The Thursday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home and found Toby already at home.  He did his homework while I cooked him some tea.  I packed for his tramping weekend and Mike got home and did his packing.

The boys leave on Friday directly after school/work.  They're heading off to the Ruahines for the weekend, back late Sunday.  This is so they are here for Armageddon on Monday!  Toby loves that (it's a sci fi sort of convention - great fun!).

I have the weekend to myself.  How cool is that?  I do have a lot of books I'd like to read.  And a road bike I'd like to take out.  The weather for the weekend looks stunning!

Our garden is getting sorted outside our window.  Well, our garden and the neighbour's garden.

Not far off now

Should make for an easier garden to maintain and a nicer view from our lounge window.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with tramping club for Mike

Hi,

What a relaxing evening.  At least for me.  I rode home and found Toby already at home, so I started straight into cooking dinner for him.  A Thai chicken green curry.  Well, I liked it.  And Toby ate a lot of it.  But it certainly wasn't a favourite with him.  Mike was off at tramping club (quiz night!) so he has the leftovers for lunch today.  Hope he doesn't mind it.

The ride in this morning wasn't entirely pleasant.  I did miss the rain though.  But it was dark, and wet, and windy.  I rode over a bump at one point and my light at the front flipped over and dazzled me briefly before deciding this was far too hard and switched itself off.  Had to pull over and fiddle with the silly thing to make it finally turn back on.  It's on its last legs - but I love that light!  Might be time to go shopping for another beacon!

Mike and Toby are packing tonight for tramping this weekend.  We have a long weekend this weekend (Queens Birthday).  Monday will see the boys at Armageddon.  Toby loves that!  It's on every two years.

Right.  Time for a tea.

Have a marvellous day.  Stay dry if you're in Wellington.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Toby sick

Hi,

Mike stayed at home with Toby yesterday and booked a doctor's appointment.  But Toby improved during the day, so the appointment was cancelled and Toby is attending school today.

I rode home yesterday and caught up briefly with Mike before he went out for his tramping meeting (the other meeting - ssshhhhh).  I dropped Mike off in town and came back to finish Toby's tea.  Then I had a bath and relaxed before Mike got home and we chilled out.

The weather was lovely for my ride in this morning.  Quite windy, but not too cold at all.  And the roads were bone dry.  I hurtled down the hill.  A car met me just as I crested the hill but there wasn't any way they were going to catch me.

I remembered to come to the Lambton Quay side of our building this morning.  None of our lifts work at the moment.  The bottom of the lift shafts are filled with water.  Nice.  They might be out all week.

Have a lovely day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Toby sick

Hi,

Mike hadn't been to work for ten days, so he could hardly cancel his fifty million meetings to look after Toby at home.  So I stayed at home and battled against the network for most of the day.  Some things I needed certain settings for - and others, that setting just broke things.  So I was forever switching back and forth whenever something broke.  But I had loads to do and kept busy for the day.  I did enjoy the sunshine streaming in the windows.

Toby is okay - but he is off sick again today.  He is complaining about earache.  But I think it is just a blocked ear from his scratchy throat.  But, what do I know?  He could also be completely fooling us and he has just missed Mike so much that he wants to stay with him.  Mike will likely take him to the doctor today - just to check what is wrong.

The ride into town was perfect this morning.  It is a beautiful cool crisp day.  No frost, but pretty cold.  First time I have thought about getting the long-fingered gloves out for the winter.

Mike has a meeting in town after work.  So I will swap over with him.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend when Mike came back

Hi,

Toby and I had a movie fest in Mike's absence this weekend.  Friday night we watched part 1 of the last Twilight movie (yep - I am sick of it completely now) and then we were up Saturday morning to play and do some laundry.  We went grocery shopping and back to put everything away.

Emerson and Duncan arrived at about 4pm for their sleepover.  I caught up with Aidan, not having seen her for ages.  Wedding anniversary for them!  Woot!  She left and I took the boys into town for dinner and the latest X-Men movie.

Emerson's plate from the chinese buffet.  Now I know what he likes best

 Emerson was so funny with his chinese buffet.  He only got spring rolls and roast potatoes.  But he did manage to eat an awful lot of them.  Not quite all of them though.  But that might have been the lure of a sundae dessert.

Dessert time

We got into the cinema and settled in to watch the movie.  I liked it.  Emerson and Duncan liked it.  Toby - not so much.

Toby pulling another face!

Anyhow, it was a late night.  9.15pm by the time we got home.  I was out like a light in Toby's bed.  But the other room was quiet, so I think they had an early night.  I didn't hear much from them until 7.30am.  Very kind of them.

Eventually they came up for breakfast and then Aidan and Josh came to collect them.  After lunch, Toby asked to go to another movie. We both wanted to see Divergent.

Made Toby some fruit for lunch. Hahahah.  Fun.

We both really enjoyed the movie.  I must read the next book in the series.  Then we went home to wait for the flight to arrive.

Chocolates and a card for Dad

The awful weather in Wellington meant Mike's flight was delayed.  But it landed and we fell on him, getting hugs and kisses.  Back home and Mike read to Toby and then we all slept well.

I got up for my run this morning and it is cold!  Toby is off sick and I am working from home.  Hope you have a lovely week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing much

Hi,

Well, truth be told, I can't wait for the end of the working week.  Toby and I have missed Mike, even though we think it's a good thing he is down in Dunedin.  Cuddles from Toby are very nice, but I miss the bear hug ones I get from Mike that make me feel safe from everything.

I rode home last night and found the car safe and sound at the library and collected Toby and went home.  I cooked tea for Toby and he hammered through his homework.  I think he understands division really well now.

We're going to have Nandos again tonight because he loved it so much last Friday.  Woot!

Aidan gets back from her hectic week away with work and if I'm lucky we might catch up this weekend (briefly - it is her wedding anniversary and I think Josh has plans because we have the boys on Saturday night for a sleepover).  I intend to hand my room over to them and throw corn chips in from the door.  Hahahah.  I want to take them to see the new Marvel movie.  X Men.  Want to come, Sally?

Apart from that, not much else on.  I think Toby and I might have a reason to wander over to the airport on Sunday evening.  Woot!

Yep - bring on the end of the working day!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with an unexpected dinner out - and no Mike

Hi,

I forgot I had said yes a few weeks back to dinner out with work last night.  It was someone's leaving dinner and we went to Caliente (on the corner of Manners and Willis St).  I quite like the Mexican food there.  Anyhow - the chicken quesadilla was very good.  But it did mean I had to get Benjamin in at short notice (and he did! - thanks!) and arrange pizzas delivered and car craziness.  Ange wanted to drink and had her car in town, so I said I'd drive her home.  But she doesn't pick up on my "I want to go home now" cues the same way Mike does.  So we were a bit late getting back home.  And I had to drop her off, swap cars at the library and then take Benjamin home.  But Toby and I fell asleep pretty fast and had a good sleep.

Toby had cross country yesterday and by all accounts he did ok.  Aiming for a better placing next year.  Mike and Toby will start running together in the evenings.  Awesome.

This morning is glorious here.  And I had to take the bus in.  Hahahah.  Hopefully it stays like that for my ride home.

Have a lovely day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with no Mike

Hi,

After a hard day at work I rode home and collected Toby on the way.  We had tea and then chilled for a bit before I went around to talk to the neighbour about the landscaping quote on our boundary.  We got that sorted and then I went back home and relaxed reading before bed.

Toby and I read for a bit, and then he turned out the light, so I did too.  I thought after my hard day at work, I might lie awake pondering things a bit.  But I have great sleeping powers, and I was asleep in seconds.  Maybe work wasn't such a big issue after all?  Hahahah.

This morning was a good run in dry but windy conditions.  With just Toby at home I am running a slightly shorter route than usual.  The ride in wasn't too bad either.  The roads were mainly dry.

Mike and his parents are good.  Mike went out for dinner with Richard and Theresa last night.  I hope they all had a chance to catch up.

Have a marvellous day.
Love,
Angela

The Monday with no Mike

Hi,

I rode to the library and collected Toby and went home.  He dashed off to perform his job at the neighbour's house and then we were into the cook tea and do homework routine.  It went really well.

We chatted to Mike - he had a successful day at the Dunedin office.  It sounds like his parents are ok - his Dad is home leading up to the surgery on Thursday.  That's a good thing!  At least the food isn't horrible.

Toby and I had a good morning.  He was up early and showered.  He did get to the bus stop early because I had a breakfast with work colleagues.

Another sunny day here in Wellington - although there may have been overnight rain because the roads were pretty wet on my ride in.  Not too sure though.

I need a cup of tea.  Desperately.

Have a lovely day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with no Mike

Hi,

What a lovely weekend with just me and Toby.  We did miss Mike lots though.  Friday night I rode to the library and collected Toby and went to Johnsonville to get Nandos.  Toby has declared it his new favourite takeaways.  Back home to eat it and snuggle up to watch a movie.  Toby chose Twilight.  Yes - we have had a Twilight movie fest this weekend.  Seen three of them.  And the second one was a bit dire.  I wanted someone to eat the lead actress already!  Enough moaning and feeling pathetic.  Move on!  Even Toby said at one point "She's a bit emotionless isn't she?"

I did manage to head out to feed Ange's cats while she was away.  They were happy to see me.  Or was it the food?  Hahahah.

Anyhow, a lazy Saturday morning where I tidied and then we drove into town to meet Hayley for lunch.  We lurked outside the Bangalore Polo Club before it opened and Toby said he didn't fancy it.  So we adjourned to Joe's Garage.  Yum!  You know what that means!

Iced coffee - best in town

After lunch Toby and I went to see Godzilla in 3D.  It was great!  Godzilla rampaged through Honolulu and then Las Vegas (Look, Toby, there's Caesar's Palace where you got lost!! Amongst the rubble.) and finally San Francisco (Look, we've been there.  Oh.  It's gone!).

Toby is.... awesome!

Back home for the second Twilight movie (after feeding the cats again).  Ho hum - that second one is pretty bad.  Next morning I checked out the chair on the deck.  I need a nice chair, so I can sit in the sun and read and drink my cup of tea.

Deck, chair, grass, book!

 Sunday we had a few messages to run.  I sorted out our gas tanks.  And we went grocery shopping.  I tried the new Countdown at Crofton Downs for the first time since it re-opened.  It was pretty good.  I found the British section and then discovered the American section.  Oooohhh yeah.  I found canned pumpkin.  Aidan reassures me this is a necessary ingredient in pumpkin pie and ever since I tasted Christine's pumpkin pie, I have been hankering to try it again.  I will gently nag (persuade) Aidan that we need to try making it.  She seemed oddly keen on the idea when I suggested it and admonished me when I said I never bought any.  I now need to go back and buy up cans of pumpkin.  They are going in her pantry!

Canned pumpkin.  Good for pies, apparently.

Home for a lazy afternoon.  Made dinner and watched the third Twilight movie.

I dropped Toby off at the bus stop this morning and as he left the car he noticed the time.  7.20am!  He was horrified that his mother was dropping him off that early for his bus.  I told him I hate being late and that I hoped he had a great day!  Poor kid.  Hahahah.

Lucky it is a gorgeous morning here.  My morning run was in the stillest of mornings.  Not a breath of wind.  And clear as a bell.  But by the time Toby and I left the house for school/work, it was foggy!  Funny place.

Have a fantastic week!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with Mike flying to Dunedin

Hi,

Well, when Mike got in he told me he was flying down to Dunedin a day earlier to make sure his Dad was okay in hospital.  And Mike reports back that although surgery is booked for next week, his Dad is pretty chipper.  Even with hospital food!  Mike is staying on for another week, and due back on Sunday 25th now.
Yes!  It's the Toby and Angela morning show.  This show has a different routine to the Mike and Toby morning show.  Toby gets poked until he's out of bed and showered, dressed, fed and out the door at 7.20am.  I rode my bike from the library and was at my desk at 7.45am.  Only 15 minutes behind my early morning routine.  It might just work, for a week. Not that I can get by without Mike.  I'll be hopeless.  Honest.  Pining away.

Last night Toby and I went to the Carter Observatory.  We wandered around the exhibit for a while before finding seats in the theatre and listening to the talk. Click here to see more:  Mars  And this is the woman's website:  Hari  It was a great talk, although Toby thought it ended a bit abruptly.  She is certainly passionate and enthusiastic.  Unfortunately the pelting rain meant the telescope wasn't opened for viewing.  Stink for us because Saturn would look brilliant at the moment.  I would have loved Toby to see that.

It's the weekend soon!  Toby and I have plans for Nandos for dinner.  We haven't had that for ages.  Then back home for a movie, snuggled up together.  And I think a long sleep in tomorrow morning.  Breakfast in bed, while reading.  We have lunch with Hayley planned.  But I think that's it.  Housework.  Not much else.

This morning is a stunning morning in Wellington.  The sort that makes you happy you live here.  My ride in was good!  My run this morning was also good (but shorter than usual, because I didn't want to leave Toby alone in the house too long).

Have a lovely weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with user group

Hi,

Happy birthday to Benjamin!  Woot!

Makes for a long day.  I wandered over to the Microsoft office nice and early to help the presenter setup.  Only to find that Microsoft were upgrading their wifi and the internet was not available.  When the internet was the crux of the presentation (online instances!).  We had the admin staff in a flurry and they were running around like mad to try and get us a workaround, when, mysteriously, the wifi came back up.  The rest of the evening went without a hitch.

Mike came in just after 7pm and I grabbed the car off him.  He had kindly put my bike on already.  I drove Ange home and found Toby at our place, a little distraught at being home by himself and wondering where we were.  Not sure why as we were probably only away from home for thirty minutes.  Maybe something spooked him.  Anyhow, after a few minutes of consoling him and me thinking how much bigger he is now compared to when he was a baby and quite enjoying the hugs, he came right.

I did some washing (my running gear got rather soaked Wednesday morning) and we chilled out for a bit before bed.  Mike got home after solving all the problems of the world with Adam.  Good to hear.

This morning my ride in was ok.  The roads were damp but no rain.  I bumped into Aidan and chatted briefly to her.  She had a panic last night because Josh drove to Waikanae (Scouts) and two policeman came and knocked on her door at 8pm!  Yep - we all know what must have gone through her mind.  It's a shame for her and her momentary panic.  But they were just community police commenting on her locks on her garage and how they needed to be even more secure.  Wow - awesome service!

Mike has pulled his flight to Dunedin forward and is packed and ready to go today.  His Dad is sick and in hospital.  I hope he gets better really soon.  This does mean that Toby and I have a spare ticket for Living on Mars at the Carter Observatory tonight.  We might ask Duncan given he missed the other Mars presentation.  Failing that, John is probably up for a session at the Carter observatory.  The cloud cover means we won't get to see anything through their big telescope.  Shame.

Have a good day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Aidan's graduation parade

Hi,

Tuesday was a little tough - goodness knows what I'll be like by the time Friday rolls around.  Hahahah.  Thankful for the weekend, I imagine.

But the highlight of yesterday would have to be not seeing Aidan in her graduation parade.  Yeah, "not".  I missed her in the sea of faces.  But at least I saw her before and after, so I do know what she looked like in her PhD regalia.  Awesome, is the answer.  Pleased as punch.  Me, that is.  Aidan just took it in her stride like everything.

Dr. Aidan

I rode home and wondered if Toby remembered the "walk home and I'll see you there" message.  I rode past the library and on to our house, thinking I could get home, find him missing and drive back to collect him.  It wasn't raining, but it had been.  But, as I came along Mairangi Road, I found him walking home.  He had forgotten to walk home, then remembered late, and couldn't text me because his phone was flat.  Meanwhile I had texted him to say I was late.  It all worked out great!

I got home and Toby did his job patrolling the neighbour's house while they are on holiday.  Then his homework.  I mucked around, aimlessly for a while before deciding what to cook Toby for tea.  He got two awesome omelettes, with grated cheese and lashings of bacon and tomato.

I sent a grocery list to Mike and went to collect him from the bottom of the hill.  Then we ate tea and fluffed around before bed.  Mike did tramping club things while Toby and I waited for him to come free.  Then Mike fixed Toby's minecraft server and we all went to bed happy.  I was happy because it means I don't need to fix it this weekend!

This morning's run was really good again.  I ran even further this morning, in the drizzly rain.  The ride in wasn't quite so much fun coming down the wet hill, but I got to work not completely wet!  Hahahah.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing much

Hi,

I rode home and was pleased to finally leave work.  For some reason it was a hard eight hours yesterday.  I blame the late night on Sunday.  By the time I was getting on my bike in the basement at work, I was yawning incessantly.  Fortunately nothing wakes you up like a bike ride and by the time I got home I was cured.  Toby and I walked from the library and then he did homework while I cooked him tea.

I made a portion for Tuesday night and froze two more portions for him.  We're making sure we have some meals on stand by for Toby.

Our family - by Toby

Toby made me a card on Sunday for Mother's Day.  Every time Mike and I see it, we snort with laughter.  It's because Mike has been depicted as almost completely bald.  It is hilarious.  Toby knows exactly what buttons to press now to get a rise out of us.  And he does it with a cute cheekiness that shows us he is stirring!  And sadly, my hair does look that wild right now.  Haircut time!

Mike got home eventually (he is flat out at work) and we ate together.  Then it was into the evening routine.  Just making sure things are ready for the next day.  Reading.  Chilling.  Toby had a bath and then I had one too.  Mike did his homework.

