The Wednesday with a busy evening

Hi,

Toby was off school yesterday and his sulphorous burps have turned more insidious, meaning he can't be far from a toilet.  Rather unpleasant.  Hopefully his body is getting rid of whatever has caused it to get so upset.

Despite my frantic day, I did get out to catch up with Celia.  We went to Home at MBIE and I had an iced coffee there.  They got full marks for presentation.  And it wasn't too sweet.  But I discovered why.  They used honey to sweeten it.  And of course, the coldness means the honey solidifies and doesn't spread out into the drink.  But at the bottom, it was undrinkable in its sweetness.  What marks overall?  A 7.

Iced coffee @ Home.  With honey!

I rode home after work and got some toast for Toby.  Trying to keep his diet simple.  Then I was off to the Nepal information evening.  Bharat gave a slide show and Mike featured a lot in his photos from his trip last year.  And he had a special mention for Mike's Dad and the memorial that was built for him.  We saw a few slides and Bharat mentioned that it was a special thing that happened while they were there, and that they will trek past it again this time.

I went home and collected Toby and his homework assignment due on Friday and we went into work.  We spread the work out over the floor next to my desk and Toby got the hang of printing and using my swipe card to get it off the printer.  Then he cut things out and stuck them on.  It looks ok.

Almost done

Mike flew back into Wellington from his day in Chch and dropped in briefly to work to see us.  He then called in to see Josh for a chat before heading home.  I was almost asleep by the time he came to bed.

This morning is cold here.  And windy.  My ride in was a bit tricky.  Damp roads and cold, strong winds.

But, nothing that can't be fixed by a nice cup of tea.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday that felt like a Monday

Hi,

Well, I kept making appointment for tasks for myself on Monday and wondering why I never got a reminder.  Hahah.  And one reminder I did get said I was a day late for a meeting I just made.  Oops.  And today doesn't really feel like a Wednesday either.  So my confusion continues.

It is beautiful here today and no mistake.

View of Mt Kau Kau this moning

Mike has his Chch day today so Mike and Toby were frantic to make an early getaway.  Not sure they did it.  Haven't heard.

Toby is a bit sick.  Not sure why.  His burps are constant and full of sulphorous odour.  Really quite yucky.

He has a big assignment due at the end of this week.  We are working on it every night this week.  We might come into work tonight with it so we can print out until we get it right for his display stand.  Our printer at home is a little temperamental.

My ride in was lovely - the roads were mostly dry.  Yay for dry roads.  But I am already looking forward to the end of the day so I can help Toby get this assignment done and dusted.

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The long weekend with the best fun!

Hi,

Wow - I don't think I can do justice to the awesome weekend we had.  We left Wellington in stunning weather on Friday night.

Oriental beach on Friday night

Flew into Auckland without any hassles and collected the car from Apex.  Drove out to the Sampson house at Whenuapai.  What an awesome house.  Huge backyard.  Great location.  Yep - they'll be happy there for quite a while.

Hannah moved out for the weekend so we could have her room.  She's so sweet.  I was very proud (although I think they know that Mike and I would have slept anywhere) - and my body was also pleased to have a bed.  We did see her as she came back on Saturday night and cooked tea for us.  Lucky!  Scrumptious jambalaya.  Mmmmm.

But we were up early (4am!) and away for the dawn service.  Wally came too and found us a great car park about 1.5 km from the Auckland Museum.  We were there by 5.15am and it was definitely already packed.  I couldn't see very much.

ANZAC dawn service

Me, Wally and Mike

Auckland museum looked good

The boys after the service

ANZAC service programme

It was a great service. They did very well.  I thought it was the right amount of sombre ceremony.  Nothing flash - just more people than the usual one.

Back home via Maccas - but the queue was coming out the door.  So Wally fried up a huge breakfast at home.  Great!  I was full!

To walk it all off, we walked to Herald Island.  It must have been about 8 km all up.  It was lovely.

Herald Island walk

Looking out from Herald Island

Dinghies on Herald Island

Feet on Herald Island

Back home for fish n chips in the backyard and an early night.

Brennan and Toby enjoying the trampoline

I got an iced coffee from Wally and it was superb!

Next morning we had a lazy start then drove to the Waitakere Ranges for a wonderful walk to Fairy Falls.

Off to visit Fairy Falls in the Waitakere Ranges

Selfie with Mike

Selfie with Lesley

The kids climbed up the falls a wee way

Then from there we went to Bethell's Beach for a picnic.  Mmmmm.  Foooooood!

Sensation!

Picnic at Bethell Beach

Mike checks out the black sands of Bethell's Beach

Selfie in front of sea cave at Bethell's Beach

Walking back to the car

Awesome foot shot

I convinced everyone (even Brennan and Toby - twice!) that we really needed to do SingStar.  The Sampsons love it.  This was just the excuse they needed.  Hahahah.  We sang non stop for 6 hours!

We were all hoarse the next morning.

Karaoke!

It's a group effort!

But the next morning we had to leave.  We dropped Toby off at Jack's place and then Mike and I collected Roz and we went to Columbus in Onehunga for brunch.  I had a great eggs benedict.

Brunch with Roz

I get a hug from Roz

We caught up with Roz and then went shopping.  Well, Mike did.  All of Auckland was there due to the poor weather.  So Roz and I sat in the car and Mike dashed in to get the present for Jack.

Dropped Roz off home then caught up briefly with John and Mai (collected Elma, John's mother for the party too).  Toby didn't want to leave.  Poor kid.

Off to the airport for our bumpy flight home.  It was ok.  Had far worse landings.

This morning was pelting down rain here.  I never went for my run as I would have been soaked in 2 minutes.  But I rode in.  It was ok.  A wee break in the weather.

Have a wonderful week.  Thanks to everyone for a great weekend!  Can't wait to go back there now.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with nothing much

Hi,

What a weird day at work.  It isn't often I am in an all day workshop (and again today).  So it is weird to be at work, but not doing my usual workload.  But it was fairly full on, so I was a bit grateful to finally see the end of the day.

Another stunning day here

Mike got to work from his Lower Hutt client just as I was finishing up.  So he took me home and we packed for our weekend up in Auckland.  Woot!  Can't wait.  Toby will get off in town this afternoon and he and I will find some yummy dinner while we wait for Mike to get done and head to the airport after that.

It is a long weekend here for ANZAC Day.  It was Mondayised last year but this is the first year it actually works in practise.  We're flying back at 5pm on Monday (arriving at 6pm).

Right.  Time to get stuck in before my workshop.  Have a lovely long weekend.  Enjoy the special ANZAC celebrations.  100 years.  Wow.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with Aidan back - but not much else happening

Hi,

Woot!  This morning is stunning here in Wellington.  And I have also been meaning to mention it is birthday week for Michael.  Happy birthday Michael.  It's always busy for Shona this time of April!

Stunning sunrise view to Mt Kau Kau

Mike trying to photo bomb it.  Lucky it's just the top of his head because he only has a towel on!

Yesterday was busy but fun.  Mainly because Aidan flew back into town from her crazy (but essential) one week dash to New Hampshire to see her family.  And because I'm not likely to see her for ages yet, I did manage to squeeze in a hello as I dropped her from her house to her work.  Yep - after about 28 hours non stop travel, she went into work.  And she looked remarkably good for it too.  Pretty sure it wouldn't be terribly fun for my colleagues if I attempted a similar feat.

And, as is becoming a tradition, I got some socks from her visit.  Hahahah!  I was actually wearing the last pair of socks Aidan got me on her previous trip back to the US.  I like a bit of symmetry.  Toby should like these ones, as they feature a lot of orange.

Loving my most recent sock present

I ended up driving home and collecting Toby from the library as I went up the hill.  He was chuffed to get a ride home.  Cooked tea (chicken enchiladas) and promptly had to try and force Toby to at least try some.  He ate the salad I made him.

But Mike got home and enjoyed them!  Yay.  And he has them for lunch today too.  Good work.

Nice ride in this morning - it really is a lovely day today.  I am busy today and tomorrow in a workshop.  And tomorrow we leave for Auckland for the three day weekend.  Can't wait!

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with not much

Hi,

Not a lot happened yesterday really.  It was nice having Mike in the office, but even then I never really saw him much.  I was busy.  Typical day, if a few more meetings than usual.  I did catch up with Ilske for a coffee date though.  That might have been the highlight of the day.

I rode home and found wee Toby at home, getting stuck into Tim Tams and not getting stuck into his homework like I wanted.  Hahahah.  I started tea and Mike got home just as I served it up.  Perfect timing.  He had a migraine yesterday so he is feeling a bit washed out.

The evening disappeared in a flurry of inactivity.  Well, I can't remember anything dramatic happening, at any rate.

This morning went well.  Aidan has landed back in New Zealand.  Yay for that.  I rode into work and the roads were damp from overnight rain.  It looks like it might rain today too.  Southerly again.  But at the moment it is fine.

Right.  Time for a tea.  Enjoy your day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday with nothing much

Hi,

Well, I guess the Monday did throw something up. I got a new job at work officially announced yesterday. I am a huge mouthful of a title now. Support Team Lead CRM & SharePoint Yep. That's me. In practise, it's the same job I have been doing for ages now. Just recognised with a job title. But I guess there are extra challenges that will come my way because of it.

I am rather excited, I guess. A change is as good as a holiday.

Right. As for yesterday, it all worked out ok. Mike went to Chch. I dropped Toby off and rode in from the library. A slight flaw in my plan meant that Toby walked home after school and didn't stay at the library. I looked for him before calling home and finding him there already. But we weren't late so it was all good.

Came home and made tea. Did some homework (Toby - not me). Relaxed before Mike got home. He had been at Scouts with Emerson and Duncan, showing the Scouts what he packs for a tramping trip. Mike said it was good fun. What wasn't so much fun is that he got a migraine right in the middle of it and had to do his talk without really being able to see his audience! But his vision cleared before he had to drive home and it sounds like it wasn't too bed - he just put himself to bed and that was that.

As I type, Aidan is in Chicago airport, waiting for her flight in an hour to LAX. Then it's the long hop over to Auckland through the night. She loses Tuesday entirely. Unlike her Thursday last week that was interminable. I hope her trip back home was good for her and her family.

Today is a normal day. I think. Work madness. Oh. No. I just remembered. We're supposed to go out. I think I might go home and do Toby homework and cook tea. Mike can go out.

Have a fantastic day!

Love,
Angela