Extensive research in the Piermont Public Library (a quaintly old fashioned affair where books still have tickets which are kept in readers’ pockets)revealed a copy of a book, “Oh what a Grand View”, in which secrets of the houses along the Hudson River, including The Acharyan Yoga Research Institute, are documented. The guru was called Basudeb Bhattacharya. He was reputedly a wonderful Hindu philosopher and psychiatrist who “held the rickedy old buildings together with a combination of spit and rubber bands and hope.” He was a plump merry fellow who convinced his patients that they should ” mow the grass barefoot and learn to breathe through their feet.” (’Enery, please note!) We were then able to search for a copy of the aforesaid “Brain Regeneration” on Bibliofind and had a copy dispatched to us as a matter of priority! You will all no doubt be interested to learn that it is the opinion of Pundit Achayra that to be vertical produces great strain on the brain and that one should spend as much time as possible in a horizontal position and much of that time, asleep, but not dreaming!

Whilst John has been thinking great thoughts,the other members of the trans- Atlantic team have been visiting the Big Apple, sight seeing and shopping. You will no doubt be impressed to learn that we have purchased Xmas tree decorations from Saks of 5th Ave ( the cheapest items in the entire store, but nonetheless individually packed in embossed Saks tissue paper, a Saks box and a Saks carrier bag) These will be on view to the discerning in P.B.C. in due course. We have all been to the Opera to see “Carmen”, to Broadway to see “Phantom of the Opera” and to the Natural History Museum to see some excellent exhibitions. The Museum did prove a little hard to leave since all the exit signs simply led us back to where we started! We also went to the movies to see a new film by Wes Craven (he of horror fame, but this wasn’t) who turns out to be the brother-in-law of the guy whom John is working with, Wally by name.

We have also had several expeditions to the mountains where the fall foliage has been superb. For two weeks the sun shone from a cloudless blue sky. On Monday D and T sat in Central Park where people were sun bathing and ice-skating, but overnight the temperature has dropped 30 degrees! Heavy rain has also brought the leaves tumbling. However we have persuaded the local birds(feathered sort ) to visit our feeder and today were rewarded with a cardinal.

We had hoped to bring back a string of lights for the exterior of P.B.C. inspired by the illuminated pumpkins, ghosts, spiders and dead hands so prominately and tastefully displayed outside every house last weekend. However the technology of conversion defeated even the Eminent Sea-Watcher and we abandoned the attempt. However, it has reminded us that it was our intention to suggest a competition this year for the “best” decorated house exterior for the coming festive season. Thomas returns to P.B.C. tomorrow while D and J continue to explore and experience the delights of life across the pond. Enjoy! (latest current parting salutation)