People are confused about what we're doing over the next few days - and no wonder!
So here it it, nice and easy.
Mike's off to Angelus for Friday, Saturday, Sunday:
Friday – Shuttle to start of Mt Robert track at 7:30 am (about 15 minute drive). Up zig zag track to Robert Ridge and along to Angelus Hut. If good conditions then on another hour or so towards Sunset Saddle and camp.
Saturday – Climb Mt Angelus for a great view. Back to saddle and down Hopeless Creek to Travers Valley. Camp on a nice grassy flat near the river.
Sunday – Wander down the Travers Valley and around the lake to St Arnaud. Drive to Picton for 6:05 pm ferry. Back to Wgton about 9:20 pm.
Like Angela said, we did this same trip at Easter, in summer, over 4 days - and it was hard work. Now I'm doing it through snow over 3 days. In heavy rain and 70 km/h northerlies.
Toby and Angela are home for the weekend. Nothing in particular planned I think - just the usual swimming on Saturday morning. It's swimming assessment day this week!
Then, Mike and Angela are off to TechEd in Auckland on Monday morning (5:30am on Monday morning!!). Toby and Nana stay at home and entertain each other.
We're back Wednesday at 7pm, and Mike immediately has to go to Tramping Club to return his alpine equipment.
Thursday morning, we'll drive Nana in for her 7am flight back home.
And then on Saturday, Mike's leading a day trip to Kaitoke. Angela and Toby will meet up afterwards and we'll camp out there! Should be nice. We've got a brunch with our ex-ANZ team on the Sunday morning too - hopefully we won't be too disreputable if we've come straight from Kaitoke.
Whew! The good news is, we've got nothing whatsoever planned for the weekend following. The weekend following is the end of school term! Toby will be very excited. He'll be doing the holiday programme at his after-school care, with some tennis thrown in, and then going to visit Tyler in Sydney for the second week.
Mike and Angela will be sleeping.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Good morning on Thurs, Sep 10
Hi,
Well, young Mike is packed and ready to go and explore the tops around Nelson Lakes in the top of the South Island. We have been there once before, many years ago, for an Easter tramp with the tramping club. It was arduous then, without crampons and snow. So, I imagine Mike is going to return a little sore from all his exertions. Or not. The weather forecasts indicate scant opportunity for climbing the peaks without getting blown off and landing scattered all over the Chatham Islands. So, it may be that they keep lower down and enjoy the heavy rain instead.
Karate went well last night and Toby says his tennis was good. I have rebooked him in for next term for the tennis. And there is a holiday slot for one of the days he is at Skids so I might book him into that too - for a bit of variety.
Mike is off to the train station straight from work this evening on the Bluebridge ferry. Or the Interislander. Not sure which exactly. I have finals at table tennis again tonight. Well, I have table tennis - whether the finals have anything to do with me is another matter entirely. I won a mixed doubles game so I think I will have at least one more to play.
Toby is happy to get the opportunity to sleep in bed with me. When Daddy is away, it is allowed.
I think Mike will miss Toby until this time next week! Mike gets back late Sunday (after 9) and we're away to Auckland early (5am) on Monday morning.
So, an interesting week ahead of us all. Have fun, Mike!
Courtesy of my boss, Andy is this link: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/09/apple_announces_ipod_nano_with_camera_fm_tuner_pedometer.html
Love,
Angela
Well, young Mike is packed and ready to go and explore the tops around Nelson Lakes in the top of the South Island. We have been there once before, many years ago, for an Easter tramp with the tramping club. It was arduous then, without crampons and snow. So, I imagine Mike is going to return a little sore from all his exertions. Or not. The weather forecasts indicate scant opportunity for climbing the peaks without getting blown off and landing scattered all over the Chatham Islands. So, it may be that they keep lower down and enjoy the heavy rain instead.
Karate went well last night and Toby says his tennis was good. I have rebooked him in for next term for the tennis. And there is a holiday slot for one of the days he is at Skids so I might book him into that too - for a bit of variety.
Mike is off to the train station straight from work this evening on the Bluebridge ferry. Or the Interislander. Not sure which exactly. I have finals at table tennis again tonight. Well, I have table tennis - whether the finals have anything to do with me is another matter entirely. I won a mixed doubles game so I think I will have at least one more to play.
Toby is happy to get the opportunity to sleep in bed with me. When Daddy is away, it is allowed.
I think Mike will miss Toby until this time next week! Mike gets back late Sunday (after 9) and we're away to Auckland early (5am) on Monday morning.
So, an interesting week ahead of us all. Have fun, Mike!
Courtesy of my boss, Andy is this link: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/09/apple_announces_ipod_nano_with_camera_fm_tuner_pedometer.html
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Good morning on a lovely Wed, Sep 9
Hi,
Ok - who wants a review on District 9 by me? Mike and I went last night after Mike asked his mother to babysit Toby. I must admit, I was feeling quite sick during the movie and I was unsure if it was because I was watching the movie or because I really did feel sick. Watching someone chew their fingernails off can probably cause a little nausea.
But, despite my upset stomach, I did enjoy the movie in a weird sort of way. If you imagine Peter Jackson's Braindead movie and give it a gritty documentary style with a sci-fi setting, you'd have a good idea of what District 9 is like. I did have to close my eyes a bit, to fight back the waves of nausea. Watching someone puke black vomit over the guests at a party would not have been good. So I can only tell you what the sound effects were like in that scene!
Mike loved it I think!
Tonight is busy for us. Karate for Toby (after his tennis) and Mike has tramping club commitments and then he needs to pack for his long weekend away to Angelus climbing two peaks. The weather forecast is bad for the region for the weekend. Heavy rain and galeforce winds about the tops. And I think climbing two large peaks means "about the tops". I have been getting Mike to practise saying "I am not crossing that swollen river" and "I think it looks too windy about the tops to climb today". I want to see him back on Sunday. :-)
News on the Melbourne apartment front. We have an offer and we have signed to accept it. Now it depends on finance at their end. And settlement will be early December if it all goes well. Hence the increase in wondering about buying a crib somewhere in the lower North Island to get away from Wellington often. Our house here is not conducive to romping in the back yard so we need a crib where Toby can play outside all weekend. And I can plant fruit trees. But no chicken counting until the eggs hatch, eh? But I can still look...
Ok. Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Ok - who wants a review on District 9 by me? Mike and I went last night after Mike asked his mother to babysit Toby. I must admit, I was feeling quite sick during the movie and I was unsure if it was because I was watching the movie or because I really did feel sick. Watching someone chew their fingernails off can probably cause a little nausea.
But, despite my upset stomach, I did enjoy the movie in a weird sort of way. If you imagine Peter Jackson's Braindead movie and give it a gritty documentary style with a sci-fi setting, you'd have a good idea of what District 9 is like. I did have to close my eyes a bit, to fight back the waves of nausea. Watching someone puke black vomit over the guests at a party would not have been good. So I can only tell you what the sound effects were like in that scene!
Mike loved it I think!
Tonight is busy for us. Karate for Toby (after his tennis) and Mike has tramping club commitments and then he needs to pack for his long weekend away to Angelus climbing two peaks. The weather forecast is bad for the region for the weekend. Heavy rain and galeforce winds about the tops. And I think climbing two large peaks means "about the tops". I have been getting Mike to practise saying "I am not crossing that swollen river" and "I think it looks too windy about the tops to climb today". I want to see him back on Sunday. :-)
News on the Melbourne apartment front. We have an offer and we have signed to accept it. Now it depends on finance at their end. And settlement will be early December if it all goes well. Hence the increase in wondering about buying a crib somewhere in the lower North Island to get away from Wellington often. Our house here is not conducive to romping in the back yard so we need a crib where Toby can play outside all weekend. And I can plant fruit trees. But no chicken counting until the eggs hatch, eh? But I can still look...
Ok. Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Good morning on Tues, Sep 8
Hi,
Another successful Kea night was had last night. We talked about the Keas (birds), drew some pictures of them and ran around lots.
Mike's mother cooked up tea for us so it was very easy once we got home. It has to be easy on Mondays otherwise tea runs into Toby's bedtime.
Toby has a loose front top tooth. Very exciting for him. And oddly emotional for me. Not too sure why. I'm guessing it's because his smile will be changing a bit and it won't be the same. Mothers! What are they like??!!
Home to cook up dinner tonight. Tuesdays are our day off from doing anything. So Mike will continue getting the laptop sorted and hopefully next week his Mum can take it home to Dunedin with her fully functional!
Have a great day.
Love,
Angela
Another successful Kea night was had last night. We talked about the Keas (birds), drew some pictures of them and ran around lots.
Mike's mother cooked up tea for us so it was very easy once we got home. It has to be easy on Mondays otherwise tea runs into Toby's bedtime.
Toby has a loose front top tooth. Very exciting for him. And oddly emotional for me. Not too sure why. I'm guessing it's because his smile will be changing a bit and it won't be the same. Mothers! What are they like??!!
Home to cook up dinner tonight. Tuesdays are our day off from doing anything. So Mike will continue getting the laptop sorted and hopefully next week his Mum can take it home to Dunedin with her fully functional!
Have a great day.
Love,
Angela
Monday, September 7, 2009
Good morning on Mon, Sept7
Hi!
What a wonderful weekend. I heard that wee Abby had a great birthday party (all two of them - how did she swing that?) and that her mother survived the ordeal! Lucky for us, eh?
Our weather in Wellington was the best ever! I spent all day on Saturday in a t-shirt and Toby wore shorts. Bring it on! Shame my mother was sick and never saw any of it. Get better soon, Ma!
Friday night Toby and I went out to the soccer to watch the Phoenix play Adelaide. We had such fun. Toby read his new books for great parts of the second half (he bought them at the fund raiser at his school - Captain Underpants) so I got to watch quite a lot of the game.
When we got home, Mike was still trying out the wines at Fiona and Brendan's house. So we popped around and it meant Toby had a very late night.
Next morning we were up for swimming and after that Toby and I went to the tennis club open day. There were 140 children there! What a day! Very well organised too.
Saturday evening we headed around for a lovely dinner at Sally and Andrew's place and caught up with Vivienne and John too. My mother was too sick to attend and she was disappointed to miss out on the social occasion. Venison stew - I loved it! We did manage to leave our fridge groceries behind (bacon, milk and ice cream) but I solved that the next morning by buying more!
Sunday was just as gorgeous as Saturday's weather. I woke early and headed out to see Dad for Father's Day with the intention of driving him to work. However, it turns out that he has a late start on Sundays so I made him a coffee and gave him his card and present and went back home to help Toby cook up a breakfast for Mike.
I do have to try and change his present today though - he is busy at work on Tuesday Sept 15th with stocktake. So I'll plead my case and see if I can get the following night instead (tickets to an Aussie comedy show - I hope my parents like it!).
Mike got the newspaper to read and pancakes with banana, strawberries and crispy bacon on top. Toby sprinkled icing sugar on top to round it all off. I burned the pancakes and the smoke detectors around the house went off. I plonked the first one on the plate and Toby shouted through to his Dad - "Dad, your pancakes are burnt!". Then Toby sniffed the plate and shouted through to his Dad - "Dad, your pancakes smell awful!". But the maple syrup disguises all and Mike loved it - so he said. Toby carried the tray into Mike singing "Happy Fathers Day to you".
The rest of Sunday was spent tidying the house and stuff like that. We have almost finished decluttering the green room and put the overflow into crates and stored them in the MX-5 garage. We can lux great swathes of carpet/floor now and we just need one more weekend to get it all shipshape.
Mike's mother is working on the mess in our garden up front. Weeds have taken over and are growing luxuriously.
Mike is away this weekend so I think we'll buy some veges and plant out the vege patch. Toby wants some strawberries this year.
So, have a great week! I need a cup of tea - again!
Love,
Angela
What a wonderful weekend. I heard that wee Abby had a great birthday party (all two of them - how did she swing that?) and that her mother survived the ordeal! Lucky for us, eh?
Our weather in Wellington was the best ever! I spent all day on Saturday in a t-shirt and Toby wore shorts. Bring it on! Shame my mother was sick and never saw any of it. Get better soon, Ma!
Friday night Toby and I went out to the soccer to watch the Phoenix play Adelaide. We had such fun. Toby read his new books for great parts of the second half (he bought them at the fund raiser at his school - Captain Underpants) so I got to watch quite a lot of the game.
When we got home, Mike was still trying out the wines at Fiona and Brendan's house. So we popped around and it meant Toby had a very late night.
Next morning we were up for swimming and after that Toby and I went to the tennis club open day. There were 140 children there! What a day! Very well organised too.
Saturday evening we headed around for a lovely dinner at Sally and Andrew's place and caught up with Vivienne and John too. My mother was too sick to attend and she was disappointed to miss out on the social occasion. Venison stew - I loved it! We did manage to leave our fridge groceries behind (bacon, milk and ice cream) but I solved that the next morning by buying more!
Sunday was just as gorgeous as Saturday's weather. I woke early and headed out to see Dad for Father's Day with the intention of driving him to work. However, it turns out that he has a late start on Sundays so I made him a coffee and gave him his card and present and went back home to help Toby cook up a breakfast for Mike.
I do have to try and change his present today though - he is busy at work on Tuesday Sept 15th with stocktake. So I'll plead my case and see if I can get the following night instead (tickets to an Aussie comedy show - I hope my parents like it!).
Mike got the newspaper to read and pancakes with banana, strawberries and crispy bacon on top. Toby sprinkled icing sugar on top to round it all off. I burned the pancakes and the smoke detectors around the house went off. I plonked the first one on the plate and Toby shouted through to his Dad - "Dad, your pancakes are burnt!". Then Toby sniffed the plate and shouted through to his Dad - "Dad, your pancakes smell awful!". But the maple syrup disguises all and Mike loved it - so he said. Toby carried the tray into Mike singing "Happy Fathers Day to you".
The rest of Sunday was spent tidying the house and stuff like that. We have almost finished decluttering the green room and put the overflow into crates and stored them in the MX-5 garage. We can lux great swathes of carpet/floor now and we just need one more weekend to get it all shipshape.
Mike's mother is working on the mess in our garden up front. Weeds have taken over and are growing luxuriously.
Mike is away this weekend so I think we'll buy some veges and plant out the vege patch. Toby wants some strawberries this year.
So, have a great week! I need a cup of tea - again!
Love,
Angela
Friday, September 4, 2009
Good morning on Friday, Sep 4
Hi there,
I came third in the womans singles (over 40) championships last night. Mum came second! She made the final (I guess you could say). We both lost to the reigning champion.
Yes - you may have read between the lines and already determined there were only three contenders.
:-)
Tonight is soccer night. I'm off to collect wee Toby from Skids and heading off to Wagamama for dinner then off to the soccer to watch Phoenix play Adelaide. Woo hoo! A late night for the wee chap but we can sleep in.
So, there you have it. Swimming tomorrow and more DIY for the weekend. Not much else on. Maybe tea at Sally's house if we can get sorted. But that isn't confirmed yet - Sally merely floated the idea out there!
Ok. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love,
Angela
I came third in the womans singles (over 40) championships last night. Mum came second! She made the final (I guess you could say). We both lost to the reigning champion.
Yes - you may have read between the lines and already determined there were only three contenders.
:-)
Tonight is soccer night. I'm off to collect wee Toby from Skids and heading off to Wagamama for dinner then off to the soccer to watch Phoenix play Adelaide. Woo hoo! A late night for the wee chap but we can sleep in.
So, there you have it. Swimming tomorrow and more DIY for the weekend. Not much else on. Maybe tea at Sally's house if we can get sorted. But that isn't confirmed yet - Sally merely floated the idea out there!
Ok. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love,
Angela
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Good morning on Thurs, Sep 3
Hi,
What a lovely morning for the first bike ride in for a wee while. Perfect conditions - even the lights were red at the Terrace intersection so I could cross safely without stopping. Amazing! Mike rode down with me. Mike's mother will drop wee Toby off at school.
There is supposed to be a southerly change come through today at some stage. But at the moment it is mighty fine.
Karate went well last night. My parents collected Toby and Mike's mother and I met them at the hall. So Toby had quite a spectator stand watching him perform his moves. And he did them very well.
Toby got an early night and I went to tramping club to pick up Mike. He has some punters for his day tramp already. I think Toby and I might go along to Kaitoke and pitch the tent and wait for Mike to return from his tramp. We can stay overnight there for the sheer fun of it all.
That's about it. I have table tennis tonight where I think it is the woman's championships. I don't expect to be in many rounds! :-)
Love,
Angela
What a lovely morning for the first bike ride in for a wee while. Perfect conditions - even the lights were red at the Terrace intersection so I could cross safely without stopping. Amazing! Mike rode down with me. Mike's mother will drop wee Toby off at school.
There is supposed to be a southerly change come through today at some stage. But at the moment it is mighty fine.
Karate went well last night. My parents collected Toby and Mike's mother and I met them at the hall. So Toby had quite a spectator stand watching him perform his moves. And he did them very well.
Toby got an early night and I went to tramping club to pick up Mike. He has some punters for his day tramp already. I think Toby and I might go along to Kaitoke and pitch the tent and wait for Mike to return from his tramp. We can stay overnight there for the sheer fun of it all.
That's about it. I have table tennis tonight where I think it is the woman's championships. I don't expect to be in many rounds! :-)
Love,
Angela
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)