The Wednesday with the documentary movie night

 Hi,

Okay - I thought yesterday was cold. But that was a tropical day compared to the high of 7C with icy rain today.

Yesterday was nice though. Sunny and clear - but cold. I caught up with Preeti for a coffee at Smith the Grocer. Heard all her news - Vihaan and Pritesh are doing well. And she has got a promotion. So - yay! I hope they continue to #winatlife

Met up with Preeti!

Busy day at work. I know I say that vaguely almost every day. But Wednesday was a cracker. A major incident to manage - and Mike was involved. Hahah. But both of us were in the clear and just helping.

Phew! 

Also -- it got sorted.

After work we drove to Miramar and went to Fortunate Favours as we got there quite early. Enjoyed chips and a burger before Kara arrived. Then we went to the Roxy and she got a hot dog and mushroom balls. Which looked unusual in a combo. Hahahah.

Waiting for Exposure to start

Dodgy snacks for Kara

My feet and the Roxy curtain

The movie was a documentary called Exposure. The director, Holly, was there in the audience and did a Q&A afterwards too. This was about an expedition to the North Pole, on skis, with a bunch of women that applied to an ad for it.

VR experience at the start

1000 women applied - including Holly. They chose 10, excluding Holly. So she came on as the film director. They skied for 100kms over 10 days (they did it in 7 days in the end). It was such a lovely wee film. Connections, character arcs as they grew from the experience. And they got good weather.

They had a short VR experience you could try before the movie started. It was great fun to stick the goggles on and be on the sled with the team. Made the movie so much more visceral.

Work iced latte by the bucket

Back home and off to bed. Late night. Up at 5.30am to Mike's surprise - he was just up and didn't realise the time. He told me it was hosing down. So I switched to the bus instead of riding in. Good thing because it really is cold and wet.  A high of 7C. Did I mention that? Hahahah.

I even stayed longer on the bus so I could nip through buildings and walk along Lambton Quay to the gym.

Did 4 sets and 3 reps of 40kg on bench. Woot! Quentin says that means I can move up to 42.5 kg bench next time. OMG.

I did enjoy the hot shower at work after that. And got myself a bucket of iced latte. Kit, the barista, said there has not been a run on icy drinks this week. Well, no wonder. They are all too soft.

Have a great weekend. We're away on the ferry tomorrow. Off to Rainbow to ski. Hopefully all good after this cold snap dumps snow all over the motu.

Lots of love,

Angela

The Tuesday with a ride home for both of us

 Hi,

We are having such a cold snap. Good for the skifields. Busy day at work - and we played our Pool A foosball games.

Turns out Jill is some sort of foosball champion. I am definitely hanging off her coat tails here. We had a close game in match up 1. But that was my making - with own goals and deflections galore.

The second game was close too - but we lost that one by the slimmest of margins. Cheered on by Mike. Hahah.

But in a dramatic finish to pool games, the first team we played lost to the second team we played. So we are through to the semis. Awaiting the outcome of Pool B matches.

At 5pm Mike and I got ready to ride home. And it was raining. Those raindrops were cold. Freezing ones. And there was sleet and hail on the higher roads around the Wellington region.

Got wet on our ride home

We had soup and relaxed in the bath before watching the last of the R16 FIFAWWC games. I saw Colombia and Jamaica clash. Hard fought and anyone could have won it. But Colombia prevailed with a goal and Jamaica could not answer.

Fell asleep. Up to drive in. We had to scrape our windscreen! The frost had iced it over. The car is currently sitting on the road as we have all our ski gear in the garage.

Parked at Clifton Terrace. Mike went to the gym.

We're going to Miramar today to see "Exposure" - an expedition of women to the North Pole. Sounds intriguing. Kara will join us.

Right - hope you have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Monday with Mike riding his bike to work and me with Spin

 Hi,

Turns out I took no pics yesterday. Wow. Anyway, I worked from home. Obvs there is a serious lack of iced latte photo ops when I work from home.

Note: I must do better

Busy day and then drove out to collect Barb from work before going to Spin. And I also forgot to take a photo of that.

