The weekend with a trip to Blenheim

 Hi,

Maybe I could just leave the pics in to tell the story of the weekend? Hahahah. Big weekend. Such fun. Mike took me to the airport on Thursday evening for my Sounds Air flight at 20:00 to Blenheim. It left early - 19:50 - and it was not full. I got a seat to myself.

Iona picked me up on the other side and whisked me home. Caught up with Col and Twigg and was not long out of bed.

Up to head to the gym. Decided to go to my CityFitness one as we get in for free with my membership. Did bench - 30kg 4 sets x 10 reps. Then accessories with Iona.

Gym Friday morning.

Santa pic for Toby

Ran around trying to get a few things for the quiz set up. And a few iced lattes too.

Iced latte

Quiz set up

We got into the hall around 13:00 to set up. Got all the tables out of the back room. Got the mic set up. Projector. All that good stuff. Then back home to get ready.

IYKYK

Santa's helper hat on - ready for the quiz

Back at the hall at 17:30 and people started arriving not long after. 12 tables in the hall behind the hospital. I was in charge of the Christmas music that kicked in after each round. There was a lot of Bruce Springsteen Christmas songs, let me just say.

In progress

And all tidied

It was very well run by Iona and Caro. Came down to a tie breaker. Two teams on 70 points (out of a possible 100). Tough gig.

We tidied up and then headed home - via Christmas lights. Awwwww.

Christmas lights tour on the way home

Voted for this one in Budge St

Iced latte

 

Up for a coffee with Malcolm and Marion at Mitre10. And then a beach walk to pick up rubbish. We got 3 big bags. I got a pot with a wonky handle. Col got the element from a kettle. We saw two dead sharks.

A big bit of driftwood

Dead shark

Dead shark

E trapline

Popped into the E trapline. I approached my gate nemesis with trepidation. But - IT WAS UNLOCKED! So I walked through. Hahahah.

No rats.

Some wasps. We ran away after Iona poked at their nest. I might have squealed.

Elysium fields

Amazing feet

Light tea

Garden produce

We went to the market on Sunday, I stocked up on fruit.

Apricots from the market

It's Christmas time

Whites Bay

We did the Black Jack Track walk up to the lookout. Very nice.

A barque in the bay

Weaving lessons with tikanga

Back home to learn some weaving and tikanga from Iona. I loved it. I want to try some at home now. Iona showed me how to harvest. How to prep. And I tackled a kono with her very close guidance.

Fiddly bit

I am on the ara

Almost done

Inside looks amazing

And done

While Iona and I did that, Col did the new insect screen on their bedroom window. So good! $23 for the kit. Magnetic frame. I hope it worked.

Then they dropped me at the airport. Lovely flight out. I spotted Nicola's house. The pilot said it would be a sporty landing at Wellington. That was cool to watch - I had a good view of him working the controls and the runway in the distance.

I see Nicola's house

Oh - hi Wellington

Moxley claims my bag

Hope to unpack. So good to see Mike. And the cats. Off to bed. And up to drive to the airport to pick up Toby and Tessa.

Then back to work.

Phew.

Busy.

Right. Time to get things sorted.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with a very lovely dinner

 Hi,

What a day - Wednesday was busy and I had social things on too. It is that time of year. The week is still in some sort of time warp. It feels like it is just dribbling along.

Left work late (did get a goodbye in with Maureen before she leaves Thurs night to head to her Christmas holiday) and saw a bunch of people watching the harbour near the floating crane.

So, like any curious person, I took a closer look. Saw a bit of splashing as I approached and wondered if someone was swimming.

No! Better than a person was a wee pod of dolphins. About 4 or so of them. Popping up to the surface and chasing something because they would use their tail to slap the surface of the water. So I suspect there was a school of fish getting herded.

Dolphins last night on my way to Dragonfly

They are so close to shore - hunting something because they were banging their tail on the surface

I could not stay long though as I was meeting Celia, Dee and Jen at Dragonfly for a Christmas catch up. And it was such a lovely evening. Good company. Great to catch up on their news. They are all busy with various things and I always learn lots from them. Food was delicious too.

Dinner was so good. Thank you.

Mike came in to get me (and pick up my bike from work too). So we all said goodbye and Celia walked me to the car to say hello to Mike. Then we were off home.

Mike fiddled in the garage for a bit so I went into the house and saw the cats. Mike had fed them before he left the house to get me. But Moxley was trying it on like the boss cat she is.

Followed me into the pantry. Jumped up to the tray of cat food. And head rubbed against me as if to say: where is my food, you silly kitten but with useful opposable thumbs that can open cans.

Got home late and Moxley wanted food

Reaching back for a head rub

She did not get any extra food. I am tough that way.

Off to bed and I slept better than I have for ages. Up to drive in with Mike for my PT session. And it was PB time in the dead lifts.

I did 100kg. Which was a PB. And my left leg was a little sticky just at shin height. But it lifted fine. So we tried 105kg. And that was hard work - but still moved ok.

Me, staring at 100kg on the bar

Brekkie with James, Ed and Celia at Peckish Jr

Oh - is that my form?

The ritual ahead of the lift

Tried 110kg - and although I got it off the ground (okay - cms in it) I could not lift it. But Quentin reckons I should be able to do that one day soon.

Wow. Thank you Quentin. I was buzzing after that effort. What a good way to end the year for my deadlift work. This is the first year with next to no disruption to my gym routine. Previously it was covid or injuries. So - yay!

I am off to Blenheim this weekend to help with a quiz at Iona's work. And maybe some walking and beach activities.

Mike is going to park run. And pine for me.

Have an awesome weekend, everyone.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday of the slowest week and how can it only be Tuesday I am blogging

 Hi,

No cat content today - but you can see where cats have been! Hahahah. Yesterday was Toby's birthday and the plans Tessa had went out the door when a huge storm hit Chc around 10am. So she pivoted (good life skill) and they had an indoors day instead. He had a lot of fun. Arcades, Maccas and Rollickin.

I went to the gym at lunchtime with Myra and Billie for a cardio session. Tough work but someone has to do it. Thank you both!

Lunch cardio with Myra and Billie

Toby enjoys his fave birthday brekkie

At the end of a meeting I was in, just before 3pm, the storm that changed Toby's birthday plans slammed into Wellington. Lower Hutt really copped it. The New World there will be closed for a while to tidy up after fences came down and their main window smashed. The roof not far from my desk started leaking. It was impressive. Hail everywhere. 

Storm hits Wellington and the roof leaks next to my desk

Arcade hero

We walked to Mean Doses after work and had some tea and used out $75 bar tab. Remind me not to eat there again. Chelsea, Andrew and Kara arrived. But despite all that brainpower, we came 8th. Out of 11. It was sobering. There were no F1 questions or ballet questions.

But I have to say, Chelsea nailed the music round. We were all looking at her as she sang her way through that round - and she won us chocolates for singing Smash Mouth.

Mike and me waiting for Mean Doses quiz

Chelsea doodles - so cute!

The team

Late home. We bussed with Andrew's 83 bus until close to the Beehive. Then off to wait for a 14. Probably home just before 10pm. Straight into bed.

Up to see the cats have used the presents as a snuggling spot under the tree with Smudge-sized indentations.

I see dents in the presents where cats lie about

As Mike and I left I noticed the hail still sitting just by our rubbish bin. Brrrr. Must have had a lot land.

Next day we still have hail piled up

My tomato seedlings survived

I fully expected my seedlings to be smashed. But - no. Hopefully this resilience bodes well for their hardiness.

Weird bus selfie on Wednesday morning

Mid cardio this morning - readers... it got worse

On the bus for a cardio session with Quentin. So dead. Great fun. Well, from this distance it was fun. At the time, it was more like torture.

Right. Big day. Going out for tea with Celia and some friends. I need to pack. And see if I can figure out how to WFH tomorrow to save the cats and get ready to head to the airport in the evening.

Take care.

Love,

Angela

The Monday with just work things

 Hi,

Monday is done and dusted! And today is Toby's birthday. He is 21. Well, that went pretty fast. And we're a world away from Falkirk in the winter here in Aotearoa. He seems to be living his best life - so that is very good to witness. Independent and kind and smart. I'd like to say: job done. But you always want to feel needed, eh? If he ever needs us, we'll be there for him. I think he knows that.

He sent me the pic of him and Tessa with a toy Santa. I did get a pic with Santa every year when he was growing up. Some with his cousins when we visited with them. So he gets it. And I did get one. I kinda like it. Made me laugh. He looks happy. Tessa is like: what are we doing?

Hahahah.

Merry Christmas from Toby and Tessa to you

Our tree with decorations

First (and might be last) mango of the season

I was WFH yesterday and found the mango in the fridge that I bought at the weekend. $7.99 for one. It did smell good as I selected it. And guess what? It was delicious. My favourite fruit. A late runner in the stakes as I loved apricots growing up in the stone fruit capital of the world: central Otago. But Australia has mangoes and you can eat them around Christmas and it is definitely a taste of summer for me.

French Kiss iced latte

I am rambling. I just drank the huge iced latte in my hand up there like it was the only liquid left on Earth and I was dying of thirst. I did give out a PSA warning to my team about it.

Caffeine fizzing in my veins about now...

Hope your day is awesomeness. We're off the Mean Doses tonight for the pub quiz. Have a great day.

Love,

Angela