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 […]
expat life
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 […]
Things I’m Loving… News with a silver lining
There’s a hint of spring in the air this week in Wellington and it’s something to love. This time last year it snowed in Wellington, a once in fifty year event. At Wellington Zoo, vets took care of an Emperor Penguin discovered on Peka Peka beach, a very long way from home. It seems the […]
Feeling vulnerable, but LOVING the feel of Love Reawakened
There are two special people here in my immediate life right now. They’ve travelled the world to see me and my family. They are my parents. I am so grateful they made the long journey, from England to New Zealand, to be with us and share six weeks of our crazy family life. My love […]
A piece of my heart is about to be freed
I keep a small part of my heart cocooned from my day to day life. It is something I do sub-consciously. I’ve noticed, over the years of living as an expat, so very far away from my country of birth, that I do this. Today I felt like a caterpillar, preparing to transform into a […]
Coming out from Underground: Friendships in real-life, Facebook & blogland
I’ve been hiding away for a while. Energy to even think about scheduling time to see friends, let alone do it, has escaped me. I am so grateful for patient, caring friends. I’m also so thankful to friends I’ve made through blogging, who send me uplifting messages first thing in the morning, late at night […]
My heart is like a barometer
Wellington you have me wrapped around your little finger. My heart is a pressure valve, fluctuating in feeling like a barometer. I used to tolerate your moods a little better, when I had the freedom to escape at pleasure. Now I am trapped, with my young charges. They have a hold on my time. I […]
The day Vegemitevix came for a BBQ
It was with great excitement that the day finally arrived when Vegemitevix, Kiwi expat blogger extraordinaire, and her ‘Englishman’, came to our house for dinner! Well, dinner sounds way too grand… it was a hastily thrown together BBQ – with the potatoes nearly forgotten about and the salad pre-bought from the supermarket and chucked in […]
The Gallery: Love – It’s been a long time…
since we saw many of our dear relatives. Living on the other side of the world from our loved ones is especially hard at Christmas. It is a time of coming together, of love and sharing the joys of the season. They are especially close in our thoughts and hearts at this time of year. […]