The Wednesday that felt like it must already be Friday

 Hi,

I know we have had short weeks lately. But this week is really taking ages to get through. Yesterday my Wednesday felt like I had been at work for days and days.

Moxley in her crate as I worked

Did not feel that!

Trying all the test pots out

Why are they so close to each other?  Do they actually like each other?

I usually go through and caption my pics first each post. And today feels like I need no text at all. The pics actually sum up yesterday purrfectly.  :-p

I did try the test pots on the wall. Mike and I looked at them when he got home. We had some tea and watched TV. That was the evening.

Up early for my slightly damp ride in. And PT session is next! 

Weekend is almost here. Messages on. That is about it.

Have a good day!

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with hockey bingo

 Hi,

Well, I enjoyed getting an iced latte served to my desk - ta for that, Mike. And I also got away to Cuckoo to catch up with Nicole so we could talk about politics. Love being in a wee echo chamber with her.

French Kiss cart iced latte from Mike served at my desk

Catch up with Nicole - iced latte at Cuckoo

My lunch spot

I nipped out for a short lunch break to eat my giant sandwich from home. It might have been short - but the views were magnificent.

I rode home at 3pm for my afternoon meetings. Then drove back into town to pick up Mike and Jill for Erin's bingo fundraising night at the National Hockey stadium.

Hockey bingo with Erin and her crew

The room of enthusiastic bingo punters 

Jill was a dark horse having competed internationally in bingo previously. She can't really remember one of the events. Suspect a bit of alcohol was involved. But she was streets ahead of me and Mike - this was our first bingo event.

Erin was good - she was the ball grabber. Someone read out the numbers. We ate food. All in all, I had a great time. We sat at a table with Erin's friend, Elspeth and her 3 sisters (Vicky, Helen and Kate). One of Erin's sisters got a line bingo. We had to shout hockey instead. But other than that our table did not get anything except a good time.

Erin even scored a lift home for Jill. So we did not have to drive to Paraparaumu and back. That was equal parts good and not good. I do like driving. And Transmission Gully is now 110 km/h.

But all good. We did get to bed earlier than we would have.  Winning.

Good sleep. Then online garage gym with Quentin.  Bench 40kg. 2 reps x 4 sets. Good. Then I tested some of the test pots of paint for near the front door.

Test pot starts

I have no clue. I will keep testing. Let me know what you think.

Love,

Angela

The Monday with work

 Hi,

Worked from home. The cats were so funny. I heard Smudge growling and saw she was in the top crate and Moxley was prowling around, looking to climb in too. So Moxley got that message and pawed at the bottom crate door. I opened that for her. She climbed in. And for a few hours, I had both cats in the crates next to me. So weird.

Cats in the crate - no silver spoon in sight

Sourdough worked

I had a dough mess Monday morning. Different flour to usual. And was not sure it would bake properly. But I baked it and it looked pretty good. Mike got home and I made tea. Catherine's linguini recipe. Shiitake mushrooms. Spinach. Miso paste. Very nice. And the bread was good too. So - yay!

Off to bed. Good sleep. Up at 6am for a ride in after porridge. Smudge was very needy as I ate my brekkie.

Tuesday morning cuddles with Smudge

PT session with Quentin. Deads. 80 kg.  3 reps x 4 sets. Then back accessories. Phew.

Hope your day is fantastic.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington

 Hi,

What a weekend. Kept myself mostly busy. Baked bread Friday. Grabbed some stuff from Mitre10 for Mike for his weekend renovation plans. Digital calipers being one of the things.

Sourdough

Moxley is so relaxed

Look at that!

Two new plants in the greenhouse to join the tomatoes

Got a rock melon plant and an eggplant plant to go in with the tomatoes. No idea if this will work or not. But I like the idea of it all.

Outside dinner

Smudge

Ride Saturday into Makara MTB park

Saturday we did not go to park run. But I did go riding with Maureen. She got to our house at 1pm and we took off to Makara MTB park. went up Koru, then Sally Alley then Three Brothers. Got to the top. Down Zacs to the Skyline. Then along that to above our house.

Yes, readers, I was riding at the edge of my abilities for a lot of this. Hahahah. Had to step off a few switchbacks. Unlocked a new fear - a switchback that curves down. Yes, it has a berm on these corners. No, I did not use them. Yes, I know I should. More practise needed.

Hey there!

On top of the world! Or, maybe, just Makara

I look stupidly happy

Was filthy when I got home

Got home to see Wally there with his mother. Wally was providing advice on the plastering. Sweet! Mike did tackle some of that. Wally's mother (Nora) looked the same as she always has. Good to see her.

Sunday I was up early to get a pick up from Christine to head out to see her horse, Tilly. She is stabled at Green something farm in Ohariu Valley. It was rainy off and on - but also really warm. Tilly is gorgeous. We walked up to where she was in the paddock with Lilly. Lilly is a palomino and followed Tilly down the hill. Christine groomed Tilly and I held her for a while. It was really lovely. Peaceful.

Sunday iced latte - post Tilly 

Left to grab an iced latte at the cafe at the Johnsonville library. That was a nice find! Then home.

Ok - I am a bit obsessed with my greenhouse

Cleaning out the sideboard

Cleaned out the sideboard to fit the hot sauces in there. Yay. They are now accessible and off the top of the sideboard.

Rockmelon

Eggplant

Monday morning tomatoes

I had a migraine around 4pm Sunday. Pants! Felt a bit washed out. But we went to visit Kara and grabbed some Indian takeaways and I felt better by the time we left at 7.30pm.

Slept well. Up for working from home. Set off RoboLux as I work. I like my RoboLux.

Hope you have a great week.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with a comet sighting after a spontaneous dinner out with Sally

 Hi,

Big day yesterday. Lunch time weights session with Juliet was great fun. Deads. Good to get out of the workplace for a bit.

Then a spontaneous meet up with Sally at Otto (old Honey Badger) for a lovely dinner. Then I rode home and met Mike. We chilled out before the sunset and we headed to Princess Bay to look for the comet.

Sunset at Princess Bay

There we are

Quite a few punters were there out comet spotting. The evening was so lovely. Warm, no wind, no swell. 

We despaired a bit because there was cloud right over Marlborough. I reckon too much watering of the vines, myself. Evaporation caused a cloud. Hahah.

But at about 10pm I spotted the comet. And you could see it with the naked eye with averted vision as a white hazy smudge. It was higher in the sky than I thought it would be.

Forgive the crooked horizon, but.... there is the comet! Atlas.

And the ferry in the foreground

Happy to see it

I was so happy we got to see it. Thanks for coming out two nights in a row, Mike. I feel like our lack of sleep was worth it.

Back home and off to bed. Up for gym at home for me and Mike went into town.

The weekend is looming. Just a lot of meetings between me and the weekend.

Have a great weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with my parents heading home to Aus

 Hi,

The cat content is at peak levels today, readers! Hahah.  We have had a run of good weather here. Stunning days since Friday. My parents got ready Tuesday morning to head home and their Uber came at 12.15pm and whisked them off. I got messages from them that they got home late our time after a wee delay on the plane. So good to have them here. They seemed to really love their holiday, Yay. I was very sad to see them go (and still sad as I type this).

Monday evening stunner

Smudge keeping me company

Both cats in the office with me

It was hot on Tuesday and the cats draped themselves all over the house in an attempt to avoid the sunshine.

Tuesday morning: last pats with Smudge

Moxley tucked up in her crate

Such a hot day

When Mike got home, we had tea and then watched some TV before driving off at 9.30pm to try and spot the comet. I suggested Makara. Hopeless as it did not see enough to the southwest. But I did see 3 of the planets that are currently aligned (along with Uranus - which you need a telescope to see). So I saw Venus, Jupiter and Mars easily.

It was the nicest evening. T shirt and shorts at 10pm on a beach. Unheard of. We popped up Wrights Hill to see if the height helped but it was too late by then and we disturbed the local astronomy club out looking at the night sky. Oops.

If it is clear we might try again tonight.

Comet hunting at Makara

Selfie in the dark

Up to ride in. I did not tighten one of my bike rack attachments and it fell off just up on Mairangi Road. Oops. Need to reattach that when I get home.

Met Mike after his gym for a French Kiss cart iced coffee.

Tuesday morning French Kiss cart iced latte

Chatted a lot to Juliet at work. And trying to get on top of things still. Have an awesome day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend that was a long one in Wellington

 Hi,

Big news from this weekend is that Janine finally got to Carkeek hut with Mike and Andrew. Huge effort and it must be such a pleasing feeling to achieve that.

Meanwhile, I was busy in Wellington. Thursday saw me ride home and nearly get skittled in the driveway for New World on Molesworth St. A ute was about to pull in, having driven up the road with the bike lane next to it - with many cyclists on it. One of which was me. He indicated. Good work, mate. Paused at the cycleway - so I thought, he can see me. So I continued along the cycle way. And then he went. Like - why did it pause if he wasn't even looking for bikes? Anyway, I slammed my brakes on. Did a wee skid. Stopped fine. He got a fright. Goose. Probably cursed cyclists even though he must have got a licence from a cereal packet.

This gave me a huge boost and I got my PB on the strava segment going up the hill. Shaved 5 seconds off. So happy.

Home before Catherine and Kate got back from their tramp. Walked to Burger Wisconsin and ate in the Plunket park with them.

Friday saw me at the gym in town for a long session with Quentin. Squats and deads. Ossshhh. 90 mins.  Then back to find Catherine and Kate gone already for their day. I got ready to ride with Maureen. Rode to Onslow College to meet her. Then we rode through Johnsonville and Tawa to Colonial Knob. Up the easy way to the lookout. Then up to the two higher tops. Great views. 

Halfway up - hi Callan and Stacey's house!

Views over Porirua

Views to south

Awesome ride back down to Spicer Forest. A lot of trail in the pine forest - over wee bridges and through wee creeks. We ended up in Ohariu Valley and up Old Coach Road. 3 hours and 50 km. So good. I loved it.

Back to pick up Catherine and a quick drive by into town to pick up Kate. Then out to the Hutt to get fish n chips with Sally on the beach. So nice.

Saturday saw me take Catherine and Kate to The Botanist. Kate loved that place. And it was delicious. Dropped them at the airport for their check in.  1pm. Then I tried to visit Kara but she was out.

Back home to tidy and get ready for my parents. Popped down to Bluebridge and they were off the ferry nice and quick. Good crossing for them.

Ferry terminal

New packaging for the Lewis Road iced coffee

Sunday morning iced latte

Chillies coming along

Vivienne

Xxx

Contemplation

So peaceful

Took Mum and Dad to see where Vivienne's resting spot is located. My mother appreciated the surrounds. Upsetting but good for Mum to see where Vivienne is now. All peaceful.

Took Mum and Dad to see Makara beach then back up Ohariu valley to get fuel for the car then home.

Then off to visit Helen and see Iona. Lunch there. Then picked up Maureen from her place and out to see Banksy.

Banksy was really good. He is thoughtful about what he does. And makes you really think about it. Hard hitting stuff in a stencil format. Wow.

Off to Joe's Garage to meet my parents. Lovely dinner. Then droped Iona at the airport and then Maureen off at her place. Saw Dave and his daughter and Jack and their wee dog walking just up from Maureen's place. Nice.

Monday was chill. Run for me. Then a tidying frenzy with Mum. Sally came over. We had a cup of tea then a walk with Mum in Otari Wilton bush. 2.5km. Back to the house. Mike and Andrew arrived after their mega tramp. Had some tea. Looked at photos.

And off to bed. Up for work today. Sunny again.

Parents leave at lunch time. Such a good visit.

Enjoy your day,

Love,

Angela