Ever wondered what it was like to be on the sick list in Hong Kong 175 or even 150 years ago? You might think twice about going to hospital when the 'nurses' were low-paid servants with no training other than that the doctor managed to give them and the 'matron' was actually the Wardmaster - likely to be a discharged sailor who found it difficult to remain sober for two hours together. To say nothing of the hospital itself which suffered from the diseases of wet rot, dry rot, decay, defective construction and white ants. Successive Colonial Surgeons were near despair. What did the first six London trained nurses, fresh off the steamship (they'd been given first class passages, as they were all 'ladies') make of it all in 1890? Find out more this Thursday, 9th February at Cafe 8, Pier 8, when the RASHK is hosting my talk 'Ministering Angels - 80 years of Nursing in Hong Kong'. 7pm start - register with the RAS, walk ins welcome according to space - see RASHK website for more details.