Yingjie is driving Alex and Toby to the bus in the mornings, and on those rare, unusual, occasional times I don't ride my bike I often tag along too and walk to work with her. She's a very organised and calm person, being both a Buddhist and a Business Analyst, so the incredibly rare time that she is not perfectly on time gives me a little faith that everybody is late sometimes.
This morning was one of those times, though.
She arrived at our place a little bit late, and off we headed to the bus. But alas! there were no Scots boys at the bus stop. The bus had gone without us!
We hurtled down the hill (down the road I bike down virtually every morning apart from that occasional time I don't) to try to meet it at the bottom of the hill. We made it in time, we could see a little clump of red blazers waiting. But as we approached the intersection, there was the bus coming past!
Yingjie channelled her inner big-city driver and hurtled out behind the bus, neatly merging into the queue of cars behind the bus. As the bus slowed we tucked in behind it. Even before we'd stopped the car doors were open and the boys were running ahead to the bus. With plenty of time as it stopped and the other boys started to trickle on. Brilliant!
So another successful bus chase to start our morning. It makes for a great morning - the more primitive bits of my brain must see it like spearing a gazelle at dawn before the hard work starts. It left me really happy to face the day!
Showing posts with label commuting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label commuting. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Friday, January 27, 2012
My disorganised morning
One thing Angela didn't mention last night was the wind. Windy it certainly was on the way home! Exciting gusts that try blowing you into the traffic down in the city, and very unusually a head-wind going up our steep hill. Normally that hill is very sheltered, which is a small mercy. Not yesterday. Still, I did the not-terrible time of 11:15 up the hill, which given the conditions was pretty well alright. Under 11 minutes I consider good, and under 10 minutes means I am an exceptional athlete. Well, in my mind.
This morning I was up very early, getting into the shower straight after Angela before 6am. I had lots to do and an early meeting and wanted to make sure everything went well. But, of course, time warp kicked in, and I ended up later than if I'd have got up at 7am. I don't really know how that happens.
My organisational skills were also sadly lacking. I was running around in a panic from about 7:30 onwards. (Toby was very helpful and got his jobs done and then looked after me). The nadir was the time I spent searching the whole house for Toby's jacket, since Angela had mentioned that it wasn't in his bag and she didn't know where it was. Only to find that she's clearly since found it and put it in his bag for us!
I had to go back twice from the garage, to get Toby's present for Tom, and then to get a garage key. Twice was clearly not enough, since I don't have my wallet at all, which is going to make lunch time slightly problematic - no sandwiches for us this morning. And I need to keep my jersey on all day - because the 'casual friday' T-Shirt I grabbed has a big picture of a dog licking its balls on the back of it, which is probably a bit too casual.
But all worked out. I was panicking because I had an 8:30 meeting and everything has to run just right to make it on time. But we made it to Toby's holiday programme before it opened, so I was on my bike right on time. I rode down in spite of the rain, because bike is the only way to make that sort of deadline - it's the fastest way in, even compared to driving, because there are rat runs you can do on a bike that you can't do on a car, and the traffic is pretty slow that time of morning. Yes - it was wet and cold. But not particularly so. I brought a towel and a complete change of clothes in and was quickly warm and comfortable. Bring it on I say! Though I envy Angela's disc brakes. Mine were pretty useless. They're also very worn out which doesn't help at all. I went pretty gingerly down the hill.
Oh well, it's Friday which is great! I have a very busy weekend with many jobs to get done - don't quite know how that matches up with Angela's lazy weekend. But we will see. Forecast I think, is for this rain to blow through tonight and the weekend to be okay, which bodes well for another day in the garden. Enjoy your day!
This morning I was up very early, getting into the shower straight after Angela before 6am. I had lots to do and an early meeting and wanted to make sure everything went well. But, of course, time warp kicked in, and I ended up later than if I'd have got up at 7am. I don't really know how that happens.
My organisational skills were also sadly lacking. I was running around in a panic from about 7:30 onwards. (Toby was very helpful and got his jobs done and then looked after me). The nadir was the time I spent searching the whole house for Toby's jacket, since Angela had mentioned that it wasn't in his bag and she didn't know where it was. Only to find that she's clearly since found it and put it in his bag for us!
I had to go back twice from the garage, to get Toby's present for Tom, and then to get a garage key. Twice was clearly not enough, since I don't have my wallet at all, which is going to make lunch time slightly problematic - no sandwiches for us this morning. And I need to keep my jersey on all day - because the 'casual friday' T-Shirt I grabbed has a big picture of a dog licking its balls on the back of it, which is probably a bit too casual.
But all worked out. I was panicking because I had an 8:30 meeting and everything has to run just right to make it on time. But we made it to Toby's holiday programme before it opened, so I was on my bike right on time. I rode down in spite of the rain, because bike is the only way to make that sort of deadline - it's the fastest way in, even compared to driving, because there are rat runs you can do on a bike that you can't do on a car, and the traffic is pretty slow that time of morning. Yes - it was wet and cold. But not particularly so. I brought a towel and a complete change of clothes in and was quickly warm and comfortable. Bring it on I say! Though I envy Angela's disc brakes. Mine were pretty useless. They're also very worn out which doesn't help at all. I went pretty gingerly down the hill.
Oh well, it's Friday which is great! I have a very busy weekend with many jobs to get done - don't quite know how that matches up with Angela's lazy weekend. But we will see. Forecast I think, is for this rain to blow through tonight and the weekend to be okay, which bodes well for another day in the garden. Enjoy your day!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Interesting morning
Toby and I got off to school and work pretty well. It's Toby's field trip to Carter Observatory today, and he's pretty excited about it. I told him that his Mum will want to know every little thing about it.
While I was heading to the bus, a wee girl asked me all about it, and if Toby was going. I have no idea who she was, but she certainly knew Toby and knew I was his Dad!
It was a slightly exciting bus trip in this morning. First, there was a nose to tail right in front of the bus stop, which gave all us bus commuters who now vaguely know each other because we hang about at that bus stop every morning, something to chatter about. All very minor though. A kid in an old people-mover didn't notice that traffic was stationary and sailed into the back of the car in front. He slightly bent their tow bar and put some scuff marks on their bumper, as he shattered his bumper, pushed in his grille, smashed his headlights and buckled his bonnet. It was a shame for him.
And, there was a tree down on Wadestown Road, in the valley before you head up to the shops. We had to wait a bit for a man with a stop-go sign. It was on National Radio this morning, as part of their New Zealand traffic report. I like being in a country where you can have a traffic report for the whole country, and it still only takes 1 minute, and they include things like a tree down, around the corner from where you live.
While I was heading to the bus, a wee girl asked me all about it, and if Toby was going. I have no idea who she was, but she certainly knew Toby and knew I was his Dad!
It was a slightly exciting bus trip in this morning. First, there was a nose to tail right in front of the bus stop, which gave all us bus commuters who now vaguely know each other because we hang about at that bus stop every morning, something to chatter about. All very minor though. A kid in an old people-mover didn't notice that traffic was stationary and sailed into the back of the car in front. He slightly bent their tow bar and put some scuff marks on their bumper, as he shattered his bumper, pushed in his grille, smashed his headlights and buckled his bonnet. It was a shame for him.
And, there was a tree down on Wadestown Road, in the valley before you head up to the shops. We had to wait a bit for a man with a stop-go sign. It was on National Radio this morning, as part of their New Zealand traffic report. I like being in a country where you can have a traffic report for the whole country, and it still only takes 1 minute, and they include things like a tree down, around the corner from where you live.
Monday, May 31, 2010
And good morning from me (again)
Toby was good this morning, although he really wanted to sleep in. He stayed up far too late last night - I think he is still on Brisbane time a bit, or he's becoming a night owl or something. I was clearing up in the kitchen around 9:30pm and as I came out of the lounge this grey blur streaked past at waist height, which gave me a huge fright. It took me a second or two to figure out that it was in fact Toby running as fast as he could, back to bed to avoid getting into trouble.
So harsh, rigid 7am wakeups for Toby from now on I reckon. If I can get myself out of bed to do it, that is. He thinks he'll be in trouble with his teacher for being sleepy, so hopefully that'll help sort him out.
We were off to school right on time in the end though. I drove in since it's Keas night and that means we need the car to make everything work. I picked up Nancy - Evan's mum - on the way through because she'd just missed the 8:32am bus, that was early as it is wont to do. All good!
So harsh, rigid 7am wakeups for Toby from now on I reckon. If I can get myself out of bed to do it, that is. He thinks he'll be in trouble with his teacher for being sleepy, so hopefully that'll help sort him out.
