So many exciting things happened this weekend. Gokila gave Mike some diwali sweets she made for her festival celebrations. They were delicious - thank you.
Diwali sweets from Gokila
Toby also had his first day at a new job - fulfilling online orders for Countdown. Seems like it will be a good job for him to pile away money for the coming, final year at uni. Hopefully he gets a lot of hours through the summer.
I am very proud of him.
Red cars galore - 8 in a row at New World
La cloche with Juliet
Friday saw me drive into work and collect Juliet and whisk her off to La Clache for lunch. Enjoyed that and dropped her home afterwards.
Brekkie
Afghan time!
Saturday we did a few things at home (I made Afghans) before heading to Callan and Stacey's place for tea. Callan had shot a deer on his recent trip south. And I have to say, he shot a delicious deer. Stacey made asparagus (mmmm - a fave of mine) and pureed cauliflower (so yummy - I need to do this!) to accompany it. And a cake to round it out.
Callan with the deer he got a few weeks back
Delicious dinner - thank you Callan and Stacey
I might have got very distracted by the rugby world cup. I watched that while the rest of them caught up. We're all very excited to head away for our back to back tramps down south this coming weekend.
The weather was so wild in Wellington that we were surprised Callan could actually use the BBQ at his place. But Aotea was really rather lovely. Sunshine and not as windy.
Back home afterwards - and as we rounded the motorway near Johnsonville, the wind was back in force.
Up Sunday expecting AFL to get the flick. But no. Drove there in drizzly rain but played in sunshine and just a stiff breeze. Got sunburn despite my sunscreen. Obviously I needed more. It was a close game. Only 5 points in it at three quarter time, but they got away from us at the end. Great fun!
I got awarded Clawdia - for being a great team player. Not for having a brilliant game on the day. Well - I had a fun game. But like my singing skills, enthusiasm does little to improve my abilities.
Moxley and Clawdia
Clawdia meets our cats
Mike's yard work
Lemon cake
Made lemon cake for tea at Sally and Andrew's place. Had nachos - mmmmm. Chatted away with them both before heading home.
Moxley
More diwali sweets
Testing the new tail lights
Spooky welcome
Decorated
Sunburn from AFL
Poor Knights lily?
Tea time
Lemon cake
Decorated the front yard for the kids today that come around. Mike is WFH today so he can get it all ready.
Had a long day at work. But the meeting from 5 - 6pm ended up starting early and finished at 5.30. Woot! But Mike and Callan decided to go for a run anyway - so I stayed back and did my te reo homework. Yay for getting through that.
Work iced latte
La cloche iced latte with Mike, Callan and Stacey
We had a lunch with Callan and Stacey - so good to see Stacey. I enjoyed my iced latte and two boiled eggs and some bread. Those French! Hahahah.
After a pint or two at Bin44 after the run, and after my homework, Mike and I walked home. Great idea! We chatted to Andrew as we passed his work - but he was home and enjoying his tea already.
Walk home while chatting to Andrew
Tracking my chilli plants
I was a bit sniffly on my way home. Mike reckons it was the cold wind - but it seemed a bit more. So staying home today (Thurs) and moving things to online.
I did a RAT and it was negative. So - who knows? Might do one tomorrow if there is still a sniffle.
Sniffle but negative
Will catch up with Sally (from my last work) at lunch time - but not at Higher Taste. Boo! Will do an online chat and some quizzes with her. Woot!
Then the weekend. Woot! If my sniffles amount to naught - AFL game on Sunday. Tea with Callan and Stacey on Saturday. Choice!
I had a lot of iced latte yesterday. And I am not 100% sure, but I also had some weird proto migraine most of the day and maybe the two were linked?
But I did enjoy my catch up with Annie at Mojo - so yay for that. They tried to give me an iced chai. Which I tasted. But no. Didn't do it for me.
Work iced latte
Mojo iced latte with banana loaf in my mouth
Walked up to Nairn St Park after work. Took 29 mins and had AFL training. Probably good to run around a park after my weird pre migraine day.
Mike collected me and we wandered home. I was freezing and after tea ended up in the bath to warm up. Mike finished the yellow touch up on the walls. It looks so good!
Up for a late bus into town today. Will walk home as practise for the tramping next month.
Despite a long weekend for us here, it was a hard slog to get up at 5.30am for my usual routine at the gym and into work. Maybe the long weekend and slightly lazy days contributed to my slothfulness. Hahah.
We did get a lot done over the weekend. No huge physical activity because Mike has still got a lingering cough from covid. Covid lung, he is calling it. Sensible to avoid the big tramp that Andrew and Janine went on, I reckon.
Our parcel from Mighty Ape arrived and the flopping fish seems to be a reasonable toy for the cats. Especially Moxley. That first night we were in bed late and I got hear this light thumping. Eventually worked out a cat was upstairs batting at the fish and it was flopping on the floor and echoing down to us.
Moxley loves her new trout
Smudge prefers her catnip
I caught up with Khemry in town and we enjoyed a Machete iced latte together on her last day at our last workplace. She's off to Kiwibank. In January. Off to visit Cambodia between now and then. Good on her. Kiwibank is so lucky!
Machete - best iced lattes!
Oh, hello there to Khemry
Iced latte and scone
Saturday saw me get ready to watch the Black Ferns play Scotland in the last pool match of the rugby world cup. Smashed them 57 - 0. Poor Scotland.
Sarah, Hamish and Ryan came over at the start of the game and had to watch with me. Mike kept Ryan busy. Pizza night. Yum!
Moxley draped over me
Go Black Ferns!
Looking like a cat model
Saturday also saw Mike weed eating outside in the back garden. It looked so good. And I assembled the new cat tree. Seems to be well used by Moxley at least.
I assembled the cat tree
Sunday saw us do a few things at Mike's mother's unit. Batts in the attic. Paint on the corner joins outside. Some bark chips and stones. Caught up with Sally.
Batts in the ... roof space
Sunday saw planting and a gym visit. Also saw Sreejith - again!
Strawberry plants
Tomato plants - let's see if this works
Post gym iced latte - a whole pint!
Hutt River trail band pic
Back home to cook tea. Picked up John and brought him over. Andrew got back from his tramp. So a lovely family dinner.
What an amazing, fulfilling, actualising night out. I just sang a
capella and got cheers.
It all started at the Dixon street kebab shop
Matt B took us there, and he promptly started banter with the 20 somethings
who were waiting for their iskenders.
The topic of karaoke came up.
"So what karaoke would you do Mike? Pearl jam? Wonderwall?" Sigh. Never.
"Definitely anything by Jim Steinman," I replied.
Blank looks.
"You know! Meatloaf! Bonnie Tyler! Making love out of nothing at all, by air
supply!"
More blank looks. Totally the wrong generation in this shop.
"What? Don't know it. You gotta sing it!"
OK now the pressure was on. My mind went blank. I can belt out the chorus of
that Air Supply song, but I need to step back a few lines to sing a verse that
built up to the chorus. WHAAAAA?
I couldn't do it.
It was time for what I knew.
I cleared my throat
The screen door slams Mary's dress sways
the kebab shop grew quiet
Like a vision she dances across the porch ... as the radio plays
the customers were entranced
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely. Hey that's ME! and I want you ONLY!
The song continued. I started to add grit and volume. The crowd swelled. I
could see tears.
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night ... ... all the
redemption I can offer girl is beneath this dirty hood... "
knowing nods
.... ohhh thunder road, oh thunder road... ORDER FOR 94!
The spell was broken. We all emerged from visions of turnpikes and first cars
and true love and towns that didn't fit and angst and hard choices.
"That was incredible," said one girl.
Now this is the truly redeeming bit...
"I don't know that song but was it a Bruce Springsteen song?" said the
20-something boy.
Not a lot happened on our Wednesday, to be honest. We worked from home. We had to pick up our box of covid goodies twice! The cats seem to think it is a game to knock it off the spare bed.
The cats do not like the covid box
Came upstairs to see the two cats sun worshipping together
At one point I came upstairs to find them both within cooee of each other on the deck, enjoying the sunshine.
Up for an online PT session this morning (Thurs). Arm day. I am typing like a feeble T-Rex now. Hahahah. I can feel my triceps complaining even now.
Friday sees me catching up with Khemry - it's her last day at our old workplace. Why she isn't coming to work with me will be the first question I ask her! And I will start the deck and outdoor furniture wash down so it is ready for a refurbishment.
Otherwise - long weekend for us in NZ. Janine and Andrew might be tramping - but Mike and I are chilling due to his covid.
Have an awesome weekend, wherever you are. Do not mention the netball last night. But come on Black Ferns for the game with Scotland this weekend. Oosshh!
Tuesday was a lovely day for the best part of it. I did a RAT and it was negative - yay! Long may that continue.
Negative - so far
Mike and I continue to work from home. He is still coughing a bit during the day. And he might be a tad more tired than usual - but he has also just changed a lot of time zones.
After work I headed to Nairn St Park for AFL training. Caitlin from work came for it! She said she had a lot of fun. And it was fun.
Ready for AFL training to start
Did a lot of sprint training. That was tough. And then handball and kicking drills. I cannot kick super far. Need to practise in the local park more.
Dropped Caitlin home and headed home. Woke Mike up - hahahah. Had some toast and went to bed. Up for online PT session with Quentin. He woke my core up. Groan!
Day at work again - from home. Weather is changing - could go either way.
Well, as more and more health professionals told Mike through Monday that he was no longer contagious, I stopped wearing my mask and mingled more with him. Let's see, eh? Hahah.
Smudge eyes off Tenzing
Tensions escalate
Then Smudge relaxes in the sun, proud of her defence work
We are both working from home though, to be super careful. And he doesn't sound good when he coughs - it would freak out anyone who had to work next to him. :-)
I did go for a wee run at lunch time in our local park. But Mike is taking it easy. We finished work and had a nice tea before a bath then bed.
Tuesday is looking stunning
Up for a remote online session with Quentin. He also has covid and is in isolation for a few more days. He seems okay - just tired.
In the best news, Mike is back. Woot! He landed safely in Chc yesterday morning and after a slightly unusual visit to Chc compared to what he thought he'd have, he made it back to Wellington. Touched down at 20:00 last night.
I had a busy weekend. Friday saw me water blasting the steps and putting the trim back on the car. Two jobs I had on my list of things to do. They were on my list of jobs while Mike was away - along with the carpet on the stairs. So - yay for getting them done.
Friday lunch goodness
I caught up with Andrew between jobs on Friday. And enjoyed an iced latte and lunch with him - planning for trap line the following day.
Water blasting dirtiness
Water blasting cleanliness
The steps look amazing now I have used the water blaster. They were starting to look pretty green - and not in a good, sustainable way. More like a green sludge that formed the habitat of algae that could be the basis of new lifeforms in a primordial soup fashion. Yes, a Sci-fi novel on our doorstep, in the making. But - no longer.
Off to bed early and up for trap line Saturday. Picked up Andrew a tad later than my suggested 8am. But we were parked at the road end and off walking by 8.50am. So not too late. And I did get lots of petrol - squeezed in just over 50l of it. Obviously necessary.
We start the trapline
Up on the tops
In the stream
Another trap checked
It was a slightly cloudy and a tad drizzly (well - barely drizzling) day and fairly cool. I took off my fleece on the walk up - because that is hot work. But by the time we got to the top of UTS line, I pulled it back on. It takes 1 hour from the car to the top intersection, then an hour from the top around to the start of the ridge down to UTS. We got two rats in SG trapline on the way up - Andrew cleared and reset those. Then we found one rat in the top UTS trap - and nothing else. UTS 5 has an A24 next to it - and that had a lot of dead rats under it. 5 of them! One super fresh.
We finished at 2.30pm. It took 5 hours and 40 mins. Not bad. Dropped Andrew back and headed home. Up for my first AFL game of the season on Sunday. Lovely conditions. 7 a side. A lot of running for everyone. My team lost by 2 goals. Waaahhh. Next time!
Off to see Sally and Andrew next and a bike ride up the river with Sally. We did 15 km - which was just the right amount. We bumped into Sreejith as we were out riding. I got a huge hug from him - it's been ages since I saw him. We are going to sort out some bike rides together soon.
Lovely Sunday morning for the first AFL game for me
We get ready
Sally and I have a bike ride
Lovely day on the Hutt River trail
After we did that, I headed home and popped into the supermarket to stock up on goodies for Mike's arrival.
Shopping for goodies for Mike
Mike has landed in Chc at about 10am or so. And met up with Toby and then promptly tested positive for covid. He got a PCR test to be sure and implemented some isolation. But with advice and the understanding his symptoms had been present for a week by this stage, he was able to fly home to me. He had a great KN95 mask from the PCR test people.
Waiting at the airport for Mike
There's my bear! It is also Bruce's bear from his 1st birthday in 1964.
We stayed masked up in the car and at home and we've divided the house into upstairs and downstairs. Hahah. Let's hope I can dodge this close covid bullet. It seems as though he is not very likely to be contagious at this late stage.
Mike unpacks with Moxley's help
We slept in separate beds - OMG! Mike had a great sleep - loved our bed. Hahah. I made him brekkie this morning. And two cups of coffee.
Monday brekkie for Mike
Welcome to the working week, Mike
And his test yesterday
I am so happy he's home, safe and sound. Hopefully he gets over covid and is back into the swing of Wellington routine before not too much longer. I will keep an eye on any long covid signs.
Take care of yourselves. Wishing rural Victoria the best of luck for these floods they are having. Terrible news.
