Catching the Magic

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

  • Home
  • About
  • Blasts from the past
  • Country Kids
  • Motherhood
  • Poetry
    • 2011 Poetry
    • 2012 Poetry
    • 2013 Poetry
    • 2014 Poetry
    • 2015 Poetry
    • 2016 Poetry
    • 2017-2018 Poetry
  • Travel
    • Auckland
    • Fiordland
    • Kapiti Coast
    • Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough & Canterbury
    • Otago, Queenstown, Wanaka & Southern Lakes
    • Taupo, Rotorua & Tongariro National Park
    • Wairarapa
    • Byron Bay and the Gold Coast (2005 and 2016)
    • Californian Adventures, 2013-14
    • Canada, Dec. 2018
    • Cook Islands
    • Copenhagen, July & August 2014
    • Japan
    • Singapore
    • Sydney
    • UK Visits from 2014 to 2022
    • England via Santa Barbara & San Francisco, 2012
    • England via San Francisco – July 2007
    • NZ to UK, with our 9 month old, 2004
  • Running
  • Special Days

Writing

The SHAPE of Death: Lyrical Sunday

October 15, 2011 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment Charlotte, Lyrical Sunday, Writing

My daughter Charlotte challenged me to use ‘shapes’ as inspiration for Lyrical Sunday this week. I’m linking up here (where she’s written a fun Haiku). If you’d like to join in too then please do! My poem is also a Haiku and I’ve met the challenge of using ‘shapes’ to inspire me, but my poem is […]

Continue reading


There was a little green fairy in the garden today

September 12, 2011September 12, 2011 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Alice, Garden, Sarah, Writing

Running barefoot, in the grass, a fairy frolicked in my garden today. She stopped to pick some lavender and then hurried on her way. Dressed in green, she blended in, a magic figure of spring. I noticed her stop and rest a while, and wondered what magic she’d bring. I looked at where she’d sat […]

Continue reading


Loss to a Taniwha: Writer’s Workshop

August 4, 2011August 4, 2011 BritMumInNZ 8 Comments photography, Sarah, Writing

The Taniwha crept into the harbour, Trapping the city in its dragon breath. At loss, trapped, beneath high pressure power, A lid of cloud, that needed sun with teeth. We drove up to the lid, in search of blue, And found a hole, from which we could peak-a-boo. Wellington and its harbour hills, no clue […]

Continue reading


Writer’s Workshop: Channelling the Energy

July 28, 2011April 1, 2012 BritMumInNZ 15 Comments Sarah, Sophie, Walks, Writing

When the ‘boss’ and I our conceived our daughter, Sophie, I reckon a strong dose of my sister’s genes were thrown into the mix. And, unbeknown to Dan and I, there was going to be a strong contender in the house as to who was really ‘the boss’! Of course my husband and I harp […]

Continue reading


What made today mean something?

July 5, 2011 BritMumInNZ 10 Comments Alice, Art, Writing

I knew how it was going to end before they even began. I wished for a moment the grown up in me, lurking somewhere, would step forward and declare the activity ill-timed. But the child in me wanted to aid their spontaneous creativity; even though the adult knew we’d be forced to clean up the […]

Continue reading


My heart is like a barometer

July 1, 2011July 1, 2011 BritMumInNZ 9 Comments Random Musings, Sarah, Writing

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 […]

Continue reading


Solstice – New life after the longest night: Lyrical Sunday

June 26, 2011June 26, 2011 BritMumInNZ 8 Comments Charlotte, Lyrical Sunday, Writing

The longest night, many moons ago, Was bitter cold, with snow on distant ranges. I wrapped my arms around my swollen middle, Overly expectant. I gazed up at the blanket sky, Dazzled with star light, Wondering when my new life would begin. Stirring deep within my womb, Full of life against the winter gloom. As […]

Continue reading


Writer’s Workshop: A poem inspired by a picture

June 23, 2011June 23, 2011 BritMumInNZ 6 Comments Charlotte, Writing

Her ears are like little shells, Catching the whispers of sound. She dips them in the water, Where mermaid treasure is found. Flower stars, adorn her ears, Where once, her soft skin was bare. Turning eight, she shows no fear, But seeks her birthstone with care. __________________________________ My oldest daughter is turning eight and has […]

Continue reading


The last time I hung out with friends…

June 16, 2011June 16, 2011 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Sarah, Writing

over the age of 18 and in real life (as opposed to online) was a couple of weeks ago (for the first time in over a year!). Post inspired by Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop: Girls Night Out! Describe the last time you got to hang out with your friends? What stops you from doing this […]

Continue reading


Courage

June 13, 2011 BritMumInNZ 9 Comments Alice, Charlotte, Random Musings, Sarah, Sophie, Writing

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 […]

Continue reading


A mother knows; back to school blues.

May 3, 2011May 3, 2011 BritMumInNZ 10 Comments Sarah, School hols, Writing

On the surface, her child is smiling, but a mother knows, there’s something hiding. A child may be sat – Straight backed, on the mat. But those focused eyes, aren’t alive, like a cats. She sees the tension, the torment within. The waning of a flame, as her child is tamed. Her child glazes over, […]

Continue reading


Lyrical Sunday – Monsters (with a special poem from Chinese Grandma!)

January 30, 2011February 16, 2011 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Charlotte, Lyrical Sunday, Sarah, School hols, Sophie, Writing

The Red Monster – Our Jim by Chinese Grandma We have a little monster, Who came to visit us, All the way from England, On a plane and on a bus. He is a little devil, And likes to move about, In the trees and bushes, Of that there is no doubt. He hid inside […]

Continue reading


New Year’s Day 2011: Starting the Year on a Positive Foot

January 1, 2011January 2, 2011 BritMumInNZ 10 Comments Life in action - Videos, Walks, Writing

This morning we made the most of a cooler day, with cloudy shade, and set off on a local walk at Te Raekaikau Point: Te Ranga a Hiwi Track. The last time we did this walk we hoped to find our way through the bush and come out at Princess Bay – but got completely lost and […]

Continue reading


Lyrical Sunday: Week 1 – Christmas

December 26, 2010February 16, 2011 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Charlotte, Lyrical Sunday, Sarah, Sophie, Writing

CHRISTMAS Kiwiana Style by Sarah Carols in the sun, Hammocks in the garden strung. Relies gather round, In Aroha they are bound. Seasons come and go, Though stories linger so. Mary and Joseph loved God’s greatest gift, And so we give though times have shift. Sand not snow, us Kiwis know, but same the world […]

Continue reading


Posts navigation

Older posts
Newer posts
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Archives

Recent Posts

  • WAI2K 50km trail adventure, November 2024! February 20, 2025
  • Visits back to the UK aren’t always a holiday – when those you love aren’t well. February 6, 2025
  • Celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary with a long weekend on the Gold Coast – June 2024 January 6, 2025
  • ‘Last time’ moments on a spring visit to the UK, May 2024 January 2, 2025
  • Race Tekapo 50km September 29, 2024
  • Running the stunning Motatapu Trail Marathon May 30, 2024
  • 50km for 50 years! How I saw in the first day of my fifties running the 50km Faultline Ultra! May 21, 2024
  • Six month catch up! March 9, 2024
  • Ten blissful days in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. August 8, 2023
  • Marlborough Food & Wine Festival Birthday Celebration August 7, 2023
  • A few running events to kick off the year & a sub-4 PB at the Rotorua Marathon! May 10, 2023
  • Auckland mid-week break away for Harry Styles! April 4, 2023

Things I Write About

Art (100) autumn (42) Baking (37) beach (67) Birthday (51) birthday party (31) breastfeeding (29) cafes (46) christmas (71) Country Kids (59) family (117) family time (57) featured (34) friends (38) Garden (43) holiday (36) Holidays (133) Lyall Bay (47) Lyrical Sunday (68) milestones (62) motherhood (37) New Zealand (38) parenting (36) photography (39) poem (69) poetry (92) running (62) Santa Barbara (32) school (75) school holidays (50) seasons (45) Silent Sunday (51) sisters (29) sleep (35) spring (38) summer (60) swimming (28) the gallery (62) Things I'm Loving (118) UK (33) Walks (47) weather (34) Wellington (137) winter (42) writing (50)
dazzling Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress