Sydney, Byron Bay Winter 2008

Zoe Ziegler is Trinity's best friend (since birth). Zoe held her birthday at a horse riding place in Sydney which involved ponies and pink iced cakes (what more could a girl want).

To the left is Zoe, Trinity and Amelia, good friends from daycare, London Carriage.

We also took time to go to the entertainment quarter at Moore Park to do some high jumping and tightrope walking. Trinity was incredibly brave and climbed up a high ladder without pausing. She gave it a number of goes and did not seem one bit frightened.

Next was Sid Sandberg's 70th birthday celebrations which was held at the community center in the housing area he and Carole (David's mum) live in. Sid is one of Trinity and India's many wonderful and loving grandparents.

It continues to be a blessing to have such an extended family network.

It was on to also another wonderful extended family event with Michelle and Niki having a wedding ceremony in Byron Bay.

Michelle gave birth to Ezra not long after the wedding, a beautiful baby boy.

David and I stayed at Rae's at Wategos Beach, with the owner being a mate of his from his living in Byron days. It was rainy and windy weather and we enjoyed the beach mostly to ourselves. Tal, a second cousin had a close encounter with a local turtle while we were there.

We also took the time to walk up to the iconic light house and breath in the fresh air at Australia's most easterly point.

Back in Sydney we held the second NeuroLeadership Summit in September - the first was is Asolo, Italy in 2007. It was held at the MCA on Circular Quay with spectacular weather and fascinating speakers. We had a good time, as did the participants (I hope!)

To the right is Lee Hull, Operations Director of the Institute, who did a stellar job of coordinating the event, and Kylie Evans, Regional Manager of our Australian business.

To the left is the irrepressible Dr Jeffery Schwartz from New York, who has partnered with David on writing an article for Strategy and Business Magazine in the States.

Maui, Las Vegas April 2009

For the first time for a while we had a family holiday. It was David and my tenth wedding anniversary, and we took a week to enjoy our relationship and family.

We chose the Sheraton on Maui as we wanted to not move for a week. No car, no bus, just walking, swimming, lounging and relaxing. Most of the day was spent by the pool, in the pool, on the beach and of course in the ocean.

Just in front of the hotel was a rocky cliff head that had a coral reef around it. There was a family of large turtles that would appear amongst the waves at various times of the day. The first day both Trinity and David had shocks as the turtles would swim underneath them, and an accidental kick would connect with a large turtle.

Trinity was extraordinarily brave, swimming with mask and flipper out past the waves to the reef and colourful fish, 20 meters out from the beach. David and I were amazed at her courage, and one of us was constantly by her side to help should she need it.

We took walks along the beach at sunset, ate ice cream and pizza, and generally had a great time. We left feeling relaxed, connected and ready for anything.

We flew to Las Vegas for a one day conference David was running. We checked into the hotel and found ourselves booked into a high rollers suite. It was enormous, with white and gilt fittings. Quite something, with a view over the dolphin filled pools below (of course!).

The hotel also had Roy & Siegfields Lion and Tiger sanctuary as part of the property, as well as a 'live' volcano out the front (sadly closed for maintaince). Got to love Las Vegas.

On the first night in Vegas David admitted he was now official ready to get married to me, so I called up Elvis and organised a renewing of the vows.

Elvis walked me down the aisle, and David promised to be my hunk-a-hunk a love, and I in return, vowed other things from various Elvis songs. The girls were our witnesses and we all crooned at the end. Very satisfying. ( I only have proofs).

So after all that we went to see the dolphins, and the tigers and lions. The cages were so small and I felt a sense of dark satisfaction thinking of Roy's attack by a lion a number of years ago. Terrible, and true.

We went to the Bellagio, saw the fountains dancing to music, and the amazing flower displays in the lobby, including little houses with butterflies fluttering around inside. There was also a chocolate fountain which transfixed Trinity.

If you haven't been there, Las Vegas is such a torn town. Beauty, creativity, amazing resources, partnered with gambling, and any way to hide from ourselves.

David and I lashed out and got a very expensive babysitter (it is after all, Vegas, and you want to have a good one). We went to the tables and played some Texas hold'em. We won lots and left the tables on a high. I got to go shopping the next day to buy myself something pretty ; ).

And then it was time to leave. I took India and Trinity late in the evening onto a plane from Vegas to LA and had the delight of managing two sleeping children, luggage and a stroller onto a bus to change terminals. We got on the plane (just) and made it safely home while David went on Dallas to run another conference.

Singapore, Asolo May 2007

This was the first trip of with our new baby India. We traveled from Sydney to Singapore, for a week to break the travel, while David had some business development meetings. Trinity was sick and couldn't take advantage of the hotel pool which is her normal thing to do. India was a koala bear at four months of age - stuck to mum. At least we got to explore Sentosa, and take a ride on the cable car across the Singapore harbour.

We then flew to Venice and then drove an hour to Asolo where the first NeuroLeadership summit was to happen in a weeks time. This was perhaps the most intense plane leg I have been on, and India was not happy by the end, screaming the entire drive to our apartment. We were all sick on arrival and there were trips to doctors, finding a pharmacy etc. Thankfully we were fully supported by the team at Cimba. Al's 2IC Christina was particularly an angel.

David disappeared to make things happen with the summit, while I handled the sick kids. We were in the most fantastic small town - where nobility spent summers when Venice became too hot. Spring had flowers blooming, warm temperatures and a magical atmosphere. We could see all the way the Dolomites from our apartment window.

The only downside was the venue for the summit (where David went to work each day) was about a kilometer up a hill, with cobbled streets. Sounds lovely,until you strap on a child and push a stroller all the way up. I think I lost about five kilograms while in Asolo. A hard thing to do considering the quality and quantity of the food and wine (and hospitality of Al Rhingleb, head of the business school head quartered there).

The summit went on, and was successful with fifty participant from different corners of the globe. David was thrilled, and many interesting conversations were had between the scientists and practitioners.

Shortly after the summit we held a leadership retreat for the heads of Results business units from around the world, including South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. This was one of our first steps transforming into a more professional business.

David's sister, Deborah, who lives in Paris also came to visit. We roamed the countryside by bus with her help while David worked. We got to see sculptures, and other fabulous things that I could not have managed on my own. We visited Passagno where the sculptor Antonio Canova was born and worked. We also saw Bassano with a beautiful river with Trinity starting on her journey as a photographer.

After we had completed all our work in Italy we took some time off to hang out in Venice for a few day. We saw lots of beautiful things - the bridge of sighs and of course took a gondola ride. San Marco Piazza, the Doge's Palace, the Academia Galleria, the Peggy Guggenhiem Collection and the various squares and bridges and churches were in our itinerary.
Then on to New York, but that is for another post....

Hyams Beach, Avoca December 2005

The time had come to leave our lovely apartment by the sea. Going to sleep with the sound of the ocean has been soothing and healing as we have gone through the business stress of the last two years. The view of Bondi Beach each morning, the northern sun streaming in all winter, and being able to see where the best swimming spot is from the balcony. All this is over for the time being.

We are truly busting at the seams from a small two bedroom apartment with minimal storage, an office at home, including people coming to work here most days and a one and a half year old child.

Miraculously, across the road a house had become available, so we moved in. We love Fletcher St so much, it is a relief to know we are not moving far, and will not loose all the neighbours and friends we have here.

We could not have described a better house for us. A veggie patch and compost in the front so we get to talk to neighbours as they walk past, and a trampoline where the kids can jump while we garden. Out back is a Balinese style garden with a hot tub and splash pool. And a kitchen to entertain with. Heaven after our tiny apartment.

Just like shopping, as soon as the fridge is full, it is time to go out for dinner. So we go to Hyams Beach for Christmas, south of Sydney to stay in a big house with my family. Sue and David (Nana, right and Granddad) meet us there with my brother Stephen (reading to Trinity below) and his partner Steve. Michael and his family have other obligations.

Trinity constantly attacks the Christmas tree, re-hanging the baubles, again. The food is overwhelming, as is Christmas in my family. We trundle down to the beach for a lazy swim. Hyams beach is in Jervis bay, a protected lapping beach with, so the Guiness Records say, the whitest sand in the world. Perfect for a little girl.

The favourite present is the dinosaur tail that roars if you press a button and can be worn to compliment any outfit.

We came back in time for New Years Eve and our friends Siani and Guys wedding. It is a nice continuation as Guy was at our wedding too. The ceremony is held on a private beach overlooking Sydney Harbour Bridge, which always has spectacular fireworks displays on this night. Half way through the ceremony a sky writer draws two love hearts in the sky. Guy immediately claims false credit and the crowd goes ohh, ahhh!

We dance into the night, and Trinity falls asleep on my chest (hard to get baby sitting on new years eve!)

We then took of to Avoca where Davids step mom Monica (Oma) has a lovely apartment overlooking the beach and a seventies garage fitted out for the 'kids' who all now have kids of their own.

We loll around, and do very little. Eat too much and occasionally swim. There is something about daggy environments that allow me to do much less then normal.

And cheeky girl that she is, Trinity continues to get in trouble.

Paris, New York - October 2004

We left Sydney after the festival of the winds at Bondi Beach. The blue sky was enlivened with riotous coloured kites which fascinated and amazed Trinity.

This trip we went to Paris to meet with Alexander Calliet, one of David's mates. Trinity and I tagged along for the ride. It started with British Airways losing our luggage. It was cold so we had to go out and go shopping with the lost luggage allowance that our insurance provided.

In fact we didn't need a thing as we were staying with the Calliets who have young children of similar ages so we used their clothes. But still we shopped, stockpiling hip Parisian clothes the next size up. See Lili being chased by Alexander in a playground, and Trinity midway down a slide below.

Janice, Alexanders partner is a fabulous cook and we ate garlic and butter snails fresh from the market in their apartment over looking the Eiffel tower. It was night so every ten minutes the lights sparkled. Trinity and I got up and danced to the imagined music that goes along with the sparkles.

Deborah, Davids sister lives in Paris too, so we got to meet up with her and run through the Marais with hordes of children and, of course, the ever present chaos. And the playgrounds in Paris don't have the avoidance of litigation at their heart, so there were wonderful swings, flying fox type equipment and much dangerous fun for kids and adults alike.

Then we moved on to New York....David worked with Dr
Jeffery Schwartz at a presentation at the Harvard, while we rented an apartment in Times Square, with Toys R us right next store. David was also building the graduate certificate at New York university were we had built a commerical alliance.

We did a brief trip to Washington DC for David to speak at the Positive Psychology conference run by Martin Seligman, founder of that movement (left). We also got to sit in on sessions with people like Csíkszentmihályi who created the concept of being in flow. Lots of food for thought, though mostly a little academic, with little linked to how to apply the concepts being discussed.

Back in New York we spent time on the weekend in Central Park, with David's favourite destination - the roller disco. There were a number of characters skating round the small track, doing their thing. My favourite was the guy who did the slow motion run, backward with a water bottle on his head. We also came upon some folks giving free advice, which David loved the concept of.

We got to hang out with my good friend Marni too. Then a wonderful thing happened. We decided to get out of the Times Square apartment and stay somewhere else and got connected to a wonderful space downtown in Soho, with a kind family who welcomed us into their home for the rest of the trip. Then we headed home to Sydney.

Mudgee & Byron Bay - March/April 2004

Georgia Lush, one of our long standing (and perhaps long suffering) employees got married in March to Frasier Slack-Smith. It was a lovely afternoon, with the wedding held in a vineyard west of the Blue Mountains, completely appropriate for a Lush event. I think Trinity found a kind of peace sitting on a barrel of wine.... a sign of things to come?

The next month we went to Byron Bay to meet up with an American friend of David's, Alexander Calliet, who was running a workshop in Brisbane with a business associate of his Ken. Both had brought along partners and children. We rented a beach front house on Tallows beach, ate feasts and swam each day. So great to meet people with common interests and great business ideas.

Showing people around this part of Australia is great fun. We visited the light house at the eastern most point of Australia, the Byron markets and generally reveled in the sunshine after a stressful phase in our business.