We were off to school right on time in the end though. I drove in since it's Keas night and that means we need the car to make everything work. I picked up Nancy - Evan's mum - on the way through because she'd just missed the 8:32am bus, that was early as it is wont to do. All good!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
And good morning from me
I didn't ride.
I didn't even bus.
I drove.
It was a bit of a disaster morning really, with Toby sleeping in to 8:00am. That gave us 20 mins to get ready. It was a bit startling when Toby said, 'Oh, it's lunch order day, isn't it? That means I need to do my homework right now before we go to school'. Oops. I assumed he'd have missed this week's homework because he was away. So he's going to tell his teacher that it was his fault for not doing his homework at after-school care or telling us it needed doing last night, and that he'll get it done this evening before doing anything fun. Promise.
I was still a little bit late because the off-ramp was broken. Took me 15 min to drive the last 700m or so to work. Oh well.
I didn't even bus.
I drove.
It was a bit of a disaster morning really, with Toby sleeping in to 8:00am. That gave us 20 mins to get ready. It was a bit startling when Toby said, 'Oh, it's lunch order day, isn't it? That means I need to do my homework right now before we go to school'. Oops. I assumed he'd have missed this week's homework because he was away. So he's going to tell his teacher that it was his fault for not doing his homework at after-school care or telling us it needed doing last night, and that he'll get it done this evening before doing anything fun. Promise.
I was still a little bit late because the off-ramp was broken. Took me 15 min to drive the last 700m or so to work. Oh well.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Fun commuting
I'm back on my bike again, and it feels really good. The Wellington weather is most unusual at the moment, it's staying fine and still right into Autumn which is normally the worst season for wind and rain. (I'm not 100% happy about this - it's going to be a dreadful ski season at this rate. There's a dark lining to every fluffy cloud.)
The ride in this morning was quite bizarre. The cars were all courteous and well behaved - which was just as well, because the pedestrians and other cyclists were very erratic. I saw lots and lots of bikes and people wandering across the road in front of cars, stepping out from the curb in spite of trucks and vans bearing down on them, and generally being in worlds of their own.
But mostly they left me alone, or kindof noticed me at the last minute and got out of my way.
Except for one.
It was beautiful.
A woman wandered across Boulcott Street in a world of her own, right in front of me, without even a glance to see if there was anything coming. Now, in situations like this, I don't yell angry words. Instead, I try to give the impression of total impending disaster, just narrowly averted by my quick wits and lightining fast reflexes. (Due to my slow wits and terrible reflexes, these have to be planned well in advance.)
So I was able to get nice and close to her, and then jam on my brakes, get a nice fishtail going with my back wheel - and let out a loud scream of abject terror and fear, six inches away from her left ear. Oh, it was a joy to behold. She looked up, her eyes grew wide, and she bolted for the footpath screaming.
Job done. I'm in a great mood now, this morning. Time for a coffee.
The ride in this morning was quite bizarre. The cars were all courteous and well behaved - which was just as well, because the pedestrians and other cyclists were very erratic. I saw lots and lots of bikes and people wandering across the road in front of cars, stepping out from the curb in spite of trucks and vans bearing down on them, and generally being in worlds of their own.
But mostly they left me alone, or kindof noticed me at the last minute and got out of my way.
Except for one.
It was beautiful.
A woman wandered across Boulcott Street in a world of her own, right in front of me, without even a glance to see if there was anything coming. Now, in situations like this, I don't yell angry words. Instead, I try to give the impression of total impending disaster, just narrowly averted by my quick wits and lightining fast reflexes. (Due to my slow wits and terrible reflexes, these have to be planned well in advance.)
So I was able to get nice and close to her, and then jam on my brakes, get a nice fishtail going with my back wheel - and let out a loud scream of abject terror and fear, six inches away from her left ear. Oh, it was a joy to behold. She looked up, her eyes grew wide, and she bolted for the footpath screaming.
Job done. I'm in a great mood now, this morning. Time for a coffee.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Today is Monday - tomorrow is Friday
... a two-day week for me this week, what with a very good course the last two days and time off for the long weekend coming up. But that means lots and lots of things to do. So much seems to be telescoped into this week!
