In our little corner of the world – Wellington, New Zealand, the New Year started with a roar of strong winds on the 2nd of January, which quickly abated to give us the most glorious sunshine weekend to start the year with. I can’t remember the last time I saw Wellington’s beaches so busy. I […]
summer
Loving the build up to a Sunshine Christmas
Just in case the world does end tomorrow (personally I reckon the Mayan who was writing the calendar decided to knock off for a beer and never got round to writing more dates) I thought I ought to write a quick blog post and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas from us folk in New […]
Things I’m Loving: Snapshots from my back pocket
Some weeks go so fast that I barely have time to stop and take stock, but thanks to my camera in my back pocket the memories are a little easier to hold on to. ♥ It’s been a week of ups and downs, especially with a school girl not so happy – but happier after opening […]
The Gallery: Phone Photos
This week on ‘The Gallery‘ Tara has asked us to share a photo we’ve taken on our phone. So many of my snaps are taken on my camera phone – as taking my nice camera out in tow with my three crazy daughters is often done ‘at risk’ of either the camera being damaged – […]
Bouncing into the New Year at a beach house on the Kapiti Coast
I’m writing this on return from seven wonderful nights away on the Kapiti Coast. The sleepy beach side settlement of Te Horo welcomed us with rural tranquility and bird song. For seven nights we forgot about work, school and house-keeping and focused on making every moment about spending quality time together. Time was the biggest […]
Farewell cous from Aotearoa x
The day after Sophie’s crazy 6th Birthday party, my dear cousin Jane bid us and New Zealand farewell, travelling on to Australia for three week’s (and to be reunited with her fiance) before journeying home to England. It was so wonderful to see her after eight (or so) years and so lovely that she stopped […]
LOVING that school’s out for summer!
The long summer break is before us with hopefully lots of beach days and sunshine. We’ve had a busy last week or so, what with Charlotte’s wonderful dance show taking up all last weekend, a carol service and a prize giving evening at the Town Hall on Thursday evening. There have been Birthday parties galore […]
Things I’m Loving…
♥ LOVING the feel of summer, with reflections of sunshine, blue sky and time on the beach with my youngest daughter. This makes the sleep deprivation worth it! ♥ LOVING a visit to the rose gardens at Wellington’s Botanic Garden after school to smell the scent of summer, feed the ducks and have our fingers […]
LOVED the feel of summer in the bay on 11.11.11: The Gallery
11/11 is always a day to stop and remember. To remember those that fought and lost their lives so we could be free. 11.11.11 marks the 93rd anniversary of Armistice Day. The last day of WWI. More than 100,000 New Zealand soldiers served overseas for what is still remembered as the Great War. Exactly 16,697 […]
Into the School Groove
Term time routines are all go here. The girls even have a dedicated calendar in the kitchen reminding us when their school library days are, what days they need to have trainers for cross country running, when guitar lesson day is for Charlotte and piano lesson day for Sophie (both new hobbies this term for […]
The Gallery – Shapes from Stoneridge Cafe & Maze
Whilst on holiday in Nelson we visited the wonderful Stoneridge Cafe & Maze. The cafe is set in a beautiful villa, with tranquil gardens and expansive grounds for the children to run freely on. A special highlight for young and old is the well-maintained hedge maze. We set off with Chinese Granddad in tow. Grandma […]
Four Seasons – Summer
I’m linking up with Lou of Seaside Siblings for ‘Four Seasons‘ this week, as in the past few weeks we’ve really been having a blast in the season of ‘Summer’. The school holidays come to an end on Thursday, when the school bell will call us to attention for a 9am start every day (for […]
Mother Nature gives us a sand whipping in Abel Tasman (The Gallery)
We walked with determined, weary legs, head-first into the wind. The sand whipped our exposed skin and scratched our eyes. The scenery was picture perfect (if we were brave enough to open our eyes and look). Laden down with bags of towels, togs and beach toys, we trudged along hoping to catch a boat out. […]
Too good to blog… but couldn’t resist a ‘quick one’!
The days are long, the nights hot (don’t get too excited – sticky children limpet style in bed rather than honeymoon style passion), the views are breathtaking, the beaches plentiful and quiet, the cafes and eateries plentiful, uniquely special, child-friendly and relaxed. We are half way through a wonderful, much anticipated and awaited holiday. When […]