Hi,
We had such a great day for dragon boating yesterday - and Celia had a stunner of a day for her birthday.
I managed to get Celia a wee present and hid it in her locker at work. But turns out she hardly ever uses it - so I had to tell her to check. Hahahah!
We sang Happy Birthday on the boat - that was cool. The weather made the sea so choppy we saw two boats capsize when they entered the harbour proper. So we decided to stay in the lagoon. Mike and Doro watched for a while.
Afterwards I went back to work to change and Mike and I had dumpings at Dumpling'd. Mike wasn't overly impressed. We bumped into someone from the BBQ on the way out the door. We'd only met her on Saturday and now we see her. Wellington is small.
Home and I wasn't feeling the best. I think I have had a migraine for a bit of today. Had a better sleep though - still not perfect. And yesterday I woke with a sore neck. Never had a sore neck in my life. And this morning it is slightly worse. Goodness knows what that's all about.
Right. Time for the day to start in earnest. Have a great day.
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
The weekend with a long one for Wellington anniversary
Hi,
My weekend seemed to disappear fast, despite it being one day longer than usual. How does that happen?
Today was stunning and worthy of a photo. It is also Celia's birthday today. Pretty glad she popped onto this planet to coincide with my life at some not-too-distant-point in the past.
I was thinking about my life in the summer of 1981. We'd just moved to Aus at the end of 1980, so it was the height of our first summer there. Tennis on the TV. 40C temps that made our butter melt. Thrips (I hate thrips). Big Ms. Mmmmm. That was the start of my iced coffee love, right there. Big M - cold coffee-flavoured milk. Where had you been all my life till then? Why did I ever experiment with hot coffee later in life?
Live and learn.
And... now I know Celia. And she may be partial to iced coffees too. 1981. A gold year!
The cats had a good weekend, chilling out. They seem to get along for the most part. Smudge still has a pre-emptive growl that seems to work wonders on Moxley.
Mike went mad on decluttering and garden work. Yay for Mike!
We caught up with Sally Saturday morning ish for a haloumi sandwich at Zany Zeus. We were out and about, sorting stuff out.
Saturday saw us going to Ellie's house for a BBQ and enjoying her friends company and the view from her flat. Wow!
Toby got brunch at one point. I think he likes my poached eggs.
Sally and Andrew came around yesterday for a BBQ lunch. That went well. And Mike worked like mad after that in the garden and generally around the house.
It is finally starting to look better. Once the builders (different ones) come in and finish off, we should be able to have a clean out in the garage and then it'll all have a place.
Yay!
Hope your week is a good one. Short one for us.
Love,
Angela
My weekend seemed to disappear fast, despite it being one day longer than usual. How does that happen?
Today was stunning and worthy of a photo. It is also Celia's birthday today. Pretty glad she popped onto this planet to coincide with my life at some not-too-distant-point in the past.
I was thinking about my life in the summer of 1981. We'd just moved to Aus at the end of 1980, so it was the height of our first summer there. Tennis on the TV. 40C temps that made our butter melt. Thrips (I hate thrips). Big Ms. Mmmmm. That was the start of my iced coffee love, right there. Big M - cold coffee-flavoured milk. Where had you been all my life till then? Why did I ever experiment with hot coffee later in life?
Live and learn.
And... now I know Celia. And she may be partial to iced coffees too. 1981. A gold year!
 |
| Stunning Tuesday morning sunrise |
 |
| Uneasy alliance - cos it involves sleep! |
 |
| Garden work |
Mike went mad on decluttering and garden work. Yay for Mike!
 |
| Eco piling! |
 |
| Smudge is a model cat |
 |
| Moxley made a nest out of our freshly dried sheets! |
Saturday saw us going to Ellie's house for a BBQ and enjoying her friends company and the view from her flat. Wow!
 |
| Sunset over Kelburn |
 |
| Afternoon over Kelburn |
Toby got brunch at one point. I think he likes my poached eggs.
 |
| I made Toby brunch |
 |
| Iced latte @ Machete on Friday |
Sally and Andrew came around yesterday for a BBQ lunch. That went well. And Mike worked like mad after that in the garden and generally around the house.
It is finally starting to look better. Once the builders (different ones) come in and finish off, we should be able to have a clean out in the garage and then it'll all have a place.
Yay!
Hope your week is a good one. Short one for us.
Love,
Angela
Friday, January 18, 2019
The Thursday with dragon boat training
Hi,
Best highlights of the day? Catch up with Celia for the New Year. At Machete no less. I do look rather excited about it.
Then we had our first dragon boat training session in the boat after work. Such a gorgeous day for it. And I think I vaguely remembered how to do it. The team this year are so great. It's going to be a good one.
Caught the bus home - slightly damp still. Made some basic tea for Toby at 8.30pm. Oops. And fell into a coma in bed. I pretended to wake up when Mike got home. But given I barely remember it, it was all pretense.
New guy in the team was telling me about a colleague he previously worked with. Said something like "He is 55, so really old". I thought: Ummmm. No. He isn't really old.
Hahahah. I am going to take it as a compliment and interpret that as the new guy has no clue that I am only 2 years younger.
It's a long weekend for us in Wellington this weekend. Woot! Bring that on.
Enjoy yours.
Love,
Angela
Best highlights of the day? Catch up with Celia for the New Year. At Machete no less. I do look rather excited about it.
 |
| Happy |
Then we had our first dragon boat training session in the boat after work. Such a gorgeous day for it. And I think I vaguely remembered how to do it. The team this year are so great. It's going to be a good one.
Caught the bus home - slightly damp still. Made some basic tea for Toby at 8.30pm. Oops. And fell into a coma in bed. I pretended to wake up when Mike got home. But given I barely remember it, it was all pretense.
New guy in the team was telling me about a colleague he previously worked with. Said something like "He is 55, so really old". I thought: Ummmm. No. He isn't really old.
Hahahah. I am going to take it as a compliment and interpret that as the new guy has no clue that I am only 2 years younger.
It's a long weekend for us in Wellington this weekend. Woot! Bring that on.
Enjoy yours.
Love,
Angela
Thursday, January 17, 2019
The Wednesday with no Tyler and Abby
Hi,
I miss wee Tyler and Abby loads already. I just told my manager that - he thinks they are both back in Sydney needing counselling after an extended exposure to the "Gilbert Way".
Hahahah.
I would have them back in a heartbeat.
I headed home on the bus after a long day at work. The day had turned out stunning. Typical. Aussie guests leave and the sun comes out. They will never believe it.
Cooked tea - chicken schnitzels. Toby's favourite. He said they were good ones and promptly went back and ate the leftovers.
He also liked the boiled new potatoes.
Tidied up a bit ahead of the cleaners coming Thursday morning. And Mike cleared things away to the garage and is slowly selling off stuff.
Yay!
We will kick off the tiling soon and finish the bathroom. Can't wait.
We have the first Dragon boat training session on the water today after work. OMG. It's that time again. So excited.
Love,
Angela
I miss wee Tyler and Abby loads already. I just told my manager that - he thinks they are both back in Sydney needing counselling after an extended exposure to the "Gilbert Way".
Hahahah.
I would have them back in a heartbeat.
 |
| Creepy birds at the cable car |
 |
| Double spotto! in the supermarket car park |
I headed home on the bus after a long day at work. The day had turned out stunning. Typical. Aussie guests leave and the sun comes out. They will never believe it.
Cooked tea - chicken schnitzels. Toby's favourite. He said they were good ones and promptly went back and ate the leftovers.
He also liked the boiled new potatoes.
Tidied up a bit ahead of the cleaners coming Thursday morning. And Mike cleared things away to the garage and is slowly selling off stuff.
Yay!
We will kick off the tiling soon and finish the bathroom. Can't wait.
We have the first Dragon boat training session on the water today after work. OMG. It's that time again. So excited.
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
The Tuesday with Tyler and Abby leaving on Wednesday
Hi,
It was Tyler and Abby's last full day in Wellington yesterday (Tuesday). We got home a little late from work and I cooked tea. Basil pesto pasta - turns out it is Tyler's favourite. Well, we all like it. Although I could only find macaroni elbows as the pasta shape.
As we ate tea, we talked about the holiday a bit. And as a summary of her experience, this is what Abby declared when we discussed the Gilbert household:
Every day is an adventure.
Hahahah. I think she meant it kindly. I know their house is a busy one, but she seems to think we're slightly disorganised or something. Mike and I prefer to think of it as honing a flexible outlook and rolling with it.
They enjoyed the ferry trip and the camping, so I've added pics of that.
We've dropped them at the airport after getting up at 3.40am. Ohhh - early. Mike and I stayed until 6am and then Mike dropped me at work. Super early. I will try and leave a bit early. And get to bed at a decent time tonight.
Have a brilliant day. I will be sad when I get home and the house is a lot less full of people. Because I loved having Tyler and Abby here.
Love,
Angela
It was Tyler and Abby's last full day in Wellington yesterday (Tuesday). We got home a little late from work and I cooked tea. Basil pesto pasta - turns out it is Tyler's favourite. Well, we all like it. Although I could only find macaroni elbows as the pasta shape.
