The Monday back at work after being on the Sunshine Coast

Hi,

Ok - this is hard work being back after a week away visiting the parents n Queensland with Toby.  The alarm was a rude shock this morning.


I'll blog about the holiday tonight, at my leisure.  But for now, just know that the week was fantastic fun.

I won a prize for dragon boating!  So chuffed!

Before I left on Friday, Apr 20, we had the awards dinner for our dragon boating team.  Thumbs up to Celia and Matt for another great season.  And I won "Most Dedicated" - so chuffed!  Thank you.  It is a team sport after all.

I ran into work this morning.  However, it wasn't entirely successful.  I got to the steps leading to Grant St and although it was dark, I thought I might be getting a migraine as there were gaps in my vision.  And by the time I got to MoH, I could tell.  The vision blurred and I decided to walk the rest of the way.  Got through most of yoga before my head started a small yet insistent pounding. 

Weird.

Anyway - got lots to sort out.  Hope your week is a good one!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Jase heading home

Hi,

Happy birthday to Vince today!  And that means it is also Michael's birthday in a few days.  I hope my nephews have a great birthday week.

Yesterday was a little frantic - but at least one of my meetings fed me.  Bonus!  And I did get a coffee date with Ed out of the blue.  Caught up with his take on things happening around the traps.

Ed took a photo at our spontaneous coffee meeting

Yummy meeting food

It was Jase's last day with us and I cooked a fast dinner for us all when I got home, and then Jase and I piled into the car.  We collected Mike from his work, and then went to the airport.  We may have been a bit early - but that made me and Jase less anxious about the travel.  Early is good.

His flight was delayed, and Mike had another engagement in town.  So we left Jase, met Andrew (his flight was coming back to Wellington after a day in Hamilton) and collected him.  Dropped Mike in town for his drinks and then I drove Andrew home.

Back home - and to bed.

Jase got back to Auckland fine.  Woot.  Wally has sorted the car situation.  Epic adventures.

Got up early and walked to work.  Gorgeous morning.  Stunning.

Gorgeous morning

Iced latte - this morning with Andrew

And managed to grab more time with Andrew for a catch up with him.  I am caffeinated up and ready for anything.

Although - it looks like the "anything" has already happened this morning and I will be busy all day.

But - off for a week.  On the early flight to Brisbane tomorrow morning with the Tobster.  Oossshh!

Have a good day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with burger night

Hi,

I can't believe Jase's visit is almost over.  It's been fun having him here again.  Yesterday Toby and Jase went to see Pacific Rim - Uprising.  The sequel fell into the trap of thinking it needed a plot and some acting.  Apparently.  Now Mike is in negotiation with Toby to see it together at a later date.  Hahahah.  Toby says no.  Mike might be in trouble,  Mike-no-mates might need to go see it.

Anyway, Toby went to the gym after the movie (I met Mike on the street on Lambton Quay and we exchanged keys with the gym fob for a Gilbert logistics plan - one that didn't actually involve the ferry at all!) and then him and Jase came back to my work.

During the day I caught up with a colleague from my old work - Cate! She is an iced coffee connoisseur too but prefers the ice cream and cream versions.  However, she may have converted me to her idea.  She brings her own metal straws.  Oh yeah!  Moore Wilsons - I am coming to find my straws.

Little Peckish iced coffee with Cate

Scoring the concrete has started

Looks good

After the movie and gym, we all went to Fork and Brewer for drinks and a snack before burger night at Burger Liquor.  Caught up with Jo, Momo and Jon.  Jon got there early too - but Mike told me it was Jonathan.  I had never met Jonathan.  And Mike confused me further by saying he was Jo's flatmate.  I knew I had never met a Jonathan flatmate.

When Mike got there, and we sat together and chatted, waiting for the others, Jo came in.  And went straight to Jon.  And Mike said:  Oh, Jonathan is here already.  And I went:  Oh, Jon!

I don't know why Jonathan and Jon wasn't more obvious that he was one and the same.  I think my brains might be slowly dribbling out my ears.

