The Wednesday of hecticness

Hi,

Yep - I have invented a word.  Hecticness.  Maybe it's not as cool a word as Christine would invent.  She is the queen of portmanteaus.  She would combine hectic with stress (or something) and come up with hectress.  The Wednesday of hectress.  Or stresstic.

Gasoline's iced coffee

Give it a good poke to test consistency

First taste happiness

Oh yeah - it's a good un!

I did meet Mike for lunch.  Well, we'd both eaten our lunch already.  So we met for coffee.  At Gasoline.  They do a good iced coffee.  The sign behind me that Mike has so carefully edited out is not declaring love to anyone.  It's actually a message of grumpiness.  It could say "love you, love you, very much".  Or it could even say "thank you, thank you very much".  But it doesn't.  It does have a word that ends in "k" though.  Someone must have had a hard time when they stood in front of that blank canvas.

Anyway - I had two presentations to give in the space of a few hours yesterday.  One had 65 invitees.  But I rather think perhaps only 40 or so were there.  That was a shortish one.  And then later I had a longer presentation to around 20 people.

It all went ok.  Really, it did.  In fact, from this end of it, I am wondering why I was dreading it.  Oh well.  Out of practise speaking in front of people, I guess.

When the last session finished at around 1900, I met Mike outside Microsoft, and I dropped him at his function and then took Serge home.  Serge actually went to the session and watched me present.  He was very kind.

Back home, with my bike from work, and wee Toby is still sick.  He has another day off school.  Hoping he comes right today.

It's another sticky warm day here in Wellington.  I am melting in my work clothes here at work.  Must be time for a huge drink of water.

Dragon boat training tonight.  Woot!  And Lulu looks like she is coming to stay on Sunday night for a few days.  Awesome.

Right.  Time to start the day.  Enjoy it, wherever you are.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with my parents leaving

Hi,

Yep - the house is a different place without Mum and Dad around.  It was so nice to see them and Wellington really did turn on some decent weather.  The South Island trip was fun.  And the party.  I hope they enjoyed their own house and bed last night.  Mike and I did.

Went to dragon boating training last night and it was hard work as we enter the later stages of training.  Oossshh!  Well, I found it tough.

Rode home afterwards and found that I had no energy for the hill.  Better sort that out for Thursday night's training session.  Maybe a banana just before training.

Busy with extra things today.  Presenting at work for a few minutes (hate that) and then presenting after work at the user group (hate that too).  Why do I have a job where I have to stand up in front of people and talk?  Gah!  I am all prepared now though.  Well, as prepared as I ever get when I need to talk to a whole bunch of random people.

Right. Time to get stuck in.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with parent teacher meetings

Hi,

Yesterday was really stunning weather.

Sunrise yesterday

After work I rode home and enjoyed my first ride home in over two weeks.  I need to get on my road bike a lot this week as I taper to the race on Sunday.  I think taper here really means practise lots!  My bike has just been serviced, so I need to shake it down for any issues too.

After I got home, I changed and jumped in the car to head to Toby's school.  I had a rather chaotic session where the teachers were slightly disorganised but I got a few hints on how the school worked.
I came home via the supermarket and Toby and I used his new Nutri Ninja bullet thing.  Ok.  I have no idea what it is called.  But it blends fruit and veges into puree for drinking.  It was yummy.  After two healthy drinks, Toby made one with chocolate thins and chocolate milk.  Hahahah!

I slept really well.  But I was sad this morning because when I get home tonight after dragon boating, Mum and Dad will be gone.  I said goodbye.  Hopefully Toby and I can see them in April school holidays.

Ok.  Time for tea.  Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with my birthday party

Hi,

What an amazing weekend - Mike handled everything really well and my party was just perfect.  It did start on Friday after work when I went to the Wine and Food Festival with Andrew.  It was ok - but really, just an excuse to get together and drink.

And a happy birthday to Scott for Saturday.  And Richard.  And Alistair.  Feb 20 is a busy birthday.

But Saturday morning Mike got up fairly early and started the prep for the big party at Sally and Andrew's house.  I stayed in bed a bit longer and read.  As you do when it's your birthday!  Hahahah.

But soon enough we were popping into Thorndon New World to collect the platters and last minute items.  Then off to the party.  Woot!

Cake courtesy of Jo was the most amazing sight.  Sophisticated, like me!

My cake was the most amazing thing - it captured the atmosphere perfectly.  It was a shame to cut into it - but it tasted wonderful and got lots of compliments.

We mostly sat around and chatted in the shade of the marquee.  Which we surely needed - so thank you Aidan and Janne for driving it over and helping erect it.

Toby played with Jaana's baby

Marquee worked well - keeping the sun off

Mike and Sally were amazing!

Mike cooked up the food on two barbeques - what a machine he was.  Sally was the perfect hostess, keeping everything humming along like clockwork.

Food galore

More food!

I even gave a speech (of sorts) when I cut the cake.  I tried to thank everyone - but if I didn't mention you, it was not a reflection of any lack of thanks on the inside.  Merely stage fright.  Hahahah.

We left around 6.15pm and left the wee green car in the garage with the wee white car.  They looked so cute that I took a photo.

Two peas in a pod

Next morning we were up early to collect Kathleen and Duncan for a run up at Paekakariki.  We drove up and Mike and Duncan checked out coffees while Kathleen and I ran from the US Marines memorial to Paekakariki and back.  Great run!

Front Room iced coffees are good

Then we drove in the slow traffic to Waikanae breach and ate lunch at the Front Room.  Iced coffee goodness -you know it!

