The weekend with Mike tramping

Hi,

I am so a tramping widow - Mike went off Friday evening in the Corolla with 4 other punters to Irongate Hut in the Ruahines.  Bit of a drive, but they made good time by the sound of it.

Meanwhile, Toby and I got Nandos for his tea and snuggled up in bed to watch a Batman movie.  We both fell asleep and I woke up to see it had started again and was ten minutes in once more.  Oops.  Turned it off and fell back asleep.

We both slept in and eventually roused ourselves for breakfast and Toby's haircut.  Oooohhh - he looks good!  Back to William's house via the supermarket and Toby had a play with William for the afternoon.

I went off for my messages after tidying the house a bit - at least the laundry is under control.  Then back home and Toby and William arrived.  Will stayed for a sleepover.  I made them dinner and then Christine came for a sleepover with me.  We watched Foyle's War until I fell asleep in my sleeping bag on the couch.  Christine went to make sure the boys went to bed.  She's good to me!

Next morning we had breakfast and Christine went off to get her car from where Victor is stabled and William walked home and Toby and I went in to have Yum Cha.  Toby used chopsticks properly for the first time - and he did quite well!

Toby tackling chopsticks

It needs concentration

Got the tea nailed though

Then I dropped him off at the Reading cinema for Jake's birthday party (they saw Guardians of the Galaxy) and headed home.  Mike was home!  Yay!  We caught up on each other's weekend and then went down to collect Toby from the movie.  Back home for dinner and ironing.  But not before I took a picture of the moonrise over the harbour.

Moonrise over the harbour

I had a bit of a disaster cooking tea.  Burnt my toast and frazzled Mike's rice to a crisp.  Not sure what happened.  Mike was laughing at my cooking inabilities.  I have vowed to make him cook for the rest of our lives.  Somehow, I think that won't happen.  Mike said my cooking talent is redeemable - I need to start with rice and toast and get that nailed.  Hahahah.  Then he laughed and said I cooked like he did maths.  He can do calculus and integration, but can't add 5 + 4.  I can cook dinners, but failed with rice and toast.  Maybe he has a point.

Right.  Time for the week to begin.  Windy today.  And the rain sprinkled down as I went for my run this morning.  Nice run though.  I'm pleased that has started up again.  Bike ride was okay - the rain had well and truly wet the roads by then though.

Have a marvellous week!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a short notice parent teacher interview

Hi,

I was working away (hectic day - don't ask!) and Mike texted me that we had a parent teacher interview at 5pm with Toby's maths teacher.  Fortunately he had driven in, so we got Toby to come into town on the bus and come to work, and we all piled into the car and hurtled over to Scots.  We were only a few minutes late!  Awesome work, Mike.  And a good maths report, really.  More basic facts to work on.  But, getting there.

We came home via work (to collect my bike) and the supermarket (to get some essentials) and grabbed some burgers on the way home.  Mike packed for his tramping weekend and I thought it might be useful to make sure the wee green car had a battery charge.

I rang Sally and caught her at her desk (workaholic issues!) and convinced her what I really needed was an excuse to drive her home.  Andrew is in Auckland, luckily, otherwise he would have been on the train!  Hahah.  I collected Sally and drove her home, giving the car a nice wee run, and having a good catch up with Sally.  Headed home, with music on this time.

Had a great sleep!  Right to the alarm.  In fact, the alarm was momentarily perplexing.  That never happens.  Got up to go for a run (windy - but dry) and then made lunches.  In early because I have a mountain of work and no time.  Nice ride in!

Mike is away tramping (Irongate) and Toby and I have various things on.  Haircuts.  Party.  Sleepover (William at our place Saturday).  Yep - it's all happening!

Have a wonderful weekend.  May it feel like 3 days!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing for me and loads for Mike

Hi,

I had a wonderful ride home - nice southerly blowing me up the hill.  Toby had walked home from the library so I rode all the way home and found him there.  Made dinner and fed him.  Then he did homework and scuttled off downstairs to play.  I read for a bit and then had a bath.  Then we both went to bed.

Mike was off seeing a colleague for her leaving drinks and popping into tramping club, then re-joining the leaving drinks.  He knocked forlornly at the French doors quite late - so I let him in!  Hahahah.

Had a great sleep.  So windy this morning.  But dry roads.  So I had a blast coming down the hill again.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing

Hi,

Oh - a broken client just before I left work meant Mike had to rush home and sort out Toby.  I rode home after the disaster was averted - at my leisure.  It's a shame for Mike because he is flat out at work.  He made dinner too - so we ate not long after I got home.  Toby practised his speech for next week.  He's doing it on creative writing.  He seems to be getting it together.

Aidan was flying into Wellington late Tuesday night from Christchurch and I needed to run the wee green car so its battery recharged.  So, I tootled over to the airport and collected her.  The perfect excuse for a decent drive in the car.  It idled fine.  I'll do the same thing again tonight (only this time my excuse will be slightly more boring - more like grocery shopping!).  Mike needs to take the Corolla away this weekend, leaving me and Toby the MX-5 for our messages.

My ride in this morning was stunning.  The sunrise was fiery red and orange, and the roads were so dry from the wind.  Superb.  Hurtled down the hill.  Also got up early for my first run for ages - my leg never even twinged.  I am doing Kara's exercises religiously at the moment - hopeful it might stop the calf issues.

Right.  Time for a cup of tea and to start the day.

Have a marvellous day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing except Mike working late

Hi,

After a day where it was pretty much business as usual, I rode home and enjoyed the ride.  It was a slight southerly - I like it when the ride is wind-assisted.  Toby and I walked from the library to home and had a lovely chat.

Got home and tidied up after the weekend (washing and putting things away).  Now at least the lounge is not messy - merely in need of a good lux and dust.  So, pretty normal then!  I made dinner for me and Toby and then we relaxed into our evening.  I was in the bath and Toby was in bed when Mike finally got home.  He decided to join me and we enjoyed the hot bath for a while before getting out.

Merlot the cat has come back.  She's just as grumpy as ever.  Mike let her under our covers (his side of the bed!!) and she purred and purred.  But it must have been too hot for her.  She decided she wanted to sleep on Toby's bed.  But Toby (wisely) doesn't trust her.  So Mike had to move her.  This was when the battle of wills started.  Merlot displayed her growling hissing nature and Mike showed his sterner side.  How he managed to get her out the door I don't know.  She sounded like a Fury!  But, at least we all went to sleep after that!

This morning is gorgeous here!  Still, frosty, blue skies.  My ride in was cold.  Deliciously cold!  My fingers are throbbing nicely now at my desk after the blood has come back.

Have a wonderful day.  Hope this weather lasts a few days.  Nice.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with no skiing

Hi,

We got away at a decent time from the railway station in Wellington.  Mike grabbed our car full of gear and went tot he ferry terminal and collected the van (and transferred all our gear).  Came back to the station and collected us.  Ilske and Kara were coming - awesome news!

Mike drove and I sat in the back row with Kara and Ilske.  It was lovely weather with stars until just past Waiouru.  Then it started raining.  And it never stopped raining for the rest of the weekend.

I have never seen such rain - heavy, driving rain.  Washing away snow like it was late spring!

It's a bit difficult to describe any highlights because my weekend was passed by reading in my bunk and chatting to people.  It was actually rather pleasant.  Enforced relaxation.  Ilske studied Spanish.  Kara studied her creative writing subject.  I finished books and listened to music.

Dessert time!

Mike had a great time chatting to everyone and poking around the lodge fixing things.  He loves this kind of thing.  He and Kara believe that is the end of the ski season.  I am far more optimistic.  It'll come right.

We packed up on Sunday and had a leisurely drive down.  Andrew will be pleased to know I bought ski pants from the outdoor shop in Taihape.  He likes to support that place.

Back home to cook tea and iron.  Hahahah.  Same old.  My ride in this morning was lovely - the roads were quite dry.

Have a fantastic week!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with packing for skiing

Hi,

Happy birthday to Karen for today!

I rode home (well, to the library) and collected Toby and scoured the pantry for something to cook Toby for tea.  He made my life so much easier by requesting two minute noodles!  Woot!  Hahahah.  I did round it out with fruit and veges.  He rounded it out with Tim Tams!

Toby is on tippy toes.  Honest!

I noticed how tall Toby was getting compared to me last night in the kitchen.  So I asked him to show Mike.  If he stands on tippy toes, he is taller than me now.

Mike got home and I finished packing for me and Toby for the weekend.  Mike finished his packing this morning (Friday).  Hahahah.  We'll no doubt be sharing toothbrushes again.  :-p

Mike will drive in (I put the skis in the car last night) and we'll get Toby to come here and then we'll drive to the ferry terminal, pick up the van and come to the station to get everyone.  Then we'll be off.

The forecast is pants for the weekend.  Gale force winds.  But, hey.  It might be wrong!

Have a lovely weekend.

Love,
Angela