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Down Time
Well we have been a little busy here at Dawes HQ recently creating a new website for our blog - you may have seen the notice on our blog page. We are still working on it and it's become a very interesting little challenge! So why the change? Well after a couple of years of blogging we felt ...
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Tony Pepperoni
At the weekend we celebrated our good friend Tony's 40th Birthday - known to some of us as Tony Pepperoni, amongst other things! Tony is a Londoner who has been in Kiwi-land for many years, married to the gorgeous Denyse who is a kiwi and they have two stunning girls. You have probably seen them...
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Happy School Days
I am pleased to report that all is going well for Bethany at school, she is absolutely loving it! I linger in the morning just watching what she is doing, if I head over for a goodbye kiss and cuddle I normally get a wriggle and an embarrassed voice that says "get off mam". 5 going on 15 I thi...
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Weekend Walkies
Once again we popped on our walking shoes and headed out. The weather wasn't the greatest and we did most of the walk under our hoods. The choice of walk this time being a place called Tunnel Gully, I had heard about it from my wonderful friend Julie who takes her boys ('boys' being Fortnum and ...
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Meeting John Grogan
Does the name sound familiar?? Well it should do, Mr John Grogan is the author of Marley & Me, you may know it better from the blockbuster movie that is showing in the cinema right now. Last night I was lucky enough (along with my gorgeous friend Jo) to go to a cocktail evening in the com...
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Dog Squad Part 3
Once again we popped on our SPCA capes and stood anxiously smiling at the shoppers heading in and out of New World in central Wellington City. Bethany came along too, she was an absolute star shaking the bucket for the whole hour and offering stickers to those who donated. Although this time she d...
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A Rare Occurance
Yesterday Michael had a day off work which meant a whole 6 hours together of free time without Bethany!! Gone are the BC (before children) days when all we needed to worry about was maybe eating at some point in the day. Our day started with getting organised for school, washing, h...
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105 Today!!
A gorgeous yellow Labrador came into the world 15 years ago today and she was named Poppy. Poppy could tell some stories I bet! In the 15 years she has been part of so much, she has watched Michael and Helen grow, leave home and have children of their own. She has watched her loving 'mother' Lyn...
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Bush Fires
Things we used to read in the local paper about the rest of the world whilst we were back in England did what they were supposed to do, shock us, interest us, yet never affect us. Of course reading about all the doom and gloom in the world was the norm, since being here in NZ I now never go near a n...
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Boot Buyers
Today we decided that after living here for nearly 3 years we had accumulated too much stuff, stuff that was starting to go into boxes and the back of cupboards - stuff we didn't need, stuff that could be someone elses treasure. So we rocked up at Lindale Farm and parked up next to the other 1...
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Cold Snap
Naughty Jack Frost has decided to bring the cold a little earlier this year, or maybe it's just colder where we live now which is away from the coast. This time last year we had been in our home only a few months so maybe we didn't notice the cold, or maybe the climate is different this year.Along w...
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Hot Off The Press!
As I pulled open the door on our mailbox which is situated at the end of our driveway, I saw the brown envelope peeking out and knew what it was straight away. I ripped frantically at the envelope - and there it was! Bethany and I stood in the street and screamed with glee, we danced about whilst lo...
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Scenic Sunday
Well it's been quiet again here at Dawes HQ, the whole past week has been filled with packing Bethany off to school, pacing the floor and clock watching - hopefully soon I will find some type of routine I am comfortable with!We've been out and about this weekend, really just soaking up the glorious ...
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Off She Goes…
As I stood there over her bed I could see her chest rising and her eyes flickering with dreams of what could be. Every night since she was born I spent it by her bed, watching, kissing, touching her little hands. Five years had passed, a lifetime to such a little being, a being who lived in the mome...
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Discovering Marlborough: Finale
Picton was glowing in the glorious sunshine, we wandered for a while stopping to pick up a take away lunch. Onwards we drove towards our final holiday destination; Nelson. The road was an easy one and the views were amazing, made even better by the blue skies and the stunning array of white clouds. ...
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Discovering Marlborough: Part Two
As we huddled under the covering at the office of the Cougar Line water taxis, we stood excited but worried what the weather was going to bring us. The lovely lady in the office promised us the heavy rain would clear up and that gorgeous New Zealand sunshine would shine. Being English you get used t...
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Discovering Marlborough: Part One
It had been a while since our last family holiday together - in fact it was July last year, so we felt it was time to have a break away. So a 'break away' from what? Well Wellington is just amazing and to be honest I do sometimes still find myself in holiday mode, it's very easy to feel that way her...
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It Ticks All The Right Boxes
Last March we ended up with a small feature in a UK based migration publication called Living Abroad Magazine. Whilst it didn't lead to us being asked to open supermarkets or having streets named after us, it was a big thing for us. We were recently asked to be part of it all again, but on a big...
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In-Betweeny
Family time has been first and foremost lately, as mentioned before reeling from Lynn leaving has brought us closer together and we have cherished every moment together doing as much as we can. So much so in fact we're heading off for a much deserved break to the South Island shortly.Our doggy membe...
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Billy Connolly – Live in Wellington
"Right then, so before I start don't any of you dare say I brought the weather with me...look p*ss off and be responsible for your own f*****g weather"That was pretty much the opening line of Billy Connolly's first night in Wellington which went down a storm! It was like welcoming a member of the fa...
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Kapiti Summerfest
The organisers of this years Kapiti Summerfest were lucky to actually have 'summer weather' on the day, it's been raining here now for over a week and again today it's raining, making yesterday the only gorgeous day we have had in a while. The Summerfest was just a magical array of food stalls, craf...
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School Visit Time
Today Bethany had her first school visit! It's been a long time in the making going to school. If we still lived in the UK Bethany would have started school in September last year, but here they go to school when they turn 5. On their actual birthday to be precise, nice birthday present! So of cours...
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Company
Chips has a new friend called Midget. She also has a new tank again as the magnified effect of her swimming around in the bowl looked pretty bad, and we felt for her being all alone.So why Midget? Well who knows what goes through the head of a 5 year old, whatever the name Chips seems to like s/he a...
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Just Us
It's been a miss mash of a few weeks here at Dawes HQ. Still trying to recover from Lynn leaving and wondering when we will see our parents again has been really hard, but it seems to have drawn us closer together as a 4. Family time has been well needed for us, and this weekend has been perfect. Th...
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Denver Turns One!
Our little rescue pup grew up so fast, from a little over excited puppy to a big over excited dog!!! You may remember the day when we got him, we just couldn't wait, I remember visiting the SPCA over and over, pestering them, wanting to know when we could have him and take him home. Here we are ...








