The Thursday with lunch with Iona and Andrew

Hi,

I managed to catch up with Iona at Machete and enjoyed an iced latte with her before Andrew turned up and we all had a quick lunch.

Ok - I had no idea my hair looked that crazy

Selfie - and another useless attempt from me.  But Iona has it nailed!

Iona wandered off to catch her Bluebridge ferry home after a week away.  She was missing Col.

The afternoon was tough, but the end finally came.  I picked up something for tea and lurched home on the bus with my tramping backpack (fortunately empty - but still rather large).  Chatted to Bernardine on the way home.

Cooked tea - chicken fajitas.  We all love them.

Collapsed into bed really early.  Was asleep seconds after turning out my light.  Zzzzzz.

The weekend beckons.  I am going tramping with Andrew tomorrow.  Up near Palmerston North - into the Tararuas there.  We need two cars as it is a walk through.  Very excited.

Otherwise, housework and buying kitty litter and cat food.

Hahah.

Enjoy your weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that went by in a blur

Hi,

Ok - so I went to Spin Wednesday morning (early class) and then stupidly didn't wriggle out of the lunch run.  OMG.  It was so hard.  I need to start running more - once a week is killing me.

Lunch run splits

Anyway, I was about to head home on the bus after 5pm when Mike called.  He didn't have car keys - so could I please drive the car home.  Hahahah.

Got home and cooked tea for Toby.  Chicken schnitzel.  His request.  He said they were good.  With mash.  And when Mike got home, he ate his.  And said I had outdone myself this time. 

My boys are funny.

Sat on the couch and chatted to Mike before bed.  And zonked out in bed until my alarm.

Today seems a bit nicer for the weather.  Might be a false positive.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with a Kapiti evening adventure

Hi,

Oh - I can't believe I didn't take a single photo yesterday.

Work was work.

But Mike had a Gilbert plan to execute in the evening.  He had bought a weed eater on Trademe, and only after shelling out the cash did he check where he had to go to pick it up - turns out it was out in Kapiti, a longish drive up the coast. Toby was keen for the drive and I was happy to go out for dinner up there so we turned it into an adventure.

I met Toby after work, and we walked up to the car.  Met Mike there and then joined the stationary traffic on SH1 out of town.  Well, we decided to hare off through Wadestown and Johnsonville and avoid the jam.  We all decided to stop at Countdown at Crofton Downs and Toby got 3 cans of V.

We are all as bad as each other.

We drank V, and Toby played random requests as we drove to Nikau Valley just outside of Paraparaumu.  Mike picked up his mighty fine weedeater and we continued to The Front Room at Waikanae.  Only to find they were shut.  So we went to Long Beach, a really nice pub next door on the corner.

So, so nice.  I ate some sweet corn starter, grilled with miso powder.  Yum!  And cheesey chilli fries.  Which, really, I should have avoided.  My main was a good papardelle pesto with asparagus (yum!) and green beans (yuck) and snow peas (yum!).

Mike thought evidence of my reluctant vegetarianism was hilarious.

Toby had the steak (which he wasn't overly enamoured with), Mike had the venison.  It all looked good.  And good service.

Drove back, with more raucous requests - this time with Mike DJ-ing.  Mike picked up Jase from work and they all chatted.  Jase sounds like he might be settling on Vic next year!  Woot!  Let's see what happens.

Drove in this morning as Mike needs the car after work.  I went to early Spin.  And it is run day.  I hope my body holds up.

Hope your day is superb.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

Wow - where did this wet weather come from?  Crazy.

Headed home to find Toby and a few mates relaxing after their last exam for the year.  Two of them slept over too.  I ordered pizza and Jase surfaced from the safety of his room to mingle briefly to get the life sustaining pizza.  Frankly, I understood that sentiment very well and stayed in my room too.

Mike got home late after some disaster at work.  Happens.  We went to sleep to the loud movie coming from the lounge.  I was sure it would keep me awake.  Nope.

Monday morning with dry hair and Andrew

Tuesday morning with wet hair and Steph

Still raining steadily here - and with a decent breezy southerly.  Actually, it is swirling around - I have no idea what direction the wind is coming from.  It's full of rain though.

Enjoy your day.  Mike and I have date night after work.  In Waikanae.  Woot!  It's because he is picking up a weedeater he bought on Trade Me.  I have turned it into date night.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Round Taupo

Hi,

Thursday was a day at work - I did get a coffee date in with Celia.  Woot!

Coffee with Celia

But it was all about Taupo by the end of the day.  Final packing on Thursday night.  Up early on Friday to see Mike off to work, and get all my stuff into the car.  Picked up Iona at 8am at her parents' place and then we were off on our road trip to Taupo.

Peach teats on Friday morning!

Soul Cafe for lunch - and an iced coffee.  I had a great pasta here too.  The iced coffee came with a jaffa positioned exactly on top.  It was good.  A solid 8.

We popped into the New World to pick up a few things for the weekend.

It's a jaffa!

Ok - I'm good with this

And it tastes pretty good.

Ngauruhoe looms over the Desert Road

Many road works along the way to contend with.  Iona drove from Taihape, giving me the best views to look at through the plateau region.  The weather was stunning.  From Turangi to Taupo, the lake was simply gorgeousness.

Bib 41

Into our room around 2pm and off to pick up our registration bag.  All seamless - thanks to the amazing volunteers.  Wandered through the gear expo.  Iona bought a floor pump.  Woot!

Back to the room and prep for the big day.  Bib on my bike cycle top.  Gear all laid out.  Realised I had left my bike jacket at home.  Went with my new aquamarine jacket.  Tyres checked.  Helen (Iona's friend) had made dinner so we tucked into dhal - it was very good.  Chatted with Mandy for a bit before Iona and I went to bed.

I reckon I was asleep around 9pm.  Iona was up at 5am to get ready for her 6am start.  The weather was overcast at that point - with rain forecast.

I got up at 6.30am and had a shower.  Made brekkie.  Porridge.  Couldn't eat much.  WeetBix - ate that - but only one.  Scrambled eggs.  Couldn't eat much.  And then I puked!  First time in years.  Sigh.

Took two Voltaren after that, hopped on my bike and headed to my start group.  8.20am I was in line.  The rain started not long after that.  We got away at 9am on the dot - just as it was scheduled.

The race itself was hard work.  The rain was at times pretty heavy - the sort that soaks through your helmet and dribbles down your face.  The only good part of that was my dribbly nose ended up just being a part of the pouring rain.  Hahahah.

The first 20 - 30 km I made good time.  But after 50 km through to 100km, it was hard work.  I nailed the downhills, which, okay, isn't hard.  But anything with an uphill, I got passed like I was standing still.  Sigh.

I got to Turangi in 5 hours exactly.  An hour behind my schedule.  I was cold by this time.  But my Tailwind was doing great - taking sips every 5 - 10 mins from my Camelbak.  I had 2 litres of it on my back, under my lovely new jacket.  It wasn't that I had run out of energy like last year.  Anyway, now I hit the headwind.  But I also did well between Turangi and Licorice cafe - sitting on 30km/h.  On my own.  Like the whole way around.  7.5 hours in total had me crossing the finish line.  And I was exhausted.  So happy to see Iona's smiling face as I crossed the line.  But, I was absolutely shattered.

And filthy.  And wet.  But not as sore as I have been - maybe the Voltaren kept the tense shoulders at bay.

My little black road cycling gloves (with the faintest of purple highlights) leaked dye all over my hands.  My hands are purple.  At one stage I looked down and saw my purple fingers poking out of the gloves and thought for a second I was turning blue with cold.  Reminder:  don't use those gloves in any scenario where it will get wet.  Two days later - my hands still look like I was practising with henna tattoos.  But wasn't very good at it.  Which, actually, would be true.  I would be hopeless.  Hahah.

After the wet ride

Iona had the car outside Replete, so I bundled my bike in (ok, she did) and folded myself into the car seat.  She took me to Acapulco and I had a shower.  A long, hot shower.

We ate dinner with Mandy and Helen - enjoyed the dhal again.  Slowly perked up.  But I was asleep by 8.30pm!  Hahah.  I woke at 4am, ready to face the day.  I may have annoyed Iona and made her chat to me.  But after a short chat, I fell asleep again.  I kinda hope she did too.  But she was up, boiling the jug and having a shower all while I was again comatose.  So I don't really know if I pestered her and interrupted her sleep a lot.

I got up and was packed and ready by 8am.  And we headed off to nab a table at Replete.  Helen and Mandy weren't far behind us.

Replete brekkie

Iced coffee

My tummy was still a bit weird, so I ate some mushrooms (yum) and didn't even finish my iced coffee.  OMG.  Weird, or what?

Went back to the motel to ensure we were booked for next year.  Yes, we all are!  And haded home.  Via Palmerston North to drop Iona off.  Then Tawa to drop her bike and gear off (except I kept her wet shoes!).

