16.03.15

It was a girly dinner tonight at the Collinses. The HJ girls were over, plus one of the cousins. Poor Hugh held his own pretty well. And you could just tell Priscilla was absolutely in her element.

She'd slaved away making the most beautiful salads, chicken, and dessert for us. It felt like Christmas dinner. She basked in the compliments and raving - all quite deserved!

15.03.15

This evening Mum and I just didn't feel like going to church so we mulled some wine, curled up with our books and read the night away while Cyclone Pam threatened to blow over the trees outside the window.

Of course, the most exciting thing that happened all evening wasn't the weather after all. I finished my book! If you could see how thick it was and how small the letters were, you'd be mighty impressed.

14.03.15

I flitted from one social occasion to another today and they were all beautiful.

First was a breakfast date with Rose and Eleanor where I ate more GF bread (always very exciting!) and we talked about very adult things like marriage and kids. It all felt very strange but lovely at the same time.

Then, this afternoon I went to Lucy's for a spontaneous dip in the pool which turned out to be a bit of a set up. Priscilla's old friend brought her two kids over and the mums proceeded to push Lucy and the son together all afternoon. It was really very hilarious.

I left there and went to Laban and Amy's new little home which was very cute. Amy made us the most delicious dinner and we talked all about film, music, Korea, and sharing a bed. Strahan and Steph were there too, which was so, so nice because they're great but I've never got a good chance to get to know them before.

13.03.15

I found myself a red, hot, sweaty mess after jumping like crazy for an hour at an indoor trampoline centre this evening. It was a lot of fun but I had to keep trying to awaken the child deep inside of me to conjure up some fearlessness. Fortunately the child is never far from the surface, however I was never the kind of kid to fling myself into any danger, not even if foam pits promised to catch me.

I was determined to do a backflip and after a couple of shaky landings which almost put my neck out, I managed to to a very unconvincing one. This was while a little 6 year old girl was landing all kinds of spins and flips with grace and poise in her matching cheerleader mini bra and hot pants.

12.03.15

As per usual, dinner at the Collins's tonight was amazing. Well, Lucy and I did make it so perhaps that's a little egotistical. But it's the atmosphere and the people that make it even more delightful.

Of course the Moroccan lamb and roast veggie salad was worth writing about, but then we ate chocolate and watched a good movie. I love the red couches and just being in that beautiful house. I'll probably cry if they ever move.

Dan's a genius

11.03.15

I had forgotten what it's like to be back amongst "the scene" in Auckland. I certainly don't count myself part of it. I'm not nearly stylish or elite enough for it, but occasionally I go to gigs and see them milling about, smiling beautifully at each other and saying their, "Oh darlings".

Tonight was such a night. It was Tom Lark's media show, which meant that all of Auckland's finest were out and there was not one unattractive face or unplanned outfit in the place. I was fairly intimidated.

But the music made up for how gross all that was. Oh my word it was a good show. Far, far too short to quench my thirst after two years of nothing, but definitely almost got there.

I found myself just grinning as I sipped the best wine of my life and bobbed my head along to my faves.

10.03.15

There's something to be said for having a lot of shared history with a person. There's a level of comfort that cannot be reached without the passage of time. The type of conversation and recollection of memories is so much richer if you've known a person through many stages of life.

This is how it is with Amy and myself. It was so great to catch up and just talk for hours with her. She will always be a good friend of mine and I feel like we are getting to a similar head space. We're definitely in different phases of life (I think she's overtaken me in the growing up process), but there's more common ground than there has been in the past.

It's so nice to have friends with whom you can grow and change, but still be reassured that they'll always be there.

09.03.15

Isn't it just fantastic when things work out perfectly? This morning I had an interview at a recruitment agency in town and then I met Lucy in Albert Park because it was her break at uni. Kirsten was also in the city for a meeting so we all went to a cafe together.

It was absolutely lovely. I sipped on a coconut mango smoothie as we talked about many things I've been thinking about recently. It was exactly what I needed at this point in my settling-in journey.

08.03.15

We skipped church this morning and headed to Mondays for a spot of breakfast. My heart was as full as my belly after real bulletproof coffee, a papaya bowl, and great chats with the girls.

I'm feeling very appreciative of this health-nut country and the accessibility of yum food like that. I had choices!

