The Thursday (and Wednesday) of Christmas week

 Hi,

How did work get this busy in Christmas week?  So busy I forgot to blog!  Hahah.  Thursday morning saw me catch up with Maureen for a brekkie at The Lab.  But I didn't review her pic of me, so I now have a less-than-perfect capture of me, mid sentence.  We had a great brekkie - and I heard about her adventures in the 80s in a campervan around Europe.  Sounded like a lot of ours.

This is why I should review the iced latte pics.  

Also caught up for an iced latte a bit later with Barb.  And Ange.  Second iced latte for the day.  Enough for now.  But we did have a great scenic backdrop for the second one.

Barb took a good one with kina in the background

Close up

Sally had to cancel our lunch date.  We'll catch up post Christmas for brunch.  And save Higher Taste for the New Year.

It meant I could drive the car with Mike to the Bluebridge ferry terminal (and fill it with fuel before) to meet Iona and Col.  Their ferry was delayed so I missed them by 5 mins.  Mike stayed and handed the car over - they are on their way up north for a bit.

Iona and Col arrive - but I missed them by 5 mins

Back at work for a busy set of meetings.  But I also caught up with William as we were twinning the clothes - needed a pic of that.

William and me - twins!

And to catch up with Wednesday news.  Well, I can't recall back that far.  But looking at pics, I had an iced latte with Barb and Juliet - with a Pravda scone. They are really good on our scone taste tests.  Always consistent and excellent.

Iced latte with Barb the day before!  Honest!  I didn't have 3 yesterday!

This is my Christmas lunch.  Where's yours?

Wednesday Toby and I headed out after work to collect our My Food Bag box for Christmas lunch from Sally and Andrew.  And I have outsourced the cheesecake to Ange.

As we were driving back to town, Toby saw a Grand Via van and said:  Nice van.

I dissolved into giggles.  If you know us, you know.

We also jumped into New World to stock up.  It was busy and Toby decided we'd double bluffed ourselves and late on a Wednesday everyone was at New World to beat the Christmas rush.  But looking at social media it was worse on Thursday night.  Toby - I think we nailed it!

So now it is Christmas Eve.  I have a half day at work.  With... wait for it... no meetings at all.  I think Mike's day off in my work calendar means it looks like I am not here.  So no one has booked anything.  There is no one here, tbh.

So, last blog entry for 2021.  Off until Jan 10.  Plans include Christmas lunch with the whanau.  Off to Blenheim on the 29th for NYs.  I'd like to make a butt for archery at home.  I need to water blast the garage.  Might do some decluttering.  Want to make sure I still go to the gym despite no PT sessions.  

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Years.  2021 was... a year to remember.  Like 2020, really.  Let's see what 2022 has for us.  Besides a 20 year old son.  :-o  A lot has changed in those 20 years - that is for sure.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with a catch up with old mates

 Hi,

Busy day at work yesterday but Barb did sneak out to get me an iced latte so I have a pic from that.  I was on a meeting and couldn't get away with her.  But it was a perfect accompaniment to the digital work I was trying to get sorted.  :-)

Iced latte courtesy of Barb

After work we had a wee party for a project we had during the year that was successful.  We sat in a room together and opened a parcel.  I had ginger ale and lots of goodies.

Then Mike and I wandered over to Fork and Brewer and met up with Mark, Arthur and Dave to hear all about their latest events in their lives and the fun they've had at work.  Heard about Christmas plans.  It was such a good evening catching up with them.

I finally managed to drag Mike away from the good chats and nice beers and we grabbed a tonne of stuff from work (cleared out the wardrobe with our clothes - that sort of thing).  Ubered home.  

Fell into bed and had a good sleep.  Up for a nice brekkie with Mike and bus in for another day at work.

Enjoy your Wednesday.

Love,

Angela

The Monday that feels like it surely was at least a Tuesday if not a Wednesday

 Hi,

So the cafe at work has closed up shop already for the year.  This means no iced lattes within shuffling distance of my desk.  And yesterday was a bit too busy for venturing further afield as I had a meeting from 9 - 1pm.  Or was it longer?  It was a blur.