Home to get the best surprise ever.  Mike, Jase (and maybe Toby) had tidied like mad.  It was like a new house.  I was so happy.  Thank you.

Did some laundry.  Got paella from the new place in Wadestown.  Ok - that was scrumptious.  Let's eat there lots and keep them in business.

Had a great sleep.  Up for Spin this morning.  I will ease back into it this week.  Rain forecast here all week.  Oh dear.

And that was the weekend.  Next goal?  Kapiti Womens in late Feb.  Gonna nail that sucker!

Toby has an exam today - this afternoon.  Health.  His last one for the year.  Woot!  Can't wait for him to be done and relaxing.

Enjoy your week ahead.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with not a lot

Hi,

Wednesday.  Wow.  What a day.  It came, it had highlights with iced coffees, and it went.  But it was a tricky hump day.  Hahahah.

I did see Andrew in the morning for a coffee catch up - heard about his trip to Nelson with Sally and Vicki and Alistair.  Sounded like another great weekend.

Cafe Sierra with Mike

Machete with Andrew

Headed home with Mike getting on the same bus.  We were expecting Toby to stay out at a movie.  So we tucked into roti and satay sauce and were very surprised when he came home during that. 

He cut his big toe stepping on something (his PS2) and it seems to have a big gash as it split open when he ran for his bus home.  He did it late Tuesday night because I found drops of blood in the bathroom and on the lounge floor.  I wondered what was going on.

Anyway - last blog post before Taupo.  Oosshh.  I am collecting Iona from her parents place tomorrow morning at 8am and heading up with her.  Wish me luck!

Mike and Toby are staying home to study and perform life admin tasks.  Namely - my washing!  Please don't turn things pink.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with a stats exam for Toby

Hi,

 I caught up with James and Kate for brekkie yesterday.  Had a good iced latte at Little Peckish.  But I couldn't put the other pics on the blog of just me and my iced coffee because they really show that I have no clue with using a blow dryer.  I went to Spin, and thought I'd be best drying my hair a bit before brekkie.

No.  No, it wasn't one of my best ideas.  Let me leave that to the professionals (Sarah, my hairdresser) once every 7 weeks or so.

Kate looks amazing - I look like I shouldn't be allowed near a blow dryer!

Met Mike and Toby at Maccas to celebrate the end of Toby's stats exam.  It was nice to have lunch together.

Flax is budding.

Renga renga looks amazing!

Got home, cooked spag bol for Toby to celebrate yet another exam sorted.  It's one of his favourite meals.  Turns out he forgot what "median" meant.  But he chose the answer in the middle.  Good guess - let's hope it was right.  :-)

He also mentioned that his history paper had a section added to the bottom of the paper that included definitions of all the complicated words on the exam.  I was amused.  The English paper for NCEA3 was hammered in the press for having words 17 and 18 year olds didn't know.  Like "Trivial".  Really?  Anyway, I thought it was good they responded so fast to that outcry and added the definitions in.  Toby was also amused as there were spelling mistakes.

I have no gym today.  Tapering.  It was weird coming to work without a backpack full of gear. 

Have a brilliant day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with an exam for Toby that had a migraine

Hi,

Yep - poor wee Toby got a migraine in the middle of his history exam.  Stress, no doubt.  But despite the difficulties, he said he thinks he did ok.  Yay for Toby and his most excellent brain power.

Otherwise, not a lot happening.  I bought fish for brain food for him and got home and cooked it for him, Jase and Mike.  It should make his stats exam this morning a walk in the park.  Oosshh!

Did my last Spin class ahead of Taupo this morning.  I am as prepped as I am going to get.  Now it is a mental game.  Woot!

Weather for ducks today.  Wet, wet, wet.

Have a good day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Toast

Hi,

What a lovely weekend.  Friday night was relaxing - I rode home and chilled before Mike needed a pickup from town.  Got burgers on the way home.

Saturday was good - I got my bike all ready for Taupo - gave it a wee ride.  Made sure my gear also worked.  Took glass out of the tyres - realised I can no longer see well enough to do that sort of fine work up close.  Need to make an optometrist appointment.

Sunday saw Toast Martinborough day.  Oosshh.  Mike and I took the 7.35am number 14 down - and it was my old bus driver from the number 13 7am route that was driving.  I hadn't seen her since July when the buses all changed.  Yay.  Good to see her still driving.

Mike and I had brekkie at Maccas - although that wasn't necessary as Serge and Nina had prepared a great spread to eat on the bus!  Wow!

