We’ve enjoyed a magical week in the Lake District. It holds a special charm for young and old alike. As an adult it is wonderful to visit a place that was treasured in my youth as a place of awe inspiring beauty and wonder. It is especially poignant to see my own children now wonder […]
Month: July 2007
Up North in Blighty
We’re on holiday in good ‘ole Blighty and currently visiting Grandma and Grandad Lee in Colne, Lancashire. We’ve dreamed about visiting our families and seeing England again, but dreaded the thought of travel with two preschoolers. We’re feeling a whole roller-coaster of emotions right now. It’s wonderful to see our family and to see the […]
Fleet Pond
Over the past ten years I’ve been coming back to England and visiting my folks in Fleet, Hampshire. During that time it’s been heartwarming to see the conservation and restoration work at Fleet Pond. Settlement in Fleet dates back to the Saxon period (a more detailed history is provided on the Fleet Pond Society‘s website). […]
Country Cottages
Hampshire, Jane Austen country, is blessed with an abundance of country cottages. On my ‘most missed’ list of all things English country cottages come pretty high, along with country pubs. Today we snapped this beautiful cottage in the village of Dogmersfield. This is well known turf to me as I used to walk across the […]
Family Gatherings
We travelled to Bristol and back (from Fleet) on Sunday. When the British motorways are flowing they are fantastic. Charlotte and Sophie were in awe of the six lanes of fast-flowing traffic. They also enjoyed a stop-off at a British motorway stop, a little different to New Zealand where we plan our trip around various […]
Winter to Summer
Coming from a NZ winter to a UK summer has totally confused us all! The girls routine is completely out the window and tonight they went to sleep close to 10pm, waiting for it to get dark! This is fine, but if only they’d sleep in till 10am! The incessant rain that’s hit the UK […]
San Francisco: A Perfect Stopover
Well, we’ve finally arrived in good ‘ole Blighty. It’s so wonderful to be here and so green and beautiful. We’re soaking up the beautiful countryside and I feel very much a tourist in saying it’s all so very ‘quaint’! It’s such a joy to drive through the tunnels of trees on the country lanes and […]
Cauliflower Nightmare
Charlotte woke at 5am this morning having a bad dream. She rarely wakes in the middle of the night these days and she picked the worse night to do so. I was really hoping she’d have a good night’s sleep. I went in to see her and she kept muttering, ‘Need cauliflower!’. She never eats […]
One More Sleep To Go!
I should be asleep already, but couldn’t resist one final farewell post before our big trip. Tomorrow night I don’t expect to get any sleep and will then have to function in San Francisco with two tired children, but I’m sure Dan and I will survive. Last time we did the big Wellington to London […]
Cabin Baggage: Children
Preparation for a long-haul flight (without children) was all about self-indulgence. A week before travel I’d stock up on my favourite cosmetics, spend a lunch hour in the book store selecting some choice holiday reads (and a few trashy mags) and look forward to a 24-hour reading and movie bonanza with no telephones ringing. I’d […]
Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
I love impromptu visits that turn into something very special. And this is just what happened the other day. After finishing our food shop, we stopped by Wholly Bagels in Thorndon for a quick refreshment and a play (great toys and dedicated space for children), and then ventured forth to a place far more holy […]
To my girls
Dear Charlotte, You are now four and make me prouder by the day. You are so brave and strong. When you fall you pick yourself up quickly and say, ‘I’m okay!’. You don’t want sympathy (even though I’ve always offered you my open arms to comfort you) and I admire your strong resolve to pick […]
Not All Bad
Despite my previous post, today wasn’t all bad. The day started out with a couple of hours of mad fun at Little Monkeys (free entry all holidays!). Charlotte LOVED it and Sophie did too, but was a little perturbed at having to part with her shoes into a box behind a counter. She kept saying, […]
Mother Erupted at Playground
… so the headline should read. I have a terrible problem with bottling up all my emotions and then, when I am tired and least expect it, the ugly demon inside bubbles to the surface and explodes in a terrifying rage. Whilst in the midst of rage I can hear my other voice saying, ‘What […]