The Green Garden

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February 11, 2018February 19, 2018 The Green Garden

Summer: tents, beaches and long lost memories.

January 18, 2016February 11, 2018 The Green Garden

On breastfeeding in public in the UK

January 13, 2016February 10, 2018 The Green Garden

Visiting art galleries with four year olds

February 12, 2013March 28, 2018 The Green Garden

Making our own Beads of Courage

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Four days of cousinly love (and hobbits and waterfalls and goldmines and sea swims and hot pool soaks and long lego sessions). Incredible Easter weather, beautiful Aotearoa, cherished whānau, a wonderful life.
“One morning long ago, in the quiet of the world, there was less noise and more green.” We took a deeply enjoyable movie set tour of Hobbiton today. I think I was as whisked into the idyll of Hobbiton as the boys were. I’ve always thought I was a hippy in a previous life, but I think actually, I may well have been a Hobbit in the Shire.
We walked today in Tongariro National Park - with red earth under our feet, white snow on the peaks around us and bright blue skies above our heads. Waterfalls and lava flows and tussocks and ancient volcanos. An incredible alpine medley. On a sunny day like today, it’s land that takes your breath away. Fred held my hand for much of the hike. And unexpectedly near the end, he proclaims proudly, “This is my kind of day Mum!” Me too kiddo. Me too.
Oh, I do just love our wee casa. Especially when we tidy it for other people to enjoy on air bnb. Ha! Off on family holiday we go. Luck and abundance all round.
We made memories this weekend. Of....a terrifyingly stormy night in a tramping hut as one months worth of autumnal rain came plummeting down in just one night. Of Fred coughing empathically with croup all through said stormy night and me ever, ever, ever, so grateful that we’d packed both Pamol and Olbas oil. Of a river ford at the end that we had to drive through, that had such tumultuous ferocity from the previous nights rain, that we unbuttoned our seatbelts, just in case our car got washed away down the river. And..... we also made memories of walking through jaw droppingly verdant bush after the storm. Of a bird chorus as the sun began to shine. Of wonderful friends and the sight of our kids being wonderful friends. And of course, incredible gourmet food (tramping ain’t tramping without the glamping) Needless to say, it was quite the adventure. Overnight tramps with kids aren’t always straight forward but they are always, always, absolutely, worth it.
I got to interview Professor Wally Penetito at his home about tūrangawaewae, kaitiakitanga, and the concept of whakapuāwai in relation to place based education at school. So very lucky to spend time in his company and soak in just a small part of his wisdom.

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