The weekend at home being lazy

Hi,

What a lazy, lovely weekend.  I could have more of those, I reckon.  The wind was pretty fierce for most of the weekend - and Saturday had lashings of rain to mix in nicely.  Needless to say, I didn't do anything very physical.

Saturday was largely spent lazing in bed with Mike while Toby played with his mates online.  We read and watched movies.  It was really rather pleasant for a change.  I made tea - lemon tarragon chicken.  Toby loved it - he ate all the leftovers.  We have to cook that one again.

Lemon tarragon chicken was a huge hit!

Sunday wasn't quite an action replay.  We put on bread so that got us up early - Mike and I ate bread for breakfast at the dining table around 8am.  Then I spotted a sunny part of the couch and sat there reading for a good long while.  Bliss.

Ange came around after lunch to see Smudge (and maybe us as well).  Then I went grocery shopping with her.  She likes the Countdown at Crofton Downs - where I have to get my Rooibos supply.

The boys wanted Indian takeaway for tea - so I didn't have to cook.  Just ironed my way to the evening.

This morning is lovely - the sunrise was stunning as I rode in.  

Monday sunrise

I hope to get up for a ski day this coming weekend.  Fingers crossed the weather plays ball.  Week ahead looks good.

Have an awesome day!  Birthday week for my sisters.  Woot!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Andrew in the capping parade and Wednesday at home sick

Hi,

Tuesday was a great day.  I had a meeting with Ed and he bought me an iced coffee.  Mmmmm.

We also had a morning tea Marmite taste test for some of the recent influx of immigrants in our team that have never grown up with Marmite.  We had Vegemite and British Marmite to compare and contrast.  Eugene also supplied salmon roe and we all tried that too.  Turns out that no one had any strong aversion to any of it.  We must all be super adaptable.  But there were favourites.  Hahahah.

Then Mike and I caught up with Philippa to celebrate her birthday the day before.  We went to Rahzoo and ate lots.  As we were winding down the lunch, Sally rang and said Andrew was in the capping parade and passing our work right then.  So, I leapt out of my seat and told Mike and Philippa we had to run.  They were very obliging and ran with me.

As we got to Lambton Quay, Andrew was just passing.  Luckily Philippa lent me her voice and the chap next to Andrew noticed we were yelling for him and he nudged Andrew.  We got a huge grin and wave from Andrew.  It was a really special moment for me to see Andrew in the parade after all his effort over the past two years.  Good on him!  A masters degree.  Andrew has a few photos on Facebook.  I was so excited I forgot to take a photo.

Iced coffee with Ed at Mixed Business

Marmite tasting

More Marmite tasting

Anyway, I didn't feel well that evening at home and when I woke up I decided it was best to stay home.  I had to cancel a lot of meetings for Wednesday.  But eventually I could curl up in bed and recover.

The boys got home and I sorted out dinner for them.

But this morning I could have easily stayed home again because I woke just as a migraine was starting.  Groan.  So I took the bus in, because physical activity isn't the best when my head is a little tender.  Hahah.  So long as the day goes smoothly and I have no invitations to a mosh pit at a heavy metal concert, I should be sweet!

This morning's sunrise

Right.  Time to kick start the day.  Maybe a cup of tea will make everything better.  Enjoy your day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with lunch with Josh

Hi,

And the nice weather continues into the week.  Tuesday was really quite pleasant.  And I got to have lunch with Josh at the dumpling place, so that was good fun!  Caught up with his news.

When it was time to ride home, Mike gave me the car keys.  Turns out he had the car right over the road and it needed shifting before the parking ticket expired.  So I moved it!  All the way home!

Cooked tea for Mike and Toby - things buried in the freezer for ages.  Mike was so proud of me using up stuff.  We want the freezer and fridge to be emptied ahead of our trip to Nepal.

I need to get onto keeping the mailbox cleared while we're away too.  We get junk mail, so that needs to be cleared out.  I might ask the neighbour.

Busy at work leading up to being away.  My ride into work this morning was so nice.  Dry roads - warm wind.  I pedalled like mad.  Hahah!  Can't wait for the ride home.

Toby is back at school and Mike said he was in a positive mood this morning.  Which is a bit different to how I left him, so Mike obviously worked some Dad charm on him.  Good work!

Have a magnificent day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with jabs!

Hi,

Ooooo - I feel a bit tired this morning.  Yesterday Mike and Toby came into town and met me at the Travel Doctor near the Green Man pub.  We got all our jabs for Nepal.  I got typhoid and hep A.  So did Toby.  Mike got MMR!  Apparently he is the exact age to have missed immunity.

We went home and I jumped back in the car and went grocery shopping.  We needed some stuff.  I never did the grocery shopping for the week at the weekend.  The mountain of ironing was more than enough housework for one day!

Anyway, I got home and Mike helped unpack the groceries.  I pretty much went to bed straight away.  I tried to read but it was hard to keep my eyes open.  Mike and Toby bonded over Rick and Morty again.  And when Mike came to bed, I really, really couldn't stay awake.  In fact, I think I fell asleep despite Mike talking on the phone in the bed next to me.

When the alarm went off at 5am, I was completely asleep.  That never happens.  I went for a wee run, but I am quite tuckered out now.  I think the combination of jabs and deep sleeps and early morning runs has made me a bit sleepy today.  Oops.

My arm is a little tender where the jabs went in.  I suspect Mike and Toby probably feel the same.

Still, nothing on tonight.  I get to ride home and make dinner and sort out Toby (he is off sick again today!).

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday that went

Hi,

Wow - it was an action-packed Monday in the end.  I managed a lunch with Aidan and caught up with her news.  I made her a bread roll, which I make for others besides Mike and Toby every now and then.  So they all know what they are missing out on.  Hahah!  But I only make them for other people on very special occasions.  I wouldn't want anyone to get complacent with my lunch making skills.  I suspect Mike and Toby might already be dabbling in a bit of lunch complacency.  "Lunch complacency"?  Yep, I've named it and now it is a "thing".

Sally and Andrew have been busy.  They went to Nelson at the weekend, and bought a house!  Woot!  I have seen the photos from the real estate website and it looks lovely.  The offer has been accepted and now they just need a LIM and building report to come through and it's theirs.  It's part of their retirement plans - at this stage.  Obviously things could change, but this is a move in a direction they are considering.

Ooooohhhh.  Nelson.  I love Nelson.  Ever since that summer holiday we had when I was 10 years old.  We stayed in central Nelson, at a motor camp, and we had a caravan rented.  The motor camp doesn't exist anymore.  But my memories remain.  Long, hot summer days.  Beach swimming.  Crystal clear water.  My parents bought me an awesome comic that summer.  A Justice League of America one that was a rollicking adventure.  I had that comic for years.  I still remember Supergirl resuscitating Wonder Woman by using air from a car tyre.  Hahah!  And the song was "Howzat" by Sherbert that was huge that summer.  And dairies sold these bright drinks in the shape of a water pistol.  Oh yeah - Nelson summers!  And we got torches that Christmas.  Mine was beige.  Someone had a blue/green one.

Anyhow, I digress.  House!  Woot!!

Mike and Toby picked me up from work on their way home from an appointment.  We got home and I cooked tea (lasagne) while Mike and Toby worked on homework.  We ate yummy lasagne and chatted away over dinner.  I heard really dubious baby jokes.   Then I tidied up a few things (my old wardrobe downstairs for one) and relaxed in bed reading while Mike did loads of homework.  Apparently his frantic typing was nowhere near enough to keep me awake.

Up today to catch the bus in.  It was an uneventful bus ride.  Hahah.  Can't wait to ride my bike home though.

Right.  Let me sort out the day ahead.

Have a lovely day!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with dinner with Ange

Hi,

Ok.  I had an iced coffee with Sally (work colleague) during the day.  But I'm not sure that counts as anything work related.  Sally just got back from a holiday so I heard about it.  Sounded - warm!

Mixed Business goodness

Well, after a rather nondescript day at work (apart from the iced coffee), I did get a huge bonus in the evening.  Ange invited me around to her place for tea.  The My Food Bag meal-for-two for this week was a fish curry.  Ooooo.  What an awesome night to be invited.  It was scrumptious.

I waited (im) patiently for Mike to get home, having already made dinner for Toby.  Then I was off and out of there and up at Ange's place pretty quick.  The dinner was almost ready so I was soon sitting down and scoffing yummy curry.

We chatted away for ages and although it got to 8.30pm and I was getting more and more horizontal on the couch, the conversation perked me up and I stayed another hour.  So way past my bedtime!

Got home and Toby was having a restless night due to his tummy aches.  We have him booked into the doctor again today.

The weekend beckons, but let's just see what happens, eh?  Mike is off tramping.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with parent teacher interviews

Hi,

Oh - complicated logistics!  I live for them!  Not.  But it all seemed to go like clockwork.  Toby got off the bus in town and came to work.  He started homework by my desk and then I left and drove to Scots for the interviews.

I had a few hours of them lined up.  You get 5 minutes with each teacher on a strict timed routine.  I saw the majority of them before Mike got there.  He had a dental appointment, followed by Toby.  And Sally collected Toby from the dentist and took him out for tea.

All rather complicated.  But, as I say, it worked well.  During a break in the interviews, Mike and I also went out for tea.  Mike found a great pub with nice food and I had a terrific steak.  Mmmmm.

Back to finish the interviews and home.  I was in the wee green car and Mike was in the silver bullet.  We raced each other through the suburbs back to the motorway before he continued to Lower Hutt to collect Toby from Sally's place.

So, reasonably successful.  Also raided Toby's locker and cleared out rubbish.  Found an old sock.  That sort of thing.

Right.  Time to kick start the day.  I did meet Aidan off her late bus this morning.  That was a pleasant surprise.  I think it was the first time since March I met her off her bus.  She usually drives in these days.  But she chose one of the coldest mornings of the year to catch the bus in.

Have a wonderful day.  It's wet here.  And so cold.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Christine's birthday

Hi,

Had a good weekend.  The weather was astonishing on Saturday.  It rained cats and dogs.  It also happened to be Christine's birthday.

I went grocery shopping with Aidan beforehand.  Mike took the boys and Isaac and Jake to bowling.  Aidan may debate it, but I think we got the best deal.  We had to get the lunch supplies for the school camp week.  Mission accomplished.  Although Mike let Toby eat some crucial supplies so we had to go out again on Sunday!  Hahaha.


Saturday afternoon saw Aidan and me early at Hippopotamus for the high tea for Christine's birthday.  It was fun, and I am pleased I have tried it.  But the high tea I had with Karen and Sally in Sydney was better.  A buffet where I could eat the savoury things was far better.  This one had lots of sweet things.  But it was good fun.  We met Sarah and Kim, both friends of Christine's.

High Tea at Hippopotamus

We may have been the last ones there

Tasty

Aidan dropped me home and I took the boys out.  Mike to a party and Isaac home.  Then Toby and I chilled at home.  He wanted sushi, and I had all the ingredients so I made it.  It was yummy.

Saturday night sushi

Toby and I watched Top Gun for our Saturday night movie.  Hahahah.  It was great fun!

As I got into bed, Mike texted to say he was leaving his party and walking home.  SO I threw on my sandals and a top and drove out to find him.  He was chuffed!

Next morning we were up early for breakfast at Drexels with Lesley and Wally.  Celia made it too, with her girls, Eva and Charlie.  We had such a good time.  Toby loved the girls.

Sunday morning brekkie

The coluring-in was a huge success - even for Mike

Hello Lesley!

Under the table fun - Toby is getting a bit big for it - his knees are around his ears!

After that it was time for the fridge move out of Christine's kitchen and up to Auckland.  Lucky we had three strong guys.

Fridge on the move

Fridge descending Mt Vic

After saying goodbye to Wally, Lesley and the fridge, we had a cup of tea on the porch, enjoying the view.  The music from Home Grown was awesome.  Crash and Burn.  I like that song.

Went home and made cookies for Toby's camp week.  They were amazing.  I should bake more often!

ANZAC cookies.

I also noticed an anal tendency in Mike I never knew existed.  He'd lined up all the clothes pegs in colour order.  Freakish behaviour.  I think his Dad would say he was exhibiting migrainous behaviour.

My husband exhibiting anal tendencies I never knew he had

Got up early today for my run.  It was ok - the day was still and dry.  Lovely.  T-shirt weather for the ruin still.  Then the boys were out of the house by 7am and collected by Josh.  He was dropping them at the ferry terminal and heading to the airport.  Turns out both Mike and Josh are in Chch for the day!

Have an awesome week.  We're childless this week.  Usually all that means is we work longer hours at work.  Hahahah.  But if I get some nice meals out, I'll be happy.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with not much - but the Tuesday with my birthday!

Hi,

I rode home last night and enjoyed the ride so much.  I felt like a machine.  But when I was describing my ride home to Mike later, I realised it was a southerly and must have assisted me up the hill.  Pants.  Just when I thought I was getting fitter.  Hahahah.

Toby showing Mike something they both agree is great

We had a lovely evening at home.  Relaxing.  I was in bed quite early and read a lot before falling asleep.  Woke up to a stunning birthday morning.  Went for my run and there was not a breath of wind.

View from our house

I drove in this morning because I have fancy birthday lunch plans with Aidan and then Mike has even fancier birthday evening plans for me.  It involves a movie (about Iceland) and dinner.  Mmmmm.  It's going to be a great day!

And look!  Even Google knows it's my birthday!

Happy birthday Angela - love from Google

Cityscape this morning

Sally and Andrew's building

Right.  Must be time for a cup of tea before the madness of a normal working day starts.  The day is beautiful here.  Hope you have a little bit of Angela birthday weather wherever you are today too.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Toby duties

Hi,

Monday was a blur of work - frantically busy for most of it.  But it did pass pretty quick.  Then Toby was at work and we headed off in the car to his appointment.  That went well and from there we headed back into town to collect Mike.

Once all three of us were in the car, we drove out towards Scots and found the yummy Mexican place closed on Mondays.  Stink.  I remembered Jo saying Gasworks was ok for family meals so we went there.  Toby loved his burger.  But the chicken wings were dry husks and my steak was tough.  No wonder I got given a knife Crocodile Dundee would have been proud to use.  Not high on our list of places to re-visit.

Off to see the Fergusson reception and meet other parents and teachers.  We saw inside Toby's locker and it was remarkably tidy.  Wow!  We have some plans for helping him get organised and hopefully he has an amazing year.

Back home and I was asleep in seconds, once in bed.  Slept right through until my alarm at 5am.  Got up for my run and did an alright time.  The wind has died down and the rain cleared away and the roads were dry.  Good news for my bike ride into work too.

Busy day today again.  And Jack is in town this afternoon so Toby is catching up with him.  And we're all invited to Parliament to Mai's book launch.  Wow.  How cool.

Have a fantastic day. I know I will.  It is off to a wonderful start.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with dinner at Christine's place

Hi,

I rode home yesterday and enjoyed it, although the wind had got up to a decent amount for the first time in ages.  Still, it wasn't too bad a ride at all.

I cooked tea for Toby and Mike came home just as I finished that.  So we swapped duties and I drove in to see Christine.  She cooked me a lovely dinner.  Wow.

Her pinny looked great

And the dinner looked even better

She cooked a rack of lamb with a crust she made from pistachios, Parmesan and lime juice.  Nom, nom.

We watched a harrowing mini series (well, I got through two episodes) featuring Tom Hardy (an actor Christine is taken with) while Christine mended my two items of clothing.  Her comment on Toby's hole in his blazer pocket was he should have brought it to her before the hole got so big her hand could fit through the hole.  But when she saw my pyjamas, she was astonished.  It wasn't so much a hole as a entire new opening really.

But, our clothes look great again!  Woot!  Thanks so much.

I got home late for me and fell into bed.  Mike was working so I never really saw him because I was asleep when he got into bed.

Up for my run this morning and it was tough.  I was so lethargic.  And I didn't feel great.  But I ran and made it through 5km.

Right.  Time for tea.  It's Mary's birthday today.  We have an iced coffee date.  Mmmmm.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with nothing much - for a change

Hi,

I did go and look after Toby, Emerson and Duncan on Friday night at their house while Mike went out to play with Jackie, Josh and Aidan.  Well, I was in the house.  Supervision might be a loose interpretation of what I was doing.  I got them burgers and they scoffed those then went to play on the computer.  So I got comfortable on the couch.  Tickled Lulu.  And fell asleep.  I reckon I had a good two hour nap.  Woke up when they all got home.

Reading on the couch

Mike tickling Lulu on the bed

Took the boys home and watched an awesome documentary on honey badgers.  Honey badgers seem to be like Tasmanian Devils.  Voracious for their size.  Smart.  Loads of character.  Toby and I watched it all, fascinated.  Mike's night out caught up with him and he snored through it.

Mike cooking breakfast

Next morning Mike got up and make me some toast.  Mmmmm.  And a cup of tea.  Mmmmm.  And stayed in his towel for ages.  Hahahah.  I went out to collect Aidan for an exercise class with her.  Barre.  It was so hard.  It probably didn't help that I forgot my water at home and had to share Aidan's supply.  But I made it through the hour intact.  I dropped Aidan home and went back to do some chores at home.

We did a minimal amount of work, really before Andrew called in the afternoon and asked for some IT help.  So we went around there.  After finding out the weed sprayer was perfectly fine because the missing pieces were actually inside the backpack.  Oops.  And talking to the neighbours for an hour.

But we got to Sally and Andrew's place and Sally and I went shopping for a BBQ.  Mike cooked it up and then we had the brazier.  Such fun.

Brazier night

I heard a camera!

Eventually I took the boys home and we fell into bed, exhausted.

Sunday breakfast

When I got up on Sunday, I read on Facebook that our neighbour had found a new cafe in Wadestown.  We exchanged posts and then Mike got up and went to get breakfast from there!  Look at that!  Le Marquis.  Very nice food.

Then Emerson and Duncan arrived to play and I went for my run.  Did a good time.  Not my best, but pretty good.  And then I went to see Christine.  She is good too.  Still has a sore shoulder though.  Brian fed us and then I helped Christine move Tom's bedroom around.

Back home and Mike cooked tea and I ironed.  Boring.  Then into bed to watch Time Team America from 2014.  Awesome.  I fell asleep within 20 minutes.  But never mind.

Have a wonderful week.  A short one for us in New Zealand.  Waitangi Day is on Friday.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with annual leave

Hi,

It was the best idea ever to take Toby's last day of school holidays off and sort stuff out.  We got up early and had a nice breakfast at Bethel Woods.  From there, Toby and I went to get his haircut.  He looks so gorgeous now.

Toby had decided what he wanted to do more than anything on a day off with his mother, was to spend it with Emerson and Duncan.  So I didn't get a look in after 9.30 when I dropped him at the docks to meet Jackie and the boys.  She was taking them over to Days Bay for a swim.

I jumped in the car and headed to Scots to get a few things for Toby's uniform and term 1.  That went really well and I was back in town by 10.45am.

I collected Aidan from work and we went to lunch (early) at La Cloche.  It was so good.  I haven't seen Aidan for ages, so I was chatting away to her.  I'm surprised her ear didn't fall off.

Aidan eating escargot

Scrumptious!

I think Aidan's face more reflects concern with me taking photos while she eats, rather than the thing she is eating causing any concerns.  The escargot were really yummy.  Aidan loved the garlic butter and dipped bread into it afterwards.  It was so good.  I had an iced coffee, but there was something missing.  it was only a 5 or a 6 at best.  Aidan liked the place so we'll try and get back, and I can check if this was a one-off iced coffee fail, or just their interpretation.  Andrew and I ordered iced coffee aplenty in France, although it had a different name.  Cafe liegeois.  Maybe that's what I need to ask her in this establishment.

Cafe glace.  Without the accents on the e's.  But it was ok.  I've tasted better in France.

I dropped Aidan off at work and was home before midday.  The washing machine repairer was due between 12 and 4.  I weeded while waiting.  Nothing.  Then later in the afternoon I got a call to collect Jackie and the boys from the docks.  They had got back to Wellington after swimming and lunch over there.  Nipped down the hill but Mike told me that the repairer was coming in 10 mins.

So everyone had to wait at our place until he came and was done.  Washing machine works like a charm again.  I dropped Jackie and the boys at their place and came back and did more weeding.  Then I collected Aidan from work (after trying to make myself slightly more presentable after weeding in the hot sun for ages) and had a cup of much-needed tea at her place.

Grabbed Toby and got home and cooked tea for us.  Got all Toby's school stuff ready.  Panicked about his blazer at the dry cleaners still, but Mike was back in town and nipped in and got it.  Thank goodness.

This morning seems to have gone well.  Which is surprising for the first day back at school.  But I think the day off where I organised things paid off.

Yay!

Have a lovely day.  I'm running at lunchtime with Mary.  Bit worried about that!  But my run this morning was fast and good!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with .... well, nothing either

Hi,

I enjoyed my ride home, despite the fierce headwind.  That westerly at the moment is pretty tricky.  I got home and Toby was already home and stripped off because the sun had been pouring in all day and it was hot in our house.  He did homework and then we both chilled out.

I had a work release to do at 1900 and that went so well I was done by 1915.  So Toby and I went up to do some boxing.  He looks good.  I tried it.  Toby thinks I punch too softly.  Oh.

Back to read to Toby while he was having a bath.  That was fun - we read two chapters.  Mike got home from Christchurch and tramping club meetings around then.  And I fell into a coma in bed.  Mike and Toby both had restless sleeps and I sleep on, completely oblivious.  I think they might hate me.

The first day of the post-Carl epoch.  Hope it goes ok.  We had last lunch with him yesterday.  I was sad to say goodbye.

Iced coffee at Bethel Woods.  It was a real iced coffee.  No cream.  Cold coffee with ice cubes and sugar.  It was strong - and surprisingly good

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Guy Fawkes

Hi,

Complicated logistics meant I left work early and drove to Scots College to collect Toby to take him to his appointment.  Of course, this meant my bike was left at work for the night.  Poor, lonely bike.

Toby and I got home at a decent hour and I cooked him a yummy tea (pesto pasta - we haven't had that for ages and we both love it).  Then we got stuck into homework.

Mike went and presented his Nepal trip to the tramping club and it all went really well.  He's a natural.  When he got home he was way more relaxed than he has been leading up to it.  We're pretty busy and he hadn't prepared to his usual level of precision.  But now we have relaxed Mike back.

This morning it was tipping down rain. Maybe it was secretly a good thing I had to catch the bus in.

Rainbow from our lounge window

Have a lovely day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home and enjoyed the Melbourne Cup live on our television.  We've lost the remote (probably a sure sign we never watch television) but I saw Toby using the controls on the TV last week, so I had my suspicions I could make it work if I looked hard enough.  Sure enough - found the right control and eventually found the TV input.  I got third in the sweep at work.  Yay.

Toby got home just after that and I cooked tea.  The most delicious home made burgers.  Mmmmm.  And a tomato/basil/mozzarella salad for me and Mike.

Mike then worked on his tramping club presentation.  Come and see it tonight!  You know you want to.

Then I had a bath, read to Toby and fell asleep in some sort of coma.

The ride in this morning looked like I would be getting drenched.  But the rain stayed away and I remained dry.  The roads were mostly dry too, so it was a good ride in.

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend away

Hi,

I can't believe our weekend away went off without a hitch.  Toby went home from school and found William just fine.  They changed into their Halloween costumes and went trick or treating around Wadestown (Toby says Jacob went with them and they went to every house and got a tonne of candy - candy?  My son is turning American).  But Toby took no photos.  So I have no evidence.  Except the huge happy grin he gave me when we collected him on Sunday night - I could tell he had fun.

Meanwhile Mike and I drove to the airport and met the others for our work weekend away down to Queenstown.  We all got on the wee ATR 30 and spent the next two hours on a wee prop plane.  Mike had a load of work to do, so he was working any chance he got.

The shuttle at Queenstown took us to our accommodation at Pinewood Lodge and we found a room.  Mike and I in the double bed and Dave and Alex in the bunks.  Mike promptly sat down to finish his work - and he got it done.  I went for a walk to the Fresh Choice supermarket and got a few provisions.  Back for our gondola ride and luge afternoon.  Luge is such fun!

Mike enjoying the chairlift to the luge

I really enjoyed the luge.  It wasn't scary in the slightest - just fun.  And cute fun - enough to make you grin all the way down.

Gondola view

 We had five rides on the luge and that was about enough.  Three wouldn't have been enough.

Gondola selfie.  Mike is such a doofus.  But gorgeous doofus.  And now I know where Toby gets it from

 Mike and I wandered around the skyline restaurant at the top, remembering an old date we had there many, many years ago.

The view from the top

Luge! And that's the order we finished in.  Me, Lisa, Mike and Nicky

Mike acting up for the cameras

On the way back down

 From there we wandered into town and had a Fergburger on the waterfront.  For the memory, the Fergburger was one of the best burgers I have eaten.  I had a Fergburger with brie.  The bun was perfection, as was the slab of meat.  Yep - I enjoyed that.

Waterfront

Back to the accommodation and I had an early night.  Mike woke me at 11pm knocking on the window.  So I let him in that way.  He's funny.

Next morning we ate breakfast and went to hire bikes from the reception.  We got two GT Aggressors - hardtails.  But they were really good bikes.  We rode to the Earnslaw via the supermarket and I finally got to take a ride on the iconic classic steamboat.

Hire bikes stashed in the museum on the Earnslaw

 From Walter Peak station, we rode down the gravel road for about 15 kms.  Such a lot of fun.  Mike and I only met one other group on the way back.

We also came across a mother Paradise Duck with her 12 chicks following her.  Then the dad took off to provide a diversion, pretending he couldn't fly.  Unfortunately for him, we were riding the same way as him, so he acted for a good 700m before finally taking off in a graceful arc back to his family.

At our lunch spot we saw a hare the size of a small deer.  Mike scoffs at my description - but it was seriously big.  Huge legs and ears.  And striped.  Like Bambi.

Coming back on the Earsnlaw

 The fierce headwind meant it took a while to reach our lunch point, but we got back to Walter Peak super fast.  We got the earlier boat.

I tracked my ride - but included the Earnslaw portion of our trip

Mike on the bow

Feet in the engine room

We dropped the bikes back once in Queenstown and got ready for dinner.  We all went to the Speights Ale House and I had a great seafood chowder.

Back to the room and Mike and I crashed.  Had a great sleep.  Then up on Sunday for a wander around Queenstown.  It was so warm!  We caught up with Lisa and Nicky and went ice skating!  Woot!  Mike is so good at it.  I am hopeless.

Ice skating!

The wind was amazing and we got hit by wee pinecones as we walked through the gardens.  Into town and the rain came down.  We found a cafe to shelter and then caught a taxi back.

Back to get the shuttle bus and into the airport.  Delays to flights from the weather meant a later departure from scheduled.  But it was all good.  The flight into Wellington was so bumpy.  Like a rollercoaster.  It made my heart beat a little faster.  And the pilots had to combat ice forming on the way up too - Mike was fascinated.  We could see it really well from our seat.

So - a great flight up.  Exciting.  And we collected Toby from William's place (they are house sitting in Karori) and all went home exhausted.

Bring on the weekend for a quieter time.

Had an absolute blast though.

Love,
Angela