The Thursday with a work lunch

Hi,

Ok - work has gone frantic again!  Doh!  But I did have a long lunch to celebrate a work project finishing and that may have contributed to a slightly manic feel to the day.  I had an iced coffee there (with Celia) and it may have given the rest of the day a slight edgy feel.  As caffeine is prone to doing to me.  I liked it.  Coffee without any bitterness and milk.  A good 8.5.

Nikau iced coffee goodness

 I got a lift home with Mike after work and we cooked tea and the evening disappeared in a blur.  I was asleep in seconds, despite Mike being up and typing loudly on the computer in bed next to me.

Cafe Neo iced coffee goodness

 Friday saw us together on the bus and a brekkie with Steph.  Cafe Neo's iced coffee was sweet, but not too sweet.  I quite liked it.  A solid 7.

The weekend is close now.  We don't have anything on apart from some messages.  Yay!  And the room downstairs is drying nicely.  I went in to run this morning and it felt like the tropics.  So I went for my first run outside since January.  It was such fun!

Enjoy your weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Alien for Mike

Hi,

Well, that was an abrupt end to my day yesterday.  Mike rang and Toby had forgotten he was filling the bath and it flooded downstairs.  Yikes!  I hopped in an Uber and made it home pretty fast.  I think we escaped a major catastrophe and the dehumidfier and heaters should sort it out.  I hope.  Toby did well coping with the disaster until I arrived.

The good news?  We have a very clean bathroom floor and all our towels have been cycled through multiple washings.

Iced coffee at Verve

Mike got home early to help too.  I cooked tea (well, Toby wanted chicken nuggets so he actually cooked tea - although I was unsure if he should learn to use the oven and hob, envisioning mass burnings in my future to match the flood).  Mike headed off to watch Alien at the Roxy (and raved about it).

I was dead to the world and never even stirred when he got back around midnight.  But for fun we both went into town early this morning and had brekkie at Verve.  Mmmmm.

Enjoy your day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with ANZAC Day

Hi,

Having a day off in the middle of the week was fun.  It gave me an extra Friday night feeling (on Monday evening) but also an extra Sunday night feeling (on Tuesday evening).

I did get an iced latte with Rex on Monday

I tried to go to sleep early on Monday night - the boys were out watching the latest Fast and Furious movie with Sally.  I may have almost got to sleep by the time they came home.  Put paid to that for a while.

I was up at 4.30am and had some cornflakes before heading away at 5am.  Got a good place at the Pukeahu War Memorial on the rails and was in place by 5.20am.  I parked in Wakefield St and walked up easily.  Made for getting away at the end easy too.

Dawn service was stunning

And what a day for it - no wind and clear skies.  The church chap leading the prayers pointed out the crescent moon and Venus shining like a beacon close by.

I got back home at just after 7am and Mike got up and we had (second) breakfast.  Then he was off to visit Andrew and their woodworking project continued.

Toby and I chilled out at home.  I tidied a bit.  But that was about it.  Cooked tea (fish - Toby ate everything on his plate - he loves fish).

Back at work again today and everyone seems to be back in force.  Monday was really quiet - both at work and in town.

But - the day off yesterday does give me a three day working week!  Woot!  Roll on the weekend.

Have a great short week.

Love,
Angela

The weekend before ANZAC day

Hi,

What a lovely weekend in Wellington.  Mike and Andrew had a project on to keep them out of mischief (pre-fabricating bunk beds for the lodge).  That meant i hardly saw Mike at all.

But Toby and I went into town Saturday afternoon and watched a movie (Lego Batman - it was ok) and then caught up with Sally, Andrew and Mike for a drink at Bin 44.  Then Mike, Toby and I had something to eat while Sally and Andrew went to their dinner date.

Wellington by night

The evening was beautiful and I wasn't the only one trying to capture it on my camera.

Sunday was much the same - I cleared out the spare room downstairs because Christine is likely to live with us for a while.  Her flat is being renovated and her landlord has asked her to move out.

Stink for her.

I cooked tea for the boys and they both watched their devices while they ate.  Funny pair.

