The weekend in Australia

 Hi,

Our flight on Friday went so well. Love this 4pm flight time compared to the 6am one. Hahah. Even saw Jen from our old work there boarding the same flight. They were off to support the Warriors in Brisbane. With a lot of others!

Smudge struts

Moxley loafs

Wellington airport very civilised time

Janine was on a flight an hour behind ours. So we saw her briefly too. We got called up on the tannoy and it turns out our decision (ok, mine) to only use the flight app was wrong as they did not have our passport numbers at the gate. Given it was in the app and we came through customs, it was odd. But not surprising. IT systems.

Lesson - always get a paper ticket.

Lovely view of the top of the southern motu as we left. But before long we were flying into dusk and then sunset. And it was dark by the time we leanded at 1800 local time in Brisbane.

Hello to the Marlborough Sounds

Got our Avis car easily and ate some food at Coffee Culture at the airport before heading north to Peregian Springs. We got there about 2030 I guess. And it was so good to see my parents. My mother is so well. Standing upright. And so mobile. Made me so happy.

And... I was not long out of bed. Hahah. Slept well. Up really early Saturday to do parkrun behind Noosaville. They start at 7am here to avoid the heat. We got there at about 6.50am and started the beautiful park run track. It is all paved and in bush. And slightly undulating. I was exhausted and a bit slow. 36 mins. But Mike did a second lap and did okay.

Following a Woolworths delivery - we're in Aus now

Park run apprehension

Lovely morning - just super early at 7am!

Post parkrun haze of sweat

After brekkie at home we drove to Aussie World to meet two lots of people. Brent and his boys (Jack, 14, and Harry, 12) and Steph, Jason and their children. We ate at Banana Bender  with everyone. A bit chaotic and I hardly got to speak to Brent. But he caught up with Mike. I chatted to Stephanie and found out about her work. Some medical marketing job - seems perfect for her for now.

Brent headed back to Brisbane and Mike went off to do messages and Mum and I went to Aussie World with Steph, Jason and the kids. It was such fun.

Wee Riley and an evil kangaroo behind us - on a surfboard

Aussie World

Me and Riley have fun

Riley kept calling me "Grandma" which was a bit funny. I didn't realise for ages. And then I said I am actually Great Aunt Angela. Bit of a mouthful. Riley said: Okay, Grandma.

Mum and Peyton

Steph, Imogen and Lincoln behind us

This looked terrifying

Lincoln's cup of tea

Okay - this was the worst

Ice cream time - Lincoln

Riley

Peyton

Imogen

We explored a lot of the park.  I have only been here with Toby. Hahah. It was fun to see the kids so happy on all the rides.

Lincoln didn't like anything - the train the and teacup was about it. But he is only 3. And such a cutie - and so smart. Like - genius level. Teaching himself the Cyrillic alphabet. And how to count to 10 in different languages.

After the day, we all drove back to Peregian Springs and we fed them. But they wanted to get to their motel and left fairly quickly after that.

Sunday saw us sleep in a bit more. Mike is still on NZ time, really. We did a wee run together (I did 3k) before Mike did 13k. That's his prep for the half marathon done. Some taper runs with me to come, that's it.

Orchid for Mothers Day looks beautiful

Cinnabon for Toby

We went to Sunshine Plaza to get jeans for Mike. Just Jeans staff were very good at their customer service. They spent 20 minutes looking for jeans that fit Mike's weird body shape - his legs are longer than his waist is round. One shop assistant couldn't believe he was shaped like that until he actually put some jeans on. "Oh - you really are all legs aren't you" she said. 

Picked up Dad when he was done and back home for a quick tea and a visit from a baby magpie. Or maybe a butcher bird. Mum said it has hung around since it was born. 

Is this a baby magpie? Or a butcher bird?

Off to bed after watching Barbie - still not a great movie in my opinion but Mike weirdly likes it. 

And now up for work.

Home made iced latte

Disconcerting to see my pic as I work

Have a great day! Thank you for looking after the cats, Sally and Ange. Lovely weather here. Highs of 23C. Cold in Wellington I see. Mike has just asked Alexa to run the heatpump tonight for the cats.

Take care,

Love,

Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

What a great Christmas break.  I can't possibly do it justice.  So I won't bother trying.  Here is a summary.  We had a great Christmas Eve together.  We got our last minute things and Aidan popped in with her mother for a while.  I got a spa appointment from Aidan and a hand knitted woolly hat from Susan.  Toby got an awesome t-shirt (and exercise book) from the boys.

I got a hat for winter from Susan!  Thanks.

We made our contributions for the Christmas lunch.  So we had it out of the way for Christmas morning itself.

Christmas Eve

Mike's mother came around for Christmas Eve and we sang Christmas carols around the piano.  Made me happy, although I think Mike's mother would have appreciated singing that was in tune.  Enthusiasm doesn't really make up for lack of talent in the singing arena.

Christmas morning was lovely.  Toby woke up at 4.30am but we convinced him to go back to sleep.  He did!  Second Christmas morning was much easier to handle.  We put on Christmas carols and opened presents.  Great fun.

We drove over to Sally and Andrew's house for lunch and caught up with loads of family.

Dessert table

Mike going back for seconds

Toby looking festive

Ham.  Mmmmmm.

Our contribution for lunch

Aidan carved the yummy ham and beef and we all tucked in.  And tucked in.  And maybe even tucked in a bit more.


 I stayed later than Mike and Toby, enjoying the food and company.  Eventually I took Christine and Brian home and went home myself.  Madly packed (although Mike had done some) and fell into bed.  Up early for the flight to Auckland and then onto Brisbane.  Karen and Scott met us and we joined slow traffic north out of Brisbane for two hours.

Got to Peregian Springs and immediately felt at home.  Mum and Dad are good (Dad was at work when we got there).  Swimming was on the agenda every day.  As was eating.  And shopping.

Just Dance moves.  Toby shows how it's done.  And gets the high score, much to Abby and Tyler's surprise

Second Christmas at Peregian Springs

Lots of swimming

Out for dinner

Hot work, sleeping in Queensland

We went into Noosa for a walk and brunch.  I had a great iced coffee at Gaston.  Very good.  The next day we came back for a surf lesson.  Me, Toby, Tyler and Abby.  I was possibly the most hopeless.  But I had such a great time.  The sea was as warm as a bath.

Great Iced Coffee at Gaston in Noosa

Noosa beach

On our walk

Aussie World highlight for me - Ben and Jerry's ice cream

We also got to Aussie World.  On a really hot day.  I was happy to find Ben and Jerry's ice cream there.  A coffee flavoured tub hit the spot.

Aussie World

We're about to eat chocolate!

After a week, it was time to come home.  Toby and I left with Karen and Scott (Tyler and Abby were staying longer with Mum and Dad).  We drove to the airport and got there super early.  It was so relaxing!

Toby at the airport coming home

Andrew looking pensive

Mike collected us from the airport and even at 1am I could tell the front garden was incredible.  Mike and his mother had wrestled it into a lovely garden again.  Thank you so much! What a lovely surprise.  By the time I fell asleep it was 2am Wellington time. Made getting up tricky business. But we had to get up for another family celebration at Sally and Andrew's place.  This time it was for Helen's 80th birthday.  What a great day!  Speeches, food, loads of family to talk to.  People I had only seen in photos.  I loved it.

Col and I have no idea where the camera lens is.  In our defense, it is dark.  In my defense, I have none.  It's my camera!

I wore a dress

Next day was another day of excitement.  I had my spa appointment with Aidan.  We got our toes done and the massage on my feet was delicious.  We went for lunch to Yum Cha and drove around a bit in the car.  Nice weather for a drive in the convertible.  Took some photos of my toes.  Aidan stomped on my toes to flatten them for the photo.  I often stand with my toes up - not sure why.  She didn't think it was how they should look for the toe photo.

Aidan stomping on my toes.  

My toes match my outfit perfectly

Driving in the wee green car was fun in the sun!

Toby was invited for a sleepover to the Tabor household.  So Mike and I got grocery shopping out of the way and dropped and collected bikes.  Home to eat and then ironing and then bed.

This morning was hard to drag myself out of bed and to work.  Ooooo.  The shock of it all.

2015.  Ooossshhh!  Here it comes.

Have a fantastic year.

Love,
Angela