The Thursday with bottling

 Hi,

My dizzy thing was in effect which was a bit of a pain for our plan.  It was bottling day for the brew we put down 2 weeks ago!  Finished work and Mike had to Uber home to pick me up and drive the car.  Andrew ended up getting swamped at work and couldn't make it to the bottling event.

Packing the bottles

Mike drove us to Occasional Brewer and it turns out you can park in the Connect parks.  Oohhh - yes!  We had another nice chap explain the bottling process to us - but Mike knows it all anyway.

They checked our bottles were of sufficient cleanliness and then we sterilised them in a big bottle washer.  And started siphoning from our brew buckets into a bucket with a tap on it.

Siphoning

Don't bottle that!

From there, we picked them up and put them on the top shelf (gravity assist) and used a hydrostatic valve to fill all our bottles.  About 60 odd 500ml bottles.  

Lined up nicely

Getting the last bits - but not the dregs!

Andrew finished work at about the same time as us so we collected him and discovered Sally was in town having a drink with Paul.  So we found them at the Backbencher and ordered tea.  Quite nice tofu scramble burrito.  Yum!

Took Sally home and Andrew took the train.  Headed back home - stored the bottles in the basement, snugged up to our hot water cylinder and fell into bed.

Both cats slept on the bed in an uneasy alliance that was brought on by a cold night.  Hahahah.

Good morning Wellington!

Up for porridge ahead of a walk into town, via an iced latte date with Sally as we were walking right by her workplace.

Iced latte start to Friday

Got karaoke after work today with Khemry and others from my old work.  Woot!  Starting the weekend in great style.

Weekend will be more carport fun.  Cleaning it down and possibly painting it.  We really need to order the iron.  With supply chain delays globally, the earlier the order, the better.  Probably.  Polly needs to check out the colour options and we can get quotes.  Yay!

Right.  6 more hours.  Yes!

Have a great weekend.  May starts tomorrow.  Wow.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with spontaneous decision making

 Hi,

My day yesterday was weird.  Seriously.  And I think it has seeped into my Thursday too.  Can I blame the short working week?  Discombobulating for everyone.  Let's make it a rule to always have 3 day weekends so we can all get used to a working week with 4 days in it.

Anyway.  Discovered I can online order Tank salads and say when I want to collect them.  Boom!  Life hack right there.  So I ordered for me and Mike and Barb jumped on that wagon too and ordered hers.  Then, at our leisure, we wandered over, collected them and walked back.  No queueing.  All good.

After work I decided to head to Spin.  I stupidly chose the 30 min Spin by accident.  See?  Weirdness #1.  I was very surprised when the instructor said:  Welcome to R30.

Oh.

60 min class started at 6pm.  Like normal.  Actually - through the week it varies.  On Tuesdays there is a 60 min class at 5.30pm.  And, I guess I thought it was Tuesday.

Anyway.  Finished up.  Decided to walk home.  Lovely, but cold, evening.  Spoke to Andrew briefly and kept walking up the hill.  Got a notification for a PT session for 6.45am.  Weird.  Did Quentin switch my 7am to 6.45?  Because I often ask if I can do that when he is free at 6.30am.  Wait.  It says 6.45pm.

What?

Oh.  Yeah - I did make a random evening session a while back to accommodate my Blenheim trip.  Pants.  Checked.  Yep.  In 10 mins I had a session in the gym with Quentin.  While I was about 17 minutes from home.  And 17 minutes from the gym.  Like:  smack in the middle.

Pinged him.  Apologised.  He laughed because in the morning Mike had stood him up.

#2 weirdness.

Anyway, the moonrise was spectacular.

Moonrise on my walk home

Got home and found the door unlocked.  Huh?  Oh - Mike was home.  #3 weirdness.

We stuffed tea down and then jumped in the car to collect Sally and Andrew from work and head to their place to collect the empty beer bottles for the bottling on Thurs night.

They decided to have takeaways. #4 weirdness. And Mike had his third dinner for the evening to celebrate "National takeaways day". I reckon this is possibly #5 weirdness.  This day a year back we moved to level 3 and could order takeaways for the first time in weeks.

It's a thing in his book.

National takeaways day

Several people were too shy to have their faces captured eating takeaways on "National takeaways day".  They shall remain nameless.

So, we packed the car with crates from the nameless/faceless ones and headed home.  Stuck Mike's crates in when we got home and I fell into bed.

Up early to drive in - with bottles tinkling the entire time.  Mike dropped me off at the gym for boxing and went to work to pick up our TV from there.

After boxing, I drove home - with a lot of tinkling.

Cats unite against the interloper

Manic supermarket iced latte selfie

Working from home today.  Busy day with back to back meetings.  Then driving in to (maybe) collect Andrew and Mike and head to bottling.

Yep.  Madness.  Or weirdness.  One or both.

Have an awesome day.  It is gorgeousness in Wellington.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday that was just like a Monday

 Hi,

Ended up being busy yesterday at work.  That's a good thing.  Had a late meeting that Mike was also in.  So we finished up just before 6pm and headed home via the supermarket.  Caught the 14 bus with our groceries and made tea when we got home.

New narrative socks

Iced latte with Theresa

In news that I took no photographic evidence for - we replaced both toilet seats.  Wow.  The seat could only get better if it was heated and played music.  :-p

Slept well.  Got up for Spin and headed into work.

Wednesday morning spin

Iced latte with Roanne

Got a surprise brekkie with Roanne and a yummy iced latte.  The day looks good.  Hopefully spin after work and a wander home.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,

Angela

The weekend with ANZAC day

 Hi,

The long weekend was a good one.  Nice weather, even though the forecast was for lots of rain.  It never seemed to eventuate.  I just saw sunshine.  But it is cold.  Autumn is definitely here - and winter is making itself known.  Dunedin has snow to 500m forecast today.  Brrrr.

Queen of all she surveys

Boot camp Saturday morning was as good as it ever is.  And when we got home - we didn't do a lot, I have to say.

Sunday saw us up at 4.50am to get to the dawn service for 6am kick off.  Parked in WHS again - like last year.  Easy peasy.

Dawn service

It was crowded

Off to Mike's mother's wee unit to dismantle the car port roof.  It's all rusty and needs replacing.  Mike got half of the iron off before we had tea there with Polly and headed home.

Working away

Any excuse to wear overalls

If you must hug me...

Monday morning I was up for an hour PT session with Quentin.  It was great - bench and other fun.  Made my arms feel like a gorilla.

Went to see a movie with Mike.  Girls can't surf.  Amazing film.  If you get a chance, go see it.  The generational fight for the right to surf was fascinating.  The ebb and flow of support and popularity was incredible to see unfold over 40 years.  

Model cat

She doesn't look overly impressed

Done!

After lunch we went back to finish taking the roof off the car port.  And next weekend it is water blasting and painting the structure before we get new iron ordered and delivered.

Quick cup of tea with Sally and Andrew.  Andrew had been up in Cambridge for his nephew Cam's wedding.  Sally was stuck at home with a bad cold.  :-(

Home to eat Mushroom Wellington for us.  And early to bed.  Watched a movie on Netflix.  Stowaway.  It was alright.

Up for gym.  Deadlifts.  Oosshh.

Hope your week is marvellous.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with working from home and then games night at work

 Hi,

I worked from home on Thursday.  To keep an eye on the cats.  They always want to get out and check out the cleaners when I lock them into the study with me.  Moxley managed to open the bathroom door and go explore while I was on a call.  I heard her meow from my desk and hurtled away to find her and bring her back. 

Cats collude to see off an interloper

I want into the bathroom!

Smudge being a model

After the cleaners had left, the cats had the run of the house again.  And they were both on the windowsill in our old room.  Which I thought was weird.  But it turns out they were both seeing off a cat.  He was lurking just outside the window.  Hahah

Singstar!

After work I drove in and enjoyed the games night at work.  Chris brought in Singstar and for most of the evening it was dominated by the team I am in.  We all seem to enjoy a bit of singing.

We went over to Rosies for a drink afterwards and then I took Chris home in the car while Mike and Andrew went out for a pub crawl with other friends.

Slept okay.  Woken up by Mike though.  Possibly he was exhibiting flu like symptoms.  (Remember the plan we discussed last week regarding flu like symptoms?)

Up for porridge and a walk into work.  Bus strike in Wellington today.  Turns out the new workplace is exactly 4km door to door.  51 mins later - ensconced at my desk.

Long weekend coming.  ANZAC Day - and Monday is the observed day.  But we will go to the dawn service on Sunday at the war memorial as usual.  Last year was the letterbox dawn service.  That was special.  But I am looking forward to the dawn service in town.

Friday morning iced latte with Maureen

Hope your weekend is superb.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with a lunch with Sally and a lovely walk home

 Hi,

Spin was a good way to start my Wednesday.  Woot!  Also got an iced latte at work which was superb and then had an iced latte date with Callan.

Spin start to the day

Work iced latte - Mmmmm.

Lovely Mojo iced latte

Cheers!

By the time I got to lunch with Sally from my last work, I figured I was caffeinated enough.  Stuck to water.  Had a good catch up with Sally.  Heard about her adventures - both at work and in life in general.  I hope it isn't as long between lunch dates with her next time.  Mike came too and enjoyed the conversation.  I do like Arabica - it seems consistently good.

