The Monday back at work but still sick and with Andrew's birthday

Hi,

I met Jase after my work and we went to Rebel Sport to buy him some comfy sneakers and then I made him carry home groceries for the boys' dinner.  Turns out Jase also had to cook the dinner.  It's a shame for him.  But Mike is still full of a cold - and I'm not sure Toby is best left unattended in the kitchen unless it is 2 minute noodles you want to eat.

Gilbert balls!

Anyway, after a brief work stint after that, I met Andrew and caught a 3 to Glenmore St and walked to Hillside Kitchen.  Sally was just parked opposite and we settled in to our table.

Andrew's birthday at Hillside Kitchen

We counted 11 courses of Meatless Monday menu.   They forage for food and use their own garden and it really felt experimental.  But so yummy.  This place goes entirely meatless from Sept 4th.  I hope it becomes a regular for us.  Below are a few of the courses - so colourful and tasty.

Yum on an onion

Not a lily pad - but also yum.  Nasturtium - peppery.

Lentil and leek

Smoked butternut

Dessert - yum.  Ok - it was all yum.

Tiny balls of goodness

Sally and Andrew dropped me home and I fell into bed pretty quick.  Mike was a lot better - thank goodness.

Walked into work early this morning and went to Spin.  A little hard to breathe still - but getting better.

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela

The weekend in Wellington with pestilence

Hi,

Happy birthday to Andrew today.

Mike and I spent an awful lot of time over the weekend in bed and coughing a lot.  We did get a few things done, however. 

We did lend the car to Iona for her unexpected weekend in Palmerston North. Met her (and Andrew) at Machete and handed her the Subaru keys.  She took it to Tawa and helped her parents.

This is where you look!

I want both iced lattes!

And Iona photobombs the iced latte shot perfectly.  With ducks.

When I left work, I noticed Celia had killed her mouse.  Hahahah.  It was lying on its back.  I couldn't resist a photo.

Celia killed her mouse!

Anyway, we had a lovely Friday evening with Vivienne, John, Doro and a spontaneous visit by Ange.  It was funny because even though lots of people were there, Smudge came out to check us out.  And circled Ange - a lot.  She knows where her food comes from.  Ange does a lot of Smudge feeding when we're away.

While we ate takeaways, Mike casually mentioned that Iona has our car and it is unwarranted.  Cries of outrage ensue and we make plans to swap cars with Iona early the next morning. 

She drives in and we swap cars at 7.30am and she heads away for the funeral of a friend's father in Palmerston North (Col is already there).  And I breathe a sigh of relief that she is in a fully warranted car.  Turns out she likes the orange car - a lot!

Apart from that, I really don't do a lot.  I drop Jase off at his work at 3.30pm.  And pretty much that is it.  I get a lot of sleep as I think I am actually asleep by 8pm.

Sunday morning I meet Iona and take her to The Botantist ahead of her flight home.

The Botantist iced coffee

Mike and Jase go to the Holocaust museum.  Toby has some mates around.  I do some washing.  That pretty much sums up the weekend.

Mike is far worse than me and working from home today.  I think I am much better - but still not perfect yet.  But Mike is finding it hard to breathe easily. 

We have dinner with Sally and Andrew tonight (although I think it will be just me).  And I am meeting Jase after my work to help him buy some shoes for work. 

There you have it.  Weird weekend.  Hopefully we all get better very soon.

Love,
Angela

The Thursday with busy stuff

Hi,

The weekend beckons.  I was up early to drive in so I could get to the super early (6.30am) spin class.  And I did make it - much to the surprise of the instructor.  I am normally at his lunch classes.

Lonely wee car

I left the car on its own in the car park, in the cold and dark.  It was peeping out from a pillar.  Actually, Iona is going to pick it up at some point today and drive it up to Palmerston North.  That's the real reason I drove in.  The spin class was just an extra bonus.

We have a weekend in Wellington - but I am a bit sick, so it is probably a good thing.  I had to miss out on a movie night with Christine last night (but I did go home early and ring my mother for her birthday - so that was a good thing to do instead).  And I had the best sleep last night I have had in ages.  I did take a Codral before bed - maybe that did the trick?

We need to get a few things done this weekend.  Should be fairly busy.

Hope yours is good fun.

Love,
Angela

The Wednesday that might just have felt like a Wednesday

Hi,

Happy birthday to my mother today!  Woot!  This time last year she was here visiting us and we saw Jane Goodall speak (and now I am a vegetarian). 

Disease and pestilence is in the house this year - so I guess my mother has probably dodged a bullet in avoiding our house this year.

Iced latte goodness @ Machete

I did get an iced latte in yesterday - woot!

I am trying to pretend I am not sick, but the stupid cough and wheeze is making it hard.  Snotty nose is a reminder too.

I went home early and cooked mousetraps for everyone (Jase was already at work and hopefully avoids the colds we have) and crashed into bed.

Walked into work early this morning and enjoyed the still crisp morning.  It's a brilliant day for my mother's birthday here.

