Hi,
Oh - complicated logistics! I live for them! Not. But it all seemed to go like clockwork. Toby got off the bus in town and came to work. He started homework by my desk and then I left and drove to Scots for the interviews.
I had a few hours of them lined up. You get 5 minutes with each teacher on a strict timed routine. I saw the majority of them before Mike got there. He had a dental appointment, followed by Toby. And Sally collected Toby from the dentist and took him out for tea.
All rather complicated. But, as I say, it worked well. During a break in the interviews, Mike and I also went out for tea. Mike found a great pub with nice food and I had a terrific steak. Mmmmm.
Back to finish the interviews and home. I was in the wee green car and Mike was in the silver bullet. We raced each other through the suburbs back to the motorway before he continued to Lower Hutt to collect Toby from Sally's place.
So, reasonably successful. Also raided Toby's locker and cleared out rubbish. Found an old sock. That sort of thing.
Right. Time to kick start the day. I did meet Aidan off her late bus this morning. That was a pleasant surprise. I think it was the first time since March I met her off her bus. She usually drives in these days. But she chose one of the coldest mornings of the year to catch the bus in.
Have a wonderful day. It's wet here. And so cold.
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Monday, August 10, 2015
The weekend in Wellington
Hi,
What a great weekend. I had a sleepover at Christine's house on Friday night. She just had surgery on her shoulder so I think I was there as a backup should she take a turn for the worse during the night. But she was pretty good really. She has electronic pain relief and a vast array of medication.
We had breakfast Saturday morning before I came home to relieve Mike. He had an appointment to meet some chap from the tramping club.
I took Toby out to Maranui cafe for lunch and we used a book voucher he got for his birthday and then out to Queensgate to get Magnus a present and then back home to get ready for Magnus' birthday. Mike got home and dropped Toby off.
Mike made mousse for dinner and the mousse became known as "the f#$@&ing mousse" because Mike couldn't find anything in the kitchen. But, for a mousse that provoked such unbridled outrage in Mike, it was pretty yummy.
We drove out to see Sally and Andrew and had the best dinner! Entrees and everything. Wow. Caught up with their news.
After that, it was time for a drink with Meet Up people at the Old Bailey. Unfortunately the rugby started just as we were leaving so Mike and I stayed until midnight to watch it. Great game. Shame we lost.
Sunday I pulled the plug on the ski trip. The snow was fantastic, but the roads up were treacherous. It might still have been the best call.
But I dropped a latte off at Christine's place and then went swimming with Aidan and her boys. At least I got something energetic done. Made me much happier.
Back home and then grocery shopping before boring ironing and making dinner.
I ironed in front of the computer. I'd say in front of the television, but the computer took so long to boot up, I was nearly done ironing my mountain by the time it came right. Actually, it didn't come right. I switched to Free to Air and watched absolute rubbish.
Right. Today is busy. Sally is looking after Toby in the evening and Mike and Toby have a dental appointment and I have parent teacher interviews. Then Mike is joining me for the later interviews.
I'll need a holiday.
Have a wonderful week,
Love,
Angela
What a great weekend. I had a sleepover at Christine's house on Friday night. She just had surgery on her shoulder so I think I was there as a backup should she take a turn for the worse during the night. But she was pretty good really. She has electronic pain relief and a vast array of medication.
We had breakfast Saturday morning before I came home to relieve Mike. He had an appointment to meet some chap from the tramping club.
I took Toby out to Maranui cafe for lunch and we used a book voucher he got for his birthday and then out to Queensgate to get Magnus a present and then back home to get ready for Magnus' birthday. Mike got home and dropped Toby off.
Mike made mousse for dinner and the mousse became known as "the f#$@&ing mousse" because Mike couldn't find anything in the kitchen. But, for a mousse that provoked such unbridled outrage in Mike, it was pretty yummy.
We drove out to see Sally and Andrew and had the best dinner! Entrees and everything. Wow. Caught up with their news.
After that, it was time for a drink with Meet Up people at the Old Bailey. Unfortunately the rugby started just as we were leaving so Mike and I stayed until midnight to watch it. Great game. Shame we lost.
Sunday I pulled the plug on the ski trip. The snow was fantastic, but the roads up were treacherous. It might still have been the best call.
But I dropped a latte off at Christine's place and then went swimming with Aidan and her boys. At least I got something energetic done. Made me much happier.
Back home and then grocery shopping before boring ironing and making dinner.
