My bike is so ready

I am so not. But I'm awfully excited. The town is buzzing.

My bike looks beautiful. Found a big nick in the back tyre.  Hope it's ok.

I'm all ready. Gear laid out. Bike prepped. I'll cook tea and eat soon. Christine is here in Taupo but not at the house yet.

The Wednesday with nothing for me

Hi,

I rode home and found Toby at home already.  I sorted out dinner for him and he scoffed the whole lot.  I can't keep up with him at the moment.  He's eating like a horse.

I exchanged texts with Aidan at one point (she was having an epic day involving driving to Palmerston North, back to Waikanae, swapping the car with Josh, catching the train home and looking at a taxi ride home to relieve the babysitter) and jumped in the car and collected her from the train station.

I have a new bike computer - one that works on GPS.  So I was testing it out on the drive to the station, back to Aidan's house and then ours.  14km round trip.  I wouldn't have guessed it was quite that much, but there you go.  I also now know the elevation of the trip.  And my average speed (22km - city driving is quite slow!).  Loving the new bike computer.

I have set it up for the Round Taupo race this Saturday already.  It will alert me at 3.5 hours, and 80 km.  Kinda hoping that will be around the same time.  Then I am on track for a better time than last year.

Mike got home from tramping club stuff.  I would have collected from from there while I was out and about, but he'd left his cellphone at home all day.

Ride in this morning was great.  Windy and dry.  Very nice.  Tomorrow morning I am leaving with the Corolla for Taupo.  It's about 5 hours drive.  I'll find the house and the keys and set myself up.  Christine should be there about that time too.  And Andrew should be in a bit later in the night.  Better leave him some pasta for his refueling.

I am very excited.  Bit worried I haven't done enough preparation.  But my times on my rides have been similar to last year at this time.  So, who knows?  Hopefully the day isn't too windy.  Don't mind rain.  Just don't like the wind.

I'll let you know on Monday morning how it all went.

Have a great weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing

Hi,

Well, it was frantic again at work.  And I was late riding home.  Toby was fine though - he had a bit of homework (they are scaling down for the end of year already).  Mike was wonderful and took my wheel into the bike shop.  Turns out the nick in the tyre was pinching the tube.  So, I got a new tyre, three new tubes and a new bike computer.  Woot!  I need to figure out how to use it tonight.

Toby and I had tea and then relaxed before Mike got home.  The weather was really windy.  As we went to sleep, the chairs on the deck were getting bounced around.  Mike went and dealt to them.

The wind actually woke me around 4am.  I reset my alarm to the later non-running time and went back to sleep.  At that stage I was even contemplating the bus in.  But the wind had died down quite a bit by the time I rode in.  And it was even doing a good job trying to dry the roads.

I must sort out my biking gear tonight and possibly some groceries for the weekend.  How exciting!  And arrange pick up times with Christine.  Andrew is meeting us up there.

Right.  Time to start the day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with dental appointments

Hi,

The day disappeared in a blur of work.  Not sure what else to say because one task merged into another and before I knew it, I was rushing off to my dental appointment with the hygienist.  Finished that and rushed back to work to collect Toby and take him back for my dentist appointment and Toby's dentist appointment.  Teeth all good for both me and Toby.  Yay.

Mike got back into town from his work (he was at a client site in Lower Hutt) and we went out for dinner to Bethel Woods.

Toby loved his burger

Mike loved the Oregon IPA

Mike told me a funny story that happened to him today.  He was crossing the road with a work colleague (male) and this young woman (who was apparently a little cold) crossed the road at the same time as them.  And something inexplicably meant that Mike and his colleague weren't watching where they were going, and they collided with each other.  Both looked sheepishly at each other.  Hahahah.

Mike told me this story just after he had taken Toby to the toilet at Bethel Woods.  He came back after switching the light on for Toby and asked me to go to the women's toilet and tell me what was in there.  I went.  It was nothing unusual.  I rattled off the things I had seen.  Black and white photo of a woman with not much on at Woodstock.  A bucket of arranged flowers.  A mirror with lips.  And then Mike told me what was in the men's toilet.  The walls were wallpapered with Playboy centrefolds from the 1970s.

