The Tuesday in Auckland

Hi,

After Roz sorted out her navigation woes (she ended up over the harbour bridge on the north shore when she took the next left after my hotel), we met and walked to Johny Barrs (or something) near the marina.  They have rather nice food.  We'd eaten there for lunch with work (best Buddha bowl!) so I knew it was good.

And ok - their lava chocolate pudding was amazing!

Auckland by night

Their puka trees grow way bigger

Back to Wellington after work today.  Hope the traffic is ok.  7pm flight.

Have a brilliant day.

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington and the Monday in Auckland

Hi,

Well, the big news from the weekend was us going to the SPCA and finding Moxley.  She is now in the downstairs bathroom and very playful.  We're hoping like mad that Smudge is ok with her coming into the family.

Moxley

Moxley eating

Moxley playing

Smudge knows she is behind that door.  I hope our cats are both chilled out about each other.  Toby is on school holidays and can look after the two cats for a good period of time.


Meanwhile, I had to go to Auckland for work Monday.  And I'm not back until Wednesday.  But it gives me a chance to feel like a tourist.  And drink iced coffees with Arthur.  And meet Heolle - new guy in the team.

Meanwhile, iced coffee @ Mojos in Auckland

After work, I caught up with Wally.  We ate at iVillage and another customer seemed to have an epileptic fit (but no convulsions, just basically unconscious mostly).  His dinner date was frantic and sure he was dying and called an ambulance.  But the chap came around, said he was daydreaming (huh?) and they left.  Caused a commotion.  Wally was checking for signs of diabetic issues, as he is well versed in what that looks like and what to do.

Wally @ iVillage

The view from my window

She wrapped it well!

Such a tourist

Anyway, I have some clothes and a DVD for Jase to take back home.  And my room at Quest on Beaumont was very pleasant.  Went to New World and bought croissants and cheese for my brekkie.  Turns out Angela wrapped my cheese.  She did pretty well too.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with gym and a movie

Hi,

After a busy day, it was my job to collect the car from its WoF and service.  Turns out those tyres we suspected of getting close to worn out, were worn out.  Picking up the car cost me $1100.  Ouch!

I then negotiated through peak traffic to Evans Bay and did a Spin class at 1815 there.  It was only my second one for the week - and my breathing mostly coped with it.

I showered at the gym and then drove to collect Jo from her place.  We bought our Oceans 8 movie tickets and then I ate some sushi.  I didn't like the sushi much.

Jo grabbed some popcorn and we watched the movie.  I was a bit disappointed.  It seemed to miss the mark for me.

Dropped Jo home, and got back to find Mike barely awake.  It was 2300 by this stage though.  But I was asleep in seconds and slept right through to a rude awakening at 5.10am.  I had my alarm set for my super early Friday morning last Friday!  Doh!  Turned that off and fell back to sleep for a bit longer.

Caught the bus in with Mike as he went to the gym.  Good on him!

Weekend is beckoning.  Which it would arrive a bit faster.  We're visiting the SPCA tomorrow.  Uh oh.  Then Mike is at the gym again.  And he is off to see Swamp Thing in the evening.  I rather fancy a movie night with Toby - I'll see if I can convince him.

Sunday we have a movie planned -  or not.  Mike was unsure - and yet Jo said he had planned it.  So, goodness knows.  That was to see Antman.

Right.  Could be a movie weekend of epic proportions.  Oooshhh.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with stuff

Hi,

Ok - the post title is entirely misleading.  Pretty sure my day yesterday didn't have a lot of stuff happening at all.  In a workshop all day at work.  And then a haircut after work!  Woot!

Yep - I am a new woman.

Well, no.  Not really.  Hahahah.  But when Mike finally saw me this morning, all dressed and ready for work, he said:  You look nice.  Upon which I said: I got a haircut last night.  And gave him THAT look.  You know, the one that says you can't tell I got a haircut.

We drove into work together because he had gym and I needed to take the car in for its WoF.  And he spent a lot of time trying to snuggle with me.  I think he was still trying to dig himself out of the "I didn't comment on my wife's haircut" hole he got himself into.

Anyway...  I dropped the car off and walked back to work along Cuba St, enjoying the vibe (even in the early morning).  The cold air played havoc with my cough.  Doh!  I'n sure I'll be fine at Spin tonight.

Currently, the devious plan is for me to collect the car at 5pm, drive to the gym at Evans Bay for the 1815 Spin class.  See how my cough goes with that.  Shower.  Drive back to town.  Meet Jo B and see Oceans 8 @ 2030.  My evening sounds action-packed!  Ooosshhh.  I just hope my chest can  handle the Spin exercise.  So long as the air isn't cold, I am sure it'll be fine.

