🌿 A New Season Begins

Hello again — it’s been a while!

When I first started Seasons with Jade, I created this space to reflect, to share, and to connect through the different stages of life and work. Then, like many of us, life shifted — new chapters unfolded, priorities changed, and the blog quietly paused.

Now, after some seasons of growing, returning back to my home country, having additional members in my family, taking a career break and rediscovering what truly matters, I feel ready to write again.

Since I last posted, I’ve taken bold steps — leaving a stable HR career in Asia, relocating to London, navigating a new job market, embracing new roles, including that of a part-time realtor while I return to my home country with an additional member to my family.

   

Having taken on caregiving responsibilities as a parent and subsequently stepping away from full-time work, I found myself at a crossroad — balancing personal commitments with professional aspirations.

It hasn't been a straight path, but it’s been rich with learning.  And with each twist and turn - including finding myself becoming a pawrent as well! - , I’ve collected reflections, stories, and insights I’m finally ready to share.

So what can you expect from this blog now?
✨ Honest reflections on career transitions
✨ Stories from my experience in HR, job hunting, and working across cultures
✨ Thoughts on art, creativity, and purpose
✨ And maybe a few musings about navigating change as a woman, a working professional, a lifelong learner, a mother / parent and even as a pawrent!

Whether you’re new here or you’ve read my older posts — thank you for being part of this journey. I’m not here to pretend I have it all figured out. I’m here to explore, with intention and heart, what each new season brings.

Today (kindly let me mark the date - 6th August 2025), I’m writing from a different season of life.

In fact, as I write this, I’m in the midst of job hunting and taking up some courses — exploring whether to switch career paths, return to a familiar role, or even discover new possibilities that align better with my evolving life stage.

Let’s begin again, with grace and curiosity. 🌿 

Warm regards ❤️,

Karen Woo a.k.a Jade

My 'international movement group' contribution

Just something for the memory bank.  Here's my 2 cents worth sharing - to the International Movement group.

Sharing from personal experience — I gave up a relatively stable HR career in Asia to relocate to London. While I was hopeful about new beginnings, the reality of breaking into the UK job market has been far from a bed of roses.  The economy has turned pear-shared in the year I relocated to London.  Despite years of HR experience under my belt, the economic climate has shifted, and so have the rules of engagement.

For fellow job seekers making a similar leap, here’s my honest takeaway: be prepared to compromise, stay adaptable, and remain open to unexpected opportunities. The path may be winding, but every season brings its own lessons.

Finally, this may sound rather clichéd but I still believe persistence and focus is the key to a successful job search!   

If I were to sum up my job search experience in a single sentence, then it has to be inspired from the core philosophy and motto of the novel, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!!!

I know I have not been blogging. Probably best to start off with something good for the soul. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"  This is written in the context of the work environment but this phrase is definitely applicable in our personal life as well.

Tip of the month: The long term benefits of being honest with our colleagues (in the right way) goes a long way!

In a world where we’re becoming increasingly anxious about protecting those who are closest to us, are we doing them more damage than good in the long run?

Are you fearful to delivering an negative feedback to your peer  

If you are 

Whether it’s fear of giving an important performance feedback to a colleague, or worrying about telling your flatmate you are moving out, we are becoming increasingly concerned about damaging those we are close to. 

The common belief that people will crumble at their first setback runs the risk of preventing organisations driving their people to perform at their very best. In an environment where people are afraid to express their true opinion, communications can become lost and employees fast lose interest.

However, some refreshing research has recently emerged proving the old saying to be true that ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’. Mark Seery and his colleagues investigated the effect that exposure to life adversity has on individuals’ mental state and particularly their resilience. They recently published results showing that those with a history of some lifetime adversity reported better mental health (including life satisfaction and functional impairment) than those with either high or no life time adversity. This neatly shows that those who experience small setbacks actually turn out more resilient than those who are exposed to good news only.

Just like a small fall makes a child more careful in future, being honest with our colleagues, when done in the right way, makes a stronger workforce all round.

Source: Seery, M. D. et al. (2010). Whatever does not kill us: Cumulative lifetime adversity, vulnerability, and resilience. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

£50 note found in my office!

A typical workday while you go about clearing your work emails.  What I did not expect is to find humour in the most mundane of a typical workday.

E-mail from the finder - "If anyone is feeling ‘lighter’; I am in possession of a crisp £50 note...."  (not a packet of potato crisps!).  

I am immensely amused by the British sense of humour and truly appreciate the honesty of my co-worker.  In this case, finder isn't the keeper. 

Apparently, there are some who are so well-paid (yes - despite all the talks about compressing banker's pay etc in the UK) that the crisp note is being found by one of my colleague lying somewhere abandoned. 

My personal X'mas greetings creation

Putting the true meaning of X'mas:




A closer shot of above:

New 2nd nest

October 2010 new office move - Let's take a quick peep into the interior:


greeted by the lovely views as you look out of the windows.  






Finally, this is yours truly pretending to look busy (yah sure - very 'convincing' - when even the seat is still in its wrapper!!)

An employee (yours truly) documenting her joy and excitement on her new office move.  She has even described her office as her second nest.  Without going into the review of data to demonstrate how workplace strategy (ie, the design and use of workplace environment) is able to enhance employee experience and improve employees' performance and productivity, I could already feel the positive vibes in the work environment.      

Open space of workstations lined with low cabinets encourages collaboration, meaningful work discussions and ready "counters" for us to put loads of snacks, doughnuts and cookies for sharing.  (Sharing of calories as well!).  No more cluttered and messy work station.  Spacious desk with two computer monitors (HR data analytics and having to work on huge Microsoft excel spreadsheets) just the right storage space, ergonomic office seat.  What more can an employee ask for?      

Open terrace roof top garden, office cafeteria within the building and one that comes with shower facilities 

Did I say that the office pantry (apart from the usual beverages such as coffee and tea), milk is also made available?

Speaking for myself, I am elated and eager to report for work and feeling at home in this brand new office.  A high employee engagement score indeed. 

Do effective team bonding activities have to be extravagant?

Reflections from an HR Perspective:

Team building — or team bonding — has become a buzzword in today’s workplace, often associated with escape rooms, trust falls, or after-hours socials. But does it have to be extravagant?

"That's xx for this year's team building budget."  In order to foster trust, collaboration, communication and morale among the workplace, it's mandatory for every function or department to organise an annual team building activity.  

"Not again?!!  I am really not keen to attend another "almost break my back and being fed alive by mosquitoes" offsite hiking at some deserted island!!"  exclaimed by my colleague who prided herself to report for work daily with pristine makeup and elegant dresses paired with sophisticated heels.  Are you secretly willing yourself to fall sick on that dreaded team building day as well?

The truth be told, what good does it make to the team by merely attending an one-off annual team bonding outing?  This is especially so if some staff felt that the management have twisted their arms into attending the activity.  Perhaps the only incentive that comes with it is the chosen location where the team activity will be held.  How about organizing it at the beach resort or perhaps an overseas trip to Korea?  

Sorry guys, I am afraid we are mindful of the corporate budget and keeping it simple this time so no Escape Room Challenge, Scavenger Hunt or any Overseas Company Retreat.

Fundamentally, the selected activity need to align with the team's goals and objectives.  While one can never please all, it's important to engage the team by doing a poll on a few alternative team building venue and activity that is within the company's budget and makes sense logistically, taking into consideration any feedbacks from past organised team building activities.   

The key is to ensure a relaxed non-work environment where everyone can let their hair down to have fun and not think about work.   

Presenting the champion team of the Christmas baking competition.

This is the standard of baking to aim for! These are baked by my colleague. All on this plate is edible. BTW - there were more on that silver plate but the photo taking couldn't beat those greedy fingers! That in itself is a great testimonials that my colleagues are having fun and enjoying the fruit of their labour.  It's very yummy bakes indeed! 



Look too good to be eaten, right? That gingerbread house even have a 'glass' window.. Err...I still cannot resist and ate one peanut and chocolate piece. Mmmmmm..yummy ... and that was after my very sumptuous team Christmas lunch I just had at The Vintry, Abchurch Yard... :)

Ok...back to the subject matter. Anyone want to make a guess what ingredients were used to make those edible Christmas wreaths?? :P

So back to the subject of Team Building.  Do Team Building Activities have to be extravagant for it to be effective?  What do you think?  Share your thoughts with us.

Company cafe is opened finally!

A X'mas seasonal meal - complimentary from our company cafe which officially cut their red ribbon on 17 December!

Glutton with a roasted new potato - yummmmmm yummmmmy!



I had my contingency plan (more food stored in the fridge). but apparently this free lunch comes in quite generous portion (surprise - see photo for close up shot) so can ditch contingency plan...

I am feeling very satisfised with the Turkey and winter seasonal vegetables topped with bread sauce and cranberry sauce. Even more satisfying to savour lunch against a white backdrop with good company.







(btw - that is our roof terrace garden..and it is now snowed under)

I guarantee Winter has officially arrived...

..because even my friend's doggie has a new coat!



Photo - Courtesy of the dog's owner of course! :)

work or food talk?

Have u ever wonder how you spend your time in the office? recently for my team - 50% work talk and a good 50% FOOD talk! LOL

See what I mean?

A colleague of mine is just obsessed with pie that he is thinking of forming a pie club!

So there you have it - our very own Institute of Pie



There are more examples of other food obsessions - chocolate caramel shortcake, Ben's cookies and more Ben's cookies

With X'mas round the corner, the office is just spotted with chocolates, cookies and treats everywhere. temptations too hard to resist.

I am not the only glutton around here.  Apparently - there seems to be house mice (I dun mean HOUSE mice) but some unethical people stealing our treats left on our table.  Imagine our horror the next morning when we discover empty chocolate and cookie boxes left! So beside work and food talk, we are now spending time logging 'missing' or 'stolen' belongings with Security!!

Woof woof

I cannot wait for this Saturday to come. It's so exciting..to be able to spend a day out with our flurry friends!

http://www.discoverdogs.org.uk/

cheers!