The Thursday with Christmas fever crazy

Hi,

Crazy becomes a noun at Christmas time.  It seems to be the same every year.  No matter how much you just know Christmas is coming, from waaaaaaaay back in September, it still sneaks up and thumps you in the head.  Hahahah!

I love Christmas time!

Moxley hides under our sleeping bag

I got away with Prasad and the team for an iced coffee goodbye - with cheese scones.  I will miss him a lot.  He's been so good to work with.  Exciting times for him and his family in the UK.  I hope we get to see them there in a year or so.

Goodbye Prasad.  I will miss you.

I also caught up with Mary as she is WFH on Friday.  She's off Boxing day for over a month.  Visiting the Middle East with her family.  I will watch her blog with interest.

Iced latte with Mary - she's off for a massive holiday!

Now, we get to the end of the day.  And really, I don't think I can do it justice.  That Christmas noun?  "Crazy"?  Yep - that's it.  Or chaos.  Or crazy chaos.

Steph and Bronwyn had drinks for us all after work at St Johns and they were fantastic.  Thank you so much.  We appreciate that.

Then I stupidly agreed to meet Mike and Janine at the old GP.  No, maybe called something like Pop?  Dunno.  Anyway, Mike was full of Christmas cheer.  Or Christmas crazy.  He had to meet Brianna as she needed cat instructions.

But Brianna was off having her own cheer, so Janine and I left Mike to it and headed home.  Juliette was on my bus and gave me a lift home from the library.  So far, not bad.  Hahah.

Chatted to Toby and my mother.  Sorted out my bed - it was covered in stuff the boys had been sorting out during the day.  Finally collapsed into bed.  Almost asleep when...  Mike came home with Brianna and cat instructions followed.

Which, of course, involved coming into the bedroom where I was and turning the light on and talking loudly.  Apparently they were oblivious to me until I threw back the sleeping bag. 

It wasn't too bad - having been in a hut with Brianna in the past, she's seen me in my pyjamas.  However, I was on "driving her home" duties.  So I threw a top on and sneakers and stayed in my PJs.  Drove her home.

Go back to the house, said goodnight (Jase was now home and in the circus - but trying to eat and chill with his headphones on) and went back down to the room.  Got into bed and thought:  "You know, this room actually now smells worse than it ever has".

Uh oh.  I got up, turned the light on, and checked around.  Sure enough, Smudge had decided that the corner of the room was a far better option than her dirt box.  OMG.  I called up the stairs for Mike at the exact same time Toby was telling Mike that he thought Smudge was sick as she's not eating or pooing.

Ummm - no.  Nothing wrong in that department.  Mike called Toby down to also verify Smudge's working digestive system.

Chaos!

Cleaned it up, and I went to bed.  read for a bit as my brain was firing on all cylinders by now.  Mike came to bed.  Eventually fell asleep.  Only to get up 5 hours later.

Spin was good.  Santa instructor.  Nice.  Thanks Scott.

And last day at work today!  Yay.

Hope you have a lovely Christmas.  Take care over the break.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that had a work BBQ

Hi,

I have to say, I can't wait for the end of Friday.  The year has been hard work - and the three weeks off is looking mighty fine from this end of the approaching holidays.  Bring that on!  Like... now!

Celia and iced coffee @ The Lab

Celia trying to capture my haircut.  Me looking like:  what are you doing?

Caught up with Celia for a much needed iced coffee chat with her.  She is a wonderful person to know. 

And after work we had our team BBQ and Celia had James and the girls come too.  Such fun.  Mike came to get me at 7.45pm and stayed for a few beers.  I was one of the last ones to leave.  Woot!  Social skills.  Me!

We took a woman home as she was a little inebriated and deposited her somewhere near her house.  I hope.  She was a little incoherent.  I hope she meant Karori and not Kapiti or something.  But I couldn't wrangle her full address out of her.

I tried.  Stood in the rain and the dark on a suburban street in Karori, in my Santa hat, chatting to her.  Trying to interpret the musings of a 20-something woman slightly addled with whisky.  I think to any passer-by, it would have been me that looked under the weather.  Gesturing wildly in my red Santa hat, likely askew on my head by this time.  Looking demented, no doubt.

Anyway - Mike and I left and headed home.  To find - wow!  Toby had emptied his room of chaos and debris.  We can see floor.  And we made his bed and that is where Mike and I slept.

Ummm.  His room needs an intervention.  Still.  Somewhere the cat has decided she didn't want to use the litter box.  Of that I am sure.  Just hope when we wet clean the carpet today that smell disappears.  And Karen and Scott never notice.

Debris from the awesome BBQ at Ebby's house Sunday night

Selfie from the Patuna Chasm walk.  Just because.

Right.  Time for some second-to-last day hi-jinks at work, no doubt.  Ooosshh!  Have a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with me away sick - but Mum arrives

Hi,

I woke up yesterday to find I had probably just had a migraine and the vestiges of it manifested as a headache.  5 migraines in a week was a sign.  A sign from the universe that I should stay at home.  And, although I did feel like pants through the day, this morning it does seem like it might have done the trick.  I don't feel anywhere near as drained as yesterday.

Maybe this cluster is now done and dusted?  Woot!

I did have a haircut late yesterday - which involved a head massage.  Maybe that did the trick?  Dunno. 

Went to sleep on the couch at 9pm last night and tried to get some sleep for a few hours before getting up to pick Mum up from the airport.  She came through the gate around 12.30am and we headed home and settled her in before going to bed.

I forgot to text Dad, so he was upset.  :-(  But I hope he did eventually realise that the lack of a text also meant things were going ok and that if anything had turned bad, he would definitely be in the know.  My phone was far away from me in the lounge because we've got a few things switched around so Mum gets our bed.  It made me sad to get his texts this morning when I woke.  I just forgot.  In the excitement.  And sleepiness.

We have a work BBQ for Christmas after work today.  So I will be home late.  I need to help tidy Toby's room so we can move people in there without them needing a hazard suit.  And I think Mike pitched the tent already, so he and I can move in there.  Yay!

Right.  Time to get stuck in.  My inbox has exploded.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with camping and Patuna chasm

Hi,

What an amazing weekend - with stunning weather.  We had a slow start to the weekend though.  It was hard to get going on Saturday morning.  I thought we had to get away early for the Kaitoke camping part of the weekend.  But it turns out we only needed to be there in the evening.

I did have a migraine again Saturday morning.  Doh!

We got a few things done around the house, before packing in the late afternoon and heading away.  Got to Kaitoke, found the blow up sheep on the car (Julian's car) and pitched our two tents in a nice quiet spot.

Toby and I chilled out in our respective tents while Mike socialised.  Someone actually called him "Big M".  OMG.  Who is that man I married?

Anyway, I had the best sleep.  Unlike Mike and Toby.  I think they really missed having a pillow.  Please note the smug sound to my words here.  I may have mentioned them needing to pack a pillow before we left the house.

Up early.  Often.  Mike didn't have a watch or a phone and kept thinking he had slept in.  But he woke and asked me the time at:

5.30am
6:00am
6:10am
6:30am
6.45am

Well, I am sure you get the picture.

We got up at 7am.  Struck the tents, shoved everything in the car, including a very sleepy Toby.  And left at 8am.  Wow!  Got to Martinborough at 8.30am and tucked into brekkie at The Village Cafe.  Left there at 9.30am and headed to Patuna Farm for the Patuna Chasm walk.

Iced coffee @ The Village Cafe in Martinborough

A wonderful, wonderful day walk.  If you haven't done it, go and book in.  3 hours.  Nothing too strenuous.  A couple of ladders to climb.  But you get to wander through a river, usually only up to your calves.  I managed to get to the bottom of my shorts a few times.  And the colours are stunning.  Limestone carved by water.  The green of verdant forest.  The clear, deep pools of river water in a variety of blues and greens.

Mike in the trailer

 Yep, I was completely taken.

You drive out towards White Rock from Martinborough, but hare off on a gravel road into the Haurangis (towards Waikuku Lodge).  About 11 kms in, you see Patuna Farm on your right.  There is a lovely farmhouse.  You sign up and the farmer gets a trailer with two rows of auditorium style seats that you sit in.  Some pile into the Landcruiser.  21 of us this time.

We wander through the farm for a while before stopping and climbing out of the trailer.  The farmer will come back here to collect us in 3 hours.   From here we go through a track for about 20 minutes to the start of the gorge part of the trip.  This has a section of the walk that has a wave-like rock formation that we all pose on.  Beautiful.

Me standing on the rocky wave outcrop

Toby climbing down into the river

From here, we descend a slippery part to an Ullrich aluminium ladder that is tied to the bank.  It's a two stage ladder and gives us a stable entry into the river.  We walk about 300m upstream to see a lovely waterfall.  Then back past the entry point, and enjoy the views.

Toby and I walk upstream

Why do I look so small?  And why is he standing so weird?

Waterfall

The water isn't cold at all.  I am wearing new HiTec boots.  They get heavy, and I get stones inside them often.  But it is way better than Toby's old sneakers.  He has grip issues.  And constant stones inside his shoes.  Mike is wearing his tramping boots and has no bother at all.

Selfie!

We see fossils in a huge limestone boulder in the middle of the river, and another ladder to descend from there.  We eat lunch on the riverbed in a sunny section.  Mike did well packing lunch.

Limestone

Fossil

Selfie

Just - wow!

I have seen the light!

Gorgeous

Mike also sees some light

We left at 2pm on the back of the trailer again - with Mike inside the 4WD this time.  Did a toilet stop at the farmhouse (they let me into the house - maybe I looked desperate) and headed back home.  Via Super Cheap Auto in Lower Hutt.  Toby and I fell asleep in the car on the way over - I remember most of the drive up from Featherstone to the top of Remutaka Hill.  Then - nothing until Super Cheap Autos.  Poor Mike.

Got home and loaded up the trailer and the car with the motorcycle gear and mowing gear.  Jase decided to join them all - so around 6pm they left.   They have lovely weather for their camping, mowing, motorcycling adventure.

And I sat on the couch, exhausted.  However, I had forgotten the BBQ to send off Prasad and his family.  Sreejith texted me and I got changed and headed out.

Such a lovely time at Ebby's place.  Yummy food.  Lovely company.  We celebrated Anamika's birthday too.  11 on Tuesday.  Wow.  The guys had been fishing and caught loads of awesome fish.  They BBQ'd that and lots of veges.  I was well looked after.

Home at 10pm - and fell into bed.  Woke at 5.15am with a migraine.  Aarrghhh!  Had it with those now.  4 since last Wednesday.


Hope your day is a good one - and the last working week of the year for me.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with Toby's unbirthday

Hi,

Second last Friday of the year!  Woot!  And all the days are Toby's unbirthday.  Hahahah!  Until next year and Dec 12.

Yesterday was busy at work.  And I got another migraine.  Doh!  But I did meet Mike for "lunch".  Which was really a surprise visit to his optometrist to buy him new glasses for Christmas.  Surprise!  I hope they are ready in time for Christmas.  But they might not be.    We popped into Blowfish and had sushi like old times.

Anyway, he was gracious in accepting my slightly oddball present.  Said he would never have done it otherwise.  And it was painless.  The optometrist colluded with me.  I had already picked out a frame that might suit.  And it did.

This morning is gorgeous!

Iced latte @ Machete with Andrew

Wandered home on the bus and sorted out something to eat for Toby.  My evening disappeared - I did do some laundry.  Guess that is something useful.

Mike got home late - and was quite happy with his work drinks.  Hahahah.

And today is Friday!  We're off camping tomorrow.  And walking through some chasm in the Wairarapa on Sunday.  Then Mike and Toby head off to Waikawa beach to mow the property that Adam has up there.  And ride motorcycles.

Bring it all on!

Have a good weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Toby's birthday

Hi,

Toby is sixteen!  And he met his mates for McDonalds during the day in town, so he decided against Maccas again for tea.  I dodged it!  Yay.

We picked the Ford up from its service and Mike drove to Waikanae for a road trip dinner for Toby.  His request.  Fish n Chips at Waikanae beach.

The boys wander down to the beach

Toby poses - but requests no Facebook or Insta.  He didn't mention the blog!

And me.

And the two of us

And a close up of Toby

And more of us.

The traffic was awful - we have no idea why people would do that commute willingly.  It was 1815 by the time we got to the chippie. But we were all happy, especially when Mike's mother called and wished Toby a happy birthday.  Turns out she was leaving a voice mail earlier and had left it recording as she sorted out ringing Mike.  The message made Toby laugh when he listened to it later.  And he declared his love for his Nana to us.

How great!

We got home and I wasn't long out of bed.  Slept well.  Better than 16 years ago when I was still astounded at this wee baby we had created.  And he wanted a lot of food in the night.  Hahahah!

Hope your day is a good one.  It's Toby's unbirthday.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday before Toby's birthday

Hi,

Wow - Toby is 16 today.  He was born at 8.30 in the morning, Thursday Dec 12, on a grey Scottish morning. 

Toby's birthday morning

Bit like today.  See above.  But it is about 20 degrees warmer here.  A few days before Toby was born it snowed - and I was wondering if the hospital rush might be fraught with icy excitement.  But the snow melted, and Toby waited a bit.  And out came a gorgeous wee boy.  When he was ready.

Apple of my eye.  Can't wait to meet him after work.

Although, his choice of food is Maccas.  OMG.  He obviously inherited Mike's taste buds there.

We woke him a bit early this morning, and gave him a present.  I think he was underwhelmed with the clothes he got.  Oh.  His mother has no clue.  Hahahah.

But we're getting him the Road Code book today - and Mike will sort out driving lessons.  Yay!

Iced latte with Celia @ The Lab

Did get an iced latte with Celia.  Topping up the one I had with Andrew earlier. 

Little surprise I ended up waking this morning with my own migraine.  Not just a Mike thing.  or a Toby thing.  I still get them.  Just not very often.

So, no Spin for me today.  And no run.

Just taking it chill. 

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

Mondays.  Just... ok.  It came.  It went.

Let's see?  I went to work.  I worked.  Highlight was lunch with Vanessa, Kate and Mike!  Woot!  That was a big highlight.  Machete for iced coffee goodness.  And tacos goodness.  Mmmm.

Moxley loves bags.  Any bag.

Iced latte today with Andrew

Ok - I got the giggles with this iced latte with Vanessa, Kate and Mike

As Ben (behind the counter at Machete) brought my coffee over, it dribbled.  And despite him cleaning it up, as I lifted it for my pic, I could sense a dribble starting down my hand.  That made me giggle - hence the photo shows a bigger grin than usual.

There's a woman in my spin class who was entered in a half Ironman at Taupo last Saturday. 2km swim, 90km bike AND 21km run. I checked on her results, she finished all that in 6.5 hours.  OMG.  Respect.  And so impressed.  Good on her.

Anyway.  Back to the grind.  Took the Ford in for its service this morning.  Dropped Mike at the gym and continued.  Walked back.  Hopefully Mike can collect it at 5pm.  80k service.  Ouch.  And WoF.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The Friday with lunch with Carl; the weekend where I missed the work do.

Hi,

I caught up with Carl again for lunch on Friday.  We went to The Lab.  I have an Earth Bowl - pretty good.

The Lab for lunch with Carl

I like The Lab's iced lattes - so long as I  remember to stop them adding a caramel shot 

So cute!  This was from a few years back and popped up on my Photo feed

Machete iced latte with Victor

I also caught up with Victor over an iced latte at Machete.  Mmmm.

Weekend was busy - got a few things done.  Some Christmas shopping.  Put up more Christmas lights outside.  Made Toby very happy.

Piked from the work Christmas party.  I never do well at going to social things once I am in the comfort of my house.  And with Mike not going, when I did my usual "Do we have to go?", his response was "No".  Hahahah.  So I stayed home.

We have to tidy a few things around the house - ok - mainly Toby's room.  It's not actually habitable for humans.  If we're really putting my sister and her husband in there, we need an intervention.

I think Mike, Toby and I will be in a tent.  Tyler and Abby will be in Jase's room.  My mother in ours.  And Karen and Scott in Toby's room.

Yep - going to be busy this week sorting that out.

Hope your week is a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with coffee with Carl

Hi,

What a crazy day - but an awesome highlight in the middle of the morning.  My 10am meeting fizzled out after 10 mins and I skedaddled down to Gotham to meet James G and Celia and have a coffee with Carl.

Gotham iced coffee with this lovely man

He is over for work and has the remnants of his superb Mo' for Movember.  Turns out he's keeping it as a Christmas 'tache. 

Hmmmm.

Hahahah!!!

Good on him.  So good to see him.

After work I met Mike outside my work - he had the car from the paint shop (touching up the bonnet that got a nick in the paint from a road trip we did a few months back - big stone chip) - and he went to some work function and I drove home.  Got Toby and went out to Lyall Bay.  Picked up some things for Christmas and back home to head to bed.

Mike got home late and stayed up chatting to Jase.  A lot!  They were obviously both in the mood.

Anyway - it's Friday.  Lunch with Carl today.  Woot! 

Work Christmas party tomorrow night.  And maybe some shopping to get presents out of the way.

Hope yours is a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with our 19th wedding anniversary

Hi,

The day was so busy.  But I did squash in an early iced coffee with Becks and Kate @ Little Peckish.  And maybe a second brekkie.  Shucks.

Iced coffee @ little Peckish

Day was manic.  Met Toby at 4pm at work and went shopping with him.  Didn't get anything.  So disappointing.  But armed with more knowledge for future shopping.

Went to the New World in Waitangi Park and looked for kitten kibble.  Didn't find our brand of choice.  But Moxley is not fussy so we bought Kitten Chow.  Hahah.

Walked up to The Warehouse and bought stuff for Christmas.  Wandered back to Mama Brown's and met Mike for Wedding Anniversary dinner.  Yum.  19 years!  I am a lucky woman.

Toby ate the ribs and a KitKat milkshake.  He was sick afterwards.  Oops.  Ubered home, did laundry.  Mike weedeatered (ok - making up words now) and came to bed satisfied with his lot in life.  Maybe not so much the 19 years as the satisfaction of chewing up the back lawn with a petrol driven power tool.

Hahahah!

Have an awesome day.  Sorry I was late.  I got distracted.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with stuff

Hi,

Got home and cooked tea for everyone - chicken salad (with asparagus for me!).  Yum!  Got the AA out and they started the Focus.  Went for a drive with Mike.  And now it is in trickle charge.

Evidence the cats play at night

Woke in the night to hear Christmas baubles getting knocked around the lounge room floor.  Hahahah.

In early for Spin and tackling the day.  Mike dropping the other car off to  get a paint nick fixed.

Have a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Monday at work

Hi,

Happy birthday to Tyler today!

I managed to get a coffee with Andrew, which was a chance to compare body aches and pains.  Oh, how lovely to get old.  Hahahah.  I think Andrew is in far, far better condition.

Wet hair and iced latte

Got home and sorted out dinner for all the boys.  Mike got home a little late from helping Doro into her new house.  It all looks great, says Mike.  But he tucked into tea when he got home.

Toby started weedeating the back lawn.  Looks great - but the rain today will delay him finishing that.

Otherwise, things are heading to Christmas at a great pace.

Hope your day is a good one. 

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a tramp with Andrew

Hi,

What an amazing, packed weekend.  Met Mike after work and we snuck a date movie in - we went to see Bohemian Rhapsody at 4.30pm at Reading.  We both really enjoyed it.  Finished at 7pm and we walked to Jano Bistro to meet Aidan, Janne, Sally and Andrew.

Fabulous meal @ Jano Bistro.

What an incredible meal.  Stunning food for us.  9 course of creative food.  Hard to choose favourites.  The rolled tube of goat cheese was so good.  The two dessert courses were lovely.  Nope - can't choose one as a fave.

Caught up with Sally and Tim (Isaac's parents) as they were celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary. 

Home late and off to bed as soon as I could.  Up at 4.30am.  Ooohhh.  That was hard.  Threw stuff in my pack.  Woke Toby up while I was clumping around.  He got up and tidied the kitchen as I finished up.  Away by 5.30am and met Andrew at the Waikanae  bakery at 6.20am.

They eventually opened and we got some breakfast fare - croissants.  Mmmm.  Continued driving north, munching flaky pastries.  We parked my car at the Sledge Track car park and continued up to South Range Road.  Parked Andrew's car and started walking at 8.42am.

Awarua - or something like that - in the distance

Flowering flax - tastes sweet

The weather held off on its rain until 7pm, so I had a brilliant day tramping.  We walked along a gravel road for about 6 or 7 kms, meeting a couple of hunters in a 4WD twice as they meandered along looking for game.  We did some bush bashes to spot heights.  The objective was 7 spot heights for Andrew - and he got them.

I didn't quite get that many.  We spent a lot of time on good tracks, actually.  Hunting tracks, I think.  Old Hunta track was the main one.   As we eventually hit the main track at 3pm, I decided to head back to the car park, 2 hours away.  Andrew went to get his last few spot heights and we planned contingency.

I got back to the car at 4.30pm, walking very gingerly as I descended with my two big toes ramming into my shoe and causing a lot of discomfort.  I think I might lose my toenails.  Let's see.  Got changed and waited in the car.  Read a book.  Ate some snacks. 

When it got to 9pm, and the place wasn't crawling with SAR folk, I figured Andrew was just late.  I made myself comfortable in the back and tried to doze.  But at 9.15pm Andrew turned up. 

Awesome day!

By now it was raining - and as we drove back to his car, it got heavier.  When we headed to Palmerston North to get petrol, it was hosing down.  Headed back home in convoy until Plimmerton.

Back home at 12.15am.  Long day!  Into bed after a shower and fell asleep easily.  Woke at 6am as Mike had a migraine.  Oops.  Gave him some pain killers and back to sleep until 9.30am!  Wow.

It's Christmas time!

Sunday was quiet.  Laundry and Christmas tree shopping!  Birthday milk in the supermarket.  Woot!  And I met Jase at New World and brought him home after his night out.

And birthday milk!

Then we all watched Commando.  Including Moxley.  Ok.  No.  She slept.  Like Toby.  Hahahah.

Moxley joed out next to me

Weirdo cat

And then into bed for a restless sleep.  My calves are so sore today.  Ouch!

Have an awesome day!

Love,
Angela