At this I started to wonder why Toby was taking so long, given I had been to the toilet and back and heard the road story and the explanation of the toilets.  Then Toby came back and sat down and was quite shellshocked.  Hahahah.  He was so funny.  I did ask him why he had taken so long and he swears he wasn't "reading" the walls.

But we all declared Bethel Woods a great place.  Toby rated his top burgers thus:

1.  Burger Wisconsin
2.  Bethel Woods
3.  Some place near Grandy and Gramps' house
4.  I can't remember - but I do know my burgers were number 5 on the list.  Aha.  Oporto bugers.
5.  My homemade burgers.

Then he said at least my burgers made the top five.  Well, I guess he's right.

We went home and relaxed for the rest of the evening before bed.

This morning was a damp old ride into work.  A fine misty rain that just got in and soaked things.

But it all doesn't matter because my teeth are clean!  Dental hygiene cannot be overrated.  Love the dentist.

Have a fantastic day!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with so much happening

Hi,

It all started on Friday after work.  I was at a client meeting across town - but fortunately on the way to the airport.  Mike left work and drove over to collect me.  We made the flight with ages to spare.  The JetStar flight up to Auckland went smoothly.  We touched down early and met Roz at the drop off place outside the terminal.

Meanwhile Toby was going home with Jake for his school dance at St Margarets.  He had such a great time.  He danced with 10 girls and ate loads of free food.  Toby now thinks dances are great entertainment.  His mate Tris danced with 44 girls.  What a machine he is!

She took us straight to the venue for Hunters and Collectors - the Power Station in some suburb called Grafton.  I'm not sure I even know exactly where to find it even now I've been there.  Roz took us an unusual route.  We were there early, so popped into the pub over with road for a drink.  Along with half the people for the concert.

We got in nice and early and found a place at the stage - right behind a couple on the rail.  Turns out they were rabid Bruce Springsteen fans.  We chatted to them for ages.  The woman was from Germany, via Canada (what a weird accent she had) and the man was from Gladstone Park in Melbourne.  I told him all about my days working at Safeway at the Gladstone Park Shopping Centre.  He was chuffed.

Blurry photo of Mark Seymour - but look how close we were!

Still blurry - but so close!  

The Hunters played an awesome set.  And I think they were buzzed to be supporting the Rolling Stones the next night.  Mike and I re-lived our twenties and had a great time.  We even negotiated the Auckland Transport bus system, found our bus stop 500m away and waited 5 minutes for the bus right to Roz's house.  We were home by 12.

I hug Roz.  Yep - she conceded to a photo, under strict guidelines

 Next morning I was in complete denial and didn't want to get out of bed.  Mike and Roz chatted away in the lounge and I tried in vain to get back to sleep.  But I was hungry so we all got ready and went to eat.  Roz conceded to a photo in the cafe as proof we saw her.

After a quick trip to the Icebreaker outlet store Roz dropped us at the airport and we relaxed before getting on-board.  The flight into Wellington was so bumpy.  It was like a roller coaster.  The kids opposite us loved it.

As you can see from my hair below, it was really windy on the ground in Wellington.

Windy landing back in Wellington.  Hope the pilot had better visibility than me when I landed there.

We went to lunch at Sharron's house and had vegetarian chilli.  It was so good.  Made with black beans, grains and three chillies.  Toby asked Aidan for a sleepover ta her place so he stayed there and we went home to shovel the pile of gravel.

Shoveling gravel.  Also notice the pile of mulch behind the pile of gravel.

Mike and I made a dint in the pile before heading to see Interstellar with Ange and her friend.  That was a good movie - long though.  Three hours.  Back home and into a coma.

Sunday morning I got up for my bike ride.  I had another puncture - not sure what is wrong with my front tyre.  I need to buy a new tyre today - and three new tubes.  But Mike fixed my tyre and it stayed up for my bike ride.

Back home and changed for lunch at the Bichan family lunch.  Just me though as Mike was shoveling and Toby had Will over to play.  Seafood chowder - yum!  Caught up with people and then home to head to see Aidan for a cup of tea before grocery shopping.  Back home to cook tea.  And the bed routine (involving lots of ironing).

Phew.  I need another weekend.  Actually, no rest for the wicked because next weekend is the race around Taupo.  Ooossshhh!  Huge.

Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with mulch moving

Hi,

The days are blurring nicely in the lead up to my Taupo race next weekend.  I can't keep track.  I did catch up with Aidan for lunch yesterday.  I'd told her about a new cafe/bar not far from my work and I suggested she might quite like to try it.  Possibly it had food she'd like.  She asked me if it was American, but I had no idea and said it had some American stuff on the walls.  Anyhow, she came to it for lunch and chuckled all the way through as it was completely American.  Seeing it through her eyes, I realise why she thought I was crazy that I hadn't noticed.  Carolina pulled pork.  Louisiana something else.  Oregon beer.  Hot dogs.  Burgers.  I ate yummy soft tacos and she had the Carolina pulled pork.  Pretty good.

After quite a nice day, the weather had changed by the time I rode home.  Windy and overcast.  But still warm.  I rode home via Nguaranga Gorge.  It was a great ride.  Home to cook some tea for Toby and wait for Mike to get home with groceries.  Then he and Toby started the mulch exercise.

Dad tips and Toby rakes

Spreading the mulch - the drop behind Toby is only about 1.5m.  Honest!

I went for my run this morning and enjoyed that.  Getting back to my peak after my cold.  Still not 100% yet.

Tonight Toby has a school dance at St Margarets College and a sleepover with Jake.  The Tabor family will collect him tomorrow morning and entertain him while Mike and I fly to Auckland for the Hunters and Collectors final concert.  We're going to re-live our twenties.  Woot!  Roz will collect us from the airport and put us up after the concert.  I am hoping for brunch with her Saturday morning before the flight.

Back Saturday lunchtime to catch up with a friend of Mike's before collecting Toby.

And I hope to do one big bike ride and then taper for the week leading to race day.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Cheers,
Angela

The Wednesday with more nothing

Hi,

I rode home yesterday and found the wind really hard work.  I felt like all my stuffing had been knocked out by the time I got home.  I missed an appointment with Toby and had to ring and apologise and reschedule.  Oops.  Cooked tea and read for a bit before Mike got home.  Then I read to Toby while he had a bath and we were all off to bed.

Mike enjoyed the dinner I cooked for him.  I heard him exclaim with delight when he spied it on the kitchen bench and then the microwave opened and then he started singing.  I think my dinner made him really happy.  How cool is that?

This morning is stunning here in Wellington.  No wind and blue skies.  My bike ride in was far better than it has been the last few days with that wind!  If it stays ok I'll ride home the long way tonight.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with .... well, nothing either

Hi,

I enjoyed my ride home, despite the fierce headwind.  That westerly at the moment is pretty tricky.  I got home and Toby was already home and stripped off because the sun had been pouring in all day and it was hot in our house.  He did homework and then we both chilled out.

I had a work release to do at 1900 and that went so well I was done by 1915.  So Toby and I went up to do some boxing.  He looks good.  I tried it.  Toby thinks I punch too softly.  Oh.

Back to read to Toby while he was having a bath.  That was fun - we read two chapters.  Mike got home from Christchurch and tramping club meetings around then.  And I fell into a coma in bed.  Mike and Toby both had restless sleeps and I sleep on, completely oblivious.  I think they might hate me.

The first day of the post-Carl epoch.  Hope it goes ok.  We had last lunch with him yesterday.  I was sad to say goodbye.

Iced coffee at Bethel Woods.  It was a real iced coffee.  No cream.  Cold coffee with ice cubes and sugar.  It was strong - and surprisingly good

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing

Hi,

Apart from heading to Toby's school for an appointment, and Toby being off school sick, and Mike working from home, the Monday was absolutely normal.  Well, maybe not quite.  Mike collected me from work early for our appointment and we met a few teachers.  Back home and I cooked an amazing dinner.  The boys both loved it.  Mmmm - asparagus season.

I popped back into town to collect my bike and collect Aidan from her work - she was pulling a 12 hour day.  As you have to do sometimes.  I dropped her home and put my bike in its place in our garage.

We got up to a bit of mischief at home during the evening, as you can see from the photos.  Both boys were in great moods!  Mike got these chopped off fingers from Halloween and wanted to mess with Toby.  he got a squeal from him before Toby realised.

Mike fooling around with fingers and knives

He's funny!

This morning Mike was up early for his flight to Christchurch for the day.  I had Toby drop off duties.  Toby left home just after me and should be at his bus stop now after walking there.

The ride in was weird - a really strong westerly.  Hardly ever comes from that direction, that hard.  But it meant most of the roads were dry.

Toby has inherited something from his Grandad.  Ginger hair.  But Mike was modelling it.  Lucky his work call wasn't a video link!

Mike gets back late tonight and straight to a tramping meeting.  So it's just me and Toby at home for a bit.  I intend to read lots with him.  After homework.

And it's Carl's last day with me at work today.  He heads to Melbourne to live on Thursday.  Poor me.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The weekend by myself

Hi,

Well, I managed to drop Mike, Toby and Sally at the airport on Friday evening for their flight to Dunedin and Andrew and I went back into town.  It was Carl's leaving drinks and we went to Bethel Woods.  Andrew and I stayed for a few hours before escaping to find somewhere to eat.  I mentioned Charley Noble and Andrew was keen.  It was such a fantastic meal.  I had the lamb (and it would convert Aidan - she hates lamb) and it was perfection.  Andrew had duck ragout in thick ribbon pasta and it was delicious.  We shared a starter of raw, marinated fish with horseradish.  It was soooo good.

I dropped Andrew home and collected my bike from work and then fell into a coma.  Well, I watched a movie that made me comatose.  I woke up and found out it had started again.  Woke up Saturday for my exercise class with Aidan.  It was such a good time.  It is called Barre and the one I went to is here:  Barre  Yep - great fun.  I could manage most things and I wasn't too sore afterwards although stairs were noticeable.

Back home and off to take the wee green car in for a WoF.  At the WoF station I met Nicky from work sitting her motorcycle theory test and Josh, getting his nice new car warranted.  Our car failed its WoF due to a nail in the back tyre.  So off to Tony's Tyres to get it sorted.  As he pulled it out, it started to leak so I had to wait for a decent fix.  They did it for free - and were very nice to me.  I am going back there!  We use them anyway.  But they didn't know that.  Back to the WoF place and got the sticker.  Home via the supermarket then off to collect Carl and take him there too.  It was his BBQ day.

He was hungover from his drinks the night before.  The BBQ was lovely, but quiet.  Hahahah.  I chatted to Brent and Peach ( their flatmate - and her real name).  Back home for another movie and then sleep.

Up early Sunday for a bike ride.  Got the front tyre nice and hard after a kerfuffle with the hand pump I carry.  I used the floor pump and it worked fine.  Got 20 km out and heard a "pop!" and a fast hiss and the front tyre deflated spectacularly.  Pulled up pretty quick and went about fixing it. Twenty minutes later I was riding again and had no more issues.  Glad I could finally sort out the hand pump.

Rode up to Trentham and over into Whitemans Valley and back home.  4 hours.  It was ok but today I feel super tired.  No energy.

Andrew collected me just after 7pm and we picked up the intrepid Gilberts from the airport.  They had had a great weekend in Dunedin.

Went for my run (first one in weeks because of my dumb cold) and it was so tough.  Only ran 2 km.  But hopefully I'll be back to normal on Wednesday.



Toby had a bad night sleeping and Mike is working from home with Toby off school today.  And we have an appointment at his school with teachers,

Right.  Have a great week.

Love,
Angela

All the medicines at my desk for this stupid cold I had.  It's almost gone now

The Thursday with lots of work

Hi,

Well, it turns out the highlight of the day was lunch with Aidan.  Because I certainly didn't expect to have to work until 8pm.  But, there you go.  I got home and Toby was chilling with Isaac online before hopping in the bath.  I relaxed and went to bed.  Mike got home and we chatted a bit about our days before I fell asleep.

Mike and Toby are off to Dunedin with Sally this weekend.  Operation Tidy Up, I think.  I hope they do well.  I'll see them on Sunday.  Meanwhile I have to fit in two bike rides, a BBQ, an exercise class and the housework.  And watch the rugby.  Come on Scotland.  Come on All Blacks.

