I may have been spotted on one my many walks around Gisborne (Tūranganui a Kiwa), with a silly Cheshire-cat-like grin on my face - possibly simultaneously talking to myself. Next month will mark 19 years since I first set foot in this paradisical coastal city teetering on the edge of the world. I'm guessing those … Continue reading Walking And Reconnecting In Tūrunganui A Kiwa
New Zealand
My first birthday without a mum in the world
I've wanted to write this tribute for many months. Unashamedly there follows a rather extensive post, one of the longest I've ever published. I suspect few people will reach the end of it. However, it's important for me to share these stories, for our library of memories. Who knows, there may just be a snippet … Continue reading My first birthday without a mum in the world
A brief breathing space to blog again …
It's been a crazy year so far. Travelling to Nigeria, Northmoor and New Zealand in the space of three months has been incredible. It does now mean we're a quarter of the way through already - time flies when you're having fun! I recently spoke to a couple of people in their 70s, who are … Continue reading A brief breathing space to blog again …
Reflecting on 2016’s highs and lows on and off NBAreandare
Is it just me, or is it normal to feel the older one gets, the faster time seems to fly? I suspect 2016 will be a year that goes down in history as one of immense and irreversible change, for a multitude of reasons. It also brought a few challenges to Barry and I in … Continue reading Reflecting on 2016’s highs and lows on and off NBAreandare
What a difference a year makes – last day in New Zealand
I can't begin to describe how grateful I am to have had this amazing opportunity to bring my mum back to New Zealand to remember dad on the anniversary of his death. They both came to visit me here in March 2002, on my first adventure, so we have many precious memories of fun and … Continue reading What a difference a year makes – last day in New Zealand
The long goodbye
The past six days have been some of the most poignant and purposeful of my life. As regular readers will be aware, since returning to England from New Zealand in March 2013, I've spent a lot of time negotiating processes to support my dad, as he became less able to care for himself. One of … Continue reading The long goodbye