Good morning on Mon, May 10

Hi,

You won't believe how absolutely gorgeous this morning is here in Wellington.  Blue skies, no wind, the hint of frost in the air.  I love autumnal mornings - if there was a wisp of mist about in the valleys, it'd be perfection.

The weekend was such good fun.  Friday night saw me getting food ready for the tramp, but after that, Toby and I watched Back to the Future and we both loved it.  It has been a while since I have seen it.  I had to tell stories all weekend about time travel after that.

Saturday we were all up and getting ready for the tramp.  We even got McDonalds for brekkie on the way.  How lucky are we?

There were 14 of us all up.  John, Christine and wee Tom came and wee Tom impressed everyone with his walking abilities.  He never let up and walked like a trooper born to it.  Constanze, Christain and wee Gustav came along too - it was good to catch up with them.  Donna came along with her neice Jess (10) and nephew Oscar (almost 8) and Oscar proved great company for Toby.  Wendy brought along her son, Matthew (4) and he walked very well too.

I loaded up Toby's backpack more than it has been in the past.  He carried an emergency kit (an incecream container) with a glowstick, drink, chocolate and beef jerky and an emergency blanket - and it should have his whistle but I can't find it).  His jacket, a fleece and a jersey.  Plus his water (about 2 litres) and his snacking food.  He also carried (very oddly) Mike's contact lenses.  Apparently, I heard it told later, at one of the stops, he asked if anyone wanted the contact lenses!  At least he was sharing!  Heheheheh.

We got to Paua Hut around 2pm and it quickly got dark.  Firewood was gathered and dinner put on.  The dinner turned out well - spaghetti bolognese.  And the apricot truffle dessert went down a treat too.

Soon it was pitch black so Toby and I went to bed around 7.15pm and we were both asleep very quickly.  By the time Mike arrived about 90 minutes later, he wasn't keen on setting up his bivvy bag and sleeping outside, so he asked if there was room in our wee 2-man tent for him too.  Sure.  In he got and soon we were all asleep again.  But it got too hot.  Mike had to open some tent flaps.  Then it rained and he had to close them again.  Toby slept in his liner and undies!  It was hot!

Still, Toby got over 12 hours sleep.  And I got close to that.  Mike gave us breakfast in bed (it was Mother's Day) and then we packed up and were away by 10am.  The walk back seemed to go faster than the walk in.  We were visiting Sally at 2pm and enjoying a nice cup of tea.

We headed home and dismantled Toby's bunk bed (taking photos for Trade Me) and then built his new one.  Then I was off to dinner with Ma and Dad - we went to Nicolini's in Courtney Place (italian place) and Ma fell in love with the food there.  It was a very nice dinner.  We caught a bus home (me on the 14 and Mum and Dad on the 43) and we were all home in no time.

Toby and Mike got home from dinner with the Bichans after an epic drive home where they rescued an old lady from her broken down car in Tawa and drove her home to Karori.  Mike might tell us more.

Toby slept well in his new bed - we just need to sort out the clothes into the new drawers and tidy up the toys.

Keas tonight - cool!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela