The weekend with a bike ride and chilling with Jase

Hi,

What a great weekend - so good to have Jase with us and chilling with him for a lot of the weekend.  We didn't do much Friday night.  Argued about what movie to watch.  Couldn't agree.  Turns out that also occurs in Jase's house.  Hahahah.

Saturday saw us being pretty lazy in the scheme of things.  I think Mike and I eventually went grocery shopping.  Bought junk food.  Finally found a movie for us to watch (ok - I got my way and we watched The Incredibles 2) and we ate chips and chocolate on the couches. 

Sunday I was up early and away by 7.30am to ride to Waikane.  Met Andrew at Petone station at 8am. 

Me and Jase and Kapiti Island in all its glory

Ride for Sunday 

Made good time up to the summit.  And then into Waikanae Beach to meet Sally, Alistair, Mike and Jase and have lunch at Longbeach.

Longbeach at Waikanae

Hello there!

Alistair being cheeky

Mike taking selfies while pretending to take my iced latte pic

Before the shenanigans

Summit!

About to tackle the hill

My happy place

Drove home and chilled.  Mike went into work and stayed quite late.  I was weary and in bed by the time he got home.  Zonked out.

Jase has lunch and dinner with his grandmother today.  And she will take him to the airport tomorrow.  It's been such a great visit.  :-)

Right.  Time to try and get warm.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Love,
Angela

The weekend away with Celia in Waikanae

Hi,

What a lovely weekend - makes me want to get away far more.  Friday saw me home nice and early with the car in town, but Toby got there not long after me with Tessa and two of his mates (Zac and Ethan).  They had a movie night at our place and a sleepover.

After some grocery shopping Saturday morning I was off after lunch to collect Celia from her place and head off to the weekend away with her and some friends.  As we left the Hutt for Waiterere Beach, Celia plugged the address into her phone GPS and discovered we were actually heading to Waikanae Beach.

Yes!!  Much closer. 

The place did not disappoint (they had stayed there last year - I think Jen knows the owners).  They had a hot tub and a huge tennis court in the backyard.

I cooked lasagne and popped that in the oven.  Everyone arrived within 30 mins with Gemma a little later.  Ange and Dee and Jen.  We opened snacks and drinks and a huge jigsaw puzzle.  Before it got dark, I also played tennis with Celia and Jen. 

Puzzle time!

The puzzle was finished around 11pm.  It was a good thing to do for the entire evening.  We would switch places every now and then.

Lazy sun time

So sleepy he dropped his phone!

Slept well in the bottom of a bunk bed.  More tennis the next morning with Gemma - enjoyed that.  I didn't lose any balls that morning (lost three the evening before over the neighbour's fences).  Went for a long walk with Gemma on the beach.  Choice!

Tidied and left with Celia to enjoy an iced coffee at Paekakariki.  It wasn't bad.  Crushed ice and cream.

Beach St Deli - pretty good

Friday iced latte @ Machete

Dropped Celia home and went straight home to see Mike.  Toby was in Masterton with Tessa on a date.  They had lots of fun.

Session with Quentin this morning.  Deadlifts.  45kg.  Let's see how that progresses.

Have a great week.  It's a short one.  Good Friday beckons.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with chores, no Toby and a quick Waikanae trip

Angela's in Auckland today and tomorrow - so you've got Mike as a guest blogger.

Saturday started fairly bright and early with Angela off to the spa and Toby off for a weekend with friends at someone's bach in Foxton.  After a bit of shuttling and various McDonalds breakfasts, everyone was where they needed to be and ready to face the weekend.

Next job was, our neighbours were moving stuff to a bach in Waikanae and asked for a hand.  I was ready for a day of reasonably hard work.  Turned out it involved moving a light but large workbench a few metres onto a trailer in Wellington; then moving it a few metres off the trailer in Waikanae.  With a quick drive up to Waikanae in the organge car and coffee at the Front Room cafe in between times.  What a hardship!

There are lots of photos of Angela drinking iced coffee there - taken on her phone.  You'll just have to imagine them.  Tip: they look very very similar to all the other photos of Angela drinking iced coffee.

Editor:  Angela has added in the photos!