Toby decided to bus home at that point, having filled up on popcorn at the movie.  Sigh.

Anyway, we went to Burger Liquor and I tried a vegan burger.  Jackfruit - pulled - like pulled pork, but not.  What did I think?  The chips were good.

:-p

Home and we dropped Doro off first and then went to bed.  Jase heads home late tonight and I really must start packing for our week away.

Jase and I stand in a dirty patch of snow

Here's a pic from the weekend.  Mike wanted a picture of some snow for Doro.  This was the best bit.  Ok - a long way to go before ski season starts.

Have an awesome day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Jase and a movie night

Hi,

Ok - so Wally and Brennan's adventure continued like a crazy thing.  They ended up managing to drive most of the way to Tauramanui and had to get a tow for the last 8km.  Got a motel for the night - and a rental car to Auckland.

It is a weekend they will not forget in a hurry.

Meanwhile, we had a great time back into the routine of a working week.  Jase slotting in nicely to our house and Gilbert crazy.  Jase and I decided to see a movie after my work.  He met me there and we wandered around to a sushi place.  Grabbed some tea before getting the tickets at Reading Courtney and seeing Love, Simon.  A cute movie about first love.  Not too sappy.  I think Jase liked the mainstream portrayal of same-sex relationships.  I concur.

We just got out of the cinema and saw our bus, so we were home super fast.  Ooosshhh!  Had a cup of tea with Mike and Jase before collapsing into bed.

We have a burger night tonight.  Should be good fun to catch up with people.  I have suggested Toby go with Jase to see that silly Pacific Uprising movie (so I am in no threat of having to go with him!) and then his gym session before meeting me (prior to burgers).  Let's see what happens.

Have an awesome day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend of excitement at Rupehu

Hi,


Well, that was a weekend of simultaneous excitement and relaxation.  Not sure if a weekend like that is ever likely to be repeated.

The plan was good - a weekend to ourselves in the lodge with Wally, Jase and Brennan as company.  We left Wellington fairly late (6.45pm maybe) and I drove all the way as Mike was still a little under par from his migraine in recent days.  The weather was a little wet, but not too bad.

We got to Ruapehu around 11pm - Mike drove up from Whakapapa village.  We unpacked the car and walked up to the lodge.  We met Wally and his boys and chatted away before getting to bed around midnight.  I may have read for an hour before falling asleep.

Anyway, at some point, this man comes into the room and says a few sentences.  My sleep addled brain cannot catch up.  The man leaves the room.  Mike says "I better get up".  I say "Who was that?  Was that Wally?"  Yep - brain slowly catching up.  And then I realised what he had said at the end.  There is an ambulance here for Brennan.  Yikes!  I leap out of bed and throw on my hoodie and find paramedics in Brennan's room.

He has had a diabetic low and convulsions.  They bring him into the bathroom where they prep him for getting glucose.  As Wally gets dressed and I hold Brennan, the wonderful paramedics pump glucose into Brennan's arm.  As soon as it hits his bloodstream, his breathing goes from fast shallow breaths to deeper, slower ones.  The body is an amazing thing.

They have the fire rescue service there soon, and they strap Brennan into a stretcher for the walk out to the ambulance.  Mike takes Wally's car and Jase travels with him.  Wally is in the ambulance with Brennan for the trip to Taupo hospital.  They have to swap out drivers along the way (distances are measured).  I stay behind to man the lodge (with Toby).  I have to say, for a 4am call out, they are all wonderful, professional people.  By the time they all leave, it must be close to 6am.  All up, there would have been ten people in the lodge for this.

Anyway, I get updates from everyone during the day.  Brennan is fine, but they are waiting for him to keep some food down before discharging him.  He gets a lot of sleep.  Toby gets a lot of sleep.  No one else gets much sleep.

I get an iced coffee from Wally - easily a 10/10.  I look pretty happy.

Eventually they all get back to the lodge and our weekend continues.  Wally fires up the coffee machine (he brought his own) and I get the best iced coffee.  Made with love. Mike, Toby and Brennan watch videos (although Wally and I hear Mike snoring through a lot of it).

Watching videos

We chill out before going to the pub for chips and drinks (and pool games).  Back home and cook up some soup and toasted rolls before a relaxing evening and bed.

Up lazy the next morning.  Tidied the lodge.  Mike and Wally did stocktake.  Ate some lunch and headed off at 2.30pm.

Jase is spending a few days with us.  Wally and Brennan got 150 km (if that) before their car broke down.  Uh oh!  Their weekend is really, really odd!

We were home just before 7pm and had a late tea (tacos) before bed.

Great weekend - with the best company.  Thank you.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with Melissa and Sheryl

Hi,


IT made for a long day on Thursday with a concert at TSB Arena after work.  Started off with Spin, and then I managed to see Andrew for a quick iced latte before his early meeting. 

Iced latte with Andrew - apparently he framed it with a halo

I may have also thrown in a later iced latte with Celia.  And convinced her she needed to come and see Melissa and Sheryl at TSB too.  Which she did!  And she got better tickets than us!  Hahahah.

More iced latte on purple shirt Thursday

Iced latte with Megan

Oh - and on Tuesday I also caught up with Megan from my old workplace.  Hadn't seen her since 2011 and she is now a mother to Felix (5) and still at the same work - but doing different roles.

Melissa

Anyway, Celia and I met Mike at The Green man (and Janine) and had tea there.  Pretty yummy.  The Snickers profiterole was decadent. 

The concert was so good.  Sheryl started bang on 7.30pm.  She played until 9ish.  I probably knew every second song.  I really enjoyed her session.  She chatted away to us.  Sounded good.  Pointed out the young women today don't play the guitar - they just dance.

Manic Mike - and me and Janine

Melissa was her rocking self.  Came on for Sheryl's second last song (some Allman song) and then after a quick stage change, she came out and before I knew it, it was closer to 11pm than I anticipated.

Sheryl

All in all?  A fantastic concert with two women that entertain well.  I may need to add more Melissa and Sheryl to my current playlists.

The weekend beckons.  Mike just texted me - he has a migraine.  Oh no!  We're off to Ruapehu this weekend - but the intention is to do a fair bit of reading.  The weather forecast looks a bit hit and miss.  Togs for hot pools, I reckon.

Have a wonderful weekend.  The next one I will be in Aus with Toby.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Toby sick and a whiteboard bought for him

Hi,


Wee Toby was still recovering from his migraine so he was off school yesterday.  I did go out after work and buy a whiteboard for him to help him organise his school year.  The idea is to put due dates for credit work due (and appointment reminders).

During the day I went to Just Dance with Celia and Serge at the gym.  1.15pm for 45 mins.  I was really concerned and completely dubious.  And yes, I could not do any of the moves to save myself.  But, what fun I had!  I loved it.  Jumping around like a mad thing for 45 mins is good for the soul.  Pretending I was actually dancing, when really, I was 3 steps behind the instructor, made me giggle a bit.  Put me in a good mood though.  I'll try and do that again.  I doubt I will ever know what I am doing, or be able to kick out my hips like that. 

I got home and made some tea (leftovers) for Toby.  Mike was in a rabble rousing mood (I think) and stayed out carousing till quite late.  I may have been asleep when he got home, but I did wake up enough to converse with him.  But I wasn't awake for very long.

The weather was diabolical.  So windy and rainy (maybe even hail).  And the thunder and lightening was spectacular.

Drove in early this morning for Spin (Mike and Toby should have caught the early bus for their gym session) because we have a concert after work tonight.  Date night for me and Mike.  Dinner at The Green Man followed by Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge together.  Wonder what that will be like?  We saw Melissa Etheridge here over 20 years ago.  Hahahah.

Right.  Time for crazy day to start.  I did see Andrew this morning for a coffee catch up.  I got my mail (thanks Sally) and some vegetarian recipes (thanks again, Sally).  Heard about the crazy real estate shenanigans of the extended family - sounds like it is mostly coming together, apart from some storm damage in the mix.

Toby is back at school today.  And all should be right with the world.

Have a good one.

Love,
Angela