The Thursday with Chris leaving work

Hi,

As I type at my desk at home on Friday, it is very chilly.  4C my phone says it is out there.  Glad I have the heater on under my desk.

Yesterday was the England v Denmark semi final in Euro2020 and yes, it is 2021.  But covid stopped it last year.  So here we are.  And England got through to their first big final since I was born.  Yes.  That is a long time.

Work iced latte and watching a bit of the football

It was fairly busy at work - and it was also the last day at work for my buddy, Chris.  So we actually ended up at the pub relatively early (before 5pm!) and I didn't get home until 9.30pm.  That is a lot of pub time for me.

But yes.  Chris has moved on.  We all enjoy his company and his personality at work, so it was a sad day.  Callan even came direct from the airport to make sure he got a beer in with him.  How is that for commitment to your colleagues?  Go Callan!

We also went out to eat with Chris' family afterwards.  Turns out Emma was born the exact day after me.  Feb 18.  Here in Wellington.  That was a fun fact to find out.

Mike and I ubered home and settled into bed.  The cats must have been freezing as they both snuggled on the bed, very close to each other.

Cold enough that the cats are close to each other

Up Friday to work from home for me.  Nice clear day here.  Weekend has Mike off to Survivor Night.  In his car again.  :-o

I have boot camp and then not much else planned.  But tonight I am meeting Celia in Upper Hutt to play indoor cricket.  Oohhh - yep - no idea what that really means.

Have a lovely weekend.

Love,

Angela
 

The Wednesday with Toby leaving

 Hi,

As I sit here on Thursday morning, contemplating what my Wednesday was like, I am trying to keep an eye on the England v Denmark semi final in Euro2020 (although it is 2021).  Covid.

1-1 at halftime.  Come on England!

Busy day at work.  Did catch up with Maureen for a long overdue iced latte.  We've both been busy (well - that is what she tells me!).  But I told her all about the dirt duathlon - finally.

Iced latte with Maureen

I also got out with Barb and Juliet for a good download session.  We went to Collective Cafe, inside the popup library near work.  It was so good.  Kimchi-and-cheese scones, yum.  And good iced latte, pre-made in wee bottles with oatmilk.  It was delicious.  Go there! But, on the other hand avoid the rocket scones as they were floury and a bit yuck. One miss amongst all the goodness.

Oat milk iced latte with Barb and Juliet

Apparently I had light beams coming out my head

Now it is a light sabre

Mike took Toby to the airport at 7am. He is back in Christchurch again and ready for the next Uni semester. Missing him already. 

Bye Toby :'(

Mike worked from home afterwards. It wasn't part of the plan but he was stuck in traffic coming back, and took a whole hour to cover the 1km of The Terrace. By the time he got to the CBD car park it was full. So he drove home and stayed there.

But, Mike did come in for after work drinks with some former work colleagues of his.  He drove in, he jumped out of the car, I jumped in and drove home! What a well oiled plan that was.

Ate leftovers (when will they end???) and soon Mike was home again - with some much needed groceries in hand.  Woot!

Watched some TV (the On Demand TV is an easy way for me to watch some television).  And bed.  And Zzzzzz.

Up for gym.  Deadlifts with Quentin.  And off to work.  And watching the score in the football.

Busy day today.  But I do have hot yoga pencilled in for lunch time with Juliet and Theresa.  Yes.

Have a good one.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with Toby's last full day in Wellington

 Hi,

Big day at work - but I did get an iced latte at work before the bulk of my meetings.  Mike was also in the queue for the barista at the same time so he took the pics of me and Theresa.

Mike in selfie mode

Taking an iced latte pic - with no feet

You missed my feet?  Here!

You missed Theresa's feet?  Here!

Anyway - busy at work.  I took an Uber home with Ange and found Toby there.  He was chilling in his (our) room.  He asked for spag bol - so I made that for him.  He said it tasted like the spag bol I usually make.  Which was good because there were no onions (well, I used a red onion) and no tomato paste.  He scoffed the lot down.

