Catching the Magic

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

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School hols

LOVE ending a term with sunshine & a volcano!

July 3, 2010July 3, 2010 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Life in action - Videos, School hols

Term 2 finished on a high note yesterday, with sunshine… … berry smoothies and a ride on the camel at Maranui in Lyall Bay… The car was loaded up with scooter, bike and roller blades and a ‘Violent Volcano‘ (see video at end of post! Thanks Chicken Grandma & Grandad – the volcano rocks!). Looking […]

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This week’s for keeps :)

April 15, 2010April 15, 2010 BritMumInNZ 7 Comments School hols

I wish this week would never end. It’s been full of creativity, laughter, sunshine and cosy evenings. The day’s aren’t yet cold (or windy) enough to force us inside and the darker evenings are still a novelty to cosy up and enjoy. We’ve not had to run for the school bell and pack little boxed […]

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Swinging clip folk and clocks

April 10, 2010May 27, 2010 BritMumInNZ 9 Comments Art, Charlotte, Life in action - Videos, School hols, Sophie

Charlotte has been busy creating fun swinging clip folk and clocks this week. My favourite is the robot she made for me, which I’ve pinned in the kitchen. In my dreams the robot comes to life and performs the tasks Charlotte has set for it to do: ‘Do all the housework’, ‘Make breakfast’, ‘Tidy up’ […]

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Perfect Friday Out and About

April 9, 2010April 9, 2010 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments School hols

Today was a perfect Friday – for those of us not having to work that is. Whilst Dan was extremely busy meeting deadlines, his girls were lapping up the Autumn sunshine. He’s been cycling to and from work most days, but this morning we drove him in and enjoyed a cuppa. We’re so loving the […]

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Masked Fun at Capital E

April 9, 2010May 27, 2010 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Art, School hols

Capital E always pulls out the stops to entertain children over the school holidays. We spent Thursday morning making masks and enjoying the wonderful ‘Commedia Dell’Arte Performance’, a form of mask theatre that evolved in Italy, influencing early clowning and ballet. We had a very fun morning of inspiration and comedy. Here’s the girls creating […]

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Pirate’s Cove Mini-golf

April 9, 2010 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment School hols

On Easter Monday, after swimming at the wave pool, we had a great time with a friend at Pirate Cove’s mini-golf in Porirua. Charli scored a hole in one on the first hole! After that the competition was on. Dan got a hole in one and did the ‘moon walk’ to celebrate, which left Sophie […]

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Easter weekend pool fun

April 9, 2010April 15, 2010 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Life in action - Videos, School hols

Most of the Easter weekend, aside from consuming chocolate, was spent at the swimming pool. On Friday and Saturday we visited our local pool in Kilbirnie (the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre and Spray Pool) and on Monday we went to the wave pool in Porirua. Both the girls are loving swimming and started lessons again […]

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Bon Voyage Granddad

February 8, 2010 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments School hols

We sadly bid farewell to Granddad last night. We have enjoyed the most incredible time together and we were all a little teary saying goodbye. We have promised to take good care of Grandma and will be sure to give her lots of big cuddles. Unfortunately he has to return to work and we know […]

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The last two day’s of our Wairarapa weekend…

February 7, 2010 BritMumInNZ 2 Comments Holidays, School hols

were extremely wet! Our hopes of visiting Riversdale Beach were completely washed away when the rain set in on Sunday morning and didn’t stop till midday Monday. Thankfully, Masterton has a brilliant swimming pool, complete with hydro-slide and lazy river (and a nice spa pool for the adults) so we soaked up the water in […]

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Legend, history, remarkable rocks & sandy beaches…

February 3, 2010February 3, 2010 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Holidays, School hols

all come together at Castlepoint, where we spent the second day of our weekend away in the Wairarapa. Only a 12 minute drive from our holiday cottage on Tinui Station we packed up the car and set off. We’ve lived in Wellington for over ten year’s but have never made it to Castlepoint. We’ve heard […]

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Over the hill and not so far away…

February 2, 2010 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Holidays, School hols

lies the sweeping rural beauty of the Wairarapa. We left on Friday in the most glorious sunshine.  Our destination Poplar Cottage on the historic 19th Century Tinui Station, on the Castlepoint Road from Masterton. Enroute we stopped at Kaitoke Regional Park to stretch our legs, test out the swing bridge and watch numerous folk bravely […]

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Sunshine and Fog

January 28, 2010 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments School hols

On Tuesday we headed out to the Botanical Gardens in gloriously, hot sunshine. We parked at the top of the cable car, with a plan to walk all down hill, via the playground, duck pond, Sound Shell, Rose Gardens and into the city, before riding the cable car back up. However, poor Sophie had a […]

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Fun at the Races & Blueberry Stuffing!

January 28, 2010 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment School hols

On Monday, Wellington Anniversary Day, we headed over to Trentham Race Course for the family day. We’d never been before, but thought the girls would enjoy it and there was so much free entertainment for children. Adults cost $10, children free and all the activities were free! So they had a fabulous time on the […]

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Bubbles, horses & fun on the farm

January 28, 2010 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment School hols

I read in the newspaper last week that when there’s lots of moisture in the air it’s perfect for making bubbles, as Alan McKay demonstrated in Wellington on Friday. On Sunday morning the girls raced out the kitchen door into the garden and delighted in bubbles sticking to plants, the walls of the house and […]

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