The Monday at work

 Hi,

Mike and I are working from home this week ahead of Christmas. Today (Christmas Eve) is the last day for us this year. The weather is still a bit gloomy - overcast. No rain and not much wind. And it is not cold.

Yesterday Mike luxed out the RAV4 and popped our last Rolandbrau sticker on it. He also got the tow hitch ready for painting. Degreased it, scrubbed off loose rust and washed it. Painting next.

Rolandbrau sticker on the car

We got a new toaster - thank you Ma and Dad

Mum got cross with our admittedly useless toaster and she went out with Dad on the bus to buy us a new one. So we do not get cancer. It is a superb toaster. Dad has used it. But as yet, I have not. This is the same as their one back in Aus. So I know it is a good one. Good riddance to the old toaster - it was only ever just - ok. Mike and I put up with burnt toast for years. Don't tell my mother that last bit.

She was asleep until I disturbed her with my phone

Moxley looking adorable

Mike and I went to bed fairly early. And had such a good sleep. And now it is Christmas Eve. We got up to pick up the croissants from the Karori branch of the Shelley Bay Baker. And Mike went a bit mad with all the bread products. At 8:10am the queue was out the door and they were well on their way to selling out all their goods. We helped.

Merry Christmas iced latte from Shelley Bay Baker in Karori

And that is a wrap for 2024. We have Christmas lunch with all the whānau. Then away to Wairoa for NYs. Back for Heaphy and then before you know it, work will be upon us.

Hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and New Years. See you in 2025. I like that year. 45 squared. Seems good to me.

Love,

Angela

The week before Christmas

 Hi,

Oh - I have not been blogging, have I? Oops. Shows you how busy and out of routines things are. Let's recap.

18 December

My parents arrived Wednesday as scheduled. Toby and I spent the day shopping and enjoying brekkie at Seashore Cabaret before heading to the airport to pick them up off their afternoon flight.

Broccoli all grown up

Seashore

Seeing off Tenzing

Toby and Zoltan

Selfie time

When Mike got home from work we all went to the Khandallah pub for tea. Nice food. Caught up on lots of news. Toby got his Christmas present - noise cancelling airpods. And even with them not connected, as soon as you put them in, you could hardly hear anything in the pub. Wow.

At the pub Wednesday night

Watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on Wednesday evening, as we have to do. 

19 December

Toby and Mike were up early to head to the airport. Toby's flying visit was over already. We miss him!

The weather was terrible. Rain and driving southerlies. Mike and I worked at home. 

20 December

Friday saw Mike collect Polly from the airport and then work from home. I took my parents out shopping to Queensgate. It was frenetic 'Christmas Crazy' there.

Shopping

Is this the... final Countdown?

Iced latte. 4 out of 10. :-(

Our next door neighbour is away her Chrismas holidays so we are feeding her cat, Lion. Mike fully trained me in feeding duties - I was disappointed to find out I did not need a chair and a whip. Lion is a beautiful wee cat. A torti - with splashes of ginger like Moxley. Oddly though, Lion's tail sticks straight up like Smudge's one.

Lion training

Our cats are expectant

21 December

Saturday saw me and Dad head to the cricket while Mike did the Ōtaki park run with Janine. Crazy - an hour and a half's drive each way just to run 5k. They are collecting Parkruns for some unknown reason.

Stunning weather out there

Mike finishes strong

Home iced latte

Basin - White Ferns v Aus

So ready for it

Loved the cricket. It was free entry! Was supposed to be $20 but I reckon the complete wash out yesterday and the impending doom of rain in the forecast meant they were hoping to get more punters coming along if it was free.

I loved it. Such good cricket. Aussies batted first and were anchored by a century by Annabel Sutherland. Good run rate. 291 total. Big ask for the White Ferns chasing that down.

Dad and I were either baking in the sunshine, or scurrying under a tree from the light rain. But mostly it was hot sunshine.

There was an awesome coffee cart there

We left at around the 15th over in the NZ chase. They only had a few more overs before thunder and rain stopped play. So we saw the best of the match.

Dad and I got off the bus in Willis St and walked down Lambton Quay, hoping to find Mum doing some shopping and wandering.

We did! Saw her waiting for the #4 bus at the end of Lambton Quay. We all went home together. And it started raining heavily then. As we walked from the bus stop to our house the thunder started. But we got home dry and safe.

Wholegrain sourdough

Washed the top cupboards

22 December

Got a few jobs done around the house. Mike mulched the garden and it looks so good now. I washed the top cupboards and they came up fabulous too.

Mike mulched the garden - here is the lower one done

And now both done

The catnip is thriving

Merry Christmas Neil

Mum and I went to visit Kara. As we got there and got cups of tea underway, Ange and Danita arrived for a chat. We all caught up on all the news. Then Neil got home with Rasta and then he and Danita and Ange left. Mum and I chatted for a bit longer. Then we headed home via a quick supermarket stop for milk.

Hey Lion

Fed Lion. She likes Whiskas shredded chicken. Tucked into that straight away.  Fed our cats. Fed ourselves. 

Mike went to meet some of his tramping friends for dinner at some Gordon's Barbecue in Johnsonville. He said it was delicious but he had burger envy. He might make me go and eat the jackfruit burger which is the only vegetarian option (other than chips). 

The slow cooked mānuka smoked wagyu brisket was pretty good though, apparently

Off to bed. A day and a half of work left. Then Christmas. And holidays. Yay!

Have a great day!

Love,

Angela

The Monday with Toby here

 Hi,

Toby got here on his flight from Chc. He settled in at home and Mike and I both worked from home. Then he headed out to see some mates.

Wet and cool weather

Me and Toby at Dillingers

Baked bread when I got home

We saw him at his dentist appointment and then went for dinner with Sally at Dillingers. Good to all catch up.

We headed home after that and I baked bread while we watched YouTube. Juliette popped around, worried about her cat getting fed over her break. So we need to try and sort that if we can.

And then bed. Slept well. Cough still a bit annoying.

Drove in this morning for a last brekkie with Maureen before Christmas break. Mike enjoyed our chatter. She is off up north soon for her fun in the summer sun. Meanwhile Wellington is set to enjoy a cold, wet Christmas. Pah! What does the forecast really mean?

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington with a cough for me

 Hi,

I had such a good day on Friday. Wandered out to Plimmerton to meet my friend Sally. Her house is so gorgeous. Situated not far from one of the nicest beaches in the Wellington region. Why have I never gone here, I do not know.

Broccoli

We got changed into togs (Sally said I swim like I belong to the Amish people, Covered from head to foot - hahahah. This is true) and walked to the beach and went for a wee swim.

It was a little bracing to begin with. But I got there in the end. So nice. Went back to Sally's to shower and headed off to brunch.

Plimmerton

Another view

Brunch with Sally - good iced latte

The iced latte at Kafe Oranje was top notch. Good eggs too. Then we continued our walk to Mana. Avoided the mean magpies and headed back. Had a drink, did some quizzes. Then I was off back to Wellington.

Summer in Aotearoa

Such a good day - thank you Sally.

Saturday Mike got up at 5:30am for Park Run with Janine in Greytown - 1½ hours' drive away! I know. Crazy. They said it was hot out that way.

Hot and sunny over the hill

Mike looks like he's not liking the heat much

 I stayed in bed. And my cough actually developed into a proper cough. Waaaaah.

Toe beans

So soft

Sleepy Moxley

Sleepy Smudge

I did get out to my eyebrow appointment. Yay! Mike did some grocery shopping while I was there. It all worked perfectly.

Christmas tea at East Day Spa

Sunday saw us busy around the house. Mike went with Ange to visit Kara while I kept any germs to myself and finished the water blasting. The concrete looks good now. Ready for summer.

Mike got up Monday and picked up Toby off the early morning flight. Smudge was happy to see Toby. Came right up to him to check him out.

We are both working from home today. Dentist tonight for Toby. Then dinner for us in town.

My parents arrive on Wednesday too. Big week for us.

Enjoy your week.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with gorgeous weather finally

 Hi,

Mike and I took Quentin for brekkie instead of a workout. Great decision. Said goodbye to him. Hope he and Courtney have a great break.

Last PT session of the year

Coming along

Work BBQ

Mike crewed the BBQ at work for our wider team to enjoy over lunch. Great day for it. Caught up with people.

Baked sourdough

I rode home after work and baked sourdough. And made a wholemeal one. Not good. I think I need to tweak the recipe.

Ummm - wholemeal sourdough does not look the same

Tom popped around to grab the bike pannier rack for Elly to use this summer. They are doing Old Ghost Road. Woot!

Lovely views on a warm morning

Up Thursday morning to walk in with Mike. So warm. T shirt weather.

Walk to work

Big day at work. Then I will walk home with Barb and hopefully see a bit more of the Te Ahumairangi bush.

Tomorrow I am off to see Sally M and enjoy a walk and brunch with her. And tidy the house ahead of our visitors next week.

Enjoy your day and the weekend.

Love,

Angela