Boys eating dinner - but not really together

Back at work for today before the day off for ANZAC Day tomorrow.  I'll get up for the dawn service and hope for no rain.  Should be lovely.  I'd best check the schedule for timings.

Enjoy your week!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with more Carl

Hi,

Happy birthday to Michael coming up over the weekend!

It might appear from this blog post that all I did yesterday was drink iced lattes.  But one was a regular catch up session and the other was irresistible - in the form of seeing Carl again!

Iced latte in the morning

James joined us and we chatted away about Carl's new position at his work in Melbourne (it just got bought out by a NZ company) and his daughter's 21st party Friday night.  Woot!  Huge event.

Iced latte in the afternoon - with Carl!

I bussed home after work and Mike timed his bus ride home for the same bus.  Took us a while to sit together though - it was a crowded bus!

Cooked tea for us all - and Fiona dropped around a huge banoffee pie for us to eat.  Yum!  So we had dessert too.

And this morning is stunning here in Wellington.  A gorgeous morning that bodes well for the rest of the weekend.  Bring that on!  5pm can't come fast enough.

Good morning Wellington!

We have a weekend in Wellington.  Mike needs to pre-fabricate some bunks for the lodge.  That's his main focus.  I want to eat crumpets and exercise and hopefully get out on the bikes.  Both the pedal powered one and the petrol powered one.

Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing much

Hi,

Despite my good plans of getting to the gym, I ended up with a headache and wanted nothing more than to sit on a bus and let it take me home.

So I did.

I even ordered pizza in for Toby because I wasn't worth a lot and the couch called my name.  The cat did jump up and sit there for 3 minutes before the pizza delivery person knocked on the door and scared her silly.

Mike got home fairly early from his impromptu beer crawl with colleagues and tramping club meeting.  What a busy chap!  I suspect he dodged a bullet there and I am pleased he came home.

But I think I might be coming down with a cold.  That might be why I am a bit bleary eyed and remembering the couch with longing.

Hope your day is a good one!  Toby is home, enjoying his school holidays.  I have asked him to come in tomorrow to meet me for lunch.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Jack

Hi,

It was so nice to have Jack here for the day with Toby.  They both stayed at our house and Toby entertained Jack with XBox games and Troll 2 (which is about the worst movie ever!).  When Mike and I caught up with them after work for dinner at Spruce Goose, the three of them were chortling about quotes from the movie.

It's slightly disturbing how their tastes have all aligned.  And mine has diverged.

Mike back in the day

Anyway - I found an old photo of Mike I used to carry in my slightly bigger wallet for many year.  So I took a photo of the photo and now I have it with me on my phone.  Doesn't he look gorgeous?  This was from Nov 1991 I reckon.

Spruce Goose was good.  John joined us and we tucked into a good meal before we dropped John and Jack at the airport for their flight home.

My sleep was sketchy at best but I got up for my run this morning.  And Mike ran too.  Yay!  Mike also tried to get Toby up out of bed at 6.50am to get ready for school until I shouted down that it was school holidays.  Hahahahah!

Time to start the day.  I have a cup of tea,  I never had one all yesterday.

Enjoy your day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Easter

Hi,

After the hype of Cyclone Cook, it never eventuated to anything more than a typical windy day here.  Nothing out of the ordinary - but up north did get a bit of a hammering.

Iced coffee at Caffiend

Good Friday was a lazy blur - but we did get to visit Josh and the boys for a BBQ.  And it was very good.  Scrumptious steak.  And Josh has a wasp nest in his wall space that meant lots of dead wasp bodies inside and some commentary on wasps in general.  I heard he dealt to them on Saturday.

Mike playing with Smudge

Saturday morning we met Celia and James at Caffiend for early brunch.  Early meaning breakfast at 9.30am.  Hahahah.  And then some Mitre10 shopping and what not.

Sunday was egg rolling morning.  And a home made iced coffee opportunity.

Home made iced coffee - it was goooooooddddd!

I was worried about my egg and ran after it!

