The Tuesday with more work

Hi,

I had to share the photo of Mike with a luxurious beard before he shaved it all off.  That's from Dec 19th to Jan 8th (or thereabouts).  I thought he looked quite dashing.  But off it all came.

Side profile of the beard

I have a dental appointment today because I chipped my front tooth on a nectarine stone yesterday.  It's all rough at the bottom now and catching my bottom inside lip.  I have had it done before so I hope it will be a fairly quick fix this afternoon and stay in place for another few years.

This evening Mike and I are off to visit a colleague and his family.  They had a wee girl in November so it'll be great to see them all.  And we need to collect the tyres for the new car (it came with two new tyres but we haven't collected them as yet).

Woot!  The day is slightly cool here, but mostly sunny.  I'll try and get a walk in at lunch time today.

Missing wee Toby.  I hope he's having fun in Sydney with his cousins.  And I hope he enjoys the warm weather before we bring him back to Wellington.  Hahah.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work after Christmas

Hi,

Yep - I know you're expecting a blog about Christmas.  I didn't make any notes at all while I was on holiday so I have to try and remember it.  It might take me a few days.

Anyway, yesterday was the first day back at work after three weeks off.  Very wonderful break.  Christmas was incredible - I have missed Christmases with my family.  But when you choose to live elsewhere, it is just something you have to get used to.  And Mike's family certainly makes me feel welcome.

We also went tramping - the Whangapeka track in Kahurangi National Park.  Awesome - but such a tough walk for me.  And we went sea kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park.

Marlborough Sounds looking fine

Only iced coffee we could find on Saturday morning in Nelson

About to go for a (quick) swim

Happy feet

Beach stop

Too stunning

Getting ready

That's blood in the bottom of my right boot

There are some photos to show you I really did go away tramping.  I hardly took any, so I might ask Andrew and Mike to send me some for my blog.

Anyway, yesterday was hard work.  I did get to the gym for my first 2017 session.  Yay!  More today hopefully.  Mike is in Auckland for the day today - back on a late flight tonight.

Right.  Time for a cup of tea and getting my work life sorted.

Hope your holiday break was as much fun as mine!

Love,
Angela

Luna Park Wild Mouse

28 Dec 2012

28 Dec 2016

The Thursday with lunch with Andrew and then dinner as well

Hi,

I have been cutting back on the iced coffees lately, so there are no photos of me drinking in cafes around Wellington.  I had a hard day at work yesterday due to the constant low level headache which I have attributed to coffee.  There may be no scientific basis in this, but I have had more coffee in the past week than in the previous few months combined.  And I never get headaches.  So I have added 2 and 2 - and come up with 4.

Which - as a slight non sequitur for most people - Sally (and Mike) can't really do.  Hahahah!  More on that later, perhaps.

Anyway, I did catch up with Andrew for lunch at Verve which was good.  We planned a bit of our huge New Years tramp.

Then I walked home after work in my new tramping boots, as a part of the plan to walk them in before Andrew herds me and Mike over rough terrain in the Kahurangi National park.  I brought home sushi for Toby and he enjoyed that.

Mike popped in briefly to pick me up and we headed out to Petone to get the other car from the mechanics, then picked up fish n chips and ate with Sally and Andrew at their place.

Enjoyed the drive home and slept quite well.  Caught the bus in unexpectedly with Mike this morning.  We don't often do that so that was lovely.

And a family birthday/Christmas night tonight at our place.  Yay!

Last blog for a bit too.  We head to Sydney for Christmas on Sunday.  Looking forward to that for sure.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Years.  See you in 2017.  Sounds like a good year to me.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Rogue One

Hi,

I walked home last night, and pushed my bike.  It was a toss up between riding and walking in my new boots.  The new boots won.

I cooked tea for me and Toby (and left some aside for Mike).  It was pretty good chicken.

Chicken schnitzel with kumara chips and slaw

Toby had finished his last day of school and was pretty happy to have holidays stretching ahead of him.

I went to bed early to try and get some sleep before getting up at 10.30pm to get ready for the midnight showing of Rogue One at the Roxy!

Midnight viewing!

Mike got home after being waylaid by Steph just as he almost got on the bus.  I heard he got on the bus with Bernardine and  promptly stood on her foot.  Must have been a good time had at the Old Bailey.


Anyway - Toby and I got ready and drove out to see the movie.  We enjoyed the cosplay fun beforehand and then sat down to watch the movie.

Cosplay fun

It was so good.  I really enjoyed it.  I am not a night person, and I may have spent some of the movie with my eyes shut.  And I think I was quite horizontal in my seat for long periods of time.  But, that means when I see it again in Sydney, some of the scenes will be completely new for me.

This morning Mike dropped me close to town and I walked in.  Saw the demolition - the road is now partially opened.

Road partially opened now

Right.  I have a headache and I intend to drink lots of water to try and combat it.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with stuff

Hi,

Ok - I can't keep up with things at the moment.  Must be Christmas crazy.

Iced coffee

I just caught up with Rex and Jo before Christmas and had an iced latte at Mojos.  Mmmmm.

Mike dropped me close to town and he drove the car out to Petone for its WoF.  I saw him hurtling down the motorway from a bridge.

Mike drives the MX5 down the motorway

And I cooked a yummy tea last night.  Naked chicken parmigiana.  I liked it.  As did Mike.  Toby was unimpressed.

Yummy dinner

Toby was at the beach with his school mates yesterday.  He may have got a little sunburn.  Today is his last day of school and it seems to have been a successful year for him.

We're off to see a midnight showing of Rogue One tonight.  I couldn't wait for Boxing Day in Aus - but I suspect I will go again.  Me and Toby.  Mother/son bonding.

Have a lovely day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Toby's birthday

Hi,

My son is now 14.  I can't really believe it.  He towers over me and is hairy and muscly and has a deep voice.  But he is still kind on the inside.  Clever.  Considerate.  Loving.  If no one is around, I still gets hugs and kisses.  Still Toby.  I am a proud mother.

Anyway, he got the option of choosing his meal last night.  So he chose Burger Wisconsin over my cooking.  Hahahah!  I even offered to make spag bol for him.  That wasn't enough to sway him.

Other than that, we didn't do much.  I was up until the wee hours trying to sort out work issues.  Didn't do much good as I am now slightly tired and still wading through work issues.  Hahahah!  Not sure why I bothered worrying about it.  It obviously made no difference.

I did get brekkie with Roanne this morning though.  That was good fun.  The boys dropped me off in town early before they continued out to Miramar (I have no idea what is happening but apparently they are walking in a group to the beach from Molly's house).  I met Roanne and we enjoyed a breakfast at the Old Bailey.  It was yummy!

Right.  Time for get stuck in at work.  Woot!  And possibly find an iced coffee to compensate for the late night session.

Have a brilliant day.  Shine like a diamond!

Love,
Angela