Mike framed by the doors of Wellington railway station

We met up at Platform 9 and got onto our Tranzit commuter bus for the ride over.  Picked up a few people in the Hutt (Celia and James from Percy's Reserve and Callum and Amanda in an awesome maneouver at traffic lights.

Sleeping cat

And then she just stretched out, spread her claws on my leg, and left them there

Nothing to see here!

We parked a the rugby ground and there were frequent shuttles in two large loops to get you to all the participating wineries.  All so well organised. 

Bus ride over to Martinborough

Gorgeous Martinborough

Fantastic skies all day!

We visited so many.  But not all.  Ata Rangi, Escarpment, Luna, Margrain, Palliser, Tirohana.  Only missed Dry River and Te Kairanga.  Others got to Dry River though.

Tirohana was first up.  Awesome cheese rolls there.  And an Elton-like piano player - doing quite well.  Then we split up.  By accident.  Went to Luna with Serge and a few others.  Met back at the bus with a picnic in the boot.   Then Palliser and Escarpment.  Escarpment had these seeds from a tree blowing all around like snowflakes.  Mike ate a Kapiti ice cream - tasty.

Margrain was pumping in the late afternoon around 3pm.  We ended at Ata Rangi and met Leo (Jo's old flatmate) and he gave us free coffees.  I tried the Cold Brew from L'Affare.  Good - although I need a bit of sugar syrup with it.

Food was good everywhere I tried some.  I would definitely go back.

How long is this veggie corn dog?

Picnic in the boot of a bus!

Southern cheese rolls - in an interesting configuration

Toast!

And with all of us!

Leo photo bombed the cold brew pic

Cold brew - and my foot

The bus was a bit of a fiasco.  The first driver who took us over said we could leave stuff int he bus and he would transfer it all to a bus now, and then later, the new driver (Sharon) would get it all and it would be there for us.

Mike and I decided to take our backpack.  It wasn't heavy and just had a few things in it.  Did get searched every now and then at the gates to wineries.

Anyway, we got the food for the lunch ok - in the boot of a bus.  And great food it was too!  Well done.  But, when we got back at 5.30pm, that bus had gone.  And none of our stuff (food or people's bags) had been transferred.  After a delay with phone calls, we left just after 6pm.

We got dropped at the train station, and others left to head to the bus depot to find their things.  I hope they found them ok.  The only glitch in an otherwise spectacular day.

Home to find the cats had created havoc. Mike had to tidy up and clean carpets after some puking.  Toby and I had to get emergency kitty litter from Countdown at 9pm.  But we eventually got into bed at 9.30, exhausted from our long day.  I certainly slept well.

Toby has history this afternoon.  And stats tomorrow morning.  A big couple of days for him.

Wish him luck.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with tapering

Hi,

My Thursday was long - but I did get two iced lattes in my day.  So - can't complain.  After brekkie with Roz, I was taking two new devs to taste the Machete coffee goodness.  Heard all about Khemry's 7 years living in Japan.  Wow.

And - the photos are so colourful for the blog.  Hahahah.

Introduced Yosan and Khemry to Machete iced latte goodness

Cheers!

Sip - as good as usual

Toby had his science exam at 9.30.  Apparently he was worried about the physics module.  But afterwards (2 hours) he texted Mike and said he nailed  it.  Good, good.  When I got home, he was still high on endorphins.

Only one Spin class today (Thurs) - at lunchtime with Matt.  I am officially tapering.

I shoved all my groceries I left behind at work on Wednesday into my pannier and had my baguette poking out.  I felt French - but sure I only looked a bit weird.

I rode home with my baguette poking out.  

As I rode slowly down Boulcott St between stationary cars, my baguette hit a post.  Hahahah.  But it survived the ride home ok.

I rode past Juliette waiting for the bus on Molesworth St.  Asked her if she wanted a lift on my bike.  She politely declined.  But as I rode to the garage door at home, she pulled up into her driveway.  And Mike got out!  Hahahah.

Riding is just as fast.  Oosshh!

It's the weekend.  I want to do a small bike ride tomorrow.  Then we're off to Toast Martinborough on Sunday.  In the rain and southerly.  Brrrr.

Ok.  Time to kick start the day - after Spin.  My hair is wet.  But I feel fine.  Cold's almost gone.

Have an awesome day.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Epic Spin

Hi,

After work it was Epic Enduro Spin with Matt and Scott.  Such a great session - I loved it.  I just missed the bus coming home though - so I had to wait for 25 mins for the next one.  Made me late home.  8:15pm.

I heated up leftovers for Toby - bit of carbo loading ahead of his exam Thursday morning.  Science. 

