The weekend in Wellington for all of us

Hi,

Well, that was an unusual Friday night.  We saw the GP with Toby at 4.30pm and she sent us to the Emergency Department of the hospital, just so we could get blood tests for Toby to rule out anything more sinister.

And you know what happens when you attend A&E and it isn't an emergency...  We waited for hours.  Oh well.  We had Kindles and Mike got food for Toby.  So all was not a complete loss.

Toby in A&E

Turns out that Toby's blood tests were perfectly normal.  Yay.  So at midnight we finally got pain relief dispensed and away home we all went.

Saturday was a slow day for us all though.  Hahah!  I took Toby in for a haircut nice and early Saturday morning.  He looks even more gorgeous now.

Iona and Col rang me from Mt Bruce where they were being attacked by marauding kakas, and asked me to the rugby that evening in town.  I juggled a few things and said yes!  Woot!  Been wanting to go to watch rugby with Col for years now!


Mike dropped me off at Maria Luca's - that wonderful Italian place behind the defence building.  I met Iona and Col there and we had dinner.  I even ordered the cappuccino creme brulee dessert there, because it is so good!

Dinner at Maria Luca's

From there we met Brian and Tom at the cake tin and went into the stadium to watch the game! I got pretty wet walking up to the stadium.  Jeans stayed wet all night. But so happy to get in to watch the game.  Col scored 6 free tickets,  Woot!  I reckon there would have been barely 1000 people in the stadium to watch Wellington thrash Northland.  But we had a great time!

I bought Col a hot dog from Fritz's Wieners and it cost me $16.  I think the woman charged me for the man beside me too.  Lucky Col enjoyed it!

Rugby!

Go Wellington!

Mike drove into the dark and rainy night to pick us up.  And a good thing too as it was still pouring down.  We dropped Iona and Col off at their hotel and headed back home.

I stupidly kept reading until 1am.  Groan.  And was up at 5.20am when my internal alarm went off.  Hahah!  More dorky behaviour.

Mike and I started the declutter exercise Mike has been talking about for months.  We started in the spare room.  This is Mike knee-deep in Toby's soft toys from behind his bed.

We start the spare room tidy up exercise

We have a lot of work to do!  That's all I can say.

From there we went to have tea at the Tabor household.  I collected Christine, Tom and Brian from their house and we went to the Tabor house and waited patiently for Mike.  (I at least had the drinks with me, so we were happy.

Aidan set us up around her breakfast bar, and poured drinks as she leaned across it.  We could have been in a pub.  Hahah!  Mike arrived with the food and we proceeded to make a good dint in the mountain of food.  We reckon they closed up for the night after we collected our dinner as they had hit the profit target for the day!

After dinner, we sat around doing the Stuff quiz.  Then Tom sorted us out to play this Werewolf game where werewolves kill innocent villagers and you have to guess who did it.  It was fun, despite my initial misgivings about it when described to us.  I think Aidan enjoyed it - she got to be a werewolf and a witch.  I saw her eyes shining with excitement when I caught a glimpse during the game. She might have enjoyed the stealthy murders she was committing.  I was always a villager.  Actually, pretty sure we all enjoyed it.  The boys were noisy though.  Lots of chatter when you have your eyes shut and all terribly misleading.  Hahah!

We stumbled out at 8.30pm and I dropped everyone home before heading home myself.  I read lots until Mike made me out down my Kindle.  Good thing.  I got loads of sleep as a result.

Right.  Time for the week to kick off.

Have a fantastic week ahead.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with dinner with Ange

Hi,

Ok.  I had an iced coffee with Sally (work colleague) during the day.  But I'm not sure that counts as anything work related.  Sally just got back from a holiday so I heard about it.  Sounded - warm!

Mixed Business goodness

Well, after a rather nondescript day at work (apart from the iced coffee), I did get a huge bonus in the evening.  Ange invited me around to her place for tea.  The My Food Bag meal-for-two for this week was a fish curry.  Ooooo.  What an awesome night to be invited.  It was scrumptious.

I waited (im) patiently for Mike to get home, having already made dinner for Toby.  Then I was off and out of there and up at Ange's place pretty quick.  The dinner was almost ready so I was soon sitting down and scoffing yummy curry.

We chatted away for ages and although it got to 8.30pm and I was getting more and more horizontal on the couch, the conversation perked me up and I stayed another hour.  So way past my bedtime!

