The Thursday with Mike leaving and lunch with Ange

Hi,

At least I managed to see Mike before he left - we got a coffee together at Machete.  But the pics are actually taken by Jen - who beat Mike to the cafe by 5 mins and obliged by taking the requisite photo while I waited for my man to arrive.

Cheers!

Iced latte after the gym

I also got lunch in with Ange and chatted about various things happening in both our lives - it had been a while since I saw her.  Sapphire is still going strong, despite being advanced in age for a gorgeous cat.  I volunteered to house sit in case Ange is away and can't find anyone.  It'd be like a holiday - tidy house, no mess - and a cat to pat.

And... we met at Felix.  And I discovered it is no longer called Felix.  It is completely different and called...  Eat.  Hmmm.  It was ok.

Mike texted me during the afternoon on his various stops while he waited for flights.  Wellington to Auckland.  Then a long wait for his flight to Coolangatta.  I got a text near midnight of his arrival there.  Guess he is in Malaysia now.

Our car parked right where Sally M saw it

I jumped in the car that Mike left conveniently for me and headed to Evans Bay for a Spin class there.  Had a good session with Deano.

Got home via Maccas.  Toby was happy - but then threw up his dinner.  Oh dear.  He says I have now cured him from eating Maccas.  So - possibly a good thing?  Hahahah.  Poor kid.

We seem to be both a bit sick.  He has a cough.  And my throat is so sore.

Never mind.

Enjoy your weekend.  Tidying for me.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that felt like Thursday

Hi,

But it was Halloween and Toby loves that day best of all in the calendar.  I think possibly more than his birthday.  And maybe even more than Christmas. 

Lucky enough to share an iced latte (and mocha) with Celia @ The Lab.

Toby met me at work and we rushed home to sort out Trick or Treat decorations.  Toby was so excited (and a bit cross I took so long getting packed up at work).  I dropped him at home and rushed to Countdown to buy pumpkins.

Jase was home from work (day off) and helped Toby carve pumpkins.  The porch was decorated with all sorts of skeletons and pumpkins.

I think we had three groups visiting us.  Toby was so excited.  Jase watched in the background, intrigued by his enthusiasm. 

And Mike got home and packed for his week away in Malaysia.  He leaves Wellington this afternoon (2.45pm ish) and then flies out of Auckland later today.  Via Coolangatta.  I know.  Weird.  MotoGP here he comes!

I will miss him.

And there you have it.

Have a great day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday at work

Hi,

My fave salad

And I am an asparagus fiend

After a crazy day at work, Mike made me go home and cook tea for Toby.  Little did I know that Toby was still in town - but with a flat phone.  We both got home at the same time.  I reheated his leftovers from the day before and made myself a salad.

Asparagus season.  I am eating a lot of it.  I wonder if it is possible to overdose on it?

We had a fairly decent earthquake here yesterday - but it was deep and centred around Ruapehu.  I barely felt it where I was in a meeting room, sitting down.  But it lit up the phone and the Internet was abuzz with it.  It was nothing.

Anyway, I need either an iced coffee date, or more sleep.  Not sure what is lacking more.

Have a brilliant day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

Oohh - that was a tough day.  Might be because of the full working week I have looming.  Hahahah.  Anyway, like all days, it came and went.  I managed to get to Spin after work to make up for the lunch time meeting that meant I couldn't go to my usual lunch Spin. 

Mike caught (just!) the same bus as me.  When we got home, we just had to heat up the dinner Toby cooked.  Yes!  So happy.  Mind you, he was sick at home for the day with a cold/cough.  Hope he's better for tomorrow.

And... pretty much, I think that was it for the evening.  It would have been 20:00 by the time we finished tea.  Went to bed, read.  And I was asleep by 9.15pm.

Hahah.  Perfect.

Hope your day is a fantastic one.