Have a lovely weekend.  Hope the weather is better than the forecast for Wellington wherever you are.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing

Hi,

Finally, back to routine.  I rode home and Toby was already home.  He'd done most of his homework, so I merely had to threaten him mildly to make more in-roads into his homework load for Thursday evening.  By the end of it, I was pleased at what he had accomplished.

I made dinner for him, and tidied up and read a bit before Mike texted he was coming home earlier than anticipated.  He had tramping club committee night but left from the club night presentation so he could come home and box with Toby.

He was also starving.  I thought they fed him at committee meetings - but no.  So he ate leftovers and seemed happy enough.

This morning's ride in was lovely.  After the massive downpours last night I wondered about the ride in.  But the roads were mostly dry.  Very pleasant.  Bit of a chill in the air behind the rain though.

Have a lovely day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday in Auckland, but flying back to Wellington

Hi,

The day flew by so fast.  Caught up with colleagues in the Auckland office for lunch and then the afternoon disappeared.  We were told by locals to leave at 4.30pm to be sure of getting to the airport by 6.30pm.  Two hours?  Really?  Well, no.  We were 90 minutes early.  It didn't take very long at all.  The slowest part of the journey was within 2 kms of the Auckland office.  After that is was non-stop all the way.

Ange and I were pretty tired by the time we got back to Wellington though.  Bit windy on approach - but nothing like the ATR flight from Queenstown.  Ange dropped me home and I crept into bed before the boys were even ready for bed.

Mike has tramping club after work today.  Back to normal routine for me and Toby.  I rode in this morning and enjoyed the bone dry roads.  But apparently galeforce winds are coming.  Great.

Have a fantastic day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday in Auckland

Hi,

What a lovely place to visit.  I love being in Auckland.  It's like being somewhere exotic.  Tall buildings.  Slightly different trees.  Warmer.  After work, Ange and I went to Devonport to explore and find a cafe for dinner.  We found Manuka Cafe and enjoyed a lovely meal.  Ange heard about my fascination with feet - well, my own feet really. Everyone else's feet pale in comparison.  But she asked for me to take a photo of her feet and promptly took off her shoes.  I couldn't say no.

Ange's feet on the footpath in Devonport

Back to the hotel and it turns out I was upgraded (as was Ange) to a suite.  I had a full kitchen, a lounge and a bedroom with a massive bed.

The view from my room

The expansive view of my king-sized bed

I slept like a log.  With the curtains open.  Enjoyed the view upon waking too.  I showered and got changed.  I used the hotel hair dryer and discovered I have no idea about drying hair and now I look like I have 70s or 80s boofy hair.  Yep - I am channeling Farah Fawcett today.

Iced coffee at Honey cafe in Takapuna - the best iced coffee ever?

Met Ange for breakfast - and believe me, I appreciate her getting up so early to get to a cafe before work.  It's not her thing.  Mornings, I mean.  She isn't full of vigour in the mornings as a rule.

I had an iced coffee at Honey - just across the road from work in Auckland.  In Huron St, Takapuna.  It might very well be the best iced coffee ever.  I am giving it a 9.5 out of 10.  Just to give myself leeway.  It had a good texture, consistency was good, not too sweet, strong enough coffee taste.

Right.  Time to get stuck in.  Flight back to Wellington at 7.10pm this evening.  Should touch down just after 8pm.  Apparently into a fierce wind, and rain, by all accounts.

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with loads of little things on

Hi,

What a lovely weekend.  Friday night saw Mike out with Andrew and Josh on the town.  Toby and I chilled out and watched a movie.

Saturday was nice and Mike packed for "Survival night" which is just an excuse to get away from family and go out into the bush with blokes and eat meat and drink beer.  I went into town for an appointment and when I got back, Mike was almost ready to leave.  He left at the same time as me and Toby - Toby went to his haircut appointment.

Checking out the harbour

After his haircut we went to cafe for lunch.  Checked out Chocolate Fish but it was heaving.  Went to Maranui and got a table straight away.  We like Maranui.  I had Eggs Benedict and it was very nice.

Our feet

Maranui cafe iced coffee.  Mmmmm

Waiting for bacon

After Maranui we went to Rebel Sport and bought a punching bag.  It's Toby's new hobby.  I installed it in the garage and Toby tried it out.

