Whilst on Tahunanui Beach on holiday, Sophie found some driftwood sticks and a log which she drummed away on for a while. Joining her, I marveled at how wonderful nature is and how it provides for us in so many ways. Man by nature is a rhythmic being. He walks, breathes, and sings, rhythmically; his […]
Author: BritMumInNZ
Wisdom of Autumn
My friend, Rachel, sent me this beautiful piece of Buddhist inspired writing: Wildflower Saints There are so many (leaves). Piles of them. I take pleasure in their abundance. More saints than you could ever dream of. Each one singular. Each one itself. Yellow, red, orange, parchment. They sail down in the autumn air like fearless […]
Eight Night’s of Southern Hospitality
Picton, gateway to the South Island, opens its arms like a loving parent to a child returned from a trip away. Since our arrival in New Zealand, in the mid 1990s, we have always had a part of our hearts in the South Island. It offers such a wild expanse of escapism mixed with open, […]
Ahoy there South Island!
We’re off to the South Island on Saturday morning, taking a ride on the ferry to Picton and then driving onto Nelson. We’re renting a beautiful house for the week, with the most stunning views (reminiscent of our stay at The Captain’s Quarters with ‘Chicken’ Grandma and Grandad back in 2003!). Doubt we’ll be blogging […]
Being more Zen
Dearest Charli, she is so sensitive (as was I as a child). Off we went for a hair-cut this morning. Sophie went first and let the hairdresser tease out her dreadlocks for an eternity (whilst watching a DVD of Maisy). Charli’s turn. She sat up in the chair – clipped in for safety – it […]
Capital E Puppet Expo
Capital E has grown so much in recent years, now filling the school holidays with wonderful entertainment for parents and children alike. This Easter hols there is a wonderful ‘Puppet Expo‘ on. For only $5 per person there are famous puppets (Yoda!), shadow puppetry, a fabulous show (with plenty of belly laughs for all) and […]
Easter Weekend: Sunshine and Stars
Autumnal sunshine has bathed our Easter weekend in shades of Spring. Only the silver-birch tree, with its leaves turning to shades of yellow, hints at the reality. The nights draw in. The blanket of stars, and recent full moon, have brought great wonder and excitement to our two little darlings who have, until a month […]
Cheerleader Charli!
Charli has loved her first term of cheer-leading. All practice has been done behind closed doors, so it was a real treat to go to her end of term class today! Her ballet and jazz performance classes are at the weekend (but I get to peek in on those through an open door! – will […]
Crystal Clear
The brightness of colour in Autumn here isn’t one of blazing autumnal leaves in fall (unless you journey to the South Island). Most of the native trees are evergreen. But the sun sitting lower in the sky brings about an incredible clarity to the light reflecting off every surface. Morning and evening the temperatures are […]
Domestic Bliss
Sometimes it feels good to lay low and simply chill out at home. Sophie and I have had a great couple of days milling round the house. We’ve been getting creative with paint, sticky tape and all things messy; engrossed in puzzles; playing horse games on the computer and reading copious books (it’s a wonder […]
Music on a School Night
Well, since my last blog post of howling southerlies I’m pleased to report the fine weather has been restored. The past week has been glorious and, as you can see from the lack of blog posts, we’ve been making the most of it! At least Sophie and I have, whilst Dan has been working hard […]
Moving House – Kiwi Style – even in a Southerly
From 26 degrees of Indian summer last week to howling southerlies and 12 degrees today… brrr, Autumn is suddenly descending on us at a pace I am not ready for. Today was one of those, hold on to your hats and children days. For brave exercise fanatics the going was great… as long as the […]
Lost my blogging mojo; but patterns of life continue
So what’s this all about? I know this blog means so much to my folks and it’s lovely to have a few regular readers that enjoy reading it. But life’s been ticking along in its familiar pattern, only perhaps a little too much of a repeating pattern; hence the lack of blog posts (though no […]
Chugga, chugga, choo, choo!
A few week’s back Sophie was being a little testing so Charli created a sticker chart, laminated it, pinned it up in the kitchen and ensured every measure of good behaviour was rightly rewarded. When the sticker chart was completed Sophie got to choose a treat and, being into Thomas (brings back memories to when […]