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
  • 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 […]

Daddy’s Birthday Part II

February 13, 2005July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Dan, Holidays

I helped Daddy blow out his candles and played with Aunty Lulu!

Continue reading


Daddy’s Birthday Part I

February 12, 2005July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Holidays

We flew on an areoplane (Bazooooom) to Sydney for Daddy’s Birthday.

Continue reading


A night owl for a week

January 23, 2005July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

Back home in Wellington, but still on Singapore time, I enjoyed a few nights out past my bedtime!

Continue reading


Hot, tropical days in Singapore

January 17, 2005July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Holidays

Daddy took his girls with him on a work trip to Singapore and we all had lots of fun in the sun!

Continue reading


New Year fun with Mummy and Daddy

January 1, 2005July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

Daddy had time off between Christmas and New Year so we all enjoyed lots of fresh air and sunshine

Continue reading


It’s My Second Christmas!!

December 25, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Special Days

I woke up to find a stocking outside my room and lots and lots of presents under the tree..

Continue reading


Is that jingle bells I can hear?

December 2, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I’ve been decorating the Christmas tree and dancing with a snow man!

Continue reading


My First Wine Festival

November 22, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Holidays

I enjoyed a weekend away in the countryside and went to my first “Toast Martinborough” wine festival.

Continue reading


I’m living up to my star sign ‘Cancer’ and am a true water baby.

November 14, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I’m never far from water and it’s where I love to be, be it at the beach, the bath or watering the flowers!

Continue reading


Celebrating the Festival of Lights

October 25, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

This weekend was a Bank Holiday Weekend and Mummy and Daddy took me to celebrate the Indian Festival called Diwali – The Festival of Lights.

Continue reading


15 months and a Spring Chicken!

October 15, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

Spring has arrived and I’m burning the candle at both ends, making the most of the sunshine 🙂

Continue reading


Noise should be my middle name!

September 18, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

Be prepared for noise if you visit my house! I’m a drumming, singing, party animal!

Continue reading


Busy as a bee, zzzzz

August 18, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I’ve been busy as a bee with my lovely friends

Continue reading


I’m picking up the pace!

July 26, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

From baby to toddler – Mummy and Daddy are having to catch up pretty fast!

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