Pearl & Agate Jewellery, a Hong Kong Christmas & Skull Beads

To see the full HTML colour version with photos click http://www.mrbead.com/middecember13.htm

Still time to order beads for Christmas! For Free Shipping off anything enter STILLTIME in the box at checkout, and click "Redeem Coupon". Use NOW - as expires Sunday 15th December 2013. No minimum order, but only for use at MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk and not with other discounts or eBay. For free fast express airmail (4-days usually), scroll down for our EMS offer. Orders from Hong Kong after this will be delayed.

However, we can still get beads to you fast, right up to Christmas Eve! For our (limited) bead stock in the UK & eBay click: Mailed from Luton. Orders here should reach you in a couple of days in the UK (but allow longer). Discount vouchers can't be used, but UK P&P is only 99p for most items and we still mail over the holiday.

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Pearl & Agate Jewellery

Click to see pictures here.

This time of year golden brown jewellery looks great. These pearl and agate chip bead necklaces are on sale in a Norwich jewellery shop for just £35 with their 70% off discount. Very easy and inexpensive to make.

See our Chip Beads: MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com
Our Pearl Beads: MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com

Hong Kong Christmas

This Christmas MiMi and I will be in the UK in Norfolk and Luton - enjoying the cold with log fires and barrels of real ale (for me at least). If you're in the fine city of Norwich, we'd love to buy a fellow beader a drink - email or call me on 07831024109.

However, do you long to escape the cold this time of year? Do you wonder what Christmas is like in Hong Kong? Well, it aint as you think! The festive season is best cold – at least frosty outside. Everyone loves snow, but icy can be beautiful too. One does not miss something until it’s lost.

Hong Kong is cold this time of year, 10 to 14 degrees, can be more – but with little heating, it feels freezing inside. MiMi and I use an electric blanket. Outside is better, wrapped up and usually dry and sunny. Tinsel and carols are everywhere – but it feels hollow. Merry, not magical - I love a cosy, quaint atmosphere.

Christmas somewhere hot, like the Philippines is no better. It’s nice to get out of the cold, but if you live in the Far East, most of the year is scorching. Mainly were basking in air-con. You see, we can boil in the sun anytime – Christmas should be different, special.

However, here in Hong Kong we enjoy British festive TV, wine, turkey and mince pies. That’s if you’re a gwelio, a foreign devil. I guess its nostalgia - my friends down under prefer throwing king prawns on a pool-side barbe.

Chinese New Year is more fun - especially as it brightens the New Year lull. In 2014 it’s on January 31st – Year of the Horse. Sure to rock! All about at Year of the Horse.

Skull Jewellery is Still Popular!

New trend
Skull jewellery is still in fashion. Especially with the young, who wear skull rings on their fingers and hang skull pendants on their bags. The media adds to the craze with many celebratory discreetly showing skulls. Hot hip hop artists like King Ice make sure skulls are in by wearing them on expensive shamballa bracelets.

Buddhism
Originally skull jewellery was only a Tibetan Buddhist thing. Skulls have a negative context in Western culture, but to Buddhists they remind them to focus on reaching Nevada. The ultimate rebirth, when one finally escapes the suffering of terrestrial life - the final goal of their cycles of death and rebirth. Seeing skulls prevent Buddhists from wasting time building their ego or wealth, all of which becomes useless upon death.

Gothic
Modern gothic culture has some similarities to Tibetan or Vajrayana Buddhist. Goths like to highlight suffering, so as to contrast from living and create an optimistic outlook. This similarity is rather like the oriental concept of yin and yang – opposite and constant flowing forces. Increase yin, and yang with decrease, and vice versa. Likewise, draw attention to death, and life with become brighter.

Why wear skulls?
To others, skulls remind that we all have to die. Skulls show that life is not permanent and are a symbol that we are all flirting with death. In this context they represent a quest to survive, a reminder to be careful. For the same reason hot-rodders hang a furry dice inside their cars. A sign of danger.

Rock Stars
In the world of rock music, skulls have always been worn by the stars. Every rocker sports a white metal skull ring, or a skull bracelet or necklace. Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones has worn a skull ring since the early seventies. Ozzy Osbourne and Axel Rose would never be seen without skull jewellery. To them skulls don’t just represent a fling with death, but a symbol of survival.

Rebels
Some link the skull image to rebellion, explaining why pirates fly the skull and cross bones. Outlaws to society want to show they live by their own values, and will not be forced into a way of thought by others who have an alternate and often immoral motive. Many people hate the way corrupt governments or greedy capitalists try to manipulate their hard earned cash.

This reasoning leads to the wearers’ of skulls believing that they deter people from messing with them. Similar to old seagoing pirates flying their flag to frighten others away - and in conflict, the hope other ships would surrender without a fight.

Whatever you think, there is no denying that skull jewellery is still big. Just look around to see for yourself.

See our skull bead category at MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk
Wicked Gothic Skull Jewellery at our sister store: AwesomeRings.com
See our new shamballa section at MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

Free EMS Express Airmail on orders over US200 or £130

To guarantee your order arrives in good time, we're offering free express air service. This usually takes about 4 days - but allow over a week for the Xmas rush. To claim key code EMS at the checkout at MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk. Offer to Sunday 15th December 2014 only - so order NOW! For use in our store at the checkout only and not valid for wholesale, for less than above minimum, or with any other offers.

NigelHayMckay.com

Read about the man behind MrBead and watch him make a fool of himself, his resent trips and what he eats in China at NigelHayMckay.com. Much from these newsletters on beads is already on the site + a lot more with photos, and there will be a even more in the future.