As we ate tea, we talked about the holiday a bit. And as a summary of her experience, this is what Abby declared when we discussed the Gilbert household:
Every day is an adventure.
Hahahah. I think she meant it kindly. I know their house is a busy one, but she seems to think we're slightly disorganised or something. Mike and I prefer to think of it as honing a flexible outlook and rolling with it.
They enjoyed the ferry trip and the camping, so I've added pics of that.
 |
| New glasses for Christmas |
 |
| Iconic view of Wellington |
 |
| At Ngakuta Bay |
 |
| Picton |
 |
| Ngakuta Bay fun - we jumped off that jetty |
 |
| Posing for me |
 |
| Kaitoke river fire |
 |
| Perfect "scrotemallow" |
 |
| Brekkie |
 |
| Rivendell |
 |
| The view from Sarah and Hamish's house. Worth the steps! |
 |
| Swingbridge at Kaitoke |
 |
| Nothing but net |
 |
| Take a shot |
We've dropped them at the airport after getting up at 3.40am. Ohhh - early. Mike and I stayed until 6am and then Mike dropped me at work. Super early. I will try and leave a bit early. And get to bed at a decent time tonight.
Have a brilliant day. I will be sad when I get home and the house is a lot less full of people. Because I loved having Tyler and Abby here.
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
The Monday evening with a shock to my system
Hi,
Yesterday typified a Gilbert Plan - of epic proportions. Probably a vain hope of mine to think I could capture it in text for future preservation and comparisons of other Gilbert Plans. But, I shall try.
It started with Mike and I bussing into town together on the 6.16am bus. Mike forgot his wallet so I gave him money for his day and paid for the bus. So far, all ok.
Toby decided against H2OXtreme and they all picked a movie instead. 6pm SpiderMan: Into the SpiderVerse @ The Embassy. Ok.
I chatted to Abby at 4.30pm. They were still at home. So I found them a number 14 bus at 4.48pm that got them into town in time. Turns out that bus didn't exist. Gilbert Plan has its first unravelling. The kids bounce back and find a 4.55pm bus that does exist. They get on.
Mike plans to jump on the same bus as it goes past his work at 5:08pm (paying using the money I gave him). He misses it by a minute. I position myself and jump on their bus successfully. Mike is two buses behind on a 52.
We all end up in Courtney Place and Mike tries to buy the movie tickets. But of course I have to pay. We have some food before the movie starts and buy some lollies. No change out of $100. Ouch.
Anyway - the movie is so good! OMG. I laugh and laugh until my abs hurt and tears are streaming out. I still snigger even now if I recall SpiderMan's head bobbing along the street as they are towed behind the train. If I wasn't in public, I would have lost it completely.
Movie finishes and the bus is 26 mins away. And it is cold. So we consider permutations to get us home. Uber? Nope - too many people. Mike thinks a bus as far as possible and then Uber from there. And someone comes back to get the extra person.
We get on the bus. And Toby discovers he's lost his Snapper. I snapper everyone on. 3 kids and 2 adults. But at Manners St, Toby decided to run back and find his card. He gives us his wallet and phone and he leaps off the bus. I throw my EftPos card at Mike and he jumps off to follow Toby.
Tyler, Abby and I get off the bus at Lambton Quay and Mike rings. He tells us a 22 leaves from The Terrace in 3 mins. So we run down Lambton Quay and up Woodward and just catch the 22 which takes us nearly to our front door. In a perfect execution of a Gilbert Plan Variation.
Toby finds his Snapper under the seat in the cinema. And they come home on the number 14 bus that originally was 26 mins too late for the first Gilbert Plan.
All a normal day in our household. Building flexibility and adaptability (and running prowess) in the next generation.
And meanwhile, more photos from the holiday. Mainly from my Blenheim adventure.
Last day for Tyler and Abby here. So sad. I will miss them.
Love,
Angela
Yesterday typified a Gilbert Plan - of epic proportions. Probably a vain hope of mine to think I could capture it in text for future preservation and comparisons of other Gilbert Plans. But, I shall try.
It started with Mike and I bussing into town together on the 6.16am bus. Mike forgot his wallet so I gave him money for his day and paid for the bus. So far, all ok.
Toby decided against H2OXtreme and they all picked a movie instead. 6pm SpiderMan: Into the SpiderVerse @ The Embassy. Ok.
I chatted to Abby at 4.30pm. They were still at home. So I found them a number 14 bus at 4.48pm that got them into town in time. Turns out that bus didn't exist. Gilbert Plan has its first unravelling. The kids bounce back and find a 4.55pm bus that does exist. They get on.
Mike plans to jump on the same bus as it goes past his work at 5:08pm (paying using the money I gave him). He misses it by a minute. I position myself and jump on their bus successfully. Mike is two buses behind on a 52.
We all end up in Courtney Place and Mike tries to buy the movie tickets. But of course I have to pay. We have some food before the movie starts and buy some lollies. No change out of $100. Ouch.
Anyway - the movie is so good! OMG. I laugh and laugh until my abs hurt and tears are streaming out. I still snigger even now if I recall SpiderMan's head bobbing along the street as they are towed behind the train. If I wasn't in public, I would have lost it completely.
Movie finishes and the bus is 26 mins away. And it is cold. So we consider permutations to get us home. Uber? Nope - too many people. Mike thinks a bus as far as possible and then Uber from there. And someone comes back to get the extra person.
We get on the bus. And Toby discovers he's lost his Snapper. I snapper everyone on. 3 kids and 2 adults. But at Manners St, Toby decided to run back and find his card. He gives us his wallet and phone and he leaps off the bus. I throw my EftPos card at Mike and he jumps off to follow Toby.
Tyler, Abby and I get off the bus at Lambton Quay and Mike rings. He tells us a 22 leaves from The Terrace in 3 mins. So we run down Lambton Quay and up Woodward and just catch the 22 which takes us nearly to our front door. In a perfect execution of a Gilbert Plan Variation.
Toby finds his Snapper under the seat in the cinema. And they come home on the number 14 bus that originally was 26 mins too late for the first Gilbert Plan.
All a normal day in our household. Building flexibility and adaptability (and running prowess) in the next generation.
And meanwhile, more photos from the holiday. Mainly from my Blenheim adventure.
 |
| Iced latte @ Pelorus Bridge cafe |
 |
| Pelorus Bridge - go visit! |
 |
| On the trapline |
 |
| Iced coffee somewhere in Blenheim |
 |
| It was ok. |
 |
| Bike in Picton |
 |
| We venture in - and it is beautiful! |
 |
| Selfie in the river @ Pelorus |
 |
| Apparently I resemble a starfish |
Love,
Angela
Monday, January 14, 2019
The Monday morning back at work after an amazing Christmas holiday
Hi,
Ohh - is that what 5.30am looks like? And it was a shock to go to the gym. And wear clothes that is not a t-shirt and shorts. It was an awesome 3 week break. Longest break from work I have ever had at this workplace.
And it is raining today. Boo. The kids are off to H2oXtreme. That should be fun. Adrenaline Forest needs an adult for kids under 16. Shame. Next time!
My phone is sill backing up photos from the break. It'll be some time.
But it was so so good. Christmas with Mum and Karen, Scott, Tyler and Abby. Mum then had to fly home on the 27th (she was just too sore). That was sad. The house in Hastings was amazing! Seeing Olly and Charlotte and their kids (Saffy, Alex and Milo) was definitely a highlight. Back to Wellington. Off to see Iona and Col. Back to Wellington, Netball drills with Abby. Camping at Kaitoke.
Yep. I had a great time. Here are a few pics.
More once my phone catches up.
Back to the workload. And emails.
Love,
Angela
Ohh - is that what 5.30am looks like? And it was a shock to go to the gym. And wear clothes that is not a t-shirt and shorts. It was an awesome 3 week break. Longest break from work I have ever had at this workplace.
And it is raining today. Boo. The kids are off to H2oXtreme. That should be fun. Adrenaline Forest needs an adult for kids under 16. Shame. Next time!
My phone is sill backing up photos from the break. It'll be some time.
But it was so so good. Christmas with Mum and Karen, Scott, Tyler and Abby. Mum then had to fly home on the 27th (she was just too sore). That was sad. The house in Hastings was amazing! Seeing Olly and Charlotte and their kids (Saffy, Alex and Milo) was definitely a highlight. Back to Wellington. Off to see Iona and Col. Back to Wellington, Netball drills with Abby. Camping at Kaitoke.
Yep. I had a great time. Here are a few pics.
 |
| Scotty photo bomb. Nice iced coffee @ Six Sisters in Napier. |
 |
| Christmas pohutukawa |
 |
| Posing models |
 |
| Extreme posing |
 |
| Gilberts and Kittos on a log |
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| Pania |
 |
| Terracotta warriors @ Te Papa |
 |
| Horses |
 |
| Napier waterfront |
 |
| Selfie time! |
 |
| Almost the right spelling |
Back to the workload. And emails.
Love,
Angela
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