Travels in New Zealand and beyond, going back to 2003!
Wellington is known for its wind and it’s something that I have a love / hate relationship with. It can make me feel alive and refreshed, or knocked down and eroded like a well worn cliff-face. It takes stamina to live in Wellington and a mental strength that I don’t always have. Before we had…
I only have one bank card and live off it. Plastic is my friend. I rarely carry cash. So when my two year old, on Saturday afternoon, came up to me and said, ‘Sorry! Card gone!’ my first reaction was to check my purse – that I was vaguely aware of her playing with as…
I’ve been in tears. I’ve just upset my two oldest daughters. With my husband, Dan, away I should be offering extra comfort – not choosing this time to pick battles and talk ‘big picture’ concerns. I suppose with him away I see the ‘holes’ more clearly – it’s easier for two people to smooth them…
The voting is on! Will the Miramar hill display the ‘WELLYWOOD’ sign – or perhaps the eye of the Taniwha – or a ‘Wellington’ blown-away sign? Friday 18 November is the deadline. What do you think of the choices? Neither stands out as a sure fire ‘yes’ with me, but I don’t have a clever…
I will be happily living in Wellington, married to my husband of 17 years and friend of 24 years. Our three daughters will be aged 13, 10 and 6. My youngest daughter will have been at school for nearly 2 years (having started on her 5th Birthday). I will be working part time to help…
I love all the Crowded House songs. Whenever they come on the radio they always lift me up. ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over‘ is one of my favourite and I have enjoyed reading people’s interpretation of the lyrics at the website ‘Song Meanings‘. For me this song evokes a feeling of optimism and strength, even when…
I’ve been hiding away for a while. Energy to even think about scheduling time to see friends, let alone do it, has escaped me. I am so grateful for patient, caring friends. I’m also so thankful to friends I’ve made through blogging, who send me uplifting messages first thing in the morning, late at night…
In the before children days a long, stressful stretch in the office was quickly remedied with a few drinks, a long lie in or a weekend away in the bush. Now life is a little different… Endless sleep deprivation. No chance of a lie in (in fact after eight years I’m not sure I know…
Take a moment to think back to your childhood… Did some of your friend’s parents stick firmly in your mind for being a little unusual? Or maybe boring? Or control freaks? Or perhaps they were wanna be comedians and thought they were ‘cool’ just like you? Perhaps they were too serious, or scary? Drunk or…
Wellington you have me wrapped around your little finger. My heart is a pressure valve, fluctuating in feeling like a barometer. I used to tolerate your moods a little better, when I had the freedom to escape at pleasure. Now I am trapped, with my young charges. They have a hold on my time. I…
When I think of the word ‘Courage’ I think of the ‘Lion’ in the ‘Wizard of Oz’. He spends the story looking for courage, only to find it was there, deep inside. Courage is often something we wish for, want or desperately need. Finding it and keeping a hand on it whilst we walk over…
This is a wonderfully fun idea, inspired by ‘Latte Junkie’. She has set up a list of questions that children often ask and the idea of ‘Misinformation Monday’ is to creatively answer the questions – with just a little bit of mind warping 😉 This week’s question is: Why is the sky blue? Here’s my…
When the year is done, and the time ticks on, We think of the past, and what is to come. We look, deep inside, and seek out the truth, For our spirit speaks, with an honest tongue. The path is clear, our goals are set, and yet, We fear, the inner torment, of, self doubt….
in England (and in parts of Australia!). Here in New Zealand we’re thinking of our northern hemisphere loved ones as we snip, decorate and paste paper snowflakes on the windows. My wonderful sister’s boyfriend, Mike Hutton, sent me this photograph of my father and sister at The Roaches, near where Claire and Mike live in…