The long holiday at home and the Monday back at work

Hi,

I am going to say this is the first time in recent Gilbert history that we have had a holiday at home.  It was quite good fun - we got a little bit done around the house.  I now have deck furniture and it looks amazing!  We can swing a cat in the garage.  We tried to change the back sprocket of the DRZ and failed - a bit.  But I enjoyed it anyway.  We ended up needing a longer chain and with no method of doing that in our garage, we had to replace the old sprocket and take it into the bike shop.

Penny bun mushroom from Celia

 I met Celia and got the most gorgeous mushroom her sister-in-law foraged.  Mushroom stew.

Iced latte @ Home with Celia

Iced latte at Machete while on hols

Iced latte somewhere else and it was good

Iced latte @ Beach Babylon with Philippa

We caught up with Philippa and enjoyed brekkie at Beach Babylon with her.  There was an Inced Americano on the menu so I ordered one just for Tyler.

Iced Americano for Tyler

OMG - Mike described this iced coffee as a punch to the face

To call it iced coffee is a misnomer.  Well, yes, ok, it was coffee with ice.  But even Mike said he reckoned it had 12 shots in it.  It wasn't bitter, or bad.  It was good coffee.  But so, so strong.  I think even 5 days later I have caffeine racing through my veins still.

Iced latte - called an Iced White - at Qilin's Tea House.  Woah - love this place!

Iced latte with Andrew while on hols.  No, wait - I think this was yesterday.

And... I have to say, my holiday pics seem to indicate all I did was drink iced coffees.  Hey - nothing wrong with that if you ask me.  Choice!

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday back at work

Hi,


It's almost the weekend!  Woot.  I have next week off as it is Easter Monday and ANZAC Day in the same week.  With tomorrow off, I get a long break for my three days of leave debt.

Iced latte date with these two!!

Slluuurrrrpppp!!!

Bring it all on!  Hoping to get away for some camping if I am lucky.  We are going to visit Mana Island on Saturday.  Haven't been there since Vince was a wee boy and came to visit us.  I expect I will see a lot of changes.

Hope you have a great Easter as well.  Eat chocolate.  And fruitless hot cross buns.  Nom, nom!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday away sick

Hi,

Turns out I was sick yesterday.  :-(  But it did mean I got to tidy a bit and do some laundry.  Just spent a lot of time in bed and in pyjamas.

Iced latte goodness

Favourite salad

Toby went out with Tessa to see Shazam and said it was very good.  He got back and wanted tea - so I made spag bol for him.

Mike got home late and was hungry too.  He ate leftovers of spag bol.

He also seems to have found a new punter for his lodge booking work.  Yay for succession planning.

Feeling a lot better today - hoping to tackle my inbox with some fervour.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend away with Celia in Waikanae

Hi,

What a lovely weekend - makes me want to get away far more.  Friday saw me home nice and early with the car in town, but Toby got there not long after me with Tessa and two of his mates (Zac and Ethan).  They had a movie night at our place and a sleepover.

After some grocery shopping Saturday morning I was off after lunch to collect Celia from her place and head off to the weekend away with her and some friends.  As we left the Hutt for Waiterere Beach, Celia plugged the address into her phone GPS and discovered we were actually heading to Waikanae Beach.

Yes!!  Much closer. 

The place did not disappoint (they had stayed there last year - I think Jen knows the owners).  They had a hot tub and a huge tennis court in the backyard.

I cooked lasagne and popped that in the oven.  Everyone arrived within 30 mins with Gemma a little later.  Ange and Dee and Jen.  We opened snacks and drinks and a huge jigsaw puzzle.  Before it got dark, I also played tennis with Celia and Jen. 

Puzzle time!

The puzzle was finished around 11pm.  It was a good thing to do for the entire evening.  We would switch places every now and then.

Lazy sun time

So sleepy he dropped his phone!

Slept well in the bottom of a bunk bed.  More tennis the next morning with Gemma - enjoyed that.  I didn't lose any balls that morning (lost three the evening before over the neighbour's fences).  Went for a long walk with Gemma on the beach.  Choice!

Tidied and left with Celia to enjoy an iced coffee at Paekakariki.  It wasn't bad.  Crushed ice and cream.

Beach St Deli - pretty good

Friday iced latte @ Machete

Dropped Celia home and went straight home to see Mike.  Toby was in Masterton with Tessa on a date.  They had lots of fun.

Session with Quentin this morning.  Deadlifts.  45kg.  Let's see how that progresses.

Have a great week.  It's a short one.  Good Friday beckons.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with getting home with no pants

Hi,

Let it be known that this was the day where Mike had 14 shots of coffee and wondered why he was crashing at about 3pm.  Weirdo.

I did catch him after the gym - he had forgotten his trousers so he was in his gym gear.  Andrew also popped in and we chatted away.

Me contributing to Mike's caffeine intake for the day

With Mike...

Later I got away with Joycie for more of the same.  Mmmmm.  I love those iced lattes there.  If I had turned up again though, the Machete staff would have staged an intervention.

Which is what Mike needed!

You ready, Joycie?

Mmmmm.

Caption this!

Anyway, I rushed to the bus only to remember we had driven in.  It was pouring with rain so I got soaked walking back up to Clifton Terrace car park.  By the time I got there, I had to peel off my wet trousers and sit in the car in my undies, under a blanket.  Mike got there and had managed to stay drier than me.

We got petrol on the way home and then we pulled up at our letterbox and I fled the car in my undies, boots, and my purple work shirt.  With a hastily thrown jacket over the top.

I hope no neighbours saw that.

The weather on my phone was accurate.  Rain in Wellington.

Mike parked the car and then we sorted out something to eat before chilling.  We watched numerous videos on the photo of the black hole in M87.  Amazing stuff.

And then Toby got home and ate pork buns before we all went to bed.

Right - it's Friday!  Woot!  And the weekend beckons.  I am off with Ange and Celia (and Gemma and Jen) to Waiterere Beach - which I have never been to before.  Hoping to read lots, eat junk and maybe fit in a run.  Or at least a walk on the beach.

Mike will stay at home and pine for me.  Toby has sleepover plans with his mates.

Enjoy your weekend!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing much

Hi,

Busy day - but I did get a spontaneous coffee date - so there was that highlight.

Smile!

Ahhh - how long should I smile for?

Ok - can't wait...

I got a PB in my lunch run - well, in this running era.  When I was running 3 or 4 times a week and doing 5km each time, I did a better time.  But for now - this was good!  5.2km on my watch - and 28 mins 30 secs. 

Yay!

Got a text from Toby around 5.15pm asking if I was going to the supermarket.  Hmmm - what on earth is he on about?  Next text:  I am starving and there's nothing to eat.

Lies, all lies!  There was pasta in the fridge when I got home!

Anyway, I went and bought him his shopping list of milk and grapes.  Milk and grapes?  I feel like I am feeding a wee Roman Emperor or something.  Hahahah!

Anyway, I cooked him tacos when I got home (no Roman Emperor ever ate that!) and he snacked on grapes and milk afterwards.

Mike got home and chatted to Toby for a bit before bed.  Yay!

Had an alright sleep.  The cat waited until my alarm went off before licking my nose this morning.  How kind of her!

PT session at 6.30am this morning.  Followed by Spin at 7am - and Mike came to it!  How cool is that?

Toby has his play today - I hope he owns that like a boss!  Remind me to wash his shirt tonight so it's ready for tomorrow's performance.

Right.  Time for the day to fire up!

OOsshh!

Have fun.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with a bit of exhaustion

Hi,


Busy day after I saw Shona off on the bus.  I got texts from her during the day and they got into Rotorua at a reasonable hour.  So they made good time, even with two stops.  Good on them.

Went to Spin after work and after that I felt like I was walking through treacle to do anything.  The bus took me home and I crawled up the hill.

Cooked tea for Toby and then fell into bed.  Mike got home when I had just turned out the light (8.50pm) but I was so tired I couldn't really hold up any conversation.  Zzzzzz.

Iced latte @ Machete

Mike taking sneaky selfies

What are you doing?

Into early Spin this morning.  I hope my day isn't as busy as my calendar looks.  Hahahah.  Wishful thinking.

Right.  Time to kick the day off properly.

Enjoy yours!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with mad driving all over the Hutt

Hi,

Iced latte - mmmmmm

What another weird day.  I drove in super early for my PT session.  And Mike was taking the bus in - when they all got cancelled.  So he drove the other car in.  We had two cars in town!  Hahahah.

He drove home after work, and they all decided on Mexican for dinner at Flying Burrito Bros in town.  So I stayed at work and then walked over once they were in location.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner.  Toby told us about his adventures and plans for the week.  Michael managed to eat most of a spicy beef taco.  Shona got involved with her guacamole and liberally smeared sour cream on her spicy beef taco.  She also eyed Toby's nachos and wished she had made that choice.

Food choice envy.

I left with Shona to go and explore Upper Hutt.  Yes, you read that right.  Aunty Dot gave us the addresses of the places Shona wanted to see.  We rang Aunty Dot while outside 54 Gillespies Rd (Shona had just got back in the car after prowling over the driveway gate in the dark) and we chatted to her for ages.  Went to Grandma's unit to look there (I have never seen that place - 44B Cruikshank Rd) and then Aunty Dot told us to visit Janine despite it being 9.15pm.

Poor Janine and Dean.  They were asleep when we knocked on the door.  She was as gracious as ever and we chatted for a while in the lounge.  Got phone numbers and then left - and I hope they got back to sleep.

Oops.

Had a good sleep myself when we got back home.

Good morning, Wellington!

Up to take Shona on the bus to town and see her safely onto the airport bus.  She will pick up a rental car at the airport and head back home to collect Michael.  I am so sad to see her go.  Michael can come and stay with us at any time.  He's lovely.

I hope they have a wonderful time driving around the North Island and exploring everywhere.  It should be a lot of fun for them.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Shona arriving

Hi,

Got a late iced coffee with Sreejith and Celia - we needed it after our week. 

Iced latte goodness

Headed home and sorted out the evening with Mike and Toby.  We watched a movie together.  Paul.  About some alien with Simon Pegg starring in it.  I loved it!  Hahahah.

Up to find out that Shona was coming over after all.  She was due in at 1.10pm today!  Woot!  Excited flurry of activity to get the place ready.  Toby headed off to Tessa's house for a day of movies.

Mike and I picked up Shona and Michael and headed to Cafe Maranui for lunch.  Yummo!  They both decided in a short amount of time that Wellington was freezing.  And it was.  It was the coldest weather we'd had since last winter.

Maranui iced coffee with Shona and Michael

Back home to settle in (and failed to find the blow up bed for Michael - Abby - where did we put it after you finished with it??).  Then off to Roller Derby where Wellington was playing against the Hawkes Bay.

Watching the roller derby

Roller derby action!

Turns out we sat next to Ben from Machete.  Hahah.

Michael was kind enough to put up with a few hours of watching - I loved it!  Wellington B team slaughtered the Hawkes Bay.  It was a hiding.

Back home and off to bed.  Toby texted Mike at 11pm and asked for a lift home.  Mike got dressed and headed out into the storm.  Stormy it was too.  He said afterwards he could barely see the line markings on the road.  Wow!  Guess it was good we didn't make Toby bus home in that.

Up for brekkie - scrambled eggs all round.  Daylight savings ended too.  Woot!  Then Shona, Mike and I went to Upper Hutt to try and find Uncle Graeme and Aunty Dot's old house.  Hahah.  Not super successful.  Back to Lower Hutt and lunch at The Dowse.

I asked for an iced coffee photo and I got a Mike selfie

Oh - there we go!  At The Dowse.

Off to visit Celia and her girls for a cup of team.  Mmmmm.  That was lovely to see her and introduce Shona to her.

Celia has also got our wee baby out of storage for next weekend!  Oossshh!

Off to see Sally and Andrew too - couldn't fit another cuppa in.  Mike did though.  JR and Anita were there too.

Home - cooked tea.  Chicken schnitzel.  Which I now know Michael detests.  But he ate it.  I am lucky he is so polite.

They are staying around for today, and hoping to pick up a rental car and head north tomorrow.

Woot!

Love having them here.

Enjoy your week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing much

Hi,

I got to chill with Mike after the PT session and a Spin class.  Yay! 

Iced latte and capp with Mike

And during the day I met with Mike and Celia for lunch ahead of a meeting down their end of town.  Even better yay!

Happy at Home - good iced coffee - like a frappe

Celia looking slightly manic

It was disappointing to hear Shona had cancelled due to extenuating circumstances and isn't coming over this holidays.  But I hope she does get to make the trip soon enough and can stay with us so we can show her around.

Toby had his mock play rehearsal for drama - he seems to think it went quite well.  I hope we get to see the real performance.

Met Mike after work (he just remembered in time that we drove in!) and we navigated the blocked streets to get home and cook tea.  I got a lunch from work - yummy lentil/beetroot thing.  Added falafel and haloumi.  Yum!

Had a good sleep until 4.45am when the cat decided it was time for me to get up.  She lay next to my head, and gently put her paws on my bare upper arm, and flexed her wee claws.  She does that for a few kneads.  If that doesn't generate any response (I am hopeful if I stay still she will wander off) she licks my nose.

She smells like tuna.

And she is already on standard time.  Daylight savings ends this Sunday.  She better not keep waking me up an hour early after Sunday!

Right.  Time for the day to start.  Please be easier than the rest of the week has been.

Weekend fun - Mike is off to survivor night.  I want to see Roller Derby Saturday night.  And pretend the world doesn't exist for a bit, I think.


Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with not a lot

Hi,

Yesterday was crazy  busy - and I did squeeze in an iced coffee with Ed - so that was good.  The Lab is a good option for a quick iced coffee.  Mmmmm.

Iced latte Thurs morning with Mike

Iced latte Wed morning with Ed - and Ed's finger

Got home and cooked tea for the boys.  Pre-made chicken schnitzels - but they did say mine were way better.  Good!  Hahahah.

Hoping to see Shona today.  Let's see what happens.  I have my fingers crossed her last minute kerfuffle doesn't dissuade her from coming.

Up early with Mike for my PT session.  And I followed that up with Spin at City Fitness.  Mike had a session straight after mine - so we met after our shower for an iced latte at Machete.  Mmmm.  Mike had brekkie too.

Right.  Time for the day to start.  I think Toby has his play performance today.  Wish him luck!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Mike's migraine

Hi,

It does seem as though Mike caught Toby's migraine.  The poor pair.  Toby went to school yesterday feeling a bit washed out.  But Mike stayed tucked in bed all day in his pyjamas. 

Anyway, I got home and neither of them wanted a large meal.  I tucked into the banana loaf I got Toby, given he ate the one Tessa made.  But, it seems I am the only one eating that.

Shona gets here tomorrow!  Yay!  With Michael and Frank.  We need to prep the rooms and the downstairs bathroom (for my use!!!).

The weather isn't looking super flash for their visit.

Sunday/Monday looks ok

Friday looks like a real taste of exciting Wellington weather for them.

Right.  Hope the boys are ok for their days today.  And I hope yours is also a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

 Ok - work was absolutely manic.  But I had someone come back from a long stint of leave - so yay for that!

Iced latte @ Machete.  Paul told us we weren't allowed them once the outside temp dropped below 15C.  Snort!  Ridiculous notion.

My intense son

Toby had a migraine yesterday - boo for migraines.  He only wanted toast and had eaten fruit all day.

Mike sorted tea for us and then I lounged on the couch before bed, reading.  Mike and Toby did a Reddit binge.  Weirdos.

At 3am Mike woke with a migraine of his own.  Oh, yay - NOT!  The good news is that it woke me from a nightmare about work.  Mike asked how unreal the nightmare was - I had to admit it was actually fairly realistic.  So then I couldn't get back to sleep.

Please don't ask me anything hard today!

Mike is at home recovering.  Toby is going to school.  And I am in danger of sleeping on my keyboard and ending up with a backwards JK imprinted on my nose.

Hahahah!

Hope you have a far better day than any of us.

Love,
Angela

The weekend jam packed with things

Hi,

What a manic weekend!  Hahahah.

Friday iced latte!  With awesome rainbow background.

 I did get an iced latte on Friday with Andrew.  Heard about his day trip planned for Sunday to tackle that last spot height in the area over in the Wairarapa somewhere.  (Hint:  he did do it on Sunday - easily).

Saturday saw me and Mike at Quentin's abs workout at 10.30am.  Ahhh - yes.  My abs have been tender all weekend since then.  Hayden came along - and it is always so good to see him.

Smudge enjoying the sunny weekend

 We went to visit Phillipa's studio after that - saw her working space and her sister's exhibition.  Met Dean too. 

Wandered off to Joe's Garage for some lunch and an iced coffee.  Oh - I was disappointed in it.  :-(  Joe's has definitely lost its iced coffee crown.

Joe's Garage iced coffee

Mike caught the train  to Upper Hutt and a Brew festival.  I chilled with Toby, reading and tickling before I headed out to pick up Andrew and Celia for quiz night.

It was at the Petone Working Man's Club - and we got a dinner beforehand.  Vege stack for me and Andrew.  Roast pork dinner for Celia.  Her friend Navi (hope I spelled that right) joined us - she had a deluxe chicken burger.  So cheap!

Up to get a table for the quiz.  Joined by two more Angelas (Ange and another woman that I may have met once - identified as "Angela H with the PhD in something related to animals").  And we owned the night.  Well, ok.  Not quite.  But we came second!  By one point!

Oosshh!

Won some wine. 

It went late.  As quizzes are known to do.  Dropped Celia and Andrew off at 10.45pm and it was past 11pm by the time I got to Upper Hutt.  Went through a breath test stop and found the venue where Mike had enjoyed a Bruce Springsteen tribute band.

Picked him, Lee and Gabe up and dropped them both home before heading back to Wellington.

Iona's, Col's and my feet - in the Kapiti Coast warm sear

Iona wading

Stunning day!

Up Sunday to chill before driving with Toby up to Paekakariki for a coffee with Iona and Col.  Walked along the beach with a quencher (yum - something local and very yummy), chatting away.

Headed back, dropped off Toby, picked up Mike and went to Sally and Andrew's house for family tea.  So good to see everyone.  Anthony was telling me all about his Japan trip and uni.

Back home to fall into bed!  While we walked from the car to the house, we were admiring the still, clear night and wondering where Sally got her weather forecast for rain and gale winds from for tomorrow.  Woke at 10pm to hear heavy rain and the wind picking up!  OMG.  We live somewhere crazy.

Up early for the PT session.  Noodle arms again now.

Wet outside.  Gale winds.  Who knew?  Oh - Sally knew!

Have a great week!  Shona is here on Thursday (with Frank and Michael) and staying through to Monday.  Hope the weather picks up!

Love,
Angela