The weekend that was wonderful

Hi,

What an amazing weekend.  Especially for a weekend in Wellington, with very little in the way of massive plans. It just went well, both the expected events as well as unexpected highlights.

Friday I went home and sorted out Toby.  I nipped back into town to collect Mike from work and we had a relaxing evening.  I did end up a bit covered in beer from Mike's bottle and I washed all my clothes that evening.

Saturday we were up fairly early.  Well, Toby slept like a log and was up at 7am sorting out his own breakfast.  Woot!  That was so pleasing to see.

Out of bed and showered ready for Yum Cha goodness at 11am at Dragons on Tory St.  It was a huge affair with 10 of us.  The three of us, all the Tabors, Christine, Tom and Brian.

Yum Cha fun and games

We ate our way through a mountain of food.  Mmmmmm.  The boys eventually got restless so Mike and Josh took them to the park and the rest of us chatted, enjoying the sudden silence.  It did mean we ended up with the bill.  Hahah!

Aidan and I said goodbye to Christine and Brian as they wandered off to find Tom with the others.  We were off to the Penthouse in Brooklyn to see Train Wreck.  We were early so we took the long way there around the bays.  Lovely.  Aidan wanted to take photos, as she does.  So she did.  I took photos of her taking photos.  As I do.  I appreciate getting to see things through her photographer's eye.  It makes me take a second look at things.  Always a good idea.  You never know what might have escaped your attention the first time.

About to jump in the  wee green car for some fun

View of the south coast

We parked up the street from the cinema and wandered down, past a cafe/restaurant that looked nice called Salty Pidgin.  Filed that away for later.  Grabbed our tickets and settled down to watch the movie. We would have been lucky if there were 8 people in the cinema with us.

The movie was ok - not as funny as I might have thought.  But it was ok.  I enjoyed it.  I laughed out loud in the last 5 minutes when she (the actress - Amy Schumer) indulged in some slapstick, so it ended on a high for me.  I think Aidan liked it too.  Which is good, because our track record of movies we see together is rather patchy.  More miss than hit.

But... we popped into Salty Pidgin and it was great.  The smell was amazing.  What was it, Aidan?  It was spicy somehow.  Anyway, we had a drink and Aidan had two freshly shucked oysters.  I think we need to come back for a meal one day.  Nice ambiance.

Pimms for Aidan

We popped into the supermarket before I dropped Aidan home.  She had to get the ingredients for tea as we were all eating at her place before Mike, Josh and Aidan went out to Beervana.  I went home to collect the boys and we were back.  I finished cooking tea (I stirred the sauce and cooked pasta) and I ate with the boys while the Beervana contingent got ready.

I dropped them into town and I was back and lined up my Kindle while the boys played games.  Duncan put himself to bed and I got the call to collect everyone.  Yes, I think I did fall asleep on their couch.  Hahah!

Kindle, tea, chippies

As they approached the car, I could see they had souvenirs of their excursion.  They had pilfered people's tasting glasses.  With dregs of beer in them still.  Stink!  And I got a bit on me - again!

Mike in the thick of Beervana action

Dropped them home and took my boys home.  I watched the rugby (go All Blacks - what a sublime game) and eventually fell asleep at midnight.


The next morning Aidan collected me with Christine and Duncan and we went to visit Victor.  We gave him a brush and pampered him a bit.

Victor is so warm in the sun

Stones in the hoof hurt - lots!

He's all good

Taking stones out of Victor's hoof

It was good fun and the weather was sunny right up until we left.  We drove back into Wellington in a little bit of rain.

Aidan dropped me home and I decided to drop the pamphlets around the streets that the boys hadn't done yet.  Just as I finished the boys got home.  It was Jake's party time and they had been shopping.  So I went with them into town.  We dropped Toby off and then went to work.  But Mike was working for a while and then had other plans.

So I texted Aidan and fortunately she could come and get me, and what's more, take me grocery shopping.  Woot!  Awesome synergy.  We popped into Countdown at Crofton Downs and I was stoked to get lime pickle.  Mmmmm.

Back home and some housework before Mike got home.  Then out to see Sarah and Hamish and Ryan for tea.  Wow!  Mike then followed Sarah in the rain up into Otari Wilton bush for some game Sarah plays.  Madness, is what I say.

But I got my ironing done.  And the morning is stunning here today. The best morning.  The sort that makes you happy to live here.

Sunrise this morning

The week is busy this week.  Loads of Mike things on after work.  I best keep track of things.

Have a wonderful week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing on

Hi,

Wow - nothing planned.  What a relief.  I rode home and enjoyed that after a rather harrowing day.  Mind you, I did spark it up with a coffee date with Ilske.

Iced coffee happiness

And I have to say, Aidan certainly cheered me up with an email that made me consider things from a slightly different perspective.  Guess that's really what friends are for and it made me very appreciative of her friendship.


When I got home, I started tea for Mike and Toby and when Mike got home, I hopped in the car and drove back into town.  Christine had an appointment on The Terrace and I collected her when it was done at 1830.

We drove to her place and I had a cup of tea and two Tim Tams.  That was the chocolate component of my day that Aidan had said I was missing all along.  Mind you, I think iced coffee might be my chocolate equivalent.

Christine is looking much better a week after her surgery.  Yay.

Back home and I noticed the wee spider on the toilet again.  It's been there for a whole day now.  So I took a photo for the Australian contingent.  It's not a redback on our toilet, but it is a cute wee hunting spider nevertheless.

Spider on our toilet

Went to bed and read for a bit before falling asleep with my book in my hands.  My boys sorted me out.

This morning is overcast and still.  It's lovely out there.  My ride in was really nice.  Dry roads and fun.

The weekend is set to rock my socks off!  Saturday morning I'll go for a run.  My calf is a wee bit sore from my run on Tuesday.  This morning's run was slow but it wasn't too bad.  Hoping tomorrow it will be super ok.  And then I am aiming for a 10km run after work on Monday.  From work around the bays to NIWA and back.  Oooooo.

Saturday we're going to Yum Cha with the Tabor family.  Then I am whisking Aidan off to see Train Wreck at the Penthouse in Brooklyn.  I do like that cinema.  Hope it's a good movie.  It has got good reviews.  Saturday night I am looking after the boys (Toby, Emerson and Duncan) while Mike takes Josh and Aidan to Beervana.  Hahahah!   Should be good fun for them (and not too bad for me - I picture reading on the couch, scratching Lulu's ears, while the boys play computer games).

There is a big rugby game on that Mike and I hope to watch.  Aussies taking on the All Blacks at Eden Park.  Huge game.

And, I might be quietly entertaining the idea of a scoot up the Turoa on Sunday for the day.  I'll see how that pans out.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with a presentation at Upper Hutt College

Hi,

Toby and Mike had their appointment in town at 4pm, so they ensured that meant the only dinner option for them was McDonalds.  Hahah.  I texted my other suggestions to them, but it was futile to try and divert them from their chosen meal.

Sunrise this morning

Snowy Tararuas yesterday

After work I rode home and got changed and ready for the career in IT presentations at Upper Hutt College for the evening.  I drove out there, singing to Bruce Springsteen - loudly.  Found the school nice and early and got set up in my classroom.

The first session had standing room only.  Woot!  A surprise was the engineering presenter turning up and presenting alongside me.  We both squashed our 20 minute sessions into 10 minutes.  Fortunately it wasn't too jarring.  My degree and his were actually quite close (although separated by the Tasman Sea and 20 years!) so it was interesting that one led into business IT and one (his) led into electronics and cool stuff.

We had four sessions and by the end of it, I was quite comfortable in front of a load of people.  I do need to remember that I really don't like talking in front of loads of strangers.  Hahah.

Back home to see the boys before bed.  Zzzzzzz.

Today is lovely.  Cold.  But lovely.

Have a marvellous day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with a school interview for Toby

Hi,

Well, I definitely enjoyed my lunch break.  I caught up with Aidan and we ate lunch in the cafe in her building.  I only got rained on a little between my workplace and hers.  Well worth the effort.  Aidan was relaxed and although our topics of conversation mainly escape me, the time fairly flew by.  Actually, I recall she gave me the benefit of her many presentations and skills she has for engaging audiences.  I'll incorporate some of her thoughts into my presentation tonight.  And it wasn't my acute observations of her that helped me determine she was relaxed.  She said she felt like a nap at her desk after lunch.  From that I inferred she was relaxed.  Hahah.  Nah - she looked good.

Anyhow, after work was a different thing.  Mike gave me the car keys and I drove to the cathedral on Molesworth St at 4pm and collected Toby from the school bus stop.  We went out to Wellington High School and found the school office.  Toby had an interview with the head of history.  It was such a positive experience.  Toby is looking forward to going there next week.  The man treated Toby like a young adult and really gave Toby the impression his thoughts were important.  As we left, Toby said that the man had seemed more like a friend than a teacher.  I think I know what Toby was trying to convey.  The man had mana, had your respect, but also valued your contribution.

We left and were very happy about next year's school change.

Rebooted and saw feet!

Wednesday mornings is work PC update day and I had to reboot this morning.  The benefit of this (besides protection for my PC) is I get to see my feet wallpaper.  This morning I saw Aidan's holiday feet from a beach in Maine.  And you can also see photos of Toby and Mike.  The Mike photo is from when he was 20 and visited Melbourne for the first time.  Everyone that comes to my desk comments on it.  Usually they say how handsome he is, how much like a male model he is.  Or maybe I am lying and the comments are usually around how much hair he had back then.  Hahah.  You choose!

A colleague is off on holiday and I asked for a photo of her feet doing something special for my folder.  The wallpaper cycles through a collection of feet photos.  Mine, naturally, are the best.  But I see Mike's feet, Andrew's feet, Ange's feet and Aidan's feet from time to time.  Obviously I need more feet shots.

Right.  Time to start the day.  Toby has an appointment in town this afternoon that Mike is taking him to.  And I have my presentation to 4 sessions of parents and students at Upper Hutt College on careers in IT to present this evening.  Woot!

Enjoy the day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with parent teacher interviews

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

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.

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

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.

Gasoline iced coffee

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