Travels in New Zealand and beyond, going back to 2003!
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks of events and I am so grateful that our ‘team of 5 million’ pulled together earlier in the year, with the 7 week lockdown, so that we can enjoy living a life of ‘relative’ normality now (things can always change!). Everyone I talk to is filled with gratitude and…
Yesterday I cleaned a lot (with a brief late afternoon escape to our local zoo). Today I had fun (except for a morning appointment to see the doctor for a warrant of fitness – but even that was plain sailing). The sun shone. The wind didn’t hamper my every step. Nature played ball (and threw in a real…
LOVING sisterhood and ancient boulder rocks at Te Papa. Some of the boulder rocks, including granite, serpentine and marble are up to 600 million years old! If only they could talk! Some of the boulders on display at Te Papa’s ‘Bush City‘ were around before the dinosaurs even roamed the planet. Te Papa, our wonderful…
Six day’s on and we’re doing great. Alice is feeding well, calm, placid and a little charmer. She’s already worked her magic on Charli and Sophie, who are absolutely besotted with her. Of course Dan and I have felt exhausted for much of the week, but now it’s the weekend and we’ve both had a…
All these virtues were met with reward on Sunday. Patience was Charli waiting a year to grow the 110cm minimum height requirement to go on the simulator rides at Te Papa museum; The Deep Ride and The High Ride. On Sunday morning the tape measure did not lie. It revealed the extra Weet-bix in the…
Babar is a very well-loved elephant in our house and we were ecstatic to hear the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra bring the story of Babar to life on Saturday at Te Papa. Miranda Harcourt narrated the story and held most of the audience in raptures (though many of the very young ones preferred to roam…
As I write there’s a mean southerly blowing and over dinner SJ asked me who was whistling. Erm, that’ll be Mr. Wind love, he’s a regular visitor to these parts! 🙂 It’s always at this time of year I question why I live in Wellington and start perusing real estate websites the world over. Just…
This little Kiwi has been spending time at Te Papa’s Nature Discovery Centre learning how to make some wise choices on her packed lunch… Doing well… She followed up by showing disgrace at the over-packaging of boxed lunches in Te Papa’s cafeteria, commenting to one of the staff, ‘That’s not good for the environment!’. When…
It’s rainbow and party season at the moment. After a lovely morning to myself at the hairdressers, drinking coffee and catching up on all the gossip, I met up with Dan and the girls (who’d taken the bus into town and braved Te Papa on a rainy Saturday) for ‘Yum Cha’ at Big Thumb. We…
This morning was perfect in every way. The girls woke at 7am and were so enthused by the day – I love it when they wake up like that! Sophie was trying to serenade us on the piano, whilst Charlotte headed straight to the art-room (my laundry room) and conjured up one of her numerous…
What a magic weekend! Our good friend’s, Marrisa and Michael, organised the best Birthday Party for their daughter Bethany. It was at our favourite place, Te Papa, with a wonderful ‘under the sea’ theme. Afterwards there was a lovely Birthday lunch, balloons and cake. The Christmas trees in Te Papa’s foyer were gorgeous – three…
Wow! The new Tohora – Whales exhibition at Te Papa is FANTASTIC! We went last week with Marrisa and Bethany, and then went back at the weekend with Daddy. There are some HUGE full skeletons and great cinematography. Charlotte was happy to stay for a couple of hours, whilst Sophie went in and out for…
Te Papa had been transformed this Labour weekend; into a bright beacon of colour and music from the Pacific. We approached the entrance and gasped at the colourful ribbon, stars and banners hanging from the main foyer. Charlotte laughed hysterically at this ‘full’ head of afro hair saying, ‘He’s wearing a microphone on his head!’:…
Today was the first day of the school hols and it was quite strange to have both the girls at home for the day – though lovely too of course! Charlotte was quite sad at not going to Kindi, which I saw as a positive as she is definitely loving it. We’ve had a truck…