Catching the Magic – Page 138 – Travels in New Zealand and beyond, going back to 2003!

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 […]

I found my feet!

September 22, 2003July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I haven’t quite got them to my mouth yet, but I keep trying!

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I’ve been exploring the world from my tummy.

September 15, 2003July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I enjoyed making lots of noise and playing with Caleb (I quite like him!).

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I Love Lord of the Rings

September 8, 2003July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I visited ‘Rivendell’ this week.

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I love sitting in my chair

September 1, 2003July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I love sitting in my chair and cooing at Mummy and Daddy.

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I love my tummy time.

August 22, 2003July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I’m enjoying tummy time now (I used to hate it!)

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I love my play gym

August 15, 2003July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I’ve been busy reaching out at for my friends on my Play Gym.

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My First Holiday

August 6, 2003July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Holidays

Grandma & Grandad Aspinall and Mummy and Daddy took me on my first ferry crossing to the South Island of New Zealand.

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Grandma and Grandad Aspinall Visit

July 1, 2003July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

I have lots of lovely warm, welcoming cuddles with Grandma and Grandad Aspinall

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What I Did In My Early Days..

June 29, 2003July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte, Special Days

I was born on Saturday 28 June, 12 days overdue, at 11.12pm (or so my Mummy and Daddy tell me – it was all a blur to me!).

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Birth Story

June 28, 2003February 15, 2013 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment Charlotte, Sarah, Special Days

As told by my Mummy…

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