The Tuesday where I was sure I had been at work for at least four days this week already

Hi,

What a day.  Phew!  Finished and ordered takeaways from our local Indian restaurant.  Mmmmm.  Mike headed away to climb Mt Kau Kau before tea with Janine and Vignesh.

Mike texted at the top - and we could see him!  As I took the pic above, he turned away from our side and the light disappeared.  I texted him to turn back - and lo and behold, we saw him again.  How cool!

That's Mike's head torch on Mt Kau Kau (just to the right of the transmitter)

Mike looking back at us (with Janine and Vignesh)

Toby and I tucked into dinner and chatted to Sally and Andrew on a video call as we ate.  Good fun.

 Mike got back in time to finish our leftovers and also chat to Sally and Andrew.

I made kiwi crisps

 I decided to make Kiwi crisps - my mother used to make them when I was little.  I found the recipe on the internet and the boys absolutely loved them!

It's my childhood!

Manic iced latte

Up early this morning for the group PT session.  Mike and I drove in and parked right beside TSB Arena.  Session was a BAT one (Butt, Abs and Thighs - ohhhh - everything hurts).

Drove home and Mike made brekkie.  Cleaners are due today for the first time since lockdown.  Cool.

Sunny and cold here today - but the weather is supposed to change to rain.  For a few days.

Enjoy your day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,


We had a wee earthquake at 7.50 am yesterday near Levin.  They have had many aftershocks since, but I haven't felt any of those.  5.9 I think - and about 30km deep.  So fairly big and shallow.  Some damage - but not a lot, luckily.

Mike and I were at home (Toby was on the bus) and despite standing still when it was happening, I couldn't feel it.  But the house was rattling for quite a while.  Possibly 30 seconds or so.

Interesting one.

Had a busy day at work.  Escaped at the end and Mike cooked scrumptious burgers for tea.  Mmmm.  He is still not right after his migraine yesterday.  Everything is a bit hard for him still.

Had another restless sleep.  And Mike said he had wacky dreams.  So - goodness knows what is happening to our subconscious.  Hahah.

Morning iced latte today

Online PT session this morning with Quentin.  Good one - upper back.  My shoulders are nice and warm now.

I hope your day is a good one.  Enjoy it.  Wet and windy here again.

Love,
Angela




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Toby on 14 bus to and fro between home and school.  ~ 8am from here and ~12.30pm from school back here.  May 25.

The weekend with a migraine for Mike again and a cafe date for me with Celia

Hi,

Level 2 weekend - second one.  Bars and clubs are open now - not sure that will impact me.  Hahahah.

Mike worked on the fence on Saturday.  It has a decent undercoat now.  Woot! 

Sleeping on her fave blanket

Tessa came around and Toby and she made donuts.  Wow.  it took about 8 hours - a lot of dough proving.  But they were so good!

But early on Sunday Mike got a migraine.  Boo!  It really knocked him about too.  I got up to head into town for my first visit outside our immediate bubble to socialise.  Met Celia at the Freedom Furniture mall and enjoyed a long chat over an iced coffee with her.  She also wanted to check desks out - but the desks were a bit.... meh.

Happy to see Celia!

Home ~ 1.30pm via the Z petrol station.  So I have done lots outside the bubble now.  Even petrol.  And Monday morning 6am Angela thanked Sunday afternoon Angela quite a bit because she didn't need to worry about petrol that early in the morning.

Contact tracing evidence

Mike tries a donut

Mmmmmm, donuts!

Yum

We had a quiet Sunday.  Made tea (fish) and Toby, Tessa and Mike (he tried a bit) ate it and enjoyed it.

To bed early but I had an awful sleep.  Boo!  Took me a while to fall asleep.

Monday is wet, wet, wet.  But it does mean I don't need to water the new seedlings.  Got up early for group class.  That went well.  There were only three punters in the rain.  But we had separate yoga mats (our own), and our own kit of resistance bands and skipping ropes.  It went really well.

This week I have a dental appointment.  Woot.  And next week is a short week for us here - Queens Birthday is next Monday.

Have a great week.

Love,
Angela


Contact Register:

OMG.  Not sure I can keep up.
Friday evening Mike went shopping to Thorndon New World.  May 22nd.  6 - 7.30pm
Saturday Mike went to Petone Mitre10 Mega May 23rd ~ 1400
Saturday Mike and Angela went to see Sally and Andrew after Mitre10 Mega  May 23rd
Saturday Tessa came around ~ midday (number 14 bus) May 23rd
Sunday - May 24th - Toby's mates came over.  1pm - 5.30pm
Sunday May 24th Angela met Celia at Spiriana Cafe next to Freedom Furniture.  11.15am - 12.50pm
then Freedom Furniture 12:55pm - 13.15 pm.  Then Early Settlers from 13.20 - 13:25.
Petrol @ Z Crofton Downs Sunday May 24th around 1330.
Monday May 25th Angela at Frank Kitts Park group 6.20 - 7.15am.

The Thursday with stew and Toby sick but a quiz with Roz

Hi,

It's nearly the weekend.  Yay.  Fence painting is on the agenda.  And tending the new veggie seedlings.

Moxley sleeps funny

Morning iced latte

Toby came home from school yesterday.  Mike went to get him.  He didn't look well, but this morning (Fri) he has gone to school.

Caught up with Roz after work and did a sneaky Stuff quiz with her.  We haven't done that together in a work setting since 2011.  :-)

Tessa came over after school to see how Toby was.  And she ate stew for tea with us.  Then Toby and I dropped her off home and I got back in time for our online quiz.

Which was hard!

Tired this morning.  Maybe I have Toby's thing.  Sigh.

Come on 5pm!

Have a great weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Mike's migraine

Hi,

Poor Mike got knocked about by that migraine yesterday.  He spent most of the day in bed.

Mad iced latte selfie

Hmmm.  

Got home last night (up the stairs at home) and cooked an early tea for the boys.  Mike went back to bed.

Restless night and then up for PT session.  Mike got ready for work but as he was starting, Toby called from school.  He was feeling very sick.

Mike has gone to collect him.

My boys are not well.

Okay.  Hope your day is a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with takeaway pizza

Hi,

After a day at work, it was time for takeaways (we've switched to Tuesdays as Fridays were so busy at the shops after 4 weeks of no takeaways).  Toby and Tessa wanted pizza.  Dominos to be specific.  I think I might actually hate Dominos pizzas.

Mike and I decided on Buddha bowls - way nicer.  Mmmmm.  But the pizzas arrived and made Toby and Tessa happy.



We decided to drive Tessa home and all of us went for the drive.  It was a lovely night - crisp.  It certainly heralded the frosty morning this morning.  3 C this morning.  Brrr.  Not quite a frost here - but pretty close.

Screen shot of my phone showing the temperature.

Good Wednesday morning - slightly manic

Got home and snuggled into bed fairly quickly.  Mike came to bed after putting bread on.  But this morning (Wednesday) he has woken up and got a migraine just as his PT session was starting.  He's back in bed now, with his drugs.

Poor guy.  :-(

Not sure what triggered that.

Good morning frosty Wellington

Toby has a late start at school today.  Three days in and three different start times.  Weird.  Our routine is not yet established.

Today is stunning.  A Dunedin morning.  Still, clear, no wind.  Except in Dunedin we'd definitely have a frost.

Have a wonderful day.  Enjoy it.  Keep warm.

Love,
Angela




Contact Register:

Toby on 14 bus from school with Tessa:  May 19 ~ 4.30pm (check Snapper)
Toby on 14 bus from Wilton to town:  May 20 ~ 10:05am

The Monday with work mainly

Hi,

Monday was good - we did a walk at lunch time.  Picked up kitty litter from the vet (Mike rang from their car park, and then went in to pay).  Mike carried them in his huge old tramping backpack.

To Mitre10 to try and get the fence cap.  It is 4.4m long, so we wanted to carry it home.  But it was out of stock.  I stayed outside while Mike went in to get a few things.

Home by 12.40pm.

