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| Toby tramping in the weekend From: Kaitoke waterworks tramp |
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Good morning on Wed, Jan 27
Hi,
It is a lovely, if foggy, day here in Wellington. There was no wind and my ride down the hill was superb. Our view over the valley to where the Lewises live was beautiful. By 7am it was clearing over the hilltops with blue skies, and the fog just snuggled into the crevices of the valleys. However it is all tempered by the forecast of thundery showers this evening. I might be quite wet when I collect wee Toby. My Mummy, the drowned rat. He's seen it before, many times. I don't think many Mummys collect their kids by bicycle at Toby's school. BMWs, yes.
Toby went to Staglands yesterday with Skids. We had seen the sign for the place at the weekend and we thought it'd be good to visit. I went there when I was about 8 years old while on holiday visiting my cousins with my grandmother. It was very rustic then and I was wondering how it had changed with the times. So, I tied our good point-and-click digital camera to Toby's backpack and cautioned him about being careful with it and asked him to take photos. I should have spent less time cautioning him and more time telling him I wanted photos of Staglands. When I collected him I asked how his photography went. He said it ran out of batteries. When we downloaded it, we could see lots of photos of Skids: the tables at Skids, the kids at Skids, their surprised parents (very stunned looking photos) and other random events in Toby's life that day: the inside of the car that took Toby to Staglands, a lamp-post, a car park, and finally about 5 photos of Staglands itself. Despite me being none the wiser about Stanglands in the new millenium, it made me laugh quite a bit.
We went around to Toby's school after tea and Toby rode his bicycle for a bit. If the thundery showers hold off, we'll do the same tonight too. Toby has to be proficient by Easter at riding on a gravel trail. I think we're whistling Dixie. Or some expression that means we have little hope. But we only have ourselves to blame.
I spoke to Ma yesterday, and wee Tyler. Oh - I found some of Tyler's socks last night. Pink ones with a frilly top. I'll mail them back. They all seemed in good spirits when we chatted. We meant to ring last night but got distracted when we picked up the phone and it rang! It was Kara - in the mood for a good long chat. So, Toby went to bed and that was that. Maybe tonight.
Grocery delivery tonight. Good. I can make dinner!
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
It is a lovely, if foggy, day here in Wellington. There was no wind and my ride down the hill was superb. Our view over the valley to where the Lewises live was beautiful. By 7am it was clearing over the hilltops with blue skies, and the fog just snuggled into the crevices of the valleys. However it is all tempered by the forecast of thundery showers this evening. I might be quite wet when I collect wee Toby. My Mummy, the drowned rat. He's seen it before, many times. I don't think many Mummys collect their kids by bicycle at Toby's school. BMWs, yes.
Toby went to Staglands yesterday with Skids. We had seen the sign for the place at the weekend and we thought it'd be good to visit. I went there when I was about 8 years old while on holiday visiting my cousins with my grandmother. It was very rustic then and I was wondering how it had changed with the times. So, I tied our good point-and-click digital camera to Toby's backpack and cautioned him about being careful with it and asked him to take photos. I should have spent less time cautioning him and more time telling him I wanted photos of Staglands. When I collected him I asked how his photography went. He said it ran out of batteries. When we downloaded it, we could see lots of photos of Skids: the tables at Skids, the kids at Skids, their surprised parents (very stunned looking photos) and other random events in Toby's life that day: the inside of the car that took Toby to Staglands, a lamp-post, a car park, and finally about 5 photos of Staglands itself. Despite me being none the wiser about Stanglands in the new millenium, it made me laugh quite a bit.
We went around to Toby's school after tea and Toby rode his bicycle for a bit. If the thundery showers hold off, we'll do the same tonight too. Toby has to be proficient by Easter at riding on a gravel trail. I think we're whistling Dixie. Or some expression that means we have little hope. But we only have ourselves to blame.
I spoke to Ma yesterday, and wee Tyler. Oh - I found some of Tyler's socks last night. Pink ones with a frilly top. I'll mail them back. They all seemed in good spirits when we chatted. We meant to ring last night but got distracted when we picked up the phone and it rang! It was Kara - in the mood for a good long chat. So, Toby went to bed and that was that. Maybe tonight.
Grocery delivery tonight. Good. I can make dinner!
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Good morning on Tues, Jan 26
Hi,
Happy Australia Day to those on the other side of the Tasman. Hope it isn't too hot for you. Heheheheh. We were not bothered by a lot of heat for our long weekend celebrating Wellington Anniversary day. Rain on Saturday that was constant. Lovely on Sunday for the most part. And overcast yesterday - but no rain! Mixed bag.
