Winter has started with its usual mixed bag in Wellington – calm, sunshine days that are moderately mild lull us into a sense of ease, before a sudden southerly change hurls us into an abrupt awareness that it is actually the season of winter. Gale force winds, heavy rain, and snow on the distant Kaikoura […]
winter solstice
End of Term 3!
What a term it’s been! With so many parts of the world unable to function as normal due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we feel extremely blessed to be able to live pretty much as normal, for now! Most of New Zealand, with the exception of Auckland, has had a pretty normal school term, but a […]
A mid-winter affair in Martinborough
The rain wasn’t going to stop us getting to Martinborough’s Mid-Winter Affair. We set off at midday on Saturday, picking up our friend Cyndi (aka ‘Latte Junkie‘) on the way. Traveling over the Rimutaka Hill the children in the back-seat played spot the waterfalls in the mist (of which there were many – albeit small […]
Mini-creations | Matariki – Maori New Year Inspired Art
Twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Maori New Year. Traditionally, it was a time for remembering the dead, and celebrating new life. In the 21st century, observing Matariki has become popular again. Heaven-bound kites, hot-air balloons and fireworks help mark the occasion. Credit: Full story by Paul Meredith […]
Wellington was definitely WILD at heart last night!
Loving this twitter #storm #party in #wellington tonight! Still got power & iPhone charged to 100%, so I'm up for a big one! — Sarah Lee (@BritMumInNZ) June 20, 2013 If this storm was in any other nz city, it would have destroyed everything. Here any things built flimsy blew away years ago. #storm13 — […]
Theme for Week 23 Lyrical Sunday: Solstice
Today marks the Winter Solstice in New Zealand. As we see in the shortest day of the year we think of our friends and family in the Northern Hemisphere enjoying the longest day of the year. So this Sunday, 26 June, it would be wonderful if you’d join us with a poem that marks the […]