The weekend with birthday parties

 Hi,

Another big weekend. This one saw us celebrate Polly's 90th. Woot! Let's see how the weekend all unfolded.

Data brekkie Thursday morning

Te Papa - cool look at Britten bike

Friday I went with Mum into town and we parked near Te Papa and met Polly for lunch around 11.30am. Poked into some exhibits before going over the road to Te Tākina for lunch at the cafe. The food was a bit average - iced latte was good. The service was less than stellar with our main server being a bit impatient with us. Main issue being they made assumptions and did not realise that old people can't hear well when there is such loud ambient noise. They need to check their patrons and note the age of them is really quite high on average. So best be more considerate with your main customer base. In saying that - they had some very nice staff on that perhaps have already understood that. Maybe our server just didn't want to be there.

The experience doesn't make me want to rush back there.

Te Tākina cafe - was average

Walked a bit back to my work and got ready for dragon boating. Yes. I got a call up for a Friday evening race. Woot!

Mum models

Friday afternoon fun

I was in the second last row and seated next to Florrie and behind Emma. Great fun. We got on the water around 6.40pm and had our race. I think we came last in that heat. Strategic, obviously. I know the team did well on Saturday in the main races and came second in the Corporate C final. Good on them!

Waterfront

Stunning now

Walking back to the car

After the race we walked back to the car and headed to Kara's for a quick hello there. Mum has a really sore neck and back and Kara checked it out. I got some bath bombs and flowers from Kara. Awwww. Thank you Kara.

Saturday saw us up to get ready for Polly's party. Mike, Toby and I went to Maccas in Petone to set us up for success with terrible coffee and reasonable McMuffins and hot cakes. It worked.

Maccas yucky iced latte

Polly's cake

The food was looking great from Bella Italia - as was the cake. We put up the marquee that Sally and Andrew have in the shed. Our practise with Aidan's borrowed one for my birthday meant we got it up really fast. So I headed off to collect my mum and Helen and bring them back - with Toby along for the ride. We also had to stop off to get some beer and wine; we fitted that in and we were back 10 mins before kick off.

Sunny backyard

Bella Italia food looks so good

Under the marquee

Other end of the table

There it is

Toby chilling

It all went very well. Photos were shared after lunch. We saw Pop Kelly in one with Mike and Polly and Ron and Sophie. So nice. Oh - and Mike was holding Fred the cat. That pic was at Dunback. Awwww. Other photos were a perfect summary of Polly's main life highlights. Her nursing. Her marriage. Her kids. Her house and garden. And her fun times.

Cake and speeches

Flowers from Kara

Sunday was lovely to start with - but the weather slowly changed through the day.

Sunday stunner

Smudge models for us

At Seashore Cabaret

Mum and Toby and I went to Petone and had brunch at Seashore Cabaret while Mike did Callan's trapline.

Mum waits for her turmeric chai

Food is here

At Capitol

In the afternoon we went to Capitol for dinner. Polly was there already. Mike got out of the bush and came in with Sally and Andrew courtesy of Callan's personal uber service.

We had such a lovely meal. Capitol is owned by the parents of  Toby in Year 9 that meant our Toby changed his name to Roland at high school. So nice to meet them. The food was so good. The service was absolutely lovely. Thank you Polly and Mum for paying for a delightful meal and all your company.

Reading menus

Watching La La Land

Back home to watch La La Land. It was an ok movie. Went to bed quite late given we were up at 5am to take Toby to the airport for his 6am flight to chc.

Mike went to the gym and I drove home.

WFH today. Lunch with Ed and my mother at Ngaio today.

Hope your week is a good one.

Love,

Angela