Dad and Shawn. Living in Glenside for 3 weeks at a time was just great.

I love being with E.J.'s family - they are so cool.

We came down specifically for Tom's Graduation (EJ's brother) and we experienced many things on this short visit. We work during the day and play in the evenings.

We went to the Dad Vail Regatta (above), visited Ground Zero in New York City, and attended Tom's Graduation.

A major benefit of living in Toronto is being so close to Philadelphia [compared to how far away we are normally!].

I got into the habit of getting up around 7am and having a lovely first cup of tea with Mum on the back patio (where E.J. is sitting, photo left.)

In the summer mornings it is beautiful sitting out at the side of their house, relaxing and talking and hearing the first sounds of the day - the birds.

Every morning we take a walk locally and in the evenings we go to the track with Tom and run.

It is so quiet and delightful to live in Glenside.

Their house is so big and so exquisitely decorated - it's like staying in an upmarket B & B!

Dottie [Mum] is an interior designer and every room is just perfect... one day she will offer her expertise to people all over the world!!

We also were able to combine this trip to Philadelphia with completing the Landmark Education "Communication Personal Power" Course [CPP].

It is the 2nd part of the Communication Program and we learned a lot. It was the first time we were in the Philadelphian office of Landmark Education, and we met some great people there.

Miriam, our Landmark coach for the week, and her husband Stewart invited us over to their place for dinner in Philadelphia, we had a really fun time. (photo, left)

It was a strange to have NEW friends in Philly, as everyone we know we have known for years and in Vibodha's case years and years.

We went for a walk in the forest behind their home and got home around 2am!!

Landmark Education has had the single most impact on our journey of enlightenment ~ I highly recommend it.

Visit the Landmark site here: Landmark Education

The aftermath of the 911 attacks on the USA are still prevalent here.

You can feel something in the air.

We wanted to go to the site of the World Trade Center and pay our respects to the many people who lost their lives on that atrocious day.

The New Yorkers now refer to the "site" as Ground Zero.

There were many people looking around that day and it was a sad sight to witness.

We traveled into New York by expressway and the first time we really felt the "loss" directly was passing the lower tip of Manhattan...

The absence of these powerful towers, was a shock!

We both cried as we were reminded freshly again of that horrible act of terror.

View our Tribute to New York City
- Photos Pre 911

or alternatively See Ground Zero as of May 2002

At our report of Ground Zero

We also spent some time with Shawn [sister] and her boyfriend Chris, who is wonderful.

They live in Brooklyn!!

They are both great musicians.

Chris plays the base and Shawn is the singer in their band "Lapis Luna".

If you know anyone who wants to book a GREAT BAND in the New York or East Coast area check out their website www.LapisLuna.com.

They have done some great weddings on Long Island too!

They both LOVE the retro era and their flat in Brooklyn reflects that ~ it is so funky!!

This is Chris practicing!

I love hanging out with them we always have a LOT of good times!!

We took a long walk around Brooklyn to get a real feel of what this place is like.

Living here, in New York, is so amazingly different from anywhere else ~ I can see why people come and don't ever leave.

We watched the New Yorkers go about their daily business.

We saw small corner grocer shops manned by Italian families.

There were kids playing in the streets oblivious to the fact that most other kids do not get the "streetwise" education of growing up in what is arguably the best city in the world!!

I would like to live in New York for a while.

I think it would be a LOT of fun!!