actually – to start at the very beginning would take a very long time …

so

let’s not!

Let’s just start here …

I am here …

… staying in a bungalow at the bottom of the garden of my sister, her husband, 4 children, arkie the dog and sputnik the cat.

With my two children grown, I found the inclination to travel – and to travel simply. I packed up my stuff – I have about 12 tubs of treasures stashed in a friend’s shed, my sewing machines and fabric stashed in another, and sold or gave away the rest. I handed in my resignation to the best job I have ever had, sold my car, had a farewell party that ended up with us dancing through the night til dawn. After many many hugs to dear friends, and to my wonderful kids, and I hit the road.

This is my first stop on my travels. After living in Australia for the last 24 years, staying with my family in the homeland is a humbling and heart warming experience. Like a refreshing cool drink on a warm day, sitting beneath the dappled shade of a magnificent tree. My thirst of many years is almost quenched!

I can see and hear the ocean from my wee room at the bottom of the garden – which I find endlessly delightful. The expanse of classic NZ beach and horizon, and the enigmatic kapiti island that awaits at the bottom of the sand track pulls me to it most days, and with each step I take down the beach, I marvel at how truly blessed I am to be spending time in this magnificent part of the world.

It seemed fitting, when searching for the author of the wanderer quote I wanted to use, that it was the great J.R.R. Tolkien – for my three nephews are utterly obsessed with Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit  – and so here I give you the poem that is for Aragorn, Son of Arathorn – friend to hobbits and wanderers …

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.