The Tuesday working from home

 Hi,

Tell me you know Angela worked from home, without telling me she worked from home.  Yep. Cat pics. I was the only one in the office (Mike worked in town). And yet, the cats decided the best place to sleep the day away was with me. Awwww. Moxley in her crate and Smudge curled up on fabric things on the desk.

Moxley snoring contentedly

Sleeping on my Surface bag

Yes - this was my sleep on Monday night!

Now curled up on my headphones case

I had such a good sleep on Monday night - so I checked my Garmin for the sleep stats. It backed up my comatose sleeping. Wow. 

Tuesday after work, Mike got home. We had some tea. The groceries arrived. Okay - nothing in that exact order.

Watched some YouTube. Tried to link the car to its app. No luck. Again. Off to bed. Slept well again. But pretty normal amounts. Hahah.

Up to ride in. Mike is working from home this morning because the air con people are coming to service them both. Yippee. They actually found issues last time. Hopefully we get a clean bill of health this time.

Mike will come in at lunch. We will run after work with Janine and then Otto for some tea.

Have a great day!

Love,

Angela

The Monday with WFH

 Hi,

Worked from home yesterday and Mike pretty much stayed in bed the entire day due to his migraine. Poor guy.

Garage gym

Lemons for Quentin

Migraine Mike surrounded by cats

Sourdough

I did make sourdough in the evening.  Yay! Turned out okay. Work went well - Celia certainly gave us the best chance to hit the target with her skills at pulling us all into alignment. And there were barely any issues with the go live. Woot!

I had a lowkey headache all day. Dunno why. We had dinner (I made corn ribs in the air fryer - pretty good but a faff to cut lengthwise). And then I went to bed. And by 8pm I was out like a light. I could not stay awake at all. Missed the 8.30pm Monday night alarm to take out the rubbish. Missed the 9pm alarm to charge the car (Mike said I woke up and asked what that was - and he said it is not morning and to go back to sleep. So I did. Readers - I do not remember this). Slept until 6am alarm this morning. And then maybe even another 20 mins after that.

But I felt fine at the garage gym PT session with Quentin. Bench. 42.5kg 2 reps x 5 sets. And the accessories were so hard. Shoulder press. Tricep kick backs. Tricep dips. Arm raises. Push ups. 

And working from home again today. Groceries coming. Yippee.

Have a great day!

Love,

Angela

The weekend picking up the new car in Chc and driving back

 Hi,

When we worked from home on Thursday, Moxley was outside and got bailed up by Tenzing and ended up with a scratch on her nose. It looks ok but we're just checking. This is her first encounter with a cat that is not just telling her to back off and give her space (Smudge's MO).

Nose is scratched courtesy of Tenzing

I found 2 tomatoes that have actually changed colour. So I have taken them off the plants to ripen. But the plants have wilt now. Waaaah. So sad.

Not sure how many will survive to ripen.

First tomatoes

Friday saw me get an Uber at 6.30am to the airport. Got on my Jetstar flight at 7.45am (it was actually a bit later than that - maybe more like 8am). But it made up time and I was only about 5 mins late.

Friday morning Jetstar flight to Chc

Toby and Tessa picked me up in Tessa's car and with lectures cancelled we went to Little Poms for brekkie.

At Little Poms

Picked up Mike's cap

Walk to uni

Then back to Toby and Tessa's place before walking to uni for a lecture with Toby. Identity one. Māori one - this lecture was about early Chinese history as a marginalised (very!) part of the society here. Great stuff to learn about.

Then Toby and I caught a bus to the dealer and picked up the car. Will handed over the keys and I drove off, trying to learn about the car as we went.

Picked up the car

There it is!

Keys from Will

Back to check in at The Coachman. Dropped Toby home. Went for a run and to meet Tessa at the UC gym. But I overshot the crucial road and ended up a bit far away. Oops. Got to the gym and did a session with Tessa. She is really strong! A bit of PT work and she would be smashing it!

Back to change and then meet at the South Garden chinese restaurant in Brake St, just over the road from Toby's work at Woolies.

Steph, Sam, Angus and Hayden joined us. That place was delicious. Would recommend. And we could all walk to it. Well, the Ilam people could.

Back to a good sleep at The Coachman. Then up to Park Run. Except the rain meant I just stayed in bed. Oops.

Checked out and picked up Toby and Tessa. Went to Oddfellows but it was Scone Saturday. So we had a scone and coffee. Then went to another cafe for eggs.  Moment Cafe. Very nice.

Saturday iced latte at Oddfellows

Work of art

Yep

Second one at cafe in town. What was it called?

Moment cafe. That is what it was called. Very nice. I had the French Toast. Would go there again.

Then Toby and I dropped Tessa off and then headed north. I was getting used to the car as we went. The Adaptive Cruise Control is pretty amazing.

As we went over the 80km zone north of Cheviot, I got pulled over for speeding. The cruise control was not handling the 80km zone and uphill curves. It dropped my speed to 40 for one of them. So I put my foot on the accelerator. Came over the hill onto a flat bit - and was doing over 80 before I even noticed. But I noticed the police car lights immediately. Oops.

We started from Chc with almost a full charge. Except for the drive to The Coachman and our brekkie places. By the time we got to Kaikōura, we had about 10% left. 30k range. Got to the ChargeNet charger on Westend - but it was busy. So found the New World one. As it charged, Toby and I went to the pub over the road. Enjoyed some drinks and chips.

Pub across from New World in Kaikōura

Looking staunch

Picked up the car with 85% charge and dropped Toby off to wait for his bus at 4.30. I left about 4pm from there.

Got to Blenheim just after 5pm. Maybe around 5.20. Checked the garage progress at Iona and Col's house. Then headed to Vicky and Alistair's place for dinner there. So good to see everyone and catch up with their news. Alistair's dad is quite sick so that might be a sad thing soon. Sending lots of hugs their way. Vicky told me about enjoying meeting my mother especially. Hahah.

Our old laundry tub is a feature in the lounge - hello Twigg

Stitch extracted

It was so painless

When we got back after tea, Iona decided to operate and take my stitch out. Col watched on but I found it too scary. I softened up the site by soaking in warm water. Then there was a lot of squeezing at the end where the stitch was trying to escape. But once it poked out, Iona got it and easily took it out. I felt absolutely nothing. I was so surprised.

Off to bed around 11pm. Up at 5.30. Groan. I am sorry to do that to them! Into the ferry queue at 6.30am. And onto the boat and away on time at 7.45am.

Ferry queue

Lovely smooth sailing. Bit of a wee swell in the strait. An older woman fell in front of us - where I was sitting next to some young travellers. But she was ok. Sat for a bit then wandered off. Lucky. Could have been worse.

Mike was away running with Janine so I had the house and cats to myself. Found more tomatoes that were ready.

Tomatoes have ripened

Scratch still visible

When Mike got home we drove up to Waikanae. I tried a wee run while Mike used the fast charger at Waikanae Beach.

Kapiti

Kapiti

Love this view

Meanwhile, just behind the dunes, the car charges up

Then back for the trickle charge at home. Then to bed.

Monday morning at 2am Mike woke with a migraine. So he is tucked up in bed. I took his PT session at the last minute in the garage. Deadlifts.  70kg. 4 x 4. Very nice start  to my day.

Lovely day here in the capital. The big project went live at work. Go grab a coffee when you refuel your car.

Enjoy your week.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with a goodbye for Nicole

 Hi,

We had a team lunch yesterday at Rosies to get together for the first time. And the last time too. Changes are coming at work. But also - Nicole had her last day. So the lunch was good timing for that.

Best olives at Cuckoo

After work we went to Cuckoo for a while. They have the best olives so I took a pic of it. There were a bunch of us there. Myra, Liam, Jill, Abbie, Hope, Nicole and Lisa. Good to chat before Nicole starts her new job on Monday. Smash it, Nicole!

Headed home. Did not feed the cats because Mike said he had done that. But Moxley was all in my face like she was starving. Into the pantry every time I was in the kitchen. Hahah. Biting me. But I gave her some attention and she settled down on top of me. Maybe that was what she wanted.

Moxley was very needy in the evening

Sourdough

Made bread. Moxley was not impressed I kept getting up. Hahah. Mike got home and we were not long out of bed.

Up for garage PT session this morning for me. Squats. 40kg because I felt rusty. But they came right. 5 reps x 4 sets. Mike drove in for his gym session but will come home to work here too. There is some sort of scaffolding work getting done in our office. So home it is!

Weekend beckons for me. I have an early flight on Jetstar to Chc tomorrow morning. Then uni with Toby (if he lets me). Will meet the salesperson at the car yard to pick up the car at 1.30pm. Chill with Toby and Tessa. Then park run Saturday. Check out and drive to Kaikōura. Toby will catch the bus back at 4.30pm. And onwards to Blenheim for a quick dinner and sleep before the early ferry Sunday back to Wellington with the new car.

Woot!

Enjoy your weekend.  Stay safe in southern Queensland and northern NSW with that cyclone coming.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday working from home

 Hi,

I worked from home yesterday and managed to get washing done from the weekend and look at my tomatoes and worry.

Moxley in her crate

The cats were happy I was home - so that was at least something good. We have got a bit of a change in weather. Cooler. And today (Wednesday ) wetter.

After work I fed the cats and myself and watched You Tube videos on the new car we have bought. Seems like a good model by the reviews I saw. Mike got home after work and I was already in the bath and reading a book. So he joined me and caught me up with all his news.

Then off to bed. 

Woke to rain so I changed to bus in. Yes, I am soft. Got wet running to the bus stop. But it had stopped raining at the other end and I got to work fairly dry. But as I sat there getting ready for the day, it hosed down outside. Then I chatted to Dave and he said he got in while it was dry - but it was super windy. So all in all, I am happy I was soft today.

I am soft so caught the bus

Work iced latte and Shane

Got an iced latte at work with Shane. He is recovering from a migraine and not feeling on top of his game today.  Poor guy.

Nicole leaves work today too. So lunch for her. And Cuckoo after work to say goodbye.  I see cyclones heading for Brisbane so I hope that amounts to as little damage as possible. Yikes.

Andrew is off south for his Aspiring adventures. I am quite jealous. He picks up the RAV4 this morning and drives to Wānaka and it all starts tomorrow.

Enjoy your day, even if it is not as exciting as Andrew's day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday working from the Chc office

 Hi,

Mike and I had a day working at the Chc office. We drove the RAV4 there and had brekkie with Martyn to start our day.

Brekkie Monday at Strange Bandit

Flight home

Toby and Tessa came for lunch where we did a rinse and repeat - but with Callan instead of Martyn. Hahah.

Then after work when the rain had finally hit, we packed up, said goodbye to people and dropped Callan ta the airport. We met Toby and Tessa at the chinese place in the Spitfire plaza. Had a great meal. Their salt and pepper tofu is delicious.

Then Tessa drove her car home and Toby took us to the airport  and dropped us off. We met Callan once we got through to the gate. And had an uneventful flight home. Nice and fast. Grabbed our car from the parking garage. Got home. Fed the cats. Watered my poor dried up tomatoes. And off to bed for a great sleep.

Up for a PT session with Quentin in the garage gym. 40kg bench. 3 reps x 5 sets. And then shoulder and arm work. Tough.

Have a great day, wherever you are. My parents are in Japan and loving it! Good on them.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Chc and a new car

 Hi,

What a huge weekend. Thank you, Ange, for the pics of Moxley and Smudge (okay - mainly Moxley) and for looking after them.

Thursday riding home I got stung by a wasp. It crawled into my helmet up by my left hairline. I felt it start to sting me as I rode up the steep part of Pitt St. Stopped and pulled my helmet off and tried to get rid of it. I never saw it. But wow - did it hurt a lot. It is now just a red spot and a little itchy. Mike got me antihistamine so that was good.

We headed away Friday morning to catch a flight to Chc. Dramfest weekend. That meant Sunday was busy for Mike. :-p

Friday morning flight down

I have my iced latte and Mike does not

This was the first time Toby has picked us up in the car at the airport. I was so proud. He was in the pick up zone with Tessa and we walked out and jumped in. He took us to work and we order brekkie at Strange Bandit and caught up with Martyn.

Hey Martyn

But Toby had a lecture at 10am. So he and I left before brekkie arrived and Ubered to uni. Toby bought us a notebook and pen each and we walked into the lecture hall separate.

Off to uni with Toby

I took notes in the lecture

Turns out that despite 200 odd people in the theatre, a student deduced Toby and I were related.  I was in the second row and I didn't even know where Toby was.  So I was not looking around.

Yet, during the lecture, Toby was snapchatted by someone saying they could tell his mother was in the lecture too. Apparently our hair looks the same from the back.

2 hours of forensic psychology. It was good fun. I loved it.

We picked Mike up after work and went into town. Riverside area. And had some dinner at an upstairs place before going to Rollickin.

Back to the motel and Toby dropped us off and they went home. Good sleep for us. Then up for a bus ride in. $4 each for a 2 hour ticket. The #5 bus left from our motel and we got off at the hospital and walked through the gardens.

Hagley Parkrun was fast and hot - and so many people! 787 finishers with a chaotic 'yeah just go everyone!' start. They ran their alternate route, out and back around the perimeter of Hagley Park. I did it in 33 mins thanks to Mike. And I sat for a bit while he did another 5k. But by then Toby and Tessa had picked a cafe for brekkie. So I walked over to The Quad Eatery. Such a lovely old building. Mike got there soon enough and we had a great brekkie.

Peace bell on the way to park Run

Flowers in the botanic gardens

Dahlia

Stairs

Post park run

Triple spotto

Fountain

Quad eatery

Handsome

Gorgeous

Pre parkrun

On the Parkrun

Post parkrun

Post postparkrunrun

Found an old Routemaster bus as we walked around. It had a few signs up - and one was the 159 route.  We used to use this one a lot - and the 59.  So I took a pic or two.

The 159 - I used to carry Toby onto this bus

Like old times

Our new car

 Back to shower and then out to test drives some cars. Except we picked our first one - a MG ZS EV. And took it on the motorway and up to Sign of the Kiwi. And decided there was no other better option.

And bought the car!  OMG!

Went out for some lunch after that at the gardens. A lovely wee cafe.  

Curator at the gardens

Scoundrel - Moko and Maru

Then in the evening, met Ana and Daniel and the dogs at Scoundrel. So good to catch up on their news. And play with their gorgeous dogs.

Sunday saw me and Mike up and heading to Poms for a run in the Red Zone area along the Avon river.  I did 3k and Mike did 5k. They've done a lot of work to landscape the area since we were here last. They've done a great job and all this parkland along the river is a great asset to the city.

Run in the red zone area

Hot work

Tessa got to Little Poms and we had brekkie. Then back for a shower. And off to Riccarton market at the old racecourse there. So lovely.

Iced latte at Little Poms

Riccarton market

Dropped Mike at his Dramfest, Then Toby got home and we headed to Lyttleton and the ferry over to Diamond Harbour after grabbing some drinks and fruit from the greengrocer and Toby's work.

Lyttleton harbour

Diamond Harbour

Waiting for our ferry

Views from Diamond Harbour

Picnic

We scoffed the fruit in the shade (such a hot day - 29C).  And decided to go for a walk. Then saw that Mike was now at Poms. So we rushed to the ferry and managed to jump on at the last min. Headed back and found Mike at the pub. Had some drinks and nibbles before going home.

Good sleep. Up to work from the office here. Flight home tonight.  

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela