New Zealand Fridge Magnet

I have a fridge magnet that reminds me of New Zealand.

This magnet shows the New Zealand flag. In the upper left hand corner is the Union Jack which reflects New Zealand’s origins as a British colony. The southern cross on the flag shows the four brightest stars of the southern cross constellation. They are 5-pointed red stars with a white border.

Crux, the Latin name for cross, is a constellation found only in the southern hemisphere. It lies on the southern end of the Milky Way's visible band. The five stars that make up the Southern Cross are Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Epsilon Crucis. They are 10 to 20 million years old and the closest one is 88 light-years from the Earth.

I was fortunate to go to New Zealand on two different occasions. The first time was part of a family trip where we took a bus tour and saw places my Mom had read about in the books written by Essie Summers.

The second trip was 20 years later, when I was on route to an International Handbell Symposium held in Brisbane, Australia. On this trip I visited friends I had met on other trips or while teaching in Kuwait.

Going back when you now know someone who lives there is very special. Check out my Travelling Tuesdays book and you can learn more about my trips to New Zealand.

# published author   # living life abundantly