The Wednesday with a little bit of Svalbard

Hi,

Yesterday the weather started off quite nice and deteriorated into a mess of wind and rain.

I managed to catch up briefly with Aidan around lunchtime.  Her timing was a little less than impeccable as I had just heated my lunch and taken two mouthfuls when she rang and was outside.  However, as she pointed out, her timing was actually perfect because she wasn't interrupting any work meetings and I could pop out to say hi.  Anyhow, it was a short hello and my food was still warm when I got back to it.  Yay!

Toby got off the bus in town and caused difficulties for his mother at her workplace by not knuckling down and doing homework.  When we finally caught up with Mike for dinner, Mike wondered where his usually much happier wife had got to.  She'd gone to a happier place where her son hadn't sucked the lifeforce out of her and left a dried husk in her place.  However, a bit of explaining my point of view had Toby realising he had been a bit less than his usual perfection.  So after tea we went back to my work and Toby ploughed through his homework.

Eventually we wandered over to the tramping club meeting and we watched a presentation on someone's trip to Svalbard.  Toby enjoyed it but was hoping to see a polar bear.  But the only one we saw a photo of was the one in the airport.

Back home and to bed.  Up this morning to catch the bus in.  The weather is still awful.  But it's not cold.  Just wet and windy.  Halloween today and Mike will head home to help Toby get ready.  A work colleague is leaving so I will pop out to the pub and then ride home the long way before finding the boys and making sure Halloween goes well.

Have a lovely day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday disguised as a Monday

Hi,

Tuesday was such a lovely day here in Wellington.  Work was busy as usual but I did manage to catch up with Sophie over an iced coffee.

She said I looked wired.

Oh yep - I look a bit wired.  She's right

But I have to rate Gasoline's iced coffee.  It's pretty good.  And such fresh icecream!  Hahahah.  They had to run out and buy some just for me.

By the time 5.30pm came I was ready to ride home.  I went home via Ngauranga Gorge and Johnsonville for the first time.  I absolutely loved it.  It took me 59 minutes.

58 minutes and 59 seconds

I was caning it up the last 5 minutes to get home under the hour.  And the last 5 minutes are the steepest of the whole ride.  Hahahah.

Mike had cooked the nicest tea and we ate and then Mike cleared up the wood outside.  It looks great now!  Toby did his homework.  Mostly.

Off to tramping club tonight because I want to see a presentation on Svalbard (the island at the top of the world, smothered in snow, ice and polar bears).

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend with a three day weekend

Hi,

I love three day weekends.  Such a great invention.  Hahahah!

Friday evening I rode home and collected Toby.  Mike got home a little later after his meeting at work with Richard from the tramping club.  Then Saturday we were up early.  I was going to ride with a bunch of people but the daunting amount of work I needed to get through meant I stayed at home and got stuck in.  Mike and Toby headed off for their haircut while I did loads of housework.  But I did get a bike ride in - 50 minutes.  That's okay.

Toby and Mike got back and looked gorgeous with their haircuts.  I convinced Mike to relax with me in the bath while Toby played with his new computer game and we used a cool bath bomb with glitter inside.  Mike got a migraine though and spent the rest of the afternoon in bed.  So I got Toby ready for his sleepover for William's party and dropped him off.  Then back to make sure Mike was okay before I met Christine at the East Day Spa.  She had booked us a massage each - and I have to say it was pretty nice.  I'm not sure what they thought of my sparkly body - the glitter was everywhere!

Went back home to collect Mike and off to Capitol to meet Kara for dinner.  Scrumptious there as usual.  I do like that place.  I had beetroot risotto and it was so good!  Better than Mike's vegetarian beef!  Snort!

Dropped Kara off home and home to bed!  Sunday morning Mike was up early to head to Steve's place for tramping club nerdiness.  I was hoping to get tot he supermarket before the Tabors arrived with Emerson and Duncan.  But they were early and I only had time to nip out and collect Toby from his sleepover before they arrived.  I got to look after Lulu too!  Lulu and I lay around in the sun, me reading, her sleeping (and shedding hairs all over the place - even in places she surely never actually physically went to!).  Turns out Aidan and Josh quite liked one of the places they saw.  Oooooohhhhh.

Aidan was as prepared as ever and brought lunch to feed the boys.  Thank goodness.  It was a lovely lunch!

When they left I went grocery shopping with Toby.  We got home and started work on the pumpkin carving.  Asking Aidan was no use - it turns out Americans breed thin shelled pumpkins for carving.  She told me not to even bother with these concrete things here.

My hand is stuck!

Oh yeah!

Lucky I didn't listen to her.  Lucky I still have all my fingers intact though!

Then Sunday evening we had Kara and Hayley around for tea.  Hayley has just arrived in the country to study her PhD at Vic and is a friend of John's in Southampton.  She was splendid company and likes skiing, rugby and motorcycles.  Awesome interests!  Such a well rounded individual!

I drove them home at the end of the night and enjoyed the singing on the way home.  Venus looked stunning.

Monday morning came and the third day off was pleasant!  Mike headed off for more website work and Toby and I relaxed at home.  We had lunch and I read.  We popped into The Warehouse for Halloween stuff.  I now have to make Toby into a vampire.  Oh dear.

Mike's mother came around for tea and she tried to grin and bear the dhal I cooked up.  She did far better than Toby.  Toby complained the whole way through the food!

Then I did a big bike ride and watched a movie before I fell asleep.  Actually Mike put the movie on just for me and I completely have no recollection of him turning it off at any stage.  Yes - I fell asleep during the movie.

Today is the most stunning day ever!  Wellington is gorgeousness itself.  It must mean Andrew has finished cycling and the nice weather can now appear.  Hahahah!

Have a great week (a short one here in NZ).

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with drinks out for me

Hi,

Isn't it a surprise that it was me going out to the pub for drinks instead of Mike?  I owed my manager a few drinks for some work related things she did for me.  We finally settled on a date that suited and we sat down for a good old chat and ate our way through the potato based products on the menu.  Hahahah.

The weather has really packed in - even by Wellington standards.  The wind is still string and gusty and the rain is nowhere near being vertical!  So much so that I rang Mike and he drove in with Toby to come and get me.  We dropped my manager off home too.  She lives up in Brooklyn and it's been a while since we've been up there.  Quite like that suburb.

Because I never had my bike at home, and I needed to be in at work by 7am, I decided to walk in this morning.  Made good time and enjoyed the solitude of an early morning walk.  Lucky I was early and lucky I decided to complete my conclusion to my speech last night.  I was the reserve speaker for the Toastmasters session this morning, not expecting to have to talk.  But someone pulled out so I had to give my speech!  Phew.  It went okay.

We have a long weekend here this weekend.  Mike has work to do for tramping club.  Toby has a sleepover.  I have some cycling to do.  I'd like to tackle the garden a bit too.  But that might be a step too far!

Have a lovely weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing for me and Toby and tramping club night for Mike

Hi,

What a lovely day it was yesterday.  And what a difference a day makes in Wellington.  Hahahah.  Last night I rode home the long way up Ngaio Gorge and did my best time up the actual gorge itself.  9 minutes from bottom to top.  One gear higher than usual.  Oooossshhh!  Pretty happy about that.  And my overall time was pretty good - but I blame the traffic lights I just missed at the bottom of the gorge for missing an overall record time.

I had lunch yesterday for the user group planning session.  The iced coffee at Rahzoo was pretty good on the iced coffee scale.

Sluuuurrrpp.  And look at all those veges on my plate!  They even snuck beans into my salad.

Toby and I had a pleasant dinner.  I even got to chat to Aidan on the phone.  She's had quite a few hectic, frantic days and might be looking forward to our three day weekend even more than most folks.

After dinner I put a wash on, hung it out, did the dishes, helped Toby with homework and then I retrieved my trusty old bike from the shed and put it on the bike trainer Andrew has lent us.  I figured out how it worked for the most part and did 30 minutes on the bike while watching Toby play boring computer games.  Toby thought it was bonding time so I'd best not describe it as boring.  I enjoyed the clarity of the graphics.  How's that?  Hahahah.

