Stories of life and people
As I saw her come through the airport arrival gates, my eyes filled with tears and my throat burned; it took all I had to not burst into a massive pile of sobs and snot. A massive wave of relief and emotion rushed over me. The last time we'd seen each other was when I'd... Continue Reading →
I love New Zealand. I also love the UK. Some people think you can't do this, that it has to be one or the other; that living in New Zealand means dissing the UK, and this really bugs me. You can't really compare the two. Bloody comparison is the thief of joy. Yes, there are... Continue Reading →
“Tara! I need your help.” My friend Emma shouted from downstairs. “I think you need to call an ambulance.” She was staying with me after an operation in which a metal coil was put down the main (femoral) artery in her leg. “I think something’s bleeding inside, it’s happened really quickly.” She lifted the covers... Continue Reading →
I've just moved into Christchurch city centre. Like really, actually, smack bang in the middle. I'd never considered myself much of a city person, let alone to live in the middle of one. But Christchurch is a bit different (it's very leafy). When I first became single I moved from a small country village into... Continue Reading →
I'd just split up with my boyfriend (read: was dumped) here in New Zealand and had nowhere to live. I was fairly new, didn't know that many people, didn't really know what to do and was just generally feeling a bit sideswiped and shit. I had one new friend, B, who I'd messaged, telling her... Continue Reading →
I'd signed up for Queenstown marathon a few months before it, when I realised I hadn't set myself a challenge for a while. After doing the Wadi Rum Ultra in 2017, and then moving to New Zealand and it all going a little bit differently to how I had thought it would meant that I'd... Continue Reading →
When I first moved to Christchurch, I tried to find a BMF (British Military Fitness) replacement. Well maybe not a replacement, as BMF Cheltenham was pretty special, but something similar. Something outside, high intensity, fun and maybe involving mud, and somewhere I could make friends. I didn't want somewhere to just go, work out, not... Continue Reading →
The Bellbird Buster is a 30km trail race in the Port Hills in Christchurch, New Zealand, part of the Crater Rim Ultra event and was my first proper trail race. The week before we'd had pretty hot sunny Spring weather so I was stoked to think I'd be skipping about the top of the hills... Continue Reading →
I’m sat in a cafe in Wanaka and I realise it’s the same cafe where I met a guy called Johnny, on my first trip to New Zealand back in 2014. I’m actually sat at the same table; coincidentally the only one free. As I sit down I wonder where he is now. He was... Continue Reading →
