The weekend in sunny Queensland

Hi,

Thank you so much to Vivienne for looking after wee Smudge for our weekend away.  She looked very well when we got home at 1am last night!

Turns out I would much rather still be in Queensland this morning.  Although the locals think it is warm (I saw people in short sleeves walking to work this morning) I had the heater on in the car!  Hahah.

Anyhow, we left early - early! - Friday morning to go to the Sunshine Coast to collect Toby.  We caught up with Jo in the departure lounge as she had a long weekend to Melbourne.  Woot!  Flight was fine (I watched Tarzan, with the chap from True Blood in it - which was average, then You Before Me, which made me cry!).  We uneventfully cleared customs and collected our rental Corolla, and 8am local time saw us heading north on the M1.

I navigated us without incident to the Sunshine Motorway (I often miss the turn off for that motorway from the main Bruce Highway) and then as we approached Peregian Springs, we noticed there had been a fire through recently.  As we commented on that, we also noticed that it was actually still smoldering.  Yep - a fire was through there as recently as...  Now!

We got to my parents' place and dropped off our stuff, got changed into shorts and then headed out to explore Noosa.  This was the first time Mike had been up here.  We drove to Tewantin and found the ferry terminal and bought the tickets.  Oddly they needed cash and it was $130 for all of us.  We had to scrounge around for the money, but managed to do it.

The ferry ride was fun - down the river to Noosa Heads and a lunch in Hastings Street.  The place was pumping and we had a great lunch.  Then Karen and I had a quick look at the shops while everyone went for a swim.  And then Karen and I joined them!  The water was so warm and lovely.

Selfie time

More selfies

Abby looking relaxed

Tyler enjoying the ferry

After a good swim we ate Ben and Jerrys ice cream and caught the ferry back.  Waiting for the ferry was fun - the water had all sorts of fish in it by the wharf.  We saw trumpet fish and angel fish and just big schools of decent sized fish.  And crabs.

Iced coffee goodness

The feet meet Ben and Jerrys Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz

Kids swimming in the rain

Back to relax at home.  Saturday saw Brent come up with the boys (Jack 7 and Harry 5) to have a BBQ with us and swim in the pool.  The weather decided to play up a little with rain as we got lunch ready.  But it was so warm the kids loved swimming in the heavy rain.  And the rain also dealt to the fire that was still burning not too far away.

We caught up with Brent back at the house and chatted away for ages before he had to get them home for their movie.  It was such fun to see them all.  The boys are very sociable and Harry took a shine to Abby.

Next morning we had brunch booked close to the ferry terminal.  Lovely morning there before we all got lost trying to find the jet ski hire place on the Noosa River.

Photo bomb!

Hahah!

We found the jet ski place and we hired 3 jet skis.  I had Abby behind me, Toby and Mike shared one, and Scott and Tyler were on the other one.  We had the circuit to ourselves and we all had such a good time.  Abby and Tyler enjoyed their turns at driving.  Toby was traumatised by almost falling off from behind Mike and didn't pluck up enough courage to try driving.  But he also enjoyed the fun!  One of his highlights from his month away in Australia.

We did that for 30 mins and it cost $80 per jet ski.  Marvellous fun!

We then split up and Mum, Karen, Scott, Abby and I went to Sunshine Plaza to do some shopping and Gramps took the others for Maccas and then home.

Dad got some bad news really late Sunday - his mother was taken to hospital to intensive care and needed some exploratory surgery.  But late Monday morning we heard she was responding to treatment and although it is still serious, things might be improving.  We hope she recovers well.

We swam in the pool and just packed up before heading away from Peregian Springs at 1.45pm.  Stopped off at Coles and left there at 2pm.  Got to the airport at 3.30pm and checked in and had an uneventful flight home.

Toby was so happy to see Smudge.  And she slept on his bed, so I think the feeling was mutual.  Getting up this morning after 4 hours sleep was not easy!

