The weekend in Chc with whanau and friends

 Hi,

What a whirlwind of a weekend. And yet, there was nothing planned, really. We just careered from ad-hoc thing to the next ad-hoc thing. And it worked! It was all about friends and family - super excited to see Kathleen and Duncan at the end of their South Island holiday before they flew out, and to see Kay and Dave as they flew in to start theirs.

Mike and I flew to Chc late Thursday evening - the plane was a little delayed. Toby and Tessa were a bit late coming to get us as Toby seemed to think we were arriving on Friday. Hahah.

They took us out to Rollickin - except it was closing as we got there. So went to another place (in an old building on the corner, just across from the cathedral) for a snack and dessert. It was ok. Expensive and a little bit average.

But we got dropped off at the Camelot motels and Mike collected the late night check in info from the lockbox at reception and we found our room - 777.

Camelot is funny. It has been around for years because it existed when we stayed across the road at the Ashford Motor Lodge 30 years ago. It has some fake castle-like architecture. But it was absolutely fine. Our wee unit had a great bed, great water pressure in the shower and a coffee plunger. Mike was sorted!

Up early as Mike had to work. It was a holiday in Canterbury - but not Wellington. Hahah. I went out with Toby and Tessa to visit New Brighton. I had spotted a pier jutting into the sea as we landed last night and asked Tessa if we could go there. So we did!

Had lunch just outside of the beach area and enjoyed that. I tried to find the cafe for you - and failed. It was opposite Travis wetland and in a complex with a GP. There! Enough clues for later.

Lunch at cafe near New Brighton

The pier I spotted from the plane last night

Tessa took us to the pier - and it was fantastic. I felt like I was in the US! It was so hot when we parked the car that I took off my hoodie and we wandered out onto the pier. Then a cloud came over to block the sunshine and by the time we got to the end of the pier, it was starting to feel slightly cool. It was windy and the wind wasn't super warm.

It is hot

Okay - we walk on the pier and it starts clouding over

Getting a little cold in this wind

We watched some people fishing - quite the popular activity on the pier. It was so lovely.

Back to get some stuff at Countdown opposite the beach - plunger coffee for Mike mainly. And then off to get a haircut for Toby. But his favoured place was shut - it was a holiday after all. We realised Tessa's work would be open and there would be a hairdresser in the mall. So off we went.

Turns out we got a lot of nice clothes for Toby and a haircut! And look - below is the evidence!

Pomeroys for tea

Out with Steph and Sam for tea at Pomeroys. Delicious as always. And home for a nap before our midnight jaunt to the aiport.

Midnight at the airport - hi Alastair and Kirsty

Kay and Dave were arriving a little delayed from their flight from Orkney. Half past midnight. We got into the waiting area and Alastair spotted us. He has grown a lot since I saw him when he was 3 years old. But yet - he still somehow looks the same! Kirsty is lovely and we all chatted until Kay and Dave finally made it through customs and into the waiting area.

There they are!

Alastair hadn't seen his parents for a year so it was a lovely reunion for them. Awwwww. Then, Kirsty and Alastair ubered home and we took Kay and Dave to their motel - Ashford Motor Lodge. Got the key from the lockbox and ferried their stuff into their room. I reckon Dave was asleep by the time I backed out of the tight car park. Hahah.

We slept in Saturday morning. No park run for us. Oops. But at 9.30am Mike woke me to say Kay and Dave had been up for hours! So I hurtled out of bed and we got ready to meet them. Toby and Tessa joined us. We tried to get into Diner 66 but it was "full". Got a SIM card from Z station for Kay though. So yay for crossing off one task.

Found a wee cafe, and enjoyed some food and much-needed coffee there.

Black & White cafe

We all need some coffee

As I finished a very nice avocado and tomato on toast, I got a text from Kathleen to say she was at Little Poms! OMG. We left Kay and Dave to wander around and ubered to Little Poms. Had a brilliant (but short) catch up with Kathleen and Duncan. Awwwww - heard the highlights from the last 6 or so years. New house! New job. All the big things!

Little Poms to see Kathleen and Duncan!

Captured the moment

Then they were off to catch their flight home. So good to see them. They have not changed a bit and I really need to visit Melbourne to see them.

We found Kay and Dave and took them to the Canterbury museum. It is a popup while their new museum is sorted (or their old one is strengthened - one of those things is true). Loved the highlights they have curated.

Canterbury museum popup

Run, Mike!

Hahah

T Rex skull

My, what big teeth you have

Okay - huge teeth!

Feet!

Oh - hands too! A piece of pounamu

Tram trundling along

Did a quick walk around the Avon ahead of tea at The Cheese Bar on Kilmore St. Saw eels in the Avon. And the fountain at the town hall. And the tram!

Tūna in the Avon

Pic fail - but you can see me pretty well

More feet

New water wheel showing where an old mill was located

Aww - pretty

Selfie in the sun

All of us!

Smile!

The Cheese Bar - it was good.

I quite liked the cheese bar. But it could never be a regular haunt. I mean - I love cheese. But there was so much of it. Nice to go there once in a while.

We recreate our first kiss - sort of

We walked past the cathedral and re-created our first kiss. Which was close to 31 years to the month ago. Up on the balcony high in the cathedral. Which is now rubble. Unlike our relationship. Which is not rubble. Hahahah.