Walked home with Mike (via the chemist to pick up his inhalers) and enjoyed that.  Was a bit leisurely - but all good.  Mike made tea and we chilled out.  Mike signed us both up for Noom.  OMG - what have I done?  Let's see if I can drink the kool-aid.  I am on a free 2 week trial.  Hahah.  Mike is committed for a year (but he did get that super cheap).

Slept okay - after an aborted attempt to stop reading and turn out my light.  Had to read again for a bit and the second time worked a treat.  But I was up 30 mins before the alarm.  Goodness.

Off to the gym - boxing.  And Mike dropped our retro TV off at work because it is game night and SingStar on someone's PS2 is not compatible with the modern TVs.  Needs a 3 plug RCA cable.  And because we don't watch TV - we have old ones kicking around.

WFH today.  Looking out for the cats as the cleaners come today.

Take care.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with takeaways at ours

 Hi,

Happy birthday Michael.

Moxley nabs the best seat in the house

The day at work was okay - had better.  Had way worse.  Hahah.  But all good in the end.  And I got a lift home with Ange.  So - #winning.

Janine was there on her eBike when we got home.  Then Wally, Lesley and Chelsea turned up for takeaways.  Mmmm.  Yummy Dehlicious.

Toby video chatted with us too.  Nice.

Janine headed home on her bike (good on her!) and we said our goodbyes (for now) to Lesley and Wally.  And we're hoping to rope (lure) Chelsea into a regular quiz night.  So maybe we'll see more of her.  :-)

Off to bed.  Up for Spin on Wednesday morning.  Not done that before - seemed to work okay.

At work.  Busy-ish day.  Lunch with Sally (from my old work).  Calling it now.  Highlight of my day - right there.

Have a good one.

Love,

Angela

The Monday that feels like it should have been a Wednesday

 Hi,

Yesterday ended up with scones at Pravda - and their cheese scones are pretty good.  Barb and Juliet have got a scone mission underway.  I am in for some covert missions and this was a good sortie.

I also had an iced latte there - and I asked for oat milk.  Their coffee was not as strong as Mojo and I think it tasted more like porridge than Mojo did.  But it was ok.

Pravda - but I can't comment truly on their iced latte.  I tried oat milk again and it changes it completely.

Went to Spin after work and it was a little tough.  Mike came to the gym too and did some stretches and lifting.  He left earlier than me to get fish n chips from Starfish for us to have with Wally while Lesley was at a whisky tasting event.

We certainly enjoyed the food.  I got a corn fritter and it was easily the best corn fritter I have had at a chippie.

Fish n chip night with this man

Polished that off

Wally dropped us home - which was lovely.  Mike got the rubbish ready for Tuesday morning.  And we fell into bed.

I woke in the night with stabbing pain in my toes.  The cheeky cat had taken a swipe at my toes!  She only does that to Mike.  My feet never hang out the bottom.  I reckon she crept up under the duvet to find my feet.

Off to the gym.  Was going to be bench but their were no free bench areas.  So Quentin killed my pecs in other ways.  I an typing like a T-Rex now.  Feebly.

At work now.  Feels like I have been at work for 2 days easily.  But no.  Just one Monday that was interminable.  Stretching into Tuesday.  

I need an iced latte.  Hahah.

Have an awesome day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington and dinner out

 Hi,

Happy birthday Vince.  And that also means it is almost Michael's birthday (Wednesday).

A weekend of chill.  Woot! Up for boot camp Saturday morning and Mike was there for the first time in ages.  Joel and Quentin (reluctantly from Quentin) put my play list on for the session.  There was a lot of Rihanna and Beyonce.  :-D

Back home after checking for a few things for Mike's survivor night (groceries and we tried to find a rack to grill over the fire - with no success).  Then Mike was off to survive with his mates. At Battle Hill.  In the car.  Where he slept.

They are getting soft, eh?  Bwhahahah!

Sunday saw Mike back early from surviving.  Maybe 11am.  We chilled ahead of dinner out with Wally and Lesley.  And Beth and Chris.  At the Supply Room in Mana.  Yeah, nah.

Dinner out Sunday with this bunch

We chill with Moxley

Lesley had an entre as her main and when we finally all got ours, she got told her selection was unavailable.  Given how long it took to get our mains, she flagged the idea.  And got a dessert on the house.  Actually the dessert was by far the best thing.  And her sour beer.  :-)

Back home in the car - and the car was in karaoke mode.  Hahah.  Dropped Lesley and Wally off and then scuttled off to bed.  Slept well - up for gym.  Surprise - a 1 hour session.

Quick turnaround to brekkie with Roanne this morning before work.  In my gym gear.  :-p

Ugly Bagels iced latte with Roanne

At work.  Hoping to get to Spin after work too.  Woot!  Maybe with Wally.  Maybe not.

Enjoy your week ahead.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with a brewery night

 Hi,

What a crazy day - after working from home all day (hence no iced latte pics) I rushed down into town to collect Andrew and Mike and head to the Occasional Brewer.

Andrew nearly caused chaos at his work by leaving before 5pm for the first time in living memory.  I think some of his colleagues were convinced there was an imminent disaster.  But no - just commitments to a brewing night.

Not sure why I was invited - but I enjoyed the process.  And Matt and Ian (old workmates) were there bottling their previous brew batch.  Good to catch up with them too.

The kit at Occasional Brewer

Mike and Richard point out where our stash is stored

The lads at work

So not a pic of me!

Is this right?

I liked the chap that guided us (Richard) - he was very chill.  But the instructions are good and Mike and Andrew have already done this many times before.  Tonight we made Turbo APA.  Yeah - I dunno either.  But my big tip is this:  sure - try the grain mash.  Tastes fine.  No - never taste the hop stew mass left behind at the end of the night.  

I dipped my finger into the soupy mash leftover - barely had anything at all on my finger.  And the hoppy bitter taste that I detest in beer stayed in my mouth for the entire rest of the night.

We finished up and left Elly, Tom, Freya and Becky to finish up their work.  They both had slow pumps that meant the final process was a bit slower than usual.

We drove Andrew home and Mike and I were back home and in bed before too long.  Slept well.  Up to a gorgeous view - sunny but cool.  

Friday night burgers with some friends.  Boot camp tomorrow.  Mike is off to survivor night and I have the house to myself - with cats.

Enjoy your Friday and the weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with dinner out with friends

 Hi,

I certainly got enough iced lattes in my life yesterday - woot!  Not sure if my colleagues would be as pleased though.  <smirk>

Photo bombed by Mike

I did get away to meet Jo and Rex and heard about their news.  Their house is going well - half a roof on.  They are not sure of the final date as yet.  Fingers crossed it is before Christmas.

Rex also has a new job - good on him.

Oh hello Jo and Rex!

Then busy at work before meeting Celia and grabbing a scooter and heading to Capitol to have dinner.  Capitol always does a great meal.  I had the mozzarella and basil ravioli - and it was so good.  But it is all about the soft centred chocolate pudding there - and it was good.

Dinner @ Capitol

We chatted so much - and Mike said afterward he absolutely loved it.  We talked and talked and before I knew it, it was 2040 and well after my going-to-home-and-bed time.

Mike and I said goodbye, Celia took our friend home while we walked to Clifton Tce and drove home.  Fell into bed and had a great sleep.

Up for PT session.  Dead lifts for me. A full hour for Mike. He had had a stressful morning for no reason other than it was morning. I think it was good for him.

Working from home today because the cleaners and the cats do not mix well.  Hahahah.  And I need to drive in and collect Mike for Occasional Brewer after work.  This will be interesting.  Never done that before.

Have an awesome day.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with not much for me

 Hi,

There were highlights to my day despite the slightly sad blog title today.  Mike and I did get to see Laura (from our old work) for a catch up.  And Cuckoo does do one of the best iced lattes I have tasted.  Go try it for yourself!

Laura is good - she is settling into a new job at Squiz (I think they do bespoke websites for companies that want a cheap alternative to some enterprise software).  Good on her for making a move from a job where she'd been for ages.

Cuckoo iced latte is a frontrunner

Good to see Laura

Had lunch with Mike and Barb.  Introduced them to the wonders of Tank salads.  They both ate theirs and agreed with me.

Ange was heading home after work in the car so I chucked in my Spin plans and went home with her.  But the rain that stonked down at 4pm was almost gone by 5pm.  Wow!  We drove home with blue skies.  

Mike went for a run but pulled a calf (quite badly) and limped to a pub and met his friends to commiserate.

He got home and played with the cats and rolled his calf and we went to bed. 

Cats get close to each other

 I woke with a start at 5am and thought it was waking up time and tried to leap out of bed.  It was a bit delicious to realise I still had an hour of sleep.  And sleep I did!

Mike had a session with Quentin and missed his bus and decided to drive in.  Which is okay as we have dinner with Becks tonight after work so it is handy to have the car here in town (if anyone wants to come out with us to say hi to Becks, let me know).  I made our lunch and my breakfast and jumped into the car with Mike.  Munched on my toast and then dropped Mike at the gym and went to park the car.

The only change in my routine was brushing my teeth at work instead of home.  And leaving a dirty toast plate in the car - like one of my most favouritest people in the world does on the regular - Celia.  And - in an amazing coincidence - I am hopefully seeing her tonight for tea with Becks.

My world is coming together nicely.

:-)

Right.  Time for the day to kick off.  Have a good one.

Love,

Angela