Catching the Magic

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

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flowers

My Sunday Photos | Winter flowers inspiring prose

August 17, 2015August 17, 2015 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Martinborough, Poetry, Seasons

It’s nearing the end of winter in New Zealand, with the days getting noticeably longer and more fine days in between the cold fronts, but still, when the southerly whips up from Antarctica, we need a little hopeful reminder of spring and summer to come. This weekend, whilst away in our holiday home in Martinborough, […]

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The Gallery | Yellow

November 12, 2014November 12, 2014 BritMumInNZ 8 Comments Photo Gallery, Seasons

The colour of summer is blooming in the coastal sand dunes around New Zealand. This hardy, introduced Ice Plant, the Hottentot Fig, blooms along the coastline in startling beauty. Its colour stands defiantly bright, on even the wildest spring days in Wellington; scattered along walkways and through coastal dunes, as the wind bustles on through. […]

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Let’s Go Ride! Miss 4 & Her New Cycling Adventures

April 6, 2014August 21, 2014 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Adventures, Lifestyle

She’s got pedal power and she’s not afraid to use it! She’s done her practice ‘miles’, with cycling around the house and down the lane. This week Miss 4 decided she had what was needed to make it from the house to the village, and back, on her wheels (with a stop for a bite […]

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Things I’m Loving

March 16, 2014August 21, 2014 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment Playgrounds & Parks, Running, Things I'm Loving

Had a beautiful week with my daughters and escaping out for runs. The clocks have swung into spring time in the northern hemisphere and having an extra hour of daylight in the evening makes a huge difference to our available ‘play time’. Sharing here a few loves from my week… ❤ Hanging out in the […]

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The Photo Gallery | Yellow

March 13, 2014August 21, 2014 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Photo Gallery

Yellow, in the garden, drawing butterflies in – Yellow, in the setting sun, drawing my eyes to the horizon – Yellow, reflecting off the water, as I finish my evening run – And yellow, of my youngest daughter’s pirate hat, blowing bubbles on a boat with her friend – Linking up with –

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Things that have made me smile this week in Santa Barbara

November 15, 2013 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Things I'm Loving

Love the girl that wants to give her Mamma flowers, whenever she sees an opportunity to pick them… though in many a situation I have to urge her not to pick them! Love Autumn here in Santa Barbara (though it’s the warmest, sunniest one I have ever experienced in my lifetime!). The days are definitely […]

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Flying into February

February 1, 2012 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Garden, Sarah, School hols

A visitor to my garden on Monday marked the start of a new school year and the end of the summer holidays. I have a special affection for Monarch butterflies. To me they are spiritual guardians, carrying messages from loved ones. After Charlotte set off happily to school on Monday the butterfly soared into the […]

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Things I’m Loving…

November 18, 2011 BritMumInNZ 7 Comments Loving & Not Loving

♥ LOVING the feel of summer, with reflections of sunshine, blue sky and time on the beach with my youngest daughter. This makes the sleep deprivation worth it! ♥ LOVING a visit to the rose gardens at Wellington’s Botanic Garden after school to smell the scent of summer, feed the ducks and have our fingers […]

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Theme for Week 3 of Lyrical Sunday (9 Jan 2011)

January 3, 2011January 9, 2011 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Lyrical Sunday

This week’s theme is ‘Flowers’. It’s summer in New Zealand, so we are surrounded by beautiful blooms, but if you’re tucked up in the Northern Hemisphere please feel free to indulge and take your mind on a trip to warmer seasons. I have included some links to flower themed poems by famous poets. I read […]

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Fun simple flower craft

September 11, 2010September 26, 2010 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Art

This week we came across these wonderful cardboard flowers from the Warehouse Stationery. They are so handy to have for impromptu play-dates. The girls have really enjoyed decorating them with a variety of materials. For these flowers Charlotte used wool (left) and glitter glue (right): The beautiful flowers below were decorated using old magazines (left) […]

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First Bouquet of Flowers

July 2, 2009November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Charlotte, Sophie

How old were you when you received your first bouquet of flowers? Well, our dear Charli, walked out of her classroom on Friday, at the tender age of 5, with a big beamer on her face, carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers… Her friend (who is a boy) had organized (with a little help from […]

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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 […]

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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

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