Another Summer Ending

Hi everyone,

it's late August and although it's still summer, the evenings are getting cooler and the ocean will only be swimmable for another week or two. With that being said, we had an amazing run with July temperatures into the mid 30s and the ocean hitting a balmy 25 degrees, something completely different for the average Vancouverite. Our garden went crazy!!!

At the beginning of August, we had a plethora of events which took over the westend of Vancouver (where we live). The Festival of Lights (fireworks), the Pride parade, and the World Police and Firefighters Games. During the first weekend of the month there were close to 800 000 people taking part in one, two, or all three of the events.

I got back to Edmonton to visit my family and to have a few days to play with my (almost) 2 year old nephew Ethan. Geoff had a break from his Rigpa schedule so we were able to do a lot of swimming, barbecuing, and socializing. Our friend Karen (with whom I worked in Japan 10 years ago) came to visit as well. T and G

Geoff getting nude at Acadia Beach, Vancouver

Uncle Terry and Ethan

Sunset on our swimming beach

Enjoying an evening swim

Volunteering at the Pride festival

Canada D(eh)!

Geoff and I decided to celebrate Canada Day by having a multicultural day out...we began with breakfast at a Canadian diner run by a Greek-Canadian family, followed by coffee at an Italian deli across the street. We then went down to the town of Steveston which is historically significant as a hub for Japanese-Canadian fishermen. We then wandered around VanDusen botanical gardens which has plant species from around the world, and ended our day with dinner at Saravanaa Bhavan, a South-Indian restaurant. T and G

A Small Taste of South America

Hi everyone,

I was between contracts and had too much time on my hands...so what was I to do? Cash in some airmiles and head to Argentina of course. I took a short two week jaunt thinking I would stay in and around Buenos Aires. I ended up visiting Uruguay, Argentinean wine country, and Santiago de Chile. I loved everything I saw, was inspired by the bus trip through the Andes, and really have to thank my hosts Pedro in BsAs and Felipe in Santiago for all of their hospitality...I will be back! T

Crossing the Andes

Colonia, Uruguay

Felipe in Santiago

Terry, Pedro, and Lorena

Colonia, Uruguay

Canopy of trees in BsAs

La Boca

Cemetary in BsAs

Nephew Ethan- April to June 2009

Okay, although I'm not the kind of person who loves to see a thousand and one kid pictures, I'm posting some of my nephew Ethan...because he is the cutest kid ever! Terry

Finishing his holiday in Vancouver

With mom

Sitting down for lunch in Chinatown

Exploring Granville Island

With Uncle Terry

Just like his mother

Just like his mother and father

March...Already?

It's almost March...hard to believe! With Vancouver's crazy winter who knows how the month will begin: like a lamb or like a lion?

After the huge snowfall(s) and cold temperatures at Christmas, Vancouver was fogged in for almost 10 days, followed-up by a month of sunny but cool weather. We didn't really have any rain in the first three weeks of February, and with the sunnier days came early blooms...Well it's nearing the end of the month and the rains have come back to the delight of many a westcoaster.

We managed to take advantage of the drier days of January and February by going snowshoeing at Mt. Seymour (on the north shore of Vancouver), taking in an "illumination festival" in Yaletown (very yuppie section of Vancouver), and just doing our regular walks...T and G

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