Five years ago today this blog was born: two years after I first went to New Zealand. I say 'went' instead of 'came' because at this moment I am not in New Zealand. Nor, in fact, am I in my 'other' home of Scotland. I am hidden away in the Italian Tuscan countryside. It is a Sunday morning and all's quiet, very quiet.
I was wondering how to commemorate the day. I could search for my favourite posts or photos or a summary of some sort. I even contemplated writing about why I love New Zealand and my life there. I've decided, though, just to seize the moment and post a few ordinary reminders of my life in New Zealand.
Blogging has become such an important part of my life and, through blogging and particularly in New Zealand, I have made some truly wonderful friends. I won't use the word 'real' because some of my blog friends are as real to me as those I meet face to face.
Most of my reminders are to do with thoughts of my friends and my special New Zealand family but there are some other reminders:
The hills of Hawkes Bay
A picture of a Kingfisher in pastel which hangs in my study by Catriona aged 9
Some of the things which make The Cottage my home
The Cottage
And, of course, croquet
Posts
That first photo looks like it could be a painting too. Congratulations on your Blogoversary! It's nice (and amazing, when one stops to think about it) that you can carry your whole world with you whereever you go.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Monica, the first picture typifies the Hawkes Bay hills and I love it. For me being able to carry my world with me is perfect because it's a world with which I am so comfortable. I know for some others the whole object of a holiday or living in two places is to leave their world behind.
DeleteThat made me look back too...four years on Sept 18th... How time has flown! The thoughts expressed in my first post could have been written today, especially as it is dawn here as I write... Just a different dog at the foot of the bed.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, thank you for writing your blog.. I have thoroughly enjoyed "meeting"you
I look forward to many more years of reading it
X
Thanks Fiona. Your sentence about there being a different dog at the foot of the bed expresses things so well and I shall think of it as a metaphor for my life as well as a reality in yours.
DeleteI had to delete my first comment because of typos. Oh, me. I can do better than that!
ReplyDeleteWhat I wanted to say was:
Beautiful photos, GB. I particularly like the last one of the croquet game. Looks like the playing field for any game in Washington State!! :o)
Don't those typos you see as you press the 'Publish' key or, worse still, two days later when everyone has read the post, really irritate? Thanks for the comment Carol. Ironically I am so terrible at spelling these days (I used to be really good) that I probably wouldn't have noticed.
DeleteI love these pics of yours. Esp the hills and that beautiful drawing. A clever young artist. Great job GB. Congrats. I too look forward to many more post as Fiona x
DeleteThanks Jaz.
DeleteHappy Blogoversary to you GB, and may you live to see many more.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the photos that you chose to celebrate with, but I detected a hint of missing home. Never mind, soon you will be back there living your other life.
After all that is the first blog that I met you, however I have enjoyed reading both of them.
Carry on smartly.
Hi Virginia and thank you. You are one of my newest friends and having burst into my life with a good deed you typify all that is best in friendships and Blogland.
DeleteHappy Blogoversary, GB! Did you coin that word? On that note, it's amazing how many new words have come into our language since computers, cell phones and blogging came into our lives.
ReplyDeleteI didn't meet you till you were writing both blogs. I enjoy both places and wish I'd planned for my "golden years." Frankly, I never expected to live beyond 40 or 50 because of my momma's family history. Oh! I don't mean to sound maudlin. I do have many treasures in my life- family, books, blogging, photography.
I don't know who coined the word Norma but I first recall my brother, CJ, using it. I suppose when I was younger my thoughts were quite the reverse in that my maternal family lived for ever (many into their 90s and 100s) and my father lived to 94. My dotage, though, has just happened and it's not that many years since I was told that the cancer had basically won. So every day now is special.
DeleteHappy Anniversary, Graham! My blog is a bit younger than yours (I started in March 2009), but blogging has become increasingly important for me, too, and I agree about the friends from blogland being just as real as everybody else.
ReplyDeleteIt's odd Meike that such young friendships can see to have lasted quite a long time. I think it's the fact that Blogs enable us to share things and experiences in a way some other acquaintanceships do not.
DeleteHappy Blogging Anniversary to you.
ReplyDeleteNew Zealand looks so beautiful.
Poor you, stuck in the Italian Tuscan countryside, and you only have New Zealand to look forward to. Life is so hard. (HA HA)
Hi GB, it's been a while but for some reason this is the first time your blog has updated in my feed in nearly half a year. It's probably a sign!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your kiwiblogiversary! May you have many more, and may your travels be ever wonderful. My very best wishes to you as you return to New Zealand for another installment of never-ending summer!
See you soon Geeb. Only about 18 more sleeps.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations GB! I love your hills picture and your cottage looks cool! Happy blogging!!! xoxo Ruby
ReplyDeleteThe photos are all attractive, but the hills are quite extraordinary, too. I find myself wondering how they were formed. Those shapes... and those colours...
ReplyDelete