The Tuesday with normal activities resumed

Hi,

Yep - Tuesday was normal in its execution.  Thank goodness for that!  Work was busy, but really only normal busy.  I caught up with a client for a coffee and got to try the Soho cafe's iced coffee again.  It is quite a good consistent iced coffee and I give it a solid 8.

Yes - I made the client take my photo.  Yes, he thought it was a little odd.

I rode to the library and collected Toby and the car and then drove home to make tea.  I found my fossil book of New Zealand and read about the place where we collected some fossils on Saturday.  About where we were collecting fossils the book says it is illegal to take them from the reserve.  Aidan's interpretation of this was we were basically in the car park and not the reserve, so it was all good.  Next time I am reading the book before I head out fossil hunting.  Hahahah.

Toby is doing his paleontology badge for science at school - hence the interest in fossils from everyone all of a sudden.  Good fun!

Today is weird.  So dark still.  I got dribbly rain on me at the top of our hill and down here in town there is nothing.  Just overcast.  And it was supposed to be sunny.  What's with that?

Must be time for a cup of tea.  Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The Monday with work, work, work

Hi,

Well, with Mike's migraine and late start he was supposed to work late to make up time.  But my work turned into worms and I ended up staying until 7pm trying to sort it out.  And the really frustrating part is... I never got it sorted out.  It was one of those problems.

I rode home in probably the best evening you'll ever see in Wellington.  No wind.  Blue skies.  The sun setting and starting to turn the sky pink.  Lovely.  The boys were watching the last episode of Sherlock so I ate some late  dinner and mucked around avoiding the television.  Mike will watch it with me again later.

Mike and I had a bath after Toby went to bed and that relaxed me completely.  Bike ride then bath is a great recipe for ignoring work.  I slept like a log.

My ride in was lovely this morning.

View from our garage

The clouds were draped over the hills, and oozing down the valleys.  Not too sure if you can see it in the photo above.  But it was superb!

Have a fantastic day!  Enjoy whatever you get up to.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with great weather and even better activities

Hi,

What a wonderful weekend.  Not sure I can do justice to the great fun!  Friday night, Benjamin came to look after Toby while Mike and I went to see Marcus Chown talk for Christine's birthday.  Marcus Chown is an astrophysicist and renowned for making things easy for noobs to understand.  It was very enjoyable but far too short.  One hour and it was all over.

We nipped into a chinese takeway on Courtney Place for a quick meal.  Kara was there and a friend of Christine's (Rachel).  Christine was off to another session at 8pm so it was gobble and go.  Mike and I got home with my bike (puncture still) and collapsed into bed.

Saturday I was up early and getting ready for my birthday present bike ride with Aidan.  I fixed the puncture, pulling out a huge shard of green glass from the tyre (lucky Andrew taught me how to perform the glass patrol).  Eventually I got all the stuff in the car and said goodbye to the boys and went to collect Aidan.  She was ready too and just as excited as me.  Well, not sure it  is possible to be as excited as me.  But she was pretty close.

We popped into Thorndon New World to buy picnic stuff and we certainly had a lot of food.  Then I had to drive so slowly over the Rimutaka Hill because Aidan gets car sick.  In fact, she went very quiet.  And muttered "granny" every now and then when my speed crept up.  Even once we got down to the flat part on the way to Lake Ferry we had to pull over and allow her to settle her stomach.  But there was no puking!  Yay!  It might have been just her iron will stopping that though.

We continued down to the coast and came across a car perpendicular to the road.  The driver got out and chatted to the car in front of us and then she got back in.  I think she was lost and turning around.  She dithered about a kilometre down the road again.  She was a little scary to think about on the roads.

Once we got to the coast we parked up and got on our bikes.  I had my skinny road tyres and two panniers (the picnic!).  Aidan had a baguette bungeed to her cross bar on her bike.  It looked perfect - the only better thing would have been her basket on the front with it poking out. The gravel was sometimes a bit deep and soft for my bike but Aidan skimmed along nicely.

Warm weather and spectacular views

We saw a load of people doing stuff.  Fishing, surfing, cycling.  We crossed a few fords and the second one had a soft gravel bottom and my bike stopped in the middle.  I was still clipped into my pedals when I realised I was going nowhere.  I unclipped pretty quick and got a wet foot. We rode for about 5 km along the coastal road until we were truly off-road and sinking in soft gravel.  That made a good spot for a picnic.

Plenty of picnic stuff in those panniers

Is that a baguette on your bike, Aidan?

 The people belonging to the cars behind us were surfing just below our picnic spot.  Aidan was hoping they would lure in whales to investigate.  But no whales were seen.  Plenty of birds.  And kelp!  The sea was a stunning colour!

The best picnic spot!

Nice feet!  And Aidan's kinda look okay, I guess.

