Catching the Magic

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

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Our pets

Things I’m Loving! Purple tights, red boots & more!

April 8, 2011April 9, 2011 BritMumInNZ 11 Comments Alice, Charlotte, Dan, Our pets, Sarah, Sophie

LOVE Purple tights and red boots, because sometimes a girl likes to pretend she’s a cosmopolitan chick – even if she does get very strange looks at the school gates of her local school. So after cleaning the windows (that nobody but her notices whether they’re clean or not), and being the laundry fairy to […]

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The Gallery (Week 35): Before and After

November 14, 2010November 15, 2010 BritMumInNZ 18 Comments Alice, Charlotte, Dan, Garden, Our pets, Sarah, Sophie

In the past four years, since we moved into our new home, there has been much growth. The garden, once a section with nothing much than a lot of grass and a couple of trees now looks lush and inviting. A little 9 month old Sophie, that chuckled in her Daddy’s arms on the swing […]

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Sophie’s ‘Rascal Rabbit’ book

June 29, 2010 BritMumInNZ 7 Comments Our pets, Sarah, Sophie

Last week, on a rainy day, Sophie and I sat down to write a story about Rascal rabbit, from Sophie’s Kindi. He’s come to stay a few times and he certainly lives up to his name. We used ‘Snapfish‘ and Sophie is delighted with her own special book. We’re going to give a copy to […]

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Rascal thumps his stuff

May 12, 2010May 12, 2010 BritMumInNZ 2 Comments Our pets

He came, he went, he came again. Rascal rabbit is living up to his name. After causing us one sleepless night back in January, when he went missing for 24 hour’s and was later found in a neighbour’s backyard, he has done it again! This time he went missing for not one, but two night’s […]

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Charlotte the Cicada Fanatic

March 6, 2010 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Charlotte, Our pets

Charlotte is fascinated with cicadas this summer. Ever since she’s watched ‘Bindi the Jungle Girl‘ Charlotte’s discovered a new level of confidence in handling creatures great and small. Cicadas are the sound of summer and this year we’ve had a few ‘pet’ cicadas accompany us out on various trips – in a well sealed and […]

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Easing into 2010

January 5, 2010May 27, 2010 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Art, Our pets, School hols

Five day’s into 2010… The weather in Welly is being a tad dicey for us, but we’re grabbing the good and sheltering from the bad (wild winds + late pregnancy hormones = unpredictable mother who should come with a ‘handle with care’ label). Monday morning on Oriental Parade was entertaining in high winds – cycling […]

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Zippity Zoo

December 7, 2009 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Charlotte, Our pets, Sarah

They have all the fun at Kindi. This morning was Sophie’s Kindi Christmas Party. They had an awesome spread of party food (we were on sausage roll duty, which meant taking them out the freezer to defrost at 7am and getting them in the oven ready for the party). The entertainment was provided by the […]

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Rascal Rabbit let loose in the garden

December 5, 2009December 6, 2009 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment Our pets

We have Rascal the rabbit from Kindi for the weekend (again!). This will be the third time this term and we all enjoy having him. He didn’t have anyone to take him home so we volunteered. We’ve let him out in the garden for the first time… Daddy-O is on rabbit watch as I type. […]

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Rascal returns!

November 1, 2009November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 2 Comments Our pets

Ever since we first looked after Rascal the rabbit, from Sophie’s Kindi, the girls have talked about doing it again. He’s a popular fellow, that’s for sure, as the Kindi is never short of volunteers to take him home for the weekend. Well, this weekend it was our turn and the girls counted down sleeps […]

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Irresistible flashing fins: A fish story

October 20, 2009October 21, 2009 BritMumInNZ 7 Comments Our pets

We returned from holiday to find one of Charli’s ‘Black Moor‘ fish had passed away in our absence. Naturally, a trip to the pet shop to get a new friend for the now lonesome Black Moor was needed. However, the trip turned into something a whole lot more expensive… It all started because there were […]

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Rascal the rabbit comes to stay

August 24, 2009August 24, 2009 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Our pets

There was great excitement on Friday as we brought Rascal the rabbit home from Kindi. We’d been looking forward to it all week (though I was a little nervous that he’d live up to his name). We knew about his liking for cables, so cleared those away from sight. Anna, one of Sophie’s teachers, reassured […]

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Monarch Butterflies flourishing in our garden

March 4, 2009February 14, 2018 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Garden, Our pets

The wonder, mystery and awe of nature is always a treasure to behold. We have all delighted in watching our Swan Plants grow and be visited by Monarch butterflies. Little eggs have grown into baby caterpillars, which we’ve watched grow day by day. A magical Chrysallis now hangs in the wind, waiting to reveal its […]

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A surprisingly chilled week of dog sitting

January 24, 2009November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Our pets

A week ago my friend Kathy phoned me from holiday, in Perth visiting family, to ask a BIG favour. Due to sad circumstances her house and dog sitter had to return home and she was left without anyone to take care of her dog, Nina. There were two reasons for me feeling nervous at the […]

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Farewell to Simba

July 10, 2008August 24, 2008 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Our pets

When we visited Simba on Tuesday afternoon we knew he wasn’t faring well. The vets words prepared us for the worse when she said, ‘We’ll see how he goes, finger’s crossed, miracles do happen.’ He made such an effort to greet us when we visited, but then quickly curled up in a semi-sleep on the […]

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  • WAI2K 50km trail adventure, November 2024!February 20, 2025
    In November 2024 I took on the epic endurance event of the 50km WAI2K Ultra, from Woodside Train Station in Greytown, through the hills of the Wairarapa and Kaitoke Regional Park, to Tunnel Gully Upper Picnic Area in Upper Hutt. This mixed terrain course involves around 2,500m of elevation gain through dense scrub, beautiful native… Read more: WAI2K 50km trail adventure, November 2024!
  • Visits back to the UK aren’t always a holiday – when those you love aren’t well.February 6, 2025
    Life is never all sunshine and roses. When we have had the good fortunate of having people in our lives that we’ve loved deeply, and have felt their love in return, it is painful to see that person suffering. Life is all about beginnings and endings, hellos and goodbyes, first moments and celebrations, and also… Read more: Visits back to the UK aren’t always a holiday – when those you love aren’t well.
  • Celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary with a long weekend on the Gold Coast – June 2024January 6, 2025
    At the end of May 2024 my husband and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary and took the opportunity to grab a fix of winter sunshine, over the ‘King’s Birthday’ weekend public holiday (beginning of June), with a trip to the Gold Coast – on Australia’s East Coast. We were joined by our children, Sophie… Read more: Celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary with a long weekend on the Gold Coast – June 2024
  • ‘Last time’ moments on a spring visit to the UK, May 2024January 2, 2025
    After over twenty five years of living thousands of miles away from my birth country, and many flights back and forth, I am still in awe of the fact I can be on the other side of the world in 24 hours. I remind myself that jet passenger services didn’t start until the late 1950s… Read more: ‘Last time’ moments on a spring visit to the UK, May 2024
  • Race Tekapo 50kmSeptember 29, 2024
    Race registration on Friday night, by the shore of Lake Tekapo, was a ‘hold on tight to your bib’ or you won’t be going anywhere tomorrow affair. The bitingly cold air was a shock to the system, after my husband, daughter and I had driven from a sunny, spring like day in Christchurch. Our flight… Read more: Race Tekapo 50km
  • Running the stunning Motatapu Trail MarathonMay 30, 2024
    This was one of the most beautiful trail marathons I’ve ran and was a great way to celebrate a summer of running and see in the beginning of autumn (though the weather was still very much throwing the heat of summer on event day – which fell on the first Saturday in March). The 42km… Read more: Running the stunning Motatapu Trail Marathon
  • 50km for 50 years! How I saw in the first day of my fifties running the 50km Faultline Ultra!May 21, 2024
    I’ve been on a good running streak for over a year now (meaning no injuries, illness or troublesome hormones to slow me down – thanks to a mix of strength work, good luck and hormone replacement therapy!). When I saw that a new event was going to be held in the city where I live… Read more: 50km for 50 years! How I saw in the first day of my fifties running the 50km Faultline Ultra!
  • Six month catch up!March 9, 2024
    Time is literally flying away on me and blog writing is very neglected these days, but we are all well here and can’t believe our lovely Christmas and New Year festivities were three months ago! Spring and summer has raced by and now we are on the cusp of autumn here in New Zealand. Since… Read more: Six month catch up!
  • Ten blissful days in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.August 8, 2023
    With the days dark and short here in New Zealand we jetted off for some warmth and sunshine in the Cook Islands, just a three to four hour flight from Auckland. We have never visited any of the Pacific Islands and it was with great delight that we touched down on the runway in Rarotonga,… Read more: Ten blissful days in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
  • Marlborough Food & Wine Festival Birthday CelebrationAugust 7, 2023
    Turning 50 is definitely a milestone birthday, but hubby Dan didn’t want a party so in February we decided to head away for the weekend to celebrate at the Marlborough Food and Wine Festival. Dan’s Birthday fell on the same weekend as the festival, in the sunshine summer month of February here in New Zealand,… Read more: Marlborough Food & Wine Festival Birthday Celebration
  • A few running events to kick off the year & a sub-4 PB at the Rotorua Marathon!May 10, 2023
    Round the Bays Wellington, held in February every year, is always an iconic event, generally bestowed with sunshine and an amazing turn out of people of all ages. The atmosphere for this event is like a festival, with entertainment lining the route of the first 6km, between Waitangi Park and Kilbirnie Park (where all the… Read more: A few running events to kick off the year & a sub-4 PB at the Rotorua Marathon!
  • Auckland mid-week break away for Harry Styles!April 4, 2023
    On Census night in New Zealand we were away from home, up in Auckland (along with thousands of other people from all over the country) to enjoy an epic night of entertainment at Mt Smart Stadium. We flew up first thing on Tuesday morning, giving us plenty of time to enjoy some sight seeing before… Read more: Auckland mid-week break away for Harry Styles!
  • Celebrating a Birthday with a Meerkat Encounter!March 30, 2023
    Our youngest turned 13 in February, joining her older two siblings in ‘teen hood’ (though our oldest will turn 20 in June this year!). Having started high school a couple of weeks before her birthday there was, certainly for me, a moment of nostalgia as I reflected on how grown up my ‘baby’ has become… Read more: Celebrating a Birthday with a Meerkat Encounter!
  • Summer holiday in Rotorua & TaupoMarch 29, 2023
    The last week of January, before the start of a new school year, we drove up from Wellington to the central region of the North Island for a week’s holiday. We’ve holidayed in this area many times over the years and never tire of the endless outdoor activities on offer in the most beautiful natural… Read more: Summer holiday in Rotorua & Taupo
  • Christmas and a Birthday in WellingtonJanuary 12, 2023
    Sunshine was gifted to us on Christmas Day this year in Wellington and we had the most wonderfully relaxed day together (well, almost all together, as our oldest currently lives in Melbourne and so we video chatted and were delighted to see them having an awesome time with a friend and their friend’s family). We… Read more: Christmas and a Birthday in Wellington

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