Val

@valmnz (17097)

New Zealand

Joined myLot 9 years ago

A coffee and wine drinking writer, enjoying the life.

wordpress.com/view/travel-through-life.com

Discussions (425)

Val's Discussions

Too Old For This

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 20 Aug 22

When will I learn I'm too old to trip and throw myself to the ground? After a silly, avoidable fall this week I've fractured my wrist. This is the first time in my life I've received such an injury. At least I'm not in a plaster...

17 responses •

18 people

Masters Swimming Competition

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 3 Aug 22

I know it may sound strange to many of you, but I am a regular competitor at Masters swimming competitions. And yes, that is me in the photo above, swimming at a Masters swim meet nearly three years ago, pre-covid days. For those...

21 responses •

22 people

Christmas Postage Stamps Already

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 2 Aug 22

Here it is, only the beginning of August and Christmas postage stamps are on sale already. This is crazy, it's still over four months until Christmas. Getting ready for Christmas is coming earlier and earlier each year! I'm afraid...

16 responses •

15 people

Steam Train Excursion

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 31 Jul 22

Yesterday I experienced three hours of nostalgia, when I went on a three hour steam train excursion. I've been on plenty of trains in recent years, but it's at least 50 years since I rode on a steam train. This heritage train not...

16 responses •

15 people

Remembering the Good Times

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 28 Jul 22

My husband passed away three years ago and life has been a bit of a roller coaster since then. We had 48 wonderful years of marriage together. There've been so many ups and downs since his passing, learning to adapt to my new...

14 responses •

13 people

My Old Girl Chloe

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 26 Jul 22

Cats have always been a part of my life, since an old cat called Tinker chose to live with my family when I was ten. In more recent years, many of you came to know my ginger boy Smooch, then my naughty boy Charlie. Now there is...

13 responses •

13 people

Culling the Book Shelves

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 25 Jul 22

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has trouble resisting the urge to buy books. But, for me, things are slowly changing, from necessity. Firstly, books are expensive and as much as I want to support authors, I'm needing to cut...

11 responses •

10 people

Knitting for Charity

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 24 Jul 22

It's a long time since I did any knitting, but I've picked up my needles again this year. I recently came into contact with a group that knits baby blankets and beanies for charity. The blankets are knittd in pure wool and are...

20 responses •

20 people

A Long Winter's River Walk

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 23 Jul 22

Here in New Zealand, in the southern hemisphere, it's a cool winter's afternoon. But at least the rain has stopped, so I decided to go for a long walk. I'd heard about a new viewing platform along the river and wanted to see it...

12 responses •

12 people

It All began on Triond

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 23 Jul 22

Triond, now that's a name not many here on myLot will remember. Maybe @xFiacre and @RubyHawk go back that far to the writing beginnings I remember personally. If there are others I've known that long, please forgive me for not...

21 responses •

23 people

A Fresh Return to Writing

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 22 Jul 22

After a break of a year or more from all writing I'm slowly picking up my notebook and pencil again - yes, I still write most of my brainstorms and first drafts with pencil on paper. I'm an old-fashioned girl, and I love the feel...

15 responses •

14 people

Ulva Island, New Zealand

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 30 Apr 21

On the second day of my recent short holiday I went on a guided tour to Ulva Island, a small island accessible by boat from Stewart Island. I'd heard this was a not-to-be-missed trip I must make while on Stewart Island, and now I...

13 responses •

14 people

Early Morning on Stewart Island, New Zealand

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 27 Apr 21

I woke early on my first full day on Stewart Island and saw the promises of a nice day ahead. The photo above, taken from the hotel, shows the ferry terminal on the left. The ferry comes several times a day from Invercargill on...

16 responses •

18 people

South Sea Hotel, Stewart Island, New Zealand

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 26 Apr 21

At the end of February I made a short visit to Stewart Island, the small island about 30 km south of the South Island New Zealand. It's an isolated place and just what I needed for a few days break. The Maori name for Stewart...

11 responses •

12 people

Another Quick Visit from a NZ MyLotter

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 25 Apr 21

Hullo to all my myLot friends. In spite of my best intentions I just haven't been near myLot for ages. I have been writing though, lots of various little projects, and that along with swimming has kept me rather occupied. I've...

27 responses •

27 people

The Day I Was Frisked at the Airport

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 16 Jan 21

After reading a story about paper clips by @JudyEv the other day I was reminded of a paper clip story of my own. My husband and I were flying out of Wellington, New Zealand on our way to Melbourne, Australia in the afternoon. I...

20 responses •

19 people

Bush Walking in the Fairy Grove, Kinloch, New Zealand

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 14 Jan 21

New Zealand is lucky to have an abundance of fresh natural scenery that we can enoy now we are no longer locked down. The photo above was taken at Kinloch, at the northern end of Lake Taupo. We were visiting my niece and my sister...

new zealand

lake taupo

kinloch

13 responses •

14 people

Lake Taupo, New Zealand

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 14 Jan 21

As summer progresses here in New Zealand the temperaure is getting hotter by the day. No where near as hot as @JudyEv in Western Australia might be experiencing, but definitely hot enough for me. I've recently spent a few days...

12 responses •

11 people

Another Day, Another New Zealand Beach

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 1 Jan 21

Whilst those of you in the northern hemisphere are possibly feeling the cold, and perhaps restrictions on what you can do at the moment, here in New Zealand in the southern hemisphere it is summer and we no longer have lockdown...

foxton beach

new zealand

20 responses •

22 people

Castlecliff Beach, Whanganui, New Zealand

Val @valmnz (17097) • New Zealand 29 Dec 20

About once a month a friend and I like to go somewhere different for an outing. Today we went to a nearby city, Whanganui, on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. This is about a 45 minute drive away from the city we...

15 responses •

15 people