Diving the Poor Knights

I had no idea the marine life of New Zealand could be so diverse and colourful until I saw these photographs from Nicholas's recent day of diving the Poor Knights marine reserve. They left me speechless! This is one of the world's top dive sites and Nicholas's experiences there with Dive! Tutukaka certainly did that title justice. This site is one for the bucket list and it also demonstrates the importance of marine reserves for the health of our oceans and fish stocks. Read on to find out more:http://www.friendsforsharks.com/02/09/2015/blog/diving-the-poor-knights/

To the top of New Zealand

We made it to the top of New Zealand! After almost six months of travel in our Wendekreisen Travel Ltd campervan and 66 shark conservation events we reached the very top of the North Island. It was an epic moment when we realised just how far we have come; both literally and with Friends for Sharks. I hope you enjoy the stunning photography of Nicholas's, which really demonstrates how beautiful the sub-tropical Northlands are. Onwards we go into our final week in Auckland and then Australia.http://www.friendsforsharks.com/01/09/2015/blog/hello-from-the-top-of-new-zealand/

West Coast Wanderings

Back online after a busy and fun-filled few weeks traveling the West Coast and Northland of New Zealand whilst providing our Friends for Sharks conservation events. It was wonderful exploring the rugged scenery of surf hotspot Raglan and we stayed at an eco-retreat called Solscape. It was a unique and inspiring place to recharge our batteries and that of our campervan home! We have been traveling New Zealand for almost six months now with our marine conservation cause and trusty Wendekreisen Travel Ltd campervan Bertha. We also took time out to visit Hamilton Gardens and Nicholas's photography of the themed gardens in this blog are stunning:http://www.friendsforsharks.com/31/08/2015/blog/west-coast-wanderings      

Memoir Reviews

I have been featured on Jackie Parry's blog with a review of my memoir No Damage. Jackie is a hero in my mind and someone that inspires me a great deal. She has sailed around the globe with minimal prior experience, explored far flung destinations and written memoirs including an inspiring adventure travel memoir Of Foreign Build: From Corporate Girl to Sea Gypsy Woman.She has also trekked the Australian bush with five horses, detailed in her latest book A Standard Journey, and is currently traveling through Europe on her dutch barge. Her blog and books are an adventure in themselves and well worth reading. Here's the link to her blog:http://jackieparry.com/2015/07/15/memoir-reviews/   

Top 15 Alternative Places to Shout 'View!' in New Zealand

My third guest article recently has been for Not Australia with my article Top 15 Alternative Places to Shout 'View!' in New Zealand. I really enjoyed revisiting our highlights of Aotearoa and it certainly reminded Nicholas and I of why we have applied for residency in New Zealand.http://www.not-australia.co.nz/top-15-alternative-places-to-shout-view-in-new-zealand/

places-to-shout-view-in-new-zealand/

Highs, Lows and Campervan Laughter

I have been featured in nzmotorhol.com with my article Highs, Lows and Campervan Laughter. I hope you enjoy this insight into our six month tour of New Zealand with Wendekreisen Travel Ltd.http://nzmotorhol.com/highs-lows-and-campervan-laughter.php 

Poms Away!

I have been featured in 'Poms Away! A British Immigrant's View of New Zealand' this week, with a guest blog post. Read on to find out what it is about living in New Zealand that has left a lasting impression with me. It won't be the things you'd expect!

~https://pomsawaydownunder.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/another-british-immigrants-view-of-new-zealand-a-guest-post-by-kathryn-hodgson/

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Vitamin Rest

I have something to admit....and I really really guilty saying this...but...I am tired and have lost my enthusiasm.There I have said it! I have admitted that I am traveling around the world and no longer wish to see anything new because all I want to do is sleep. How on earth can that be possible?! I am experiencing incredible new journeys and sights every day and yet I have never felt so tired. Lately I find myself hiding under the campervan covers during many a winter morning here in New Zealand.  I am usually a morning person and eager to greet the day at 7am without fail. I LOVE mornings, I love waking up full of energy, I adore breakfast and I love life. Until recently that is. Now I don’t like mornings, breakfast no longer delights me with its bread and honey and I am more interested in sleeping than I am in seeing anything new. My 'joie de vivre' has taken a vacation without me. Would someone be so kind as to return it to me please?

