Erin & Dan, Routeburn Track

Dan and I spent two nights at the Kinloch Lodge enjoying a rare getaway without the children. Our trip had all the right ingredients; plenty of fresh air, a beautiful hike up one of New Zealand's Great Walks (the Routeburn Track), dinner in a nice restaurant, a soak in a hot tub with a view and the joy of no schedule. I know it's hard to make these little get aways happen, but I hope we don't have to wait another 3 years for the next one!

Pesky Pirates

I've never been one of those people who wins things, but after a recent visit from friends from Dunedin I decided that I was going to take maters into my hands and enter as many competitions as I could find. With the help of a lovely website that lists the links to all the NZ online book competitions I've been busy entering contests. Last week I got the pleasant surprise in my mailbox when the NZ author Witi Ihimaera's latest book arrived. Today Ben was overjoyed when the game, Pesky Pirates arrived. I think I'll keep on entering contests, who knows what will turn up on our doorstep next?