The weekend with Toby's birthday and lots of things on

 Hi,

What a huge weekend. On Saturday Mike said to me it felt like Sunday already, we had packed so much in. Yes - I felt the same.

Lewis Road at work

Hahah - Dougal took a selfie when he took our pic

Laura is off to have her second baby - awwww

Thursday was busy at work. Then I headed home to work from home and we waited for Mike to launch the evening phase.

Thursday at Seashore cabaret

Old friends

We had tea at Seashore Cabaret and then dropped in on Sally and Andrew before going to see some Christmas lights.

Cambridge Tce Christmas lights

Huge tree

Our tree looks good in the sun!

Back home so Toby and Tessa could go out on the town. They got home around 2am. Hahah. Then Friday was Toby's birthday.

He got overalls and running shoes. We bussed into town and I got a haircut (thank you Jolene) and Toby and Tessa found a cafe for brunch. Mike and Jill came to meet us there for a catch up.

Then home to head to Queensgate. We wandered around there for a bit. Then home and into town for dinner at El Matador.

Birthday gift

Smudge

Footscray St

At El Matador for his birthday

Lovely meal

Super nice food - the steaks seemed good. I had tapas and they were good too. Sally and Andrew decided not to come to karaoke afterwards. But we did pick up Jason! Found him above Rogue and Vagabond. We managed to get into K-Zone when we turned up there. yay!

Karaoke - with Jason!

Mike and Toby duet - thank you K-Zone

Dropped Jason home and discovered the Sampsons were without power - and had been since the morning. Some issue with underground wires that took ages to fix. We had an adaptor from EV to 240V power in our boot, and they have the same brand of car as us. So they were able to keep their freezer running off their car until 4am when it got sorted (after Wally had to show the lines people where the property entry point was located).

Saturday saw us up for Park Run at Waitangi Park. Mike smashed it - Toby was good at 33 mins and I was a minute faster than last week at 36 mins.

The orb after Park Run

Back home for brunch - french toast in the sun. Lovely. Then we got a visit from David and his gf Vernice. We decided to walk up to Moko in Otari Wilton bush.

Saturday brunch post park run

Us having brunch

Sourdough

At Moko - the 800 year old rimu rakau

There we all are

The other walker was very good at photo composition

Then home to speed away to visit the Sampsons. We got some delicious nibbles as we chatted away. Wally's mother, Nola, was there too. Then as we scoffed the nibbles - other people turned up. Beth and Chris and Kate and John. Lucky Lesley found more nibbles. Oops. They were delicious!

But soon enough we had to take Toby and Tessa to the airport for their flight home. They ate some tea in the new upstairs bar and we never heard their flight called. Until they announced that Toby and Tessa would be offboarded if they did not turn up soon. So we fled to the gate and they got on their flight.

Phew!

Airport

Last pic

BBQ tea for us

It was sunny!

Back home for us. And Sunday was a lot more leisurely. I did finish the stairs and deck outside our bedroom. Used Wet & Forget Hit the Deck and it all looks so good. Mike did life admin and went for a run.

Monday is here. Grey in Wellington. Busy week.

Hope you have a fantastic week.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with my first ride on my new bike

 Hi,

Yesterday was a day that only Wellington can turn on. I do not understand it - but a 24C day in Wellington is just magic.

Work iced latte with harbour backdrop - ta William!

Work was frantic but I did get out with Mike at lunchtime to see the Black Ferns address their adoring public at Parliament at lunchtime. We had stunning weather - hot! We heard from Ruahei, Stacey and Ruby. The PM also talked to us and got warm support from the crowd.

We did have to negotiate our way past some protestors outside the front gate. Still on about the vaccine. telling us we're all sheep. But seriously - there is covid everywhere! Get your head out of the cloud you have stuck it in! Get your vaccine now if you can. Dorks.

Black ferns reception at Parliament

We join the crowd in brilliant sunny weather

PM talked to us!

After a more frantic afternoon, Mike headed home on a crowded hot bus and I walked up the hill with Barb. We chose the trail up Te Ahumairangi because it would be cooler under the trees. And it was.  It was so lovely.

Hot, lovely walk home with Barb

Almost at the top

The top!

Barb went left off the trail as we headed down the other side to Glamorgan St (I think). I continued our usual covid walking route - but backwards - to our house.

Local house decked out for Christmas

BBQ dinner ready for me

When I got home Mike had a BBQ dinner all ready to go! I had cheesy vegetarian sausages and they were pretty good.

Mike also got my SPD pedals on my new bike and we tried it out. Oh - it is amazing. The hill was like nothing at all, I cannot wait to get used to it and ride it everywhere.

Warm night and up for work this morning. Surprised to get rain. Now it is hot and humid. Oh, lovely.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington before work starts back

 Hi,

Back at work today (Monday).  What a shock to my system after an awesome Christmas/NY break.  First time I had the alarm set for quite a while.  Hahah.

Over the weekend we enjoyed some lovely weather.  This summer has turned on some warm weather all across the motu.  We used the BBQ a bit.

BBQ weather

Moxley chilling

I went to Mitre10 Mega to get seedlings and potting mix to plant out some stuff.  Got our chilli plant in that green pot you see below and put out the tomato seedlings.  They are not thriving so I am not expecting to see anything happen in that space.

Stuff for the garden

Sunday Toby and I caught the bus to town and had brekkie at Thunderbird cafe on Featherston.  It was very nice.  The roads were closed for prep for the Wellington Cycle Classic race that was scheduled from 1 - 3pm.

Iced latte with Toby at Thunderbird cafe

We picked up some items from Home store with Toby's voucher from Karen for his birthday.  He got a wok, a spatula and a nice set of kitchen scales.

We then met Mike and Andrew at the Embassy and saw the latest Matrix movie - Matrix Resurrections.

It was pretty good really.  Wrapped up a few things and yet left a way for it to continue if needs be.

Back home and chilling before cooking and getting ready for work.  :-o

I hope your week is a good one.  

Love,

Angela

The Monday back at work

 Hi,

After landing back in Wellington yesterday, it was good to come back to earth with a hard day at work.  The cats were a joy as they obviously had missed us - in their cat way.

Okay - maybe it was me that missed them.

Seeing off Tenzing

We decided to brush off the BBQ and have an enjoyable dinner outside.  I was getting ready for my day in town on Tuesday and Mike had got the BBQ ready, prepped and cooked tea.  I basically came outside and sat down and ate.

It's that time of year

Mike made bread.  This is heaven

Nom, nom

Sun cat and shade cat

Mike had put bread on in anticipation of delicious asparagus sandwiches for tea.  And yes, they were scrumptious.  He had venison sausages and I did not mind the separation on the BBQ at all.

Had a restless sleep.  Maybe we do need the summer duvet on now?  Better sort that out.

Up for PT session at the gym and as Quentin has finished his competition (he got 3 comp PBs and came 6th - wow!) we started boxing again.  Yes, it was hard work.  Yes, it was fun.

Working from work today.  Ooohhh.  Social.  Hahah.

Have a fantastic day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Martinborough for Mike's second half marathon

 Hi,

Happy birthday to Sally

What an amazing effort by Mike and Janine this weekend.  Let me tell you all about it.

Work BBQ Friday Fry-yay

BBQ weather, for sure!

First up we had a team BBQ at work on Friday.  I called the meeting "Fry-yay".  Hahah.  Mum jokes.  But it was a lovely team thing to do.  

Headed home after work - Mike actually waited for me at Lambton Quay as I rushed to the bus from work.  He's so lovely.

I ended up jumping on the 14 just ahead of Mike's stop.  It was a quiet bus - luckily.  We packed super fast - 30 mins and done!  Oosshh!.

Janine arrived at we threw her gear in the car with ours, and two bikes on the back and then we were off.

Arrived around 7.30pm ish.  Went to Cafe Medici for dinner.  Then dropped Janine at her flatmate's house and headed to Top10.  

The Top10 unit was lovely.  Pretty new.  Just a clean, tidy cabin with one double bed.  But the place just worked.

Up early for the race and drove to Janine's place.  Walked into town (10 mins, if that) and picked up the registration pack at 9am.  With time to kill before 10.15am start time, we went to Village Cafe.  But they had technical difficulties and no hot brekkie.  So I had a date scone (yum) and an iced latte.

This face says:  what are you doing, Mike?

Pre race warm ups

Back to the start line at 10am and the count down to the kick off.  Pretty soon they were both off.

And they're off!

First loop

Turns out the route took them right by the Top10.  So I was able to see them for both their loops quite easily.  They ran right through the vineyard behind the Top10.

Looking good!

Second loop - the mahi is a bit harder

Mike looked quite sore by the time he did his second loop past me.  For the first 5km he was running a fast pace - 12 km/hr.  But by the time I saw him on the second loop, with about 3km to go, he was a bit slower.

And done!  PB!  2.09 on my stopwatch.

But he finished the race just as I got to the finish line from the Top10.  As I stepped across to see where he was, he ran across.  Good timing.

Guzzling down the water

Janine wasn't far behind - and she had consumed a few wines along the way too.  Epic effort from her.

Back to relax at Top10 and then met Janine for a beer at the brewery and then pizza at the pizza place.  That was such a lovely meal.  I will go back there.  Stefan from my old work was there having a meal so we chatted to him at the end.

Walked back to fall into a coma at the Top10.  Up and checked out the next morning and off to collect Janine.  Brekkie at Village Cafe - and they had a hot brekkie this time.  Woot!

Sunday morning iced latte

Drizzly rain meant we decided on no cycling but visited the Parkvale mushrooms place.  A young man called Anthony showed us the main mushroom growing place.  Layers of them.  I like the smell of the earthiness of it all.

Parkvale mushrooms

I see me!

Mushrooms everywhere - layers of them

Home just after midday and Mike sorted out the last of the insulation under the house.  I did some much needed laundry too.

Smudge looks back

Moxley finds her inner kitten here

Off to whanau dinner after grocery shopping and cooking mushroom Wellington.  Caught up with people.  Good fun and scrumptious dinner and dessert as usual.

Whanau post kai coma

The week looms large.  Tuesday night Indian cooking course with Mike tomorrow.  Bit more Spin and gym, I think.

Toby seems happy still.  We only hear from him about the cats.  :-|

Have a good week.

Love,

Angela