Let's see how it went... Friday we thought we'd pack and leave. The rain had other ideas. So we put it off to Saturday morning. We woke and packed and remembered to ask Vivienne to sort out Merlot's food (Ta!!) having to buy the catfood on the way out of Wellington and drop it off at Vivienne's place. Oh dear. A disoriganised portion of our weekend.
We had a new tent to try out, you see. A Torpedo7.com special. And Saturday tested its seams very well. It rained nearly the whole day - apart from the 15 minutes where we pitched it at Kaitoke Regional Park. For anniversary weekend it was a very empty park. I can imagine it heaving on warm, sunny holiday weekends. So we pitched the tent, got in - and stayed in. I ... fell asleep. Heheheheh. Mike and Toby continued reading and playing games until hunger pains crept in. Then we went exploring and Mike drove back into Upper Hutt for some Indian yummy takeways. What a scrumptious camping dinner!
Next morning we slowly got ready and eventually some other punters arrived. Constanze, Christian and Gustav (2) arrived followed by Nick, Marg, Iona (4) and Charlie (also 2). So we pitched more tents, had lunch and then set off to see where Rivendell was filmed for Lord of the Rings. I must watch those scenes again. Kaitoke Regional Park
We went down to the river (where Pakuratahi River meets the Hutt River) junction and Toby saw a huge rock out in the middle of the river. He decided to swim over to it. So he stripped off, got upstream of the rock so he could use the fairly fast current to his advantage and leapt in. The current grabbed him pretty quick but he got a hold of the rock and hauled himself up onto it. He loudly proclaimed it Toby Island and sat in the sun on it for a while. I must try and get a photo for you to see for yourselves. We had to lure him off Toby Island with threats as he had virtually taken up residence. He jumped in and swam strongly for the shore. I was pretty proud of him. I think Mike was too.
Off over the swingbridge after that for the loop walk. We would have walked for 3 hours I guess, including breaks to watch Toby perform. Toby managed to convince Iona that she didn't need to use her scooter that her parents had carried the whole way and rode her scooter back along the road to the campground. Toby and Iona struck up a good friendship over the two days.
Monday was more overcast but still not too cold. We decided to do the 3 hour Ridge Track to Te Marua lakes (the water treatment area for most of Wellington). It took 4 hours (although I think Toby could have done it easily in 3.5 hours). Mike had left a car at that end so it was easy to get back to the campground to strike the tent and head back to Wellington.
We ate pizza at Sally and Andrew's place on the way home. It was nice to sleep in our bed. The tent performed well and we'll use it as the tent of choice from now on (for campng out of the car - it is too heavy for tramping). And Ramble can probably join us at Kaitoke Regional Park. There were loads of dogs there - and even out on the trails where 1080 has been dropped. So if we keep him close by in the campground, we should be right.
Time to get stuck in.
Have a great week.
Love,
Angela
Happy Australia Day to those on the other side of the Tasman. Hope it isn't too hot for you. Heheheheh. We were not bothered by a lot of heat for our long weekend celebrating Wellington Anniversary day. Rain on Saturday that was constant. Lovely on Sunday for the most part. And overcast yesterday - but no rain! Mixed bag.
Let's see how it went... Friday we thought we'd pack and leave. The rain had other ideas. So we put it off to Saturday morning. We woke and packed and remembered to ask Vivienne to sort out Merlot's food (Ta!!) having to buy the catfood on the way out of Wellington and drop it off at Vivienne's place. Oh dear. A disoriganised portion of our weekend.
We had a new tent to try out, you see. A Torpedo7.com special. And Saturday tested its seams very well. It rained nearly the whole day - apart from the 15 minutes where we pitched it at Kaitoke Regional Park. For anniversary weekend it was a very empty park. I can imagine it heaving on warm, sunny holiday weekends. So we pitched the tent, got in - and stayed in. I ... fell asleep. Heheheheh. Mike and Toby continued reading and playing games until hunger pains crept in. Then we went exploring and Mike drove back into Upper Hutt for some Indian yummy takeways. What a scrumptious camping dinner!
Next morning we slowly got ready and eventually some other punters arrived. Constanze, Christian and Gustav (2) arrived followed by Nick, Marg, Iona (4) and Charlie (also 2). So we pitched more tents, had lunch and then set off to see where Rivendell was filmed for Lord of the Rings. I must watch those scenes again. Kaitoke Regional Park
We went down to the river (where Pakuratahi River meets the Hutt River) junction and Toby saw a huge rock out in the middle of the river. He decided to swim over to it. So he stripped off, got upstream of the rock so he could use the fairly fast current to his advantage and leapt in. The current grabbed him pretty quick but he got a hold of the rock and hauled himself up onto it. He loudly proclaimed it Toby Island and sat in the sun on it for a while. I must try and get a photo for you to see for yourselves. We had to lure him off Toby Island with threats as he had virtually taken up residence. He jumped in and swam strongly for the shore. I was pretty proud of him. I think Mike was too.
Off over the swingbridge after that for the loop walk. We would have walked for 3 hours I guess, including breaks to watch Toby perform. Toby managed to convince Iona that she didn't need to use her scooter that her parents had carried the whole way and rode her scooter back along the road to the campground. Toby and Iona struck up a good friendship over the two days.
Monday was more overcast but still not too cold. We decided to do the 3 hour Ridge Track to Te Marua lakes (the water treatment area for most of Wellington). It took 4 hours (although I think Toby could have done it easily in 3.5 hours). Mike had left a car at that end so it was easy to get back to the campground to strike the tent and head back to Wellington.
We ate pizza at Sally and Andrew's place on the way home. It was nice to sleep in our bed. The tent performed well and we'll use it as the tent of choice from now on (for campng out of the car - it is too heavy for tramping). And Ramble can probably join us at Kaitoke Regional Park. There were loads of dogs there - and even out on the trails where 1080 has been dropped. So if we keep him close by in the campground, we should be right.
Time to get stuck in.
Have a great week.
Love,
Angela
Friday, January 22, 2010
Good morning on Fri, Jan 22
Hi,
Well, Mike was toast all day yesterday. His diagnosis in the end was that he had a migraine during his sleep. Seems to fit in with every symptom we saw.
I rode home and got in quite early so I made a quick tea and we watched another episode of True Blood before I had to shower for the movies. We were off to see Avatar 3D again. Mike gave his ticket up to Andrew, and Lesley and Wally and Joe all went. It was just as much fun as the first time I saw it. All of us loved it. I spent ages looking at it this time rather than following the storyline and I remember being surprised it had finished. Hayden (work colleague) is in one of the last scenes so I saw him and realised it was all over.
Mike seems much better today. We went and collected Toby from Ngaio and said our goodbyes to Tyler and Mum and Dad. Wee Toby is very sad Tyler is leaving. He said it quite a few times on the drive back to Skids. I had some tears in my eyes too. I think I might be thinking of when my parents leave for good back to Australia. We'll have to head over for a long weekend some time in May or something. August is all on for Karen's big birthday party. Woo hoo!
Karen also finished her series of four books last night. I hope she likes the one I bought her. We shall see.
This weekend we're off camping and doing day walks in Kaitoke (not far from Upper Hutt). Mike is leading family day walks from there for the tramping club. The weather is supposed to be pants! We have a new tent to try out (Torpedo7.com special) so if nothing else we can eat and read all weekend and venture out during breaks in the weather. Pop in to see us if you're going past. Kaitoke Waterworks campground.
Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela
Well, Mike was toast all day yesterday. His diagnosis in the end was that he had a migraine during his sleep. Seems to fit in with every symptom we saw.
I rode home and got in quite early so I made a quick tea and we watched another episode of True Blood before I had to shower for the movies. We were off to see Avatar 3D again. Mike gave his ticket up to Andrew, and Lesley and Wally and Joe all went. It was just as much fun as the first time I saw it. All of us loved it. I spent ages looking at it this time rather than following the storyline and I remember being surprised it had finished. Hayden (work colleague) is in one of the last scenes so I saw him and realised it was all over.
Mike seems much better today. We went and collected Toby from Ngaio and said our goodbyes to Tyler and Mum and Dad. Wee Toby is very sad Tyler is leaving. He said it quite a few times on the drive back to Skids. I had some tears in my eyes too. I think I might be thinking of when my parents leave for good back to Australia. We'll have to head over for a long weekend some time in May or something. August is all on for Karen's big birthday party. Woo hoo!
Karen also finished her series of four books last night. I hope she likes the one I bought her. We shall see.
This weekend we're off camping and doing day walks in Kaitoke (not far from Upper Hutt). Mike is leading family day walks from there for the tramping club. The weather is supposed to be pants! We have a new tent to try out (Torpedo7.com special) so if nothing else we can eat and read all weekend and venture out during breaks in the weather. Pop in to see us if you're going past. Kaitoke Waterworks campground.
Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Good morning on Thurs, Jan 21
Hi,
What a lovely morning. It was so hot during the night we slept all night with just the sheet over us. I know, I know. Just 10 days ago I slept with the electric blanket on 2 all night too. Weird, eh? Heheheheh. When I woke it was raining pathetically - I think the humidity was oozing out of the sky more than anything else. Mike woke with a splitting headache and blocked sinuses and took medication and went back to bed. Poor chap. He couldn't even face breakfast. Hands up all who know Mike and now realise how sick he is! When Mike turns down food, he's ill.
Anyhow, there was little sign of Mike's impending doom last night. He stayed late at work getting through stuff and I rode home and went to tea at Mum and Dad's place. The kids had a good day at Lollipops but no one mention the zoo. Shhhhhh. Mum may have mentioned it once and got away with it. ;-) I ate a yummy dinner and then drove off to Tramping Club night, collecting Mike on the way through.
The slides were from Sue (vice prez) and from a kayaking trip she did to Pelorus Sound. Very nice weather and looked like fun.
We drove home and fell into bed not long after that.
Tonight is another Avatar night with Lesley and Wally (and Joe from work). I do hope Mike is well enough by then to come along. Otherwise we'll be touting for someone to use his ticket.
Have a marvellous day.
Love,
Angela
What a lovely morning. It was so hot during the night we slept all night with just the sheet over us. I know, I know. Just 10 days ago I slept with the electric blanket on 2 all night too. Weird, eh? Heheheheh. When I woke it was raining pathetically - I think the humidity was oozing out of the sky more than anything else. Mike woke with a splitting headache and blocked sinuses and took medication and went back to bed. Poor chap. He couldn't even face breakfast. Hands up all who know Mike and now realise how sick he is! When Mike turns down food, he's ill.
Anyhow, there was little sign of Mike's impending doom last night. He stayed late at work getting through stuff and I rode home and went to tea at Mum and Dad's place. The kids had a good day at Lollipops but no one mention the zoo. Shhhhhh. Mum may have mentioned it once and got away with it. ;-) I ate a yummy dinner and then drove off to Tramping Club night, collecting Mike on the way through.
The slides were from Sue (vice prez) and from a kayaking trip she did to Pelorus Sound. Very nice weather and looked like fun.
We drove home and fell into bed not long after that.
Tonight is another Avatar night with Lesley and Wally (and Joe from work). I do hope Mike is well enough by then to come along. Otherwise we'll be touting for someone to use his ticket.
Have a marvellous day.
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Good morning on Wed, Jan 20
Hi,
What a lovely day yesterday - shame I was cooped up at work for the most part. I did go for a walk to the shops at lunchtime though. Today is warm but overcast. 24 C is forecast for today. Wow. I wonder if that will happen?
Last night we ate tea when we got in (well, I did hang out my washing first) and then got stuck into the moving of the TV downstairs. We worked on it until 9pm but there is one thing left to do. Mike needs to crawl into the roof and slice cables to extend down to the TV room. We have no TV as yet. Trouble is, we're busy every evening now till Friday. Toby might still have no TV when he returns to our place.
I'm going home after work, grabbing the wee car and heading to Ngaio for dinner with everyone before I head off to the tramping club night at 7.30pm. That way I can drive Mike home after it. He will work late and sort out a few things before the club night. First one for the year!
I wonder what the kids wll do with Ma and Pa today? How exicting! I hope the forecast evening rain stays away all day. I have left zoo tickets (buy one get one free) on the fridge at home for them (and some Tyler stuff on the couch arm). We also have TimeZone ticket/voucher thingys. I guess they could do that today or tomorrow too. I must find out where they can do it here.
Better go. Busy day at work.
Love,
Angela
What a lovely day yesterday - shame I was cooped up at work for the most part. I did go for a walk to the shops at lunchtime though. Today is warm but overcast. 24 C is forecast for today. Wow. I wonder if that will happen?
Last night we ate tea when we got in (well, I did hang out my washing first) and then got stuck into the moving of the TV downstairs. We worked on it until 9pm but there is one thing left to do. Mike needs to crawl into the roof and slice cables to extend down to the TV room. We have no TV as yet. Trouble is, we're busy every evening now till Friday. Toby might still have no TV when he returns to our place.
I'm going home after work, grabbing the wee car and heading to Ngaio for dinner with everyone before I head off to the tramping club night at 7.30pm. That way I can drive Mike home after it. He will work late and sort out a few things before the club night. First one for the year!
I wonder what the kids wll do with Ma and Pa today? How exicting! I hope the forecast evening rain stays away all day. I have left zoo tickets (buy one get one free) on the fridge at home for them (and some Tyler stuff on the couch arm). We also have TimeZone ticket/voucher thingys. I guess they could do that today or tomorrow too. I must find out where they can do it here.
