Thank you Dad for loving me, just the way I am. Thank you for the hours you spent teaching me to add and rhyme. I know it can’t have been easy, to deal with my crazy mind! Thank you for the time you always gave to listen to me ponder, on the big questions in life, and […]
family
The Gallery: I’m Grateful For
This week a lovely lady and Mum to four, Chris (of ‘Thinly Spread‘ blog), is on an incredible journey to see the children of Mozambique. She has embarked on a journey, with Save the Children, for the ‘No Child Born to Die‘ campaign, which I blogged about recently. Chris hasn’t left her own children for […]
Shadows of our lives
The week has ended and it’s been one of trails and challenges. A week I am glad to see the end of. A week where Dan has had customers shout at him, products copied and systems crash. A week where I’ve had a child reluctant to go to school, a meeting with her teacher, a […]
Thank you dear family! What an amazing Mother’s Day!
Thank you for a special greeting when I was woken at 5am this morning (all happy sounds – but Alice and Sophie decided to greet the day early!). Thank you Charlotte, for your amazing recipe – which I waited patiently all day to taste! Thank you Sophie for the beautiful ‘bouquet’ picture you so beautifully […]
The Gallery – Children: A Holiday Special
Three generations Father and son reunited, for a special holiday together, after nearly four years of living on opposite sides of the world. The bond never breaks, but grows stronger yet with a new granddaughter to get to know. Grandparents and grandchildren reunited Stories and laughter, days out and late nights, treats and sweets. The […]
It’s snowing like you wouldn’t believe…
in England (and in parts of Australia!). Here in New Zealand we’re thinking of our northern hemisphere loved ones as we snip, decorate and paste paper snowflakes on the windows. My wonderful sister’s boyfriend, Mike Hutton, sent me this photograph of my father and sister at The Roaches, near where Claire and Mike live in […]
The Gallery: Love – It’s been a long time…
since we saw many of our dear relatives. Living on the other side of the world from our loved ones is especially hard at Christmas. It is a time of coming together, of love and sharing the joys of the season. They are especially close in our thoughts and hearts at this time of year. […]
Free range Friday
It’s been a week of sunshine in Wellington. Summer officially starts on 1 December and the weather sure is hotting up in preparation. This past week we’ve been enjoying the fun of the season in the garden and at the beach. It’s also been busy with organising Christmas post to the UK and trying to […]
Family ties and new ones
It was at my wedding in 1999 that I last saw my wonderful Godparents, Trish and Andy. Trish is one of my Mum’s closest friends from childhood. They met when they were only 7 year’s old (the same age that Charlotte is now). When I told Charlotte this her little face glazed over with a […]
Here Come the Girls: The Gallery Week 30
Girls run strong in my family. I am one of two girls, just like my mother and her mother was one of SEVEN girls! My husband’s brother and sister each have three sons. We have three daughters. I would have been beheaded or divorced in Henry VIII time! Saturday at the beach after a Birthday […]
Signing off from the Pennine Way
We’re so proud of my sister (aka Aunty Claire to the girls) who completed the Pennine Way at the weekend, with Chicken Grandma & Granddad supporting her along the way. Chicken Grandma reckons she could write a book on ‘Granny goes Youth Hosteling!’ We have missed talking to them on the phone and on Skype […]
So proud of my sister!
The Pennine Way updates from my Dad continue… I received an e-mail this morning to say my sister has ran over 24 miles, from Malham to Hawes, with a friend in about 5 1/2 hours! The photo below shows my Dad waiting on the tops near Hawes for my sister (photo taken by Mum). Pen-Y-Ghent […]
The Pennine Way is in my thoughts
Every night, before I go to bed, or first thing in the morning, I get an e-mail from my dear Dad. As I sleep (badly at the moment!) I think of my Mum, Dad and sister on the Pennine Way. My sister is walking the entire 267-mile walk in a fortnight, from the Peak District […]
Dancing through the generations
The music feels like a switch flicking on my body. Limbs move with ease to the rhythm, heart feels full with the mood of the melody and mind is clear of all thought. Shoulders back, tummy in, toes pointed with practiced precision. Face and body expressing a story without words. I reach out with graceful […]