Last day in September!   Dad ’s birthday tomorrow.    It ’s all happening – in the rain.  Yes – it is quite wet today.   Karen, Scott and Abby had an epic return to Sydney after they were bumped from their direct 7am flight.  It took over 12 hours for them to get home via Auckland .   It ’s a shame for them.   Some part of them will love Scott getting a high powered executive job for another company besides Qantas just because they will never get bumped from flights.  They ’ll pay more but never have that period of indecision (will we/won ’t we get on?).

 

Toby and Tyler had an early night last night and Mike and I had a late night at work.   So we didn ’t see them at all yesterday.   Tonight we ’ll head home, grab the spaghetti Bolognese sauce and head to Ngaio for dinner.  Slllluuuurrrrppp.   Tomorrow is Dad ’s birthday so cake seems in order.  I think Mum might take the kids into town today to buy them some sneakers.  Toby needs some new shoes for the new term so that ’s great!

 

Ok – I ’d better get stuck into work now.  Have a great day!

Nearly the end of September.  We had a great weekend with Karen, Scott, Tyler and Abby over.  I seem to have missed out on lots of sleep though.  Saturday we basically stayed home (the weather was wild and windy) and ventured as far as the park for the kids.  Sunday dawned lovely and calm.   The kids went to Lollipop Playland with the Dads, and we drove to Queensgate to get some shopping done.  Trouble is we ran out of time and just managed to get supermarket shopping done in time for lunch.  But the BBQ was a great success.   The kids used the bouncy castle for ages and ran around in the nice weather.  Karen even got a bit of sun for her trip to NZ.  Who ’d have thought?

 

The wind has got up again in time for Monday!   It is supposed to be even worse tomorrow.  I saw a high of 10 mentioned.   I ’m guessing it was a mistake.

 

Mike and I have a meeting after work today so we won ’t be in Ngaio for dinner time.  I ’ll discuss with Mike and make firmer plans.   Maybe we can ride to Ngaio and pop in to say hi then keep riding home.

 

I just got a text from Scott saying they were bumped from their Wellington to Sydney flight and now have to pay extra to go via Auckland .  It ’s a shame for them!   After they got tickets onto the flight too.

Despite the fact I have had about 4.5 hours sleep I feel fine.  It must be the gorgeous weather this morning.   Mike and I rode home last night at 2000 after our geeky Microsoft session (which I actually enjoyed – even though it was a finance application and I knew nothing about it) where they were expecting 20 people, got 10 and ordered pizza for 20.  It ’s a wonder I managed it up the hill after all that food.

 

Toby was in bed when we got home and almost asleep.   My parents took the stretcher bed and went home and we went to bed.  A fruitless exercise for me.   I may have got about 5 minutes sleep before the alarm went off and I drove to the airport to collect Karen, Scott, Tyler and Abby.   They arrived in high spirits even though it was past midnight by that stage.  Wee Tyler was virtually asleep by the time we drove to Ngaio though.   I left them to get to bed and drove home and hopped into bed myself.

 

I had to laugh at Scott ’s revelation that he has a grandfather (was it?) that was born in Arrowtown and hence he has 1/16 Kiwi blood.  And what ’s more, going back one more generation I think they were Scottish.   He ’s almost considering letting Tyler and Abby play for the Silver Ferns when they get older.  Heheheheheh.   Maybe not quite.

 

I must take Karen to Vivienne ’s house so she can meet Ramble!  Karen would love Ramble!   Not sure what Tyler and Abby would make of him.  

 

Anyhow, we ’re meeting at One Red Dog at 1730 today for dinner ( 9 Blair St ).  So feel free to join us.  Everyone will collect wee Toby from school (it ’s his last day of the term) so he ’ll be chuffed about that.  It is a logistics exercise to move everyone around because we don ’t fit in one car.   Everything has to be done in unison – like some giant synchronised swimming programme.

 

So, the weekend beckons.   Roll on 1730!   Plans?  Not sure.  If the weather is good it ’ll be an easy task filling in the days.   Karen is the only one that vaguely knows Wellington .   Scott has only been to the airport I think.   Tyler probably only remembers our house and this is Abby ’s first time in NZ.

 

It was very easy to take the bus in this morning with the dodgy weather although it was a surprise to me to see a notice in the bus stop explaining about industrial action this morning on the buses.  I don ’t think it affects our bus route though.

 

I took Toby to the dental nurse yesterday and she declared his teeth fine.  No plaque even!   So, well done Toby!  He was slightly put off by the boy in as we got there who cried and whimpered the entire time we were waiting (about 15 minutes).  Apparently he had an abscess and needed a filling.   He was not a happy chappy.   Toby ’s first words to the dental nurse as he entered was “Don ’t give me any fillings ”.   But he sat in the chair and was very happy about it.   He opened his mouth wide immediately the seat reclined.   The dental nurse used the air puffer and Toby got the giggles every time she used it.   I think the dental nurse and her assistant were pleased to hear a child happy after the dramas of the previous boy.

 

I dropped Toby off at Mum and Dad ’s and headed back to work.   Then Mike and I went there after work for dinner.   Very nice.

 

I need to book dinner at the Flying Burrito Brothers for Friday night with Karen and her family (if anyone else wants to come feel free to let me know and I ’ll add to the reservation).  And I need to try and book a haircut for Toby this week too.   We also need to book somewhere for the ski weekend coming up with wee Tyler .  Dad will stay in Wellington for the weekend (Roberting time) and the rest of us will head up.  I can ’t wait to see Tyler try out skiing.

 

I also have to cook dinner tonight so I need to buy some food to cook!  We didn ’t get any shopping done at the weekend and now we ’re suffering!  ;-)

I absolutely loved the ride in this morning.  The wind has dried the roads and I flew down the hill.   I even saw 42km/h on my bike computer.   That hardly ever happens.   When it is wet I usually see something like 12 km/h as I ride down the hill, gripping my brakes in a granny vice-like hold.  Looking outside now though it looks like a definite change is coming.  The clouds are lower and threatening.   The wind is supposed to get to galeforce at some stage today too.

 

Toby has a dental clinic visit at 1410 this afternoon.  I ’ll go and collect him from school and take him there (it is in another school in Northland) and then drop him at Mum and Dad ’s place for the afternoon.  Then I ’ll drive back into town and work for the rest of the afternoon.  We ’ll have dinner at my parents place as we need to collect wee Toby anyway.  Good score, eh?   We had a yummy dinner there yesterday but Mike went home at midday as he was feeling sick so he slept all day and didn ’t have dinner with us.  I think he has some viral thing playing havoc with his system.  He ’s a bit better today and will be coming into work.

 

Mum and Dad collect a rental car as a get around car for a while.  They really don ’t appreciate the manual options we have presented to them.  They made me laugh when they talked about the MX-5 and how they have to drop into it from a great height because the seats are so low.  And getting out seemed to involve winches and block and tackle from their descriptions.  Heheheheheh.

 

Ok.   Time to get stuck in.

Wee Toby got to play with the twins (and wrangled dinner out of them too) after school and Mike and I shared leftovers at home.  Tonight we have some weird plans involving fish n chips at Greg and Nicola ’s house in Ngaio, staying the night at my parent ’s place and going swimming (with or without the Corolla) tomorrow morning.  I ’ll ride home and collect Toby and drive to Greg and Nicola ’s house. Then Mike will catch the bus there.   After dinner we ’ll head to my parent ’s place and maybe watch some rugby league (boring game usually – but a big match for the Warriors).

 

The weekend plans seem to revolve around eating.   After swimming I am sure we have two lunch dates so I think Mike has to sort that out.  We also may only have the mx-5 as an option, since the Corolla is in the shop with its leak.  I ’m happy to cycle out to Woburn but not too sure if Mum and Dad would do that!  ;-)   Sunday we have a BBQ lunch in Wadestown.  Somewhere we may get to do some DIY (stairwell and green room – and we ’ve told Toby we ’ll sort out his toy box as it is buried in the downstairs bathroom still).

 

So, there you go.   The recent wind is battering my delicate seedlings in the vege patch.  I may have chosen the sunniest spot in our garden but it also cops a lot of wind.  I wonder if anything will mature to the point where we can eat it!  ;-)

 

What a lovely day – although the weather forecast says tomorrow will bring rain once more.  We shall see.   Mike and I enjoyed our night out – dinner and a movie with work ($5.50 per ticket – not too bad).  Mum and Dad looked after wee Toby and he was fast asleep when we got home.

 

I took the car in to get a leak attended to in the front passenger footwell.   No idea what is causing it – hopefully they find a definite problem and fix it!  I shall collect the car after work and go and get Toby.

 

Ok.   Time to start the working day!

September is flying by.  I ’d better sort out the school holiday programme for Toby (with a few days for Tyler ).  Mike and I have a night out tonight – dinner and a movie.  How cool is that?  We also need to take the Corolla into work tomorrow as it is going in for a service.  And Thursday as I need to drive to Toby ’s school at lunchtime for lunch duty.  Phew.  Logistics.

 

I watered the vege patch last night when I got home.  It looks ok I guess.  The wind had got up and some plants are looking shocked at the move from wee punnet in a sunny garden shop to our lawn!  And a mozzie bit me while I was watering.  Cheeky thing.  But it is an indication of the balmy weather.  Honest!

 

Ok. Time to get stuck into work for the day.  Have a marvellous Tuesday.  Enjoy whatever you are up to.

 

Love,

We had a busy weekend – Mike got the gib on the green room ’s wardrobe.  I got a vege garden planted!   Woo hoo!  We have lettuces, broccoli, peas, carrots and silverbeet.  We shall see what eventuates.  I think one lettuce is already on its last roots!   Mike wants to sort out the gib in the stairwell this week.  That ’d be great!   Once the stairwell is done we can get the final carpet onto the stairs.

 

I have lunch duty today but didn ’t remember in time.  So either Mum will do it or I ride back up the hill and spend lunchtime in my bike shorts.  I ’ll chat to Mum a bit later to sort it out.  I also have Thursday lunch duty!   I ’d kind of still like to do it today if I can.  

 

The rugby was entertaining over the weekend and St Kilda got through their match to stay in the finals race in the AFL.  All good!

 

Mike is away from his desk all day with induction at work.  Similar to brainwashing but in a nice way!  ;-)

 

The release went well last night and Mike cooked up a storm of – fish n chips.  The boys liked it and that ’s what counts.  I got home at bedtime for Toby and listened to a bedtime story before falling asleep myself not too long afterwards.  12 hour days are just wrong.

 

The weekend plans haven ’t changed much.  DIY.  Swimming.  Picnic.  Cups of tea.  I ’d love to fit in a trip to the zoo as well.  We shall see.

 

We ’re having dinner at my parents place tonight.  So I think I am riding there (I took the bus in this morning because at 1930 last night I didn ’t feel like hoping on my bike) and then maybe riding home from there.  Otherwise my bike is likely to stay here over the weekend.

 

I have a 20 minute presentation to give this afternoon – not a pleasant way to end the week I would have thought.  It may run to about 3 ½ minutes if I hurtle through the slides.  I ’d better practise the slllloooooowwwww drawl to pad it all out.  Heheheheh.

 

Ok.  Time to get stuck in.  No problems from last night ’s work, so it all seems fine and dandy.

Pretty busy – oh – I have a release tonight so I won ’t be home till about 2000 tonight.  Mike will have to go and relieve Gramps from Toby duty (and cook dinner).  I hope the release goes well – there is a bit of structure change and resulting data clean ups.  My part should take about 5 minutes (if I ’ve done it right).

 

The weekend is approaching (although not fast enough).   We have a picnic planned if the weather is good at Karori Park with a work colleague and her kids for Saturday lunch time.   And I think a cup of tea would be in order at the Sampson household as they live in Karori.

 

Sunday we ’re free agents.   I think we should gib the green room wardrobe.  Mike has batted it and that ’s all it needs before we can use it properly.

 

Ok.   Time to sort out Weetbix and a nice cup of tea.

Dad cooked up a yummy dinner last night but I have to make dinner for tonight for the first time in ages.     Better sort that out.   Toby had his first night in his bedroom with us back upstairs in our normal room and he went to sleep so well.  No fuss, no bother.

 

I rode in today as the roads were dry despite the weather on the radio saying showers and strong northerlies.   I hope it stays that way for the ride home again!  It was my first ride back up the hill yesterday for about 2 weeks.   It was a little more difficult than usual and I can ’t blame the northerly on that.

 

My parents have kicked off landline phones and cable TV and all sorts of things.  I think the next few days is when that all happens.  Dad will collect wee Toby from school today at 1600 and when I get home he ’ll be off home.

 

Halfway through the week but after a few short weeks the last few it is proving difficult.  It feels like it should be Thursday at least by now!  Uh oh.

It feels like it should be a lovely day but in actual fact the weather is a bit ghastly.  Not too cold though!   Just northerlies blowing in sheets of rain.  Mike drove me home last night and I left my bike in the basement here.  So if the weather picks up, I can ride home!

 

Mum and Dad are sorting out their new house and getting it looking good.  Things are finding their place.   We even got dinner cooked last night for us so that was great!   I think they had reasons to come back to our house.  Long may that continue.   I think I have forgotten how to prepare evening meals!

 

I need my breakfast.   Let me go and find milk for my Weetbix – and a nice cup of tea.

The parents have all moved in – they were unsure whether they could stay there over the weekend but Toby asked immediately if he could sleep over.  So that convinced them.   Saturday was spent emptying many boxes and trying to find a place for everything.   Toby slept over on Saturday night and I think the Xbox has a lot to do with that.  Apparently he played until 10pm and then asked Gramps to come and turn it off as he was going to sleep!  So, he does have a limit.   It is just a very big limit!

 

Sunday was Father ’s Day and there were presents!  We also had Boston ’s party to go to in Kilbirnie – a wheels party.  We parked in the pool carpark and Toby scooted along with us as we went round to the recreation centre only to find a huge mesh gate in the driveway to stop trucks!  There were some child sized holes in the mesh but they were a little small for me to fit through.  Mike grabbed the chain to check it was locked then lifted the entire gate off its hinge on one side.  Toby gaped!   We hurried through then Mike picked the gate up and put it back on its hinge with me giggling away.   Toby was adamant we weren ’t returning that way!

 

The party was good.   We headed back to Ngaio for lunch and then back home to tidy up.   We got the washing done and I planted out the final plants from my birthday package!  Now I need a few more plants and we ’ll be ready to do some landscaping and get it all done.

 

Today was a lovely start to the day.  Mike has lunch duty at the side school and Toby is very pleased about that.

Wee Abby turns 3 today!   I can ’t believe how fast she is growing up!  Mum and Dad have bought the unit in Ngaio and their furniture turns up there this morning at about 8.30am!  Woo hoo!   They will have a busy weekend putting things in their place!  It is very exciting!

 

Weekend plans?   Well, Toby has a party on Sunday and it is Fathers Day so we ’ll be busy making breakfasts and giving sock presents!  Saturday is swimming and buying said presents!   Maybe Mum can come shopping with me to get it all done!

 

We also need to batt the back of the green room and put gib on.   Hopefully we can find time for that!

 

Ok.   Time to go get some teabags from upstairs!   No tea and little milk.   Insufferable conditions!

 

Mike and I have had a busy time at the conference in Auckland !  Now I have to get back into all the work piling up here.  Phew!   Mike is due back at about 1730 this evening (his plane should touch down around then) and he ’ll pick me up on the way home in his taxi!

 

Toby seems to have convinced after school care that he had a play date with Isaac yesterday and he was left at school.  I ’m not sure exactly what happened next, but I think Isaac ’s mother took him back inside and he must have ended up at After School Care anyway.  I will have to get to the bottom of that.  Mum says Isaac just rang after we left to walk to school, so maybe they want to arrange a real play date!  Poor Toby.   He ’s getting too social for his own good already!

 

I ’d better go and sort out some stuff.  A cup of tea might help out somewhat!