Better go. Busy day at work.
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Good morning on Tues, Jan 19
Hi,
Yesterday afternoon's superb weather has continued into this morning with a cracker morning. No wind and dry roads for our ride in. After lunch yesterday the fog and drizzle lifted and we were greeted by sunshine. The wind dropped away and the evening was wonderful. We had tea at our place then dropped everyone off at Ngaio. Ma and Dad's car is in the panelbeaters getting the two driver-side doors sorted after the run-in with our neighbour and so they needed our car. We left the Corolla behind and drove the wee green car home - via Waikanae. Yes - we went to visit the Tabors in their lovely new house. Lots of fun. The boys were already fast asleep but we got a tour of the house.
Anyhow, fun though it was, it made for a short sleep and it was hard getting out of bed this morning. Never mind!
Yesterday the kids went to Skids and luckily the weather cleared up because it was "Get Wet Day" and Toby was armed with his two Super Soakers (one for him, one for Tyler). They both had towels and togs but although Tyler carefully changed into her togs fror the fun, Toby must have launched straight into the fray. The first thing Tyler told me when I saw her was "Toby got soaked". They had fun!
Tonight however, is another thing. We might flag dinner at Ma and Pa's house in favour of getting the house in order. On Sunday night, Wally helped Mike move the television downstairs (into the TV room, naturally - about time the TV room got a TV in it - it's only been 2.5 years!). So now we have to set it all up just so. It'll probably take all evening. Mike has to crawl into the roofspace and connect co-axial cables together to reach from the lounge down to the bottom TV room. And that involves pre-laid drwawires that we hope will be up to the task! At the moment we have no TV and my son seems to have taken this as a personal affront. I think he is very happy to be at Grandy and Gramps' place this week so he can get his daily fix. Tyler was horrified when I told her on Monday morning that we had no TV. She said "Am I supposed to stay here with no TV?" or words to that effect. Her face was incredulous. I had to hold back guffaws at that point as she genuinely was surprised.
So, there you have it. Ma has real estate agents coming around today. The house should look its best on a day with sun and little wind! They'll choose an agent and I expect marketing will begin. When my parents return from Sydney (Sat. Feb. 6) they will kick off the selling process.
Have a wonderful day, wherever you are.
Love,
Angela
Yesterday afternoon's superb weather has continued into this morning with a cracker morning. No wind and dry roads for our ride in. After lunch yesterday the fog and drizzle lifted and we were greeted by sunshine. The wind dropped away and the evening was wonderful. We had tea at our place then dropped everyone off at Ngaio. Ma and Dad's car is in the panelbeaters getting the two driver-side doors sorted after the run-in with our neighbour and so they needed our car. We left the Corolla behind and drove the wee green car home - via Waikanae. Yes - we went to visit the Tabors in their lovely new house. Lots of fun. The boys were already fast asleep but we got a tour of the house.
Anyhow, fun though it was, it made for a short sleep and it was hard getting out of bed this morning. Never mind!
Yesterday the kids went to Skids and luckily the weather cleared up because it was "Get Wet Day" and Toby was armed with his two Super Soakers (one for him, one for Tyler). They both had towels and togs but although Tyler carefully changed into her togs fror the fun, Toby must have launched straight into the fray. The first thing Tyler told me when I saw her was "Toby got soaked". They had fun!
Tonight however, is another thing. We might flag dinner at Ma and Pa's house in favour of getting the house in order. On Sunday night, Wally helped Mike move the television downstairs (into the TV room, naturally - about time the TV room got a TV in it - it's only been 2.5 years!). So now we have to set it all up just so. It'll probably take all evening. Mike has to crawl into the roofspace and connect co-axial cables together to reach from the lounge down to the bottom TV room. And that involves pre-laid drwawires that we hope will be up to the task! At the moment we have no TV and my son seems to have taken this as a personal affront. I think he is very happy to be at Grandy and Gramps' place this week so he can get his daily fix. Tyler was horrified when I told her on Monday morning that we had no TV. She said "Am I supposed to stay here with no TV?" or words to that effect. Her face was incredulous. I had to hold back guffaws at that point as she genuinely was surprised.
So, there you have it. Ma has real estate agents coming around today. The house should look its best on a day with sun and little wind! They'll choose an agent and I expect marketing will begin. When my parents return from Sydney (Sat. Feb. 6) they will kick off the selling process.
Have a wonderful day, wherever you are.
Love,
Angela
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