First feijoa of the season

We contemplated the scenery for a while before deciding we really should get back to the car so we could do all the other things on our list too.  On the way back, Aidan negotiated a huge muddy puddle only to stop right at the end and put both feet down in it!  Eeeeewwww.  I looked back and saw her face!  But she immediately cracked up.  In fact, there was a fair bit of giggling from the two of us as we rode back.  It was such fun!

Once back at the car, we changed into jeans and we went around to the Pinnacles and went fossicking for a bit.  I finally got to use my geologist hammer!  It was a lot of fun too!

Fossil hunting!

Some kids excitedly asked us if we were archaeologists

We also went into Lake Ferry itself.  Our intention was for a cup of tea at the pub.  But it was closed for a private function.  Steph was getting hitched, according to a sign on a house.  And most of the town were in attendance.  So we drove back to Martinborough, following a German registered campervan for a good portion.

Iced coffee in Martinborough afterwards

We eventually dragged ourselves away from a cafe (Aidan liked their hand cut chips and the iced coffee was a good 7.5).  The decor was decidedly odd with naked women painted into normal landscapes in paintings on the walls.  Aidan even found a painting that was weird in her toilet.  But, the food was good!

Aidan and I chatted about Bruce Springsteen and religion and all the things that we never have time to discuss during our busy weeks.  It was a fantastic day!  And Mike had organised a BBQ at our place so it was great to see Josh and the boys when we got back.  Aidan certainly chose the best birthday present!  What a wonderful memory!

Next day was Toby's social day.  Tris, Sam, Emerson, Duncan and Will came over.  They all had lunch and then watched Jurassic Park.  They flew upstairs like locusts from time to time to empty the pantry.  The went down to the park to play as well.  They seemed to have a good time!.

Toby's friends came over for lunch and a movie and a play in the park

Then it was into the boring ironing part of every weekend!  Got that out of the way while watching Season three of Sherlock Holmes.  Toby likes it now (Tabor influence).

Today is stunning here in Wellington.  And seems to be like that for the rest of the week!  Cool!  More of this weather please.  Mike however did get a migraine last night during the night.  He is at work though and feeling okay.

Have a fantastic week!
Love,
Angela

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

Hi,

I went to grab my bike from the basement at work and found my back tyre was completely flat!  Stink.  I spent a while pumping it up with my hand pump, hoping that might be enough to get me up the hill.  But no.  I went back into the shed to get my helmet, came back and squeezed the newly inflated tyre to check.  Almost flat again.  Okay- that's not an option.  No time to change the tube.  Guess I need the bus option.  Jumped on a 14 in my bike gear.  I was the brightest person on the bus in my fluoro vest.  At least Toby was home and not missing me in the slightest.

I did get an iced coffee with Mike late in the afternoon yesterday.  Mixed Business has a great consistent iced coffee.  I give it a solid 9.  And yes - I am booked in to get a haircut!

Mike said I looked like I was falling over as I tried to tuck into the wall to avoid over exposure

So I straightened up - and the photo does look much more normal!  Hahahahah

The evening was stunning after the manky morning.  I sat on the deck reading for a bit.  Mike came home and scoffed down dinner and went to his committee meeting.  Tramping nerd.

Friday night we're out with Christine to see Marcus Chown speak.  He is a physicist that makes things clear for physics newbs!  Should be a good night.  It's Christine's birthday today.  And Prince Edward's.  Hahahah.

Friday today!  Yay!  Hope you have a great weekend.  I have my birthday Saturday tomorrow with Aidan.  Her present is a bike ride with me.  What an awesome present.  Hope the weather stays okay.  And I get to collect fossils as well.  Geology hammer and bike riding?  It just might be a perfect day!  Toby has a social Sunday planned - lunch and a movie for him and a few mates.  Nice!  And Mike would like to get friendly with the chipper and help Christine move whiteware around.  Should be a great weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with tramping club for Mike

Hi,

The weather is still quite wintry here but I made it in this morning without getting too wet - just a sprinkly bit of rain on the top of the hill.  Yesterday was busy at work but I did manage to squeeze in lunch with Aidan.  Her colleague has a grape vine in the Hutt Valley and it produces the nicest grapes.  Aidan brought me some and they were delicious globules of sweetness.  I got away on time from work and found Toby at home despite the wet weather.  I was expecting him to be at the library because he's there even in the nice weather.  But no - he went home on the rainiest, wettest day so far.

Mike went to tramping club and we drove in to collect him because it was yucky weather and we wanted him home as soon as possible.

Mike has something else on for tramping club tonight.  I am a tramping club widow.

Oh - it was Mike's mother's birthday yesterday!  Happy birthday to Polly!  I hope it was drier down in Dunedin than here!

I need a tea.  Desperately.

Have a wonderful day.  Apparently Wellington is going to get nice weather after today!  Yeah - bring that on!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday like a Monday

Hi,

Getting back to work on a Tuesday is a little odd, as it is just like your Monday and you're asking everyone how their weekend was.  A day behind the whole week!

The day went just fine - busy - but good busy.  I did have a meeting with Aidan that didn't go according to plan.  The plan was to actually meet up and have a short walk after her run.  What actually happened was she stood in reception for ten minutes then left and I stood in reception for ten minutes then left.  Hahahah.  Better planning needed, obviously.

I rode home to collect Toby at 4.30 and rush him back to his dental appointment.  That went well and then Mike and Toby went out for some food while I caught up with work colleagues at work.  I got dropped home by Ange afterwards.

The weather has turned cold and wet.  My ride in this morning was a little bit freezing and had my mind turning to my long-fingered gloves that are usually only used in the depths of winter.

Now it is Wednesday and my brain is saying it is Tuesday.  I am so confused!

Have a fabulous day!
Love,
Angela

The weekend in Auckland with Bruce

Hi,

Our frivolous weekend in Auckland to see Bruce was such fun.  Thanks to the Tabors for looking after Toby straight from his school camp week.  Poor Aidan sent me a text of woe on Saturday morning as Toby reported explosive diarrhoea and Duncan had a cold and Emerson had his infected cuts back again.  Needless to say, they had a quiet weekend at home.


We left early Saturday and I was quite sick still.  It turns out I slept for about two thirds of the drive up.  Poor Mike was bored to tears by my lack of stimulating conversation.  But it was a sunny day, and the roof was down and it was good fun, I'm sure.  The parts I was awake for looked good anyway.  We had breakfast at Levin (Maccas) and then stopped at the New World in Taihape to stock up on provisions for the car.

We ended up stuck in Ironman event traffic in Taupo in the hot summer sun because Mike didn't know of the existence of the Taupo bypass road.  But it was good to see the event!

We got to Auckland without any problems and found the Sampson house easily.  A quick cup of tea and Wally dropped me and Mike off at Mt Smart stadium.  Thanks Wally.  We wandered into the venue, spotting Sally and Andrew from outside the fence.  We ate a sausage from Fritz's Wieners and went into the mosh pit area to stake a place.  Sally and Andrew were close to a jutting out stage part.  It was good!

Andrew and I check out the crowd

We listened to a great set by Jimmy Barnes with a surprise by Steven van Zandt joining him for a song he wrote that Jimmy sang.  It was good fun!

Jimmy was in fine form

  Bruce opened with a cover of Lorde's Royals and I thought it was an excellent version.  It harkened back to lyrics Bruce used to do I reckon.  Roz was also there - in the stands.  I tried to spot her, but it was too hard.

Our view of Bruce!

Bruce did Born in the USA end to end.  Very good as Downbound Train is one of my favourite songs of all time. We left at the end of the concert and eventually found Wally.  Sally and Andrew got dropped off at their place and we collapsed into bed around 1am!

Lunch out with Lesley, Hannah and Chelsea

Next morning I was eventually up and Mike and Wally went to Mitre 10 for some shopping and then I went into town to see Hannah and her hostel room.  It was great - what a good set up she has.  She'll have such a great time this year.  We found a cafe (Mezze Cafe I think) in an alleyway north of Kitchener St.  I want to go back as the food was good and the iced coffee could be a 10/10.  But I need to double check.  More iced coffees are needed from there to do a really thorough assessment.

The iced coffee at Mezze Cafe was 9.5.  Lesley looks happy with her wine!

 After checking Hannah was all good (hahahah - she is going to run rings around most people in her course if the other students in her hostel are any indication - she says they just get hammered every night!) we went back home and Mike and I went to the Sunday night concert.  We got there even earlier and had a great place staked out right next to a jutting out part.

Sunday - I was this close!

 Bruce came down to that part a few times during the concert and we got a close look at him.  Mike almost got to shake his hand (again - he got a proper handshake in the Ghost of Tom Joad tour) but Bruce shook the hand next to his and wandered away.

See?  So close!

It was a great concert.  Loved the closeness of it - but I think I preferred the Saturday night concert a little more.

Back home relatively early.  We even negotiated our way home without GPS and despite an unmarked detour in place (I still got us on the right road).  Auckland is a bit difficult to navigate around in.

Had a great sleep and up early.  Mike was now so sick he was helpless.  Bundled him into the car after saying goodbye to the Sampsons and on our way south.  I drove all the way home while Mike dozed.  The weather was pants - and was the worst in Wellington.

Eventually got home after 9 hours and Mike crawled into bed.  I went around to the Tabors and got an awesome dinner off Aidan (chicken tortilla soup - it was soooooo good).  Toby was happy to see me.  I was happy to see him.  Eventually I managed to extricate him and his possessions and went back home.

Mike is at work today - but he is rather sick still.  Cheeky monkey.

Have a lovely week.  Short one for us!
Love,
Angela