The weekend in Wellington

 Hi,

It is Monday morning and Toby is about to sit his last ever exam at high school.  Sociology.  Good luck, my son.  Hope you nail it.

I asked him what his plans were for after it.  He said:  sleeping.

Friday Football Ferns day

I am the dork, dabbing.  Boot camp.

Boot camp Saturday morning.  It was a tough one - lots of cardio followed by core work.  It included sprints.  And running.  :-)  We only have one more left for 2020.  Oh - I will miss boot camp.

Mike collected the DRZ from its WoF and service after boot camp and rode it home.  Woot.

Motoring Mike

Scraggly Smudge

Marvellous Mike

Back out to get lagging from Plumbing World in Aro.  Followed by taking lagging to lunch at Fidels.

 

Luscious latte (Fidels)

Lengths of lagging

In the evening we headed to Sreejith and Anjali's house for dinner.  So good to catch up with them.  It's been ages!  Probably March.  They were joined by friends of Matt and Leanne's.  Nic and Chris.  Also from the UK.  Chris drives trains and Nic is an ED nurse.

Home to watch a movie before a good sleep.  Up to get brekkie Sunday morning ahead of my AFL game.  Scrambled eggs is my usual fare.  I had a lot of kitchen cleaning to do though.  As I eventually got ready, about to leave, I got a text saying the match was cancelled.  The ground was too soggy from all the overnight rain.

Oh.

So Mike and I changed plans - to drop Polly's trailer back at Epuni and do some measuring-up for some needed maintenance. 

On the way we met Sally, Andrew, Celia and James @ Hunting and Fishing in Petone where I enjoyed a very good latte. They have a superb little cafe attached to the shop. 

We mentioned that we were towing around an empty trailer (have you tried parking a car and trailer to go to a cafe in Petone?) and both Andrew and James said, oh! we have rubbish that needs to go to the tip. Ha, another job onto the list.

Coffees are Hot & Frappe @ Hunting & Fishing.  So all-over the alliteration.

So then we called in to pick up rubbish from Sally and Andrew's place (wool sacks of it) and some rubbish from Celia and James' place (saying a quick hello to Ange) before taking it all to Seaview.  Then we deposited the trailer back at Epuni.  Measured up the handy work that is needed there.  Dropped Andrew back home. Called into Mitre 10 for yet more stuff for Mike's DIY list. Finally headed home ourselves. Traffic was mad in Lower Hutt all day.

Why is it so sunny when my AFL was cancelled?

Slinking Smudge

How cute do I look?

Tessa eating from the BBQ and Smudge still slinking

Had a BBQ Sunday evening because it doesn't get a lot better than this in Wellington.  To think that Plimmerton had 15 houses flooded this morning was weird.

SH1 PLIMMERTON - FLOODING - 10:20AM
Due to heavy rain, there is flooding at Plimmerton Roundabout. Please take extra care if travelling through this route, avoid the area if possible. ^AP pic.twitter.com/vy4GQvFHun

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) November 28, 2020

Meanwhile, this morning...

Right.  The week.  Let's go!

Have a great one.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with brekkie with mates

 Hi,

It was weird have the bacon butties brekkie with James, Ed and Celia on a Thursday (usually Friday morning).  I spent all day on Thursday thinking it was Friday because of that.  Hahahah.

Good to catch up.  We heard about Ed's trip to Queenstown and James' plans for ultra marathons for his birthday.  Seems like torture to me.  :-p

Selfie @ Little Peckish

These two having a laugh!

Celia got caught up in traffic as it was wet and no one wanted to bus, train, walk or cycle.  So they were all on the road with Celia.  

But she got there with plenty of time to catch up too.

Headed off to get home before my meeting - but I also got stuck in traffic.  Then found the neighbour at the bus stop when I got home, yelling in frustration that she was late and where were those dumb buses when you needed them.

After trying to sort that out (and the other neighbour, Amy, also tried to help) the bus did come (it was wet and busy that morning) and our distraught neighbour got on (telling the driver off as she got on) and I rushed to my meeting.  I did write a grumpy email to Metlink to explain how frustrating it was for commuters, especially vulnerable ones and at exam time, and could they possibly try to be more reliable.

:-|

This is quite close relations for the cats

Tessa came around and I cooked them leftovers up.  Pottered around until bedtime.  I was well asleep by the time Mike got home.  I didn't even wake up.

But I did read things from him when I got up that he had sent at 2330!

Spin legs Friday morning

Headed into Spin class and then back home to see Mike waiting for his bus.

Weekend looms large.  It seems a bit busy.  Mike has survivor night.  We have boot camp tomorrow.  I want to do some shopping.  Sreejith and Anjali have a party Saturday night.  And AFL game on Sunday!

Come and watch!  11am.  Hutt Rec Park.

See ya!  Have an awesome weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with not a lot

 Hi,

Well, my day was busy but normal.  Andrew's work was new and exciting.  Nutter.  :-)

Ugly Bagel iced latte

Senara and Chris line up for a work coffee

Senara knows who to ask to get an iced latte.  Rated it too - thank you Puni.

