The girls and I took the easy route to Taupo last week; travelling in a 19 seater plane! We were blessed with stunning views on both the outward and return flight. Dan enjoyed a 5-hour drive – pumping up his favourite music on the stereo with no ‘back-chat’! The girls were so excited to see […]
Holidays
The Stunning Kapiti Coast
On Saturday we drove up the stunning Kapiti Coast to MacKay’s Crossing, Queen Elizabeth Park, Paekakariki for the ‘Anything Vintage Vehicles and Machinery’. It was a stunning day of sunshine and fun at the fair! With pony rides, merry-go-rounds, bouncy castles and wonderful entertainment the stage was set for a perfect day. The beautiful trams […]
Daddy’s Home for the Holidays!
With New Year’s Day and the day after being public holiday’s in New Zealand, Dan has taken off the few days between Christmas and New Year (only three!) and has a good week and a half off work all up! Yah! After the rainy Christmas Day the sun returned and the reason for the lack […]
Home Safe Via Sunny San Francisco
We’ve arrived home, finally! I think the girls tired their hardest to put Aunty Claire off having children for life, but their charm and smiles (in between the occasional tantrum on a ten hour day flight from London to San Francisco) won over her heart in the end. Claire and I really enjoyed our time […]
Two More Sleeps Till Our Return Journey to NZ!
We fly home to New Zealand on Friday morning, after nearly two month’s in good ‘ole Blighty with the folks. We can’t wait to get back to Dan (aka Daddy) and our home. Staying on longer as helped me come full circle in the all too expected roller coaster of emotions one feels on return […]
Milestones Museum: The Way Life Used To Be
I always loved history as a child and it was brilliant to see the awe in my own children’s eyes as we walked the set of a Victorian street at the Milestone’s Museum, in Basingstoke, Hampshire, this week. We are having such a brilliant holiday in the UK and soaking up the history is all […]
Enjoying the Sites of Southern England
It was a sad farewell to Dan (aka Daddy) last week, but the girls are coping well. We’re really looking forward to seeing him and will be ready to fly home next Friday. They know Aunty Claire is going to help us on the return flight and were confused when she came to stay with […]
Cosmos by Charlotte
Charlotte took this beautiful photograph of a Cosmos flower in ‘Chicken’ Grandma and Grandad’s garden (she calls them ‘chicken’ thanks to the great animal sounds my Mum – a former primary school teacher – has made on frequent telephone calls between the UK and NZ!). Unfortunately for my parents the name seems to have stuck! […]
Happy Last Days with Family Lee
We left the Lee and Arnott caln in Colne with happy memories. Summer seems to have finally arrived and during our stay in Britain we have been blessed with mostly fair weather. Dan’s parents are blessed with beautiful countryside on their doorstep and we so enjoyed stepping out in the green fields. Though the population […]
Towneley Park and Its Wonderful Playground
We have been missing our favourite playgrounds in Wellington whilst holidaying in the UK. Wellington folk really are overwhelmingly fortunate to have an array of 102 playgrounds to choose from, all of amazing quality and variety, which I’ve frequently raved about in previous posts. Well last week, whilst spending time with family in Colne, Lancashire, […]
A Fix of History
We took the girls to Skipton Castle, one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England, for a real taste of history. Living in New Zealand, but having all our family in the UK, we are always talking to the girls about their British roots. Charlotte, being older, has poured over castle […]
Fairground Attraction: At a Price!
On our last day in the Lake District we stopped at Bowness for an Air Show and Fairground. Charlotte saw the fairground as one, dream play-ground and had no idea of the fact that each ride had a hefty fare attached! Thankfully her dear Grandparents were extremely generous and she absolutely delighted in feeling the […]
Baldy Bear Lost in Lakes!
It had to happen one day. Baldy Bear, Charlotte’s beloved companion of nearly three years, lost his way in the English Lake District. His life was rich and varied. He jetted around the world, visiting Singapore, Australia and America. We are all deeply saddened. This is the last photograph taken of Baldy Bear before he […]
A Magical Family Reunion in the Lake District
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 […]