The Monday back at work

 Hi,

After landing back in Wellington yesterday, it was good to come back to earth with a hard day at work.  The cats were a joy as they obviously had missed us - in their cat way.

Okay - maybe it was me that missed them.

Seeing off Tenzing

We decided to brush off the BBQ and have an enjoyable dinner outside.  I was getting ready for my day in town on Tuesday and Mike had got the BBQ ready, prepped and cooked tea.  I basically came outside and sat down and ate.

It's that time of year

Mike made bread.  This is heaven

Nom, nom

Sun cat and shade cat

Mike had put bread on in anticipation of delicious asparagus sandwiches for tea.  And yes, they were scrumptious.  He had venison sausages and I did not mind the separation on the BBQ at all.

Had a restless sleep.  Maybe we do need the summer duvet on now?  Better sort that out.

Up for PT session at the gym and as Quentin has finished his competition (he got 3 comp PBs and came 6th - wow!) we started boxing again.  Yes, it was hard work.  Yes, it was fun.

Working from work today.  Ooohhh.  Social.  Hahah.

Have a fantastic day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend cycling in Nelson

 Hi,

What an awesome weekend away to Nelson.  Thank you Sally for organising loads of it.  And thank you Nelson Cycle Hire for providing excellent service and bikes.  

Sally and Andrew collected us from our place early on Saturday.  Sally had prepaid for the car park so the system let us into the covered parking building (mostly) and we were in out of the driving rain pretty fast from there.

Coffee and a bagel for me and Mike and then onto the plane.  Short flight (25 mins air time) to Nelson and landed in sunshine.

Wellington airport iced latte

Nelson airport iced latte

Got changed into our bike gear at the airport and then waited for JR to arrive at Nelson Cycle Hire.  Walked over there to meet him and Tess and get decked out with suitable bikes.  I got a new hybrid eBike.  Made in NZ.  Upright position, soft seat.  [After the weekend, I am totally sold on an eBike - wow!].

Vicki and Alistair arrived with their bikes and car (they parked there car outside the airport for the day) and sorted out their gear.

We loaded everything into the trailer and JR set off for Tapawera.  This is where we began our first day adventure.  60 kms stretched ahead of us.  Blue skies above us.  We helped JR get all the bikes off the trailer and before too long, around 11am, we were off.

Andrew immediately hit an issue with his gears.  He and Alistair sorted that out and Andrew joined us all by the time we got to the Hidden Sculpture gardens.  Andrew was the only one of us on a normal bike.  But Andrew certainly had no issues keeping up with us even with not a lot of time in the saddle in the past year.  :-o

The gardens were lovely.  Quiet, with art works through a big, peaceful garden area.  And a gallery.  Then past Kotahu (where we could have stopped for something to eat if we wanted) and onto Spooners tunnel.  Lovely long (1.3km) cool (like maybe 10 degrees cooler) and dark tunnel.  My light on my bike came on automatically in the dark.  But I also had a head torch (not that I could tell).

We're off - Tapawera in the background somewhere

Hapless selfie

This is the life

Spooners tunnel

Out of Spooners for a long downhill where I could easily crank the eBike up to 5 (whatever that assistance level really meant) and in top gear I was easily sitting on 42km/hr.  But it did end in a gate just around a curve at the bottom - so you need to pay attention to the "! " sign.

Random track

We stopped at a cafe called Villa (I think) in Wakefield for some yummy late lunch.  We were there around 2.15pm and their kitchen was closed but the cabinet food was good (that closed at 3pm).  Quiche all round. And ginger beer.

Tootling along

Looking staunch

Bridge

From here we rode to the airport and dropped off bikes for an overnight recharge.  Alistair kindly shuttled us to the motel - Beachcomber.  And we had our bags there as JR had dropped them off earlier that day.

Nice room for $108.  Huge bed!  Forceful shower.  Once clean and dressed in non bike gear we walked 50m to the Sprig and Fern for a superb dinner.  Yum!  Some of us may have consumed alcohol too.

Off to our rooms and I think some of us were probably asleep by 8.30pm.  Hahahah.

Up at a lazy time to meet at a cafe for 8am.  Raglan Roast for a very good iced latte (been here before and I do like this place.  One day I hope I can spend more time here).  Then next door at The Sands for a very capable brekkie.  Scrambled eggs on toast for $10.  All good.

Then off to the airport to get the bikes and jump in the van with JR for day 2 drop off.  

Raglan Roast iced latte.  Mmmmm

This time we were dropped off outside a SouthFuels petrol station in Sarau.  Probably also around 11am like the day before.  We explored some lovely back roads.  

Settlers cottage 

Gravity - very nice

We meant to try some wine at Gravity but the setting and menu looked so good, we got a cheese platter for 2 between the 6 of us.  When it arrived, it looked so good we got another one.  And it would have been one of the best cheese platters I have ever had.  Big pieces of cheese.  Soft, hard and a a blue.  Nice break.  Chutneys.  Yep.  Well done.

Casting nasturtiums 

Intrepid cyclists

From here we headed to Mapua and got onto the ferry at 2pm (we only waited for 10 mins!).  Then across Rabbit Island and around some new boardwalks to the Eddyline pub.  What a fantastic find that place was - because their spinach and artichoke cheese dip was so good!

We sat outside in the sun and shade and had a few drinks and a few dips.  Mmmmm.  Then back on the bikes and around to the airport to pop the bikes away at Nelson Cycle Hire.

Rabbit Island beach

Riding, riding

Hapless selfie # 2

Cycling selfie

After dropping the bikes off, Mike and I walked to the roundabout outside the airport grounds and got an uber to our accommodation.  U Boutique on Haven Road.  Sally and Andrew got dropped off by Alistair and Vicki (they continued to Blenheim and home).  Showered and popped into Countdown and then rang for a taxi to Anita and JR's house.

Skull island for Toby

Met Ali and Ally, Bill and Betty - all there to celebrate JR's birthday.  Stunning food with a backdrop to match as the sunset on a glorious day.

Sunset from Anita and JR's house

Moon and Venus peeping out

Selfie # 3

Taxi back to U Boutique and off to bed.  Probably 10pm before I fell asleep.  Up at 5.30am (oohh) to get ready for the taxi at 6am for our 7am flight to Wellington.

Left Nelson in beautiful weather.  Flew over low cloud from Blenheim to Wellington.  Sunny in Wellington but the drive up to our house meant we entered a cloud again.  Hahah.  Sally and Andrew dropped us off and we said hello to the cats and started work.

Fantastic weekend.  Superb customer service and bikes.  Great company.  I did not want to return home.  Hahah.

Have a good week ahead, all.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with aikido after work

 Hi,

Worked from home on Thursday.  Mike was in the office in town.  This left only one lap for Moxley to sit on during the day.  Hahahah.

Moxley chose my lap

After work Mike got home with a new chili plant from Roanne.  Yes!  Let's see if we can protect this one so it gets to maturity.  Our garden is in a brilliant sunny spot.  But it gets the wind too.  :-(  Something as fragile as a chili plant needs some protection.

We had some dinner before I headed off to collect Celia from her house and go to aikido.  Just 4 punters tonight.  It is good fun, I have to say.  I cannot roll over though - my inner kid is buried deep.  I must try and practice.  Anyhow - next week is the last week of the course and the sensei is coming along.  Quite excited at this prospect.

Headed home via the New World to get some provisions.

I am almost packed for the weekend away to Nelson, cycling to Spooner tunnel.  If Sally reads this she may realise I have no clue what I have really signed up for.  Hahahah.  She'll be like:  But it isn't just Spooner tunnel...

My bad.  But also - yay for surprises.  :-p

I do know we need to be on a very early flight to Nelson tomorrow morning and coming back early Monday morning.  There!  I totally have this covered.

Have a lovely weekend.  See you Monday.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with a long day at work

 Hi,

My day was a busy one at work.  Made better by enjoying some time outs with my colleagues.  Especially Theresa - she hardly ever comes into work.  So seeing her was a big treat.

