The biggest gift my parents bestowed to me was a love of nature. No matter where I am, what my life’s circumstances are, there is always nature to marvel and amaze. As a young girl the mantra, ‘No matter the weather, we’ll have a good time,’ was drummed into my subconscious. We would wrap up […]
Author: BritMumInNZ
Excuses no more! The running bug has hit!
For years I shirked my health and partied hard after work, then I had children and put them first – keeping active and fairly fit, but still not prioritising my health. Finally, this year, I am listening to friends and family and making this time, right now, the time I take back my health and […]
Things I’m Loving – this last OFFICIAL week of Summer (but I’m giving it 3 more weeks!)
So much to love this week – but then the sunshine and continued light evenings make it very easy! Loved seeing young Alice write the first letter of her name in the sand at beautiful Lyall Bay… Sophie had a fabulous play at the beach with Alice too. I love Sophie’s enthusiasm for the water […]
B.M.W.B. – Keeping everyone moving
This week we’ve had so much spontaneous fun and physical action in the home that I thought it would be worth tying in this post with the ‘Becoming the Mama I Want to Be’ linkie, over at Miriam’s ‘Create Hope Inspire’ blog. The Mama I want to be is one that says ‘yes’, wherever possible, […]
Falling in love, with the same person, over and over again…
I once read that the secret to a lasting marriage was to keep falling in love, again and again, with the person you first met. Along with that, communication has to be way up there – never stop listening, never stop talking, keep the lines of communication well and truly open (as my Dad jokingly […]
Things I’m Loving
Loving a last blast of summer sunshine (and hoping today’s slightly cooler temperatures ease off for a little longer yet). We enjoyed a gorgeous last few days with Grandma & Granddad, at Scorching Bay on Tuesday morning and Zealandia on Monday, (before they flew home to a very cold welcome in England… thankfully their neighbours […]
Sharing a final fix of New Zealand’s flora & fauna in Wellington
After six wonderful weeks together, my parents flew home to the UK on Tuesday evening. Their visit was particularly poignant, as it might be our last time together – or at least for a long time – in beautiful New Zealand. The man of the house started a new job mid-way through last year and, […]
Simply the best! Happy 3rd Birthday Alice!
She woke full of sniffles, & tired with a cold, but giggles came soon – when we sang Birthday greetings, all five of us together, in the bedroom. We had no big party to stress over, just kept it simple, and it turned out to be the most wonderful Birthday (almost) ever! It was Alice’s […]
Our third born daughter turns three – what will she have in store for us?!
Today is the eve of our third daughters, third, Birthday! She’s been an absolute blessing from the moment she corkscrewed out into the world, au natural, to be caught in my hands. I got lucky third time round, with the birth of my dreams, and the beautiful experience has definitely made for a very contented […]
Loving: Love Is All Around & a NOVICA Giveaway!
Happy Valentine’s Day! Regardless of whether or not you celebrate this historic day, it is a wonderful excuse to remember everyone you love in the world and remember that, even in chaos and sadness, there is always love. I was first awake in my house this morning, after a restless night of romantic dreams (lucky me!), […]
Sunshine memories from Nelson
Just sitting here, with a glass of chilled wine, feeling a whole lot better than I did yesterday, and thinking there needs to be some sunshine photographs to mirror my mood on the blog. Here’s a few happy moments from our Nelson holiday… Beautiful Cable Bay… A visit to Founders Heritage Park and a ride […]
From health to sickness overnight
Poor young Alice has been sick since 1am this morning. She’s not held down anything, food or liquid, and has a temperature. It’s one of those darn 24-hour tummy bugs. I’ve been ill too (thankfully not actually spewing!) and have spent all day Sunday cuddled up with young Alice (who is thankfully a ‘happy’ sick […]
Things I’m Loving
As I sit down this Friday evening, and reflect on the week that has been, I acknowledge the tougher moments of family life that have been – but let them go now. This is time to capture the magic, the moments to hold on to, to keep us strong, to see us through. The moments […]
Waitangi Day at the Farm & the Beach on the Kapiti Coast
Waitangi Day falls on 6 February every year in New Zealand. It’s a public holiday and fell on a Wednesday this year, making for a lovely mid-week break from weekly routines, and a nice chance to reconnect as a family after a busy start to the new school year. We drove up the beautiful Kapiti […]