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington with spook fest party for Toby

Hi,

I met Toby at work at 3.30pm and we walked to his citizenship appointment at DIA and completed the formalities to make him a full NZ citizen.  Apparently he should get his certificate in the mail (courier) in three weeks.  Yay!  No need to learn the national anthem or attend a ceremony.

After dropping Mike's sunnies off at the train station so he could drive to Ruapehu in comfort, Toby and I went home.  We chilled before going to bed.

Up to take Toby to the hairdrressers and then grab groceries for spook fest night.  Around 3pm his mates started arriving.  I think we had 7 teenagers in total at one point.  I ordered Indian takeaways for them, and they all walked up to get it.  They also all got wet and had to change clothes when they got back and use the dehumidifer.

(Mike mentioned he got another migraine while up at the mountain.  Doh!  Mind you, I also got a text from him at 1am saying he was dancing.  Hmmmm)

Iced coffee with Rex and Jo @ Little Peckish

Iced latte with Andrew

Toby's photo

My Halloween costume - not really

I managed to sleep through the loud lounge noises and woke up for my brekkie date with Momo to say goodbye to him.  Jase came with me and we went to Seashore Caberet.  Jase and I only waited about 15 mins before securing a table.  Momo arrived and we enjoyed a brekkie - hearing about his Aussie adventures.

We dropped him off at Whites Line West (yes, indeed!) and said our goodbyes.  We need to visit him in Glasgow now.

Jase and I went back home to find everyone gone and Toby cleaning up.  He'd filled one yellow garbage bag and was luxing.  OMG.  Amazing.  I helped him tidy.

South Coast on Sunday

Seashore Caberet with Momo and Jase

The Bach with Phil

Then it was time for me to find Phil in Johnsonville and take him to a cafe and the airport.  He was up for some computer hackathon thing.  And remembered I owed him a coffee date.  Hahahah.  It was great to see him.  His new job is going fine.

We had an iced coffee at The Bach - which might be called something else now.  But it was still good.

And as we pulled out of the car park, my brain noticed the airforce grey plane coming in to land.  I was going to mention it, but got distracted by our conversation.  But, as we neared the airport, we noticed police closing the streets along the main coast road.  And I realised it was Harry and Meghan landing.  Going past the end of the runway on the airforce side, we could see the steps from the plane and the officials all lined up.  Not sure if the royals had just come down the stairs, or were about to - but I waved anyway.

Phil got to his flight in good time and I headed home, back along the coast road.  Harry and Meghan's journey meant road closures all into town.  Best avoided.

Moxley joed out on the bed

Collected Mike from the train station at a very civilised hour and cooked tea for everyone.  Got replacement socks from Mike as a present for my ones on my last legs.  These aren't lying socks.

Well, these must be true if Mike gave them to me.

Busy week ahead.  Well, that's normal.  But it is a full week of work.  Bit daunting.  Wish I was in Australia still. Hahahah.

Enjoy your day.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday back at work

Hi,

After 3.5 hours sleep, the iced latte @ Machete was a welcome boost to my day.  But the funny thing is, after I met Toby after his gym session and bought him sushi, and we went grocery shopping and caught the bus home, by the time I went to bed, I was no longer tired.

I guess at 10pm it felt like 7pm to my Sunshine Coast adjusted brain.  So, yes.  I am a little mixed up still.

Anyway, Mike was heading home at 5pm and got a migraine.  Another one.  Mum says he needs additional Vitamin D.  Well, it can't hurt.

Iced latte @ Machete with Tyrone

Where I want to be...

I cooked tea and brought it into Mike in his bed.  But he had to get up to pack for his tramping weekend and a 9pm meeting he had with France.  France - the country.  Some part of his project is based there.

Poor Mike.

Right.  Time for the weekend. Toby has a haircut tomorrow morning.  I like his floppy hair at the moment.  But he does not.

Tidy, tidy - and plant veges.  That is my plan for the weekend.

Have a good one.

