Catching the Magic

Travels in New Zealand and beyond, going back to 2003!

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Dear Home… #AprilLove2016 & Day 4 of #NaPoWriMo

April 4, 2016April 12, 2016 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Header, Poetry, Sarah

Dear Home… It took me many years to love you, without a gnawing pain in my heart. For many years I ached to return – To the land where I was born and raised, to the family I said farewell to, and the place of my ancestors. It took me years to accept you, but […]

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Hubby is home from his business trip to good ‘ole Blighty!

August 3, 2015August 10, 2015 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Dan, Life in action - Videos

It’s been two weeks since we returned from our fabulous hols in Singapore (more blog posts coming on that trip!), and we’ve been so busy settling back into ‘Term 3’ of the school year – especially with the man of the house away, on business, for a week and a half. He was working in […]

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We are home in Wellington, New Zealand!

October 7, 2014November 6, 2014 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Adventures, Lifestyle, New beginnings

Where do I start?! The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of saying goodbye to our life in Santa Barbara, enjoying a last few days in Disneyland California, and then finally boarding an Air New Zealand flight for that final flight home! It’s been weeks since I have written anything on this blog. I’ve […]

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At home with my folks, Hampshire, England

August 17, 2014September 20, 2014 BritMumInNZ 3 Comments Adventures, Holidays, Photo Gallery

It’s been a fortnight since we returned from the UK to the US. We are heading back to New Zealand to live at the beginning of October, but for now we’re in limbo; between the two places we love. I haven’t felt like writing anything much, but have tried to fit in a little reminiscing about […]

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Parenting Moments to Love – whilst we lay low between travel adventures!

June 27, 2014 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment Adventures, Education, Lifestyle

We’ve been very much home bodies after our exciting week away in San Francisco, with side trips to Santa Cruz and Monterey. It’s been nearly three weeks since we got back and we’ve been very self contained in the house we’re renting in Santa Barbara, till the end of August this year. The three girls are […]

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Week in the life | Sunday

April 30, 2012April 30, 2012 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Alice, Charlotte, Dan, Sarah, Sophie

Our first ‘garage sale’ has been and gone, with lots of preparation and sorting out – but only a few customers (we only told friends). Nevertheless, it was an amusing exercise for Charlotte and Sophie – with long, detailed discussions on garage sale etiquette and how best to sell, a sharing out of the float […]

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Daddy’s back & a ‘Run’ for Lyrical Sunday

April 17, 2012April 17, 2012 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Dan, Lyrical Sunday

We greeted Daddy at Wellington Airport, first thing on Monday morning. We knew he’d be tired from his travels – but we weren’t expecting him to be quite so burned out… There wasn’t much meat left on him – but he still managed to pedal a bike next to Sophie at the Fonterra Science Roadshow! […]

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Sunshine and winter bugs

July 30, 2009November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Random Musings

Photo credit: DAN LEE – View from Princess Bay, Wellington We have been pretty lucky so far this winter on the bugs front, but of course the incessant background talk of swine flu makes us nervous at every cough and sneeze (and has made us diligent, over paranoid hand washers). On Saturday morning we woke […]

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Domestic Bliss

April 1, 2009November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Charlotte, Sarah, Sophie

Sometimes it feels good to lay low and simply chill out at home. Sophie and I have had a great couple of days milling round the house. We’ve been getting creative with paint, sticky tape and all things messy; engrossed in puzzles; playing horse games on the computer and reading copious books (it’s a wonder […]

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Domestic Bliss

October 14, 2007November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Sarah

It’s been a cracker of a weekend. One of those weekend’s where we got lots done on the domestic chore list, but didn’t feel like we were trying hard. We’re sitting here on Sunday evening feeling very chilled and happy (England winning against France certainly kicked the day off to a good start!). Dan’s tapping […]

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School Holiday Mayhem

September 26, 2007September 4, 2010 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment School hols

Two weeks of school holiday. It’s wet and windy. Dan’s loving it. The trip into work is quiet and effortless and he’s not at all jealous of me keeping the children entertained when it’s a howling Southerly. Fortunately Wellington is blessed with some great indoor venues for young and old children alike. However, taking preschoolers […]

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Kite Surfers Getting Close to the Stars this Matariki

June 17, 2007November 27, 2009 BritMumInNZ 1 Comment Sarah

It was a wild and windy southerly that greeted us this morning. We were all keyed up to participate in the various Matariki celebrations in Wellington City, but the comforts of home kept us from getting out of the door in time. We stayed put and listened to a ‘Celebrating Matariki CD’, which accompanied a […]

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Expat Forever?

November 15, 2006November 28, 2009 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Random Musings

Ever felt like you are on the outside of a bubble looking in?

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Spring has Sprung!

September 18, 2006August 31, 2010 BritMumInNZ Leave a comment Sarah

With spring sunshine warming the veins it was the perfect excuse to get the beer tap flowing and enjoy some good cheer with friends.

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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
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  • 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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