The Thursday with a new shower installed

 Hi,

Finally the rain has stopped and I can see some sunshine and blue sky. Yay. The team from Golden Showers came yesterday to take out the old upstairs shower and replace it. They were an hour. So efficient and our shower now looks very modern.

New shower

Instructions

Stain and varnish

After work I did two more coats of stain on the wood trim. And after a good sleep, got up and did a varnish. Not sure it will be ready for the builder today (Friday) - but let's see.

Raf the builder is here now. 8.30am. And started on the window bead on our only remaining old window. He has a list of jobs from Mike.

I have to empty the house after work today. Seems a huge task. Sally and Andrew will come to help. Not sure how much I will be able to lift. Sore back from a dead lift on Tuesday.

But as I said, it is sunny.

Have a great day. Enjoy the weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with no cats and no Mike

 Hi,

The cats have arrived in Chc and had their first sleep there. Mike and Toby and Tessa have reported an easy transition for them.

Meanwhile, we had the carpet laid downstairs and it looks so good. Awesome work.

New carpet going down

In the spare room

In our old bedroom

Mike removes the old curtains

Cats in crates

In the back of Sally's car

Sally kindly took Mike and the cats to the airport. They both took a pill that Mike gave them and it zonked out Smudge. Apparently she slept all the way and then some.

About to check in

Carpet done

Looks very nice

Old bedroom

Spare room

Old bedroom

Nicely done

My old wardrobe

Moxley out in the car in Chc

The cats hid by our old bed in the new house and so Mike, Toby and Tessa took off to let them explore on their own. I heard Mike and Toby sung up a storm at karaoke at The Foundry. Hahahah.

I had my skin check up. With crazy dates coming up for me, I just booked in next Wednesday to get some biopsy work done. Will mean I have stitches for Spring Challenge. But it should be ok. The following week is crazy work week and it gets too close to Nepal.

Oh well.

What else? Weird sleeping at home with no cats. They have always been here. Sometimes we are not. But they are always here.

I woke up to roll over in the night so I did not disturb the cat. Didn't need to worry.

Hahahah.

Take care. Have a wonderful day.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with City Mission

 Hi,

Yesterday was so busy at work. We both worked from home. The only project management piece yesterday was the City Mission. They came around 10am and took a few things away. But after work (went late for both of us - Aussie timezones) I painted more. Ange came to collect her TV. We have enjoyed using that for the last few years.

Off to bed. And I slept well. Exhaustion might be starting to contribute to good sleeps. When I woke, the phone reminded me that today (Wednesday 16 Sept 2026) is the day the cats go to Christchurch.

My reminder this morning

Mike is leaving for the airport at 11.30am for his flight to Chc with the cats. I know it will be scary for Smudge. Moxley will just likely want out to explore. I hope they like the new wee house. It'll be good to have Toby and Mike there.

Meanwhile, the carpet layer has arrived. He is taking off the doors downstairs and laying a new carpet. It'll look good. The last carpet had not stood the test of time too well.

I have an appointment at 1pm too. Hopefully that goes well. Tim's last day at work today. Good on him for making the move to start his own business with Juliet. I wish them all the success in the world.

Mike went to his PT session this morning. And brought home brekkie for me. Thank you.

Iced latte from Margies that Mike brought home to me

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday with plumbers

 Hi,

What a day, what a week. Tasman Plumbers came and took out the old cracked vanity and replaced it with a shiny new one.

Old vanity out

New one ready

New vanity in place

Busy at work. A late meeting got cancelled at short notice so did not have to work late. Phew. Made some tea (leftovers and scrambled eggs - we do not have a lot available).

Then painted skirting board in our old bedroom downstairs. Took a few hours. Did my wardrobe door too. Needs a second coat or more still.

Finally into bed. Up for my first PT session in weeks. But it was tough. Deads. Tried 80kg. Did 1 set of 4 reps. But on my second set I tweaked my back on the right on my third lift. And game over. Did some massage and then went to brekkie with Quentin.

Reimer was there and Mike joined us. Good chats. Then into work to drop off some pie substitute for pi minute this afternoon (3.14pm today - 3.14 15/9/26 makes the first 8 digits of pi) and a parcel from Quentin for his previous house owner. 

Post gym brekkie

Stashed

Bolt Bins came to take away our skip

Shiny truck

Home with Mike to see our skip getting taken away. New skip arrived to fill up. City Mission come today to take away some stuff (we hope).

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend with family stepping up and the movers taking almost everything

 Hi,

What a huge huge weekend. Massive thanks to Sally for coming all day Friday and getting us ahead of the movers in a big way. Andrew came after work and also pitched in. We would have been in a far worse position without them.

We worked Friday (as did Andrew) so Sally came over and started packing the kitchen. She was a machine. We tried to help in breaks but the bulk of it was done by the time we finished work.

Sally in progress

Moxley chilling

Smudge hiding

Moxpley exploring

Toby's hand

Hello young Mike

Sally has packed even more

Still packing

Saturday saw us up early to continue and Sally and Andrew turned up to help. The movers arrived at about 10.30am or so. Paul and VJ were also machines. Very capable. That truck was so well packed. Wow.

And now the movers have taken a lot away

Lunch break

Careful truck packing

Sideboard goes out

Very well done

Not much left

Gap where the sideboard used to be

Fern looks good

We had a cracker day

For a 2 seater couch, this thing is heavy

Paul and his truck

All in!

The movers left at about 3.30pm having finished around 2.30pm. Bit of admin and then they were off. Sunday around 5pm they would be delivering to Toby and Tessa in Christchurch.

All loaded with no breakages or anything damaged. Well done to everyone.

Andrew and Mike worked on the lighting in the laundry but efficient packing meant a cable was missing. So Sunday had a task for us - go get more cables. Hahah.

Next job - getting the lighting and fan in the laundry

Moxley eyes the access hole

Strip lighting ...

... and working fan. It's only been on the to-do list for two years.

Playing with Moxley

Brunch with Sally and Andrew at La Cloche Sunday. Nice start to the day. Then Mike got his cables and light bulbs and he fitted everything. Laundry looks amazing.

La Cloche brekkie

Yummy options

Cleared path in Otari bush

New path up to Ian Galloway Park

Been here

I went for a run in the Otari bush. Thank you Mike and Toby for encouraging me to get out amongst it. I saw a new path from the end of the track up to Ian Galloway Park. And the pine tree that had threatened the path was chopped up and made safe. Good work!

Went to Sarah and Hamish's for dinner. Ryan enjoyed the pizza. And we booked BTS tickets for Feb in Sydney for us and my mother. Hahaha. Sarah is on a tour - 4 concerts and 2 cities. So we will see her in Sydney.

Working week ahead. Have a good week.

Love,

Angela