New York June 2009, part 2

As always, I leave this town with my head spinning. It takes time to adjust, and get into the rhythm and just as I do, it is time to leave.

This trip has been a good one. We found, thanks to Jaimie and Joe, a great venue for David's book launch on October 13th (see the view to the right). Our friend Ara helped us come up with a fabulous idea for the launch, which we will keep under our hats until the event.

Trinity tried out Tai Kwan Doe, which she loved. We watched eight year old's spa, and were impressed by their energy and focus. She loved chasing around the instructor trying to land a blow with both fist and foot.

Summer camp run by blue school allowed Trinity a week of hanging out with other kids and doing great creative projects.

One of the big events of the trip was going out to Coney Island to see the Mermaid parade which happens around the summer solstice each year. Sadly it was raining this year, so the parade ended early.

We walked along the board walk past lots of amazing creatures and costumes. Our favourite was the sea creature, which India was entranced by, as he ate his fish and chips under cover during the rain. We all dressed up, with Trinity as a mermaid (including a blond wigand a shell shaped bra top). Unfortunately I didn't get any good photos but it was great fun for her.

Coney Island is an interesting place. The fun fair has lots of great rides for little kids, though operating intermittently due to the rain on the day. I was tempted by the 'Shoot the freak' game (!). We were deeply sad to miss the hot dog eating competition that was due to take place in 12 days.

Trinity and I also had the pleasure of going to the Broadway show 'The little Mermaid'. Last time she saw the 'Lion King' with her father, so this time we got to sing along with Ariel. We then walked around Times Square which is now a more pedestrian place, as they have fenced off many of the roads to allow for the vast amounts of tourists that walk around there each year.

The trip ended on a high note. We got to JFK burdened with the normal extra luggage collected in NYC and found that we had been upgraded to business class the whole way home. Ahhhh, such happy events.

New York, June 09

I love New York. It is such a great town. We arrived Wednesday night, way too late, and on Thursday afternoon went to the last hour of the last day (before summer break) of Blue School with Trinity. The kids and teachers greeted her with joy and excitement.

One of the children, Charles was having his birthday party that afternoon so we gate crashed the party, which happened to be one of the most amazing birthday parties I have ever been too.

Held in a photographic studio on the waters edge, there was soccer, t-shirt painting, floating balloons, dress-ups, plays, dancing and great food. What an entry to New York. I connected with the mothers, arranged some play dates, drank some champagne. Such hard work.

I feel very blessed to be part of the blue school community, the parents are open hearted and welcoming to us, the kids are bold and creative and it feels like coming home in many ways. Trinity fits right in. David is on the board of the school and contributes the latest neuroscience to the curriculum. See the Time magazine video here.

We are also blessed to stay with the Cloud Levine household in NYC. They open their space to us, and allow us to be as chaotic as we are! We have common ground in growing businesses, and similar values in improving our world. Jaime runs sustainability training for K-12 teachers across the US, and David is a sustainable chemical composition guy, who lobbies the government about recycling materials, makes jars out of corn and other fantastical things.

Other big news is that Trinity has two new teeth coming up in front at the bottom. Unfortunately the two teeth already there need to make way, so we are waiting with baited breath for the tooth fairy to arrive for the first time.

Prague, Czech Republic June 09

David left for London to teach his class at Oxford and pitch some business, while the girls and I flew from Singapore to Frankfurt and then on to Prague. I had heard a great deal about the beauty of Prague, so was a little disappointed in the first few days walking around. High expectations can do that.

I found that Prague grows on you. Walking through the old town is beautiful at every turn. The squares are surrounded by amazing old clock towers and churches. Every building has an ornate front, sculptures and friendly gargoyle types. And the river winds its way through the city. Our first day we took random tram trips all over the city to get the lay of the land. The next day we went to Prague Museum which was filled with thousands of stuffed dead animals.

Summer in Europe is never to be trusted, especially with global warming. It was almost arctic so I spent time searching for warmer clothes for the girls. Luckily our rented apartment was wonderfully warm.

David arrived, and he and I focused on business. The reason for our visit to Prague was a Leadership Retreat for our businesses licensees from around the globe. Sadly a couple of them couldn't make it, so with three of our team from Australia we met as a group of 12 and had two days of solid talking and thinking about where we want to take our business, and what is next for us as a business. Really worth while, and a precursor to our next meeting in late July in Sydney with our regional managers from around the world, from markets we manage.

After the retreat was over we got to enjoy Prague again with the girls, by visiting Prague Castle and most importantly a toy museum with a '50 years of Barbie' exhibition. It just doesn't get better then traveling half way around the world to walk through rooms full of barbies.

The Czech people seem to be an outdoor loving group (that and fatty foods), with a decided lack of politeness for tourists. Overall a lovely city, and glad we had the opportunity to experience it (with the help of locals - thanks Vladi and Kristin).