I ironed in front of the computer. I'd say in front of the television, but the computer took so long to boot up, I was nearly done ironing my mountain by the time it came right. Actually, it didn't come right. I switched to Free to Air and watched absolute rubbish.
 |
| How many updates is it doing? 8829? |
Right. Today is busy. Sally is looking after Toby in the evening and Mike and Toby have a dental appointment and I have parent teacher interviews. Then Mike is joining me for the later interviews.
I'll need a holiday.
Have a wonderful week,
Love,
Angela
Friday, August 7, 2015
The Thursday with not much
Hi,
The Thursday that went pretty fast. I was equally astonished it was already Thursday, and perplexed as to why it wasn't already Friday. The brain is indeed an odd thing.
The highlight must have been catching up with Ilske. I hadn't seen her for a while since she changed jobs. So inconvenient for her to move further away from my building. We found a coffee shop halfway between us that does a good iced coffee. It was so cold yesterday that the barista was saying "Are you mad? Iced coffee on a day like this?". I had no comeback. What can I say?
Ilske is good. I caught up with her recent news. She is off skiing soon and I should see her in the last weekend of August for more skiing fun.
I also had lunch unexpectedly with Celia at Bethel Woods. That was a bonus!
I got held up at work and was late getting home. Toby and I did homework for a while. It was good fun. I cooked him tea and I went to bed to read and wait for Mike to return from his work social gourmet night.
All in all, not too shabby a day.
Friday beckons. I am sleeping over at Christine's house as she had surgery on her shoulder yesterday. Hopefully she should be home today and we can chill out tonight. Fingers crossed it has all gone well.
Weekend looks fun. Toby has a last minute birthday party/sleepover Saturday. We will catch up with Sally and Andrew (who are they, again?) Saturday evening. And possibly I will ski at Turoa Sunday. But the forecast is for snow that day. Not too sure it is worth a day trip.
Right. Time for tea and work.
Enjoy your weekend.
Love,
Angela
The Thursday that went pretty fast. I was equally astonished it was already Thursday, and perplexed as to why it wasn't already Friday. The brain is indeed an odd thing.
 |
| Gasoline iced coffee |
Ilske is good. I caught up with her recent news. She is off skiing soon and I should see her in the last weekend of August for more skiing fun.
I also had lunch unexpectedly with Celia at Bethel Woods. That was a bonus!
I got held up at work and was late getting home. Toby and I did homework for a while. It was good fun. I cooked him tea and I went to bed to read and wait for Mike to return from his work social gourmet night.
All in all, not too shabby a day.
Friday beckons. I am sleeping over at Christine's house as she had surgery on her shoulder yesterday. Hopefully she should be home today and we can chill out tonight. Fingers crossed it has all gone well.
Weekend looks fun. Toby has a last minute birthday party/sleepover Saturday. We will catch up with Sally and Andrew (who are they, again?) Saturday evening. And possibly I will ski at Turoa Sunday. But the forecast is for snow that day. Not too sure it is worth a day trip.
Right. Time for tea and work.
Enjoy your weekend.
Love,
Angela
Thursday, August 6, 2015
The Wednesday to make you all jealous
Hi,
Work was work. But I rode home and enjoyed the ease of the ride compared to the galeforce winds the previous time. My chain popped off at one point though. A sure sign I need a service on my bike. Mucky hands after that. Lucky it happened near a whole bunch of agapanthus. They are perfect for ruining with greasy muck.
Got home and found Mike there, to my pleasant surprise. He was working from home. He had dinner all sorted while I froze on the couch. Mainly because I was all sweaty after my ride and sitting around in bike shorts with no heater on, in winter. Sure recipe for being freezing.
But the reason I wasn't cooking was because I was off to have dinner with Ange. Woot! She texted when she got home just after 1800 and I left. Watched her cook lamb meatballs with smashed feta potatoes. Mmmmm. She has started subscribing to My Food Bag. My Food Bag They just started a subscription for singles. She gets four meals a week to cook, and one of them (this week, the meatballs one) is big enough for two. So you can invite someone to share, or eat it two nights running.
And this is why you are jealous. It was so good. We sat down to watch television and one of her favourite programmes was on, with the grand final. My Kitchen Rules. Little did I know when it started at 1930 that it lasted for 2 hours. I was pretty tired by the end.
Back home and into bed. But a book caught my attention and Mike was working in bed, so I never went to sleep until 2300.
Made for a hard morning this morning. My alarm went off for my run at 5am, but next thing I knew it was 5.25, So, the run was deferred until tomorrow.
