The Wednesday with another swim lesson

Hi,

Ooohhhh - I am glad there are not too many days like that at work.  Talk about tough.  Anyway, I at least saw Mike at the start of my day.  We had an iced latte at The Lab.  I love the beaker I get mine in.

It was Victor's birthday and I made dip for it - which was a hit.  A dip hit.  Hahaha.  He came in with Susan and I think he enjoyed the attention.  Good on Joycie for getting it all sorted.  Nice cake too!  Nom, nom.  I ate two bits.  Thanks Jo.

About now I hurt my eye.  I think a blood vessel burst.  When I waited for Mike for lunch (which didn't happen), Shannon told me it was due to my super fast descents and ascents of the stairs and the altitude differential at that speed meant it popped.  That made me laugh as an excellent example of a  pseudo-science theory. 

This one actually hurt - like something was in my eye

Happy birthday Victor!

I made dip

Happy iced latte with Mike

Sneaky selfie by Mike

Mike stood me up for lunch - but I found him in a meeting at my work and dropped off the Surface that I had charged.

After work, I had a swim lesson - again.  Also tough - but in a different way to work.  I had missed lunch so it was hard work from that perspective.

Home to cook tea for Toby and Mike.  And into bed after a vent to Mike about my day.  Which he said he found interesting.  But, he's just sweet like that.

Missed the 15/15 yesterday because I didn't listen to (work) Sally.  Doh!  That Emily Bronte and her single piece of literature.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with another swimming lesson

Hi,

Second swim lesson - omg - I have no clue.  I have to un-learn stuff, and learn new stuff.  I had no idea that freestyle was like that.  Arms aren't always opposite in the stroke.  There is a period where both arms are forward.  That is so hard for me to un-learn.

She said I relaxed a little more.  Umm - I didn't notice.  Hahaha.  And I did one full length without stopping at one point.  Woot!  But I still need to pick my elbows up higher and enter fingers first.

She also said she would assess Andrew and let him know what he should do for getting his swimming on track for a triathlon.  Bwhahahah - I might be putting things into Andrew's mind there.  But the gym has a week free trial, so she said to get Andrew in, and she'd check out his swimming.  And he can spin with me!  Oosshh!

Called Andrew's bluff.  :-p

Iced latte with Andrew

Iced latte with Ed

Best apricot of the season

Chilling on the deck - both cats thought it was too hot for being inside.

My phone says it is 28C

Yesterday turned out hot here.  My phone said it was 28C.  The pic is from my Surfer's Paradise trip in November last year, so don't get confused.  That is my background screen on my phone at the moment.

The media had a field day with "The Heatwave".  Whatever.  There was a live feed of the weather updates from around the country.  "MetService has released the 3pm weather temps".  Umm, really?  What a crazy beat up.

I think some places might have got up to 33C.

I would call that:  warmer than usual.

I got home after my swim and made morning tea for today for work.  Someone turns 50.  Spring chicken!  Hahahah.  It was warm - even at 9pm when I was sitting on the deck with the cats.

Mike has made the bathroom and foyer look amazing.  Cleared out all the debris and tidied.  And luxed!  My heart is lighter.  Apparently the tiler should be coming soon.

Anyway, this morning my Spin was cancelled, so I texted Mike to see if he could come in early for a coffee date with me.  He did!  I was ready for him.  And the cake got delivered at the same time, so I nipped out to wait for Rex outside New World.

I was standing there, by the loading zone where Rex would pull up.  And I had my arms crossed, because, you know.  Awkward!  Anyway, as I waited, this woman crossed the street towards me and came right up to me.

Ok.  This is unusual.

She says:  Are you security here?

Me:  Ummm, no.  But I am glad I look imposing.

She says:  Do you know where I could find a shoe repair shop around here?

Me:  Sure.  In The Grand, just down there.  And up on The Terrace.

She says:  Thanks.  My sandal is broken.  But I do have two other pairs.

Me: [eyebrows go up].

Fortunately Rex pulls up and I run over and she wanders away.

Anyway, that is my day so far.  Weird, but true.

And another swim lesson after work.  Toby's last day of school hols.  Wow!  And...  probably other Gilbert fun and games.

