The weekend with good weather... still

Hi,

We had an unexpected weekend in Wellington after our Ruapehu trip was cancelled due to lack of interest.  Guess it would have been odd (but pleasant) in the 32 bunk lodge by ourselves.

So, instead, we had a great weekend in Wellington.  Saturday I was meant to tidy the house.  And I guess I did a bit of it.  Mike was supposed to work, and I guess he did a little bit of it too.  Toby had William come over and then they went to see Gamemasters at Te Papa all by themselves (while Mike worked) and then Mike took them to Joe's Garage and Mike had an iced coffee.  Yummy!  I was doing the laundry.

Sunday we were up early and tidying - again.  How does it get messy in one day?  Then I took Toby to Lower Hutt to buy some sneakers and the groceries for the BBQ.  12.30 people started arriving.  It was a gorgeous day - clouded over briefly but that was just a respite from the heat!

Out on the patio we sit - just for Ma!

We had family, friends and some colleagues from work come over.  So it was a big event for us.  Mike cooked up a storm.  Toby had some friends to play with, although I think the wee girls played in his room and the boys played computer games.

Mike ensured the patio area was scrubbed and you could eat off the floor.  Well, perhaps not quite.  But it was certainly clearer than I have seen it before.  And with all the guff gone, we had loads of space.  Might need to invest in some more chairs.

The rest of Sunday was spent tidying and ironing.  Well, at least we're ready for the week.

My ride down the hill was great today.  Lovely morning, again.  I am on the mountain bike because the council is chip sealing all the roads that lead to our house.  And the skinny road tyres scare me on loose gravel.  So the fatter hybrid tyres will have to do for a bit.

Hope your week is marvellous!
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a birthday movie

Hi,

Mike had a huge day at work yesterday - a big presentation that went really well.  After that, he deserved a night off relaxing.  But he had volunteered to babysit wee Tom and Toby for Christine's birthday so we could all go out to a movie.  Shucks - he's a good man.

I met everyone at Reading cinemas.  I had met one of Christine's friends before, but none of the others there.  Well, perhaps I have seen one or two others in passing at other birthday parties.  But I was a bit shy.  Anyhow, we went to see Silver Linings Playbook and I rather enjoyed it.  It was billed as a drama/romance/comedy.  Not too sure about the genre really.  The humour was a bit black apart from one hilarious scene right near the end that had me crying with laughter.  It was a good drama I suppose.  And romance?  Well, I am a hopeless judge on that anyway.  But I know my mother would love it.  It has all the elements she likes - psychology, black humour, good acting.  Yep - Ma would love it.

We went out to The Library afterwards for a drink and bite to eat.  Well, the others fed me some of their chips.  I had a bit of sushi before the movie otherwise I would never have concentrated from 6 - 8pm.  I did have a Virgin Mule though - which is what I had last time I went to The Library with Christine.  Nice drink!  The "virgin" part means there is no alcohol.  So it was basically lime and mint with ginger beer.  Slurp!  I like The Library.  In booths, dark nooks, loads of books.  Yep.  A fine place.

Today is another lovely day.  I'm going to try and do a group ride around the bays tomorrow morning.  That should be fun!

Weekend is free.  We fancy a BBQ at our house for Sunday lunch.  Come around if you're free.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with dinner out

Hi,

Mike drove home after work to collect Toby and we met at the Steer and Beer restaurant with a whole bunch of my work colleagues.  The food was pretty good - Toby loved his chicken and Camembert burger and Mike said his beef burger was good (but not as good as my homemade ones the day before).  My steak was pretty good too.  So, not too shabby at all.  We'd go back if we needed some steak dinner before a movie.  It is at the Reading Cinema.

Mike left us to return to work.  He has a big presentation today and will be flat out.  Toby and I went to tramping club for Mike (collected a few bits and pieces) and then a few groceries before collapsing into bed.

This morning is gorgeous!  Gorgeous.  And I had to drive in again.  But that is because it is Christine's birthday today.  Woo!  And I'm off to see Silver Linings Playbook with her and some of her friends tonight.

Cool fun.

Have a wonderful day.  Hope the weather is as beautiful where you are.
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Cubs

Hi,

Mike and I rode home together for the first time in ages.  I was on my road bike and Mike finally heard the awful noise it makes as you ride along.  I left him for dead riding up the hill.  Overtook someone too.  We went up our hill as we had to cook tea quickly before Cubs.

Home made burgers went down a treat.  I got compliments from both boys.  And Toby has the last one in his lunchbox today.  Hope he likes it cold as well as hot.

Mike dropped Toby off at Cubs at Otari Wilton bush.  We got some messages done (bills paid, I did washing - you'd be surprised how happy I am to have my Tuesday evenings back to get some work done at home) and then I went to pick up Toby.

Then it was census time.  So we all sat down and completed our census forms.  We did them online and Toby completed his and then we did ours.  Great fun!  They have taken Scotland off for the first time as an overseas place of birth in favour of India.  So Toby had to put down "Other" and then write in Scotland.  Oooo.  Way to buck the trend, Toby!

We drove into work this morning because we have a work dinner on tonight.  Mike will zip home and collect Toby, get him changed, collect his models and we'll head into town.  Toby is making Minecraft models and loving it.  They look really cool!  Some paper cutting and folding.

Mike has tramping club after the dinner so Toby and I will get some groceries and head home to do homework.

Have a fantastic day!
Love,
Angela

The Monday with a migraine

Hi,

Happy birthday yesterday to Mike's mother!  Yay!  Here's to having a March birthday.  Not quite as good as a February birthday, but not too shabby either.  ;-)

I stayed in bed all day.  Reading.  Oddly, nothing much happened.  Hahahah.  I feel much better today - just the slight hint that I had a migraine yesterday.  I rode my bike in because nothing is better for a headache than a ride on your bike.  I recommend it.  Neurophen doesn't come close.

Cubs tonight - they are rogaining (like orienteering) near our house so it's an easy drop off and pick up for us.

That's about it.  Hoping I don't have to think too hard today and I think I need lots of tea.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The amazing weekend with a pedicure

Hi,

What a fantastic weekend.  But it seems my body can't tolerate such fun because Monday morning saw me get a migraine for the first time in a year or so.  So I have a sick day from work.

Friday evening I left work and drove up with half of Wellington to Waikanae.  The traffic was so slow I was late for our dinner reservation.  I called Aidan and she moved it out a bit, fortunately.  We ate at the Front Room outside in the lovely evening.  I dropped her home and headed back to Wellington.

Meanwhile I have it on good authority that Toby declared their Friday night together (him and Mike) as the best Friday night ever.  Right.  So last Friday night when we snuggled up watching a movie was nowhere near as much fun as riding your bicycle on the road to Burger Wisconsin (he did what??) and watching Back to the Future 3.  Okay.

Saturday morning Mike was up early to get the car warranted.  It passed.  The headlights now point in the same direction.  Then I left to meet Aidan for a pedicure.  This was the first time I had ever had this done and despite my reservations I may have found a new heavenly experience on earth.  Why hadn't anyone told me I can pay money to have someone tickle my feet?  Thanks for the birthday present, Aidan.  It was great.

We then proceeded to take photos of our delicious toes everywhere.  Well, my toes are delicious.  Aidan's are merely functional, like most people's toes.  Hahahahah.

I also have a photo Aidan took of her toes on the dashboard of the MX-5 as we drove through town.  That one is awesome!  I may have to save it somewhere to get it up on the blog at some stage. [Edited:  look, I found the photo!]

We went to lunch at Dockside and were so pleased when a boatload of raucous men tied up right beside our table left on their drunken adventure.  The rest of the lunch was in peace and quite yummy.

We dropped books off at Arty Bees, went clothes shopping (well, I followed Aidan around the clothes shop after Mike told me to get off the internet when I was waiting for her) and I got an iced coffee at Joe's Garage out of it too.  Saw Aidan off to her party and went home to tidy the house.

Toby and Mike were off at Te Papa (we had met them briefly on the street) to see Gamemasters and Toby invited two friends back for a sleepover.  Akash and Jacob.  Nice boys.  They had fun all day playing games and slept well.

I was getting them breakfast the next morning when Vivienne knocked at the door.  I answered in my pyjamas.  Oops.  I had forgotten I was going to the market with her.  Threw some clothes on, made sure most of my hair was pointing in the same direction and went off with her and Ramble.  Such a nice morning.  It's a shame my weekends are full for the next three weekends - I could get used to this Sunday morning behaviour.

Back home for lunch and then Toby went off on a playdate (swimming at Tawa pool) and then home for tea.

Yes - it was such fun.  But my head is a little woozy now after my migraine.  A day spent in bed reading quietly will do wonders.  No sudden movements.  Actually, I had my dizzy thing on Saturday as well.  I wonder if it's connected.  That finally dissipated around 1pm.  Oh well.  All good.

Have a marvellous week.
Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing for me and Toby and more tramping club for Mike

Hi,

I rode home and collected Toby and gave him leftover spaghetti bolognese from yesterday's dinner.  It was prepared so fast he was still on his after-school snack when dinner was put in front of him.

Mike got home after having a quick beer with Josh after work.  We relaxed for a bit watching television.  We've watched television two nights this week.  Something weird has happened!  Only an hour each night - but still.  Highly unusual behaviour.  Mike is gearing up to switch off all our channels.  Why pay for something we never watch?  Maybe that's why we're watching some of it?

Mike then went off to the tramping club lodge committee meeting and now I believe he is on the lodge sub-committee.  Yep - it is sucking him in.  I will be a tramping club widow very soon.

I was well asleep by the time he got home.  Couldn't rouse myself to even say hello.  It's a shame for him!

It's almost the weekend!  Yay.  Mike has (surprise) tramping club web commitments this weekend.  I am meeting Aidan tomorrow to finally get that pedicure she was keen on back in October when my toenails fell off.  Mike wants to take Toby to see the computer game exhibition at Te Papa.  And Toby has a playdate on Sunday.

I need to tidy the house - it can't seem to stay tidy at the moment.  Big weekend looming then, eh?  Maybe a market visit with Vivienne if I'm lucky?

Have a great weekend.
Love,
Angela