We’ve made the most of the hot, dry summer, moving in and out of different worlds as usual. Tanya delved into the world of international women’s tennis again in early January for three days. She saw Serena Williams play each day, but it was the young players who captured her imagination: Taylor Townsend and Asia […]
Solstice Greetings from the Far South!
December 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment
… from Ōtepoti-Dunedin, where for two weeks we’re housesitting for friends, Fiona and Glenn Erik, former neighbours at Earthsong. It’s wear-merino weather here still, cold even on the sunny days… We’ve slipped easily into our gracious 1920s red brick homesit high on the hills of Ōpoho in North Dunedin, and are enjoying tending to gardens and […]
Whirinaki Te Pua-A-Tane forest
November 18, 2019 by 3 Comments
Tanya’s four-day adventure with Stephanie.. On the last morning of our recent tramp out of the magnificent Whirinaki Podocarp Conservation Park (located between Rotorua and Te Urewera), Steph’s acute eyes spied a whanau of whio, the rare native blue duck – parents and six ducklings – preening themselves on a log, far below us in […]
Whānau, Whāngai…
November 18, 2019 by 7 Comments
Charmaine’s journey…. I have been on a journey too, this month, but a very different one from Tanya’s. I’ve just returned from a week in Sydney and surrounds, spending time with my birth family. Many of you will know that I have two families. I grew up knowing I was adopted, and believing that I […]
Rangitoto…
August 19, 2019 by 2 Comments
“Where shall we go for my birthday treat, I wonder? Somewhere not too far away, close to nature, simple to arrange, and with a low carbon footprint. How about Rangitoto Island?” Tanya asked herself…and Charmaine … So here are Tanya’s reflections on 14-17 August 2019… For both of us, the skyline of Auckland has […]
Good Judgement
August 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment
If you’ve ever wondered what the induction of a new judge into the court system in New Zealand might be like, you might have imagined rows of dark-suited lawyers, and elderly be-wigged Pakeha men presiding. When we were invited to the swearing-in of Auckland barrister Faumui Penelope (Lope) Ginnen as a Judge in the Manukau […]
“Going to the Pictures…”
August 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Auckland’s International Film Festival is on each year in mid-winter. This year, we booked for ten films in two weeks, seven of which we especially enjoyed. They will be shown again, no doubt, in other cities or on general release..do see any of these if you get a chance: Amazing Grace was made when Aretha […]
Matariki in Tamaki Makaurau
July 19, 2019 by 2 Comments
The programme for Matariki in Tamaki Makaurau is enormous, these days – well over a hundred activities and events all around the city. We chose three special events when we came back from our holiday in the South Island. Te Hono- stories from Maori myth and history about Tamaki Makaurau – in the Town Hall […]
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