The Wednesday with Mike's presentation

 Hi,

We had a big day at work - and Mike was presenting at the architect's forum so we stayed late for that. Saw a lot of people from past workplaces (and current).  I may have heckled from the back a few times. Good to see Wally too. Feels like ages since we had a good get together with him and the whānau.

I did catch up with Erin for a coffee during the day at Gemini. Iced bear iced latte time!  She is good but has done something to her knee. Fingers crossed she gets good news from the physio and is back on the hockey field before too long.

Hello Erin - iced latte at Gemini

Smudge on my knees

After the presentation we went to Foxglove for a catch up with some of the punters that attended. And then I rode home and fed the cats. Mike wasn't too far behind me.

Off to bed. Good sleep. Up to drive in for PT session.  95kg deads. 2 reps x 2 sets. And 1 rep. And 2 fails.

Brekkie with Yvette and Ashleigh. And Kris joined too.

Off skiing tomorrow. Woot! 

Better pack tonight.

Have a good day.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday with lunch out and dinner out

 Hi,

I managed to snaffle some of Mike's time for a quick early lunch and then he left and I chatted to Chenda for ages. Good to catch up on all her news. 

Lunch

After work we went out for tea at Rosies with Nicole - it is her last week at work before she has a holiday down south and then starts at Kiwibank.

I rode home after eating far too much and Mike got home at the same time as me. Well - I was riding home when a car went past me and I was sure they were shouting something out the window. Turns out it was mike in an Uber. Hahahah. So he got home a little before me.

Fed the cats. Watched some YouTube. Slept well. Mike was up for a PT session with Quentin and I rode in. Nice and crispy this morning. Cold hands.

Well - hope you have a good day. I am catching up with Erin today (to find out about her knee injury!!!) and then watching Mike in the Meetup architect forum tonight.

Then we will pack - best ring Kara too. To co-ordinate the travel on Friday!

Have a great day.

Love,

Angela

The Monday working from home with Spin

 Hi,

Yesterday I worked from home. I did washing. I set RoboMop off to clean. The cats were happy I was there.

Spin

After work I headed to the gym for 18:00 spin. Mike finished his stuff early so went to New World. I did a quick 1km on the treadmill after spin and met him at the supermarket.

Home to eat and go to bed. Hahahah.

My parents are exploring London. So lovely to see pics from there.

Up for my ride into town this morning. Session with Quentin coming up next!

Late edit:

I did a PB in squats this morning.  80kg.  3 reps x 3 sets. And I was cooked. Did bench after that. 45kg. 2 reps x 3 sets. Also cooked. But a PB in squats was very nice.

My parents remembered our 159 bus to Brixton and when they took a photo they also captured a fox scurrying across the road! In broad daylight. Cheeky fox.

A fox and the 159 bus

Quentin on the sweet caffeine boost

The other day Mum and Dad sent us info on Waterloo Bridge. The current bridge was built during WW2 and mostly by women. And when it was bombed during the war, some stones from it were sent here (and elsewhere) and used to make this fountain for Paddy the dog.

So this fountain to Paddy the Airedale dog is near my work

I had no idea about this fountain and I probably walk past it almost every day I am at work. I was looking for it this morning and saw it and now I wonder why I had never checked it out before.

I have an iced latte - ta Shane

The plaque next to the fountain

Have a great day. 

Love,

Angela

The weekend in Blenheim for Spring challenge training

 Hi,

So you know how I have been a bit of an idiot of late? Well, this weekend was no exception. The pattern is really quite concerning. Keep reading to find out what sort of a goose I was this weekend.

After work on Thurs I caught the Airport bus from Lambton Quay and Mike hopped on a bus going the other way and headed home.

Easy bus ride and I was very early for my 19:30 Sounds Air flight. Iona had a kerfuffle with her ushering night so she ended up being able to meet me instead of Col coming in her tea break. I am very lucky!

Back to base and chatted to Iona for a bit before bed.

Blenheim base got me a supply

Up Friday to have some brekkie and get the bikes in the ute and drive over to Nicola and Tony's place. There we swapped to Tony's ute and headed to Kenepuru Sounds way. Tony dropped us at Linkwater for us to continue by bike to their section in Kenepuru Sound.

I was on Charlotte's old bike again. Iona had been using it to commute every now and then, so I had to adjust the seat height a tad. Sorted that. Looked down at the front cog and saw it was in the smallest cog. Cool. Started riding. Felt good. Moved up and down the back gears.  Sweet.

Never gave the front cog another thought for the entire weekend. Yes, foreshadowing.

It was rolling hills through to the section. Maybe an hour and 15 mins for us to get there. There was one hill where I failed to get to the top by about 20m of so. But it was all road riding and fairly easy enough. Gorgeous views. The road was gravel from the junction that headed to Portage. But super nice.

On route to Kenepuru

Majestic sounds

At the section

Tony had already mowed the lawns and we all ate some cake and it was not long before we rode back again.

Tony collected us from a wee bay and we were soon back at Nicola and Tony's place.

And done for the day - kinda

We decided to do B-Line traps as they were on the schedule for this weekend. Close to 20 traps and not a single rat. The southerly had started by this stage - cold out there.

B-line traps

Is it Spring?

Saturday saw me stay in bed instead of the Park run. It was soooo cold. But it was a beautiful day. Col and Iona and I packed a lunch and drove up the Awatere valley. Parked at a wee car park and headed up Black Birch stream.

Saturday walk up Black Birch

Frosty start

Getting closer to the climb

So cold in the shade

Here we go!

2km across farm track to the start of the proper track. There was a DoC toilet there too. Started up the track and got to a junction after a few mins. We headed right up to the ridgeline. It is all a MTB path so it was easy to go up with the switchbacks the entire way. Such a nice walk.

Up to the ridge

Junction - we went right

Good views

Lunch at the top

Popped out to a farm and had lunch with spectacular views all over the area. Back down (that was super fast) but on the lookout for Col's sunglasses she dropped somewhere and maybe Iona's expensive prescription glasses.

We found Col's sunglasses exactly where she thought they would be - at our first water stop on the way up. 

Got to the toilet and I decided to run the last 2k back to the car. Bit slow but it felt ok. Walked up some wee hills though. And found Iona's glasses in the car. So yay!

Back for a coffee at Mitre10.

Iced latte

Watched a movie in the evening with some venison dinner that Tony gave us. Thank you Tony. Nom, nom.

We saw The Amateur - it was pretty good.

Up Sunday to ride with Iona down the Whale Trail and into the Wither Hills at the cob cottage. Up and down the Mapp track. This gravel farm track was where I felt I was lacking some gears. I said as much. Maybe even  twice.  I think I said:  I am already in my bottom gear and I am not even on the hill yet - as we approached a hill.  And another time I said:  I really need more gears.

I had to push up a few of the hills. But I got there.

Sunday training

Rogaine time

Got to Harling Park and locked the bikes up and headed off on a huge rogaine. It took us 2 hours. A lot of urban walking and then into the hills. So good. But I was so dead.

I am quite dead

Anyway, after getting about 18 of the points we got back to the bikes. And as we out our helmets on I saw Iona's bike was only in the middle front cog.  I was about to comment when I realised it was my bike I was looking at.

This is when I realised my entire weekend on the bike was using the middle cog at the front only. I did have so many more gears to use.

I am not very surprised I got up any of the hills. Hahahah.

Back down Taylor River to home. Some food and a shower and I packed up. We got Hells Pizza and then it was time to head to the airport.

What a great weekend. Wow.  So busy, so good.

Flew back with Sounds Air and got an Uber home. Mike had dinner with friends so I saw him around 10pm. I was a little sleepy. But so nice to chat to him before I fell asleep.

He was up for gym this morning and I am WFH.

Take care. Have a great week.

Love,

Angela

The Wednesday with a run and dinner with CallanSou

 Hi,

went for a run after work. Not with Callan and Mike. Behind them. But it felt ok. The evening was actually quite nice.

At 4pm the whole of NZ got the tsunami warning from the huge Russian earthquake. That was a bit of a fright when we were all at work.

Sourdough

Went to Otto after the run and enjoyed a burger with Callan. Mike joined after his late meeting and then I headed home on my bike.

Packed and baked bread. Then to bed. Up to bus in with Mike for gym. At 6.30am the alert for the tsunami came in again.

Did PT session.  Bench., Eccentrics.  57.5kg. OMG. So hard. My arms are weak now.

Then data brekkie at Smith the Grocer. And off to Blenheim later today after work. Spring challenge training.

Have a good weekend.

Love,

Angela

The Tuesday working from home

 Hi,

I took no pics yesterday when we both worked from home. Not even of the very cute cats. The weather was terrible and Mike let Moxley out the front door and forgot about her. Saw her an hour later really grumpy that she was out in the cold. he opened the door to let her in and what a grumpy noise she made. Hahahah. So funny.

We made tea when work finished and enjoyed the vege pasta bake a lot. Watched some You Tube. Went to bed.

Mike got up to head to the gym with Quentin this morning and I read in bed. Showered. Forgot about my dough I needed to shape. Did that. Got covered in flour and dough. Had to retrieve my keys and rings from the garage. Fed the starter. OMG

What a mad morning.

Hope your day is way better than mine has started out like. Hahah.

Love,

Angela

The Monday back in Wellington and working from home

 Hi,

Happy birthday today to my wee sisters. Shona and Sharon. Hope their day is awesome.

At least the cats were happy we were home yesterday and working there. We got the washing done so that was a good thing.

Iced coffee

Headed to the gym for Spin after work. Tried the 17:30 session. But at 18:00 when we finished, there were no treadmills available for a run.

Spin

So we drove to Karori for a run around the park there. Except it is not lit and was pitch black. So back home to have some tea and go to bed.

Hahahah.

Up at 6.45am for my 7am garage gym session with Quentin. Oops. I was fine though.  85kg deads. 3 x 4 sets. Then some shoulder/back work.

Back to the house for brekkie. And at work again today from home. Only because I wanted a sleep in. 

Have a fantastic day.

Love,

Angela