The weekend with an exhibition

Hi,

Well, after an odd week, the weekend was surprisingly normal really.  The boys got home on Friday and Toby heard he got 86% in his science exam the day before (Thurs).  He thought his Maths exam was the hardest, but he hopes he did ok.  I was very proud of his science achievement.

I got up super early on Saturday and headed out to collect Andrew from his place in the wee green car.  I took a photo of the stick insect on the garage first though.  And for some reason I couldn't unlock the car so I made poor Mike get out of bed and it unlocked immediately for him.  Andrew and I headed up to Palmerston North, checking out slips along the way (a fair bit - we could see where slips closed SH1).  Met Iona and Col at Moxies on George St and enjoyed a lovely brekkie there.

Moxies iced cofee

From there we wandered around to the gallery where Iona's weaving Masters course were exhibiting their graded items.  Wow!  Iona is very talented and her classmates are as well.  The ideas collated over the years of the course and executed so well were amazing to see.  And this is from me, who knows nothing about weaving techniques but can appreciate art and effort and creativity.

Back to Iona and Col's place for lunch and the cousins arrived from Chch and Wellington to also see the exhibition.  Liz, Rowena and Alison.  So it was a marvellous catch up time for lunch for all the cousins.  And me and Col.  Hahah.

Stick insect on the garage

Andrew and I left when Iona took her second entourage through the exhibition.  It was a lovely drive back and I was home to see Mike before too long.

Emerson and Duncan were visiting for a sleepover so it was nice to see them after not seeing them for a wee while.  To say I saw them might be pushing the boundaries of the sentiment there.  They enjoyed the computer time and Toby's company more than mine.  But when food was presented, I did get to see them.

A lazy day Sunday where Mike and I watched a television series - very unusual for us.  Gorgeous day it was too.  Tried to clear the garage - put it off for a few weeks,

Right.  We're back at work now and although our building is in the news a lot, it is just cosmetic damage and the building is fine!

Enjoy your week.  I have a short week - Friday off to head to Taupo for the big race.  So excited I can barely sleep.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday back at home

Hi,

Well, we all got told to work from home for the rest of the week while they double check the building.  A few buildings in the CBD have had subsequent checks and have been deemed unsafe.  So I think we're just being cautious.  The building is fine, I'm sure.  But let's see what they say.

It was a good day to stay home as there was a strong southerly storm change around mid morning.  Made for some excitement on the weather front.

I don't recall feeling any aftershocks yesterday.  I did go around to see Ange for a cup of tea between meetings.  She is good but much happier riding out aftershocks at home.  Office buildings give her the creeps in quakes.  Fair enough.

I did get a bit of work done, which was good.  And cooked tea for the boys.  Lamb.  Mmmm.

Lamb and potato smash - with salad

For some reason I had less sleep than preferred.  Maybe I need to read less.  Maybe Mike needs to read less of the entire Internet!

But, at home again today.  Toby has his last exams today.  He seems happy with the ones he did yesterday.  I hope he can say the same when he gets home today.

It's the weekend!  Almost.  Yay!  Off to Palmerston North tomorrow morning to see Iona's exhibition with Sally and Andrew.  And back home to see Emerson and Duncan who will come for a sleepover while Josh is otherwise occupied with Scout stuff.  Choice!  And I hope to get a bike ride in of about 50kmn as I taper for the following weekend's race around Taupo.  Oosshhh!

Have a great weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday back at work

Hi,

Well, that was a short lived working in the office week.  They sent us home for further building inspections to occur.  So today (Thurs) and probably Friday I am working from home.

I went home with Mike after work yesterday on the bus.  Molesworth St is closed due to a building about to collapse so our bus was rerouted up Hill St and along Tinakori to Park St.  That took 25 mins because all the cars were also trying to head down the same route.

Anyway - we got home ok and I cooked tea.

Pork kofta - yummy

We had pork kofta - on fragrant rice.  With a slaw of some sort.  I liked it.

Mike worked with the cat on his shoulders.  Hahah!

She likes this perch

So, today is Toby's big exam day.  He has 3 on today (and I think another one tomorrow).  I hope he does well.

And I am at home.  Working.

Hope your day is marvellous!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with an earthquake at the very end and working from home

Hi,

Well, that was an unusual end to the weekend.  Mike went away to Ruapehu in the silver bullet and Toby and I stayed home due to Toby's vomiting illness.  But by Saturday afternoon Toby was fine.

We went to have dinner in town and went to see Arrival.  We both really enjoyed it.  It was more cerebral than the trailers led us to believe.  Not exactly an action film.  But we thought it was good.

OCD Toby lines up the chips when he's done

On Sunday we went into town to have Yum Cha together.  Toby loves the Grand so we went there.  I was disappointed with it.

Dishing up sticky rice

Mmmmm - more sticky rice

Mike got home not long after us from his weekend away and we relaxed before dinner and an early bed.

But at midnight, I woke to the start of a long earthquake.  I mumbled "Earthquake" to Mike and he roused himself.  I kinda like that earthquakes don't wake him, but a whispered word from me brings him out of his deep slumber.  As the quake continued, I got out of bed and contemplated getting under it, or beside it in the 'triangle of safety'.  Mike elected to stay under the duvet in the 'rectangle of apathy'.  A photo fell off the bed head and landed on my pillow.  That's never happened before!

The shaking lasted about a minute and Toby came up and stayed with us for about another 40 mins.  Eventually he went back to his bed and we all went back to sleep.

Up in the morning to find out that chaos had pretty much ensued during our sleep.  The CBD was closed for building inspections.  Toby's school was closed.  Kaikoura had been cut off from the outside world (with Richard's brother out of comms for quite a while before he could get in contact to say he was ok) and Lower Hutt had been evacuated due to tsunami risk.  Sally and Andrew (and Celia and her family) spent many hours on the top of Wainuiomata hill.

Toby slept in a lot and Mike and I worked from the dining table.  We popped around to see Fiona and Brendon for a cup of tea and met Joan (from the corner) and Amy.

Perk of working from home - Lewis Road iced coffee

At 4pm we met workmates in town and went into work to get laptops.  Dropped them off in Karori and went back home.

Tuesday was working from home day - with Toby at school.  But his bus didn't come so he was dropped off by Mike.  A few aftershocks felt, but they are dropping off.  Mike collected Toby at the other end of the day and experienced traffic chaos.  Molesworth St is now closed as a high rise building there is apparently about to collapse.

Tuesday was crazy weather day.  I have never seen such fierce lashing rain.  Wow!

I took the bus in this morning because it just seemed crazy with the weather still really bad.  But with Molesworth closed I am unsure how the buses will get home.  I might aim for a 13 as they go a different way.

Right.  Tea will sort everything out.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with Toby sick

Hi,

Well, I am unsure what Toby has, but it involves a bit of vomiting.  How pleasant for him.  At least he's old enough to make it to a bucket by himself.  Poor kid.

It does mean that our packing for the weekend is no longer needed.  Mike is now going by himself.  I'll stay here and look after wee Toby.  I think movies while staying warm and dry will be the order of the day.

Dinner was a yummy chicken thai noodle thing

Anyway - I rode home yesterday and cooked tea.  Toby had a wee bit.  Mike and I thought it was scrumptious.

Sat on the couch to unwind and Mike played with my hair.  Mmmmm.  What a lovely way to spend an evening.

We're switching our plans for the weekend with Toby being sick.  It's not fair to take him in the car to Ruapehu and then in the lodge.  I'll go for a run early tomorrow, and maybe fit in a gym visit.  Possibly I might get a ride in on Sunday.  That should be a good weekend for training.

Mike will likely do a big walk up at the mountain.  Not sure of the weather forecast.  Ruapehu didn't look great for the weekend.  I must check Wellington now and see what the two days look like.

Have a wonderful weekend.  Here's hoping wee Toby comes right.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with packing for the weekend

Hi,

I rode home and enjoyed dry conditions - yay!  The really weird news was that it was looking like Trump would win the presidential race - how jolly confounding!  And, by the time I woke up this morning, it was all confirmed.  Oh well.  Let's see what happens now.

When I got home I started packing for the weekend.  Toby and I have almost got our stuff packed - a little more tonight and we're good to go.  We're off to Ruapheu for the weekend.  But Mike and I have cycling plans - not tramping plans.

This morning Mike was in some hyper good mood - he might have been counteracting my mood.  Not too sure.  And he hadn't even had coffee by that stage.  He's listening to soothing Scottish women from The Guardian newspaper website calming the general populace down from their frantic political concerns.  Maybe that has worked wonders for him?

Didn't work for me.

But - I saw ducks this morning, walking up Norwich St.  It was certainly the weather for them.  Not sure where they came from.  The stream in Otari Wilton bush?  That's a lot of road and footpath to negotiate.

Ducks on the road!

A bit of zoom shows ducks on the footpath!

Right - anyway.  Time to kick off the frantic day.  Let's see how it all pans out.  And I hope I get to my RPM session today.

Have a fantastic day.  It has to be a better day than how Hilary Clinton feels right now!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday that really should have been a Thursday

Hi,

Happy birthday to Vivienne today!  Woot!

I feel like I have been at work for an entire week already - what's with it being on Wednesday this morning?

Another Mojo iced coffee

I did get to Mojos during the day for an awesome iced latte.  Yum!

I got home and started cooking tea - it was lamb tonight.  With kumara chips.  All very tasty.

Lamb for tea

Mike called and wanted a lift home from town, and my road bike was ready to collect, so I picked up Mike and Andrew from town, and dropped Andrew home.  We chatted to Gary and headed back home with my bike that is now super fast!  Those new bottom brackets will knock 5 mins off my Taupo time!

My ride in this morning was heavenly.  I hooned down the hill.  I think.  My bike computer is missing so I can no longer tell how fast I am going.

But time to kick start the day.  And I have a client meeting in the Hutt this morning.  That should be slightly weird.

Enjoy your day!
Love,
Angela