The Tuesday that felt like Wednesday

 Hi,

I got to Extra Extra with Mike for lunch yesterday. But you know, it is not a fave place. Iced latte was too strong and mushroom burrito was a bit average. So, despite Mike loving it, I am not placing it high up my list.

Lunch iced latte with Mike at Extra Extra

Got to the optometrist for my 4pm appt and chatted to Andrew, a lot. Took close to an hour. He checked my vision and apparently my long distance vision has improved. Hahah. And my close up has hardly changed (a quarter of some value). So no need for any changes. 3 more years before I need to go chat to him.

I was a bit late for our meeting in the car park with Mike and Andrew. But traffic flowed okay - if slowly - to the Hutt. Sally was there at Queensgate already and bought us dinner. So we gobbled that down (I had a salad at Nandos) and headed to the IMAX for Stop Making Sense. The Talking Heads concert movie from 1987 or so. Remastered.

In Imax

It was good, tbh. And I didn't know what to expect. Thought I only knew one or two songs of theirs really well. Turns out I knew most of them. And David Byrne was a genius in his own, unique way. His concert was a truly theatrical experience. 

Dropped Sally and Andrew home and got home ourselves. Fed the cats. Went to bed. I didn't sleep super well. But up early to ride into town with fantastic weather.

Wednesday is a cracker of a day

Iced latte from Quentin

I lifted that!

I did get an iced latte from Quentin at my PT session with him this morning. Do you think if my PT asks me if I want an iced latte as he heads to the gym, that I actually have to admit to an addiction? Ooohhhh.

Anyway - it worked a treat. PB in squat rack. 55kg. 3 reps x 5 sets. I might have been grunting a bit on my last set because the guy in the rack next to me clapped when I racked the last one. Said well done.

Maybe my wobbly legs made it look tough? Hahah.

Then back to work. And some caffeinated fast talking from me has meant Erin has asked me to cut down on my morning intake of iced lattes. Hahahah.

Spin after work today. Then ride home and pack for the weekend. Me and Mike. Mike for his Peak to Pub race at Mt Hutt with Toby and Kara. Me to Blenheim with Maureen for some fun with Iona and Col.

Busy, eh?

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday that felt like it should be a Tuesday

 Hi,

For quite a while this morning, I was convinced it was Wednesday. I reckon my brain is trying to get me to Blenheim faster.

It is not working.

She knows it is close to tea time

Moxley gave me side eye from about 4.30pm while WFH yesterday. But I was so busy that she never got fed until Mike got home from work. I see it as building her character.

I made tea while Mike sorted the cats. And we have a delicious Buddha Bowl. Mmmm. We were not long out of bed. Mike fell asleep so quickly. Hahah.

Up at 5.30am to have brekkie and drive into gym. We're going to leave town at 4.30pm from Clifton Tce car park and head to Queensgate to watch some concert movie.

No, Mum, not BTS. Hahaha.

I think it is an old concert movie of a Talking Heads concert. I do not really know what I am in for, tbh. But it seems like it will make Mike and Sally very happy. Heheheh.

Parked the car for a quick get away for the Talking Heads movie after work

77.5kg deads this morning.

77.5kg deads this morning. And my first lift was so easy. I don't think I have done them for over a week. So yay for keeping up. 2 reps x 5 sets. Then accessories.

I am on 7.30am gym tomorrow too. Do not forget!

Time for an iced latte. Let me go hunt one down.

Have an awesome day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend with Wellington things

 Hi,

My goodness, there is a lot to catch you all up on. Thursday was busy for me. I got away to catch up with Maureen (finally!) and only now realised I never saw her holiday pics. Gah! Enjoyed an iced latte at Margies with her.

Thursday work iced latte

Thursday iced latte at Margies with Maureen

Then a spontaneous text from Sally M saying she was at the Barbie exhibition for her lunch break at Wellington museum and did I want to meet her there sent me flying out of the workplace to meet her.

Except I walked quickly to Civic Square and stood on the bridge overlooking the Wellington gallery and thought: this is not the museum.

Realised Sally was basically outside my work. So walked back and found her there. We saw all the Barbie's this woman had collected. Even mine! See me pointing to Jane?

Spontaneous lunch time Barbie exhibition with Sally M

One of my heroes

I'd play with this Barbie.  :-)

And a friendly looking Barbie

We had drinks at work to connect and I did chat to someone for ages. Gave her a laugh about how Mike and I met. Turns out she lives in Wadestown too and is friends with our neighbours through the local school.

Rode home. Relaxed.

Up Friday to take photos of model cats. And then off to Dunshea's deli to meet Jo and Rex. It had been ages since I saw them last! I do not even know how long. Maybe after they got back from Africa same sort of time last year? I dunno. But so good to see them.

Smudge the model cat

So close!

Oh, hello my friends!

Then home via Countdown and off again to meet Andrew and go for an easy bike ride. We went up the river, across at Avalon and back down to Seashore cabaret for lunch.

