Merry Christmas...

A View of the Granville Island Ferry dock

A view down our street

Sunset Beach

People sledding

On the seawall

Merry Christmas everyone,

We are having a white and quiet Christmas in Vancouver. We hope that the holidays are safe and peace-filled for all of you wherever Christmas finds you this year.

Love Geoff and Terry

A Very Zen Chistmas..

Hi All

Here are some pics from Terry's afternoon yesterday at the Nitobe Japanese Garden at the University of British Columbia (UBC)

Love
G

Winter Wonderland...

Westend Winter Wonderland

View from Chinatown

Stanley Park

View from our Apartment

Footpath at Night

Hi all,

It's getting close to Christmas and the last few days have produced cold temperatures (by Vancouver standards) and a bunch of snow. Everything looks very beautiful and people are out enjoying the novelty of it for now.

In other news, Deb (friend from Australia) visited for a week, Geoff was away on his annual retreat at Clear Lake in California, and I will be starting work in January at the University of British Columbia's Centre for Intercultural Communication (as an instructor/facilitator).

We're planning a quiet Christmas at home and catching up with a few friends over the holiday. I even put up some lights this year seeing this is my first Christmas in Canada since 2005.

Wishing everyone a festive, happy, and sane holiday season!!!

Love Terry and Geoff

October (and early November)

Hi everyone,

Geoff was away for much of October visiting family in Australia (his biannual ritual). He spent most of the trip just hanging out with his parents who despite getting a bit older and slower and a bout of prostate cancer, are doing fine.

He also managed to catch up with all of his sisters and squeeze in some time with David his ex and friends Trevor and Sylvain (thanks boys!).

On the way back home he spent a couple of days in Tokyo walking around, visiting temples and onsens (bathhouses), eating anything that looked remotely vegetarian, and sleeping in his own private capsule.

Meanwhile back in Vancouver I was at first happy to have a break from messiness, to hang out with a new "friend", and to have some time to myself. I haven't been working regularly so I got bored pretty quickly. I spent way too much time at the gym and at the pool and ended up losing 4 kgs in two weeks. Vancouver had a spectacular October this year, so the dry weather and changing leaves were a bonus.

When Geoff returned to Vancouver we only had a few days together before I headed off to Edmonton to help my parents move into their new apartment (after living in the same house for 45 years). It was a good chance for me to support my parents, say goodbye to the house I grew up in, and of course to see my little nephew Ethan.

Love T and G

Manly Ferry

'Sculptures by the Sea' near Bondi Beach

Geoff and two of his sisters Cathie and Angie

Capsule Hotel Tokyo

Obachans and Temples

Asakusa Temple

Shinjuku Station Salarymen

Street Jazz in Shinjuku

Geoff and Emmanuelle back in Vancouver

Ethan Starting his Terrible Twos Early

"I'm not sure what I think about all this moving stuff"

Ethan in Action

Summer Stuff...

Hey all


A few weeks back we had a spur of the moment camping trip to Strathcona Park on the island with the added enjoyment of the loan of a friend's soft-top jeep (thanks Chris!)



We also had a visit from Sharon, Terry's sister and have been spending a lot of time down by the water and at the pool in the evenings.



This weekend we are off to Victoria to visit Emmanuelle who was visiting here during Pride...supposed to remain sunny and get up to about 30 degrees! The sun is starting to set noticeably earlier so we are trying to squeeze the most we can out of summer... More photos from the weekend to follow

Love
Geoff

Pride Vancouver 2008

Hi all...

Gay Pride in Vancouver 2008....a weekend of the unexpected...ups and downs...moments of reflection...moments of fun...moments of silliness....moments of sadness and remembering what it is all about and where and why the journey was started and how long the journey ahead remains...

Here are a few photos of the week that was...

Pride 'Picnic In the Park'

Terry and Sahran (from Sri Lanka - one of the Pride marshalls for 2008)

Gilbert Baker creator of the Pride flag in 1978

Our friend Emmanuelle (on the left!) making new friends on Davie Street..."why can't I ever get a date when I am with you guys?"

Friday Street Party on Davie Street

Out and Proud

Love

G

July Long Weekend

Hi everyone,

it was perhaps the most beautiful July long weekend we've ever had. Geoff had 4 days off (and of course I'm off everyday), so we explored and enjoyed the sun, sun, sun!!!

We spent most of the weekend in and around water: English Bay (westend), Third Beach (in Stanley Park), Wreck Beach (near UBC), Second Beach Pool (in Stanley Park), Petgill lake (800m mark on a mountain hike), Murrin lake (0m mark on that same hike), Beaver Lake (lotus and water lily pond extraordinaire), and Spanish Banks.

We also found a great South Indian restaurant, cycled the seawall, barbecued, tended to our balcony water garden, took in some latin rhythms on False Creek (part of the Jazz Festival), and went to a human rights concert with Cyndi Lauper, Sarah Mclachlan, the B52s, Joan Armatrading, and Nona Hendrix.

We definitely took advantage of the long July days.

T and G

Rest-Stop near Granville Island

Beaver Lake

Site of the Music Festival
Spanish Banks
Petgill Lake
My water garden

Sunday at Spanish Banks

Hi everyone,

Geoff and I had one of those amazing Vancouver days. The sun was shining, and although the air was a bit cool in the morning, it turned into a beautiful summer day.

We drove out to Spanish Banks which is near the University of British Columbia. During very low tides this area is transformed into sand flats which extend from the shore for almost a kilometre. We spent the afternoon walking on the sand, wading through small trapped pools warmed nicely by the sun, taking pictures of the area, and just enjoying being out in nature.

Hope you enjoy the pics.

T and G