I am on this grand adventure around the globe all year, I move to a new town every few days and run a marine conservation cause with my wonderful other half (who by the way is also hiding permanently under the covers). I am also attempting to write two books and we have completed 59 public speaking events in 4 different countries the last six months. Maybe that is why I am tired? I have also lived in a different country every year for the past five years. Ah, now it is starting to make sense. I have been doing a lot of awesome things and I have forgotten to take a rest.

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Rest is where the miracles happen, where new ideas begin to bloom.

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Don’t get me wrong, I have loved all of those experiences and I wouldn’t change them but…I’ll be honest…I would give anything at the moment for my own bed, a pot of decent tea and some routine. I never thought I would be saying that and I feel guilty for even admitting it when I am on this incredible journey with my suitcase. I know how lucky I am to be here but, er, would it be okay if I just had a rest?Rest. That is absolutely what is needed here and it is something I have neglected entirely since we left the UK in February. I don’t mean eight hours sleep and I don’t mean thirteen hours sleep – I tried both and also tried two solid days in bed sleeping. None of those have shifted the tiredness because they haven’t truly rested my body and mind.People often talk of achieving, adventure, inspiring, doing, pushing, dreaming, excitement and travel and I am a huge supporter of those ideals. They are wonderful for broadening minds and living a life that is rich with experiences. I LOVE adventure and doing new things. However, people don’t often talk about just how tiring doing those things can be and that there is just as much need for genuine rest along the way.

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Nobody can wear their superhero pants all the time.

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With that in mind I have taken to resting as if it is my new sport. I am sleeping like a fuzzy bear in hibernation, I am eating like a small wiry pig with an obsession for fruit, I am reading piles of inspiring and comforting books and I am tilting my head to the winter sunshine as often as possible. It's working! The more I rest, the more my creativity and zest for life are beginning to blossom again and the more my anxieties and stress levels are lessening. It would seem that rest is vital for peace of mind, health and survival in this manic world we live in. How did I not know this? Never mind adventure, rest is where it’s at and I think it’s time for another dose.

Stopping can be the hardest thing to do but it brings the greatest rewards*

*As does a decent cup of tea

Little Local Library

Whilst out walking at Lower Hutt, Wellington recently I came upon this community library on Hill Road. Isn’t it fantastic?! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw these two fridges and the sign ‘Little Local Library’ at the road-side. They were absolutely packed with books and it just goes to show what can be achieved for a community with a little creativity.

It was a real reminder what we can each make a difference to those around us.

Hill Road Community Group

I was also smitten with these thick, hairy tree fern fronds that were waiting to unfurl and their smaller counterparts. They were curled tightly, packed with potential and ready to greet the world.The ‘koru’ is a spiral shape based on the shape of those new unfurling silver fern fronds and it symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace. What a beautiful symbol for the day.

All you need is...a good book & a banana

I have been busy with our shark conservation events for Friends for Sharks this week in Wellington, New Zealand and met two fantastic ladies who I just have to introduce you to.We were due to be speaking at Charles Fleming Ryman’s retirement village and I had high hopes for the day, as it was our 50th event! Unfortunately the area had suffered a power cut all day and we found out we had no mains electricity and no battery charge left in either of our laptops for our talks (that’s six year old laptops for you!).The residents were in high spirits regardless of this and we decided to go ahead and give our talks without slides or videos. I just couldn’t stop smiling when two residents announced loudly that they each had a banana, a good book and that was all they needed in life!Never mind that they couldn’t get back to their rooms because the lifts were broken or that they had no power all day – they were an absolute hoot to be around and I couldn’t stop smiling from that moment onwards. I was bowled over by their humour and enthusiasm and it just went to show that you can be full of life at any age if you choose the right attitude.I hope I have their positivity in the years to come…I will make sure I am armed with a banana and a good book just in case.