The Thursday with takeaways

Hi,

Wow - what a busy few days.  The weekend can't come fast enough.  Yesterday I rode home and enjoyed the southerly giving me assistance for once.  Nice.  Hopped into the car and collected Aidan from outside her work (she'd been schmoozing with colleagues) and got takeaways on the way to her house.  We scoffed them (well, Toby certainly did - and he ate my burger - with avocado on it - and he was first done by a long shot) and then took Lulu for a walk to see the goats.

Uphill all the way back - in my completely flattering bike gear

Mike in borrowed clothes and his work shoes.  Aidan looking like she is practising Tai Chi.

The objective of the walk.  A tethered goat.  Just like Jurassic Park.  Well, there was something missing.  A T-Rex!

Back home and Mike finished packing for his weekend away tramping.  Toby and I have the weekend to ourselves.  We have a party to attend on Saturday afternoon and if the weather is good, I want to go for a bike ride with him.  Pack a yummy picnic.  If anyone wants to come along, I fancy riding from Eastbourne to the lighthouse and back.  The forecast southerly should make that a lot of fun for the return journey.  It couldn't be a better weekend for it.  Say, 10am Saturday?

Have a fantastic weekend!
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday back to school

Hi,

Toby had his first day back at school yesterday and he loved it.  He was so excited to wear trousers (prep school isn't allowed them) that he wore his trousers and cooked on one of our warmest days of the summer.  Hahahah.

Aidan collected me at 4pm and we went out to the school to get a few more things for the boys from the uniform shop.  Aidan had already had dealings with the school nurse during the day (fortunately just permission sought for anti histamine for Duncan) so her first day had kicked off with a fright.  You never want to hear from the school nurse, right?  We needed some food so Aidan took me for a bite to eat and I had a great iced coffee at Palmers garden shop cafe.  Wow - it was good.  Way better than Aidan's lemon tart thing.

I give it a 9/10.  Great iced coffee.

Back to the school for a brief glimpse of the boys before the meeting kicked off and Mike and Josh arrived with impeccable timing.

We dropped Mike off at tramping club and got some groceries on the way home (we were running out) and back home.  Toby and I chilled out before bed.

I actually got up early to go for a run this morning.  It worked really well.  I might try that from now on and see how I get on.

Hope Toby is okay with his new after school routine.  The Tabors have secured a nanny for us.  Choice!  Toby will go to their house and one of us will collect him from there.  It should work fine - especially if the nanny beats Toby to make him do homework.  Hahahah.

Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing much

Hi,

Mike is flat out at work.  Toby had a playdate yesterday all day with Luca over in Haitaitai.  So, Mike was busy at work during the day although I did see him when he dropped the car keys off.  I left at 5pm after my busy day and drove out to Haitaitai.  Given my work colleague lives there, I asked if he wanted a ride.  He did, and we collected his girlfriend on the way over too.  So, no.  I couldn't sing too much.

Toby looked like he had a great day with Luca and his family.  Apparently Toby doted on Luca's three year old brother (no doubt) and when I got there, they were tearing up the driveway and street on scooters and various other wheeled things.

Today is stunning, in a way Wellington only puts on a few times a year

Today is Toby's first day back at school and he is rather excited about it.  I will enjoy the first week or so until the novelty wears off and he has to knuckle down and work and then he starts moaning.  And that continues most of the time through till the start of December really.  So, I will maximise this week's enjoyment of school and try to have that carry me over through the moaning times.  Emerson and Duncan also start at Toby's school today.  I think they will love it!

Have a fantastic day.  We're off to the school after work today for a BBQ and meeting.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing much

Hi,

Well, it was pretty much routine yesterday really.  Other than the fact that Mike had the day off with Toby and they got all their messages done.  And I got lunch with them at Drexels.

Toby still pulling faces at cameras

I caught up briefly with Andrew at 4pm after his flurry of meetings and Mike swapped Toby duties to me.  Back to work for a bit and then home (dropping off Ange and Yingjie on the way).  Had dinner and Toby went to visit Dabau and Erbau.

Had a lovely ride in this morning - dry roads.  But I missed the forecast so I'm unsure if the weather will stay dry because it looks threatening out there.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Toby back

Hi there,

What a lovely weekend.  I went to The Meeting Tree with Ange from work and she quite enjoyed the Ethiopian food.  Although not her favourite.  We had an iced coffee (she had an iced chocolate) at Joe's Garage to go for dessert on the way home.  Back to her place and a great 3D movie experience.  We watched Avatar on Ange's 3D TV.  It was amazing.  Her TV is incredible.

Walked back home and to bed.  Woke up early to get everything done in time for Lesley and Wally's visit for brunch.  I went for my first running session and it wasn't too bad at all.

Then home to get ready for a supermarket trip for brunch things and back home in time for Lesley and Wally.  It was so nice to see them.  They were getting the house cleaned out of their final things and spruced up for going on the market again.  Fingers crossed this time.

Sent them off on their road trip back home and then I relaxed for the rest of the day.  Reading.  Maybe having a Nana nap.  Hahahah.  Mike actually got back in the evening from his tramp.  Awesome effort to South Ohau Hut (in from Levin).

Sunday we were awfully excited to have Toby due back in the evening.  Jo came around to collect Toby's old bike for her daughter.  And then we went to collect the road bike from Josh and stayed for a cup of tea (or two).  They are all well there.  Mike dropped me off on the way home and I did my second running session.

Back home to chill out and do chores (ironing, finances etc).  And before we knew it, it was close to Toby's return.  Delays with wild weather gave Mum conniptions trying to make Toby's flight.  I think they have mayhem and carnage in the chaos of multiple delayed flights.  But Mum got Toby on his flight in the end and Mum made her flight.

It was so nice to see Toby when he got into Wellington.  What a lovely sight.  He said I had to thank Grandy very much for his holiday.  He had a ball.  He didn't eat Fijian cuisine from what I can gather.  But he had fun anyway.  I am hoping to see photos from Shona.  Toby said the highlight was seeing his family - especially Michael.  He was astonished at how big Michael was and that he didn't recognise him at first.

So, a big thank you to Mum for taking him there.  And to Dad for being without Mum for such a long time.  I hope it was a lot of fun for everyone.

And thanks to Auckland friends for standing by for Toby duty if needed (and it nearly was).

Have a great week!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with impromptu pub

Hi,

Not a bad day, although busy.  I left work at 3.30pm to catch a train to Petone to collect the wee green car.  Hardly a trial as the day was superb.  Blue skies, not too windy (for Wellington).  The new back windscreen is great and I loved the drive back.  I got back to my desk and Aidan called so I nipped out to drop her home and collect a few things off her.  Nice diversion before back to work to finish for the day.

Then everyone was obviously needing diversions themselves because an impromptu pub session was called.  We sat there for quite a few hours, talking rubbish.  Then Ange realised she had her car in town and had been drinking (she usually catches the bus) so we made slightly complicated arrangements to take her home.  First I drove her to her car in the car park and I moved it onto the street for her.  Then I drove her home, passing Mike who started walking.

Dropped Ange off and came back for Mike.  Picked him up, bumped into our neighbour on the way home and crashed into bed.

Mike is off tramping today after work and might be back Saturday evening, or Sunday lunchtime.  No need for alarm until 6pm Sunday.  He has a PLB anyway.  I have the Saturday to myself.  I will do a bike ride and then tidy up before settling down for some serious reading.

Andrew is set to finish his race today.  Two days before he needed to.  Amazing effort.  He is incredible.

Have a lovely weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with tramping club

Hi,

Mike and I rode home last night and Mike cooked tea before we headed out to the tramping club night.  I ended up on door duty, greeting everyone as they came in and trying to ensnare any newbies with my charm.  Great job for someone that is shy.  Oh well.  It was okay.

