Hi,
Turns out Mike had driven into work yesterday which was a great opportunity to take home some personal stuff from work. Far easier in the car than in my pannier. However, I was able to take far fewer things due to my visit to the drycleaners. For the "hot air balloons" Tuesday night at Cubs, I had read that drycleaning bags work well and we'd played with one yesterday morning to see if it had potential. It did, so at 4pm I walked to the local drycleaners and asked if I could buy 35 bags. They said no. Oh. But, they said they had a flawed batch they couldn't use and I could have that!
Great! Bit of Sellotape and it'd be fine. I ended up with a huge roll of about 1000 bags! My arms are still sore from carrying it back to work.
So, home for dinner (yummy spag bol - ta Mike) and straight into the prototype mark 2. In our kitchen, I tried to inflate a bag with just a blow dryer. It would take off great and immediately plummet to the floor. The hot air was dissipating faster than it should. Mike then suggested flames would be the best bet to keep a constant heat source.
Back to google to search for some refinements. Sure enough, a slight tweak to provide a cross bar from pipecleaners where a cotton ball soaked in meths could sit and be ignited looked like a good option. Toby started to shift uncomfortably in his seat as he finished off his spag bol. I made some pipecleaner cross bars, attached it to the bottom of the bag and Mike placed the soaked cotton ball on the precarious platform. Mike also placed our fire extinguisher close at hand - just in case.
Mike lit the cotton ball and I held the top of the "hot air balloon" waiting for it to lift off. But it turned out the pipecleaners were way more combustible than anyone could have foreseen. The platform caught fire, the plastic bag started to melt away, the fiery cotton ball fell burning to the ground, I dropped the entire balloon, Toby instigated his fire evacuation plan and shot out to the letter box shouting "come on guys" and Mike decided to stamp out the fire with his shoe. Needless to say, the ignited meths just spread to his shoe and he was stomping around trying to put his shoe out.
The excitement was just about to reach fever pitch when Mike finally waved at the flames with his hands and the wee fire went out. The floor is hardly scorched, Mike's shoe was getting old anyway, and eyebrows and fringes grow back. Just joking. Although we are proud of Toby's fire evacuation plan. He was the only one doing the right thing.
Toby started carrying around the fire extinguisher as we moved outside with prototype 4 by this stage. I found some straws to construct the platform, and used tin foil to make a little tray to hold the cotton ball. I stood outside holding the balloon while Mike added the ignited cotton ball. Success! The balloon started to inflate. Mike decided it needed a second burning cotton ball and added that.
Hmmmmm. Turns out two burning cotton balls is a little bit too much for drycleaning plastic to withstand. As I held the top of the balloon, the bottom of it withered away into shrivelled plastic. I dropped the burning mass to the bricks, Toby asked if he should use the extinguisher and Mike and I had uncontrollable laughter.
The stillness of the night and the bright stars were appealing as I wiped the tears from my eyes, so I suggested a walk. We left the house with the all pervasive smell of burning plastic (It smells like a ski shop said Mike this morning) and went for a walk. We dropped off a birthday present to Jack and had a quick catch up with his parents. I think they might think we are quite mad as we explained the evening's shenanigans.
Back home to bed and into a pleasant slumber.
Tonight we ask the Cubs to build their own balloons, and possibly try to launch one or two with burning cotton balls. With the proviso that they don't try it at home. We know this from experience.
Have a good day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
The weekend with t-shirt weather - and it's nearly June
Hi,
What glorious weather we have been having - and it continues today. Saturday we took Toby to swimming and I think he did quite well. We went home via the supermarket and had lunch when we got in. Then we tidied more stuff up and moved our beds into Toby's new bedroom. Who knew that his new bedroom would be able to fit a single bed and a queen-sized double bed? Well, we know now!
We watched some Time Team episodes and slept in Toby's new room for the first time. I did wake at 4am wondering where I was for a minute.
Sunday we drove out to Waikanae and stopped off at Toyworld in Paraparaumu where Mike and Toby eyed up the Nerf weaponry. As they were deciding on the best gun, Josh walked in. Sent to buy more ammo for the Nerf battle. Very funny. Mike purchased a fan-assisted gun (Barricade) and we went around to the Tabor residence.
Mike and Toby kitted up (safety goggles are a must) and Mike got his new helmet-mounted video camera working (on his upper arm) to video the battle. Aidan and I got Lulu and took off for the walk to the lookout on the hill above their house. Lunches had been prepared (I think it was termed rations for the Nerf soldiers) and Lulu was very excited to be climbing the hill. We saw loads of birds (tuis, piwakawakas) and Lulu made friends with some dogs (and possibly an enemy of another dog - he was a bit wolf-like and maybe a bit fierce).
The view from the top was well worth the walk and we ate lunch looking out over Kapiti Island and the top of the South Island.
Back down to the house and the boys had finished the war - the younger group had won 3-zip. Mainly because of sheer numbers. I think it was eight against two. We lazed around losing track of time before heading off in a huge rush, but not until after Josh trimmed Lulu's nails and nicked the quick and had to mop up blood. Exciting.
Back to Lower Hutt for dinner with the whanau at Sally and Andrew's place and a good catch up with people. Toby fell asleep in the car on the way there so obviously he was tuckered out.
Home to get into bed and I stayed up to give a top coat to some skirting boards and architraves. More of the same tonight.
Last week at work. How amazing!
Have a great week! Mine is a short one (Toby and I are heading to Auckland to meet Mike and Vivienne and have a good long weekend is sunny Northland). Looking forward to exploring a part of NZ we have never seen before.
Love,
Angela
What glorious weather we have been having - and it continues today. Saturday we took Toby to swimming and I think he did quite well. We went home via the supermarket and had lunch when we got in. Then we tidied more stuff up and moved our beds into Toby's new bedroom. Who knew that his new bedroom would be able to fit a single bed and a queen-sized double bed? Well, we know now!
We watched some Time Team episodes and slept in Toby's new room for the first time. I did wake at 4am wondering where I was for a minute.
Sunday we drove out to Waikanae and stopped off at Toyworld in Paraparaumu where Mike and Toby eyed up the Nerf weaponry. As they were deciding on the best gun, Josh walked in. Sent to buy more ammo for the Nerf battle. Very funny. Mike purchased a fan-assisted gun (Barricade) and we went around to the Tabor residence.
Mike and Toby kitted up (safety goggles are a must) and Mike got his new helmet-mounted video camera working (on his upper arm) to video the battle. Aidan and I got Lulu and took off for the walk to the lookout on the hill above their house. Lunches had been prepared (I think it was termed rations for the Nerf soldiers) and Lulu was very excited to be climbing the hill. We saw loads of birds (tuis, piwakawakas) and Lulu made friends with some dogs (and possibly an enemy of another dog - he was a bit wolf-like and maybe a bit fierce).
The view from the top was well worth the walk and we ate lunch looking out over Kapiti Island and the top of the South Island.
Back down to the house and the boys had finished the war - the younger group had won 3-zip. Mainly because of sheer numbers. I think it was eight against two. We lazed around losing track of time before heading off in a huge rush, but not until after Josh trimmed Lulu's nails and nicked the quick and had to mop up blood. Exciting.
Back to Lower Hutt for dinner with the whanau at Sally and Andrew's place and a good catch up with people. Toby fell asleep in the car on the way there so obviously he was tuckered out.
Home to get into bed and I stayed up to give a top coat to some skirting boards and architraves. More of the same tonight.
Last week at work. How amazing!
Have a great week! Mine is a short one (Toby and I are heading to Auckland to meet Mike and Vivienne and have a good long weekend is sunny Northland). Looking forward to exploring a part of NZ we have never seen before.
Love,
Angela
Friday, May 27, 2011
The Thursday with user group night
Hi,
The weather has eased slightly and I rode my bike in this morning. The roads were quite dry and I enjoyed the ride in - the wind was a bit strong and blew me off course a little from time to time. But that just made the ride in a little more exciting. Perks you up for the day nice and quick.
We spoke to Ma last night - using her new landline number for the first time. Toby wanted to ask her if she told me off when I was little when I ruined my rubbers (Toby was ruining his rubber and I told him off, saying Grandy used to tell me off too, so I know what he's going through - hence his wish to have verification of this). It was nice to chat without losing signal (their new house must be in a signal-deprived area for cell phones).
We had the user group last night and it was a good one - the future of computing is in the cloud. It's just a matter of moving things there and getting past people's walls.
Not too long to go at work now. Had a busy few days.
The weekend is frantic - I was under the impression we only had swimming, DIY and a war. But turns out the DIY bit contains 48 hours of non-stop work all on its own. Yikes!
Have a great weekend! The next weekend we'll be in Northland for the first time ever!
Love,
Angela
The weather has eased slightly and I rode my bike in this morning. The roads were quite dry and I enjoyed the ride in - the wind was a bit strong and blew me off course a little from time to time. But that just made the ride in a little more exciting. Perks you up for the day nice and quick.
We spoke to Ma last night - using her new landline number for the first time. Toby wanted to ask her if she told me off when I was little when I ruined my rubbers (Toby was ruining his rubber and I told him off, saying Grandy used to tell me off too, so I know what he's going through - hence his wish to have verification of this). It was nice to chat without losing signal (their new house must be in a signal-deprived area for cell phones).
We had the user group last night and it was a good one - the future of computing is in the cloud. It's just a matter of moving things there and getting past people's walls.
Not too long to go at work now. Had a busy few days.
The weekend is frantic - I was under the impression we only had swimming, DIY and a war. But turns out the DIY bit contains 48 hours of non-stop work all on its own. Yikes!
Have a great weekend! The next weekend we'll be in Northland for the first time ever!
Love,
Angela
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Wednesday with no karate... again
Hi,
Wee Toby is exhausted and passed on going to karate last night. Probably a good thing given it is 90 minutes long now and takes a lot out of him. We had an early night after Mike and I puttied the wee holes in architraves and scotias and skirting boards. They are ready for a light sand and top coats now. Exciting. I know way too much about DIY now for me to be comfortable.
It is damp today. Damp like a damp thing. I wimped out and took the bus in. The lashing rain did nothing for motivation to get on my bike.
Tonight is user group night. So busy today. I wonder if the boys will come in and eat Maccas? Mike isn't feeling too well, and thinks perhaps Toby has a touch of his "whatever it is". That might explain the lethargy.
Ok. Time to get stuck in.
Love,
Angela
Wee Toby is exhausted and passed on going to karate last night. Probably a good thing given it is 90 minutes long now and takes a lot out of him. We had an early night after Mike and I puttied the wee holes in architraves and scotias and skirting boards. They are ready for a light sand and top coats now. Exciting. I know way too much about DIY now for me to be comfortable.
It is damp today. Damp like a damp thing. I wimped out and took the bus in. The lashing rain did nothing for motivation to get on my bike.
Tonight is user group night. So busy today. I wonder if the boys will come in and eat Maccas? Mike isn't feeling too well, and thinks perhaps Toby has a touch of his "whatever it is". That might explain the lethargy.
Ok. Time to get stuck in.
Love,
Angela
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Tuesday with a bonfire night - make that a campfire night
Hi,
Turns out the fire permit is a lot easier to get from the council/national fire brigade and local fire station if you say you're having a campfire. Don't use the word "bonfire". Gets them excited. You have to answer things like "What is the exact measurement of your fire?".
Anyhow, we walked into the gully the Scouts own at the back of Karori and had a ball. Toby got up and told a joke about twenty penguins and it went down well. Good on him.
In the afternoon I had attended a lecture at Victoria University on Pre-departure Migrant Issues. Although most of you are correctly noting that it is not my usual fare (I'd be more like to attend a lecture on archaeology), it was in fact a lecture by Aidan. So I had a lot of fun sitting in a lecture hall once more and enjoying bright minds coming together. Good fun.
