The Thursday with nothing much

Hi,

I rode home bang on 4pm yesterday because the day had sucked me dry.  The ride home always does wonders.  I got home and cooked tea and Mike got home nice and early, despite the traffic chaos.  Guess he was lucky he was driving against most of the traffic.  The trains out towards Kapiti were broken yesterday and so people drove in.  And then there was a crash on SH2.  It clogged everything up.  The traffic past Bowen Hospital that we can see out our window across the valley didn't free up until 1840.  And that is not exactly in the middle of town!

Bye Luke!

 Yesterday was a bit sad for me because Luke is leaving this week to return to the UK.  I've enjoyed working with him.  We had a leaving lunch at Bethel Woods and I had to take a photo of him.

I went out grocery shopping late yesterday, after I was sure the traffic had sorted itself out.  Mike has organised tramping in the school holidays.  It just leaves me to sort out my weekend with Aidan some time soon.  Woot!

This weekend is race weekend.  Sunday morning.  Kapiti Women's Duathlon.  It's going to be fun!

Have a lovely weekend.  Run hard, bike hard!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing much

Hi,

Nothing much except bedlam at work.  But reasonably controlled bedlam.  Not mayhem with a bit of bedlam.  Varied and not horrid.  But bedlam nonetheless.

In fact, I'm not sure I have a lot to say besides that.  Oh - Toby went to the doctor.  He's been off school since last Friday and has this constant cough.  Doctor tried to rule out whooping cough.  Hopefully.  But he has bronchial hyperactivity.  Which I think is doctor-speak for "coughing a lot".  He has medicines coming out his ear.  Although not literally because there is nothing wrong with his ears.  But he has steroids, Ventolin and is sucking on cough lozenges.  Goodness.  Poor kid.

He woke me up at 4.30am this morning with his coughing.  Needless to say, he had been awake for a while, coughing.  Mike and I don't like hearing him coughing all the time.

He is likely to be off school all this week too.

What else?  Oh - it rained last night.  Heavily.  Around about 6.45 pm.  First decent rain in a bit.  But my ride in this morning was on dry roads.  So it's all gone already.

Luke (colleague at work) is having his leaving lunch today.  His last day is tomorrow.  I am sad about that.

Right.  Time for a tea.

Have an incredible day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing for me

Hi,

After a manic day at work I rode home and tidied up.  Toby's room finally sent me over the edge.  Apparently at the weekend Toby "tidied" and Mike okayed it.  Turns out this meant piling up every piece of clothing in his room into one huge pile.  Clean laundry he hadn't put away mixed in with dirty washing.  Just like cats and dogs playing together.  Some sort of unholy thing.  When I complained that it wasn't all dirty, he said his dad never complained.  I said his dad doesn't do the washing!  I wasn't going to be washing clothes all again just because of laziness.

Sigh.

So I tidied up.  Sorted the wheat from the chaff.

Once satisfied Toby could find clean clothes in the correct place and with a tiny handful of dirty clothes I went upstairs to cook tea.  Roast lamb with potatoes.  Not quite like the weekend though.  But it was pretty good.

Mike eventually got home and was so happy with his meeting for Meetup tramping.  It went really well.  And sounds like a trip to Nepal is on the cards for Sept/Oct this year.

It was such a hot night.  Really muggy.  It was sweaty.  We just used a sheet all night.

Right - time to get stuck in and try and stem the manic flow from yesterday.

Have a wonderful day.


Love,
Angela

The Monday with an IT thing after work for me

Hi,

The internet is broken at work this morning.  Goodness knows what will happen to this blog posting.  Last night was interesting.  I was on a careers desk at Naenae College for a Pasifika event where they try and introduce pacific island kids to career options.  The police had a stand, as did the armed forces.  An apprenticeship place.  A sports place.  And us.  Science and technology.  Trying to encourage the kids to consider a career in science.  Like me.  Hahahah.  Not sure that an old pakeha woman was the best advert for a career in IT for young 14 year old Samoans.  But I enjoyed myself.

The woman organising it dropped me back at work around 7.45pm and I got changed and rode home.  After Mike told me he wasn't in a fit state to come and collect me and it was such a nice night for riding home.  Cheeky monkey.  But he was right.  It was lovely.  Not a breath of wind.  And an amazing sea cloud came in through the harbour heads and rolled slowed into the harbour.  Looked incredible.  I was transported to San Francisco.

View from Wadestown - I missed the best view

I got home and Mike fed me some dinner and before I knew it I was in bed.  Mmmmm.  Bed.  Sleep.  Lovely.  Slept like a log until just before my alarm.  Woke up and went for my run.  Still lovely weather.  No wind at all.  Did an ok time and then back for shower and breakfast.

Toby is still off sick today and I have cancelled his appointment this afternoon.  I think he'll be ok for tomorrow though.  With just a remnant of his cough.  I am hoping I don't get it for this weekend's race.  Fingers crossed.

Busy at work today.  I'd better get stuck in.

Have a marvellous day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a French cooking class

Hi,

What a great weekend.  I got home on Friday to sort out Toby.  He'd been off sick and it was uncertain if he'd be up for Dad Camp at the weekend.  As it turned out, he wasn't.

Saturday morning I was up super early - for a Saturday.  6am.  But I got distracted and I didn't get into the shower until 7am.  Oops.  From there I ran out of the house and dropped off some lost property at the Tabor household.  Aidan was waiting for me at the letterbox to receive the goods and return our lost property.  Yes, we seem to cycle our belongings between our boys.  Aidan was understandably still suitably dressed for 7.30am on a Saturday in her purple robe and pyjamas.  Half her luck.

But, actually, I was off on an adventure.  So I was rather excited.  I left town and was at Sally's place by 7.50am.  I briefly saw Andrew after his late night flight back into Wellington from Sydney last week for his Masters course.  He looked sleepy.  And Sally and I were off over the hill to Martinborough.

We got to Martinborough at about 8.50am and had a lovely breakfast at Cafe Medici.  Yum.  Last time I was there was with Aidan after a bike ride.  I enjoyed the iced coffee again - it must be good and consistent.  Had Eggs Benedict.

Great iced coffee at Cafe Medici

Brekkie was good too

We had so much time before the course started at 10am that Sally and I relaxed and chatted for a bit.  Then we went to Palliser Estate (on the way out of Martinborough, towards Featherston, on the right just before the 100 km sign) and waited there.  Janne was next to arrive.  Careme is the cooking class.  Jo Crabb is the chef.  Well recommended.

Wee green car at Palliser Estate in Martinborough

The other 5 on the course with us were a family.  Mother, three girls and a daughter in law.  They were lovely!  Chatty, game for anything.  Good fun.

Gesiers - first course.  Yum!

We made loads of things.  Lunch and dinner.  I think.  Croque Monsieur and some potato thing with salted fish in it, for lunch.  And dinner was heaven.  Gesiers as the starter - on salad.  It was so good.  And then lamb, with basil, parsley and bacon stuffing.  Mmmmmm.

Janne and me - waiting to start!

My place setting

The lamb was superb!

I ate seconds!

We also made two desserts.  A pear tart - which I thought I wouldn't enjoy but was actually really good.  And these chocolate pots of bittersweet goodness.  The best!  I will try and make that for my boys.

Dessert - I will make the chocolate pots again

Sunday was a bit more relaxed.  I did do my bike ride and run and did it in 1 hour 9 mins.  I hope I go under the hour next Sunday in the race!  I did have a bit of fluffing around during the transition from bike to run that I won't have on Sunday.

Grocery shopping was part of the day too.  And a long chat to the neighbour, Arthur.

This morning was thunder and lightning.  We hardly ever get that.  The sky looked amazing.  I got to work relatively dry though.

Loved the sky this morning

Here is my lunchbox today.  Mmmmm.  Must be time for tea and a piece of fruit already.

Inside my lunchbox today

Have an awesome day!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday where we were transported to Athens

Hi,

Happy birthday to Scottie. And Richard.  And Alistair. Busy birthday day.  An absolutely manic day at work.  But the evening was superb.  Mike left me the car keys unexpectedly during the day so I got my bike gear ready and went down to get my bike.  As I got it all out of the shed, something made me check the car keys in my hand.  Oh!  I had the wee green car.  Hahah.  Put my bike back and went to drive home.

I cooked up some tea for Toby and Mike got home just as I was making omelettes.  So we ate those and then left to meet Sharron (and Christine, as it tuned out) at Shakespeare in the Dell at the Botanic Gardens,  It was a showing of Timon of Athens and it was great fun!  Christine turned up halfway through the first half!  She got lost finding the Dell and wandered all over the gardens after parking super close.

Feet and play

Feet, play and ducks

Almost done.  Nice and dark

We had hotties (good plan) and some chocolate (not enough) and I sprawled over the blankets.  Mike and Toby got chairs and Mike only had a t-shirt on so he got really cold towards the end.  He rummaged around in our bag and took out my merino hoodie.  It looked pretty funny on him.  Like a wee waistcoat type of thing.  I hope it still fits me!

Went home and collapsed into a coma of sleep.  I am way too tired today.

Weekend looks great.  I have my birthday present tomorrow.  French cooking class in Martinborough with Sally and Janne.  Ooooooooo.  Maybe karaoke Saturday night.  Running and cycling are in my plans.  The following weekend is my race so I need to make sure my bike is primed.  Oh - and me.

Have a lovely weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with tramping commitments for Mike and art for all of us

Hi,

It was my unbirthday yesterday!  Rode home after a weird day at work and cooked tea for Toby.  We ate quesadillas.  Mmmmm.

Then we hopped in the car and headed down to meet Mike after his committee meeting at the back of Te Papa for the Arcade shipping container art exhibition.  Great fun.  We really enjoyed Lisa's rainscape one.  We went in there three times!

Toby wanted to go into the container with a naked photographer that takes a photo of your reaction to her nudity.  We didn't let him.  And I suspect the people with clipboards out the front may have also had something to say about it.

Mike and Toby heading for another container of art

City looked lovely

Hmmmmm.  Art.

Toby enjoyed the evening and the art in the containers

Playing in the park afterwards

Toby and I went home via the park and Mike went home via the car he had at tramping club.  He beat us home.  We all played Cards Against Humanity and I actually enjoyed it.  Some of the cards are rather rude and I just throw them into the discard pile without trying to use them.  But it was a lot of fun.

I won!

Not sure how.

Anyhow - have a lovely day.  It is rather nice here in Wellington.  My bike ride in was pleasant,

We have Shakespeare in the Park tonight.  Woot!  Can't wait.  I'll pack chocolate and hotties, along with blankets and pillows.

Have a fantastic day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with my birthday - and the best birthday ever

Hi,

Well, it is going to be hard to top that birthday.  No, wait!  I happen to think next year might be even better given it is a super special birthday.  Woot!  Party time next year!

My lunch with Aidan for my birthday was so great.  We drove in the wee green car to La Cloche and Aidan didn't even have to think about what she wanted.  Their French onion soup is her idea of heaven.  I had a seafood casserole thing.  Of course, I didn't touch my salad until Aidan said "Aren't you going to eat your salad?".  Sounding awfully like Mike there.  So, I ate a bit, poked at it.  Behaving awfully like Toby there.  And the waiter chap came up in his French way and laughed at me for not eating my salad and said I had no right to eat the dessert that was completely finished on my plate.  Aidan then said it was ok because it was my birthday.  Whereupon he promptly gave me a continental kiss and hug.

Funny.

I got the best present from Aidan possible,  Well, I got a cool drink bottle.  But inside that card in my hand below is a voucher for a day bike riding with her.  Yep!  Going to cash that in as soon as I can.

Birthday present from Aidan

The best birthday present Aidan could possibly get me!

I dropped Aidan off at work and found the same car park free I had left.  How lucky was that?  Back at work, a colleague (not Mike) had bought me flowers and chocolates.  Wow!

My secret admirer at work.  No - it wasn't Mike

The afternoon sped past and before I knew it I was leaving work like a mad thing.  I collected Aidan and dropped her home (she had to get her car and collect her boys - it was mother frantic after school time, obviously) and got home to quickly see Toby and jump back in the car for birthday date night.

We watched Land Ho! - a movie set in Iceland about two older men on a road trip.  Mike and I loved it.  It was sweet.  The scenery was beautiful.  We'd been to a few places and nudged each other every time we spotted something familiar.

Only 4 other women were in the cinema.  And they were quite a bit older than us.  After the movie, two of them were outside talking about it and said how boring the movie was.  I decided it was because it was a movie about men, and men don't talk like women do.  So more was said about the two men in the movie by what was unsaid.  But these two women didn't realise.  They were waiting for a huge dramatic conversation to explain everything.

Mike and I went to Charley Noble after that and Mike now thinks it is the best restaurant he has been to in Wellington.  I had crudo (again) and lamb shoulder (again).  Mike had aracini and sirloin steak.  Everything was perfection.  Mike drank a shiraz with his meal and then asked the waitress for a dessert wine recommendation.  He got offered the 4 wines as a taste.  He loved it.  He also got a tiramisu and that looked good too.

Back home and I dropped off Benjamin and sang my head off driving back home.  Collapsed into a sleep!

What an incredible birthday.  So many people wished me happy birthday.  It was really amazing.  I said to Aidan I wish I had a birthday every day.  She said I'd get tired with it and it wouldn't be special.  She also wondered why I think a birthday is special in the first place.  Although she also recalled thinking it was special when she was a child.  Maybe I haven't grown up in this regard.

Hahahah.  Mike also wondered when I was going to finally get old.  Not yet, Mike!

Wonderful.  Thanks everyone.  Thanks Mum.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with not much - but the Tuesday with my birthday!

Hi,

I rode home last night and enjoyed the ride so much.  I felt like a machine.  But when I was describing my ride home to Mike later, I realised it was a southerly and must have assisted me up the hill.  Pants.  Just when I thought I was getting fitter.  Hahahah.

Toby showing Mike something they both agree is great

We had a lovely evening at home.  Relaxing.  I was in bed quite early and read a lot before falling asleep.  Woke up to a stunning birthday morning.  Went for my run and there was not a breath of wind.

View from our house

I drove in this morning because I have fancy birthday lunch plans with Aidan and then Mike has even fancier birthday evening plans for me.  It involves a movie (about Iceland) and dinner.  Mmmmm.  It's going to be a great day!

And look!  Even Google knows it's my birthday!

Happy birthday Angela - love from Google

Cityscape this morning

Sally and Andrew's building

Right.  Must be time for a cup of tea before the madness of a normal working day starts.  The day is beautiful here.  Hope you have a little bit of Angela birthday weather wherever you are today too.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with bits and pieces

Hi,

Happy birthday John!

Well, my Friday got off to a great start with drinks after work.  Then I got a text from Mike saying I needed to collect him from work because he had the car and had already had too much wine to drive home.  Hahah.  So I went back to work and waited for him while he got waylaid by people wanting him to work at that hour on a Friday.  Eventually I dragged him out and we got burgers on the way home.  Toby had found the chocolate cream (in a can) and drinking chocolate and was concocting a milky chocolately monster.

We watched a movie.  Or I watched a lot of it and the boys watched and loved it.  22 Jump St.  Whatever.  My movie taste and Toby's movie taste is diverging.  Mike says his movie taste and Toby's is converging.  Gone are the days when Toby wants to see movies like Frozen with me.

Saturday Mike work with a migraine.  He took medicine and then slept for a good portion of the day.  I did the essentials like laundry and also managed to read a bit.  Isaac arrived at 4pm for a sleepover and I texted Aidan to see if her boys wanted to come too.  They did!  Yay.  So I cooked tea for them all and they played games downstairs and enjoyed some time in the park.

All four boys on Toby's bed

They watched the same movie Saturday night as us on Friday.  Great!  Not!  And they were all asleep around 10pm.  I was, anyway!

Up early Sunday morning to meet the rest of the Tabor family at Maranui cafe for breakfast.  Mmmm.  Jackie was back with two friends of hers and we chatted away to them for ages.  And breakfast was good.  As usual.

I went grocery shopping on the way home and then we had lunch.  I went for my run and did a good time.  Emerson and Duncan had their stuff collected by Aidan at 2pm but they were at the park.  So when they got back, I dropped them home.

After that, it was off to Isaac's house for tea.  And what an awesome tea it was.  Yum.  I even ate green beans.  Sally cooked a great dinner.

Two beers from Marlborough to commemorate the US vs NZ.  One with American hops and one with NZ hops.  Mike loved them

NZ hops one

Tim had these two beers that Mike and he drank.  They loved them.  Tim owns shares (crowd sourcing) in the brewery in Marlborough.  An American hops beer and a NZ hops beer.

We stayed well past my bedtime.  Got home late and fell into bed.  Slept like a log.

It's birthday week!  Tomorrow is the big day.  And the forecast is stunning.

My ride in this morning was nice and dry but there is a nip in the air still from the southerly we had over the last 5 days.

Have a fantastic week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing much

Hi,

I did catch up with Ilske for an iced coffee.  I have converted her to them.  That was nice.  And Mike joined us so we chatted loads.

I also noticed we have birthday milk in our fridge at home.  Birthday month reminders!  Woot!

The happiest milk of the year!

I rode home in lovely weather and got tea ready for Toby.  Mike was delayed coming home so he had a late tea.  I don't know what it is at the moment, but I cannot stay awake when I get into bed.  I read.  Turn out the light and within seconds I seem to be asleep.  And I'm sleeping until the alarm goes off.

This morning's run was a little slow.  I need to try and get faster.  My bike ride in was fast!  Hahahah.

Just had breakfast with Roanne.  A lovely way to kick start the day.  Weekend looks good.  We're marching in the gay pride parade tomorrow morning.  Mike has some decluttering tasks on his list (we need the garage sorted so we can park the motorbike and the car in there).  Isaac is coming for a sleepover.  And we have tea at his house Sunday.

Perfect.  Bring it on!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with user group for me and tramping club for Mike

Hi,

I had such a busy day yesterday.  But good busy.  Productive busy.  Not running around screaming, thrashing busy.  Things got done.

When it had all died down at the end of the day, I went to the first user group session for the year.  It was well attended.  Good job!  From there I wandered back to work and got changed and rode home.

The evening had turned into the most stunning sort of evening.  Toby had already had tea so I just tidied up.  Made the house look more respectable again.  At the weekend it was looking good.  But entropy sets in over the course of the week and turns my order into chaos.

Toby and I went to bed and at some hour of the night Mike got in.  Unfortunately for me (not really), he was in the mood for talking.  We blethered on about all sorts of things.  Feminism.  Failures of IT. Weekend jobs.  And possibly other things that my half asleep brain can't recall now.

Eventually went to sleep but it was a measure of my lack of sleep that I feel back to slleep after my alarm this morning.  That never ever happens.  Mike's alarm woke me and that hurled me out of bed.  In a panic!

This morning's view from our dining room

But everything got done.  Mike and Toby got their lunch made (mine, not so much).  And everyone was up and showering when I left.  Woot!

Time to kick start the day.  Such a lovely ride in.

Have a wonderful Thursday.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Jack and a book launch

Hi,

Toby got off the school bus in town and came to work at the same time as his friend Jack turned up.  Jack had two hours free before his mother's book launch at parliament and Toby and Jack enjoyed catching up with each other.  They stayed on level 8 at work while I caught up with work.  I think they had the better deal.

At 1730 we went down to parliament and entered the hall where the book launch was held.  It was packed - but the crown were all milling around at the door end.  So once I had my name tag, I moved well down the other end.  And then I sidled around to be as far away from the throng as possible.  To observe from the sidelines.

Ummmm.  That technique failed miserably.  Jack's mum came over to me and we exchanged some words before - BOOM!  The event started.  And because I was next to her, I reckon I am in quite a few photos.  Peter Dunne opened the proceedings and then came and stood next to me as the evening progressed.  I am sure he has no idea who I am still.  Probably thinks I am a high powered lawyer.

