The weekend that wiped me out of energy

Hi,

Wow a full on weekend.  I don't think I have the energy reserves to handle weekends that are that draining.  Or maybe it is that weekend after weekend have that level of excitement?  maybe.  Hahahah.

Let's see what I can remember.  Friday night I went home with Mike (pretty sure).  We had a fairly early night because Saturday was fairly busy.

The boys had a haircut at 10.15 and we all went to that.  I went grocery shopping while they got their haircut.  Two birds, with one car trip!

Back home briefly to unload the groceries then Mike and I were off to Red Baron to pick up the DRZ and take it home.  Except, we decided to visit Sally for a cup of tea.  And that I had to ride it because Mike left his boots at home.  But as I took off, it cut in and and out and generally played up.  Stalling as I changed down to come under the bridge and up onto it.  As I let the clutch out, the back wheel gripped to road and slid around as it turned the engine over.  It caught and I rode happily up the ramp onto the bridge.  But it died again around the corner from Sally's house (on the main road still).  Mike joined me and we couldn't start it.  So he pushed it back the 2.5 km to Red Baron while I drove there.

Mike managed to bump start it down the bridge ramp and rode it around a bit.  It ran fine warm.  Red Baron were great and looked at it.  There may have been gunk in the fuel lines, but we now suspect the main issue is a huge reserve!  Keep it topped up with petrol and it runs ok!

We did get a cup of tea with Sally, and then home.  Sorted out Toby and then headed to Matt and Leanne's house for a BBQ!  Great fun!  I really enjoyed myself.  And I got a wee rainbow and flowers tattoo from Celia's youngest.  She gave them to nearly everyone there!  A huge highlight.

After being there for a few hours, I managed to drag Mike away (big surprise!) and to the next BBQ.  Gemma and Henrik were having a combined 40th party.  An 80th!  Oossshhh!  Among friends again - and Celia came to this one too.  Caught up with Ange.  Yep - a great party.  Appreciated that invitation a lot!

Got Mike home at a decent hour because we were up very early for a Sunday for our refresher motorcycling course with Two Bald Bikers out at Wainuiomata.  Big day!  And well worth it.

Outside Maccas together

Mike and I rode to McDonalds in Wainuiomata for brekkie before the course started.  From there, we got to the venue and enjoyed a small group (only 4 students) of instruction on a PC before the practical kicked in.  Around 10.15 we got on the bikes.  They used a radio headset on everyone's helmets which made it much easier.  No navigation headaches and instant feedback on anything you were doing.  It was a really good course.

I am now completely exhausted.  Constant concentration and manhandling the bike all day means by the time it was done (practising emergency braking) I was wiped out.  Mike and I rode home from Upper Hutt and reflected in what we'd learned.  Lots!

My certificate

Back home and we ate and watched Creed with Toby (a Rocky movie - it was quite good).

Fell into bed and not sure I am completely back to normal levels of energy yet.  But the working week looms large.  Best get it tackled!

Have a great week!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a work party

Hi,

After a crazy day at work (where I did get an iced coffee date in - thanks Sreejith!) we had an after work function.  I saw so many friends there from their previous working lives here.  Including Mike of course!  Hahahah.

Iced latte at Mojos

Mike gave me the car keys and said he'd stay for a little while.  I drove home and didn't see him again.  Unless you count my sleepy stumble to the front door to let him in at goodness knows what hour.

I cooked tea for Toby (I ate at the party) and we had a relaxing evening.  I tried to tidy up but all I really did was move things around.  Not exactly what I was hoping to achieve.  But at least it makes it easier tomorrow morning to tidy.

The weekend beckons.  We have two BBQs tomorrow - guess we'll manage that somehow.  The boys have a haircut.  Mike and I have the motorcycle refresher course on Sunday.  It's going to be busy!

Enjoy your weekend!  And happy St Patricks Day!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that felt like Friday

Hi,

My days are really blending crazily into each other.  How can it possibly only be Thursday today?  Anyway, Wednesday passed by in its usual blur of activity.

I was so busy I missed my gym session, which made me slightly grumpy.  The ride home did a lot to make me more mellow though.  I cooked tea (and forgot a photo) and Toby and I enjoyed it.  Honey soy chicken on rice with satay sauce.  There was a lot leftover, so I popped it in the fridge for Mike.

He was out carousing with Andrew and Josh and I was dead to the world when he got home.  I think I woke in the middle of the night and found him in bed and snuggled up.  When I got up (after another snuggle) I discovered he must have eaten his tea when he got home because my idea of sending it with him to work for his lunch was now dead in the water.  He will have to buy his lunch today.  Poor chap.

My foot is looking a lovely colour from the hammering it got on Saturday.  I took a photo for you all.

Bruising coming out nicely

Gosh, it is a great looking foot, despite the harsh treatment it received during race day.  :-)  I do need a feet pampering session soon though.  I'll book that in shortly.

Right.  Time for tea.  Got a work function after work tonight - one that Mike and Ange are invited to (as ex workers) but hope to get home to cook tea with Toby.  He has a big test today for maths.  Good luck wee boy.

Have a great day!  Lovely to get a sunny morning here today!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with a tough ride home

Hi,

I left work later than anticipated and negotiated heavy traffic through the middle of town.  I didn't know it then, but there had been road closures due to a bomb threat at the central police station.  As I turned into Lambton from Willis, I thought I heard my named shouted out.  I looked at the footpath and spotted Mike walking to his Meetup meeting.  How nice to see him on my way home.

I cooked tea for us - turkey mince pasta bolognese.  I liked it.  And I think Mike liked it when he ate some when he got home.  But Toby didn't eat much of it.  I managed to get a bath in before Mike got home.  Sat with him while he ate tea but it was quite late by then and I went to bed soon after.

I had a restless sleep and woke early.  Who knows what did that to me.

Toby is good - for some reason he is going to school today dressed up in some costume from the $2 shop.  I hope that is ok.

I need a cup of tea.  Have a lovely day.  Stay dry if you're in Wellington - my ride in was a little damp.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with cold weather

Hi,

Mike cooked tea on Sunday night and used zucchini in the salad instead of cucumber.  I asked him if he knew the difference between zucchini and cucumber and he said no.  I got one of each out of the fridge and he swore there was no difference between them.

I am dreading the taste of roast cucumber one day later this week when the recipe calls for it to be roasted.  Zucchini in a salad is passable - but cucumber could be really horrible substituted for it.

What is the difference?

Yummy tea - beef and roast veges

I managed to get to the gym on the way home and enjoyed that.  It did mean my ride up the hill was slow as I contemplated my poor levels of fitness.

I was so happy to have Mike open the door when I got home - what a lovely surprise.  He caught the bus after his last meeting and we started tea together.  I even convinced him to join me in the bath later on.  So it was a lovely relaxing evening.

Hope your Tuesday is lots of fun!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with the race day!

Hi,

Wow - what a weekend of excitement.  Friday saw me driving Mike to the ferry terminal at 5pm and getting him away for the weekend up to Ruapehu.  I drove back home and relaxed with Toby.  The Friday night was so hot - possibly the hottest evening so far in Wellington this summer.  I slept with the window wide open and only a sheet.

Iced latte - at Mojos in Bond St

Up super early on Saturday and I was away on the 7.15am bus and at our team tent for the big race day by 7.45am.  Our first race was 9am and a practise one.  We came first in that by a whisker.

Selfie in the team tent

Paddles and feet

We had a few more races - 10.40, 12.40 and 1.40 before finding out we had qualified in 3rd place in the grand final.  Oosssshhh!

The weather was drizzly most of the day and I made good use of my warm, dry clothes during the breaks.  We also spent a bit of time in the underground market where it was warm.  Around 4.30pm was the grand final and we got to the start line with a fair bit of tension in our boat.  But, we competed well once the race started.  With 5m to go, apparently we were in front, but the two teams beside us had an awesome power surge over the line and beat us by a nose.  2/100ths of a second between us and first place.  Bronze medallists!

I was so pleased with the team effort.  Wow!  More again next summer, please!

Bronze medallists!

Anyway, I got home on the bus and sorted out tea for Toby before falling asleep in a tired coma.  My feet are so sore from running around on concrete in bare feet all day.

Sunday was hosing down and we even got a thunder storm around 8am.  During the thick of the rain, we collected a drumkit for Toby.

Drummer!

In action!

He's in a band and now I have my sights set on being taken to the Grammys one day (hahahah - right, Karen?).

Mike got home around 1900 and I collected him from the ferry terminal and went grocery shopping before he cooked tea for us.  Fish.  Mmmmm.

More rain through the night but I stayed dry riding into work this morning.  Yay!

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday that really should be a Saturday or something

Hi,

This is officially the longest working week in the history of working weeks.  I am sure it has been twice as long as a normal working week.

Iced latte at Mojos - purple shirt Thursday

It was the last dragon boat training session for the season last night.  I took my bike down there and we had an unusual session as our usual drummer was sick.  The stroke pace was fast and furious.  Good fun, in a way.

Now it just comes down to the day on Saturday.  The forecast is a bit pants.  Heavy rain.  And a southerly.  I am going to bring lots of warm clothes.

Mike and Toby came to get me and we went home and Mike finished cooking a yummy tea (lamb and couscous).  Then Mike and I went grocery shopping and got a lot of stuff for Mike's weekend away to Ruapehu (they hop to climb to the summit - but the weather looks less than ideal for them too).

Back home to tidy up a bit and then off to bed.  I had a restless sleep.  I think I might have been dragon boat racing in my dreams.

Big race day tomorrow.  Then Sunday I think I might try and relax quite a bit.  Although I do have some tasks to get through.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Angela