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 […]

First steps!

July 11, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I took my first steps and Mummy and Daddy were both there to share the special moment.

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My 1st Birthday

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

Balloons, paper and cake!

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Splish, splash, splosh

June 20, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I’m a little tadpole! I’ve started swimming lessons again and love it 🙂

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Ladies who lunch…

June 6, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I love to lunch with my Mummy and Daddy and take high-chairs for walkies!

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I’m back from my travels!

May 30, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I’ve been back in New Zealand for three whole weeks and Simba, my cat, told me he’d missed me lots.

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My First Overseas Experience (Part Four)

May 15, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Holidays

I’m here up north in the land of the Red Rose. Lancashire La La La.

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My Christening

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

I was Christened on 2 May 2004 and lots of people came to share my special day.

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My First Overseas Experience (Part Three)

April 19, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Holidays

My Great Grandma comes to visit me and we go to Marwell Zoo.

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My First Overseas Experience (Part Two)

April 10, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Holidays

I went on holiday to Falmouth, Cornwall with Grandma & Grandad Aspinall, Aunty Claire and of course my Mummy and Daddy!

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My First Overseas Experience (Part One)

April 1, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Holidays

I’m a big traveller now. I flew all the way to England and I’ve been to the big City of London!

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I’m a Mountaineer!

March 21, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Walks

I climbed Mount Kaukau with Mummy and Daddy. It was such an adventure.

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I’m the fastest crawler in town

March 14, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte 2 Comments Charlotte

I can now crawl at a rate of knots and am busy keeping my mummy and daddy well and truly on their toes.

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I’m crawling and I have a new tooth!

February 29, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

There’s a whole new world out there. Dad’s sock draw is more fun than my toys!

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I can say ‘Da, Da’

February 21, 2004July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I’ve learnt to say Da,Da – now he’s really wrapped round my little finger!

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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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