Got home and Toby was having a restless night due to his tummy aches.  We have him booked into the doctor again today.

The weekend beckons, but let's just see what happens, eh?  Mike is off tramping.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with E and D coming over

Hi,

 What a lovely day yesterday - like spring.  I went for a bike ride at lunch time, following Mary on her run.  She ran all the way to NIWA and I left her there to run back on her own and hurtled back as I had to interview someone for a job.  The lift never co-operated and took me to my floor - with my bike.  I had no time to go back down and then come up and get changed.  So I threw my bike at my desk and rushed into the shower room to get changed.  Ran into the interview right on time!  Ooossshhh!

Lunch time run

Stunning lunch time running weather

Anyway, I got the car to take home as Mike was going out after work.  I got home to find Emerson and Duncan already home and enjoying time with Toby.  They assured me homework was fine.  Riiiigghht!

I cooked tea for them and they all ate loads.  Look at the number of veges on the plate!  It was Toby's favourite meal.  Chicken schnitzels.

Look at those veges

 The boys relaxed after tea and eventually they got ready for bed.  It wasn't too long before they all dropped off to sleep.

Mike, on the other hand, came rummaging around the window at 12.45am like a demented hedgehog to let me in.  Then he asked if I had been following his evening on Facebook.  Well, no!  Bit hard to do that when you're fast asleep!

Aidan had an evening work function out at Trentham to attend - hence the mid-week sleepover.  And on Thursday she has a long drive to the Linton camp for something on up there.  So it made sense for the boys to come and stay.  Much easier.

This morning I got up early because I had three lunches to make.  I hope the boys like the lunch I prepared them.  It wasn't much like the lunch I threw out of their lunchbox before I put the new one in.  They both got two bread rolls.  Made with love.  They are tiny ones.  Hahahah!  And a whole heap of fruit and some biscuits and Doritos.

The sunrise this morning was stunning.  It is brilliant sunshine now when I ride in.  Guess that means the change to daylight savings isn't far away now.  Another month maybe.

Soft purple sunrise

Toby is still sick off school.  Same tummy bug.  Gah!  Poor kid.

Right.  Time for tea.  I need tea.  Tea makes everything much better.

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing much

Hi,

What a wild and windy Tuesday that was.  And rainy.  Did I mention rainy?  Hahah.  I got the car to drive home and once I got there and sorted out tea for Toby, it hosed down.  It was so yucky.

But I went out to collect Mike from the supermarket after he had his haircut.  We did the shopping and came home to sort out the evening.  I managed to tidy a bit.  How it was messy after the weekend just finished I'll never understand.  But now it is vaguely tidy.

Emerson and Duncan are coming to stay tonight.  And now they have some space in Toby's room to actually sleep.  Bonus!

Toby is still sick.  But I think it is getting better.  Fingers crossed.

Right.  Time to kick start the day.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Toby still sick

Hi,

Monday disappeared in a blur.  Toby was still sick, and fortunately the doctor we visited was a pediatrician and examined Toby.  Turns out he has a viral stomach thing that means he gets constant cramps.  He groans.  A lot.  Anyhow, his appetite is unaffected, so he requested McDonalds for dinner as we were right opposite at the urgent pharmacy (nothing urgent, that is its name).

Back home and waited for Mike to come home.  Apparently he has an awful wife who lured him to have a bath instead of him working late.  Not sure why he puts up with that sort of behaviour.

Slept the sleep of the dead.  Seriously.  Only woke up when the alarm went off.  Then listened to some cats facing off outside our window somewhere.  Mike drove me in and we had a quick breakfast in town,

The weather is a bit pants here.  Not cold, but rainy and windy.

Right.  Time to kick start the day.

Have a fantastic day wherever you are.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a great Sunday!

Hi,


Mike headed off to Ruapehu Friday night in the Corolla and sang loudly all the way and made great time.  But he did get another migraine just as he arrived.  Poor Mike.

I did have an iced coffee on Friday morning though with Ilske.  Gasoline, again.  And it was a good one.  High on the number rating.  A nine, I reckon.

Iced coffee with Ilske

Next morning was gorgeous and I sat on the deck in the sun with my cup of tea, in my pyjamas!  What winter?  Meanwhile Mike was skiing on superb snow only 4.5 hours away.

Tea on the deck in my pjs

Toby and I had a picnic on the deck as he was still too sick to do the walk I wanted to do with him.  Sore tummy - still.

Picnic time with Toby - still too sick to go out for a picnic

I read and did some housework for the rest of the day.  And read.  And read some more.  It was great!

I stupidly decided at 11pm that I needed bread for my breakfast and hauled out the breadmaker and rummaged around for ages for yeast.  Found none.  Came to terms with my grief at the loss of freshly baked bread for breakfast and stumbled back to bed.  Hahah!  What a dork I am!

Next morning I was up far too early considering I had stayed up late reading.  More dorky behaviour.  So unbecoming.  But the good thing about getting up early was getting an invitation to go to Waikanae with Aidan and her boys.  Yay!

Toby and I got ready and Aidan collected us.  We went via Archway books at Pukerua Bay where I found a cool book on the archaeology of the Auckland Islands.  Then off to The Front Room with Sarah and her kids for lunch.  Mmmmm.  Hadn't been there for a while.  Since my solo visit about 6 months ago.

More iced coffee

Toby looking like a rock star (ta Aidan)

Me, basking the the presence of rock stardom - obviously

Off to the beach after that and a good play and wander around (although Toby stayed in the car with his sore tummy).

General beach fun

Hello toes

Not my toes above, I have to say.  I think her toes were getting their first public outing for the winter.  Her toes hibernate.  Lots.


Look at the photo with me and Lulu.  My hair is way shaggier than her fur.  I desperately need a haircut.  The only difference is that Lulu rolled in the sand and I didn't.  Imagine what it would have looked like if I'd rolled around too.  My hair isn't so much framing my face as obscuring it.  Oops.

Me and Lulu.

As we drove home from Waikanae, I was looking at passing cars, as Aidan is entertaining thoughts of a replacement for Moby.  As I did so, a car with our number plate went past us!  Mike!  Aidan hurtled after him, flashing her lights and we drove in convoy for ages, chatting together on our phones.  So funny.  SH1 is such a tiny place, really.

Back home to do loads of ironing.  Groan.  And a bath with Mike.  Happy!

Had a great weekend.  Time with Toby.  Lots of reading.  Some vague attempt at housework.  And Waikanae unexpected fun.  Choice.  I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.  Come on next weekend.  Hurry up already!

I had to laugh at Toby during the weekend.  He looked at me and said "Mum, can you make sure you only buy seedless mandarins from now on".  I said I did only buy seedless, that is what the label said.  But I had also found seeds when I ate the mandarins.  You should have seen his horrified face when he realised false advertising exists!  Life lesson, right there!

Have a blast of a week!  Enjoy it lots.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with chaos

Hi,

Thursday was chaotic in some weird way.  I had a client meeting in town and went to that.  Then I packed my laptop into my pannier and rode home to work from there as Toby is sick.  He has stomach pains that are constantly giving him gyp.  I wondered if he wanted to go to A&E but he said maybe the doctor.  Anyhow, Aidan texted and said they were at A&E with Emerson with the same sorts of symptoms.  They ruled out appendicitis (which had crossed my mind) and said it was likely viral.

So, Toby is home again today, but we're hoping it is not as bad.  His appetite seems ok still.  And he isn't sick, is happy enough when he's not hunched over.  He ate two jumbo packets of sushi for lunch yesterday.  And I noted that the entire pack of Tim Tams was finished!  Can you live on sushi and Tim Tams?  Some exotic diet?

Ed (colleague) cheered me up

Dinner last night

Bubbles also cheered me up

Today (Friday) is a far better day.  Although Toby woke in the night, I got him some Panadol and he went back to sleep.  And the sun is shining and it looks great out there.

Mike is off to the mountain for the weekend and Toby and I (if he is well) are planning a long walk tomorrow with a picnic,  Yay!

Have a lovely Friday and a great weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with a surprise

Hi,

What a day.  The weather was pants and it was hosing down around lunchtime.  I hadn't made my lunch so I was contemplating where to rush out to get something to eat.  I had a meeting at my usual lunch time so it got to near 1pm and I still hadn't eaten anything.

I was sitting at my desk when I got a ping from the receptionist.

That was a "Yes" and a mad rush up the stairs to the reception

I got upstairs and was equal parts bemused and ecstatic that Aidan was there, dripping wet, to say a quick hello.  She'd been out for a run, because that's what you do when it is pouring down with rain.  But she detoured past my work on the off-chance I was around.  And I got lucky.  We chatted and I got a hug (or two, or three) and she was off, into the rain.

The other good thing was that Mike had an unavoidable meeting on his sick day and came past work as I was finishing and took me home.  Yay for Mike and his perfect timing.  Boo for his migraines.

Wee Toby is still sick too.  Stomach issues.  So I am working from home for the afternoon today.  That means I have to ride home with my laptop.  This is when I really wish I had asked for a superlight Surface for my work computer.

Right. Time for tea.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with lunch with Aidan, cooking with Sally and a sick day

Hi,

Wow - I'm glad days like that hardly ever reach those giddy levels of weirdness very often.  What a crazy day.  Rode in.  Blogged.  Caught up with Mike briefly who said the morning was great with Toby.  Then, boom!  Got a call from the school nurse that Toby was with her and needed me.

So, I grabbed the car off Mike as I didn't think Toby would be happy if I turned up on my bicycle, and went and collected him.  I got sick leave from work, ready to spend the day with him.  But as we drove back from school, Mike called to say he had a migraine and was going home.  Toby and I collected him on the way home.

I set Toby up with some homework before I did some housework and popped out for lunch with Aidan.  I had a bit of an obligation there as I had her lunch with me and she would have had to beg for food from colleagues, or broken the budget by having to buy her lunch.  Or just eaten whatever muesli bar she had in the bottom of her handbag.  It was a good lunch, up in her cafe at work.  Nice views out over the harbour.

Look what I made!

I went home and cuddled up with the sick boys for a bit before I went out to read a book and wait for Sally for the Asiana cooking school.  Mike had booked in to do it with Sally but his two migraines in one day had him down for the count.

Sally and I made caramelised pork with onions and two spring rolls.  It was good fun.  Turns out this was a Meetup group Mike had booked us into.  I think a lot of people knew each other.  At the end we chatted to one woman who professed to having no idea who Mike was.

Sally explained she was his sister and I was his wife.  The woman said "Are you his ex wife?".  Well, no, I said.  So she said, why is he in the Socially Singles Meetup group then?

Hahahah!  I figured out that some Meetups open up for others if they don't get enough punters and that is what Mike did.  But by that stage we had already left and that poor woman is probably thinking I was going to get home and ask my husband why he was in a singles group!

Look what I made!

My spring rolls cooking

My caramelised pork with onion cooking

Spring rolls!

I dropped Sally home and chatted briefly to Andrew.  Caught up with a bit of their news.  Then drove home and collapsed into sleep.

Both my boys are still sick though.  I left them in the house this morning, both feeling sorry for themselves.

I'd better rush home at the other end of the day to sort them out.

Hope you have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with a run - of sorts

Hi,

Well, I had a pretty good Monday at work really.  I think the euphoria of the weekend was still working its magic.  But I went for my first ten km run after work with Mary along the waterfront to NIWA (and supposedly back again).

My calf had been a bit sire since my run last Tuesday for some reason.  I had a light run on Friday and it was ok but friends that run said I should wait until Monday before running again.

Well, 300m into my run I felt my calf.  But it didn't get any worse and seemed to be feeling pretty good.  So, as it always happens, I got to the 5km mark, the furtherest from work, when all of a sudden I could hardly put any weight on it.

Gutted.  I had to walk back.  And Mary walked with me, even though it made her horribly late for her train.

The only good thing?  The evening was stunning and the view was spectacular.  If I'd been running, I couldn't have taken a photo.  And I got to chat to Mary.  We never talk while we're running, so this was good from that aspect.

Wellington from Oriental Parade

Now I have an enforced layoff from running.  Stink.  But as Mike kindly said, I can increase my cycling to compensate.

I rode home after the run/walk and my leg was still pretty sore.  Mike rubbed some Voltaren into it and found the tear (or whatever it is) easily.  It'll be fine.  Especially after a lovely cup of tea around about now.

Today is overcast and it looks like it's been raining overnight.  But I got into work nice and dry.  I have lunch with Aidan today.  Yay.  Looks awfully like Monday was great at work, and Tuesday will be great too.  Any day with an Aidan lunch has to be good by definition.  In fact, I am pretty sure some of my exchanges with Toby go like this:

Toby:  How was your day, Mum?

Me:  Ok, I guess.  No, wait.  I had lunch with Aidan.  Today was awesome.

I should just totally have lunches (or breakfasts) with more people I like every day.  Hahah!

Apparently last night when I was walking back to work (5 km!) and I called Mike to ask if he could come and collect us, Toby said he would come and collect me if he could.  He's so sweet.  (And in case you were wondering, Mike was indisposed - but he did look after me once I got home).

Right.  Time for that tea.  It is calling to me.

Love,
Angela

The weekend that was wonderful

Hi,

What an amazing weekend.  Especially for a weekend in Wellington, with very little in the way of massive plans. It just went well, both the expected events as well as unexpected highlights.

Friday I went home and sorted out Toby.  I nipped back into town to collect Mike from work and we had a relaxing evening.  I did end up a bit covered in beer from Mike's bottle and I washed all my clothes that evening.

Saturday we were up fairly early.  Well, Toby slept like a log and was up at 7am sorting out his own breakfast.  Woot!  That was so pleasing to see.

Out of bed and showered ready for Yum Cha goodness at 11am at Dragons on Tory St.  It was a huge affair with 10 of us.  The three of us, all the Tabors, Christine, Tom and Brian.

Yum Cha fun and games

We ate our way through a mountain of food.  Mmmmmm.  The boys eventually got restless so Mike and Josh took them to the park and the rest of us chatted, enjoying the sudden silence.  It did mean we ended up with the bill.  Hahah!

Aidan and I said goodbye to Christine and Brian as they wandered off to find Tom with the others.  We were off to the Penthouse in Brooklyn to see Train Wreck.  We were early so we took the long way there around the bays.  Lovely.  Aidan wanted to take photos, as she does.  So she did.  I took photos of her taking photos.  As I do.  I appreciate getting to see things through her photographer's eye.  It makes me take a second look at things.  Always a good idea.  You never know what might have escaped your attention the first time.

About to jump in the  wee green car for some fun

View of the south coast

We parked up the street from the cinema and wandered down, past a cafe/restaurant that looked nice called Salty Pidgin.  Filed that away for later.  Grabbed our tickets and settled down to watch the movie. We would have been lucky if there were 8 people in the cinema with us.

The movie was ok - not as funny as I might have thought.  But it was ok.  I enjoyed it.  I laughed out loud in the last 5 minutes when she (the actress - Amy Schumer) indulged in some slapstick, so it ended on a high for me.  I think Aidan liked it too.  Which is good, because our track record of movies we see together is rather patchy.  More miss than hit.

But... we popped into Salty Pidgin and it was great.  The smell was amazing.  What was it, Aidan?  It was spicy somehow.  Anyway, we had a drink and Aidan had two freshly shucked oysters.  I think we need to come back for a meal one day.  Nice ambiance.

Pimms for Aidan

We popped into the supermarket before I dropped Aidan home.  She had to get the ingredients for tea as we were all eating at her place before Mike, Josh and Aidan went out to Beervana.  I went home to collect the boys and we were back.  I finished cooking tea (I stirred the sauce and cooked pasta) and I ate with the boys while the Beervana contingent got ready.

I dropped them into town and I was back and lined up my Kindle while the boys played games.  Duncan put himself to bed and I got the call to collect everyone.  Yes, I think I did fall asleep on their couch.  Hahah!

Kindle, tea, chippies

As they approached the car, I could see they had souvenirs of their excursion.  They had pilfered people's tasting glasses.  With dregs of beer in them still.  Stink!  And I got a bit on me - again!

Mike in the thick of Beervana action

Dropped them home and took my boys home.  I watched the rugby (go All Blacks - what a sublime game) and eventually fell asleep at midnight.


The next morning Aidan collected me with Christine and Duncan and we went to visit Victor.  We gave him a brush and pampered him a bit.

Victor is so warm in the sun

Stones in the hoof hurt - lots!

He's all good

Taking stones out of Victor's hoof

It was good fun and the weather was sunny right up until we left.  We drove back into Wellington in a little bit of rain.

Aidan dropped me home and I decided to drop the pamphlets around the streets that the boys hadn't done yet.  Just as I finished the boys got home.  It was Jake's party time and they had been shopping.  So I went with them into town.  We dropped Toby off and then went to work.  But Mike was working for a while and then had other plans.

So I texted Aidan and fortunately she could come and get me, and what's more, take me grocery shopping.  Woot!  Awesome synergy.  We popped into Countdown at Crofton Downs and I was stoked to get lime pickle.  Mmmmm.

Back home and some housework before Mike got home.  Then out to see Sarah and Hamish and Ryan for tea.  Wow!  Mike then followed Sarah in the rain up into Otari Wilton bush for some game Sarah plays.  Madness, is what I say.

But I got my ironing done.  And the morning is stunning here today. The best morning.  The sort that makes you happy to live here.

Sunrise this morning

The week is busy this week.  Loads of Mike things on after work.  I best keep track of things.

Have a wonderful week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing on

Hi,

Wow - nothing planned.  What a relief.  I rode home and enjoyed that after a rather harrowing day.  Mind you, I did spark it up with a coffee date with Ilske.

Iced coffee happiness

And I have to say, Aidan certainly cheered me up with an email that made me consider things from a slightly different perspective.  Guess that's really what friends are for and it made me very appreciative of her friendship.


When I got home, I started tea for Mike and Toby and when Mike got home, I hopped in the car and drove back into town.  Christine had an appointment on The Terrace and I collected her when it was done at 1830.

We drove to her place and I had a cup of tea and two Tim Tams.  That was the chocolate component of my day that Aidan had said I was missing all along.  Mind you, I think iced coffee might be my chocolate equivalent.

Christine is looking much better a week after her surgery.  Yay.

Back home and I noticed the wee spider on the toilet again.  It's been there for a whole day now.  So I took a photo for the Australian contingent.  It's not a redback on our toilet, but it is a cute wee hunting spider nevertheless.

Spider on our toilet

Went to bed and read for a bit before falling asleep with my book in my hands.  My boys sorted me out.

This morning is overcast and still.  It's lovely out there.  My ride in was really nice.  Dry roads and fun.

The weekend is set to rock my socks off!  Saturday morning I'll go for a run.  My calf is a wee bit sore from my run on Tuesday.  This morning's run was slow but it wasn't too bad.  Hoping tomorrow it will be super ok.  And then I am aiming for a 10km run after work on Monday.  From work around the bays to NIWA and back.  Oooooo.

Saturday we're going to Yum Cha with the Tabor family.  Then I am whisking Aidan off to see Train Wreck at the Penthouse in Brooklyn.  I do like that cinema.  Hope it's a good movie.  It has got good reviews.  Saturday night I am looking after the boys (Toby, Emerson and Duncan) while Mike takes Josh and Aidan to Beervana.  Hahahah!   Should be good fun for them (and not too bad for me - I picture reading on the couch, scratching Lulu's ears, while the boys play computer games).

There is a big rugby game on that Mike and I hope to watch.  Aussies taking on the All Blacks at Eden Park.  Huge game.

And, I might be quietly entertaining the idea of a scoot up the Turoa on Sunday for the day.  I'll see how that pans out.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with a presentation at Upper Hutt College

Hi,

Toby and Mike had their appointment in town at 4pm, so they ensured that meant the only dinner option for them was McDonalds.  Hahah.  I texted my other suggestions to them, but it was futile to try and divert them from their chosen meal.

Sunrise this morning

Snowy Tararuas yesterday

After work I rode home and got changed and ready for the career in IT presentations at Upper Hutt College for the evening.  I drove out there, singing to Bruce Springsteen - loudly.  Found the school nice and early and got set up in my classroom.

The first session had standing room only.  Woot!  A surprise was the engineering presenter turning up and presenting alongside me.  We both squashed our 20 minute sessions into 10 minutes.  Fortunately it wasn't too jarring.  My degree and his were actually quite close (although separated by the Tasman Sea and 20 years!) so it was interesting that one led into business IT and one (his) led into electronics and cool stuff.

We had four sessions and by the end of it, I was quite comfortable in front of a load of people.  I do need to remember that I really don't like talking in front of loads of strangers.  Hahah.

Back home to see the boys before bed.  Zzzzzzz.

Today is lovely.  Cold.  But lovely.

Have a marvellous day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with a school interview for Toby

Hi,

Well, I definitely enjoyed my lunch break.  I caught up with Aidan and we ate lunch in the cafe in her building.  I only got rained on a little between my workplace and hers.  Well worth the effort.  Aidan was relaxed and although our topics of conversation mainly escape me, the time fairly flew by.  Actually, I recall she gave me the benefit of her many presentations and skills she has for engaging audiences.  I'll incorporate some of her thoughts into my presentation tonight.  And it wasn't my acute observations of her that helped me determine she was relaxed.  She said she felt like a nap at her desk after lunch.  From that I inferred she was relaxed.  Hahah.  Nah - she looked good.

Anyhow, after work was a different thing.  Mike gave me the car keys and I drove to the cathedral on Molesworth St at 4pm and collected Toby from the school bus stop.  We went out to Wellington High School and found the school office.  Toby had an interview with the head of history.  It was such a positive experience.  Toby is looking forward to going there next week.  The man treated Toby like a young adult and really gave Toby the impression his thoughts were important.  As we left, Toby said that the man had seemed more like a friend than a teacher.  I think I know what Toby was trying to convey.  The man had mana, had your respect, but also valued your contribution.

We left and were very happy about next year's school change.

Rebooted and saw feet!

Wednesday mornings is work PC update day and I had to reboot this morning.  The benefit of this (besides protection for my PC) is I get to see my feet wallpaper.  This morning I saw Aidan's holiday feet from a beach in Maine.  And you can also see photos of Toby and Mike.  The Mike photo is from when he was 20 and visited Melbourne for the first time.  Everyone that comes to my desk comments on it.  Usually they say how handsome he is, how much like a male model he is.  Or maybe I am lying and the comments are usually around how much hair he had back then.  Hahah.  You choose!

A colleague is off on holiday and I asked for a photo of her feet doing something special for my folder.  The wallpaper cycles through a collection of feet photos.  Mine, naturally, are the best.  But I see Mike's feet, Andrew's feet, Ange's feet and Aidan's feet from time to time.  Obviously I need more feet shots.

Right.  Time to start the day.  Toby has an appointment in town this afternoon that Mike is taking him to.  And I have my presentation to 4 sessions of parents and students at Upper Hutt College on careers in IT to present this evening.  Woot!

Enjoy the day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with parent teacher interviews

Hi,

Oh - complicated logistics!  I live for them!  Not.  But it all seemed to go like clockwork.  Toby got off the bus in town and came to work.  He started homework by my desk and then I left and drove to Scots for the interviews.

I had a few hours of them lined up.  You get 5 minutes with each teacher on a strict timed routine.  I saw the majority of them before Mike got there.  He had a dental appointment, followed by Toby.  And Sally collected Toby from the dentist and took him out for tea.

All rather complicated.  But, as I say, it worked well.  During a break in the interviews, Mike and I also went out for tea.  Mike found a great pub with nice food and I had a terrific steak.  Mmmmm.

Back to finish the interviews and home.  I was in the wee green car and Mike was in the silver bullet.  We raced each other through the suburbs back to the motorway before he continued to Lower Hutt to collect Toby from Sally's place.

So, reasonably successful.  Also raided Toby's locker and cleared out rubbish.  Found an old sock.  That sort of thing.

Right.  Time to kick start the day.  I did meet Aidan off her late bus this morning.  That was a pleasant surprise.  I think it was the first time since March I met her off her bus.  She usually drives in these days.  But she chose one of the coldest mornings of the year to catch the bus in.

Have a wonderful day.  It's wet here.  And so cold.

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington

Hi,

What a great weekend.  I had a sleepover at Christine's house on Friday night.  She just had surgery on her shoulder so I think I was there as a backup should she take a turn for the worse during the night.  But she was pretty good really.  She has electronic pain relief and a vast array of medication.

We had breakfast Saturday morning before I came home to relieve Mike.  He had an appointment to meet some chap from the tramping club.

I took Toby out to Maranui cafe for lunch and we used a book voucher he got for his birthday and then out to Queensgate to get Magnus a present and then back home to get ready for Magnus' birthday.  Mike got home and dropped Toby off.

Mike made mousse for dinner and the mousse became known as "the f#$@&ing mousse" because Mike couldn't find anything in the kitchen.  But, for a mousse that provoked such unbridled outrage in Mike, it was pretty yummy.

We drove out to see Sally and Andrew and had the best dinner!  Entrees and everything.  Wow.  Caught up with their news.

After that, it was time for a drink with Meet Up people at the Old Bailey.  Unfortunately the rugby started just as we were leaving so Mike and I stayed until midnight to watch it.  Great game.  Shame we lost.

Sunday I pulled the plug on the ski trip.  The snow was fantastic, but the roads up were treacherous.  It might still have been the best call.

But I dropped a latte off at Christine's place and then went swimming with Aidan and her boys.  At least I got something energetic done.  Made me much happier.

Back home and then grocery shopping before boring ironing and making dinner.

I ironed in front of the computer.  I'd say in front  of the television, but the computer took so long to boot up, I was nearly done ironing my mountain by the time it came right.  Actually, it didn't come right.  I switched to Free to Air and watched absolute rubbish.

How many updates is it doing?  8829?

Right.  Today is busy.  Sally is looking after Toby in the evening and Mike and Toby have a dental appointment and I have parent teacher interviews. Then Mike is joining me for the later interviews.

I'll need a holiday.

Have a wonderful week,

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with not much

Hi,

The Thursday that went pretty fast.  I was equally astonished it was already Thursday, and perplexed as to why it wasn't already Friday.  The brain is indeed an odd thing.

Gasoline iced coffee

The highlight must have been catching up with Ilske.  I hadn't seen her for a while since she changed jobs.  So inconvenient for her to move further away from my building.  We found a coffee shop halfway between us that does a good iced coffee.  It was so cold yesterday that the barista was saying "Are you mad?  Iced coffee on a day like this?".  I had no comeback.  What can I say?

Ilske is good.  I caught up with her recent news.  She is off skiing soon and I should see her in the last weekend of August for more skiing fun.

I also had lunch unexpectedly with Celia at Bethel Woods.  That was a bonus!

I got held up at work and was late getting home.  Toby and I did homework for a while.  It was good fun.  I cooked him tea and I went to bed to read and wait for Mike to return from his work social gourmet night.

All in all, not too shabby a day.

Friday beckons.  I am sleeping over at Christine's house as she had surgery on her shoulder yesterday.  Hopefully she should be home today and we can chill out tonight.  Fingers crossed it has all gone well.

Weekend looks fun.  Toby has a last minute birthday party/sleepover Saturday.  We will catch up with Sally and Andrew (who are they, again?) Saturday evening.  And possibly I will ski at Turoa Sunday.  But the forecast is for snow that day.  Not too sure it is worth a day trip.

Right.  Time for tea and work.

Enjoy your weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday to make you all jealous

Hi,

Work was work.  But I rode home and enjoyed the ease of the ride compared to the galeforce winds the previous time.  My chain popped off at one point though.  A sure sign I need a service on my bike.  Mucky hands after that.  Lucky it happened near a whole bunch of agapanthus.  They are perfect for ruining with greasy muck.

Got home and found Mike there, to my pleasant surprise.  He was working from home.  He had dinner all sorted while I froze on the couch.  Mainly because I was all sweaty after my ride and sitting around in bike shorts with no heater on, in winter.  Sure recipe for being freezing.

But the reason I wasn't cooking was because I was off to have dinner with Ange.  Woot!  She texted when she got home just after 1800 and I left.  Watched her cook lamb meatballs with smashed feta potatoes.  Mmmmm.  She has started subscribing to My Food Bag.  My Food Bag  They just started a subscription for singles.  She gets four meals a week to cook, and one of them (this week, the meatballs one) is big enough for two.  So you can invite someone to share, or eat it two nights running.

Ange is smashing those potatoes

I am prodding those meatballs

And the finished meal was scrumptious

And this is why you are jealous.  It was so good.  We sat down to watch television and one of her favourite programmes was on, with the grand final.  My Kitchen Rules.  Little did I know when it started at 1930 that it lasted for 2 hours. I was pretty tired by the end.

Back home and into bed.  But a book caught my attention and Mike was working in bed, so I never went to sleep until 2300.

Made for a hard morning this morning.  My alarm went off for my run at 5am, but next thing I knew it was 5.25,  So, the run was deferred until tomorrow.

My ride into work was fun though.  I got soaked.  Soaked enough to wring my socks out in the shower at work.  That hasn't happened for a while.  Mind you, I have been even more wet than that before.

Right.  Time to kickstart the day.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela