The Thursday with dinner out

Hi,

Crazy days blur into even crazier evenings.  Such is life in the Gilbert household.  I caught up with Ange for lunch - well late for a catch up with her.  We ended up at Plum - and their iced latte was actually pretty good.  A tad sweet - maybe I ask for a half sugar next time.

Lying socks are on their last legs!

Iced latte with Ange at Plum

While I walked back from Plum, I wandered past the door to Andrew's work.  I peered in as I went past, wondering if I would see him coming or going, and nearly bumped into him on the street as he was stopped waiting for me to approach.  Hahahah.  Funny.  We chatted for a bit.

The towel shaming is becoming really odd.

I rushed home after work and cooked tea for Toby.  He got a super fast special - chicken kebabs, rice, tomatoes and avocado!  It looked pretty good.  And I got a kiss for it.  Jumped in the car and spent ages looking for a park in town.  Tried to find Mike - and failed.  OMG!  I went into pubs on my own - and he wasn't there.

No, I cannot navigate Wellington based on pub names and strip clubs.  For some reason, those aren't landmarks I take any noticed of in the slightest!  Eventually Mike talked me in and I found him.  Still not sure of the name of the place.  Something Quarter.  But not "Little Beer".  And on Dixon.

Anyway.  The company was good.  Then we went to another pub.  Goldings.  Never been there - but I have been close by.  After a drink, we all wandered home.  We took Momo home, via collecting my bike from work.  Made easy as I got a park just outside when I drove in.

There are steamrollers in our street!

And we have steamrollers in our street.  Weird.  And what are they called now they no longer run on steam?  I wonder if we'll have a street next week or if they are intending to rip it up and re-seal.

Goodness knows.

The weekend beckons.  Woot!  Wellington weekend ahead of chaotic weekends ahead.

Have an incredible weekend!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with nothing for me

Hi

Wednesday came and went in a bit of a blur.  I did get two iced lattes but I completely forgot to take a pic with the second one.  It was with a client so I can be excused.  Not for being too shy to ask her - she knows already about this "thing" I have.  But discussing work was obviously too exciting for us.

But Ed took a photo.  And video.  Which is really funny.  I wonder if I can embed videos here?

Iced latte with Ed

Ok - the attempt to shame the damp towel has taken a new turn

I had to hurry home with the car (Mike had driven in and dropped the key at reception for me) and meet Brooke from the people doing our landscaping.

I chatted to Brooke about the actual plants for an hour - even through the rain that started about 30 mins into our chat.  She seems great and was happy to discuss substitute plants with me.  We might get plants in early next week.  It'll look amazing - and even better once they flourish.

When I said goodbye, I went in and noticed the damp towel on the bed - with a votive offering to me.  Smoosh balls.  I suspect my husband is now toying with me.  And I see now that he actually commented on the blog when I put up the pic of the first towel shaming.

I want in delicious anticipation of what I will find when I get home after work today.

Mike got home after tramping club and cooked his tea (basically from the other night when he was out at the quiz night) and declared it a wonderful dinner. 

Shucks!

Have a fabulous day!  Woot!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with Mike at a quiz

Hi,

I found some pics of Toby from only four years ago - but he has changed so much since then.  We were at Australia Zoo with Grandy. 

Four years makes a big difference - Toby at Australia Zoo

I held a kangaroo at Australia Zoo - thanks to Toby's camera skills 

Anyway, yesterday I caught up with Andrew and heard about his wet weekend tramping through the wilderness, finding more spot heights. 

Iced latte with Andrew @ Machete

Twin cups - me and Joycie have a cup of tea

I also had a nice cup of tea with Joycie - and we now have matching cups.  Choice, bro!

Toby was feeling better when I got home.  I cooked tea for him and we ate together before he disappeared downstairs.  I was tired so I went to bed nice and early.  Mike stayed out at a spontaneous quiz night session with Andrew, Momo and Jon.  They won a bottle of wine - but I think it was for being at the wrong end of the leader board.

I was almost asleep when Mike got home - 5 more minutes and I wouldn't have heard a thing.  But I ended up being more awake listening to Mike and chatting away.  Mike was snoring by the time I fell back to sleep. 

Mike has sleeping superpowers.

At work this morning - trying to deny the cold is taking deeper root.  What cold?  I don't have a cold.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

Denial - I do not have a cold.  Toby does and is off sick.  :-(  Poor Toby.  It must be awful getting sick - I have no idea what that's like.

I am going to attempt to change behaviour at home by posting pictures of damp towels left on the bed.  Most days I get home and go into the bedroom to get changed and find a damp towel on the bed.  I pick it up and put it on the towel rail in the bathroom.  I think this means the culprit has no idea it was left on the bed - or we have a magic bed that moves towels to their rightful place.  But if a post happens with the damp towel highlighted, the culprit (who may or may not read this blog) might realise they actually leave it lying around.

Shaming technique - attempt no. 1

Ninja cat - she's on the ironing board!

Toby took the pic of Smudge on the ironing board.  She is so cute.  We have the cutest cat in the world.  Do you think she thinks she is invisible?  Well, she's almost right.  She really does blend in - except for her eyes!