Love,
Angela

The time I went to the Sunshine Coast

Hi,

Ok - it is so hard writing this after 3.5 hours sleep.  I hope to get through my unread emails without too much effort and wrestle my workload back under control without a heck of a lot of cerebral power.

The trip to Queensland was such fun - and when I think at this time yesterday I was paddling in the sea at Surfers Paradise in my t-shirt and shorts, it is rather difficult to get my head around.

Anyway, I got an Uber to the airport for my 5am check-in without any bother.  Sat and waited for my flight.  The weather was stunning as we left Wellington, and I saw Ruapehu and Taranaki like huge lumps in the landscape. Watched a movie on the Virgin app and dosed a bit.  Landed, hurtled through customs (don't queue for the first machines - walk through to the main customs hall - plenty of machines there) and tried to ring for a pick up for Apex but the phone kept hanging up.  Anyway, a van came.  I jumped on.

Turns out I was super early.  It's much easier going through customs with no checked luggage or a child.  Or any duty free purchases (well, I did get some cream for Mum!).

Mt Ruapehu from my flight to Brisbane

Picked up a Holden Astra from Apex on Nudgee Road and jumped onto the motorway north.  I plugged the phone in and sang non-stop.  Ummm.  I stupidly took the Caloundra exit again (I have done this before) and added about 20 mins to my journey as I searched for the Sunshine Motorway again.

Note:  never take the Caloundra exit.  Even if the signs suddenly no longer show the Sunshine Coast as an option.  It really is an option.  Just a little further up the motorway.

Got to my parents place around 11am and chilled with my Mum for a while.  I may have fallen asleep on the floor a bit.  Hahahah.  Dad got home from work and we had tea out at a Thai place in Peregian Beach (or maybe it was Coolum) before I finally collapsed into bed.

Up early (5am) and away in the car by 6am for my drive into Brisbane.  I couldn't get the GPS on my phone to call out the directions, so I winged it, getting to within 500m of the Transit Centre carpark before I had to pull over and check the map.  Oosshh!  Parked in the carpark there, and walked over the pedestrian bridge to Southbank.  Had such a lovely walk to Nonna's Deli Espresso where I met Susan for breakfast.

Brisbane

Nepalese temple

Iced coffee with Susan @ Southbank - Nonnas Deli Espresso

 I was so happy to catch up with Susan.  It quite possibly might have been 2010 the last time we actually caught up.  When she lived in New Farm (or somewhere there - and Mike got blisters from walking on hot pavements with his barefeet before he ducked into a chemist and bought emergency jandals).

Susan is now a high school teacher, and I reckon her students must be some of the luckiest students in the country.  We chatted about our family and work and general life stuff for a few hours.  The food and iced coffee was so good too.  Great choice, Susan!

Susan then walked back with me to the city.  We said goodbye and I hope we see each other much more regularly.  I got back to the Transit Centre 10 mins before Jo was due on the Greyhound bus from Sydney.  16 hours on a bus!  Overnight.  OMG.  I feel a bit sick just thinking about it again.  Her bus got in at 11am (delayed due to traffic) and it was so good to see her step through the doors from the parking bay.

Selfie with Susan!

My feet arrive in Peregian Springs

Jo and I retraced my steps (so to speak) in the car back to Peregian Springs - although this time I didn't get lost on the motorway.  Phew!  We went for a swim in the pool in the late afternoon.  Nice.  I did miss Toby (and Tyler and Abby) at this point.

We went to Coolum for dinner with Jo.  Some family pub place.  It was ok - I had some baked avocado stuffed with blue cheese.  But the cheese was too strong for the avo flavour.  Sadly.  Vanilla ice cream for dessert though.  Mmmm.

And my feet get wet in the pool

Next morning we wandered down to Noosa marina (in Tewantin) and ate brunch there before jumping on the ferry to Noosa and Hastings St.  Mum and Dad checked out the surf club while Jo and I chilled on the beach.

Iced coffee at the Noosa Marina cafe

Jo - bored.

My feet @ Noosa's beach

Jo checks out the beach scene

Ma and Dad on the Noosa ferry

Jo wasn't feeling very well, so we didn't do a lot.  While we chilled at the beach, I went to find a pharmacy to get some medicine to help with her nausea.  But it didn't really help an awful lot.  It meant eating wasn't a lot of fun, and then Jo had no energy because she wasn't eating.  Poor Jo.

Dad and I got caught in a massive thunderstorm when we got back and decided we needed some groceries for tea.  When we came out of the supermarket, it was hosing down.  I ran to the car and got soaked.  Dad was soaked just trying to get into the car when I pulled up to the under cover section.  A small taste of the mad weather they have had recently.

I married a male model!  Yes - this is a random photo.  Mum has it on her sideboard.

We watched a movie at home in the evening.  Darkest Hour.  About Churchill.  Excellent movie.  Next day we had a lazy start and then drove up into the hinterland behind Sunshine Coast to visit Montville.  Very nice part of the world.  Tried a cafe.  Cute wee shops.  Hilly, even.

Iced coffee in Montville

My mother was checking out my hair - so she took a pic!

After making my mother traipse around hills, she decided against joining us in Surfers Paradise.  Too much strain on her joints.  I was sad.  She was sad.  But, actually, it was totally for the best.  She has a holiday soon, and needs to be as well as she can be to enjoy that.

In the end, Jo and I left Peregian Springs at around 8.45am and drove down through Brisbane to Wet n Wild and spent the day there.  What a hoot!  We loved it.  I loved the wave pool.  And the funnel ride.  And the other rides were great too.  Not much of a queue.  The weather was nice and hot.  Not a lot of drinking fountains.  We hired a locker for our gear and had to pad around the place in barefeet a lot.  I have blisters now from the hot, rough footpaths.  Should have worn jandals.  Should have taken jandals to Queensland.

Had fun here!

Ibis - for Toby.  And some rubbish.  And my rental car.  

Left Wet n Wild at about 4.30pm and headed into Surfers.  Navigated mostly to our hotel.  Watermark.  Or, depending on where you are at night when you read the sign:  WAT MARK.  Or: WATE ARK.   Or:  WATER RK.  Turns out at night they light up the sign, but there is a massive part of the building obscuring the sign.   Weird.

We parked and walked back to find the hotel, checked in, and then drove back.  Deposited our bags in the room and went to find something to eat near Cavill Ave.  Checked out the moon above the sea on the beach.  Ate an awesome "Viking salad".  All salads should be fit for Vikings!

Jo checks out another beach.  Surfers Paradise this time.

I cannot do a proper selfie.

Lazy start to Wednesday morning.  Found brekkie at Coffee Paradox - which paradoxically was next to the Transit centre where we actually needed to take Jo and her luggage.  So, after a lovely smashed avo on toast, we wandered back to the hotel and drove back to drop Jo off.  Said goodbye to my lovely friend.  Not sure when we'll see each other again, but I am convinced she is positioning herself for the next exciting chapter in her life. 

Iced coffee @ Coffee Paradox in Surfers

I want to go for a swim!

I drove back to Brisbane airport (GPS said 1 hour 6mins - and it wasn't far off it).  Found a small petrol station on Nudgee Road about 3kms from Apex.  Perfect!  As I pulled into Apex, the shuttle bus came.

It was smooth sailing through to my gate.  Waited around, reading.  Then boarded.  Easy flight back and a surprise collection by Mike from the airport.  I thought I had to Uber.  My plane touched down at 12.20am and I was hugging Mike at 12.36am.  How fast was that?  Benefit of no luggage and nothing to declare.

Woot!  Awesome time away.  So good to see Ma and Dad.  Good to see Jo on her travels before she leaves the southern hemisphere.  Lovely weather.  Not enough sea swimming - but hopefully next time won't be just after mad weather that churned up the sea!

Thank you.  I loved it.  Thank you to Mike and Toby for letting me run away (briefly).

Love,
Angela