It's just how we roll.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with a swim lesson

Hi,

Ok - so I did catch up with Andrew for an iced latte and to hear about his tramping adventures from the weekend.  He knocked off quite a few spot heights and is likely to have less than thirty to go.  Woot!

Mmmm.  Machete iced latte.

Anyway, got through the day at work.  Then headed to Habit for my first swim lesson.  People in the know realise I was looking at this with some trepidation.  Something new.  Anyway, Ruth was great (the swim coach) and she had me doing freestyle immediately to check my form.  Which apparently I didn't have any of, really.  Hahah.  I swim too tense.  Like I cycle, run and ski.  Sigh.  So I need to relax.  And:

tense my core (but not my shoulders)
play tag with my arms
lift my elbow
enter fingers first into the water
bend elbow
stroke past my hip
pull lots of water
relax

I also did backstroke, which didn't seem to need as much remedial work.  And if I were to try and paraphrase what the coach said, I would say it was:  you aren't too useless.

Pretty sure she said something nicer than that.  But that is what I heard.  Hahah.

So another lesson tonight, and one tomorrow.  I expect my arms will be broken by then.  Next one is Tues 5th and the following one is Mon 11th.  I am hopeful I will have something to work on by the end of this so I can add swimming into my exercise plan.

When I got home, Mike was attempting to cut away the stump of the tree he cut down in the weekend. The gardeners had started with a chainsaw but it had thrown its chain and they were coming back to finish it. He was a little bit sheepish because he'd cut too far in before changing sides - and the handsaw blade had jammed tight into the tree.  He'd had to disassemble the saw and just leave it there.  So now our stump features a steel blade hanging out of the middle of it.

In other news, it is forecast to be 29C here today.  Mozzies attacked me at the bus stop this morning, like I was living in Malaysia or somewhere tropical.  Not Wellington.  And foggy as anything.  Mike reckons the expected heat wave from Australia has picked up a lot of moisture moving over the Tasman.  Like - a lot!  The air is thick.

My phone is not backing up to the cloud again.  Not sure why - some dodgy update no doubt.   So you have to imagine my iced latte photo.

Have an awesome day!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with no camping for me but with survival night for Mike

Hi,


After a slightly disappointing realisation that we wouldn't go to Matiu/Somes on Friday after work, we recovered admirably.  Mike found out you could ask the ferry to redirect to the island for $70.  And he found out you could call the ranger out for the gear check for an extra $80.  But that all seemed a bit crazy for a night on the island.  But if there were a bunch of you, it would become an option.

Mike got up early to get a few things done before he headed off for Survival Night.  Hahah.  He survived!

Meanwhile, Toby and I chilled out and watched The Princess Bride together.  Fun. 

Sunday was a lazy start and then Mike came home and galvanised us into action a bit.

Moxley playing in the fresh sheets

The week ahead beckons - with Toby going back to school after 2 months off.  Wow.  I hope he has a really good year.

And... so warm.  We got the fan out of the loft last night so put on the porch for "selling" - and Mike suggested we use it because it was so hot as we went to sleep.  So I got up and assembled it and we used it all night.

Bliss.

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

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with dragon boat training

Hi,

What a crazy day.  Running around like a headless chicken for the most part.  But we had dragon boat training so the day started looking up around 5pm when I had to dash away to get changed.

Celia is away, so Matt was balancing the boat and he was supposed to the be drummer.  But so many pulled out of training that Matt had to paddle.

And, despite not having a drummer, we did really well.  Hayden (sweep) kept us focussed and the evening was lovely.

Afterwards, I powered back to work, trying to aim for the 7.19pm bus.  Given it was 7.08 when I left training, it was tight.  I collected my fridge groceries from the Level 2 fridge, hurtled to my locker on Level 1 and sighed when I saw how many groceries I had there.  Found a bag, and flung everything in.  Decided against changing out of my wet shorts, as by now it must be super close to 7.19. 

Walked out of the garage at work and crossed the road.  I could see a bus in the distance and just knew it was my bus.  As I walked down hurriedly, it stopped at the bus stop.  I was totally going to miss it.  But I saw loads of punters waiting to get on.  The intersection lights were against me.  Red man.  Aarrghh.  But for some reason, the cars were all slow to take off.  So I scampered across the lights and started running.  With my huge backpack on.  My grocery bag with baguette poking out.  Wet shorts.  I saw the bus close its doors.  Uh oh.  But the driver looked up and saw me.  And opened the door again.  I ran on, and thanked her profusely.  Walked down the busy bus and found a seat to deposit my bulky bags.

Phew!

Home and grabbed some quick food before helping Mike with the tent.  We are going to Matiu/Somes after work.  We think.  Mike checked the ferry times and the last ferry is 2pm.  Which we hadn't planned on.  We're both busy at work.

So, goodness knows.  We might be sleeping in the tent in the back yard.  Because it is so clean, that is what we may as well do.  Hahahah.

Have a brilliant weekend.  Roll on the end of the working day!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with work

Hi,

I had lunch with Celia yesterday @ Machete and enjoyed a great catch up with her ahead of her Fiji holiday.  Woot!  Can't wait to see pics on social media of some of her adventures there.  A shark dive!  Oooohhhh.

Iced latte demonstration of dragon boat paddling technique

Saw Mike at work - which was kinda funny.  Caught the bus home - it was the slowest bus in the world.  It took ages to actually get to our suburb.  Caught in some space/time vortex all on its own.

Cooked tea - spag bol.  Toby's choice.  And Mike got home just as I served it.  But Mike also ate most of Toby's and then complained the rest of the night about being too full.  No more leftovers for Mike!

It poured down during the night.  Enough to wake me from my slumber.  Wow!

Toby passed his NCEA Level 1.  He was a happy boy.  Good on him.  Seeing him try a bit harder this year will have him acing it, I am sure.

Hope your day is a good one.  Enjoy.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with dragon boating and Celia's birthday

Hi,

We had such a great day for dragon boating yesterday - and Celia had a stunner of a day for her birthday.

I managed to get Celia a wee present and hid it in her locker at work.  But turns out she hardly ever uses it - so I had to tell her to check.  Hahahah!

We sang Happy Birthday on the boat - that was cool.  The weather made the sea so choppy we saw two boats capsize when they entered the harbour proper.  So we decided to stay in the lagoon.  Mike and Doro watched for a while.

Afterwards I went back to work to change and Mike and I had dumpings at Dumpling'd.  Mike wasn't overly impressed.  We bumped into someone from the BBQ on the way out the door.  We'd only met her on Saturday and now we see her.  Wellington is small.

Home and I wasn't feeling the best.  I think I have had a migraine for a bit of today.  Had a better sleep though - still not perfect.  And yesterday I woke with a sore neck.  Never had a sore neck in my life.  And this morning it is slightly worse.  Goodness knows what that's all about.

Right.  Time for the day to start in earnest.  Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a long one for Wellington anniversary

Hi,

My weekend seemed to disappear fast, despite it being one day longer than usual.  How does that happen?

Today was stunning and worthy of a photo.  It is also Celia's birthday today.  Pretty glad she popped onto this planet to coincide with my life at some not-too-distant-point in the past.

I was thinking about my life in the summer of 1981.  We'd just moved to Aus at the end of 1980, so it was the height of our first summer there.  Tennis on the TV.  40C temps that made our butter melt.  Thrips (I hate thrips).  Big Ms.  Mmmmm.  That was the start of my iced coffee love, right there.  Big M - cold coffee-flavoured milk.  Where had you been all my life till then?  Why did I ever experiment with hot coffee later in life?

Live and learn.

And...  now I know Celia.  And she may be partial to iced coffees too.  1981.  A gold year!

Stunning Tuesday morning sunrise

 The cats had a good weekend, chilling out.  They seem to get along for the most part.  Smudge still has a pre-emptive growl that seems to work wonders on Moxley.

Uneasy alliance - cos it involves sleep!

Garden work

Mike went mad on decluttering and garden work.  Yay for Mike!

Eco piling!

 We caught up with Sally Saturday morning ish for a haloumi sandwich at Zany Zeus.  We were out and about, sorting stuff out.

Smudge is a model cat

Moxley made a nest out of our freshly dried sheets!

Saturday saw us going to Ellie's house for a BBQ and enjoying her friends company and the view from her flat.  Wow!

Sunset over Kelburn

Afternoon over Kelburn

Toby got brunch at one point.  I think he likes my poached eggs.

I made Toby brunch

Iced latte @ Machete on Friday

Sally and Andrew came around yesterday for a BBQ lunch.  That went well.  And Mike worked like mad after that in the garden and generally around the house.

It is finally starting to look better.  Once the builders (different ones) come in and finish off, we should be able to have a clean out in the garage and then it'll all have a place.

Yay!


Hope your week is a good one.  Short one for us.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with dragon boat training

Hi,

Best highlights of the day?  Catch up with Celia for the New Year.  At Machete no less.  I do look rather excited about it.

Happy

Then we had our first dragon boat training session in the boat after work.  Such a gorgeous day for it.  And I think I vaguely remembered how to do it.  The team this year are so great.  It's going to be a good one.

Caught the bus home - slightly damp still.  Made some basic tea for Toby at 8.30pm.  Oops.  And fell into a coma in bed.  I pretended to wake up when Mike got home.  But given I barely remember it, it was all pretense.

New guy in the team was telling me about a colleague he previously worked with.  Said something like "He is 55, so really old".  I thought:  Ummmm.  No.  He isn't really old. 

Hahahah.  I am going to take it as a compliment and interpret that as the new guy has no clue that I am only 2 years younger. 

It's a long weekend for us in Wellington this weekend.  Woot!  Bring that on.

Enjoy yours.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no Tyler and Abby

Hi,

I miss wee Tyler and Abby loads already.  I just told my manager that - he thinks they are both back in Sydney needing counselling after an extended exposure to the "Gilbert Way".

Hahahah.

I would have them back in a heartbeat.

Creepy birds at the cable car

Double spotto! in the supermarket car park

I headed home on the bus after a long day at work.  The day had turned out stunning.  Typical.  Aussie guests leave and the sun comes out.  They will never believe it.

Cooked tea - chicken schnitzels.  Toby's favourite.  He said they were good ones and promptly went back and ate the leftovers.

He also liked the boiled new potatoes.

Tidied up a bit ahead of the cleaners coming Thursday morning.  And Mike cleared things away to the garage and is slowly selling off stuff.

Yay!

We will kick off the tiling soon and finish the bathroom.  Can't wait.

We have the first Dragon boat training session on the water today after work.  OMG.  It's that time again.  So excited.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Tyler and Abby leaving on Wednesday

Hi,

It was Tyler and Abby's last full day in Wellington yesterday (Tuesday).  We got home a little late from work and I cooked tea.  Basil pesto pasta - turns out it is Tyler's favourite.  Well, we all like it.  Although I could only find macaroni elbows as the pasta shape.

As we ate tea, we talked about the holiday a bit.  And as a summary of her experience, this is what Abby declared when we discussed the Gilbert household:

Every day is an adventure.

Hahahah.  I think she meant it kindly.  I know their house is a busy one, but she seems to think we're slightly disorganised or something.  Mike and I prefer to think of it as honing a flexible outlook and rolling with it.

They enjoyed the ferry trip and the camping, so I've added pics of that.

New glasses for Christmas

Iconic view of Wellington

At Ngakuta Bay

Picton

Ngakuta Bay fun - we jumped off that jetty

Posing for me

Kaitoke river fire

Perfect "scrotemallow"

Brekkie

Rivendell

The view from Sarah and Hamish's house. Worth the steps!

Swingbridge at Kaitoke

Nothing but net

Take a shot

We've dropped them at the airport after getting up at 3.40am.  Ohhh - early.  Mike and I stayed until 6am and then Mike dropped me at work.  Super early.  I will try and leave a bit early.  And get to bed at a decent time tonight.

Have a brilliant day.  I will be sad when I get home and the house is a lot less full of people.  Because I loved having Tyler and Abby here.

Love,
Angela

The Monday evening with a shock to my system

Hi,

Yesterday typified a Gilbert Plan - of epic proportions.  Probably a vain hope of mine to think I could capture it in text for future preservation and comparisons of other Gilbert Plans.  But, I shall try.

It started with Mike and I bussing into town together on the 6.16am bus.  Mike forgot his wallet so I gave him money for his day and paid for the bus.  So far, all ok.

Toby decided against H2OXtreme and they all picked a movie instead.  6pm SpiderMan: Into the SpiderVerse @ The Embassy.  Ok.

I chatted to Abby at 4.30pm.  They were still at home.  So I found them a number 14 bus at 4.48pm that got them into town in time.  Turns out that bus didn't exist.  Gilbert Plan has its first unravelling.  The kids bounce back and find a 4.55pm bus that does exist.  They get on.

Mike plans to jump on the same bus as it goes past his work at 5:08pm (paying using the money I gave him).  He misses it by a minute.  I position myself and jump on their bus successfully.  Mike is two buses behind on a 52.

We all end up in Courtney Place and Mike tries to buy the movie tickets.  But of course I have to pay. We have some food before the movie starts and buy some lollies.  No change out of $100.  Ouch.

Anyway - the movie is so good!  OMG.  I laugh and laugh until my abs hurt and tears are streaming out.  I still snigger even now if I recall SpiderMan's head bobbing along the street as they are towed behind the train.  If I wasn't in public, I would have lost it completely.

Movie finishes and the bus is 26 mins away.  And it is cold.  So we consider permutations to get us home.  Uber?  Nope - too many people.  Mike thinks a bus as far as possible and then Uber from there.  And someone comes back to get the extra person.

We get on the bus.  And Toby discovers he's lost his Snapper.  I snapper everyone on.  3 kids and 2 adults.  But at Manners St, Toby decided to run back and find his card.  He gives us his wallet and phone and he leaps off the bus.  I throw my EftPos card at Mike and he jumps off to follow Toby.

Tyler, Abby and I get off the bus at Lambton Quay and Mike rings.  He tells us a 22 leaves from The Terrace in 3 mins.  So we run down Lambton Quay and up Woodward and just catch the 22 which takes us nearly to our front door.  In a perfect execution of a Gilbert Plan Variation.

Toby finds his Snapper under the seat in the cinema.  And they come home on the number 14 bus that originally was 26 mins too late for the first Gilbert Plan.

All a normal day in our household.  Building flexibility and adaptability (and running prowess) in the next generation.

And meanwhile, more photos from the holiday.  Mainly from my Blenheim adventure.

Iced latte @ Pelorus Bridge cafe

Pelorus Bridge - go visit!

On the trapline

Iced coffee somewhere in Blenheim

It was ok.

Bike in Picton

We venture in - and it is beautiful!

Selfie in the river @ Pelorus

Apparently I resemble a starfish

Last day for Tyler and Abby here.  So sad.  I will miss them.

Love,
Angela

The Monday morning back at work after an amazing Christmas holiday

Hi,

Ohh - is that what 5.30am looks like?  And it was a shock to go to the gym.  And wear clothes that is not a t-shirt and shorts.  It was an awesome 3 week break.  Longest break from work I have ever had at this workplace.

And it is raining today.  Boo.  The kids are off to H2oXtreme.  That should be fun.  Adrenaline Forest needs an adult for kids under 16.  Shame.  Next time!

My phone is sill backing up photos from the break.  It'll be some time.

But it was so so good.  Christmas with Mum and Karen, Scott, Tyler and Abby.  Mum then had to fly home on the 27th (she was just too sore).  That was sad.  The house in Hastings was amazing!  Seeing Olly and Charlotte and their kids (Saffy, Alex and Milo) was definitely a highlight.  Back to Wellington.  Off to see Iona and Col.  Back to Wellington,  Netball drills with Abby.  Camping at Kaitoke.

Yep.  I had a great time.  Here are a few pics.

Scotty photo bomb.  Nice iced coffee @ Six Sisters in Napier.

Christmas pohutukawa

Posing models

Extreme posing

Gilberts and Kittos on a log

Pania

Terracotta warriors @ Te Papa

Horses

Napier waterfront

Selfie time!

Almost the right spelling

More once my phone catches up.

Back to the workload.  And emails.

Love,
Angela