Right.  Time for the mayhem to begin.  Come at me!

Have a brilliant day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Mike and away and Eurovision goodness

Hi,

Happy Mothers Day to the mothers I know - I hope you had a good day on Sunday.  Especially my mother.  Of course.  She's the best one.

Friday I got through the day - not entirely unscathed.  But at least it started ok with an iced latte with the team in the morning to say hi to the new person starting this week.

Friday iced latte @ Machete

By the time 5pm came though, it was pretty bad.  I got away for sushi with Toby before he started his 48 hour film marathon.  I caught the bus home and as I stepped into the house, Toby texted.  He needed a signed, printed consent form.

Ok.

Could I email it instead?  No, they prefer the real one.

Sigh.  Ok.  I'll take my PC and head back to work by car, then drive to your school and drop it off.

Got to the car - Subaru wouldn't start.  And I couldn't take the Ford, because that hasn't started for a while now and needs the Ford dealer to look at it.  Again.

I think the Subaru's battery is flat.  Anyway, I locked it manually, and as I walked back home, the bus I just got off was coming back into town.  So I jumped on.  The bus driver looked at me funny.

But he looked at me even funnier when I got off two stops later.  Toby said I could just email it in.

Got back home and emailed it and collapsed into bed.  But, the events of the day meant my head was jammed.  So I read for hours, chatted to Mike when he got to Ruapehu, and then watched surfing videos until 1.30am!

Power bowl at home

Saturday meant no washing got done because the washing machine was on the blink.  But I tidied.  And headed into town to get the PC charger from work and go to my spa appointment.  I went grocery shopping and piled a whole heap of stuff into my backpack and two carry bags.  Check out staff felt sorry for me.  Bus driver felt sorry for me.

Pretty much by the time I got home I was also feeling a little sorry for myself too.  And my arms felt a little longer than they had been 1 hour before.

Went to bed much earlier though.  Up early to get ready for Eurovision!  Momo arrived just before 7am and we enjoyed ourselves watching the fun in Lisbon unfold.

Netta won Eurovision!

Jo arrived after it just finished and after a cup of tea we went to Cafe Neo.  Jo has some sort of parking angel as she got pole position park just outside.

Jo bombs my photo - iced coffee at Cafe Neo

Doro also arrived and we went back to Jo's for another cuppa before Doro took me and Momo home.

Toby arrived just before I got home.  He had a great time making a film about anti rom-com.  And Mike got home around 5.30pm.

Toby made tea for me.  And dessert.  I got a huge amount of chocolate mousse.  I am a lucky mother.

Mike is having a 'mare start to the week.  Late buses.  No bathroom stuff.  Unexpected appointments.  Although the washing machine is now going.  Turns out the tarp underneath it had caught in the pump.

Ok.

Time for the week to commence.

Have a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with stuff

Hi,

The working week with no end - although it is Friday morning now.  For real.  Mike and Toby are both away the entire weekend.  Toby has a film marathon for drama - 48 hours at the marae at his school with a whole bunch of other drama students.  Mike is off to Ruapehu for a working bee at the lodge.  getting it ready for the winter season.

In my circumspect blog post, I am going to say this:  Mike has a corneal ulcer that he has hit hard with special drops from the optometrist.  No contacts for a while for him.  Toby has an ultrasound booked for something unspecified.  Conjecture on my part suggests his ribs as an obvious candidate.  This may or may not be true.  Mike is pleased Toby is handling it all himself in a show of independence.  For the record?  His mother is slightly anxious about this.

That is the end of the blog speculation.

Although from my perspective, Mike can't drive so I get a working car this weekend. 

Iced latte with Mark @ Machete

The weekend might be interesting.  Mothers Day on Sunday - happy Mother's Day to the mums I know.  Woot!  If people turn up for Mike's Eurovision party I will be busy hosting that at 7am on Sunday.  Grumble, grumble.  Ok - I admit this.  With Mike away, I will still watch it.  It is now a thing in our house.  Ok - I also hope no one turns up at our house and I can watch it happily in bed.  With toast and tea (for Mother's Day - naturally).

Housework.  Washing (yes, I will visit you, Sally, at some stage).  On that note, the washing machine repair person will be here early Monday.  Woot!

Have an awesome weekend!

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that should have been Thursday

Hi,

I cannot believe it is not Friday yet - so confused.  At least I got a haircut last night and now I can see much better.

Unfortunately for you, my pics are from yesterday before the haircut.  You will need to wait for a bit before you see if you can discern any difference.  Pretty sure the answer will be no.  Because Mike never said anything when he saw me last night.  And my hair was at its peak of difference then.  Pretty much back to normal now I have squashed a bike helmet on it and whooshed down the hill to work.

Happy iced coffee at Cafe Neo with Vanessa

The planting people have added soil to the bottom layer of retaining wall in preparation for the plants.  It looks so good.

Soil

Concrete scoured and honed and looking mighty fine

Right.  Time for the madness and chaos of the day to start.  I am so tempted to see if Sally will let me do some remedial washing tonight if I turn up with a basket of washing.  Save a long visit at the weekend.

And I have asked Mike if he can leave me a working car.  Here's hoping.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela