The Saturday exploring Mike's Sydney

Hi,

Mike and I got up early an caught a local bus (751) to Blacktown and swapped to a bus service replacing the rail network for the weekend.  Yep - engineering works weekend.  The bus was great - n express coach all the way to Wynard station - no stops.  Better than the train service.  Hahahah.

Mike took me for brunch in town (close to our work's Sydney office) and then we went shopping.  The tourists were out in force.  We bought postage stamps at the post office and the chap behind the counter said "Even though they are stamped at $1.65, I'll give them to you for $1.60".  Very odd.  Felt like haggling.  Mike thinks he should have tried for $1.50 now.

From there we walked to Darling Harbour and had an iced coffee.  Mike showed me his haunts from his Sydney trips.

On Pyrmont Bridge

Just missing Sally and Andrew's feet at Darling Harbour

Then we caught a taxi to Randwick and Mike took me all around the University of New South Wales campus.  He was so enthusiastic.  He's very cute.  From there we walked to Coogee beach - bit of a meandering walk.  But the beach was lovely.

Surveying the beach - see Wedding Cake island on the horizon?

We sat on the grass under a tree and enjoyed the view.  A public announcement was made while we were there.  It went like this:

Due to strong winds (Mike and I queried defining the gentle onshore breeze as strong), there are some bluebottles coming ashore (oh - we were expecting announcements about sharks or rips).  If you get stung, just relax.  (Right - of course!  Relaxing is a great idea.  Best remember that).  Come out and have a cool shower.  Pull the stingers off with your fingers.  If it is still sore, see a lifeguard.

This is a typical Australian approach to its creepy crawlies.  Nothing about evacuating the beach.  Just relax if you get stung.  Don't inconvenience anyone by panicking and having to get rescued.  Just relax and have a cold shower.  Hahahah.

We caught a local bus (M50 - Prepay only - Mike sorted them out - crazy, fragmented public transport system!) to Central, waited for a coach back to Blacktown and enjoyed the bus ride.

Caught the 752 from Blacktown to Quakers Hill, all foretold accurately by the bus nerd at Central station (he knew the Quakers Hill bus route from Blacktown and even what "Stand" to catch it from once we got there. Freaky!).

Home to a great dinner from Karen and watched some Vampire Diaries with her.  Mike and Scott have been having B grade movie fests.  Iron Sky one night.  Piranha DD the next night.  No idea what the movie was last night but Mike thinks I may have made it to about 10 minutes before giving up!  Must have been a good one.

Today is Sunday and we're off up to Scott's mother's house for New Years.  Can't wait to swim in the sea.  Wish I had togs with me yesterday at Coogee.

Love,
Angela

Boxing Day celebrations

Hi,

Boxing Day had more of the same weather as Christmas Day - but less rain and less thunder.  Scott's family all arrived around 11.30am and the food was coming out of our ears.  It was great to catch up with Scott's family.  They have two fresh babies (Troy and Chad have both had recent babies) and the older cousins are now looking really tall and older.

The food highlight for me (apart from the tray of mangoes that Troy brought around) was the huge sides of salmon.  It was cooked to perfection on the BBQ and was something to behold.  In fact, I think I have lived on salmon and mangoes since then.  Is it possible to eat too many mangoes?  I think I have easily eaten 10 mangoes in the last three days.  If I had a coconut about now, I would be well on the way to my tropical island fantasy (imagine a Samoan beach, with nothing to eat but fish, mangoes and coconuts and you have my getaway dream!).  I am now intending to overdose on mangoes and iced coffee by the time I leave Sydney in two weeks time!

Gorgeous Kittos

On Thursday we braved the crowds at the local shopping centre.  It wasn't too bad really.  We even ate sushi at Sushi Bay with a real sushi train.  Toby ate sushi for the first time - he likes teriyaki chicken sushi!  It's a start!  And one I am happy about.

Look at those plates stacking up!

You chose fruit, Tyler?

The sushi was fabulous!  We wandered home and Tyler convinced me to swim in the new wading pool they got for Christmas.  What a great way to unwind.  Mike and Karen read their Kindles while I soaked in the pool with Tyler and Toby bounced on the trampoline.  Wee Abby was at a birthday party.  Toby bounced so much he got a bit of whiplash - solved by bouncing even more to build up those muscles!

Toby and Abby slept in Abby's room that night.  They were so cute reading together before the light went out.

Reading time!

Friday saw us up early and off to Luna Park for the day.  What a fantastic trip.  We caught up with a whole bunch of Karen's friends.

Iconic photo opportunity!

The Rotor was an amazing ride at the end and I took some good photos of Abby, Toby and Tyler.  You'll have to believe me when I point out that Toby is in the yellow shirt with Abby to his right and Tyler to his left.

The centrifugal force has stuck the kids to the wall. 

When we got home we were all grotty, so we flung the kids in the bath!

Yes - Toby is eating an iceblock in the bath

Tomorrow Scotty is off to play golf and Mike and I hope to train into town to see some sights.

Great fun, eh?

Love,
Angela

The Christmas in Sydney

Hi,

What a fantastic Christmas lunch we had here in Sydney.  The weather wasn't very nice - in fact last night was the first night we used our duvet at night.  Downright cold.  Hahahah.  Well, hardly.  However, Wellington had a glorious day - reaching 29.6C at the airport.  Unheard of temperatures.  The Stuff article I read said Wellington had "extremely hot" conditions.

Anyhow Karen cooked up an amazing roast leg of pork for lunch, with all the trimmings.

Christmas lunch - taken expertly by Abby

The kids had their lunch on the trestle table next to us.

Kids Christmas lunch

We were all very full after that and the lunch blurred into dinner really.  I also had two naps during the day.  Not too sure why I was so tired.

Shona called and we chatted for ages - she had a good day down in Geelong with her kids.  Eventually we caught up with Ma and Dad after their Christmas lunch at the club.  Ma is still sore and finding it hard to be as mobile as she should be.  Poor Ma!  Hopefully it comes right soon!

All the adults then drank into the night while playing cards.  I was heading to bed to read when they (well, Karen and Mike) asked me to stay and read with them.  So I did just that.  Finished my book (not the book full of ridiculous similes that made me guffaw out loud - this one was an out and out romance book and I am sure this is the most boring genre on the planet!  I was hoping for a massive influx/invasion of werewolves or vampires or aliens.  Anything!  But, no.  In "The cottage by the sea" the only thing that happened was love.  Yawn!) and wandered off to bed to start another one (a Young Adult one that is a sequel to another I read recently - it might prove a little more interesting than a boring romance set in Cornwall).

I kept my party hat on for hours - it drove Scott crazy as it slipped constantly over my eyes.

Apparently Mike was plying Karen with lots of wine and she was within spitting distance of winning their card game when she declared herself drunk and went to bed.  Hahahah.  Not too sure if they kept playing or not.  Mike came to bed and I think I may have noticed.  Maybe.

Boxing Day - more of the same weather.  Perhaps not quite as torrential as yesterday.  The thunder yesterday was amazing.  This is the big family day here.  We'll get a huge influx of Kittos (well, some might argue it is more exciting than werewolf invasions!) and eat lots and catch up with people we haven't seen for ages.

Given we slept in until 8am, I suspect we have a bit of cleaning to do in the next hour!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Christmas Eve with 40C

Hi,

The Christmas carols at the local high school were fabulous.  We had front row seats and the singers were very good.  I was in fine form, singing carols loudly (and poorly - but hopefully no one could hear my tuneless singing).  Everything was free - lollies, sausages, cupcakes, bouncy castle.

Christmas Eve was one to remember.  We walked over to a local park with Tyler's bike, a netball and tennis racquets around 10am.  Karen said it was hot and I said it must be about 30C.  It seems my temperature gauge has got a bit wayward since living in Wellington and anything over 25C is just "hot".  It was an amazing 41C here in Sydney.  So, yes - it was "hot" in anyone's language.  I gave Karen a hard time for taking us out in 40 degree heat to play tennis, even though when I thought it was 30C it was perfectly fine.  Hahahah.

We then nipped out to Karen's friend's house to collect eggs and check on their chooks.



Gathering eggs from Liz and Paul's chooks

We found their cleaner cleaning their house.  Well, that was what he told us.  We hope he was their cleaner.  He also seemed happy that we were just checking the chickens!

Toby also jumped on  the trampoline for a while.


Jump!

In the afternoon, Scott's mother, her husband Len and Grandma arrived.  After settling them in and having dinner (Aidan - you may be interested to know that Mike and I accidentally ate Toby and Karen's food - it's not just you that loses your meal around us to ravenous Gilberts - they had to eat something else entirely) we walked around to some friends' house and sat on their front lawn while a thunderstorm lit up the surrounding sky with lightening. 

After the drinks on the lawn, we walked around to a local street that decks out the houes with amazing lights.  Of course, the celestial light show was still happening as well.

Back home to put the kids to bed.  They all went to sleep without any bother.  Mike and I followed suit.  Howver we were woken up at midnight by Karen who had got upset at the size of the presents in Toby's stocking compared to her children.  She rummaged around in cupboards and before you knew it, Toby's stocking was just as full as her own children's stockings.  My sister loves my son!  We're so lucky!  It is a bit hard to co-ordinate these things when you travel at Christmas.

Christmas morning was such fun!  The kids woke at a respectable 6am.


Just starting



Watching the chaos



Front row seats



Look what I got from Toby - can't wait to use this voucher

Scotty is putting together toys - don't think he has finished yet!  Hahahah.  We're having roast pork - an amazing leg of pork is in the oven.  I opened the door to get a better look and apparently this may have ruined the crackling.  Oops.  I'll let you know.
I hope your Christmas is a lot of fun!  Missing you all. 
Love,
Angela

The Sunday in Sydney

Hi,

Our flight over on Saturday morning was one of the best trips over I have had.  It may have had something to do with me making it through an episode of Father Ted and getting 5 minutes into "Big Bang Theory (which I have never watched before and still can't believably make that claim) before I fell asleep with my headphones still on.  I only woke when Toby started changing my programming.  Well, actually, he had changed my programming already and I slept through that.  But when he turned up the volume quite loud on a Coldplay song and then got a bit too excited at the thought of finding a Justin Bieber song to serenade me during my sleep that he woke me, I realised I was only 45 minutes out from Sydney and where had the flight gone?

The day passed by with seeing the Kittos - it has been ages since Toby and I were here.  Over a year.  Last November we watched Tyler just starting to learn to ride her bicycle.  This year - she is amazing.

And then she gave me a go - good fun!

After an amazing sleep where Mike and I made it to about 8pm before hitting the wall (apart from those raucous Australian birds screeching outside our window at 5am) we eventually got up and made breakfast.  Then Karen and I went and did some last minute shopping before the crowds.  And it worked well.  So well we even got Yum Cha.



Please note the plate of green veges in the middle of the table.  

We drove home and I drank another iced coffee while we wrapped presents.  Scott and Mike took the kids to Wreck It Ralph (movie) and got the Santa photos taken.  Our kids look huge now with Santa.  We're going to have tea and then wander around to some Christmas Carols at the local high school and then look at the fantastic houses that get all decorated each year.

Tomorrow is all about prepping for the big day.  But there should be time to relax as well.

Hope you're having a great time in the lead up to Christmas.

Love,

Angela

The Saturday in Sydney

Hi,

I am typing this in boiling hot Sydney.  Hahahah - Karen and Scott say it is a relief for it to be so cool.  Apparently they had a 41C day a few days back.

I have overdosed on iced coffee already.  One of my favourite brands now has "Extra Shot" - wow!  Are they trying to lure me back to Australia to live?  Fortunately for me (and my bank account), New Zealand now makes suitable iced coffees easily available in the supermarkets.  No moving for us, thanks.

Karen and I have been swapping books (the electronic versions our respective husbands are only too pleased to note - no reason to extend bookshelf space!) and chatting about them.

Mike and I doubled up on the croissant order for Christmas Day when we popped over to the bakery.  12 is plenty - 24 might be a bit too much to munch through.  Reminder to us - ask Karen before making any hasty Christmas purchases.  She has everything in hand.

Okay - time to head off and get some shopping done.  Something healthy?  What?  Really?  Hahah.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with Toby

Hi,

Mike had a bit of a late mission at work and so we were horribly late home on our frantic evening.  Unfortunately with a deadline at the airport to collect Toby, we had to miss popping in to see Vivienne and John.  A neighbour came around while we were scoffing our tea (yummy stir fry - ta Mike) and talked for ages to Mike.  But eventually we got out the door and went to the airport.  Wee Toby is not really that wee anymore.

Yesterday was an absolutely stunning day here in Wellington.  We caught up with Sally and Andrew for lunch int he sun trap and as you can see, we had to sit in the shade.  Well, all of us except Sally who works in an ice box and was thawing out before the afternoon's freezing session!

Toby was very pleased to see us.  And I was so excited waiting for him to come off the plane.  Of course he was last with all the other kids travelling for Christmas so the wait was quite long as the plane emptied out.  Home to watch some television with him and then to bed.  Mike and I were asleep in seconds.

Mike has a day at home today - he has a half day leave and will look after William and Toby (and William's brother) then swap.  Or not.  Turns out William's mother is in hospital and the plans are very fluid.

We're also going to Waikanae today to see our friends.  Aidan's mother and stepfather are over - well, they arrive today.  We're going to watch them both fall asleep in their dinner.  And we're up at 3am tomorrow to catch our flight to Sydney.  Woo hoo!  Can't wait to relax in hot Sydney.  Beaches, here I come!

Have a wonderful Christmas.  See you in 2013!

Unless the Mayans were right.  Hahahah.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with dinner and tramping club - kinda

Hi,

The day cleared up yesterday from misty beginnings to a mighty awesome day.  And today is even better - no wind at all.  I loved my ride into work this morning.  Spectacular.

I had lunch with a client yesterday and she gave me a Christmas tin full of baked cookies.  How nice is that?  She says I helped her heaps.  Hardly - she was great all on her own.  Apparently she says the tin has to come back full.  She hasn't tried my baking before, obviously.  Ma - I need you!  Hahahah.

Went out for dinner after work with Sally and Andrew and Mike joined us.  We went to the Hop Garden and I ate Eggplant stuffed with quinoa and artichokes.  It was yummy!

I drove Sally home and had a nice cup of tea and then came back for Mike and Andrew.  We dropped Andrew home and just to prove beyond a shadow of anyone's doubt that I do enjoy driving, Mike and I went home the long way via Haywards and Pauatahanui.  It made it a late night (11pm when we got home) but the evening was made for driving and singing!

We collect Toby from Wellington airport at 8pm tonight.  I can't wait!  I am very excited.  I wonder if it will make today race or crawl?

Have a fabulous day.  One more working day left for the year.  I might try to blog over Christmas and New Years, but I am hopeless at that!

Love,
Angela

Bicycle, car or bus?

Stuff, NZ's online newspaper, just asked the question "How do you get into work - cycle, bus or drive?".  This is my response, that they published a few days later.  So now congestion charging in Wellington will be my fault.  Note that motorcycles or trains are not acceptable ways of commuting in Stuff's world.

I probably ride, drive and bus into work about evenly, so I'm keenly aware of the pros and cons of each.

The car is by far the easiest of course, and I turn to it whenever I'm running late, have to run errands during the day, or get stuff in or out of work.  But of course, it's expensive.

The bus is ok, for wet weather, but it's uncomfortable, claustrophobic and runs to its schedule, not yours or even Go Wellington's (but the metlink website has made a huge difference in this regard).

The bike is free and I just feel so much better after a good ride.  It's my fitness regime too, it baffles me why others drive into work early and go straight to the gym!  It's uncomfortable in the wet though, and Wellington's lip service to bicycles really, really grates.  It's easy to find reasons not to bike - the weather offers some excuses but the infrastructure certainly provides lots more.

What to fix?  Make commuting by car more expensive but in a targetted way (toll roads and congestion charging), offer real alternatives to driving, and make the expensive driving experience superb when you need it.  Think about integrated travel options not just one mode at a time.  For instance, recognise that the cheapest way to fix the urban motorway would be to put a proper bike path in from Porirua and Upper Hutt, if you could get a 5% reduction in car commuters it would be like driving during the school holidays every day!

The obtuse fragmentation of public transport make it unusable for many, too.  A friend once showed me the 15 or so different tickets he had to carry, all at once, to use the various public transport modes at various different times to get from Newtown to Trentham and Porirua.  Again, it baffles me why with the 9-figure sums being spent on trains and stations, implementing Snapper or an alternative integrated system at the same time wasn't part of that.  Or why I have to carry a different ticket for each train line, plus a snapper card to get from the railway station to my final destination (and pay twice, of course).

For example?  I moved here from Melbourne where I needed to commute out from the CBD to a Johnsonville-like mid-way suburb every day.  It was a short 10min drive on near-empty motorway - for $7 each way in tolls.  Ouch!  Or a $3.50 train ride.  Or, a 45min cycle, on purpose built cycleways completely separated from traffic.  Expensive - but way cheaper than adding another lane to the motorway, for instance.  Services like that meant something like 14% of commuter traffic was by bicycle, which equated to tens of thousands of cars off the road (making driving extremely pleasant when I needed to).

In Wellington there's no joined-up thinking.  I don't think the designers of the cycle tracks here have even seen a bicycle or used one to commute, what with the broken asphalt, power poles in the middle of the path, and blind driveways feeding into the Old Hutt Rd cycle path in particular.  A modern road bike has tyres about 5mm wide and cruises at up to 50km/h - it needs a better road surface than a roadway, not a worse one.  The funniest option is the short piece of green paint right in the middle of the old hutt rd/Ngauranga Gorge/Hutt Rd lights, where you have to somehow swing across two lanes of 80km/h traffic to access, and then sit between two fast flowing streams of traffic!

Fixing cycle tracks and even more so fixing public transport is expensive.  But adding lanes to the urban motorway, building tunnels and flyovers, and increasing parking and local road capacity in the CBD is orders of magnitude more expensive, not to mention disruptive and degrading to Wellington's unique village feel. Tax some motorists off the road, but offer real alternatives to the road and provide great motoring experience in return, and everyone wins.

The Tuesday with my last Cubs night

Hi,

I have officially retired as a Cub leader now.  Toby has one more year of cubs and I will take the time to smell the coffee on Tuesday evenings.  I am attending the next planning session just to ensure they don't roster me on for parent help every Tuesday!  Hahahah.  Last night we had a great session at Makara Beach. I was intending to ride my bike there but the dodgy weather (rain, wind and fog - but warm!) put me off.  We walked around the beach, made some small conflagrations, and cooked sausages.  All very safe.

I caught up with Aidan briefly in town yesterday.  She was on a few missions so our catch up consisted of walking around the CBD quickly to get it all done in her allotted time.  Not a bad option considering.  I'd rather walk than be cooped up in a sticky cafe.  The weather is so humid here at the moment and of course no one runs any air conditioners here.  Mike is blaming the cyclone over Fiji for our weird weather.  Some might be blaming the impending end of the world on Friday.  But how can it end here on Friday?  It would still be Thursday in New York, for instance.  Did the Mayans not understand the International Date Line?

Home to read for a bit.  I am reading a book that is pretty average really, but has some fantastic one liners in it.  I don't know how the author can get away with liberally dosing the text with such classics.  Last night's line said this:  "My breathing was shallow, like a doe that's been shot."  Ridiculous.  Enough to make you snort out loud and guffaw.  Great stuff!

Wee Toby is looking forward to coming home tomorrow.  And I am looking forward to seeing him.

Fell asleep in seconds again last night.  Something is working well!  Well, actually, I hardly ever have any bother sleeping.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing

Hi,

After a frustrating day at work, riding home the long way was just the right medicine.  The strong northerlies meant I was two minutes slower than my fastest time - but I am sure I will get faster soon enough.  Even into the teeth of a galeforce northerly.  Just have to keep trying.

Mike cooked a lovely meal (stir fry beef) and we had a bath.  We are nothing if not clean since the bath was installed!

Went to bed and read for a while.  I fell asleep reading and Mike rescued my Kindle and turned out my light.  But he wanted me to stay awake and chat for a few more minutes while he finished some emails.  And although some part of me was willing, the sleepy part took over and I was asleep again in seconds.

The weather is warm and wet today - with wind.  So we piked and caught the bus.  But if it clears up I will ride to Cubs tonight.  It is at Makara Beach so would be a great ride!

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend with The Hobbit and no Toby

Hi,

Mike and I did not do a huge ride when we got home on Friday.  It may have had something to do with his after-work wines.  We watched Sherlock instead and thoroughly enjoyed season 2.

Saturday we lazed around watching more television and slowly getting ready.  A bath may have featured.  Anyhow, we went to get lunch on the way to take my newly acquired road bike to Sally and Andrew's place for a good examination.  With Mike and Andrew combined, most of the seized up bits are working again and it looks like it might be a great wee bike.  I rode it up and down around the streets and slowly got used to the road bike riding position.  I might need a shorter handlebar stem to bring the handlebars a little closer to me.  My arms are long but I am not built like a gorilla.  The frame is probably a wee bit big for me.  But it'll work perfectly.  Just need to take it into iRide in early January to iron out the back derailleur and possibly the stem.  Then I can ride it!

Home to get ready for the work Christmas party.  Yeah.  Ummm.  Some frantic pawing through Toby's old costumes found a couple of salad bowls, katana swords and masks.  So we went as Ninja Turtles.

Te Papa was a great venue - we got to wander through the new video gaming exhibition - Mike played old games from his childhood.

Home relatively early and had a good sleep.  Sunday was another lazy start followed by lunch with Sally, Andrew, Josh and Aidan at La Boca Loca in Miramar.  Yummy food and then we all went to see The Hobbit at the Roxy.  Christine, John and Tom turned up just in time.  We all enjoyed the movie as did Toby at the very same time in Auckland!  Woo hoo!

Then off to Chocolate Fish in Shelly Bay for an iced coffee and a walk up to Massey Memorial.  Followed by a quick dinner at the Thai place next to the Roxy.

Home to bed.  We watched a You Tube television show - a new Battlestar Galactica spin off.  But the two times Mike has put it on, I have fallen asleep almost immediately.  Oops.  I have now seen the first episode and the last.  No need to keep awake for the middle ones.  Hahahah.

Christmas week!  Roll on Friday.  Well, Thursday - because I see Toby then!

Have a fantastic week!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with user group and no Toby

Hi,

Mike and I stayed for the user group session last night after work.  Then we rode home the long way up Ngaio Gorge.  The head wind was a lot stronger than yesterday and I think that accounted for my thirty seconds longer ride than yesterday.  But it is a great ride.

Toby went out to see War of the Worlds last night in Auckland.  I think he would have enjoyed that a lot.  I didn't hear from him after he was at the fish n chip shop before it.

Friday is a social whirlwind for me.  Breakfast with Roz before she heads back to Auckland.  Morning tea with Aidan T.  Lunch with Margaret before she heads back to Sydney.  I'll have to work late to make up the time.

Margaret arrived yesterday from Sydney and gave Mike 6 Krispy Kreme donuts of his very own.  So we drove out to Sally and Andrew last night after we got home and had a cup of tea and ate them.  Very pleasant.  And the weather was so lovely that it was a pleasure in the wee green car.

Weekend looming.  I want to try and sort out the road bike.  And we need a costume for the work Christmas party tomorrow night.  Oooo.  Pants!

We have a working piano at home now too - thanks to Mike's parents.  I am hoping for a Friday night Christmas Carol session.

Have a fantastic weekend!
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Toby's birthday and no Toby

Hi,

Wow - what a day for Toby's birthday.  And today is also stunning here in Wellington.  I did get some texts from Toby indicating he was homesick - after 10 hours away.  Uh oh.  Mike on the other hand got text messages indicating Toby had to eat lots of birthday cake!  Hmmmm.

I went to the work client Christmas party and tried to grab Mike and escape for dinner.  In the end we found Fran (old work) and went to dinner at Vista on Oriental Parade with her and Roz (down from Auckland).  It was such a pleasant meal.  My salt and pepper squid tapas was yummy and I tried the pate and fish croquettes courtesy of Fran and Roz and they were good too.  Then straight to dessert.  Espresso ice cream and some chocolate terrine.  But it was all about the coffee ice cream for me and that was brilliant.

Dropped Fran off home and then dropped Roz back at her hotel in town before heading home.  What a late night for us mid week.

Up this morning.  Weird routine without Toby.  Rode in together and had a great time.  Got caught behind a car coming down the hill.  But my ride home yesterday was great.  Took the long way and did just over ten kilometres, up Ngaio Gorge, through Crofton Downs and up to home.  Thirty minutes (and thirty seconds) - but that includes two minutes waiting for traffic lights in town first.  The stopwatch was ticking.  So I need to do that regularly and see if I can reduce the time any between now and late February.  The race course is flat and 12 kilometres.  So if I can do 10 kilometres with gear up and down hills, I should be right for the race day.  Apart from riding with loads of people.  And the 500m run to my bike.  Hahahah.

Have a simply marvellous day.  I think the piano will be operational today.  And I hope Toby has a great day up in Auckland.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

Happy birthday Toby!  12/12/12 and he is 10.  And what an amazing day here.  Not a breath of wind - blue skies.  We were all up early as Mike and I had hidden a present for Toby in the house a month ago.  And.  Well.  We can't find it.  We looked for about thirty minutes, turning closets inside out.  Now I have some tidying to do when we get home tonight.  Lucky for Christmas presents stashed away.  Toby now has a Kindle - for his birthday.  Because we have lost his true birthday present.  Hahah.

He is also now at Wellington Airport heading to Auckland for a week with Jack.  He is going to be happy - they have a pool.  And they accidentally switched the temperature of the spa with the pool.  So the pool is hot, hot, hot!

I am riding the long way home tonight - to start training for the Kapiti fun and games in Feb.  Oh yeah!  Bring it on.

Mike is flat out at work.  Poor chap.  He'll be working late tonight.

Cubs went really well.  Last den night for me.  Next week is on the beach.  Choice.  I invested three Cub leaders, one Cub and gave out about 15 badges!  Woo hoo!  Busy.  We also ran the Entertainer Badge night and it was amazing.  Three piano concerts, three plays.  All pretty good.

Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with dinner out

Hi,

John contacted me saying Jack was bored and could he play with Toby for the day.  When I said that Toby was in a computer course for Mon and Tues, I thought that the chap running it would probably be fine with an extra boy turning up.  Sure enough, Jack is now on the computer course too.  Choice.

Mike and I rode home together up Glenmore and then Garden into Northland and home along Pembroke and Mairangi.  I love that route.  You can fly along the top easily - even with a strong headwind like last night.

And John took us all out to dinner afterwards.  We went to Heaven Woodfire Pizzas in Cuba Street and they were lovely.  Pretty sure it is the same pizza place that the Waikanae connection uses whenever we eat pizzas up there.  Mmmmm.  Can I book in pizzas on the beach on a hot summer evening again?  Haven't done that for a while.

When we got dropped off back at John's place I spotted a road bike hanging up in the garage and asked if I could try it out for the Taupo and Kapiti adventures next year.  John said he was going to get rid of it, so it is all mine!  I have a road bike now!

Happy about that.  It is possibly a little tall for my legs, but only just.  And it is an old bike, so it has a heavy frame compared to a more modern bike.  But it has proper skinny tyres and handlebars to allow me to hunker down.  It needs some grease and a service.  But I am hoping it will do just fine.  Time to practise - lots!

Cubs tonight.  Should be good fun.  Second last one of the year.

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Toby's party

Hi,

I was late to Toby's family birthday party on Friday evening because of a work party.  I got away just after 8pm and got home in time to drop people off home.  Oh well.  And I missed Vivienne and John entirely.  But Toby seemed pretty happy.

We had moved Toby's party to Sunday morning because there was a suitable movie on at that time.  So Saturday was tidy the house day.  Which took ages.  Maybe because I had a bath mid morning when I really should have been tidying.  That bath!  Still not over the novelty of it, obviously.

Jack came to play in the afternoon and William came to play for the evening and a sleepover.  Nice fun for Toby.  I went grocery shopping quite late for Sunday.  At least there was no one in the supermarket.

Sunday morning up early to get ready.  We caught up with Aidan and Josh (who are both looking well after their holiday) and they went out to a date movie.  Mike and Christine took all the boys to Queensgate to see "The Regular Show".  Unfortunately it was not a movie, but cobbled together episodes.  Toby was disappointed.

I got the party ready and it kicked off as soon as they got in.

Missed icing the cake with Karen!  Hahahah.  Toby opened up his presents and was very pleased.  He especially singled out his t-shirts (Minecraft - ta Emerson and Duncan) and a Skylander toy (ta Thomas).

Had a cup of tea with Josh, Aidan and Christine afterwards and then we went to buy a Christmas tree.  Toby and I put that up while Mike popped into town to do some messages.

Then we gave Toby a birthday present of our own.  Toby now has a cellphone of his own.  His number is 022 4TOBYG1

Hahahah.  He loves it.  Text him a hello!

Time to get stuck in for the day!  Have a wonderful week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a work dinner

Hi,

Mike is picking up the slack from his wife's social whirlwind week.  After work I went to Leuven for dinner with work colleagues and had a great time.  I ate my way through three quarters of a pot of mussels.  Yum!  Drove a colleague home and headed home to my boys.  They had cooked up a storm (and left the evidence in the kitchen - but that's okay) and were watching a fascinating documentary on Curiosity on Mars.

 To bed - woke up early though - 4.30am.  Oooooo.  Bit too early.

Nice ride in.  And I need to get a bit of riding in over summer as I have said yes to a cycling leg of a duathalon with Aidan T in late February.  Hahahah.  Bit of fun.  It is quite short so it'll be absolutely fine.  Apart from the 500m run I have to do at the start.  Uh oh!

I have another work function tonight that I will try to get away early from.  It's Toby's family party tonight.  Whoops.  Yes - I have accidentally double booked.  But Mike will salvage it with takeaways.

And I think we're having Toby's party on Sunday morning now due to a suitable movie on at that time.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing

Hi,

Well, not really nothing because it was our wedding anniversary day.  I was on the early Toby (and Alex) pick up from the library.  I cooked tea and then read a bit while Toby played on the computer.    Mike went to tramping club after work so Toby and I drove in to get him and caught up (briefly) with Ilske (freshly back from her holiday to Italy and Netherlands, the upshot of which she is now freshly single).  Then the three of us went to Strawberry Fare for dessert to celebrate.

Toby had an awesome chocolate madness, Mike had chocolate/lemon cheesecake and I had banoffee pie (which was lovely but I could only manage half of it).

Back home and a very pleasant sleep, despite seeing a massive spider crawl alongside the bed fleeing from the horrible weather outside.  Didn't keep me awake.

This morning is lovely (if still breezy) and my ride in was great.  I have a Christmas dinner tonight after work for work, and another function after work tomorrow (and yes, it is family Toby party time tomorrow and Mike knows he'll have to run the show).  Then a hectic weekend.  Well, a hectic Saturday.  Sunday is free!  Free!  I might do some Christmas shopping and get most of it over and done with.

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday that feels like Monday

Hi,

I had a bad case of Monday-itis yesterday at work.  After my fantastic three day weekend it was hard to knuckle down.  However, eventually reality seeped in and I got my work done.

Happy anniversary to us today.  13 years married (and twenty years together).  Yay!

Tuesday evening is Cubs night so I rode home early-ish and battled a vicious head wind.  So much so that I was completely worn out by the time I got to the bottom of the hill, let alone the top!  Christine passed me on the way up and it was a tired (but happy) "hello" that wafted up in her wake.

Cooked tea for me and Toby (and leftovers for lunch today) and off to Cubs with Jack.  We were up on Wrights Hill in the gale and occasional rain.  Jo and I "volunteered" for making hot chocolate and nipped back down the hill to make litres of the stuff.  A perfect Cubs night.  Toby had a blast playing Capture the Flag (or CTF as he called it).

Dropped off Jack, picked up Mike (he was working late) and home to bed.  We slept so well.  Great!

This morning's ride was hairy in the wind and slightly damp roads.  But it is supposed to dry up towards the evening.  Good!

We have a piano in our house now.  Mike called up a piano removalist and tuner chap and it was installed yesterday.  He took away the action (whatever that really means) and is re-conditioning that piece and then we're good to go on Friday.  I can't wait!  I may have to take lessons too!

Have an incredible day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with three days off

Hi,

Happy birthday today to Tyler!  Woooooo hooooo!  Nine years old today.

Wow - what a great weekend!  Can I have them like that every weekend?  Friday night I left from work and dropped Mike home (I needed sunglasses and tea bags) and drove straight to Feilding to meet Christine.  I eventually found her among fifty million other horse people and their horses (slight exaggeration).  She had already put the stretchers up in the horse float and it did look comfy.

We went into town to an Irish pub and I had a scrumptious beef and Guinness pie and Christine ate her way through a Guinness (yuck) and an eye fillet.  Back to the horse float and bed!  And I slept well.  No complaints about sleeping in a horse float.  I'd do it again.  And possibly that might hap[pen Wellington anniversary weekend in Levin.  Hahahah.  Next horse event.

Up early and sort out Victor.  I tidied up his stable and got him a big tub of water.  Driving back to Christine in the wee green car with the roof down and driving very slowly over the rough road to avoid sploshes in the passenger footwell, I got wolf whistles from young men in a ute.  They don't get out much in Feilding, do they?

I walked Victor while he ate grass and Christine cleaned his saddle.  Then I held him still (well, I tried) while Christine plaited his mane.  Apparently she wants me back for more so I can't have been hopeless.

Jumped in the car and drove back to Wellington!  Lovely.  Had lunch and a shower and then off to my day spa appointment.  We had to cancel the BBQ we'd said yes to because we had to buy presents and make things for the family dinner.  I walked into town and Mike met me and we bought some things.  Home to wrap them and make salad.

Then into the car to Sally and Andrew's house for the most amazing dinner I have had in ages.  Scallop mornay starter, Beef Wellington main and cheesecake dessert.  I am still recovering from the excesses.

And they put on a great fireworks display in the backyard afterwards.  Well, the Lower Hutt City Council did.  Awesome!

Home to bed!

Up Sunday to do ... something.  What did we do Sunday?  I tried to tidy the house.  It got a littler tidier.  William came to play.  I went grocery shopping.  The day past.

Monday was our day off to celebrate twenty years going out (and 13 years married).  We got Toby away to school and then drove into town for an iced coffee at Joes.  Oh yeah.  Met up with some folks from the client site to say hello.

Went to see Skyfall and we both enjoyed it.  Then off for lunch at Eastbourne.

I got my first bit of sunburn for the summer.  Oops.  Never mind.  Dropped in to see Mike's parents and have a cup of tea and then home for a nice BBQ dinner.

Great weekend!  Such a lot of fun.  And the week looms.  Last week of the year for Toby.  He got his literacy award over the weekend so he should collect that!  Good on him!

Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with packing for a camping night

Hi,

Yesterday was a tiring day and I got home and veged out.  That meant Burger Wisconsin for tea.  Yummo!  And then I packed for my camping trip Friday night with Christine.  We're going to sleep in her horse float.  How could I pass that opportunity up?  Having never slept in a horse float, it is obviously something I need to try.

Busy at work.  I drove in so I can get away on time and battle the Friday traffic out of town.  The weather has changed to a southerly but it is pretty feeble by Wellington standards.  It rained this morning for the first time in ages, but it was just a sprinkling really.

Saturday is frantic for us.  Toby has a haircut.  I drive back from Feilding and the horse float night.  I have a spa appointment at 1.45pm.  We have a BBQ from 2pm.  And family dinner from 6pm.  And I need to buy presents in there somewhere too.  Yikes.

Sunday is free.  Free!  And Mike and I have Monday off together to celebrate our twentieth year together that week.  Nice.  And it just gets better and better knowing him.  I am pretty lucky.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with our first BBQ

Hi,

'Tis the season...  for barbecuing   Choice.  I dragged the cover off the BBQ last night and took the lid off and groaned.  Then I cleaned the hot plates and found a gas bottle and eventually I was able to cook dinner! It was scrumptious but by the time I was eating Kapiti vanilla ice cream (oooohhh - it's good!) I was more than a little chilly.

Yesterday was so beautiful here.  At lunch time I went into Midland Park over the road from work and ate a bowl of strawberries.  I asked for two bowls, one with my ice cream (no no yucky red sauce stuff!) and one with my strawberries.  They laughed and said I was the first bespoke serving for the day.  I sat in baking hot sunshine with some colleagues and listened to the Wellington Ukulele Orchestra giving a free concert.  It was such a lot of fun.

Of course, The Hobbit world premier was also on yesterday afternoon so all the eyes of the world were on Wellington.  The day was superb and the helicopter shots of Wellington did a great job selling this as paradise on Earth.

Anyhow, we had a great dinner at home.  Jack was staying over because his parents were busy.  We went to sleep with our red lamp in our bedroom providing a night light for Toby.  His night light was too bright for Jack.  I never had any bother falling asleep.  Even with the bright moon lighting up our room from behind the punga.  But perhaps it did affect me because I had an amazing dream!

The dream had me travelling with my suitcase on the train from Karen's house to the airport.  I got halfway and thought I might be late for my flight so I rang Mike.  He panicked I was going to be late (which of course panicked me, because Mike never worries about being late) and said I had to catch a taxi the rest of the way.  To... Gatwick!  Which, is an airport in London.  This astonished me.  So much so that Mike says my brain compensated for me being late and missing my plane by providing the ideal "get out of jail card" in the shape of a Zombie Apocalypse.  Yep.  Zombies.  Ended up with all my worldly possessions in an abandoned farm house in the middle of nowhere.  Had to barricade ourselves in at night against the zombies.

One day some men broke in and fiddled with the electricity.  They short circuited the system and the light went out.  Aidan T turned up and said they had tripped the circuit board and wandered off to flip it back on. Meanwhile, I looked out the window and saw a massive tsunami coming over the hills.  Mike and I braced ourselves in the house and Toby went out for a better look.  Fortunately the house floated (it is a dream) and Mike picked Toby out of the water.  We landed eventually and wandered around with some survivors.  I saw people carrying their gear.  One family were riding a giant Dachshund - all their gear lashed on, and the Dad with some reins.  Weird.  Weird.  Then I woke up.

I may be going a bit mad!  Hahahah.
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

Has something moved New Zealand 600 km north or something?  Because this weather is not usual.  Hahahah.  Another gorgeous day - I am so enjoying this.  I am wearing a short sleeved blouse at work.  Yep - hot today.  The weather, I mean, of course.  ;-)

We had Cubs last night.  I rode home and tidied and cooked dinner for me and Toby.  Mike got home and showered and then started preparing his meal for his tramping club website buddies.  We left with Jack in a whirlwind of activity and had a lot of fun at Cubs.  Well done, Henry (new leader).  It was a great night.  A badge night (book reader and computer badges) with a water fight at the end.  Choice!

Back home to eat dessert (that was what Mike's dinner party was up to - perfect timing on my part) and then to bed.  Toby is reading my Kindle at the moment so I lay in bed staring at the ceiling and now know exactly what I am buying Toby for Christmas!  I picked up a real book and read that.  How quaint!

The ride down the hill this morning was great fun.  Mike was with me.  We tailed a 4x4 all the way down.  It isn't often a car can go faster than us.  And this was not one of those times.  In fact, I am sort of chuffed that I left a Ducati in my dust on Monday morning on the way down (he only passed me on the flat at the bottom) and I tailed a Porsche down yesterday.  Hahahah.  Love the bike down the hill.

Have a brilliant day!  Hope your weather is as good as here!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home and got dinner ready while Mike sorted out Toby's homework (Mike rode home a few minutes behind me).  And then I was off to the supermarket for essentials (away for the weekend = no food in the house) and back to finish off some work before bed.  And that is the extent of Monday evening.  Boring, huh?

This morning is so lovely here.  We have had a really nice run of gorgeous weather.  I can't help be concerned that this is summer.  20 C yesterday and 19C forecast today.  It doesn't get a lot better in the height of summer here than this.  It might rain for the next three months!  Hahahah.  Still, it is lovely.

Tonight is Cubs night and we have a water fight and a badge night.  Should be fun.

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with a work social function

Hi,

Friday saw us collect Toby from the library and head off immediately to Ruapehu for a work social club weekend.  We had a great drive, leaving behind threatening clouds and driving into sunshine.  We took the Desert Road to Whakapapa so we could drive past the erupting volcano.  As you do.  We saw a lot of steam still, but nothing much else.  Got to the Forest and Bird lodge at 9pm and the others promptly served dinner for everyone.  Choice!

We ate and went to bed.

Up the next morning and Mike went off mountain biking.  Toby and I elected to stay and "guard" the lodge.  Right.  We actually were more than happy reading and eating.  Mike got back after white water rafting on the Tongariro river and has munched up two fingers and his wedding ring.  The river guide said he's seen a lot of men lose their wedding rings when they fall in.  Mike was in no danger of that, as he got his fingers wedged between the raft and a cliff.  The ring was mangled into his fingers.  He has a nice mess but it looks like he will survive with fingers and ring intact.  Close call though.

Ouch!

We went to the Chateau for dinner and I had a fabulous meal.  My haloumi starter was great and my beef eye fillet was simply the best.  Toby behaved very well (he was the only kid on this weekend).

I took Toby back to the lodge and the others went out to the pub.  Toby and I were fast asleep when the others returned and they hardly woke me at all.  So they were well behaved.

Lovely brekkie the next morning and then tidy and leave.  We went home via Whanganui - a great road!  I might switch routes now!

Kebabs at Bulls and home.  Mike took Toby to the Scots Christmas service and I tidied the house (in vain really - it needs more than two hours work!).

Andrew did a great time around Taupo on Saturday.  5 hours and 8 mins.  I hear he is already plotting sub 5 hours for next year.  Crazy man!

Time for the week to commence.  Busy, busy.

Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with packing

Hi,

Rode home in the absolute best evening ever.  What a gorgeous day in Wellington.  Mike made dinner and we ate and relaxed before packing for the weekend.

Threw some stuff in a pile and shoved it in a bag.  What art is there to packing anyway?  Drove in this morning and parked next to Andrew's car.  He's off to ride around Taupo this weekend.  Here's hoping the timings work out and we catch up on Sunday for the drive back.  Good luck, Andrew!

Have a great weekend.  I am looking forward to spending time with Toby.  Turns out Lucy and I are the only women on this trip and that Toby is the only kid.  Hmmmm.  Hahahah.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home and drove Benjamin home (he looked after the boys - three of them!) and wished we could just keep going.  The wee convertible was lovely, the weather amazing, and the road to Taupo beckoned!  But responsibilities such as family, work and the fact Benjamin probably wouldn't enjoy a spontaneous trip to Taupo meant I just sang loudly and dropped him off and went home to cook dinner.  Hahahah.

Mike went to tramping club and eventually rode home at 9.30pm.  Almost at the same time Jack's Dad collected him.  Late night for the boys.  Still, it all meant we slept really well.

Time for a cup of tea.  I'm busy at a new client site today.  More talking in front of strangers.  Why am I doing this job again?

We have a short day at work tomorrow because we're off to Ruapehu (don't mind the erupting volcanoes - possibly two of them!) for a work social function.  And because they had space, I am taking Toby.  Hmmmm.  He may get an education in poor behaviour resulting from excessive alcohol consumption.  But I intend to take him away and do things with him (I am thinking hot pools, cafes and reading and watching movies).

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with no Cubs for me and Cubs for Mike

Hi,

Not too sure how Mike ended up at Cubs and I didn't.  Hahahah.  We rode home together for the first time in ages and quickly made dinner for Toby and Jack (and us).  Then Mike took them to Cubs and intended to come right back and start his homework.  But I got a text from Jo saying Mike had volunteered to take her place for the evening.  So, I had a bath! Made me relax which I guess was the reason for being at home.  Just no Mike is all.

We all had a restless night - Toby woke up and then couldn't sleep.  I think it was midnight before we all dropped off to sleep.  Groan.

But this morning is the most glorious morning here in Wellington.  No wind.  The dew has evaporated and left and misty haze over the entire region.  Blue skies.  Can I go home now?  So nice.  It'd make everyone want to live here.

Have an incredible day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home and cooked dinner for us.  It was perfect timing as I had just dished it up for me and Toby when Mike walked in the door.  It was kinda yummy too.  We ate a family pie (not all of it!) and it was scrumptious.  But Toby was cross they had put vegetables in it.  He's my son!  Hahahah.

Did lots of homework with Toby and Toby had a bath as a reward.  See how much we like baths in our house?  We can use them as bribes.  The novelty will wear off soon, but until then, we're all going to be squeaky clean!

Busy at work still.  Last full day at the current client and I start with a new project tomorrow.  Ooooo.  Excitement.

The ride down the hill was wonderful this morning.  The sky is clear and not much wind.  However, the forecast says a southerly change at lunchtime.  No sign as yet.  Lovely out there.

Have a fantastic day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend with not much - except a bath!

Hi,

We had a quite lazy weekend - the last one before Christmas with not very much on.  Toby had two birthday parties (and loved both of them) and Mike had to work (but only did a few hours in the end).  So, let's see how the weekend panned out.

Friday I took the bus home with Mike.  Mike won movie tickets at work and I won a customer service voucher for $50.  So the Gilberts cleaned up at the company meeting.  It did delay the getaway a little, hence the bus temptation.

Home to sort out dinner and then watch something and then sleep!  Saturday I lazed around in bed for hours reading.  Heaven!  Mike got me breakfast in bed.

Up to get presents for the party and drop Toby off at Lanes bowling for William's party.  I managed to convince Mike to take me to Joe's Garage for an iced coffee.  Yum!

I dropped Mike off at work and went home to tidy.  Went to collect Toby at 4.30pm (and have a cup of tea with Louise) and then back home.

Sunday was another lazy start followed by frantic afternoon activity.  Toby had another party at 11.30am at Lazerstrike in Tory St.  So Mike and I got a few things done then collected him. Then we were off to visit Sally and Andrew and go to Mitre 10 for the plumbing supplies.

Toby watched most of Lord of the Rings (part 1) and we took it home to watch the rest at home.  Mike sorted out the plumbing expertly and after dinner Toby had the first bath in our new bathroom.  He spent ages in it.  Then it was our turn (it is a two person spa bath).  We may have spent ages in it.  Hahahah.  I think it made me very relaxed.  In fact, we all slept like logs that night!  Toby slept in until 7am!  And I slept right through to my alarm.  More baths please!

Busy at work again this week.  No mischief making for me!

Have a fantastic week!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing

Hi,

Well, I rode home and put paid to the idea it was getting easier.  I had no energy and plodded up the hill.  Can you "plod" if you're riding a bike?  Anyhow, the sentiment is correct.

Got home and made dinner for Toby and waited for Mike to get home.  He ate Toby's leftovers (hahahah - it's like recycling) and I left to get Burger Fuel burgers and meet Christine at the place where she keeps Victor.  We chatted for a bit and ate the burgers.  I found out how Vanuatu was (she just got back) and she rode Victor while I kept up stupid observations (I know nothing about horses but nevertheless, made "helpful" comments to Christine which I think she tried to ignore as she concentrated on technique).  I brushed Victor afterwards (the only part I vaguely can help with) and then we went to the back paddock to sit and reflect on life for a bit.  However, the paddock had four horse occupants and they were very interested in these nighttime visitors.  For me, sitting on the ground with four large horses snuffling in your hair, it was a little disconcerting.  Hahahah.  It was a short reflection!

Back home to bed.  And this morning Mike and I rode in and got a bit wet.  Oh well.  It's not cold!  And it's not windy!

It's the weekend!  Yay!  And I wan looking forward to some downtime.  Bring it on!

Have a great weekend.  Toby has two birthdays parties to attend.  Mike has to work.  And fix the plumbing in the new bathroom.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing

Hi,

Loving my ride home at the moment.  Not too sure I am getting any faster, but it certainly seems to be getting a wee bit easier.

Benjamin stepped into the Wednesday early pickup panic yesterday and collected the boys from the library. With my go live week in full swing and Mike's consulting work kicked off and Yingjie's new job, we couldn't get away early.  Ta Benjamin.  And he has volunteered to do Wednesdays until the end of the year (well, when he's off to Germany for a few months over Christmas/New Years).  Phew!

Went to collect Mike from tramping club too at 8pm.  That was nice.

Not too sure what else has happened.  We're booked on heaps of flights over Dec/Jan (Toby is off to Auckland for a week with Jack before Christmas) so the airlines are getting a lot of money from us.  Ouch!  We need to sort out Toby's birthday party plans (I am leaning towards a lunch, with cake and then a movie).  We have a bunch of Christmas functions to attend.

Yep - the holiday can't come soon enough.

Have a wonderful Thursday.  The first song on the radio this morning was Pink's new one called "Try".  Yep - always good when I like the first song.  Mainly because it is the only song I hear in the mornings (listen to the National radio in the kitchen) so it stays in my head.  Good when it's Pink, baaaaaaad when it's Justin Bieber!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with something

Hi,

I rode home yesterday and it was rather pleasant.  Mike drove home and took all my gear.  So my ride was unencumbered with gear.  I fairly flew up the hill, and was only about 5 minutes behind Mike (he did drop off some keys on  the way home mind you).

Cubs was okay.  I was shattered from work and really shouldn't have gone.  But it was my night to run it.  It was the usual Tuesday night rush.  Get home, cook dinner (even for Jack), bundle into the car, open up the hall, run Cubs.  At least Mike did the drop off afterwards.  I got to relax with Toby (he practised his chanter - yes - he is learning the bagpipes!!!).

A gorgeous morning here today.  Lovely ride down the hill with Mike.  Another busy day at work though.

Have a fabulous day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with Toby sick

Hi,

Wee Toby is fine.  I think he has been a little under the weather for the past three or four days and the weekend's exertions caught up with him.  I think he'll be fine at school today.  He had a day full of relaxation yesterday, sleeping and reading and finally playing on the computer.  I, meanwhile, tidied the house and I am quite satisfied at how much I got done.

Cubs night tonight - I hope it goes well.  I have to fill in a lot of time because the planned activity won't take terribly much time I suspect.  Games, games, games.

Rode in this morning and missed any forecast rain.  It's supposed to be quite cold here today - southerlies.  Brrr.

Better get stuck into work.  Seems like a lot of email to read.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with tramping and Jessica and dinner

Hi,

A whirlwind weekend once again.  Friday night I got home and we packed for the tramping while waiting to go and collect Jessica from the airport.  Jessica had a party to attend and was flying down unaccompanied for the weekend.  We had to meet her on Friday off the plane and take her home to sleep at our place before dropping her early at Max's place (Max is her uncle).  Early because we had tramping commitments before we had Jessica commitments so we couldn't spend longer with her.

Toby was excited to see her and waited at the arrivals gate.  But, oddly, he just let Jessica walk right past.  Mind you, she also didn't notice him.  Anyhow, I whispered "Jessica" and Toby realised then.  Hahah.  Took her home and we were all asleep quickly.

Up early and we dropped Jessica off and then went to the station.  Mike went to collect the tramping club van and I stayed to buy last minute food from the new World and make sure everyone arrived and was ready.

We drove to Wainuiomata and Toby got McDonalds for breakfast (and tempted others) and then we dropped off Mike's party at Hine Road.  Toby and I then drove the van to Catchpool and waited in the glorious sun for the others to arrive.

We left at about 10.45am and got into Paua Hut around 2.30pm.

All the children climbed this tree on the way in so we got some nice photos.  Ryan was the oldest (next to Toby) and Sam was the youngest (at the other end).  It was good to see Gustav and his mother again after so long.  Gustav has just started school.

We had amazing weather on Saturday for our walk in.  Toby ate all his tramping food within the first few hours.  Funny!

I think I need to get Toby a pack that fits him better.  My old climbing daypack won't tighten enough around his waist.  And I had loaded him up with quite a bit.  Poor wee chap.

Dinner was a huge success.  I had just the right amount of pasta (1kg for 7 adults and 7 kids) and everyone gobbled it down.  Most had seconds and it was all gone.

Down to the campfire and fireworks.  Mike's trip had arrived around 4.15pm and cooked their tea after ours.  Another medium trip came in as well and camped outside too.

Only one of us slept outside - so the hut was quite full.  But with a lot of kids, space wasn't an issue.  Mike slept under the stars and only got his sleeping bag wet from condensation inside his pack liner.

We left early the next morning and were at our cars by 12.15pm.  Yingjie took me home with Toby and bought duck eggs on the way.  Toby and I had a great omelette when we got home.  Yummy.

I veged for a while instead of cleaning up the house.  Then we went to Sally and Andrew's for family dinner.  Caught up with people.  Then off to collect Jessica and take her to her flight.  Then home to collapse into bed.

Turns out Toby got a bit sick and I have stayed home today to look after him.  The house is now tidier than it has been for a while (since Mum left!  hahahah) so not all was lost today.

Still haven't finished, so I'd better get stuck in.

Have a great week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with user group session

Hi,

Happy birthday to Vivienne today!  Yay!

Busy times at work but I had a nice ride home after the user group session.  And I bungeed  leftover pizza (in its box) to the carrier at the back of my bike for the ride home.  Pretty sure no one would mistake me for a pizza delivery boy, but you never know.  Hahahah.

Had a great sleep - I was exhausted mind you.  And today is absolutely gorgeous here.  No wind, blue skies. The sort of day you dream about in August here, and don't believe will ever come.  But here it is!  Choice!

Have a fantastic day!  We're busy this weekend.  Mike and I are both leading tramps.  And the weather looks amazing.  How good is that?  Jessica also arrives for a sleepover tonight and I have to somehow get the washing and tidying done.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing for me and tramping club for Mike

Hi,

I rode home yesterday evening after finishing three hectic days at work where I had to stand up in front of people and talk.  Lots.  Not exactly my favourite thing in the world.  But it all seemed to go quite well.  And now it is out of the way, I can concentrate on panicking on other things as it is our go live date for our project tomorrow!  Aarrrgghhh!  18 months or more at our end and longer at the client's end!  So it is a big deal.

Tonight is the user group night as well.  And I have a tramping trip to lead this weekend (but Mike has done a lot of the organising for that - ta Mike).  So it is a busy few weeks for me.  Keeps me out of mischief.

I videoed myself opening our old bathroom door last night.  All the way.  Wide open.  Let me know if you want me to email it to you.  Hahahah.  Evidence!

I hear there was a result in the American elections.  I suspect some people I know will be quite pleased with the result.  Mike stayed up until midnight reading the internet (felt like the entire internet!) and analysing the results.  I fell asleep after the first graphic he read with lots of red states and some blue states and where Mike explained the population of the blue states means Obama won more seats in those states which outweighed the red states with 2 seats.  Oh.  I see.  Yawn.  Snore.  I know more now about American politics than I ever thought I should know.

Mike is also organising the Christmas holidays.  We need to book flights (we have one leg booked - so now we're going to be in Sydney on Sat Dec 22nd - just need to ummm...  get back again!).

Nice ride in this morning - the weather is improving.  Hurtled down the hill.

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with no Cubs

Hi,

I piked from Cubs due to my workload.  Yep - I must be soft.  But it did give me a chance to relax and prepare for today's final marathon day of training.  So, all good decisions I am sure.  Toby had a blast building shelters at the back of Karori Park.

Our bathroom is practically done now.  The wiring is done.  Our floor has underfloor heating and all three of us loved the feel with our barefeet.  Toby lay down on the floor!  Hahahah.  The spa and towel rail need to be made live today by the sparky and the upstairs bathroom towel rail outlet capped off.  Of course, there is still the issue about the waste water.

But the biggest news - far bigger than our bathroom almost being finished.  The sparky has moved the upstairs towel rail down to the new bathroom.  And this means...  Wait for it!  I am so excited.  Our top bathroom door opens fully now!  Yes!  I know.  It's amazing.  I can die happy now.  I just stand outside the top bathroom, and I push the door slowly, slowly, until it is flush with the wall.  Open wide.  And then I close it again.  And do it all over again!  Revelling in the ability to open the door fully.  I take a lot of pleasure from the simplest things.

Have a fantastic day.  Obviously it won't be as good as mine.  It's not every day you finally get a fully opening bathroom door.  It's been 5 years waiting.  Happiness is mine - all mine!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing

Hi,

If you can call talking for almost 8 hours in front of people "nothing", then my Monday was nothing.  I did sound a little husky by the end of it.  Let's see what it's like another similar stint today and almost the same again tomorrow.  I might be hoarse.  Hahahah.  Puns nicely with my blog yesterday.

Rode home in lovely weather Monday evening.  Mike went grocery shopping and we cooked a yummy dinner when he got home.  Toby ploughed through his homework and we watched fireworks around the neighbourhood for a bit before we caved in and pleaded with Mike to let some off.  So we went outside and let off about 5 fireworks (the neighbour below shouted at us after the first one - seems to me he should be grateful we let off only 5 fireworks every 3rd year or so, and not shouting like a demented man about one cool fireworks).  We're doing some at the weekend on our tramping trip.

Off to bed to listen to the main Wellington fireworks display.  Cool!

And our bathroom is finished.  Only needs the electrician (apparently he is coming today!).  Well, and the outside plumbing done.  The toilet waste pipe empties into midair still and the bath and sink into the same midair.  But it looks mighty fine.

Looks great, doesn't it?  It feels quite a bit bigger than our upstairs bathroom.  It'll be great when we can "move in" so to speak.  We all want to try out the bath!

Oh - so sunny outside now.  I left as the rain started this morning and had a cold, wet ride in.  I can't begin to tell you how cold I got.  My hands were freezing and I could hardly work the brakes.  That only happens occasionally in the winter.  Yep - a typical Wellington day.

Time to get stuck in.  Have a great day!
Love,
Angela