Busy today and tomorrow at work. Phew!
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Turns out the fire permit is a lot easier to get from the council/national fire brigade and local fire station if you say you're having a campfire. Don't use the word "bonfire". Gets them excited. You have to answer things like "What is the exact measurement of your fire?".
Anyhow, we walked into the gully the Scouts own at the back of Karori and had a ball. Toby got up and told a joke about twenty penguins and it went down well. Good on him.
In the afternoon I had attended a lecture at Victoria University on Pre-departure Migrant Issues. Although most of you are correctly noting that it is not my usual fare (I'd be more like to attend a lecture on archaeology), it was in fact a lecture by Aidan. So I had a lot of fun sitting in a lecture hall once more and enjoying bright minds coming together. Good fun.
Busy today and tomorrow at work. Phew!
Have a great day!
Love,
Angela
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Monday with the start of painting
Hi,
We have started painting in our new bedroom. It's just undercoat at this stage, but it's a start. It did mean Toby had a late night as for some reason he couldn't sleep well with me painting in the room using a spotlight. Who'd have guessed.
The plasterer finally turned up and had a good look around. Hopefully we hear back from him but it'll be a wee while before he can start. Then we'll be painting top coat everywhere. It seems never-ending at this point.
Cubs tonight and we're walking in to light that bonfire we built on Sunday afternoon. Rain or shine. Well, it won't be sunny as the sun has well and truly set by the time we set off. It is quite windy though.
Love,
Angela
We have started painting in our new bedroom. It's just undercoat at this stage, but it's a start. It did mean Toby had a late night as for some reason he couldn't sleep well with me painting in the room using a spotlight. Who'd have guessed.
The plasterer finally turned up and had a good look around. Hopefully we hear back from him but it'll be a wee while before he can start. Then we'll be painting top coat everywhere. It seems never-ending at this point.
Cubs tonight and we're walking in to light that bonfire we built on Sunday afternoon. Rain or shine. Well, it won't be sunny as the sun has well and truly set by the time we set off. It is quite windy though.
Love,
Angela
Monday, May 23, 2011
The weekend that went fast but had lots packed in
Hi,
The weekend started, as always, on Friday evening. We count down till then and Toby looks forward to a relaxing Friday night in front of a television. Tonight was no exception. Mike stayed late at work for a beer tasting event and then followed it up by enjoying a live band at some local establishment.
Toby and I watched hour of America's Funniest Home Videos with Toby giggling his way through them - to the point he can no longer breathe properly. Then to bed. I had to get an early night as I was planning on getting up at 4am to do some planet gazing.
1:30am I got a drink of water from upsatirs and found Mike up there surfing the internet. What? Anyhow - he came to bed. I got up at 4am and showered and dressed and then wandered up to the car. The wee green car has a flat bettery when it isn't used often, and this morning was no exception. I had to go and wake Mike and ask him to push the car out of the garage at 4:30am! I wasn't quite sure he was even awake for it.
But he got me out and I crash started the car going down the steep part of Norwich St. Drove off to Waikanae and gave the car a good charge in the process. I was a bit later than the anticpated 5am, but Josh was up and met me at the gate with a coffee in his hand. I got a cup of tea and then we were off with Lulu to Te Horo beach to see the planets low towards the eastern horizon. The high, sparse cloud parted for a good twenty minute viewing and we then walked with Lulu along the still-dark beach, lit by a 75% waning Gibbous moon.
Home to Waikanae where I was treated to cups of tea, tours of new forts in the backyard and a fantastic Josh McMuffin (way better than the McDonalds version). The morning disappeared and then we were cheering on Duncan and Emerson at Paraparaumu while they played hockey against some competitive local school team. It was a bit of a whipping. But it looked like fun to me!
Over Paekakariki Hill in the wee green car to "End of the world" lunch at Sally and Andrew's house with Mike and Toby. Nothing rapture-like there except for the usual rapturous food we always get there.
Off home to get Toby ready for a sleepover at Alex's house. Dropped him off and then got stuck into sorting out the study (our old bedroom) and our new bedroom (the old TV room). Piles to books and bookcases to move upstairs. Worked on that for about 3 hours flat out and finally started to get somewhere with it.
I know Vivienne and Ramble had some success with their Rally O finals. I was hoping to get to see some of it, but I'll have to wait till next time. It was getting difficult to squash it in with all the afternoon activity.
Then off at 5:15 to dinner at Duck Creek with Sally and Andrew. This is the new restaurant at Rushes in Pauatahanui. It was scrumptious. Everyone enjoyed their meals. We'll be back.
Back to Sally and Andrew's house to watch Meet the Feebles. I think Andrew stayed awake for the entire movie. I surely didn't.
Home to bed and then up for more DIY stuff before Toby arrived. Off to Yum Cha for 13 of us. Great fun. Then home to go out and build the bonfire for Cubs on Tuesday night. Jack came with us and stayed at our place for a wee while playing with Toby.
Mike went out to get groceries and we ate tea and I went to bed exhausted.
Have a marvellous week!
Love,
Angela
The weekend started, as always, on Friday evening. We count down till then and Toby looks forward to a relaxing Friday night in front of a television. Tonight was no exception. Mike stayed late at work for a beer tasting event and then followed it up by enjoying a live band at some local establishment.
Toby and I watched hour of America's Funniest Home Videos with Toby giggling his way through them - to the point he can no longer breathe properly. Then to bed. I had to get an early night as I was planning on getting up at 4am to do some planet gazing.
1:30am I got a drink of water from upsatirs and found Mike up there surfing the internet. What? Anyhow - he came to bed. I got up at 4am and showered and dressed and then wandered up to the car. The wee green car has a flat bettery when it isn't used often, and this morning was no exception. I had to go and wake Mike and ask him to push the car out of the garage at 4:30am! I wasn't quite sure he was even awake for it.
But he got me out and I crash started the car going down the steep part of Norwich St. Drove off to Waikanae and gave the car a good charge in the process. I was a bit later than the anticpated 5am, but Josh was up and met me at the gate with a coffee in his hand. I got a cup of tea and then we were off with Lulu to Te Horo beach to see the planets low towards the eastern horizon. The high, sparse cloud parted for a good twenty minute viewing and we then walked with Lulu along the still-dark beach, lit by a 75% waning Gibbous moon.
Home to Waikanae where I was treated to cups of tea, tours of new forts in the backyard and a fantastic Josh McMuffin (way better than the McDonalds version). The morning disappeared and then we were cheering on Duncan and Emerson at Paraparaumu while they played hockey against some competitive local school team. It was a bit of a whipping. But it looked like fun to me!
Over Paekakariki Hill in the wee green car to "End of the world" lunch at Sally and Andrew's house with Mike and Toby. Nothing rapture-like there except for the usual rapturous food we always get there.
Off home to get Toby ready for a sleepover at Alex's house. Dropped him off and then got stuck into sorting out the study (our old bedroom) and our new bedroom (the old TV room). Piles to books and bookcases to move upstairs. Worked on that for about 3 hours flat out and finally started to get somewhere with it.
I know Vivienne and Ramble had some success with their Rally O finals. I was hoping to get to see some of it, but I'll have to wait till next time. It was getting difficult to squash it in with all the afternoon activity.
Then off at 5:15 to dinner at Duck Creek with Sally and Andrew. This is the new restaurant at Rushes in Pauatahanui. It was scrumptious. Everyone enjoyed their meals. We'll be back.
Back to Sally and Andrew's house to watch Meet the Feebles. I think Andrew stayed awake for the entire movie. I surely didn't.
Home to bed and then up for more DIY stuff before Toby arrived. Off to Yum Cha for 13 of us. Great fun. Then home to go out and build the bonfire for Cubs on Tuesday night. Jack came with us and stayed at our place for a wee while playing with Toby.
Mike went out to get groceries and we ate tea and I went to bed exhausted.
Have a marvellous week!
Love,
Angela
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