1 Nov 2025
To sit
To be still
In the presence of your self
In the presence of the Self
The universe is within us
A Day in Alexandria VA, 18 0ct 2025
A walk.
A very limited selection of non alcoholic spirits and wine.
A play in the park.
A waterfront dinner that became more waterfront on the way home.
And many more houses celebrating Halloween.
Carpenter Bee on fragrant white buddleia
Outside the Alexandria School for Dogs
Flooding from the Potomac River, cnr King and Union Streets with spooky reflections
Concord, 14 0ct 2025
Already it's nearly time for us to leave this haven and return to another haven of family in a historic place.
From Boston to old town Alexandria will take over 8 hours on the train.
Time to think, read, write, listen to a podcast or meditate.
It's been wet the last few days, and much cooler.
Shining Autumn leaves drip and drop down.
The leaves will turn to mush tomorrow.
But mush nourishes the earth. A blanket for the coming freeze of winter, its ice and snow that will cover the colours of the Fall.
The transiency of beauty, of life.
It's been a while…
It's been a while…since I wrote .
Probably because there's been emotions, feelings, physical and mental weariness.
Let's start with Dobbs Ferry. Here there are early memories from when I was two, three, four when we lived here.
Not easy years for my parents.
New York City the same, plus another year or so for me and my little child memories.
Then again and again I came over to the USA from Australia. When I was 15, 18, and several times in my early 20s, to NYC and to Heath, Mass, sometimes via Boston.
And then through my 30s and early 40s, to visit my father and stepmother, with pfb and our children. And often to the UK as well, to see Pfb's family and friends.
My father died in 1996 at 90, when I was 42. I'd come over to the USA for his birthday in March, gone back to Australia, then we all came over from Australia when he died.
The funeral was in June that year, a big affair at Arlington, near Washington DC. The riderless horse, boots reversed, a catafalque.
I was very moved when Beate Sirota Gordon threw the scarf he'd given her into the grave, on top of the casket as it was being lowered down. What a marvellous woman. Read about her, The Only Woman in the Room.
Or read about my father, involved with FDR and the New Deal, then the Japanese Constitution, then devising a scheme to help rescue New York from its financial woes.
So lots of stuff.
Now back to now! Or maybe I'll write tomorrow as it's too late now.
Good night from lovely Concord, Mass.
Brewster to Ardsley
It all begins with an idea.
Sunny, very warm.
60km exactly. A surprise as Komoot estimated 66.4km.
Left Heidi's Inn at Brewster and the road didn't seem so hectic as yesterday afternoon when we arrived.
Beautiful ride, up and down on the trail. A coffee at Mahopac, a banana bread smoothie at Trailside Cafe. No bread in the smoothie - almond milk, banana, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract. Yummo!
Now I have to figure out how to insert photos here.
It's taking way too long for the home blog pages to load.
Informative mileposts
Bridge over lake
Trailside Cafe
On the trail. We were told the colours are subdued this year because of the drought. Hard to believe when there's so much swampy ground, and lakes.
Ardsley - Dobbs Ferry - Ardsley 5-6 Oct 2025
Back to a previous time where I lived as a very young child. Many memories.
Sunny, 28C
8 km
Decided to ride and we both were surprised at how tired our legs were, even with no panniers.
Explored the little waterfront park with fair/market day stalls and the railway station for tickets from the machine.
Then hard back up the hill. Iced latte in the Main Street and met Taylor (finishing her psychiatry degree) and Alex (?apologies forgotten his name, from Brisbane) with their lovely brown Portuguese water dog pup.
More uphill to Billabong (as mother called it), at 85 Myrtle Ave. What a fabulous place, despite the development around it. And there are deer!
Knocked and called out, no answers. Had given up when owner Jesse appeared on the upstairs porch.
Invited in, very special. Met son now 12 who was right into Lego and had built some castles at 10. And Lu Lu , Jesse's wife, warm and welcoming.
Messaged Burges and on Monday 6 Oct walked to find Sherwin Cody's house, where they lived.
More photos and walked through the lovely Hilltop Park for a coffee in Dobbs then back to Ardsley to catch up on everything.
Billabong
Sherwin Cody's house, where friends of my parents lived.
The little four year old boy took his two year old sister and walked, crossing roads and going up and down through the hills and gullies, to knock on the door at Billabong, a great surprise for my mother, who immediately phoned their mother to say they were safe and sound.
Friendships that last generations are special.
Path through remnant woods on the hilltop.
One of the best things about travelling in the USA is that generally the showers work well, and the rooms accommodate bicycles with space to spare for the yoga mat. And staff are happy for bikes to be in the room.
It could all change of course now that I've said it!
Yoga on the road. 6 Oct 2025.
The last bit of the Empire State Trail. Into New York City, all the way from Albany on our bicycles, with our own pedal power. That's the plan!
Travelling. Vata overload. Every day, every hour, every minute, something changes.
The only constant: change.
I wake and lie still, savouring the sense of relaxation. Meditate maybe, but there's usually too much of a time pressure when we're travelling.
Yoga in bed.
Yoga on bed. Apanasana. Supine twists. A few abdominals, stretch.
Maybe onto the mat.
Rolls along my spine, especially on the horribly sore thoracic bits. They were sore before we left; I'm unsure why.
So I'm doing bidilasana - cat cow. It helps loosen, relieve.
More rolls, more abs, more supine twists, bridge. I don't want to practice standing poses when my legs are working at cycling. They deserve a rest!
In the shower practice balance, carefully washing in between each toe. Replace foot carefully in case of slipperiness.
Breathe consciously at any time of the day or night. Just five breaths to recalibrate. It might last only momentarily but that's better than not at all.
Years ago I realized there was no way I could practise pranayama on the bike. There's too much going on that needs attention - lumps, holes, edges, change gears, brake, downhill, uphill, speed up, avoid others, be aware. Itself a focus, a multi focus on all the information that our senses perceive. Unless you include being aware of the breath a pranayama practice. Then it's almost a chronic practice!
Yoga in life. Awareness. To be continued.
Today I was shocked at how unvertical I am now in nirilamba sarvangasana. I seem to be collapsing at my waist. It feels hard, but oh so very good. Definitely more work on this!
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.