After that I jumped in the shower and read to Toby.  Mike got home and we chatted a bit before sleep claimed me.  It had a great hold of me last night, I have to say. I reckon the house could have almost fallen down around my ears and I'd be none the wiser.

This morning is windy and rainy.  The ride in was a little less than pleasant.  But I didn't get too wet - just road surface water more then anything.  The wind was pretty strong though.

Toby said Grandparent day went well yesterday.  He said Nana was great and looked fit and healthy.  We're glad he's seen her!  To prove she really is here somewhere.  Wonder how long she's up for?

I'm going out for drinks tonight.  My turn to play.  Hahahah.  What fun!

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing much really

Hi,

I rode home and found it a little hard work.  I wonder if the weekend's riding has actually made its presence felt?  The only answer is to go harder tonight.  I can't really take the long way home tonight as Mike has tramping club stuff on.  And last night he had work functions that merged into client drinks.  But he got the groceries on the way home and he doesn't appear to have bought anything odd.  Like a bouncy castle.  Hahahah.

Toby made a robot clone of himself called Cain.  He had dinner with me and Toby last night.  He was very polite.

Slightly disturbing

Is Cain vomiting tie?

Mike got home eventually and ate all the leftovers I was intending to have for lunch today.  Hahaha.  I think that means a trip to the sushi shop is in order.

This morning is lovely here.  Apparently the next few days are forecast to be a bit more like pants weather.  My ride in was great fun!

Have an incredible day.  It is grandparent day at Toby's school and Mike's mother has come up for it.  Toby is very pleased.

Love,
Angela

The Monday working from home

Hi,

Well, the day went okay working from home.  Toby's tummy came right after an hour or so but he was pretty good about reading and lying down (the rules if you're sick).  I managed to get through all my meetings (even the extra surprise two) and only had to mute and tell Toby off once (he decided that electronic devices were fair game if his mother was distracted - turns out she wasn't distracted at all, especially when it coincided with a network outage).

Cooked pizzas for the boys and got compliments on them.  Little did they know that 20 minutes before they were served I was asking Aidan for cooking instructions.  Hahahah.

The weather is windy here - my ride in this morning was good but with my laptop in the pannier, I never really enjoy the cycling.  The pannier is heavy and large and my foot clips it regularly.  It has even popped off one side once before and that wasn't fun.  But the roads were dry.  So I had enough fun!

Better get stuck in.  I hope Toby is okay.  Tomorrow is grandparent day and fortunately Mike's mother is coming up for it.  Toby was very pleased when he heard that.  He sent out letters inviting both sets of grandparents and had received (and will receive) polite declines from the ones that couldn't make it.  There's always next year when Toby is in Middle School!  Of course, Nana is in the enviable position of having attended the Middle School grandparent day already (due to a mix up in communications from the school to us).

Have a lovely day!  Hope the area around Sydney cops a lot of rain to help with the fire fighting!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a cycling adventures in Taupo

Hi,

I had a great weekend!  Andrew is very kind and we decided to try the actual Taupo course with him slowing his pace considerably to accompany me.

We left on Friday night later than I usually leave (we left Wellington at 5pm, and Lower Hutt at 5.35pm) and I think it is way better than leaving at 4.30pm.  There was no traffic and we beat the 5.35pm Wellington to Waikanae train, passing it at Paekakariki after playing tag with it through from Pukerua Bay.  Never would have happened an hour earlier.  From now on, I suggest staying at work that extra hour and having a hassle free drive north.

We got into Turangi at about 10.15pm and settled into our room.  I didn't sleep really well but it was nice and quiet.  We got up early and ate breakfast.  I think I need to experiment with breakfasts on the day of a big ride.  Something I want to eat a lot of, and is good and filling.  Porridge maybe.  Anyhow, we packed up and drove to Taupo.  We left at about 8.30am from Taupo and immediately you're into the hilly part of the course.  The first 60km was hard work as it was all up and down.  The next 40km was more rolling and I enjoyed that more.  But I need to do a lot more work on hills as I was hopeless and it took me 6 hours to ride the 100km to Turangi.

I stopped there and Andrew rode like the madman he is to Taupo.  He was back before I knew it.  We then went and soaked int he hot pools and then grabbed chinese takeaway and sat by the Tongariro River in the setting sun.  Lovely.  T-shirt weather.

You can read about Andrew's version of the ride here:  Taupo ride

Next morning I slept in (well, not really) and Andrew left to head south on the Desert Road.  I decided to ride to Hatepe Hill (the only decent hill on the ride from Turangi to Taupo) anbd back.  Just over 60 km.  And it was a cracker day - I made good time.  Took me 12 minutes to climb the hill.  I got to the top in 1 hour 30 minutes.  Back in Turangi in 2 hours 40.  I even made scenic stops on the way back.

The volcanic plateau looked spectacular

Selfie

I got back to Turangi after only one magpie attack (and it never hit me).  Packed up the bike onto the car and leaded south after Andrew.  Filled up the car in Turangi and sang all the way, drinking iced coffee.  The weather was stunning and the views superb.  Eventually I found Andrew 13 km shy of Bulls.  His orange safety vest glowed from at least 3 km back!  Awesome vest!

Mother Goose cafe in Bulls - great iced coffee

We stopped in at Mother Goose in Bulls for a light lunch.  I tried their iced coffee and it was very good indeed.

Back down SH1 and over Haywards to Sally's place where she had prepared an awesome family meal.  Helen and Ron were away as Ron isn't feeling well.  So we chatted before I left and went home to get ready for the week.  Mike and Toby weren't too far behind me.

Mike and Toby had their own adventures.  Mike went to an 80s party.  As you do when your partner is away.  Ummmm.  Maybe?  And Toby had a sleepover.

Next weekend is a long weekend for us.  Labour Day.  Yay!

Have a great week!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing much

Hi,

I drove up to the library to collect the boys from there and head home.  I managed to cook tea and get some work done.  Brilliant.  After tea I also finished packing for the weekend.  Andrew and I are heading up to Turangi (just at the south end of Taupo) to do some road cycling this weekend.  I can't wait - should be a lot of fun!  I am hoping to do about 130km or so and see if I can get a wee bit faster.

Up early again today to attend the Toastmasters course I am doing.  Another three early mornings to go!  It is a bit of a shock to get up that early on a Friday morning.

The boys are by themselves this weekend.  I hope they are okay and don't drink too much beer, watch too much sport, and talk to too many loose women.  Hahahahah!  Somehow I think I might be safe.  I might not have clean clothes for the next working week, possibly.  Well, actually, I did most of my weekend laundry already so I have that covered.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with tramping club for Mike

Hi,

I drove home yesterday and collected the boys from the Wadestown library.  I had to work so Toby did his homework at one end of the table and I worked at the other end.  Eventually I made tea and we ate.  Jack is such a polite boy.  He thanks me for everything.

I managed to wash and iron his shirt as per the instructions from the billeting organisers.  Toby also has his school photos today so his got washed and ironed too.  And his shoes polished.  I was channeling domestic goddess last night for sure.  Doesn't happen often.  I should have taken photographic evidence.

Mike got home quite early and rode his bike home.  I believe it was the first time in about a month he has been on his bike.  We sat reading for a bit and then something happened to me and I fell into a coma.  Slept the sleep of the dead.

Another gorgeous morning.  In fact, today is stunning.  The sort of day that makes you glad you live here.  Jupiter looked good this morning.  My bike ride in was fun!

When I wake up at 6am, I listen to the news.  Then the station plays one song before the morning crew start a bit of talking.  I turn it off then.  But that means I hear one song and it becomes an earworm for the morning.  I was singing it at one point and Mike corrected me.  "No, it goes like this..."  Anyhow, about 10 minutes later I was brushing my teeth and had to wander around doing something.  So I was singing it again, while brushing my teeth.  As I finished Mike said "You know, you sound better singing with the toothbrush in your mouth".  Just to clarify this, I confirmed that what he really meant was I sounded better singing with a toothbrush in my mouth.  Just in case I had completely misunderstood him.  There was no denying it - that is exactly what he meant.  And then further in his defence, he said "I try to say positive things about your singing".  Right.  Positive.  Positively cheeky, perhaps?

Anyhow - if you're in Wellington you will have the best day ever because the day is glorious.  Others of you will have to make do with second best today.  Hahahah!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Billet Boy

Hi,

Mike left work early to go to Scots and collect our billet - Jack.  Jack is a lovely 12 year old boy with impeccable manners.  He's in Wellington to sing in the choir this week.  Toby seems to be very happy to have a big brother for a while.  Jack leaves on Friday to head back to Auckland.

Jack was very appreciative of Mike's spaghetti bolognese last night.  As was I.  Because Mike has declared us non vegetarians for Jack's duration.  Choice!  Hahahah.  I did make an awesome salad to accompany the yummy meat dish though.

Mike had to head back into work to make up time.  And I also have to leave work early and work from home once I have collected the boys.  Lucky we only have one child usually, eh?  Hahahah.

Aidan rang briefly last night so I had a chat to her.  But we were both involved in bedtime routines so there were a few weird conversations as we talked to children instead of each other.  "You want me to brush my teeth now, Aidan?"  Oh, you want Duncan to brush his teeth.  Gotcha.  :-)

The day is lovely here.  Jupiter was again looking mighty fine at 5.30am this morning.  But by 6am the sun has lightened the sky enough to make it look pretty average.  So, if you want to see it high in the north west sky, get up early!

My bike ride in was great fun.  Nice and fast!  Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing much except a sick Mike

Hi,

Wow - what crazy weather here in Wellington.  Mike had to go home at lunchtime because he got a migraine.  Actually, he got one and told me he couldn't go home because he was so busy but he'd lie down to recover somewhere.  And then he got another one, as if to drive home the idea that he should really be in his own bed.  So he took that second hint and went home.

At 5pm he told me that I should not contemplate riding my bike home because of the galeforce winds.  I tended to agree with him.  The wind was terrific.  Trouble is, the buses were disrupted because of a scaffolding incident further up the street.  I watched a cyclist ride past me down Lambton Quay and he had to stop a one point because the wind was blowing him over.  Hmmmmm.

Anyhow, this morning the rain is vertical - hardly a breath of wind.  But wet, wet, wet!

We have Billet Boy coming today.  He's a boy from Kings College called Jack and he's down here for some choir event.  I think he is two years older than Toby.  He's staying with us until Friday morning.  I hope he enjoys his stay.

Have a lovely day - stay dry if you're in Wellington.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a great bike ride and Yum Cha

Hi,

What a lovely weekend.  Friday night we went home via a work colleague's house not far from us and ordered in pizzas and settled in to watch Dark Knight Rises.  It went for ages and was a bit tedious.  And you know how much I love The Batman!  Too much talking as Bruce Wayne and not enough Batman.

Anyhow, we all crashed after it and had a great sleep.  So much so that I slept in till 7am!  I usually wake up every morning around 5.30am - it isn't often that my alarm catches me sleeping at 6am.  But this morning, with no alarm set, I slept until 7am!  And I woke with a start because I knew it was late.  I think I must have thought it was Friday.

Anyhow, I got up and showered and had breakfast.  Then I got my road bike ready and set off for Waikanae over the Akatarawa Road.  It was a great day for it.  Not too windy.  Still early enough to beat most traffic.  Plenty of cyclists out training.  I added 15 kilometres to the last time I rode this, but I did it in almost the same time as last time.  And my average speed was higher.  So I was pretty happy.

Aidan was out with the boys when I got to their house so she told me I could go in and make a cup of tea.  Which I did.  Gratefully.  I was a bit cold after my ride and got my tea and perched on the window sill in the sunshine.  I went into the sun porch to begin with, but the mozzies were after me there.

Aidan wasn't far off and I soon had lunch and was chatting away to her.  The boys had a playdate arranged so Aidan and I walked the dog.  Aidan had to pay the gardener so we walked past his house twice.  But I think he was away or he is deaf from mowing lawns without ear protection.  But it did mean we went on my favourite walk - past the blackberry bushes.  I must come up in late February/early March.  I also like the walk straight up the hill behind their house.  But it was probably cool under the trees.

Kapiti Island and the hills of my native island in the background

Aidan does selfies a lot better than I do

An afternoon tea with cheese and crackers followed and we also painted our toes.  Hahahah.  Mike and Aidan chatted for ages on the phone.  But it was to no avail - Toby wasn't interested in coming up for dinner.  So I caught the train back to town and Mike fortunately came to collect me because by 6pm it was raining and windy in Wellington and I would have been absolutely freezing by then.

Sunday we got up and I went to the market with Vivienne.  Such a gorgeous morning.  It was a popular thing to do this morning!

Vivienne buying fresh fish

We went to the Green Expo after the market and had a good nosey around.  It was worth attending that but I had to leave Vivienne there while I went back to Courtney Place for Yum Cha.  Yingting, her husband and kids, Yingjie, Alex and Yinjie's flatmate all came.  The Majestic at 11 Courtney Place was great.  I loved the food.

I took Toby back to William's house and he went to see Grown Ups 2 while I tidied the house.  Look!  I got the spare room sorted once more!  We have Billet Boy coming to stay tomorrow.  He's in a choir and from King's College.

Look - the spare room is a spare room once more

I collected both boys and we headed out to Sally and Andrew's for family dinner.  Sally made this awesome salad with spinach, feta, pine nuts and pumpkin seeds.  Scrumptious.  I provided vegetarian macaroni cheese.

Yummo!

Back home to bed!  Phew!  What a weekend!  Loved it.

This morning I rode in and had a blast down the hill because the howling gales had dried the roads completely.  But ten minutes after I got here, the rain came slashing down!  Today is going to be exciting on the weather front.  After yesterday's glorious weather, it is a bit of a surprise.  Apparently it is going to get worse.  Really?  Wow!

Have a lovely week!  First day back at school for Toby today.  He seemed okay with it this morning.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with tramping for Mike and Toby through the storm and presentation for me

Hi,

Yesterday's weather was wet and windy.  Brrrr.  I had my presentation after work at the user group - it went just fine.  I was short (and hopefully not too boring).  The other presenter was great as usual.

Mike and Toby met me after it.  They had got back from their tramp and took a much needed bath to warm themselves up as much as get clean.  They had a ball.  Hopefully Mike posts some photos from their trip.  We went to the tramping club night as it was new member night and Mike mans the Family tramping desk.  I stepped in to cover him when he wandered around being terribly social and actually going out of his way to approach people.  Freak!  Toby was our prop.  We positioned him right next to the desk.  Jan said we should get name tags that said Father, Mother, Son.  To suit the desk job!

Toby and I left a little earlier than Mike.  He was in full swing.  So after giggling our way through Sharron's presentation (wish I had her technique down pat for presenting) Toby and I left.  He then told me we have never bonded.  Oh, really?  Perhaps you really meant to say you had such fun with Dad over the last two days that you'd love to do that with me too!  I think we possibly have bonded in actual fact!  Hahaha.

So, now I am planning a trip with just me and Toby.

Thursday only.  It feels like this week has been 5 days long already and it should be Friday!  Hahahah.  Roll on the weekend.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday in Waikanae

Hi,

I drove out to Waikanae to collect Emerson and Duncan from their school holiday programme because Aidan had a late meeting at work.  I took a work colleague home because she was having problems with the trains running late and lived out that way too.  I dropped her off and admired her lovely house and family.  Collected the boys and started dinner.  Aidan eventually got home and we chatted away before I fell into a coma on their couch.

This morning the rain was pouring down - even in sunny Waikanae.  No chance to show Aidan Jupiter shining brightly in the morning.  We managed to sort out the shower routine so no one was waiting.  Had breakfast, Aidan made my lunch and soon we were ready to head off for the day.  We dropped Emerson and Duncan at their school holiday programme and Aidan and I braved the car commute into town.  We left Waikanae at 7.30am and I sat down at my desk at 9am.  The weather was diabolical!

Mike and Toby don't have a river crossing in their tramp, so they should be fine!  They will get wet today though.  I hope they have had fun!  Can't wait to see them both.

Busy today.  Mike has new members night at tramping club and I have the user group tonight.  Phew!

Have a fantastic day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with packing

Hi,

I think Monday was the last bit of decent sunshine in the weather forecast for the week.  Andrew and I met in the sun trap for lunch and it was so warm in the sun!  Lovely.

The trains were stopped yesterday for the peak hour commute back into the Hutt Valley.  This meant Sally and Andrew were keen for tea in town.  I had collected Toby and he was chilling in the work lunch room so we decided to join them for a meal at the pub next door.

After that we drove home so Sally and Andrew could see my painting efforts and then I nipped out to drop them off home.  Yes, I enjoyed the loud singing on the way back home.  My cold is gone to the point where I can sing again!  Choice!

Today Mike and Toby are off tramping.  They have two days out in the bush and should have a lot of fun.  Good on them.  Wish I was tramping mid-week too!  What a great idea of Mike's!

Meanwhile, I am being kept out of mischief.  Honest!  I have homework to do for work.  Two presentations this week.  Aaarrghhh.  Best get sorted tonight.

Have a wonderful day.  I am enjoying this cup of tea.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with painting

Hi,

I left a wee bit early from work on Friday (technically, I didn't as I had been there since 7am but it was earlier than a normal Friday departure) and hopped in the car.  My mission was to collect Toby, Emerson and Duncan from their Waikanae holiday programme.  Aidan left Ohakea at the same time as I left Wellington.  Due to traffic leaving Wellington in droves for the weekend, she actually beat me to the children!  So my mission changed to collecting the pizzas.

Back to eat the pizzas and catch up a little with Aidan.  She has been busy with her work.  Certainly keeping her out of mischief.  The boys had hatched a plan to come back to our place and have a sleepover.  Aidan was happy to oblige so the boys packed and dragged me out of the house.  We had a nice drive down to Wellington.  I love listening to the conversations Toby has with his friends in the car.  It's where you learn everything.

The boys slept in our room so they could watch television and I slept in Toby's bed.  Slept like a log!  Next morning I got up and started painting prep.  Then I got the boys up for breakfast at Drexels.  The customer service was woeful and if it was just me and Toby, I would have left already.  But Emerson and Duncan were keen to eat there, so we stayed.  And I complained and got drinks and my meal free.  I wonder if they have to do that a lot.  Anyhow, it was okay, but I think there are far better places to eat breakfasts in Wellington and I won't be rushing back.

Emerson has a Toby flea in his ear

Duncan is set!

Now Duncan has an Emerson flea in his ear

Went back home and I started painting.  I got everything undercoated.  I opened the aquaenamel to find the lid had rusted on and all the rust had fallen into the paint.  Ruined!  Sam arrived to play so there was no way I could get four boys in the car for a trip to the hardware shop for more paint.  Then William arrived anyway and I had a cup of tea with Louise.

Josh came to get the boys and took them back home.  After another 90 minutes I took Sam home and the opportunity to get the paint arrived!  Yay!  Bunnings in Lyall Bay had it all!

Back home and Toby and I relaxed reading in bed for the evening.  Such a nice evening.

Sunday I was up early and I got top coats on almost everything.  It looked pretty good after about 7 hours of painting.

Hard to capture the painting effort

After I put everything away I did the ironing and got that out of the way for the week.  Then up to cook tea.  The massive pumpkin was beckoning so I hacked into it and made pumpkin risotto.

Far easier to capture the dinner effort

Mike got home from his tramping and ate the risotto with gusto and declared he'd eat it five days a week if I made it.  Well, that was a compliment indeed, but not going to happen.  Risotto is far too high maintenance for cooking on a school night!

Monday morning is lovely here.  I saw Jupiter shining brightly this morning.  And the day has stayed lovely.  I got up to 63 km/hr on my way in this morning, pedalling furiously down the hill.

Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with no Toby

Hi,

With Toby away in Waikanae, Mike and I came home together to an empty house.  What a weird feeling.  We cooked tea and then got through our evening tasks.  I finished my local body elections voting paper and it is all posted off now.  Mike and I got the various paint cans sorted because this weekend I intend to start the painting in the lounge and kitchen around the new doors.  Quite a bit of work though.

Then Mike had to pack for his tramping weekend.  He was almost done so I wandered down to bed super early, ready for a relaxing read and a movie with him.  But he took ages.  And the 5am start caught up with me.  I'm sorry to say I was sound asleep by the time he came to bed.

Up early again today and into work.  I have to leave early to collect Toby from Waikanae.  Cool!

Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with spontaneous dinner out

Hi,

Complicated logistics for school holidays.  I went to collect Toby from the computer course at 4.30.  I think this is a cover for playing networked games all day.  There were no adults around when I got Toby, so we just left.

We walked back and I got passport photos done for Toby.  Both his passports have expired.  He does look rather cute and young in his old one.  We're renewing his NZ one as a matter of urgency.  His British one can wait a bit longer.

I worked for a while and then because I didn't really want to cook, we went out for tea.  Thai.  And Sally and Andrew joined us because they were still in town.  I heard all about Andrew's cycling adventures.  It sounded amazing.  I think he did 700 km or something!  Wow!

I then went home with Toby and packed for his adventures in Waikanae.  This morning we all got up super early and Toby got on the 6.20am train to Waikanae with his day pack and his overnight bag.  He's staying with the Tabors and joining the boys on their two days of school holiday programme.  Thanks, Josh!

I'll drive up there Friday after work and collect him.  Choice!

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home and found it a tiny bit harder than the day before.  Not too sure why.  But we had a nice evening.  I went to get Toby from John and Christine's house.  Toby had almost caught a barracuda while out fishing but it ended up streaking away as it got close with his hook and bait.  Christine caught two wee fish but they were undersized.

Anyhow, someone caught something.  So John got some fresh fish anyway.  And he cooked it up, with some chips from the chippie.  Scrumptious.  Ummm.  I mean, er, the chips were great.  :-p

I am having a battle with the boys.  I'd like to add fish to our vegetarian diet.  On the grounds that is is not a land mammal and we need fish!  But, I am on a hiding to nothing because both boys detest fish.  Sigh.

Sounds like Dad has a good day for his birthday.  Fun!  And I am pleased to see photos from their recent trip in my inbox.  Hooray!  More, please.  I must share them with Vivienne and Sally when I see them next.

Sally is also doing her bit in encouraging Toby in his new diet.  She sent him this link:  Celebrity vegetarians

Toby is off to Ed's school holiday programme today.  Please don't let me forget to collect him at 4.30pm!  Aaarrrghhh!!  Hahahah.  He'll come back to work here with me and watch videos until I am done.  Mike has the car in town so I can get home with him fine.

I rode in this morning and had a ball with bone dry roads!  We felt the earthquake early this morning.  But that was because Toby had just woken us about ten minutes before.  He went back to sleep in seconds but Mike and I were lying there thinking "It's not long till we have to get up".  Hard to get back to sleep when you think that!

Have a fantastic day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing

Hi,

Happy birthday to Dad!  I hope he has a wonderful day!

Mike improved no end yesterday.  He even cancelled his doctors appointment he felt so much better.  And I made it home riding up the hill.  I did take it pretty easy - it certainly wasn't a record breaking time.  But no coughing fit!  Yay!

Mike went grocery shopping and bought ingredients for vegetarian meals.  Look!  I have to do something with an entire pumpkin.  It's like a reluctant vegetarian's worse nightmare.

Pumpkin on the bench

Mike bought the biggest pumpkin in the supermarket because I wanted a small piece and they only sold whole pumpkins.  And they only cost $4.  Hahahah.  Now I have to roast, and puree the whole thing to leave me options.  Options!  Hah!

Anyhow, this morning Toby is off with John and wee Tom fishing in the harbour.  What an amazing day he has for it.  Today was so stunning that I stopped to take a photo on my rode into work.

View from Wadestown

Then I passed Mike walking in (after dropping off Toby) and posting a photo of the stunning view that he just took.  We think so much alike.  :-p

We stopped and had a coffee at the new Mojos on Lambton Quay.  They had a free coffee day yesterday for their opening.  I bumped into one of Toby's friend's mother there as she's one of the Mojos exec.  I had a chat to her and on Toby's behalf organised her son to come over on Saturday for a play.

Right.  Time to get stuck in.

Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela