The Thursday with nothing

Hi,

Well, on Wednesday my manager left without any notice, so it made for an exciting day.  I did manage to catch up with him yesterday morning for a coffee and find out a bit more about what happened and why.  He thinks it is for the best of the company and has his reasons.  It'll be interesting to see what happens next.  How exciting!  Sort of.  Well, that sort of thing doesn't happen every day.  So it is definitely a little bit unusual.

I also met up with Aidan for lunch at one of her favourite places - Wagamamas.  Funny how she is off to London on Sunday and Wagamamas was one of our finds when we lived in London.  We used to love it.  Loud, noisy, fast-paced.  Still suits me ok too.

The evening went by in a relaxed flow of cooking tea for Toby and finally filling up our gas bottles for our hob.  We have been on our last bottle for ages and we were sure it would run out when Mum was here cooking (she always used to have it run out when she was over).  I popped the two empties in the car and swapped them for full ones.  Then I got some urgent groceries.  As I was unpacking at the garage, Mike called pleading for a lift from work.  Well, that might not be true exactly.  He was happy to try a bus or taxi.  So I put the groceries back in and drove down to get him.  That way he could help me in with them!  See?!  Sensible, eh?  Hahah.

Mike worked on preparation for a job interview while I made spurious comments as I tried to get to sleep (sort of).  Mike has also become obsessed with a Eurovision clip of some Swedish chap signing some Swedish song from one of the heats of Eurovision.  He watches it over and over and chuckles.  Weird man.  Mike.  Not the Swedish chap.

Slept ok.  Had a great ride in.  The roads were dry, the sky was clear, no wind.  Perfection.

Sunrise this morning looking into the Hutt Valley from my commute

Mixed Business iced coffee with Mike

This weekend should be great.  It's a long weekend here.  I have booked the Forest and Bird Lodge on Matiu/Somes for Saturday night.  I'm going there with Christine.  We'll eat junk food and walk around lots.  And probably snuggle in sleeping bags a lot as it will probably be freezing!

Not much else on for the weekend though.  Might try and get some running shoes - my old ones are getting a bit past it.  I also need a pair of shoes for trekking in Nepal.  Yep - sounds like a plan.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing much

Hi,

The Tuesday was a long hard slog.  I may have been slightly distracted by Aidan activities outside of her work.  But even after that, it still went on and on.  It was the sort of day where you could throw 20 hours of work at it, and there would still be a mountain of work to get through.  Bit like the budget for the Ministry of Health, or the Ministry of Education.  They can also consume as much money as you throw at it.

Toby went to the maths tutorial after school and caught a normal bus home.  Well, I told him to come into town and go home with Mike.  But he never got that memo and went all the way home.  Meanwhile, Mike and I were waiting patiently at work (working hard) and marveling at getting lots done.  Toby eventually texted me that he was home.

Mike cooked tea while I chatted to Aidan on the phone to hear about her week.  Big presentation at work today (Wed).  I am sure she will cruise through and impress everyone.  It is the culmination of 18 months of work, so there is a bit of skin in the game for her.  She'll be fine.  Mostly she was excited about heading off to the UK this weekend.

Found this on our work blackboard in our corner

My colleague, Rex, has a thing about the Peach Teats billboard on the way to Taihape.  So much so, that he has replicated it here at work!  Too funny!


My ride in this morning was lovely.  Dry roads and not freezing cold.  My hands are working fine.  Yay!

Have a wonderful day.  Midway through the week.  Counting down to a long weekend here.  Woot!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with dinner with Sally

Hi,

Well, after a normal Monday where the major talk was about the freezing weather, we had a lovely evening with Sally.  I rode home and made sure Toby was ready.  Then Mike got back from Lower Hutt (where he was working that day) and collected us.  By the time we picked up sally, we were bang on time for our plans.

However, it turns out that Bella Italia is closed on Mondays.  And so are loads of other places.  But Uncle Mike's Kansas City BBQ was open.  And it was mega!

Toby in fits!

I tried to get a photo of Toby and Sally, but Toby got the giggles.  Then, when we asked Sally to take a photo of me and Mike, she held the phone backwards.  So all Mike and I saw was her face on the screen looking really perplexed at how the camera worked.  So that set us off.

Our turn to be hysterical

Trying to control our laughter

Look at the size of those ribs!

We ate our way through a mountain of food before dropping Sally off home.  Then I dropped the boys off at home and I went grocery shopping.

What a night.  Busy!  Hahahah.

I woke up early for my run and it was freezing.  The frost coated the cars.  Brrrr.  But I wore two pairs of gloves for my ride in and that almost worked.  They were quick to come back to working from their frozen state compared to the fingerless gloves yesterday.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Eurovision

Hi,

What a relaxing weekend, really.  Up early Saturday because I was slated to lead Mike's daywalk should he still be too sick.   He was unsure right up until he met all twenty punters and his endorphins kicked in and he found out he was enjoying himself.  He turned to me and said "I feel well enough - you can go home".  So off I scooted.  Housework and Toby beckoned.

After lunch Emerson and Duncan came over to play with Toby.  I only saw them when they wanted something to eat.  I nipped out to collect Mike and some urgent groceries (milk and Doritos!) including my breakfast needs for the next morning.

Aidan popped in to collect the boys and chatted over a cup of tea.  She is off to the UK for a conference from next weekend.

Mike and I were in bed quite early but up early for Eurovision!  We watched it live on YouTube.  We did miss Graham Norton's commentary.  But it was ok.  We read a live blog on The Guardian and that made up for it.  We loved it.  Mike made me bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese and a wonderful cup of tea.

Breakfast!

Eurovision in the closet!

We stayed in bed watching Eurovision for hours.  Australia was in it, and didn't do too badly.  Great fun!

I eventually got out of bed and went for my run.  Not a bad time considering on the way back I felt a bit sore in my tummy.  Perhaps bagels aren't the best preparation food.  Hahah

Kowhai gets planted outside our lounge window

We got into the garden and planted the kowhai where we could see it.  Right next to our dying kaka beak.  Although Mike reckons now it'll flourish and we'll have two plants right next to each other.

The afternoon was glorious.  So warm.  Doors all open.  T shirt weather.

Stunning day

Early night for me and I'm sure I heard rain during the night.  But this morning was beautiful.  However my hands got so cold riding in.  I could barely feel my hands.  I need my long fingered gloves out for the winter - but at the moment they are covered in spider webs and I was imagining putting them on in the dark in the garage and riding in, and looking down to see a swarm of baby spiders crawling up my arms.  So they stayed in the garage.  Hahah.

I saw a dusting of snow on the hills across the far side of the harbour this morning.  They were backdropped by a huge bank of dark clouds that looked to contain even more snow.  If it had have been brighter, I would have stopped to take a photo.  But my fingers were already numb and I don't think you could have made out anything at all.  It's in my mind though.  Lovely.

After the heavy rain last night - a beautiful morning

Enjoy your week ahead.  Mike's mother arrives tomorrow evening.  It's Grandparent Day at Toby's school on Friday.  Yay!  He'll be chuffed.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with sick Mike

Hi,

For a day that had no meetings booked in, I was a bit concerned.  But, true to form, the day booked up.  Guess the novelty of having space in my calendar was a bit too tempting.

I had lunch with Aidan.  At Mojos near her work.  The soup was average.

Aidan happy she's eaten an Afghan cookie

I did catch up with Celia for a much needed chat with her.  She knew of $2 coffees at The Old Bailey between 2 and 4pm.  So we scooted off there and I was contemplating getting a coffee (which I don't like) when I decided to ask if they did iced coffees.  They said yes, and what's more, only charged me $2 for it.  Wow!  What an awesome deal.  And it was pretty good too!

$2 iced coffee at The Old Bailey!  Score!

I rode home and enjoyed the exercise.  Got home and found Mike in bed.  He isn't very well but I think he is intending to come into work today.

I cooked tea for me and Toby and then watched a documentary on human evolution.

This morning was a great ride in.  Dry roads completely.

Weekend looming.  Can't quite come fast enough.  There is a daywalk tomorrow that Mike is leading.  If he's not well, I'll lead it in his place.  Other than that, I want to take Toby to see Jurassic World.  And do housework.

Exciting, eh?

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with sick Mike

Hi,

Well, Mike was still sick when I got home - and he'd slept most of the day.  He certainly slept most of the evening.  I watched three documentaries in bed and he slept through them all.

Mike came in with Toby to collect me and my bike and we got home and I cooked tea.  But after tea, Mike pretty much went to sleep.  Toby did his homework and then disappeared downstairs for a while.

This morning Mike declared himself better.  So I asked him to join me for breakfast.  He ended up moaning softly with his head in his hands.  I don't think he is better at all.  He's working from home again.

Right!

I need a cup of tea.  My ride in was so windy.  But the wind seemed quite warm.  It is supposed to turn around to a cold southerly soon though.  Might blow me back home.

Time to find that tea.

Enjoy your day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with quiz for Mike and dinner with Ange for me

Hi,

Mike had a quiz night after work so he gave me the car keys and I took my bike home.  I just managed to tidy a little and get Toby his dinner when Ange came around.  She wanted some seasons of Downton Abbey as she is as addicted to it as I am.  So, I cooked tea for us and we chatted away for ages.  It was really good.  She is wonderful company - intelligent and kind.  And my fresh pasta I had in the fridge turned out to be really good.  Who knew?

Ange's hand had "Angela" on it

At one point during our chat, I noticed Ange had the word "Angela" on her hand.  So, I said to her "Ange, why have you got your name on your hand?".  And she said "No, it's your name!".  It was the funniest moment!  Like Mike, she writes things on her hands so she doesn't forget things.  Nice to see she didn't forget me!

She headed off and I mucked around for a bit before going to bed.  Toby also had his bath and went to bed.  I may have fallen asleep before Mike came home.  He wanted to talk and talk, but I was comatose.  The poor guy.  Anyhow, from my sleep fuddled mind, I think he might be getting sick, from what he was saying.  And today he is working from home, as he doesn't feel great.  Uh oh!

Right.  Time for tea and to start the day.  Have the most wonderful day!  Let's hope Mike doesn't get too sick.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Mike back from Chch

Hi,

Well, the day was brilliant for sunshine.  So much so that Aidan decided she needed to get out amongst it and emailed me if I was free for lunch.  We ate our lunch on a cold concrete wall outside parliament.  But the sun on our backs made up for the cold underneath us.  I enjoyed catching up with Aidan - she's been a little elusive of late.  And with her adventures coming up (presenting at a conference in England in early June and meeting colleagues over there), I will take advantage of random, spontaneous lunches with her as I might not see much of her over the next wee while.

I rather coveted her leftover enchiladas.  I mean, my bread roll was pretty good.  Made just how I like it (given I made it, that's a good thing!).  But, her enchiladas were so yummy looking.  She never even contemplated a lunch swap, I noticed.  Her portion was a fair bit smaller than my bread roll though.  It might not have dented my appetite in the slightest.  And I seemed to do a lot of talking this lunchtime, because my bread roll took far longer to consume than her lunch.

I caught a slow bus home and found Toby happily eating his way through the fridge.  But I made his favourite dinner (chicken schnitzels) and he ate all that too.  Mike got home while I was still awake!  Yay.  His trip went well.

We went to bed fairly early as I was getting up early for my run and Mike wanted to get some work done nice and early.  However, I suspect he merely had more time to read the entire Internet.  Hahah.  He was in a good mood.  We ate breakfast together and I was telling him about someone that I thought wasn't doing exactly the right thing (according to Angela - so, no judgement really) and I called that person a goose.  Mike burst out laughing, snorting his coffee through his nose.  I was slightly indignant that my comment had got this reaction until he said he found my words so funny.  To him, the "goose" would be "what a stupid #@!$%#@ idiot!".

I was a little appeased by this.  But later, after I had gone down to wake up Toby, I came back and I have no idea what I said but he decided to chase me around the house, threatening me with kisses.  As I ran away from him, I wondered what on earth I was doing.  I'd rather be caught if that was the threat.  So I ran into the bedroom and threw myself on the bed and waited for his embrace.  But all I got was uncontrollable laughter.