Toby enjoyed his month away.  Karen said he was well mannered and lovely - that made me proud of him.  Apparently at Nandos on the road trip up from Sydney, he ordered his food and the woman behind the counter jumped and said "You have such a deep voice!".  I am sure he has other adventures to relate too!

Last drive in the MX 5

Mike and I drove in as we're handing the MX5 over to the new owner today.  So sad!  Like - really sad!

Time to try and get my head in the game! I miss everyone already.  I hope there is nothing tricky to deal with today.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing

Hi,

Ok - the talk of the weather bomb was all media drama.  Or so I thought.  But at 4am, we were woken up by gusts and it was rather unusual.  Our outside table was being lifted and dropped and would clang against the wooden railing sending deep booms through the house.  But the really odd part was it didn't happen when the wind was rushing and noisy.  It was when it went quite silent and I think that was when it was sucking the table up!

Anyway - I have dragon boat training tonight.  Fortunately in the pool, otherwise we'd definitely be cancelled.  Hahah.  This meant we needed to drive in because logistics of getting to Kilbirnie pool and then back were a little tricky.  And I think we're having tea in town tonight.  Woot!

We're off first thing tomorrow to Brisbane to collect Toby from sunny Australia.  He'll love this weather when he gets back - not!  Back late Monday night (technically, early Tuesday morning).

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Smudge handover

Hi,

After a crazy day at work (two iced lattes) I got to the gym and rode home not too much later.  Mike got home and ate tea and then headed out for his tramping meeting.

Mojos on Lambton this time - still a good iced latte

Vivienne popped in after her dog training evening and we chatted away for a while to catch up on news.  She is going to look after Smudge Fri - Mon while we are away.  Smudge will guard the house for us.

Sounds like Toby has made it to Mum's house.  I saw a photo in Facebook of the girls fast asleep somewhere around Caboolture.  That wasn't far away!  Bet they are loving the pool.

Got a busy day today.  Mike and I walked in, which was nice for a change.  The weather is changing and looks fairly threatening.  But it is warm.  I walked in wearing a t shirt and shorts.

Right.  I need a cup of tea.  Have an awesome day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday where Toby takes a road trip

Hi,

I have it on good authority that Toby is on a mega road trip with Karen, Scott, Tyler and Abby.  He loves road trips so I hope he's having a lot of fun.  I saw pics on Facebook of him swimming at a beach.  Woot!

Meanwhile, we are having two good days of summer weather, but Mike tells me it is to end on Wednesday with a weather bomb and gales and rain and low overnight temperatures.  Oh, goody.

I went to the gym and also rode home for the first time in 2017.  Yay.  My back disc brake seems to be rubbing, so it seems likely I am riding with the brakes on a little.  Hahah.  Surely that is the only reason it was a hard slog up the hill and not that it was my first time in a month.

Mike talked to the builder for a bit and then I cooked tea.  Lamb salad.  Mmmm.  With roasted kumara, capsicum and red onion and feta on top.  I also crushed some tamari almonds in as I had no pine nuts.  Mike thought it was scrumptious.  Which is good, really, because it wasn't like I had a lot of choice about what to cook.  Not much in the vege crisper bin in the fridge.

Mike went through the freezer and threw out old stuff.  What was the oldest thing you found, Mike?  Best before 2013?

Anyway - I now have to use up frozen stir fry veges.  Blleeeuuucccchhhh!

Must be time for a cup of tea.  Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with no Toby

Hi,

Ok - I am really missing Toby quite a lot now.  I think it is probably a good thing that he isn't texting or ringing - he must be rather happy on his summer holiday still.  Today they all leave and drive to Queensland.  Well, maybe not quite all the way today.  Toby loves road trips so this should satisfy him.

Mike and I got up early on Saturday and headed past the Catchpool entrance to the coast to go on a meetup walk through the Baring Head area.  The GWRC did a fine job taking us through there.  We learned about the history of the place and what they want to achieve over the next few years.

Feet looking back at Wellington

Baring Head lighthouse - automated in 1987

Walking back towards the car

A person cattle stop

Old pumping house

The walk was only 3 hours long, and a slow pace.  But that was a good test for my Achilles.  It held up well.  We met a bunch of people that Mike knows from Meetup and I chatted to a woman called Pip.  She had met Toby at Kaitoke at the start of December and remembered the bacon a stick fun over the campfire.

Mike and I sat at Catchpool next to the wee river and ate our lunch before heading back into town to buy new running shoes for me and new work shoes for Mike.  Jem at Show Clinic got me on the treadmill and apparently I have a good running style.  Yay for that.  Sheer fluke.  My new shoes will hopefully help with the Achilles situation.

Mike and I had date night in the evening.  We went to Capitol (a favourite of mine) and I had corn fritter with whitebait and Mike had steak.  We shared the decadent, yummy chocolate fondant pudding.

Off to see Passengers next door and Mike and I both loved it.  A good date movie on Toby's recommendation.  Basically a romance on a spaceship.  A cool special effects.  Mike loved the opening sequence of the ship hurtling through space.

Next day Mike had a lot of messages and some work to get through.  he took a wee load of stuff to the tip.  I went to Five Burroughs and met Christine and Tom for brunch.  Mmmmm.  It was a good catch up with them both.

Astonishment at my iced coffee at Five Burroughs

I caught the bus back home and got through the mountain of ironing before Mike got home.  Then we were off to visit Sally for tea.  Andrew got back from his tramp and we all ate yummy naked burgers.  That seems to be meat patties without bread.  Tasty.

Back home and I stupidly read until late and now I am a little tired.  Oh well.  Mike didn't sleep that well either so we're a little zombie like here.

We have Friday off (and Monday for Wellington Anniversary weekend) so we're off to Sunshine Coast to collect Toby and bring him back to the crazy Wellington summer.  It was almost like winter over the weekend.  I hope he's getting his Vitamin D fix in Australia.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with drinks after work

Hi,

I did get an iced latte in at Mojos on The Terrace - that is by far my favourite iced coffee at the moment.

Iced latte at Mojos - it's the bomb

Busy day at work and then I managed to squash in a session at the gym before heading out for a catch up with Ange, Steph, Bronwyn and Mike.  Good fun!

Ubered home and crashed into bed,

Yay it's Friday.  Woot.  Mike has mates coming around to the house after work.  Tomorrow we're up early for a day walk around Baring Head.  Then I want to buy new running shoes - my current ones are rather old now and possibly contributing to my sore Achilles.  You never know!

We also have a dinner and movie date night on Saturday night.  Mike wants to take me to see Passengers on the back of Toby's recommendation.  Woot!  Sounds good.

And Sunday is the day to get the car ready for selling.  That will be a sad day.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with a lovely dinner

Hi,

Ok - I went for a walk with Mary at lunchtime and we grabbed an iced coffee.  It wasn't until later I realised the huge amount of wind in the capital made me look very windswept and interesting.  Guess I should be pleased the owners of the cafe deigned to serve me at all.  Hahah

Chalk's iced coffee - a solid 6

After work Mike and I headed to Saman's house.  We met wee Minty - she is so cute!  And such a good wee girl (born in November!).  We also got fed a huge dinner that was really yummy.  And Iranian tea.  We were so well looked after that it was really late by the time we left.  As Mike and I drove away, we were very appreciative of the hospitality Saman's family showed us.

We did a tour of the earthquake condemned buildings on the way home.  The cinema in Lower Hutt attached to Queensgate.  Then the carpark attached to the Reading cinema in town.  And finally the building on Molesworth.  By the time we got home, it was really late.  Then Mike played with the cat  a bit.

Anyway, my sleep was far too short.  I need to find some time to get more sleeping hours in.

Have a fantastic day today!  Stay out of the wind if you're in Wellington.  It's a blustery old day here.

Love,
Angela