Spin.  Where I only lost my breath a few times - and not due to the exercising.  And work now.  Tea should kick off the day well.

Have a good one.  Mike is back to work.  Not sure about Toby though.

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with no movie

Hi,

After a fairly busy day at work, and trying to sort out my after-work social life, I had a quick change of plans.  Went to visit Jo as she was off sick from work, and ate dinner with her and watched a movie.

We watched Viceroy's House - set in partition India.  It was pretty good.   Thanks for the evening, Jo!  We then waited for Mike to kindly come and pick me up.  Had a chat to Jo further once Mike arrived  - then hooned back home via the library to drop Jo's books back.

But Mike had a bad sleep - his cold kicked in.  He had a coughing fit in the night and is now glued to his bed.  He will stay home.  Very wise.

Toby is also not feeling well, but he has a test today so he's hauling himself off to school.  Good on him.

And I am in complete denial about being sick.  What cough?  What wheeze?

Hope you have a good day. 

Love,
Angela

The Monday back at work

Hi,

That Monday came, it saw the layout of my day, it conquered me, and then it left.  Monday?  What Monday?

Today is Michelle's birthday - happy birthday wee Missyshell.

I actually think Momo might have overshared during the weekend and left me (and Mike) with the start of his cold.  Uh oh.

Anyway, I got home yesterday in a bad mood.  But I guess I came right and cooked tea for everyone.  Jase had a good day meeting up with his friends that are on semester break from Otago Uni and now he is convinced that is the place to study next year.  Which, of course, being our alma mater, we are all for!  Best uni in the country.  We're encouraging this exploration of the syllabus.

Fell into bed fairly early and didn't stay up for long reading.  I was probably asleep by 9.30pm.  Up early and glad I out double gloves on for my chilly but very dry ride to work.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,
Angela

The weekend at Ruapehu

Hi,

There are next to no pictures of my weekend on my phone.  Doh!  Mike can add some.  We left in a rush on Friday afternoon.  Toby got to my work at 4pm and I was crazy busy but got away by 4.15pm.  We walked up to the car and drove to Johnsonville.  Met Mike and Piled our gear into the van.  Then we were off.

Called in dinner from Foxton to the Bulls kebab shop.  Ate there.  Yum.  Then at the lodge by 11pm.  Not a lot of snow around down low.

Mike and I slept in the new custodian's room - it was like an icebox.  But by the time we left on Sunday it was finally warm.  Just took a while.  My first night was a cold one.

Up early enough and away by 8.30 with Andrew and three others that were walked beyond Tama Lakes to a hut overnight and back out Sunday.  Mike joined me and Andrew for a coffee at the Chateau because nothing else was open.

Dinner approaches

Oh - I did get an iced coffee with Steph, Celia, Mark and some clients on Friday - at the Southern Cross no less.  It was a pretty good one.  Solid 7.

Southern Cross iced coffee

Full lodge

Silly Dad jokes at work

There is a snow covered mountain out there

Andrew and I walked the Whakapapaiti walk from the village to the hut of the same name (starts on the Silica Rapids walk).  I think we left around 9.30am maybe and finally got back to the lodge around 3.30pm.  I might be making those times up.  But my watch recorded it all.  5 and a half hours.  15.7km.

We had lunch at the hut and enjoyed the peanut butter sandwiches.  Hunters were using the hut, but had left for the day.  We stayed there close to an hour.  It was a nice hut.  From there it wasn't far up a wee steep bit to a ridge to look out over the lava flows and Bruce Road.  When we hit the road, we scurried up the gullies below the huts and Andrew navigated us to our hut perfectly.  Turns out I have no idea what Grads looks like from below.

We had a bit of fun with frozen ponds on the way up and breaking the ice with rocks.  The frozen parts of the track the entire way were amazing.  Swamps with ice covering them.  Ice crystals on the sheltered sides of every bank.  Ice flows with trickles of water below them.  Reminded us of lava lamps. 

I walked with 4 layers on (merino singlet, merino long sleeve, synthetic shirt, merino jersey and parka) and gloves usually and beanie often.  And tights.

Back at the lodge and showered before Mike got back from his fun in the snow - he had checked out Knoll Ridge cafe with Toby.  We chilled while dinner was cooked - an amazing epic dinner with entrees and cake.  Very impressive.  My vege curry (vegan) was so good.

Crashed into bed and slept in.  Sunday morning, helped tidy a small amount (oops - guilty) before we had lunch and packed the van and left.  We collected the 3 trampers from their overnight trip and headed back to Wellington.  Ate chocolate eclairs in Ohakune and cream horns in Sanson.  Talk about sugar overload.

And did a wash, caught up with Jason (he enjoyed his new job) and fell into bed really early.

Thanks Mike - I had an awesome weekend.  You're amazing.  And thanks Andrew - I enjoyed our walk a lot.

Now.  Time for the working week to kick in.

Love,
Angela