The talk was interesting, but did go on for quite a while.  A young woman has taken up alpine climbing after doing the snow craft course with Mike 5 years ago.  But while Mike went on to get super familiar with his couch, she pushed on to do alpine courses.  And now she has summitted Mt Cook/Aoraki.  The photos will brilliant and if I was 20 years younger, I would have been inspired to do it too!

We nipped out to see Sally and Andrew's house to make sure everything looked fine after the earthquake on Monday.  Apparently Sally spoke to someone out her way that had windows broken by it.  But it was all good there.  The evening was amazing - a big front was rolling in over the dusky night sky and Jupiter was trying vainly to shine through the cloud layers.  It looked stunning.

Back home and I was asleep pretty fast.  The ride in this morning was fun because it is finally sunny again.  Lovely weather - but a strong wind still.

I think I might be heading out to Petone at 4pm today to try and collect the wee green car.  We shall see.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home in the rain and found it a little hard going with my legs of mush.  Hahahah.  Still recovering from the tramp - although my legs are getting better.  Stairs are no longer an awkward grab for the rail and a groan from my mouth.

Mike cooked tea for us and we ate and we read and filled in the evening nicely.  My bike gear was wet so I hung it out to dry.  Mike worked on tramping club things and I fell asleep as he tapped into the laptop.  I have great powers of sleep.

Today was dry for the ride in.  What a lovely concept.

Andrew is going like a machine on his race.  I can't believe how amazing he is.  He's done 720km of his race so far.  400 to go.  Wow.  Here he is  I am impressed.

Have a fantastic day.  Enjoy the dry weather if you live in Wellington.  Nice after yesterday's constant rain.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Monday off as well

Hi,

Is it so unreasonable to love three day weekends as much as that?  You seem to pack so much more in.  Mike and I went out Friday night to a party to celebrate a friend's wedding.  This meant driving around the suburban streets of Tawa as Mike tried to navigate there without a map.  We gave in!

Saturday morning saw Andrew start his race down south.  We have been tracking him on this link:  Brevet  Please hop on and send him a message of encouragement because this is a hard race.  Tough.  Long.  Hot.  Did I mention tough? 

Up early Saturday to pack and off to the Tararuas for a tramp.  I wanted to wake up in an empty meadow in the tent, basking in sunshine and solitude.  I got my wish.  Along with a broken body for my exertions.  Hahahah.  It was such a great walk with Mike.

Start of the tramp - Mike looking gorgeous at Rocky Lookout

We left the carpark at Holdsworth at 1.05pm and wandered up for a spot of lunch at Rocky Lookout where we chatted to a group of young Germans touring around together.  We popped over the hill down to Totara Flats.

First swing bridge was a baby

 Mike had been that way before, but it was the first time I had been that way.  It was lovely.  Glad my pack was relatively light because the ups and downs were big enough.

Second swing bridge was huge and had warning signs about use in high winds

 When we finally got to the bottom, we crossed the second huge swing bridge.  It was a lovely thing to cross.  Onto the hut and down to the river meadows to find a tent site.  Mike found the perfect one - well, second perfect.  The first perfect site already had a wee tent pitched in it.

Our campsite - perfect!

The evening was lovely and we were in bed by 7.30pm, chatting away.  Drifting off to sleep before 8.30pm easily.  However, at midnight the wind kicked in and after that my sleep was broken.  I got up to do a wee at 2am and the night was stunning.  Bright, almost full moon.  Brilliant stars.  So warm I was only in shorts and a sports bra top thing.  It was lovely.

Selfie on Sunday morning after climbing up the hill.  Mike never ever mentioned my wild hair!

 Packed up early, munched on a One Square Meal bar because it was so windy we couldn't make a cup of tea and off at 8.25am.  Slogged up the hill, but it wasn't too bad.

At the top - all downhill to the car from here.  I think that's what hurt me the most.

 I think the downhill on the other side was what killed me.  My toes were scrunched into the top of my boot and I was worried about losing toenails.  So I walked with my toes scrunched up and tense.  So now my muscles ache like crazy.  Got an iced coffee in Greytown and it was good.  8.5 I reckon.

The prize?  An iced coffee at Main St Deli in Greytown.  Very nice.

 Back to Wellington and I collected both my bikes from the mechanic and they are both looking amazing.  On Sunday I rode to Newlands and collected a woman there from a client site and we rode into town together.  She wants to start riding in.  She lives at the top of a steep street.  it was a hard start to my day but got the muscles working.

La Cloche iced coffee for my exertions on Monday

 I think I did 30 km riding back and forth and a few hills to work my legs.  Not quite in Andrew's league, though.

My road bike is beautiful after its service.  

We had a decent earthquake at 4pm on Monday.  Shook the house a bit but no damage at all.  Just made the hearts race.

I hope you have a lovely week.  Toby is loving it away with Ma and now Shona and her family have joined him.  Well, I think he is loving it.  He has only emailed once.  Yes, I am missing him.

Mike is taking the wee green car in to have its roof sewn up.  Can't wait.  That should be great!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with haircuts, bikes and packing

Hi,

What a mad, mad day.  But the end of the working day eventually came (as it always does) and Mike went to his haircut and I rode my bike home.  I was supposed to put both bikes in the car and drive out to Sally and Andrew's place.  Our new bike mechanic lives just around the corner from them.

But when I got home, I couldn't find the car keys.  Mike had them.  So I went to collect Mike in the wee green car after his haircut (yes, he does look gorgeous) and then we swapped to the big car and loaded the bikes in.  Took the bikes to the mechanic and I am so excited.  I can't wait to get my road bike back and go for a long ride!

Around to Sally and Andrew's for tea (fish n chips - haven't had that for months and months!) and to help Andrew pack for his race.

It's all got to be carried on his bike - for 1200 km - off road!

What a fun evening.  They are now in the South Island, having caught some midnight ferry.  Good luck, Andrew!  I think we can track his progress with a locator beacon thing he gets to carry.  I'll let you know.

Busy weekend.  Drinks for a friend that got married last weekend.  Tramping with Mike tomorrow.  Bike collecting (if I'm lucky) and a bike ride on Monday.

Have a lovely weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no Toby

Hi,

Mike and I rode home via Ngauranga Gorge.  Mike has decided he hates that route.  Something about skinny paths, loud traffic, strong winds and generally not fun.  Oh.  There are some parts that are a little unpleasant.  But it's not all that bad.  Although I am now having second thoughts about introducing two women to the route who work for a client and want to start riding in from that way.

Mike and I had dinner and got through our tasks for the evening.  Tonight Sally and Andrew head to the ferry for Andrew's big race down south.  I hope they both have loads of fun.  Mike will ride out there on his bike after his haircut at 6pm.  And I will ride home, collect the car and bring both of my bikes out to see a bike mechanic just around the corner from Sally and Andrew.  He has been recommended by a work colleague.

It's another windy day today - but nice and sunny for now.  It's supposed to change by this evening.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Toby in Auckland

Hi,

What a fabulous time Toby and I had in Auckland for four days.  We flew up super early on Saturday morning and we got a rental car.  A tiny Nissan Note or something.  Hopeless car but Toby loved it.  No Aux In on the radio so we suffered through a few trips with More FM.  As we used my phone GPS to navigate to Roz's house, Toby got a call from his friend Jack.  So they chatted as I winged my way towards One Tree Hill and Roz's house.  Unfortunately I didn't go the way Roz explained and fell off the motorway in an unexpected place.

But, my navigation instincts are well honed and although I could hear Toby trying to hang up with Jack to help me, we went through quite a few suburban roads before Toby finished and I pulled over to consult the map.  Turns out we were on the exact road to Roz's house.  Cool!

We went to collect her and drop Toby off at Jack's house.  Got a tour of the house and then Toby was invited to stay the day and night for a sleepover.  So Roz and I went back to her place and chilled out before a movie (Philomena - very good!) and dinner.  Back home to bed.

Up early to meet Toby and Jack's family at the ferry to Waiheke.  The day was a bit drizzly but turned out lovely in the end.  Toby and I got on the ferry with Jack and his parents and Pippin the Border Collie.

Toby is in the sea - and my feet look great!

 Jack's parents hired a car so we went around to Onetangi beach and stayed there for the day.  That was the same beach we stayed at for the social club weekend.  Lovely place.  This time I got to swim and snorkel in the sea.  I think I need a long, lazy summer holiday on the island.  Rent a house for a week.  Do nothing but swim, walk, bbq and and eat.

Drawing after their swim

 After snorkelling in the sea for a bit (it was a little boring and I only saw a few fish) we came back to get changed and dry off.  The boys drew for a while.  Then we had afternoon tea at Charley Farleys.  This was the place with the great iced coffees.  I had got through half my scrumptious iced coffee when I reached over to help the boys get to their chips by removing the bowl of sauce and I knocked my glass over.  Oddly, it shattered as it fell so I lost my iced coffee.  A tragedy of biblical proportions!

Toby climbed a big pohutakawa tree

 After food we were fortified to walk the length of the beach.  We found some rocks and trees to climb.  Then back to the other end to wait for Jack's parents.  They contacted us and asked us to come to the house they were visiting.  Turns out the nicest house along the beach (but back down the other end) was where they were.  Stunning house!

Last bit of sun hitting Onetangi beach - Toby is chasing Pippin

 Back to the ferry and a late ride back to Auckland.  Roz kindly came and collected us and we fell into a coma in bed at her place.

Monday saw me and Toby go into Newmarket for shopping.  The shop only had key chain Ugly Dolls.  Never mind.  Off to see Wally and Chelsea at their place for lunch.  Toby played in the park and I read a book once Wally headed back to work.

I wanted to take Toby to our old house in Bucklands Beach but my phone went flat.  Toby was dong well navigating but without a map it was hard.  Especially when a notice on the motorway said one of the off ramps was shut due to an incident and I think that was our exit.  So back to Roz's place to relax for the rest of the day.

Tuesday we had a lazy start to the day - packed up and headed to the airport.  Dropped off the car and sat waiting excitedly for Ma to come through customs.  Toby whiled away the time with some Maccas and played with some eyes.

Waiting for Ma at Auckland Airport

We had about ninety minutes with Mum.  Had a coffee.  Chatted.  Toby was so excited to see her, as was I.  Eventually though we had to say goodbye.  I headed back to my gate at the domestic terminal.  Hopped on my late flight and back to Wellington.

Now we're Tobyless.  I hope he has a great time with Ma and Shona and her family (they arrive in 6 days).  He's back on Sunday Jan 26.

Thanks to Roz for putting up with us at her place.  I hope the cats have survived the shock.  We left Roz with a huge list of jobs to do around her place.  She'll be busy for months!

Have a wonderful week.  Short one for me.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with dinner out

Hi,

Had a good day yesterday.  The day was busy at work but I managed to get out and see the small DoC map exhibition.  Mike invited Josh and we briefly caught up with him there.  The maps were variable in their appeal, from sparse maps of areas I knew nothing about, to fascinating maps on areas like Fiordland and Wanaka.  I think the oldest one I saw was 1888 or something.  And they went through to recent ones from the 1990s.  Pleased I went.

Had lunch with Mike and back to work. Finally got a haircut and now I can see!  Toby even got one.  We're a family of shorn locks right now.  Mike is booked in.

Met Sally, Andrew, Aidan and Janne for dinner at The Meeting Tree.  Toby ate his own meal and we all shared a plate.  I think the others liked it.  I thought it was wonderful again.

Toby and I went home on the bus and straight to bed after a bath.  Mike was working at home for tramping club things and had a restless night.  I think he has changes on his mind.

Have a lovely weekend.  I'm away until Tuesday night in Auckland with Toby.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing

Hi,

Well, considering the forecast was for rain, we had a lovely day for most of yesterday.   Our work lunchtime barbeque was in brilliant sunshine and we were worried about sunburn.  But, of course, by the time I went to get changed to ride home, it started raining.  I avoided most of it and as we sat down to eat at home, it all of a sudden got really dark and the rain lashed down.

I went out to get some groceries in the evening while the boys relaxed.  They watched America's Funniest Home Videos, so I feel like I have not missed out on anything.  And may have in fact gained 50 minutes of my life.

I rode in this morning and it started raining just as I left home.  What is it with the timing of the rain?  I get my bike = it starts raining.  Been like this for three days now.  I'm in tune with the weather godlet.  Either that, or the weather godlet hates me at the moment.

Toby and I head up to Auckland on Saturday morning for four days of doing not much.  I want to take him to Waiheke Island on Sunday.  Roz is also keen (and she has kindly said we can stay with her!  Yay!) to come.  I hope the weather is nice.  I intend to swim, snorkel and eat while I'm there.  We'll just head over for the day.

Right.  Best get a cup of tea and into it.  Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing much

Hi,

More crazy weather.  There are outbreaks of sunshine, with equals doses of rain and wind.  It is completely random.  I left work at 5.30pm and as I started riding, it started drizzling the lightest rain.  It got a little heavier on the way home.  But not too bad.  I never got soaked.

My second day riding up Ngauranga Gorge for my long route home.  It takes me an hour door to door.  I'd like to see it getting comfortably below the hour mark within a week or two.  That is my aim.

Andrew had a scary spill off his bike the evening before on his way home.  His helmet took the brunt of it and it got trashed.  He was unconscious briefly too, by all accounts.  But A&E monitored him for a few hours and he has a day off work to recover.  Hope his training for his big bike race isn't hampered too much.

Mike had a nice dinner cooked last night when I got home.  Home made pizza.  The dough he made was like scone dough.  It was really nice.  Like eating savoury scones rather than pizza.

Mike is late to work this morning because the landscape gardeners are coming around.  Oooo - I hope something gets kicked off.

Have a lovely day.
Love,
Angela

The Monday with us back at work

Hi,

Mike was easing himself into it.  I was all fired up and ready to go.  So much so that my manager told me to not be so enthusiastic and she would be happy to have meetings tomorrow, but she needed time to get used to the work concept once more.  Hahahahah.

Yesterday was lovely here.  But it was short lived and today seems just as dodgy as the previous weather this summer.  Warm, but wet.  Although I did make it into work completely dry.  But going home tonight might be a different story.

I caught up briefly with Aidan on her way back from a lunch time run.  Good on her!  And it was a super day for it.

I collected Toby from his school holiday programme.  Well, he started walking to work and I started walking to him and we met on Lambton Quay.  I was surprised to find him wearing my t-shirt.  And my favourite one at the moment too!  Cheeky monkey.

Toby in MY t-shirt!

Mike took Toby home on the bus and I rode home up Ngauranga Gorge.  First time that way in a month and the first decent ride home for two weeks.  I felt it.  So now I am doing it as often as I can get away with it.  Tonight.  In the driving rain, even!

I got home and Mike almost had tea ready.  It was very nice.  Soft tacos.  They seem a compromise between me and Toby loving hard tacos and Mike loving burritos.  Perfect.

I went to the park with Toby and we played on the swings for a while before heading home for a bath and then bed.

Time for a cup of tea and then get stuck in!

Have a marvellous day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a deck warming

Hi,

What a lovely weekend.  Fairly relaxing for the most part.  Saturday we tidied the house and then did a bit of shopping in the afternoon.  I had my first Georgie Pie in almost 20 years.  It was pretty good!

Mmmmm - Goergie Pie

We popped into Sally and Andrew's for a cup of tea.  Andrew was out racking up the kilometres on his bike.  I had the boys drop me off at the supermarket in Thorndon and I did the grocery shopping for Sunday lunch while they recovered from the busy day!  Mike collected me and we had time to put the groceries away before heading out to meet Ilske for dinner.  She had discovered a new Ethiopian restaurant just opened two days before.

The Meeting Tree - the food was delicious

Toby enjoyed the food and we'll definitely go back.  The coffee was an elaborate ritual.  A woman got into her traditional dress and roasted the beans and decanted the coffee for a while before Mike and Ilske drank it.  I had a sip.  It tasted awful!

Responsibility for pouring went to Ilske

Mike waits patiently - my thumb gets in the way!

Back home to bed and up on Sunday to get ready for the family lunch and deck warming and neighbourly barbeque.  John, Nicky and their two boys came to visit.  It was so nice to see them!  They caught up with Mike and his sisters.  It was good to see everyone.

Second cousins - Flynn and Reuben join Toby in singing "What does the fox say?".

In full swing!

I think we probably had about 30 people come to visit.  The day was awful in the morning and no barbeque could be had.  So we cooked everything in the oven.  But by 12.30pm, it was gorgeous weather, so Mike got the barbeque out and cooked the neighbour's food.  Eventually the neighbours disappeared and we ate leftovers for dinner with Aidan, Janne, Sally and Andrew.  Lovely way to round out the weekend.

Amazing place, is Wellington.

Got the ironing done in preparation for the normal working week.  Back at work.  Toby is at a school holiday programme.  I am taking him to Auckland on Saturday morning and we're chilling out for 4 days before he catches a flight with my mother for a holiday with her.  Lucky wee chap!

Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Angela

The three days off for New Years

Hi,

Well, the weather is still not co-operating with summer.  It is warm, but so windy today.  Windy enough to rival anything the equinoxes throw at us.  So windy I took the bus into work today.  That's how windy it is!

I had Tuesday off and Mike and I drove up to Ruapehu.  He had punters to collect, so I went in the wee green car with Toby.  He let me have the roof down in return for me listening to some of his music.  Seemed like a fair deal, although after the fifth repeat of "I want a portal gun, portal, portal, portal gun" I was beginning to rethink.  Hahahah.  But fortunately he likes most of my music so we were all good.

Mike was running around like a mad thing because loads more people arrived than he anticipated.  Toby and I read in our bunkroom until close to midnight when we wandered out to the common room.  We saw in the New Year and not too soon after that, both of us collapsed in bed.

The carpark - without any snow!

Toby outside the lodge

We went up to Knoll Ridge cafe on the chairlift.  Toby and I got a discount due to our season passes.  Mike has no season pass, so he paid full price.  We were lucky to have Mike with us, as he got back from a day walk just as we bought our tickets.  Perfect timing!

Up at Knoll Ridge cafe - the Pinnacles with no snow behind Mike

We went up with Susan and Erich and their three children.  Toby loved being with them!  They are 1, 3 and 5 years old.  So Toby kept them amused a lot of the time.  I think Susan and Erich were grateful for a bit of a distraction.

My special needs boy, and Ngauruhoe behind us

Toby thinks it's funny to make faces at the camera now.  You should see the photos I didn't put on here.  He's crazy!

Selfie - and you can see Mike and Toby in the chairlift behind me!

The following day we went for a walk from behind the Chateau to Taranaki Falls.  It was a lovely walk.  Just a perfect walk before having lunch at the cafe in National Park and then me driving home.

Toby at Taranaki Falls, protecting his butt from his mother's pinches!

At the top of Taranaki Falls

I hit loads of traffic coming into Otaki.  Took me thirty minutes from the start of the queue to get through the town.  First gear the whole way.

I stopped off for a cup of tea in Waikanae.  No - not the Tabors.  They no longer live there.  Mike's cousin John and his wife Nicky are visiting Nicky's relatives.  So they entertained me and gave me a great cup of tea.  The crib there is perfect for lazy summer holidays.

Back home and tidied up and went to bed.

I think Mike and Toby will head back today.

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela