Meet Sally Gillespie

NHS Interpreter

Originally from Hong Kong, Sally Gillespie has lived in Northern Ireland for 35 years. She previously worked in the catering industry and now works as a freelance interpreter for the NHS.

Sally is deeply involved in community life. She currently serves as Secretary of the Northern Ireland Chinese Chamber of Commerce and as a management committee member of the Chinese Welfare Association. As a representative of CWA, she was honoured to act as a facilitator for the Bridges to China project. Her personal object — a three-legged feng shui toad — carries powerful memories of her late father and reflects her journey of resilience and perseverance.

Watch Sally’s Story

Video also available on Panopto

Three-Legged Toad

Today I brought with me this three-legged toad. It is a mythical creature, often shown as a round, plump toad with three legs, sitting on coins and holding one in its mouth.

In feng shui, the three-legged toad is believed to bring financial good fortune and ward off bad luck. The coin in its mouth symbolises money coming in. It is usually placed near an entrance, but not facing directly outwards, so that wealth “enters” rather than “leaves”.

When I first came to Northern Ireland 35 years ago, I carried one dream with me: to open my own Chinese restaurant. In 2001, I finally took that risk. I invested every penny I had to make that dream a reality.

Less than three months after opening, I received devastating news from Hong Kong that my father had passed away. My restaurant was still new and I was working tirelessly to build up customers. I simply could not leave and fly home. Because of that, I missed my father’s funeral. That regret has stayed with me all my life.

The years that followed were not easy. I had little experience managing the financial side of the business and debts grew quickly. I remortgaged my house to clear them. A year later, I had to sell my home entirely to settle further debts. There were moments when I truly felt I had reached the end of the road.

In 2003, I returned to Hong Kong for the first time to visit my father’s grave. During that visit, I walked into a small feng shui shop and found this three-legged toad. I did not buy it because I believed it would magically bring wealth. I bought it because, at that moment, I needed something to believe in.

For many people in Hong Kong, the three-legged toad symbolises prosperity. For me, it became something deeper. I placed it in my restaurant and it sat with me through long and difficult nights. It did not bring wealth, but it brought me strength and confidence when I needed it most.

My restaurant survived. It ran for ten years and even won several awards. After the global recession, I eventually sold it. When I left, the only thing I took with me was this little toad.

Every time I look at it, I am reminded of the darkest period of my life and how it shaped who I am today. My life has been full of ups and downs, but I have never given up. Whatever I do, I give it my full effort.

I do not encourage superstition, but I believe we all need something to hold on to during difficult times — whether that is faith, a person, a promise or even a small object like this toad.

Giving up is always the easy option. Facing problems and working through them requires courage. I am grateful that I chose not to give up — not on my restaurant and not on this project. Through this experience, I have made new friends and encountered opportunities I would never otherwise have known. It has enriched my life in ways I did not expect.