The weekend in Christchurch

 Hi,

It's been a few days since I posted last.  Dunedin was lovely.  And on Thurs night Mike and I gathered the parts of the van from the loft into a pile to throw into the van on Friday morning.  Mike's mother was surprised to see we had done that - saving her the job.  The loft is looking pretty empty now.

We left Dunedin at 3.30pm and headed north on SH1.  It was wet most of the way to Christchurch - but it was largely uneventful.  There was a red warming for heavy rain in place - but due to start early Saturday.  Lucky we missed it because Sunday saw the SH1 impassable due to flooding.  Several bridges have washed away on surrounding roads too.  Not good.

We got to Little Poms and met Toby, Tessa, Sam and Steph at 8.10pm for a lovely meal.  Everyone looked good.  Didn't know Steph was changing jobs soon - that was exciting.  

Fell into bed at the B&B.  Garden room.  Same room as last time.  Happy about that.  Oddly, there were other people staying in our house this time.  :-p

Northern motorway out of Dunedin

Little Poms

Up early Saturday for a run along the Avon with Toby.  Such good fun to run with him.  We did 4.55km.  But there might have been a bit of walking involved.

We had brekkie after a shower at Little Poms.

Iced chocolate for Toby and Tessa

He looks happy

Then off in an Uber to Riccarton mall to buy some things for Toby.  A rain jacket for one.  He will definitely be using that now.  Turns out he doesn't like getting to lectures and sitting there sopping wet.

Also got him some new running shoes.  He is running a few times a week and going to the gym 3 times a week.  Good on him.

I took him for a driving lesson in the van after that.  We got some diesel and then found a quiet suburban road in Parklands and Toby went around a big block.  He avoided parked cars and on-coming buses.  Indicated.  Turned.  All useful driving things.  He was a bit buzzed after that as it was his first on road driving.

Back to a pub session and a meal for the 4 of us.

First stout

Went to bed early and up for a grocery care package run for Toby (bought him shaving cream and a meal for 2 from Tulsi and some other treats) and then Little Poms for brekkie with him and Tessa.

Mike and I checked out and we were on the road by 10am.  Avoided all the flooding as we drove north.  The rivers were swollen but not too bad.  Down south - completely different.  Devastating floods.

Little Poms again

Driving north to Blenheim

First blue sky

Sunshine just north of Kaikoura

Got blue skies briefly north of Kaikoura.  Called into Iona and Col (and saw Shelley) and got some lunch (mmmmm) and left the van outside their house.  Played bananagram before Iona dropped us at the airport.

Cats happy to see us.  Or are they just cold and want to share body heat?

Easy flight home with Soundsair.  And the cats were happy to see us.

More rain today - and freezing at work with the heating off for the day.  Oh dear.

Have a great week.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday working from home in Dunedin

 Hi,

We worked from home in Dunedin successfully on Thursday.  I did want to catch up with Phil (from work from years ago now) but it just didn't work out.  Next time!

Worked through the day.  Did go for a walk afterwards with Mike to Roslyn and ended up having some tea there.  

Back home and in bed early.  Mike's mother was out at a lecture.  She loves going to those things.  

Up early for a run to Roslyn.  Mike and Polly met me at a cafe there for brekkie.  Coffee culture.  I had half a bagel and an iced latte.  Pics coming once my machine sorts itself out.

Mike grinding his coffee beans

Old Mobil where my mother used to work

Early evening view down Stuart St

Moonrise over Stuart St

Ran back and enjoyed that a lot more as it was mainly downhill all the way back.  Hahahah.

Today we're working from home once more.  Then driving to Christchurch after work to see Toby.  Can't wait for that.  And the weekend.  :-)

Scheduling another run along the Avon for tomorrow.  And some nice brekkie dates with Toby and Tessa (and hopefully Steph and Sam).

Enjoy your weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday driving to Dunedin from Wanaka

 Hi,

Busy days indeed.  We worked from "home" successfully in the common room at the Wanaka Top10.  There were the occasional campers coming in for brekkie or to charge their devices.  But it was pretty quiet.

-3 C in Wanaka - yes - felt like it

Lunch selfie

We got away to a cafe in town for lunch.  And met the painter at the house.  They have been distracted by one of their mothers falling ill in Argentina.  Not easy to get back.  They need an 80 hour set of flights and a visa to go through the US.  Poor guy.

Did you take a pic, Mike?

Close up

View from work

I was in a meeting at the end of the day that involved me just listening - so I did that while Mike drove.  I can report that Vodafone has pretty good coverage from Wanaka to Cromwell.  Only dropped out a few times for a few seconds.

Drive to Dunedin

Cromwell gorge where the Sampson car gave up

We had the clearest of nights with a supermoon full moon.  Frosty but not on the roads.  At Mike's mother's place by 8pm.

Moonrise

More moon shots

On the fridge at Nana's house

11.11pm lunar eclipse

I woke up at 11pm to see the eclipse in full blood mode. Totality was from 11.11pm to 11.18pm.  Peered up at it in my t short and sleep shorts from the wee deck by Mike's mother's room.  Using her binoculars.  Good fun.  The stars were brilliant.

Back to bed and up for a long day of meetings.  

Have a good one.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday in Wanaka

 Hi,

Tuesday was busy at work - but Mike got a migraine in the early afternoon and had to go to bed.  Poor guy.  

I didn't leave the room all day - apart from one meeting where I went and sat outside in the crisp sunshine.  I had all my layers on.

Rugged up for my meeting 

Wednesday morning low of -2.  Brrr

Went to bed early and had loads of sleep.  Up to a low of -2 - but no frost.  A bit of cloud cover probably put paid to that.

Day working in the common room here at Top10.  And then after work a drive to Dunedin.  Working from there tomorrow.

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday working from home in Wanaka

 Hi,

What a great place - although I didn't get away from my "office" much to appreciate it.  We did go for a lunch walk though.  #thatwanakatree is about 1km from the Top10.  

#thatwanakatree selfie

My office for the day

Okay - stunning.

Feet by Lake Wanaka

More feet by #thatwanakatree

We also went for a run after work.  Mike's calf still hurts - so I think it will be just me running after work today.

Had a good dinner in our motel room - Buddha bowls.  Mmmm.  Watched some TV and went to bed.  Up early for a PT session and a walk before work.

Light frost for our walk this morning

#thatwanakatree looking cool

Back towards the town

Busy today so not a lot of option for a walk at lunch time.  But we will check the house at 4.30 pm and I will aim to run back to the Top10 from there.

Have a good one.

Love,

Angela

The weekend with Eurovision and Wanaka

 Hi,

Packed a lot into that weekend, let me tell you.  Boot camp on Saturday morning - in the gym.  Great fun - Laura from work turned up.  Woot!

Friday work iced latte

Friday terminal visit

Saturday morning was gorgeous

After boot camp we went to Animates to get stuff for the cats ahead of our trip away so the cat sitters have a lot of options to feed them both,  Went to La Cloche to get some supplies for the Eurovision fun Sunday morning.

Post boot camp goodness for Eurovision

Iced latte in the car yard

Does Mike want mine?

Halo

Caught up with Sally and Andrew at home and enjoyed Uber Eats from Sweet Mothers Kitchen while we watched an episode of The Boys (bad superheroes). 

Off to bed early and up at 6am to get ready for Eurovision 2021.

Moxley is eyeing up the goodies ahead of Eurovision

And it starts!

We had the most punters ever turn up for it this year.  Some will not be back (Lee and Hayden - hahahah).  Also chatted to Toby online (he had it streaming on the TV in their flat) and Jo over int he UK.  

Mike has ruined Toby's taste in music.  Hahahah.

Punters aplenty

It was done and dusted by 11am.  Wow.  And the winner was:  Italy!  UK got null point.  Germany (who pushed the boat out a bit and didn't play it safe like the 25 other countries) managed 2 points - but they had a cute bouncy number about not hating.  It deserved a bit more.

Packed up and Janine drove us to the airport.  Got there with plenty of time to spare.  Easy flight down to Queenstown.

Airport feet

Picked up the van from a suburban street by the airport and headed straight out over the Crown Range Rd to Wanaka.

The air is so crisp down here.  Cold - but lovely weather.

Crown range road

Just smile, Mike!

What?  Oh - smile.

Getting back in the van

Wanaka lakeshore

Hunter Crescent

Smile again, Mike

Went to see the house renovations.  Looks great.  But needs more work still.  No bathroom or kitchen fittings in yet.  But it is painted and the floors are down in the main areas.

Back to the Top10 for the evening.  Watched TV and then sleep.  Good sleep too.  Up for PT session online and then working from home from the room.

Seems to be working okay.

Right.  Take care.  Have a wonderful week,

Love,

Angela