Kebab dinner last night - falafel for me

Mike got his flu jab in the afternoon, and did a couple of messages while he was out. Including visiting a specialty Asian shop and grabbing some Thai curry paste and some coconut milk powder. He told me he was after some Indian lime pickle for me but it was the wrong kind of Asian!

Mike made an awesome dinner.  Kebabs. The boys had chicken and I had falafel.

Way too excited this morning with my iced latte

Slept well and awake before the alarm because the neighbours cats were having a discussion. Had my PT session with Quentin while he was in his car.  Hahahah!

Vertical rain this morning

Toby had a 8.45am start and so I needed to drive him into school.  Went through Aro and while I ended up behind 5 buses in total (that hardly ever stopped for passengers) it was still quick enough.  Left home at 7.58am and was back home before 8.30am.

The pic above shows vertical rain this morning in Wellington.  Rainbows too!  :-)

Have an awesome day.  Iona made me jealous by saying she had her first spin class this morning.  Nice.

Love,
Angela


Contact register:

Toby caught 14 to school:  18 May ~ 8.40am
Toby caught 14 home:  18 May ~ 1pm ish
Mike to vet:  18 May ~ 12pm
Mike to Mitre10 Crofton Downs:  18 May ~ 12.15pm
Mike to City GPs 2:15pm
Mike to Oriental Pantry 2:30pm
Mike to Lambton Square Pharmacy 2:45pm

The first weekend in level 2

Hi,

First weekend in level 2 wasn't too different from other weekends.  We did have Janine pop in to grab a few things - so that was a wee bit different.

The biggest thing today (Monday) is Toby going to school.  That's going to be weird for him.  But he seems fine.  He does get allergies and sneezes lots - so he may get sent home if that happens.  Let's see, eh?

Mike put the fence up - spent lots of time with the skillsaw.  I planted out the seedlings he got and harvested our potatoes.

Potato harvest

Planted broccoli and cauliflower

Spinach, silverbeet and kale

Ate some feijoas from Sally and Andrew's garden - the best I have ever tasted

New fence post in

Made some cookies.  Made mash with our own potatoes for dinner. 

ANZAC cookies

Cat squashed in the warmest spot in the house

New fence

Kaka teasing Smudge

Monday morning is stunning

Want to walk to the vet and pick up some kitty litter and Mike needs a piece of wood from Mitre10 too.  I might pick up some snail pellets - last time we had a veggie patch the snails were very happy.

Mike has an appointment for the flu jab this afternoon.  Yay!

Enjoy your day!

Love,
Angela



Contact Register:
Mike to Mitre10 May 15 Fri - 7am - 8am
Mike and Janine walked to Johnson Hill 9 - 10.30am Saturday May 16

Mike's walk with Janine

Janine came to visit Saturday May 16 ~ 4.30pm for 20 mins

The Thursday with quiz night

Hi,

Happy birthday Benjamin.

Busy days at work and I got dinner cooked for me last night (Thurs) so I can't complain about the commute home (up the stairs) to find dinner on its way.

Smudge lazing int he sun

Do we have a brown cat?

Toby and Tessa made burgers

I dropped Tessa home and Toby and I enjoyed some music from our past on the way home.  He played a mp3 disc with loads of music from our time living in London.  The Koreans featured heavily.  Nostalgia.

Got home to find Mike asleep!  He was supposed to be cramming for the quiz night.  Hahahah.  He woke up and jumped onto the online quiz and ended up being the face of the quiz as his webcam was first in the queue.  Nationwide, people tried to read his lips as he answered questions.

Daniel was on fire - answering lots of tricky ones.  Ana and Janine contributed their answers to questions I had no clue about.  And Toby is a quiz machine.  We've asked him to join our team officially next week.

Late to bed and up ealrier than usual to drive out to Petone.  6.30am Mike wanted to join the hordes outside Mitre10.  It opened up yesterday for general use and Mike was told that was fairly busy.  But today he got in without too much hassle and bought all his material he needed. 

Plus seedlings for the garden!  Yay!

Meanwhile, he had dropped me at the Hutt River and I walked up the eastern side towards Sally and Andrew's house.  Andrew walked towards me.

But it was dark.  So when Andrew approached me, I had no idea it was him and he had no idea it was me.  He said "hi" as we passed each other, and I took a closer look and said  "Andrew?" as he walked by.  Hahahah.  He turned around and I got my first hug from someone outside the house in almost 50 days.

Riverside legs

Walking with Andrew was good fun

Up to Melling bridge and back down the other side, over Ewen Bridge and back to Sally and Andrew's house.  Got my second hug from Sally.

I am going to make hugging Sally a tradition.  Wish me luck.  Covid = change.  :-)

I picked up some fruit - last of the feijoas and some huge lemons!

At least I can say I had feijoas from their garden - small amounts though

Mike arrived (and got a hug too!) and after a quick coffee, we headed home.  No hassles on the motorway at all.

Not crazy busy heading into town

Mike bought a lot of stuff from Mitre 10

Back in time for my meeting.  Yay!

Busy day ahead.  Then obviously a lot of house projects for the weekend.  We are still hoping to keep fairly safe at home for the most part for a few more weeks.  Toby starts school on Monday though - so the bubble will no longer be intact at all.

Take care.  Enjoy your weekend.

Love,
Angela



Contact Register:

Tessa arrived 14 bus ~ 8.30am May 15
Mike at Mitre10 Mega 6.45am - 8am May 15
Angela and Mike with Sally and Andrew May 15 (left at 8.10am)

The Wednesday and the end of lockdown

Hi,

Crazy busy at the moment.  I am barely keeping up.  I like to pretend I am surfing the wave, but pretty sure the wave might be about to dump me face first into the sand.  Hahahah!

Lucky I like that.

First day today (Thurs) of COVID alert level 2 in New Zealand, after 7 weeks of lockdown - 7 weeks and 2 days for us because we started early.  Level 2 means we can get out and about when we want.  But no gatherings bigger than 10 and still staying safe.  I will be walking in or cycling in as needed at work.  Most of my week is likely to be at home still.  Our work has said that only 50% of workers can be in at any one time and every second desk is blocked off.

Last night Toby and Tessa made toffee apples.  They look scrumptious.

Toby and Tessa made toffee apples

Moxley sleeping all stretched out

Mike had his curry club so we all ate Indian takeaways.  Mike ate with his mates (virtually) as he tucked into his hot vindaloo.

I had such a good sleep.  I thought I was going to stress about my day.  But nope.  Out like a light.

Up like a rabbit as soon as the alarm went off and Mike mumbled:  should we go for a walk?

We went out and about - up to Te Ahumairangi hill.  Up there before sunrise.  We had to rush back for my PT session.  I was 5 mins late.  Oops/

Mike looking at the view

The view without a head in the way

Me and the view

PT session this morning

But I did press up day and Mike got the cardio session as punishment for me being late.  I like that sort of punishment - someone else taking it on my behalf.  Harsh.

I hope your day is a good one.  Take care.

Love,
Angela


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Mike collected Indian takeaways 6.30pm May 13 Delhi-licious
Tessa - collected by her Dad 7.30pm May 13

The Tuesday that should have been Thursday already

Hi,

Last day of level 3 lockdown today.  And a massive work day for me.  Phew.

Wellington is turning on the good feels today with moody, gorgeous weather.

Moxley found a warm spot to snooze late yesterday

Prior to my PT session, it was glorious.  A sunrise that made me happy to be living here in the best wee capital in the world.

6:50am

Less than 10 mins later - boom!  Fog.

7:10am

But by the time I was eating my porridge, it was clearing to a superb day.

7:45am

Mike went shopping last night so this morning I had a commercial iced coffee.

Manic face for Lewis Road iced coffee

PT session this morning

Time for my big day to start.  Good to chat to Joycie ahead of the chaos of my day.  She's the best!

Enjoy your day.

Love,
Angela





Contact Register:
Mike collected paint from Resene:  May 12 ~ 4.30pm
Mike collected Yoshi sushi:  May 12 ~ 5.15pm
Mike went to Thorndon New World for groceries:  May 12 from 7.15pm - 8.15pm