The Thursday with dinner out

Hi,

It's a happy birthday day.

Well, after a day at work best left at work, I went to the gym with Sreejith for a 4pm Virtual RPM class.  It was such a hard workout.  I really enjoy it.  I hope I get to see some improvement.  The slogan on the wall of the RPM class says:  It doesn't get easier, you just get better.  But that might be still a wee way off.

Dubious present from Mike.  Natural V?  What is that?

After work I popped into the local pub to try and get Mike.  But it turned out that people I knew were there.  So I chatted to them while Mike chatted in his meeting int he table behind me.

From there, we went to Chow and met Ferrida, Sarah and Liz.  Liz was over for work and it was good to see Ferrida.  I don't think I've seen her for 9 years or something.  We need to fix that.

We had a great meal and chatted away for ages.  Before we knew it, it was quite late.  So Sarah drove us home - thanks Sarah!

Today is hosing down rain.  And so windy.  We have to go home and pack for our weekend away in the Wairarapa.  Can't wait.  Bringing the bikes.  Meeting up with friends.  Should be great.

Have a brilliant day and an even better weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Celia celebrating and an Iceland adventure

Hi,

The weather held out for another lovely day.  Still really cold though.  I spent most of yesterday at work quite freezing.  My fingers never really worked well.

But, towards the end of the day, Celia got news her house sold.  So, at the end of the day, when Toby had arrived, we went into the local pub and celebrated with a drink.

Bubbles for Celia

Selling a house seems to move you from one stressful state to another, really.  Now Celia has to clear the house because settlement happens to be when she is on holiday in Fiji.  Jeepers!  Hopefully we can help her in the next few weeks with moving stuff if she needs it.

From there, Christine came and grabbed me and said a quick hello before we caught to bus to Capitol.  Mmmmm.  I bet Mum remembers that restaurant.  We both had the Wagyu rump steak.  And the chocolate fondant dessert.  Scrumptious.

Then I met Mike and Toby (again) and we went to the tramping club for a session on someone's trip to Iceland.  I love Iceland.  Definitely made me want to visit again.  This time for longer.  We've been twice, but only for long weekends.  You can do that from London!  Not here!  Hahahah.

We ubered home and I had a restless sleep.  Oh well.  Time for tea and hopefully I'll come right.

We're off to dinner again tonight to meet Liz.  She's over for work briefly and tonight is the only night we have free to see her.

Have an awesome day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday back at work after a long weekend

Hi,

After a super early start to the day with an RPM class at 6.30am I was at my desk and showered by the usual time.  Yay!  I met Mike briefly for a coffee date before he started work, which was nice.

After a day at work, it was really nice to ride home.  The lack of wind made the ride really enjoyable.  I got home and started cooking tea for me and Toby.  Another My Food Bag meal.  Fish this time.  Toby loved the fish.  Didn't so much like the "slaw" (in fact, he never even tried that) and didn't eat the chips either (kumara and potato chips).  But he loved the fish.  Mike was lucky to even get some.

Fish n chips

Mike got home while I was in the bath and joined me.  Then I was off to bed and I am so sleepy that I was asleep in seconds when the light was turned off.

Lovely ride in this morning.  But it looks like it is the last of the good weather for this spectacular run of wintry goodness.  Bit of rain forecast until the weekend now.

Have a fantastic day.  I am off to see Christine for tea after work.  Can't wait to catch up with her.  Then we're off to the tramping club for a session on Iceland.  One of my favourite places.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Monday off for the Queen's birthday

Hi,

Well, we certainly did ok with the weather gods this Queens' Birthday weekend.  Lucky for Mike (and Andrew) as he went into the bush with mates on Sunday.

Let's see what we got up to...

Saturday morning I was up fairly early to head down to the East Day Spa to get my toes done.  Heaven!  I had a birds eye view of the people arriving for Armageddon and watched costumed people climb the stairs to the concourse towards Westpac Stadium.

I was hoping to see Mike and Toby, but they were having a slightly less than organised morning.  I left after my toes were sufficiently pampered and drove to work and printed out Mike's tickets. Then I dropped them at the event and headed home via the supermarket.

My toes look amazing

Our new mattress arrived just as I got home.  I did a few things, but basically waited until the boys got home and we finished getting things sorted.

Sunday was a lazy day for me and Toby while Mike headed into the bush with his mates for "Survival Night".

Coffee date at the Dowse

 Monday morning was also slow.  I did do a decent run in the morning though.  Then waited for Mike to get home before heading out to have a coffee/brunch date and do a few messages.

Back home to sort out things for the week.  For some reason I hit the wall.  Not sure why.  So I toddled off to bed fairly early.

A Virgin Mojito

Mike found me some new drink at the supermarket.  It's a bit sweet.  But it is ok.

The week looms - shorter than usual.  Yay for short weeks.  We're off to the Wairarapa this weekend to celebrate birthdays.  Woot!

Have an awesome week.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with date night

Hi,

Oh - what a lovely surprise.  Toby had a sleepover with Isaac arranged, so I rode home and got ready to take him over there.  He'd already packed his bag - good on him!

Drove in via Mike's work because he had said we can drop Toby off and then have dinner out together.  Ooohhhh.  We chatted to Sally and Tim for a bit before we headed away leaving Toby with Isaac to enjoy the night.

Mike took me to the Otega Fish Shack and it was superb.  I ordered the snapper and Mike had the beef.  Dessert was a perfect chocolate mousse.  Mike was so passionate about some session he had attended for work in the afternoon.  R9 start up ideas.  He told me all about them, with eyes that sparked with enthusiasm.

We headed home after that - it felt late - but actually we got home just after 9pm.  Hahahah.  Slept well and Mike and I both walked into work this morning.

The long weekend looks like fun.  Mike and Toby have Armageddon tomorrow.  I have a foot spa session.  Can't wait for that.  And I need to get a few messages.  Our new mattress should arrive as well.

Mike is away Sunday afternoon for "survivor night" with his mates.  The only thing they survive is a heart attack through the mountains of bacon they consume.

And I hope to get some archery in. The weekend weather looks amazing.  Cold, but clear and sunny.

Have a wonderful weekend.  Enjoy the long one in New Zealand.  And the following weekend in Aus.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that felt like it took 2 weeks to get here since Monday

Hi,

I have never been so confused about what week it is, let alone the day of the actual week itself.  Mike says he's concerned he can't remember things as well as he used to.  He's got nothing on me if I can't remember what week I am in.  Hahahah!

I engineered one of my regular staff meetings at the local coffee shop so I could indulge in an iced coffee.  As I was doing so, I realised iced coffees are at odds with the gym sessions I am about to commit to.  So, I think I will enlist my blog's help and say you should not expect to see as many iced coffees in the next 6 months as you have seen recently.  And by "recently" I mean in the last 5 years.  Hahahah.

OMG.  Is this the last iced coffee I have had for a while?  Oh.  I might be starting a cycle of grief and denial and whatever else comes with a sudden realisation of loss.

Mixed Business iced coffee goodness with Saman

Anyway, I left work on time yesterday because I had a plan.  I checked the bus timetable and zeroed in on the bus I thought Toby would be on to get home from school.  And as it came onto The Terrace I jumped on.  But I froze when I saw so many faces looking at me that I just aimed for a free seat with my tunnel vision and didn't look for Toby anymore.  But as I went down the centre aisle a hand snaked out from a window seat past another passenger and grabbed me gently.  I found Toby and he was chuffed.

We kept an eye on each other and jumped into a spare seat together at the first opportunity.  It was so nice to see him.

Mike got home not long after.  He sent a Glympse and I watched in come down Rankin and I thought he was riding his bike home (that's our bike route and not the bus).  But went I threw open the door, he was dressed in work clothes and he must have wondered at my exclamation "Did you ride home?".  Because he was obviously not in riding gear.  He drove home in the car.  Doh!  I forgot he had the car.

Anyway, we made tea and enjoyed some lamb from the My Food Bag.  I loved it.  The boys were not so pleased.

Mmmmm.  Lamb.  Best meat ever.

I didn't get out of bed this morning for my run.  It was too cold.  In fact, I was wondering if sending my manager a text to say it was too cold to go to work was a valid excuse in any way, shape or form.  As I am at work now, I don't need to say my morals won out over that argument.

But my ride in was lovely.  The cold southerly had dried to roads out and there is no rain forecast for a few days now.  Yay.

Have a brilliant Thursday.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday that feels like last week

Hi,

Ok - so last week I was a day behind myself.  And this week I just have no idea what day it is.  On Monday I was trying to think of when I did something at work, and I had no idea if it was Tues or Wed - when it was actually Monday.  What's with that?  Hahahah.

Anyway, after work last night I went to the gym and tried the RPM class.  Wow.  What a lot of fun.  And hard work.  I don't think I have ever sweated so much, even when stupidly running on the Sunshine Coast in summer.  It was 45 minutes long and I have a lot to improve if I decide to sign up.  And it is looking likely that I will.

It was running hard when I got back to work around 6.45pm so I rang Mike and he came in to collect me while Toby finished off the dinner.  And what a dinner.  Sorry, no pictures.  But they were gourmet pizzas off the My Food Bag menu.  Well, Toby made himself cheese and bacon.  But mine and Mike's had beef balls and caramelised onions and capsicum.  Mmmmm.

Had a bath with Mike and then off to bed. But it seemed that my session at work focusing on self-awareness had made me introspective and I chatted away to Mike for quite a while before his snoring made me decide it was time to stop blethering.  Hahahah.  Lucky neither of us is kept awake by anything the other does.  Sleeping seems to come naturally.  Maybe more for me usually.

The rain is tipping down in buckets and I caught the bus in.  My hands are a little cold and typing is a little trickier than usual.  Middle of the week - even though I am confused about the day.

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela