The Tuesday with nothing much

Hi,

I caught the bus home and texted Mike so he knew what bus to jump on and travel home with me.  But someone else is immune to my super powers and sat next to me the stop before Mike got on.  What is happening?

Anyway - Ange was with him so we had a sociable bus ride home.  Caught up with Ange's news.  She did the Lion encounter at the zoo last weekend and fed a lion a steak.  Wow!  She also fed Smudge.  She enjoyed both.  Hahahahah.

I cooked tea - we had fish tonight.  It was really rather scrumptious.

Yummy fish dinner

And this morning I was stunned to see the crescent moon and Venus very close to each other.  It was absolutely brilliant.  Clear skies.  And magic.

Right.  Time to sort out a few things.  Hope you have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing much

Hi,

My powers on the bus are diminishing.  I am usually the only person left with a seat next to me by the time the bus gets into town.  I must give off those don't-sit-next-to-me-I-bite vibes.  Or something.  Maybe I channel Roz's bus vibes - she told me she has a technique for looking so fierce no one sits next to her.  Hahahah.

Anyway - those powers are gone!  Monday and this morning, a woman chose to sit next to me when there were ample seats left.   It's like she can't feel my super powers.  OMG!  She is my kryptonite!  Well, I never actually looked at her, but it is possible it was the same woman each day.  There can't be two people invulnerable to my super power.

I am going to contemplate my new vulnerable state over a cup of tea.  I think the obvious answer is to ride my bicycle again.  At least I can't share that with anyone.

Toby was sick yesterday but seems ok again now.  We ate simply last night as he wasn't up for a big meal.

This morning's run was really funny.  Well, the run itself was ok.  A crisp still morning with stunning clear skies.  Venus is shining like a diamond.  Anyway - the funny bit is my running application went mad and recorded 5.1 km in the 21 minutes instead of 3.1km.  It recorded I ran at some blistering time of 3 mins per kilometre.  The clear skies must have played havoc with the GPS.

I also had a faux pas on my texting yesterday.  My Swype (which I love) uses the X key and the ! key as one and the same.  I can switch between the two uses of that key by pressing that X for slightly longer and it knows that I really want the ! to come up.

I was texting Sreejith - as you do when you are trying to tee up a Spin class visit - and I wanted to express my dissatisfaction at something.  So I typed "Gah".  And you can't say "gah" without an exclamation mark.  It was the final word in my text.  And I kept my finger on the X to switch it to a bang (!) and then hit send.

But...  I obviously mis-timed my key press because it came out as a X right at the end.  I basically blew a kiss at the end of my text to my work colleague.  Mortified!

Time to find that cup of tea.  Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Mike's birthday fun in Martinborough

Hi,

Cars and house

After a weird start to the weekend, we had a great time.  And then a weird, similar ending.  The AA got the Focus running - flat battery.  Declared the original battery in there all good.  So Toby and I packed it up completely and drove over the hill to Martinborough and settled into the house.  It was cold at the summit, as the snowflake lit up on the dashboard showing a 4C temperature outside.  Brrrr.

Mike landed at 10pm and also headed over the hill in the Forester.  He got to the house at 11.40pm.  So I got 20 minutes of his birthday with him!

Birthday milk!

We decided to have presents in the morning.  A lazy start to the Saturday with a new shirt and socks for Mike, followed by brekkie at the Village Cafe in Martinborough.

The day was stunning, so Mike and I spent a lot of time sitting in the sun on the porch.  Off to Cafe Medici for dinner.  Scrumptious.  And I watched the Lions versus Maori All Blacks till close to midnight.

Foggy morning run

Next morning I eventually got out of bed for a run.  A hopeless but very pleasant run.  It was very cold - and foggy.

Inside the house - Toby calls it Tatooine

When we made to leave, the Focus failed to start again.  Another AA call.  And the neighbour lent us some jumper cables so we started the Focus from the Subaru.  The AA came and declared the battery no good.

Mike and Toby drove back - and needed a jump start in the petrol station in Upper Hutt.  I grabbed groceries from New World on the way home.

Ange had looked after Smudge really well.  As had Christine.  The house was looking good!  Thank you - both!

Another year older for Mike.  He's trying in vain to catch me!  Hahahah.

Have a great week!

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with a trivia night

Hi,

Ok - so it was a complete surprise to me that the trivia night I said yes to a few weeks back was actually last night.  Lucky Sally keeps me in line.  I arranged some pizza to get delivered to Toby once he was home and he loved that!  Hahah.

And, to make sure it was a good night, we came second!  Ooossshhh!  If only I had known that face was Beyonce.  I should have known I had no clue.  I don't know the point difference between first and second place - but it might have made the difference.

It was fun.  Sally and Andrew and some of their colleagues.  In fact Scott was the chap that lives in Rochester St and walks his dog around by us.  We went home in an Uber together after.  Sarah and Paul rounded out our team.  Must have been a good mix.

Right.  Time for the weekend to come fast!  It's Mike's birthday today so we're off to celebrate int he straw bale house in Martinborough.  Once he gets back from Auckland.  Late today.  Maybe 10.30.

Unfortunately the car is broken.  I suspect a flat battery.  So when I get home today after a late working day, I will ring the AA and hopefully get that sorted.  I'll pack while waiting.  And sort out the cycling gear and telescope for me.  And stuff for the weekend in general.

If the car starts, I will pile into it and head away.  If it is dead in the water, I am likely to wait for Mike and we'll just  be late to Martinborough.

See?  I have a plan!

Can't wait.  Happy birthday to Mike.  Yay!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing much

Hi,


I got myself some new shoes to replace my worn out work shoes.  Hopefully it doesn't take long to walk them in and they become as comfortable as my last pair.

New boots

I got a lift home with Mike after work and it was delightful to have dinner ready for us when we stepped in.  Thank you Christine.

After that Mike and I went to fill up the Forester in Karori and I made him come with me as we drove around trying to find the source of the green lights we saw last week from Mairangi Road.

We narrowed it down to the block Marsden school was in and walked in to find their reception area lit up in green panels.  We took photographic evidence for Toby that it was indeed Marsden (I said as much when we spotted it last week).

Found the green

Mike was up early this morning to catch his flight to Auckland.  He's there today and tomorrow.  He drove to the airport and ended up taking the Forester because the Focus wouldn't start.

Leaves me with a slight issue of getting two bikes and a telescope to Martinborough on Friday evening with no car.

Time to call the AA tonight I think.

Have an awesome day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with a good ride home

Hi,

After a long day at work (with the dental hygienist appointment at 7am remember) I rode home and enjoyed fairly good conditions.  The rain had stopped during the day and it was just a light wind.  Nothing of note.

I met Mike briefly on Willis St before his tramping meeting on my way home - that was nice.  I cooked pizzas with Christine - pork mince meatballs.  Pretty good.

Pizzas cooking

Blurry pizzas served up

By the time Mike got home for his tea it was late and I fell into bed really.  Zzzzzz.

Had a run this morning - but my feet felt like they were encased in lead shoes rather than the actual light running shoes they were clad in.  Still, I did it, and it is part of getting back into the routine.

My ride in was lovely.  The wind has dropped to nothing and Venus was bright in the sky.  Got a lunch run planned too.  Let's hope that eventuates.  Exercise is the key to everything.  Right, Mike?

Have a fantastic day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Christine

Hi,

After a long day I met Mike unexpectedly after work and drove home with him.  Toby had hurt himself again at school - but wasn't in need of hospital treatment.  Yay!  However we did want to see him.

Chicken schnitzel - although the name of the actual recipe was far fancier

I cooked tea and Christine arrived for her stay.  We all ate and then it was time for bed.  I was up early and riding into work to get here in time for my 7am dental hygienist appointment.  Yes - 7am!  How weird is that?  I hope he or she is a morning person!

Have a brilliant day at whatever you are doing today!

Love,
Angela