Heaven Is A Place On Earth

BritMumInNZ

Last week Sophie and I had one of those ‘Heaven Is A Place On Earth’ moments (thanks Belinda Carlisle). It was Wednesday afternoon. We were driving back from the city, having spent the morning cycling on Oriental Parade and meeting up with Dan for Yum Cha at Majestic Cuisine (highly recommended – we go once a week and Sophie now greets all the staff with ‘Ni Hao’ and ‘Table for three please’). On the way home, we took the scenic route around the bays and as we rounded the corner from Lyall Bay to Princess Bay a stunning scene greeted us. Blue sky, wild seas and a crystal clear view, over the Cook Strait, to the Kaikoura Ranges laden with snow.

Closer to home, the Orongorongo range, over the other side of the harbour entrance was also dusted with snow:

With no Kindi on a Wednesday we were free to do as we pleased. Quickly parking up the car we ran down to the beach. I was in raptures at the view of the waves crashing on the rocks, the majestic scene of the Seaward Kaikoura Range towering skyward on the horizon, and the sea spray whipping high onto the cliff face, magnified in the rays of the sun.

Meanwhile, Sophie had her heart on a more physical plain and as I removed my eye from the camera I gasped to see her scaling a rather large rock! No fear that girl! I couldn’t see what was on the other side and told her to stay put till I got to the top (I envisioned her falling into crashing waves and rocks below). I wasn’t quite as smooth as her with my climbing – she must share a few genes with a mountain goat.


Anyway, her chilled smile and relaxed body language told me that there was nothing to worry about (but that’s my job). Thankfully, on the other side there was plenty of safe ground and I carefully followed her down. From our vantage point we admired the power of the waves and imagined Unicorns racing each other into the shore. Our imagination fueled by the recent reading of the most delightful book, ‘Unicorns! Unicorns!’ It is written by one of my favourite children’s authors, Geraldine McCaughrean. I was fortunate to see her at one of the NZ Post Readers and Writers Festivals a few year’s ago (next one March 2010 as part of the NZ International Arts Festival!).

A brief summary of the story: ‘The unicorns disappeared long ago. There is a rumour, a legend that they all died out through their own foolishness, because they would not come when they were called. But perhaps the unicorns had their reasons. Perhaps we were more to blame than they. And maybe, just maybe, the unicorns live on, if you simply know where to look…’

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6 thoughts on “Heaven Is A Place On Earth”

  1. What a lovely morning. I just love to watch crashing waves maybe because as a baby in St Ives my mother would wrap me up and take me to the beach to watch the waves. Sophie is such a little adventurer. I well remember those heartstopping moments when my boys would also scale jagged rocks down on the beach, I would have to take a deep breath and remind myself that children only climb within their capabilities. And then I’d carry on worrying.

    Oh what a lovely memory Ruta. And I so agree that children only climb within their capabilities. I watched Charli and Sophie climb with avid fascination. They test how far they can reach and how strong their grip is without even thinking about it. Of course, this doesn’t stop me feeling like my heart is in my mouth at times – I just take a deep breath, smile reassuringly and hope I won’t be taking any trips to A&E!

  2. Thank you from the bottom of my about to be chilled toes for this post. We are 5 sleeps from leaping on a plane and heading back to NZ for a few weeks and I have been a bit worried looking at the temperatures. Didn’t help that my sister sent me a pic of snow at her back doorstep…in Masterton! I feel a lot better seeing blue skies…cold I can handle but the idea of being wet and cold Im not so sure my now tropical constitution is up for. Fingers crossed for some blue Wellington skies.

    Ooooo, safe travels Tanya and hoping for sunshine for your visit! As you know, Wellington is fabulous on a crystal clear Winter’s day (just have to hope the wind Gods take a rest!). x

  3. Whow…what stunning pictures and our little princess climbing rocks to one of the many wonderful views on the planet!!!….just wonderful to see her exploring true nature and experiencing awe and wonder in the true sense of the words.
    My heart too was in my mouth as I read your blog love but all well…..must have some of her Auntie Claire there!!! I must look out for the book and how wonderful to be experiencing it in her imagination……just magic !! The waves indeed looked like prancing unicorns indeed Sophie !!

    Oh Mum, I did think of my dear sis a lot! Auntie Claire would be very proud of her niece’s efforts. Next time we visit the UK I reckon Claire will be kitting the girls out in a harness each and taking them off to the Lakes! x

  4. Sophie seems like a natural rock climber. I bet your heart was in your mouth the whole time. Those photographs capture the spirit of Wellington coast, looked like a wild yet beautiful day.

    Tee hee, my heart was pounding! It sure was a wild day (but surprisingly not too windy – just lots of waves and spray). Sophie most definitely takes after my younger sister – who was always to be found up a tree and now spends every weekend hanging off a cliff face somewhere in Britain (and has also done a couple of ice climbing holidays in Colorado!). She’s a high powered executive Monday to Friday and a wild thing of nature come the weekend!

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