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 […]
family
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 […]
My (not so) Silent Sunday
The day started before dawn and by mid morning the garden had turned into a holiday camp, complete with Bollywood music on a mini-ghetto blaster (courtesy of Charlotte, age 8). I was in the middle of baking scones (as the blueberry muffins I made the day before hadn’t lasted long). My hands were just at […]
A few things I don’t want Alice to forget
I always think it’s sad that our children don’t remember much of their first years of life. I like to think that all the rich and wonderful experiences we savour together help to imprint a map in the neurons to guide my children on positive paths in the future. Right now, as our daughter Sophie […]
Five years from now… (Week 2 of Life Circle)
I will be happily living in Wellington, married to my husband of 17 years and friend of 24 years. Our three daughters will be aged 13, 10 and 6. My youngest daughter will have been at school for nearly 2 years (having started on her 5th Birthday). I will be working part time to help […]
Life Circle – The Wheel of Life
With Christmas and a New Year approaching faster than I’d like to acknowledge, I thought it time to take stock and plan a little into the future. I came across this great exercise over at The Five Fs blog and thought I’d take a moment to oink my head out of the sand and take […]
Don’t Dream It’s Over
I love all the Crowded House songs. Whenever they come on the radio they always lift me up. ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over‘ is one of my favourite and I have enjoyed reading people’s interpretation of the lyrics at the website ‘Song Meanings‘. For me this song evokes a feeling of optimism and strength, even when […]
Birthday Wishes!
Thinking of my wonderful Dad on his Birthday and hope he has a wonderful day! Here’s a few Birthday greetings from his crazy granddaughters… We wish we could be there, to bake a cake for you, But that shall have to wait, till you’re here for real! We all love you so much x
Children bring out our best & show us our worst
In the before children days a long, stressful stretch in the office was quickly remedied with a few drinks, a long lie in or a weekend away in the bush. Now life is a little different… Endless sleep deprivation. No chance of a lie in (in fact after eight years I’m not sure I know […]
The Gallery – A Happy Memory
For the first time in three years we were reunited in August 2007 when Dan and I took Charlotte (then 4) and Sophie (18 months) to the UK for a visit. We holidayed in the Lake District and took the girls to London. We laughed so much as we talked of the memories, oh so […]
Happy Anniversary to a very special ‘ole couple!
I phoned my folks to wish them a very Happy 41st Wedding Anniversary this morning. They really are an inspiration! They gave so much to my sister and I in our ‘growing years’ and it’s delightful to see them now enjoy their ‘couple’ time once again in their ‘senior years’ (ahem, sorry folks!). I listened […]
The Tongariro Crossing: A Poem
The theme for Lyrical Sunday (running all this week till 14 August) is ‘Adventure‘ and Grandma sent through a beautiful poem about the time she walked ‘The Tongariro Crossing‘ in New Zealand with Granddad… (Happy 41st Wedding Anniversary to them too!). x The Tongariro Crossing One day in the year 2008 An 8-hour walk. We […]
Writer’s Workshop: Channelling the Energy
When the ‘boss’ and I our conceived our daughter, Sophie, I reckon a strong dose of my sister’s genes were thrown into the mix. And, unbeknown to Dan and I, there was going to be a strong contender in the house as to who was really ‘the boss’! Of course my husband and I harp […]
Things I’m Loving…
Finding natural treasures on the beach after wild winter storms. Moments in the sun, despite cold winter chills. Hearing the day-dreams of my daughter, which bring a smile to my face and warm my heart, ‘I’m going to have a boat one day and you can sail with me Mummy’. Messages of adventure from family […]