Hi,
It's Halloween today! Toby is so excited. But this morning (yes - lots of notice there) he informs me he doesn't want the same costume as last year. Great. He says this to his mother who has definitely missed any genes that supply costume-making talents. So now he is going to rip a shirt to pieces and I am going to face paint him and he will miraculously become a zombie. Perhaps with a lot of imagination. ;-)
I rode home yesterday and cooked a proper dinner (no two minute noodles like last Tuesday) and Toby and I ate. Mike worked late. Then Toby, Jack and I went to the Karori cemetery for Cubs. Pip had organised a great evening. However, Jo and I bunked off to "prepare the Milo" and actually go shopping, have a cup of tea and make lunches for school the next day. But we did prepare the Milo too. It was a great success. Well done, Pip! I am on next week. Preparing shelters in the Karori bush behind Karori Park. Hope the weather is as lovely as last night. 7.30pm and it was still 19C. Unbelievable.
Nice ride in again this morning - the cloud cover is burning off (or blowing away possibly - it is a lot windier than yesterday). I am on Toby pick up at 4pm but I need to work from home (and cook dinner and prepare the costume). Phew. No rest for the wicked. And I must have been very wicked recently.
Have a wonderful ghoulish day.
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The Monday with nothing
Hi,
Wow - what a gorgeous day here in Wellington this morning. No clouds, no wind. My ride into work was fantastic. I rode with Simon (neighbour) and got up to 60 down the hill. He never caught me! :-) What a great start to the day.
I have to admit to a huge amount of stupidity today. Yesterday I had no access card to our work. I remember wondering what to do with my card on Thursday evening because I didn't need it in Christchurch. But when I couldn't find it in its usual place (it has two places - my handbag and my bike shorts) I panicked. I made people perform all sorts of logistics for me swiping me into work, waiting for me to swipe me in during the day (well, twice - but it was still inconvenient). Then this morning I remembered I still didn't have it and I looked everywhere. Until I decided to dump out the contents of my handbag. Now, it may not surprise anyone to find out it was in my handbag as handbags can swallow a lot of things and a swipe card it not very big. But anyone who knows me right now, knows that my handbag is actually a "handbaglet" as Mike calls it. Because it is very tiny. It holds my cards and my phone. Nothing else can fit. Well, nothing else should fit. But I cram it full of phone connections (headphones, charger, jack) and photos of Mike and Toby and two sets of keys. Idiot that I am. But at least I have my swipe card! Yay!
Right. I have a load of work on today (as usual) and a pleasant ride along the waterfront to the client site where I will spend most of the day. I have a 4pm meeting back at work though. So hopefully the day stays as lovely as now and my ride back is great!
Cubs tonight - Halloween special at the cemetery. Wooooooo.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
Wow - what a gorgeous day here in Wellington this morning. No clouds, no wind. My ride into work was fantastic. I rode with Simon (neighbour) and got up to 60 down the hill. He never caught me! :-) What a great start to the day.
I have to admit to a huge amount of stupidity today. Yesterday I had no access card to our work. I remember wondering what to do with my card on Thursday evening because I didn't need it in Christchurch. But when I couldn't find it in its usual place (it has two places - my handbag and my bike shorts) I panicked. I made people perform all sorts of logistics for me swiping me into work, waiting for me to swipe me in during the day (well, twice - but it was still inconvenient). Then this morning I remembered I still didn't have it and I looked everywhere. Until I decided to dump out the contents of my handbag. Now, it may not surprise anyone to find out it was in my handbag as handbags can swallow a lot of things and a swipe card it not very big. But anyone who knows me right now, knows that my handbag is actually a "handbaglet" as Mike calls it. Because it is very tiny. It holds my cards and my phone. Nothing else can fit. Well, nothing else should fit. But I cram it full of phone connections (headphones, charger, jack) and photos of Mike and Toby and two sets of keys. Idiot that I am. But at least I have my swipe card! Yay!
Right. I have a load of work on today (as usual) and a pleasant ride along the waterfront to the client site where I will spend most of the day. I have a 4pm meeting back at work though. So hopefully the day stays as lovely as now and my ride back is great!
Cubs tonight - Halloween special at the cemetery. Wooooooo.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
Monday, October 29, 2012
The weekend with some fun
Hi,
Got home late Friday from Christchurch and Toby was deposited back home from Yingjie's house. We both collapsed into bed and slept well. Mike meanwhile met up with Josh and walked into the Orongorongo valley for a great walk over to the Wairarapa.
Up early Saturday but read for hours in bed until Toby woke up. Then off to meet Aidan and the boys at Haywards for the trip over the hill in Moby. Moby is a little bit sick inducing on hills and corners - just what the Rimutaka hill has in spades, eh? Duncan spent a lot of time looking a bit pale.
Into Greytown for an early lunch at Main St Deli (very nice - my chicken and cranberry gourmet deli pie was spectacular).
To a park for the boys and Lulu to have a play.
To a river for the boys and Lulu to have a play. This is when I remembered I had a camera with me. See?
To the end of the road down the western side of the Wairarapa to collect Mike and Josh. The boys found a fantastic sand dune to play on while we waited.
Then back to Greytown to eat tapas for an early dinner and over the hill to Wellington once more. Very pleasant day! More please?
Sunday was such a lazy day! It disappeared in a flash. I managed to lux and do laundry and ironing. But really, the day was a write off. Mike took Toby to the movies and they enjoyed themselves.
At work - a busy week.
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Got home late Friday from Christchurch and Toby was deposited back home from Yingjie's house. We both collapsed into bed and slept well. Mike meanwhile met up with Josh and walked into the Orongorongo valley for a great walk over to the Wairarapa.
Up early Saturday but read for hours in bed until Toby woke up. Then off to meet Aidan and the boys at Haywards for the trip over the hill in Moby. Moby is a little bit sick inducing on hills and corners - just what the Rimutaka hill has in spades, eh? Duncan spent a lot of time looking a bit pale.
Into Greytown for an early lunch at Main St Deli (very nice - my chicken and cranberry gourmet deli pie was spectacular).
To a park for the boys and Lulu to have a play.
To a river for the boys and Lulu to have a play. This is when I remembered I had a camera with me. See?
To the end of the road down the western side of the Wairarapa to collect Mike and Josh. The boys found a fantastic sand dune to play on while we waited.
Then back to Greytown to eat tapas for an early dinner and over the hill to Wellington once more. Very pleasant day! More please?
Sunday was such a lazy day! It disappeared in a flash. I managed to lux and do laundry and ironing. But really, the day was a write off. Mike took Toby to the movies and they enjoyed themselves.
At work - a busy week.
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Mukamuka Munter (lite edition)
Punters: Mike Gilbert and Josh Tabor
Summary: 10h total walking (including breaks), from Catchpool to Mt Matthews, out down Mukamuka stream and to Wharekauhau, South Wairarapa. Would likely be a M weekend trip or MF daytrip.
Weather: Warm with broken overcast and strong/gale northerlies.
Access: Start at Catchpool roadend - we left our car there and retrieved it later. Requires a kind person to collect you in South Wairarapa (google 'Wharekauhau' for directions). Suggesting a day in the Wairarapa for them, finishing with a nice dinner in a cafe in Greytown is a great strategy to encourage this.
Phone: spotty reception between south saddle and Mt Matthews. Don't rely on it, but handy to update your pickup person.