Mike now has Bolognese sauce to eat over the next few nights.  :-)

We packed snow chains into a carton and added his clothes to it.  He now has a checked box and carry on.  Woot!

Went to bed and had a slightly restless sleep.  Up for a ride in and a goodbye outside work as Mike continued to the airport with Toby.  He'll meet Tessa there and they'll be in Chc by 10.00am.

I will miss him.  We all just slotted back into a routine - which was kinda nice.

Have a lovely day.  Stay warm in NZ because there is another polar blast coming from the south.  Brrr.  Toby might see snow in Chc.

Love,

Angela

The Monday back at work

 Hi,

It was so cold at work yesterday that I never took an iced latte pic.  Because I had a hot chocolate instead.  That is how cold it was.

So - Monday came and went in a sea of work.  With no pics to show for it.

Sunrise

Panorama of the harbour Tuesday morning

But things did happen.  I got a haircut at midday with Sarah (haven't had a haircut since Jan 2020) and even got a wee undercut at the nape of my neck.  You can't tell.  I used to have it way back in Muswell Hill days with my bob back then.

Work was busy.  And afterwards I went to the dental hygienist.  Got my teeth back into shape with much chipping off of tartar.  Or something.  But - all good.  And now I am smiling everywhere I go.  You need to show off your teeth after you have sacrificed so much for them.

I love the dentist.

I blame my mother. She loves dentists too.

Off home and Mike had cooked tea with Toby.  Chicken schnitzels for them and leftovers for me.  Mmmm.

Fell into bed and I had a great sleep.  But I still feel sleepy.  Not sure why.  Up for PT session - paused bench.  I did one rep of 40kg.  Then back to paused bench at 35kg.

Busy day today at work.  Last day of Toby and Tessa here.  I will miss them.  But it has been busy since they came up.  I hope they enjoyed it.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend with a party

 Hi,

Friday saw Callan and Andrew having birthdays and we ended up at two pubs after work to help celebrate.  Even though the plan was to go home and cook lots for the party.

Lunch with Angie

Went to Bin44 with work mates and stayed for a relatively short time.  Then headed to Thistle and met up with Sally and a load of her friends for Andrew's dinner.  JR and Anita were there - as well as Paul and others.  Andrew was coming a tad later.  By the time Mike and I left we did actually see Andrew briefly.

Home to cook.  Mike was very keen.  We got a full tray of vegetarian lasagne made.  And the rest of the items would be good for Saturday morning.

Mike making party lasagne Friday night

Iona arrived at 1am off the ferry and I was so asleep when she rang my phone.  I woke with a huge fright because I knew she would be late and left my phone off silent.  I never hear my phone ring - so the noise was unusual.  But it did wake me up!  Unlike her text and her knocking.  Oops.

Stumbled around getting her sorted in the spare room and from the distance of Monday morning I apologise that the duvet was probably not warm enough and I should have put the heater on for her.  She is stoic.

Up to collect Col from the airport at 8am and off to Maranui for brekkie.  Then collected the cake from Jo and Rex and had a quick catch up with them.  Jo is leaving TTP!  Ooohhh.  Off to Somerset as a BA.  Good on her.

Saturday turning it on for Mike's party

Maranui iced latte goodness

Col and I had a big explanation of Maori constellation stories.  With actions.

Back home and Mike had most things sorted - Iona and I finished off a few things (luckily Iona makes awesome potato salad with tahini and yoghurt! Because - no mayo!!).  Then Iona and Col left for 40WLW with the first lot of food while Mike shoveled gravel for Maarten for an hour.

Then we were all off.  Tessa arrived just in time for a hand with putting things in the car.  Mike got back and we headed to 40WLW.

Wee Mike!

Party

Party!

