The Monday with parent teacher interviews

Hi,

After a long day at work I hopped in the wee green car and enjoyed a drive across town to Toby's school with the roof down and a bit of Pink on the stereo.  Not too shabby a way to end the day at work.  Perhaps not quite the same stress relief as riding up the hill to our house.  But pleasant nonetheless.

I got to the school hall early and planned my sessions with each teacher on the seating plan.  5 minutes with 7 teachers.  One 30 minute gap.  Everything went like clockwork.  No hold ups.  Easy.  Some were only 2 minutes (Toby is fine, doing this fine, doing that fine, nothing else to say) and some took the full 5 minutes.  It was all good.  Toby is doing better than last year but missed two weeks this term with his bad cough.  Oh well.  I was happy enough.

Mike picked up the groceries on his way home so I had no need to do it.  I drove straight home and sat down to a yummy tea Mike had cooked.  Mmmmm.  We chatted away about the interviews and Toby said he'd try and make some changes where needed.  Good.

The boys watched television for a while and I read in bed.  I was comatose when Mike got into bed I think.  Slept like a log.  No sign of the rats.  I think the bait has dealt to them.

This morning's run was lovely.  Clear starry skies and no wind.  I am not feeling 100% but I did an ok time.  The ride in was lovely.  The sun was still rising and everything was clear and still.  Dry roads.  Very nice.

Have a wonderful day today, whatever you are doing.

Love,
Angela

The weekend that was just great

Hi,

So, I rode home on Friday and found Toby all ready for his weekend. He took some money and walked down to the Wadestown shops to buy his Burger Wisconsin burger and came back to eat it.  We watched Rocky II for our Friday night movie  Toby declared it better than the first movie.

Mike was already off and driving up to Taupo for his colleagues who were doing the Oxfam 100km walk challenge.  He was the support crew for them.  It was tough even being the support person let alone the actual walkers.  Crazy people.  But amazing endurance.  Both teams we had an interest in did well, and the third team stuck at it and made it in 32 hours.  Wow!  Just wow!

Meanwhile, Saturday morning Aidan came to collect me and Toby and we went to archery in Trentham.  The rain hosed down as we approached the range but mysteriously it dried up completely for the thirty minutes Aidan shot her arrows.  The boys stayed in the car and I watched quite a few ends.  Aidan was really good.  No arrows flew off anywhere they shouldn't.  The pair of paradise ducks far behind the target (called a butt) were perfectly safe.

Watching Aidan was great fun.  Seeing the effort she had to put into every shot was amazing.  I have no idea how hard it is to draw her bow, but it must be tough.

Aidan showing me how it's done

From there we went to Upper Hutt to find a cafe.  I had been to one before but had no idea where it was apart from it being in the high street.  But as we walked around a corner, it happened to be right there.  We all ate lunch and I got super full.

Good iced coffee in Upper Hutt

Being super full wasn't conducive to going swimming.  But we did so.  H2OXtreme.  I like that place.  Aidan and I got changed and met the boys outside the changing rooms.  It's funny seeing Aidan without glasses.  But she's not as blind as Mike without his, because she could recognise me across the crowded pool when she needed to.

The boys were immediately into the game of "drown the other boy" so Aidan and I left them to it and went on the water slides.  Aidan plucked up courage on the easier slide before trying the blacked out one.  As I went down behind her I heard a lot of screaming.  But as we came out of the bottom of the pool together she tried to tell me that screaming wasn't from her.  Aha.  Sure, sure.  I knew better.  And when the lifeguard said we could go down the slide together, I knew for sure it was her screaming.  We did that quite a few times before Aidan tried the super fast, steep yellow slide.  But after water was forced up our noses due to our poor technique, we went back to the blacked out slide.
The boys also eventually went on the slides.  But they got bored faster than us and I lost them and went on the slides for a bit by myself.  Aidan was enjoying the spa pool.

Time to leave and we all got changed and Aidan dropped us off home.  I went grocery shopping and then cooked tea for them,  They played games and watched the first Rocky movie.  I bought rat bait from the supermarket and laid that in the roof space.  Mainly because the rats have been moving furniture up there over the last few days, waking me up!  Didn't hear them last night!  Yes!!

Next morning Aidan came over for breakfast and we chatted away before heading into Cuba St for the Love Parade.  Aidan met up with some friends and Celia and Serge turned up so I chatted to them.

Aidan and Celia await the start of the parade

Toby noisily whistles the parade people

Watching the parade before we joined on to the end

Celia and her children were right there too

Toby's hair looks so blonde in this photo!

Celia and Serge in the parade

My shadow and Aidan's shadow.  She looks like she's carrying a feather in her teeth!

From there we went to Yum Cha at the Grand Century.  Aidan managed to move the car closer - which was incredible because the traffic was diabolical.  We ate there and then she dropped us off at home.  And as we opened the front door, Mike got home from Taupo.  Yay!

Had dinner and watched television while ironing and slept the sleep of the dead.  What a great weekend.  Such fun.

Have a great short week.  My parents arrive soon.  Can't wait for that!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a work quiz

Hi,

Caught up with Roanne and the main bunch of people for lunch at One Red Dog.  Shared pizzas. Tasted pretty good but the iced coffee filled me up and I had no space for trying them all.

Manic iced coffee face.  First one at One Red Dog.  It was ok.  Average.  6.5

What a great evening yesterday.  Work was work.  But then, as a fund raiser for an Oxfam team at work, we had a work quiz event.  It was a lot of fun.  I was in a team with Jurica, Celia, Dave and Mike.  We did pretty well.  Coming second to a team that usually wins and only got the two points they beat us by when they used their phone during the quiz to scan a QR code on one of the answer sheets.  Felt like cheating to us to get our phones out.  We were chuffed.  And although we didn't get the awesome Fone Team Quiz trophy, we got some cool stuff.  Except perhaps for the rose wine Celia donated that we "won" back.  She wasn't overly pleased about that part.  Hahahah!

Team with unpronounceable Croatian name

Team with unpronounceable name

I took Mike home, collected Benjamin (thanks!) and caught up with his news about uni (he's enjoying it - only one class starts at 10am and he's coping with that!).  Dropped him off.  Dropped off Jurica somewhere in the bowels of Newlands, but fortunately it seemed easier to extricate ourselves than to find his house.  And also Celia knew where she was, mostly.

Dropped her at Porirua train station where her car was parked and enjoyed my drive back home with the music on loud!  Choice.

Lovely morning here.  Overcast but no wind at all.  My run was lovely.  And the ride in had the bonus of dry roads.

Mike heads off this afternoon for Taupo because he is crewing for the Oxfam team that ran the quiz.  Hope he has fun doing that!

Go Nicolette!  She's in another team with some Intergen connections.  Hope she does well.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing but more maths

Hi,

Well, I managed to grab the car off Mike and I drove home.  Found Toby already getting stuck into his maths homework.  Another 2 hours of it.  I hope he now realises that 5 hours in two days is far worse than 5 hours spread over 5 weeks!  But, somehow, I doubt it.

Mike was supposed to call me at 7pm and ask to be collected.  But 7pm came and went.  I texted him.  But nothing.  At 8.30 he comes in and his phone had gone flat.  So he had to get home on his own.  Poor guy.  But he helped with the last tricky parts of Toby's homework.

Slept really well again.  Woke before the alarm but that's ok.  Mike and I have a late night tonight.  Work has a quiz night.  Benjamin will go and look after Toby.  We'll be home late.

Right.  Time for a tea I think.  Have a wonderful day.  I caught the bus in so we can drive home together tonight.  But it is dry out there.  Dark when I leave the house at 7am now though.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with lunch with Aidan and Mike in Chch

Hi,

Well, I was a bit grumpy all through the day.  No reason.  Just grumpy.  Work, I guess.  But at least I had lunch with Aidan and although I wasn't the best company, she at least made me temporarily happy.  We ate at a wee place tacked on to the Backbencher, Basically sells coffee with a sideline of food.  Greg (her colleague) joined us.  My sandwich was good.  My cookie wasn't quite so good. I tasted Aidan's soup and possibly for tomato and capsicum soup it was pretty good.  But it tasted far too healthy for me - like tomatoes and capsicum blended together.

I rode home and made some dinner for Toby as he started his maths homework.  We worked on it for 3 hours.  The most amazing things was, no one shouted.  Three hours of torture, but we had a few laughs and Toby has realised if he hugs me at the right moment, it stops me from getting too cross.  So I got hugs, and we got 80% of his maths done.  We get to finish it tonight.  Oh yay!  I mean:  Yay!  Yay!  I should be enthusiastic.  Anyhow, I left the hardest 20% for Mike to do with him, but it turns out Mike is busy.  So it is me for that last hard 20%.  Joy!  I was texting Aidan during the maths arduous marathon and of course she had her marathon x 2!  I really felt for her at that moment.  I was in bed almost asleep at 2100 and she was still going.

New Zealand won the cricket.  I was sure they wouldn't so I never followed it.  Followed the first few overs and then scared myself silly so I went to sleep.  It was a huge surprise to hear they had won when I woke up.  Wow.

Harbour this morning as I rode in

My ride in was superb.  The rain had stopped and the roads were dry.  I hurtled down the hill, stopping to take a photo of the harbour with its multitude of shades of grey and cruise ship coming in and container ship leaving.  It looked amazing with the sun coming up behind the clouds.

Right.  Time for a tea.  My computer wants a reboot and it doesn't take no for an answer.

Have a marvellous day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing

Hi,

Monday came and Monday went.  Although Mike tells me it was quite exciting catching the school bus in the morning.  They were running late and chased the bus down the hill.  At the bottom, Toby jumped out but his bus pulled away from the stop as he ran there.  However the traffic lights just ahead turned red so Toby ran to the bus at the intersection and the bus driver let him on and Mike breathed a sigh of relief at not having to drive Toby across town to school.

Today is a wee bit different.  Mike is in Christchurch so he drives to the airport.  And given Toby's school is close by, they go together.  Fun!

Last night I rode home and chatted away to Toby as he did his homework.  He enjoyed his English writing course a lot.  He was ten minutes late for it at the start and they nearly didn't let him join in.  But he managed to convince them to allow him in.  And he got a lot out of it.  I wish I could find him a creative writing course to do in Wellington.

I made dinner and Mike got home nice and early.  After tea the boys went out for a run.  Sounds like it went well.  Then we all went to bed.  And I thought we all went to sleep because I certainly did.  But Mike tells me he got up and started working downstairs.  Had a problem with network drives,  Drove into work.  Did something there and came back and still failed with some network issue and then went to bed.

Ummmm.  I never noticed a thing.  I must have been absolutely comatose.  I know I was asleep in minutes because Aidan texted at 8.50pm and I was almost asleep then.  Read her text, responded (gee, I hope it made sense!) and was probably well asleep by 9pm.

Got up for my run and did an ok time (not as fast as Sunday morning - my fastest time yet).  My ride in was lovely.  Dry roads.  Fast ride.

Have a brilliant day!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with bored games

Hi,

Hahahah.  My blog post title is the best pun I've made yet!

Happy birthday to Sally for yesterday!

Friday I chatted to Ange before leaving work.  Mike came online and he was going to come with me so I pinged him.  And it turns out my message to him was in front of the company meeting upstairs.  Lucky I never said anything cheeky like "Hey gorgeous, how about it?".  That might have started rumours between Mike and me.  It was the second time that week I had pinged him and it was in a meeting where it popped up.  He needs to use the "Do Not Disturb" status more,

We drove home and Mike and Toby got burgers while I made a salad for myself.  Mmmm.  My favourite.

Saturday I stayed in bed late and then got up for a shower and off to buy groceries for lunch because Mike had invited the neighbours over for board games.  And although they chose possibly the least boring game (Rails - in Australia) it went for 4.5 hours and it was well past my attention span.  We did have fun.  I ate yummy cheese and I enjoyed watching Mike and Art discuss the finer intricacies of the game.  Watched through my eyelids.

Mike makes a move in Queensland

Mike made his pot luck dinner after that and headed off for the evening while Toby and I relaxed at home.  I made sushi for tea and I am unsure if my attempts are getting better looking or not.  But Toby ate seconds.  So they must be ok.

Toby's firsts

Mine

From dinner, I read a bit and then Toby and I went to sleep.  Although I think I was awake when Mike got home from his dinner.  He had a great time and his salad was a huge hit.

Next morning was wet, wet, wet!  I was supposed to go watch Aidan shoot some arrows at her archery but the weather wasn't playing nicely.  So I went for my run and did my best time ever.  Happy with that.  It stopped raining on me as I started.  No wind.  Very nice.

Feet after the run

Then I jumped in the car and grabbed some lunch from La Cloche for Aidan as she had canned the archery in favour of me bringing her lunch.  Sounded good to me.  I got some of her new favourite French onion soup and baguette with a lemon tart to finish.  Found her a little under the weather, as she seems to have caught the beginnings of a head cold.  So she was all for cups of tea and lying on the couch.  It was a low key visit.  I enjoyed it.  Aidan ate her soup with relish.  So I think I chose well there.  We chatted about Scotland a fair bit.  It's an easy subject for me to talk about.

Then I went home and Mike decided to iron for me.  I sat and watched him and chatted away to him.  He complained a fair bit about the chore.  It was entertaining.

My well trained husband

We headed out the door for the family dinner at Helen and Ron's place.  It was a huge day because it was Sally's birthday!  Iona and Col were down, as were Aidan and Janne (and it was Aidan's birthday a few days ago).

Iona made birthday cake

Sally carves into her cake

We caught up with everything and enjoyed the chatting.  Then we were off and home.  I finished the ironing before hitting the bed.

Sleeeeeep.  It was great!  Could have gone on for longer.

This morning's ride in was dry enough.  The roads were wet from overnight.  But not too bad.

The week starts!  Woot!

Have fun.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with lunch with Aidan and goodbyes to Luke

Hi,

What a whirlwind social Thursday I had.  I had lunch with Aidan, which was really nice because I was working late and could actually spend longer than thirty minutes with her.  We ate sushi.  Mmmm.  Sushi.  Chatted about various things.  The weather was so cold.  I was in a jacket and a scarf.  Me!  In March!

I also took a colleague out for a coffee, so I had another iced coffee.  What am I doing?  I need to substitute something else.  But they are so good.  She was a bit astonished at having to take my photo while I had a sip.

Iced coffee at Mixed Business

Bye Luke.  See you in London one day

We all say goodbye Luke

Ange appeared at my desk and took me to the pub for Luke's last drinks before they leave New Zealand.  We enjoyed sampling the delights of the Fork and Brewer's bar menu.  Their cheesy fries weren't as good as the Green Man's cheesy fries.

Then Ange took me home.  The boys had already had their dinner and they were almost ready for bed.  Toby was proud to say he had been selected for a writers workshop next week.  Monday from 10 - 12.  Good on him.  I am also proud.  He loves writing.

The weekend beckons.  And it looks good.  Like always.

Have a wonderful weekend yourself.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with not much

Hi,

I rode home and enjoyed the benefits of the southerly again.  Woot!  Fairly flew up the hill.  Well, maybe in my mind's eye.

I made a scrumptious dinner.  Roasted vegetables (zucchini, capsicum, red onion, potato), rare lamb steak sliced up, roasted pinenuts, feta (everything is better with feta) and rocket and spinach.  Not sure Toby liked it much.  But Mike thought I'd turned into a gourmet chef.  He's so easy to please.  Hahah.

Not sure where the evening went.  I was in bed before I knew it.  I think my book was calling to me.  I have finished it and the entire series, so now I'll actually get some things done in the evenings.  Before I find a new series to read.

Yesterday I did get out briefly from work with Rex.  He is partial to iced coffees too - despite having a bad reaction to caffeine.  Mike asked the obvious.  Why don't we get him a decaf iced coffee.  We're totally trying that next week!

Rex and I share an iced coffee

I have my eye on Rex's iced coffee too

Right.  Time for a tea and to start the day.  Hopefully less mayhem and havoc than most days.  We can only hope.

Enjoy your Thursday!  Make it count.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Mike in Chch

Hi,

So, every Tuesday for a while, Mike is flying down to Christchurch for work.  Down and back on the same day.

I rode home last night and was pleased the wind and rain had eased a lot.  It was pleasant enough, if cooler than I have been used to.  The southerly assisted me up the hill.  Always a good thing.

Cooked dinner for Toby and we relaxed after homework was done.  I read a bit.  Then I think I was almost asleep by the time Mike got home.  In fact, it is all hazy.  I might have been walking while half asleep to let him in.  Or maybe I didn't even get out of bed.  I can't remember at all.  I think I was reading.  Oh yeah.  No, wait.  I think Mike took the book out of my hand.  Ok - I was basically asleep when he got home.  Hahahah.

This morning is clear and cool, but mostly sunny.  Shame that cruise ship in yesterday wasn't scheduled for today.  It might be cold today, but it is lovely.

Right.  Time to kick start the day.  Have a brilliant Wednesday!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with normal routine

Hi,

Well, apart from leaving work early to drive across to Scots to collect Toby and back to Khandallah for his appointment, it was a routine day.  No, wait.  That doesn't sound terribly routine.  And we've had so much rain.  So, it was a slow drive all around Wellington.  But Toby and I got home and I cooked dinner and Mike arrived just as I was eating mine.  So we ate together.

Then I convinced the boys that what they wanted more than anything was a walk.  So we got into warmer clothes (yes, the southerly had kicked in by then) and went for a long walk.  Loved it!  Thanks boys!

We all slept well too.  So there you go!  I got up early for my run.  Went out in my t-shirt and smartly came back in and pulled on my merino long-sleeved top instead.  And it was just the right temperature with that on.  I would have been freezing with just my t-shirt on.  Might be the end of t-shirt running weather.

Mike dropped Toby off at school today because Tuesdays are his Christchurch day.  So he's off down there and has Tuesday flights booked for ages.  He also has a social club movie night tonight.  So I won't see him for ages.  I'll be completely asleep by the time he gets home.

Time for a tea!  I could happily murder a cup of tea right now.

Have the best day ever!

Love,
Angela

The weekend that was just wonderful

Hi,

Although it was a weekend at home, I had a wonderful weekend.  Jam packed with loads of things.  Let's see if I can remember any of it.

Friday I caught up with Ilske for an iced coffee after getting a ride with Jo from work to Cuba Street to drop off the tax documents.  The exciting part of that was Jo took me on the back of her scooter.  She was awesome, given I was by far the heaviest pillion she'd ever had.  The wee scooter handled it brilliantly.  I was so chuffed!

Iced coffee at Thunderbird with Ilske

Got home after work and Mike had collected Toby from the ferry terminal with Josh and his boys.  We had lots of cuddles and Toby was so talkative and looked happy and healthy.  We watched a movie together called "FAQ About Time Travel".  It was hilarious.  And in the end credits, Mike Gilbert drove a car for them!

Mike Gilbert as the Camera Car Driver

But before the movie, I wandered around to Ange's house to collect her spare iron after the disaster last weekend where our trusty iron popped the fuses in the house.  I watched a bit of TV with Ange and watched one of her cats sleeping next to me.  So cute.

Sapphire curled up

Next morning Mike dropped me in town and I caught up with the work Dragon Boating team for the finals.  I saw a heat and they cruised in.  Turns out they were awesome all day and got silver in the final Corporate challenge.  Such a good team.

Team Raptors go!

Wow - push ups to warm up.  That would have killed me

Loved the team's warm ups

In the front in their heat!

Nice view of the harbour

Mike popped in to say hi to everyone as he collected me.  And then we went home to get ready for tea with Tabors.  They were due to arrive at 6pm.  Although Mike had arranged this dinner and we were unsure of the actual timings.  Fortunately the Tabors knew when they were due.  Hahah.

Some of these just look like they used to contain alcohol

Mike cooked up an awesome vegetarian lasagne and we chatted away.  The boys finalised their tramping plans for the second week of the coming school holidays.  Lake Waikaremoana.  Should be amazing.  Aidan and I muttered about some of our plan for our weekend away.  It's not quite as locked in as the boys, but it's getting there.


Next day saw me sleeping in as I had read until late and this played havoc with Mike's plans.  I think he was using me as the early alarm clock.  But it wasn't on.  :-p

He got up to take rubbish to the tip and Toby mowed the lawn.  I tidied and pottered around.  Mike and I moved stuff to the loft and threw away a few things.

Toby mowed the lawn

View from the garage through cobwebby windows

Goodbye my lovely Shoei helmet

I have said goodbye to my old Shoei helmet.  I love this helmet.  It was so comfortable and quiet.  But the foam inside has all come away.  I need a new one.

Aidan popped in for a cup of tea and I had a welcome respite from throwing away my stuff.

Then, I went grocery shopping for the week and came back to make tea.  The evening was perfection so we sat on the deck reading.

Dinner on the deck with my Kindle

The view was stunning

Mike also enjoying dinner on the deck with his Kindle

This morning was a bit weird.  I was about to head out the door in my bike gear when Mike mentioned Toby's appointment at 4pm.  I need the car for that so I hurriedly change to my work clothes and drove in!

We're supposed to get the tail of Cyclone Pam that just devastated Vanuatu.  It won't be great weather for the next few days.  We've got gale force southerlies forecast.  It might be a good thing I have the car today.

Right.  Have an awesome week!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with no Toby

Hi,

But today is the Friday where Toby gets back.  Mike and I have missed him and we're looking forward to smothering him in kisses.  Okay - that might be just me.  :-p

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Wellington.  So the autumn still has lovely weather left in it.  Mind you, I can't wait for the ski season, so I also look forward to cold, freezing, wet days here that leaves metres of snow on the mountains.

I went to the Backbencher for drinks after work with Aidan and her colleagues and Mike soon joined us.  He had a haircut booked up the road so it was super easy to lure him away from extra work and having a beer.

Aidan had fallen over on her run into work yesterday so she showed me her impressive scrapes.  Ouch!  The road rash down her leg looked amazing.  Plasters on her knee and mighty fine looking bandages on her palms.  Her colleagues have been practising their first aid skills on her all day.  I'm pleased they all took care of her.

Anyhow, Greg and Ella entertained us with their conversation and it was just the sort Mike loves to get involved in.  But we had to get away for the haircut and I had tea to cook for Ange.  Woot!

I caught the bus home and started making butter chicken.  It wasn't as good as my normal butter chicken.  But Mike said it was the best.  He likes it tomatoey.  We chatted away to Ange for ages before I got sleepy and conversation wasn't my strong point anymore.  Keeping my head off the table was enough effort.  But Mike and Ange are night people and were still going full bore.  Eventually they may have noticed my lack of social skills and Ange headed off home.  It was a great night!

Had to catch the bus in this morning.  Can't wait for a cup of tea.

The weekend looks pretty marvellous.  Work has the dragon boating team finals so I want to go and watch that.  I need to do loads of housework.  And buy an iron!

Enjoy your day!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no Toby

Hi,

Another day passes in our week of no Toby.  I hope he is having a great time tramping in the South Island.  I hope he takes photos.

Right.  Yesterday?  What did I do?  I had lunch with Celia which was a great treat/surprise.  We chatted away and I had a baked potato.  It was pretty good too.

After work I had the user group session.  It was great too.  Fantastic.  I found Mike still at work when I got back at 1915 so I asked if he'd like to walk home with me.  He said yes!  I love walking in and out of work.  It means I am time rich!  I pushed my bike (and Mike helped as well).  I also popped into the supermarket, negating the need for me to jump in the car when we got home and come back.  Great plan!

At home, Mike and I chilled out and then collapsed into bed.  I had a great sleep and a great ride in.  The roads are dry, but the skies are heavy with grey clouds.  It's warm though.

Right.  Time for a delicious cup of tea.

Enjoy your day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with no Toby

Hi,

I rode home yesterday and enjoyed the house to myself for a while.  I'd like to say I made good use of the time and the place is now spotless, but that would be obviously untrue if you actually stepped into the house.  I read.  Hahah.

Mike got home and needed to relax so we ran a bath for the first time in ages and chatted away until the water got too cold and we looked like prunes.

Iced coffee at Mixed Business - they are good

I did get away for a coffee yesterday with Rex, which was nice.  I think I have converted him and Mary to the pleasures of iced coffee.  Given Rex and I don't drink coffee usually, I think I've done well there.

I might do a run out to Sally and Andrew's place tonight and stuff things in their skip.  They are probably going to be busy with recent events unfolding in the New Zealand government.  Public health being at risk should someone contaminate food.  What a pack of clowns to make such stupid claims.  I hope they get them soon and Sally's life can go back to routine.

As for me, I have the user group tonight.  Then I'll see what Sally is up to.

Have a marvellous day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with no Toby

Hi,

Ok - I am going into Toby withdrawals.  He left yesterday morning on the ferry to tramp in Abel Tasman national park for the week with school.  I miss him already.  But, at least it means I can clean his room from top to bottom in his absence and have it stay clean for a few days!  Woot!  It is a mess!

Mike was in Christchurch for work yesterday, as was Josh.  I managed to have lunch with Aidan and we contemplated how funny it was that at that moment, all our boys were in the South Island.  We went to Trade Kitchen and although my lunch was scrumptious, Aidan was definitely not impressed with her lunch.  She had the honey soy salmon and screwed her nose up in the way she does when she doesn't like something.  So I tried a mouthful of her fish.  And she was totally right.  It wasn't nice.  Not off.  Just not fresh.  On its last legs.  Or not, given it was a fish.  So, avoid salmon there.  But the open sirloin sandwich is superb.  It was disappointing.  And has only renewed Aidan's vow to be a vegetarian and only visit Asian restaurants.

I rode home after work and enjoyed the lovely evening.  However, a car decided to do a three point turn, without indicating, as I overtook it.  Lucky I'd seen the driver driving poorly before that and was wary and watching them.

I grabbed the car and collected Sally and Andrew on the way past their work.  Mike caught a taxi from the airport to Ombra in Cuba St and we all met there.  The food was great.  Like tapas.  Loved the venison meatballs.  Eggplant Bolognese was good too.  Although everything was a bit more salty than I am used to.

Sally and Andrew check out the earthquake strengthening work

Cute Police Box salt and pepper shakers on our table

We looked around at the restaurant and wondered what was there before it became Ombras.  Someone eventually recalled it was a sex shop.  Hahahah.  Much better use of the site!

We dropped Sally and Andrew back home and crept into bed.  I slept so well.  Mmmmm.  Sleeeeeepppp.

This morning is lovely here.  I enjoyed my ride in.  Great fun!

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Christine's birthday

Hi,

Had a good weekend.  The weather was astonishing on Saturday.  It rained cats and dogs.  It also happened to be Christine's birthday.

I went grocery shopping with Aidan beforehand.  Mike took the boys and Isaac and Jake to bowling.  Aidan may debate it, but I think we got the best deal.  We had to get the lunch supplies for the school camp week.  Mission accomplished.  Although Mike let Toby eat some crucial supplies so we had to go out again on Sunday!  Hahaha.


Saturday afternoon saw Aidan and me early at Hippopotamus for the high tea for Christine's birthday.  It was fun, and I am pleased I have tried it.  But the high tea I had with Karen and Sally in Sydney was better.  A buffet where I could eat the savoury things was far better.  This one had lots of sweet things.  But it was good fun.  We met Sarah and Kim, both friends of Christine's.

High Tea at Hippopotamus

We may have been the last ones there

Tasty

Aidan dropped me home and I took the boys out.  Mike to a party and Isaac home.  Then Toby and I chilled at home.  He wanted sushi, and I had all the ingredients so I made it.  It was yummy.

Saturday night sushi

Toby and I watched Top Gun for our Saturday night movie.  Hahahah.  It was great fun!

As I got into bed, Mike texted to say he was leaving his party and walking home.  SO I threw on my sandals and a top and drove out to find him.  He was chuffed!

Next morning we were up early for breakfast at Drexels with Lesley and Wally.  Celia made it too, with her girls, Eva and Charlie.  We had such a good time.  Toby loved the girls.

Sunday morning brekkie

The coluring-in was a huge success - even for Mike

Hello Lesley!

Under the table fun - Toby is getting a bit big for it - his knees are around his ears!

After that it was time for the fridge move out of Christine's kitchen and up to Auckland.  Lucky we had three strong guys.

Fridge on the move

Fridge descending Mt Vic

After saying goodbye to Wally, Lesley and the fridge, we had a cup of tea on the porch, enjoying the view.  The music from Home Grown was awesome.  Crash and Burn.  I like that song.

Went home and made cookies for Toby's camp week.  They were amazing.  I should bake more often!

ANZAC cookies.

I also noticed an anal tendency in Mike I never knew existed.  He'd lined up all the clothes pegs in colour order.  Freakish behaviour.  I think his Dad would say he was exhibiting migrainous behaviour.

My husband exhibiting anal tendencies I never knew he had

Got up early today for my run.  It was ok - the day was still and dry.  Lovely.  T-shirt weather for the ruin still.  Then the boys were out of the house by 7am and collected by Josh.  He was dropping them at the ferry terminal and heading to the airport.  Turns out both Mike and Josh are in Chch for the day!

Have an awesome week.  We're childless this week.  Usually all that means is we work longer hours at work.  Hahahah.  But if I get some nice meals out, I'll be happy.

Love,
Angela