The weekend in Nelson

 Hi,

What a busy weekend. Sally and Andrew picked us up around 7:15am on Friday morning. We dropped the car in the multi storey car park (pink level). Pre-flight brekkie: Mike and I enjoyed a bagel and Sally and Andrew enjoyed Koru buffet. We flew to Nelson on a regional flight at 9am or so and got in nice and early. 

Spotted "Skull Island" in the harbour as we came into land. I try to always take a pic for Toby. It has a way more boring name in real life:  Fifeshire rock

Nelson and Skull Island - for Toby

Skull Island - I must go there one day

Waiting for the rental car company

Omega car rentals picked us up from the airport and whisked us to their office slightly outside the airport. Before too long we were in a lowered Toyota Corolla. Nice enough but could not handle judder bars at all.

Off to inspect the houses. The reason for our visit. We like to try and keep across any issues before they become a headache for the tenant and us. Found a few things and Aimee-lee is onto it. We were inside a cloud for a lot of our visit so never got the gorgeous views this spot is famous for.

No view today

Rain on leaves

Exploring Mapua

After the house business, we drove to Mapua to a wee excursion. Always nice to potter around there.

Seagulls

Mapua port

Saturday saw me and Mike up for parkrun and Sally and Andrew walked to town from there. I did my best parkrun time of 2026 so far. The course was T shaped. 

Parkrun at Neale park

Parkrun photographers got a shot of me running ...

... and Mike throwing up his coffee, just on the left of the photo

Then into town to the market to find Sally and Andrew. I had a cheese toastie with brie and blueberries. it was so good.

Off to Nelson market

Iced latte at the market

Baguette purchased

Looking at a new subdivision

Poked around Aidan and Janne's house to check it was good. And wandered through some new subdivisions.

View of the boulder bank

Where are you going, Mike?

Wreck of the Janie at Motueka

Took our market baguette and drove to Motueka for some reason. Any excuse to explore. Good fun. Had a picnic near the Wreck of Janie Seddon and enjoyed the market baguette and some cheese and hummus. Mmmmm.

Picnic spot

Checking out the foundations of the old quay

Planning the NY tramp

Back to JR and Anita's house. Watched Deadloch and planned the New Years tramp. Well, got a lot planned. 

We looked up what on earth a Medlar could possibly be - because Anita left a note to say they were bletting. Turns out that a Medlar is a fruit, and bletting is a way to make it edible, by letting it rot change consistency to a paste inside the fruit. Interesting. A medlar is an ancient fruit like a cross between an apple and a pear.

Medlars are bletting

View from Mana Heights

Next morning we checked out Sally and Andrew's new house. We had never seen it yet. 

Then we wandered around Nelson a bit. The gardens. The Suter gallery.

In the gardens

Tahunanui beach

Sand dollar in Mike's hand

Bigger sand dollar in my hand

Patiently waiting

With a couple of hours to kill we chilled at Tahunanui beach. Mike and I got our step count up and Sally and Andrew enjoyed the sea views. Then dropped the car off at the long stay car park. Waited for our flight. 17:55 to Wellington. Super fast. Sally and Andrew dropped us home. The cats were very happy to see us - but Moxley only had eyes for Sally.

Up Monday for the normal routine. Mike to the gym. Me WFH.

Hope your week is a good one.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with work

 Hi,

Wednesday done and dusted. Did get to Margies with Mike for lunch and Dave joined us. We celebrated Arsenal's premier league win when Man City failed to win (and in fact, LOST) against the solidly middle table Bournemouth. Woot! Meanwhile our arch rival, Tottenham, are clinging on to avoid relegation. Should be a double celebration but too much respect for Spurs to feel any happiness about that.

Oh, it's a beautiful picture

I worked late and then joined Mike and Callan at Foxglove. Then off to bus home. Feed the cats. Go to bed. Fall asleep and entirely miss our YouTube watching session. And wake up to head to town for my PT session.

Deads. 82.5 kg 3 reps x 4 sets.

Bumped into this man at Smith the Grocer

Data brekkie

Then brekkie at Smith the Grocer. Bumped into Reimer there. We need a coffee date soon. And then off to work after a good catch up with workmates.