It was a bit battered and hammered

Photos of Smudge for Roz

Smudge looking very cute

Also took some photos of Smudge because she is so cute.  And Roz said she hasn't seen a pic of her for ages.  So I may have chased her around the house, looking for backgrounds where she doesn't blend in.

Monday we went to Caffiend again to have brunch with Sally and Andrew and take the Corolla back.

It was the Easter of brunches.  What a way to enjoy Easter.

Hope yours was fun too.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with presenting at user group

Hi,

Ok - it is all done and dusted for a while now.  Although I do note that I have already said yes to talking to the kids at Wadestown school about science and a career in it.  Doh!  It's like I can't learn!

Mike came and got me after the user group session and we collected burgers for him and Toby and picked up the Paua Hut key for some brave people who think they will be able to cross the Orongorongo river this weekend.

The evening at home started so late that I was in bed watching Vikings with Mike before I knew it.

I caught the bus in this morning because I went home with Mike directly from the user group last night.  The morning is wet, but so calm.

And it is the start of Easter.  Yay.  I just need to find some fruitless hot cross buns today for tomorrow morning and we'll be set.

Enjoy your Easter.  Stay dry.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with not a lot

Hi,

Yesterday's weather was really odd - overcast and so warm - with not a breath of wind.  Like some disturbing alternative reality Wellington where it doesn't rain or blow a gale despite it looking like normal.

And this morning is is raining - vertically!  Still really warm, with no wind.  I feel like I have been transported to Auckland.  Except it only takes 20 minutes for me to get to work instead of an hour and 20 minutes.

Anyhow, I got lunch yesterday with Chenda at work and we enjoyed a bowl of ramen.  Mmmm.  And after work I rode home.  As I passed all the buses on Willis St pulling into the Grand bus stop, I heard Mike yell "Angela" but I couldn't see him for all the traffic.  I stopped at the red light and he ran up to me and kissed me!  I pulled off the road and we chatted before I headed home and he went to his Meet up meeting.

I got home and cooked tea for Toby and waited for Mike to get home.  The rain started when he got home and I don't think it has let up.  Some new cyclone is bearing down on up north further, bringing rain to already waterlogged land.  They are a bit fearful what might happen.  Hope everything is far better than they expect.

I didn't sleep super well.  Probably because I have a presentation tonight.  Remind me not to ever do those!  Gah!  Come 7pm it'll be over for another year.  By then I forget how horrid it is for me and stupidly volunteer again.  This is where you remind me to say no.

Right.  Time for tea and the day to start its crazy stuff.  Have a load of fun doing whatever you do.  Stay dry if you're in New Zealand.  It's the last day of the cycling holiday for the Nelson contingent.  Hope it isn't too nasty there.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work after the Nelson fun

Hi,

I found it hard to get through the Monday with my head full of Nelson fun and excitement.  And I got a photo from the remaining peloton of cyclists showing an awesome breakfast on Monday morning.  Just to rub it in more.

Brekkie in Kaiteriteri 

Anyway, I did get through the day.  And I enjoyed my ride home on my bike.  Back to disc brakes after the older style caliper brakes on the bike I had hired at the weekend.  So nice to stop super easily.  I think I love disc brakes.

I got home and cooked tea.  Toby and I had chicken schnitzels - yummy!  Toby's favourite.  He also told me that he has a chance to earn a rugby scholarship at school in Year 12 if he keeps on with his current form in rugby.  Yes, it turns out my son has taken to PE like a duck to water and seems to be the fastest runner (and the craziest attacker/defender) in his year at school.  I am a bit dumbfounded at the possible thought that Mike and I have bred an athlete.  Hahahah!  Like some cosmic joke.  But - I hope it happens because I would love to be a "soccer mum" and watch Toby play sports at the weekends.  I thought I'd somehow missed out on all that.  Let's see what happens, eh?

I have a school parent teacher appointment today.  Toby's ropu teacher is his maths teacher - not sure his PE prowess will impress her as much as if he was a maths genius.  Looking forward to it.

Hope your day is a load of fun.  Rain is forecast for the next week - with heavy rain through Easter.  I intend to do a lot of indoor stuff!

Love,
Angela

The weekend enjoying cycling in Nelson

Hi,

Well, what an amazing weekend!  Up super early Saturday morning to get to the Bluebridge ferry.  Mike dropped me and Toby at Maccas next to the train station and went to collect Sally and Andrew from their house.  We were eating brekkie at 5.45am!  They open early there!

Onto the ferry after a quick New World visit and coffee needs met - I got a Rooibos from the thermos from Iona while in the car queue - we were on the ferry quickly.  Got a table near the cafe (Sally and Col took the cabin) and enjoyed chatting, reading, quizzing and eating.  The time passed quickly.

Gentle snoring wasn't too audible over the ship engine noises

Into the car at Picton  and Toby and I had an uncomfortable journey to Nelson.  His knee was sore so he had to stretch it out over me and I couldn't change positions.  I fell asleep which made the time pass quickly.  But by the time we got to Nelson, I was pretty sore.

We met Nelson Cycle Hire (JR and Anita) at the airport and they kitted us up quickly.  Due to the winter ferry timetable, they decided to transport us close to Rabbit Island to ensure we had a good chance of catching the 4.10 ferry to Mapua.

We met Paul here too.  So that made the group:  Sally, Andrew, me, Mike, Toby, Iona, Col, Paul.

Rabbit Island was lovely

The day was lovely - light overcast and hardly any wind.  We rode through farmland on bike trails before getting onto Rabbit Island.  A bit of coast riding before going through pines to the ferry terminal.

Toby only had about 4.5 km to get to the ferry at this stage

Toby's knee came right with the exercise.  Good on him.  He did such a brilliant job both days cycling further than he has done before.

Feet waiting for the ferry

 We got to the ferry well before its departure time.  We probably got there at 3.50pm.  Sat around contemplating things before getting on the ferry when it pulled up.

 At Mapua, a lot of Golden Bear brewery beer was consumed before the cold made me and Toby (with no beer coat on) jump on the bikes and find our accommodation.  We got the Mapua Leisure Camp and found our unit.  Very nice.  Then Toby wanted to play tennis so we got on our bikes and explored the camp.

There was no equipment at the tennis court so we had to forego that fun.  We decided to explore further afield.  Down to the beach and along the top of the breakwater.  As we passed the camp boundary, we read a sign that said that nudity was not allowed outside of the camp boundary.

Yep - we were staying at a nudist camp.  Fortunately the colder weather meant no one was playing tennis when we went to check that out!  Dodged a bullet there!  Toby was horrified - in a good way.  Hahahah.

Off to dinner at 7pm and the food at the Apple Shed Cafe was scrumptious.  The service was a bit hot and cold.  But, when the food came, I enjoyed it.  I had two entrees - a delicious chowder and the squid.  And a lovely apple and feijoa juice.

I walked back to Iona's room as Col had left early, feeling unwell.  We tried to watch the rugby on their TV, but the day had caught up with me and by 10pm I had to walk back.  It was only a couple of kms and the night was lovely.

Next morning we got up and rode into town with our grey bags slung across our shoulders (me and Mike).  Dropped them at Iona and Col's unit then found the Mapua Bakery for brekkie.

Best iced coffee at Mapua Bakery

This was an incredible place!  Yum!  My Eggs Benedict was amazing.  Toby ate all of his.  And the iced coffee was so good.

Feet enjoying the beach

We had stunning weather all day.  The ride from Mapua to Motueka was so good.  Beautiful countryside and then up across Tasman Heights.

Posing with Toby

Mucking around with Toby

Iona crests Tasman Heights

Once we were in Motueka we explored a bit - checked out boardwalks and a shipwreck.

Col negotiates the boardwalk in Motueka

Bike at Motueka

The Kai Festival was on in Motueka and we enjoyed the atmosphere there.  Met friends of Iona and Col's (Sue and Janice) and then rode off.  Mike and Toby went first and took a Gilbert shortcut that really worked.  The rest of us came behind and eventually Andrew corralled us into a group.

When we got to the mountain bike park though, we split up again.  We all took the Easy Rider route through the park and it was such fun!  Toby said he was petrified, but he made it easily!

Then down into Kaiteriteri and up to our accommodation.  A steep driveway right at the end was fun for everyone.

We relaxed before JR and Anita arrived to take us and the others' luggage.  We left at 6pm and we were boarding our flight to Wellington by 7.50pm.  What a great time!  So well looked after.  Great countryside.  Good bikes.  Welcoming hosts!

More, please!

The others remain to continue until Wednesday.  Lucky things!  Wish I was there still.

Have an awesome week!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with more rain

Hi,

Ok - I had a yummy brekkie at Little Peckish with Bryan and Kate - but my selfie with my iced latte was entirely unsuccessful.  I just cannot do a decent selfie.

Selfie iced latte @ Mojos

You should have seen the ones I discarded!  Intent staring that would scare you off your own breakfast.  Hahah.

The rain - it has finally stopped here in Wellington.  But it persisted most of Thursday.  And this morning I heard rats moving furniture around in our roof space.  The water has obviously flooded their nests and they've moved in.

We have a huge weekend planned with Sally, Andrew, Iona, Col and Paul.  We're taking the early ferry tomorrow morning (8am) to Picton and then driving to Nelson where we start a cycle holiday.  Mike, Toby and I are just there for the weekend.  But the others have the best part of a week all planned.

I hope Toby's wrenched knee is up for a weekend on a bike!

I am looking forward to it.  The weather looks good too.  Cool - but light winds and no rain.  Woot!  Bit different from the last bike ride I did with Iona and Col in Japan.  Hahah.

Have a great week!  Next week is a short working week!  Woot!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with rain

Hi,

We're getting some steady rain here at the moment - leftovers from the cyclone that deluged Queensland and NSW.  It's causing a bit of chaos in the North Island in low lying areas.  I don't think we've got any concerns at home - if we do, I slept through them!

But I did catch the bus in today.  It's way too wet for a bike still.  Maybe tomorrow I'll jump on it.  Best get some gym sessions under my belt though.

I had to collect Toby from school again yesterday.  A wrenched knee - playing hockey.  My son might have arms and legs that get away from him a bit.  He's hobbling around.  Actually, he has a migraine this morning so I doubt he'll go to school.

Cooked tea last night and Toby enjoyed it.  Mike ate his when he got home late - I think he liked it too.

I slept like the dead - although I did wake up well before my alarm was due.  Maybe I had had enough by then?

Hope your day is a good one.  Dry would be nice for a change!  Hahahah.

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington and Mon and Tues in Auckland

Hi,

Hey - I am alive and well.  Just working from Auckland for the start of the week.  Back in Wellington now and apparently in the teeth of some weather excitement.  Certainly flying into Wellington last night I experienced some of the bumpiest weather I have ever felt in a plane.  But I found it exciting - it might have made some people anxious I guess.  The plane was quite quiet during that patch - apart from the plane flexing under us and making some cool noises.

Iced coffee in a brandy glass?

The weekend was a Wellington one - with Mike away for most of it for Survival night.  And he did survive because we saw him early Sunday afternoon in good health!

Yum Cha featured in my day with Toby on Sunday.  We met Christine (and Terry) and Yingjie.  It was good to catch up and enjoy the food together.

Monday I flew out for some client work in Auckland.  And spent the day with Roz.  She put me up for the night and cooked me tea.  Spanish chicken.  It was yummy.  We also chatted to Fran and I think they may try and arrange a Matilda night out later in the year.  It doesn't appeal to me.  Now, a day spa session sounds much more my thing!

Tuesday saw Roz and I enjoy brekkie in Onehunga - at a new place and it was pretty good.  I got an iced coffee (not too sweet - 7/10) in a brandy glass.  Top marks for that.  And caught the train into Britomart from Ellerslie and walked to work from there.  In light rain - with really humid, warm conditions.  Auckland is like Singapore!

The boys seem to have got by without me for two days.  Toby had the day off school yesterday (parent teacher interviews) and went to Joe's Garage with his mates and then Te Papa.  He had a ball.  Good on him.

Hope your week is loads of fun.  Thanks for looking after me, Roz!

Love,
Angela