The Thursday with crazy Mike antics

Hi,

Happy birthday to my Mum!  :-)

Work was hard - but you get that sometimes.  I did have a date with Mike and Serge at the gym (CityFitness) after work.  That was such fun.  I need to do that with Mike more often.  Thanks for suggesting it, Serge!

I drove home and cooked tea for me and Toby.  Mike was out networking.  I mean "networking".  Hahahah.

Got to bed and was getting close to sleep when Mike got home from his... "networking".  And we ended up having some crazy song guessing game on Spotify.  With loud, raucous singing.

For an hour!

Mike is so good at that game.  Sometimes it was an opening note and he was in like:  Boom!

Anyway, all it really did was confirm to Toby that his parents are slightly nuts.

Had a great sleep - once Mike let that happen.  I do note that I continued to get messages on my phone to different songs well past when I finally got to sleep.  Hmmm - no wonder he was slow getting up this morning.

He is packing the car now (Fri morning) for his weekend up to Ruapehu.  He'll have lots of fun.  Celia is up there as well as other friends.

I am hoping for a bike ride with Andrew.  And a lot of tidying.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with a scabby nose

Hi,

I got away for a run at lunchtime yesterday with Serge.  I made him talk the entire way in an attempt to try and keep pace with him.  Didn't work.  He killed me.  But so happy I went for the run.  I need to go twice a week to actually make it easier.

A giant iced latte.  Pre nose scab.  :-)

I left work a tad early to go to see Falko the skin specialist as a referral from the GP.  Remember the infamous felt pen and pencil appointment a few weeks back?  Yeah - that follow up.

Took the cable car up.  I feel like such a tourist jumping on that.  And the day was stunning - Wellington at its finest.

Tourist!

Specialist decided to take off the lesion thingy and send it away for testing.  I wandered home after that, looking like a member of Flight Club.

First rule of Fight Club:  don't talk about Fight Club.

Hahahah.

Selfie mode to show off my plaster 

But the funny thing was, I left my phone on selfie mode, and this morning it surprised Andrew.  Yes!

Hah!  Selfie mode caught out Andrew!

Cheers, Andrew.  No plaster - but a scabby nose.

And no plaster anymore.  And the scab is forming - but so far up my nose that I can't really see it.  So, that's good.  No cross-eyed looks from me as it catches my eye.

Left my cufflinks at home.  Rolled up sleeve look today

And...  I have no cufflinks today.  I look like I mean business with my cuffs rolled up.  Well, actually, I have just left my jacket on.  Hahahah.  Hiding purple shirt Thursday is not ideal.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with boxing and spin

Hi,

Missyshell has a birthday today.  Happy birthday, gorgeous niece of mine.

Machete Mmmmmm.  With a client who also drinks the exact drink as me.

Got away for a few iced coffees yesterday - well, two of them.  But hey - I don't drink coffee at any other time.  So, really, how much am I actually drinking?  :-p

Summer Brown @ Hangar

Went to Spin after work - one of my fave classes.  Drove home with Mike after that and cooked tea.  Fed Toby up with good food and hopefully he is at school today and over his migraine.  Between the two of them, they ate all the chicken schnitzels.

Model cat - Moxley

All her profiles are cuteness

 Cat was looking so cute last night.  She is just a cheeky monkey.

Right.  Had the best spin class this morning and now I am a pile of al dente noodles.  Or something.

Have an excellent day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Toby's 48 hour film competition viewing

Hi,

Ok - another crazy day - but I got out a wee bit early from a late meeting and met Mike and caught a bus to Brooklyn, to the Penthouse Cinema which was showing all the heats.  Toby was sick, but we met his film competition team there and sat down to enjoy the heat 1 of the competition.

Sneakers rule - at the QB PT group session on Saturday

13 - not unlucky for me!  Machete iced latte goodness

I firmly believe Toby was by far the best actor in the entire heat.  He was amazing as the irate, jealous boyfriend in their 15 min epic:  Killing Kate. 