I went to bed early as I have been shattered this week.  I was asleep when Mike got home, but woke up to have some sort of conversation with him.

Rode in this morning and showered and ironed my shirt at work.  Realised this is a perfect plan as they have a great iron set up here, and I don't have to do Mike's shirts.  Hahahah.

Met Roz at 7.15 at work and went to Cafe Neo for brekkie.  They had to rush out to the supermarket to get ice for my iced latte.  And they use a cardboard straw.  Good marks for those customer service points.  Not so much for the undissolved sugar in the bottom and the floating lumps of milk. 

Iced latte @ Cafe Neo

Hmmmm.  5.5

But the food was superb.  I had the veggie brekkie - with poached egg.  Yum!  Roz is good - always a pleasure to see her and hear about her life and work in the big smoke.

Can't wait to see wee Toby after work.  I am hoping he can come in to see me after his exam. 

Have a brilliant day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with no BBQ - but still nice weather

Hi,

I reckon when you have a day that sucks you dry, you need to find a way to refill otherwise the next day is also tough.  I had no refill.  Tuesday was hard.  And that was even with a coffee with Celia in there.  That would usually refill nicely.  But I must have been on empty.  Hahahah!

And the caffeine hasn't even hit Celia yet!

Rushed to Machete to meet Andrew after my gym class

Also met Andrew after Spin - so that was good.  Can my highlights just be coffees with people?  Nothing to do with work?  Sigh...

Anyway, I went to Spin after work - I like that instructor - Nat - and rode home afterwards.  I took it easy up the hill.  And 6.45pm rides home are less fraught than 5pm ones.  Traffic is non existent.  So you can be leisurely.


Cooked tea for Toby - after he helped me clean up the kitchen.  And we ate and chatted about our day.  Science exam for him tomorrow morning.  Acids and bases is the module he is most concerned about.

Mike got home late-ish from some acquaintance's gin tasting session.  Apparently he has launched his own range in gins.  And paired them with food for each "course".  Mike loved it. 

Got a lunch run today - should be a scorcher as today is stunning.  Warm, sunny, no wind.  Wow.  And the enduro Spin after work tonight.

Bring it all on.

Love,
Angela

The Monday that was 16 work hours long - I swear

Hi,

My day was sooooooo long.  Sucked dry.  Rode home.  Queried Toby about his English exam.  He seemed to be happy enough.  He forgot some quote he wanted to use, and substituted for a line from the song from the soundtrack - he seemed to think that was a great variation.  Good on him!

Hope all his mates were happy with their work too.

Another glorious evening, another BBQ

Jase checks out the options

BBQ time!  Oosshh!

And today (Tuesday morning) is another stunning day in the best little capital in the world.  Hope it stays like that.

I have Spin now, and then Spin after work.  And a ride home.  That should be enough to keep the endorphins flowing for today.

Toby's next exam is Thursday. 

Hope you have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend n Wellington with birthday dinners and other stuff

Hi,

I see Celia!

Friday was busy - and after the chaos of the morning, it did feel a lot like I should have stayed at home - in bed!  Hahahah.  But I got to see Celia at Machete.  That was a good thing.

And after work Mike, Andrew and I caught up and drove over to the old overseas terminal and met Sally, John, Benjamin and the birthday woman of the hour - Vivienne - at Whitebait for a fabulous degustation menu.

Andrew and I had the vegetarian option.  Very nice indeed.  We caught up on each other's news.  Philippa popped in (her boat is berthed outside) to say hi.  And it was the first time I have dined out and got into 4 figures for a meal.  Oosshh!

Menu

Collected Jase from work on our way home - and dropped Sally and Andrew home too.  Back to bed and a good sleep.

Saturday we got up and did a bit of laundry and stuff.  Mike got the DRZ warranted.  Good work!  Went to meet Sally @ Zany Zeus.

Zany Zeus' roast vege stack

Look Mum!

Picked up the trailer from Mike's mother's place.  Took rubbish to the tip.  Dropped trailer at Mike's colleague's house.  Back home to chill.

Why did Smudge pick the electrical cord to sleep on?

Exploring

What is this green stuff?

Home made is good!

Sunday was BBQ day.  And taxes.  And admin jobs - those were for Mike.  But he got through a fair bit. 

BBQ time!

Salad

Roasted veges

Climbing up

Window sill sitting

Rode my bike in this morning - stunning weather in Wellington.  Yay! 


Toby has his first exam today for NCEA1.  English.  9.30am.  Wish him luck. 

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela