Wana Walk? (Diamond Lake, NZ.)

Wanaka, Day 2. Not sore from snowboarding for the first time EVER!! … Miracles do happen! Could be thanks to that (SO GOOD) soak in the spa yesterday. Those things should be compulsory in all holiday houses, like toilets. Spent a lazy Sunday morning sitting on the balcony soaking up the spring sunshine with a cuppa tea and boysenberry jam…

The Bullshit List.

… Otherwise known as Spring Clean ’16. (I wanted to do a photography post but the thought of not having any text was too weird. Then I had some thoughts on a cleanout I’m doing at the moment but wondered hmm, how can I dress it up nice so that people might actually read it? Then I hit on a brilliant idea: MASH…

IS Winter Coming?

Where has half the year gone? It’s June already – Aussie winter started on the first, not that it’s even felt like summer’s over yet. This autumn we’ve had an incredible run of warm still days with absolutely stupendous sunsets; shepherds and shutterbugs alike are delighted. I’ve been AWOL, neither reading nor writing any blogs, but I’ve been…

End of (Summer) Days.

100th post! My maiden century! I had a very different post in mind to mark this milestone, but this one will be more fun. And it haz pretty pictures! Thanks so much for stopping by. Maybe you’ve been here before – thanks for that too! Quite possibly you are my mum, sister or husband and have read most…

There’s Something About Mapua. (Mapua, New Zealand)

(That’s MAH-pua, not Muh-POO-a; less emphasis on the ‘poo’.) Disclaimer: Not sponsored. Did it for love. If you’re wondering where to go for your next summer holiday, want gorgeous beaches and sunny days, with great food and wilderness experiences and a laid back vibe without huge crowds, I suggest you get your arse to Tasman, in the…

Watching the World Turn: Sunset. (Vlamingh Head, WA)

End of Day 3. I very nearly did miss the sunset! Squealed out of the Turquoise Bay carpark (literally, thanks to that bloody fanbelt) at 5 past 5 then floored it the 45km back to Vlamingh Head, slowing down for the odd kangaroo. I hooned up the hill to the lighthouse, pulled over in a shower of…

Red-eyes & Red Skies: Exmouth, Western Australia.

Day 1 11pm Wednesday, in midair somewhere between the Gold Coast and Perth. I’m turning 40 soon and it’s already the best birthday ever because I’m finally doing something that I’ve wanted to do for over half my life. I told you I grew up in Carnarvon? Well my dream of the last 25 years has…

Shafts of Light: Arrowtown, New Zealand.

Arrowtown Day 1. We used to stay with beloved family whilst in the Queenstown area, but in summer the 3 hour time difference including daylight saving means our body clocks make us a bit antisocial – 7am is a completely reasonable time for Kiwis to get up but the only Aussies that want to be awake at…

One Year.

Tomorrow Finn has his first cross country – I kind of think of it as the school version of the Stawell Easter Gift. He’s pretty excited about it because we missed it in his Prep year. This time last year I was sitting here booking myself and the boys 3 of the last 5 seats on an…

Chase The Sun.

It was yet another warm afternoon in our driest October on record. Everything seemed faded; the usually blue sky was hazy and pale, bleached almost white on the horizon. The forest seemed dusty, the greens muted, and our tiger grass curled, thirsty. The lawn crunched underfoot. We’d been hoping for a storm for days but had only had a few teasing…