Catching the Magic

Two Brits in Aotearoa bringing up three NZ born daughters. Our children: Our future. Haere Mai!

  • 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 in 7 days – June 2010
    • Byron Bay and the Gold Coast (2005 and 2016)
    • Californian Adventures, 2013-14
    • Canada, Dec. 2018
    • Copenhagen, July & August 2014
    • Long haul travel, New Zealand to England, with our 9 month old
    • England via San Francisco – July 2007
    • England via Santa Barbara & San Francisco, 2012
    • UK Visits from 2014 to 2022
    • Fiordland
    • Japan
    • Kapiti Coast
    • Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough & Canterbury
    • Otago, Queenstown, Wanaka & Southern Lakes
    • Singapore
    • Sydney
    • Taupo, Rotorua & Tongariro National Park
    • Wairarapa
  • Photo Gallery
  • Running
  • Special Days

botanical gardens

On the sculpture trail in the Botanic Garden of Wellington

July 4, 2011July 4, 2011 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Alice, Charlotte, Dan, Sarah, Sophie, Walks

When the man of the house has a game of football adjacent to the Wellington Botanic Garden there is no excuse for his supporting ladies not to follow. The weather was calm and dry, seasonably crisp, but nothing to grumble about. We rugged up and trooped along. We lingered to watch the start of the […]

Continue reading


A Forecast to Smile About

October 2, 2010 BritMumInNZ 2 Comments Art, School hols

After the deluge of rain that drenched Wellington on Thursday we were so delighted to see the sunshine on Friday. What’s more the forecast for the whole week is SUN, SUN, SUN! Now that’s something to SMILE about, especially on the school holidays! I’d pre-booked to take the girls to a craft activity in the […]

Continue reading


Perfect Friday Out and About

April 9, 2010April 9, 2010 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments School hols

Today was a perfect Friday – for those of us not having to work that is. Whilst Dan was extremely busy meeting deadlines, his girls were lapping up the Autumn sunshine. He’s been cycling to and from work most days, but this morning we drove him in and enjoyed a cuppa. We’re so loving the […]

Continue reading


Sunshine and Fog

January 28, 2010 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments School hols

On Tuesday we headed out to the Botanical Gardens in gloriously, hot sunshine. We parked at the top of the cable car, with a plan to walk all down hill, via the playground, duck pond, Sound Shell, Rose Gardens and into the city, before riding the cable car back up. However, poor Sophie had a […]

Continue reading


Winter sunshine makes for lots of fun

August 7, 2009November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 7 Comments Charlotte, Sophie

When the sun is out, there is so much fun to be had in the great outdoors of New Zealand. Even though we live in a city (well in a suburb a 10-minute drive from the city) we have plenty of nature within our grasp. Whilst Charli was working hard at school and earning certificates […]

Continue reading


Crystal Clear

April 3, 2009November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Charlotte, Sarah, Sophie

The brightness of colour in Autumn here isn’t one of blazing autumnal leaves in fall (unless you journey to the South Island). Most of the native trees are evergreen. But the sun sitting lower in the sky brings about an incredible clarity to the light reflecting off every surface. Morning and evening the temperatures are […]

Continue reading


Twinkle, twinkle in the night

January 19, 2009September 8, 2010 BritMumInNZ 7 Comments Charlotte, Dan, Random Musings, Sophie, Writing

Lights glittered through the trees and music throbbed in the warm, night air. Small hands fumbled with car-seat buckles. They couldn’t wait to escape the confines of the car and be amongst the music and lights. As soon as their feet touched the ground their bodies started moving to the music. Running down the fern […]

Continue reading


Bloomin Beautiful!

September 28, 2008November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 6 Comments Holidays

Just a quick post of some sunny cheer before we finally head off. It really was magnificent today and with the clocks having sprung forward we really are embracing the lighter evenings and warmer days. We joined the celebrations of the Spring Festival at the Botanical Gardens today. Poor ‘ole Charli still isn’t A1 and […]

Continue reading


Having a blast – long may the summer roll!

January 29, 2008November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment Charlotte, Dan, Sarah, Sophie

It’s been a crazy few days of sunshine. We had a blast at ‘The Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ in the Botanical Gardens on Sunday (got some great video-clips, but no time to string it together tonight!). Charlotte loved singing along to the music and Sophie enjoyed wandering around the rose garden and riding on the ‘rocket’! […]

Continue reading


Four Seasons in One Day

October 2, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Sarah

The infamous Crowded House song, ‘Four Seasons in One Day,’ certainly rang true in Wellington today! Helen Leggatt in Canterbury, New Zealand, regularly posts to an online forum about life in New Zealand, which has a weather thread, and people from all over New Zealand post their daily observations. Her San Diego Reader article sums […]

Continue reading


Wellington Botanical Gardens: A Must Do!

May 15, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Charlotte, Sophie

For tourists and visitors alike Wellington Botanical Garden is a must do! Today was a perfect day in Wellington. One of those days you wish for when you see a cruise liner dock in the harbour. Wellington on a good day is paradise. Take a ride up the cable car for magnificent views and a […]

Continue reading


Happy Days with Grandma

February 26, 2006July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

Cock-a-doodle-doo, the chicken wants a poo!

Continue reading


Fun with Grandma

February 20, 2006July 28, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Sophie

Sunny days and lots of fresh air.

Continue reading


Life’s a Beach!

January 29, 2006May 27, 2010 Charlotte Leave a comment Charlotte

We’re been sunning it up and paddling in the sea, life’s a beach in January!

Continue reading


Posts navigation

Older posts

Follow

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Christmas and a Birthday in Wellington January 12, 2023
  • Summer highlights from the Wairarapa January 8, 2023
  • A long weekend with friends near Goat Island Marine Reserve January 6, 2023
  • It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – southern hemisphere style! December 23, 2022
  • Wellington Lantern Festival – in the spring rain December 18, 2022
  • Toast Martinborough – Wine and Food Festival December 16, 2022
  • Spring running highlights on Wellington’s trails December 14, 2022
  • Trail goodness in the southern Remutaka Ranges October 25, 2022
  • Family, hills & roller-coasters! October 22, 2022
  • Summer visit to London in July; seeing friends, West End Shows, National Art Gallery, Women’s Euro 2022 & corgis! October 14, 2022
  • North-east Cornwall holiday snapshots (part 2) September 3, 2022
  • Summer holiday in North-East Cornwall (part 1) August 30, 2022

Things I Write About

Art (100) autumn (42) Baking (37) beach (67) Birthday (49) birthday party (31) breastfeeding (29) cafes (46) christmas (70) Country Kids (59) family (115) family time (56) featured (34) friends (38) Garden (43) holiday (36) Holidays (129) Lyall Bay (47) Lyrical Sunday (68) milestones (62) motherhood (37) New Zealand (38) parenting (36) photography (39) poem (69) poetry (92) running (56) Santa Barbara (32) school (75) school holidays (49) seasons (45) Silent Sunday (51) sisters (29) sleep (35) spring (38) summer (60) swimming (28) the gallery (62) Things I'm Loving (118) UK (30) Walks (47) weather (34) Wellington (137) winter (42) writing (50)

Poetry

Follow Sarah's board Poetry by Sarah Lee on Pinterest.
20 Of The Best Expat Blogs To Follow In 2017

dazzling Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress