The Wednesday with Abby visiting for tea

 Hi,

Our internet is fixed. So today's pics are a mix of Tues and Wed. But working from home using my phone was interesting. No issues at all - even with video cameras on for long meetings. I used 4.6GB of data for the day. All interesting stats.

Chorus came to fix the wires. It was all done by about 1.30pm. Sweet!

Home made iced latte

Wires down

Wires tidied, but not yet fixed

Cardio session with Abby and Quentin

Thurs morning PT

Abby, Hayley and Jenna came over for tea around 3.30 pm and watched some Disney+ while I finished work. Then I came up to make tea. Made them some veggie snacks and they polished those off. They did say they were craving vegetables.

Wed night dinner

Everyone at tea - Abby is behind the vase

They brought me flowers and choccies. So I put the flowers on the table for the roast lamb dinner and took a pic. And didn't realise until later that Abby was behind the vase as I took it.

Hopeless pic.

Tea was great. We chatted away. Then Mike dropped them off at Willis Lane for ice cream and bowling. They are off today (Thurs) to Ohakune for their next destination.

I loved having Abby here. And Mike and I have resolved to visit Aus more often. There you are - heard it here!

Up for my first bus ride in for 2024. They changed our buses in mid Jan. A new service - 4. And new times. So I got a sleep in because this new bus is at 6.06am or 6.36am. And 6.06 is waaay too early for my PT session.

But - would 6.36am be too late?

No. It was not. I got there at 6.58am. I did have to run a bit. But I also had two bags of gear. So I think it might work if I ever have to bus in.

Bench with Quentin. 40kg. Yeah - tough. 3 x 3. Bit raggedy. And then close grip at 20kg. My arms are noodly now.

Met Andrew for a bike gear switch. I have a selection of packing options for Iona.

Thurs morning iced latte

Bike gear swap in progress

We are so on for this weekend! My birthday too! 

Good luck for Mike on his Round the Bays half marathon. Phew!

Have a brilliant weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with Abby in town

 Hi,

I was fizzing all day with the anticipation of seeing Abby here in Wellington. She arrived on an earlier ferry than I thought. They did get up at 5.30am in Kaikoura to make it to Picton for that ferry. Hahah.

After work, Abby and her friends Hayley and Jenna came down from their hotel (Abel Tasman) to see me. Mike was off for a run with Janine.

So we went for a wee walk about the waterfront. Bumped into Janine. Then came back when we discovered Mike was already at Rosies. Wandered in there. Couldn't find him. Saw his Glympse said he was at work. Took them up there. No sign.

I meet Abby outside work

Drinking many iced lattes

Abby in the Wellington sign

Me and Abby in the sign

He was in Bin44. Hahah. Found him. Sally and Andrew arrived. Then we popped over to One Red Dog for a lovely meal. Abby and her friends were so lovely to chat to - we heard about their trip and what their uni plans are when they get back home.

Sally and Andrew hared off for a train. And we said goodbye and ubered home. To find no internet.

Tried rebooting. Nothing. Red light said "optical" which Mike says means the fibre has an issue. Oh. Sounds a bit bad.

Up to find no internet still. And our house runs on the internet. Lights. Radio. And more importantly the coffee machine. Hahah. I managed to get things running with some use of physical plugs.

Oh - I'm no network engineer but I wonder if this fibre cable that's ripped off the telephone pole has anything to do with our loss of internet.

Went to the gym to meet Abby and Quentin. Abby decided cardio sounded fun. Yeah. It was hard. Ropes. Sled push. Assault bike. Row. We got through 2.5 of them. My heart rate hit 173 at one point. Abby will sleep well tonight.

Back at home now to work here and get the roast on. Abby and her friends are off to Weta workshop for a tour. About now. Then Te Papa. And then here.

Yippee.

No pics from last night because I do not sync pics over data - just wi-fi. Hahah.

Funny.

Right. Enjoy your day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday with work and dance class

 Hi,

After work, I drove to pick up Barb and we headed to town for the first Shut up and Dance session with Juliet.

Shut up and dance

Okay - it was so good. Like, so much fun. I had a grin for the entire 45 mins. And this is despite not being co-ordinated at all and not once got through the entire routine properly.

The instructor was hard to hear. But that was probably just me. 20 of us. 2 blokes. And such a great time. I would suggest anyone try it at least once.

Dropped Barb home then got into the garage and got a text from Mike asking if it was possible to pick him up. So I headed to Lyall Bay. He had done a 10km run. And felt good.

We got takeway pasta from Spicer in Miramar. And took it home to eat. 

Up for a ride in. Dark! And cold.

PT session with Quentin. And after work today Abby arrives in Wellington. I am beyond excited.

Have a brilliant day.

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Wellington

 Hi,

This post is bringing all the content to you. Iced lattes (okay - no one wants that except me) and cats! I know who you are that ask for the cat content!

Friday was stunning. Gorgeous weather. I rode to town for all my appointments. Gym. Haircut. Eyebrows. And added in a lunch with Quentin and Andrew. So social!

Rode to town on Friday

Went to the gym

Had lunch with Quentin and Andrew

Saw a cool van in the car park. Mystery van.

Can I count this as an iced latte pic?

Friday turned it on!

Moxley chilling on my chest

Saturday was chill because Mike got a migraine during the night. So no park run for him. And no gym for us either. He slept for a bit then we watched some videos. Cats were happy.

I got the bikes ready for the big bike ride this coming weekend. Woot! My chain is so clean. You could use it to cut your sandwiches!

Home made iced latte

Mitre10 Mega iced latte

Sunday saw us decide it was time to sort out Mike's new shelves for his shoes in his wardrobe. Mainly so Smudge doesn't decide it is a better place than using the kitty litter. Yuck!

Wardrobe work commences

And done!

Mike now has a super tidy wardrobe and his side of the room is so tidy! It looks amazing. So - yay to a job well done.

And as I type this, Toby and Tessa are on board their flight back to Aotearoa. They had such a good time. I am so pleased for them.

Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Angela

The weekend before Waitangi and then our trip to Waitangi

 Hi,

I feel like I have been away for so long. I want to do a special post for my trip to Waitangi for the actual Waitangi Day event. But I will touch on it here.

No cat content below. You are warned.

We were lucky to tag along with people from work with koru membership. So we got to eat as we flew the length of the motu from Wellington to Auckland and then to Keri keri.

Koru lounge iced latte

Flight to Auckland

Dining hall

We were met at Keri keri airport by our bus driver and he expertly got us on the bus and whisked away to Lonsdale Park accommodation. Totally old school camp. But work supplied new sheets for the DoC style rubbery mattresses and it was luxury compared to tramping.

Lonsdale Park

We got bedding

And all the stuff to stay healthy

We got settled in and discussed the logistics of Waitangi Day. Really dived into the tikanga of it. What to expect so we were culturally safe. All the risk assessment dialogue and what to do should it need to be enacted. I will explain more in a later post.

Up at 3am after a 9pm bedtime. Bus left just after 4am and we parked at the petrol station in Paihia. Walked up to the Upper Treaty grounds through the dark. The service had started - but only just.

Dawn service

Sunrise

So many speakers. All with short kōrero. Then the piper and the flag raising just as the sun peeped over the far hill. Stunning. Cold! Standing in the dark we all got a wee bit chilled. Okay - Mike was shivering for ages.

Selfie

The rest of the day was in hot sunshine. And so much fun. A real family festival vibe. Stalls for kai. Clothes. Crafts. The sort of celebration of a bicultural country you would expect.

I teared up a few times at the emotional side of it. Seeing the unity of Aotearoa. Seeing the pride. The passion. I loved it all.

Hikoi flags

Selfie on upper treaty grounds

Hot now

Navy weighs in

Ladi6

After the dawn service and the hikoi kōrero, it was a real festival scene. Stages with kapa haka groups. Ladi6 at the end of our day. She had the audience up and dancing.

Back for fish n chips at the camp. And so tired. Off to bed. Up to clean and pack up. Then our flight home was delayed. But they held the plane in Auckland for us.

Mike explores

Ohh - the flagship shop is here

Auckland looks stunning

Hello beautiful maunga

Cats happy to see us. Good to be home.

Thank you for such an amazing opportunity.

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington

Hi, 

Doing this on my phone. Goodness knows what you'll see. 

Friday was terrible weather.  Raining all day. I stayed inside the entire time.  Cats were happy. 

Did see a great double rainbow though. 

Saturday Mike did 10km Park run while I did 5km in the gym and some bench with Sally.  Ana had Moko run with her too.  Then iced latte at Buzz. 

Picked up a lend of a bike from Mark at work.  Thank you.  Looks good. 

Tidied the garage.  Yes!!

Hurt my back lifting heavy things into the loft.

Rang Toby in Hawaii so he could talk to his grand parents. 

Pole saw work on Sunday.  Then picked up the Subaru from Wally.  Woot.  Drove it over the hill to collect Andrew from his bike ride. 

Poppies for wine and snacks.  Balter for tea with Aidan and Janne.

Home to pack for Waitangi trip. 

Have a great week. 

Love

Angela