If you are in the UK already, I trust you will agree with me that it is cold (and it’s not even snowing in London yet). I’ve lived here 13 years now and I still can’t bear it. So I asked my Hong Kong friends who lived abroad for years, as well as a few Brits, their advice on how to stay warm in temperate climate.

May I add, one of the most ridiculous British understatements to me is calling the winter weather “chilly”. I insist it is cold.

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Master your central heating ⦁ 學識控制中央暖氣系統

First, turn your heating on if this is an option. Remember most central heating systems here have timers, so take the time to learn the controls and set it up properly. You can set it to be cooler during the night and to turn on in the morning. If you leave home for work you can make it come on shortly before you come home.

Check your radiators – are they all working properly and getting hot from bottom to top? Radiators have valves that control how much hot water flows through, so experiment with them to get the right setting (sometimes they can get too hot). If a radiator is not getting hot at the top it might have air trapped in it. To fix this you need to ‘bleed’ the radiator. Here’s a guide how to do that.

If all the radiators are working nicely you can use the valve to control each one and put less heat into any rooms you don’t use.

If your boiler has a problem you will probably need to call a qualified gas technician, but one thing you can do yourself is check the water pressure. Download the manual to be sure, but the usual water pressure should be 1 bar and there is usually a pair of user-operable taps you can use to top it up. Open them both at once and you will hear water going in. Close them both when the pressure is at 1 bar.

Block all cold air ⦁ 唔好俾凍嘅空氣入屋

You have to stop heat getting out of your house and limit the cold air that comes in.

Obviously this means closing windows and not leaving doors open. You can also block up the gap at the bottom of the door with a draught excluder. This is a long roll of material that you can put against the door to block the air. You can buy them cheaply online, or get creative and make one out of anything. A blanket, a sheet, a towel or an old pair of trousers would work if needed, as long as they block that gap.

Close the curtails or blinds. This basically is an extra insulation layer between you and the outside. The glass conducts heat to the outside and you will be able to feel colder air flowing down from the glass. Close the curtains or blinds to limit the effect.

Warm your feet up ⦁ 腳一定要保暖

Wear some thicker socks or even try sheepskin or wool lined slippers. I dislike Uggs but there is a reason they are popular!

A friend suggested an electric heated foot pad that you can rest your feet on while you’re working. A good one appears to be around £30. Alternatively, get a hot water bottle for a few quid. You can use it to warm up your bed before you sleep, too!

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A coat is just the start ⦁ 淨係着褸唔夠嘅

A decent coat or jacket is the central item in keeping warm, but it is not enough on its own. No coat can keep you warm on its own – you need an overall strategy and to use accessories in the right way.

Layer up ⦁ 着多幾層衫

All Hong Kong friends in the UK recommend Uniqlo’s Heattech thermal. So if they are cheaper in Hong Kong, grab a few before you come to the UK.

In fact, Uniqlo or just a long sleeve shirt will do. The key is to layer up to trap your body heat. The bottom layer should be tucked into your trousers, or even your underwear if it’s really cold!

If you are a girl and wearing loose trousers, wear tights underneath.

Hats, gloves and scarves ⦁ 戴帽，手套同頸巾

This is obvious, but yes, a hat makes a big difference if you are outside for a long period. You will notice that it is your ears that get cold first, so a woolly hat or one designed to cover the ears will be a good choice. A hoodie does basically the same job.

Your hands also feel the cold quickly, so a pair of gloves make obvious sense. You might need a pair that covers your wrist properly so you can be fully wrapped up when you have hands in your pockets.

A scarf is a simple accessory everyone should have, even on a daily basis. Have it block up the neck of your coat and keep the ends inside as an extra layer on your body.

Your goal should be that these accessories fit together with your coat like a space suit so that there are no little bits of skin exposed.

Move your body! ⦁ 記得要郁，唔好企喺度戇居居！

If you are out and you are cold, move. Walk briskly. Tense your core. Bend your legs and even do a few half squats. Don’t just stand there, work your body a bit to generate some heat! London Lad’s Top Tip: rub your wrists together for an instant heat boost.