Imagine me all hot and sweaty. There - done!

Drove back home and as I parked up on Mairangi (the garage is full of ski gear and whatnot) Mike rode home. Yes, he rode in and out for the first time in forever.

Tonight was all about football. Made tea. Then got comfortable and watched Nigeria go head to toe with England from the warmth of the bed.

Mike kept half an eye on the Nigeria v England game (literally - he kept one lens in for the distance and one out for his phone YouTube content). It was so good. Nigeria will be a top 10 team one day not very far away. They took on England - had some good chances (woodwork and goalie teamed up to deny the falcons). Went to extra time. Still nil all. Then penalties. And that was where the pressure really came on. England withstood it and Nigeria did not. That is experience for you.

Then the Australia v Denmark game started. Sam Kerr was on the bench. Denmark was all over the Aussies. But at 29 min, Foord scored a brilliant goal and it was all on. After halftime, I may have fallen asleep for a bit. Maybe 30 mins. Because next thing you know it was 2 nil and had 5 mins left to play!

Australia are through to the quarters. Go Aussies!

Up early for PT session with Quentin. Rode my bike in and missed the rain. It is cold again - I noted it was only a high of 7C in Dunedin today. Brrrr. PB in the squat rack this morning. 50kg 3 reps x 5 sets.

Back to work. Shower. And trash talking to the competitors we face today in the foosball competition. I have to trash talk because I have no actual game. Hahahah.

Oh look! I took some pics this morning.

This made me laugh - on the work foosball table

Never give Mike your phone for iced latte pics. But in other news, my hair looks great from the back.

Work iced latte - with replay of NIG v ENG on the TV

Pretty cold here today - not quite as cold as Dunedin though. Hoping I get a lot of sleep tonight. Hahah.

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington

 Hi,

What a weekend. Lots of sports - in person and on TV. The netball was excruciating. So good, but yet, not able to finish it.  Poor Silver Ferns. They came away from the World Cup with nothing. 4th place - first time ever.

Bit like the USA really in the football. More on that later.

I made biscuits on Friday. Tried my hand at melting moments. Yeah - they came out okay. But they are too sweet for me and Mike. 

Smudge enjoying the sun

Made melting moments

Sally picks up heavy things

Went to the gym Saturday with Sally. We did 50kg deads and I did 37.5kg bench. Woot! Mike tried lifting 150kg deads. He moved it off the ground easily - but failed a proper lift.

Mike picks up very heavy things

Buzz iced latte

Mike looks staunch

Andrew has been sick - so we didn't see much of him. He has the same thing as Iona! OMG. Hoping I have dodged that.

Saturday late afternoon saw us catch the bus to town for the JAP v NOR game. Elly got us tickets for it. We met her and Tom at Foxglove but could only sit outside. Which was ok for me - I was ready for the cold. But we decided to try and find somewhere.

Off to the football - last game in the FIFAWWC2023 for me

Busy in town - we got a seat outside at Foxglove

Where's Charlie were amazing at coping with the crowd

They also use pallets for furniture

That somewhere was Where's Charlie. And despite it heaving with people, it was such a lovely experience. And good food too. Thank you!

The football was amazing. Japan won easily in the end. 3 - 1. There was an own goal by Norway in there - a defender deflected the ball away from the goalie. Happens.

Japan were very good. My whole FIFAWWC experience has been great. The crowds are lovely. The service people have all been great. Volunteers all over the place.

Ta for the tickets, Elly!

Mike is up for another game!

Phone fun!

Look who sat in front of us!

Wellington stadium looks so good!

Tom kindly drove into New World and picked us up - so we were home nice and early with no crammed buses to contend with.

At Barbie

Sunday saw us fixing and servicing bikes. Mike's bike was in good nick. My eBike needed some chain love. 

Then off to the Hutt to sort out some wee things at Epuni. Got a new lockbox and it is now in the electricity meter box in the car port.

Then off to Queensgate to see Barbie. With Sally, Grant and Janine. Mike loved the movie. I thought it had some very good parts. And some more try-hard parts.  But overall, good social commentary.

It has earned $1B so far.

Wow!

Hope your week ahead is a good one.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with Spin for me and another big day at work for Mike

 Hi,

Mike is so busy - but it seems to be going fairly well as they cutover. Good luck for today too!

Work iced latte on Wednesday

We're all in person for our planning

After work I went to spin - stayed at work to avoid a wait in the cold. It is such a cold blast at the moment.

Waiting at work to head to Spin

Made it to Spin

Did my hour of spin and felt virtuous for it. Walked back to work and discovered Mike's bag there still. Which meant he was still out celebrating the cutover. Hahah.

Got back to work and found Mike's bag still here - so he was not home yet

Going to get my bike and ride home in the cold

Delicious tea for me

Rode home and had some tomato and avocado on toast. Yum! Then snuggled up under the heated blanket (thank you Ma and Dad!) and watched football.

Watching the football

Mike got home and watched the end of the games with me. Toby rang us - and Mike and Toby rambled on together for quite some time. They are both very funny. They think the same as each other in many ways. Then bed for us - quite late in the scheme of things.

Up at 5.30am to 7C and a high of 9C. Brrr. Cold ride in this morning. Heavy cold raindrops. But I repped 40 kg on bench. 5 sets x 2 reps.

So chuffed.

Weekend beckons for me. We have tickets for Barbie. Let's see what the fuss is about there.

Have an awesome day!

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with a big work day for Mike

 Hi,

Mike is involved with a major project - and yesterday was the big cutover day. But today is going to be even more exciting as the first full day of data happens from yesterday. Good luck to him.

I took no photos at all yesterday. So you will have zero visual stimulation today. Let's see? Mike and I went home after work on the #13 bus. The road up by the gardens was chockers - the bus fairly crawled up there until it could squeeze into the bus lane.

This is why I ride my bike. Hahah.

Got home and made tea. Sat Mike on the couch and he drank wine and ate chocolate and hazelnuts I cracked (courtesy of Janine) while watching You Tube videos. I fell asleep and missed some update on Ukraine. Or was it a space one? Anyway... There were some good ones I did manage to watch.

Then into bed. Mike slept fitfully but my sleep was good. Up to ride in. Mike caught the bus and I got my bike out and started riding in. Got to the waterfront just as the rain started. The wind seems to have died down - so yay for that!

And back on the bike. Woot!

Hope your Wednesday is a cracker of a day! Might try my luck at Spin after work.

Love,

Angela

The Monday at work but with football after work

 Hi,

First of August today. Happy birthday to my wee sister Karen. And all the horses.

The cats enjoyed me working from home - mainly because I had heaters on. Hahah. They both spread out wherever there was a heat source.

She senses it is nearing time for food

Waiting for the bus for the football

I caught the 5.10pm bus from the bottom of the street to town. Met Andrew at Honey Badger, closely followed by Mike and Adnan. Scoffed a delicious burger and some fries then off to the stadium for Spain versus Japan.

Wrapped up warm

Japan v Spain

Hey there Maureen

Maureen and her friend Pauline were there with us. And Cathryn (and her husband, James) from work. Andrew seemed to enjoy the grand occasion. Spain seemed to be playing for a favourable draw in the next round rather than a win. But Japan humbled them. And I do not think you should ever give an opponent an easy ride at this level of competition. It might just come back and bite you.

Japan scorched Spain. Spain had most possession and did nothing with it. Japan would get the ball and their #9 would tear off and take the goalie on, 1:1 and win.

4 nil in the end.

We left the stadium and I lost everyone immediately. But Mike drove to New World and got me some iced coffees and picked me up. I was home so fast! Thank you.

Tuesday bus because it was windy

72.5 kg deads

Work iced latte by the bucket

Up for gym this morning. I was going to ride - but it was so windy. I took the bus. I feel soft. Anyway... 70kg deads. 3 reps x 5 sets. Felt okay!

And at work now. Ready for the day.

Hopefully Spin after work.

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela