Spring is now with us and the lovely gentle rain has started.  This is such a relief as we have had the worst drought in 30 years and the garden was so sad.  However, with this rain one can actually see the plants and lawns reviving, and that is a wondrous sight.

David and I have had a very busy year with a lot of touring. So much for my optimistic ideas of semi-retiring.  However, that is high on our agenda for 2003.  We have one main tour planed for September/October next year. We will return to Africa for recitals in Cape Town and Pretoria, and then on to Zimbabwe.  What a terrible time that country is facing and out heart aches for the unnecessary suffering being inflicted on the people.

After Africa we go to Switzerland and then a tour of Austria.  We will be returning to Vienna and Salzburg, but will visit Graz for the first time.  My daughter in law visited earlier this year and thought it one of the most interesting and beautiful of cities.  Will also play in Germany and Switzerland before returning home for the Christmas break.

David has done a lot of charity recitals this year and so had made a significant contributions to many lives.  He is in great form and still enjoying sharing his music as much as ever.

In July, with my son Scott, I went to the united States.  We had two days in LA with Australian friends who are greatly enjoying their life there.  We then went on to New York, as I had some business to attend to with regard to some properties.

What a city, It is certainly one of my favourite places, but this visit was special.  I had not been there for over four years and it turned out to be an inspirational visit.   We drove past Ground Zero and one could not fail to be moved by this experience.  They have surrounded the area with a green raffia type fence which made it seem as if something new would arise.

However, it was the change in the atmosphere and the people which touched me the most.  There seemed a greater calm and sense of purpose ­ fear certainly was not manifesting ­ and the warmth of the people seemed even greater than previously. The city seemed to have a new maturity and had grown from its tragedy ­ one could not help but feel the New Yorkers had won.

Scott and I explored bookshops, record shops and of course restaurants.  We stayed on 58th and 6th and what a wonderful area.

We visited friends in Nyack, which is such a beautiful area right on the Hudson, and our great desire is now to go back and have a Thanksgiving day in New York City.

I am busy writing a book on astrology and the economy and hope to have that published early next year.  Making some good progress but it is hard when we keep moving so much.

Our next exciting tour is to China in October.  David has been invited to play at the Beijing Festival on 30th October and it is a celebration of 30 years of diplomatic relationships between China and Australia.  We will also visit Shanghai .

 We are so appreciative of all the wonderful travel experiences we have had, and continue to have and the great richness of friends and love in our lives.

We send our warmest wishes to you all.
 
 

                            Love,
 

                                          ------David and Gillian Helfgott