The weekend with stuff and AFL

 Hi,

Busy weekend - but with lots of little things really.  Did get an iced latte lunch date on Friday with a woman at work (with a unique name - so no names here!).  Good fun to catch up with her (and Mike) and Mojo.

Iced latte lunch with JL

We met Manisha, Saurabh and Sarthak for dinner at Higher Taste and really enjoyed ourselves.  Wee Sarthak is just over 2 and a half and is so talkative and engaging.  Manisha and Saurabh must be very proud.

Off home afterwards and into bed.  Up for boot camp on Saturday and it was a gorgeous morning.  Frank Kitts park was the place to be at 8.30am.

Boot camp

Garden

Headed to Mitre10 to get some Expol (finally).  Met Sally and Andrew and walked with Sally to Zany Zeus to pick up coffees and a few things.

Zany Zeus cafe stop

Tea time

Andrew joined us at Epuni and between him and Mike they got all the plastic wrapped and taped.  I nipped out to town for my spa appointment and back - they were still down there.  The rain came down too.  But all good.

In the basement area

Plastic all taped up

We had dinner with Sally and Andrew (deliver Easy - Turkish - yummy).  Headed home.  Slept well.  Up for AFL on Sunday morning.

The Saints lost by 3 points to the Tigers.  We have new kit and new names from next week.  Took home the guernseys for the washing duties.  :-)

Home in the afternoon and planted out the chillie plant and fingers crossed that survives.  :-)

In the garden

AFL washing!

Sarah, Hamish and Ryan came over and we had pizza for dinner with them.  The evening was stunning and we ate on the deck.

Pizza on the deck

Gorgeous evening

Moxley looking contemplative

I am in this pic - with a 7 on my back

Fell asleep and up for PT session.  Bench this morning.  37.5kg.  It was ok.

Enjoy your week ahead.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with aikido and what was I thinking?

 Hi,

Mike and I both worked from home yesterday.  The cats like it when that happens.

Curled in the tightest of tight balls

Sleeping next to us as we work 

The solar panel salesperson came to talk us through installing solar panels.  We got a lot of material and a quote by the end of the day.  $12k (and another $18k for a battery tower).  We will definitely think hard on this.

Artist's impression

After work I headed to Celia's place at 6.30pm to pick her up for a women's course in beginners aikido.  She showed off her bathroom.  I took a picture of her linen cupboard because it is aspirational.

Celia's linen cupboard is amazing

Celia and James are propagating triffids

Celia and I drove to the aikido dojo.  We parked in a street where we could seethe dojo across the park.  Turns out we probably were closer from Celia's house.  Hahahah

The aikido course was such fun.  It's in a dojo in York Park ( behind some houses across the road from Zany Zeus).  There would have been about 20 women, from early 20s to maybe my age.  The woman running it would be 10 years older, maybe.  Not sure.  But it was hilarious and fun.

We learned a few steps and moves and tried some rolls.  Turns out I am really quite hopeless at this.  But I might have finally got the hang of a few things.

Dropped Celia home and popped in for a cup of tea at Sally and Andrew's place.

After aikido cup of tea

When I got home, Mike was staring proudly at the new downlights in the stairwell.  They haven't worked for about 5 years.  They were really bright.

You need sunglasses in our stairwell now

I need to take the carpet up now I can see how yucky it is.  Hahah.

Weekend is coming fast.  Boot camp.  Epuni plastic work.  My eyebrows.  Then Sunday is AFL day.  Woot!

Have a great weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with a work dinner

 Hi,

Busy times.  This post is not a "good morning" post at all.  It's a "good afternoon" post.  And yesterday I seem to have only taken photos of Moxley.  Hahahah.

Moxley!

She's looking like her kitten self here

Mike and I went to Espresso Ninja after work and dropped off our Gaggia basket.  And in late breaking news today (Thursday) it looks like we are in the market for a new coffee machine.  Boo!  That Gaggia has seen us right since about 2005 when we bought it in Melbourne.  I guess it doesn't owe us much after such sterling service.  But now the decision is:  what do we replace it with?

Sigh.

I like my coffee machine.  And by that I mean I like using it to make Mike his coffee.  I hardly use it for myself.  I want one that is compact and makes a delicious crema as the Gaggia did.

Oh well.

We popped into Master Kong and waited outside on the harbour, enjoying the last of the sun before we went in for dinner.

Had dinner with Laura and Arnold from work.  Ate lots.  Phew.  Then the three of us went back to work while Mike went grocery shopping.

Mike kindly came to collect me when I was done.  Finished putting away groceries when we got back home and fell into bed.  Had a good sleep.  Up for online PT session.  Mike went in for his.

Thursday morning was busy.  Work.  Plus solar panel sales person came to talk to us.  Left us with pamphlets and other things to consider.

And now it is lunch time on Thursday.  So enjoy the rest of your day.  Take care.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with work and Ange's birthday lunch and AFL training

 Hi,

It was a happy birthday for Ange yesterday.  We went out to lunch at Arabica for Ange's birthday.  Celia, me, Barb and Juliet all joined Ange.  I think we all chose a brekkie meal for lunch.  Hahah.  Brekkie for the win.

Work iced latte

Happy birthday Ange

After work, Mike drove by and I packed up and got in the car.  We got to the AFL training park super early.  Like 50 mins early.  I kicked my footy around for a while before someone else turned up.  Mike started running and did 12 km while I was at training.  Wow!

We had another really good turnout of women.  Newbies seem to be turning up all the time.  And last night was stunning.  So still.  And a fog came in over the park as we trained.

Finished at 7.30pm and headed home.  Ate a quick meal and fell into bed.  Hopeless sleep.  But a sleep in and working from home.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,

Angela

The Monday back at work

 Hi,

Busy day at work - and working from home too.  Mike took in the Gaggia coffee machine to the Ninja Espresso fixer uppers.  Hopefully it won't be too long and we get it back.  It wasn't working at its best.

I got a present from Laura at work today.  Well, Mike got it on Friday but forgot.  Laura knows I like iced lattes and don't like the fact I get plastic straws.  So she got me a metal straw with a cleaner.  How cool is that?  I was pretty chuffed.

I got a present from Laura @ work

A metal straw and pipecleaner for my iced lattes!

Moxley cuddled up 

Gorgeous colour

My present from Laura

My day went late - a long meeting that kicked off at 6pm.  Sigh.  Happens when you have a vendor in Europe.  Hahah.  But I made tea beforehand - grilled asparagus and laksa noodle soup.  It was yummy.

Went to bed and slept well.  Up for PT session with Quentin.  He's okay today.  Did deadlifts.

Working at the office in town today.  Got AFL training after work.  It's all happening.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,

Angela

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