Alstair and Kirsty joined us at Ashford Motor Lodge for a cup of tea. And they recreated a photo from 20 years ago when 6 months old Toby sat on 3 year old Alastair's lap. Hahah. Funny.

Toby and Alastair recreate a pic from 20 years ago

We dropped Alastair and Kirsty at their place in Riccarton and headed to our motel to get to bed. Up for brekkie at Little Poms at 10am. All of us. Hahah. Plus Harry - Alastair's mate.

Little Poms for Sunday brekkie

Then finally, after getting all the bags int he right vehicle, the Orkney contingent was off on their adventure. We went back to Toby and Tessa's flat to hang out. I tried the VR headset - loved it. It keeps going out of focus for me. But the whole thing was such fun.

Then we went to Lone Star at the airport. Steph popped in to say goodbye. And then we went to the airport to wait for our flight.

Chc airport

It was a bit delayed. And there was an announcement to say the flight to WLG had been cancelled. So we went back out through security - with another woman - to find it was the 2030 flight that had been cancelled. So back through we went.

Got to Wellington. Caught an Uber home. And we were home by 8pm. Cats were happy to see us. Thank you for feeding them Sally and Andrew!

Moxley is happy to see us

Smudge is smudging

Cuteness overload

Monday morning manic selfie

Up Monday and back to routine. I feel so full from the weekend of eating. OMG. Time to reset that!

Have a brilliant week ahead.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with work

 Hi,

Yeah, pretty much the only thing that happened yesterday at work was too much iced latte caffeine for me. My 11am meeting was very frenentic. But that was just me. Everyone else was chill. And I was like: blahblahblahblahblah.\

They ignored me after they realised my tongue was caffeine-charged. Hahahah.

Mojo iced latte with Annie

AJ is worried about my caffeine consumption

AJ was sitting next to me so after my SECOND iced latte, he got a bit worried about his ears and the amount of talking he might get subject to.

Readers - he was ok.

Anyway. Mike went out after work. Met up with his mates from MBIE times. And I rode home and fed the cats.

Sounds like a Taylor Swift song.

I actually rode home early - 2.30pm. The Premium Game meat had arrived at 10am and I wanted to get it put away. It was still icy when I got home.

When Mike got in, we watched For All Mankind. And chatted to Kara for a bit.

Up to ride in this morning. Gym for me.

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with dinner out for us

 Hi,

How can I have no pics from yesterday? It wasn't like my day was boring or anything. Hahahah. It totally was not.

Work was busy. But got through it fine. And met Ana and Daniel and wee Moko at Master Kong at 6pm after work. Enjoyed a lovely dinner (outside in the brisk wind)

Moko is so cute. Such a wee bundle of energy and so friendly.

Mike convinced me to Uber home with him, leaving my bike in the shed at work. And tbh, it was probably a good thing. It was still really gusty.

Watched another episode of For All Mankind. It is really tense now.

Had a good sleep. Up at 6am to get the washing out and catch the 7am bus with Mike to gym. Quentin had cardio ready to go for us. And it KILLED me.

A couple that cardios together.... dies together

1 minute each round. Lunges (Quentin expected me to carry 10kg in each hand - I quickly discouraged that idea). Scrum machine. Assault bike. Rowing 500m as fast as you can (2 mins 15 to 18 is what I managed).

We did it twice and I managed 3 things in the next round before our time was up. Wow! Hard work.

And it is humid in Wellington today. Yuck!

Hope your Wednesday is a good one.

Love,

Angela

The Monday with work

 Hi,

Mondays, eh? Toughest day of the week? Yes? No? Anyway, it was fairly busy. So got through that. Decided against a spin class in favour of making tea and going for a run with Mike. Except Sally scuttled the plan and lured Mike out to tea in town.

And really... I just wanted to eat the stir fry tofu I made. Hahahah. Weird, I know.

Mike has disassembled the grinder

My home iced latte

Deliciousness

Headphones need a bit of duct tape

I heard snuffling and saw Smudge seeing off Tenzing

Smudge saw Tenzing lurking outside. I had no idea, reading my book. Then I could hear her snuffing. And that is a sure sign there is a cat outside. Sure enough, there she was, ruff down her back and eyeing Tenzing like he was her mortal enemy.

Eyes on Tenzing

He moved to the newly mulched side garden so she ran upstairs and peeked out from the deck for the best view of him. And huffed and snuffed a bit more. Just to ensure he got the message.

Mike got home from tea (they all went to Little Beer Quarter because Kiza was closed for a function - so yay, I might still get to meet them at Kiza one day soon). We watched an episode of For All Mankind. Very exciting.

It's all going to turn to worms. I just know it.

Up for a very windy bike ride in this morning. I was a little scared in places. A few gusts blew me a little off course.

Bench with Quentin. Tried 42.5kg but with de-racking it too. And it was so hard. I did 2 x 2. Then we switched to 50kg and I did the eccentric down while Quentin helped me back up. 50kg is very, very heavy.

Back to work for a French Kiss iced latte with Mike and the Christmas tree.

French Kiss iced latte and Christmas!

And... I am so done for the day already. OMG. It's not even 9am. But guess what? No sore throat. First time in almost 2 weeks. No other symptom, so goodness knows what it was.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,

Angela