The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

I rode home in lovely conditions, completely different to the downpour I rode to work in.  Got dinner ready for Toby (he was the one that chose 2 minute noodles - not me!) and waited for Jack to arrive before we left for Wrights Hill. 

The tour was fascinating - but the boys were very noisy and my ears were ringing a bit by the end.  The whole tour was worth the five minutes when we stepped out of the observation office to see the stunning view of Wellington.  The evening was clear and there was no wind.  Lower Hutt looked lovely shimmering in the cool evening air.  It really was amazing.  And I got to see stars I don't usually see from our house.

My ride in this morning was also lovely.  Blue skies - no wind.  A day to fall in love with Wellington all over again.

I have early Toby pick up duties today so will work from home for the last bit of the day.

Mike was busy in Sydney again - with work drinks after work to meet the new Australia manager.  Ooooo.

Have a fantastic day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing

Hi,

I rode home and got dinner ready for Toby.  He was still happy after his wonderful weekend (he declared it the best of the year - then upgraded the weekend to the best of his life.  Perhaps too many hours playing Minecraft?).  We then got into bed early and watched an episode of Man vs Wild (Bear was running around Norway) and then read briefly before falling sleep.

Mike is busy but happy in Sydney.  This time he is staying in our work's apartment in central Sydney.  I got a text from him asking why we don't live there.  Hmmmmm.

My ride in this morning was damp.  Yingjie had an accident with her car door yesterday as she was parking it at the library.  The wind caught it as she opened it and then a car clipped it.  It doesn't shut.  So I drove the boys and Yingjie to the library.  As I got my bike ready, it started to pur down.  I was drenched in a few minutes and the ride down the hill was fun.  No wind to speak of but lots of cold, fat raindrops.

Cubs tonight - we're off to explore the Wrights Hill fortress.  They are opening it just for us.  Should be great fun!

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The weekend with loads of fun

Hi,

Friday morning I had an appointment to see Aidan's presentation just across the road.  I had the time booked out in my calendar and lunch with her afterwards.  9.45am I got a reminder.  Weird, why do I always make the appointment so much earlier than I need - thinking for some reason it was a 10.30am presentation.  I kept snoozing the reminder.  Until the 10am reminder popped up and I remembered it really was a 10am presentation.  Aaarrghh.  I was late.  Hurtled across the road and waited, waited, waited for the lift.  Walked in ten minutes late - but fortunately with others just as late.  So sorry. 

But, it was a great presentation.  People around me were furiously taking notes as Aidan talked.  And her question time session took as long as her actual presentation.  I was astonished at the number of people that jumped up eager to tell their story.  Some seemed to think Aidan could fix all manner of immigration woes.  Guess that's what happens when you become a Doctor in the field of migration.  Welcome to the rest of your life, Aidan.  Hahahah.  She loves it, anyway!

We had lunch at a new place just opened - Drexels.  It's an American breakfast restaurant.  According to Josh, this was its opening day!  Choice.  Aidan had the omelette and declared it pretty good.  She liberally sprinkled it with Tabasco too I noticed.  I had a salmon bagel - also good!

I had to work late to make up for social excesses - and my ride home was fun in the dark and with no traffic. So there are benefits to working late.

Saturday we were up early enough but I stupidly read for ages until I had to jump out of bed and run around like a mad thing to get ready in time.  I had to help Mike with gib too (carry it up to the garage) and move the bathroom furniture around.  The floor is now done so the next phase can commence.  A bath is within touching distance.  Well, I can touch it already, but it is "wrapped in plastic" and not plumbed in yet.

Toby and I got a WoF for the Corolla before driving up to Waikanae to collect Duncan and Emerson for the Petone fair and a sleepover.  Aidan was still sick (from Thursday I think - and needing some R&R I think) and wrapped in her duvet on the couch. 

We were off soon enough and at the fair where we ate lots and the boys tried their luck with hoop throwing and rock climbing.  Great fun.  We caught up with Rex and his family and the hit of the day was bouncy boxing - inside a bouncy castle with huge foam gloves.

Back to Sally and Andrew's place where Sally cooked up a continuous storm for us and we promptly destroyed the calm of her house with young boys.   And us.  We slept on their floor after watching the All Blacks trounce the Wallabies.  Mike and Andrew drank beer from Beervana - they liked the coffee one.

Next morning Josh arrived super early for the epic day tramp with Mike and Andrew.  They were off at 7.10am.  I packed up our stuff (tent was very wet underneath and we left a muddy patch on the lawn - sorry for that too Sally and Andrew!) and we went to the American restaurant in town.  I have now been there twice in three days!  It was a massive hit!  I had eggs bendict and the boys all had pancakes.

Then off to Waikanae to see Aidan.  She was a little better and had been up and tidied.  Shucks - just for me?  She shouldn't have.  Heheheheh.  We took the boys to Otaki pool and Aidan read while I listened to music and read a bit too.  The boys got tuckered out nicely.  Back to Waikanae and I decided to walk Lulu up the hill.  Great walk.

Back to collect Toby, say hi to Josh back from the epic tramp, and off home to see Mike.  Mike was very tired and sore after the long day.  He packed for Sydney and was up at 4am to leave.  I am a single Mum again this week.

But Toby and I are off to see Mum and Dad this weekend.  So, oddly, Mike and I will both be in Australia next weekend.  But he'll be in Sydney and I'll be in Brisbane. 

Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing

Hi,

Mike and I rode home together - if you can call it "together" when I leave Mike way behind in my wake.  Hahahah.  The benefits of riding every day versus being soft and taking buses and driving.  It was a very pleasant evening - the sun was going down and the Orongorongos looked lovely.

Once home we cooked dinner and watched television altogether.  Toby was so good - he ran up and made us all dessert (ice cream in a cone - aren't we lucky?).

Our ensuite floor is almost done.  So I guess we can schedule in the next step soon.  Hooray!

Petone Winter Carnival tomorrow - I think I will take Toby.  The rugby starts at the same time as the fireworks though.  I might have to watch the rugby at a later time.  Or just watch the second half.  And I think Mike and Andrew might be keen for some Beervana beer tasting.

Sunday looks like it might be a day tramp for Mike and Andrew.  Should be good!

Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing - but Mike worked late

Hi,

I rode home and collected Toby on the dot of 6pm from Yingjie's house.  We went home and I cooked tea for us both.  I got stuck into my homework and Toby sort of got stuck into his.  Eventually we went down to collect Mike and home to bed.  We read a paper by Aidan T together - such a bonding time.  Hahaha.  It was fun to read an academic paper by someone you know well.

My ride in was lovely this morning - the roads are still wet but the skies are quite clear.  We may see sunshine today!  Woo hoo!

Have a marvellous day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

We had a fantastic time at Cubs last night.  22 Cubs and complete silence for long periods of time.  And everyone completed their artist badge.  Woo hoo!  One Cub turned his milk bottle into a lamp - complete with lightbulb and electricity.  I think that amazed everyone.  They all did well.

Home to bed after that pretty much.  I read for a bit but that was about it.

Work has started on the floor of our ensuite.  It may take some time I think.  Then once that is done, we can look at getting Barry in to do the bathroom itself.  That might mean no more toilet and vanity in our lounge!  Hahahah.

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with dinner out

Hi,

Turns out that Mike had to go home to sort out Toby's social life and the ensuite for the builder coming today!  Yikes!  So he missed out on the work social club event involving eating and beer tasting.  But the non beer drinker went.  And Sally and Andrew also went along.

We had a good time - I enjoyed my food.  We went to the Little Beer Quarter in Edward St and they were struggling to keep up service.  Our matched beers to our courses all came out at the start well before any food.  And I got my (very scrumptious) meal last.  I had ordered the only vegetarian dish at our table.  But it was a wonderful stack of roasted veges with feta.  Yummy!  See?  I can eat veges.

While we waited for our meals, Sally and Andrew and I named all fifty states of the USA.  Well, apart from Nebraska and Wisconsin.  Those must be cheeky states!  Imagine forgetting about them?  We were a bit horrified as we got obscure states like Wyoming and missed a huge album by Bruce Springsteen and the place we eat our burgers at!  We also named the first 20 elements in the periodic table.  A bit of an easier task.  I ignored Andrew's suggestion of the 18 European union countries.  Hahahah.

Mike demolished all of the ensuite. 

Cubs tonight.  They are all going for the Artist badge en masse.  Should be fun!

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela