The weekend with Easter

 Hi,

We have had a busy time over Easter. We stayed in Wellington but got a lot done while the weather was a bit rainy for some of it.

At noho marae

Wed and Thurs last week I was off at noho marae in Stokes Valley. Such a lovely marae. And I had another step change in my understanding of te ao Māori. Ka pai!

Stunning art

So lovely

Moxley chills on Toby

Back home and Good Friday was a chill day. I did do a gym session with Quentin and Toby joined me. We did dead lifts together. And after Quentin finished, Toby and I did a boxing session. Such fun with Toby.

She does not want to move

Dead lifts with Toby

Then a boxing session

We also went to visit Sarah, Hamish and Ryan for hot cross buns in the afternoon. Nom, nom. 

Moody morning

We had trapline to do in April and Saturday was the best day weather-wise for us. Callan was keen to help - yippee.  Toby tagged along so I took him up Sunny Grove trapline. Then KAT. It took us the best part of 5.5 hours. We got 3 rats and a mouse. Toby really loved being out in the bush. It was hard work off track - we had to scout around for the markers to find the traps on the upper part of KAT. 

Trapline with Toby

Dead mouse!

Sunny on the way up

And finished the off track parts

Rain coming in as we walk back

Toby striding through the bush

Mike and Callan were just a tad behind us in the stream. We were up at KAT5 when Toby heard them down in the stream. We shouted to each other. By the time we finished KAT and got back to the track junction, I got a message that showed they were 20 minutes ahead of us. Got down to near the car and Mike walked up to find us. We walked the last 10 mins out together.

Sourdough

That night we were watching TV and I got up to go grab something and both adductors (and my left tibialis) all cramped at once. It was so sore I could not talk for a bit - and was crying. Mike and Toby had no idea what was happening. They were running around wondering if they needed an ambulance. But I finally stuttered out it was cramp. I ended up with electrolyte and water and a hottie from them. Awww.

Not fun.

Sunday was egg rolling morning. And Wrestlemania for Toby at his friend's house.

My egg is airbourne

Toby's egg is flying down the hill

Mike's egg sedately negotiates the street

Watching Wrexham

Model cat

I did not know Toby took this pic

Another sourdough

Sunday and Monday saw lots of rain for us. And Mike had to study for a big exam coming up. So I decided to finally get the entrance painted. Monday I got the second coat on and we think that looks ok. Happy with the result. So that area is now all done!

Finished the entranceway

All done

PT session online this morning for me (Tuesday) with Quentin. Bench.  40kg. 4 x 4.  Not bad. Then a lot of arms and shoulders.

Working from home today. Toby is working with Ryan from midday today. Then pizza at our place with Ryan and his family for dinner.

It has been nephew's birthdays these last few days. Thinking of them. xx

Have a great day!

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with a birthday dinner for Sally

 Hi,

I rode into work and enjoyed that for my first ride in for over a week. End of daylight savings means it is a little lighter in the morning for now.

Gym. Then caught up with Zaheer at The Lab. It was good to see him. He is doing well. Enjoying work. Still going to the gym. Lovely to see him.

Hey Zaheer!

When I got back to my desk, I found another iced latte courtesy of Mike. So I was quite caffeinated up for the day.

Mike got me an iced latte

After a big day at work we had a Charley Noble dinner with Sally and Andrew to celebrate Sally's birthday. Yes - the one that was almost a month ago. The one we missed. We are still whakamā about it.

Charley Noble dinner

Salads

Lovely dinner - as always. And we enjoyed hearing all their news. What they have been up to. What the rest of the year looks like. 

Mike and I headed home by Uber at 9.30 and I packed for my noho marae today and tomorrow. Then made up the batter for date loaf to take.

Townsville Riverway Park Run.  At about 4.2km mark

Mike making it look easy

Tim smashing it

Our parkrun pics were up too. So I checked them out. Hard to believe it was a week ago today we hired UBCO bikes on Maggie Island. I am missing the company and the fun.

Enjoy your day. And enjoy Easter. I am looking forward to rolling eggs with Toby. He stayed at Emma's place last night. I hope the boys buy groceries after work today.

Have a great long weekend, everyone.

Love,

Angela

The Monday back at work

 Hi,

Mike and I both worked from home yesterday. But in a wonderful surprise, we had booked Toby to come up. It was a surprise because I thought it was Wednesday. But no. He landed at 4pm and Mike and I wwere only a little late getting away from work to collect him,

So nice to see him. The cats were also happy.

We got dinner in (Burger Wisconsin) and watched the old Arnie movie - Total Recall. Which I do not thing I have seen since its cinema release.

Then off to bed. Up for a ride in and PT session (soon). Toby was up so we chatted away.

Have a great day!

Love,

Angela

The week in Townsville

 Hi,

We will get a more detailed blog done - Mike took notes! I know! Wow.

Mike did get migraines - so he really needs to get to the doctor. He got one Tuesday last week (8th April) and is now in bed with one this morning (14th April). And I am pretty sure he had 3 leading up to our holiday.

Hmmm.

Anyway - a quick summary of things. We had such a good week up in Townsville. Michelle and Tim were such gracious hosts. They even bought a fantastic blow up bed for me and Mike to use.  You can see it in the corner under the TV in the pic with Tim and Luna.

Luna and Tim

Mum and Dad were there - as was Shona and a friend. They definitely had a full house. So good to meet Luna and the cats - Polo and Coco. Mike groomed Polo so much that he was meowing every time he saw Mike. Hahah. Coco was a bit shy - but she also came around to the idea and Mike got to groom her too.

Home made iced lattes

Hello Polo

Gym session

Daily walk - there is a flock of peacocks behind Mike

Gorgeous eyes

Hello Coco

Dinner at C bar

Fort walk with Michelle

Me, Shona and Michelle

Magnetic Island

In Sydney

Long stopover in Sydney

Reading as the sun sets in Sydney

We did a lot of walks. We visited Magnetic Island and stayed in a wonderful house for 5 days. We missed most of the yucky weather apart from the first Saturday night where we got stuck trying to avoid floodwaters from a huge downpour.

We did Park Run. In the sauna conditions. Riverway Park Run. Hahah.

But the best bit was seeing my family. Seeing where Michelle and Tim have lived for abou5 or 6 years now. Townsville was lovely.

We were up at 4am to catch our early flight back home yesterday and the plane was delayed leaving Townsville. So they rebooked us through Sydney to Wellington. We didn't get home until 1am. Oohhh. Tough. Our original flight was getting us home at 3pm Sunday.

But the day was fine. Just long. And then Mike woke this morning with a migraine. Oh dear.

Right. Time to get stuck in.

Have a great week. We are actually away for work this week too. Both of us. Wed and Thurs.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday at work

 Hi,

Another day at the office yesterday. Was good to catch up with people face to face.

Bench session yesterday with Quentin

Lewis Road at work

Sad news about a work colleague leaving work came into my inbox during the day. Sent her a message in Messenger and I hope we stay in touch and she gets a new job really fast. Waaaaah.

Rode home and made tea for us (no - I didn't really. Air fried some broccoli). Took another pic of the doors because they look amazing.

The doors again. Just because

Heard that Val Kilmer died. He was quite the icon in my younger years. So there you go. 

We're off to Queensland for a week. And Jason is coming to stay here. Hope he enjoys it and the cats will be so happy.

Have a great week.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with more dancing

 Hi,

I took no pics yesterday. None. No iced latte. No cats. Waaaah - what has my life become? Busy and messy - that is what.

Mike: luckily I have cat content to fill the gap

But it is almost holiday time. And this time it is a real holiday. Not a tramp. Not a trek. None of that. I see a park run maybe. And some walking. Maybe biking. Maybe a jetski hire with snorkelling. But it will be family and relaxing for the most part.

So bring that on!

Yesterday I walked up to Shut up and Dance with jessie from work. Met her friend Morgan on the way. And Clare took us through some Barbie related set of songs. Good fun.

Walked back to work and rode home. In the dark. Mike just finished up his course when I got home at 19:30 and we ate some weird fruitless hot cross buns. Fruitless - yes. But also - full of chocolate. What? It was ok. But missing the delicious spice of the fruitless ones.

Slept ok. Up to ride in and my first PT session with Quentin for a while. He has been on holidays. We did bench. 37.5kg 4 reps x 4 sets.

I am weak.

Will ride home after work and hopefully sort out tea for Mike as he is in training til 7pm each night this week. Get a wash on. That sort of thing. Tidy the house for Jason to come and stay. :-)

Enjoy your day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday working from home and we finished the laundry doors

 Hi,

After a weird day working from home, we finally got the laundry doors all finished and hung up in their place. They look fabulous.

Mike has a course this week so he is working to 7pm each night. But after that, we hung up the doors. And they look so good.

The clamps

Home iced latte

Sourdough

While Mike worked I did get a sourdough baked. Yay! Looks ok to me. Proof is in the eating, as they say.

Doors on

Ta dah!

Went to bed. Read for a bit. Up for a ride in for the first time in a while. And I have Shut up and Dance after work. So a late home time for me.

Mike will be just finished work by then anyway.

Enjoy your day.

Love,

Angela