Catching the Magic

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

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Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop

A love letter to a much cherished inanimate object

November 17, 2011November 17, 2011 BritMumInNZ 5 Comments Sarah, Writing

My dearest coffee machine, You’ve been faithful to me for seven years without a splutter. You’ve rescued me from dire sleep deprivation with your sensitive touch. The sound of you getting all steamed up – in readiness for me – makes my heart pump and my hands shake in anticipation. Some mornings I see your […]

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Writer’s Workshop: It’s a pretty good life, for a cat

November 3, 2011November 3, 2011 BritMumInNZ 9 Comments Our pets, Writing

They’re not too bad for adopted owners. It was about four years ago when they moved in and the smell of their summer BBQs drew my cats whiskers to their home. I couldn’t resist hanging around, especially since they already had a cat that got fed regularly. The photo up there was taken at the […]

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22 things I have done since becoming a parent…

October 27, 2011 BritMumInNZ 6 Comments Sarah, Writing

Sung’ Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ more times than I’d like to think about. Not had a lie-in past 9am for over 8 years, but had plenty of mid-day naps. Scrubbed Weet-Bix off the kitchen floor till my hands nearly bled (that stuff is like cement to shift when it has set!). Got up in the […]

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Don’t Dream It’s Over

October 6, 2011 BritMumInNZ 7 Comments Random Musings, Sarah

I love all the Crowded House songs. Whenever they come on the radio they always lift me up. ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over‘ is one of my favourite and I have enjoyed reading people’s interpretation of the lyrics at the website ‘Song Meanings‘. For me this song evokes a feeling of optimism and strength, even when […]

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Loss to a Taniwha: Writer’s Workshop

August 4, 2011August 4, 2011 BritMumInNZ 8 Comments photography, Sarah, Writing

The Taniwha crept into the harbour, Trapping the city in its dragon breath. At loss, trapped, beneath high pressure power, A lid of cloud, that needed sun with teeth. We drove up to the lid, in search of blue, And found a hole, from which we could peak-a-boo. Wellington and its harbour hills, no clue […]

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Writer’s Workshop: Channelling the Energy

July 28, 2011April 1, 2012 BritMumInNZ 15 Comments Sarah, Sophie, Walks, Writing

When the ‘boss’ and I our conceived our daughter, Sophie, I reckon a strong dose of my sister’s genes were thrown into the mix. And, unbeknown to Dan and I, there was going to be a strong contender in the house as to who was really ‘the boss’! Of course my husband and I harp […]

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Writer’s Workshop: A poem inspired by a picture

June 23, 2011June 23, 2011 BritMumInNZ 6 Comments Charlotte, Writing

Her ears are like little shells, Catching the whispers of sound. She dips them in the water, Where mermaid treasure is found. Flower stars, adorn her ears, Where once, her soft skin was bare. Turning eight, she shows no fear, But seeks her birthstone with care. __________________________________ My oldest daughter is turning eight and has […]

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The last time I hung out with friends…

June 16, 2011June 16, 2011 BritMumInNZ 4 Comments Sarah, Writing

over the age of 18 and in real life (as opposed to online) was a couple of weeks ago (for the first time in over a year!). Post inspired by Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop: Girls Night Out! Describe the last time you got to hang out with your friends? What stops you from doing this […]

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10 things I love about Alice at 15 months old

May 19, 2011 BritMumInNZ 9 Comments Alice, Sarah

A limited vocabulary of key words can get results. I admire Alice, at 15 months of age, for choosing her words carefully for optimum service from the bigger people around her; ‘More!’ – used whilst pointing at what it is she requires; music, favorite nursery rhymes on DVD, water, food. ‘Nah!’ – used with a […]

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‘Angst’ in transition to school

December 9, 2010December 9, 2010 BritMumInNZ 9 Comments Sarah, Sophie, Writing

Last night my four, going on five, year old daughter, Sophie told me, in her own words, ‘I feel too much pain going to Kindi as I am so sad to be saying goodbye.  I don’t want to have the goodbye as it will just make me sadder.  I have never felt like this.  It […]

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Poem about the time someone made you smile: ALICE

November 18, 2010November 18, 2010 BritMumInNZ 19 Comments Alice, Writing

A Articulate is not a word we can yet attribute to your name, Although your name does start with A. Adorable Alice, of words yet lame, Although many attractive sounds you say. L Mama, Dada, Baba… all arouse a smile and more. We listen with attentive ears. Learning your language is never a bore, Love […]

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The Happy Den

October 9, 2010 BritMumInNZ 12 Comments Garden, School hols

Where we live is surrounded by trees and close to the sea. The garden is what really attracted us to the property. It’s not easy to find a flat section in the hilly topography of Wellington. And to find somewhere set back from the road with a safe driveway for the children to ride their […]

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Ten reasons I LOVE my job

September 24, 2010September 24, 2010 BritMumInNZ 10 Comments Random Musings, Sarah, Writing

No one tells me what I should wear and in the summer I live in bare feet and have little people volunteer to paint my nails (usually multi-colored and badly). I love not feeling pressured to scrub up in the latest fashion. Being able to wear a bikini top instead of a bra in summer […]

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Dear Mummy…

August 17, 2010September 9, 2010 BritMumInNZ 9 Comments Art, Random Musings, Writing

An imagined letter from my children to me: Dear Mummy, We’re sorry for the mess we left everywhere, but do you like the painting we did for you? The painting is of you being busy. You are always busy, but we like that you stop to give us a hug and play with us too. […]

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  • 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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