The weekend with so much on

 Hi,

What a huge weekend. I made bread on Thursday during the afternoon. And headed into town to meet Sally and Andrew for tea. Mike came too and he went to his leadership meeting instead of dinner with us. We went to Nolita again. And yes, nice food. But odd service - even Sally and Andrew commented.

Sourdough

Dinner out before the Fold event

We left Nolita and had an ice cream at Cafe Eis on Courtney Place before meeting Mike and grabbing a quick bite at The Tasting Room ahead of the event at Hannah Playhouse.

The fold... unfolds

We attended a live broadcast of an episode of The Fold with Duncan Grieve. He had Bernard Hickey and Lucy Blakiston as guests and it was all around the media in Aotearoa and how they have both made their way in that space. Very good insights and commentary.

Took Sally and Andrew home and then back home to fall asleep. Up for a bike ride with Andrew after some much-needed bike maintenance.

Covered in invisible zinc - which is not invisible

Riding with Andrew

We went up to the sub station and up to the Skyline through the horse paddock. Then along to the top of Mt Kau Kau. Andrew was on his gravel bike - so the steep sections were quite the workout for his legs.

Got to the top of Mt Kau Kau

There we go

I had such fun. I made it up the top new windy bit without stopping on the hairpin turns. I had to touch down at the cattle stop at the top. I was chuffed. When I did it with Maureen there was quite a bit of toeing around the tight turns.

We rode down the pylon track behind Jo and Rex's house and then stopped at Chillax for a quick lunch before we got home and Andrew took off back home.

Back home and off to bed. Up early for our fantastic trip out to Mana Island. We were super early and enjoyed the quiet as the marina slowly came to live. We got to the car park on Marine View road at about 7:40am and it was nearly full by then. Perfect conditions for all sorts of boat owners.

Mana marina

Getting off at Mana Island

We got all 34 punters (one person was a no show) on board and we were away across the harbour to Mana Island by 8:50am. Such a calm day. After the slow chug out of the harbour, it was only about 10 mins over the open water to the island.

Love the rocks here

Dave gave us a great talk at the Woolshed about the island. And then we were off to explore. I had to queue to use the toilet and that took a while. But then Dave had sent most people around the island anti clockwise. So I said to Mike to go clockwise - like I did with Toby back in May 2019.

3 takahe

It turned out to be a great idea. We saw 3 takahe in the distance on the grassland at the bottom. Then headed up basically on our own up to the tops.

Selfie

A dead brown teal

Through the bush

Views are spectacular

Hey there Mike

We saw yellow crested parakeets, lots of piwakawaka, kareare, hawks, fernbirds.  Okay - a lot of birds. We met up with the others walking the opposite way along the tops where the muttonbird burrows are situated. And Mike and I had our lunch at the trip at the northern end.

Feet on the tops

I see Mike

Along the tops where the muttonbirds nest

Waving at Sally M and Andrew B - they are both in this pic

Striding along the path

I love the sign

Pointing out the landmarks

Trig at top

I saw a seat that Toby sat on back in May 2019Took a pic of Mike on it.

Toby on the seat in May 2019

The bush has grown up so much since then. How cool to see the proof of the success of the work.

Mike on the same seat in Feb 2025

Walking back down

I enjoy the beach while Mike runs the island course

I sat on the beach while Mike ran around the island. He did the 6 km in about 48 mins. Which is pretty good considering he had just walked it, only had tramping pants instead of shorts and it was steep and hot. Well done.

Paua

Caught up with Sally

After we got dropped back at Mana marina, we caught up with Sally at Kafe Oranje in Plimmerton. Good to get an iced latte.  Sally is good. She had a good summer. We popped into her place so Mike could see her lovely house.

We got home and changed before we walked over to visit Sarah, Hamish and Ryan. It was a late birthday dinner for Ryan. Pizza and a very cool spooky cake. Lots of fun. Good to catch up with them.

Dinner with the James family - and Ryan's birthday cake

More bread - sourdough

Sunday saw me make bread. Toby got a migraine and went home from work in Chc. Mike got the garage tidied and the laundry stuff all put away. Off to bed nice and early.

Monday morning cats

Mike woke with a migraine Monday morning. Sigh. I took his gym session with an online session with Quentin.

Gym session

Squats.  45kg. 5 reps x 4 sets.

And now the day stretches ahead of us. Big day for work. Pilot tonight for the big project going live soon.

Woot!

Have a great week.

Love,

Angela