Glad I made him so happy.  Hahahah!  Funny boy.  But he really shouldn't laugh like that when his wife throws herself on the bed and waits to be caught.

Oh - Aidan had some good news.  Yesterday morning as she was showering, Josh came back from the basement and told her to stop showering because the water was overflowing from the drain and running all over the stored cartons.  She gave him that look (the one that says you must be stupid, I am covered in soap and I am going to wash it off right now!) and then resolved to have a look at the damage when she got home from work.  But she found a giant hairball blocking the drain and fixed her plumbing woes herself.  I think she felt rather empowered by this.  Certainly a lot richer for not needing to call out a plumber.  And apparently no damage to stored stuff.  Perhaps Josh has a Gilberting gene?  Maybe he told Aidan it was thigh deep water with storage boxes floating around?

It was raining as I rode in this morning.  Funny day out there really.  Rainy, and cloudy, but with sun peeking through.  I need a cup of tea.

Right.  Mike is off to a quiz night tonight.  I will ride home and feed Toby leftover chicken schnitzels.  Woot!

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with weather chaos in Wellington

Hi,

Happy birthday to Benjamin!

Well, there was a lot of water.  And it filled up everything till it was overflowing.  I got into work relatively unscathed by it all.  But it never stopped pouring with rain for hours.  Wellington just couldn't cope.  At about midday the Hutt River burst its banks somewhere and people started heading home if they lived that way.  It took Rex 2.5 hours to get to the hills just above Petone there.

Eventually I heard that buses were cancelled at Toby's school and they would keep the children there until collected by parents.  Magnus's mother went to collect him and she looked out for Toby.   But he was at swimming.

This was a huge surprise to me.  What swimming?  Turns out swimming has started every Thursday/  Toby borrowed spare togs and drip dried himself.  Good.  He made the dive team too!  Woot!

Anyhow, Aidan was also over there to collect her boys.  So she kindly got Toby too.  He got dropped off at our house and I had pizza turn up to keep him fed.

Meanwhile I ventured cautiously out to get lunch (not far!) and an iced coffee with Rex.  Staying dry was high on my list of wants and needs.

Rain outside work

Mixed Business iced coffee goodness

After work I attended a business networking session to hear about how to listen your way to better leadership.  It was interesting as it was an english interpretation of the brain chapter I am reading at the moment on how your brain makes you behave a certain way.  Flight or fight.  All that stuff.

I liked the science version better.  But, it was interesting enough.

Ange dropped me home and then she bravely took Celia home.  The roads had cleared by then.  Ange has been a trooper for me lately.  I'm pretty lucky to know her.

Mike got home from Christchurch, blissfully unaware of the chaos in Wellington really.  But he did check our roof space immediately.  All good up there.  The rats don't have a swimming pool in the suitcase - yet!

Sally and Andrew also seemed to have got away lightly with their existing roof leaks.  Yay!

This morning my run was lovely.  Not a breath of wind and no clouds at all.  The stars were shining just for me.  And about 3 other runners.  But I'm not counting them.  They shone for me!  And I did close to my PB.  About 4 seconds off.  And so close to going under 30 minutes.  This close!

Misty, still start to the day

 Right.  Time for tea.  And it's Friday!  Woot.  No plans.  Well, not much.  Two movies back to back on Sunday for me.  But apart from that - nothing.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing much

Hi,

Yesterday was a blur of meetings - although one of them was a client meeting at a cafe.  And they know me very well, so they were happy to take my photo of iced coffee #126

Actually, I have had the iced coffee here before - it's at the Wellesley and I think the cafe is called 1812 or something.  It's not a bad iced coffee.  Not too sweet.  Ice cubes.  Good.  Solid 7.5.

Client willingly takes my photo

I rode home and was pleasantly surprised that the evening was actually pleasant.  Yay!  Got home and cooked a new recipe from my book.  Lamb kebabs.  The boys liked them but I was a bit disappointed.  Next time I make them, I will use the barbeque.

I did my homework and then went to bed.  Mike tried to work next to me in bed.  Not sure how successful that was.  Mike is off to Christchurch again this morning (Thurs) so both boys were up early.

I left them at 7am and they were both mostly dressed and Mike at least had a coffee in his hand.  So it bodes well.

The weather is pants.  My bike gear is hanging over the heater next to my desk.  Hahah!  I look like a drowned rat.

Have an incredible day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday and Tuesday that disappeared

Hi,

Well, I was so busy yesterday at work in the morning I never got time to blog.  Or have a cup of tea.  Madness.  And I had to head home at lunchtime and work from home because Toby was off school again, sick.  So I fed him soup and toast and cooked him tea later on.  He is off to school today, so I hope he is really coming right.

On Monday night I cooked tea from my new recipe book.  They tasted pretty good, if you ask me.  And you really can only ask me, because Toby merely poked at them and ate the rice.  And Mike was away in Chch, so he is having his today for his lunch.

Chicken kebabs I cooked Monday night from my new recipe book

The picture in the book - mine compares well, I reckon

This morning my ride in was lovely.  It is really quite windy.  But so clear.  The harbour looked stunning this morning.

The view on my commute to work this morning.  

Better get stuck in.  I have a mountain of work.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Mothers Day

Hi,

Toby did so well without Mike to prompt him for Mothers Day.  Mike packed and left early Saturday for his tramp.  I tried really hard to get lots of housework done.  Honest.  Well, I made headway in the laundry mountain.  And I did clean the main bathroom really well.  And tidied a fair bit.  But other than that, not a lot else.

Turns out Aidan and I didn't go out in the morning.  Archery practise was cancelled because of a huge tournament, and that obviously meant the other things we had planned were no longer on the agenda.  But Toby was far better and his appetite came back and I spent a fair bit of time making him food through the day.  Yay for a healthy Toby.

Come 5pm I got ready for going out with Ange, Serge, Celia, her parents, and James (Celia's boyfriend).  I went and picked up Benjamin for his babysitting duties and then collected Ange.  We got to Shed 5 quite early but enjoyed chatting and people watching.  Eventually the others arrived and we settled down to chat.  The staff were so slow giving us menus.  We were there a good 30 minutes (I mean the others - not me and Ange) before they gave us menus.  Very odd.

The food was superb!  I had the ceviche  as my entre and the seared tuna as my main.  Scrumptious.  I got an extra spoon and had a taste of Ange's dessert too!  Mmmmm.  All great food.  And when we split the bill, it was so cheap.  Weird.

Dresses all round!

Celia nearly fell off her chair when she saw me in a dress.  So much so that we needed to capture it in photographic evidence.  I even have huge boots on!  Such a girly girl!

By the time we left after 11, and I dropped off Ange, and took Benjamin home, it was late when I finally fell asleep.  Probably close to 1am.

So, it was a groggy Mother that tried desperately to greet her excited son with enthusiasm on Mothers Day the next morning.  I think I managed it.  Toby gave me a present (a recipe book!) and we looked at it together.  Then he said he'd make me a tea in bed.  And he went outside the door, then leapt back in and threw a cut out letter "T" on the bed and laughed and laughed.  I thought it was a great joke too!

Then he really did go and make me a real tea.  The first time he has made me one on his own.  It was perfect.  Really milky, but perfect.  Then I said I'd love some toast.  He went away for a little bit before coming back with a big bowl of Weetbix.  Said he couldn't find the bread.  I was happy.  He made it just the way I like it, with cold milk.

"T" in bed!

After a lazy morning I went out to see Sally and Andrew and collect feijoas from their trees.  I had a cup of tea and ate all their other feijoas they had picked for themselves.  They are really rather tolerant of me.

I went back via the supermarket to do some grocery shopping and bumped into Kirsty (from a ski weekend last year) and she told me that it was illegal to do ironing on Mothers Day (my afternoon plans).  Then I dropped off a bag of feijoas at Aidan's letterbox.  I just missed her because she found the feijoas a few minutes later when she left her house.  So she texted me to say I couldn't possibly iron and she was coming to get me to take me to see Christine and Victor for her first horse riding lesson.

Aidan gets Vistor to obey her every command

And Aidan tries to obey Christine's every command!

No, that way, Aidan!

Good fun to watch.

I had fun watching and taking photos and chatting to Brian and wee Tom.  Aidan really enjoyed herself, judging from the big grins I saw from time to time.  It is tough work riding a horse.  At one stage Victor decided Aidan had pressed the throttle and started trotting and bucked a bit.  You should have seen Christine spring into action (as did another spectator) to head off Victor if he decided to really start going.  But Aidan was as cool as a cucumber.

Aidan helped put Victor away (brushing him down) and putting his cover on before leading him to his paddock.  Then she dropped me home and I cooked tea for Toby before heading to the family dinner.  Another scrumptious dinner, which I only just finished when Mike rang wanting a lift home from the ferry terminal.  So I hurriedly left dinner and collected him.

He'd had a cold, wet tramp all weekend.  Meanwhile, 80 km down the road here in Wellington, we'd had lovely weather.

Mike is off to Chch today.  In driving rain.  Lucky the pilots can use instruments!

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with lunch and tea that made things all better

Hi,

Well, work threw a spanner in the works with a bit of a mess.  But after some concerted effort in the morning, it was mostly cleared up and won't happen again.  Did cause some headaches for people though.  Oops.

The weather was pretty bad - with it chucking down rain quite heavily at times.  But I managed to get away for lunch to meet Aidan.  And didn't get wet while walking over her way.  But we were a bit undecided about what to eat.  We tried two places before settling on a third place.  I ordered a vegetarian curry and roti.  I was expecting lentils - which I like.  I got vegetables, floating in a curry.  Potatoes, carrots (shudder!), pumpkin and cauliflower (eeeewww).  Aidan just looked at me like I had rocks in my head, because she knows what I like and dislike.  It certainly made for some laughs.  I ate my roti and dipped it in the soupy curry.  And Aidan gave me half of her roti too.

I drove home to collect Toby to take him to the doctors - again.  Turns out the tests were inconclusive (not giardia, not something else that Mike mentioned that you only hear about in the news so I was pleased it wasn't that!).  So, this doctor ordered more tests including a blood test.

I am guessing that at some stage today we will have to go home and collect a sample and bring Toby in for his blood test too.  Poor kid.  This doctor thinks it will go away by itself and it probably a viral stomach bug.  Oh!  Ok.

Right.  I need some tea.  Lots of tea.  I have so much work to get through.

Lucky the weekend is almost here.  Mike is off tramping.  It's Mother's Day and I suspect I don't want Toby doing any food prep.  Hahah.  Maybe I'll buy myself a present tomorrow.  I am going to head out in the morning with Aidan (I think).  But I might see if I can get Toby out to a movie.  Or pamper him in some other way.  And I certainly hope he is ok for school on Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that was far better and Mike went to Chch

Hi,

Well, wee Toby is still sick.  But I hope we get the lab results today and maybe we can make some in-roads into treating him.  He gets waves of cramps and still has to stay close to a toilet.  Mike bought some electrolyte so he hopefully won't be getting too dehydrated.  And he seems to be able to eat chocolate without any bother.  Not much appetite for anything else.  Although cherry tomatoes are still a huge favourite.

The weather was wild overnight.  It woke me and Mike up at around 4.15am with strong gusts.  I caught the bus in this morning, but at the moment the wind seems to have dropped.  But the rain has kicked in.  The bus was so crowded.

I have lunch planned with Aidan today although she has given herself an "out" by saying if the weather is atrocious she won't want to walk over to anywhere near my work.  She's just soft.  I'd definitely walk over to her work anyway.  So I hope lunch is still on.  Just might not be the lunch she was looking forward to at places near my work (more variety down near my workplace).

My trousers are a bit damp from my walk from the bus stop to work.  Might take a wee while to dry out.  Probably around about the time I walk to Aidan's work - hahahah.

Right.  Time to have a cup of tea.

Enjoy your day.  Stay dry and warm, if you're in Wellington.  Days like this I imagine everywhere else is sunny and warm.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday that was manic

Hi,

It's entirely possible that I really disliked my Tuesday.  Pretty sure it had next to nothing going for it. Not even an iced coffee.

Mike went home at lunch time to collect Toby's "sample" and drop it off at the lab.  Hopefully we hear about it later today or tomorrow.  Toby is still sick but getting through some homework.  Yesterday he felt a bit better but isn't eating very much yet.

Mike is off to Chch today for his regular meeting down there.  It is pretty windy here today so it should be a fun flight.  My bike ride in wasn't too bad.  The roads were a little wet from recent rain, but the wind is warm and strong, so it was already drying out the roads.  The clouds are heavy and black though.  It looks pretty threatening.  Might be a wet run later today with Mary.

Right.  Time to start the day.  See if I can get some things done that were impossible to achieve yesterday.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Carl!

Hi,

Well, lunch was a real treat.  Carl was over for his big birthday bash (he's all grown up now he's hit 40!) so we had a birthday lunch on May 4th.  Fitting really.  But only Celia stepped up.

Hi Carl!

Princess CeLeia - I like that name!

I wanted to catch up with Carl for dinner too - but Toby is still sick and Mike had prior commitments.   Oh well - sometimes these things happen.  Mike volunteered to cancel his thing and Aidan volunteered her services to look after Toby.  So, thank you.  But in the end, it was probably best that Toby had a quiet evening at home.  I made him his second favourite meal - spaghetti Bolognese.  But he still didn't eat very much.

The doctor suspects giardia.  So, we have to collect a sample and take it fresh to the lab for testing.  Oh joy!  Let's see what they say.  Let's see what Mike says if he has to collect the sample this morning.  Poor guy.

Busy day at work.  I need a tea so desperately.

Have a fantastic day, whatever you're doing.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with horse riding for Christine's birthday

Hi,

What a great weekend.  Friday night we watched a parody movie of the Hunger Games called The Starving Games.  It actually had a few laugh out loud moments, so I did manage to make it to the end.

Next morning Mike was up really early to get ready for tramping.  He woke up at 5.30am.  Wow, I thought.  He's really going to do this.  But, he didn't.  He read the entire internet, even that wee bit he usually doesn't bother reading.  Until 9am.  Which is when he had told me he had to leave.  So, he jumped in the shower.  When he was done, he wandered around in my towel for a while, sorting out his life.  I asked why he had my towel and he said he thought it was his.  So, all week he had been wondering why it was wet every morning.

Right.

I always have the left hand side of the towel rail.  Turns out, for 20 years, (or however long we have been sharing a towel rail) Mike reckons he has been using the left hand side towel.  Actually, I don't think so.  I would have noticed in the intervening 20 years.  But, anyway.  He says he has the towel on the left because that's where he sleeps in the bed.  Hahahah!  Weird logic.

I have him sorted now.  His one is beige this week!  We're going to use colour classification from now on.  And the fact my towel is always on the left.  :-p

He left, eventually, and Toby and I got ready for our fun.  Toby seemed to be better after his stomach upset.  Yay!  I dropped him off at the Tabor house with Lex and the boys and collected Aidan.  We drove to Johnsonville, and met Christine after driving around looking for a car park for the day.  Found one up beyond the police station.

Soon we were collecting Celia and people were checking gear.  And off to Beachbrook Stables (Gillian is an ex work colleague) to get our horse riding in.  Aidan had decided (and rightly) that it was a great birthday present for Christine.  Given Christine's birthday is March 7th, it is an indication of the busy lives we lead that this weekend was the first weekend we could book in.

It was great fun!  My horse was called Sara, and had a tendency to lash out at other horses with her back feet.  So I had to make sure other horses kept away.  And she was a little naughty.  But she was well behaved for me this day!

Aidan was on a white horse and Christine was on a huge horse.  Yeah - I know nothing about horses.  But I think Celia was on a pony.  Her horse was small - but went like stink!  Hahah.

Selfie riding a horse

Celia on her pony

Aidan, Christine and me

Iced coffee in Otaki

Me, Aidan and Christine after the riding

We had a great ride up and down the beach.  We got on the horses and walked down the road to the beach (maybe a kilometre).  Great fun!

Everyone that knows about horses and riding (that is, Christine, Gillian and the handlers) all thought Aidan was a great rider.  Said she was a natural.  Had a great stance in the saddle.  Aidan was quite taken with the riding and wants to go out with Christine on Victor now.  Yay!


 Brian took a photo of the three of us after the ride.  Very nice.

I got an iced coffee in Otaki.  Aidan even tried some and quite enjoyed it.  I took a photo of her enjoying my iced coffee, but she said it wasn't allowed on the blog.  Not sure why - I thought her obvious enjoyment of the iced coffee goodness was wonderful.



Back home and Aidan had to take Lex and Jane to the station for their train ride home.  Josh got home just as I was playing with Lulu.

View from Aidan and Josh's house

Toby and I headed home for the night.  Next morning Toby felt a bit worse again.  But we went to see the Avengers movie.  Had a bit of a bother at breakfast at Mama Browns.  We asked if we could eat before our movie.  They said yes.  But we had to leave before we saw any food.  Shame.  I tried to pay but they wouldn't take it.  We'll be back.  They were lovely.

Waiting for breakfast at Mama Browns

 Movie was good - first one was better.  Most one liners were ok.  One bad one made me glad Toby didn't understand it.

Back home and Mike was home soon enough,  I had a mountain of laundry and ironing.  Shudder!  Made it through though.

Toby is sick again today.  Off to see the doctors today.

Have a great week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a wonderful lunch

Hi,

Well, my day was so hectic, it wasn't funny.  But lunch - lunch was the highlight of the day by far.  And dare I say, possibly even the week.  A client took me to this French cafe a few weeks back and I said to Aidan that when she got back from her trip and manic work life, we should go there for lunch.

So Aidan met me for lunch on Lambton Quay and we walked over to Featherston St to Louis Sergeant and we ordered some lunch.  Aidan was funny - she decided we should eat decadent stuff so we needed a salad to start.  And what's more - we should share a salad.  We chose the salad Nicoise and I don't think I have ever had a better salad Nicoise.  The tuna wasn't just canned tuna which is often the case.  It was thick seared slabs of tuna.  Perfectly done.  I was in heaven.

Aidan got to practise her French too.  We ate the cheese platter afterwards and it was pretty good too.  Then, foolishly, I listened to Aidan and we got a dessert each.  I should have stood my ground and said we only needed one to share.  They both defeated us.  Aidan's was a lovely pink creation, but I didn't enjoy it that much.  Mine was the chocolate mousse things again.  It's called l'intense.  And it lives up to that name.  It nearly killed us and we only ate a third between us.

Mike got the rest!

Aidan posing in front of Marie Antionette

Aidan prepares to taste her dessert

After that I managed to get through my crazy afternoon by having two meetings cancelled.  Yay!  Got some work done.

I drove the car home and made some dinner for Toby and me.  Mike was working late but I was trying to lure him home.  I sent a photo of the meal I made along with the salad.

Come and get it, Mike!

But that wasn't enough.  So I thought I'd send him a photo of me to lure him home.  I knew Aidan had taken one of me at lunch so I asked her to send it to him, saying this is what he was missing at home.

So, she did.  She sent him this:

Dynamic Angela at lunch

I asked if he got it, and she replied that he said "kbro" and she thinks he might be drunk.  I was so confused.  I went to collect Mike from town as he decided he needed to come home.  And when I found him, I asked if he got the message with my photo from Aidan.  He said no.  But when he looked, he saw the message and saw it had been read.  And then figured out that Toby's iPad also receives the text messages.  So Toby had got the one of me with Aidan's message saying "Come home to your beautiful wife" so Toby had replied "kbro".  Poor Aidan.  No wonder she thought Mike was not himself.  He wasn't!   Hahahah.


 Mike got home in time to eat some too.  Well, I watched him eat.  He was in a good mood and laughed lots as we chatted away.

This morning is lovely here.  The harbour looked beautiful in the early morning orange sunlight.  The view from my desk isn't too bad either.

View from my desk this morning

Some of us are going horse riding this weekend for Christine's birthday (that was in March).  The weather looks good.  I want to take Toby (if he is well enough) to see the new Avengers movie.  Sally - you want to join us Sunday morning?


Have a great weekend.

Love,
Angela