07.04.15

It was a wonderful Saturday to be alive! It started with a trip to the French markets with Nicole and Aaron. I was expecting it to be weird to see them, but it really wasn't. I think NZ suits them. They certainly enjoy Aucklandy things like good coffee, organic produce, and raw/vegan sweets.

We went to St. Heliers and sat on a bench watching kitesurfers defy gravity. We even wandered about barefoot in true Kiwi fashion.

The day ended with homemade dumplings and lots of giggles at Annie's flat with Lucy. What beautiful friends I have!

06.03.15

I've really missed barbecues. Just hanging out at someone's house with a whole bunch of friends is a wonderfully relaxing thing. In Korea we all lived in tiny shoeboxes scattered all over the city, so it wasn't really an option most of the time.

As I lay on the carpet at the Berry's house, listening to the night time cicadas and my friends voices from different places in the house, I realised how nice it is to be back.

05.03.15

I found myself, feet in the Collinses pool with no one else around today. It was kinda weird but it was mostly wonderful as I was gazing at the rainbows the sun was casting through the water.

There are just some very peaceful moments that seize you if you allow yourself to be taken by them.

04.03.15

Praying at the crack of dawn with some quality folks on the beach, listening to the birds and the waves is a real privilege. Once again I'm feeling awe at the incredible opportunities to see beauty every day in this country.

It felt like summer, well and truly as we hung out at breakfast after and then mucked about at church before getting some yummy coffee at a super trendy cafe in town.

03.03.15

I saw the lovely Alysha today. We had delicious healthy smoothies at a new cafe close to home.

She picked me up, which was a very strange sensation, but also very normal. The roles were reversed but the whole time as we were hanging out I felt like I was with a peer. She's all grown up!

We shared stories of living away from home and the woes and wonders of coming home. It was so, so nice.

This tree was cold so people made a cardy for it.

Casual sunset at home.

01.03.15

Every swim I have is better than the last. This one was the quickest of dips in the sparkliest of oceans. The waves were just right and the water was a refreshing temperature. I was all alone, making the most of our stretch of the coast before we came home.

I couldn't help laughing and splashing around like a child with my mum watching from the crest of the dunes.

This was our welcome home.

28.02.15

For three years I have been longing to go to the mermaid pools at Matapouri and today was that day. After a treacherous climb through the bush and a suspense-filled descent, the glistening, turquoise pool lay before us.

We wasted no time stripping down and jumping in, feeling like real-life sea creatures as we perched on rocks in the crystal water. It would have been surreal if there weren't children kicking water in our faces as they snorkelled past.

Despite the dream which came true today, there was a moment which was even more remarkable. After dinner we made the somewhat spontaneous decision to grab some blankets and head to Whale Bay to do some star gazing. How perfect it turned out to be!

Of course, Lucy and I couldn't resist a little night time swim which was amazingly calm. We were in the ocean to watch the last of the sun's orange mark in the sky and the rippling sea beneath it. The only thing that could have made it more perfect would have been phosphorescence. But that's just a little picky.

We dried off and lay under the stars, harassing Melinda about her relationship and sharing dreams.

27.02.15

Mum and I had a bit of an adventure today. We thought we'd be tricky and go the easy way to see the boys out on the point except it wasn't the easy way at all. In fact, we scaled a cliff only to find out it was a sheer drop on the other side. It was rather hilarious, really. We had no other option but to turn around and head for our pretty little bay again.

After some quality family time my friends arrived just before the sunset. We were on the East Coast so all we could see was the effect of it, but it made a beautiful pink-to-blue gradient which was reflected in the water. I think I like it best when the colours are subtle.

The view looking down from the cliff we scaled.

26.02.15

Mum and I discovered some horses taking a dip in the Matapouri estuary this morning. It looked like a scene from a film as we came around the corner and saw them standing at the water's edge. They're such majestic creatures.

One of them didn't want to go in the water and the other one couldn't get enough of it. He was grinning as he pulled his trainer through the turquoise channel.

It was so good to watch I didn't even mind the smell of horse poop in the air.

25.02.15

The sun roared today and it felt like the quintessential Kiwi Summer had decided to honour my arrival. I could not be more pleased. It was a day of sand, salt, and sweat. Nothing better than that!

Cicadas created the best soundtrack for reading a good old Agatha Christie (I picked the murderer!) and puzzle-making. What a perfect day.