The weekend with ANZAC day

 Hi,

The long weekend was a good one.  Nice weather, even though the forecast was for lots of rain.  It never seemed to eventuate.  I just saw sunshine.  But it is cold.  Autumn is definitely here - and winter is making itself known.  Dunedin has snow to 500m forecast today.  Brrrr.

Queen of all she surveys

Boot camp Saturday morning was as good as it ever is.  And when we got home - we didn't do a lot, I have to say.

Sunday saw us up at 4.50am to get to the dawn service for 6am kick off.  Parked in WHS again - like last year.  Easy peasy.

Dawn service

It was crowded

Off to Mike's mother's wee unit to dismantle the car port roof.  It's all rusty and needs replacing.  Mike got half of the iron off before we had tea there with Polly and headed home.

Working away

Any excuse to wear overalls

If you must hug me...

Monday morning I was up for an hour PT session with Quentin.  It was great - bench and other fun.  Made my arms feel like a gorilla.

Went to see a movie with Mike.  Girls can't surf.  Amazing film.  If you get a chance, go see it.  The generational fight for the right to surf was fascinating.  The ebb and flow of support and popularity was incredible to see unfold over 40 years.  

Model cat

She doesn't look overly impressed

Done!

After lunch we went back to finish taking the roof off the car port.  And next weekend it is water blasting and painting the structure before we get new iron ordered and delivered.

Quick cup of tea with Sally and Andrew.  Andrew had been up in Cambridge for his nephew Cam's wedding.  Sally was stuck at home with a bad cold.  :-(

Home to eat Mushroom Wellington for us.  And early to bed.  Watched a movie on Netflix.  Stowaway.  It was alright.

Up for gym.  Deadlifts.  Oosshh.

Hope your week is marvellous.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with working from home and then games night at work

 Hi,

I worked from home on Thursday.  To keep an eye on the cats.  They always want to get out and check out the cleaners when I lock them into the study with me.  Moxley managed to open the bathroom door and go explore while I was on a call.  I heard her meow from my desk and hurtled away to find her and bring her back. 

Cats collude to see off an interloper

I want into the bathroom!

Smudge being a model

After the cleaners had left, the cats had the run of the house again.  And they were both on the windowsill in our old room.  Which I thought was weird.  But it turns out they were both seeing off a cat.  He was lurking just outside the window.  Hahah

Singstar!

After work I drove in and enjoyed the games night at work.  Chris brought in Singstar and for most of the evening it was dominated by the team I am in.  We all seem to enjoy a bit of singing.

We went over to Rosies for a drink afterwards and then I took Chris home in the car while Mike and Andrew went out for a pub crawl with other friends.

Slept okay.  Woken up by Mike though.  Possibly he was exhibiting flu like symptoms.  (Remember the plan we discussed last week regarding flu like symptoms?)

Up for porridge and a walk into work.  Bus strike in Wellington today.  Turns out the new workplace is exactly 4km door to door.  51 mins later - ensconced at my desk.

Long weekend coming.  ANZAC Day - and Monday is the observed day.  But we will go to the dawn service on Sunday at the war memorial as usual.  Last year was the letterbox dawn service.  That was special.  But I am looking forward to the dawn service in town.

Friday morning iced latte with Maureen

Hope your weekend is superb.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with a lunch with Sally and a lovely walk home

 Hi,

Spin was a good way to start my Wednesday.  Woot!  Also got an iced latte at work which was superb and then had an iced latte date with Callan.

Spin start to the day

Work iced latte - Mmmmm.

Lovely Mojo iced latte

Cheers!

By the time I got to lunch with Sally from my last work, I figured I was caffeinated enough.  Stuck to water.  Had a good catch up with Sally.  Heard about her adventures - both at work and in life in general.  I hope it isn't as long between lunch dates with her next time.  Mike came too and enjoyed the conversation.  I do like Arabica - it seems consistently good.

Walked home with Mike (via the chemist to pick up his inhalers) and enjoyed that.  Was a bit leisurely - but all good.  Mike made tea and we chilled out.  Mike signed us both up for Noom.  OMG - what have I done?  Let's see if I can drink the kool-aid.  I am on a free 2 week trial.  Hahah.  Mike is committed for a year (but he did get that super cheap).

Slept okay - after an aborted attempt to stop reading and turn out my light.  Had to read again for a bit and the second time worked a treat.  But I was up 30 mins before the alarm.  Goodness.

Off to the gym - boxing.  And Mike dropped our retro TV off at work because it is game night and SingStar on someone's PS2 is not compatible with the modern TVs.  Needs a 3 plug RCA cable.  And because we don't watch TV - we have old ones kicking around.

WFH today.  Looking out for the cats as the cleaners come today.

Take care.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with takeaways at ours

 Hi,

Happy birthday Michael.

Moxley nabs the best seat in the house

The day at work was okay - had better.  Had way worse.  Hahah.  But all good in the end.  And I got a lift home with Ange.  So - #winning.

Janine was there on her eBike when we got home.  Then Wally, Lesley and Chelsea turned up for takeaways.  Mmmm.  Yummy Dehlicious.

Toby video chatted with us too.  Nice.