I am not biased in the slightest.

Out of the 12 or so we watched in heat 1, theirs was easily in the top 5 best ones.  Tight plot.  Funny.  It got a lot of laughs.  And our house looks amazing on film.

Well done, Crimson Bathtub (that was their team name).

Headed back home via the buses and it wasn't too bad using the public transport.

Up early this morning for boxing.  Oosshh!

Bring it all on.  I am ready.  (Can you hear the Rocky theme music yet?)

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington

Hi,

 My weekend was a weird one - in Wellington, and doing stuff. Sports stuff happening around the world (Football Ferns out of the Fifa Women's World Cup, followed by the Matildas losing in R16 too, Blackcaps pulling off an awesome win on the last ball against the Windies, Ash Barty winning ahead of Wimbledon and now #1, Highlanders crash and burn, Sally F winning in Brazil in WSL) keeping me interested in a rollercoaster style.

The Lab

Taste!

Eyeing my iced latte

Landscape work by Allworks

 Got home Friday to see All works making headway with our backyard landscaping.  Final work for them.  Just need to finalise what we do in that space now.

But that was after dinner with Sally and Andrew at Aunty Menas.  Yum!  Nice to fit in dinner with them.

Saturday saw us knocking a few tasks off.  I started the day dropping an empty pint glass on Moxley when she got under my feet as I pulled a plate out of the cupboard.  Then as I did the laundry a little later, she again followed me like a shadow.  I stepped back, onto her paw.  She squealed, I stumbled into the shelving, giving myself an awesome bruise (that Mike poked lots) and shouted in surprise.  Moxley took off into the lounge where Smudge showed she really does care about her.  But tries to fake she doesn't.

Those cats!

Went to the PT group session and had such a good time.  Full body stuff.  Rope work killed me.  Steps and running - easy.  Just shows how my fitness is skewed to cardio.  Definitely getting rectified in my PT sessions though.

Picked up the mower from Sally and enjoyed a coffee with her.  Mike used the ancient mower in anger when we got back (neighbour's house).

Sunday Mike took me to Khandallah Pub for lunch.  Had a great iced coffee.  8.5 easy.  Awesome!

Posing

What are you doing, Mike?

Sip - taste test!

Back home to fiddle with stuff and grocery shop.  Cook tea.  That sort of boring stuff.  Mike had friends around (Janine and two others) and I pretty much stayed cooking tea.

Toby got another migraine and got home fairly early from his day with Tessa.  :-(

And that was our weekend.  Andrew also got into the hills for a tramp - and I think that made him happy.

The Thursday with a day that was packed with work stuff

Hi,

Work was manic - hahahah.  Ganz normal. 

But I got away with Andrew for an iced latte before all the cra cra started.  He took a pic with the rainbow flag as background.  Just for Iona and Col, he said.

Iced latte for Pride Month?

And... well, I might have got away for another one later that day too.  Unless I am confusing my days.  Because, heck, I can't keep track. 

Happy for another iced latte

I do know now though, that it is Friday today.  The weekend beckons.  And I intend to sleep lots!  Just saying.  Come 6pm and I get home tonight - let nothing stand between me and some relaxation and an early bed.

Plans of mice and men, and all that.  Who knows what'll happen?  But, I hereby state my intentions!  Oosshh!

Spin this morning was epic!  Work hard, play hard!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with a quiz

Hi,


After a crazy day at work, we got ready to go to the quiz at the Cambridge hotel at about 5.30pm.  Khemry was excited all day.  Eager punters were:  me, Khemry, Yosan, Nicky and Andrew.  Mike had to go home and attend to Toby as he was still sick.

Accumulating bags at work

Khemry and I left at 1730 to collect Andrew (or pick him up, or grab him - apparently "collect" is a strange turn of phrase according to Khemry) and we got to the pub and secured a seat. 

Had some drinks and got two free dinners (buy a drink, get a free buffet BBQ) and settled in to wait for the others.  Good news is that Mike ended up being able to drive back in and join us.  He only missed the start of the first round - and Nicky had that one sewn up anyway.

We started well - but the last few rounds took us down to a solid, middle-of-the-table performance.

Best answer - what brand was created in 1958 and uses a name derived from the Spanish word "to suck".  Chupa chups.

Who knew?

Well, apart from Yosan.

But I got a riddle question.  Oosshh.  What book does this refer to?  "Mrs Marty McFly".

:-)

We finished up and headed home.  Nicky drove Andrew home as she lives in his neck of the woods.  And we drove Khemry home to Tawa.

Home to fall into bed. 

Oh - wait.  The answer to the riddle...

"The Time Traveller's Wife".

Boom!

Up for PT session (my push ups are almost happening).  And Spin.  Work.  Rinse and repeat.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday that disappeared in a blink

Hi,

Action shot with iced latte

I needed the iced latte start to my day after 5 hours sleep courtesy of Mike, yesterday.  Hahah.

Tuesday was so busy.  I went to Spin after work.  I like the Tuesday evening spin sessions.  Went hard.  Then bussed home.

Toby is still sick with some sort of tummy thing.  And he's away from school again today.

Mike had tea sorted for us super fast.  Toby managed one pork bun and that was it for him.

I am sore - and I can't tell if it is from the leg workout on Monday morning or the boxing class Tuesday morning.  Adductors.  Ouch!

Quiz tonight after work in some spontaneous thing that Khemry suggested.  But it seems Mike might not come if Toby is still sick. 

Anyway - have an awesome day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday at work

Hi,

Had a big day.  Rode my bike in.  Had my PT session (jelly legs).  Got some iced latte dates in.  Including one with Khemry that we had to keep juggling around our manic calendars.

Morning iced latte

Pose!

I need a sip!

Iced latte with Khemry

Went to Spin after work.  Got garbled messages from Mike after Spin that ended up with me going to New World to get burger buns and then stuffing them in my pannier and riding home.  In the hail and rain. 

At least there was no wind!

Ate burger with the boys and Tessa.  I had a beetroot pattie - it was kinda good! 

The cat was chilling on her scratching platform.  Like a chill thing.

Chill cat

And - off to bed.  Mike and Toby stayed up chatting away.  When Mike came to bed, he talked for about another 1.5 hours.  OMG.  I had to get up at 5am.  I have not had a lot of sleep.

But he did say that Toby has turned into a man he is proud to know.

Wow.

My boys are amazing.

Enjoy your day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Mike's birthday

Hi,

Mike had a happy birthday yesterday!  Woot!  I hope his day was fun.  The weekend was pretty busy, with lots of activities.

Friday saw me try to get home early - but Ethan and Toby still beat me home.  And I don't think I was early in the end anyway.

Tessa and Zack got in a bit later with the genre and registration for the 48 hour film competition.  And it was all on!

Pizza sorted them out tonight.

Saturday dawned fairly damp and drizzly and stayed like that most of the day.  The intrepid filmakers were up early and ready to execute their script.  We made puke out of chickpeas, creamed corn and diced carrot.  Ethan was to be the one to take a mouthful and mimic the puking action.  He eyed the fake vomit with skepticism half expecting it to make him sick for real.

I drove them all to school around 10am for their day to start.  Back to Mike and our own day after that.  Laundry mountain to work through.  Books to read. 

La Cloche iced coffee was soooo good.  A dessert. But good.

Smudge investigates my phone

Looking cute!

Back home around 1800 and we decided on Indian takeaways for the film makers.  Went to collect that.  Had a bit of spillage on the way back and wedged the food into a shopping bag - that seemed to work.

Next morning - gorgeous!  And Mike's birthday too!  The cats loved getting out on the deck.  I got Mike breakfast in bed and his presents.  Sleep shorts and pants - and new gym gear.

Happy birthday Mike!

Friday iced coffee

Smudge on the prowl

We went out to the gym to celebrate and worked on upper body stuff.  Went to get a new litter tray for the cats.  Woot!  And then out to have lunch with Sally and Andrew.  Double woot!  Got an iced coffee from La Cloche.  Wow!  Like a dessert.  With walnuts.  Yum!

Back home after and cooked tea.  Dropped kids off all over Wellington.  Tessa and Zack to the school to drop off the USB stick with the finished film.  Zack home after that.

Apparently Monday 24 June @ 1730 at The Penthouse cinema in Brooklyn, we can see the film showing.  I want to go!

Have a great week ahead!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday that I met Madeleine

Hi,

Well, my day at work was pants.  Pants!  But - when Andrew texted to see if I was free for lunch, I had no idea how brilliant my day was going to get.

Yes, I did enjoy lunch with Andrew.  We met on the corner of Manners and Willis after I confused Mike by texting him that I could see him (when it was meant for Andrew - because I spotted him from halfway up Boulcott St).  Mike was texting back:  How can you see me?  That made me confused because I had no idea I had texted him.

Anyway...

We decided to walk towards Victoria St - and go to the wee curry place opposite Maccas.  Had dhal and roti.  Andrew had a little bit of everything.  Then I got some water for us and eventually Andrew got a word in (I had been talking about my pants day) about the sad news of the tramper that recently went missing in the Tararuas.  We were engaged in deep conversation about that.

Someone walked in.

I looked up.  And... recognised the person.

It was Madeleine Chapman.  From The Spinoff.  A writer.  I was awfully excited.  Interrupted Andrew who was figuring out the possible final routes and decisions of the tramper, and excitedly whispered who it was.

He was just as excited as he reads The Spinoff lots.  And convinced me I should go over and say hello.

So I did.

Me:  Excuse me.  I love your writing.  Enjoy your lunch.

Her:  Thank you.  (Startled look in her eyes)

Me:  (Scuttle out of the restaurant)

Yep - I was fangirling.

UPDATE:  I just caught up with Andrew.  And he went to a book launch at Unity last night with Toby Manhire launching a new book of his.  And Madeleine was in the queue behind him.  They chatted about the book and Andrew asked if she was ok with fans interrupting here lunch.  Hahahah.

Anyway.  Afternoon was better than the morning.  And I had a physio appointment and she is pleased and says I no longer have to go.

At one point, she was massaging my tight right shoulder and used the wall behind her to climb up and wedge in to get more leverage.

She doesn't make me feel great about myself when she does things like that.  How tight is my shoulder???

Anyway, I asked if I was cured.  She wouldn't commit to even that.  Says I need to keep mobile.

Home and in bed before too long.

Awesome.  It's Friday!  Yay.  Toby has 48 hour film making.  We will have sleepovers Fri and Sat night.

Yikes.

Enjoy your weekend.

Go Matildas!  They beat Brazil in the FFWWC.  Oosshh!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday back at work

Hi,

Two mornings in a row with Mike for brekkie.  His brekkie - but I did get an iced latte in there too.

He's got this thing where he takes surreptitious selfies while pretending to take my iced coffee pic.  It's not sneaky if I suspect.  :-p

Mike selfie

Me suspicious of Mike's photo taking

Late latte with Steph

Steph took another one to be sure

Thurs morning Mike selfie

I am posing

And still suspicious

Physio after work today - hopefully she declares me all ok now.  Well, as ok as she thinks I might get.  Given her assessment over the weeks, I doubt there is a lot she thinks will change.

Toby was sick yesterday with the after effects of his migraine on Monday.  Hope today is better for him.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday at home sick

Hi,

I got up super early Tuesday to get ready to ride in for boxing class at 6.15am.  But after having breakfast, I just didn't feel very well.  Went back to bed and tried to rest for the day.

Laundry!

Monday iced latte!

Monday was ok though.  Got an iced latte in - and when I got home I found out what the plumber was doing.  We have a laundry sink plumbed in!  Yay.

Tuesday saw me head to the doctor for a midday appointment after staying in bed all morning.  Caught the bus in, and got there 10 mins ahead of the appointment time.  First time seeing our new doctor.  Dr Jenks.  Well, he was running late, so I didn't see him until 12.40!

I have this mark on my nose that has not cleared up for about 6 months.  Time to see a doctor.  Except he was rather funny.  He went away to find a scope (which looked like a magnifying glass with a light - but hey - maybe it did other things too).  Said he couldn't really see much and needed a pointy thing.  Grabbed a pencil (huh?) and said he would be very careful.  Well - I thought that went without saying given how close to my eye this was.

Decided he still couldn't see much and he needed to draw on me.  With the pencil.  Which, didn't work.  And...  anyone could have told him that.  Who would ever try using a pencil to draw on skin?

He got a black Vivid marker pen and drew on my nose.  Then peered through the scope again.  And declared I needed to see a specialist.

Right.  Then he got an alcohol wipe to rub off the texta mark.  Said he was making it worse.  I had visions of heading home on the bus looking like I had just gone a few rounds in a boxing ring. 

But, it was fine.

And now I have an appointment for a specialist to take another look at it and decide the best course of action (or inaction).

Went back home and back to bed.

Mike got home late and cooked tea.  Mmmm.  Quinoa, rice, roast veges and hummus and haloumi.  It is so good.  Mike has steak on his.

Still not feeling great.  Maybe I am fighting off something.  Who knows?

Did get to Spin though this morning.  It's my favourite one in my week.  Felt ok there.  Forgot my gear for a run as my brain thinks it is only Tuesday.  Hahah.

Hope your week is way better than this one.

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington

Hi,

Happy birthday.


What a great weekend.  Started with iced coffees galore on Friday.  Joycie was trying "Dutch angles" - maybe she knows I just don't get it (eh, Toby??).  The flash went off so I had to sort that out.  That just made me look a bit stunned.

Boom!  My camera did a flash!

What are you doing, Joycie?

Got it!

And... another Dutch angle.

Saturday saw us heading to Quentin's group session and a core workout.  Ooofff.   Hard work.  But the iced latte at The Lab was good.  And I had their Earth bowl.  Yum!

Post group session iced latte @ The Lab

Toby had a filming weekend - ahead of the big one this coming weekend.  48 hour film event.  Apparently as he was walking home from the filming, like he is dressed below, he had cars screeching to a halt to see if he was ok.

My son stopped traffic on the way back from his filming

Saturday night we went around to Elly's place where she is house sitting and Mike made some wooden slats to fit her new bed.  And we ate yummy stuff and drank mulled wine (mine was apple juice based).  The view was stunning from there.

View Saturday night

Alien plant in our garden

We also found three new plants in the garden.  Courtesy of the gardeners.  Or maybe aliens came and planted them?  They look less than native to me.  If anyone can recognise them, let me know.

Look, Ma!  Tumeric drinks.

Tumeric drinks - Ma - you need to come and try them all!

Sunday saw us looking after the teenagers that slept over (Tessa, Zack and Ethan) - Mike and I went to get provisions for their brekkie. 

Sally and Andrew popped in to drop off the Subaru from the week in Nelson they had.  Woot!  Godo to see them - and hope Sally is beating that cold off.

Then Mike and I had a walk with Philippa and Kaustubh came along.  That was very nice.

Did almost 5km around Oriental Parade and up into a tiny bit of Mt Vic.  Bumped into Sam from work at the start, and Christine and Tom at the end.  Kaustubh now thinks we know everyone in Wellington.

Kaustubh gave us a cup of team afterwards with cardamon.  Yum!

Perfect foot shot at Oriental Parade beach 

Wait - what is that coming into shot?

Photo bomb dog!

Ok - he's cute!

Back home and cooked tea and did the mountain of laundry a bit of justice.  Still not conquered - but definitely well beyond base camp and fixing ropes for a decent push. 

Have an awesome week ahead.  Rode in this morning and - it wasn't cold.  Weird.

Love,
Angela