Phewie, the BBQ has been steaming over the past few day’s. Dan’s got the whole week off work and we are so blessed to feel like we’re having a holiday at home in our beautiful garden, with the sea just a short walk away. Kathy and Mark came round on Sunday, with their gorgeous boys. […]
cafes
Chocolate Frog just gets better!
The Chocolate Frog cafe at Palmer’s Garden Centre in Miramar, Wellington, just gets better! In the play area (on the opposite side of the garden centre to the actual cafe) is a sign that means the world to parents… And for dog-owners… a dedicated area to ‘park’ your dog, complete with fresh water bowls! It […]
Top Family Time and an All Black’s Victory!
Settling into school life is not without emotion at Chez Lee and this weekend couldn’t have come fast enough. Charli was so tired and weepy on Friday pick-up; but she’s definitely enjoying 85% of school-life and on the whole she’s thriving. Nevertheless, I take the rough bits to heart and my health is suffering with […]
Loving the school holidays
It’s such a relief not to be rushing out the door every morning. The girls are loving having time together and we’ve having lovely first week of the school holidays, despite the loss of dear Simba. On Tuesday we took the bus into the city to visit Capital E, where we made princess crowns and […]
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, […]
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 […]
Scorching Bay: Still as Magic as Ever
It’s been months since we visited Scorching Bay. The Chocolate Fish is no more, but Scorching Bay still holds its own special magic. Thankfully, there’s a little operation selling the essentials: ice-cream and coffee – what more could a parent wish for! The bay has also been given a smarten up by the City Council, […]
Chilling out at The Bach
This morning Sophie and I met up with good friend Marrisa and her beautiful daughter, Bethany. It was a tad windy at Island Bay playground and us ladies were keen for a coffee. We drove round to The Bach. This cafe, from the outside, is just like a traditional Kiwi bach – a simple, wooden, […]
Sophie: The Wellington Cafe Critic!
Sophie reports: At close to two year’s of age I am already becoming a Wellington Cafe Critic; though my criteria for a good cafe are somewhat different to those of my dear Mummy. Living in Houghton Bay, I am lucky to have a number of top Wellington cafe’s within toddling distance. On occasion, Mummy drives […]
Four Seasons in One Day
The infamous Crowded House song, ‘Four Seasons in One Day,’ certainly rang true in Wellington today! Helen Leggatt in Canterbury, New Zealand, regularly posts to an online forum about life in New Zealand, which has a weather thread, and people from all over New Zealand post their daily observations. Her San Diego Reader article sums […]
Happy Father’s Day!
Happy Father’s Day to Daddy Dan from his adoring fans! Little Sophie kept him up most of the night, wanting all the cuddles and love she could get, regardless of the hour! She’s spent the past two month’s holidaying in the UK and sharing a bedroom with her dear Daddy, so adjusting to her own […]
One More Sleep To Go!
I should be asleep already, but couldn’t resist one final farewell post before our big trip. Tomorrow night I don’t expect to get any sleep and will then have to function in San Francisco with two tired children, but I’m sure Dan and I will survive. Last time we did the big Wellington to London […]
Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
I love impromptu visits that turn into something very special. And this is just what happened the other day. After finishing our food shop, we stopped by Wholly Bagels in Thorndon for a quick refreshment and a play (great toys and dedicated space for children), and then ventured forth to a place far more holy […]
To my girls
Dear Charlotte, You are now four and make me prouder by the day. You are so brave and strong. When you fall you pick yourself up quickly and say, ‘I’m okay!’. You don’t want sympathy (even though I’ve always offered you my open arms to comfort you) and I admire your strong resolve to pick […]