the television on the ceiling.

This is an idea I’ve thought about previously for the hairdressers, the dentist and the place where I get my legs waxed. Any of these venues are suited to either a ceiling television or fish tank where I could peacefully watch fish swim over my head while having a treatment done.

Finally someone has done it. So there I was, with my teeth being buffed and polished, periodically rinsing and watching “Definitely, Maybe” with subtitles as it can be difficult to hear over the machinery they use.

Unfortunately my treatment was over before the film finished. Now I need to hire it.

* Thanks to Jamiroquai for the title to this post.