My ride into work was fun though. I got soaked. Soaked enough to wring my socks out in the shower at work. That hasn't happened for a while. Mind you, I have been even more wet than that before.
Right. Time to kickstart the day.
Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela
Work was work. But I rode home and enjoyed the ease of the ride compared to the galeforce winds the previous time. My chain popped off at one point though. A sure sign I need a service on my bike. Mucky hands after that. Lucky it happened near a whole bunch of agapanthus. They are perfect for ruining with greasy muck.
Got home and found Mike there, to my pleasant surprise. He was working from home. He had dinner all sorted while I froze on the couch. Mainly because I was all sweaty after my ride and sitting around in bike shorts with no heater on, in winter. Sure recipe for being freezing.
But the reason I wasn't cooking was because I was off to have dinner with Ange. Woot! She texted when she got home just after 1800 and I left. Watched her cook lamb meatballs with smashed feta potatoes. Mmmmm. She has started subscribing to My Food Bag. My Food Bag They just started a subscription for singles. She gets four meals a week to cook, and one of them (this week, the meatballs one) is big enough for two. So you can invite someone to share, or eat it two nights running.
 |
| Ange is smashing those potatoes |
 |
| I am prodding those meatballs |
 |
| And the finished meal was scrumptious |
And this is why you are jealous. It was so good. We sat down to watch television and one of her favourite programmes was on, with the grand final. My Kitchen Rules. Little did I know when it started at 1930 that it lasted for 2 hours. I was pretty tired by the end.
Back home and into bed. But a book caught my attention and Mike was working in bed, so I never went to sleep until 2300.
Made for a hard morning this morning. My alarm went off for my run at 5am, but next thing I knew it was 5.25, So, the run was deferred until tomorrow.
My ride into work was fun though. I got soaked. Soaked enough to wring my socks out in the shower at work. That hasn't happened for a while. Mind you, I have been even more wet than that before.
Right. Time to kickstart the day.
Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
The Tuesday with an optometrist appointment for me and Toby
Hi,
Had a crazy day at work. Mainly because I had two lunches and an early tea. Hahah. I ate my yummy home made bread roll at my desk but then Ange got me out for lunch with Roanne and I ate this huge cheese board. It was full of good cheeses. Mmmm.
Then my optometrist appointment came and although my vision isn't as good as it once was, it turns out one eye is still 20/20 and the other is legally fine for driving still. So together, I am good! And apparently that side of your sight actually doesn't deteriorate usually. They think I should be sweet for a bit longer.
Toby was in after me and his eyesight has only changed slightly from his previous prescription. No need to adjust anything yet. He just has to wear glasses when he thinks he needs them.
We ate sushi with Mike afterwards and that was my early tea. So full. I worked for a bit while Toby did some homework and then we drove home.
Mike had a quiz night with some mates at Bethel Woods. Said it was so hard. Hahah. He got home and I stayed up reading for ages. Eventually went to sleep and slept well. Getting up at 5am a few days a week means my internal alarm wakes me up around then. Annoying when I don't have to get up until 6am!
I have dinner at Ange's place tonight. Woot! Looking forward to that. And my ride into work was lovely. So dry. The wind has gone. Yep - wonderful. I pumped up my tyres and I think that had a lot to do with the smooth, sweet ride. They were so low. Oops.
I have tickets for Florence and the Machine in November. Yeah! Bring that on. I love delicious anticipation. With Nepal coming up, there is so much to anticipate. Aidan shared a link on Facebook recently about holidays, and apparently the anticipation far outweighs the afterglow. So, I am revelling in it. Just saying!
Have a fantastic day!
Love,
Angela
Had a crazy day at work. Mainly because I had two lunches and an early tea. Hahah. I ate my yummy home made bread roll at my desk but then Ange got me out for lunch with Roanne and I ate this huge cheese board. It was full of good cheeses. Mmmm.
Then my optometrist appointment came and although my vision isn't as good as it once was, it turns out one eye is still 20/20 and the other is legally fine for driving still. So together, I am good! And apparently that side of your sight actually doesn't deteriorate usually. They think I should be sweet for a bit longer.
Toby was in after me and his eyesight has only changed slightly from his previous prescription. No need to adjust anything yet. He just has to wear glasses when he thinks he needs them.
We ate sushi with Mike afterwards and that was my early tea. So full. I worked for a bit while Toby did some homework and then we drove home.
Mike had a quiz night with some mates at Bethel Woods. Said it was so hard. Hahah. He got home and I stayed up reading for ages. Eventually went to sleep and slept well. Getting up at 5am a few days a week means my internal alarm wakes me up around then. Annoying when I don't have to get up until 6am!