One of our tasks is to talk to Helen the architect. I think we're in a good place but with some tweaking and some scope creep (ie - we want to do a lot of work downstairs at the same time!). Mum & Dad, and I, will ring her separately today.
Traffic is getting quite manic in the mornings - I was weaving and dodging all the way in. Lots of stationary cars to get past, and quite a few half-asleep pedestrians to avoid.
Oh, well, speaking of half asleep - time for a cup of coffee.
One of our tasks is to talk to Helen the architect. I think we're in a good place but with some tweaking and some scope creep (ie - we want to do a lot of work downstairs at the same time!). Mum & Dad, and I, will ring her separately today.
Traffic is getting quite manic in the mornings - I was weaving and dodging all the way in. Lots of stationary cars to get past, and quite a few half-asleep pedestrians to avoid.
Oh, well, speaking of half asleep - time for a cup of coffee.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Crash! (Witness to - not participant in)
Yes, it was weird weather this morning. Very, very light drizzly sticky humid stuff, after about a week of dry weather. Which meant the roads were very greasy and slippery. Which was exactly what I was thinking as I watched a motorcyclist in front of me grab handfuls of front brake as a taxi pulled out in front of him, and slide down the road...
I've just been doing a first aid course but the rider was inconsiderate enough to be completely fine. A pretty low speed drop, only his ego was damaged. His bike got off pretty lightly too - a scratched bar-end and broken-off back brake pedal looked like the all of it. Just enough to wake us up in the morning!
But yes, greasy and slippery. I even got wheelspin on an evil metal drain-cover I have to ride over every day. If I can get wheelspin with the tiny amounts of torque my legs can make - then it's certainly greasy.
I've just been doing a first aid course but the rider was inconsiderate enough to be completely fine. A pretty low speed drop, only his ego was damaged. His bike got off pretty lightly too - a scratched bar-end and broken-off back brake pedal looked like the all of it. Just enough to wake us up in the morning!
But yes, greasy and slippery. I even got wheelspin on an evil metal drain-cover I have to ride over every day. If I can get wheelspin with the tiny amounts of torque my legs can make - then it's certainly greasy.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
First day at school
... it was mayhem yesterday morning, Toby's first day at school for the year. Everyone had clearly decided to drive, and parking was backed up all the way to our house. It was quite festive when we got there, with parents and children milling around and trying to find their classrooms and each other.
Toby took us straight to his new classroom, and we found his desk with his name on it nice and easily. He's got Mrs Mahoney again - she was his Year 1 teacher but she's moved to the main school and is teaching Year 3 now. He's caught up with his friends, and there are new kids in his class that he doesn't know. All good. He seems pretty happy with things.
I've got a sore back at the moment - no dramas but I'm risk averse when it comes to backs so I've gone to see Kara about it. She's put two big strips of tape up my back to make me sit and stand properly, and it's quite amusing. I can't do up my shoelaces! And riding my bike is quite strange, I have to stay quite upright as I hurtle down the hill. It definitely sucks power going up the hill, unless I get off the seat and honk. Hopefully my body will be re-trained by the time the tape falls off. I'm also supposed to lie on the ground with a piece of closed-cell foam between my shoulder blades, when I'm vegging with TV or a book - but it's very awkward and uncomfortable. I'm not 100% sure what it's supposed to achieve. So I ended up with the foam under my head as a pillow instead.
The house extension is proceeding apace - well, the prep for it is. Surveyors were running all over the place on Tuesday when Angela and Toby were at home. Now there's little lead tabs and orange dots and other markers all over our section!
Toby took us straight to his new classroom, and we found his desk with his name on it nice and easily. He's got Mrs Mahoney again - she was his Year 1 teacher but she's moved to the main school and is teaching Year 3 now. He's caught up with his friends, and there are new kids in his class that he doesn't know. All good. He seems pretty happy with things.
I've got a sore back at the moment - no dramas but I'm risk averse when it comes to backs so I've gone to see Kara about it. She's put two big strips of tape up my back to make me sit and stand properly, and it's quite amusing. I can't do up my shoelaces! And riding my bike is quite strange, I have to stay quite upright as I hurtle down the hill. It definitely sucks power going up the hill, unless I get off the seat and honk. Hopefully my body will be re-trained by the time the tape falls off. I'm also supposed to lie on the ground with a piece of closed-cell foam between my shoulder blades, when I'm vegging with TV or a book - but it's very awkward and uncomfortable. I'm not 100% sure what it's supposed to achieve. So I ended up with the foam under my head as a pillow instead.
The house extension is proceeding apace - well, the prep for it is. Surveyors were running all over the place on Tuesday when Angela and Toby were at home. Now there's little lead tabs and orange dots and other markers all over our section!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
And good morning from me
Whew! I've been off balance all morning. From a chaotic departure from the house - Toby wandered off without his backpack and then I wandered off without keys to the garage where my bike was - to more running up and down stairs to get things out of my locker, to meeting clashes - I'm quite disoriented. Time for a cup of coffee.
Toby seems pretty happy at his holiday programme. He has a new girlfriend now called Xena. They spent yesterday running round playing http://playmoshi.com "live" in the playground. We bumped in to Xena this morning, she and he both got to the holiday programme at the same time. Xena looked normal, not like a Warrior Princess at all. And her mum called her Xena so that must be her real name!
My ride home yesterday was the first time my bike has moved in months. It's daylight savings now, so I've been telling myself that once daylight savings kicked in and I'd be riding home in the daylight, I had to start riding every day. And yesterday really was a perfect day to start. There was a diesel spill on one of the main roads out of town, and that meant the traffic was the worst I've ever seen it here. All of the feeder roads and the rat runs filled up and stopped too. When Angela said we were passing cars all the way home - that was riding up our hill, at 6 km/h!! No way we'd have picked up Toby on time yesterday if we'd have tried to take the bus. We'd have definitely been better off walking. So I rode in this morning and it's quite a nice day. I'll have to keep it up - and I'm leading a "medium" level daywalk in 10 days so I better get my fitness up! More running up and down the stairs at lunchtime too.
Toby is getting very excited about going to Sydney, and Karen it looks like you're making lots of plans. Woo hoo!!! It should be good. We need to get some or all of you over here once in a while, too!
Toby seems pretty happy at his holiday programme. He has a new girlfriend now called Xena. They spent yesterday running round playing http://playmoshi.com "live" in the playground. We bumped in to Xena this morning, she and he both got to the holiday programme at the same time. Xena looked normal, not like a Warrior Princess at all. And her mum called her Xena so that must be her real name!
My ride home yesterday was the first time my bike has moved in months. It's daylight savings now, so I've been telling myself that once daylight savings kicked in and I'd be riding home in the daylight, I had to start riding every day. And yesterday really was a perfect day to start. There was a diesel spill on one of the main roads out of town, and that meant the traffic was the worst I've ever seen it here. All of the feeder roads and the rat runs filled up and stopped too. When Angela said we were passing cars all the way home - that was riding up our hill, at 6 km/h!! No way we'd have picked up Toby on time yesterday if we'd have tried to take the bus. We'd have definitely been better off walking. So I rode in this morning and it's quite a nice day. I'll have to keep it up - and I'm leading a "medium" level daywalk in 10 days so I better get my fitness up! More running up and down the stairs at lunchtime too.
Toby is getting very excited about going to Sydney, and Karen it looks like you're making lots of plans. Woo hoo!!! It should be good. We need to get some or all of you over here once in a while, too!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
And I drove in this morning
Drove. All the way in! I even drove past a bus, then past a place to park and meet that bus!
Yesterday was just too much hassle. Toby and I rode to KidsCo and then I rode into work. All went pretty well but it took the best part of an hour door to door. By the time I got still-on-Sydney-time Toby out of bed and out the door, it meant I was late for an external meeting and then chasing my tail all morning.
So today we drove. Drove! All the way! And it was marvellous.
But things were even slower this morning. I slept in, Toby slept in, I had lots of jobs to do in the morning... but we were away by 8:15 and I was at work by 8:45. Wonderful.
We've been trying to coordinate a play date with Toby's friend Jonathan. It's pinned down to TOMORROW now. Toby has swimming with KidsCo today (I hope he has his togs - I didn't double check his bag!) so tomorrow afternoon he can go play with Jonathan. I'll ring and coordinate everything.
Tomorrow, though, we'll make a concerted effort to ride. As long as we're away by 7:45 or so, and I am terse (not chatty) with the KidsCo staff, then all should be fine. And it's good for me after all! My body ached a bit after all that up hills and down dales, especially with some extra ballast on the back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)