Next time I know she is coming in, I will totally shampoo my hair beforehand.  (Inside joke.  But there you go).

Eating my way through Wednesday

Yep!

Caught an Uber home with Barb after the demo session.  Got home around 9pm and found Mike happily singing away to some Meatloaf and contemplating singing lessons.

I know what to buy him for Christmas now.

Hahahah.  He didn't stop once we went to bed either.  I had to endure things like covers of Meatloaf songs by the likes of Dolly Parton.  Loudly.  While I was in bed trying to read.

The things I have to endure.

Have a lovely Thursday.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with AFL training

 Hi,

After working from home yesterday, I got away with Mike at 5.15pm to head across town for AFL training.  Not a bad run.  We stopped to get some beer from Garage Project in Aro (Mike found it somewhere and loved it, so bought some from the source!) and still got to the park 10 mins early.

Cats side by side almost friendly

We had about 11 of us for the training evening.  It was good fun, like usual.  Mike did a light run of 5km around the park while we trained.

Afterwards, we headed to The Ramen Shop with Elly to enjoy a bowl of ramen.  Headed home after that and tucked up into bed.

Up for the 7.30am bus and brekkie with Roanne and Juliet and Callan at the bagel shop.  Mmmm.  Bagels.

Iced latte at Ugly Bagels

I found some friends, Ma!

We joked that my mother will be pleased to see that I have some friends.  Hahahah.  It was lovely.

Long day at work today.  But exciting stuff.  Demo of a new drop of functionality from a vendor.  Woot!

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday back at work

 Hi,

Working from home yesterday.  And today for that matter.  The cats were very cute - hanging around and sleeping by me as I worked.

Smudge on the router

Smudge covers her face to sleep

Wearing Mike's hoodie

Mike got home after work and we ate some dinner and then chilled on the couch.  Off to bed and a reasonable sleep before getting up for my 1 hour PT session at the gym.

Tuesday iced latte after PT session

Drove home and Mike had a plate of porridge ready for me.  Awwwww.

Working from home.  AFL training after work tonight.  Arms dead from bench (I was hopeless - it has been a while since I did bench) and then chest accessories.  

Hope your day is a good one.  Toby has an exam tomorrow (at the uni - not online).  Hoping the covid situation remains fairly unchanged so that can happen.

Love,

Angela

The weekend with no trip down south

 Hi,

With a quick change in plans for the weekend, we ended up at home in Wellington.  Mike spent Saturday morning in bed, still recovering from his migraine.  I went to boot camp and enjoyed a tough session.

Caught up with Celia and Andrew in the afternoon and made plans to go to Days Bay and head into the hills to find the awesome wee camping spot Andrew and I previously found.  Some off track work.

Walk with Celia and Andrew

Sign?  What sign?

I love this place

Where to next?

I think Celia really enjoyed the walk.  It wasn't as tough as some of the off track walks I have done with Andrew.  I think it was 3 hours of fun with an iced latte and date scone at the end of it.  Choice!

 

Mmmmm.  Not bad.

Up Sunday morning and off to meet Ange and Celia for brunch at Egmont St Eatery.  Mmmm.

Egmont St Eatery iced latte

Scrumptious

Mike ran 18km while I was indulging in food.  He made good time and is going to ace the Kapiti half in two weeks.   And then we dropped Ange home, and headed out to Janine's to collect the trailer.  Dropped into see Sally and Andrew for a cup of tea.  Then home via a huge queue at Countdown to get lollies for Halloween (there was a queue of people and hardly any lollies left).

Getting ready for Halloween

Batteries in

Gorgeous if windy evening for it

On brand

Witch fell out of the tree and ended up being more scary

Sat up feeding a steady trickle of kids in various costumes.  I think Mike secretly enjoys this.  Toby meanwhile had gone all out at Steph and Sam's place with decorating and only had one lot of kids come.  They got the family blocks of chocolate.  Hahahah.

Toby.  You are too cute.

Right.  Time to kick off the week.  Got Women's RWC tickets for opening day on Oct 8th, 2022.  Oosshh!

Have a great week.

Love,

Angela