I have dinner at Ange's place tonight. Woot! Looking forward to that. And my ride into work was lovely. So dry. The wind has gone. Yep - wonderful. I pumped up my tyres and I think that had a lot to do with the smooth, sweet ride. They were so low. Oops.
I have tickets for Florence and the Machine in November. Yeah! Bring that on. I love delicious anticipation. With Nepal coming up, there is so much to anticipate. Aidan shared a link on Facebook recently about holidays, and apparently the anticipation far outweighs the afterglow. So, I am revelling in it. Just saying!
Have a fantastic day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
The Monday with lunch with Aidan
Hi,
Well, the weather was wild yesterday. I met Aidan for lunch and we went back to the Vietnamese place across to road but tried something else. We both enjoyed what we ate. Mmmm. I walked back towards Aidan's work before saying goodbye and then bumped into Sally and Andrew. That was a great surprise. We haven't seen them for ages. If we have some time this weekend, we'll try and catch up.
I left work just after 4pm and rode up Molesworth St and nearly scared myself silly. The wind was so strong. I guess the only upside was the rain was light, and not falling vertically. I never seemed to get wet. Guess it was more like riding inside a blow dryer. But I told myself if it got any worse I was going to push my bike home. Weirdly, I told myself that three times on the way home. But I like to think it didn't get worse. Each time I contemplated getting off was just as bad as the previous time. And not worse at all.
Cooked tea when I got home around chatting to the builder that Mike was meeting. I couldn't tempt him to stay for it - but he missed out on my incredible spaghetti Bolognese. Off to buy groceries after tea. We were away at the weekend so we missed crucial things like tidying the house and buying food for the week.
Collapsed into bed not long after coming back and slept the sleep of the dead.
I caught the bus in this morning. Turns out the gale force winds and rain don't make me super happy about riding in. And Toby is coming into town after work anyway for an appointment. So, it made loads of sense.
Right. Time for tea and to kick start the day!
Have fun!
Love,
Angela
Well, the weather was wild yesterday. I met Aidan for lunch and we went back to the Vietnamese place across to road but tried something else. We both enjoyed what we ate. Mmmm. I walked back towards Aidan's work before saying goodbye and then bumped into Sally and Andrew. That was a great surprise. We haven't seen them for ages. If we have some time this weekend, we'll try and catch up.
I left work just after 4pm and rode up Molesworth St and nearly scared myself silly. The wind was so strong. I guess the only upside was the rain was light, and not falling vertically. I never seemed to get wet. Guess it was more like riding inside a blow dryer. But I told myself if it got any worse I was going to push my bike home. Weirdly, I told myself that three times on the way home. But I like to think it didn't get worse. Each time I contemplated getting off was just as bad as the previous time. And not worse at all.
Cooked tea when I got home around chatting to the builder that Mike was meeting. I couldn't tempt him to stay for it - but he missed out on my incredible spaghetti Bolognese. Off to buy groceries after tea. We were away at the weekend so we missed crucial things like tidying the house and buying food for the week.
Collapsed into bed not long after coming back and slept the sleep of the dead.
I caught the bus in this morning. Turns out the gale force winds and rain don't make me super happy about riding in. And Toby is coming into town after work anyway for an appointment. So, it made loads of sense.
Right. Time for tea and to kick start the day!
Have fun!
Love,
Angela
Monday, August 3, 2015
The weekend away skiing
Hi,
It was a happy birthday weekend for Karen! Did you see what she announced? Tyler and Abby get to be flag bearers for the opening ceremony for the Netball World Cup this Friday. Yes! Tyler is holding Fiji's flag, and Abby is holding England's flag. Such awesome news. I can't wait.
Friday I got away for an iced coffee late in the day. I figured it was ok because we had a long drive up to Ruapehu that night.
We were a tiny bit late getting away from Wellington. It was close to 5pm by the time we left. But the traffic wasn't too bad. Toby had his iPad to entertain himself and at least I could see lots out the front window from my seat.
We got to the lodge at 10.30pm. Not too bad. We were staying at Graduates which is just behind WTMC. I liked it a lot. Great fun! Off to bed around midnight. Ooooo - that's a late night for me. Toby crashed!
The weather looked awful Saturday morning but we went up anyway. Fortunately I bumped into Mike at the base lift and I snaffled him from his leadership duties. We went up to Knoll Ridge and the skies cleared up there. We jumped out to ski the valley t-bar and had such an awesome time together. We did run after run.
Finally we caught up with Vivienne and John and Doro and went over to the West Ridge chairlift. John followed Mike off into tiger country while Vivienne and I enjoyed a great run through lovely snow down to the chairlift. Mike popped out onto our run from an icy off piste yucky part and we asked where John was (Vivienne and I were both thinking it didn't look like terrain that would be a lot of fun for John). Mike was surprised to hear John was behind him and went back into tiger country to find him.
I state I am yet to ski with John, as I don't count the 20m we were on the same run before he hared off after Mike as a "ski together".
Anyhow, we got on the chair, and the weather seemed to change. Sure enough, as we got off the top, it clagged in. Couldn't see a thing. We went back down the run, but it was horrible. The undulations were invisible. Got on the chair and decided to head back to the main ski runs.
Mike and John were in the cafe, so we went there and had some food. Then, it was still pants. But getting late. So we did the normal run down Waterfall express and back down Rockgarden. Doro trashed her board just above the Waterfall Express chair base station. Her bindings popped out completely from her board on one side. She walked down.
Back to read in my bed before a yummy tea of roast beef and roast vegetables. And dessert. Mmmmm.
Early to bed for me. But Mike and Toby were later and they had problems going to sleep. So our sleep wasn't the best.
Next morning it was raining hard and yucky. So I decided to stay in the lodge. I should have gone skiing and I have learned that lesson now. Anyhow, I did my chores and read a bit.
We all left around 1pm and headed back to Wellington. Late lunch at the Brown Sugar cafe in Taihape and then home around 7pm.
Great day skiing on Saturday! Woot!
Have a lovely week.
Love,
Angela
It was a happy birthday weekend for Karen! Did you see what she announced? Tyler and Abby get to be flag bearers for the opening ceremony for the Netball World Cup this Friday. Yes! Tyler is holding Fiji's flag, and Abby is holding England's flag. Such awesome news. I can't wait.
Friday I got away for an iced coffee late in the day. I figured it was ok because we had a long drive up to Ruapehu that night.
 |
| Iced coffee goodness at Mixed Business |
We were a tiny bit late getting away from Wellington. It was close to 5pm by the time we left. But the traffic wasn't too bad. Toby had his iPad to entertain himself and at least I could see lots out the front window from my seat.
We got to the lodge at 10.30pm. Not too bad. We were staying at Graduates which is just behind WTMC. I liked it a lot. Great fun! Off to bed around midnight. Ooooo - that's a late night for me. Toby crashed!
 |
| Selfie with lenticular cloud behind me |
 |
| The awesome lenticular cloud |
 |
| Mike and me in the queue |
The weather looked awful Saturday morning but we went up anyway. Fortunately I bumped into Mike at the base lift and I snaffled him from his leadership duties. We went up to Knoll Ridge and the skies cleared up there. We jumped out to ski the valley t-bar and had such an awesome time together. We did run after run.
Finally we caught up with Vivienne and John and Doro and went over to the West Ridge chairlift. John followed Mike off into tiger country while Vivienne and I enjoyed a great run through lovely snow down to the chairlift. Mike popped out onto our run from an icy off piste yucky part and we asked where John was (Vivienne and I were both thinking it didn't look like terrain that would be a lot of fun for John). Mike was surprised to hear John was behind him and went back into tiger country to find him.
I state I am yet to ski with John, as I don't count the 20m we were on the same run before he hared off after Mike as a "ski together".
Anyhow, we got on the chair, and the weather seemed to change. Sure enough, as we got off the top, it clagged in. Couldn't see a thing. We went back down the run, but it was horrible. The undulations were invisible. Got on the chair and decided to head back to the main ski runs.
Mike and John were in the cafe, so we went there and had some food. Then, it was still pants. But getting late. So we did the normal run down Waterfall express and back down Rockgarden. Doro trashed her board just above the Waterfall Express chair base station. Her bindings popped out completely from her board on one side. She walked down.
Back to read in my bed before a yummy tea of roast beef and roast vegetables. And dessert. Mmmmm.
Early to bed for me. But Mike and Toby were later and they had problems going to sleep. So our sleep wasn't the best.
Next morning it was raining hard and yucky. So I decided to stay in the lodge. I should have gone skiing and I have learned that lesson now. Anyhow, I did my chores and read a bit.
We all left around 1pm and headed back to Wellington. Late lunch at the Brown Sugar cafe in Taihape and then home around 7pm.
Great day skiing on Saturday! Woot!
Have a lovely week.
Love,
Angela
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