Awesome cake

Some confusion collecting Polly (she had left the back door unlocked at her place and the shed wide open, but eventually we understood she had walked to the party and left things like that - so we locked up and also went to join the party).

The party was great fun.  Lovely day for it.  t-shirt weather - if you could stay in the sun.  Shade was still cold.

There was ample food and drink and the nibbles were perfect.  Thank you so much to everyone for coming to celebrate Mike's big milestone.  We chatted to Karen during the cake cutting too.  

We left at 6pm and watched a movie with Toby and Tessa before bed.  We did ring Ma at that point too - to say hi.   Up Sunday to make Toby and Tessa brekkie (leftover sausages!).

Iona and Col came by at 1.30pm and I dropped them both at the airport.  Then back and Toby and Tessa wanted to go to Scopa.  So we did that - and met Sally and Andrew there.  Ate a bit then Toby and Sally went to Fast and Furious 9 while we dropped Tessa home then Andrew home.  Collected Polly and brought her back to our place for tea.

Had leftovers.  And then Mike took her home - and collected Toby.  All perfect logistics.

But what a big weekend.  I need a day to recover.  :-)

Awesome weather.  Lovely company.  Thank you to everyone.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with work stuff and grocery shopping

 Hi,

Happy birthday to Andrew and Callan.  Woot!

Thursday saw a spontaneous iced latte visit with Roanne and an unexpected Ellie guest appearance.  Great way to start the day off.  Mmmmm.

Ugly bagel iced latte

Snap!

Crazy day at work with a late function for me running to 6pm.  Fortunately Mike got away at a decent time to get a head start on the grocery shopping for his own party.  Yeah - it is a shame for him.  I got distracted chatting to Celia after work.  She is doing well - it has been a wee while since I saw her.  

Mt Vic looking mighty fine last night

Moxley hiding under the duvet

Smudge happy on top

Toby made dinner for us (spag bol) and it was almost ready when we got home.  Just needed some thickening with tomato paste and it was ready.  

I had already eaten at the work function.  Woot!

Off to bed and the cats were definitely cold - they were both cuddled up with us again.  One under the duvet and one on top.  Perfect way to separate them.  Hahahah

Good morning birthday people!  Wellington cranking up the good weather for you

Up for an early bus with Mike.  He has a few things before his potato cake brekkie.  I just went to work.  Hahah.

Work iced latte

Weekend is so close I can almost taste it.  Baking tonight for Mike's party.  Jo has baked a cake - I cannot wait to see that.  She is so clever.  Mmmmm.  It's party time!

Bring it all on!

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with not a lot of Toby

 Hi,

Well, one day of Toby and he was off with his mates.  Hahah.  Toby who?  Anyway, I got home after work and ate some leftover pizza.  No one was home.  Toby and Tessa were out and Tessa had plans to stay with her Dad.

I finally left at 8pm to go grocery shopping.  It was so late.  What was I thinking, delaying it till then?  Anyway, when I finished, I texted Andrew, in case he wanted a lift home.  But surely he was home already?  No.  He was just finishing some after work meeting thing.  So I took him home and caught up with him.  Yep - he is busy.  Next question?   Hahah.

Home to unload groceries and hang out the wash.  I guess I was a tiny bit productive.

Mike got home late after a good catch up with Josh.  We heard all about his news.  Well, Mike did.  Then when Mike got home, I heard it all.  Mike was very happy finally catching up with Josh.

Had a hopeless sleep.  The cats were both lying on my side of the bed.  I reckon it broke my sleep.

Serious home made iced latte pic

Changing the walls at work.  I am sure I can see Boba Fett

Cat magnet

Today sees a busy day at work. Apparently I am on a "speed dating" panel for a new programme of work.  Hoping like mad the other leads are way more interesting than me as a date.  Not super keen on this idea.  But - work makes you do things out of your comfort zone.

More grocery shopping needed tonight.  And Friday night will be cooking night for Saturday.  Hahah.

Have a great Thursday.

Love,

Angela