The Thursday with not much

Hi,

I got home yesterday and left Mike drinking the winnings from our quiz night a few months back with Sally and Andrew and company.  I suspect he drank far more than we won, as by the time he got home, he was very happy.

He ate the dinner I cooked - Toby and I enjoyed it earlier.  Well, Toby enjoyed the mash.  Said he could live on it!  I'd best cook more then.  The meatloaf balls were less of a hit.  That means not a hit.  At all.

Yummy lamb meatloaf balls with mash

Anyway, Mike got home and had fifty million things to do, but promptly got distracted by food and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Especially after I admitted to him I didn't know some sentence he kept repeating from the movie.  He made me watch it over and over on You Tube.  Ok - I know it now.

He is packing for his weekend away to Ohakune this morning.  Yes, you and I both know how that will go.  I just hope he remembers my skis.  Let me see if I can find a shop in Ohakune that can fit bindings to them.  They have a lodge in Ohakune for this weekend.

Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Toby has some new clothes and is off to WoW tonight with his mate Jack.  Jack flies in from Auckland around 5pm and I have a plan of sorts for them.

I hope to get a bike ride in - but if not - at least some Spin classes.  And laundry.  And tidying.  Normal.

Right.  Have a wonderful weekend whatever you get up to. 

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that went on and on

Hi,

I thought the beauty of "hump day" meant that once you got past midday, it was downhill all the way to Friday and hurtled there at breakneck speed.  No.  Not at all.  More like crawling towards Friday now, with limbs broken and dementors from Happy Potter sucking your life essence from your body. 

Ok.  I may be exaggerating.  Hump day wasn't so bad.  And I can usually avoid the dementors if I wear my cloak of invisibility.  :-p

I wore Toby's Garmin watch yesterday for the first time (I had to order in a charger as it seems to have got lost in the mayhem that is our house).  It is hooked into my phone and my wrist buzzes quite a lot during the day.  At one stage my watch told me "Memory low" and I was confused until I realised it was relaying my phone's woes to me via the watch.  Hahahah.  Day two - let's see how it goes.

And... that is it.  Purple shirt Thursday looms ahead.  Cups of tea will help lots.

Hope your day is free from dementors.  Like mine.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with a bit of stuff

Hi,

Highlight of the day was a great catch up with Celia.  Enjoyed an iced coffee at an unexpected place.  A cafe that is old school in the Grand arcade.  It was a good one.  Apart from that weird tendency to put marshmallows in iced coffee, I would give it a solid 8.  The wee chocolate minnow was perfect.

Iced coffee at Lava Cafe in The Grand arcade

Celia even bought me lunch.  I must be doing something right, there.  :-)  She's great!   Thank you.

Mike drove in - and we remembered that.  Met up at the end of the day and drove home together.  Cooked tea.  I think Mike took a photo so he can add it in later.  It was roast chicken on roast veges.  Pretty yummy.

What else happened?  Mike got a lot of tasks done - including putting up smoke detectors.  Yay.  When the house burns down, we should at least get an audible notification of the fact.  Hmmmm.

Anyway - I think I need a cup of tea to help things along today.  It's nearly October.  Madness.

Have a brilliant day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

Ok - I was really dumb yesterday.  I was so excited to be finally at the end of my working day, that I rushed out of work and jumped on a bus.  And I texted/rang Mike to check if he could join me on the bus.

But my bus was so crowded, I told Mike to get on an earlier (emptier) bus.  As we both approached home from different directions, Mike remembered we had driven in!

OMG!  I am an idiot.

He jumped in the car, collected me from the bus stop where I got off and we drove back into town.  I did spot a yellow car as Mike drove me back in and took a photo of it for Toby.  I had been texting him "Spotto" as I saw a lot of yellow cars on my way home in the bus.  Thought if I took a photo as proof, it would show evidence.

Spotto!

Cooked tea when I got home.  Fish.  But forgot the caper dressing so I found it a little bland.  Doh!

And the weather has packed in big time!  Howling gales and pouring rain.  A work colleague just back from Coolum had her sister's flight diverted to Chch late yesterday after two aborted attempts at landing.  3am they got to their hotel there.  Ouch!

Right.  Tea will help.  The day will fly by if I get more tea.

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington with lots of things

Hi,

The weekend was so busy.  I need a holiday.  Right.  Let's see what happened.  Friday night Mike finished off his brewing session with the bottling process.  I think.