Work and iced latte

Yeah - looks like my day revolved around iced lattes. And maybe it did!  Senara said she knew how to get an iced latte from the work cafe crew.  I tagged along.  And now I know how to do it too.

I went to spin after work and Mike went to the gym and also went out after work.  When he got back at about 8.40pm, he went down to Toby's room and chatted to him for 2 hours!

I was asleep when he came back upstairs.

:-)

Raining today.  Quite wet.

Take care.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with work and iced lattes and AFL training

 Hi,

I had a nice surprise when Laura pinged me and said she was at Cuckoo and was I free for an iced latte.  She remembers.  Caught up with her and her news.

Iced latte @ Cuckoo

Good to see you, Laura

She might also have introduced me to the best iced latte in Wellington.  I need more to be sure of the consistency of quality because Machete has a very high bar.

Our work team went out to Higher Taste for lunch together.  Paddy was there having lunch - so that was a nice surprise.  Angie also tagged along with the team.  Made my afternoon very pleasant - happy full tummy.

Rushed home after work and then headed out to AFL training.  It was such a glorious evening.  Not a breath of wind.  We had good fun.  My kicking came along in that session.  I now have a footy for home so I can go practise in the park whenever I want.  Next game is Sunday morning at Hutt Rec Park at 11am.  Come and watch.  

The Grand Final is on Dec 13 - so make sure you come to support us on that day.

Got home and fell into bed.  Running around a park for an hour is a great way to exhaust myself.

Rainy day this morning.  But as Mike and I headed for the bus, Fiona was going to her car and she offered us a lift in.  Woot!  So we were at work nice and early.

Chatted to Wally on Messenger this morning and that has already made my day better than a typical day.  Chelsea is studying in Wellington at uni next year.  Brennan has a job as an apprentice chef and Jase has finished uni for the year.  Yay for kids doing their thing.

Take care - have an awesome day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday back at work, at home

 Hi,

It was a bit of a shock to my system to be back at work after a week off.  Working from home was funny. Mike was on a meeting when he saw a calico cat outside our door that looked awfully like Moxley.

Like, the same markings and everything.

Oh.

Hahahah.  Mike jumped up and opened the door and Moxley was well gone.  She fled under Stuart's house and we left her to it for about 45 mins while Mike finished meetings.  Then he lured her back with Fancy Feast.

She is naughty. Turns out Mike had opened the bathroom window a little too wide, and she had escaped out of it.

After work, Mike went for a run around the 'running track' in the park at the bottom of our street. So I took the new AFL footy ball I received from the courier just this morning, and practised drills while he dodged dog exercisers. For reasons we can't explain, out of the expanse of a 2 acre park they chose to stand and chat right on the 1m wide running track. Sigh. But I enjoyed my drills! I'm getting better at running and bouncing the ball. Our neighbours, Richard and his daughter, were down there too with their new-ish puppy that was full of energy and enthusiasm. It was good catching up with them.

Tessa has a biology exam today - good luck for that.

I went into the gym this morning and had a knee session.  It might actually be getting better.  I will head home after work and then out to AFL training.  

Andrew's last day at his current workplace.  He's heading to the MoH for an exciting adventurous job.  

Enjoy your day.

Love,

Angela

The week with Toby exams and a weekend in Nelson

 Hi,

What a week.  In the best news ever - Toby found out on Friday that he has enough credits to pass Y13 NCEA.  Yay for him - good work, my son!

But before he got that good news, he did sit 2 exams in the first week.  Stats and History.  Hopefully he has done okay on those - he seemed to be happy enough after them.  His last exam is Sociology on Nov 30.

Last weekend I had an AFL game.  Got a goal!  It was basically an assist through the goal posts.  But it counted as my goal.  Oosshh.

I took home the guernseys for washing.  I chose the best day for it as the drying weather was amazing.

Did the team washing last weekend

Picked the best washing weather!

Boot camp

Boot camp

I have calf muscles

Who is the dork dabbing in the back?

Monday saw me at home to support Toby in his studies.  This consisted of making dinners, lunches and snacks and checking he was studying.  Tessa was here most days, also studying and keeping Toby on track.

Moxley under the duvet with me

Tuesday evening I went to AFL training.  We played a cool game at the end, but ten mins from the end of training, I used my nose as a defensive tactic to stop another player's chest.  My nose didn't win.  I fell to the ground like a wee sack of potatoes.

After realising what had happened, I checked the other player wasn't clutching at a cavity in her chest (because surely I must have carved a hole in her if my nose was that sore!) and she looked at me and asked the same thing and then said:  Oh, your nose is bleeding.

Oops.

I sat out the last 10 mins, using a big bundle of tissues from my bag to staunch the blood.  In good news, I clot really well.

But as I type this, a full week later, my nose is still tender when I have to blow it.  Ouch.  :-)  

Friday I went into town to meet Andrew for an iced latte at Vic Books by the train station.  Alistair (cousin) was there and Mike joined us from his Beervana pre loading.

Catch up with Andrew, Alistair and Mike

Moxley claims her human

Saturday saw Mike up early to take me to the airport for my weekend away in Nelson to watch the Black Ferns play the Barbarians.  Angie tagged along - which was great for getting to know her more.

Airport iced latte

Pomeroys iced latte in Nelson

Angie came to Nelson to watch the rugby with me

A perfect rose in the botanic gardens

We headed to the market and bought a few things then managed to check in early to our room. We stayed at Midcity Lodge and although old and dated, the room was huge and clean.  We had a motel unit but they were light on mugs.  One.  Hahahah.

Left our bags there and walked to the gardens and the centre of NZ before lunch at the Suter gallery.  Great cafe there!

Centre of NZ

Angie explores the cathedral

Also wandered around the cathedral too.  The outside looks purely functional - but the inside is lovely.  One of the stained glass windows has a lovely kowhai in it.  Might have been my fave.

Kowhai and tui in the glass windows.

So many iced lattes - Suter gallery

I am iced latte nuts

Just in case 30 cases of food poisoning occur, I am ready for a call up at the Black Ferns match

Around 3.45 pm we headed to Trafalgar Park in warm conditions when rain was forecast for 5pm.  Never saw any rain.  T-shirt weather all the way.

Stood right next to the forwards practising ahead of the match.  

It was one of the best games of rugby I have seen.  We were in aisle 3, row G and close to the 22.  But the game was so evenly matched, we saw a lot of play down our end.

Black Ferns narrowly won by 2 points (19 - 17) but it could have easily gone to the Barbarians.

Training before the game

I see the ball!

We left after that game and headed into town to see at Lombardis.  Great Italian food.  And chatted away for ages before heading back to the motel room.

Sunday walk

Up for brekkie at Devilles where some Black Ferns also came for brekkie. Great food and iced latte as usual.   As we left, Angie congratulated the players on a fine result yesterday.  :-)

We walked up behind the cathedral to the top of the immediate hill - they call these hills the Grampians.  But not sure they remind me of the British or Victorian ones, tbh.

Apparently we're in the Grampians.  

Gorgeous morning for a walk

Scratches gained while bush bashing

But the weather was great and the walk was worth it.

Back for a Tank juice and then a coffee and cake before a taxi to the airport.

Arrow Rock - or as it is known in our house - Skull Island.

Flight home was quick and easy.

On the plane

Mike picked me up and we went home via New World (except it was full so we went to Countdown).  Home for tea and then bed.

Up for boxing this morning and working from home for the start of the working week.  Tessa has her last exam tomorrow (Bio).

Take care.

Love, Angela

Mike's COVID log because Google Timeline didn't log properly:

Fri 20 Nov - Beervana:

• Bus into town no 13 7:30
• Leuven 8am-10am
• Dillinger's briefly
• Vic books 10:30-11:00
• Beervana 11:00-16:00
• Molly's tacos 16:30-18:00
• Honey badger 18:00-19:00
• Uber home 19:12-19:30

Sat 21 Nov - QBPT Personal Trainer's Christmas celebration:

• Airport 8:00-9:00
• BP by te papa 9:30 (for that sweet sweet 98 octane petrol)
• Home
• Bus no 22 11:30-11:50
• Karaka 12:00-14:00
• Arborist 14:00-15:30
• Birdcage 15:30-16:30
• El barrio 16:30-18:00
• Hanging Ditch 18:00-21:00
• Uber home 21:32-21:45

In those two days he undid three weeks of faithful steady weight loss. Oh well. It was worth it he says. Hmm. 

The Thursday working in the office

 Hi,

Back at work in town yesterday and no sign of a cold at all.  I did have an overload of iced lattes though and it was noticeable in the afternoon.  My poor colleagues in my meetings - sorry everyone!

:-p

Nipped out for an iced latte to Mojo with Chris not long before lunch.  Always good to spend time with him.

Lunch iced latte @ Verve with Chenda and Khemry

Oh - I cut out the iced latte in my hand!  I see the spoon only.  But Chris looks stoked to get his flat white

Lunch with Chenda and Khemry

And for lunch I met up with Khemry and Chenda.  Heard all about their latest news as we had a lovely lunch together at Verve.  Two of the smartest women I have had the fortune to work with - I am lucky!

Mike headed to Meetup after work and got a lift in with Ange and Jen so I bussed home on a lightly packed bus.  Yay!

Cooked tea for Toby and Tessa - home made burgers.  Mike got home and spent ages chatting away to them both.  

Slept well.  Didn't get up for Spin - stayed in bed instead.  And had brekkie with Mike at home.  We are both working from home today.

Commercial iced coffee morning

What does the weekend hold?  Well, we hope the Auckland new cluster doesn't cause any levels of lockdown.  And there are cases here that have come from Auckland.  We have boot camp tomorrow (low risk as it is outside) and I have AFL on Sunday morning.

The weather looks like it is drying out after the deluge the country has had in recent times.  Hopefully Napier certainly has a good bit of sunshine to help them mop up after crazy amounts of flooding.

Take care.

Love,

Angela