The Monday with Toby home!

Hi,

The Monday came, stomped on me, and left.  But at least along the way I had a nice lunch with Aidan and Greg and then got to see Toby!  Woot!

View of snow capped Tararuas from my desk yesterday

Aidan finally said yes to the new Vietnamese place that has opened across the road from work on Lambton Quay.  We all ordered the pho, with the woman behind the counter being impressed with Aidan's pronunciation.  It was pretty good for my first pho.  Not that I have a lot of compare it to.  But, it was hot, and fresh and the noodles were yum.  So, I call that "pretty good".

Then Mike came past work later and collected me and we went home to eat and tidy before Toby arrived back from Dunedin.  Mike cooked a lovely stir fry and then I tackled the depths of Toby's room.  He even got it luxed.  Wow!

Pretty soon we were off to the airport.  His flight was early.  He was on a prop plane direct from Dunedin.  No television screens.  He was a bit disappointed at that.  But the steward gave him fudge, so that cheered him up.  We got lots of hugs when he got off the plane.  So nice to see him.  He looked so well.

Back home and we read together before going to sleep.  Toby had a bit of trouble sleeping, but we most certainly didn't.

Toby has a week of playdates booked in.  I think I have to arrange one of them to finalise it.

And an appointment today.  So I'll drive home soon, and collect him.

I'm seeing Roz tonight (I think).  She is down in Wellington for work.  Woot!  Toby is coming to dinner with us.

Have an awesome day.

Beautiful morning from my desk

Love,
Angela

The weekend with no Toby but loads of activities on

Hi,

Toby comes home today!  Yay!  Can't wait to see him.  Squash his cute cheeks.

But what a weekend, in his absence.  Mike's weekend adventure was cancelled due to all the road closures in the central North Island.  So, he was home with me.

I got a pedicure for my feet on Friday.  Evidence below.  Thanks Sally and Andrew (birthday treat).

Looking mighty fine.  An affair in Red Square 

But I was up and pampered at home Saturday morning with breakfast in bed from Mike.  Then off to see Sophie and wee Pax.  Such a lovely visit.  He is a wee cutie.  Sophie and I walked to Charlie's Cafe near her house and got some lunch.  I got a good iced coffee and now Sophie and I have plans for a brunch there soon.

Looking a bit surprised with this iced coffee.  It was good!

Then off to Adrenalin Forest for Serge's birthday.  Woot!  What fun.  But so tiring.  My technique must be pants because even today my upper body is quite sore.

Safety training

 All of us made it through to level 3.  I did 3a with Celia and James.  It was pretty tough.  James and Serge went onto level 4 while we went for a cup of tea.  Very sensible decision on my part.

Trained and ready

Some of the easier paths

Bit higher

Went home to chat to Mike before going to Siam Reap with Serge and his mates for dinner.

Birthday dinner

 Up super early.  3.45am.  Showered and dressed in ski gear ready for the day trip to Turoa for the first day skiing of the season.  Picked up Doro and Martin and sang most of the way up.  They may choose other transport in future.

Ruapehu from Waiouru

Martin is ready!

Selfie

Snow and Taranaki

Angela and Mt Taranaki

Selfie on the second last run

At base

Sun sets behind me with Mt Taranaki

Pink sunset glow on Ruapehu

Woah!  Awesome sunset

The snow was superb.  They need a bit more, but it was predictable and there was enough of it.  Eventually they opened the High Noon Express although only had one trail groomed down from it, down a black run.  I had a ball on that all afternoon.  Although I was taking the icy trail until Martin told me the other way was lovely.

Almost got a run with Mary from work.  But not quite.  Next time!

Drove home via kebabs in Bulls.  I drove down the mountain with the chains on and felt the car slide a wee bit.  Exciting.  But the rest of the drive was easy.

Today is lovely here in Wellington.

Enjoy your week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with dinner out, masquerading as Mike

Hi,

Well, I definitely ate lots yesterday.  I caught up with Aidan for lunch and had dumplings again with her.  My photo made her want after dumplings.  Oh.  Two days in a row, I am now dumplinged out. And then she wanted dessert.  Woah!  I was so full after stuffing a cronut in on top of the dumplings.  But it was such a good catch up with Aidan, I was totally prepared to eat to accommodate her needs.  Hahahah.

It would have done me for the day.  But Mike said he couldn't make the Social Club gourmet event he had arranged so I went in his place.  An intimate affair for 5 of us.  Good fun.

Cafe Pasha 

Bern brought this out of the deep recesses of her cupboard, which we are renaming her cellar

One of us brought along an old bottle of wine from the depths of the cupboard.  A 1998 bottle.  Older than our marriage, Mike!  They all declared it pretty good.  The wine.  Not our marriage.  They don't know what our marriage is like.  We bought loads of 1999 wine back in the day when we got married.  And every year for a while Mike would open one up on our anniversary and compare the wine to our marriage.  See which one had weathered better.  Hahah.  He always gave the right answer.

Right.  Today is so wet.  Not as cold though.  Toby and I have three days in Methven in ten days time.  I can't wait.  We are going to ski, ski, ski!  And eat.  And...  well.  Have fun!

He is enjoying Dunedin.  We chatted lots last night before bed.

Have a fantastic day.  Mike is off to the mountain tonight.  Although all the roads are closed now.  So perhaps not.  I have Adrenalin Forest and a visit with Sophie tomorrow.

Woot!

Have a good weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with no Toby

Hi,

Went for my run yesterday with Mary and we did 6 km in just a smidge over 36 minutes (well, she was in front of me, so she might have done it in 36 minutes).  To celebrate we ate dumplings for lunch.  Mmmmmm.

Dumplings.

We are having the most freezing weather.  It is so great!  I can't wait to go skiing with Toby to Mt Hutt in about 10 days time.  We're going to have a wonderful time.  Skiing, drinking hot chocolates and planning our next trip there!  We both love Mt Hutt.  And I plan to check out my favourite cafe down in Methven too.  I'm sure there's a date scone with my name on it.

Never been so rugged up to get to work

Mike and I heard hail off and on during the night. And the high hills are covered with snow.  The Skyline track about Vivienne's house up to Mt Kaukau.  I wish I could see the hills on the other side of the harbour today.  But they were shrouded in cloud when we came into town.

Toby must be enjoying the snowy weather in Dunedin still.  Lucky boy.

Right.  Time to start the day with a hot cup of tea.  Enjoy your day.  If it's cold where you are, I hope you get lots of hot cocoa today.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with no Toby

Hi,

Wow - the sort of day at work that makes you extremely glad to get home.  Hahah.  Crazy stuff.  It doesn't rain, it pours - sums up yesterday.  But Mike and I had a nice dinner together and rang Toby and chatted away to him.  He is enjoying his holiday down south.

Maybe even more now the snow has kicked in.  He loves the snow.

I asked a colleague to show me a photo of his backyard.  So this is what he sent me.  Looks like lots of white stuff to keep Toby amused.  Snowman time!

Colleague's back yard - thanks Jon!

It's supposed to snow on the hills here today too.  We'll see.  It looks like snow clouds here to me.

Have a wonderful day.  Stay warm.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with no Toby

Hi,

Well, Toby seems to have settled into Dunedin life.  He went to the Highlanders parade up the main street yesterday with Theresa and his Nana.

Toby and Nana

Mike and I tried to ring him in the evening, but they seem to have been gallivanting around Dunedin.  I miss Toby lots though.  But I am sure he is having a great time.  Theresa will collect him on Saturday for a sleepover with their kids.  He'll be thrilled.

Meanwhile, Mike and I got home after work and I cooked tea (if making a salad is really cooking).  Then it was time for my weekend ironing.  Yuck.  What a horrible way to spend Monday evening.  But I watched a David Attenborough documentary so it wasn't as bad as it sounds.

We're due for a cold week.  The forecast has snow falling in the CBD here.  Not sure that will happen but the high for Thursday is supposed to be 4C.  Wow!

Enjoy your day.  I'm off in search of tea.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with wins everywhere

Hi,

Woot - awesome weekend!  Wow.  They don't get a lot better than that.  Well, I mean, they do get better.  You know, with a weekend away somewhere special, or something.  But for a weekend at home, this was great fun!

Friday night my boys were home sick and I was relaxing at work chatting to people when Sally rang.  Said she was off to Boulcott St Bistro with Andrew and could I join them?  Well, I asked Mike and hurtled off wen he said yes.  Yay!  We ate together and I had the best roast eggplant dish.  Yummo!  The taste of beef (Sally) and coq au vin (Andrew) I got was also pretty good.  But mine was the best.

Actually, now that I think about it, the weekend revolved around food.

I caught a taxi home as the bus was going to be 40 minutes away.  I got home and my boys were happy to see me.  Mainly because I'm not sick and I can run after them.  Hahah.

Friday lunch with Ange and Celia at Rahzoo - I love Rahzoo

Up early enough Saturday morning to start the housework.  I got through a fair bit.  Mike said he was better, but after some breakfast where I was in pyjamas and a t shirt with barefeet and he was in jeans, socks, hoodie and then a snowboard jacket and he said he was still cold - he went back to bed.

I pottered around doing laundry and tidying before heading off to have a cup of tea with Aidan and catch up with her news.  She's coming right after being pretty sick all week with the same thing Mike and Toby seem to have.

From there I went to collect Christine and we met Celia at Bethel Woods for lunch.  Christine talked them into doing the breakfast menu for us.  Yum!

We popped out to see Victor, and groomed him a bit.  Celia had a good ride.  Victor was very good.

Lunch at Bethel Woods

I got the giggles - selfies are hard

Celia in complete control

Yep - Victor going just where Celia points

My feet on the fence

Go the Highlanders

 I was wearing my Otago jersey because it was a big day.  Highlanders versus the Hurricanes in Wellington.  I got lots of comments.  All of them friendly.

Hi Victor!

Dropped Christine off at home via the supermarket and went home to see my boys.  Watched a few movies before the rugby started at 9.40pm (free to air was delayed).  We all shouted at the television.  They must have heard us!  Highlanders won 21 - 14.  Nice effort.

Late to bed and so I was half asleep when Aidan called to ask if I wanted to tag along with her to archery.  Of course!  I jumped in the shower and ran up the stairs to the street.  Timed it quite well.  Jumped in the car and out we went.  It was Aidan's first time for a few months.  But it was such fun.

Aidan shows her skills

Photo from below showing the lovely sky and Aidan's technique from an unusual angle

We may have had a quick lunch at the car dealership she likes (ok, they have a cafe there).  She dropped me home whereupon we all went out to Yum Cha.  Well, me, Mike and Toby.  Toby's idea.

Feet at Inside and Out

Yum Cha!

 From there, Mike went to work and Toby and I saw Inside and Out.  The new Pixar movie.  Great movie.

Toby and I caught the bus home.  Then packed for his trip to Dunedin.  The sunset on the way home was brilliant.

Sunset from our street

We dropped him off at the airport and he caught the plane by himself.  Not unaccompanied.  A wee adult - according to the airline.

Bye Toby!

Toby's plane

The day dawned bright and fresh, Monday morning.  Lovely here.

Sunrise today

Time to find some lunch.  I have been super busy today.  Toby is all good in Dunedin.  I miss him.

Love,
Angela