tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15920421535000909582012-01-14T21:29:28.857+13:00by Kate RichardsKate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.comBlogger841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-24585723999385709352012-01-14T21:27:00.000+13:002012-01-14T21:29:28.881+13:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-89364573704078612332012-01-11T19:15:00.003+13:002012-01-11T19:16:08.170+13:00

Whangerei before the sun came out Our five day holiday in the Northland was tonic for the soul. We don't spend our entire life on holiday, as this blog might suggest, but have had a busy year, with kids, work, family, friends, studies, housework, pets, etc. That said, the holiday was a delightful escape into paradise. Our first stop was Whangerei. The Town Basin has a wharf with lovely

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-40466077090174566152011-12-17T23:45:00.001+13:002011-12-17T23:45:31.284+13:00

 Patch meets Bubble ... Blossom the Possum loves her new home under the Christmas tree, complete with wrapping paper to rip, baubels to bat and the feeling of being outdoors while indoors; bliss ...

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-70157216769478514672011-12-11T09:22:00.001+13:002011-12-11T15:13:39.677+13:00

Picture by our lovely daughter This time almost two years ago, we were in the frantic final stages of emigrating. Our flight landed in Auckland on the 23rd December 2009 and the customs official said, "Busy time of year to arrive." We had a sleep in on the 24th and then went Christmas shopping for all the gifts we couldn't have brought with us on the plane. Everything was new and

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-18431992291715924822011-09-04T09:02:00.000+12:002011-09-04T09:04:03.550+12:00

16:00 Waka fleet arrival  16:40 Dave Dobbyn and band (Queens Wharf)17:05 Mass haka (Eastern Viaduct) 17:10 600 Maori warriors proceed down Quay St (Queens Wharf)17:45 Mayoral welcome (Queens Wharf)18:00 Headline act (Queens Wharf) – The Finn Brothers 19:30 Broadcast of RWC 2011 Opening Ceremony from Eden Park19:55 New Zealand's biggest fireworks and lighting show 20:15 Opening Match from Eden

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-58784674828110102932011-08-22T19:46:00.000+12:002011-08-22T19:46:37.702+12:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-60856832743366112832011-08-05T20:17:00.000+12:002011-08-05T20:17:54.165+12:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-10431806978186486502011-08-02T16:04:00.000+12:002011-08-02T16:04:53.646+12:00

Just hanging out with Ma'a Nonu, Richie McCaw and Israel Dagg like we often do ... :)

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-71720982427206953612011-08-01T20:45:00.002+12:002011-08-01T20:52:15.475+12:00

Be still my beating heart! (Sorry honey). What an adrenalin rush tonight was. The kids and I got to pose with Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu and Israel Dagg and we'll be able to download a pic off facebook soon.  We also met Conrad Smith, Brad Thorn, Colin Slade, Zac Guildford, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crocket and Mils Muliaina. At last years "meet the All Blacks" session at the Trust Stadium, we

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-44579664688110642422011-07-17T20:57:00.000+12:002011-07-17T20:57:32.061+12:00

Nelson Mandela turns 93 on the 18th July. Join Mandela Day is an inspiring website that encourages us all to make a difference. Actions speak louder than words, so I need to think about what I'll do for 67 minutes on Mandela Day.  Happy Birthday Madiba!

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-76541118631153103682011-07-11T16:57:00.000+12:002011-07-11T16:57:17.819+12:00

With the Rugby World Cup just around the corner and the Netball World Cup done and dusted, I thought it a fine time to start showcasing national anthems. Well done to the Silver Ferns on their silver medal.  It was heartbreaking to lose by one goal with a second to go, in extra time ... but the girls are undoubtedly up there with the best in the world and can hold their heads high. Well done

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-54612122989213288982011-07-05T16:46:00.000+12:002011-07-05T16:46:40.350+12:00

I haven't had time to write much of late. It's winter and we are working hard and not travelling much. On Sunday we took the kids to the Walking With Dinosaurs extravaganza which was simply sensational and then we headed down to the Waterfront Cafe for lunch. It was a clear weekend, with blue skies and a nip in the air.  The July school holidays are around the corner, and I'll have to put

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-34563031269917321752011-06-30T16:57:00.001+12:002011-07-01T08:06:37.056+12:00

Mum Something really exciting happened today. Mum called me at work to say, "Vuvuzela, vuvuzela, vuvuzela, vuvuzela!!!!" I said, "Mum, have you got residency?" And she said ... "YES!!!" I had said on Sunday that they would hear this week. On one level, I felt it in my gut - and on another level, I thought - if I say it, it may happen! Continuing on the collective consciousness theme, I decided

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-23494109755325474352011-06-26T21:28:00.000+12:002011-06-26T21:28:15.329+12:00

Once in a while I will publish some useful tips for newbies. Sometimes I may write something detailed, like "Job hunting ideas, thinking outside the box" (http://katesrichards.blogspot.com/2010/11/job-hunting-ideas-thinking-outside-box.html), and other times I might just borrow other people's tips, with their permission of course... Hey mum, can I borrow this... assuming a yes, here follows, from

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-50459505969098620932011-06-22T19:45:00.001+12:002011-06-22T20:20:26.419+12:00

5000 people have visited "A New Life in New Zealand". Thank-you for your interest.  This time one and a half years ago we were on the plane heading for New Zealand to start our new life adventure, leaving our beloved South Africa behind. From one amazing country to another. The 2011 Rugby World Cup starts in 79 days time! Come and visit this beautiful country and be a part of the excitement!

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-59525655787851097712011-06-22T19:25:00.000+12:002011-06-22T19:25:17.908+12:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-590026301311872972011-06-21T19:49:00.001+12:002011-06-21T20:00:58.187+12:00

Once in a while I would like to write a post about someone inspirational. Some will be long interviews ... like the Jeffrey Masson and Janet van Eeden interviews on this blog, and others will be little snippets of inspiration shared. Perhaps when I have time (in my next life), I will be able to secure an interview with Jill Perrott, a New Zealand Artist who truly captures the spirit of this

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-84521487241555668802011-06-18T15:11:00.000+12:002011-06-18T15:11:50.597+12:00

For Saffers and others considering moving to New Zealand, I have found a really useful forum at http://www.sagoingtonz.co.nz/ The philosophy of most expats on the forum is to pay-it-forward. In other words, once one has made the move, one can share knowledge and experience. It makes it less scary for those to whom NZ is the big unknown. An aside... my blog (A new life in New Zealand) has had

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-21322104932237806622011-06-12T17:35:00.001+12:002011-06-12T17:36:24.395+12:00

 It may be winter, but the minute I saw the sun beaming through the window this morning, I figured it was time to get out and about. Our friend Kat had said she was doing a shift at the West Coast Gallery in Piha. She makes beautiful silver jewelry and helps out there occasionally as part of an artist partnership with the gallery. It was a good excuse to get on down to Piha. The gallery is filled

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-30501724377696210682011-06-11T11:09:00.001+12:002011-06-11T11:11:49.499+12:00

My brother and sister (in-law) had a baby girl on Tuesday!  We are ecstatic for them. It is moments like these that I feel really cut off from my extended family in South Africa. However it is harder for mum and dad. They are heading back for a visit later this year. A part of me would love to join them, as I will almost have met the two year mark by then. But I will stay with my family here and

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-475342921536624042011-03-01T21:54:00.000+13:002011-03-01T21:54:14.306+13:00

Since today is the first official day of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and indeed I don't have much time to write now that I am working full time, I thought I'd share this piece I wrote when living in South Africa. It was originally published in The Witness newspaper. Waiting for summer’s end 07 Mar 2008 Kate RichardsThe garden has been usurped by bold and ubiquitous weeds. After a time away

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-74996239757576201602011-01-09T21:52:00.000+13:002011-01-09T21:52:53.873+13:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-55922497985564445242011-01-01T10:01:00.000+13:002011-01-01T10:01:36.441+13:00

After Easter island, New Zealand are the first country to celebrate the new year. So while the world parties, or prepares to party I have woken up with a slightly woolly head.  Last night was the best new year's party I've been to in years. We dressed up in "bling" wigs, and the kids entertained us all evening with songs, mimes, comic act and dances. This led to the adults performing comic acts

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-82476603889796040442010-12-29T22:21:00.000+13:002010-12-29T22:21:16.474+13:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-29906210150224368232010-12-23T11:53:00.000+13:002010-12-23T11:53:23.431+13:00

We have been in New Zealand one year today! I have to say that it has been a challenging, exciting, amazing, sad, happy, enriching and awesome year! No regrets, and I hope we continue to feel settled as we put down roots. Thank-you to Mum and Dad for helping us to find our feet; without you it would have been unimaginably more difficult. Thank-you to all our friends - our old SA friends like

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-38645739479104929622010-12-22T22:42:00.000+13:002010-12-22T22:42:30.909+13:00

Sometimes you don't realise what was missing in your life until you have it back. I am feeling wonderfully whole now that our extended family are all together for Christmas and New Year. All year I have felt a little bit disoriented, slightly empty, somewhat disconnected and far away. Now that we are all together, the pieces of the puzzle fit and all is right. Sadly, this is only a temporary

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-64536435548613438542010-12-11T15:24:00.001+13:002010-12-11T15:36:51.485+13:00

In five sleeps, we will see my brother, his wife and their two lovely daughters after being apart for almost a year - and a few days later my other brother and his pregnant wife and their little boy arrive. We are all over the moon with excitement about their visit. We have all felt quite emotional during the build up towards their visit - perhaps because you don't realise how much you miss

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-15956165162873867392010-12-04T09:37:00.003+13:002010-12-04T09:43:52.793+13:00

I have my own personal beliefs regarding religion. I guess the words Christ Consciousness best capture my thoughts on God. I am not a Christian per se - but the essence of much of what Jesus said, rings true for me - and I believe that God consciousness can be experienced through prayer to whatever deity one prescribes to. I am soon to read "The Field" which looks at the universal power of prayer

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-10661228625113926712010-11-13T18:39:00.000+13:002010-11-13T18:39:25.186+13:00

We spent Labour weekend with our buddies in Tauranga. We met them at Bowentown on Dylan's birthday, ate chocolate cake on the hilltop and then descended the staircase built into the rocks, down to a glorious beach. The rest of the weekend was spent in Tauranga - at the harbour and the beach... Thanks guys for a wonderful time in your gorgeous part of the country!   

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-74101362431442577212010-11-13T16:14:00.002+13:002010-11-13T16:26:25.771+13:00

There is so much happening in our neck of the rainforests. As an immigrant, with our one year anniversary not far away, we still have to be quite frugal about our expenses. One could spend an absolute fortune in Auckland, the Big Little City. But luckily there are also often free community events for families. Earlier in the year we went to the Corban Estate art day, where the kids got to make

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-60461203354941657392010-11-13T15:21:00.001+13:002010-11-13T15:26:19.937+13:00

I originally wrote this article for The South African Magazine. I feel it is helpful for immigrants and I therefore wanted to share it on my blog too... Look out for The SA Mag in SA shops around NZ. It is a wonderful networking vehicle for the Southern African community in NZ.  Update your resume and start seeking: Securing a job on arrival can be a daunting task but the following tips and

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-11010988287522843962010-11-13T15:03:00.000+13:002010-11-13T15:03:00.508+13:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-52090798092981663972010-11-11T21:00:00.000+13:002010-11-11T21:00:30.560+13:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-79206488063316618782010-11-09T13:12:00.001+13:002010-11-09T13:20:26.942+13:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-79161167573348585402010-10-29T20:14:00.001+13:002010-10-29T21:33:14.314+13:00

Just outside our picture window is a Nikau palm that is frequently visited by a pair of Kererus, commonly known as New Zealand wood pigeons. Both the palm and the bird are endemic to New Zealand and I feel thrilled to be able to watch these elegant birds nibbling on the berries, just a few meters from the window. You hear them coming, the flapping of their wings make a wooshing sound - and like

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-82142370913030926632010-09-29T13:06:00.003+13:002010-10-06T08:55:05.625+13:00

I received two wonderful parcels in my post box recently. The first was "True Stories" compiled by Shelagh McLoughlin, a collection of short stories from the winning entries of The Witness "True Stories of KZN" - sent to me because it contains my story "Her Long Shadow", and the second was "Torn in the New SA - Living, Loving & Leaving South Africa" by Bronwyn McIntosh - which contains a reprint

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-41920131479094102312010-07-31T13:40:00.000+12:002010-07-31T13:40:43.526+12:00

      

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-13871086698085533802010-07-30T16:14:00.001+12:002010-07-30T16:19:43.403+12:00

After spending the first two weeks of the school holidays holed up indoors with flu, croup and other variations of the-dreaded-lurgy, we were delighted at the idea of a weekend on Waiheke Island, in celebration of my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary. A sense of humour failure was brewing for the kids and me as we walked in cold, umbrella-inverting wind and horizontal rain from the car park to

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-32653978062275961532010-07-02T13:07:00.002+12:002010-07-02T13:08:10.465+12:00

Let me write another quick blog, to fill you in on some of the fun stuff we have been up to this term: Watched the World Rally Championships live in the domain at night and nearly got wiped out by a skidding car! MOTAT (Museum of Transport & Technology) offered free entry to Waitakere residents in May, so we spent two days exploring this fun and interactive museum. Maritime Museum (Also had a

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-42165844187097293662010-07-02T12:27:00.003+12:002010-07-02T21:08:08.448+12:00

It has been a while since I last posted anything because life has been rather busy. I began an interesting journey on a new career path. I have always had a need to do something nurturing, but have never really actualised it (motherhood aside). Besides spending a term teaching swimming to disabled kids in South Africa, I have always worked in PR and freelance writing in some form or other. But I

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-60359605282576952792010-06-13T09:11:00.001+12:002010-06-13T09:14:36.927+12:00

Last night The All Blacks played Ireland and beat them 66 - 28. A brave performance by Ireland and some lovely flair from the All Blacks made it an interesting game to watch. Here are a few more pics, taken by a friend of mine, of some of the All Blacks - taken on 3 June, when we went to their first practice. It is exciting to start to recognise them on the telly now, after meeting them.As for

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-76580824546807224952010-06-09T21:47:00.000+12:002010-06-09T21:47:21.565+12:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-19583134308078377042010-06-08T17:24:00.001+12:002010-06-08T21:45:53.506+12:00

The Trusts Stadium in Waitakere (West Auckland) officially opened the new hinged floodlights with the All Blacks First training session and a public signing of autographs on 3 June. We took the kids to meet the All Blacks at the Trusts Stadium as we thought it would be an exciting experience for them. Well, that was the guise anyway. A single friend of mine was getting rather hot under the

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-72690089524892134062010-06-06T08:49:00.001+12:002010-06-06T08:50:19.350+12:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-58324135610766026362010-06-01T16:46:00.002+12:002010-06-01T16:51:16.256+12:00

The road from Rotorua to Tauranga is easy-going and meanders through kiwi farmlands. We stopped at Kiwi 360™ to climb up the stairs inside an enormous model of a Kiwifruit. (Incidentally, I love kiwifruit and have learnt the kiwi way to eat it – slice it in two and spoon out the fruit. I have yet to taste fejoa, but it smells less appealing). The curio shop at Kiwi 360™ sells an interesting

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-62544698815654029032010-05-30T20:04:00.003+12:002010-05-31T16:04:28.530+12:00

Life is busy these days. I owe you all a post on our visit to Tauranga, the last day of our road trip... but I have picked up some work and have less time to write. I am really pleased to have picked up paid teacher aide work one day a week helping a lovely boy at a wonderful school down the road (on Tuesdays), and a few days here and there with some very special kids at a blind school in south

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-53279095547726084052010-05-22T20:03:00.000+12:002010-05-22T20:03:02.484+12:00

I am not sure who enjoyed the Skyline luge more during our visit to Rotorua; us or the kids. We all clambered into a gondola, (a glass cable car) that overlooks scenic views of Lake Rotorua as it hauls passengers sedately up the hill. At the top one can enjoy a leisurely buffet, ride the luge or both, depending on your ticket options.  We excitedly strapped on our safety helmets and raced to

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-63395858711318551632010-05-18T22:19:00.003+12:002010-05-18T22:45:43.727+12:00

A few years ago I read Bill Bryson’s “A Short History of Nearly Everything”. His descriptions of natural hazards were vividly disturbing and I remember reading about Yellowstone National Park with morbid fascination. It has been described as a super-volcano. The Yellowstone hotspot is a volcanic field that has produced super-eruptions dating back 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 640,000 years ago.

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-16491546455884804042010-05-15T21:51:00.000+12:002010-05-15T21:51:57.828+12:00

Coming soon ... the tail end of our road trip - Lake Taupo, Rotorua and Tauranga.

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-2349652758426645542010-05-09T13:08:00.002+12:002010-05-09T21:07:08.811+12:00

The view from the top of the Waterfall express ski-lift on Mount Ruapehu is at once exhilarating, desolate, magnificent and barren. Very little grows in this active volcanic field. At 2020 metres the air is thin and chilly and we feel light headed and euphoric. We look across at Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro to our right, and after clambering upwards over a few rocks we can see Mount

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-43131882236322258472010-05-02T21:33:00.004+12:002010-05-02T21:37:10.064+12:00

Winding sedately along country roads leading to Turangi we passed a picnic spot with a breathtaking view of Taupo that was definitely worth a look, so we did a U-turn and pulled into the car park.  Taupo lay majestically beyond. As we all clambered out the car we noticed another family with an adorable Maltese terrier puppy and we automatically ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ because she

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-86930775045302852572010-04-27T21:13:00.003+12:002010-04-27T21:40:49.398+12:00

So I am squatting over an enamel bowl in our cold kitchen cabin, wondering what we are doing in the middle of nowhere. We are in a Department of Conservation (DOC) self-catering cabin in Pureora Forest Park, miles from anywhere in particular if you discount Te Kuiti, the sheep shearing capital of New Zealand. It is a tad cooler than Auckland and I have a disabling bladder infection that I had

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-28418690306271924702010-04-18T20:50:00.000+12:002010-04-18T20:50:54.508+12:00

Imagine floating down a river in the depths of a deep dark limestone cave; a river that is 6 degrees and an inviting habitat for eels, crayfish and trout. It is dark and occasionally a lucky drop of water that has taken maybe a few hundred years to make its way down a stalactite, drips onto your head. Everyone in the boat is silent, holding their breath collectively. You look up at the indigo

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-50084907316146528482010-04-17T10:30:00.007+12:002010-04-17T14:19:05.772+12:00

I love traveling a road for the first time. It is like opening a present in shiny wrapping; turning it over and trying to guess what is inside. As you wind around the next corner, there it is; something spectacular. With New Zealand being a relatively compact country, there are many natural wonders within easy reach. But the real beauty is that the in-between bits are splendid, comforting, or

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-85356460143404834932010-04-14T22:30:00.005+12:002010-04-15T07:58:25.149+12:00

Autumn in South Africa was my favourite season. I used to love slow drives out to the Midlands Meander, soaking up the benign rays of sun through the windscreen as the hills rolled by. I had expected autumn in New Zealand to be colder, wetter and greyer, but so far I have found myself to be delightfully misinformed. The past eight days have been sublime, just like a Maritzburg autumn, only here

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-46486466483208615582010-04-02T08:45:00.002+13:002010-04-02T08:51:44.472+13:00

About a week ago I watched Marley and Me and posted on my Facebook page that I cried and cried for the dogs we had to leave behind. We aren't allowed a dog in our Auckland rental and there is a huge void. I cried because dogs lives are too short, cried because we won't be there for our dogs as they face old age, cried for the family we left behind... cried because life just goes by in a flash.

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-31069807247906667182010-04-01T12:08:00.002+13:002010-04-01T12:16:11.069+13:00

The Easter holidays are almost upon us and although I miss my dear family in South Africa, and the folgies who are visiting KZN at the moment, we are fortunate enough to have our good friends Lorna and Ian coming to stay for the long weekend. Bring on the Canasta games, the red wine and the curry, building forts in the forest, Easter egg hunts, beach walks, fishing, tennis, laughter and fun.

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-16508702179181785522010-03-31T09:23:00.008+13:002010-03-31T10:04:19.886+13:00

On 27 February we meandered through endless farmlands, stopping at Thames to shop and then headed up into the craggy Coromandel ranges, the highest peak being Mt Moehau at 892m. Whenever I see the hazy blue of distant mountains, it always reminds me of the Drakensberg in Kwazulu Natal (still one of my all time favourite places). The Coromandel range is breathtaking in a

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-33428544257203805962010-03-29T16:17:00.011+13:002010-03-29T21:15:36.521+13:00

White Lion recently won three SAFTAs and is currently screening in South Africa to rave reviews. The screenplay is written by Janet van Eeden, a prolific journalist, playwright, scriptwriter and educator. I recently got up close and personal with Janet (via email). Her candid answers reveal a behind the scenes view of White Lion, and shed light on the art, the trials and

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-24880388641890888782010-03-17T12:27:00.003+13:002010-03-19T09:46:36.474+13:00

Writing this post is long overdue. Forgive me dear reader but life threw me a few curveballs involving the small matter of a cross-continental house move, a fried motherboard and the discovery that there is no mobile network signal in the valley where I now live. I am ironing out the creases, so unfortunately blog posts may not be as regular as they were initially. I owe you a story on coffee

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-89426956425709359502010-03-01T22:11:00.002+13:002010-03-01T22:19:37.486+13:00

Not without reason, one of the movers said that today's job was the one of the toughest he has done in three or four years. The bloke and his team, minus one who "ducked off when he saw the steps", lugged the contents of a forty foot container up the garden steps of our new rental in the heat, and then still had to ascend the stairs of our double story home. I felt for them, and proceeded to run

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-1950243595273965802010-02-25T13:38:00.010+13:002010-02-26T18:40:50.431+13:00

There is nothing boring about West Auckland. The people are exuberant and diverse here. First of all, there are the ‘Westies’. I am not referring to West Highland Terriers or a notorious predominantly Irish American organized crime association, but to a type of male found in these parts. I googled the term and found the following description useful: A ‘Westie’ is someone living in West Auckland.

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-31500712270293870052010-02-22T16:09:00.003+13:002010-02-22T16:13:51.185+13:00

This week I will be interviewing Janet van Eeden, the scriptwriter for "White Lion, Home is a Journey", a movie that recently won three SAFTAs (South African Film and Television Awards) - best cinematography, best music score and best sound design. Watch this space...  Check out www.whitelionthemovie.com to get excited about this production. I will also be wandering down the

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-37710133854529406662010-02-20T08:18:00.001+13:002010-02-20T08:26:03.927+13:00

Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-19671027468432963632010-02-19T18:10:00.000+13:002010-02-19T18:10:57.428+13:00

A new friend of mine who has recently moved to New Zealand from England, described a picture she drew of how it feels to be an immigrant. In the picture she drew hundreds of strings attached to her body and reaching outwards to her network, but all the strings had been snipped; her connections severed. I think this picture is a perfect analogy for how one feels when you leave your homeland and

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-73590010869784434402010-02-17T12:54:00.000+13:002010-02-17T13:16:12.920+13:00

If I had to describe Waiheke Island in one word, it would be “mellow”. The trouble is we were far too mellow ourselves on Sunday, waking late to a low mist. Finally at about eleven am we decided that yes we would catch a ferry to Waiheke as the weather report promised sunny patches. The plan had initially been to make a day of it; to catch the $8 hop-on-hop-off bus and see a significant part of

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-29474261300633232762010-02-15T11:59:00.000+13:002010-02-15T14:42:36.353+13:00

It only takes fifteen minutes to get to Huia from the fogies place along a scenic drive. A couple of kilometres from home base, one enters the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, a reserve that has 16,000ha of native rainforest and coastline and 250km of walking and tramping tracks that access beaches, magnificent rocky outcrops and dense, pristine rain forest.   En route to Huia, one passes the

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-64648329707362386902010-02-13T09:52:00.000+13:002010-02-13T10:10:05.440+13:00

What does it mean to be settled, and can one ever really be settled? When we bought our first home, Honeymeade in Pietermaritzburg, I remember saying to Nick, “I would like to stay here for at least ten years”. We were in the expansive stage of life where we wanted to have children, fix up our house, have dogs and a cat running around and play “happy house.” I had roots there, in Maritzburg; my

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-24504762011006514682010-02-12T14:46:00.000+13:002010-02-12T15:02:36.162+13:00

The coming of age story of the gannets at Muriwai is fascinating. Females lay a single egg, sometime between September and December and then both parents take turns in incubating the egg, sitting on the nest, made of seaweed, cemented with guano (a polite word for bird poop). The egg takes 44 days to incubate. At 14 weeks, the juveniles begin flapping their wings for many hours a day. This next

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-60375351711587671412010-02-10T12:53:00.000+13:002010-02-10T19:58:39.634+13:00

On the flight from South Africa to Hong Kong, en route to New Zealand in December, I watched a delightful movie called "Julie & Julia", based on a blogger who wrote about her idol, the culinary genius, Julie Child (played by Meryl Streep). The blogger, Julie Powell (played by Amy Adams) set herself a challenge, to cook 534 of Child's recipes in 365 days. She hoped to eventually meet her cooking

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-72402727338454965582010-02-07T09:28:00.000+13:002010-02-09T19:06:03.790+13:00

I suddenly felt like a voyeur, walking on the beach at Karaka Bay, trying to discretely peer at the houses to find the one belonging to Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson while hubby wandered besides me tolerantly and the kids bounced along excitedly. After all, this was the culmination of the Big (little) Adventure of the day. Perhaps stalker is a better word, I thought, as I surreptitiously gazed over

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-27613005368601799722010-02-01T17:42:00.000+13:002010-02-01T17:47:52.565+13:00

Aucklanders need not travel far to find a secluded beach with a magnetic energy that lures one to return. After spending a day on the beach at Karekare, the images of ashen sand and a shark-fin shaped island emerging from the sea have remained etched in my mind and I will be sure to venture there again. I don’t feel qualified to write about Karekare, when there are locals who are passionate about

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-12859210508709535662010-01-25T22:22:00.000+13:002010-01-25T23:03:19.550+13:00

1. White and purple Agapanthas. Are Agapanthas considered a weed in New Zealand? I love the purple and white mix. Do they grow like that naturally I wonder? Can anyone enlighten me? In South Africa one generally gets purple 'aggies' and can buy and plant white ones, but in NZ the white and purple seem to seed together. The white flowers soften the purple so beautifully and every cluster is

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-18897213865287642172010-01-23T18:33:00.000+13:002010-01-23T18:39:17.276+13:00

When emigrating, one has to expect to experience a few catch 22 situations.  For example, you're looking for a job and they want New Zealand experience. Or, you're living with your parents and want to get your own place near a really nice school. The school year is about to begin. Most of the schools are zoned, so you need to find a place to rent in the school zone before you enroll the kids. You

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-67900290273497601222010-01-20T14:56:00.000+13:002010-01-20T15:06:52.721+13:00

On a recent visit with special friends in Tauranga, we took a walk around the 3.4 km base of Mt Maunganui otherwise known as Mauao, stopping at a couple of beaches for a fish, snorkel or swim. The Maori legend perfectly befits the solitary mount that stands alone at the end of a long, narrow stretch of prime real-estate, with the harbour on one side and white beaches on the other. According to

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-45586478794720982142010-01-13T11:08:00.000+13:002010-02-03T11:37:11.880+13:00

Well we have been in New Zealand three weeks today, so it is high time for me to write about my first impressions of Auckland and surrounds. Like any city, there are dull suburban and urban areas, but they are punctuated by breathtaking beauty around every corner. Take the Waitakere ranges, where my parents (henceforth to be known as the fogies) have chosen to live as an example of natural,

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-72628090183529743762009-12-25T19:58:00.000+13:002009-12-25T19:58:10.781+13:00

We are in transit in Hong Kong, en route from Johannesburg to Auckland and have a few hours to wile away at the airport. We have been told that we don’t need a visa to visit the city and that there are trains from the airport, making a fleeting visit possible. Hubby is apprehensive, but the pretty lady at the information desk assures us that the airport express train takes exactly 24 minutes to

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-33020410977421659192009-12-23T22:05:00.000+13:002009-12-23T22:38:25.986+13:00

It is 23 December, the day Cliff was due to board a plane, and I am sitting in my folk’s lounge, overlooking the distant city lights across the Manukau Harbour and feeling so very relieved that Cliff is not boarding his flight, but curled up in a basket next to Jessica; and that Chloe and Pippa are with my very longest standing friend. It was a close call though. On 16 December Cliff’s immense

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-76402164959100331402009-11-28T18:36:00.000+13:002009-11-28T18:38:19.039+13:00

I read an interesting book recently called "Ja, No Man, Growing up White in Apartheid Era South Africa" by Richard Poplak, that zones in on his first nineteen years spent in South Africa in the seventies and eighties, before his family emigrated to Canada. Living in the West allows him to look back at these years with a relatively objective perspective, as he curiously dissects life under a

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-81683831663026101532009-11-28T04:55:00.000+13:002009-11-28T04:59:11.349+13:00

Jessica was one of those dogs that never got a proper look in. Too big to be allowed on the couch or bed (like the pampered Maltese terriers), too small to be a big shot in the canine pecking order, she was always just there without ever holding centre stage. To make matters worse, when the kids came into my world, the dogs took a back seat. Especially for the first few years, when one is

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-43244971836544676082009-11-24T06:42:00.000+13:002009-11-24T22:07:56.834+13:00

I have this unsettling feeling that I am going to leave without saying goodbye to so many people. Everyone means something to me, from the sweet lady at the make-up counter at Hilton Pharmacy, to Joseph the stable-hand next door; from my dearest friends and our beloved Gogo to the petrol attendants at the Quarry; how can one remember to say goodbye to everyone in such an amazing community? How

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-27984776658708318352009-11-18T03:10:00.000+13:002009-11-18T04:30:54.608+13:00

Thirty three days left in the beloved country and thirty thousand things left to do. Cliff Richards (our soon to be Kiwi-dog has a harrowing time ahead of him with five vet visits between now and his plane trip.  We have tax to sort out and UIF to update, Gogo's pension to resolve and two cars to sell on a checklist that seems to grow each time I look at it.  My hubby, Nick has a job

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-88519606909362562942009-11-16T21:50:00.000+13:002009-11-17T05:21:01.512+13:00

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592042153500090958.post-43396414467594193342009-11-16T21:41:00.000+13:002009-11-17T22:18:15.601+13:00

Soaring thousands of feet above the ground, all I can think about is Ben, sitting in a box in the hold. I should have remembered to put cotton wool in his ears. I smile as I think about how Ben taught me a lesson in holding one’s head high even when wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole. He did his business in the outdoor restaurant and I had to nonchalantly clear it up with big

Kate Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459338396250163222noreply@blogger.com0