A ride with Andrew on Friday

Lunch at Seashore Cabaret

Toby's fave at Seashore Cabaret

Saturday saw Mike off to do Park Run and me watching the opening All Blacks game of the men's rugby world cup in France. France smashed them. Let's see if the All Blacks can dig themselves out of this hole.

Mike got home and we cleared our traps. Rodents #23 and #24. A rat in the one by the office door and a mouse in the one at the back.

Rat catch #23

Moxley is interested, despite this pic

Mouse #24

Moxley in the garden sans leash

Smudge exploring too

Moxley and Smudge wandered around the garden while we did too. 

Sunday saw Mike get ready for his Peak to Pub race next weekend. Yay! Everything ready and packed. Woot!

I made chocolate chip biscuits - from the recipe Chelsea made last time we were all up in AKL. Mike pronounced them delicious.

I made chocolate chip biscuits

Mike fixed the hole in the eaves

He also fixed the hole in the eaves where birds nest in spring. I reckon he just got it in time.

Then we were off to Lower Hutt and Avalon Hall to a memorial service for Yosan. So sad. The place was packed. Yosan just had this spark about her and that was evident in the words and actions on show. Good to see some old friends - Ben gave an eulogy (we used to work with him too). Although I had not see Yosan for years (since leaving my last workplace), I feel so sad at the thought that the world is now missing her flame and special brand of energy and fun.

I think we need a happy reason to get a whole bunch of us together.

Back to Sally and Andrew's place and our somber mood meant we didn't want to go listen to the trapline audit, but just sit with Sally and Andrew and have some tea.

Back home and tidied up, ready for the week ahead.

Hope your week is good fun.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with more Spin

 Hi,

Forgot to take pics after my iced latte splurges yesterday. But I did do some stuff. Honest! Let's see...

I got a sandwich for lunch with my second iced latte from French Kiss - the wee cart in Post Office Square. Egg and pickle. Because I had a meeting at lunch time. And it was delicious, The sandwich - not the meeting. Meeting was ok too though. :-p

I will buy that sandwich again.

Mike went to meet Bharat after work and gave him some sunnies for Expansion as Bharat leaves soon for his Nepal trip.

I went to Spin with Juliet then walked back to work and rode home. Windy as, bro.

Mike got home not long after me and we picked at some food before going to bed. Up for my PT session at 5.30am and a windy ride in (even windier than last night, bro!).

A few meetings on today - but they are more like lots of short ones. 

Catching up with Jo C tomorrow for brekkie. Yay! Then normal weekend adventures. Park Run for Mike. Gym for me and Sally (I hope). Yosan's memorial Sunday afternoon - definitely not normal and never do I wish that sort of thing to be a normal thing.

Hope your Thursday is a good one. Take care.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with spin

 Hi,

Two evenings in a row for Spin! Oossshhh. And I am hoping to get to one today after work too. Woot!

Yesterday saw a busy day at work. But I did get away for the 1 hour Spin class so yay for that. 

Alastair thinks I am mad

At Spin

Rode home to have tea already made for me. And Mike downstairs in a meeting with some vendor in the UK. After his meeting, he had his tea. We ate nachos - and he had used an entire Peruvian chilli from our wee bush. I got a mouthful of hot chilli at one point and I have never been so scared to continue eating before. hahahah. Adrenaline meals!

We had a bath to relax and Moxley sat in the barrel so she was close to us. We have some funny cats.

Moxley chilling in the barrel

Slept ok and up to ride in. Mike skipped gym and joined me at The Lab for brekkie. Mmmmm.

The Lab iced latte

French Kiss iced latte

Hope your Wednesday is great fun!

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

 Hi,

It is Abby's birthday today!

Turns out I took no photos yesterday. Well, that is not true. But I did get a new phone - a new Samsung Galaxy S23, courtesy of Mike. This is to replace my S20 that went for a swim in April at my parents' place and has never given accurate GPS since.

I think I am mostly copied over now and up and running on the new phone. Sweet.

Headed to Spin after work yesterday and met Juliet and Erin. It was Erin's first spin class (although she did practise at home on her bike with a YouTube video). And she nailed it. Juliet was in front if us - and I never caught her once!

Met Mike after that and went back to work to grab his gear and then off to Roanne's to get her bike box for Peak to Pub racing.

Back home and tea and bed!

Up early for PT session with Quentin. Repped 42.5kg on bench! Tough. I ended up only doing one rep!

Big day at work. Then Spin and ride home. Mike has a work meeting late (Uk based).

Hope your day is a good one. Especially Abby.

Love,

Angela

The weekend with a scouting trip to Mt Hutt and Tessa's birthday weekend

 Hi,

Happy birthday to Tessa for today. And Abby for tomorrow. Wow - busy. It was also Jamie and Cameron's birthday over the weekend.

And Sept 4th is also the day my family moved from NZ to Aus, way back in 1980. So, yeah. Big day.

Mike and I had lots of fun over the weekend. We went to Barb's leaving drinks after work on Thursday. And that makes me so sad. But she is very happy with her decisions - so yay. She is also already in Bali enjoying a well-deserved holiday right now. So she does not have any cares right now.

Up early Friday (4.15am) to head to the airport for our 6.35am flight to Chc. Made me very sleepy. Hahah. Uber from the airport to the work office for Mike to work for the day. And I continued onto Brodie St. Saw Toby and Tessa briefly then took the van to Torpedo7 and waited for it to open to give them Mike's new (old) skis for a wax and edge and bindings re-size, and my old Atomic skis for a wax and edge.

Then to the new mechanics in Sheffield Crescent (recommended to us by Martyn) for a wheel alignment and balance.

Strange Bandit with Martyn

Hey Toby

Toby and Tessa's flat

Then I met Mike, Martyn, Toby and Tessa at Strange Bandit for brekkie. Then off in Tessa's car to home to wait for the chain gang. And the chain gang was slow to arrive - thought they were not coming so Toby and I went to the New World that is 5 mins from their house. And that was when the chain gang came - but Tessa sorted them.

We watched some TV for a while. Then Tessa went to see her Dad (he arrived around 2.30) with Steph. Mike came after work and picked up the van and the newly waxed skis. Then Toby and Mike and I were off to Methven.

Lovely easy drive down for me. Found the house. 16 Jackson St, Went to get some food - went to a nice burger place called Craft @ Arabica opposite the 4 square. Would go there again. And back to let ourselves into the house. Great place. We had a great sleep, sprawled out in the 9 bed house.

Up early to make brekkie. Then we were off by 8am. But by the time we got up the access road, we had to park in the car park at Rakaia Saddle. And we were the last 4 or 5 cars in there! Wow. We were also in clag and seriously thinking we should just drive back down. Busy, and clag. But Ana and Daniel sent pics from the ski field and it was a bluebird day there. So Mike got changed and Toby and I caught the shuttle with him to see.

Mike got his lift pass - and while he waited in the long queue, Toby decided to also ski. So we got Toby sorted with ski rental. And he was soon skiing with Mike. I went back down to the van to get my gear. And I was skiing by 11am.

Lovely day. The crowds just dissipated. I probably only waited once for 10 mins for a queue. Most of my 19 runs were almost skiing straight onto the lift.

Toby!

No sunburn - just a glow

Staunch

Nice day

Hey there!

Stopped for a snack

Toby is ready

I loved skiing with Toby. Mt Hutt was where we both went for ski holidays together - and it was lovely to reminisce. He hadn't been skiing for a few years - probably since 2018. But it came back to him and we both enjoyed our runs together. We also skied off and on with Mike, Sam and Angus. Saw Tessa and David in the cafe too.

We skied until 3.15pm and then adjourned for a hot chocolate. Then we found Mike and he headed down in a shuttle to get the van and drove back up. Then we tootled down the hill, one of the last to leave. Found the others at the Brown Pub in Methven and enjoyed some chippies before going to the house in Jackson St and nibbling snacks, watching YouTube and chatting away.

Around 8.45pm the others left and headed back to Chc. Toby changed rooms to a more comfy bed and we all had a good sleep. Mike woke next morning (Sunday) and decided to spend it with us instead of skiing again. So Toby gave him some Father's Day presents (Legend mug and hot sauces) over brekkie.

Brekkie

We packed up, tidied up and - the van did not start. When we got down the hill last night, some random dashboard lights including the battery light had come on (which we ignored of course). And this morning the electrics were dead. Completely. But Mike remembered the cutout on the battery for long storage. He popped the bonnet and screwed it down - and it all started. Remember that! It had vibrated loose on the bumpy ski road.

We headed to Raikaia Gorge for some stone skimming. They have cut down all the pines on the bank of the river where we usually walk down to skim stones. They have planted a bunch of natives. It'll be good to see it change over the next 10 years.

Used to be pines here

Skimming action

The boys

Changing landscape

Then we drove back to Chc. Mike grabbed the time to install a new van stereo. The current one had a broken cassette player, a broken CD player and a Japanese frequency radio that could only pick up two talkback shows. The new one has a shiny new screen, Bluetooth music and the ability to fit a reversing camera which will be very handy for backing that large van.

It was much more straightforward to fit than he expected. The only challenge he hit was that the existing stereo was inexplicably held in by two bent shelving brackets. Luckily he had parts left over and carefully stored from the car stereo he fitted to his 1979 Mirage when he was Toby's age and was able to adapt those to hold the new stereo in place.

It works!

Dash all back in place

Cord for camera off to the left under the dashboard

Toby and Tessa's room

Drove to Steph and Sam's and enjoyed a fabulous roast dinner. Then we took Toby back to his flat at 7pm, dropped him and the van off, then Uber to the airport with our 3 checked bags.

Got through to our gate and had an easy flight to Wellington. Home by 10pm. Cats happy to see us.

Good sleep for us back in our own bed. Mike was up for PT with Quentin. And I am WFH.

Have an awesome week ahead!

Love,

Angela