Catching the Magic

Travels in New Zealand and beyond, going back to 2003!

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Author: BritMumInNZ

Daddy’s back & a ‘Run’ for Lyrical Sunday

April 17, 2012April 17, 2012 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Dan, Lyrical Sunday

We greeted Daddy at Wellington Airport, first thing on Monday morning. We knew he’d be tired from his travels – but we weren’t expecting him to be quite so burned out… There wasn’t much meat left on him – but he still managed to pedal a bike next to Sophie at the Fonterra Science Roadshow! […]

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Things I’m Loving: Laying Low!

April 14, 2012July 4, 2022 BritMumInNZ 6 Comments Alice, Art, Charlotte, Loving & Not Loving, Sarah, Sophie

Midnight on Thursday Alice was sick – I thought it was just the spag bog (quite a rich sauce), but it’s now Saturday morning and she’s still not holding down much. She must be getting some fluids through – as she’s not being sick straight after drinking (and she’s breastfeeding too), but every two to […]

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The Gallery: Easter

April 12, 2012April 12, 2012 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Holidays, photography, Sarah, Special Days

My enduring memory of Easter Sunday 2012 will not be the excited sounds of children and chocolate, or the frustration at having to mediate over a fair collection of hidden eggs in the garden (to which I sulked off in annoyance at the ungratefulness and read the Easter story, out loud). My enduring memory will be […]

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Lyrical Sunday (on a Monday): Friendship

April 9, 2012April 9, 2012 BritMumInNZ 7 Comments Lyrical Sunday, Sarah, Writing

With my sister currently in New Zealand I have really been thinking so much about the amazing connection we have – not just as sisters – but also as friends. We’re also seeing a whole new path unfurl before us – as we unite to give three special girls all the support we can muster, […]

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Easter Saturday Sunshine in Wellington!

April 8, 2012April 9, 2012 BritMumInNZ 2 Comments Alice, Charlotte, Dan, Life in action - Videos, Sarah, Sophie, Special Days

Wellington put on a show for Easter Saturday. It was an incredible day of sunshine and no wind. Perfect for entertaining Auntie Claire and enjoying some action in the outdoors. We enjoyed an action packed day on the waterfront. She went out on a kayak with Sophie, whilst I kayaked with Alice. Out on the […]

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Things I’m Loving: My sister is here!

April 5, 2012April 5, 2012 BritMumInNZ 8 Comments Alice, Charlotte, Loving & Not Loving, Sarah, School hols, Sophie

After nearly five years she’s here! I felt dazed when she appeared from behind the sliding door at arrivals on Tuesday afternoon. She was like a mirage. It’s taken me till now, Thursday, to truly believe she’s real and not a figment of my imagination. The first day I kept touching her, but not really […]

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The Gallery: At Peace

April 4, 2012 BritMumInNZ 10 Comments Alice, Dan, photography, Sarah

In the reflection of the mirror, at the top of the stairs, I stopped to stare. Carried in my arms, my baby once, now a little girl talking, jumping and dancing. So caught up in the world around her, fighting off sleep, not wanting to miss a beat. She’d succumbed to sleep, finally surrendered, sat […]

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Dolphin Fishing Frenzy Off Wellington’s South Coast!

April 2, 2012April 2, 2012 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Alice, photography, Sarah, Sophie

© Sarah Lee, 2012: Dolphins off the coast at Houghton Bay, Wellington At midday today I checked into Facebook, after a morning of house-work, home-schooling and minding by industrious and mischief making two year old. The news that a huge pod of dolphins had been sighted off Wellington’s south coast flashed up before by eyes […]

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Lyrical Sunday [Fool]: Am I a Fool?

April 2, 2012 BritMumInNZ 11 Comments Learning & growing, Lyrical Sunday, Sarah, Sophie

As I waved Charlotte and her class off on the bus, after watching their cross country race at Karori Park, a child’s voice still rang in my ears… ‘Why is her other daughter not at school?’ And another child’s voice… ‘Does her mother not work?!’ ‘Who teaches her daughter?’ And I answered, ‘I do!’ with […]

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A very special someone is flying to see us!

April 1, 2012April 1, 2012 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Sarah

Last time she was here, there were two, now there are three! Charlotte was four, and is now approaching nine. Sophie was one, and is now six. Alice – wasn’t even conceived. Three little nieces are very excited. Auntie Claire will be arriving on Tuesday from England for nine very precious days! Auntie Claire… are […]

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Things I’m Loving: To my beautiful 8 year old x

March 31, 2012April 2, 2012 BritMumInNZ 2 Comments Charlotte, Loving & Not Loving

“When the dog bites, When the bee stings, When I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favourite things, And then I don’t feel so bad.” –  ‘My Favourite Things‘ from The Sound of Music LOVE listening to YOU – My beautiful 8 year old, singing this classic song. And LOVE so many other wonderful things, as […]

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The Gallery: Extreme Close Up

March 29, 2012March 29, 2012 BritMumInNZ 6 Comments Garden, Loving & Not Loving, Our pets, photography, Sarah

When nature reveals its beauty in such a way, my mind cannot possibly comprehend what my eyes see. It is miraculous, beautiful, incredible, literally breathtaking. A child cannot help but want to reach out and touch – as if to convince their mind that what they see is in-fact real. I almost have to pinch […]

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Notes from our unschooling diary

March 27, 2012April 2, 2012 BritMumInNZ 9 Comments Learning & growing, Sophie

We’re still finding our way as a family on this new path that our middle daughter is leading us on. We’re getting to know some really lovely families in the home-schooling community (though the word *school* doesn’t really work – as learning in a natural / home environment is very far removed from a school […]

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A fitting end to daylight saving

March 26, 2012March 26, 2012 BritMumInNZ 6 Comments Alice, Charlotte, Dan, Garden, photography, Sarah, Sophie

Sunday 1 April signals the end of daylight saving in New Zealand. Clocks wind back one hour and night will fall around 6.30pm. So, one week before the nights draw in, we went to the Botanical Garden in Wellington for some music and grooving as dusk drew in. Eagles tribute music from ‘Life In The […]

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