Saturday we wandered down to the church in Wadestown to vote.  We popped into Wadestown Kitchen for brekkie but they don't do cooked breakfasts.  So we had a coffee/drink and walked back home.

Toby photo bombs my Wadestown Kitchen iced coffee after voting

Mike and I jumped in the car to get supplies for varnishing the front door.  Back to cook bacon and eggs for Toby's lunch and then start the door work.  And laundry.  Never ending laundry.








In the evening, Andrew came over to watch the election results unfold.  Later, Roger and his girlfriend also came over.  We decided the ACT MP looks just like Rimmer from Red Dwarf.

Act chap looks like Rimmer from Red Dwarf

After a few hours, the result looked fairly settled so I went to bed.  Andrew slept on the couch and our visitors left.

Next morning I was up early - and daylight savings had kicked in, so it was an hour earlier than anticipated.  I stuffed some brekkie in and headed down to the train station to meet Sreejith and James for a decent bike ride.

We left at about 9.50am and rode up SH2, in at Silverstream, and up Blue Mountain Road into Whitemans Valley.  It was the first time I had done it in that direction.  Good grunt up the hill and then a lovely ride around the quieter valley.

Iced coffee at La Cloche after the bike ride

Back into town after James peeled off at Melling.   La Cloche sucked me and Sreejith in for a coffee.  And maybe some scrumptious cakes.  Mmmmm.  Custard squares.

Mike was kind enough to come and get me and I got changed and made my own penny stove with the guys in the garage.  Andrew, Mike, Roger and Julian.  Simon from across the road also turned up to make one.

My penny stove

Garage becomes the workshop

Andrew made me a V penny stove

More laundry.  Cooked tea.  And fell into bed.  Exhausted.  Hahahah.  What a great weekend.

The weather this morning is true equinox stuff.  So windy!  Jeepers!  The hour time change is a bit of a body blow - probably due to the late night Saturday.  The recharge didn't happen like it usually does!  Or it could be the 80km bike ride.  Hahahah.

Anyway - the week should be a good one.  Enjoy yours.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with spin after work

Hi,

I did manage to get to Spin finally this week.  Had a great 60 min session with Scott after work.  Mike came in after that and collected me - which was very nice.  And then we picked up Sally and Andrew.  Mike dropped me home and Sally and Andrew checked out the renovations before Mike went and collected empty beer bottles for the bottling session tonight.

I got an iced coffee - at Verve.  Always a solid, middle of the table punt

But it's Friday!  Yay!  We have a busy weekend with sorting out the front door (polyeurathane), tidying and the penny stove garage burning session Mike has organised.

Hmmmm.

It's so wet again here in Wellington.  Sigh.

But I just heard we're in for a heatwave.  What?  Apparently we're getting 30C this week coming.  Must be that warm weather Karen mentioned that they are getting.  Weird.  The snow will melt!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday of chaos and mayhem

Hi,

Well, it was a typical Wednesday, truth be told.  Chaos is the new normal.  I met Mike at 3.20pm outside my work and we hurtled to Toby's school.  As we sat down to the interview with the teacher, Toby rocked up.  Sweet.  Perfect timing.

Toby got a good report - he has done better in the areas he was targeting.  And was exceptional in Media Studies and Drama.  Interesting.

Toby and I dropped Mike off and then I worked from home to make up the time.  Got tea cooked for Toby and before I knew it, Mike needed a lift home.

This morning is looking stunning

And the foyer is shaping up nicely

Our renovations are taking shape.  We have joists now over the old concrete floor of the porch.  The new front door looks great.  However, the expected size increase in the upstairs bathroom has failed to materialise.  Shucks.  We'll just remodel a wee bit in there - but we won't notice much in the way of any more room.  Maybe I can get a heated towel rail in!  And a new vanity (but it will just replace the existing one) - wall hung and maybe with a drawer.  An illusion of space is all I can hope for now.

Right.  Time for the day to continue as it started.  Frantic pace - but with the odd cup of tea to mellow me out.  And aiming for a Spin class after work to take the edge off.

Enjoy your day!  Lots!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday flying back from Auckland

Hi,

I spent the first two days of the week in Auckland for work.  Ok - so you can't tell from the photos that was what I was doing.  But it was so busy at work.  Honest!

Some cafe on some corner somewhere in Auckland

Key Lime pie!  At Miss Clawdry - really nice place

The blue matches my eyes!

I saw Lesley and Wally and enjoyed dinner out with them at Miss Clawdry.  Creole style food.  Really good.  I would go back there.  Lesley and Wally are in fine form and I caught up on all their news.

Got a lift back from work to the airport with Joe and the new tunnel meant we made it from the office to the airport in thirty minutes!  Unheard of speed!

We sat in Koru and I ate my way through a lot of cheese.

Joe dropped me home at the other end - and we have a new front door.  There was a blue tarp across the door and when I peeked behind it, there was glass.  I knocked and Mike let me in.  The new front door is in, and there is no wall now between the bathroom and the laundry.  It's so open!  And there is a hole in the ceiling into the roof space.

All very exciting.  I'll try and take pics tonight for you.

Have a fantastic day!

Love,
Angela

The startling Monday

It wasn't really a startling Monday. But that was the first word that came into my head so I ran with it.

So how was our Angela-less day? It wasn't quite Angela-less for me as I got a sleepy kiss as she ran out the door to catch her plane. Tobys morning went like clockwork and he was out the door in good time. Me not so much. I was on the bus after the late bus.

It was an uneventful day and an uneventful evening with pizza for dinner. Toby has decided that burger Wisconsin has lost its mojo. Maybe he's just sick of it?

Angela tells me she had a pretty good day yesterday - caught up with Lesley and Wally over Key Lime Pie at Miss Chawdry's in the Viaduct.  (Named after a 1950's song, "Oh Lawdy Miss Chawdry" - which we think we've heard Christine exclaim before.  Well, there you go.)  Not as good for flavour as Dillingers down here, but much better because they haven't removed it from their menu.  Auckland has run out of jet fuel thanks to a digger through a pipeline, so maybe she'll need to turn up at the airport with a jerry can.

I have some work to finish so I'm on the early bus this morning. It's a stunning day today. The builder has promised us scaffolding and a porch truss. Let's see what happens!

The weekend with chores, no Toby and a quick Waikanae trip

Angela's in Auckland today and tomorrow - so you've got Mike as a guest blogger.

Saturday started fairly bright and early with Angela off to the spa and Toby off for a weekend with friends at someone's bach in Foxton.  After a bit of shuttling and various McDonalds breakfasts, everyone was where they needed to be and ready to face the weekend.

Next job was, our neighbours were moving stuff to a bach in Waikanae and asked for a hand.  I was ready for a day of reasonably hard work.  Turned out it involved moving a light but large workbench a few metres onto a trailer in Wellington; then moving it a few metres off the trailer in Waikanae.  With a quick drive up to Waikanae in the organge car and coffee at the Front Room cafe in between times.  What a hardship!

There are lots of photos of Angela drinking iced coffee there - taken on her phone.  You'll just have to imagine them.  Tip: they look very very similar to all the other photos of Angela drinking iced coffee.

Editor:  Angela has added in the photos!

Why am I holding Mike's phone?  Oh yeah - the Stuff quiz.

Iced coffee at The Front Room

Iced latte with Mary at Machete

Celia has a fancy spreadsheet to determine the best car for her needs.  She's faking the confusion, because the spreadsheet makes it all clear

Saturday night I managed to convince Angela to come out to a wine and cheese evening at Lauren's place.  I just met Lauren at another friend's house but I've emailed her lots sorting out Ruapehu Lodge bookings so I feel like I know her well.  It was lots of fun with a lot of interesting people from her dance class.  I think Angela enjoyed herself!  In spite of having to interact with many strangers.

Sunday was chores day.  We needed to clear out the laundry, ready for one of its walls to be demolished.  I had an ambitious plan of triaging all the stuff there and putting it in the garage, or the loft, or the skip.  Angela had a less ambitious plan of stacking everything in the lounge.  

We got about halfway through and then I got sidetracked by cataloguing our photos.

All the laundry stuff is now stacked in the lounge.

In the middle of this, Toby came back from his weekend, sounds like he had a fantastic time.  He promptly wandered downstairs and slept for 4 hours.  I wonder how much sleep he got on Saturday night.

OK time for getting some work done.  Another stormy night last night, clearing to a beautiful day. Have a good one whereever you are!

The Thursday with brewing for Mike

Hi,

I got home and cooked tea for me and Toby.  He enjoyed the Greek style baked chicken and roasted baby potatoes.  It was scrumptious with the haloumi substituted for the chicken.

Chicken version of some sort of Greek dish

And the haloumi version - yummy!

Mike got home late from another brewing session.  Sounded like it was a lot of fun.  Josh attended this one.

Mike is away in Auckland today - but just for the day.  And why does it seem like the highlight will be the pub at the airport with Beth while they wait for their flight home?  Hahahah.

I am in Auckland Monday and Tuesday for work.  We may as well go and live there!

Toby is away for the weekend in Foxton with his mates.  And I just committed Mike to helping a neighbour move a huge workbench on Saturday.  Surprise, Mike!

Actually - I wonder if I can convince Mike to do that, and then come with me to Waikanae to help them move it in, and entertain me with lunch out that way?  Fancy a drive in the orange car, Mike?

Yes, I only communicate with Mike through social media and texting.  Isn't that how any modern relationship works?  Hahahah!

Love you Mike!

Snort!

Have a wonderful weekend.  Get into trouble, if you never do.  And stay out of trouble, if you always do.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that felt like completely another day

Hi,

I got a haircut last night after work.  There is something relaxing about having someone play with your hair.  I couldn't care less what she wanted to try.  And she did ask at one point.  I just said:  Do whatever you want.

She gave me a number 1 all over!

Nah - just joking.  It looks the same as last time.But apparently with something done to make it look slightly different in some mysterious way that only trained professionals can notice.  Or something.  I dunno.  Sam at work just walked past me and said my hair looks good.  So at least he can tell.

When I left, I texted Mike.  He was supposed to come home with me after some drinks with some friends.  When I suggested I catch the bus, he agreed and said he would be coming home right after me.

Sure, sure.

Anyway, I saw the porch had moved on from the morning and took some photos.

The porch is taking shape

Looks like I can imagine what it might look like - maybe

I was asleep by the time Mike got home.  But he was in the mood for talking, and my monosyllabic responses didn't deter him.  After about 40 minutes I finally woke fully and we chatted away for a few hours about rubbish.  By 12.30am, he was snoring his head off and I was lying there thinking about how nice it would be to be asleep.

Hahahah.

Anyway, I ended up with a solid 4 hours of sleep!  Ooosssh!

Let's see what today brings.  Hopefully nothing too taxing.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with a bike ride with Sreejith after work

Hi,

That Sreejith is great for my training.  He makes me do things.  Hahah.  After a beautiful day when I was stuck inside working, Sreejith and I got ready for our round the bays bike ride after work.

I met Mike and handed him my dirty washing and his flipchart for his tramping group session.  Then Sreejith and I headed down Willis St, into Mercer St.  And the rain started then.  And it never really stopped although it was never heavy.

Happy cyclist with scenic hills behind

The bays were lovely

I stupidly only had some button lights for the front of my bike.  By the time we got to Island Bay, I was a bit worried about being visible.  I turned one of my button lights around so it glowed off my fluoro jackets, making me a bit more visible (I hoped).

I got back to work and met Mike got the end of his tramping session at the top of the GP pub.  Josh and Andrew were there, so I got to chat to them too.  Josh drove us home.  Then I sank into a bath, and finally got warm.  Bliss!

And this morning is a stunner

This morning is stunning here in Wellington.  Woot!  I have a haircut after work today - and it can't come soon enough.  I can barely see.  Hahahah.

Right.  Time for the day to start.  Have a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

Got home with Mike after work in the car.  Toby had gone home sick after working so hard in PE he puked - and decided he couldn't stay at school in his smelly clothes.  Can't say I have ever heard that excuse from him before.

He wasn't up for much tea but this morning (Tuesday) he is fine!

I found a sock abandoned in the hallway last night and I asked Mike what it was doing there.  He came and looked at it, as if amazed to see it.  He hadn't seen it the 5 times he'd already stepped over it, apparently.

The amazing sock

I picked it up and it joined its mate in the laundry pile.

I drove back into town and took my work clothes in, ready for the next day.  Because this morning I rode my road bike into work.  Sreejith and I are riding around the bays after work.  That's the plan.  Although the weather forecast did say that it was headed for a change late afternoon.  If it is pants, I will pike.  I know it!

Right.  Time for tea and the day craziness to start.  Enjoy yours!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a few things on in Wellington

Hi,

What a weird weekend.  Mike was out Friday night brewing up a storm.  I was up early to the sound of rain and wondered if Sreejith really wanted to go for a ride in that weather.  But he was up for it and convinced me of a plan.

Spin at 8.30am and the rain will have stopped by 10am.  Sure, sure.  Anyway, I made poor Mike get out of bed as there was no way I would meet that deadline at 7.45am lying in bed without his help.  Oddly, I did get to Spin in time.  But Sreejith didn't.  Hahahah.

Island Bay looking lovely

Iced coffee Saturday

Iced coffee Sunday

I met him after it at Pandora and ate some brekkie and an iced coffee.  Then we were off.  Well, by 10.30am we were off!  Round the bays and it was actually really nice.  The weather really did co-operate.  We made good time and I convinced Sreejith to come up the hill to our house on the premise that I would drive him home after a coffee with Mike.

That worked.  :-)

Mike came with me and we got lunch for Toby on the way back.  Mike was off to a whisky session at Russell's friend's place, not far from us.  Turns out Russell's friend now lives at Louise's old house!  Funny.

Mike then convinced me to come out with his friends for dinner in town.  I cooked tea for Toby and then we both went out.  Parked on the one way system and tried to get to Mr Go's - but it was packed.  A two hour wait.  One of Mike's group rang Chow and we got a table there.  Had a great time with Mike's snow lovers group.  Janine, Momo, Michael and Melissa.  It's not often I get outgunned by "M" names!

Kotare Sunday

Look!  It's a tiny kookaburra

Sunday I was up early again but this time I put Mike out of his misery and caught a bus into town.  I met Iona at the gym and we tried for the 9.15am Spin class.  Only to find it was cancelled.  The receptionist looked at me like I had two heads when she said it was cancelled on the website and I had obviously not read it.  I did actually read the website - but only the timetable page.  Hahah.  Anyway, I asked if we could just go in and use the bikes.  And then I cheekily asked if Iona could go in for free as there was no instructor.

I got away with that!  Hahahah.  Cool!

So Iona and I hopped on two bikes and we chatted away while I put on some music.  It seemed to go ok.  I felt like I had done some exercise.

We met Col and went for brekkie - where I had iced coffee number two for the weekend.  Chatted away to Col - she is good despite the rather horrible week or two she has had.

Dropped into home for them to say hi to Mike and me to get home.  Then they were off - so good to see them.  It was this time last year (to the day) when we started our journey back to New Zealand from cycling in Japan.

I went grocery shopping in the afternoon while Mike created a website.  From scratch.  He's still got it!  As I jumped in the car, I saw a kotare in the powerlines above me.  How cool!  I love those birds.  Kingfishers.  Or a tiny kookaburra to the Australians reading this!

A watershed moment after tea.  Mike helped Toby shave.  I was too scared to watch Mike wielding a blade that close to my son.  I checked Toby afterwards and he was all in one piece.  His sideburns however looked a little ragged.  Mike should stick to websites and not take up hairdressing.

And that was the weekend!  Done!  Mike and I left home early this morning as it was a MotoGP morning - and I have yoga.

The week looms ahead.

Have a wonderful week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with meet the candidates

Hi,

When I got home, I sorted out tea for Toby.  Then we walked down to St Luke's hall in the Wadestown shops to listen to the electorate candidates speak.  We got there early, at 7.15pm and it started on time at 7.30pm.  Brendon chaired the meeting and did well to keep everything moving along.

Toby and I got seats up nice and close and we both enjoyed it.  There were five candidates and they all had 5 minutes to stand up and give their spiel.  Then we had a question and answer session where any of them could answer it - but only had one minute to do that.

By the time 9pm rolled around, Toby and I thought we should leave as the questions looked like they were coming coming and fast still.  But we did start a wee exodus.  As we walked home, we discussed the session.  Toby said he enjoyed it way more than he thought he would.  His thoughts on the candidates were insightful, and it looks to me like his political compass points the same way as mine.  Apart from his fixation on Gareth Morgan.  Gareth is talking on Sept 21 at Vic Uni and Toby wants to go to that now.

Nice bike ride in this morning.  Dry roads and no wind.  What a novel thing to experience.

Enjoy the weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday sick

Hi,

Turns out I was sick yesterday - and today I still have the remnant of a woolly head.  No headbanging sessions for me today.

When I got home on Tuesday I found a postcard from Celia of St Michael's Mount in the south of England.  And she had drawn on it her feet (including her painted teonails) and an iced coffee.  I am a lucky woman to have such a friend.  It was so cool to get it and read about her fun.

Mike was confused as Celia has been back from the UK for a few weeks now.  Hahahah.

Can you see the feet?  Not my feet?  The ones on the postcard!

My inbox has exploded with a day away from the normal stuff.  I think today will be playing catch up.

I hope you all have a brilliant day!  At least the sun is shining now after a huge storm during the night that woke me twice!  Weird.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

We've had another spurt of activity on the renovations - we now have joists over the top of the concrete pour.

View from the front door looking out

And the view into the front door

And Mike got an email last night saying the roofing had been ordered.  We need to buy the bathroom cabinet and laundry stuff now.  We might be on the way to a new laundry/bathroom/roof/porch.  Not holding my breath though.

We went to Toby's school and attended sessions on NCEA.  Toby's next year is the equivalent of Form 5 (School Cert).  We are looking at the subjects he wants to do, and how many.  He needs credits from the next three years to graduate from high school after Year 13.  Seems ok.  More like university than how I remember school certificates working.

Got home and I scorched some chicken nuggets for Toby.  They could have been used to soak up water - they got left in the oven a bit too long.  Mike cleared out some leftovers.

Time for a cup of tea.  Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington

Hi,


Highlight of Friday was catching up with Celia and Ange for lunch.  We went to Felix - and it was so good I took the boys there on Saturday for brunch.

Iced coffee time on Friday

I went into the gym to make up for Friday's excesses.  I heard there that Col's mother had died that morning.  So sad - although she had been in ill health for a while.  Huge hugs to Col and her family.

Met the boys at Felix and then did some Fathers Day shopping.  Home and cooked tea - turkey meatballs on rice.  Some Thai version.  It was pretty good.

Turkey meatballs for tea

Saw odd shampoo for men in the supermarket.  Caffeinated citrus.  What the ...?

Shampoo for Mike - it says it has citrus caffeine.  Do you drink it?

Toby's school has some career/NCEA subject session on after school today.  Mike will pick me up and we'll head there and meet Toby.  Let's see what Toby selects.

Mike's friend Jo broke her wrist snowboarding at the weekend.  He sent me an x-ray of her wrist.  Even my non expert eye could see that break.  Ouch!

Today is Australia anniversary day.  On this day in 1980 we moved there from Dunedin.

And tomorrow is wee Abby's birthday!  Happy birthday!

Have a great week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with Mike back

Hi,

Happy birthday week in the family.  Jamie and Cameron are today and tomorrow.  And Abby isn't so wee anymore and is later this week.  Wow!

Mike is back in his rightful city - woot!  He got in fairly early - but his flight was delayed.  I did get picked up by him in his taxi on the way through town.  Toby wanted burgers for tea - I think he was sick of my home cooking.  Well, my version of Nadia's home cooking.  Hahah.  Toby likes it simpler, I think.

Trying to pretend I haven't finished the iced latte - and unsure if Saman was actually taking a photo or long video

I did get a coffee break in my day yesterday.  Chatted to Saman about some work and was so absorbed in that I forgot to get a photo taken until my iced latte was almost empty.  Hence the photo of me trying to hide  the dribble that is left in the bottom of my glass.  And my phone is so slow at the moment that Saman had no idea what was happening when looking through the camera at a largely black screen for a while.  I thought he must be videoing me - which is the reason I am sticking to when you look at the photo above and wonder why I look so weird.  It's confusion.  All round.

Anyway - got home after work (in the taxi driven by the slowest taxi driver in the known world!  We got headlights flashed at us on Mairangi Road and then overtaken!).  Still raining.  Went to bed.  Still raining.  Woke up.  Still raining.  The hillsides around Wellington are sodden and crumbling.  Landslips everywhere again.  And looking at the forecast, it is mostly rain for the next ten days.  Glad now of that 5m pile holding our deck up.

Right.  Time for lots of work!

Have a lovely weekend.  We're in Wellington, trying to recover from hectic weekends away.  Housework and a bike ride is all I am looking at.

Love,
Angela