Category: Walking
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DAY #1,500 DONE & DUSTED
Sunday 29 August 2021 – Tuesday 07 October 2025 #smilingontheinside – 11 October 2025 I was going to make a big deal about it. But didn’t. I was going to walk Mt Tauhara in Taupo to landmark the day – something monumental. But didn’t. I’ve been-there-done-that (with Mt Tauhara) back in the day – it…
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ANNUAL MID-YEAR IN-LAW GET-TOGETHER
In-law family get-togethers, walking at sunrise, letting dreams go to create space for others and getting creative with my photos on frosty blue sky mornings in Stratford, NZ.
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THE VOICE THAT WON’T LET UP
That inner voice that pushes for perfection won’t let up, even when I’ve given myself permission to take it easy. Yesterday’s step-climbing session turned into a battle between intention and expectation, while dramatic events unfolded in our neighbourhood and Alan’s shopping skills remained questionable.
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SAVING SOMETHING IN THE TANK
Today’s reflection is all about musing on finding the balance between pushing limits and saving energy for what matters most.
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WEEKEND WEATHER WARNINGS
Houston! We Have A Problem! Water! Water! Everywhere! #smilingontheinside – Friday 04 July 2025 We were loading up the van (motorhome) this afternoon – rushing to get everything stowed before the heavy rain and thunderstorms, forecast, arrived. We almost made it and were patting ourselves on the back until we turned around and saw water…
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SUPERMARKET FIBBING…?
Passionfruit are not in season… are they…? Our passionfruit vine is bare #smilingontheinside – Wednesday 02 July 2025 I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that passionfruit is selling for $59.99/kg – in other words – sixty dollars – yesterday. Sixty Dollars!! The label here states “in season now”. Really? Our vines are completely…
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How Marbles Help Me Track My Step Counts
Marbles moved from pocket to pocket How do you count flights when there are so many steps…? #smilingontheinside – Monday 30 June 2025 Keeping track of a few flights of steps is easy… but remembering where I’m up to when I’ve climbed hundreds and hundreds of steps is a bit more challenging. To start with,…
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SUNDAY IS FARMER’S MARKET DAY
Our “Market Ritual” kick off Sundays My Solo Run to the Market #smilingontheinside – Sunday 29 June 2025 It hit me this morning on my drive to the Hamilton Farmers’ Market – I actually live alone for nearly half the year. When you add up all the nights Alan’s work roster takes him away from…
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Walking 1,400 Days: Rainy Adventures and New Plantings
Rain. Rain. And More Rain. Alllll Day! My Raincoat Was Still Damp – ugh! #smilingontheinside – Saturday 28 June 2025 I hadn’t realised that my raincoat hadn’t fully dried out until I went to wear it again for my daily walk. Ugh! Obviously, hanging it up in the garage – over a bucket to catch…
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THE WETTEST WALK. EVER. SO FAR!
is more than “saturated” possible…? Steps – Day 3/3 @ 9×84 = 756 | 2,268 this week #smilingontheinside – Friday 27 June 2025 Man! It was wet! Sooo wet, that I contorted, twisted and wrangled myself into my raincoat and changed my shoes, inside the car! I planned to start off as dry as possible.…
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JUST ONE STEP AT A TIME
Never say “never”…! Day 2/3 – 9 Repeats = 756 steps: 1,512/2,268 #smilingontheinside – Wednesday 25 June 2025 Twas Friday last week the thought started making its presence in my mind a little louder, a little bit more persistent, a little bit more obvious: I was enjoying climbing stairs!! What??? How’d that happen…? Will it…
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MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WAKE-UP ALARM
My Rhythm Knocked Completely Out of Balance The things we do for love! #smilingontheinside – Tuesday 24 June 2025 As I write this, Alan’s on another Pacific Tour of Duty. Being an airline pilot all sounds very glamorous but it’s far from that. Our alarm went off at 03:00 because he was on the first…
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AUTUMNAL TREES NOW WINTER TREES
Red Tree No Longer Red First Climb of Three: (9×84)=756 #smilingontheinside – Monday 23 June 2025 I had the Ann Street Steps all to myself yesterday – 09:30 Monday mornings must be a good time – if I don’t want to share…? Or maybe the timing had nothing to do with other people being out…
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BUSIER THAN GRAND CENTRAL
Stepping on a Public Holiday Everyone and their dog were using “my” steps #smilingontheinside – Friday 20 June 2025 Given it was Matariki – public holiday – I kinda thought the walkway – leading to “my” steps – would be busy … I sure hadn’t anticipated that everyone and their dog would be doing what…
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NEXT-DAY BIRTHDAY
Food, Frost and Firsts Hamilton to Auckland – My First “Real” Drive #smilingontheinside – 18 June 2025 Today was a pretty full-on day. It’s Wednesday… which means “step repeats”… which requires 90 minutes of daylight… which meant I needed to keep my programme moving to keep myself on track. I knew there’d always be the…
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WHATTALOTTAGREEN
Jubilee Park Walkway in Winter Man! It was COLD! #smilingontheinside – Sunday 15 June 2025 Alan dropped me off outside Jubilee Park yesterday, and he continued into the Showgrounds to the Farmers’ Market. Going to the Farmers’ Market has been a regular Sunday morning event now for well over a year. It’s one of our…
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A “RED RAIN DAY”
Red Focus rather than Rain Focus Week 5 Day 3/3 = (84×7)x(3)=1,764 steps this week #smilingontheinside – Friday 13 June 2025 This week it feels like it’s done nothing but rain! And then rain some more! And then keep raining! Yes – there have been some dry spells in that, but not enough to get…
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HE WAS ALWAYS SMILING
A Twelve Year Relationship Today, 12 June, marks a poignant anniversary—one that dates back to 2017. I feel incredibly blessed to have had this remarkable man, my father-in-law, in my life for 12 years before he passed. I can still hear his voice, and whenever I picture him, he’s always smiling—because that was his essence.…
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BACK TO THE REAL WORLD
Look – another new beanie! Feeling very blessed! #smilingontheinside – Monday 09 June 2025 Today marked my first day back at my “real” desk after a wonderful time in Wellington at the Vet and Vet Nurse Conference. While I truly enjoy being away, it feels great to have a decent handle on my incoming emails…
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WHICH ONE MRS ROGERS…?
An Ordinary Day Made Extra-Ordinary Same Ole… Same Ole… #smilingontheinside – Thursday 29 May 2025 Until about 16:30, my day was pretty ordinary. I’d pulled my hair out with software that wasn’t going as I wanted – lately, that’s been pretty ordinary. It had rained pretty much all day. Again, becoming ordinary. I Flagged the…
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