The Tuesday with work for me and play for the boys

Hi,

Toby had a sleepover so Mike graciously volunteered to drive me to work in the morning.  Maybe he wanted an excuse to drive the wee green car on a great looking morning.  So I was at work early and Mike set off home to get through a mountain of work.

I had a day at work and then a work function.  Mike and Toby drove in again in the wee green car so I would have a car in town to drive home afterwards.  They both caught the bus back home.   But the work function didn't last very long so I drove Rex home in the wee green car via Pauatahanui.  And when we got there, I got fed a scrumptious BBQ dinner.  Good score!  I met Charm's mother too which was very nice!

Home to bed.  But Jack (who was having a sleepover) got homesick for his parents and cried.  So John popped in to take him home. 

My last day at work is today!  Yay!  Holidays soon for a few weeks.  We're back at work on the 9th!

So, have a wonderful Christmas and New Years.  I'll be thinking of you all.

Love,
Angela

The weekend and the Monday with lots of things happening

Hi,

Mike got home safely on Friday night.  Toby was at a sleepover at wee Tom's house because I went to a move with Tom's mother.  We saw Cave of Forgotten Dreams - in 3D.  It's a documentary about some prehistoric caves with paintings on them.  It was wonderful!  After the movie I stayed up reading then went to meet Mike at the airport.  Usually Toby and I are fast asleep by the time Mike gets home from Sydney.

Next morning we collected Toby early and had McDonalds for breakfast at Sally and Andrew's house.  Aidan and Janne were there so it was nice to see them before Christmas.

The mission became one to find a Christmas tree then.  And we found one in Ngaio.  So there you go.  Our tree looks and smells great!

Duncan and Emerson arrived for a sleepover, and we chatted to their parents for a while before they fled to their now childless house and had a relaxing time together.  The boys were all asleep quite early after watching a movie of some sort.  We know this because we slept on the lounge room floor and we can hear if they talk!

Sunday morning we took the boys to the new Junglerama in Lower Hutt.  It whiled away the morning nicely.  Aidan and Josh arrived and we headed into town for lunch.

Back home and Toby rushed off to play with Alex.  Is he ignoring us?  Mike and I went to the family dinner without Toby.  It was great to catch up with some people before Christmas there too.

Back to get Toby, and a cup of tea.  Then home to collapse into bed.

I am the only one working this week.  Although Mike had a 9am meeting that lasted all day till 7pm!  Hmmm.  Lucky Toby had arranged play dates.  And another sleepover at Alex's house on Monday evening.

After work Mike and I met up with Sally and Andrew for dinner at Maginnitys restaurant around the corner from work.  I had a lovely meal - asparagus with poached egg followed by pesto stuffed chicken breast.  Scrumptious. 

We dropped Sally and Andrew off at home (after Mike listened to music very loudly in the car).  Good fun.  On the way back home we stopped and smooched at the beach.  Heheheh. 

Better get stuck into work.  Mike has a lot of messages to get through today.  I like having a house husband.  And I have a work function after work today.  Home a bit late.

Enjoy the Christmas week.  May all your shopping go smoothly!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a fruitless search for a Christmas tree

Hi,

I collected Toby and we drove to the Thorndon New World to find a Christmas tree and do some shopping.  No tree but I did get the other essentials.  Back in the car and we drove from town, to Johnsonville and back to Newtown looking for a tree.  Nothing open anywhere to sell me a tree.  Foiled!  It is now a Saturday morning task.

Today is the last day of school for Toby.  He will have a sleepover at wee Tom's house because I am off to a movie with Christine.  I have bought tickets for a movie that details the prehistoric cave paintings in the famous caves in southern France.  Perhaps Christine might sleep!  But I can't wait!  In 3D too!

Our last weekend in Wellington before we head south on Thursday next week for Christmas.  I hope the weather improves - it's all very soggy here in New Zealand.  Some areas more than others!

Enjoy the weekend!
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no karate

Hi,

Well, I rushed home from work for the last karate evening of the year only to have Toby say he didn't want to go.  It was a water fight outside and I am glad he said no because the rain started after we got home and it wouldn't have been nice for either of us.

It as so humid yesterday that I was exhausted after I got home and I sat under the air conditioner for a while.  Heheheheh.

I'm going to drive in today because I have parcels to collect at work.  One being our new PC.  Oooooo.

And I have decided we need a Christmas tree.  When I get Toby we'll go out and try and find a nice wee tree.

Have a marvelous day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with carols in the park - or church

Hi,

I rushed home in the car to collect Toby because he was singing in the choir for the Wadestown carols in the park.  Unfortunately the weather meant the organisers shifted it inside the church.  Of course, by the time it kicked off the weather was fine.  But never mind.

Toby and I ate a sausage at the sausage sizzle before the carols in the church.  Toby was very cute in his green top (red and green were the colours of the choir but nearly all the kids wore red so Toby was very visible).  The choir all stand very still when they are singing.  But Toby can't stop bopping to any music when he hears it, so he was jiggling away during the singing.  Very cute.

Afterwards we caught up with John and Christine in the park.  The boys played together while we chatted.

Tonight is the last karate night for the year.  I hope I can get home in time to get Toby there.  Meanwhile Mike continues to struggle away with his work in Sydney.  Through a migraine I'm told, it's a shame for him... but home for the holidays on Friday!

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The Monday with Toby's birthday

Hi,

Mike left at 4.30am and kissed Toby and left him a present to open when he woke up.  I think it worked because Toby hasn't complained too much that his Dad is in Sydney on his birthday.

We got home and I cooked spaghetti bolognese as Toby's choice.  He certainly ate a lot!  We watched a new DVD he got for his birthday. Ninjago (some Lego thing).

Tonight Toby is singing in the choir for the Wadestown Christmas evening.  I'll drive in so I can collect Toby in time to make it back.

Raining today.  The church might be the venue for the Christmas evening, rather than the park opposite.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Toby's birthday party

Hi,

Happy birthday to Toby for today!  What a great weekend we all had.  It started with Benjamin babysitting Toby on Friday night because we had our work Christmas party.  It was held in the waka house down by Te Papa and was a fantastic night.  The theme was Oktoberfest, and I had a silly little beer wench costume on.  But Mike's costume was so bad it made mine seem positively demur in comparison.  Mike had dodgy lederhosen on and they were a little tight around his... ahem... bits.

We got Benjamin home by midnight so we weren't too late.

Saturday morning we started early to try and get everything done.  And we did do everything.  Including swimming for Toby, grocery shopping, rotating the Corolla car tyres, getting a new stereo in the Corolla, getting central locking on the passenger door of the MX-5, tidying the house and preparing for the onslaught of 7 children for Toby's party.

Mike took the kids to the cinema in Wally's huge car and they watched Arthur Christmas.  Mike said he had a good sleep.  This is when William went home - he was a bit sick and slept on our couch waiting for his Dad to collect him.  Poor wee boy.

Then at home they bashed the pinata Jack had made for Toby.  It was a thing of beauty - an Angry Bird (bomber bird possibly) and filled with so many lollies the kids were unable to hold them all.

Ma called to say hi to Toby.  Toby had such fun it was funny to watch him so animated.

Then dinner followed by a DVD.  Not a lot of watching happened.  They slid down the stairs in their sleeping bags!  But they were all asleep by 10pm, so not too bad, really.  Mike was the only real casualty.  In a vacuum cleaner maintenance accident of all things - he stabbed himself properly in the webbing between his thumb and index finger with the sharp blade on my pocketknife.  Judging from the blood left on the knife, he went in quite a way!

Next morning we prepared for the Bichan family lunch and Toby's family birthday lunch, all in one.  Thirteen for lunch, which consisted of two roast chickens and veges.  It all went very well.  Malcolm came early and now our alarm system is back up and running.  A few more tweaks and it should be good.

Our house has never had so much luxing over the course of one weekend - between preparing for Toby's party, cleaning up afterwards, again to prepare for the lunch, and then sorting the aftermath again!  It's clean now!  And, the vacuum cleaner is working very well, after I finished getting the hair off the turbo brush - safely and easily with scissors rather than a sharp stabbing knife...

Time to go to work and school.  Mike is on the plane over the Tasman now.  He'll be back Friday night.  And stay here until the New Year!  Hooray!

Have a fantastic week!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a rollercoaster ride

Hi,

From thinking Mike might not be here this morning (Friday), and then having him arrive, but having him away for most of next week, and then having him here for all of Christmas week, I had an emotional rollercoaster ride yesterday.  But as I type, he is here, and making himself a coffee.  At least here is here for the work Christmas party tonight.

Toby and I went to the user group session last night (Thursday).  It went well - it was our first Christmas session where we just sit around and talk.

Tonight is the Christmas party and Mike has said I can wear the dodgy outfit to the party as it is not absolutely awful.  Just where it is on the scale of awfulness, I think Mike and I differ in our assessment.  The only thing I wear that shows more skin is my togs.  Disturbing.

Toby's party is tomorrow.  Sleepover and movie.  And Sunday is the family lunch.  Cool!  Should be busy.

Have a superb weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no karate

Hi,

Meetings all day meant no time to collect Toby early enough for karate.  We stayed at home and were in bed by 7.30pm to read. Nice.

Mike had Face Time with us around 8.15pm and he was at work and trying to sort out some issues.  I saw later he texted me at 2.30am still up!  Poor man.  And he said it is not looking good for him to return to Wellington tonight as expected.  Which means he'll miss our work Christmas party on Friday night.  Bit pants.

Last user group session tonight for the year for me.  I'll drive in so I can nip to Skids and collect Toby.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs, but no Mike

Hi,

Mike has left for Sydney again this morning after working until 1am last night.  Something has turned to worms in Sydney and it meant Mike couldn't attend the last Cubs session for the year.  Shame, because it was great fun.  Simon (new leader) was amazing and the Cubs cooked up a storm on hobo stoves.  I cooked up sausages on the BBQ and we invested Simon and his son and said goodbye to the two leaders.  Phew!

Louise (a mum) made two great leaving cards and all the Cubs signed it.  It was very well done - I had found the right person for that job.

I have meetings up to 5pm today so no idea if we can make it to karate or not.  A new approach on my part says I can't possibly do everything and some things have to slide.

Have a great day!  I am riding in and hoping to avoid forecast rain!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with wedding anniversary dinner

Hi,

Despite working until 7.30pm last night (what on earth???) we had a wonderful dinner at the Boulcott St Bistro last night.  It is always very nice there.  I had fish and the cheeses, and Mike has steak and profiteroles.  Yummy!  Thanks Benjamin for looking after Toby.  I know Toby enjoys it a lot.

Toby had a busy day at school.  A special assembly at 11.15am for the opening ceremony of the new classroom.  Toby was in a dance - he was by far the best dancer.  I managed to take an early lunch and see it.  Then they had a shared lunch (and Toby brought back my Tupperware container - thanks!) and a water fight.  Toby had a new water pistol and was very popular because of it.

This morning I woke up to an odd noise.  I saw water coming out of the top floor from my warm bed.  Turns out Mike was using the new water pistol out the window!  Boys!

It is the last Cubs for the year tonight.  Should be fun (must remember the gas bottle for the BBQ). 

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Mike

Hi,

Toby and I could get used to this.  Having Mike here for days on end is great.  Let's see.  Friday's hot date went awry, foiled by logistic issues getting all three of us to the dentist between 2 and 3pm.  This meant Toby stayed at our work while we worked.  Pants!

Happy birthday to wee Tyler for yesterday - 8 years old!  Wow!

William came for a sleepover on Friday night so Toby was happy anyway, even if it wasn't with Benjamin looking after him.  Then we were away early Saturday morning to the work Christmas party for the kids at Junglerama.  Toby had a lot of fun and scored two presents.

Then off to get haircuts for the boys - Mike's looks good.  Toby you can't tell.  He wanted it kept long.

Finally, off to Waikanae to see Aidan and the boys.  Josh was due home Sunday so Aidan was the one to look after us well.  And she did, like usual.  We went to the beach where it got so hot the water proved too much of a lure.  I was sitting on the picnic blanket talking to Aidan and vaguely watching some man swimming in the sea.  I thought he swam a lot like Mike.  But Mike never swims in the sea - too cold for that Aucklander!  Heheheh.  But, then again, where was Mike?  And as the man walked out of the sea, he looked more and more like Mike.

I thought if Mike is swimming, the sea must be like bathwater.  So I went to investigate, and came back and threw my watch off and went swimming in my clothes!  It was wonderful!

Home for dinner (scrumptious spaghetti bolognese) and eventually home.  At 7.19pm there was an earthquake we noticed because we were still sitting around the dining table.  In Wellington it was quite strong (strongest in 20 years apparently).

Great weekend!  It's our anniversary today - 12 years today!  And 20 years together next year.  20 years!  That's freaky!  Good fun!

Have a superb week!
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no karate

Hi,

Yesterday was such a glorious day.  And today looks just as nice out there.  I had a meeting go too late for us to make karate.  So Toby and I went to the supermarket and bought BBQ stuff and went home and cooked up a treat.  Sausages (Toby's choice), chicken satay sticks (my choice) and asparagus (also my choice) followed by cherry tomatoes (Toby), strawberries (me), blueberries (Toby), gooseberries (me) and blackberries (Toby and me).  Scrumptious!

And don't tell Mike, but we're both eating Crunchy Nut Cornflakes this morning.  Heheheheh.  Indulgence!

Mike gets back tonight and is back for days and days.  Until Wednesday!  Yay!

Our follow up dental appointments are tomorrow afternoon.  I hope I can get to it (worried about meetings filling up my afternoon).

Have a great day - hope the weather is as good where you are as it is here!  I don't get to say that very often!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

Wednesday morning has dawned with the most glorious day.  One of those days that happen every now and then in Wellington that makes you glad you live here.  Blue skies, no wind.

Last night we made Styrofoam snowmen Christmas decorations.  The Cubs finished them earlier than anticipated but they loved playing outside in the good weather afterwards anyway.  Next week is the last one for the year and I have convinced Mike he needs to be here for it.

Tonight is karate night - it went well last week so I am hopeful this week will be good too.

Bought Mike his Christmas present yesterday.  I have started Christmas shopping.  Bit of a way to go.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with dinner out

Hi,

Benjamin collected Toby (ta Vivienne) from Skids and looked after him for the evening while I caught up with friends.  We went to La Boca Loca in Miramar and it was a great Mexican restaurant.  I had Burrito de Rez and it was scrumptious.  The black bean and corn dip with the home-made corn chips was great.

We also wandered up to look at the Roxy cinema.  What a great place for a date.  Nice atmosphere.  Must book it in for a night out.  Benjamin!  I need you again.

Tonight is Cubs night and Mike is running the activity.  Hmmmm.  I am running the activity.  Heheheheh.  I hope it isn't too chaotic.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Mike here and not a lot on

Hi,

Mike arrived late Thursday (or early Friday - heheheheh) and had the day at work in Wellington.  We all had dental appointments on Friday afternoon (no bothers anywhere, but followups this Friday coming for cleaning and other things).

Friday evening couldn't come fast enough and we had a great night at Vivienne and John's place.  Saturday morning we went swimming (well, we watched Toby swimming).  Home via the polling booths for some tasks and then off to an election party at Jack's house (Jack is Toby's best friend).  The National government got back in easily as expected.

Sunday morning dawned with no discernible difference after the election.  Life goes on.  We got ready for family lunch at Sally and Andrew's place.  It was good to catch up with people.  Andrew got back from the Round Taupo race.  He's amazing!

Mike has left for Sydney already - on the early flight this morning.  The wind is fierce today!  Wow!  We see Mike again on Thursday.  But he is here for quite a few days this time.

I'm off to dinner tonight with some friends and Benjamin will babysit Toby.  I hope they have fun.

Have a great week.

The Thursday with Mike's return

Hi,

Mike arrived back in Wellington last night.  Yay!  And the night sky was so clear - Jupiter was shining brightly high above as I let Mike in.

Last night Toby and I had dinner with John and Christine and then wandered down to the Plunket Park for a play.  Toby and I went home (I did ask Toby if he wanted to continue the drive in the wee green car with the roof down and the sun shining - but he said no).

Tonight we're at Vivienne and John's place for dinner.  The weekend is relaxed - swimming tomorrow, voting in the election, an election night party at John and Mai's place and lunch on Sunday.

Have a marvellous weekend!
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with karate

Hi,

Thursday morning has dawned in-between the galeforce days.  It looks quite nice out there - the rain has stopped and the wind has died away.  Great!  Especially after my ride home last night where I got pretty scared.  The wind blew me off course on Molesworth St outside Josh's work.  Fortunately it blew me into the gutter.  So I stopped and gathered myself and then rode off into the gale once more.  I knew riding up our hill would be fine as it is always sheltered.  But even so, I was shaking when I got to Toby's school.  I think I might take the bus next time galeforce winds are howling around.

Karate was good fun.  I sat and caught up with Christine for a while (and we have tea at their house this evening) and then read while Toby attended his lesson.  Then home to eat (he ate like a horse) and to bed.

Toby had a speech yesterday at school and by all accounts it went ok.

Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

What a lovely day it was on Tuesday.  Hard to believe as I type this on Wednesday morning, looking out at grey skies and galeforce winds - again.  But perfect timing for the good weather because we had a night on our bikes for Cubs last night.  We met at Karori Park and had a lot of fun riding around, finding different stations and doing clues and activities at each one.  Apparently like The Amazing Race (which I think I saw one episode once at Karen and Scott's house many years ago).

I was at Station 1 and spent a lot of time waiting and enjoying the sunshine.  Once the sun dropped behind the hills and it got cold, I was wishing it was over.  Brrrr.

Good fun!  Had a good sleep afterwards.  Toby rode his bike well and it tuckered him out I think.

Have a great day!  If you're in Wellington, hold on to something!  Heheheheh - must be dog night, eh Vivienne?

Love,
Angela

The Monday with no Mike

Hi,

Mike was up and on a flight to Sydney before Toby and I were awake.  Chatting to him last night with Face Time showed how tiring that early flight is before a hard day at work.  Mike was shattered.  Hope he slept well last night.

I rode my new bike in and home yesterday.  In the rain and gale force winds.  The extra gears (my old bike had 21 gears I think and the new one has 27) were amazing riding back up the hill.  The granny gear felt like I could climb a wall!  The riding position is quite different and I am still getting used to it.  From knowing exactly what gear I needed at every moment on my commute, I now am playing a guessing game.  Fun!

Pushing my bike to school with Toby, Toby declared my new bike "our bike".  It suits him very well.  I just have to take the seat down a bit and he can ride it.  My son is really getting quite tall (compared to me).

Monday night Toby and I relaxed.  Toby practised his speech (it is due this Wednesday) while I cooked dinner and we were in bed early.  So early I woke at 5.15am this morning quite refreshed!  Heheheheh.

Cubs tonight - and it is a bike riding night.  Should be a good night.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Mike and nothing else on

Hi,

What a fantastic weekend!  Toby had his first school dance on Friday evening and I went to Vivienne and John's with Sally for takeaway.  7pm Vivienne took me back to collect Toby from school and it turned out my sneaky son had gone home with a friend.  Fortunately I guessed correctly and found him.  And subsequently left him there for dinner.

Oh well.  We had lovely Indian takeaway with Vivienne, John, Benjamin, Sally, Andrew and Mike's parents.  Oh, and Ramble!  Perhaps if I'd reminded Toby that Ramble was there, I might have lured him successfully.  When I did get Toby and we were back to take Sally and Andrew home, Toby was treated to Ramble tricks and I think Toby is quite taken with Ramble.

Home to bed after dropping Sally and Andrew home and after a few hours sleep, Mike got home!  Yay!.  He was up early to meet his parents at the ferry terminal as they were leaving.  Then he got us Maccas for brekkie and then we were off swimming.  Toby did well swimming I thought.

Then into town with Andrew for lunch with the Tabors.  This was to celebrate thanksgiving.  Well, I am very thankful that wee Toby met Duncan and Emerson in their first class at Wadestown.  Heheheh.  We ate lunch at Macs Brewery.

Then bike shopping for me.  Eventually I found the bike I wanted and now I am the proud owner of a GT Avalanche 2.  We dropped Toby off at a sleepover at Alex's house (ta Yingjie) and then took Andrew's bike into the workshop at Karori as it was making graunching noises in the bottom bracket.

We went out for dinner with Sally and Andrew to Cobar in Eastbourne and sat outside watching the sun set over a brilliant Wellington.  Gorgeous.

Mike and I had a lovely Saturday night together without wee Toby.  Good catch up time.

Sunday Toby arrived and we pottered around before lunch at Tawa.  Mike caught up with people there.  Then home to sort out stuff before Mike caught up with Vivienne.  Shopping.  Packing for the week back in Sydney for Mike.

All in all a great weekend.  Back to routine today.  The weather is awful.  Yuck.  Going to be a yucky first ride down the hill on my new bike.

Have a fabulous week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with lovely weather

Hi,

Although the forecast indicates this lovely weather is going to end, this morning is gorgeous.  I wish all Fridays were this lovely.  And yesterday was beautiful.

I took the bus in for the first time in ages.  Timetable unchanged.  Yay!

I met Aidan for a cup of tea before her meeting and enjoyed a good catch up.

Catching the bus home yesterday was painless, but I refuse to believe public transport has improved and look forward to buying a new bike this weekend.

Once home, I changed into shorts - it was that warm!  I did some housework (to clear my weekend for quality Mike time) and wee Tom came to stay for a few hours while his parents rushed around with social tasks before a wedding this weekend.

Jupiter looked brilliant last night.  The clear skies and lack of a full moon showed how magnificent Jupiter is at the moment.

We're off to Vivienne and John's place for takeaways tonight I believe!  Yay!  No cooking.

Swimming tomorrow.  And a thanksgiving lunch with the Tabors.  Sunday is free, free, free!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with karate and Scots College

Hi,

Toby had a great day at Scots College.  There were three boys in his class for the day so some success fro Scots I feel.  Jack looked after him well.

Eventually Toby got to karate and that is where I met him just before 6pm.  Took ages getting there - much faster on my bike!  If I had one.

Today is a bus day for the first time in absolute ages!  Hope the timetable hasn't changed.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

Monday night Toby and I were fast asleep by about 8.30pm - jet lag obviously.  Tuesday night was Cubs night and I had the coming in activity.  We played outside as it was quite nice, if windy.  The main activity was bush survival and how to make a fire.  The sixes all made fires outside.  They loved it.

On the way home yesterday my bike broke.  Properly.  Pieces came off and everything.  I think a new bike is required.  Mike says we can rebuild it, but I am not convinced.  Looks terminal to me.  On the way home from Cubs Toby and I drove to where my bike broke and I found some pieces on the road.  Mike says I haven't found it all though.  Oh well.

Today Toby is off to Scots College with his friend Jack for the day.  It is "take a friend to Scots College" day.  I hope he has fun!

Karate tonight.  And I drove in so I can get there ok.

Phew!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend in Sydney

Hi,

What a wonderful weekend - packed quite a bit in.  Friday morning at 3.45am, Toby and I caught a taxi to the airport.  We were so excited and soon found ourselves landing at Sydney around 7.45am local time.  As we passed through customs and came out onto the concourse at arrivals, I spotted Mike waiting for us.  That was a huge surprise and I admit to crying a bit at seeing him.  Heheheheh.

Mike took us onto the train and to the platform at Central to switch to the Blacktown train.  He left us at Central once we got on the train and went to work for the day.  My sister Karen met us at the other end in Blacktown and we went to her house to relax before going to Barnier School.

Tyler and Abby were in a talent quest at school over their lunch break and we were in for a treat.  Saw them doing a dance routine together to a Dinosaur Stomp song.  Great fun!  Judes made their costumes and they looked fantastic.

Home for a bit and then off to Little As to watch Tyler and Abby hurdling, high jumping and shotputting.  Mike joined us after work there and we all went home.  This is where I hit the wall and was asleep by 9pm local time.

Saturday we went out to Castle Towers shopping mall for a photo with Santa (a tradition now if we're in Sydney near Christmas) and Yum Cha.  Choice!  Karen had to go to decorate the school hall for the trivia night.  The rest of us went to a movie.  I took the kids to see Santa's Apprentice and Mike and Scott saw Anonymous.

Home to get ready for the trivia night.  15 tables of about 10 or so people and we won!  Yay!  It was a great night.  Our table won a lot of prizes.  Karen did well - the event was great.  Loads of people came around afterwards to continue celebrating and I went to sleep after taking Noush home.  The party noise certainly did not keep me awake.

Sunday I slept in.  Heheheheh.  Then we went to a park to take Tyler's training wheels off.  She had a bit of a shaky start but she kept at it and now she can officially ride a bike!  I was pleased to have been there to see it for myself.

Scott then drove us to the airport and Toby and I were asleep in our own bed by midnight.

What a great time.  We see Mike on Friday!  Can't come soon enough.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no karate

Hi,

Toby and I stayed at home last night to work on Toby's speech for school.  It is due next week I think and he has a good two minute speech on Greek Mythology sorted.  Good on him.  Now we just need to practice every night.

Toby and I head to Sydney this weekend to see Mike there.  Well, all the Kittos too.  Heheheheh.  I think it'll feel different to the weather here for sure.  We have a strong southerly this morning and the roads are wet from overnight rain.  So long as it stays dry until I get into work I am happy.

Ok.  Time to get sorted at home.  Already got the washing under control - an important issue when you're facing a long weekend away.

Have a great day.
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

The new Cub leader is fantastic!  He ran the activity last night and the Cubs all made baking soda rockets followed by match-head rockets in tinfoil.  Lots of explosions and matches - everyone loved it.  And Simon (new leader) did two "adult" rockets at the end.  The one with meths inside it was way cool!

Home to collapse into bed!

Toby has a speech coming up at school soon and seems to be a bit concerned about it.  So we're doing a lot of work on it this evening.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend of awesomeness

Hi,

Bit busy so I'll have to fill you in later.  Mike flew back to Sydney this morning and Toby and I join him on Friday for the weekend!  Yay!

Might blog about the weekend tonight.
Have a great week.
Love,
Angela

Paua Hut for Guy Fawkes in 36 lines

What happens if you take a whole lot of comments from everyone on the trip and just mash them together?

Mike, Angela, Toby, Beth, Taylor, Carly, Christian, Constanze, Gustav, Moritz, Rowena, Erika, Mary, Rex, Tim, Max, Richard, Hamish, Nick, Marg, Iona, Charlie

There were so many favourite parts

my kids really enjoyed the river crossing,

fireworks

having left over pudding for breakfast

Everyone gathered round the bonfire

roasting marshmallows and damper

Fireworks display and sparklers

Sleeping in the tent

my kids being exhausted enough to sleep in a tent!!

Jelly beans

The company

kids being busy mucking around

having a blast building dams

playing “families”

counting bridges

singing songs (badly and loudly)

The swing

The scenery and weather

Gustav’s admiration of Taylor (who was playing very hard to get!)

Carly (2.5 yrs) walking almost all the way in and all the way out and announcing to those behind her “follow me mateys” in her best pirate voice

The kids all taking turns in the buggy racing over the midway bridge (fun with baby buggies!)

Watching the boys make the dam in the river

Everyone helping each other out with carrying gear, pushing (and carrying!!) the buggy, carrying kids over water

weather forecast coming true

I can bring my  3 year old next time

The fire, dam building and fireworks. I am fairly sure even some kids enjoyed it (not just the dads)

Sleeping in til 7.30!

The dinner and dessert – there was plenty and it tasted mighty good.

That all the kids seemed happy to be around anyone – I saw little of Hamish when we were walking, he had a great time walking up ahead at his own pace.

We had a great time, thanks all for a neat weekend

It was a constant cute-fest with pirate-Carly demanding I'M THE MATEY

I'm still stunned that Beth made it both there and back, with that buggy and didn't once collapse with exhaustion.

It was the first time I've ever seen bread baked on the end of a stick and over a fire.

I realised the true and never-ending power of jellybeans.

I also realised how a simple  game of 'Hide the Hat' could keep kids enthused for quite some time.

