The Tuesday with a test drive

Hi,

Ok - work is work.  It is long.  But Christmas is coming!  Yay!

After work I went home with Mike in an Uber and Mike ordered pizza.  Then - then!  I went around to Anna's house and picked up her car.  Mike is very interested in buying her car so she sorted out insurance for us for a day or two, and we borrowed her car.

Well, I haven't done something for about 4 days that put such a huge smile on my face (ok - crossing the finish line after riding around Taupo does make me smile hugely).  This car is such a pleasure to drive.  I think I might have fallen a little bit in love with it.  Mike had his Christmas party after work, and had a few drinks, so it was all mine to test drive.

I got back home and asked the boys to pile in, and we went out to see Sally.  Just because!  Sheer pleasure.

Anyway, eventually we got back home, and Mike and I cleared the MX5 garage and the car just fit in ok.  We need to clear out some stuff to get both cars in.  Mike has a new workbench which we now need to fit in along the back wall.  A job for a weekend soon.

Busy day today.  User group tonight.  And we need to return the car.  Oh.  Hahahah.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work post Taupo

Hi,

After a tough day at work, I rode home.  I managed to get a RPM class in, which I survived.  But riding home made my quads protest by the time I got home.  Evidence that I did do something at the weekend.

I got some dinner ready for Toby and then jumped in the car to meet Mike at the supermarket in town.  We checked out the building at 61 Molesworth St that is being demolished as it is quite close to the supermarket.  It really looked like a post apocalyptic scene.  Or the fight scene in a Transformers movie.  Normal looking building, it a chunk taken out.

And if my phone was communicating with anything, I would paste in a photo.  But for a phone, it seems to be doing a good impersonation of a brick right about now.

We did our grocery shopping with me in a slightly crazy mood.  Fortunately Mike still loves me lots.  Got home and fed Mike and then managed to do a few of our tasks for the evening before getting to bed.

Nice ride in this morning - hope the dry weather continues.

Have a wonderful day!

Love,
Angela

The weekend of round Taupo cycle challenge

Hi,

What an awesome weekend.  I left Wellington on Thursday afternoon and hit major traffic on the way out through to Waikanae.  What is with that route?  Awful - glad I don't live that way.

Got to Palmerston North at 6.40pm or so and found my way to Iona and Col's house ok.  Iona and I went out for dinner in town.  The town was heaving - it was a graduation night for the local uni.  We eventually found a Thai restaurant that could fit us in and enjoyed some yummy food.

Back to their house and I fell into bed and possibly got distracted with a book and read until 1am!  Ouch!

Up to have a cuppa with Col before heading to Sanson for a brekkie with her.  She dropped Frida off at the kennels as they were both away for the weekend to a family wedding.

I'd just ordered our breakfast and Col's coffee just got made when they had a power cut.  They asked me if I was in a hurry and I asked how long it takes to get to Taupo from here.  They said 2.5 hours (must have a Gilbert gene) so I said we were in no hurry.

Cute wee car

Iced coffee was sweet but quite good.

Eventually the power came back on and we got a yummy breakfast.  And I got my iced coffee.  Col and I chatted away and eventually I had to head off.  I filled up at the Z there and headed north.  Music on, singing away.

I found the accommodation around 1.30pm and settled in.  Moved in my bike and gear and then went into town to collect the race packs.

I got James' pack, and Sreejith's.  And Mike's - but he didn't need one as he wasn't riding.  Still, he'd paid for his entry so I picked up his pack.

I managed to change Sreejith and James to different groups.  Sreejith and his family just arrived so I went to chat to them.  James and Celia were held up in diabolical traffic so they arranged to meet me at our house around 8.30pm.

I went back home and got the bike ready.  Did a glass inspection as per Andrew's lessons to me.  Didn't do me much good as you will see.  :-(

When Celia and James arrived to collect his race pack, I chatted to them for a bit, before heading to bed in a coma.  I had the best sleep ever.  But I did wake up at 5am, an hour before my alarm was due to go off.

Got my bib

Mike woke up with me, which was nice as he'd only had 4 hours sleep by then.  He and Toby had left late from Wellington and got in around midnight.

I ate scrambled eggs and porridge.  I brought the omelette maker with me to cook an omelette.  But when I prepared my egg and opened the omelette maker, I discovered I had brought the sandwich press instead.  Oops.

Soon I was ready - trouble was I was about 2.5 hours early.  So Mike and I went back to bed.  Hahah.

Anyway, around 8am we got in the car and Mike took me close to the start as he could get.  We pushed the bike and I got some of my nerves out of the way by just enjoying Mike's steady hand in mine.  Found the W2 start group.  Found James waiting for his start.  Got hugs from him and Celia.  Met his mate Grant too.

Then I was in my group, approaching the start line.  I chatted to the woman next to me.  Emily Junck (it helps that we all have our names on our bibs).  Talk about amazing.  She'd just moved here from Seattle 2 months ago, did no training, had no one here to support her and just turned up to ride the whole way.  I hope she did well.

Anyway, our race started around 8.55am, I guess.  The conditions were overcast, possibly rainy and not a lot of wind.  Almost perfect, really.  In my start group there were about 8 women.  Not enough for a bunch to form, so that was disappointing.

Off I go!

I was riding by myself, but passing back and forth with a few people I started to recognise.  I was passing people from the previous group as well.  I was under my mark for 20km by about 4 or 5 minutes, and again at 40km.  So I was chuffed with my time.  But at the 50km mark I felt my back tyre start to bump a lot.  I looked at the road and it was super bumpy so I was hoping it was just that.  But I got onto slightly smoother road and the bumping continued.  I stopped in a road entrance and looked down.  Back tyre was flat.  Doh!

I jumped off and took all my gear out for changing it.  New tube.  Levers.  A lot of people asked if I was ok.  That was nice.  I finally got my back tyre off and the tube out when the mechanic support van pulled up.  Some nice young man whose bike had broken and was getting a lift came out and helped me change it.  He inspected the tyre and I pulled out a decent rose thorn/prickle thing.  I reckon that was the culprit.

He got my tube back in and pumped up and left for his van ride back.  Poor guy.  I got my tyre back on and then headed off again.

By this time I was held up easily by 20 mins or slightly more.  Gah!  And I had even less people around me to ride with.  So I was alone for the rest of the race.  I did overtake relay riders though.

Bottom of Kuratau Hill I spotted Celia and she cheered me on.  I loved coming down Waihi hill into Tokaanu.

I saw Mike and Toby cheering me on at Turangi - super nice to see them.  I got there at about 5 hours and 5 mins.  I really tried to ride hard for the next stretch.  I got to the bottom of Hatepe hill at 5 hours 55 mins and got to the top by 6 hours 5 mins.  From there, it was good that the wind wasn't too fierce so I tried to ride hard again.  I made it to the finish by 6 hours 55 minutes.

My official result

Phew!  I totally would have easily made my 6 hours 30 mins goal without the puncture.  So I am fairly happy.  It was 25 minutes faster than my previous time, even so.

And now I have a goal for next year.  Right?

I saw Mike and Toby cheering me over the finish line, and Sreejith and his family doing the same.  I met Celia and James (and Celia's mother) at the end.  So much support.  And so many texts wishing me luck.  I was really happy with everyone just willing me on.

We got back home and I showered and then we got some food and headed to Celia and James' accommodation.  James works with Sally and they live in Taupo (Sally and her partner Greg).  I don't think I have ever been felt so welcome to someone's house before.  Wow!  They were amazing people.  Toby played with their wee pup, Willis.  He is a Shihtzu/Bichon cross.  Toby asked if we could visit them again when we were leaving.  I think he also realised how welcoming Sally and Greg were.  We had a wonderful dinner - I got a scotch fillet steak for my riding efforts and it was cooked perfectly.  Yummy salads.  Yep - a perfect way to end the day.

Back home for a well needed sleep.  My head hit the pillow and I was out for the count.  Even with Toby listening to a Harry Potter movie right next to our room.

Replete cafe iced coffee

Next morning we got up and packed up and planned to meet Sreejith and his family at Replete Cafe.  But as we grabbed a table Sreejith had backed his bike rack into his rear windscreen.  Smashed it.  Doh!  Bad luck.

They managed to meet us for breakfast and sort out a temporary cover for the window for their drive home.

Did bump into Helen, Iona and Col's friend.  She did the twice around Taupo.  And she looks so normal on the outside.  Hahah.  She said it was tough.  No wonder!  it was tough just going around once!

Willis on top of Toby

Willis and Toby

 We left to drive home and made good time.  Home by 2pm.  Felt a wee quake last night.  Still shaky here a bit.