Back home for a shower and change and then off to see Shakespeare in the Dell.  Loves Labours Lost.  A great comedy about kings and his advisors swearing off women to study and better themselves without distraction.  And getting courtly visits by women they fall in love with.

Mike - what are you doing?

Loves Labours Lost - great fun!

Lovely 4pm session - but it did eventually feel cold in the shade.  Had a good time watching that play.  Can't wait for next year now.

Off to collect Toby, Mum and Dad from Vivienne's house, then the MX5 from Sally and Andrew's.  Then Burger Wisconsin for Toby.  Mike did some urgent grocery shopping.  All rather hectic.  But Dad ironed some shirts for me - so that made it easier than expected.

All up - an incredible weekend!  Wow.  But glad they don't all get that much excitement.  Or maybe it's because I am a bit older now.  Too much to handle.  Hahahah.

Two more weekends coming up of excitement though.  I'd better get used to it.

Have fun this week!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with no dragon boating

Hi,

Another crazy day at work.  But that seems to be the usual.  Although it wasn't bad crazy, more like good crazy, I guess.

Dragon boating training was cancelled due to the gale force winds.  So a few of us (ok, me, Celia and Serge) went to The Green Man for food and drinks.  We chatted away for ages before Mike drove by to collect me with our newly serviced bikes on the back of the car.

We got home and I found that Dad had finished the jigsaw we have had under our tablecloth for about 5 years.  I can't think what it'll be like when I pack it away into its box and it is no longer on the table.  How odd.  It does look good though.

Dad finished the jigsaw under our tablecloth for 5 years

My bike is shiny

I slept the sleep of the dead last night.  Toby was at school camp - they are staying in the marae at school.  The weather hasn't been much fun for them though.

Right.  Time to drink my tea and sort out things.

The weekend should be loads of fun.  Tonight is the Wellington Wine and Food festival.  Tomorrow is my big party at Sally and Andrew's house (thanks for that!) and Sunday I want to go up to Waikanae River for a run.  We're also thinking about going to Shakespeare in the Dell on Sunday afternoon at 4pm.  Woot!  Awesome weekend looming.

Have a great time.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with my birthday

Hi,

Wow - what a day!  It's been a crazy time, but lots of fun.  I hurtled out of the house like usual yesterday and met Aidan at 8am for a quick breakfast catch up.  I did have a little bit of her coffee, as she wasn't up to drinking it all.  But - it didn't taste good.  Hahah.  I got flowers from her and they now grace my desk at work.  So I can show off how loved I am to anyone that comes to see me.

Breakfast with Aidan

I got flowers - quite lovely

After a huge morning meeting, I got an iced coffee date with Jo and Rex.  They stuck to iced chocolates.  But I was happy to slurp down another iced coffee (see the one yesterday too!).

Ummm - second coffee with Jo and Rex

Looking sheepish about the amount of caffeine

My partners in crime - having iced chocolates, because they are sensible

I got to have lunch with Mike not too long after that.  He took me to Lambton Square food hall.  I had a yummy baked potato.  we were making space for dinner later.

After more work, eventually it was time for birthday dinner at Capitol.  One of my favourite places.  Mike and I took a bus from work and Mum, Dad and Toby came in with our car.  The food was up to its usual excellent standard and everyone enjoyed it.  Toby ordered the fish and his face when he ate it looked like he was in heaven.  I think this has become one of his favourite places to eat now.

Toby at birthday dinner

We all had dessert too.  Mike, Toby and I had the chocolate fondant dessert.  Mmmmm.  Toby went off to get an ice cream for second dessert and Mike and I went off to Bats to see an Improv comedy.

We saw Attack of the Killer B movie.  Funny.  Mike made himself a tinfoil hat from the tinfoil passed out at the start.  He had a cute wee bonnet with a rose in it.  We chuckled our way through that  until around 10pm.

Off to grab a few things from the supermarket and then home to enjoy the last few hours of a great birthday.  Woot!  What fun.

Today is looking fun too.  Dragon boating training (unless this galeforce wind continues, I guess) followed by dinner and karaoke.  Not too late though. I need an early night.

Have a wonderful day.  Happy un-birthday to me.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with birthdays coming

Hi,

Yes - today is my birthday!  Happy birthday to me.  Woot!  I admit to never seeing a birthday like this one before.  I got up for my run at 5am and ran in a warm, sticky wind.  It felt like Australia.  All I needed to hear was a magpie and it would have been complete.  I was grateful for the cool shower when I got back home.  As I believe my work colleagues will be glad about too.  Hahahah!

I did see Ilske for morning tea yesterday at Gasoline.  Good iced coffee there.  And great to catch up on her news.  She blogged while she was in Buenos Aires over Christmas and New Years.  I read that and enjoyed the insight into her time there.

Had an iced coffee with Ilske

Yesterday was merely the exciting day before my birthday.  It was John's birthday and by the looks of Facebook, he got cake!  It's all about you on your day.  Work was work.  I bussed home.  We ate pasta.  I read lots.  Went to bed early.  Not too shabby a countdown.

I've already had lots of birthday wishes today.

We're not going to Shakespeare in the Dell this evening because the weather forecast isn't playing nicely with my usual birthday weather patterns.  It's supposed to rain later tonight with 100km/hr winds.  Almost normal for Wellington.  But not the calm, blue day I usually get on my birthday.

As Mike says, to have an average day once every 50 years is an ok average.  Guess he's right.  Hahah.  I wonder how much I'll notice the weather on the 17th of February 2066?

Have a lovely day, wherever you are.  See ya tomorrow - when it is my un-birthday!



Love,
Angela