Life Lately #17
It's been a while since my last Life Lately update. It's almost the end of June, which means it's the end of the financial year—a very busy time at work. Most days, I come home completely exhausted. My evenings have become a simple routine: cook dinner, tidy up a little, and get ready for bed.
Now that winter has officially arrived, the gloomy weather has also put a pause on our evening walks, bike rides, and pretty much any activity that requires us to venture outside!
While I'm certainly not romanticizing overwork (because I'm not), I have caught myself thinking: What a privilege it is to be tired from work.
Back in 2023, I was praying for any kind of work. I was praying for a reason to be tired—for a reason to wake up early, a place to be, and a purpose attached to my weekdays.
Fast forward two and a half years, and life looks so different.
I can honestly say I've settled into Kiwi life. I'm fortunate to work alongside genuinely kind people, and I like to think they're counting on me to do my part and contribute well to our team. It's the kind of gratitude that sneaks up on me every now and then, especially on the days when I'm too tired to do much else.
Apart from work, a few fun things have happened since my last update.
I went to Hamilton to accompany John while he was there for work. While he was busy being productive, I happily wandered around Hamilton Gardens and did a bit of shopping at The Base. I'd say that's the very definition of being a supportive wife!
Link to my travel guide: Visiting Hamilton Gardens: Everything You Need to Know
I also had a movie date with my good friend Sandra. It was her first time checking out our new cinema (my second time to visit), and we watched Disclosure Day, starring Emily Blunt.
Without giving too much away, it's a tense thriller that follows a woman whose ordinary life begins to unravel after a shocking revelation. The suspense kept building, and I felt like I was holding my breath for most of the movie. Definitely worth watching if you enjoy stories that keep you guessing.
John and I also squeezed in a few date nights!!
One evening we shared a pizza at The Deck, and I enjoyed a beer while John volunteered to be our designated driver. The Deck has a fun atmosphere—mostly filled with younger people who have only just reached the legal drinking age, mixed with a handful of older locals enjoying a quiet game of pool, a drink or two, and a good chat before heading home.
As always, we went out for brunch after church. At this point, we've visited nearly every café in town, so now we're simply rotating through our favourites. Robert Harris remains my comfort pick because I can never resist their creamy mushrooms. Double Shot serves one of our favourite big breakfasts, while Cafe Baku keeps tempting us back with its incredible selection of breads and pastries. Their menu is so extensive that we still haven't managed to try everything.
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| Brunch at Robert Harris |
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| Brunch at Double Shot |
John also hosted another karaoke night with our little Filipino group. This time we made lugaw, the Filipino version of congee, to warm everyone up on a cold evening.
Unlike our previous karaoke parties, this one was much smaller. We only invited three friends, which turned out to be the perfect number. Everyone got plenty of turns on the microphone, there wasn't much waiting between songs, and we wrapped everything up just before 10 p.m.
Best of all, John and I had finished cleaning before midnight—a small victory that our future sleepy selves definitely appreciated!
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| John and the Filipino boys! |
Because we've been spending so much more time indoors lately, I've also been reading a lot, watching movies, and rewatching one of my favourite Korean dramas.
I first watched Lovely Runner back in 2024, and now that it's available on Netflix, so naturally I convinced John to watch it with me.
The story follows a devoted fan who unexpectedly travels back in time after her favourite celebrity dies. Determined to change his fate, she finds herself navigating friendship, first love, and all the complications that come with trying to rewrite the future.
We giggled, laughed, cried, and completely fell in love with the characters all over again. I'll admit, it starts off a little cheesy, but stick with it. It turns into one of the sweetest slow-burn romances I've watched, with a surprisingly clever plot!
I don't usually write about TV shows (maybe I should start), but if you enjoy K-dramas, heartfelt romance, and stories that make you smile one moment and cry the next, do yourself a favour and watch this one.
And that's life lately. A little reminder to myself before I forget: my next post will be my First Half of 2026 Reading Recap. Somehow I've already finished 20 books this year, and I have a lot to say about them.
Until next time!
No Rhyme, Just Reason is a Taupō, New Zealand–based blog by Ariane about books, good food, long walks, and unapologetic naps.
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