Righty o then.  The day starts!  Have a good one.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with me going home sick

Hi,

I finally took a photo of the shadows the leaves of the neighbour's tree cast on the footpath under the street lights.  I reckon it is:   Youngs Slit Experiment

The leaves and the street lights show physics at work!

In some parts, you see leaves clearly (where they are not so close together) and in others, they are all diffracted. 

If anyone has any other suggestion as to why I see this happening, please let me know.

I went home sick yesterday at lunch time.  Probably the best thing I did.  I was at my desk and finding it hard to breathe.  Very weird feeling.  But doing nothing seems to be for the best.  I think going to Spin yesterday morning triggered the breathlessness.  Mike has made me swear off gym for two whole days.  Thursday 5.30pm is my next gym session.

It's haircut day today!  Woot!

Toby was out last night at some movie thing at the Roxy.  The Room.  And one of the actors was actually there.  Mike went to collect him and I was so dead to the world I never even woke up when they got back.

Jase tried out his new sneakers at work last night - and they seemed to work better than his old sneakers.  I chatted to him briefly when he was heating up his risotto after he got home late yesterday.

Right.  I am in workshops all day today and tomorrow.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work but still sick and with Andrew's birthday

Hi,

I met Jase after my work and we went to Rebel Sport to buy him some comfy sneakers and then I made him carry home groceries for the boys' dinner.  Turns out Jase also had to cook the dinner.  It's a shame for him.  But Mike is still full of a cold - and I'm not sure Toby is best left unattended in the kitchen unless it is 2 minute noodles you want to eat.

Gilbert balls!

Anyway, after a brief work stint after that, I met Andrew and caught a 3 to Glenmore St and walked to Hillside Kitchen.  Sally was just parked opposite and we settled in to our table.

Andrew's birthday at Hillside Kitchen

We counted 11 courses of Meatless Monday menu.   They forage for food and use their own garden and it really felt experimental.  But so yummy.  This place goes entirely meatless from Sept 4th.  I hope it becomes a regular for us.  Below are a few of the courses - so colourful and tasty.

Yum on an onion

Not a lily pad - but also yum.  Nasturtium - peppery.

Lentil and leek

Smoked butternut

Dessert - yum.  Ok - it was all yum.

Tiny balls of goodness

Sally and Andrew dropped me home and I fell into bed pretty quick.  Mike was a lot better - thank goodness.

Walked into work early this morning and went to Spin.  A little hard to breathe still - but getting better.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington with pestilence

Hi,

Happy birthday to Andrew today.

Mike and I spent an awful lot of time over the weekend in bed and coughing a lot.  We did get a few things done, however. 

We did lend the car to Iona for her unexpected weekend in Palmerston North. Met her (and Andrew) at Machete and handed her the Subaru keys.  She took it to Tawa and helped her parents.

This is where you look!

I want both iced lattes!

And Iona photobombs the iced latte shot perfectly.  With ducks.

When I left work, I noticed Celia had killed her mouse.  Hahahah.  It was lying on its back.  I couldn't resist a photo.

Celia killed her mouse!

Anyway, we had a lovely Friday evening with Vivienne, John, Doro and a spontaneous visit by Ange.  It was funny because even though lots of people were there, Smudge came out to check us out.  And circled Ange - a lot.  She knows where her food comes from.  Ange does a lot of Smudge feeding when we're away.

While we ate takeaways, Mike casually mentioned that Iona has our car and it is unwarranted.  Cries of outrage ensue and we make plans to swap cars with Iona early the next morning. 

She drives in and we swap cars at 7.30am and she heads away for the funeral of a friend's father in Palmerston North (Col is already there).  And I breathe a sigh of relief that she is in a fully warranted car.  Turns out she likes the orange car - a lot!

Apart from that, I really don't do a lot.  I drop Jase off at his work at 3.30pm.  And pretty much that is it.  I get a lot of sleep as I think I am actually asleep by 8pm.

Sunday morning I meet Iona and take her to The Botantist ahead of her flight home.

The Botantist iced coffee

Mike and Jase go to the Holocaust museum.  Toby has some mates around.  I do some washing.  That pretty much sums up the weekend.

Mike is far worse than me and working from home today.  I think I am much better - but still not perfect yet.  But Mike is finding it hard to breathe easily. 

We have dinner with Sally and Andrew tonight (although I think it will be just me).  And I am meeting Jase after my work to help him buy some shoes for work. 

There you have it.  Weird weekend.  Hopefully we all get better very soon.

Love,
Angela