The weekend in Wellington with Lesley and Wally visiting and lots of social things

 Hi,

What a difference a few days can make to things in the era of covid.  This weekend saw so many social things happening all over Wellington.  And yet, by the end of it, we're in Level 2 restrictions (masks, distancing and <100 people in one place) here and Level 3 (locked down, but with takeaways) in Auckland.

Aucklanders doing the hard mahi once again.

But I think the government is right to use an "abundance of caution" to handle this latest community transmission case.  That seems to be the new phrase for this series of press conferences.  I like how the politicians and the health ministry staff all align - it looks like they really do talk to each other!

Friday working from home

Friday night pizzas with Sally and Andrew

Friday after work saw Sally and Andrew coming over to enjoy a movie and pizza with us.  Woot.  

We also slept downstairs for the first time in Toby's room.  Seemed to work well.  Nice and clean - thank you Toby.  The cats seem to be coming to an arrangement.  Moxley has the bed and Smudge is sleeping on the chair by the bed.

In my PJs having a home made iced latte on Saturday morning

Mike made me a home made iced latte ahead of boot camp.  Woot!

Boot camp was hard.  Quentin made us run around the park and then around the block to the police headquarters and Green Man.  Then it was right into cardio.  Ooohhh.

Good fun!

Boot camp done Saturday!

After boot camp Saturday

We did some messages (Animates for cat supplies and Mitre10 for more waratahs) before we got home and Mike got stuck into the steps once more.

Moxley patrols the garden while Mike makes the steps

Moxley tuckered out from paw patrol

Toby moved into his new room at the hostel in Chc.  We had pics from everyone and then Toby did some video before a video call.  He looks pretty happy.  I think they also ate at the hall there.  Toby had a huge plate of salad.  And according to others, he ate it all.

We had an unexpected phone call from Sally at 1740 saying we were still on for dinner out at 1830.  This was a surprise - apparently Sally and Mike decided it over the movie/pizza night as a surprise - but they had both fallen asleep in the afternoon!  So we got ready super fast and headed into town.

Dinner was Boquita - a new little Mexican vegetarian restaurant. They are scaling up from a food truck. It was yummy! They had a limited menu since they had been serving at the Wellington Food and Wine festival all day, so they kept giving us extras to make up. We ate so much. 

With the wine and food festival during the day, and Six60 concert and Chinese New Year fireworks, it was a huge night in the capital.

We went home for a blanket and then out to try and see the fireworks from the hill above our place.

Manic selfie time - waiting for Chinese New Year fireworks from Te Ahumairangi hill.

I spy Sally and Andrew hunkered down in the grass

Yeah - ummmmm.  Fireworks obscured by pine trees that need to get chopped down!

Turns out the spot we picked was a little less than ideal.  But the evening was pleasant and the views were stunning of the city and the Hutt valley.

Fireworks were mostly hidden apart from the huge ones.

Dropped Sally and Andrew home and then had a good sleep.  Up for brekkie with Lesley and Wally who had driven down the day before from Auckland.  Chelsea was moving into her hostel accommodation.  Her boyfriend Connor was with them too.

We went to Karori and found a cafe that was open.  The food was fine but my iced latte was so, so sweet.  I couldn't actually drink it.

Okay.  Good cafe let down by the sweetest iced latte ever!  Sunday morning in Karori

Then off to the Mini cafe for an iced latte only to find I had left my phone in the cafe.  Mike drove back to get it and all was good with the world again.

The Sampsons left to get Chelsea settled in and then we headed home.  I made seed crackers and Mike finished off the steps.

I made seed crackers

Wild hair, gorgeous cat!

My arm drapes across the couch, sunlight playing upon my skin.  Smudge revels in it too.

Smudge patrols the deck

As evening fell, we heard more and more about the new community cases in Auckland.  And at 7pm the Prime Minister announced Auckland was moving to Level 3 lockdown and the rest of the country into Level 2 distancing and other restrictions. 

Toby is okay - he is at Tessa's place.  Lesley and Wally decided to drive through the night and head home.  I think that was sensible.  Glad they got home safely.

And we're working from home as much as possible why tests get carried out by everyone around the cases.  I hope it is contained. 

Andrew is a busy man with his work and no doubt Sally will be too.

Melbourne has gone to a lockdown too - until midnight on my birthday.

So, my birthday this year is likely to be a quiet one at home with Mike.  Oh.  Well - there you go.  Movie night and dinner.  Sounds good to me. Our upcoming weekend of dragonboating and half marathoning won't be happening if we stay in Level 2, either. Mike will probably run the course anyway.

Take care.  Have a good week.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington

Hi,

Happy birthday to Vivienne!

Ok - I still can't believe I saw a hot air balloon over the valley from our house.  Someone mentioned a school fair was on at the weekend, so maybe they had "rides" up in the tethered balloon.  No idea.  But what a treat to see one there!

Hot air balloon weather

On Friday the Rugby World Cup parade went through Lambton Quay.  Maryanne got us seats in the cafe at Whitcoulls and I had an iced coffee and watched the All Blacks and staff drive down with the cup.

RWC parade

Iced coffee while waiting for the parade

Back home and we all crashed into bed.  Mike and Toby were up early for their haircut.  I pottered around tidying.

Around 2pm we stopped off at Will's house to drop off Toby for a sleepover, but no one was home.  So we collected Josh and dropped Mike and him off at the brew session.  I then dropped Toby off at Will's and then lay on the couch at Josh's house reading.  The purpose was to look after the boys, but actually, I hardly saw them.  I played with Lulu a bit though.

Went down to collect Josh and dropped him home and then we all parked near the KFC and walked to Christine's house via New World for some much needed cheese.  It was the fireworks in town and Christine has a good view.  There were road closures so we had to park ages away.

View from Christine's place

Guy Fawkes celebrations at Christine's house

Andrew playing

 We ate our way through cheese and butter chicken and watched the fireworks.  Pam (Tom's grandmother) dropped us off at our car on the way home and we crawled through traffic until we hit the motorway.  Dropped Andrew home and then crashed into bed.

Sunday morning I was up fairly early and got a text from Aidan saying she was making me breakfast and I only had a few minutes to get there.  She insisted I could jump in the car in my pyjamas, but I refused.  Going without a shower was bad enough.  I threw on some clothes and turned up.  She has been sick (again) recently, so it was up to me the handle the food.  Bagels and smoked salmon.  Yum!  We chatted away for a bit before her need for a nap overpowered her vocalisation centre.

I went back home and Mike took off for his tramping work.  I tidied up downstairs.  I still have a bit of work to do in Toby's room, but it is much better now.

We cleared out loads of rubbish from years of build up.  At least 6 rubbish bags.  Quite good.  Mike is pleased.  We still have a bit of work to do.  Anyone want a piano?  That would make our room a little bit easier to maneuver around in.  Want me to bring one up, Roz, in a few weekends time?  I could hitch it to the back.  :-)

Have a great week ahead.  Enjoy it.

Love,
Angela