Janine headed home on her bike (good on her!) and we said our goodbyes (for now) to Lesley and Wally.  And we're hoping to rope (lure) Chelsea into a regular quiz night.  So maybe we'll see more of her.  :-)

Off to bed.  Up for Spin on Wednesday morning.  Not done that before - seemed to work okay.

At work.  Busy-ish day.  Lunch with Sally (from my old work).  Calling it now.  Highlight of my day - right there.

Have a good one.

Love,

Angela

The Monday that feels like it should have been a Wednesday

 Hi,

Yesterday ended up with scones at Pravda - and their cheese scones are pretty good.  Barb and Juliet have got a scone mission underway.  I am in for some covert missions and this was a good sortie.

I also had an iced latte there - and I asked for oat milk.  Their coffee was not as strong as Mojo and I think it tasted more like porridge than Mojo did.  But it was ok.

Pravda - but I can't comment truly on their iced latte.  I tried oat milk again and it changes it completely.

Went to Spin after work and it was a little tough.  Mike came to the gym too and did some stretches and lifting.  He left earlier than me to get fish n chips from Starfish for us to have with Wally while Lesley was at a whisky tasting event.

We certainly enjoyed the food.  I got a corn fritter and it was easily the best corn fritter I have had at a chippie.

Fish n chip night with this man

Polished that off

Wally dropped us home - which was lovely.  Mike got the rubbish ready for Tuesday morning.  And we fell into bed.

I woke in the night with stabbing pain in my toes.  The cheeky cat had taken a swipe at my toes!  She only does that to Mike.  My feet never hang out the bottom.  I reckon she crept up under the duvet to find my feet.

Off to the gym.  Was going to be bench but their were no free bench areas.  So Quentin killed my pecs in other ways.  I an typing like a T-Rex now.  Feebly.

At work now.  Feels like I have been at work for 2 days easily.  But no.  Just one Monday that was interminable.  Stretching into Tuesday.  

I need an iced latte.  Hahah.

Have an awesome day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington and dinner out

 Hi,

Happy birthday Vince.  And that also means it is almost Michael's birthday (Wednesday).

A weekend of chill.  Woot! Up for boot camp Saturday morning and Mike was there for the first time in ages.  Joel and Quentin (reluctantly from Quentin) put my play list on for the session.  There was a lot of Rihanna and Beyonce.  :-D

Back home after checking for a few things for Mike's survivor night (groceries and we tried to find a rack to grill over the fire - with no success).  Then Mike was off to survive with his mates. At Battle Hill.  In the car.  Where he slept.

They are getting soft, eh?  Bwhahahah!

Sunday saw Mike back early from surviving.  Maybe 11am.  We chilled ahead of dinner out with Wally and Lesley.  And Beth and Chris.  At the Supply Room in Mana.  Yeah, nah.

Dinner out Sunday with this bunch

We chill with Moxley

Lesley had an entre as her main and when we finally all got ours, she got told her selection was unavailable.  Given how long it took to get our mains, she flagged the idea.  And got a dessert on the house.  Actually the dessert was by far the best thing.  And her sour beer.  :-)

Back home in the car - and the car was in karaoke mode.  Hahah.  Dropped Lesley and Wally off and then scuttled off to bed.  Slept well - up for gym.  Surprise - a 1 hour session.

Quick turnaround to brekkie with Roanne this morning before work.  In my gym gear.  :-p

Ugly Bagels iced latte with Roanne

At work.  Hoping to get to Spin after work too.  Woot!  Maybe with Wally.  Maybe not.

Enjoy your week ahead.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with a brewery night

 Hi,

What a crazy day - after working from home all day (hence no iced latte pics) I rushed down into town to collect Andrew and Mike and head to the Occasional Brewer.

Andrew nearly caused chaos at his work by leaving before 5pm for the first time in living memory.  I think some of his colleagues were convinced there was an imminent disaster.  But no - just commitments to a brewing night.

Not sure why I was invited - but I enjoyed the process.  And Matt and Ian (old workmates) were there bottling their previous brew batch.  Good to catch up with them too.

The kit at Occasional Brewer

Mike and Richard point out where our stash is stored

The lads at work

So not a pic of me!

Is this right?

I liked the chap that guided us (Richard) - he was very chill.  But the instructions are good and Mike and Andrew have already done this many times before.  Tonight we made Turbo APA.  Yeah - I dunno either.  But my big tip is this:  sure - try the grain mash.  Tastes fine.  No - never taste the hop stew mass left behind at the end of the night.  

I dipped my finger into the soupy mash leftover - barely had anything at all on my finger.  And the hoppy bitter taste that I detest in beer stayed in my mouth for the entire rest of the night.

We finished up and left Elly, Tom, Freya and Becky to finish up their work.  They both had slow pumps that meant the final process was a bit slower than usual.

We drove Andrew home and Mike and I were back home and in bed before too long.  Slept well.  Up to a gorgeous view - sunny but cool.  

Friday night burgers with some friends.  Boot camp tomorrow.  Mike is off to survivor night and I have the house to myself - with cats.

Enjoy your Friday and the weekend.

Love,

Angela