Basically, the weather rocked, the company rocked and my back held its temper.

The Thursday with Mike back

Hi,

If you count the fact that he touched down in Wellington 30 minutes  before midnight, then he got back on Thursday!  Yay!  Toby and I are very happy to have him back.

We drove in this morning because I have a meeting until 5:30pm and Mike has a meeting until 6pm!  Too tight for riding.  So I'll rush home to collect Toby and head out to see if I can get him some tramping boots for the weekend.  He has grown out of his current ones and they were very good.  I need some too but we shall see.  My old ones will do fine for this tramp.

So no swimming for Toby this weekend.  We're off to Paua Hut tomorrow morning.  Should be fun!

Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with karate

Hi,

Having lunch in the suntrap with Andrew and Rex was more like sheltering in a raintrap yesterday.  Sally fled at the first wind-blown raindrops, but the rest of us tried to ignore it for as long as possible.  But eventually we too had to scurry for shelter.  It never amounted to much though.

Karate was ok - but we only did half of it before leaving to get some dinner into us.

This morning the wind has dropped and the skies are clear.  Nice morning for a ride.  Mike comes home at midnight tonight.  Let's hope we recognise him!  Heheheheh.

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

Tuesday was great fun.  If all Tuesdays went this well, it'd be marvellous.  I had lunch with Aidan and enjoyed chatting away about work (it's a shame for her -but she had lots of good advice for presenting to people so I took notes).

I went to the pub next door with Sophie and Matt (work colleagues) to watch the Melbourne Cup race.  Was my horse even in it?

The weather stayed dry (just - a few drops on my ride home) and Toby and I had a hearty dinner of toast before rushing off to Cubs.  We wandered around Karori Cemetery looking for things like the oldest person at death, the youngest person at death, the oldest date...  It was a lot of fun.  The rain stayed away.

Home to chat to Mike with Face Time (a bit quiet as we were almost asleep when he called).  And a good sleep.  Yay!

Rain this morning.  Can't see the tops of the hills.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with Halloween

Hi,

This is quite odd for me but Halloween is something Toby looks forward to all year.  He plans a costume ages out and his trick or treat route with meticulous care.

Last night I rode home fast and furious (it was so warm) and wandered around the streets of Wadestown looking like a fright - without any costume!  I know this because later when we Face Timed Mike, he said my hair was scary!  Toby's costume held up well and Toby got lots of candy loot.  Wadestown kids do Halloween quite a lot!

Today is All Saints Day.  That is fortunate because we're off to Karori Cemetery tonight for Cubs!  Cool!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with no Mike and even no Toby at one stage

Hi,

What a weekend!  Let's see...  Friday night Christine and John picked up Toby and I went there after getting changed and we had dinner.  Saturday morning Toby and I went off to swimming and then came home to wait to be collected for Yum Cha.

And waited.

Ok.  So, turns out perhaps I should have reminded someone to collect us.  Silly me.  Toby and I hopped into the wee green car and hurtled into town to meet everyone for Yum Cha.  This was the first time we'd tried the Majestic Cuisine on Courtney Place and it certainly was very nice.  I think I need to try it again when I am slightly less cross so I can enjoy it.

After Yum Cha we all went our separate ways.  Josh and Rex took their boys to Laser Strike.  John took Toby and Jack to the library and Charm drove Aidan and I around a few blocks while Aidan tried to find a clothes shop she was keen on.  Then we jumped out (Charm thinks we're mad now probably) and Aidan and I went to collect Toby.  But then he got delivered into town so now I had three people in the two seater car.  Aidan leapt out and wandered around town for almost an hour while I took Toby to his party and sleepover.

I eventually found Aidan again and we stopped for a cup of tea at the Bordeaux Bakery on Thorndon Quay.  It was almost shut so we got tea to go and found Christine's car right next to ours.  So we all went to the roly-poly park and drank tea and chatted.  Then decided to go to a movie together rather than the Jane Eyre session at the Waikanae cinema.

We went to see "Midnight in Paris" and it did ok.  Christine got to see Paris from the comfort of Courtney Place.  Afterwards Christine took us the The Library (a bar upstairs with loads of books) and we ate escargot.  Pretty funny.

I drove Aidan home and we only got wet at Waikanae when we had to stop for a train and it started raining.  They should so move to Wellington - we didn't get wet there!

Sunday I planted out lettuces (ta Sally) in the morning then collected Toby.  I tried to fix Toby's old black DS (it doesn't charge) but failed.  It was fun pulling it apart though.

We had a leisurely Sunday and then went out for dinner to the Bichan family dinner.  Home via the supermarket to stock up on lollies for Halloween today (Toby is so excited). 

Tonight I'll rush home and get Toby into his costume and go trick or treating with Jack.  I hope the costume works.  We finished it this morning and Toby looked in the mirror and said "I like it".  Thank goodness for that and thank goodness for finding old gardening sacks that wash up well and can be made into a costume in 5 minutes!

Mike had the weekend with the Kittos in Sydney and sounds like he'll need today to recover from the social whirlwind.  We see him on Friday this week!  Yay.  And we're off tramping to Paua Hut.  Should be loads of fun!

Enjoy your week!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing - yay!

Hi,

I rode home and collected Toby and we ate 500g of mince in tacos together.  Toby are five and I ate five.  Breakfast, who needs breakfast?

Toby and I then pottered around and went to bed.  End of story.  Heaven!

Today is wet here though.  I got quite wet riding in.  But the rain is coming down vertically so I think it's lovely.  Put a smile on my face to ride through the soaking rain today!

The weekend is busy.  Toby wants to help with the school working bee so we have to be there at 8am for an hour before swimming.  Then swimming.  Then Yum Cha.  Then pack for Toby's sleepover.  Drop him off and fill up my Saturday evening with...  whatever.  A movie perhaps?  Any takers?

Sunday we're free agents - after I collect Toby.

Mike will be visiting Karen and Scott in Quakers I believe!  Lucky him!

Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with karate

Hi,

I know it is a mother's duty to take her child to extra curricular activities after school to build a well-rounded individual that values commitment.  But last night I so just wanted to lounge around at home with Toby doing nothing.  It was raining and I was going to be wet after riding home.  But Mike's text reply to my request for a night off met with disapproval.

So Toby and I ate leftovers and hurried off to karate.  Good thing too - because Toby had a great time.  I read my book up the back and looked up from time to time to watch.  It was a good session.  Toby learned things.

Off to the supermarket afterwards to head off the lunchbox drama (nothing in the pantry for Toby's lunchbox - more motherly failings averted) and then home to bed.

The rain seemed to have stopped a bit for my ride in.  The strong wind had dried the roads a bit.  Still looks like it could rain out there though.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The long weekend with Mike for most of it

Hi,

What a great weekend!  I can hardly remember anything beyond the agony of watching the most hideous rugby game ever!  I felt sick and ended up peering through my fingers from the kitchen at the television.  Sitting quietly on the couch was not an option!

It was good to have Mike at home.  Saturday was quiet and Sunday we drove up to Waikanae for lunch and a sleepover to watch the rugby.  Part of me now wishes I had watched it in the privacy of my own home as I didn't enjoy the game.  But the All Blacks did win - and it was an unusual win for the ABs.  They usually don't grind out a win like the northern hemisphere teams seem to be able to do.  They like to get out in front and defend a lead.

Monday we had a scrumptious breakfast at Chez Tabor.  Crepes!  Sacre blue!  They were very nice.  I think I ploughed through 4 of them (and possibly it might have been 5 - I lost count).

Tuesday Mike left for Sydney and the idea of a Tues/Wed/Thurs stint each week in Sydney has disappeared already and he is away until the end of next week now.  Oh well!

I'm hoping I can catch a glimpse of the All Black parade today!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a team dinner and babysitting for Toby

Hi,

What a lovely morning - Mike is here!  Yay!  We have a start from home this morning because it is interview time at Scots College for Toby for next year.  Ooooooo.  Very exciting.  So I have started work already and will work late to make up for the time taken out for the interview.

Mike is tired after getting in close to 1am last night.  Poor chap!  But it is very nice to see him again.

Yesterday Toby was sick and we went to the doctors in the afternoon.  Toby has had a rash for over a week now and I was expecting it to only last a day or two.  But as he had no other symptoms I pretty much ignored it (apart from having a look at it).  But yesterday he was fragile in the morning and I decided it was best to see the doctor to rule out meningitis and measles (both going around in NZ).

The doctor immediately ruled out meningitis I noticed.  Then checked Toby's immunisation schedule and saw he was up-to-date.  But the rash stumped him.  He even got another colleague to come in and examine Toby.  between the two of them they declared it was "highly unlikely" to be measles and was instead a "non specified viral rash".  And probably no longer contagious (apparently that might have been last week - oh dear).

So, as Toby was declared not a health risk, Benjamin came in to babysit and I went out for dinner with my team at work.  We went to Leuven (corner Featherston and Johnston) and I had some nice steamed mussels.  Others were disappointed in their meals, but I was pleased.

Friday today!  Yay!  A big four day weekend for me and Toby (Monday is a public holiday and Tuesday is a teacher only day).  And the Rugby World Cup final.  I can't wait.  I am so excited.

Have a great weekend.  Go the All Blacks.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with dinner cooked for us

Hi,

What a great evening - I got home and dinner was cooked and very yummy.  Ta Aidan and ta to her family for looking after wee Toby for a few days.

Today I am at home because Toby is finally not feeling the best after a week watching a rash chase around his body.  It might just be he is getting a cold, but I'm taking him to the doctors this afternoon to check.

It does mean I am likely to miss our work night out tonight.  Pants.  Or "epic pants" as Rex said.  Yep.

Mike gets home tonight at midnight.  Hooray!

Have a good day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with pamphlet deliveries

Hi,

What a lovely evening last night.  I got home on the bus (felt weird, first time busing in and out for ages) and went and delivered Mike's Wadestown Residents Association pamphlets about this weekend's hard rubbish collection (I bet you're supposed to volunteer for that, Mike!).  Out and about was good fun as a change and I texted Mike and chatted to Aidan.  I was done before I knew it!

Home to tidy up for the guest chef tonight (Wednesday).  Aidan is cooking tea tonight at our house and the only stipulation was the kitchen should be clean.  Hope it passes muster.

I talked (briefly and in monosyllables) to Toby as he was watching some TV.  Don't think he was missing me terribly much.  Hopefully Mike was missing me more!

Got most of my chores done last night.  The ride down this hill this morning was great fun.  As I rode out of the garage Simon (neighbour across the way) rode out of his driveway.  So we rode down the hill together chatting away.  The roads were still wet, but the air was dry.  Simon said he'd go slow because he has dodgy brakes he can't seem to fix correctly at present, but even so - I couldn't get away from him!  When it's wet I am a bit of an old woman on the corners!

Busy at work.  Everything seems to be ramping up to about two weeks of frantic activity!  We'll see.

Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with Mike and a Cub planning meeting

Hi,

Tuesday morning now and the rain has stopped for a bit.  I got quite soaked riding home last night - my fluoro jacket went straight in the washing machine and now it is almost dry.  I took the bus into work today with Toby because he is getting looked after for a sleepover tonight up in Waikanae.  So we had his overnight bag and Aidan collected him just now from the front of my work.

Mike left this morning at 3:45am.  I must be getting used to it, because I hardly woke this time.  Heheheheh.  He is back late on Thursday (midnight).

Last night we had our planning session for Cubs for the last term.  The two existing leaders finish up so Mike and I are taking on all the admin this term.  Or rather - I am!  Mike is away most of the term in Sydney for Cub night.

Tonight I am delivering pamphlets for the Wadestown Residents Association that Mike didn't quite get done at the weekend.  Then the night is mine!  No husband, no son!  Might watch a girls movie I think!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Mike and fantasic fun

Hi,

What an amazing weekend - wish they could all be such fun.  The weather wasn't up for much, but neither was I so that was fine by me.  Toby and I left Wellington at around 6:30pm on Friday after collecting Brennan and Chelsea.  We ate at Maccas in Petone to get stomachs full for the Rimutaka windy windy road (Chelsea clutched an ice cream container but fortunately she didn't need it).

Eventually we got to Waikuku Lodge at about 9:15pm.  I had forgotten how windy the gravel road is into the lodge and it took ages.  Off to bed eventually.

Saturday it was rainy off and on (more on than off) but some of us ventured out.  I read a lot.  And ate a lot.  All weekend!  It was great.  The sort of weekend you dream about when it is a tough day at work.  In the middle of nowhere, surrounded by good company, buckets of yummy food, a thick book to read. Choice!  I did get out of the lodge once or twice.  Once to attempt (feebly) to chop wood with a huge axe, and once after dinner to see if we could shoot anything (no!).

The weekend fell on Malcolm's birthday and we had a lot of cake to get through as well as lemon cake made on the premises (ta Marion and Chelsea).  Mike arrived at about 2pm after a good Friday night out with work and a sleep in!  Col also arrived just before him after working late Friday!

Saturday Malcolm and Ron found enough copper wire to fashion an aerial for an old radio and we all listened to the France/Wales semi final.  Pants outcome!  The Welsh were a good team this RWC.  They will give Australia a run for their money!

Sunday I went for a walk with Helen, Iona and Col and enjoyed some sunshine (and some rain).  Then we had lunch and packed up for the weekend.  Great fun!  More please.

Toby and I dropped off Brennan and Chelsea and stayed for dinner after the cup of tea.  Mike cooked and it was wonderful.  Wellington was glorious and we ate outside in the setting sun.

Home to get ready for the big game and the All Blacks were on fire!  The first 15 minutes had the game virtually sealed.  Next week - the final!  Oooooossssshhh!

Have a great week!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with Mike!

Hi,

Mike is home and Toby and I are very happy.  I couldn't get back to sleep after he came to bed.  The excitement of it all.

Tonight Toby and I are off to Waikuku Lodge (after collecting Brennan and Chelsea) and Mike will join us tomorrow morning.  We haven't been there for ages.  I am looking forward to it.

Today I have a presentation to give at work.  Pants, eh?  I hope that goes ok.  It is about... me!  Oh dear.  But, at least I know the topic.  Heheheheh.

Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing

Hi,

My sister Karen is right.  School holidays are way easier than term times.  Last night I rode to collect Toby and found out that it was raining up in Wadestown, but dry in town.  Or rather, I think I rode into low cloud hanging around the hills.  You couldn't call it rain!

Then we went home and had toast for dinner.  With two veges!  So it was healthy.  Sort of.

Mike's home tonight so our meals might get a bit more substantial again.  Toby and I are very pleased.  Mind you, he is away to Sydney Tues, Wed, Thurs next week!

We're away this weekend to Waikuku Lodge in the south of the Wairarapa.  Should be a pleasant weekend.  I was almost hoping to avoid the semi final angst, but we'll be back in time for the All Blacks v Australia game on Sunday night.  Aaarrgghh!  Can't wait.  Can wait.  Very nervous.

User group tonight so I drove in so I can collect Toby at 1700 and be back in town by 1730 for the start.  I also drove home again as I forgot my work swipe card - it was still in my bike shorts.  Oops.  So I have driven twice as far as I needed to this morning, and sang twice as loud to some Pink songs than I needed to too!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing

Hi,

Heheheheh - a Tuesday evening spent relaxing with Toby.  Very nice thank you very much.  Tuesday itself was fine - it rained during the day while I was at work.  The roads were dry for the ride in and the ride home.  Perfection!

Toby rang me at 9:30am with a message I could barely discern.  After the third listen I figured out he had a bleeding nose from a head butt and wanted me to collect him.  But after talking to him and the carer, he decided to stay at Skids.  Good on him.  He was absolutely fine when I collected him.

Also caught up with Aidan for a cup of tea in the afternoon.  That was a pleasant surprise as she was in for lunch and a meeting of some description.  Lucky me.

Tonight is another night with nothing on.  School holidays are good in a way.  Tomorrow night is user group night so I need to sort out Toby for that.

Have a marvellous day.
Love,
Angela

The Monday with yachting and Benjamin babysitting

Hi,

Wellington yachting enthusiasts have to deal with a lot of difficult conditions if they want to sail in Wellington harbour.  Unpredictable winds, gales, swirling winds.  But last night our yachting was cancelled due to no wind.  Yes, that's right.  There was no wind.  We got on board at 5pm for a 5:30pm race start (and we were on Maraingi - a 101 year old sloop) and spent 1.5 hours tootling around outside the marina waiting for some wind to start the race.  Not happening!

Eventually it was cancelled and we went back to the yacht club for a BBQ and then I went home to relieve Benjamin from Toby duties.  They had dinner consisting of Pringles and Corn Chips.  I think Toby likes Benajmin's idea of "cooking".

We chatted to Mike before falling asleep in 5 seconds flat!  The sea air is good for something.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with rugby and no Mike

Hi,

The weekend was great fun - Friday night Toby and I had a sleepover at Aunty Sally and Uncle Andrew's place.  Saturday morning I was off to clay pigeon shooting in Upper Hutt for a few hours.  It was good fun and I got 50% of my targets.  Not too bad.  Thanks Aunty Sally for looking after Toby.

Saturday evening we stayed at Rex's house for a BBQ and that was great fun too.  Back home to crash into bed and watch rugby.

Sunday up for lunch at Sally and Andrew's place.  Then off to Waikanae for dinner and more rugby.

Phew!  What a weekend.  We see Mike this week (Thursday night).  Yay!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing but Mike says that's boring and I need to market Thursday better

Hi,

I like not having anything on in the evenings!  Thursdays are the best day of the week (apart from next Thursday when it is User Group night and Toby will have to endure a 90 minutes XBox and pizza fest!) because we have nothing on.

Anyhow - it is the last day of the term today and Toby is very excited.  He says they get to watch a movie.  Oh dear.

We want to go and see Aunty Sally after work and have a sleepover because I have a work function on tomorrow morning through to early afternoon - yes, the clay pigeon shooting.  I'm not so sure I am going to find it that enjoyable.  I'll be sure to let you know.

The rest of Saturday I intend to wander around town with Toby soaking up some crowd buzz.  Then home to relax in front of a movie or something.

Sunday I think we might have lunch and then wander out to Waikanae to watch the All Blacks in the quarterfinal against Argentina.  Toby will have a late night but not a lot of need to concentrate at the Skids Holiday Programme on Monday.  And I have got Benjamin tentatively booked to look after Toby on Monday afternoon/evening while I compete in yet another work Business Games event.

Toby and I watched Tyler and Abby in a Barnier production and we loved it.  Toby loved it so much when I wandered down to wake him this morning, he was already awake and watching the DVD again.  I think he'll be singing "I'm an Indian elephant" to himself all day!

Ok - have a great weekend. 

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no karate and no Mike

Hi,

I was soaked by the time I got to Toby - this rain is nothing if not persistent!  Anyhow, we got home and Toby's knee was sore from "cramp".  I have no idea if it was cramp or pins and needles or something, but we had the evening off karate anyway.  I worked from home for a bit before we had dinner (home made burgers - one of Toby's favourites).

We tried to ring Mike but there was no love from him.  Perhaps he was in bed already because he had a 2am - 4am release window for his work last night.  Poor him!

The weekend is coming.  No swimming (school holidays start for Toby tomorrow) but I have clay pigeon shooting on Saturday.  The pictures look scary enough.  http://www.huttvalleygunclub.org.nz/Experience-Clay-Shooting.htm  What a huge gun!  Yikes!  I will wander back into town with Toby after this to soak up the atmosphere of the RWC quarterfinals.  Then Sunday maybe up to Waikanae to visit friends.  That should fill in the weekend.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

Why do I need a cup of tea so desperately when I get into work?  Heheheheh.  Anyhow, last night's carnival night at Cubs went okay.  The Cubs made a huge mess pouring rice.  Not so much pouring as perhaps throwing?  Anyhow, some Cubs made pretty good juggling balls.  We ran out of time to show some juggling off.  It was hectic and chaotic, as per usual.

Toby and I went home and chatted to Grandy for a wee while.  They are getting ready for their move soon (next Monday they take possession) and Dad will hopefully celebrate his birthday (belated wishes for Saturday, Dad!) on his day off this week!  So he can relax before the big move next week!  Wish I was there to help out.

Then we had a quick chat to Mike (no Face Time - not enough signal his end I think).  And then we slept well.  The rain hasn't stopped here - it is constant drizzle.  I thought I was going to get soaked riding into work, but I must have timed it for the lighter drizzly rain.  Phew!  Don't mind it too much, but at the other end of the day, pulling on your wet cycling gear is definitely - pants!  :-)

Karate tonight - but Toby and I haven't practised his Exercise, so I don't think he will get it signed off tonight.  But we'll see.

Have a good day!  Josh's mother is touching down in Wellington about now (from Hawaii).  Bet she wishes they lived elsewhere in the world around about now.  Heheheh.  But this weekend is going to be huge!  Two RWC quarterfinal matches.  The place will be pumping.  After my clay pigeon shooting Saturday lunch time I will take Toby into town to soak up the atmosphere.  (Yeah - about that clay pigeon shooting - I'm not sure what I was thinking either when I said I'd try it for a work thing).

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Mike

Hi,

But now we have the Tuesday without Mike.  Oh well - Sydney's a lucky city.  Mind you, he is pretty sick.  Perhaps he'd be better in quarantine at the moment.  The weather all week looks like rain, rain, rain.  Pants!  Heheheheh.  But I didn't get very wet this morning riding in.  So all is ok.

Cubs tonight and Mike is running it.  Oh, no, hold on.  I am.  :-(  Heheheheh.  It's carnival night and we're making juggling balls and teaching the Cubs to juggle!  Woo hoo!  Couldn't find my juggling clubs (I think Mike threw them out during a clean up - he was a bit guilty looking when I asked him where they were and then he was mighty evasive) but found two sets of juggling balls.  I need to buy some more balloons today and I'll be sussed.

Mike will almost be landing by now (he was on an early flight).  We'll see him in less than two weeks time.  And he'll be back for good then.  Well, that's the rumour anyway.

Toby is good - he's playing at Jack's house after school today.  Good fun for him.  I'll collect him from there and head straight to Cubs I think.

Have a great day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Mike!

Hi,

Toby and I had a quiet Friday and fell asleep dreaming of Mike's return.  He was a bit under the weather having had a couple of migraines but it was good to see him and I chatted for ages to him.  I wonder if he heard me?

Anyhow, up early Saturday for the trip out to Matiu/Somes and it was a very nice day.  I spent a lot of the day on the picnic table outside the DoC house enjoying the sunshine.  Mike had another migraine and spent most of the day in bed.  Poor man.

However, by the time I cooked dinner for everyone (thanks Sarah especially for your help) Mike had perked up and joined us.  As a possible indication of the meals I have been dishing up to Toby (our Friday night meal was only chicken satay sticks!), Toby piled broccoli on his plate until we had to stop him.  He ate a few meatballs and a bit of rice and then went back for more broccoli.  I like to think I have honed his appreciation of vegetables rather than neglecting his nutrition!

Some people saw penguins out and about, and tuatara.  So by the time we left on Sunday morning, people were pretty pleased with Mike's trip.

I met the Tabors in town and enjoyed lunch at Wagamama with them before they visited some (I think they wanted to see all of them) of the eleven naval vessels in port for the 75th anniversary.  Then home to get ready for the rugby - All Blacks v Canada.  John and Vivienne came around and we enjoyed a good game where Canada played entertaining rugby. 

Some chinese takeaways for tea and the night was done!  Phew.

Back to work this morning and it is none the worse for the wear at having an evacuation on Friday afternoon.  2pm I performed my first fire warden duties and then had a coffee with Sally.  Followed by a beer (ok - cranberry juice for me) with a work colleague.  Then home on the bus to get Toby wondering if the diesel spill into the building was going to write off my bike parked in the basement.  No such luck!  Heheheh.

Have a great week.  Mike is back at work in Wellington today, and off to Sydney tomorrow morning again for two more weeks.  Should be the last two week stint!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home with sunglasses on - this weather is lovely.  And this morning it is even better.  A forecast high of 18C.  That's summer temperatures.  Nice.  Shame it's going to end by tomorrow.  Mike won't believe it for a second.

Mike gets in tonight - late!  We're looking forward to that - but why do we always have to share him with a bunkroom of others every time he visits?  Yes - we're off to Matiu/Somes tomorrow morning with a bunch of others (20 people all up I think).  Bit more than this time last year when two families stayed the night.

Can you believe I have wielded face paint two Fridays in a row?  Weird.  Toby went to school today in Argentine colours and I painted a reasonable Argentine flag on his cheeks.  He looked pretty good - from far away.  Heheheheh.  The lady on her way to the bus stop was impressed anyway.

Not too sure what we can squash into our Sunday after getting back from Matiu.  Ice skating?  Rugby (Go the All Blacks!)?  But we'll try.

Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with karate

Hi,

Another glorious evening in Wellington - more of the same, please.  I rode home early to collect wee Toby and feed him Burger Wisconsin before karate kicked in (ohh, nice pun!).  We sat in the wee green car outside the dojo while Toby munched his way through an adult sized burger with chicken schnitzel and bacon.  Plus red onion (he picked out and then ate one anyway - just to try it and I think he was pleasantly surprised how nice it was - even by itself).  Then he discovered mayo in it and screwed up his face.  But in the end he ate it all.

The evening sun was getting low in the horizon as Toby's class kicked off.  I was sitting at the back of the hall, clutching the laptop with fear as some starting activity boiled around me.  I had visions of the
laptop getting knocked off my lap by flailing arms.  Some version of "Get the Flag" I think.  Anyway, Toby loved it.  I could tell by the shine in his eyes.

Home to relax a little before bed.  Phew.  Glad Tuesday and Wednesday are over and done with.  The weather is supposed to be nice through to the end of Friday.  Great timing as the weekend is supposed to turn out a bit poorly.  We're off to Matiu/Somes Island (the big island in the middle of Wellington Harbour) for Saturday night.  Should be good fun.  We had a good time there last year (around this time too I think).

Wellington is pumping this weekend with activities.  An ice skating rink kicks off in town near Te Papa for a month.  I think we need to try that out.  There are eleven Naval vessels visiting for the 50th anniversary of Navy something or other so you can have tours on them and watch them going through the motions.  Parades.  Whatever else.  We'll be isolated from a lot of it on the island.  Hope I get to see some penguins at night this time.

Mike is still flat out in Sydney.  I get to "chat" to him during the day from time to time.  Send him funny Stuff articles showing how crazy the world is - even in his absence.

This morning is absolutely wonderful - possibly the best morning so far in this run of nice weather.  Makes me want to drive for ages in the wee green car, singing loudly.  When I suggested it to Toby this morning, he looked wistfully at me.  Good to see he is learning right from wrong.  Heheheheh.

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs and glorious weather

Hi,

How about this wonderful spring weather, eh?  I am loving it.  I rode furiously down the hill this morning because the roads were bone dry (there is a little bit of wind out there too - keeping everything dry).  I love it when I can pedal going downhill to try to go faster!  Yeah!

Last night was Cubs night and we had the Cubs outside for a lot of it.  We played "Red light, green light" outside to start off with (ta for the idea, Aidan) and then inside to learn about native plants.  Then back outside to find ten leaves from those native plants.  All the six packs got it right!  Good on them!

Home afterwards to FaceTime with Mike and fall asleep early.  Nice.

Tonight is karate night.  Another exciting night.  Woo hoo!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing on

Hi,

Rode home to get Toby in the lovely sunshine.  I like daylight savings!  I almost contemplated wearing sunglasses home - that's how nice it was.  Toby and I had a relaxing evening and we were in bed at 7:30pm!  With the daylight savings time kicked in, I can convince Toby it is sleeping time by saying "It's always daylight at bedtime during daylight savings".

Anyhow, we were almost asleep by 8:15pm when Mike called.  With the three hour difference at the moment it is tricky for Mike to catch us at a good time.  He had a good day!

Got my haircut at lunchtime yesterday.  Managed to see Josh briefly as well.  Not too sure anyone can tell I had a haircut.  Trim is more like it.  But I noticed while washing and brushing my hair this morning that it is more manageable!  Honest!

Tonight is Cubs night and I have the coming in activity to run.  Thinking of Blindman's Bluff.

Made my lunch at the last minute today.  Had a nice lunch out planned but plans are often thwarted!  Still, my bread rolls are pretty good, and I can work through lunch to bank some time for later in the week.

Enjoy your day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend like a holiday - but no Mike

Hi,

After some face painting attempts (some ok, some not-so-much) we were off to the rugby on Friday evening.  It was a beautiful Friday in Wellington and the stadium was pretty full for a match where not many locals had any interest.  We watched Australia versus USA and I sang the Australian national anthem just for my Australian parts of my family!  Heheheheh.  We went with Josh and Aidan and their boys and they were pleased to cheer for their team when they got a try close to the start of the game.  The rest of the match however was a foregone conclusion.

William, Toby and I stayed to watch the second half, but with the departure of Duncan and Emerson (and their iPods), Toby realised he was at a rugby match on a Friday night and moaned and complained.  So we left 5 minutes before the end (I negotiated a reasonable time to watch it I guess).

Anyhow, next morning we were up for swimming.  Toby managed half of the lesson before coming out.  I think he was tired.  Anyhow, we went to Waikanae and stayed for the night.  I went shopping with Josh for bathroom trim and a cabinet while Aidan chatted to a friend about books.  Josh even got the television working for the All Blacks v France match that night.

I got to sit ton the couch (my bed) and watch the game.  Good fun!  And Sunday morning (after a sleepless night when Toby came into my sleeping bag as well and there was no room) we went to the beach for a good walk.  And had yummy breakfast as well.

Toby and I left Waikanae in brilliant sunshine and drove with the roof down over the hill to Lower Hutt.  Only to get quite wet when the rain came lashing down.  Lunch was good and then Toby and I relaxed at home.

Great weekend.  Thanks everyone.  Mike also had fun with the Kittos in Sydney!  Lucky him, eh?

Have a great week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing - and no Mike either

Hi,

Toby and I got home and cooked tea and then the evening was all ours.  We lounged around for the most part, although I did try to tidy up for the deluge this evening of 8 year old boys to our house before the rugby game tonight.  Why, you may very well ask?  Yes, perhaps I should have tidied tomorrow morning.  After the activities - whatever they may be.

I drove in because I am attending a funeral for one of our Cubs' fathers who died this week from melanoma.  Get your skin checked regularly.  I will head off at 12:30 to the church in Karori and should be back in good time.  Perhaps a slightly longer lunch than usual.

Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with karate

Hi,

Toby and I had a good time at karate.  Christine collected him from Skids with Tom and fed him Burger Wisconsin.  I think Toby was pretty pleased with this outcome.  I chatted with Christine, so I also was pretty pleased with the outcome.  I am sure I don't see enough of Christine and can easily bump up my quota!  But she's busy and I am busy and that is the way of the world.

Toby had cramp in his hip (and blamed his constant snowploughing at the weekend!) and sat out some of karate last night.  But the sensei was pleased to see Toby back and came and chatted to us.  We also videoed two exercises for Toby to practise at the weekend.  We might be onto something.  The sensei says Toby can have a grading signed off next week!

I worked on documentation while Toby was at karate.  Laptop on knee.  Worked ok.  Got some done.  Enough to send off today to the customer.

Tonight is relaxing enough.  Toby and I can chill out.  His homework was completed on Monday night (and we did a bit of a narrative last night and emailed it in) so we can just read or watch television.  Nice.  Looking forward to it.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

Can all Cubs nights be this easy, please?  It was pool night and I think 11 swimming badges may have been achieved by the Cubs - including Chelsea's first badge!  Yay!  The cubs had a water safety session, time in the spa and time on the hydroslide.  I think they all loved it.

Tonight is karate and I will ride home furiously to get Toby a cheese toasted sandwich and ready on time.

We spoke with Mike briefly last night - I love FaceTime.  He is quite busy until mid November by the looks of recent email correspondence.  We shall see.

The roads were bone dry this morning and I enjoyed the ride down the hill.  I like it when I can go fast!

We also bumped into Vivienne last night at Woolworths in Crofton Downs.  She had just finished dog training and we had finished Cubs.  Toby wandered around with her looking for something yummy for his lunchbox and as we left he told me how much he loves his Aunty Vivienne.  Chance meetings always seem sweeter somehow, don't they?  It was nice to see her.  I'd make Tuesday nights my shopping nights if I thought I'd get company.  Heheheheh.

An exciting weekend is looming.  We have tickets to the RWC match between USA and Australia for Friday night.  Then swimming Saturday and a Waikanae excursion for the rest of Saturday.  And I am watching the weather forecast to see if Sunday looks good for a day trip to the snow.  Yes!!!  Come on!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with no Mike

Hi,

I rode home and collected Toby with a mountain of messages to get through, including supermarket shopping for the week's lunches.  But it was raining cats and dogs and Toby and I looked at each other after dinner and retired to bed to watch some TV and read.  Toby promised he would eat the slightly stale bread with a cheese slice in it and the remnants of a cookie Aidan bought him last week that was only half eaten.  I'm sure it won't kill him!  It'll make him appreciate the nice lunch I make tomorrow, after we pop to the supermarket after Cubs tonight!

Cubs is an away night to the local pool.  Should be lots of fun!

Ok - time for a cup of tea.  Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with fabulous skiing - and Mike!

Hi,

Wow - what a great weekend.  It was so nice to have Mike home, but we were busy immediately after work and I never saw Mike until midnight up at Ruapehu.

Here's how it looked from my eyes.  I caught a lift with Rex and his family up to Ruapehu.  We made good time and got lots of yummy things to eat along the way.  I recommend long road trips with their family!  We caught up with Aidan and Josh and their family at Bulls and drove together to Ohakune where we collected the food for the weekend and the week (other people moved in after we moved out).

The road was clear all the way to the carpark, where Rex had to put chains on to get into the spare carpark right beside the track to the lodge.  Shame, eh?  Anyhow, after fighting the chains for 30 minutes to get the first one on, the second one went on in 5 minutes!

Then we emptied the car and ferried it all up the track to the lodge.  I made four trips up and down, including one with two cartons of food on my back!  Phew!  Good fun!  Mike was about 90 minutes behind us.  But I only saw him briefly because he got the news that Andrew's car had slipped off into the gutter on the way up the hill.  Between us arriving and Mike, it had started snowing heavily and the road became treacherous.

I walked down to see if I could help, but Mike had it in hand and I wandered back up the lodge to wait and see what happened.  Eventually they left the car where it was and it was midnight by the time the last of us made it into the lodge.

Next morning it was snowing and a wee bit windy.  But some of us braved the conditions and wandered out.  I had a fantastic time.  Some young people took me down Broken Leg Gully and it was fabulous.  I ungracefully flopped over a wee cliff at the start of the run and had a ball.  It became a firm favourite when I introduced Andrew to it later in the day!

My messages to the lodge sank in to some people and Andrew and Josh joined me and I had a wonderful afternoon skiing on great snow with good visibility.  Josh's children had their first lesson and loved skiing.  Hooray!  I am hoping they will be good skiing companions for Toby in future seasons.

Dinner was great - so yummy.  I am amazed at how people can conjure up scrumptious food from ingredients someone else has selected.  Charm and Aidan seemed to be well in control of kitchen things.  We were in safe hands.

I slept well that night.  Sunday it was snowing early on and although it did brighten up in the afternoon, it wasn't quite as good as Saturday afternoon.  I took Rex up the the top of the mountain during a whiteout and I think it made him a bit more apprehensive.  Oops.  But he assures me that it was good for him and made him better on the easier slopes.  Perhaps he has forgiven me?  Mike took him down Rockgarden in good visibility and he loved it.

I had a few good runs with Mike and Andrew - exploring more of the mountain.

Then home with Rex and his family again.  And I slept well again last night!

Mike has now gone to Sydney again though.  We see him in about ten days.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with Mike's return

Hi,

Toby and I went out shopping last night for some items for the weekend's ski trip and Toby got to eat McDonalds so he was happy.  We collapsed into bed when we got home, excited at the prospect of Mike coming back at midnight.

I was expecting Mike around 1am after clearing customs and the like but he came in the door at 12:15am.  His flight was early!  So I got up and we chatted for a while before we went to bed.  Toby woke up and was cuddling Mike a lot!

Anyhow, we got up after too short a sleep to sort out our lives.  I left early so I hope Mike and Toby got on ok.

Skiing this weekend.  Should be great fun!
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no karate and no Mike

Hi,

When I got to Toby and he asked to skip karate, I was in no mood to argue.  An evening relaxing seemed a much better idea than an evening starting with a hurried toasted sandwich for dinner and rushing around.  So we had a nice pasta dinner and relaxed for the most part.  Perhaps it was for the best as I had my best sleep in ages.

Busy again today at work.  Mike is coming home tonight (arriving on the midnight flight - so not so sure it counts as coming home tonight) and Toby and I are quite excited about it.

Off skiing for the weekend after work tomorrow.  Hope the weather improves from the forecast snow!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

Cubs went really well.  It was RWC theme and Toby and I dressed in rugby jerseys like most of the Cubs.  We had a rugby themed quiz and then each six got cupcakes to decorate in the theme of a RWC team with icing and the winner from each six went into the Grand Final.  Needless to say, a simple St George Cross won the day.  Icing and 9 year olds don't make for intricate patterns.

Toby and I went home and chatted to Mike with Face Time.  Great fun.  Then Toby and I collapsed into sleep.

This morning still has hail lying around from the storm that hit Wellington around 1pm yesterday.  It is cold but sunny today.  A gorgeous day!

Oh - and I rode home on Monday night without using granny gear.  Second time in two weeks.  Going to try and do it again this week.  Up the ante!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

Where is Mike?

I'll write some words sometime, but in the meantime here are some photos instead.

A huge slab of yummy Tiramisu from a wonderful Italian place in Randwick.  I did manage to finish it.

Hanging out with the smurfs at Castle Towers

Max Brenner's take on hot chocolate. Lucious thick dark goodness!

Buckets and buckets of chocolate!

Hotel Addison in Kensington.  Look at the wonderful gold curtains!

The Monday with no Mike

Hi,

Toby and I had a good Monday evening - well, I had to work a little, but it was ok.  Tonight is Cubs night.  We're having (surprise) a Rugby World Cup evening.

Busy at work.  Mike is busy at his work.

Heheheh.  Good fun.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with no Mike

Hi,

Friday evening saw me and Toby collecting Sally and Andrew and heading to their place for tea and a sleepover.  Toby was so keen to sleep inside on the floor.  Heheheh.  We woke early and sneaked around and left before we heard any movement from the bedroom.  Hopefully we didn't wake anyone too early on a Saturday.

We drove home to swap cars and then had McDonalds for brekkie.  Then off to Toby's new swimming lesson.  I dropped him off at the pool early and drove back to Abtec for the stereo fitting.  I walked back and forgot Toby's swimming bag when I was halfway.  That meant I had to run back and run to the pool.  Toby was 5 mins late.  Oh dear.  But when he got out of the pool at the end he said he doesn't want to quit swimming anymore.  Hooray!  He loved the new lesson.

Then we wandered around Queensgate for a while.  We ate lunch and bought new shoes for Toby.  Then we walked to get the car.  I had to call Mike as they put the wrong stereo in.  But we're happy with the one they put in.  So Toby and I drove home to get ready for Toby's sleepover that night at William's house.

When Toby had left I worked on my work issues (and fixed the big one).  Then I watched some rugby and fell asleep.

Sunday I got Toby and we got the car wash stuff and I washed the MX5.  It looks great.  Toby and I relaxed and then went for dinner to Jack's house.  We always meeting interesting people at their dinner parties.

I know Mike had fun with the Kittos at the weekend.  Lucky him!  Mike told me last night how Karen always looks after him.

Work today.  And flat out again.  And a bit wet after the sodden ride on!

Have a great week!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with user group fun

Hi,

I think Toby likes user group sessions - he gets to eat pizza, drink fizzy and play XBox.  Heheheh.  It went well and I took Toby out for McDonalds afterwards.  He didn't like the pizzas flavour offerings last night.

Home to chat to Mike for a while (he is having fun in Sydney) and then to sleep.

Tomorrow is swimming, and a new stereo in the wee green car.  I need to buy Toby some shoes (his ones are falling apart - he has had them a while, eh Ma?) and then possibly take him to see Petone fair.

I have quite a bit of work to do so I hope I get it done today.

Enjoy the weekend.  Lucky Mike is staying with my sister and her family.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with karate and no Mike

Hi,

I cycled home early to collect Toby so we could eat and not be rushed for karate.  Toby is dragging his feet about attending karate at the moment.  I think the step up to Dragons has been hard as they are left to practise their own syllabus for quite a while and Toby doesn't know what to do.  So he gets bored.  Ironically the second sensei took him through Exercise 1 last night and he got good instruction.  And he had fun - I could tell.  At the start they jogged around the hall for 30 minutes. Toby was rosy-cheeked.  The senseis had two big sticks and the students would need to jump and slide under them at random times. 

Anyhow - we came home and missed Mike on Face Time.  He was busy with presentations and drinks.  Maybe tonight?

Tonight after work I will drive home (I parked behind the Beehive) and collect Toby and bring him back to the user group meeting.  Hopefully he will be okay there.  Then home for some relaxation before we chat to Mike.  Hopefully.

Mike has a flight back!  Yay.  He arrives late next Thursday night.  But leaves again early Monday.  But that means he gets to come skiing with us.  Hooray!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

What a great evening.  I got home early from work to keep working but not have that rush to get to Cubs on time, and it seemed to work out ok.  Toby got dinner, I got work done and we got to Cubs at a good time.

Cubs was great.  We visited a farm out at Makara to go eel spotting.  It was just past the Makara village and owned by Mr and Mrs Turner.  We saw one huge eel to rival the Mt Bruce ones for size, and two smaller ones.  They love bacon rind I have to say. And next time I need a spotlight torch - not an LED one.  My headtorch could hardly penetrate the water.  Which reminds me.  Mike - do you want to buy me a replacement Maglite torch (in green) to replace mine that was destroyed by that dodgy batch of batteries in Melbourne?  I liked that torch.

The time flew by and it was the end of Cubs before I knew it.  Home to collapse into bed.  Yay.

Karate night tonight and I think I will head home a little early to work there before the rush as well...

Tomorrow - ditto.  The community user group is on (second Thurs in the month - come and watch if you're around) so I need to be there at 5:30pm.  I think I might drive in tomorrow and nip up to collect Toby at 5pm.  Should fit in I think.  And Toby has attended the user group before.

Mike is getting along well in Sydney.  We missed him last night but hopefully we can Face Time with him at 8pm tonight too.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with no Mike

Hi,

Toby and I had quality Face Time with Mike last night at 8pm.  It's an iPhone app and we can chat to each other for free and see each other.  Toby loved it.  We got to see Mike's apartment and Toby took Dad under the bed covers with him.  Very funny.

We also had dinner at Christine and John's house.  Scrumptious chicken and rice.  Yummo!

That was about it, really.  Single parenting is going okay for the first day!

Tonight is Cubs night and should be good fun!  We're going to a farm in Makara to go eel spotting.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend full of activities

Hi,

Well, Mike has gone to Sydney now.  He can't be far off landing as I type.  He was up at 3:30am and away by 4:15am to the airport.  Nasty flight.  Toby and I are on our own.  At least Mike is there (sort of) for Abby's birthday!  Happy birthday wee Abby!  Have a great day.

The weekend was fun.  Friday night relaxing with Toby was pleasant.  It's always a great way to unwind after the week.

Saturday morning we were up for haircuts, shopping and visiting the car stereo people.  The MX-5 is booked in to get its radio replaced next Saturday morning.  Should be good!

Then swimming - which went well.  Then Mike and I split up and I took Toby to Waikanae for lunch and then a day walk at Nga Manu reserve.  The lunch was superb - ta Aidan and Josh!

Josh led the trip and an ex- work colleague turned up with her son.  That was good to catch up.  Heard a bit of gossip from the old workplace.  Jack came along too (Mike collected him from his gymnastics and brought him and his cousin (who is 23 years old) out to the walk too).  Rex and his family came along too. 

At Nga Manu there are reserved wetlands and aviaries with Kea, Kaka, Kiwi and Tuatara.  The kids liked the eel feeding too.  It is a lovely wee area.  The walk was rather short though - especially for a tramping trip.

We went back to Aidan and Josh's house for a cup of tea.  The Gilberts outstayed their welcome as usual and even had dinner there.  Then it was time to zap back into Wellington as Jack and his cousin James had a family birthday party at 8:30pm.

We got invited to that too!  Nice.  It was quite late by the time we got home though.

Up early on Sunday to make a nice breakfast for Mike (pancakes, bacon, sliced banana, maple syrup and icing sugar dusting - oh - and coffee!).  We were going to watch What Now being filmed at a classmate's house of Toby's but he was content to people-spot on the TV.  Oh well.

We checked on Mike's parent's place in the afternoon, had a cup of tea with Sally and Andrew and headed home for a nice meal and Mike to pack.

Phew!  Great fun!

Have  a marvellous week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing on

Hi,

I rode home to collect Toby from school after work and achieved a new first!  I never used granny gear the whole way up the hill.  I think having my new work closer to the bottom of the hill means I am not as tired by the time I get to the hill, and I can maintain a higher speed up the hill.  It must be better for me!

Mike worked late so Toby and I had tea before he got home.  Toby relaxed watching a bit of TV and I read before we fell asleep.

Today is Friday!  And my nephew Cam's birthday!  Wow - I think he might be 18 or something.  Jamie I can remember easily as he was born a few months before we got married - so he is as old as our marriage!  But trying to remember the exact age of everyone else is hard!  And good luck to Vince today too.  He knows what for.

The weekend looks like fun.  Haircuts for the boys tomorrow morning.  Some car stereo check (the MX5 has no working stereo).  Swimming.  Lunch in Waikanae followed by an afternoon walk with the WTMC.  Josh is leading it!  Good on Josh!  Rex and his family are coming up for it too.  Looking forward to it.

Sunday is Sept 4th and I rather fancy having a nice home cooked roast meal on Sunday night to celebrate the day like old times.  And Abby's birthday is the next day - and Mike's last day in Wellington for a while.  All good reasons.  Sunday morning the national Sunday morning kids TV show is filming in a house of a kid in Toby's class.  So the neighbourhood is invited around for fun.  We'll go to that too.  And I must record it, just in case we see Toby.  And he'll recognise kids on it anyway.

Sounds like fun.  Next week I'll be a single mother.  And it is unsure how long that will be for too.  Could be ages.  Oh well.  I should manage just fine.  Toby's a good kid.

Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela