Hi,
I rode home on Monday evening to collect wee Toby and make dinner. We had an online shopping grocery drop due that evening, but I had bought the ingredients for tea already. Cooked up beef strogonoff and had a lovely dinner. It was so warm - 22 degrees still at 6pm. Wow! Groceries arrived and the pantry is full again now. When I went to bed to read at about 8pm, I had to open the French doors in the bedroom for heat relief. Nice!
Mike had to prepare for the accountant (we're seeing them at 5pm today) and I fell asleep reading before he came to bed. Heheheh. He tidied away my book and turned out my light!
Toby's last day of school holidays today! He is pretty excited now. Hope he likes his new school.
Busy few weeks at work now. Not that this is an unusual thing. Heheheh.
Sally and Andrew should be starting their walk today I think. They are in Abel Tasman and enjoying good weather (I hope).
Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
The weekend that disappeared in a blink
Hi,
The weekend seems to have vanished in the blink of an eye. Guess that is what a normal weekend feels like after the three day weekend before that one. Lucky this weekend coming is another three day one. Roll on Friday!
Let's see. What did we get up to over the weekend? I rode home with Mike (sort of) on Friday. He zoomed through an intersection at the Beehive that detained me. And I never saw him after that until we met at Jack's house. Toby had been to wee Tom's birthday party at Maranui (Christine said it was a great venue) and went back to Jack's house to play afterwards.
We went home to cook dinner and relax for the evening. Saturday saw us up with good intentions. But, well... Not too many of our tasks got crossed off over the weekend. Saturday morning I met Christine for coffee. I really wanted to keep driving in the wee green car as it was a glorious day. But Christine had to get away afterwards so I had a coffee with her (yes - I drank a real coffee - and it was yucky!) and then went for a drive the long way home.
Saturday afternoon after lunch I took Toby swimming to H2OXtreme. We met Rex and his family (well, actually, we drove to their place and all went in their huge car together) and bought pies for lunch (second lunch!) and then sat in a traffic jam for thirty minutes. Eventually we got to the pool, ate all the pies (yum!) and swam. Great fun!
Home again and a relaxing Saturday evening. Sunday was also relaxing. We surfaced after a massive breakfast of mushrooms on toast (two breakfasts for me! - Yikes - I see a pattern) and went out to Lower Hutt to get school shoes for Toby. All sorted. Also popped in to see Mike's parent's unit in Epuni. All looks fine!
Back home to relax (more of the pattern) and cross off some tasks at the last minute before falling asleep!
This week is busy once more and Toby starts his new school on Wednesday. He told me this morning he was excited about it now. Great!
Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Angela
The weekend seems to have vanished in the blink of an eye. Guess that is what a normal weekend feels like after the three day weekend before that one. Lucky this weekend coming is another three day one. Roll on Friday!
Let's see. What did we get up to over the weekend? I rode home with Mike (sort of) on Friday. He zoomed through an intersection at the Beehive that detained me. And I never saw him after that until we met at Jack's house. Toby had been to wee Tom's birthday party at Maranui (Christine said it was a great venue) and went back to Jack's house to play afterwards.
We went home to cook dinner and relax for the evening. Saturday saw us up with good intentions. But, well... Not too many of our tasks got crossed off over the weekend. Saturday morning I met Christine for coffee. I really wanted to keep driving in the wee green car as it was a glorious day. But Christine had to get away afterwards so I had a coffee with her (yes - I drank a real coffee - and it was yucky!) and then went for a drive the long way home.
Saturday afternoon after lunch I took Toby swimming to H2OXtreme. We met Rex and his family (well, actually, we drove to their place and all went in their huge car together) and bought pies for lunch (second lunch!) and then sat in a traffic jam for thirty minutes. Eventually we got to the pool, ate all the pies (yum!) and swam. Great fun!
Home again and a relaxing Saturday evening. Sunday was also relaxing. We surfaced after a massive breakfast of mushrooms on toast (two breakfasts for me! - Yikes - I see a pattern) and went out to Lower Hutt to get school shoes for Toby. All sorted. Also popped in to see Mike's parent's unit in Epuni. All looks fine!
Back home to relax (more of the pattern) and cross off some tasks at the last minute before falling asleep!
This week is busy once more and Toby starts his new school on Wednesday. He told me this morning he was excited about it now. Great!
Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Angela
Friday, January 27, 2012
My disorganised morning
One thing Angela didn't mention last night was the wind. Windy it certainly was on the way home! Exciting gusts that try blowing you into the traffic down in the city, and very unusually a head-wind going up our steep hill. Normally that hill is very sheltered, which is a small mercy. Not yesterday. Still, I did the not-terrible time of 11:15 up the hill, which given the conditions was pretty well alright. Under 11 minutes I consider good, and under 10 minutes means I am an exceptional athlete. Well, in my mind.
This morning I was up very early, getting into the shower straight after Angela before 6am. I had lots to do and an early meeting and wanted to make sure everything went well. But, of course, time warp kicked in, and I ended up later than if I'd have got up at 7am. I don't really know how that happens.
My organisational skills were also sadly lacking. I was running around in a panic from about 7:30 onwards. (Toby was very helpful and got his jobs done and then looked after me). The nadir was the time I spent searching the whole house for Toby's jacket, since Angela had mentioned that it wasn't in his bag and she didn't know where it was. Only to find that she's clearly since found it and put it in his bag for us!
I had to go back twice from the garage, to get Toby's present for Tom, and then to get a garage key. Twice was clearly not enough, since I don't have my wallet at all, which is going to make lunch time slightly problematic - no sandwiches for us this morning. And I need to keep my jersey on all day - because the 'casual friday' T-Shirt I grabbed has a big picture of a dog licking its balls on the back of it, which is probably a bit too casual.
But all worked out. I was panicking because I had an 8:30 meeting and everything has to run just right to make it on time. But we made it to Toby's holiday programme before it opened, so I was on my bike right on time. I rode down in spite of the rain, because bike is the only way to make that sort of deadline - it's the fastest way in, even compared to driving, because there are rat runs you can do on a bike that you can't do on a car, and the traffic is pretty slow that time of morning. Yes - it was wet and cold. But not particularly so. I brought a towel and a complete change of clothes in and was quickly warm and comfortable. Bring it on I say! Though I envy Angela's disc brakes. Mine were pretty useless. They're also very worn out which doesn't help at all. I went pretty gingerly down the hill.
Oh well, it's Friday which is great! I have a very busy weekend with many jobs to get done - don't quite know how that matches up with Angela's lazy weekend. But we will see. Forecast I think, is for this rain to blow through tonight and the weekend to be okay, which bodes well for another day in the garden. Enjoy your day!
This morning I was up very early, getting into the shower straight after Angela before 6am. I had lots to do and an early meeting and wanted to make sure everything went well. But, of course, time warp kicked in, and I ended up later than if I'd have got up at 7am. I don't really know how that happens.
My organisational skills were also sadly lacking. I was running around in a panic from about 7:30 onwards. (Toby was very helpful and got his jobs done and then looked after me). The nadir was the time I spent searching the whole house for Toby's jacket, since Angela had mentioned that it wasn't in his bag and she didn't know where it was. Only to find that she's clearly since found it and put it in his bag for us!
I had to go back twice from the garage, to get Toby's present for Tom, and then to get a garage key. Twice was clearly not enough, since I don't have my wallet at all, which is going to make lunch time slightly problematic - no sandwiches for us this morning. And I need to keep my jersey on all day - because the 'casual friday' T-Shirt I grabbed has a big picture of a dog licking its balls on the back of it, which is probably a bit too casual.
But all worked out. I was panicking because I had an 8:30 meeting and everything has to run just right to make it on time. But we made it to Toby's holiday programme before it opened, so I was on my bike right on time. I rode down in spite of the rain, because bike is the only way to make that sort of deadline - it's the fastest way in, even compared to driving, because there are rat runs you can do on a bike that you can't do on a car, and the traffic is pretty slow that time of morning. Yes - it was wet and cold. But not particularly so. I brought a towel and a complete change of clothes in and was quickly warm and comfortable. Bring it on I say! Though I envy Angela's disc brakes. Mine were pretty useless. They're also very worn out which doesn't help at all. I went pretty gingerly down the hill.
Oh well, it's Friday which is great! I have a very busy weekend with many jobs to get done - don't quite know how that matches up with Angela's lazy weekend. But we will see. Forecast I think, is for this rain to blow through tonight and the weekend to be okay, which bodes well for another day in the garden. Enjoy your day!
The Thursday with my serviced bike and Cubs planning
Hi,
Yesterday was great - I collected my serviced bike (free one at 6 weeks) with new pannier rack on it and road tyres. Mike and I rode home together and then we decided against further grocery shopping and got Burger Wisconsin instead. We scoffed that down just before the other Cub leaders turned up for a few hours to plan the new term. It all got pretty sorted. Hooray!
Toby went to bed on his own pretty much as we all chatted excitedly about what we'd like to do this term with the Cubs. He's a good kid!
This morning dawned - if you can call it a dawn when it is raining and the sky merely lightens as opposed to seeing the sun come up - rainy but with considerably less wind than last night's strong gusts. However, it is a southerly now. I was soaked within a kilometre of home and by the time I got to work, the tips of my fingers were cold. An unusual sensation at this time of year!
My bike clothes are soaked. I wrung out socks and gloves and I have sneakily hung up my shirt and shorts under my desk. Hope it isn't too obvious. Paper towels are now stuffed down my bike shoes in an effort to dry them off before I have to pull them on at the other end of the day! Yucky! I may be bringing down the dress standard around my part of the office today...
Anyhow - it's nearly the weekend! Yay! We have to buy school shoes for Toby (and socks and singlets - all white) and a new lunchbox. But apart from that, we have a swimming playdate at H2OXtreme and not a lot else. Choice! A relaxing weekend.
Bring on a cup of tea now, and everything will be brilliant. At least, I am dry now.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela
Yesterday was great - I collected my serviced bike (free one at 6 weeks) with new pannier rack on it and road tyres. Mike and I rode home together and then we decided against further grocery shopping and got Burger Wisconsin instead. We scoffed that down just before the other Cub leaders turned up for a few hours to plan the new term. It all got pretty sorted. Hooray!
Toby went to bed on his own pretty much as we all chatted excitedly about what we'd like to do this term with the Cubs. He's a good kid!
This morning dawned - if you can call it a dawn when it is raining and the sky merely lightens as opposed to seeing the sun come up - rainy but with considerably less wind than last night's strong gusts. However, it is a southerly now. I was soaked within a kilometre of home and by the time I got to work, the tips of my fingers were cold. An unusual sensation at this time of year!
My bike clothes are soaked. I wrung out socks and gloves and I have sneakily hung up my shirt and shorts under my desk. Hope it isn't too obvious. Paper towels are now stuffed down my bike shoes in an effort to dry them off before I have to pull them on at the other end of the day! Yucky! I may be bringing down the dress standard around my part of the office today...
Anyhow - it's nearly the weekend! Yay! We have to buy school shoes for Toby (and socks and singlets - all white) and a new lunchbox. But apart from that, we have a swimming playdate at H2OXtreme and not a lot else. Choice! A relaxing weekend.
Bring on a cup of tea now, and everything will be brilliant. At least, I am dry now.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Wednesday with dinner out
Hi,
Benjamin collected Toby from Skids and looked after him for the evening while Mike and I met up with Sally and Andrew for dinner. It was good to see Sally and Andrew and catch up with them. I also think I have arranged Toby to stay with them for my birthday weekend while Mike whisks me off to Nelson. A few wee details to sort out (namely, Toby getting off the school bus at the right moment to find Sally in town). We had dinner at Voodoo Lounge in Manners Street. Southern American cuisine - quite yummy too.
Benjamin is such a lovely boy - his parents should be proud. Toby enjoys his company. They demolished their pizzas last night! Good on them!
My bike is in for a service today - its first one. And a new carrier for panniers. I have been wearing a backpack with this new bike and I am looking forward to going back to the panniers - so much easier when riding! I can't wait!
Caught the bus in as a consequence of the service being done today. It is a bit windy here. Might be a fun ride home!
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Benjamin collected Toby from Skids and looked after him for the evening while Mike and I met up with Sally and Andrew for dinner. It was good to see Sally and Andrew and catch up with them. I also think I have arranged Toby to stay with them for my birthday weekend while Mike whisks me off to Nelson. A few wee details to sort out (namely, Toby getting off the school bus at the right moment to find Sally in town). We had dinner at Voodoo Lounge in Manners Street. Southern American cuisine - quite yummy too.
Benjamin is such a lovely boy - his parents should be proud. Toby enjoys his company. They demolished their pizzas last night! Good on them!
My bike is in for a service today - its first one. And a new carrier for panniers. I have been wearing a backpack with this new bike and I am looking forward to going back to the panniers - so much easier when riding! I can't wait!
Caught the bus in as a consequence of the service being done today. It is a bit windy here. Might be a fun ride home!
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Tuesday back at work
Hi,
The weather continues its great run and the ride down the hill this morning was wonderful. Kicked the bike into top gear and pedalled like mad down the hill. I really must put the bike computer back on to see how fast I am going. I'd hate to be breaking any speed limits - kinda. Heheheheh. There was a misty cloud just over Mt Vic and it gave the sun a filter and made the harbour look ethereal. Somes/Matiu was like a silhouette in the stillness of the harbour. Gorgeous.
Last night I missed the visit by Aspen Landscapes. They came to check out our garden and hopefully come up with some cool ideas. Mike said he required smelling salts to revive him when he had a look at the concrete slab held up by rotting railway sleepers. The rest of it he seemed okay with! That's good! Let's see, eh?
Tonight Benjamin is collecting Toby from Skids holiday programme and looking after him while Mike and I have dinner out. Should be very nice. I must find out how late I can leave my bike here before the building is alarmed (apparently it is alarmed overnight). Then I can ride home with Mike afterwards. We shall see.
Tomorrow night is Cubs planning night. Got to sort out the Cub Camp and Term 1 activities. It's going to take a while I think.
My routine has changed a bit. I am waking up at 5.30am (ooohhh - Sally, how do you do that early morning thing every morning? - two mornings have been enough for me) and getting to work by 7am. This is to be able to leave work by 4pm every day. However, that isn't likely really. But I live in hope. Toby will be coming home around that time from his new school this year. My theory is to be home at the same time as him and help him with homework while I prepare tea. Theories are good to have anyway. Right?
Have a marvellous day. I hope the weather where you are is a wonderful as here!
Love,
Angela
The weather continues its great run and the ride down the hill this morning was wonderful. Kicked the bike into top gear and pedalled like mad down the hill. I really must put the bike computer back on to see how fast I am going. I'd hate to be breaking any speed limits - kinda. Heheheheh. There was a misty cloud just over Mt Vic and it gave the sun a filter and made the harbour look ethereal. Somes/Matiu was like a silhouette in the stillness of the harbour. Gorgeous.
Last night I missed the visit by Aspen Landscapes. They came to check out our garden and hopefully come up with some cool ideas. Mike said he required smelling salts to revive him when he had a look at the concrete slab held up by rotting railway sleepers. The rest of it he seemed okay with! That's good! Let's see, eh?
Tonight Benjamin is collecting Toby from Skids holiday programme and looking after him while Mike and I have dinner out. Should be very nice. I must find out how late I can leave my bike here before the building is alarmed (apparently it is alarmed overnight). Then I can ride home with Mike afterwards. We shall see.
Tomorrow night is Cubs planning night. Got to sort out the Cub Camp and Term 1 activities. It's going to take a while I think.
My routine has changed a bit. I am waking up at 5.30am (ooohhh - Sally, how do you do that early morning thing every morning? - two mornings have been enough for me) and getting to work by 7am. This is to be able to leave work by 4pm every day. However, that isn't likely really. But I live in hope. Toby will be coming home around that time from his new school this year. My theory is to be home at the same time as him and help him with homework while I prepare tea. Theories are good to have anyway. Right?
Have a marvellous day. I hope the weather where you are is a wonderful as here!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The weekend with three days!
Hi,
Can I request all weekends be three days long? So nice. Mike and Toby went tramping on Saturday morning till Sunday late afternoon with the tramping club. They had a great time by the sound of it. I spent my time reading and watching some of the DVDs Mike got me for Christmas.
I also sent to John's party on Saturday night (otherwise I would have been away tramping too). This was John's 50th and a big deal. Family and friends were there and John cooked up a storm on the BBQ. The theme was Hawaiian 70s cop shows. Josh lent me the best shirt ever (a real authentic Hawaiian one!) and with a sarong I was off. I blended in quite well with other people. Fortunately.
Monday was spent looking at our new computer and trying to sort out our old one before we retire it to Sally and Andrew's place. Toby played with Alex and enjoyed that a lot.
This week is busy once more. Mike and I have a Cubs planning session on Thursday night, and dinner out on Wednesday night. Lucky it is a short week!
Have a great week.
Love,
Angela
Can I request all weekends be three days long? So nice. Mike and Toby went tramping on Saturday morning till Sunday late afternoon with the tramping club. They had a great time by the sound of it. I spent my time reading and watching some of the DVDs Mike got me for Christmas.
I also sent to John's party on Saturday night (otherwise I would have been away tramping too). This was John's 50th and a big deal. Family and friends were there and John cooked up a storm on the BBQ. The theme was Hawaiian 70s cop shows. Josh lent me the best shirt ever (a real authentic Hawaiian one!) and with a sarong I was off. I blended in quite well with other people. Fortunately.
Monday was spent looking at our new computer and trying to sort out our old one before we retire it to Sally and Andrew's place. Toby played with Alex and enjoyed that a lot.
This week is busy once more. Mike and I have a Cubs planning session on Thursday night, and dinner out on Wednesday night. Lucky it is a short week!
Have a great week.
Love,
Angela
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Thursday with a movie
Hi,
Well, Benjamin looked after Toby and Vivienne, John and I went out for dinner (Nicolinis for some pasta - John had a steak). Mike joined us for the movie at 8pm at The Embassy. We saw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and it was very good. However, it was a "first" for me. The first movie at a cinema that I have ever slept in! Woke up when someone got shot right at the end. Still have no idea what actually happened. Think that was the baddie being shot. Maybe the late night the night before, combined with a nice dinner, warm, dark cinema...
Anyhow, today I drove in because I have a three hour lunch break to take Toby to get his new uniform for school. Phew! And I have to work late to make up the time and get a major release of work out today. Roll on the weekend!
Tomorrow morning Mike and Toby are off tramping in the Tararuas. They are due back on Sunday evening. It's a long weekend here for us so we're back at work on Tuesday! I have a party to attend on Saturday night. Should be entertaining.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela
Well, Benjamin looked after Toby and Vivienne, John and I went out for dinner (Nicolinis for some pasta - John had a steak). Mike joined us for the movie at 8pm at The Embassy. We saw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and it was very good. However, it was a "first" for me. The first movie at a cinema that I have ever slept in! Woke up when someone got shot right at the end. Still have no idea what actually happened. Think that was the baddie being shot. Maybe the late night the night before, combined with a nice dinner, warm, dark cinema...
Anyhow, today I drove in because I have a three hour lunch break to take Toby to get his new uniform for school. Phew! And I have to work late to make up the time and get a major release of work out today. Roll on the weekend!
Tomorrow morning Mike and Toby are off tramping in the Tararuas. They are due back on Sunday evening. It's a long weekend here for us so we're back at work on Tuesday! I have a party to attend on Saturday night. Should be entertaining.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Wednesday with Roz!
Hi,
Wednesday morning I thought I hadn't chatted to my friend Roz for ages so I tried to find her email address in my inbox but failed. Then, about 30 minutes later she texted me! Nice. And she was in Wellington! Even nicer. And wanted lunch on Thursday. Woo hoo! She must have known.
Anyhow, I met Mike for lunch yesterday at Wagamama with Aidan and her mother (Susan - over from the US) and the boys. It was so nice to see Susan again and glad the weather has been lovely for her.
Later Roz said she couldn't meet me for lunch on Thursday and she was heading back to Auckland so could I meet up for coffee after work. Mike said yes, so I drove the wee green car in after dinner and met Roz. I had a scrumptious pot of tea (Rooibos with vanilla flavouring). The waitress was astonished at me asking for milk in it. But it was very nice that way. Then I zipped home with Roz to show her our house and our new coffee table! Mike has purchased one on Trade Me. Ooooo.
This morning is windy and grey - but still quite warm. The ride down the hill was a little gusty at times. I think we're off to a movie tonight after work. With Vivienne (and John?). Benjamin is going to look after Toby. No idea what is on. I shall go to whatever has the most votes from people that know!
Enjoy the day!
Love,
Angela
Wednesday morning I thought I hadn't chatted to my friend Roz for ages so I tried to find her email address in my inbox but failed. Then, about 30 minutes later she texted me! Nice. And she was in Wellington! Even nicer. And wanted lunch on Thursday. Woo hoo! She must have known.
Anyhow, I met Mike for lunch yesterday at Wagamama with Aidan and her mother (Susan - over from the US) and the boys. It was so nice to see Susan again and glad the weather has been lovely for her.
Later Roz said she couldn't meet me for lunch on Thursday and she was heading back to Auckland so could I meet up for coffee after work. Mike said yes, so I drove the wee green car in after dinner and met Roz. I had a scrumptious pot of tea (Rooibos with vanilla flavouring). The waitress was astonished at me asking for milk in it. But it was very nice that way. Then I zipped home with Roz to show her our house and our new coffee table! Mike has purchased one on Trade Me. Ooooo.
This morning is windy and grey - but still quite warm. The ride down the hill was a little gusty at times. I think we're off to a movie tonight after work. With Vivienne (and John?). Benjamin is going to look after Toby. No idea what is on. I shall go to whatever has the most votes from people that know!
Enjoy the day!
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Tuesday with a party and Benjamin's babysitting
Hi,
Benjamin collected Toby from Skids yesterday and looked after him well while we went to a tramping club's committee BBQ party. The weather was glorious and it was an enjoyable evening. I did find a few people I knew to chat to, so it was all good! And sitting on grass in the sunshine eating yummy food is always a pleasant pastime.
We did get home later than anticipated and I was asleep in seconds of my head hitting the pillow. Toby has a day with Jack today, instead of Skids (despite Toby wanting to go to Skids today to meet up with Jonny for the water fight). I am sure Toby will be very happy.
If you reply to these emails I may not answer for days. Where I am working at the moment (and possibly through to late June) has gmail blocked so I can't read emails here. Use my work one if you want to email me.
More great weather today. The ride down the hill was fantastic again. The wind has picked up slightly and there is some cloud around. But, not too shabby!
I will ride home and collect Toby from Jack's place and head home to cook some tea. I sense chicken schnitzels coming on!
Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela
Benjamin collected Toby from Skids yesterday and looked after him well while we went to a tramping club's committee BBQ party. The weather was glorious and it was an enjoyable evening. I did find a few people I knew to chat to, so it was all good! And sitting on grass in the sunshine eating yummy food is always a pleasant pastime.
We did get home later than anticipated and I was asleep in seconds of my head hitting the pillow. Toby has a day with Jack today, instead of Skids (despite Toby wanting to go to Skids today to meet up with Jonny for the water fight). I am sure Toby will be very happy.
If you reply to these emails I may not answer for days. Where I am working at the moment (and possibly through to late June) has gmail blocked so I can't read emails here. Use my work one if you want to email me.
More great weather today. The ride down the hill was fantastic again. The wind has picked up slightly and there is some cloud around. But, not too shabby!
I will ride home and collect Toby from Jack's place and head home to cook some tea. I sense chicken schnitzels coming on!
Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Monday where we said goodbye to the Sampsons
Hi,
The great run of weather continues with this morning (Tuesday) possibly being even better than yesterday. The humidity has dropped, the sky is blue, the harbour is like a millpond, the hills beyond are all shades of blue. I clicked the bike into top gear and hurtled down the hill this morning. It was fun.
Yesterday was also lovely - I rode straight to the Sampson's house and we had dinner there. It was the last dinner and drinks we'll have with them here in Wellington in that house. They move up to Auckland on Thursday. I hope they all settle in really quickly up there. And we have to visit several times a year!
Tonight Benjamin is looking after Toby and Mike and I are off to a tramping club party. Oooo. Oooo. Hmmm. It's a BBQ, so the weather couldn't be better! I am sure it'll be fun, but I hardly know the people. Mike will enjoy it I am quite sure.
Time for a cup of tea. Have a wonderful day! Hope the weather where you are is as good as here!
Love,
Angela
The great run of weather continues with this morning (Tuesday) possibly being even better than yesterday. The humidity has dropped, the sky is blue, the harbour is like a millpond, the hills beyond are all shades of blue. I clicked the bike into top gear and hurtled down the hill this morning. It was fun.
Yesterday was also lovely - I rode straight to the Sampson's house and we had dinner there. It was the last dinner and drinks we'll have with them here in Wellington in that house. They move up to Auckland on Thursday. I hope they all settle in really quickly up there. And we have to visit several times a year!
Tonight Benjamin is looking after Toby and Mike and I are off to a tramping club party. Oooo. Oooo. Hmmm. It's a BBQ, so the weather couldn't be better! I am sure it'll be fun, but I hardly know the people. Mike will enjoy it I am quite sure.
Time for a cup of tea. Have a wonderful day! Hope the weather where you are is as good as here!
Love,
Angela
Monday, January 16, 2012
The weekend with cleaning and gardening
Hi,
The weather came right for the weekend - apart from some strong wind. Toby had a sleepover Friday night at William's house but that was aborted at 9.45pm when Louise rang and we had to go and collect Toby as he was missing us (??).
Saturday morning we all went for our haircuts - Toby has lost his gorgeous mop of hair and has a short back and sides cut. He still looks very cute though! I went clothes shopping straight after that (sigh) and managed to buy some summer tops for work (I am wearing one now). Bought everything in one hour! Ooosssh!
Home to start tidying. Now our house is mainly tidy, apart from the study (we're still debating what to do there - our friend Aidan gave us some suggestions and we're leaning that way). People can come and visit without me cringing.
Sunday morning was a great Yum Cha session with us, Vivienne, John, Christine, we Tom, Priscilla and Alamay. I did eat ever so much.
And Sunday we tidied the front garden for the first time in 18 months after the Yum Cha. You can approach the front door without feeling like you've been transported to the jungles of Borneo and anticipating Orangutan hoots. We need to take the garden waste to the tip though. The steps have an additional negotiation aspect to them at present (involving wool sacks full to bursting with weeds, old tv antennae and stacked garden waste that can't fit in the wool sack). I sprayed Round Up too, quite liberally, so this time next week the patio sound be back to its lovely brick self... At least we can reach the BBQ to enjoy some of this nice weather forecast this week!
Fiona and Brendan came over to visit and share Amelia's birthday cake (she turned three on Saturday - same day as Tom). Very nice!
The ride down the hill was great again - I kept up with two nice cars easily. And as I am off-site at a client's office, I get to ride around the waterfront each morning. This morning was lovely - still water in the harbour, blue skies with a hint of cloud to the south, no wind to speak of... The sort of place you dream you live in! Shame it is only like that a handful of days a year, eh? Still, there'd be a million people here if it was like that half the year!
Tonight we're off to the Sampson's house for tea - it is Hannah's birthday today. And they are all off shortly to Auckland to live. Pants! Grrrr. Going to miss them! A lot!
Enjoy your week!
Love,
Angela
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Thursday with a movie
Hi,
Yesterday was so sticky but today isn't quite as bad due to the galeforce winds and lashing rain. It is still warm - just not quite so sticky. But sunshine is peeking through from time to time so it may even end up worse than yesterday for stickiness.
I met Christine after work yesterday and we went to see The Iron Lady. It was superb - great acting from everyone. Well worth the effort.
It's Friday today! Yay! We have haircuts lined up for our mop tops tomorrow morning and that is about it. I have a tentative shopping expedition on Sunday morning with Christine to purchase a summer wardrobe for me. Tentative because I hate shopping and I might not be bothered!
Have a marvellous weekend.
Love,
Angela
Yesterday was so sticky but today isn't quite as bad due to the galeforce winds and lashing rain. It is still warm - just not quite so sticky. But sunshine is peeking through from time to time so it may even end up worse than yesterday for stickiness.
I met Christine after work yesterday and we went to see The Iron Lady. It was superb - great acting from everyone. Well worth the effort.
It's Friday today! Yay! We have haircuts lined up for our mop tops tomorrow morning and that is about it. I have a tentative shopping expedition on Sunday morning with Christine to purchase a summer wardrobe for me. Tentative because I hate shopping and I might not be bothered!
Have a marvellous weekend.
Love,
Angela
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Wednesday with nothing much
Hi,
Yesterday the grey morning turned into a glorious day around lunchtime. I walked along the waterfront to work from the client site and grabbed some documents and ate lunch on the waterfront with Mike. Very nice. When I rode home, Toby was getting ready for a sleepover with Alex. He was packing his own bag - even remembered his toothbrush! What a good boy.
Mike and I had a lovely dinner (stir fry chicken - ta Mike) and went to bed early. The things you do when you have an evening to yourselves!
This morning we dropped Toby's bag off at Skids so he has a lunch when he gets dropped off there! And we rode into together. It was superb. My new bike still has fat tyres and no bike computer but it goes down the hill like stink compared to my old bike. Going up is another matter. Gravity is difficult to ignore no matter what. Mike said he got up to 58 km/h following me down this morning - and I was pulling away from him! Wow! Way cool.
The weather is so humid. Sticky, sticky. I rode in wearing just my t-shirt. Too hot for the fluoro jacket.
I am going to see The Iron lady tonight after work with Christine. Should be good.
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Yesterday the grey morning turned into a glorious day around lunchtime. I walked along the waterfront to work from the client site and grabbed some documents and ate lunch on the waterfront with Mike. Very nice. When I rode home, Toby was getting ready for a sleepover with Alex. He was packing his own bag - even remembered his toothbrush! What a good boy.
Mike and I had a lovely dinner (stir fry chicken - ta Mike) and went to bed early. The things you do when you have an evening to yourselves!
This morning we dropped Toby's bag off at Skids so he has a lunch when he gets dropped off there! And we rode into together. It was superb. My new bike still has fat tyres and no bike computer but it goes down the hill like stink compared to my old bike. Going up is another matter. Gravity is difficult to ignore no matter what. Mike said he got up to 58 km/h following me down this morning - and I was pulling away from him! Wow! Way cool.
The weather is so humid. Sticky, sticky. I rode in wearing just my t-shirt. Too hot for the fluoro jacket.
I am going to see The Iron lady tonight after work with Christine. Should be good.
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Tuesday with a ride to Lower Hutt
Hi,
What a great way to cap off the day. Sally invited us for a BBQ and to pick some plums (Toby loves the plums) so I rode to their place with Andrew. It's been a long time since I rode up SH2. We used to do it when we lived with Sally and Andrew in Alicetown for quite a long time. I had forgotten how long that stretch of motorway is. But Andrew took me under his wing. The road has improved a lot for cyclists too - with bike traffic lights along the way. Andrew took me along the Petone foreshore off-road! Kind of. Heheheh. Ta Andrew.
The BBQ was very good and the plum picking successful. Well, we have some plums to eat at any rate and Toby has two in his lunchbox today!
The ride in this morning was as clammy as yesterday - it is so humid here at the moment. I might have to ride home in my t-shirt. My fluoro jacket is not breathable in the slightest.
Toby has got into Skids for this week - luckily. And Mike is cooking up a storm at home. Fun!
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
What a great way to cap off the day. Sally invited us for a BBQ and to pick some plums (Toby loves the plums) so I rode to their place with Andrew. It's been a long time since I rode up SH2. We used to do it when we lived with Sally and Andrew in Alicetown for quite a long time. I had forgotten how long that stretch of motorway is. But Andrew took me under his wing. The road has improved a lot for cyclists too - with bike traffic lights along the way. Andrew took me along the Petone foreshore off-road! Kind of. Heheheh. Ta Andrew.
The BBQ was very good and the plum picking successful. Well, we have some plums to eat at any rate and Toby has two in his lunchbox today!
The ride in this morning was as clammy as yesterday - it is so humid here at the moment. I might have to ride home in my t-shirt. My fluoro jacket is not breathable in the slightest.
Toby has got into Skids for this week - luckily. And Mike is cooking up a storm at home. Fun!
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Monday, January 9, 2012
The Monday back at work
Hi,
After two weeks on holiday with no rain and glorious sunshine involving lots of sunscreen and swimming, it was a shock to ride into work this morning. The rain got me quite wet and I am not looking forward to pulling on my wet gear at the other end of the day! But it was certainly nice to be back on my bike after a few weeks off. Not a lot of exercise over the holidays and quite a lot of eating!
I am curious as to how long Mike will be working in Wellington! I wonder how many days he will get through here before someone asks him to go to Sydney! Let's see, eh?
We have inadvertently forgot to book Toby into a school holiday programme! Whoops. Mike is going to text the Skids owner and turn up and hopefully get Toby in today! Ma is keen on us sending him to her place for a week so we'll sort that out this week. Fingers crossed as Toby says he'd like that!
Anyhow - I hope to get some holiday blog sorted out so you can see what we got up to! If I get some time.
Have a great 2012!
Love,
Angela
After two weeks on holiday with no rain and glorious sunshine involving lots of sunscreen and swimming, it was a shock to ride into work this morning. The rain got me quite wet and I am not looking forward to pulling on my wet gear at the other end of the day! But it was certainly nice to be back on my bike after a few weeks off. Not a lot of exercise over the holidays and quite a lot of eating!
I am curious as to how long Mike will be working in Wellington! I wonder how many days he will get through here before someone asks him to go to Sydney! Let's see, eh?
We have inadvertently forgot to book Toby into a school holiday programme! Whoops. Mike is going to text the Skids owner and turn up and hopefully get Toby in today! Ma is keen on us sending him to her place for a week so we'll sort that out this week. Fingers crossed as Toby says he'd like that!
Anyhow - I hope to get some holiday blog sorted out so you can see what we got up to! If I get some time.
Have a great 2012!
Love,
Angela
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Christmas holiday
We had the most wonderful Christmas holiday this year. After choosing Otago over Northland as our destination somewhere around the middle of the year, and convincing our friends Josh and Aidan (and family) to also make the change (they were also going to head to Northland), there was a certain level of expectation in Otago providing a magical Christmas. I think I did build it up in the eyes of our friends. But, guess what? Otago delivered - in spades! We had the best weather in the country over Christmas/New Years. My concern was sunburn instead of digging trenches around the tent to deflect rising floodwaters. Any holiday where that is your main concern is a good one.
It all started in the week leading up to Christmas. The closest ferry crossing I could get to Christmas Eve was Thursday morning at 2.30am! Wow! It pays to book months and months in advance. Anyhow, the day after I sent the email to Mike detailing the ferry crossing booking I got an email back from him saying I had flights for me and Toby down to Christchurch on the Thursday morning. Getting into Christchurch at the civilised hour of 9.30am.
Mike, meanwhile, was the lucky person that got to get the car onto the 2:30am ferry and meet us in Christchurch after our leisurely flight. All this after getting back from Sydney and having medical appointments Christmas week, plus a friend was over from South Africa and having a party on the Wednesday night before the Thursday morning! So Mike ended up driving straight from the party to the ferry queue. He slept in the car until boarding time and raced up to find a cabin. He then slept his way over Cook Strait all ready for the glorious drive down the east coast through Kaikoura.
Toby and I were driven to the airport by Vivienne - which made our morning a lot easier. Even if I did have to ring her up early to say the flight was earlier than we thought. We had a short flight to Christchurch, and Mike got to Christchurch airport in good time to collect us (we probably waited just over an hour). First stop was at the local Intergen office, strangely enough. Mike caught up with some people he had worked with in Sydney. Toby caught up with computer game time in the car. Eventually, after Mike satisfied his social obligations, we were off just after midday. The drive to Dunedin was good - I drove because of Mike's shenanigans to get the car to Christchurch and he was feeling the effects of sleeping in cars and boats.
We got to Dunedin at dinner time, and pitched our tent in Mike's parents' backyard with millimetres to spare all around the grassy patch just outside their sliding doors. After a good tea we all collapsed into bed. I did have a restless night with SH1 traffic noise keeping me awake during the night. But this night must have cured me because it never caused any bother ever again.
The next few days revolved around wrapping presents and buying food and any last minute gifts. Normal activity in the day or two before Christmas. Far better running around Dunedin doing it compared to a horrid experience shopping on Christmas Eve once in London. The shopping malls allowed smoking still and entering the mall must have shaved years off my life. Awful.
Another thing to fill in my time was my ultimately fruitless endeavour to catch a glimpse of the glorious comet in the early morning skies. Three times I got up at 4am and twice I drove down to St Kilda beach to spy it. The first time I spent a few hours with Liz, also in Dunedin for the holiday, chatting away and enjoying the sunrise. We watched a cruise ship heading towards Port Chalmers in the early hours. Another day the boys came with me to keep me company. I have had to make do with the gorgeous photos in my astronomy magazine - that other people took.
Toby was very excited on Christmas Eve. As he lay down in the tent, he kept waking up to peer at his stocking hanging from the tip of the tent above his head. He was sure he'd catch Santa in the act this year. But Santa managed to sneak in and fill up his stocking without Toby catching him. Sneaky Santa. I think sneaky Santa might have twitched a bit when Toby moved in his sleep!
Christmas morning Toby opened up his presents and had a great time. I got a lot of DVDs from Mike (and subsequent viewings have proved they are very good). Mike got a book from me and started reading it immediately (a new Richard Dawkins book called The Magic of Reality) and murmured his appreciation. Christmas Day was a wonderful lunch at 733 with Mike's cousins (Jane and Richard) and a friend of Jane's from Bathurst.
Boxing Day we were up early to get breakfast on the way to Aramoana. Josh and Aidan had rented a crib down on the sandy spit at Aramoana and apart from the shooting committed there a while back, I knew nothing about the place and had never been there. Oddly, neither had Mike. Anyhow, some bantering during the year meant I had to provide marmite toast for breakfast to make sure our friends knew the right way to eat the stuff for maximum pleasure. Yummy bread in hand, trusty jar of marmite in the other, we were off. The day was glorious and the drive down to Aramoana was great. I know the road to Port Chalmers quite well as our grandparents lived there when we were young and we'd have Sunday lunch there every Sunday. But from Port Chalmers to Aramoana it was all an unknown quantity.
We found the crib and discovered it really was built on a big sand dune. There was sand everywhere - outside, on, even in the house. But it was idyllic. A real beach house. Lots of in and out and nothing a broom couldn't handle. Aidan had made scrambled eggs and they were fantastic. I made marmite toast (secret - not too much marmite, hot, buttered toast - can't fail!) and everyone liked it. We exchanged presents (hahaha - I got hankies from Aidan - very funny because I would run out of tissues at her place and I'd get lent a hanky!) and went for a walk along the beach past the moll and to a giant sand dune.
The sand dune occupied a lot of our time. The photo of it is above and you can see it behind us. It really is very high. Josh and Jackie continued their walk along the beach while we walked up to the top of the dune and barreled down it. I laughed when Mike went by on his tummy with Duncan riding on top. Mike's face just buried into the sand as he tried to swim the butterfly stroke in the deep sand. Running down was a lot of fun. Rolling down not quite so much - that sand got in everywhere. We watched a seal just offshore for a while and Josh and Jackie reported seeing some along the beach when they returned from their walk. A great place and one we'll have to go back to one day!
Back to the crib and we drove out (and got a little bogged in the sand) and went to a family Boxing Day get together at Joy's house at Macandrew Bay. The sun was boiling hot and we all soaked up a lot of sunshine, knowing we have to bank the sun we get for the winter ahead! Hahahah. It was great catching up with everyone. Bev only just got in the night before after a big earthquake a few days before in Christchurch (that we only just missed by 24 hours when we drove down). It was amazing to hear her talk about the year in Chch.
The next day we spent at Moana Pool and lounging around 733. Moana Pool still holds special memories for me as a great place to visit. I remember going there on my own as a ten year old with a friend. I remember swimming lessons. I remember the glass window underneath the pool. And for some reason, despite its upgrades since, it still feels exactly the same. It is way better now of course. The river ride, the slides, the learners pool. It's all fabulous. But it is just as fabulous in my memories too. There is no cafe now though. Vending machines fill that niche. Not as well, but hey - Toby seemed happy to raid a machine for a bag of twisties.
The next day we took Josh and Aidan on a guided tour of Dunedin, such as it was. The tour was very specialised and hardly likely to feature in many tourist brochures. Possibly the view they now have of Dunedin is now quite unique in the world. Certainly while they were at Aramoana, they saw many tourists arriving in cruise ships, and I can almost guarantee none of those passengers got to see the Dunedin that Josh and Aidan now know (and love?).
First stop was Scribes, that great second hand book shop that used to be just down the corner from my flat, and in-between me and university. How cruel! Nice to see Aidan spent just as much in her one visit there as I did on some of my previous visits.
From Scribes we walked through the university grounds. I walked with Josh, Jackie and Duncan. Mike walked with Aidan, Emerson and Toby. Oddly, Mike and Aidan talked so much that Aidan never saw the clock tower. I made sure Josh and Jackie enjoyed the grounds a lot more. They know I have seen salmon in the Water of Leith and that the computer science building has moved from the basement of the old wing!
From here we popped into the best wee museum in the world. I love the Otago Museum. It rightly is on the tourist brochures (as is the university, so really, we haven't deviated an awful lot from a bulk standard cruise ship tour of Dunedin). It really punches above its weight for a town Museum. Better than museums in much bigger cities - I reckon it'd give the Melbourne Museum a run for its money (well, it doesn't have an IMAX cinema though). Aidan took the boys into the butterfly area and discovery centre while the rest of us had a whirlwind tour of the rest of the museum. Josh and Jackie were disappointed to see the outrigger canoe from the Hawaii exhibit was lost. I must check it is back next time I am there. We oohhhed and aahhhed at the collections in the attic, they were underwhelmed with the mummy (I used to love seeing that as a kid) and perplexed by my fascination with the huge sunfish on the wall. Generations of Dunedin children have stared at this big sunfish and found it extremely odd. A sort of in joke I guess.
A quick pop into the University Book Shop and we then split up. Josh, Mike and Jackie went to grab some sales in the camping store while Aidan and the boys and I went for an awesome milkshake at the Percolator. The others caught us up and we were off to see Baldwin St (steepest street in the world - yep!). Josh drove the car up and down while Aidan walked (ran) up and down.
We caught up with our local friends, Richard and Theresa the next day. It happened to be their daughter Ellen's first birthday - didn't we time that visit well? Richard and Theresa had a party for her and we crashed the tail end of it. Then we stayed for dinner of party leftovers! Toby loves their company and didn't want to leave when it was time to say goodbye. He was all for arranging a sleepover. But he was placated by the fact that Richard and Theresa were also heading to Wanaka for New Years.
Next day was the 30th of December and we were leaving the hospitality of Dunedin (specifically 733) for Wanaka. Mike had managed to get us a tent site at Glendhu Bay motor camp only a few weeks out from our holiday. Lucky for us. Mike packed the car (which involved running into town to buy new lux bags for his morther's lux so he could lux out the car before packing) and we were off by 10.30am heading down to Wanaka via Roxburgh. My objective was to have a Jimmy's pie at Roxburgh. Turns out that was everyone's objective because Roxburgh was packed with people eating a Jimmy's pie. We ate in the park while Toby ran away from heaps of midges (they must like the pies too).
When we arrived at Wanaka we went straight through to Glendhu Bay and found our allocated tent site. It was a massive site, right next to the beach and a boat ramp. We pitched our tent, luxuriating in the space. Well, the space created its own dilemma of where in the massive site to pitch the tent really. But we coped. Then we headed back into town to get some dinner. The weather was so lovely. We bumped into Josh and Aidan's boys who where busy jumping off the jetty into the lake, and then we picked up our takeaway Thai and headed back to our campsite to sleep!
The next day was New Years Eve with all the excitement that day brings. Mike had already celebrated a New Years in Wanaka some time in the dim, distant past, and he has made a point of never having New Years in the same place (he's kept this up for 25 years or so and counting). So all that truly mattered to him was that when the clock struck twelve he was not in Wanaka. Glendhu Bay was his 2011 New Years place! We spent the day in Wanaka with Aidan and the boys. Josh and Jackie had hired a fishing guide to take them to the best fishing spots. They went into Lake Hawea and up the Hunter River (flowing into the northern end of Hawea). Apparently a bit of wind spoiled their day a little, but we had no such wind problem in Wanaka. It was toasty pie warm. We drove out to the Toy Museum (same place as the airport) which I expressed a bit of reluctance to visit. However, in the end, I think I loved it the most. It was full of toys I remember. I must be getting really old if things I recall easily are now museum pieces. Yikes! I took a photo of the toy dog Karen had when she was wee.
Outside was a play area for kids and huge hangars full of old cars. While I wandered around the hangars, Mike pushed Toby, Duncan and Emerson in a big pedal car. It is entirely possible Aidan read her Kindle at this stage.
After this we drove out past Luggate in search of a nice cafe for lunch. Turns out it was all booked so we drove back to Wanaka and ate lunch at the Tabors apartment. After that we spent a really hectic day on the beach. The lake was very inviting and we even got Aidan jumping off the jetty at one point. She swears it is far scarier when you don't have your glasses on and can't really see how far up you are. Seems to me that it must have the opposite effect. Anyhow, we all enjoyed leaping into the cool water. The boys did it for ages.
There is a pontoon anchored not far from the shore and Mike and the boys all swam out to sit on it for a while towards the end of the day. Duncan and Emerson were fine but Toby was freezing while he sat on the pontoon. So Mike brought back the kids in two lots, giving a bit of extra time to Toby to warm up before the swim back. We had dinner with the Tabors and heard all about the exciting fishing trip. Josh and Jackie looked so well but tired after their exertions. I had also found it tiring sitting around reading, eating and swimming all day!
We drove back to Glendhu Bay for the New Years Eve all important placement, only to turn around at the camp gates to squeeze in a visit with Richard and Theresa at her family's crib. We had almost forgotten where the house was, but something rang a bell and we crept into the front yard with Mike talking to Theresa on the phone. He tapped on one tent, but found out Theresa was in the other tent. Heheheh. We talked to them for a while before heading back to Glendhu Bay to celebrate the New Years.
The campsite was so full and absolutely heaving. We were locked out of the gates by this stage so walked in past loads of people celebrating the end of 2011. We went to bed and left the fly open to watch fireworks on the beach and listen to an excited group not too far away playing Trivial Pursuit. Toby eventually dropped off to sleep and we joined him after midnight, lulled to sleep by the murmur of humanity just beyond our tent fabric.
New Years Day dawned just as wonderful as all the other days in our wee slice of paradise. Back into Wanaka to swim again at the beach with Aidan and the boys. We made lunch and then went to swim at Beacon Point, just for a change. Today Jackie and Josh had what was declared as their best day of fishing ever! Awesome! Dinner again with them before heading to Richard and Theresa's for a trivia night. You are now reading the blog of the 2012 Wanaka Crib Trivia winners. Hahahah. We were shadowed quite closely by another team until the final round where we kicked butt! Ooossshhh!
Toby engineered a sleepover with Richard and Theresa (the wind got up and he ended up sleeping inside on a couch or something) so Mike and I returned childless to the tent. We chatted away for hours in the tent, just reflecting on a great holiday and what 2012 might bring.
We went in to grab Toby nice and early and got ready for one of our most favouritest day walks ever. The Rob Roy Glacier walk at the head of the Matukituki valley. This must have been the fourth time I have done this walk over the past ten years or so. Today was another glorious day. We had sold an Otago holiday to Josh and Aidan largely based on this day walk. They drove past our campsite and we got in our car and tagged along after them for the bumpy gravel drive up to the carpark.
We all walked in shorts, t-shirts and sunhats up into the alpine region below the glacier. We had a great lunch, waiting to see a bit of glacier cascade down into the valley opposite. However, we didn't quite get that lucky. A loud noise as we walked back down indicated someone may have seen a spectacular icefall. After the fourth time I have to say this walk doesn't get old or tired. I absolutely love it. An easy gradient up into proper mountains. Not to be scoffed at I am sure. But I have only ever done it in wonderful weather.
The next day we drove over the Crown Range Road into Queenstown. Our aim was to visit Mike and Karen, also in this neck of the woods for the holiday. We caught up with the Tabors in Arrowtown briefly, had a drink with Aidan and dropped her back in Queenstown before having a walk and dinner with Mike and Karen in Kelvin Heights. The Hilton has built a huge hotel just below their crib. Massive place. Mike and Karen and their three kids were such great company. I miss them a lot. You wouldn't believe they live about 3 kilometres from us in Wadestown. We hadn't seen them for over a year. I wish I had an answer why I let this happen. Busy lives on both sides I guess...
The next day was the 4th of January and we stayed at the campsite and chilled out for the day. I caught a great lenticular cloud on my camera not long after I was querying Mike about them.
I have also been saving the perfect skimming stone for about three years in anticipation of the perfect skimming conditions. Today was the day. The boys joined me at the beach and I took my stone and skimmed it out into the great, slightly choppy, lake. It skimmed twice and dived into the drink. The disappointment. Had I choked and pulled my shot somehow? Oh no!
Later, we went for a swim (told you it was hot) and amazingly we found my stone again (I guess it was unlike anything local so it did stick out a bit). I tried to skim it again, but it just didn't work well. So, we collected it again and I still have it. I'll wait for the perfect conditions once more. Perhaps in another three years?
Next day we struck the tent and packed the car. The end of our Wanaka holiday, and the start of our West Coast adventure - our first trip all the way up, and Mike and I were both eagerly looking forward to finding out what we'd been missing all these years.
We were away early and grabbed some breakfast at a bakery before heading over the Haast Pass. We took a peek at a waterfall in the pass itself, then stopped at Fox Glacier and walked up to take a good look at it.
Toby took our photo when we were there. Mike and I had never been anywhere near here before so it was fun for all of us. It felt like we were a minority, being kiwis here. All we heard were non-English speakers all the way along the path. Great! The signs at the end were funny in a black humour sort of way. In the last few years some tourists were squashed by falling ice when they went beyond the fence to get a photo taken. The signs have newspaper articles about it and a life size cut-out DoC ranger holding up his hand to stop all the tourists leaving the path.
Up to Hokitika after this and I ate a great lunch of whitebait patties. Yum! What did the boys have? No idea and I don't care. I was on the West Coast and whitebait it would have to be.
We hadn't had any rain at all the whole time we'd been away. We expected the West Coast to end all that with its reputation as a wet wonderland. But we had beautiful weather again. How great is that?
We booked into the Breeze Motel in Greymouth for no other reason other than our friend Grant's parents used to own it a few years back. After having Indian takeaway for dinner, we had a bath for the first time in ages (a nice spa bath) and slept on a real mattress. I slept the sleep of the dead!
The nest day we drove to Nelson and had to fill up at the petrol station advertising the price of its petrol honestly.
Once in Nelson we wanted to find Jack, one of Toby's good friends, and his parents. Toby was the only one of us who had ever been to their crib in Nelson and he actually navigated us directly to their driveway through a myriad of streets. Trouble is, he didn't recognise the house when he got us there. We didn't know anything, not an address, nothing. So we had no idea how close Toby was. We rang John and asked where they were. You could have bowled us both over with a feather when we realised Toby had taken us straight there.
Their crib is a bit of a fancy mansion. It is so spacious and airy and solid. And has a great pool, heated! With an infinity view (is that what it is called) where the pool ends in glass and the water dribbles over it. You can swim up to the end of it and look out over the port of Nelson. We went for a walk to the Centre of New Zealand (a bit bogus) and the Chinese gardens. Then back to their house for an amazing dinner courtesy of John. Their hospitality was very much appreciated, especially as they hadn't had a lot of space to themselves having just had family vacate the house a day before we got there.
Next morning (Jan 7th) we visited the market before jumping in the car and heading towards Picton. We visited a few wineries on the way and onto the 6pm ferry to Wellington feeling like we'd had an incredible holiday. Mike loved the salad he got on board. And we arrived back home to get ready for the start of another working year.
It's a bit hard from the middle of April to imagine the holiday now. Lucky I had written it all down in point form when we first got back, otherwise the old memory would have been struggling. The highlights for me? Christmas with family is always tops. Mornings failing to spot a comet. Showing off Dunedin. Showing the off Wanaka. Whitebait patties on the West Coast. Friends. Such a great time. I miss Dunedin a lot. Otago was fantastic and we only scratched the surface.
It all started in the week leading up to Christmas. The closest ferry crossing I could get to Christmas Eve was Thursday morning at 2.30am! Wow! It pays to book months and months in advance. Anyhow, the day after I sent the email to Mike detailing the ferry crossing booking I got an email back from him saying I had flights for me and Toby down to Christchurch on the Thursday morning. Getting into Christchurch at the civilised hour of 9.30am.
Mike, meanwhile, was the lucky person that got to get the car onto the 2:30am ferry and meet us in Christchurch after our leisurely flight. All this after getting back from Sydney and having medical appointments Christmas week, plus a friend was over from South Africa and having a party on the Wednesday night before the Thursday morning! So Mike ended up driving straight from the party to the ferry queue. He slept in the car until boarding time and raced up to find a cabin. He then slept his way over Cook Strait all ready for the glorious drive down the east coast through Kaikoura.
Toby and I were driven to the airport by Vivienne - which made our morning a lot easier. Even if I did have to ring her up early to say the flight was earlier than we thought. We had a short flight to Christchurch, and Mike got to Christchurch airport in good time to collect us (we probably waited just over an hour). First stop was at the local Intergen office, strangely enough. Mike caught up with some people he had worked with in Sydney. Toby caught up with computer game time in the car. Eventually, after Mike satisfied his social obligations, we were off just after midday. The drive to Dunedin was good - I drove because of Mike's shenanigans to get the car to Christchurch and he was feeling the effects of sleeping in cars and boats.
Dunedin and Aramoana
We got to Dunedin at dinner time, and pitched our tent in Mike's parents' backyard with millimetres to spare all around the grassy patch just outside their sliding doors. After a good tea we all collapsed into bed. I did have a restless night with SH1 traffic noise keeping me awake during the night. But this night must have cured me because it never caused any bother ever again.
The next few days revolved around wrapping presents and buying food and any last minute gifts. Normal activity in the day or two before Christmas. Far better running around Dunedin doing it compared to a horrid experience shopping on Christmas Eve once in London. The shopping malls allowed smoking still and entering the mall must have shaved years off my life. Awful.
Another thing to fill in my time was my ultimately fruitless endeavour to catch a glimpse of the glorious comet in the early morning skies. Three times I got up at 4am and twice I drove down to St Kilda beach to spy it. The first time I spent a few hours with Liz, also in Dunedin for the holiday, chatting away and enjoying the sunrise. We watched a cruise ship heading towards Port Chalmers in the early hours. Another day the boys came with me to keep me company. I have had to make do with the gorgeous photos in my astronomy magazine - that other people took.
Toby was very excited on Christmas Eve. As he lay down in the tent, he kept waking up to peer at his stocking hanging from the tip of the tent above his head. He was sure he'd catch Santa in the act this year. But Santa managed to sneak in and fill up his stocking without Toby catching him. Sneaky Santa. I think sneaky Santa might have twitched a bit when Toby moved in his sleep!
Christmas morning Toby opened up his presents and had a great time. I got a lot of DVDs from Mike (and subsequent viewings have proved they are very good). Mike got a book from me and started reading it immediately (a new Richard Dawkins book called The Magic of Reality) and murmured his appreciation. Christmas Day was a wonderful lunch at 733 with Mike's cousins (Jane and Richard) and a friend of Jane's from Bathurst.
Boxing Day we were up early to get breakfast on the way to Aramoana. Josh and Aidan had rented a crib down on the sandy spit at Aramoana and apart from the shooting committed there a while back, I knew nothing about the place and had never been there. Oddly, neither had Mike. Anyhow, some bantering during the year meant I had to provide marmite toast for breakfast to make sure our friends knew the right way to eat the stuff for maximum pleasure. Yummy bread in hand, trusty jar of marmite in the other, we were off. The day was glorious and the drive down to Aramoana was great. I know the road to Port Chalmers quite well as our grandparents lived there when we were young and we'd have Sunday lunch there every Sunday. But from Port Chalmers to Aramoana it was all an unknown quantity.
We found the crib and discovered it really was built on a big sand dune. There was sand everywhere - outside, on, even in the house. But it was idyllic. A real beach house. Lots of in and out and nothing a broom couldn't handle. Aidan had made scrambled eggs and they were fantastic. I made marmite toast (secret - not too much marmite, hot, buttered toast - can't fail!) and everyone liked it. We exchanged presents (hahaha - I got hankies from Aidan - very funny because I would run out of tissues at her place and I'd get lent a hanky!) and went for a walk along the beach past the moll and to a giant sand dune.
The sand dune occupied a lot of our time. The photo of it is above and you can see it behind us. It really is very high. Josh and Jackie continued their walk along the beach while we walked up to the top of the dune and barreled down it. I laughed when Mike went by on his tummy with Duncan riding on top. Mike's face just buried into the sand as he tried to swim the butterfly stroke in the deep sand. Running down was a lot of fun. Rolling down not quite so much - that sand got in everywhere. We watched a seal just offshore for a while and Josh and Jackie reported seeing some along the beach when they returned from their walk. A great place and one we'll have to go back to one day!
Back to the crib and we drove out (and got a little bogged in the sand) and went to a family Boxing Day get together at Joy's house at Macandrew Bay. The sun was boiling hot and we all soaked up a lot of sunshine, knowing we have to bank the sun we get for the winter ahead! Hahahah. It was great catching up with everyone. Bev only just got in the night before after a big earthquake a few days before in Christchurch (that we only just missed by 24 hours when we drove down). It was amazing to hear her talk about the year in Chch.
The next day we took Josh and Aidan on a guided tour of Dunedin, such as it was. The tour was very specialised and hardly likely to feature in many tourist brochures. Possibly the view they now have of Dunedin is now quite unique in the world. Certainly while they were at Aramoana, they saw many tourists arriving in cruise ships, and I can almost guarantee none of those passengers got to see the Dunedin that Josh and Aidan now know (and love?).
First stop was Scribes, that great second hand book shop that used to be just down the corner from my flat, and in-between me and university. How cruel! Nice to see Aidan spent just as much in her one visit there as I did on some of my previous visits.
From Scribes we walked through the university grounds. I walked with Josh, Jackie and Duncan. Mike walked with Aidan, Emerson and Toby. Oddly, Mike and Aidan talked so much that Aidan never saw the clock tower. I made sure Josh and Jackie enjoyed the grounds a lot more. They know I have seen salmon in the Water of Leith and that the computer science building has moved from the basement of the old wing!
From here we popped into the best wee museum in the world. I love the Otago Museum. It rightly is on the tourist brochures (as is the university, so really, we haven't deviated an awful lot from a bulk standard cruise ship tour of Dunedin). It really punches above its weight for a town Museum. Better than museums in much bigger cities - I reckon it'd give the Melbourne Museum a run for its money (well, it doesn't have an IMAX cinema though). Aidan took the boys into the butterfly area and discovery centre while the rest of us had a whirlwind tour of the rest of the museum. Josh and Jackie were disappointed to see the outrigger canoe from the Hawaii exhibit was lost. I must check it is back next time I am there. We oohhhed and aahhhed at the collections in the attic, they were underwhelmed with the mummy (I used to love seeing that as a kid) and perplexed by my fascination with the huge sunfish on the wall. Generations of Dunedin children have stared at this big sunfish and found it extremely odd. A sort of in joke I guess.
A quick pop into the University Book Shop and we then split up. Josh, Mike and Jackie went to grab some sales in the camping store while Aidan and the boys and I went for an awesome milkshake at the Percolator. The others caught us up and we were off to see Baldwin St (steepest street in the world - yep!). Josh drove the car up and down while Aidan walked (ran) up and down.
We caught up with our local friends, Richard and Theresa the next day. It happened to be their daughter Ellen's first birthday - didn't we time that visit well? Richard and Theresa had a party for her and we crashed the tail end of it. Then we stayed for dinner of party leftovers! Toby loves their company and didn't want to leave when it was time to say goodbye. He was all for arranging a sleepover. But he was placated by the fact that Richard and Theresa were also heading to Wanaka for New Years.
Wanaka and Southern Lakes
Next day was the 30th of December and we were leaving the hospitality of Dunedin (specifically 733) for Wanaka. Mike had managed to get us a tent site at Glendhu Bay motor camp only a few weeks out from our holiday. Lucky for us. Mike packed the car (which involved running into town to buy new lux bags for his morther's lux so he could lux out the car before packing) and we were off by 10.30am heading down to Wanaka via Roxburgh. My objective was to have a Jimmy's pie at Roxburgh. Turns out that was everyone's objective because Roxburgh was packed with people eating a Jimmy's pie. We ate in the park while Toby ran away from heaps of midges (they must like the pies too).
When we arrived at Wanaka we went straight through to Glendhu Bay and found our allocated tent site. It was a massive site, right next to the beach and a boat ramp. We pitched our tent, luxuriating in the space. Well, the space created its own dilemma of where in the massive site to pitch the tent really. But we coped. Then we headed back into town to get some dinner. The weather was so lovely. We bumped into Josh and Aidan's boys who where busy jumping off the jetty into the lake, and then we picked up our takeaway Thai and headed back to our campsite to sleep!
The next day was New Years Eve with all the excitement that day brings. Mike had already celebrated a New Years in Wanaka some time in the dim, distant past, and he has made a point of never having New Years in the same place (he's kept this up for 25 years or so and counting). So all that truly mattered to him was that when the clock struck twelve he was not in Wanaka. Glendhu Bay was his 2011 New Years place! We spent the day in Wanaka with Aidan and the boys. Josh and Jackie had hired a fishing guide to take them to the best fishing spots. They went into Lake Hawea and up the Hunter River (flowing into the northern end of Hawea). Apparently a bit of wind spoiled their day a little, but we had no such wind problem in Wanaka. It was toasty pie warm. We drove out to the Toy Museum (same place as the airport) which I expressed a bit of reluctance to visit. However, in the end, I think I loved it the most. It was full of toys I remember. I must be getting really old if things I recall easily are now museum pieces. Yikes! I took a photo of the toy dog Karen had when she was wee.
Outside was a play area for kids and huge hangars full of old cars. While I wandered around the hangars, Mike pushed Toby, Duncan and Emerson in a big pedal car. It is entirely possible Aidan read her Kindle at this stage.
After this we drove out past Luggate in search of a nice cafe for lunch. Turns out it was all booked so we drove back to Wanaka and ate lunch at the Tabors apartment. After that we spent a really hectic day on the beach. The lake was very inviting and we even got Aidan jumping off the jetty at one point. She swears it is far scarier when you don't have your glasses on and can't really see how far up you are. Seems to me that it must have the opposite effect. Anyhow, we all enjoyed leaping into the cool water. The boys did it for ages.
There is a pontoon anchored not far from the shore and Mike and the boys all swam out to sit on it for a while towards the end of the day. Duncan and Emerson were fine but Toby was freezing while he sat on the pontoon. So Mike brought back the kids in two lots, giving a bit of extra time to Toby to warm up before the swim back. We had dinner with the Tabors and heard all about the exciting fishing trip. Josh and Jackie looked so well but tired after their exertions. I had also found it tiring sitting around reading, eating and swimming all day!
We drove back to Glendhu Bay for the New Years Eve all important placement, only to turn around at the camp gates to squeeze in a visit with Richard and Theresa at her family's crib. We had almost forgotten where the house was, but something rang a bell and we crept into the front yard with Mike talking to Theresa on the phone. He tapped on one tent, but found out Theresa was in the other tent. Heheheh. We talked to them for a while before heading back to Glendhu Bay to celebrate the New Years.
The campsite was so full and absolutely heaving. We were locked out of the gates by this stage so walked in past loads of people celebrating the end of 2011. We went to bed and left the fly open to watch fireworks on the beach and listen to an excited group not too far away playing Trivial Pursuit. Toby eventually dropped off to sleep and we joined him after midnight, lulled to sleep by the murmur of humanity just beyond our tent fabric.
New Years Day dawned just as wonderful as all the other days in our wee slice of paradise. Back into Wanaka to swim again at the beach with Aidan and the boys. We made lunch and then went to swim at Beacon Point, just for a change. Today Jackie and Josh had what was declared as their best day of fishing ever! Awesome! Dinner again with them before heading to Richard and Theresa's for a trivia night. You are now reading the blog of the 2012 Wanaka Crib Trivia winners. Hahahah. We were shadowed quite closely by another team until the final round where we kicked butt! Ooossshhh!
Toby engineered a sleepover with Richard and Theresa (the wind got up and he ended up sleeping inside on a couch or something) so Mike and I returned childless to the tent. We chatted away for hours in the tent, just reflecting on a great holiday and what 2012 might bring.
We went in to grab Toby nice and early and got ready for one of our most favouritest day walks ever. The Rob Roy Glacier walk at the head of the Matukituki valley. This must have been the fourth time I have done this walk over the past ten years or so. Today was another glorious day. We had sold an Otago holiday to Josh and Aidan largely based on this day walk. They drove past our campsite and we got in our car and tagged along after them for the bumpy gravel drive up to the carpark.
We all walked in shorts, t-shirts and sunhats up into the alpine region below the glacier. We had a great lunch, waiting to see a bit of glacier cascade down into the valley opposite. However, we didn't quite get that lucky. A loud noise as we walked back down indicated someone may have seen a spectacular icefall. After the fourth time I have to say this walk doesn't get old or tired. I absolutely love it. An easy gradient up into proper mountains. Not to be scoffed at I am sure. But I have only ever done it in wonderful weather.
The next day we drove over the Crown Range Road into Queenstown. Our aim was to visit Mike and Karen, also in this neck of the woods for the holiday. We caught up with the Tabors in Arrowtown briefly, had a drink with Aidan and dropped her back in Queenstown before having a walk and dinner with Mike and Karen in Kelvin Heights. The Hilton has built a huge hotel just below their crib. Massive place. Mike and Karen and their three kids were such great company. I miss them a lot. You wouldn't believe they live about 3 kilometres from us in Wadestown. We hadn't seen them for over a year. I wish I had an answer why I let this happen. Busy lives on both sides I guess...
The next day was the 4th of January and we stayed at the campsite and chilled out for the day. I caught a great lenticular cloud on my camera not long after I was querying Mike about them.
I have also been saving the perfect skimming stone for about three years in anticipation of the perfect skimming conditions. Today was the day. The boys joined me at the beach and I took my stone and skimmed it out into the great, slightly choppy, lake. It skimmed twice and dived into the drink. The disappointment. Had I choked and pulled my shot somehow? Oh no!
Later, we went for a swim (told you it was hot) and amazingly we found my stone again (I guess it was unlike anything local so it did stick out a bit). I tried to skim it again, but it just didn't work well. So, we collected it again and I still have it. I'll wait for the perfect conditions once more. Perhaps in another three years?
West Coast
Next day we struck the tent and packed the car. The end of our Wanaka holiday, and the start of our West Coast adventure - our first trip all the way up, and Mike and I were both eagerly looking forward to finding out what we'd been missing all these years.
We were away early and grabbed some breakfast at a bakery before heading over the Haast Pass. We took a peek at a waterfall in the pass itself, then stopped at Fox Glacier and walked up to take a good look at it.
Toby took our photo when we were there. Mike and I had never been anywhere near here before so it was fun for all of us. It felt like we were a minority, being kiwis here. All we heard were non-English speakers all the way along the path. Great! The signs at the end were funny in a black humour sort of way. In the last few years some tourists were squashed by falling ice when they went beyond the fence to get a photo taken. The signs have newspaper articles about it and a life size cut-out DoC ranger holding up his hand to stop all the tourists leaving the path.
Up to Hokitika after this and I ate a great lunch of whitebait patties. Yum! What did the boys have? No idea and I don't care. I was on the West Coast and whitebait it would have to be.
We hadn't had any rain at all the whole time we'd been away. We expected the West Coast to end all that with its reputation as a wet wonderland. But we had beautiful weather again. How great is that?
We booked into the Breeze Motel in Greymouth for no other reason other than our friend Grant's parents used to own it a few years back. After having Indian takeaway for dinner, we had a bath for the first time in ages (a nice spa bath) and slept on a real mattress. I slept the sleep of the dead!
The nest day we drove to Nelson and had to fill up at the petrol station advertising the price of its petrol honestly.
Once in Nelson we wanted to find Jack, one of Toby's good friends, and his parents. Toby was the only one of us who had ever been to their crib in Nelson and he actually navigated us directly to their driveway through a myriad of streets. Trouble is, he didn't recognise the house when he got us there. We didn't know anything, not an address, nothing. So we had no idea how close Toby was. We rang John and asked where they were. You could have bowled us both over with a feather when we realised Toby had taken us straight there.
Their crib is a bit of a fancy mansion. It is so spacious and airy and solid. And has a great pool, heated! With an infinity view (is that what it is called) where the pool ends in glass and the water dribbles over it. You can swim up to the end of it and look out over the port of Nelson. We went for a walk to the Centre of New Zealand (a bit bogus) and the Chinese gardens. Then back to their house for an amazing dinner courtesy of John. Their hospitality was very much appreciated, especially as they hadn't had a lot of space to themselves having just had family vacate the house a day before we got there.
Next morning (Jan 7th) we visited the market before jumping in the car and heading towards Picton. We visited a few wineries on the way and onto the 6pm ferry to Wellington feeling like we'd had an incredible holiday. Mike loved the salad he got on board. And we arrived back home to get ready for the start of another working year.
It's a bit hard from the middle of April to imagine the holiday now. Lucky I had written it all down in point form when we first got back, otherwise the old memory would have been struggling. The highlights for me? Christmas with family is always tops. Mornings failing to spot a comet. Showing off Dunedin. Showing the off Wanaka. Whitebait patties on the West Coast. Friends. Such a great time. I miss Dunedin a lot. Otago was fantastic and we only scratched the surface.
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