Autumn has descended and there is no place like the Wellington Botanical Gardens to soak up the colours of the changing season. Most of Wellington’s native trees are evergreen and so the change of colours associated with a British autumn is not found across the city. In the South Island there are plenty of beautiful…
Category: Sophie
Art Take Over!
It’s Sunday and I really needed to have a break and be in my own head-space. Dan has been out all day with the girls and it’s been so peaceful. But I’m never alone. There are always delightful surprises carefully placed around the home to remind me of how lucky I am to have such…
Circus Comes to Town
What a blast we had this afternoon! The girls watched the two hour performance with eyes wide and mouths open in absolute wonder and disbelief. They have never seen anything like what they experienced today. We weren’t sure how they’d take it and we’d set our expectations at probably not seeing the whole performance; but…
Meeting fellow expats to be…
Recently we were delighted to meet up with Craig of the wonderful blog ‘One Way New Zealand‘. His lovely wife, Rachel, had contacted us (as well as mutual friend Marrisa of ‘Dawes in New Zealand‘ blog) with her exciting plans of emigration from the UK to New Zealand. Craig and Rachel have a gorgeous son,…
Watching the Tide
Monday morning, Sophie and I spent a magic couple of ours really living in the moment at Lyall Bay Beach. Since then the rain has barely stopped all week. We spent this morning at the airport watching the comings and goings – I always love the body filling raft of emotions and excitement I feel…
Which one is a tomato sauce fanatic?
We were at the Zoo the other afternoon and when I went to order hot chips (how else do you have them?!) I asked for one with copious tomato sauce and the other without. The lady said, “I can guess which one is the tomato sauce fan!” – she was wrong! Can you really tell…
Mt Victoria Tunnel: Let Rip on the Horn!
The Mount Victoria Tunnel in Wellington is home to ‘the beeping game’. Motorists actively respond to fellow beepers; especially after 5pm on a Friday or a big win at the rugby! The girls LOVE going through this tunnel and we often go through waiting for a motorist to beep and then respond accordingly. Of late,…
Action Family!
Today, Chez Lee certainly lived up to this! After spending the first few hours of the day clearing out our dustbin on wheels (you could call it a car), cleaning the art-room/laundry (it looked like the aftermath of a paint ball session!) and doing the other mandatory house-hold chores we were keen for some action…
Urban Sanctuary
This morning I was treated to ‘Green Coffee Body Wrap‘ at the ‘Urban Sanctuary‘ in town. I’m not ashamed to admit to being a little nervous about what the experience would be like; but was very quickly put at ease and found it blissful beyond words. As I listened to gentle nature music and felt…
Highs and Lows of a day with preschoolers!
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…
Happy Birthday Mum!
Wishing you a magic 61st Birthday! Thanking you for years of dedication, patience, understanding and inspiration. More recently, thank you so much for traversing the world to be with me when I’ve needed you most… on the arrival of your beautiful grand-daughters. Their love for you grows more by the day. They love you so…
Meetings of purpose
I’ve not been so well these past few days and my dearest neighbour knocked on my door this afternoon and offered to take Charlotte out for the afternoon. She was my angel today. But I like to think I lifted someone’s spirit today too. In Te Papa (the museum) this morning I met a lovely…
Makara Beach one Heavenely Easter Monday
Easter Monday we drove out to Makara; a place of wild, untamed beauty and rural bliss. With all the windows wound down fully we delighted in feeling the rush of air through the car as we drove the winding, narrow, road to Makara Beach. The girls faces were a picture of excitement at seeing sheep,…
Easter Sunshine
This beautiful summer weather is still blessing us with its glory (though not great news for farmers). Traditionally our Wellington summers have been frequented with sun; but also with wind. Frequent review of the wind direction would determine which beach we’d visit for the most shelter. This year, calm, sunny days have been our best…