This morning's ride in was great - dry and anything.  Although someone said it is supposed to turn to custard.  Aidan's graduation parade is on today at midday.  If it isn't cancelled due to bad weather.  She'll walk in her regalia up Lambton Quay with the other PhD students.  Good on her - what an achievement.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend that was so social that I need to recover

Hi,

I was so social at the weekend that I think my head is about to explode.  Hope no one talks to me at work.  Hahahahah.  I saw Aidan on Friday evening and she cooked tea and it was nice to catch up.  Toby was having a sleepover with them.  I left to collect Josh because he had been out having a few drinks with Mike and I dropped him home before going to find Mike at Cuckoo.  It was Luke's birthday celebration and I was keen.

And I jolly well enjoyed it. There were stacks of people I knew. I even contributed to group discussions. I hardly ever do that in a group setting. And Ange bought me a hot chocolate. Never knew pubs did them. And it was a good one. Slurp!

I drove Ange home because she lives quite close to us. Mike leaped out of the car to go out for more drinks when we stopped at some lights. He loves socialising. 

Mike eventually found his way home and we slept like logs to Saturday morning.  We had a fair bit on.  I had to go and collect the car from Petone Pitstop.  So Aidan dropped by and we showed her the new grass.  I took photos in the daylight.

Ooooo, yeah!

Grass!

Aidan and I headed to Petone and Go Bang for breakfast.  Aidan's choice of scrambled eggs with feta was inspired because it was scrumptious.  We left there and I got dropped at the mechanics and collected the car.  Popped into the second hand clothes shop and followed Aidan around while she selected clothes and tried them on.  She got a few.

Then back home and dropped off the tyre and collected Mike and over to the Tabors to collect Toby.  But we got waylaid.  Mike hadn't seen Aidan for ages and he was in the mood to catch up.  We overstayed our welcome as usual.  Eventually we hauled ourselves out of their way so they could actually achieve something for the weekend and home.

Mike went grocery shopping and I relayed messages to him.  Christine needed him for the fridge moving.  I needed the car he was driving.

When he got home I jumped in the car and collected Ange, then Dee then Gemma and we went to see Roller Derby at TSB Arena.  What a hoot!  Not a huge crown in attendance, so the atmosphere was a little lacking.  But it was a good way to pass the time on a Saturday evening.

Roller Derby!

I do have photos but for some reason they are not appearing linked to the blog like usual.  I'll paste them in later (done!).  Roller Derby, eh?  A good game is a fast game.  The players certainly go fast.  It looks tough.  But the 1 hour game took two hours.  There were medical delays and a long period where the entire team of officials debated the finer rules of the game.  But I enjoyed it.  I was completely mystified for at least an hour before the rules became clearer to me.  But I am still a little stumped by the finer aspects of the game.

We went out to Charley Noble afterwards to get some dinner.  They were swamped and the wait time was 90 minutes.  But the maitre d' rang around and got us in at Pravda.  And I love Pravda.  My chicken risotto was superb!  Ange went into raptures over her chocolate fondant pudding.  So, it was great fun.  I dropped everyone home and went home.

I found Tom having a sleepover when I got home and Mike was asleep but the boys weren't.  Hahahaha.  I sorted that out and then slept myself.

Next morning was Mothers Day.  Breakfast was the best!

Mothers Day breakfast in bed

 And then I lay in bed reading with the French doors open and the sun streaming in.  Mike took everyone tramping so I had the house to myself for a while.  I got out of bed and finally got the house looking vaguely clean and tidy and worked through the laundry mountain.

The view from bed

I rang Mum and she was having a good day and had some awesome dinner out planned.  I hope it was fun for her.

Christine came back at 1pm and had a cup of tea with me before leaving with Tom.  Then I finished housework and Mike got home after his longer tramp.  We pulled the pin on further socialising at Sally and Andrew's house in favour of actually getting ready for the working week.

My run this morning was such a good run!  I enjoyed it.  And my ride in was good too - but my dizzy thing came back on the way in.  At least I was at work before it was worse.  I loved the dry roads.  It's been a while since that happened!

Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with dinner with Christine

Hi,

I rode home and collected Toby from the library.  The day had been full of slight frustrations.  I had a good drive to Petone and an even better ride in.  But Mike and Toby were intent on hammering home to me how much they need me in the mornings.  The first thing was a call from Mike at 8am saying Toby had forgotten his togs and we needed to drive to them school.  Interesting.

I had hooked his togs bag over his blazer so he had to take the togs bag off and put his blazer on, then step over the togs to get out the door.  Which, obviously, he did, because it's all about showing Mum how much she's needed.

So, Mike drove in and I went and grabbed the car at 9.30, popped the top down and drove over to Miramar.  Took an hour.  Nice weather.  Good music.  Not a bad interruption to the morning, I guess.

But at 3.30, Mike told me the cruncher.  He had forgotten lunch for Toby.  Aarrrgghhh!  Fortunately Emerson and Duncan shared their lunch with him.  But he was pretty hungry when I found him at the library.  Apparently he had told Mike he was so hungry he couldn't walk home.  Hahahah.  We walked to the dairy and bought a Mars Bar to get him through.  Worked a charm!

We collected Tom from Skids and Toby played in the playground at Wadestown school, reminiscing like a 60 year old about the "old days".  Then home to order burgers and wait for Christine and Mike.  We had a good old chat until I started yawning too much for anyone to ignore any longer.

This morning I drove the MX-5 to Petone and drove the Corolla back into town.  It look longer than on my bike yesterday!   Hahahah.

The weekend is looking good.  Mothers Day on Sunday.  I have put my order in for breakfast in bed.

And just for Sally - we have grass!  Our backyard looks amazing.  It was dark when I got home though.

Grass!

Toby and Tom and grass!

Have a lovely weekend.
Love,
Anela

The Wednesday with tramping club for me

Hi,

Mike's mother came to look after Toby and I stayed and worked.  Mike went to his tramping club committee meeting but had to come back to work.  I grabbed the car off him and took it back to tramping club for the presentation.  It was on Svalbard again - and other Arctic islands.  Such a good presentation.

This morning I drove out to Petone and dropped off the Corolla and had a great ride back into town.  The best fun in ages on my bike.

And it is lovely here today.  Hooray!

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing much

Hi,

I rode home for the first time in weeks and weeks yesterday.  It wasn't too bad at all.  Low gear though.  Hahahah.  I collected Toby and we went home.  Our car has been on the street since we got back from camping because all the camping gear is in the garage.  Including the rooftop box.  I'd had enough parking on the street.  I sent Toby in to start his homework and I tidied the garage.  Took out the MX-5 and the motorbike.  Shifted the rooftop box to its spot.  Put everything back.  Then hauled the camping gear up to the attic.  Sorted.  You can't actually get into the attic at the moment because the gear is stuffed up there.  But, the goal was to park the car in the garage, and that was achieved.  I'm all about results!  Processes are all very well, but if they aren't working, they drive me insane.  And obviously the "process" for getting the gear put away neatly had failed.  Right?

Mike came home soon enough (well, he had no money for a bus ticket and was looking at a walk home, so I drove down to get him, and collected Juliette too).  We did homework with Toby and ate tea.  Mike raked the gravel into the retaining wall (apparently the "green team" is coming today.  We might have lawn by the time I get home tonight.

Mike and I have tramping club on.  There is a talk about other Arctic islands from the same woman that talked about Svalbard.  Ooooohhhh.  And Mike has tramping club committee beforehand too.  Mike's mother is going to pop in to look out for Toby.

Have a fantastic day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday at work that I managed to get through

Hi,

Hahahah - it was okay actually - not too hard a first day back.  Bound to rev up for the rest of the week, I'm sure.  I did catch up with Aidan for lunch.  I heard all about her holiday with her parents over.  She wishes her mother had come over for as long as her stepfather did.  But she has work commitments.  It'd be nice if they could retire here though.  As well as my parents!  Aidan had to endure my photos and non-stop talking.  She was stoic about it.

It started lashing down rain around 4.30pm so Mike came in to collect me in the car.  Toby had a day off school so Mike worked from home.  This morning's ride in was a bit hairy as the severe galeforce winds are making their presence felt.

Right.  Time for a tea and then into it!

Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work after Golden Bay and Sunshine Coast

Hi,

Yes - it is a shock to my system.  But even more of a shock to Toby's.  Mike just called and Toby is having a day off school.  Apparently he didn't sleep very well last night.

The holiday was wonderful - from the week camping in Golden Bay to the week lounging around on the Sunshine Coast.  I will write up a blog about it for you.

But for now, I had a great day back in Wellington.  I did have to put my jersey on.  And I did have to put the heater on briefly yesterday.  I watched Mike as he tidied up and then listened to some music and did the ironing.  I went out for family dinner at Sally and Andrew's place.  It was great to catch up with everyone.

My hair has finally got out of control.  I can tell when I put my helmet on and it curls all around the edges and looks like I am possessed!  Time to book a haircut.

Have a lovely week!
Love,
Angela