Why am I holding Mike's phone?  Oh yeah - the Stuff quiz.

Iced coffee at The Front Room

Iced latte with Mary at Machete

Celia has a fancy spreadsheet to determine the best car for her needs.  She's faking the confusion, because the spreadsheet makes it all clear

Saturday night I managed to convince Angela to come out to a wine and cheese evening at Lauren's place.  I just met Lauren at another friend's house but I've emailed her lots sorting out Ruapehu Lodge bookings so I feel like I know her well.  It was lots of fun with a lot of interesting people from her dance class.  I think Angela enjoyed herself!  In spite of having to interact with many strangers.

Sunday was chores day.  We needed to clear out the laundry, ready for one of its walls to be demolished.  I had an ambitious plan of triaging all the stuff there and putting it in the garage, or the loft, or the skip.  Angela had a less ambitious plan of stacking everything in the lounge.  

We got about halfway through and then I got sidetracked by cataloguing our photos.

All the laundry stuff is now stacked in the lounge.

In the middle of this, Toby came back from his weekend, sounds like he had a fantastic time.  He promptly wandered downstairs and slept for 4 hours.  I wonder how much sleep he got on Saturday night.

OK time for getting some work done.  Another stormy night last night, clearing to a beautiful day. Have a good one whereever you are!

The weekend with my birthday party

Hi,

What an amazing weekend - Mike handled everything really well and my party was just perfect.  It did start on Friday after work when I went to the Wine and Food Festival with Andrew.  It was ok - but really, just an excuse to get together and drink.

And a happy birthday to Scott for Saturday.  And Richard.  And Alistair.  Feb 20 is a busy birthday.

But Saturday morning Mike got up fairly early and started the prep for the big party at Sally and Andrew's house.  I stayed in bed a bit longer and read.  As you do when it's your birthday!  Hahahah.

But soon enough we were popping into Thorndon New World to collect the platters and last minute items.  Then off to the party.  Woot!

Cake courtesy of Jo was the most amazing sight.  Sophisticated, like me!

My cake was the most amazing thing - it captured the atmosphere perfectly.  It was a shame to cut into it - but it tasted wonderful and got lots of compliments.

We mostly sat around and chatted in the shade of the marquee.  Which we surely needed - so thank you Aidan and Janne for driving it over and helping erect it.

Toby played with Jaana's baby

Marquee worked well - keeping the sun off

Mike and Sally were amazing!

Mike cooked up the food on two barbeques - what a machine he was.  Sally was the perfect hostess, keeping everything humming along like clockwork.

Food galore

More food!

I even gave a speech (of sorts) when I cut the cake.  I tried to thank everyone - but if I didn't mention you, it was not a reflection of any lack of thanks on the inside.  Merely stage fright.  Hahahah.

We left around 6.15pm and left the wee green car in the garage with the wee white car.  They looked so cute that I took a photo.

Two peas in a pod

Next morning we were up early to collect Kathleen and Duncan for a run up at Paekakariki.  We drove up and Mike and Duncan checked out coffees while Kathleen and I ran from the US Marines memorial to Paekakariki and back.  Great run!

Front Room iced coffees are good

Then we drove in the slow traffic to Waikanae breach and ate lunch at the Front Room.  Iced coffee goodness -you know it!

Back home for a shower and change and then off to see Shakespeare in the Dell.  Loves Labours Lost.  A great comedy about kings and his advisors swearing off women to study and better themselves without distraction.  And getting courtly visits by women they fall in love with.

Mike - what are you doing?

Loves Labours Lost - great fun!

Lovely 4pm session - but it did eventually feel cold in the shade.  Had a good time watching that play.  Can't wait for next year now.

Off to collect Toby, Mum and Dad from Vivienne's house, then the MX5 from Sally and Andrew's.  Then Burger Wisconsin for Toby.  Mike did some urgent grocery shopping.  All rather hectic.  But Dad ironed some shirts for me - so that made it easier than expected.

All up - an incredible weekend!  Wow.  But glad they don't all get that much excitement.  Or maybe it's because I am a bit older now.  Too much to handle.  Hahahah.

Two more weekends coming up of excitement though.  I'd better get used to it.

Have fun this week!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a great Sunday!

Hi,


Mike headed off to Ruapehu Friday night in the Corolla and sang loudly all the way and made great time.  But he did get another migraine just as he arrived.  Poor Mike.

I did have an iced coffee on Friday morning though with Ilske.  Gasoline, again.  And it was a good one.  High on the number rating.  A nine, I reckon.

Iced coffee with Ilske

Next morning was gorgeous and I sat on the deck in the sun with my cup of tea, in my pyjamas!  What winter?  Meanwhile Mike was skiing on superb snow only 4.5 hours away.

Tea on the deck in my pjs

Toby and I had a picnic on the deck as he was still too sick to do the walk I wanted to do with him.  Sore tummy - still.

Picnic time with Toby - still too sick to go out for a picnic

I read and did some housework for the rest of the day.  And read.  And read some more.  It was great!

I stupidly decided at 11pm that I needed bread for my breakfast and hauled out the breadmaker and rummaged around for ages for yeast.  Found none.  Came to terms with my grief at the loss of freshly baked bread for breakfast and stumbled back to bed.  Hahah!  What a dork I am!

Next morning I was up far too early considering I had stayed up late reading.  More dorky behaviour.  So unbecoming.  But the good thing about getting up early was getting an invitation to go to Waikanae with Aidan and her boys.  Yay!

Toby and I got ready and Aidan collected us.  We went via Archway books at Pukerua Bay where I found a cool book on the archaeology of the Auckland Islands.  Then off to The Front Room with Sarah and her kids for lunch.  Mmmmm.  Hadn't been there for a while.  Since my solo visit about 6 months ago.

More iced coffee

Toby looking like a rock star (ta Aidan)

Me, basking the the presence of rock stardom - obviously

Off to the beach after that and a good play and wander around (although Toby stayed in the car with his sore tummy).

General beach fun

Hello toes

Not my toes above, I have to say.  I think her toes were getting their first public outing for the winter.  Her toes hibernate.  Lots.


Look at the photo with me and Lulu.  My hair is way shaggier than her fur.  I desperately need a haircut.  The only difference is that Lulu rolled in the sand and I didn't.  Imagine what it would have looked like if I'd rolled around too.  My hair isn't so much framing my face as obscuring it.  Oops.

Me and Lulu.

As we drove home from Waikanae, I was looking at passing cars, as Aidan is entertaining thoughts of a replacement for Moby.  As I did so, a car with our number plate went past us!  Mike!  Aidan hurtled after him, flashing her lights and we drove in convoy for ages, chatting together on our phones.  So funny.  SH1 is such a tiny place, really.

Back home to do loads of ironing.  Groan.  And a bath with Mike.  Happy!

Had a great weekend.  Time with Toby.  Lots of reading.  Some vague attempt at housework.  And Waikanae unexpected fun.  Choice.  I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.  Come on next weekend.  Hurry up already!

I had to laugh at Toby during the weekend.  He looked at me and said "Mum, can you make sure you only buy seedless mandarins from now on".  I said I did only buy seedless, that is what the label said.  But I had also found seeds when I ate the mandarins.  You should have seen his horrified face when he realised false advertising exists!  Life lesson, right there!

Have a blast of a week!  Enjoy it lots.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with a great bike ride and Yum Cha

Hi,

What a lovely weekend.  Friday night we went home via a work colleague's house not far from us and ordered in pizzas and settled in to watch Dark Knight Rises.  It went for ages and was a bit tedious.  And you know how much I love The Batman!  Too much talking as Bruce Wayne and not enough Batman.

Anyhow, we all crashed after it and had a great sleep.  So much so that I slept in till 7am!  I usually wake up every morning around 5.30am - it isn't often that my alarm catches me sleeping at 6am.  But this morning, with no alarm set, I slept until 7am!  And I woke with a start because I knew it was late.  I think I must have thought it was Friday.

Anyhow, I got up and showered and had breakfast.  Then I got my road bike ready and set off for Waikanae over the Akatarawa Road.  It was a great day for it.  Not too windy.  Still early enough to beat most traffic.  Plenty of cyclists out training.  I added 15 kilometres to the last time I rode this, but I did it in almost the same time as last time.  And my average speed was higher.  So I was pretty happy.

Aidan was out with the boys when I got to their house so she told me I could go in and make a cup of tea.  Which I did.  Gratefully.  I was a bit cold after my ride and got my tea and perched on the window sill in the sunshine.  I went into the sun porch to begin with, but the mozzies were after me there.

Aidan wasn't far off and I soon had lunch and was chatting away to her.  The boys had a playdate arranged so Aidan and I walked the dog.  Aidan had to pay the gardener so we walked past his house twice.  But I think he was away or he is deaf from mowing lawns without ear protection.  But it did mean we went on my favourite walk - past the blackberry bushes.  I must come up in late February/early March.  I also like the walk straight up the hill behind their house.  But it was probably cool under the trees.

Kapiti Island and the hills of my native island in the background

Aidan does selfies a lot better than I do

An afternoon tea with cheese and crackers followed and we also painted our toes.  Hahahah.  Mike and Aidan chatted for ages on the phone.  But it was to no avail - Toby wasn't interested in coming up for dinner.  So I caught the train back to town and Mike fortunately came to collect me because by 6pm it was raining and windy in Wellington and I would have been absolutely freezing by then.

Sunday we got up and I went to the market with Vivienne.  Such a gorgeous morning.  It was a popular thing to do this morning!

Vivienne buying fresh fish

We went to the Green Expo after the market and had a good nosey around.  It was worth attending that but I had to leave Vivienne there while I went back to Courtney Place for Yum Cha.  Yingting, her husband and kids, Yingjie, Alex and Yinjie's flatmate all came.  The Majestic at 11 Courtney Place was great.  I loved the food.

I took Toby back to William's house and he went to see Grown Ups 2 while I tidied the house.  Look!  I got the spare room sorted once more!  We have Billet Boy coming to stay tomorrow.  He's in a choir and from King's College.

Look - the spare room is a spare room once more

I collected both boys and we headed out to Sally and Andrew's for family dinner.  Sally made this awesome salad with spinach, feta, pine nuts and pumpkin seeds.  Scrumptious.  I provided vegetarian macaroni cheese.

Yummo!

Back home to bed!  Phew!  What a weekend!  Loved it.

This morning I rode in and had a blast down the hill because the howling gales had dried the roads completely.  But ten minutes after I got here, the rain came slashing down!  Today is going to be exciting on the weather front.  After yesterday's glorious weather, it is a bit of a surprise.  Apparently it is going to get worse.  Really?  Wow!

Have a lovely week!  First day back at school for Toby today.  He seemed okay with it this morning.
Love,
Angela

The weekend that was unexpectedly wonderful

Hi,

Happy birthday to Jamie and Cameron.  Wow - the year is flying by.  And Happy Fathers Day to the Dads I know for yesterday.  That snuck up on me.

Friday night Toby got off the bus in town and we met Aunty Sally and went to the Steer n Beer at the Reading cinema.  Andrew joined us after a wee while (our waiter was concerned about his steak getting cold).  Toby and I went to see Wolverine.

Then Toby and I picked up Mike from his session with work.  A colleague was leaving and it was a big night.  Mike woke a homeless woman sleeping on a bus stop bench on Willis St demonstrating how he shouted at the band to play a Hunters and Collectors song.  She was a bit disturbed and expecting some massive fight or something.  I could see her fight or flee instinct had kicked in.  But she determined Mike was harmless and went back to sleep.  Toby giggled at this.  "Dad, you woke a hobo woman".

Back home and to bed.  The boys slept well in the morning because it was midnight before we got to sleep.  Aidan texted and asked if I could bring the movie forward to the afternoon and come for lunch.  Certainly could.  Asked Mike and he said yes.  So I was out of the house quite early because I wanted to buy a Fathers Day present for Sunday.  Having it on Sunday 1st is not conducive to a lot of planning.

I popped into Harvey Normal in Paraparaumu and found out the Dyson turbo lux head was not an option (we have to order it).  But I did find another present there.  Choice.  Then went to collect Aidan from home.  Her boys had a Scouts session, so she was free all day.

Front Room iced coffee

We stopped off at Bunnings to get a voucher for Fathers Day for Josh.  I missed the turn and Aidan's brain was still trying to figure out the best way to get me back to the store when I put the car in reverse and hurtled back to the intersection to turn left.  She only squealed a little bit.  There was no traffic behind me.  Well, about 100m behind me and closing fast if I didn't do something.

We went to the Front Room for lunch and I had a yummy breakfast for lunch.  And an iced coffee.  Why not have breakfast for any meal you can?  I love breakfasts!

Then we went to Paraparaumu shopping mall and I got distracted in the bookshop by a Bruce Springsteen book and Aidan thought I'd done a runner.  Oops.  Off to the movie.  Mortal Instruments - City of Bones.  Don't bother!  Read the book.  The book isn't bad at all.  The movie?  Yeah.  Not so much fun.  It made me laugh with derision at one point.

Back to New World to get Fathers Day breakfast stuff and dropped Aidan off after getting some grapefruit.

Next morning was Fathers Day and I got a yummy breakfast ready for Mike.  I had put bread on so that was the starter.  Yum!  And bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese (and freshly squeezed lemons from the Tabor citrus market!).

The morning was spent tidying.  As was the afternoon.  Mike went to handover the tramping club website to a volunteer!  Choice!  And then we went out to Sally and Andrew's place for tea.  Had a great catch up with everyone.  They are all well.  Then we went to drop Toby off at Isaac's house for a sleepover with him and some mates from school.  We chatted to Sally and Tim for ages.  Well past my bedtime.

Up for work this morning and in my bike gear to find I was the one that had left their bike at work on Friday.  So we caught the bus in!  With all the grapefruit.  So not too bad!

Sally and Andrew's back yard looked stunning

The plums might be good this summer!

Have a wonderful week.  Happy birthday week for Abby too later this week.  Hope I don't forget that!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with lovely weather and stand up paddle boarding

Hi,

What a wonderful weekend.  I had a ball.  I wish every weekend was as much fun as that one.  Well, actually, a lot of weekends are that much fun.  But for different reasons, I guess.

Friday night we got Benjamin in to look after Toby while Mike and I went go karting with work.  Turns out Mike's team came first and my team came second.  We had a blast!

Saturday morning Mike got up and made Toby and me breakfast in bed.  Very nice it was too.  Then we hurtled out of the house in a rush.  We had to be in Lindale for a 1pm Paintball session with the Tabors.  We hadn't been there since we lived here last many years ago.  We ordered lunch at the cafe there and I had a great iced coffee.

Lovely weather

They forgot our order and eventually Mike reminded them.  But it meant we were a bit late getting to the paintball about 50m away!  After being so early too!

The boys all suited up and ran around for the best part of 2 hours.  It went really fast for me because I chatted to Aidan over tea.

Toby in his kit

All ready

Everyone loved it!  They had such a good time.  A few bruises to show where some got shot.  But they all loved it!  Thanks for such a good time!

We went back to Aidan and Josh's place and I said yes to heading to the estuary to try stand up paddle boarding.  I borrow a shirt from Mike and shorts from Aidan and away we went.  Emerson came along too.  I had a ball paddling Josh's board.  Emerson also loved it.  I'd give that a go any time, thanks, Josh!

Me standing up and paddling.  Look at the weather!

Aidan and Mike came a bit later with fish n chips and we ate on the beach.  Such a lovely evening.  Toby had a turn paddle boarding too.  He wants another turn one day as well.  Josh may have given us all a lovely new hobby.

Mike and Josh and Lulu 

Aidan and I escaped outside once back at their place and had a look at the wonderful night sky.  I love the sky from their place as it has a great western perspective we don't have at home.  I showed Aidan Scorpius and I hope she can find it on her own whenever she gets the chance to look up on a glorious winter evening. Toby wrangled a sleepover for the evening so Mike and I left him there enjoying the hospitality and drove back home.  We had a great sleep and woke late to again hurtle out of the house.  Back to Waikanae with lunch in hand.  Had a look at Aidan's CV.  Josh sanded his new board (it looks so great!) and the boys played.

Back home to get ready for the week.  Toby is back at school.  Minus his socks apparently.

Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Angela