This weekend my gorgeous cousin, Jane (who visited us here in New Zealand at the end of last year), married the love of her life, Craig. We would have LOVED to have been there to celebrate, but with all the changes in our own lives this year it has been impossible to plan anything. We…
Author: BritMumInNZ
Things I’m Loving…
Love having time in the day to see my children delight in climbing blossom trees. Loving naughty, but very nice, gifts from hubbie on his return from his business trip away. Loving the kindness of one of Charlotte’s school friends passing on a loved toy to young Alice. Loving impromptu paddles, in beautifully scented gardens,…
The Photo Gallery: Breakfast
Pancake batter is made every morning – it’s become a ritual for the past few months (after several months of omelette being the preferred choice – before that it was ‘dippy eggs with soilders’ – and porridge for a while…). All of our daughters love pancakes – but sometimes Alice, age 2 and often awake…
When art takes precedence over dinner…
I’m sure Van Gogh would have understood. There are times when eating can wait. Dinner can wait. But art – all that creative energy and impulsive need to pour out emotions into one form or another – sometimes, that cannot wait (at least in our home). So, this evening, I had one child making clay…
Walk through the tulips with us…
It’s nearly Spring Festival time in Wellington’s Botanical Garden and the tulips are as glorious as ever. It’s impossible not to smile when faced with all this joyful colour – from bright sunshine gold… To carpets of pinks… They always surprise me with their resilience against the seasonal spring battering of Wellington wind and intermittent heavy…
The man of the house is back
I’m sure it’s the same in other homes where there’s only one male – the behaviour of the females in the house changes when he’s home. In our house the energy levels are ramped up. There’s a lot more physical play, loud voices, movement (chaos) and laughter. There’s a little elbow pushing and jostling for…
The day my bank card got deposited down the skirting board…
I only have one bank card and live off it. Plastic is my friend. I rarely carry cash. So when my two year old, on Saturday afternoon, came up to me and said, ‘Sorry! Card gone!’ my first reaction was to check my purse – that I was vaguely aware of her playing with as…
This Friday my Heart is in San Francisco
2007 I was last there. It was the last time I travelled long-haul from NZ to the UK, via San Francisco. I was a mother to two young children – now three. The memories are still very clear and we had a blast (even if we had poor helmet wearing style!). Hubbie is there now…
Things I’m Loving…
Loving spring sunshine with my daughters before a storm… Loving this dainty little cup and saucer, along with a perfect silver spoon, to serve up fluffy treats in for my youngest. Loving that I bought them at a garage sale for a very good cause – to raise funds for a wonderful boy called Elijah,…
Getting into our stride without the man of the house & ‘Under the Mountain’
Four sleeps since the man of the house went away. Four sleeps till he returns. After the initial shock, myself and the girls are now getting into our stride (with the wonderful help of our friend – and nanny – Frances – who’s been round for a good few hours most days this week). Evenings…
Beauty (& The Beast) | The Photo Gallery
For this week’s ‘The Photo Gallery’ theme of ‘Beauty’ I stepped out in the sunshine before the storm with my daughters. I love to watch the weather change and Wellington has plenty of great vantage points (and rapidly changing weather!). Below is a storm cloud, sitting over the north of the South Island – before…
Being strong is hard
I’ve been in tears. I’ve just upset my two oldest daughters. With my husband, Dan, away I should be offering extra comfort – not choosing this time to pick battles and talk ‘big picture’ concerns. I suppose with him away I see the ‘holes’ more clearly – it’s easier for two people to smooth them…
Flying solo this week :(
The man of our house left on a jet plane last night. We’re not used to him being away. When I was a little girl my Dad was away every week or so – for two to three weeks at a time (I don’t know how my Mum coped!). There were lots of tears from…
WILD Wellington spring Saturday
Wild at Heart Wellington was today. Roof tiles went flying, windows were smashed and trampolines became air-borne as wild winds battered Wellington. We parked up to capture the scene near the end of Wellington runway and the car was buffeted back and forth by the wild, wind, gusting to 140km/h. Flights were delayed. Passengers experienced…