The weekend with skiing and AFL

 Hi,

What a great weekend - I am so pleased Mike and Janine convinced me to come up for the Saturday.  And that Andrew decided to tag along.  I wouldn't have been keen if it was just me driving back late on Saturday.  But with Andrew deciding to do the day trip with me, it was all on.

Up at 3.20am and in the shower to wake me up.  Mike and I were on the road by 4am.  Headed up SH1 followed by Janine and Andrew not too far behind us.  Mike got petrol at Levin and scrubbed the windscreen as it was smeary.  It was a much easier drive after that.

Dawn at Peach Teats

We met up at Ohakune and moved our ski gear into Janine's car and Andrew drove us up the hill.  We were stopped for a bit low down as they managed the car parks.  Level 2 Delta means the mountain could only take half the usual punters.

But we were up and on Movenpick before 9am.  Janine stayed at base to wait for the firm conditions to thaw a bit.  Good call as my first few runs were a bit yucky.  My skis are great in powder and heavy crud.  But when it is firm pack, I am nowhere near aggressive enough to make them work.  They clatter around like the chicken riding them lets them.  Or something.

But by 11am the snow was softening and we could ski anywhere.  And it was superb.  Totally the best.

The 3.30am start was a bit much for Mike

Bluebird

Water break

Working?

Andrew looking relaxed

Selfie

Who is that masked man?

We didn't stop for lunch or anything.  On our last run we somehow all got split up but Andrew and I ended up on High Noon for the last run of the day.  Brilliant.

Meanwhile on Sunday Mike headed into tiger country.
Can you spot Amy?
Can you spot Amy's ski?

Got down to the car by 4.30pm.  Andrew and I switched over the the Subaru in Ohakune, got an eclair and set off at 5.30pm.  The drive down to Wellington was easy - no delays at all.  I dropped Andrew home by 9pm.

Fed the cats when I got home and fell asleep pretty fast.

Cats on the bed

Up for a shower and brekkie before AFL.  We played as the Saints - which wasn't expected.  But we won - so there is that!  

After the game.  The young woman towering next to me turns 15 next week

Got my WAFL hoodie

Back home and watched some movies before Mike got home around 9.30pm.  He also had a good drive back after another awesome day on the mountain.

Up Monday to find out Quentin isn't well after a poor sleep - so no PT for me this morning.  Misty day of light rain out there.  No wind.

Hope your day is a good one.  And the week holds good things in store.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with work

 Hi,

Happy birthday Dad.  Missing you.

Busy day at work on Thursday.  Mopping up after quarterly planning day - making sure the work looks good for all and sundry.  At least - that is what I tell myself.  Delusion is a lovely thing when used correctly.  Hahahah.

Both cats found a spot on me last night

Mike and I took the bus home together.  First time in level 2 we have caught a bus home.  We went for a 13 as they are usually quieter than other bus options.  And so it proved.

Home and Mike cooked burgers for tea.  Fell into bed not too long after that, really.  

Lovely Friday morning.  The weekend looks action packed.  Up at 3.30am tomorrow to head up to Turoa for a day skiing.  Mike and Janine will stay on for Sunday.  Andrew will come too - yay!  But Andrew and I will drive back Saturday evening.  The snow is looking good up there and I hope the weather holds so we can get out on the mountain.  There are restrictions in numbers due to level 2 covid delta so we need to be in the queue super early.

So no boot camp for us tomorrow.  AFL game for me at Hutt Park on Sunday - 11am.  Come down to watch.

Have a lovely Friday and an even better weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with a walk home

 Hi,

After a huge day at work, and a catch up with Barb to get ready for an early meeting this morning (Thu), Barb suggested we walk home.

Barb tackles the steep Garden Road steps

View on the way up

Brilliant idea.  The evening was warm enough that I just needed my hoodie.  Barb took me up behind Clifton Tce car park and under Aurora Tce to Bolton.  We popped out in the gardens.  Very pleasant.  Then we tackled the Garden Road steps.  Steep steps.  Barb was like a goat getting up them.

Me?  Not so much.  The view on the way was superb and Barb pointed out some landmarks.  We separated at the top and she wandered home (she lives not far from Northland school) and I walked back Mairangi Rd way.  Met Mike coming to meet me.

Spoke to Kaustubh and Aparajita before a lovely dinner from Mike.  Headed to my late meeting.  Then finished that and went to bed.  Quite tired after a big work day.

Up Thursday for the early bus and a PT session with Quentin.  Leg day.  Groan!

Going to meet Krishna for lunch today at Higher Taste to say goodbye.  She's heading to India to have her baby with her family around her.  Good on her.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday working from home

 Hi,

Busy day at work - lucky I was working at home and it was an easy commute.  Hahahah.

Smudge lounging in the sun

Mike and I finished work and headed across town towards Newtown for the AFL training night.  Gorgeous weather.  Cold.  But no wind at all.  Mike ran 7km around the park while we trained for 90 mins.  The last 30 mins he huddled in the car as the sun set and the temperatures plummeted.

I had such fun.  There were about 14 or 15 of us.  The most I have seen for a training night.  My kicking has gone backwards so I need to practise lots.  Hahah.  We warmed up.  Did drills.  Played a game of "keeping off". 

Wandered home.  Had a bath to warm us both up.  Fell into bed and had the best sleep for a while.  Up for a trip into town for work.  It's our busy quarterly planning day today.  Loads of work.

Hope your day is a brilliant one.

Love,

Angela

The Monday at work

 Hi,

Had a busy day at work.  Did get away for a short lunch with Juliet - I do like the Mojo haloumi BAPs.  Mmmmm.

Ange was heading home so I got a lift with her.  Lovely chance to unwind and chat to her as she negotiated the traffic.

Made tea with Mike.  Okay - he made tea.  Leftovers from the freezer.  Mmmm.  Had a late meeting so I did that.

Derp

Off to bed.  Not a bad sleep.  Up for PT session with Quentin.  Mike drove me in for my 7am.  I grabbed the keys off him when he started his 7.30am.  I went to Thorndon New World to do our shopping we had put off from last night.  Mike scootered to me.  We finished up and drove home and had breakfast.

At work now.  WFH.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington with lots of things

 Hi,

The weekend was fun and full of random events.  Started with boot camp Saturday under the eaves of TSB as it was raining a bit.  Great fun.  Then off to Mojo to meet Sally and Andrew for the brekkie deal.

How many chilli flakes is too many?

2 for 1 brekkie @ Mojo on Saturday

Candid iced latte

Mike and I dropped into Mitre10 Mega to try and get some black Expol for the Epuni unit to insulate the floors.  But they had none - place was heaving.  But all social distanced with masks.  

Back to the unit to finish the plastic and start taping and sticking it down.

The crypt is shrouded in black

Mike did a wonderful job.  At around 3pm Sally and Andrew dropped by with scones (two different ones as a taste test) and lunch.  Wraps with avocado, hummus and tomatoes.  Mmmm.

Off home not too long after that.  

Nice sleep.  Clocks went forward.  We had a relaxing morning until I tickled Mike at the dining table and his spasm of ticklishness meant he slammed my head into the table.  I have a wee bruise on my forehead now.  Then I dropped Mike in town and headed to Totara Park for the first AFL game of the season.

What fun that was.  6 a side is hard work though.  So much running.  No subs.  Woot!  The ground at Totara park was a bit boggy.  I took an unexpected mark right by the goal.  But my surprise gave time for a defender and then I missed a sitter.  I need to start practising more.  Training is back to Tuesdays.  Here we go - bring it on.

Back to Gorilla Burger in Miramar to meet Mike who had run there via Bunnings and Janine who had run there from Karori.  At Bunnings, Mike had got Janine a drill for her house warming present.  Good work!

We went from there to the Mini coffee bar and enjoyed an iced latte in the sun.  Dropped Janine off at her old house and then headed to Island Bay to meet Elly.

Getting an iced latte @ Mini 

Elly had to walk around in her uniform to have a presence at the marine reserve there.  So we wandered along with her, chatting away.

Island Bay tour of duty

Mini iced latte - so, so good

Feet take on Island Bay

Cute paua shell colours

Then to a pub called  Brew'd in the main street of Island Bay for a late lunch with Elly.  Mike and I headed home after that and basically fell into bed not too much later.

Nice sleep.  Rainy weather for Monday.  Up for the 6.16 bus and dead lifts with Quentin.  Then into work for me.

Hope your day is a good one.  Mike will meet me at the supermarket after work as we need some groceries.

Take care.  Love,

Angela  

The Thursday with a busy day

 Hi,

Thursday was so busy.  Hahah.  I had meetings from 11.30 to 3.45pm and decided the cafe at work would tide me over if I went at 11.20.  They had hardly anything for my vegetarian diet.  I found the vegan sausage rolls - two of them in the warmer.  They are pretty good.  So I bought one of them.  Went back to my desk.  About to get stuck into my work again and took a bite.

What the...?  It was a meat sausage roll.  And how yucky was it?  So, so bad.  Made me super glad I make vegetarian choices. It was unbelievably salty.  I popped the sausage roll back into the paper bag with my bite taken out of it.  I had run out of time to get anything to eat and was looking at quite a few hours before my next break.

But Ange jumped to my rescue.  Ate the meaty sausage roll.  Found Dave's leaving snacks and got me a ham and cheese croissant that I could easily pull out the ham from.  So I ate that in my meetings.  And then Ange gave me half of her delicious home-made salad.  Tricolore.  Mmmmm.  Thank you Ange.

Work iced latte

At the other end of my day, Ange drove me home.  I feel like Thursday was just an entire day of Ange rescuing me, really.

Hahah.

Cooked tea when I got home.  

Omelette dinner

As we finished, we heard some weird noises in our wall.  Sure enough, sounded like a bird was stuck somewhere.

Moxley hears the bird in the wall

Mike got out the ladder and went into the attic space to see if he could help the situation.  But we think the bird sensed the approach of a massive predator (Mike - not Moxley - she stayed with me) and went silent.

Climbs the ladder looking for Mike and the bird

What does she hear?

We went to bed after that and slept the sleep of the dead.  Up leisurely this morning as I am working from home today.  Short commute means a little sleep in.

The weekend is fast approaching.  Boot camp tomorrow.  Then more work at Epuni to get the plastic taped down and stuck in place.  And maybe some Xpol under the floor between the joists.  Should make a huge difference to the unit for warmth.

Mike and Janine intend to do a run somewhere.  I might do a shorter one or ride my bike.  :-)

Have a lovely weekend.

Love,

Angela