Catching the Magic

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

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  • WAI2K 50km trail adventure, November 2024!

    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 […]
  • Visits back to the UK aren’t always a holiday – when those you love aren’t well.

    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 […]
  • Celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary with a long weekend on the Gold Coast – June 2024

    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 […]
  • ‘Last time’ moments on a spring visit to the UK, May 2024

    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 […]
  • Race Tekapo 50km

    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 […]
  • Running the stunning Motatapu Trail Marathon

    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 […]
  • 50km for 50 years! How I saw in the first day of my fifties running the 50km Faultline Ultra!

    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 […]
  • Six month catch up!

    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 […]
  • Ten blissful days in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

    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, […]
  • A few running events to kick off the year & a sub-4 PB at the Rotorua Marathon!

    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 […]

Lake Taupo. Simply Stunning.

April 12, 2006November 27, 2009 Dan Leave a comment Dan, Holidays

We spent 7 days in Taupo for a pre-Easter break. What a top notch time. Charli saw her first geyser!

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My First PDT

March 28, 2006November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 2 Comments Sarah

Today, I had my first PDT (Public Display Tantrum). One tired toddler (slept 9 hours last night) hit the floor in central library and put on an all kicking, head-banging, arm thrashing display.

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Evening slumbers

March 25, 2006July 28, 2010 Sophie 1 Comment Sophie

I’m 12 weeks old, settling down and love my cuddles with Daddy.

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The Harsh Reality of IT

March 23, 2006September 5, 2006 Dan Leave a comment Dan, Technology

A colleague left us today, we ordered in some pizza and we all had a good time. “So where’s this heading?”, you ask.

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The Wind’s Changing

March 23, 2006May 27, 2010 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Sarah

The clocks went back and Wellington’s infamous, wild winds kicked in with full force. With the change in the wind, and the cooler temperatures, Charli decided her ‘cloud’ bed was a better place to sleep than the floor after all.

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Mary Poppins and All Things Supercalafragalisticespialadochus

March 23, 2006July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

‘Ha, ha, ha, ha, he, he, he, I’m floating up to the ceiling!’

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Winter’s Coming

March 18, 2006November 27, 2009 Dan Leave a comment Dan

Today was the last day before the clocks go back, and winter well and truly sets in. You’d never know it though.

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Who Needs A Bed?

March 16, 2006May 27, 2010 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Sarah

A regular day in the life of a SAHM…

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The Bus of Death

March 16, 2006September 5, 2006 Dan Leave a comment Dan

Why is it that commuting is such a souless affair? Everyone sits in silence. No one smiles. Why or why oh why?

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Regressing and Double Standards

March 16, 2006May 27, 2010 Charlotte 1 Comment Charlotte

Okay, why is it okay for Sophie to wet her pants, pull my hair and scratch me?

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Grabbing at Life

March 16, 2006July 28, 2010 Sophie Leave a comment Sophie

I’m reaching out and touching the world around me.

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Charlie the Builder

March 15, 2006November 27, 2009 Dan Leave a comment Dan

It’s amazing when you leave your little children what they come up with. Where do they learn it from?

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Technobabble

March 14, 2006September 7, 2006 Dan Leave a comment Dan, Technology

Playing the PSP game Liberty Cities, it suddenly dawned upon me how “rock solid” these software programs are – something the business world can certainly learn from.

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Poos

March 14, 2006May 27, 2010 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Sarah

‘Place clingfilm over the toilet seat, that’ll be more hygenic than the potty.’

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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

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