The Monday that was the second last day of work for the year

Hi,

It was tough getting through Monday at work.  It was a day of changeable weather.  I ran in drizzle at 5.30am.  Rode to work with wet roads and rode home in baking heat.  But when I got home, it was lovely.  So hot.  I opened the doors to the deck up and decided we'd have a BBQ that evening.  Mike texted he was on his way home - with Ange!  So I got the BBQ ready and salad and veges.

Mike putting the meat on

We sat around and chatted to Ange for ages.  It was really lovely.  The conversation meandered nicely through stories of travels and work and Christmas plans.

Mike and Toby did some boxing after Ange left and I read before falling asleep.  Mike suggested if there was a world championship at falling asleep, I might be a contender for a medal.  Hahahah.

Today was a lovely ride in.  Bone dry roads.  Left the cars behind somewhere at the top of the hill.  I do have my eye on 4pm though.  Work is closed tomorrow.  I suspect they have realised hardly anyone works productively on Christmas Eve.

So - this might be my last blog for a while.  I am back at work on the 5th of January.  Christmas is almost here.  Yippee!

Have a lovely break.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Christmas almost here

Hi,

Friday night I drove to Aidan and Josh's place to collect Toby.  Ed invited me for dinner - it might have been something to do with me finishing the potato peeling for him.  He couldn't make the peeler work.  After tea I took Toby home and we watched 2012 (the disaster movie about the Earth's core heating up and the crust destabilising and huge tsunamis all over the world) before falling asleep.

Next morning Mike left reasonably early to do some Christmas shopping.  I outsourced my shopping list to him, but he never got anything on it.  But I can't complain because he got things for me!  Hahahah.

Aidan popped in to collect Toby at about 3pm (after her shopping expedition).  Sarah also came around and we caught up with her news too.  Our jug died after making our tea, and in our own shopping expedition after Aidan and Sarah left, I got a new jug!  Ooossshhh!

New jug!

Mike and I went shopping and managed to get most of what we were after.  Yay for us.  And the jug.  When I got home, I was so excited about this new jug.  It's glass, so I can watch it boil!  Great.  Time flies by.

We came home and then headed out to see Mike's mother for a cup of tea and then collected Sally and Andrew and headed to The Tasting Room for dinner.  Yummy dinner.  Chocolate fondant pudding was disappointing though.  Then we went to see The Hobbit.  Great movie.    Seemed a little anti-climatic to me after the first two movies.   But it was good fun!

Made for a late night.  I didn't get to bed until 1am.  Oooooo.  That's tough.

Coffee milkshake!

Oh yeah - it kept going and going

 Up early for brekkie at Mama Brown in Wakefield Street with Aidan, Ed and the boys.  My breakfast was good and the iced coffee from there was superb.  The boys had their own milkshakes too.  After food.  They were filling.  They all had a half each.

The boys all got a milkshake too.

Then off to Sally and Andrew's house to collect plums.  We had lunch from the pie bakery and then headed back home after Aidan finished her archery class and relaxed before heading back for family dinner.

Family dinner was lovely.  Caught up with Iona and Col too.  Nice.  Mike's mother was there too.  A great time chatting away to people.

Back home and I went grocery shopping before collapsing into bed.  Two more days of work.  Come on!

Have a great (short) week.  Toby and I are off to Sunshine Coast on Boxing Day for a week.  I can't wait.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a half day of leave

Hi,

At midday I left work and headed to lunch with Roanne and a whole bunch of us (current and previous workmates).  At Bethel Woods.  Again.  Meanwhile Mike took Toby to the dentist.  But it sounds like they were done much faster than I thought and Mike took Toby to sushi.  Toby loved it.  They also popped into Bethel Woods to say hi.

I got back and collected Toby and we drove out to Queensgate and got quite wet walking from a block or so away into the shopping centre.  But we knocked off a few presents before the crowd got to us both and we walked back to the car.  Getting wet again, after having just dried out.

Driving down the motorway home, we almost saw a huge accident.  A wee truck not paying attention to the cars braking in front.  He slammed his brakes on late and locked up his wheels and skidded left and right.  I slowed down (I was in the fast lane) thinking he might veer into our lane.  But fortunately he must have had just enough space to avoid the car in front.  Bet his heart was hammering.

Back home to wrap presents and cook tea.  I popped back into town to collect Mike and we all ate tea.

My ride in this morning was damp.  But I see in the forecast that Christmas Day is supposed to be lovely.  Woot!

Bring that on!

Have a great Friday.  And an even better weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing

Hi,

Well, that Wednesday passed in a blur, really.  I was in early for breakfast with Ange and Roanne.  Bethel Woods has an awesome Eggs Benedict.

Look at that!

We all chatted away for a while before work got in the way.  Hahahah.

Work was the normal crazy frantic stuff.  I went to collect Toby from his sleepover party and took him to his appointment.  Then I dropped him home and went in to collect Mike from work.  Back home and we relaxed before a really early night.  Mike put on documentaries (well, one) and was snoring within 10 minutes.  I think he was asleep by 8.15pm last night.

The rain finally started yesterday and continues today.  My ride into work this morning was on wet roads, but I didn't get too wet.

Toby has a midday dental appointment today, so he's coming in by bus and after that we'll do some Christmas shopping.  I have a half day leave.  I thought his appointment yesterday was today, after his dentist visit.  Doh!

Have a marvellous day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with glorious weather

Hi,

Yep - that was the best Tuesday of the summer so far.  Beautiful day.  No wind.  Blue skies.  The whole day!

I saw Aidan for lunch and caught up with a lot of her news.  I hadn't really seen her for a few weeks.  Her work has been crazy.  We organised a play date for Toby this Friday at her place with her boys.  Toby will love that.  I actually ended up taking Aidan home too - on my way to collect Toby.

I picked up Toby, shoved towel, togs, pillow and sleeping bag into his overnight bag and then realised I'd left his present at work.  So we drove down in the wee green car, slowed to a crawl past work and Mike threw in the present and card as we drove by.  Hahahah.

Dropped Toby off at Tris's place in Khandallah.  I chatted for about an hour to Emma, Emma's mother (Mary) and Sally (Isaac's mother) over a cup of tea.  Very nice.  And the view is jaw dropping from Emma's house.  Absolutely stunning.

Drove back home and started tidying the spare room.  Every now and then it finally accumulates enough rubbish to declare it uninhabitable.  I have at least started and you can at least see the bed and the floor now.  A bit more tonight and it should be done.  Ready for any unexpected guests.

I popped back into town to collect Mike and we dropped into Ange's place for a cup of tea on her deck and watched the sun setting in the far west.  Her cats were smooching and Mike loved it.

Steel - looking very pleased

Sunset over Karori

Then back home and I was asleep in seconds.  Mike though - he had a migraine during the night.  Poor fellow.  I am unsure if he will come into work today.  He has so much on though, that I think he will.  Hope he's ok.

We need to collect Toby at the other end of today.

Have a fantastic day.
Love,
Angela

The Monday with a quick shopping trip

Hi,

Summer finally arrived yesterday.  And today (Tuesday) isn't too shabby either.  However, the forecast says we're back to rainy weather by tomorrow.  In fact, the 10 day forecast has nothing but clouds and rain after today.  Hope that's wrong!

Mike drove in at 3.50pm and I swapped Toby duties with him so he could attend a meeting.  Aidan then texted and asked for a ride home (I had told her earlier I had the car at 4pm if she wanted a lift).  Perfect timing really.  Toby and I collected her and dropped her home and then headed back into town for some spontaneous shopping.  I managed to get quite a few things on my list.  Happy about that.

Toby and I went home (via Burger Wisconsin) and relaxed for the evening.  I went to collect Mike when he was done at work.  Great evening for driving the little green car around.  Back home and I used the bath bomb I bought while out shopping to relax in the bath with.  Nice.

I was comatose in the bed, like normal.  Slept until just before the alarm.  My ride in was lovely - the weather really is stunning today.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with so much on

Hi,

Toby's birthday went really well.  Mike collected Toby after work and we all met at Mama Brown's in Wakefield St.  What a great place.

Sally and Toby at Mama Brown.  Not sure what Toby found so funny.  Sally was always composed though!

Me and Mike.

Finally a photo of Toby and Sally with Toby not laughing uncontrollably

I had my difficulties getting Mike to behave for the camera

Hold still, Mike!  Gotcha!

I dropped Sally and Andrew home afterwards - seemed like a great excuse to drive around singing loudly to me.  Awesome fun.  Well, on the way home.  I try to limit the amount of my singing Sally is subjected to.  I still remember the time I sang all the way to Stratford and back.  I think she might too.  On those nights when she wakes up in a sweaty panic.  I only hope she doesn't realise what is causing the flashbacks.  Hahahah.

Saturday I spent at home with Toby.  He wanted to do nothing.  So, nothing we did.  Mike went into work and then went to a tramping club beer tramp.  He met Andrew and they didn't get home until late.  I tidied the house.  But didn't get a lot done really.  Laundry mountain was conquered though.  That's a good thing.

Andrew stayed at our place on the couch and next morning I dropped him home before grocery shopping and a trip home the long way via Scorching Bay.  I are some berries on the beach and went home to get ready for the bike ride with Andrew.  He rode to our place and as I drove into our street, I passed him.

Strawberries, anyone?  Scorching Bay on Dec 14.

Varied it with raspberries this year

Then we started off to Brooklyn.  Unfortunately Andrew got a puncture at the top of Aro and I never saw him until Scorching Bay (where I stopped for another photo).

Scorching Bay again - this time with bike (and no strawberries)

But we met Mike and Toby at Chocolate Fish in Shelley Bay and we had some lunch and an iced coffee.  I do like it there.

Andrew and me at Chocolate Fish

My feet looking amazing at Chocolate Fish

I took a photo of my feet and Andrew commented at how clean their were and did I pumice them to get them looking like that?  No, I replied.  They are naturally beautiful.  Vindicated!  It feels good.  :-p

Ok - my hair looking not quite so amazing as my feet at Chocolate Fish.  Good iced coffee.

Then home up the hill and a shower and ready for cooking family dinner.  Mike and Andrew started the jigsaw puzzle Toby got for his birthday from Prich and dinner came together.

Family dinner on the deck

 It was such a nice day - nicer in the evening than all the rest of the day, I think.

Seemed to be enough food

I took Vivienne and John home and had some slobbers from Ramble and Winter.  Nice way to round off the weekend.  Back home to bed.  I was so tired.  Took me a while to fall asleep.

My run was awesome!  Ran 5km.  Took me 35 minutes.  I need to get it down to 30 and I'll be happy with that three times a week.

The bike ride into work was also lovely.  Wellington is putting on a stunning day.  Enjoy your week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with shopping with Toby and Mike in Chch

Hi,

Today (Friday) is Toby's birthday!  He's 12 on the 12/12.  We like that symmetry.  I woke him early to open presents.  After work I'll ride home and collect him and we're going out for tea to mama Brown.  He went there a few weeks back for someone else's birthday and he loved that place.  Time to check it out.

Yesterday I rode home and got changed and Toby and I jumped in the car and sat in reasonably heavy traffic into Lower Hutt.  We parked out on the street, far away from the shopping centre mayhem and walked there.  Great idea!  We did our last minute birthday shopping and had dinner there too.

I convinced Toby he wasn't quite too big to talk to Santa

Mike flew into Wellington and texted us "I'm in Wellington".  So we texted back "Good.  We're not".  He then thought our plans were going awry and started texting changes to the plan.  Nope - we'll meet you at home.  So it was a race.  Him driving from the airport and me driving from Lower Hutt.  We won.  Handily.

I dropped Mike back off in town for his tramping club function and picked up groceries (we had only one quarter of a toilet roll left - it was desperate times any moment).  Actually, I forgot the toilet paper and had to drive around the block and back into the supermarket to get the toilet paper.

Back home and read to Toby and fell asleep.  Toby didn't though.  He was so excited.  Then Mike got home and they both chatted away excitedly to each other.  I slept.

This morning was fun.  Toby opened his presents.  12 for every year he's been around.  More symmetry.  A lot of boxing themed presents.

Then I rode into work.  The roads were so dry.  It was a great ride.  I need a tea and then loads of work to get through.

The weekend looks like Christmas shopping to me.  Yikes.  Better get started.  And family dinner is at our place on Sunday.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing much

Hi,

I got to work early for a team BBQ breakfast.  The weather was wet, wet, wet.  But two guys bravely faced the conditions on the roof and cooked us a lovely breakfast.  Thanks!

BBQ breakfast in Wellington - summer style

After getting through the day I rode home and enjoyed that (not too windy) and only got a little wet.  Toby was home safe and sound and I made him some tea.  Actually, the evening disappeared in a rush of nothingness.  Not sure what I did really.  Read.  Tidy.  Laundry.  Then, poof!  It was time for bed.  I read to Toby.  We read most of the chapter of the ghost of Christmas Present in "A Christmas Carol".  Tonight is Christmas Future.  Oooooo.

Mike got home while we were reading.  He tapped on Toby's window.  Hahah.  I let the poor forlorn looking chap in.

He was a bit wired still from work so he snuggled into bed to read and he asked me if I was going to sleep.  I said probably.  And, well, I was asleep in about 5 seconds.  Don't remember even putting my head on the pillow.

Busy at work.  But our new team mate starts tomorrow.  Woot!  I can't wait.

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing - but it was Toby's last day of school

Hi,

Pretty much nothing happened.  I rode home and found Toby there after his half day at school.  It was boring, he said.  Speeches, prize giving.  Three hours in the hall.  Well, he said 300 hours, but that is a pretty good example of Gilberting.  Or is it?  Gilberting is exaggeration to the extent where it might actually be feasible.  I know he never spent 300 hours in the hall.  If he'd said 5 hours, and it was 3, that would be Gilberting.  Of course, it might have been 30 minutes in the hall, and his Gilberting genes made him say 3 hours.  Oh - now I'm unsure.

:-p

Anyhow, he wasn't overly keen on attending the Christmas carols at Wadestown park.  I think he would have gone if I'd convinced him.  But I was all up for staying home too.  The rain was threatening to come down.

Mike worked very late indeed.  So late that I never even stirred when he came home.  It's weird to wake up and find your husband next to you.  Like magic!

Toby and I tried the chocolate bacon.  I wish now we hadn't.  It tasted really weird and we've decided the rest of it is for Mike.  He'll eat anything with chocolate in it.  Toby and I were so excited - this should have been the taste sensation of all time.  But, our faces when we looked at each other told the tale.

I still think cooking up crispy bacon (just how Scotty likes it - not!) and dunking it in Toby's chocolate fountain might be a better idea.

Rode in this morning and got wet.  Yucky weather.  Not summer at all.  I even slept in and didn't bother getting up for my run.  It was raining and blowing hard at 5am.  Hopefully by the time I ride home, it'll be far nicer.

Toby's on holidays!  Woot!

Have a lovely day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with dinner at Ange's place

Hi,

What a day.  Normal work madness (or was it even crazier than usual?) and then a lovely ride home.  The difference being that there was no wind.  I wasn't fighting a headwind like I have been for the past two months.  Hahah.

Toby's birthday present from Emerson and Duncan.  Perfection in Toby's eyes.

Got home and found no Toby.  Texted him and his phone beeped at me from his bedroom.  I started dinner.  Cooked up a whole lot of chicken enchiladas.  I think this is the 4th time I have made them and I didn't read the recipe this time.  Seemed to be ok.  But I left them cooking for Mike and Toby.

I had other plans!

I went over to Ange's place and she cooked an awesome meal.  With kale.  Really?  Yes, really!  And asparagus, and snapper and fettuccine.  It was amazing.  Turns out she subscribes to this thing called My Food Bag.  They deliver the ingredients for 4 meals a week with everything you need.  Food, spices, herbs, recipe.  And you choose the meal for the day and cook it up.  Ange has the gourmet food bag.  It was good!

Then we watched the sun setting, without a breath of wind before settling in to watch a movie.  Magic Mike.  It was ok.  I managed to stay awake to watch the end.  Then I wandered down to the wee car and drove home.  Read to Toby (we're reading Dickens' A Christmas Carol and it's really good fun). Then comatose sleeping.

My ride in was good this morning.  Dry roads.  And I hope it stays dry because it is the Wadestown Christmas Carols night tonight.  Toby and I are heading there.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend with Toby's party

Hi,

What an amazing weekend.  We jammed so much stuff into it.  Friday night Benjamin came and looked after Toby while Mike and I went out for our fifteenth wedding anniversary.  We got tickets to see Empire and it was great!  Go see it if it comes near you.  Best described as a burlesque acrobatic evening, I guess.  Funny and amazing.  Mike and I loved it.  We wandered home and I dropped Benjamin home.

Next morning we were up early.  I went out to see Jo to pick up the amazing cake she had made for Toby's party.  She had a late night trying to make two cakes.  Given ours was amazing, I am pretty sure Ryan's cake was just as good.  The cake was a huge hit.

Paintball fun!

Mike went to collect the Mighty Red Gallant from Sally and Andrew at 11am so we could transport enough boys around.  A carload of boys were at our place by 11.30 so I drove them out to the Paintball place at Manor Park and we got started.  Mike arrived a little later with Magnus and Rob dropped Jake off after the first game.  So it all worked out well.

Getting geared up

 They had good weather and enjoyed themselves a lot.

In-between games

Toby looks incredible

Mike has reacted to the disinfectant in the foam in the mask

 However, Mike was allergic to the disinfectant in the foam in the mask.  He was so swollen around his eyes.  Poor guy.

We fed the boys at home and had the awesome cake.  Some boys went up to do some boxing before Mike went to his evening Nepal meal.  Then some went down to the park to play for quite a while.

Afternoon tea

Look at that cake!  Paintball theme.

Close up of Mike's face after the swelling has subsided a bit

Then we got pizza in and the all watched Commando on the TV downstairs.  I slept on the floor in the lounge and was asleep by the time Mike got home.  Mike took devices off the kids and eventually they all went to sleep.

Breakfast!

 Next morning Mike cooked up sausages and they ate through a mountain of cereal and sausages.  Amazing.  Lucky I don't have 8 boys to feed all the time.

Decorating the tree

Then I went out to do some shopping.  Busy.  And raining so hard.  I was largely unsuccessful finding things on my list.  But I picked up a tree on my way home and Toby decorated it!  Result!

Took loads of shots of Toby looking very cute

I took photos of Toby for fun.  He was looking very gorgeous.  We then piled into the car and headed out to Sally and Andrew's place for tea.  Toby got a chocolate fountain for a present so we loaded that up and had great fun after dinner, dunking fruit and marshmallows.

Toby was exhausted after his weekend so Mike took him home early.  I drove home a bit later in the MX-5 and we all fell asleep.

Toby's second last day at school today for the year.  Wow - the year has gone so fast.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing much for us - but it was Tyler's birthday

Hi,

Toby had an appointment at 4pm so Mike left work early to drive out to the surf club to collect him.  Mike found a flat tyre on the car and had to change that before leaving.  Toby had already left the lifesaving club and gone to school.  So Mike had to drive back to Scots and find him.  Then they stopped at work and I got in and Mike went back to work and I took Toby to the appointment.

I had a lunch date with Mike at Mixed Business.

We got there bang on 4pm.  Oossshh.

Back home and I cooked tea for everyone.  Mike got home just as tea was ready.  It was nice to chat about stuff.  We talked to Tyler for her birthday.  She looks so grown up.

Mike and Toby got some emulator working on the new laptop so Toby can play old Game Boy games.  I think they are both happy as clams.

This morning I was on the bus.  It is a wee bit damp anyway.  The roads were dry when I went for my run this morning but it has since rained a little.

Tonight we're off to celebrate 15 years married.  Woot!  I only remembered yesterday.  Oops.  It's on Saturday but we're busy with Toby's party this Saturday that I decided to make it a Friday date.  Got tickets for something to surprise Mike.  He reads this so I can't say.  I'll tell you on Monday.

Have the best weekend.  I'm picking up birthday cake tomorrow morning, maybe doing some exercise class (or a run maybe) and then the party kicks in.  Taking boys to paintball and then home for cake and games and a movie with sleepover.  I intend to throw pizzas at them.  And chips.  That should work.  Mike has a dinner to go to on Saturday night - but he can help with breakfasts on Sunday!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing

Hi,

Today is Tyler's birthday!  Woot.  She is 11 years old and I can't wait to see her at Christmas.  Toby and I were lamenting last night that is has been far too long since we have seen Tyler and Abby.

Normal type of day yesterday really.  I rode home and found Toby there already, recovering from his surf lifesaving day.  I have tried to get it out of him what they covered.  But all I get is "They made us wait".  Wait for what?  I still don't know.  Toby complained he got cold, he got sunburn and everything got covered in sand.  Oh - and there were bugs, apparently.  I hope today goes better (although it seems to be far windier today - sand might continue to be a problem).  I have asked him to apply more sunscreen today even if it is cloudy.

But I cooked dinner for him and Mike (Mike got home a little late but not too bad) and we ate soup and bread.  I didn't like the soup.

Then Mike and I relaxed for a bit before Mike turned comatose on the couch.  Off to bed and I read to Toby and didn't fall asleep in his bed.

My ride in this morning was windy.  Roads were dry though.

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home after work and found Toby getting stuck into an online game with his mates.  Mike was staying back and heading out to the Southern Cross for a quiz night with work mates.  I made tea for Toby and relaxed and read.  Toby had his dinner and then had a bath and then played for a bit.

My toes in the bath

I also had a bath and then read to Toby in his bed.  And, well, you know how yesterday I fell asleep in his bed after not doing that for the last 7 years?  Well, it happened again.  I stop reading, he asks for cuddles, and it is so warm and quiet.  Next thing it was 11pm.  I leapt out of bed and took Toby's dinner stuff up to the kitchen and that all coincided with Mike getting home.

He thinks I am wide awake.  Maybe even pining for him.  But he is in a boisterous mood so we chat for a while.  When the alarm goes off at 5am for my run, it is hard to get out of bed.

But I did.  It was a lovely morning.  And my ride in was fantastic.

Toby has a few days of a special End of Year programme.  They are learning Surf Lifesaving at Lyall Bay.  Cool!  He's so lucky.

Hence the wetsuit fiasco on Monday night - right?  Hahahah.

Love,
Angela

Our team Christmas tree at work.  See those post it notes?

Those post it notes are handmade decorations.  Yes!

The Monday with shopping after work

Hi,

The Monday back at work was a busy one.  But I did manage to get away to see Aidan for lunch and catch up with her (well, sort of - I actually spent more time with her colleague).  We ate in the lunchroom at her work and the view was indeed worth visiting to see.

After school Toby came to our work and I finally got away to The Warehouse in Lyall Bay with him.  Toby had to try on a wetsuit so we found two (one shorty one size 12 and one long one size 14) and entered into the changing room cubicle.  From this point, hilarity ensued.  I got the giggles trying to pull the full wetsuit onto Toby.  It just would not go over his feet.  I have no idea what the other customers thought, hearing me dissolve into giggles, punctuated by comments such as "Just keep pulling!" and "How can it be stuck there?".

He's hiding the baggy bit!

Eventually I got it over his feet and although there were baggy bits, the length was good and if I thought he had any hope of getting it on himself, I would have bought that one.  I now also think that Toby has the body of a 12 year old and the feet of a grown man.  No other explanation for a wetsuit that would not go over his feet but otherwise is a good size.  He has his Dad's feet!  Toby now has a shorty wetsuit.

We picked up Mike on the way home and I cooked tea (well, Mike cooked it really) and we ate that and relaxed for the evening.  It was a bit late by the time we ate so the evening flew by.  I went to Toby's room to read to him and fell asleep in Toby's bed.  Oops.  I haven't done that since he was about 4!

Up to ride in this morning.  It is still cold.  Second day of summer?  Hardly.

Have a lovely day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with the Round Taupo race

Hi,

What an amazing weekend.  It started with watching the boys do their morning routine on Friday.  It's a funny act.  They both dawdle interminably and then rush right at the end.  I dropped Toby off at the bus stop and came back for Mike and then dropped him off at work.  I picked up my groceries for the weekend and headed back home to put the bike on.  Not too much later, I was off.

My drive up was uneventful - the weather was quite pleasant and I had a pork pie to eat on the way so I never even needed to stop.

Got into Taupo and opened the house up.  I immediately unpacked, got all my gear ready and laid out and then prepped my bike.  I cleaned and lubed it.  Made sure tyres were ok (glass inspection - all clear).

Bike all prepped and looking shiny and pretty

I drove closer to town and walked in to register.  I got mine and Mike's and queued to change Mike over for Andrew.  The process was a shambles.  I then tried to change my category 7 to category 9 (the same as Iona and Andrew) but they tried to stop me.  Me, being such a mega athlete and all.  Why would I want to move into a lower category?  I said "My husband is in that category and I want to ride with him".  So they caved in and let me.

I wandered back to the house (Tui house again - and it was good again - better book it for next year), thankful I had parked so far out of town.  The immediate vicinity was clogging up fast with cars,

Christine and Brian turned up after a wee while and I played Scrabble with Christine while Brian made tuna pasta bake.  It was scrumptious.  Christine slaughtered me in Scrabble.  She needs to play Mike for a bit of competition.

My words are things like "eye" and "tie".

Christine did use the dictionary

Iona and Col popped over right on tea and we chatted away for a while.  Now, we were all aware of the running water noise, but we all assumed it was something like the dishwasher or the toilet cistern.  None of us went to investigate.  But when Iona and Col got up to leave, Christine shouted "The water!" when she looked at the bathroom.  I ran there in my socks and found myself splashing over the carpet.  Oh no.  I looked into the bathroom but nothing was running.  Then I noticed the water was actually coming from the cupboard.  I opened the cupboard and the hot water cylinder was squirting water from a pipe at the base.  Col immediately ran to turn off the toby and I ran to tell the owners behind.

Fortunately, Dave, the owner, was a retired plumber.  He had it fixed in about 20 minutes.  I promptly went to bed after that excitement.  Christine and Brian mopped up best they could with towels.

Anyhow, Andrew was arriving soon and also prepping for his ride.  I got up at 4.30am and had a shower and got ready.  I was so excited.  I are breakfast (tuna pasta leftovers) and chatted to Andrew.  Then we were off to Iona's motel and collected her then rode to the start line.  We were first in line.  Waiting, waiting.

6am we were off.  The day was cold.  And Iona and I got rained on in the first 40 km but Andrew, 5 mins ahead of us got nothing.  Off and on we got baking sun and freezing rain and a cold wind.  But I found it easier conditions than last year.  Iona was sure it was easier last year.  She has legs of steel though.

I found the first 40 km quite good.  We got to the interchange point 30 mins earlier and anticipated being held up.  But the elite riders must have passed already so we rode right through.

The second 40km is my nemesis.  Lots of up and down.  I need to concentrate on this 40 km in training.

I like the last 80 km.  It includes two big hills, but also great downhills.  I can go faster on the flat sections and the wind was assisting a bit this year (unlike last year where it felt like a head wind).  Andrew let me draft him in sections and it was great.  Coming off Hatepe hill, he was pedalling and I was coasting.  Awesome action, Andrew!  Thank you.

As we approached the finish line, I knew I was close to beating my time by thirty mins from last year.  So I rode faster in the last few kms than last year.  Did it too!

Refreshment stop.  The volunteers are all so nice and supportive.

I'm refreshed!  Only 40 km to go!

Haptepe Hill - the last significant hill.  Only 20 km to go now!

And chatting to Mike at the end.  I was so happy - look at my grin!

Andrew and I rode home and had a shower and fell into bed.  I enjoyed a snooze I have to say.  It was so nice doing nothing.

Christine and Brian came home and cooked tea and it was really yummy.  Chicken with feta, and salads and asparagus.  My ideal meal.  Thank you!!

Iona and Col popped around again and Christine took Brian and Andrew on in dominoes.  We watched and chatted.  I made plans with Col to get up at 3.30am and watch the Aus versus England rugby.  With that in mind, it was an early night.

I got up at 3.15 and Col was in soon after that and then we scoured the Sky channels in vain.  Couldn't find it.  So after about 30 mins of fruitless searching, Col went home to bed and I fell asleep in seconds in my bed.

Up to tidy up and put away the gear.  We drove into town and ate at Replete.  It is a tradition with Andrew and Iona and Col.

Sunday morning iced coffee at Replete.  It was ok.  Not sweet at all.  I quite liked it.  7

2014 number

I filled up with petrol and left just before 10am.  Had a good drive home - it was pretty windy.  Had to fight the car at times.  Just north of Levin a van in front of the car in front of me left the road, climbed a 1 metre high bank with its two passenger side wheels and ripped off vegetation and I was sure would not stay upright.  But when I pulled over, there was the van on the side of the road.  The occupants were shaken but not hurt.  Wow!  How lucky.  I was sure I would be pulling damaged people out of a wreck when I saw the van up on two wheels.

Home safely and super happy to have Taupo done.  Yay.  I did it thirty minutes faster than last year.  7 hours 18 minutes.

Next year I want to have a 6 in the front of my time.

Have a wonderful week. Christmas shopping starts in earnest now.

Love,
Angela