The Wednesday with my first gym session in ages

Hi,

Ok - so I got my haircut on Tuesday night and it is quite a bit shorter.  However, I would now call my hair "boofy" as it has a tendency to do its own thing at the moment.  I am sure the hairdresser would call it "full" or "voluminous" or other generous ways to describe boofy.  Mike says I need to start using product in my hair.  He may be right.  And the fact that I am considering fashion advice from Mike is worrying me a lot.  Hahahah!

Iced latte at Mojos on Bond St

I did get an iced coffee when Ed hauled me out for one.  He felt the need to vent a bit, and I got an iced latte.  So, win all around!  He has no need to vent - he does a great job.  But I guess we all get frustrated a bit from time to time.

That is why I was so keen to get to the gym.  I haven't been since my birthday week.  I enjoyed it and now I am hoping I can squeeze in three sessions a week.  Because work has moved, it is not as convenient, but I really like the staff at the gym there.  I will try for another month.  Especially with dragon boat training ending this week,

Yep - tonight is our last training session before the big race day on Saturday.  Here is our scheduled races on Saturday.  Come down and cheer for the yellow team:

Races :

9.00am – Lane 3

10.40am – Lane 3

12.40pm – Lane 4

1.40pm – Lane 3

The final will be between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

Our tent is in Frank Kitts park and is closest to the car park end.  We should have a yellow sign out front to show you where we are - but if not, follow the yellow singlets.  We have been given space 4 - if that is any help.

Right.  Time to finish my excellent tea.  Enjoy your day!

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday that feels like Thursday

Hi,

Apart from it being Christine's birthday yesterday, I think Tuesday just sort of disappeared.  I am convinced it is Thursday and can't believe it is only Wednesday this morning.  Slowest week ever!

Mojos Bond St iced latte

I did have a good catch up with Celia, so that was a highlight of the day.  And I got a decent haircut for the first time in years after work.  So things weren't so bad I guess.

I met Mike at the GP outside the place I got my haircut and he was having a beer with Ange and Joe.  I haven't caught up with Ange for ages, so it was good to chat to her.

Ubered home with Mike and Ange and ordered in pizza for our starving son (it was 7pm by the time we got home - but I noticed he ate Weetbix to tide himself over).

Slept the sleep of the dead, but it is still not enough.  I think I might try and sleep lots this weekend - after the dragon boat racing on Saturday!

Right.  Time for tea and to sort out stuff for the day.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

We have network issues this morning at work and it is messing with my normal routine.  I suspect I should just go and have a cup of tea and pretend everything is fine.  And soon enough, it will either be fixed, or my cup of tea will make everything seem better anyway.

Yesterday I got a text from Mike, from Toby's mate Zack, saying Toby was sick.  So I sorted out my afternoon at work and ran for the bus.  Got home, switched to the car and drove back to collect Toby.  He was sleepy and not feeling well, but as he relaxed at home, he seemed to come right.

I made tea - and forgot to take a photo of it.  Toby really wanted chicken schnitzels, but I said we were having the My Food Bag meal.  Turns out that was chicken schnitzel.  Toby thinks his mother is wonderful because she made what he asked for.  Hahahah.  I'll take that as a win.

Toby is back at school today so hopefully it was just a one off sick thing.  Mind you, I feel like I could do with a huge sleep too.  Maybe it is just a low level thing at the moment.  I caught the bus in with Mike this morning and could barely keep my eyes open.

Right.  Time for that tea!  Then everything will be ok.

Enjoy your day.  Happy birthday to Christine today.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Gumboot Day and bringing the R6 home

Hi,

Happy birthday to Mike's mother for the weekend!

What a packed weekend.  I feel like I need to sleep for a week now.  Anyway, Friday night I got home and the boys were getting sorted.  We eventually left at 6.45pm or so and had an easy drive up the coast.  Mike got to Foxton before we swapped drivers.  From there it didn't seem long to Mangaweka and we found the campground in the dark (closely followed by a campervan of tourists also tryign to find it in the dark).

The campground where we stayed was rustic - the bathroom block was quite old.  But we pitched the tent in front of the car and Toby slept in the car while Mike and I enjoyed the tent.  In the morning we went for a wee walk and the rest of the campground looked amazing - right on the Rangitikei River.  We'd stay there again.

The office was just a wee unattended shed and told us the main office was back over the bridge.  So we took the cash lying on the counter and drove over to the main campground.  A lot newer and fancier.  We paid and Mike got a coffee.

Off to Taihape and brekkie at Brown Sugar cafe.  We went to the Memorial Park for Gumboot Day and enjoyed the sights.

Toby meets his hero, HowToDad man

We suck the marrow of gumboot day

After wandering around for a while, Toby spotted the How To Dad chap and we stalked him for a bit before Toby got a photo with him.  Mike and Toby both seemed a little awestruck.  Hahah.

Mike and Toby watch gumboot throwing

This looks like weird fun!

That's a gumboot in the air!

But once they had met How To Dad man, they were keen to head away.  We then went to the $2 shop to check out the weird stuff before heading south to Feilding.  

Toby steals my chocolate fish

I took the boys to the Focal Point cafe in Feilding and we enjoyed lunch (and another iced coffee) there.

We got to Palmerston North early and tried to see Logan (new Wolverine movie) but it was R16 so that was not an option.  Went round to see Col and had a cup of tea.  Mike and Toby decided to head back home and I stayed for the night.  Col and I went to Lone Star to watch two rugby games.  I saw the Highlanders snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  Yet again.

Popped in to see Col's sister on the way home and then managed to stay awake to see Iona home from work.  Just!  Up to have brekkie with Iona and Col and then left around 10.30am on the bike.  It was a little windy on the way home, but not too bad.  I hunkered down behind the fairing on the urban motorway coming into Wellington.  And I couldn't find neutral along the Mana esplanade at one point - bit embarrassing.

Lots of bikes!

Our garage now has a lot of bikes in it.  We tried to start the DRZ, but its battery is not working.  We need to take it in for a service, a WoF and register it.  This week!

Another one at Mojos Bond St

And another - Brown Sugar cafe in Taihape

Lots of iced coffees - first one at Mojos Bond St

I did consume a lot of coffee over the weekend.  Two on Fri and two on Saturday.  And maybe a Lewis Road iced coffee on Sunday.  Or two.

Mmmmmm.  A lot of coffee for a non coffee drinker.

Hope your weekend was half as much fun - because that would mean it was still a lot of fun!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with dragon boat training

Hi,

I had a follow up visit to the podiatrist and now I have orthotics in my shoe.  Let's see what that does.  No more appointments and a plan in my hand on how to get back into running.  Here's hoping it won;t be too much longer.  The plan is 8 weeks long.

Other than that, we had training last night after work.  The weather wasn't quite as stunning as Tuesday night, but it was still really calm.  In fact, we've had nothing but calm seas for every training session.  If race day is fierce, a lot of people new to this will be taken by surprise.

Drove home with Mike (he had the car in town) and I packed for our weekend away.  Yay!  Apparently we're off the Gumboot Day in Taihape, mainly to see some minor celebrity from You Tube.  Don't ask me - it's all the boys' doing.  Why I am following them remains to be seen.  And why, if that is the case, am I the only one packed at this point?

I may be doing something wrong.

Anyhow, Toby had athletics day with school yesterday and made every final he was entered in.  What a wonderful effort.  I think he may have placed in an event - but my attention was divided during the story and now I can't remember what event it was.  But it was the Under 16 division of something.  To me that sounds pretty good as surely 15 year old boys are way bigger than him.

Yes, I am a proud parent right now.  Good on him!  Glad he doesn't have his wrist in a cast around about now.

Enjoy the coming weekend.  As I said, we're in Taihape.  And I do have the R6 to ride back from Palmerston North on Sunday.  I must book into a refresher course for riding.

Lots of love,
Angela

The Wednesday with summer Shakespeare

Hi,

Toby came around to my work about 4pm and we wandered around to meet the architect and sort some stuff out.  Then we ate at Mama Browns and shared some ribs.

After being super early for the play in Civic Square, we sat in the library and read comics until Mike got there from his flight back from Auckland.  It was time to head into the venue to see All's well that ends well.  A comedy wrapped in a bit of a drama.  Not sure why Helena loved Bertram - he seemed like a bit of a twit.  But, anyway - she was smarter than him and he had no chance of outwitting her.

Headed home and stupidly read too late.  Hahahah.  Up early on the 6.45am bus with Toby for his athletic day with school.  Hope he goes well.

Hope your day is great too.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with dragon boat training

Hi,

I can't believe it is the first day of March already.  Wow.  The time has flown by and my birthday month has now ended.  I have to wait another whole year.

We had the best evening in Wellington yesterday - not a breath of wind.  And it was dragon boat training night so I got to paddle around in the still, calm harbour.  If I could have been sure of getting back in the boat without tipping everyone out, I would have jumped it.  It was lovely.

I met Mike after it and we bussed home together.  Mike went to get burgers and before I knew it, it was bed time.  Mike was up early to head to Auckland for work today.  Shame he can't collect Toby's wallet while he is there!

Had a nice bus ride in with Toby this morning.  And we're off to see Shakespeare in the park (well, in Civic Square) after work tonight.  And I must see the architect to progress house plans.

Hope your day is loads of fun.

Love,
Angela