Punching bag installed

Keeping his guard up

Looking good (to me at least)

After that we went out to visit Christine for a BBQ and the fireworks in the harbour.  Her flat has a great view of it all.

View from Christine's porch

Fireworks

Sparklers

More sparklers

Home quite late for us - even waiting for ages found us in a traffic jam trying to get home.  We slept well.

Sleeping like a baby

Sunday we waited for Mike to get back from survival night.  I did grocery shopping and finished housework.  I chilled out when Mike got back.  Chatted to Juliet the neighbour for a while before heading to Sally and Andrew's place for tea.  Nice.  Yummy beef burritos.

Back home and off to bed.  In Auckland today and tomorrow.  Keeping busy at the Auckland office.

Have a lovely week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with dinner at Carl and Brent's place

Hi,

I rode home yesterday and enjoyed it - my cold seems to be far better today.  Got home and sorted out Toby's homework.  Then Toby and I went to get in the car and collect Mike from work on the way to Carl and Brent's place.  Carl had asked us to tea.  But when we got to the garage, we found no car.  Toby asked "Has it been stolen?".  No, pretty sure I knew what had happened.  Yep - Mike had driven into work to make our lives easier.  But neglected to mention that to me.

So a quick call to Mike meant he had to leave work and come collect us.  Poor guy.  We got to Carl's place not too late.  Dinner was almost ready - scrumptious crunchy topped lasagna.  And salad.  And dessert.  Mmmmm.

Carl takes the lasagna from the oven.  

Carl and Brent really know how to relate to Toby.  He loved the evening.  I can tell he thinks Carl and Brent are the bees knees.  After dessert, Carl took Toby down to the garage for a boxing lesson.  Even Mike was super interested.  I think we'll be getting a punching bag and gloves very soon.

Back home and I collapsed in bed.  Phew.

The weekend beckons.  Not too busy - a few appointments but that is about it.  I need a huge bike ride.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Guy Fawkes

Hi,

Complicated logistics meant I left work early and drove to Scots College to collect Toby to take him to his appointment.  Of course, this meant my bike was left at work for the night.  Poor, lonely bike.

Toby and I got home at a decent hour and I cooked him a yummy tea (pesto pasta - we haven't had that for ages and we both love it).  Then we got stuck into homework.

Mike went and presented his Nepal trip to the tramping club and it all went really well.  He's a natural.  When he got home he was way more relaxed than he has been leading up to it.  We're pretty busy and he hadn't prepared to his usual level of precision.  But now we have relaxed Mike back.

This morning it was tipping down rain. Maybe it was secretly a good thing I had to catch the bus in.

Rainbow from our lounge window

Have a lovely day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home and enjoyed the Melbourne Cup live on our television.  We've lost the remote (probably a sure sign we never watch television) but I saw Toby using the controls on the TV last week, so I had my suspicions I could make it work if I looked hard enough.  Sure enough - found the right control and eventually found the TV input.  I got third in the sweep at work.  Yay.

Toby got home just after that and I cooked tea.  The most delicious home made burgers.  Mmmmm.  And a tomato/basil/mozzarella salad for me and Mike.

Mike then worked on his tramping club presentation.  Come and see it tonight!  You know you want to.

Then I had a bath, read to Toby and fell asleep in some sort of coma.

The ride in this morning looked like I would be getting drenched.  But the rain stayed away and I remained dry.  The roads were mostly dry too, so it was a good ride in.

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing

Hi,

Stupid cold.  I met Aidan for lunch and she saw how sick I was and now she has said I need to be free from my cold for 21 days before she'll see me again.  Hahahah.  With a doctor's note, no less.  Cheeky.  But my cold is a mite bad - riding home last night was a slow process.  Any exertion leads to a little bit of wheezing.  Softly, softly.

Turns out Mum says I went on the Earnslaw when I was about 10 years old.  Well, there you go.  I have no memory of it whatsoever.  Well, I guess it was a long time ago now.  :-p

This morning is gorgeous here in Wellington.  I had a lovely ride in.  Slowly though, so as not to disturb chesty coughs.  The boys seemed to be in a good mood when I left too.

Mike is presenting at tramping club tomorrow night.  Come and see him!  Toby and I will be there.

Have a wonderful day.  Hope wherever you are is as nice as here.

