Mountain Biking in Queenstown: Things I Learnt over the past 9 days

Mountain Biking in Queenstown: Things I Learnt over the past 9 days

It was the end of Autumn 2024, it was May, it was dark and Winter was literally days away. Dave and I were sitting on the couch watching YouTube videos of Mountain biking, talking about just how long it had been since we had planned 

Corona Diaries – Lockdown Day #1

Corona Diaries – Lockdown Day #1

Today I; Did 5 pull-ups in a row for the first time (with technique so bad it looked like I was hauling myself into a tree to escape an alligator but heyho) Ate 7 Lindt balls in 20 minutes to celebrate the fact that I 

Set & Forget – Investing just got easier

Set & Forget – Investing just got easier

Check out Part 1 of my investment series in collaboration with Sharesies here Just like anything, instilling responsible financial habits in both ourselves and our kids takes both time, patience and practice. As I mentioned last month, we began contributing to the boys’ savings accounts 

Parenting and Ice Cream:  When simple things are the best remedy

Parenting and Ice Cream: When simple things are the best remedy

I inadvertently taught myself a good lesson this week;  despite my best intentions not to work on Monday’s as Nix is home from kindy, I found myself a participant in a continuous string of phone calls for over an hour, whilst I madly multi-tasked, wrote 

Recipe for Summer – Fruit and Ice Cream

Recipe for Summer – Fruit and Ice Cream

Waitangi Day is the line in the sand when it comes to New Zealand summer I reckon.  The big stuff all happens ‘Pre-Waitangi’; the massive 6 week school holiday kicks off for the kids, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, road trips, tropical cyclones…………. Come Feb 

Family Travel Japan:  Tokyo > Kyoto on the JR Shinkansen Bullet Train

Family Travel Japan: Tokyo > Kyoto on the JR Shinkansen Bullet Train

Lord have mercy bullet trains are freaking amazing.  Pure Japanese innovation and technology designed to increase the efficiency of people moving between Japan’s two biggest cities.  Of course, the Shinkansen trains now run the full length of the country and with the amazing Japan Rail 

Family Travel Japan: Day 2, Ikebukuro

Family Travel Japan: Day 2, Ikebukuro

In my fast and loose ‘Mind Itinerary’, I had pencilled in Monday for a trip to Sea Disney in Tokyo.  However, after one day on the ground, what we really wanted to do was simply see and experience more of Tokyo. So, we ditched Disney 

Family Travel Japan: Day 1, Tokyo

Family Travel Japan: Day 1, Tokyo

Lord.  Japan is far, far away from Auckland, New Zealand.   And I mean far. But that is what makes it so amazing. After two great Jetstar Flights (thanks Jason for the attention you gave the boys on the long Gold Coast – Narita leg!), 

Summer like a Kiwi – What happens above 23°

Summer like a Kiwi – What happens above 23°

January marks the second, ‘official’ month of New Zealand summer.  We Kiwi’s are comfortably settled into the annual, seasonal slow-down we look forward to every year.  The kids have chilled out after the excitement of Santa’s visit, Mum’s everywhere have celebrated ‘un-decking the halls’ and 

Back to School!  How were the holidays……really?

Back to School! How were the holidays……really?

The first Monday back to school after the holidays has come and gone and I’m reflecting a little on what we did, and didn’t do over the past two weeks. Nix was sick for 10 days prior to the holidays so we were all out