Got chocolates from Barb

I did get chocolates from Barb.  Sigh.  She's lovely.  She had so many to give out.  And a wee note on them all.  Thank you.

I did get a late lunch break where Barb and I rushed around the shops in Lambton Quay getting stocking fillers (and Barb got more chocolates for some that missed out).

After work we headed to Bin44 for some drinks.  Caught up with a bunch of people.  Ange came too - and she had her car below work.  So just before it garnered another $4 for the next hour, we all jumped in (Barb, Juliet, Ange and me) and exited.  Headed for the suburbs, dropping off people.  Great fun!

Finally dropped Ange at her house and walked back home.  Fed the cats.  Mike and Toby got home from the dentist.  And by then it was so late - I went to bed.

Such gusty strong wind.  Wow.

Another big day.  Saw Quentin this morning.  Failed my 40kg bench.  Sigh.  Got a late session on Thursday with him.  4.45pm.

Going to meet my old colleagues after work today.

So social.

Have an awesome day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington

 Hi,

After the rain all last week it was lovely to see Saturday clear, warm and sunny.  After a lazy start to our day (no boot camp) I decided to wash the outside of the house.

Perfect day for it.  Toby helped a lot - he especially enjoyed the water blaster.  The front porch now looks brand new again.

Dirty wet scratched legs

It was tricky doing the sides of the house as it is so high.  At one point I had to fight my way through Juliette's garden to get into a good position.  That garden is so grown up now it was hard to find my way through.  I see a job for the Christmas break for me there.  Get out and prune and clear some of it.

Is that really comfortable?

Sunday we headed into town for the new Spider-Man movie.  No way home.  And it was ... amazing.  (See what I did there?)

Best Spider-Man movie for a long time.  I am not going to say "ever".  Because Tobey Maguire's reboots were great back in the day.  But this one ties a lot up in a perfect character arc bow.  

Model cat

Feed me

Moxley was funny when we were relaxing on our bed and it was her dinner time.  Mike is the supplier of food so he copped the insistent paw tapping to suggest it was now time for her food.

It worked.

Up on Monday for a big day at work.  Come on!  Oosshh.

Have a great week.

Love,

Angela

The Thursday with cancellations in my life

 Hi,

My Thursday was typified by cancellations.  Hahah.  And humid weather.  More humidity today (Friday) and hopefully no cancellations.

Dinner

Thursday saw some stupid free people mass together to protest their lack of freedom.  I have decided that I might have sympathy for people actually incarcerated doing some sort of protest against treatment or conditions or something to get recognition for some plight.  But if you are in one of the most freest of countries in the world that has escaped a lot of the ravages of covid, and you are putting others at risk with stupid decision-making, I just see that as stupidity.  And maybe actually negligent.  Malicious.  Well, a lot of ill-feeling in general flowing from me to them.

Anyway.  This blog is generally about what I have for lunch.  Which brings me to my first cancellation.  :-)  Sally was due to meet me for lunch.  But she was on one side of the covid protest march and I was on the other side of the tide of stupidity.  Sally oozes common sense and knew she should not brave the covidiots.  So she stayed safe at work as did I.

I went to grab lunch with Mike and Barb at Mojo next to work.  Mike grabbed a Mevo car and drove out to Lower Hutt to help his mum with her next project - replacing her windows with double glazing. 

Then as the afternoon wore on, we had some colleagues in our team pull out of the intended dinner after work.  So that was cancelled in favour of something in the New Year.  Good decision there.

It coincided with chaos on the home front when Toby realised Thursday was the deadline for some student loan admin for next year.  Our chat exploded with talk of how to resolve this unexpected issue at 4pm on a Thursday.

So I left on a bus after my last meeting.  Had to run for it.  Lost my water bottle as I lurched down the street.  Stopped to retrieve it.  Ran some more and jumped on.  As I situated myself in my seat and scanned in, I read the chat.  Confusion reigned.  Mike was asking if I could drive the Focus home from near the GPs instead of taking the bus.  Ummm.  No.  I had no key.  He said he had the key in his pocket.