Love,
Angela

The weekend away

Hi,

I can't believe our weekend away went off without a hitch.  Toby went home from school and found William just fine.  They changed into their Halloween costumes and went trick or treating around Wadestown (Toby says Jacob went with them and they went to every house and got a tonne of candy - candy?  My son is turning American).  But Toby took no photos.  So I have no evidence.  Except the huge happy grin he gave me when we collected him on Sunday night - I could tell he had fun.

Meanwhile Mike and I drove to the airport and met the others for our work weekend away down to Queenstown.  We all got on the wee ATR 30 and spent the next two hours on a wee prop plane.  Mike had a load of work to do, so he was working any chance he got.

The shuttle at Queenstown took us to our accommodation at Pinewood Lodge and we found a room.  Mike and I in the double bed and Dave and Alex in the bunks.  Mike promptly sat down to finish his work - and he got it done.  I went for a walk to the Fresh Choice supermarket and got a few provisions.  Back for our gondola ride and luge afternoon.  Luge is such fun!

Mike enjoying the chairlift to the luge

I really enjoyed the luge.  It wasn't scary in the slightest - just fun.  And cute fun - enough to make you grin all the way down.

Gondola view

 We had five rides on the luge and that was about enough.  Three wouldn't have been enough.

Gondola selfie.  Mike is such a doofus.  But gorgeous doofus.  And now I know where Toby gets it from

 Mike and I wandered around the skyline restaurant at the top, remembering an old date we had there many, many years ago.

The view from the top

Luge! And that's the order we finished in.  Me, Lisa, Mike and Nicky

Mike acting up for the cameras

On the way back down

 From there we wandered into town and had a Fergburger on the waterfront.  For the memory, the Fergburger was one of the best burgers I have eaten.  I had a Fergburger with brie.  The bun was perfection, as was the slab of meat.  Yep - I enjoyed that.

Waterfront

Back to the accommodation and I had an early night.  Mike woke me at 11pm knocking on the window.  So I let him in that way.  He's funny.

Next morning we ate breakfast and went to hire bikes from the reception.  We got two GT Aggressors - hardtails.  But they were really good bikes.  We rode to the Earnslaw via the supermarket and I finally got to take a ride on the iconic classic steamboat.

Hire bikes stashed in the museum on the Earnslaw

 From Walter Peak station, we rode down the gravel road for about 15 kms.  Such a lot of fun.  Mike and I only met one other group on the way back.

We also came across a mother Paradise Duck with her 12 chicks following her.  Then the dad took off to provide a diversion, pretending he couldn't fly.  Unfortunately for him, we were riding the same way as him, so he acted for a good 700m before finally taking off in a graceful arc back to his family.

At our lunch spot we saw a hare the size of a small deer.  Mike scoffs at my description - but it was seriously big.  Huge legs and ears.  And striped.  Like Bambi.

Coming back on the Earsnlaw

 The fierce headwind meant it took a while to reach our lunch point, but we got back to Walter Peak super fast.  We got the earlier boat.

I tracked my ride - but included the Earnslaw portion of our trip

Mike on the bow

Feet in the engine room

We dropped the bikes back once in Queenstown and got ready for dinner.  We all went to the Speights Ale House and I had a great seafood chowder.

Back to the room and Mike and I crashed.  Had a great sleep.  Then up on Sunday for a wander around Queenstown.  It was so warm!  We caught up with Lisa and Nicky and went ice skating!  Woot!  Mike is so good at it.  I am hopeless.

Ice skating!

The wind was amazing and we got hit by wee pinecones as we walked through the gardens.  Into town and the rain came down.  We found a cafe to shelter and then caught a taxi back.

Back to get the shuttle bus and into the airport.  Delays to flights from the weather meant a later departure from scheduled.  But it was all good.  The flight into Wellington was so bumpy.  Like a rollercoaster.  It made my heart beat a little faster.  And the pilots had to combat ice forming on the way up too - Mike was fascinated.  We could see it really well from our seat.

So - a great flight up.  Exciting.  And we collected Toby from William's place (they are house sitting in Karori) and all went home exhausted.

Bring on the weekend for a quieter time.

Had an absolute blast though.

Love,
Angela