Approximate Timings:
19:30-21:30 (2h): Catchpool roadend to Turere Lodge
07:30-9:00 (1.5h): Turere Lodge to start of Mt Matthews track
9:00-10:00 (1h): South Saddle junction
10:00-12:00 (2h): Mt Matthews return
12:00-15:00 (3h): South Saddle Junction to Wharekauhau road end
TOTAL: 9.5h
The Orongorongo valley never ceases to beckon. Its great accessibility, fantastic scenery and interesting terrain is one of Wellington's greatest and most under-appreciated assets. It's perfect for spur-of-the-moment tramping, when the weather is clear and you want to get into the hills with a moment's notice.
I'd read about the Mukamuka Munter in the October WTMC Newsletter, and thought 'I can do that!'. It all looked pretty straightforward, apart from the need for extreme physical fitness and endurance and mental toughness. I had none of those things, so what to do? A more leisurely approach was called for.
To make up for taking the course at a dawdling pace, we thought we should bag Mt Matthews on the way to take in the panoramic views from the top. And there's always something satisfying about starting in Wellington and finishing in Wairarapa, so we decided as well to come out at Wharekauhau and offer a support-team plan of cafes, shopping and play for the day in the Wairarapa. But the distances looked just a little daunting for a day trip - especially since neither of us had done this trip before. Could we do the whole thing in a day? Maybe, maybe not. We decided to give ourselves a head start, and do some of the easy access walking the night before.
Fri night after work we headed in, stopping briefly for a fine dining experience at Wainuiomata McDonalds. 7:00pm saw us parking up at Catchpool and leaving the car. When would we see it again? The plan was to retrieve it much, much later. Then we gently wandered in up the Catchpool valley and to Turere Lodge in the gathering dusk. This track can be a bit like Piccadilly Circus during the day, with buggy walkers, hunters, runners and scout groups cheerfully jostling for space. So walking it in peace and quiet with nothing to disturb us but morepork and the occasional call of the kiwi was quite magical.
Our plan was to sleep on the Turere Lodge porch, since it was unbooked but cost prohibitive for just two of us to pay $85 to rent a mattress for 8 hours. When we arrived it turns out a family group had booked at last minute and were well settled in and playing a complex dice game in the lounge. They were cheerfully accepting of two random punters turning up and setting up on the porch. (A side note - that is a smart move on their part! Turere Lodge books up months in advance for Saturday night, but you can book last minute on Friday night and have a quick walk in, a leisurely evening and morning, then a pleasant wander out again.)
We sat out for a while watching the broken cloud scud past at a great rate of knots and throw itself at Mt Matthews. It was calm and pleasant in the valley. But what would the tops be like?
We were up early eating breakfast and running hot coffee through Josh's magic gold-filter tramping coffee filter. Off the track we set and passed Haurangi Hut after about 20 minutes. This would actually be a better stopping-off point as it's that little bit closer to your destination - it's a similar price to book but is similarly new and has a great porch too.
We reached the Whakanui track junction which was our marker to drop onto the river and look for the Mt Matthews track. (Whakanui track would be a good alternative way in - and might be a bit quicker too.)
We rapidly found the Matthews Stream a little upstream. It's a big braided stream with a big orange triangle marking it. Never saw Baines Hut though, which is allegedly in the bush just at the Matthews Stream mouth. Either it's been washed away or it's well hidden. There were enough correlations with the map, though, that we convinced ourselves we were in the right place.
We wandered up the stream bed then followed orange triangles taking us off to the true-left of the stream, across another tributary, and to our first spur. This is where we went from gentle wandering to proper hard work, with a steep scramble for an hour or so. We were relieved to see South Saddle junction sign loom up above us, even though there was no let-up in the slope.
Although we were still very sheltered and the air temperature was quite warm, the wind was starting to pick up through the bush. Here was where we had to make the call whether or not to head up Mt Matthews.
We decided to proceed but constantly reassess how the conditions were. We could always descend again if it was dodgy up top. So we wrapped up warm and dropped our packs at the junction. Eventually the track emerged just above South Saddle, on the ridge we'd follow to the top. The wind was very strong, but it wasn't too cold, and there were spectacular views into the Wairarapa and the river mouth that would be our destination.
So far so good. We decided to try for the next knoll.
As it turned out the Mt Matthews track is actually very sheltered with battered dwarf beech trees protecting us. It was only the odd time when we emerged briefly into the wind that made us appreciate the degree of shelter we were getting. So we carried on and made the summit after an hour or so.
A slip just before the summit made for quite a bit of scrambling and contorting. An hour's work with a hatchet or bush saw would make everyone's lives much easier.
The top of Mt Matthews would be great in fine, still weather but for us we were welcomed with unpleasant gale winds and driving mist.
We crouched under the gnarled trees and took 'been there' photos. Josh bagged the geocache we found in plain sight at the top. We didn't hang around.
We rapidly descended to grab a lunch of one square meals, chocolate and carrot sticks at the South Saddle junction. We took advantage of a bar or two of cellphone signal to text out to reassure our pickup party and give them a tighter ETA. Then it was time to hit Mukamuka. But first, we had to cross South Saddle.
South Saddle gave us the worst conditions of the trip. The wind was funnelling through the saddle making it hard to stand. We huddled and shuffled our way across the saddle and dropped into the Mukamuka valley, where the wind rapidly dropped away to nothing.
Various maps have the path down Mukamuka stream as a track, a route, or nothing at all. It's very much a track. The first part was very clearly marked and recently maintained, with foliage and trees cleared and felled. Eventually the stream began to get quite large, and after a while the markers became fewer and stopped. I guess DOC figure that if your navigation skills don't let you follow the stream then there is no hope for you! It was quite technical going with slippery unstable rocks and dead wood making slips and ankle breaks a potential at every step. Don't know how the Muntees do this competitively at speed. Ligaments of iron, lots of experience and oodles of self belief I guess.
The river became bigger and bigger, and a little more straightforward going. We found ourselves in a fairly gorgy bit, with scouring on the side of the banks showing the river's power when it was in full flood. Further down, where the river really opened up wide, we found a very sad, crushed and battered Mazda 323. Looks like some enthusiastic locals had driven it up the valley, got it bogged, and then the force of the river had well and truly dealt to it.
The wind slowly rose again as we got closer to the coast, and the funnel effect of the valley began asserting itself. It was fortunate it was a tail wind. Again, I don't know how the muntees kept their spirits up with an interminable uphill and a strong headwind battering them.
The south coast suddenly came into view, which was a welcome sight. Our hopes that the wind would drop at the coast were for naught; we wrapped up again as wind drove spray and sand into our faces. Job done! We had bagged Mt Matthews and defeated the Mukamuka valley. Now we had the walk out before our mission was completed.
Another option here is to turn right instead of left at the coast, and walk back to the mouth of the Orongorongo, then back to Catchpool, or a car left at the end of the coast road (about 10km drive on from Catchpool). That would make it a there-and-back, but quite a bit longer and with hours of interminable trudging along the coast around Baring Head.
But for us, it took maybe an hour of strolling along the coast road 4wd track, until we met our pickup driving towards us.
We were prepared to keep walking until we either met our pickup or reached tar-seal. The road gradually changes from gravel road to 4wd track, with two big fords and a gravel fan to cross before your pickup driver reaches Wharekauhau township. The fords were straightforward on our weekend, but whether your driver can make it that far will depend on their confidence and how much the rivers are up.
We had stashed a change of clothes in our pickup car, which gave us a semblance of neatness - enough to get us into a Greytown cafe for craft beer and tapas. I've decided that more tramping trips need to end with craft beer and tapas! We made it back to Wellington in plenty of time to get back to our Catchpool car, though our plan was to wander in again the next day to get it back. As we arrived we found the SAR team kitting up and setting out for what we hoped was an exercise but turned out was very much for real (but with a happy ending).
So the Munter is a great trip even if you're not the sort of person who thinks of running over a mountain in a few hours as a pleasant Saturday morning diversion. It's eminently do-able as a daytrip, albeit a long one with an early start and the likelihood of needing a head-torch for the last wee bit along the coast road. And there are many variations to make the trip longer or shorter or logistically easier. Who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to run it, too?
Summary: 10h total walking (including breaks), from Catchpool to Mt Matthews, out down Mukamuka stream and to Wharekauhau, South Wairarapa. Would likely be a M weekend trip or MF daytrip.
Weather: Warm with broken overcast and strong/gale northerlies.
Access: Start at Catchpool roadend - we left our car there and retrieved it later. Requires a kind person to collect you in South Wairarapa (google 'Wharekauhau' for directions). Suggesting a day in the Wairarapa for them, finishing with a nice dinner in a cafe in Greytown is a great strategy to encourage this.
Phone: spotty reception between south saddle and Mt Matthews. Don't rely on it, but handy to update your pickup person.
Approximate Timings:
19:30-21:30 (2h): Catchpool roadend to Turere Lodge
07:30-9:00 (1.5h): Turere Lodge to start of Mt Matthews track
9:00-10:00 (1h): South Saddle junction
10:00-12:00 (2h): Mt Matthews return
12:00-15:00 (3h): South Saddle Junction to Wharekauhau road end
TOTAL: 9.5h
The Orongorongo valley never ceases to beckon. Its great accessibility, fantastic scenery and interesting terrain is one of Wellington's greatest and most under-appreciated assets. It's perfect for spur-of-the-moment tramping, when the weather is clear and you want to get into the hills with a moment's notice.
I'd read about the Mukamuka Munter in the October WTMC Newsletter, and thought 'I can do that!'. It all looked pretty straightforward, apart from the need for extreme physical fitness and endurance and mental toughness. I had none of those things, so what to do? A more leisurely approach was called for.
To make up for taking the course at a dawdling pace, we thought we should bag Mt Matthews on the way to take in the panoramic views from the top. And there's always something satisfying about starting in Wellington and finishing in Wairarapa, so we decided as well to come out at Wharekauhau and offer a support-team plan of cafes, shopping and play for the day in the Wairarapa. But the distances looked just a little daunting for a day trip - especially since neither of us had done this trip before. Could we do the whole thing in a day? Maybe, maybe not. We decided to give ourselves a head start, and do some of the easy access walking the night before.
Fri night after work we headed in, stopping briefly for a fine dining experience at Wainuiomata McDonalds. 7:00pm saw us parking up at Catchpool and leaving the car. When would we see it again? The plan was to retrieve it much, much later. Then we gently wandered in up the Catchpool valley and to Turere Lodge in the gathering dusk. This track can be a bit like Piccadilly Circus during the day, with buggy walkers, hunters, runners and scout groups cheerfully jostling for space. So walking it in peace and quiet with nothing to disturb us but morepork and the occasional call of the kiwi was quite magical.
Our plan was to sleep on the Turere Lodge porch, since it was unbooked but cost prohibitive for just two of us to pay $85 to rent a mattress for 8 hours. When we arrived it turns out a family group had booked at last minute and were well settled in and playing a complex dice game in the lounge. They were cheerfully accepting of two random punters turning up and setting up on the porch. (A side note - that is a smart move on their part! Turere Lodge books up months in advance for Saturday night, but you can book last minute on Friday night and have a quick walk in, a leisurely evening and morning, then a pleasant wander out again.)
We sat out for a while watching the broken cloud scud past at a great rate of knots and throw itself at Mt Matthews. It was calm and pleasant in the valley. But what would the tops be like?
We were up early eating breakfast and running hot coffee through Josh's magic gold-filter tramping coffee filter. Off the track we set and passed Haurangi Hut after about 20 minutes. This would actually be a better stopping-off point as it's that little bit closer to your destination - it's a similar price to book but is similarly new and has a great porch too.
We reached the Whakanui track junction which was our marker to drop onto the river and look for the Mt Matthews track. (Whakanui track would be a good alternative way in - and might be a bit quicker too.)
We rapidly found the Matthews Stream a little upstream. It's a big braided stream with a big orange triangle marking it. Never saw Baines Hut though, which is allegedly in the bush just at the Matthews Stream mouth. Either it's been washed away or it's well hidden. There were enough correlations with the map, though, that we convinced ourselves we were in the right place.
We wandered up the stream bed then followed orange triangles taking us off to the true-left of the stream, across another tributary, and to our first spur. This is where we went from gentle wandering to proper hard work, with a steep scramble for an hour or so. We were relieved to see South Saddle junction sign loom up above us, even though there was no let-up in the slope.
Although we were still very sheltered and the air temperature was quite warm, the wind was starting to pick up through the bush. Here was where we had to make the call whether or not to head up Mt Matthews.
We decided to proceed but constantly reassess how the conditions were. We could always descend again if it was dodgy up top. So we wrapped up warm and dropped our packs at the junction. Eventually the track emerged just above South Saddle, on the ridge we'd follow to the top. The wind was very strong, but it wasn't too cold, and there were spectacular views into the Wairarapa and the river mouth that would be our destination.
So far so good. We decided to try for the next knoll.
As it turned out the Mt Matthews track is actually very sheltered with battered dwarf beech trees protecting us. It was only the odd time when we emerged briefly into the wind that made us appreciate the degree of shelter we were getting. So we carried on and made the summit after an hour or so.
A slip just before the summit made for quite a bit of scrambling and contorting. An hour's work with a hatchet or bush saw would make everyone's lives much easier.
The top of Mt Matthews would be great in fine, still weather but for us we were welcomed with unpleasant gale winds and driving mist.
We crouched under the gnarled trees and took 'been there' photos. Josh bagged the geocache we found in plain sight at the top. We didn't hang around.
We rapidly descended to grab a lunch of one square meals, chocolate and carrot sticks at the South Saddle junction. We took advantage of a bar or two of cellphone signal to text out to reassure our pickup party and give them a tighter ETA. Then it was time to hit Mukamuka. But first, we had to cross South Saddle.
South Saddle gave us the worst conditions of the trip. The wind was funnelling through the saddle making it hard to stand. We huddled and shuffled our way across the saddle and dropped into the Mukamuka valley, where the wind rapidly dropped away to nothing.
Various maps have the path down Mukamuka stream as a track, a route, or nothing at all. It's very much a track. The first part was very clearly marked and recently maintained, with foliage and trees cleared and felled. Eventually the stream began to get quite large, and after a while the markers became fewer and stopped. I guess DOC figure that if your navigation skills don't let you follow the stream then there is no hope for you! It was quite technical going with slippery unstable rocks and dead wood making slips and ankle breaks a potential at every step. Don't know how the Muntees do this competitively at speed. Ligaments of iron, lots of experience and oodles of self belief I guess.
The river became bigger and bigger, and a little more straightforward going. We found ourselves in a fairly gorgy bit, with scouring on the side of the banks showing the river's power when it was in full flood. Further down, where the river really opened up wide, we found a very sad, crushed and battered Mazda 323. Looks like some enthusiastic locals had driven it up the valley, got it bogged, and then the force of the river had well and truly dealt to it.
The wind slowly rose again as we got closer to the coast, and the funnel effect of the valley began asserting itself. It was fortunate it was a tail wind. Again, I don't know how the muntees kept their spirits up with an interminable uphill and a strong headwind battering them.
Another option here is to turn right instead of left at the coast, and walk back to the mouth of the Orongorongo, then back to Catchpool, or a car left at the end of the coast road (about 10km drive on from Catchpool). That would make it a there-and-back, but quite a bit longer and with hours of interminable trudging along the coast around Baring Head.
We were prepared to keep walking until we either met our pickup or reached tar-seal. The road gradually changes from gravel road to 4wd track, with two big fords and a gravel fan to cross before your pickup driver reaches Wharekauhau township. The fords were straightforward on our weekend, but whether your driver can make it that far will depend on their confidence and how much the rivers are up.
We had stashed a change of clothes in our pickup car, which gave us a semblance of neatness - enough to get us into a Greytown cafe for craft beer and tapas. I've decided that more tramping trips need to end with craft beer and tapas! We made it back to Wellington in plenty of time to get back to our Catchpool car, though our plan was to wander in again the next day to get it back. As we arrived we found the SAR team kitting up and setting out for what we hoped was an exercise but turned out was very much for real (but with a happy ending).
So the Munter is a great trip even if you're not the sort of person who thinks of running over a mountain in a few hours as a pleasant Saturday morning diversion. It's eminently do-able as a daytrip, albeit a long one with an early start and the likelihood of needing a head-torch for the last wee bit along the coast road. And there are many variations to make the trip longer or shorter or logistically easier. Who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to run it, too?
Friday, October 26, 2012
In Christchurch again today
Hi,
Looking forward to the weekend! Christchurch is looking after me today. Hope my flight is not cancelled for the trip home (both previous ones have been!).
Mike is off tramping tonight and we'll meet him in the Wairarapa tomorrow afternoon. Hope he has a lot of fun.
Have a great weekend!
Love,
Angela
Looking forward to the weekend! Christchurch is looking after me today. Hope my flight is not cancelled for the trip home (both previous ones have been!).
Mike is off tramping tonight and we'll meet him in the Wairarapa tomorrow afternoon. Hope he has a lot of fun.
Have a great weekend!
Love,
Angela
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The Wednesday with a trip to school
Hi,
We sorted out complicated logistics easily and Mike and Toby collected me outside work at 5.15pm for the trip to Scots. We got there with a few minutes to spare and Toby took us around the classroom and showed us his portfolio of work. He is class captain at the moment. This is a voted position and he gets a special seat at his desk and can sit in the armchair any time he likes (others have to vacate it if he wants it). I think he is quite enjoying this. We also played paddle tennis with him outside and I really enjoyed that. I must play real tennis with him at weekends.
After that we went to the Thai restaurant in Miramar and had a yummy dinner.
Toby finished it off with a fantastic dessert!
Off to tramping club as Mike was on the door to meet and greet (and told me my job was to rugby tackle anyone that didn't pay!).
Home to bed and we all had a great sleep (unlike the previous night). However, Mike is in bed now with a migraine. Poor chap. I hope he feels better soon.
Love,
Angela
We sorted out complicated logistics easily and Mike and Toby collected me outside work at 5.15pm for the trip to Scots. We got there with a few minutes to spare and Toby took us around the classroom and showed us his portfolio of work. He is class captain at the moment. This is a voted position and he gets a special seat at his desk and can sit in the armchair any time he likes (others have to vacate it if he wants it). I think he is quite enjoying this. We also played paddle tennis with him outside and I really enjoyed that. I must play real tennis with him at weekends.
After that we went to the Thai restaurant in Miramar and had a yummy dinner.
Off to tramping club as Mike was on the door to meet and greet (and told me my job was to rugby tackle anyone that didn't pay!).
Home to bed and we all had a great sleep (unlike the previous night). However, Mike is in bed now with a migraine. Poor chap. I hope he feels better soon.
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The Tuesday with Cubs
Hi,
I drove home in order to get dinner ready on time for a quick getaway to Lyall Bay for a sandcastle building night with the Cubs. But, the traffic was bad and I got home just as Jack was dropped off and had to move tiles and in the end Toby got two minute noodles to eat. Mind you, he loves two minute noodles. I got toast.
The sandcastle building was a lot of fun. We were right next to Maranui (unfortunately shut otherwise it could have been a fantastic evening instead of merely cold and mildly amusing with some annoying Cub behaviour) and every Cub was present (we have about 27 right now). The male Cub leaders built a massive volcano, fished newspaper out of a rubbish bin and lit it (despite the signs saying no fires). The female leaders stood around tsking. Hahahah.
Home to see Mike and quickly to bed. But Mike and I both had a restless sleep (him more than me). So don't ask Mike to perform complex Fourier Transforms today. In fact, don't ask him to add 5 + 17 - 6.
We have a logistics conundrum to solve tonight. Early pick up for the boys (4pm) and we have to grab Toby and be at Scots by 5.45pm for a student-led conference. Hmmmm. I think we have it in hand. Mind you, it is Mike's plan and we now know what state his mind is in. Perhaps I should double-check the timings tonight. Hahahah.
The tiles go into the bathroom today! Woo hoo! It should look great tonight when we get home.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
I drove home in order to get dinner ready on time for a quick getaway to Lyall Bay for a sandcastle building night with the Cubs. But, the traffic was bad and I got home just as Jack was dropped off and had to move tiles and in the end Toby got two minute noodles to eat. Mind you, he loves two minute noodles. I got toast.
The sandcastle building was a lot of fun. We were right next to Maranui (unfortunately shut otherwise it could have been a fantastic evening instead of merely cold and mildly amusing with some annoying Cub behaviour) and every Cub was present (we have about 27 right now). The male Cub leaders built a massive volcano, fished newspaper out of a rubbish bin and lit it (despite the signs saying no fires). The female leaders stood around tsking. Hahahah.
Home to see Mike and quickly to bed. But Mike and I both had a restless sleep (him more than me). So don't ask Mike to perform complex Fourier Transforms today. In fact, don't ask him to add 5 + 17 - 6.
We have a logistics conundrum to solve tonight. Early pick up for the boys (4pm) and we have to grab Toby and be at Scots by 5.45pm for a student-led conference. Hmmmm. I think we have it in hand. Mind you, it is Mike's plan and we now know what state his mind is in. Perhaps I should double-check the timings tonight. Hahahah.
The tiles go into the bathroom today! Woo hoo! It should look great tonight when we get home.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The weekend with Mum heading back home
Hi,
What an amazing weekend - I wish all weekends were three days long! Friday night we had takeaways at Vivienne and John's place where we discovered a great Indian takeaway right in Ngaio! Friday night takeaways are now sorted (sorry John!). Mum enjoyed catching up with Vivienne and John (and Mike's mother while she was there). I drove Polly home and went back to prise the others out of the house.
Saturday we tidied up and then got ready for table tennis at Yingjie's house. While there we made arrangements for dinner out in town. Ancestral in Courtney Place. Toby also arranged a sleepover with Alex that night.
Sunday was the last day in Wellington for Mum. We lazed around in the morning and eventually took so long going to collect Toby that he was deposited back home by Yingjie. Janne rang to say goodbye (how lovely - they must all miss my mother) and we dropped her at the airport for her flight at midday. Well, her flight was at 3pm but she wanted lots of time. Then, unexpectedly, my sunglasses fogged up a lot on the drive away from the airport. Lucky I wasn't driving. Well, luck wasn't a factor. I knew they might fog up and I asked for Mike and Toby to come to the airport with me.
Monday we lazed around the house missing my mother (no need to worry about running naked through the house anymore - hahahah) and Toby's friend William came over.
I laughed when Mike changed the duvet cover and declared he was doing it "with science" and promptly ignored me and the "science" proved I was right. Something about fitting the duvet inside the cover perfectly. Nothing like a good giggle to end the weekend.
Weather is lovely this morning. Have a great (short - in NZ) week!
Love,
Angela
What an amazing weekend - I wish all weekends were three days long! Friday night we had takeaways at Vivienne and John's place where we discovered a great Indian takeaway right in Ngaio! Friday night takeaways are now sorted (sorry John!). Mum enjoyed catching up with Vivienne and John (and Mike's mother while she was there). I drove Polly home and went back to prise the others out of the house.
Saturday we tidied up and then got ready for table tennis at Yingjie's house. While there we made arrangements for dinner out in town. Ancestral in Courtney Place. Toby also arranged a sleepover with Alex that night.
Sunday was the last day in Wellington for Mum. We lazed around in the morning and eventually took so long going to collect Toby that he was deposited back home by Yingjie. Janne rang to say goodbye (how lovely - they must all miss my mother) and we dropped her at the airport for her flight at midday. Well, her flight was at 3pm but she wanted lots of time. Then, unexpectedly, my sunglasses fogged up a lot on the drive away from the airport. Lucky I wasn't driving. Well, luck wasn't a factor. I knew they might fog up and I asked for Mike and Toby to come to the airport with me.
Monday we lazed around the house missing my mother (no need to worry about running naked through the house anymore - hahahah) and Toby's friend William came over.
I laughed when Mike changed the duvet cover and declared he was doing it "with science" and promptly ignored me and the "science" proved I was right. Something about fitting the duvet inside the cover perfectly. Nothing like a good giggle to end the weekend.
Weather is lovely this morning. Have a great (short - in NZ) week!
Love,
Angela
Friday, October 19, 2012
The Thursday with nothing
Hi,
I am in Christchurch this morning for work. It is overcast here but the roads are dry. Dinner tonight at Vivienne and John's place after I get home. Yay!
Have a good weekend.
Love,
Angela
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The Wednesday with nothing - fortunately
Hi,
Two late nights in a row meant I was exhausted when I got home. The fiercely strong northerly didn't help any either. Mum and I made dinner and I dashed off to collect Mike from working late and collapsed into bed not long after that. It was nice to clock up closer to 8 hours sleep than the 4 or 5 hours the last two nights. I can't cope with sleep deprivation. That much is clear.
The ride in this morning was fast - roads are still dry.
I had breakfast at The Royal (pub next to work on Lambton Quay) and collected the trophy for the winners of the Mixed Clay Target Shooting Business Games 2012.
Wow. How flash! Nice breakfast too! We also got some wee backpacks and a $50 vouchers for the Wellington Indoor Sports venue. Luckily that is where Junglerama is located. I sense a Saturday morning play time for Toby coming up soon.
Sunny now. Better get stuck into work after my huge breakfast.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
Two late nights in a row meant I was exhausted when I got home. The fiercely strong northerly didn't help any either. Mum and I made dinner and I dashed off to collect Mike from working late and collapsed into bed not long after that. It was nice to clock up closer to 8 hours sleep than the 4 or 5 hours the last two nights. I can't cope with sleep deprivation. That much is clear.
The ride in this morning was fast - roads are still dry.
I had breakfast at The Royal (pub next to work on Lambton Quay) and collected the trophy for the winners of the Mixed Clay Target Shooting Business Games 2012.
Wow. How flash! Nice breakfast too! We also got some wee backpacks and a $50 vouchers for the Wellington Indoor Sports venue. Luckily that is where Junglerama is located. I sense a Saturday morning play time for Toby coming up soon.
Sunny now. Better get stuck into work after my huge breakfast.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The Tuesday with Cubs
Hi,
I had such a good day on Tuesday - the weather was exceptionally good. And I had a mid afternoon ride up and down the waterfront because I met Aidan T unexpectedly at the train station. Well worth getting into bike gear for during the day. And it made me think about summer lunchtime rides as a semi regular thing. Nice.
I rode home with Mike and we ate a yummy dinner cooked by Ma before I dropped Ma off at The Pickle Jar where she was gate crashing anyone that wanted another team mate for the quiz and we all went to Cubs. It was such a great evening. Perhaps because I was still happy from my day!
Rode in this morning but the weather seems a little less settled. High overcast and a bit of wind. Never mind - still had fun leaving cars behind coming down the hill.
Forgot to mention that our team won the mixed clay target shooting competition. Woo hoo! We collect our prize tomorrow morning at the prize giving ceremony. How funny.
Toby also got a credit for his English exam he did last term. We're very proud of his first attempt - he did well. Well done wee boy.
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
I had such a good day on Tuesday - the weather was exceptionally good. And I had a mid afternoon ride up and down the waterfront because I met Aidan T unexpectedly at the train station. Well worth getting into bike gear for during the day. And it made me think about summer lunchtime rides as a semi regular thing. Nice.
I rode home with Mike and we ate a yummy dinner cooked by Ma before I dropped Ma off at The Pickle Jar where she was gate crashing anyone that wanted another team mate for the quiz and we all went to Cubs. It was such a great evening. Perhaps because I was still happy from my day!
Rode in this morning but the weather seems a little less settled. High overcast and a bit of wind. Never mind - still had fun leaving cars behind coming down the hill.
Forgot to mention that our team won the mixed clay target shooting competition. Woo hoo! We collect our prize tomorrow morning at the prize giving ceremony. How funny.
Toby also got a credit for his English exam he did last term. We're very proud of his first attempt - he did well. Well done wee boy.
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The Monday with nothing
Hi,
Mike and I rode home yesterday evening together for the first time in a wee while. It was a lovely ride - and the weather is even more gorgeous this morning. Our ride in this morning was fabulous.
Yesterday my mother came into town and bought us some extra plates. I did have to eat out of a bowl on Sunday because we have 13 plates and 14 people came for lunch. Now we have 17 plates and I rather think that seating is now the limiting factor - not plates or cutlery!
Mike didn't have coffee at home this morning, and as a consequence (so he says) his routine was all wrong and he forgot to pack a shirt. He is off up Lambton Quay looking for any shop open in order to buy himself a new shirt.
Cubs tonight - first day back for the term.
Have a wonderful day! Enjoy the sunshine if you can. If it was me with leisure time (what is that concept?), I'd be finding a sunny spot and reading for a while. Mmmmm. Dreaming is free.
Love,
Angela
Mike and I rode home yesterday evening together for the first time in a wee while. It was a lovely ride - and the weather is even more gorgeous this morning. Our ride in this morning was fabulous.
Yesterday my mother came into town and bought us some extra plates. I did have to eat out of a bowl on Sunday because we have 13 plates and 14 people came for lunch. Now we have 17 plates and I rather think that seating is now the limiting factor - not plates or cutlery!
Mike didn't have coffee at home this morning, and as a consequence (so he says) his routine was all wrong and he forgot to pack a shirt. He is off up Lambton Quay looking for any shop open in order to buy himself a new shirt.
Cubs tonight - first day back for the term.
Have a wonderful day! Enjoy the sunshine if you can. If it was me with leisure time (what is that concept?), I'd be finding a sunny spot and reading for a while. Mmmmm. Dreaming is free.
Love,
Angela
Monday, October 15, 2012
The weekend with so much social activity
Hi,
Toby had a sleepover on Friday night so Ma, Mike and I went out for dinner to Maginnity's (a place Sally and Andrew take us to). It was very nice. Home in a taxi and happily to bed.
Saturday up early to see dismal weather and go and select tiles for the bathroom. Mike and I bumped into Stuart from next door doing exactly the same thing with his mother. Funny.
Back home for a bite of lunch then off to Waikanae to see the Tabors. We chatted happily for a few hours while Josh slaved over a great beef soup (a real chunky yummy soup with great flavour). Toby had played Minecraft for hours. It might be his ideal weekend!
Back home to bed.m Up early Sunday to tidy and prepare family lunch. 14 of us (Toby went off to play with Jack and have lunch there). The day was lovely and sunny. Aidan brought his chainsaw and he ripped into the trees around the house. It looks great now!
Eventually tipped ourselves into bed. Mike was asleep in seconds.
Have a wonderful week. Toby is back at school today. He seems quite happy about it.
Love,
Angela
Toby had a sleepover on Friday night so Ma, Mike and I went out for dinner to Maginnity's (a place Sally and Andrew take us to). It was very nice. Home in a taxi and happily to bed.
Saturday up early to see dismal weather and go and select tiles for the bathroom. Mike and I bumped into Stuart from next door doing exactly the same thing with his mother. Funny.
Back home for a bite of lunch then off to Waikanae to see the Tabors. We chatted happily for a few hours while Josh slaved over a great beef soup (a real chunky yummy soup with great flavour). Toby had played Minecraft for hours. It might be his ideal weekend!
Back home to bed.m Up early Sunday to tidy and prepare family lunch. 14 of us (Toby went off to play with Jack and have lunch there). The day was lovely and sunny. Aidan brought his chainsaw and he ripped into the trees around the house. It looks great now!
Eventually tipped ourselves into bed. Mike was asleep in seconds.
Have a wonderful week. Toby is back at school today. He seems quite happy about it.
Love,
Angela
Friday, October 12, 2012
The Thursday with user group
Hi,
I walked back to work from the client and caught up with Mum and Toby walking there too. Mum stayed for the user group and tried to keep from falling asleep. Hahahah. She didn't snore. Then Mike came and collected us.
Friday - thank goodness. Toby has a sleepover in Waikanae tonight. Aidan will collect him from the holiday programme.
What does the weekend have in store? Off to collect Toby from Waikanae tomorrow. Sunday lunch at our house on Sunday. That's it!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela
I walked back to work from the client and caught up with Mum and Toby walking there too. Mum stayed for the user group and tried to keep from falling asleep. Hahahah. She didn't snore. Then Mike came and collected us.
Friday - thank goodness. Toby has a sleepover in Waikanae tonight. Aidan will collect him from the holiday programme.
What does the weekend have in store? Off to collect Toby from Waikanae tomorrow. Sunday lunch at our house on Sunday. That's it!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The Tuesday with trivia
Hi,
What a lovely entertaining evening. I drove home with Andrew and collected Ma from home (after ordering pizza for Benjamin and Toby) and we were off to The Pickle Jar for dinner and their trivia quiz night. We had a lot of fun. Who would have guessed that the Art and Literature round would have been our best round (9/10). Not us. We chose Geography (we did alright) and Pot Luck (oh - there's our mistake).
My most embarrassing "get" of the night? The only one to know the fourth book in the Twilight series. Shucks. But I also knew the name of the boy genius in Eoin Colfer's books (Artemis Fowl) and what movie sang a cover of a 1920s folk song (cue the awful singing of "I had a little drink about an hour ago and it's gone right to my head" - and it was Jaws). Ilkse knew it was a UB40 song when none of us had a clue. And Ma was brilliant with TV and Cinema and knowing who the husbands of Joan Collins were. Christine and John knew the chocolate bar was a Perky Nana (a what - it looked radioactive - surely no one eats them!). We had a lot of fun. We came 5th overall out of about 15 teams. Not too shabby.
Drove Andrew home. And shortly thereafter Mike got home from Sydney (almost bang on midnight). Yay! Happy!
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Love,
Angela
What a lovely entertaining evening. I drove home with Andrew and collected Ma from home (after ordering pizza for Benjamin and Toby) and we were off to The Pickle Jar for dinner and their trivia quiz night. We had a lot of fun. Who would have guessed that the Art and Literature round would have been our best round (9/10). Not us. We chose Geography (we did alright) and Pot Luck (oh - there's our mistake).
My most embarrassing "get" of the night? The only one to know the fourth book in the Twilight series. Shucks. But I also knew the name of the boy genius in Eoin Colfer's books (Artemis Fowl) and what movie sang a cover of a 1920s folk song (cue the awful singing of "I had a little drink about an hour ago and it's gone right to my head" - and it was Jaws). Ilkse knew it was a UB40 song when none of us had a clue. And Ma was brilliant with TV and Cinema and knowing who the husbands of Joan Collins were. Christine and John knew the chocolate bar was a Perky Nana (a what - it looked radioactive - surely no one eats them!). We had a lot of fun. We came 5th overall out of about 15 teams. Not too shabby.
Drove Andrew home. And shortly thereafter Mike got home from Sydney (almost bang on midnight). Yay! Happy!
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The Monday with nothing
Hi,
I rode home in the pouring rain and was quite wet. Stripped off into something dry and warm and took Ma out for dinner at the Speights Ale House in Thorndon. I had a nice steak and Ma had some filo wrapped chicken. Two pints of lemon, lime and bitters and then off to pick up Toby from Jack's house.
Toby had caught the bus from town (number 14) to Jack's house all by himself and I think he was pretty pleased with himself. And I was pleased with him too.
Back home and we watched television for a while before chatting to Mike and then bed.
Tonight is quiz night at The Pickle Jar (used to be the Quiet Lady in Karori). Should be a fun night.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
I rode home in the pouring rain and was quite wet. Stripped off into something dry and warm and took Ma out for dinner at the Speights Ale House in Thorndon. I had a nice steak and Ma had some filo wrapped chicken. Two pints of lemon, lime and bitters and then off to pick up Toby from Jack's house.
Toby had caught the bus from town (number 14) to Jack's house all by himself and I think he was pretty pleased with himself. And I was pleased with him too.
Back home and we watched television for a while before chatting to Mike and then bed.
Tonight is quiz night at The Pickle Jar (used to be the Quiet Lady in Karori). Should be a fun night.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
Monday, October 8, 2012
Look at Abby!
Hi,
Abby won Best Player of the Year (Modified Player something or other - but basically the best player of the year!) at the netball. She is amazing. Look at her!
We're very proud.
Love,
Angela, Mike and Toby
Abby won Best Player of the Year (Modified Player something or other - but basically the best player of the year!) at the netball. She is amazing. Look at her!
We're very proud.
Love,
Angela, Mike and Toby
The weekend with loads on
Hi,
What a weekend! Phew! I was sure we'd be cancelling the day walk when the Friday night weather turned nasty - strong winds and lashing rain. But Saturday morning dawned clear and calm.
Saturday morning I got up early and went to Karori to collect Brendan (work colleague) at 7.15am. Then off to Lower Hutt to collect Joe (work colleague number 2) at 7.30am. Once we had Joe, we were off to the Hutt Valley Gun Club in Whitemans Valley (outside Upper Hutt). We had decided to do clay target shooting for the Business Games that were on again with work. Ah huh. Right. Still, I did better than last year hitting 9 out of my 12 targets and getting pretty close with the three I missed. It was a lot of fun.
Had a quick lunch afterwards in Upper Hutt (nice cafe) and then dropped Joe off at Rongatai for his cricket, dropped Brendan back home and then collected Toby and his Nana from home while getting ready for the day walk. Dropped Nana home, then back to Makara beach exactly on time at 2pm. Waited for 40 minutes for the other punters (they were running late) and then headed off along the beach. The fierce wind whipped the surf up and soaked us with saltwater. Nice. Our lips and eyes were tingling (or is that stinging?) as we walked along.
We got stopped at the headland by high seas and backtracked a bit and went up the hill. The view was stunning. Then we popped over the top and discovered a southerly headed straight for us. It looked amazing!
We raced back to the car, and the rain washed loads of salt off us. Hmmm. Hahahah. It was a short but fun daywalk.
Back home to relax for a bit and then off to bed for a few hours sleep before we got up and collected Grandy from the airport at midnight. We got her tucked into bed and Toby and I both fell asleep quickly again.
Sunday morning we got up and made some salad for lunch. Then off to enjoy the family lunch in brilliant sunshine (hot even) at Sally and Andrew's place. Scrumptious food as usual. Nice to see Aidan and Janne as we don't see them that often really. Ma enjoyed meeting everyone.
Back home and I had to work for a bit then had dinner (yummy - ta Ma) and then to bed. Phew!
Busy week at work. Mike comes home tomorrow night. Yay!
Have a great week!
Love,
Angela
What a weekend! Phew! I was sure we'd be cancelling the day walk when the Friday night weather turned nasty - strong winds and lashing rain. But Saturday morning dawned clear and calm.
Saturday morning I got up early and went to Karori to collect Brendan (work colleague) at 7.15am. Then off to Lower Hutt to collect Joe (work colleague number 2) at 7.30am. Once we had Joe, we were off to the Hutt Valley Gun Club in Whitemans Valley (outside Upper Hutt). We had decided to do clay target shooting for the Business Games that were on again with work. Ah huh. Right. Still, I did better than last year hitting 9 out of my 12 targets and getting pretty close with the three I missed. It was a lot of fun.
Had a quick lunch afterwards in Upper Hutt (nice cafe) and then dropped Joe off at Rongatai for his cricket, dropped Brendan back home and then collected Toby and his Nana from home while getting ready for the day walk. Dropped Nana home, then back to Makara beach exactly on time at 2pm. Waited for 40 minutes for the other punters (they were running late) and then headed off along the beach. The fierce wind whipped the surf up and soaked us with saltwater. Nice. Our lips and eyes were tingling (or is that stinging?) as we walked along.
We got stopped at the headland by high seas and backtracked a bit and went up the hill. The view was stunning. Then we popped over the top and discovered a southerly headed straight for us. It looked amazing!
We raced back to the car, and the rain washed loads of salt off us. Hmmm. Hahahah. It was a short but fun daywalk.
Back home to relax for a bit and then off to bed for a few hours sleep before we got up and collected Grandy from the airport at midnight. We got her tucked into bed and Toby and I both fell asleep quickly again.
Sunday morning we got up and made some salad for lunch. Then off to enjoy the family lunch in brilliant sunshine (hot even) at Sally and Andrew's place. Scrumptious food as usual. Nice to see Aidan and Janne as we don't see them that often really. Ma enjoyed meeting everyone.
Back home and I had to work for a bit then had dinner (yummy - ta Ma) and then to bed. Phew!
Busy week at work. Mike comes home tomorrow night. Yay!
Have a great week!
Love,
Angela
Friday, October 5, 2012
The Thursday with no Mike
Hi,
Well, Mike landed safely in Sydney. It is odd having a three hour time difference; it means we hardly get any time to chat. Lucky it is a short visit and Sydney moves to their daylight savings hour this Sunday.
I rode home yesterday in lovely conditions once again. We had great weather for cycling this week. Marvellous. It is all supposed to pack in for Saturday. Great. Just when I have a whole day of outdoor activity planned. I'm in a work team for clay target shooting tomorrow morning. Let's hope I don't bruise myself as spectacularly as I did last year. Then leading a day walk - in forecast galeforce winds. Nice.
When your husband is away you get to do all manner of things. This morning I took the wee green car in for its WoF. It failed a week ago due to fancy, but manic, flashing indicators and bald rear tyres. Both fixed thanks to Mike and it passed with flying colours this morning.
Mike's mother has been looking after Toby this week and I can tell he is very happy with that arrangement, even if she makes him leave the computer regularly. Hahahah. It's good for him!
The weekend beckons with its manic schedule. And Mum arrives at midnight tomorrow. Yay! Can't wait. Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela
Well, Mike landed safely in Sydney. It is odd having a three hour time difference; it means we hardly get any time to chat. Lucky it is a short visit and Sydney moves to their daylight savings hour this Sunday.
I rode home yesterday in lovely conditions once again. We had great weather for cycling this week. Marvellous. It is all supposed to pack in for Saturday. Great. Just when I have a whole day of outdoor activity planned. I'm in a work team for clay target shooting tomorrow morning. Let's hope I don't bruise myself as spectacularly as I did last year. Then leading a day walk - in forecast galeforce winds. Nice.
When your husband is away you get to do all manner of things. This morning I took the wee green car in for its WoF. It failed a week ago due to fancy, but manic, flashing indicators and bald rear tyres. Both fixed thanks to Mike and it passed with flying colours this morning.
Mike's mother has been looking after Toby this week and I can tell he is very happy with that arrangement, even if she makes him leave the computer regularly. Hahahah. It's good for him!
The weekend beckons with its manic schedule. And Mum arrives at midnight tomorrow. Yay! Can't wait. Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Wednesday with nothing but Mike packing
Hi,
I rode home yesterday in lovely conditions once more. I was a little tuckered out for some reason - was it a strong headwind? Anyhow, home to eat dinner that Mike and Toby had cooked. Toby is working towards his home help badge and made us a lovely omelette for dinner. And a salad. The salad could be termed "rustic" or "country" as it was very chunky. Large pieces of red onion and carrot along with the lettuce and tomato. Toby may be showing us his future cuisine tendencies.
Mike packed (sort of) for his Sydney trip and woke at 3.50am to finish getting ready. He may have been running late because the taxi company rang him at 4.25am. Hahahah. Anyhow, he was on the flight this morning safely. Hopefully it all goes well today and tomorrow in Sydney and he has a great weekend with Karen and Scott and the girls.
Meanwhile, my weekend is flat out. I triple booked myself for Saturday and managed to wriggle out of one of them (mainly because they in turn had double booked themselves and our presence would have been more hassle). The other two I think I am able to juggle. I have clay target shooting for work (organised business games) on early Saturday morning and then home briefly to get ready for the day walk at Makara beach I am running. Any takers? The weather is supposed to be awful.
Saturday night at midnight Toby and I pick up Grandy from the airport then Sunday we have a family lunch. Woo hoo!
Busy at work. My ride in was lovely again this morning - no sign of any rain so far despite the forecast suggesting there would be some around this morning. Time for tea.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
I rode home yesterday in lovely conditions once more. I was a little tuckered out for some reason - was it a strong headwind? Anyhow, home to eat dinner that Mike and Toby had cooked. Toby is working towards his home help badge and made us a lovely omelette for dinner. And a salad. The salad could be termed "rustic" or "country" as it was very chunky. Large pieces of red onion and carrot along with the lettuce and tomato. Toby may be showing us his future cuisine tendencies.
Mike packed (sort of) for his Sydney trip and woke at 3.50am to finish getting ready. He may have been running late because the taxi company rang him at 4.25am. Hahahah. Anyhow, he was on the flight this morning safely. Hopefully it all goes well today and tomorrow in Sydney and he has a great weekend with Karen and Scott and the girls.
Meanwhile, my weekend is flat out. I triple booked myself for Saturday and managed to wriggle out of one of them (mainly because they in turn had double booked themselves and our presence would have been more hassle). The other two I think I am able to juggle. I have clay target shooting for work (organised business games) on early Saturday morning and then home briefly to get ready for the day walk at Makara beach I am running. Any takers? The weather is supposed to be awful.
Saturday night at midnight Toby and I pick up Grandy from the airport then Sunday we have a family lunch. Woo hoo!
Busy at work. My ride in was lovely again this morning - no sign of any rain so far despite the forecast suggesting there would be some around this morning. Time for tea.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The Tuesday with nothing
Hi,
I love school holidays! No Cubs to go to on a Tuesday. Mike and I rode home together (I do like doing that) and I made dinner. Then I took Mike out for a romantic night at the supermarket. Hahahah.
Back home and I think I was asleep in seconds while Mike worked.
Toby and Nana are in town this morning. Toby has his dental appointment. Perhaps we'll get to see them. Mike has to drive in because he is meeting a tradesman back home at some stage. Phew! The bathroom is fair coming along!
My ride in was wonderful this morning. Absolutely bone-dry roads. I flew down the hill, possibly going faster than I ought. But it was fun!
Mike has to pack for Sydney tonight. He catches the early morning flight tomorrow morning. We'll see him late Tuesday. Sounds like he has a good weekend planned with the Kittos.
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
I love school holidays! No Cubs to go to on a Tuesday. Mike and I rode home together (I do like doing that) and I made dinner. Then I took Mike out for a romantic night at the supermarket. Hahahah.
Back home and I think I was asleep in seconds while Mike worked.
Toby and Nana are in town this morning. Toby has his dental appointment. Perhaps we'll get to see them. Mike has to drive in because he is meeting a tradesman back home at some stage. Phew! The bathroom is fair coming along!
My ride in was wonderful this morning. Absolutely bone-dry roads. I flew down the hill, possibly going faster than I ought. But it was fun!
Mike has to pack for Sydney tonight. He catches the early morning flight tomorrow morning. We'll see him late Tuesday. Sounds like he has a good weekend planned with the Kittos.
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Monday with Cub planning
Hi,
Mike and I rode home together in lovely weather. We made dinner and then I ended up having to scoff it down to rush off for the Cub planning session. We planned out term 4 and it looks like a lot of fun. I told them I wasn't going to be a leader in 2013. Time for Toby to be a Cub without his mother hovering over him. He'll be a sixer for that year too.
Home to bed. Toby had a tooth fall out yesterday and I do believe the tooth fairy visited overnight. Lucky boy. He is off to the dentist tomorrow with Nana. His appointment is at 12.15.
Mike and I rode into work together this morning too. Very pleasant. It looks like rain and the roads were a little wet, bit it stayed dry for us. All good!
I have found three good bruises from my fall at the weekend. Two on my legs and one on my upper arm. I probably landed (maybe several times) on my skis or poles as I tumbled and slid. Mike says the one on my right leg looks awfully like a ski edge. Hahahah.
Time for a tea.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
Mike and I rode home together in lovely weather. We made dinner and then I ended up having to scoff it down to rush off for the Cub planning session. We planned out term 4 and it looks like a lot of fun. I told them I wasn't going to be a leader in 2013. Time for Toby to be a Cub without his mother hovering over him. He'll be a sixer for that year too.
Home to bed. Toby had a tooth fall out yesterday and I do believe the tooth fairy visited overnight. Lucky boy. He is off to the dentist tomorrow with Nana. His appointment is at 12.15.
Mike and I rode into work together this morning too. Very pleasant. It looks like rain and the roads were a little wet, bit it stayed dry for us. All good!
I have found three good bruises from my fall at the weekend. Two on my legs and one on my upper arm. I probably landed (maybe several times) on my skis or poles as I tumbled and slid. Mike says the one on my right leg looks awfully like a ski edge. Hahahah.
Time for a tea.
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
Monday, October 1, 2012
The weekend with a wonderful ski day
Hi,
Happy birthday today to Dad! I hope he has a great day! Woo hoo!
What a great weekend. I got home just after 8 pm on Friday and caught up with the boys before bed. Up at 3.30 am to jump in the car and collect Amy and Andrew for a fantastic day skiing at Turoa.
We got to the mountain in good time. The day was mostly fine; it would clag in from time to time. I had a spectacular fall down a wee steep cliff when I followed Andrew down a double black diamond run. I had to edge to keep from falling over a rocky cliff. So fear meant I edged super well and ended up far too high. My top ski got wedged forward and my bottom ski had no weight on it and was flailing around in mid air. Nice. Stuck. Andrew was just below me and giving advice. Ha ha. If I could stand up on my top ski I'd be back on the piste above our run. No hope.
Trying to dig my bottom ski in finally kicked my top ski out and I fell to where Andrew was just below me. I thought I was going to take him out and my weight went backwards and I kept going. Andrew said it looked good as I somersaulted a few times before sliding the rest of the 15m down to to the bottom of the gully. Lucky the snow was so soft and I'd cleared the rocky cliff part. I had to kick steps up the steep face to retrieve my skis. Oh dear.
Later on, Andrew had a great can out too. He was going fast in lovely soft snow (we were making first tracks to the far skier right on the boundary) when his tips dug in and flipped him at speed into the snow face first. His goggles came off as well as his glasses. Luckily Amy found them quickly and we collected his skis and we all took off again.
This last fantastic run ended in a 300m walk out. But it was well worth it for the lovely snow and solitude. It did tucker us out though. Andrew got another run in while Amy and I relaxed in the car.
We had a good drive home and I caught up with Mike (Toby was having a sleepover). I even got a nice breakfast cooked for me Sunday morning (Mike made superb omelettes). Tidied the house a bit (I am useless at housework - it is so boring) and then off to buy a replacement headlight bulb and new sheets for the spare bed. Then to Sally and Andrew's place while Mike and Andrew went to Andrew's parents' place to help with solar panels on the roof. Then we all met there for tea and home to bed.
Mike's mother is here to look after Toby this week. I think Toby is very happy. Yay!
Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela
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