Travels in New Zealand and beyond, going back to 2003!
I woke at 5am feeling nervous about whether my ankle was going to hold out for me to complete the half marathon in the beautiful wine country of Santa Barbara, California. I wasn’t just running to achieve a goal for myself, or to take in the beautiful scenery surrounding of the Santa Ynez Valley, but running…
A few things I’m loving from the past week… ⤠Colourful paper-towel art – dipped with fascination, in food coloured water; observed in awe, as the paper towel absorbed the colours; unravelled with surprise, as the pattern was revealed; put out to dry with love and a toy animal, to stop the breeze blowing away the…
There’s running gear going through the wash every day, I’ll skip a latte for a smoothie or water. The wine in the fridge is staying put longer, When I sleep, it’s with complete mind-body exhaustion. I do stretches at random moments in the day, and play my children at tag with greater guile. I greet…
Had a beautiful week with my daughters and escaping out for runs. The clocks have swung into spring time in the northern hemisphere and having an extra hour of daylight in the evening makes a huge difference to our available ‘play time’. Sharing here a few loves from my week… ⤠Hanging out in the…
I’m into my third week of training for my first half marathon and loving it. The run is on 10 May 2014 in Santa Barbara’s Wine Country. I will have turned forty the month before, making it a great event to really kick start this next decade of my life. I plan on making my…
Between the game play (Minecraft), the crafting (Rainbow Looming) and all the preschool arts and crafts (baking ginger-bread men, sand play, painting, imaginary story telling and so on…) there’s been a lot of action in the house in California this week. My New Zealand born children have been energised with slightly cooler temperatures and rain…
Two weeks into staying in the house we have leased for a year we are beginning to feel a little more settled. We are finding our way, had friends round for drinks (all be it friends from New Zealand that are also setting out on this new journey with children in tow), been out for…
Running a new trail, no preconceptions Following the track, as long as it runs. Uphill legs are taken without knowing Desire to explore overriding exertion. Unexpected surprises of nature – Cross the path ahead, & sour in the sky. A labyrinth of trails, for mind and soul – Prick the senses, revive the body. ©…
I enjoyed a beautiful run as the sun set over the Cook Strait, between New Zealand’s north and south island. It was a perfect winter’s evening, with just enough of a breeze to support me in finding my breath and driving my step. It was the kind of evening that cannot be passed by without…
It’s been a blustery few days and I’ve been caught up in life, children and de-cluttering in preparation for our big move, but today I knew a run was definitely needed; especially after a little over-indulgence of champagne the night before – in the grand company of my neighbour… we sneaked out to watch ‘The…
Happy am I, on the beach, by the sea. On my own, or with my family. Breathing it in, letting it out. The scent of life, in the air, around me. Happy am I, on my own, in the bush, Running on tracks, winding up to the sun. Emerging, fresh, from a green canopy, To…
A long weekend gave us time to be together as a family – even if, at times, my mind wasn’t all ‘together’ with it! In my mind there are always people floating around – physically distant from me, but close in my thoughts, that I wish to be together with – for a moment in…
A short week with Easter weekend and lots to love. It started off on the right foot, with a run on Monday, lots of water and green tea… but I got a little led astray by a divine glass of Pinot Gris and a little piano playing mid-week. Still, I wasn’t entirely inactive. As always,…
This past fortnight I’ve been running and kept on running. I don’t know where this sudden urge to run has come from, but it feels great (and I’m just hoping the clocks going back, on the first Sunday of April, along with autumnal weather to come, doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm!). In the past fifteen days…