Thank you to everyone for wishing me well.  I had such a good time.  Can't wait for next year already.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday with packing for the weekend

Hi,

Toby came to town for his optometrist appointment after school and I met him for that.  He was running late so Mike got him an uber.  

Turns out his eyes are quite stable and haven't changed much from last year.  Yay!

We met Mike after his work was done for the day and we all took the bus home.  The slow bus.  Through Kelburn.

Ravioli and yummy salad

But I cooked tea when we got home and it was really yummy.  Ravioli with roast zucchini and capsicum salad.   Mmmmm.

I finished packing for the weekend and then Mike and I watched some National Geographic thing on missions to Mars.  Dramatised documentary style.  It was ok.

It surely sent me to sleep, that's for sure.

Toby is off school today - he's a bit sick.

Up early to pack the car for the weekend.  I drove in and will leave tonight to head north.  See you on Monday to tell you all about the race!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with nothing on

Hi,

I managed to catch up with Serge in a coffee date, and that may have been the highlight of my manic day.  His mother is not well, so he's heading back for a long visit to see if he can help.

Iced coffee date with Serge

I did get to the gym though for a great RPM session with Sreejith.  And then I met the personal trainer and he took me through a few things.  Including some weird bear claw pose.  I think he was having a laugh.

Apparently this might be a bear claw pose

 I had to hang on rings for as long as possible.  I didn't hang on for long.  And I was hopeless with the standing on one leg and closing my eyes thing.  Ok.  I have to practise before my follow up session.

Rode home and sorted out some food for Toby before collapsing on the couch.  Went to collect Mike from Park St and then collapsed some more.  Hahah.

Right.  Time to get the day on track.  Enjoy yours!

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

Well, I was back at work like usual.  But at 4.30pm Mike's building was evacuated due to white powder discovered in the lift shaft.  If it's anything like our building, it'll be ground up gib board dust.

Anyway - it did mean by the time I got home, Mike had cooked tea.  Yum!  Fish.  We all loved it.

Fish - and my electrolyte so I am used to it by the race day this weekend

The day was stunning and the evening lovely, although the wind had kicked up by then.  The cat loved the deck.  She'd run out, poke around, get spooked by gusts and hurtle back in.  She was loving it!

Mike and I went to bed to finish watching The Crown.  We've done the season now in a marathon effort.  Quite enjoyed it really.

Ok.  Time for a coffee date with Mike.  Hope your day is fun!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with an exhibition

Hi,

Well, after an odd week, the weekend was surprisingly normal really.  The boys got home on Friday and Toby heard he got 86% in his science exam the day before (Thurs).  He thought his Maths exam was the hardest, but he hopes he did ok.  I was very proud of his science achievement.

I got up super early on Saturday and headed out to collect Andrew from his place in the wee green car.  I took a photo of the stick insect on the garage first though.  And for some reason I couldn't unlock the car so I made poor Mike get out of bed and it unlocked immediately for him.  Andrew and I headed up to Palmerston North, checking out slips along the way (a fair bit - we could see where slips closed SH1).  Met Iona and Col at Moxies on George St and enjoyed a lovely brekkie there.

Moxies iced cofee

From there we wandered around to the gallery where Iona's weaving Masters course were exhibiting their graded items.  Wow!  Iona is very talented and her classmates are as well.  The ideas collated over the years of the course and executed so well were amazing to see.  And this is from me, who knows nothing about weaving techniques but can appreciate art and effort and creativity.

Back to Iona and Col's place for lunch and the cousins arrived from Chch and Wellington to also see the exhibition.  Liz, Rowena and Alison.  So it was a marvellous catch up time for lunch for all the cousins.  And me and Col.  Hahah.

Stick insect on the garage

Andrew and I left when Iona took her second entourage through the exhibition.  It was a lovely drive back and I was home to see Mike before too long.

Emerson and Duncan were visiting for a sleepover so it was nice to see them after not seeing them for a wee while.  To say I saw them might be pushing the boundaries of the sentiment there.  They enjoyed the computer time and Toby's company more than mine.  But when food was presented, I did get to see them.

A lazy day Sunday where Mike and I watched a television series - very unusual for us.  Gorgeous day it was too.  Tried to clear the garage - put it off for a few weeks,

Right.  We're back at work now and although our building is in the news a lot, it is just cosmetic damage and the building is fine!

Enjoy your week.  I have a short week - Friday off to head to Taupo for the big race.  So excited I can barely sleep.

Love,
Angela