The evening was such fun.  Toby chatted away to Jack and they both had such a good time.

Iced coffee with Rex during the day

Jack and Toby chatting

Outside parliament afterwards

Beehive

The food came around on platters after the speeches.  I think the waiting staff cottoned on to the couple on the side, away from anyone else, who would eat anything you offered them.  If they only had a couple of things left on their platter, they'd come to us.

I got so full - by stealth!  One wee nibble after another.

We said our goodbyes and left.  Mike is promising to take Toby up to visit soon.

Back home and off to bed.

The next morning (this morning) I got a text from Andrew saying he was sorry but he couldn't make the Bike to Work Day with me.  Oooooohhhh!  I had completely forgotten.  So I made lunches and left in a huge hurry and enjoyed the waterfront and a bagel.

Bike to work Day

It was such a wonderful ride into town.  I sat in a truck cab to see what the visibility was like from their perspective.  The answer?  Hopeless!  Their mirrors are so tiny compared to the size of the truck.  And so many blind spots.

Best avoid trucks when you're on a bike.

Then I went into work.  

Should be a good day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday with Toby duties

Hi,

Monday was a blur of work - frantically busy for most of it.  But it did pass pretty quick.  Then Toby was at work and we headed off in the car to his appointment.  That went well and from there we headed back into town to collect Mike.

Once all three of us were in the car, we drove out towards Scots and found the yummy Mexican place closed on Mondays.  Stink.  I remembered Jo saying Gasworks was ok for family meals so we went there.  Toby loved his burger.  But the chicken wings were dry husks and my steak was tough.  No wonder I got given a knife Crocodile Dundee would have been proud to use.  Not high on our list of places to re-visit.

Off to see the Fergusson reception and meet other parents and teachers.  We saw inside Toby's locker and it was remarkably tidy.  Wow!  We have some plans for helping him get organised and hopefully he has an amazing year.

Back home and I was asleep in seconds, once in bed.  Slept right through until my alarm at 5am.  Got up for my run and did an alright time.  The wind has died down and the rain cleared away and the roads were dry.  Good news for my bike ride into work too.

Busy day today again.  And Jack is in town this afternoon so Toby is catching up with him.  And we're all invited to Parliament to Mai's book launch.  Wow.  How cool.

Have a fantastic day. I know I will.  It is off to a wonderful start.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with three days off and the most fun

Hi,

What an awesome weekend.  I love three day weekends.

The Thursday that was like a Friday wasn't an overly auspicious start to the weekend.  Mike and I drove back into town with jumper leads to try and start the motorbike that got delivered from Dunedin.  To no avail.  It didn't help that it had fallen over in the gusty Wellington wind and flooded.  Mike dropped me off at Sally and Andrew's work and went to get a trailer.  While we ate yummy food at Portlander, he came back with the trailer and took the bike home.  Andrew helped him get the bike on.  Mike was so efficient that he was back in time for our mains.  He's amazing.

Next morning I eventually got up for my run.  A bit later than usual at 8.30.  But it was good fun.  Aidan dropped her boys off at our place and she and I left in the wee green car for a day of driving adventure in the Wairarapa.  We left around 10.30 or so and wandered slowly over the hill, with Aidan doped up on her car sickness medicine.  The last time I drove her over the hill without it, we had to stop on the side of the road and allow the waves of nausea to subside.  I was all for her medicating herself this time.  And it seemed to work.  We were held up in slow traffic going up and over and Aidan was eternally grateful for small mercies.  But she never felt sick.

Top of Rimutaka Hill

We got to the Clareville Bakery just on midday and Aidan bought me lunch.  Whereupon I promptly ordered breakfast.  Eggs benedict.  Mmmmm.  And it was good.  We shared a cronut (is that the way I was supposed to phrase it, Aidan?) and I had an iced coffee.  It was a pretty good one.

Aidan had a sandwich, but I think my eggs trumped her sandwich.











We chatted about music and work and sang lots.  Aidan enjoyed the roof being down when I was singing particularly loud.  Something about drowning out the noise.  And I don't think she was referring to the driving noise.

Iced coffee at Clareville Bakery

Driving in the wee green car

From Clareville Aidan decided the goal was Napier, but after we went through Masterton and Mt Bruce she had decided that Lulu would have felt abandoned by the time we got back from there.  So Aidan navigated us from Eketahuna to Castlepoint via route 52.  A lovely drive,  And yes, Aidan self medicated again.

Walking to the lighthouse

We got to Castlepoint relatively late in the afternoon.  Maybe around 4pm.  And was it windy.  Wow.  The car has been finely sandblasted.  As have Aidan and I.

Aidan braced against the wind taking the photo of
 me sitting under the lighthouse

My favourite photo - me next to the lighthouse

On top of Castlepoint headland.  There is actually a lighthouse growing out of my head, but you can't tell from this photo.

 We wandered up to the lighthouse and around to the viewpoint.  The waves were strong enough to be breaking over the path.  One woman looked a bit fearful at the location her husband made her pose in.  But she got back to the path safely without me having to go over and get her.  I would have got wet.

On the top the wind blew out any cobwebs.  Wow - did it what!!!  But the sea was a lovely colour, tipped by whitecaps.

Walking up to the high point

Aidan posing in front of a dramatic, stunning backdrop

Aidan and me on top of Castlepoint

More driving fun

Virgin mule.  Lovely.

Aidan has a matching drink

 We got back in the car and headed to Greytown for tea.  Salute.  The tapas restaurant.  Mmmm.  Tapas.  We had a selection of yummy things and Aidan got me a drink.  She had a matching one but with a bit of alcohol in hers.













I am completely mystified by the formatting in this blog post.  No idea what is going on with it.  This particular paragraph is formatting in the middle of the page.  Too weird

Ok.  Whatever.  The formatting is pants and I can't move any photos around anymore.

So, where were we?  Eating tapas.  Yep.  From there we drove to Kaitoke and caught up with Mike and the boys.  They were camping and unbeknownst to us, they had only been there a few hours before we got there.  They had a slow start to their camping day.

We dropped off dessert to them and headed home.  Aidan got home and fed Lulu and didn't lose any limbs in the process.  She's lucky Lulu is so understanding.

Next day was Saturday and I did a load of tidying.  I also worked a bit.  A release to a production site wasn't going as well as expected.  But by midday it came right.  Yay.

I called Vivienne and got Benjamin on the phone.  So I said Hello Benjamin is your mother there?  And Benjamin helpfully said "I'm at work".  So I looked at my phone, sure I had called the home phone.  And Benjamin said "You'll be wanting Vivienne then".  And I said "Yes".  As the phone got handed to Vivienne I realised Benjamin was actually John.  Oops.  He sounded just like Benjamin!

I fed Ange's cats at 5pm and then got ready for karaoke night.  I collected Vivienne, got the Jazz and then we collected Aidan and Shannon and got to Monsoon Poon at 6.30 on the dot.  The others arrived soon enough (Andrew, Ilske, Christine and Brian) and we all ate a banquet of yummy food.

Andrew mixes

DIY iced coffee

Taste test at Zany Zeus

From there we went to K-Zone on Wakefield for karaoke fun.  Well, I had fun.  And I think Ilske had fun.  Aidan says she had fun.  But whether she ever does it again with me would be the determining factor.  Andrew sang, despite not knowing most of the songs.  Christine spent a lot of time chortling at the lyrics.  The best lyrics mess was "Ricochet, take your aim" translated to "Brick of shame, take your rain".  That had us in fits.  Aidan was translating that song on the fly for us.

Home early enough after dropping off everyone.  Slept well and up for my run Sunday morning.  More tidying before brunch with Sally and Andrew at Zany Zeus's.  Then a bit of computer stuff before going home to see my boys.

Dinner with Emerson and Duncan

Aidan was collecting Josh from Holdsworth and there was an accident on the way home so they went via Palmerston North.  They got to us quite late at 730 pm and their boys zombied into the car.

So, it was an action packed weekend.  I loved it.  Chatted Mike's ear off last night in bed and now need an early night to compensate.

Have a fantastic week.

Love,
Angela