Singapore March 09

Time with David is sometimes hard to get. So much so that we have to travel, as we did this time, to Singapore to catch up. A week in the warm weather of Singapore is always welcome as the food as fantastic. We stayed at a serviced apartment called Liang Court, right near the financial district and almost on top of Clarke Quay, a major restaurant and bar hub.

I decided that it was time to do the full tourist thing with the girls and took the week off. We went on a river boat, to the Asian Civilisation Museum, a Hindi temple, and to a China town immigrants house museum. Trinity asked lots of good questions, and the only sad spot was loosing 'sparkle barbie' while looking around China town.

For the weekend we moved to the Sentosa Shangri La, which is a five star resort on the South China Sea. It is a 'created' tropical environment, next to a major shipping lane. The upside is it is possibly the best place in Asia for kids. Great food, amazing pool, full service kids club, and, wait for it, three water slides.

The girls love it. and so do we as we sit on the sun lounges in front of the slide pool and watch them go up and down, up and down, up and down. We even have peacocks joins us at the breakfast buffet.

On the Satuday afternoon we went to the Zoo, and then on to the night Safari, which was well organised, smooth, and a general delight. The best part was just on closing time at the zoo as they prepared to feed the lions behind the scenes. The roars where spectacular.

Sydney Summer 09

Summer is always so magical in Sydney, with so much happening and generally good weather. We enjoy where we live taking advantage of the beach when we can. Sometime a trampoline and hose will suffice though.

As part of the Sydney festival there was a Dawn Chorus performance at Bondi Beach one morning with the Sydney Philharmonic Choir. The girls and I got up and went down to hear the beautiful voices in the still dawn. It was magical and worth the early rise.

India started day care and was a brave trooper, carrying her own bag and walking in with no prompting, ready to be entertained. Aside from a little separation anxiety she loves London Carriage, especially the singing and sandpit play.

Australia Day was spent at the bergs, being part of swimming relay team. I swam for Japan, as there was not enough team members, and we did exceptional well. I think it was rigged that we didn't come second. But like all things at the bergs, we know not how they work. We do know that it is great family fun, laid back and a wonderful community to be a part of.

India's 2nd birthday was on January 30th. We had a family party involving cupcakes (thanks Thersea and Siani).

Trinity started school this year. Her first day at Kindergarten was made easy by a buddy she was assigned called Asia. Trinity was brave and determined, and focused on fitting in. She loves Bondi Beach Public School, and loves running around the playground at the end of the day, just one more time. She also has a fairy house in the nook of a tree that she enjoys playing at.

Fiji, January 09

Outriggers on the lagoon was our last minute vacation for New Years. I checked my favourite travel guidance site trip advisor and off we went on an seven day adventure. We didn't have high expectations of Fiji. All we needed was a pool to sit by, with the ocean being a bonus.

We started off with New Years eve. We are talking limbo competitions and so on, a real family resort (gulp). We now realise we are a family and as such can benefit by attending a 'family' resort. Kids clubs are blessings, shallow pools are great, and other children are excellent distractions for our own smaller friends.

The food was awful, the service average, the pool excellent, and the holiday wonderful. We rode horses along the beach, visited a conservation and animal sanctuary. We lazed by the pool and ate. What more can you ask?

David and I got some time for massages and general relaxing.

The only sad comment was to see the decimation of the coral reef out front of the hotel. We were near a river outlet and the pesticides used by farms along the river have flowed out to the ocean and made the reef a waste land near by.

Sydney, December 2008

David and I started the Results business 10 years ago and we were thrown a ten year anniversary party by our Australian regional manager Kylie Evans, held in Sydney, which was lovely. In that time we have amassed a fortune in friendships and connections around the globe and for that we are extraordinarily grateful. We have also lived fully, traveled lots and had some amazing experiences.

Trinity 'graduated' from her day care place, London Carriage. The graduation ceremony was something to behold including the singing of the Australian national anthem. Tears came to the eyes for all the wrong reasons.

David also got the first NeuroLeadership Journal published, and we sent it out just before Christmas. Quite an achievement which David is deeply proud of.

Christmas was cold and gray only lit up by our Christmas tree making attempt using big blocks.

We traveled to Hyams Beach to be with my family. Sadly Trinity had a cold and the gray continued. Our surroundings were beautiful as was the normal excess of food that makes an Ellis Christmas.

New York October 2008

We came to New York this time to run the third NeuroLeadership Summit. It was also the run up to the US presidential election, and the air was full of noise. Come to think of it, that is always how New York is. The economic slump was barreling down, so a strange mix of hope and anguish as retirement funds halved, stock portfolios were left in tatters, and people lost their jobs.

Our summit was a great success, held near Time Square. The vibe of the participants and scientists was optimistic, and the room full to the brim. The best bit for David, I believe, was that Werner Erhart, the founder of Est was there (and is speaking at the next conference in LA).

I feel in a sense that it was a coming of age for David and his ideas, to have the top scientists in the field talking about the neuroscience with consultants and change agents from all over, thinking about how to apply the findings to their work and organisations. The feedback was extraordinary.

Our good friend Stuart Ziegler joined us to do the photography for the event. His ongoing support technologically, artistically and emotionally does wonders (thanks Stu).

It was Halloween. We carved pumpkins, wore funny clothes all day and generally tried to live the American dream, at least for the day. David Levine and Griffin, worked on inducting Trinity and India into the halloween thinking. The girls got dressed for school: Trinity was dressed as a fairy, while India was dressed as Dorothy the Dinsoaur. The big parade starts a couple of blocks from Wooster Street where we stay, so we watched start, and saw some wonderful characters, including monsters from 'Where the wild things are'.

During our visit Trinity and India both got to go to the Blue School for two weeks straight. India enjoyed the 2yr old class twice a week, while Trinity was in Kindergarten five days a week.

The light in the class rooms, the wonderful resources, and energetic teachers where a thrill to be in contact with. Trinity made some friends including Sidney her new pen pal (right).

It was also the run up to the US election. New York is a very blue state, all democratic, at least in Manhattan. On the day of the election the students at Blue School held a poll, and found that all but one student were pro Obama. We went to an election night party with my friend Marni, and shouted out from the balcony with the cars beeping on the streets below as the results became clear.

David and Stu went to Time Square to dance with the crazy crowds, strangers hugging, high fiving anybody moving. Then the long flight home.

Hong Kong August 08

A one week short trip for business allowed us to explore Hong Kong a little. It was mostly work, though the girls came along to enjoy the pool. It is hard to be tourist when it is so hot, and there isn't a resort at hand.

India seemed to get a taste for travel on this trip, and wanted to go her own way.

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.