Off to Nelson this weekend. Staying with JR and Anita even though they are away. Sally and Andrew managed to convince them we were harmless enough. Phew. Thank you.

Parkrun. Visiting houses. Bike rides maybe. Anyway - hope your weekend is a good one too.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with work

 Hi,

I think I missed a blog day. Hahah. Tuesday was busy as. So many coffee dates. After my gym session with Quentin (and Mike ran on the treadmill while I was lifting heavy things. And ran so hard he had to dry retch in the bathroom!), I took him and Mike to Smith the Grocer where I was meeting Juliet for brekkie.

Smith the Grocer brekkie

Iced latte

Iced latte

We had a good catch up. Juliet was a tad late and now I realise I missed her photo completely. But she is good. Gave me some good advice.

We all went off to our respective workplaces. And later that morning I caught up with Kris. It had been ages since I had his ear. We had a good catch up.

Second iced latte

After work I walked home with Barb. She is such a mountain goat. But it did feel a bit easier to keep up with her this time. Maybe my running is working.

Barb walking home

Me at the top

Tuesday gym

Sweaty Mike

Home to feed the cats. Eat some tea. And Mike got home from some late work meetings. We did some life admin and then enjoyed a bath together before bed. It took Mike ages to fall asleep. I noted this morning that I have many Instagram reels to view from him.

Up to bus in together this morning. Mike to gym with Quentin and me to run on the treadmill. Then I will walk home by myself after work today.

Quentin told me it is all about step counts. 10k a day.

Hope your day is awesome. Ours is now because Arsenal just won the EPL. Man City drew with Bournemouth and now Arsenal can't lose. One game left to play but already in the bag. I was running on the treadmill constantly refreshing the phone with the live score. Man City was down 1 nil until stoppage time. But a draw wasn't enough. Super happy with that outcome.

Love,

Angela

The weekend at home with a boycotted Eurovision

 Hi,

We had a big weekend in Wellington. Baked bread. Went to parkrun on Saturday morning. Brisk southerly. Did ok. 36 mins. Given how lethargic I felt heading into it, it was an okay time. Lisa was there too so I invited her to do the new pathway walk with us.

Sourdough

Start of the new path - Te Ara Tupua

Popped into work for a quick change and then Mike dropped me and Lisa off at Ngauranga Gorge intersection to meet Maureen. He continued on to Epuni to collect some carpet cut offs he got edged. Super nice they are!

Meanwhile Maureen and Lisa and I did the walk. It was superb. Not as busy as I thought it might be. We enjoyed the walk so much. Just under 5km. Lovely views. The surface of the ara is so smooth. 

Walking in the brisk southerly

Distance back to town

On the new bridge

Walking over the bridge

Good harbour views

Love the details

Almost there

Puku pies

Finally got to Puku Pies. The cauliflower pie was excellent. Mike got there in time for a coffee and pie too.

Pie time - better blow on it, Mike

Parkrun effort

Dropped people off and went shopping and then baked a bit of food for the evening. Lasagne. Zucchini slice. Haloumi and egg pie. Salad. People turned up around 6pm and contributed food too. Wally, Chelsea, Ange, Danita, Kara, Beth and Chris. They all watched Eurovision the story of Fire Saga while I went downstairs to watch the Phoenix women in the final against Melbourne City. Unfortunately the Phoenix women probably got a little overwhelmed at the final and what is involved. The first half slipped away from them and although they got a good goal in the second half, Melbourne just dug deep and kept them away from the goals. 3 - 1. Not too shabby in the end. Bodes well to continue this to next season.

Saturday night dinner

I watched the football

Sunday brekkie

Up for an early start. We decided to watch the Eurovision Song Contest in Austria and keep it ont he down low. But really. I am very cross with their double standards. If you kick out Russia because they invaded Ukraine, then why are you letting Israel in? It's a mess.

Watching something on You Tube - can't comment on what it was

Moxley sleeping on me

Why was this comfortable for her?

Mike left halfway through to pick up Janine and take her home. He also measured the bathroom at Epuni and got back as it finished.

Monday saw us drive to the gym. I ran while Mike enjoyed his session with Quentin.

And we're taking Moxley to the vet this morning for her final check up.

Have a great week.

Love,

Angela