The Wednesday with the op for Mike

 Hi,

Wednesday was all about Mike and his operation. He worked from home for the first half of the day then toddled off to the hospital at lunch time.

Chris behind me got me a work iced latte

His op was scheduled for 1pm but he was still chatting to me at that stage as they processed him. Then it was a pic of him in the gown and then silence for a bit. I saw Mike and Toby in a call at 4pm so quickly chatted to them.

Chatting with Mike post op

My day was frantic - and I rushed home with madeleine after work on the #4 bus and then hurtled into the car and headed to Petone for the rugby movie Mike had suggested a few months back. It was weird to be in a movie when he was in hospital.

At the rugby documentary movie

It was a special screening of No Tears On The Field - an awesome documentary on Taranaki grassroots womens rugby. Go see it - you will be inspired. Great story-telling with awesome heart behind it all.

Elly was there and had two friends come along too. But the cinema was probably only half full. The director and two of the main people from the movie were there to answer questions. Alice Soper guided the kōrero. Great fun. We had front row seats for it too.

I dropped Madeleine home afterwards (she took Mike's ticket) and got home to bake sourdough. I chatted to my Mum for ages too.

Sourdough

Up this morning after a good sleep to hear from Mike and chat to him. He is doing really well. Quentin is sick so no PT session for me. Just in for data brekkie and a goodbye to Shane.

Smith the Grocer iced latte Thurs morning

Brioche time

Punters

Right. Time to really get stuck in. my day looks huge ahead of me. Enjoy yours.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with work

 Hi,

I had 3 iced lattes yesterday and I think it showed. Must not do that again. But anyway - all the pics are about the iced lattes in this post.

With Quentin - is it though?

Mike got me a French Kiss cart iced latte

We met Amber for lunch at Gemini cafe

Mike and I caught up with Amber from work for lunch. It is her birthday this Friday and also her last day at work before maternity leave. It was great to chat to her ahead of her leave. We heard about Aryton and Grayson - her two older boys. And we're excited to hear from her when she has the next wee one soon. Good luck, Amber.

Caught up with Ben for a coconut iced latte

After lunch I caught up with Ben from my old squad. Good to chat to him. He bought a house a few years back and is facing a lot of maintenance. Yep - I hear you Ben. Your house becomes your hobby sometimes.

After work (long day) I bussed home with Mike and he made tea for us. Venison burgers. Thank you Tony. Delicious.

Watched some You Tibe before bed. I wondered if I would lie awake, a little concerned about Mike and his simple surgical procedure today. But no. Sorry Mike. I slept really well. 

Up this morning for my gym session. Deads. 60kg Paused deads. 6 reps x 4 sets. Back to work after that. Mike is working from home this morning and then off to the hospital at lunch time. He is staying overnight - just because it is a late op and they want to just check him for a bit longer than the time allows. Meanwhile I will fidget my way through a rugby movie - we booked it ages ago. Mike told me to go anyway. So we have a spare ticket if anyone wants to come.

He assures me he will be fine. But I am a tad nervous. Good I am so busy today!

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday working from home

 Hi,

Despite working from home, I did take some pics. The cats were happy to see me there and chilled out nearby all day.

Smudge by my PC

Moxley in the skull in the office

Lewis Road iced latte

Running shoes in courier bag for Mike

Mike forgot his running shoes so arranged an Uber pick up for them. They got delivered to him easily in the early afternoon. He did a run after work. Good on him,

I had some tea and watched some You Tube and went to bed. Mike got home when I was asleep and I didn't easily fall back to sleep. The 5.30am alarm was a bit early.

Gym session with Quentin. Bench press. 45kg 2 reps x 5 sets. But Quentin had to help me with a few of the reps - especially the end ones.

Working in town today. Hope your day is a good one. Mike has some surgery tomorrow and no gym for 6 weeks. He might go a wee bit mad. 

Enjoy your day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend with spring challenge training in Blenheim

 Hi,

What a mighty weekend down in Blenheim for our first team training of 2026 for the Spring Challenge. The weather was amazing - 28 and 29C while I was there. Super nice. Mike was also down in Marlborough with his friends doing a 4wD trip down the Molesworth and up the Rainbow. I hope he tells you about that too.

I flew really early Thursday morning to Blenheim - Mike kindly dropped me at the airport at 6am for my early flight. Iona picked me up at the other end and after a quick supermarket stop, I was set up in their back room for my working day. I met Suzie from California who was visiting with some friends of Iona and Col's from Ireland - Lou and Sarah. They were packing up to leave after staying a day or two. And I was taking over their space.

Yes, busy times in Blenheim.

I did get out for a run at lunch time with Nicola. She came and got me and took me to the mountain bike track at the foot of the Wither Hills. We did 3km and it was mostly in shade, so a good option from Nic. 

Lunch run with Nic

Got back to work and finished my long day with meetings. Then got ready for the real event - our Friday spring challenge training day.

Packed and ready Iona and I went out to quiz night. We picked up Victoria on the way. They have a new quiz now - out in Renwick. We came square in the middle (we briefly peaked at #1 during the rounds).

Back for a good sleep. Then up for the training day. Iona and I took her bike with us in the ute to Onamalutu and waited all of 2 minutes for Nicola to arrive. In a brainwave from her, we had her pedal bike and her eBike. 

We left the cars at about 8.50am and headed up the gravel road to the top of a saddle. It was still a little cool especially in the shade. But after the first gate, it got warmer. We lifted the pedal bikes over the gates, but the eBike had to go through the middle. Worked ok.

Friday training day

There was a fair bit of height gained in this part of our day. The road only went up. We surprised a herd of about 15 - 20 goats at one point. Iona and I were shepherding them up the road until they decided to veer off to avoid us. The billy was stinky!

A lot of up

A few gates to negotiate

Last gate before the top

At the top we went up a last wee steep bit to the start of the walk. We tackled the Wakamarina track and it was a beautiful walk. The bush was lovely and the elevation was a gentle sloping ridge for about 6 or 7 km. So nice. Well graded path too. I did lose my sunglasses off my cap at one point, and couldn't see them on the ground behind me. Asked Iona to check behind my on my backpack. Nothing. Then she said we did pass an overhanging branch. So I looked up - and my sunglasses were hanging on this really slender branch over the track at head height. Funny.

Top of our bike ride

Locked the bikes up for the walking part

Discussion at the start of the walk

I also got a  face full of bush lawyer on the way up. Iona took it off carefully and I only bled a little from the bridge of my nose. I also collected some on my arm near the top and got a more spectacular looking blood display there.

Drink pause

Bush was stunning

At Fosters Clearing

Decent climb

We stopped at Fosters Clearing at the top saddle and had some food. Then headed back down to our bikes. The ride down to the cars was amazing. 1 hour 48 to get up. 32 mins to get back. Wheeeeee.

Saturday saw Iona up with me to do Park Run. #31 in the bag. I did a combo of run/walk. Bit slow.

Park run

I look silly when I run

Col's peach tree

Big crop this season

We wandered over to Pollard Park to enjoy the Marlborough multicultural festival. Lots of good food and music. I got a boba tea and veg Indian food. Panipuri. Mmmm. Well - Iona and Col had to pay. it was all cash only.

Multi cultural event in Pollard Park

Boba tea for me

At Barb's quince tree

Then it was time to head to the Bat BBQ in Rai Valley. We picked up Malcolm and Marion too. And stopped at Barb's place to see if there was any fruit or veg to harvest (she had told us to do so).

At the Bat BBQ

The Bat BBQ was great. This is the trapline that Iona and Col do at Pelorus. Lucie from F&B runs the programme. So it was a chance to meet others and chat about the future work.

Back home and a big tea for Col and her sister Jack and her partner Kim that were visiting in their campervan. So nice to meet them. Iona cooked a great dinner after her huge day. Thank you.

Up for brekkie Sunday - oaty pancakes. And watched the Rugby Sevens in Vancouver. Jack and Kim arrived too.

At lunch time they headed off to a winery to meet a friend for lunch and Iona and I went to Whites Bay to meet Claire, John, Jacob and Ashley (and their friend George and wee Jean) and have a go in the kayak and SUP. Good to see Claire again. They had been camping for a few days.

Carrying the yellow kayak to the beach from the ute was hard work. My arms are now 2cm longer than they were.

Had fun lounging around in the water on the SUP and kayak. I managed to stand up and tootle around a bit.

Going home after SUP fun

Then back home to shower and order food. And then off to the airport. Nicola met us there and gave me some venison from Tony's successful hunt over the weekend. Thank you.  Nice flight home - we left early. It was full. 13 of us all up.

Got an uber from the airport for $45 and threw myself into bed. I was fast asleep when Mike got home at 11.45pm. I barely woke up.

And this morning he was off to town for gym and work. So I need to hear all about his adventures tonight.

Have a great week. I will not. It is Shane's last week and I am sad.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with just us

 Hi,

What a huge day and it is only 8.30am. Hahah. Yesterday I worked from home. Busy day too. The cats were happy I was there.

Moxley in her skull

Sourdough

After work I made bread - first one in ages. Mike got home and we had some bao buns for tea with leftover salad from Polly's party and some tofu for me and chicken for Mike.

This morning Mike dropped me at the airport for my 6.45am flight to Blenheim. Yes, it is a training weekend. Lucky I am ignorant of the work in front of me.

Sounds Air to Blenheim

Lovely flight. And a busy house when Iona picked me up and took me home. Suzie from California, Lou and Sarah from Ireland. All staying. Then I turned up and just set up shop. Hahahah.

Working from home today. Ensconced in the back room to avoid all the comings and goings.

Hope your day is a good one and the weekend is lots of fun.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with Mum going home

 Hi,

After getting Mum to the airport and going to gym, it was a busy day at work. And the weather was crazy cold. Freezing rain off and on all day.

Work iced latte

I spotted Laura in at work with her wee Poppy. Flo was nowhere to be seen (I guess she was at day care). Poppy is so cute!

Visit from wee Poppy

I caught the #13 bus home at 4.57pm and managed to time it perfectly. The walk from the bus stop was dry and I could see the rain just coming down the valley. As I got to the front door, it started lashing down.

Admiring my card from Iona and Col

Mike and I had a light tea (omelette and cheese and crackers) and Mike had a late meeting. Then bed. Up for garage PT session for me. Dead lifts 70kg 4 x 4 

Mike is off to work in town today.

I am off to Blenheim tomorrow for a Spring Challenge training weekend involving cycling and tramping. And maybe some SUP? If I am lucky?

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday with Toby going home and lunch with Ed

 Hi,

Monday morning saw me and Mike head to the airport nice and early to drop Toby off. Then Mike went to the gym and I drove home.

I worked from home and tidied away Toby's bed. The cats were not happy to lose Toby. They were hanging around his bed all morning.

Toby is gone

The cats are sad

At lunch time I drove Mum to Ngaio to meet Ed at the cafe there. While Mum enjoyed meeting Ed and having a good chat, she was in so much pain that I could tell she was not her usual self. Her neck pain was more manageable but her lower back was agony. At one stage she had to stand up to stop a spasm and she knocked her water all over Ed's seat. She was mortified. Ed didn't care much. Heck - the weather was so bad, anyone would have wet pants in 2 minutes.

Ed suggested we visit the chemist next door. Good idea because Mum got some ibuprofen and when we got home, she sat and watched TV with a hottie on her back. And within a few hours she had far less pain.

We called Air NZ and got her assistance at Brisbane airport sorted. I had tea while she watched some TV. Mike got home and I made his tea. Then Mum packed up.

Went to bed and slept well until the alarm at 2.45am. Mum was already up. I got dressed and we got her to the car. Her back was still feeling much better. Got to the airport at 4am only to find broken kiosks and a huge bag drop queue.

I left her there, in the queue. She was sure she would manage. And I imagine that by now she is halfway across the Tasman. Dad will be driving to Brisbane to see her.

It has been so nice to have her here. Shame her back pain meant her last week was impacted a lot. But I hope she can manage it much better in her own home. And get the doctor to help if needs be.

I went back home and was in bed again at 4.30am. I reckon I slept for an hour, which was good. Up for my bus in for my PT session with Quentin. Bench. 42.5kg 3 reps x 4 sets. Then accessories.

The weather is so bad. Freezing cold rain. Southerlies. Brrrr. Stay dry and warm if you are in NZ.

Love,

Angela

Tuesday gym session