Week Twelve: Welcome back to Wellington

I have been back in Wellington for a week, experiencing a strange parallel universe. In the evenings I go to the theatre to see great works of dance and drama as part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival. During the days I occasionally go to art galleries and museums, but mostly I hang out with the Weevil, her children and 'other mothers'. They go on walking groups to places such as the Botanic Gardens.

And for those who are desperate to see said children (yes, that's you mum and dad), here are a copule of pictures.

Here is the City Art Gallery, with a case of colourful chicken-pox due to the trade-mark work of a previous exhibition featuring Yayoi Kusama. Around this building names of subjects are engraved such as literature, commerce, fine arts and history. I particularly like the sound of 'useful arts', and I can't help but wonder what they are.

Wellington is showing off with a rare fine day, and even a stingray comes to visit.

Among the 'adult things' is a highly pleasurable and decadent visit to Martha's Pantry with my friend Mellow Elo where we devour tiers of the teeniest cutest little club sandwiches, mini quiches, scones and cup-cakes with earl grey tea in chintz china cups.

I also go for a walk around Mt Vic with my friend Psychoville Phil. She poses by trees and on benches and we admire the quirky houses with their ornamental gardens and features.

A trip to the Basin Reserve to see some international cricket  is 'rewarded' with a display of brilliant bowling by Doug Bollinger and a total batting collapse by New Zealand.

Meanwhile, back to the children... At the Basin Reserve, you are allowed to come and play on the pitch at lunchtime. The dads come streaming on, barely able to contain their excitement as they sieze upon bewildered small children and proceed to bat and bowl with abandon.

Niece Rachel pulls a monster face for Him Outdoors, aka Uncle Spaz, and Nephew Olaf has his go at whacking the ball at Karori Park.

Week Eleven: Motatapu

Him Outdoors likes a challenge. So this year, when the Motatapu event introduced a new 49km two-person 'adventure run' through tussock-studded hills, he thought it sounded like a good idea. He even managed to persuade someone else to be foolhardy enough to tackle it with him. I'm not sure that either of them thought it was such a good idea at 4am in the cold and dark on the morning of the race, however.

After dropping them off at the start, I led the life of luxury, as they had arranged for me and some other supporters to be flown in a helicopter above the course and through the fantastic scenery. Tracks that you are used to running and cyling along look very different from this angle.

I don't know who was more excited when we spotted them tiptoeing through the tussock - us or them!

We touched down so that we could offer support as they ran along the river bed.

We then headed off to the next vantage point for chief spectating duties and a champagne picnic in the midst of a beautiful backdrop, made even more perfect by the fact that our boys were in the lead!

And then it was back in the helicopter where we flew to the finish. They weren't all that far behind! We saw competitors in the other races come riding and running through the last river crossing before we spotted our team of two holding onto the lead and storming home - and there was much rejoicing.

Week Ten: Mt Creighton Track

Another page from the 'what a wonderful place we live' files. We went for a walk around the Mt Creighton Loop, past mining evidence of sluicings and water races, with tunnels carved through rock and other stone erosions. Sam Summers' hut can still be used by trampers although the pots look a little rusty and the sagging matresses aren't the most tempting.

Beautiful beech and manuka forests line the track and the plunging waterfalls with a stream that looks like a glistening staircase. Above the trees, the views of the lakes and mountains are stunning and the plenteous dragonflies swoop and dive across the sunny, soporific meadows.

Week Nine: Gardening update

We are going to have lots of lovely lemons - look at all this flower and bud action on our tree!

A few months ago the Mischievous Minx sent me a cryptic text saying, 'Rhubarb at Mitre 10'. It is now flourishing in the garden with broad leaves and blushing tips.

Mint and rosemary are also putting on a fine showing.

I am proudest of all of these teeny tiny tomatoes, grown from plants given to me by the Bad Fairy.

Of course, everything is overseen by Lord Chester, the gardening cat. Oh yes, he is so helpful!