Well, to me that was very odd.  Wasn't he home or heading there after being in Lower Hutt as per the last info in the chat?  So I stayed on the bus as I could do nothing.  And I had earned that bus with my running efforts.

Got home just as Toby and Mike pulled up in the Focus.  Huh?

Turns out that Toby's Student Loan admin had necessitated a run to the WINZ office to manually sight documentation. Mike had headed home and taken Toby into town to do all the admin.  And he had a session with mates so wanted me to come and drive the car and Toby home.  And he would have given me the key.

I had no clue.  They had failed to tell me that part.  I just thought there was some random reason why there was a car in town.  Because, I dunno... Gilbert plans!

Anyway.  Mike caught the bus back into town.  And I cooked tea for me and Toby.  And then relaxed for the evening.

Mike got home by Uber with 6% battery left.  He was expounding the various scanning techniques and processes at a few of the pubs he visited.  I think he now has a ranking system.  Hey day was the best by far - an efficient process at the door to check scan-ins, check vax passes, spot checking ID against the vax pass. Mike showed me the stamp he was issued on his wrist from that establishment.

Sleep.  Then up for early bus with Mike.  He's off to his Friday brekkie.  I am at work.

The weekend is coming.  We have dinner tonight at Wolf.  I am assured they have a vegetarian option.  Then Christmas shopping over the weekend.  Not a lot else on.

Yay.

I hope you have a lovely Friday and an even better weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with more spin

 Hi,

Managed to get a work iced latte in - thank you for supplying those to me Puni.  Merry Christmas.

Work iced latte

Cheers Puni!

After a busy day at work I hurtled out to get to Spin at the gym before heading home for my last meetings of the day.

Got to Spin after work

It all worked out fine.  Got home and had time to make toast before my meeting.  And tidied up before going to bed.

Mike got home after his gym session with Quentin.  He chatted to Toby and then Toby cooked himself some tea.

Yes, it was a bit chaotic.

Slept well.  Up for gym.  Got one more on Tuesday and then Quentin is on hols until mid Jan.  Got a work thing tonight - just for the team.  Not sure if they are joking when they suggested we could do karaoke.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with karaoke

 Hi,

Huge day.  It started well with Juliet getting me an iced latte from her bagel trip with Roanne.  Winning the caffeine race from the get-go.

After a full on day at work, Celia drove me and Angie to kZone for a karaoke night with our friends from our last work.

Mike was coming but at the last minute went home to chill with Toby.  

We got to KZone at 5.45pm but it was closed and not opening until 6pm.  So we trotted over to Joe's Garage to see if we could eat or have a drink ahead of getting a karaoke slot.

Juliet got me an Ugly Bagel iced latte

But as we were perusing the menu Akshatha said we had a 6pm slot.  So we booked for afterwards and headed over.

Had such an awesome time singing with everyone.  Celia and Angie, obviously. Khemry.  Akshatha and Preeti on her first night out on the town without her wee one.  Pritesh held the fort admirably, I am sure.

Karaoke!

A few songs I had no clue about.  But I did a rendition of Merry Christmas, Baby by Bruuuuce.  Knocked it out of the park!

Okay.  Maybe in my mind.

Late iced latte at Joe's Garage.  Decaff.  Hahah

Dinner after karaoke

$30 for the hour from 6 - 7pm.  Great value for the fun we all had.  Off to Joe's and a dinner there.  I love chatting to all these women.  So smart.  Makes me a happy woman.  

Celia was kind enough to drop me off home.  So I was home at 8.30pm or so.  Said hi to my boys.  They had made themselves Louisiana Fried Chicken and mashed potatoes.  The kitchen still bore evidence of the efforts.

Off to bed but I stupidly read for ages.  Slept like a log once I did go to sleep though.  Hahah.  Up to find more rain.  

Going to try and fit spin in after work today.  Yes!

And I have my haircut at 12pm today.  Sweet.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,

Angela