The Monday with the end of lockdown announced for this week

Hi,

Okay - well, yesterday's blog published just fine.  And this morning my backend blog is back to how it was.  So confused.

Anyway. The government announced today that COVID Alert Level 3 (lockdown but with takeaways) will end on Wednesday evening and from Thursday we'll be at Alert Level 2 (not locked down but lots of restrictions still - groups of 10 or less only, don't mix with strangers and keep physical distancing). Hopefully businesses and services can start up and start making money again.

Finished work - I was so busy and Mike was so busy that despite sitting right next to each other all day - I have to say I never saw him.

Now that is busy!

Left work and headed home.  I do like this commute.

Two lots of mac cheese

Made two lots of macaroni cheese - one with bacon. Both with broccoli.  Mine got haloumi on the top too.  Now that was a wise choice.

It was scrumptious

Mike had virtual drinks with his ex workmates (Phil and Britney) and then we drove Tessa home about 7.30pm.  All of us in the car for the first time since lockdown started.

Had a better sleep - but still not super good.  Up for PT session with Quentin.  Arms and shoulders.  Ooohhh.  Feeling that now.

Iced latte this morning

Post PT session iced latte

Glass recycling resumed today!
Mike obsessively put just the ginger beer out.
The rest of it is in bags to go out later.

Busy again today.  Chatted to Roz late last night via messenger - briefly.  We have been trying for about a week now.  She's never on it and I am almost as bad.  We need a teams chat set up - I will get onto that.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,
Angela



Contact Register:

Tessa arrived 14 bus at 8.30am Tues May 12
Brooke (Allworks) here 12 - 1pm Tues May 12

The weekend in Wellington with Skyline walk and mothers day

Hi,

Okay - wasn't expecting blogger to change completely at the back end.  I hope things still work okay.  It's quite a different format.  Let me just barrel through it and see what happens out the other end, eh?

Saturday saw us up and walking down to Otari-Wilton bush from our house at 8am.  We went up the yellow trail and spent a bit of time at the flax clearing trying to look back and spot our house.  Didn't really find it - we think we were probably looking side onto our house/street and probably obscured by Art and Barb's house.

Mike just about to pop out of Otari-Wilton bush

We popped out onto the Skyline track and started back towards Johnson Hill, hoping to meet Janine.  She had climbed up from Karori cemetery and came down from Johnson Hill to meet us along the track a bit.  We then doubled back to where we popped up onto the Skyline and continued onward, towards Mt Kau Kau.

On the Skyline

Panorama of Wellington

Janine on the Skyline

Getting above Chartwell and Crofton Downs, we touched base with Jo and Rex, out to check their section.  After a birds eye view of their block of land, we parted from Janine (who went on to the next pylon, below Crows Nest before heading back - she did the same kms as us in the end!) and walked down the pylon track to Chartwell.  Jo and Rex rode around to that end and found a track exit to sit and wait for us at.

Hi to Jo and Rex - from 2m away

In some minor miracle, we popped out at the same exit.  We chatted to them for a wee bit - they are both good.  It turns out that Rex and I have some innate need to sidle closer to each other as we chat.  That, or we have no clue how long 2 m is in real life.  We had to keep moving apart.

The local Z station handling covid restrictions

Our walk

Mike and I popped into the Z on the way home to get milk - we had run out and didn't really want a supermarket trip.  The Z had a 2 person limit on numbers in the shop.  But it was empty when we got there.  Mike went in and bought his milk.  2 bottles of 2L for $12 or so.  Just shy of 15km all up.

Back home and Mike sorted out weed spraying while I made cookies.

Hokey pokey biscuits

Mothers Day brekkie in bed

Sunday I got brekkie in bed.  Yay for me.  Scrambled eggs that were really tasty from Toby.  With a caveat that Mike made the toast and it was a bit dark.  It was all good.  And I got an iced latte.

Moxley on the leash

Sunday quick walk

Mike got the water blaster up and running.  Assembled it and then, once he figured out the electricity needed to be switched on, he was good.  Cleaned the fences and now we need to primer them.  I made a step for my exercises.  Used power tools and everything.

Accidental selfie

And Mike and I got a late walk in.  Up the hill behind us, and then rushed back the same way to try and meet the neighbours for the essential services clap.  Got there just as the bus drove up the hill.  The driver was so happy to see us clapping.  She waved at us all.

Evening sun

Dappled sunlight

Had a restless sleep. But my work is so busy, I think my subconscious had already flicked to Monday morning and was processing.

The week looms into the future from this end of the working week.  And goodness knows what will happen when I publish this slightly weird blog post.

Have a great week.  Happy birthday to Benjamin this week.  :-)

Love,

Angela

Contact register:

Janine - Skyline walk - Saturday May 9 from 8 - 10am

Rex/Jo - Chartwell - Saturday May 9 ~ 11am

Angela/Mike:  cafe next to Countdown ~12pm May 9

Tessa - number 14 bus Monday May 11 arrived 8.10am

:

\

The Thursday that surely must have been a Saturday by now but wasn't

Hi,

Friday has dawned in all its gorgeousness.  No wind, blue skies and a massive full moon just about to set over the western hills.

Last night we had a quiz.  Janine was sick - boo!!!  And it was a tough one.  Here is the bonus baffler.  We got close on the first round below, and finally got it in the second round.  Answer below.

10 points if you get this one

What are you looking at?

Mike and I asked Toby a couple of questions - Toby knows the weirdest facts.  But yay for Toby being correct.

Up Friday morning for a walk with Mike to the top of the hill.  Such a gorgeous morning.  Full moon setting, sun rising.

Friday morning walk

Moon setting - and new jacket.  Thank you to my last work!

Mike surveys the Hutt and the sunrise

Wellington harbour looking magnificent

I wave at Andrew!  He's walking along the Hutt river as we watch.  

Weekend is fast approaching.  Friday to work through and then - yay!  Want to try and get a walk in tomorrow and then a few more house projects to get through.

Next clue - does this help?

Have a wonderful day.  Enjoy the weekend!

Love,
Angela



Contact Register:
Mike collected Yoshi sushi for dinner.  6pm May 7th.  Mike, Angela, Toby and Tessa ate the yummy sushi
Tessa arrived at 8.30am on 14 bus - Friday May 8.
Gardeners did the garden Friday morning - no interaction.  8am - 9am

And the bonus baffler? It's an Anteater :-)

The Wednesday that already felt like Friday

Hi,

So this actually tracks something useful (this = my blog posts), I need to record that yesterday (Wednesday) Toby had a migraine.  Yes, this is our migraine tracker for both Mike and Toby.  Tagged now with "Toby migraine".

Poor Toby.

Lunch walk yesterday - hi Ange!  I see her house way up on the hill (maybe)

Yesterday was stunning here and my 15 min walk at lunch time was so good.  Sun felt lovely.

Today (Thurs - which also feels like Friday!  See blog post title if that is confusing!) is clear too - but a bit of wind out there.

Dinner last night - Mmmmm

Toby wanted comfort food in his misery, and oddly, that meant 2 minute noodles.  I added to the overall health content (or lack thereof) with fruit.  Not in the actual noodles!  On the side.  On a separate plate.  Because... touching food!  You know.

Okay - moving right along.

Thursday iced latte

Today's iced latte.  Nailed.  Boom.

Feet post PT session

PT session.  Okay.  Press up day.  Not so much "nailed" as it nailed me.  I may have face planted once or twice.  Lower myself slowly, slowly....  oommpphhh.  (Noise as face hits the carpet)

Thanks Quentin.  Good fun as usual.  So pleased we can do this still in lockdown.

Sweaty face with iced latte

Mike's triceps are well defined

And the day continues busy today (Thurs).

I hope your day is a good one.

Love,
Angela



Contact Register:

Tessa here - 14 bus.  Arrived 8.30am (ish)
Parcels delivered this week:  Mike's contacts (yesterday).  Kathmandu parcel (Tues).

The Tuesday with Mike's first real coffee in 43 days

Hi,

The highlight of our day was that Anna from our work brought us treats from a service station, in exchange for an old Chromebook we donated for school students with no devices to work on. Smoosh balls, Whittakers Chocolate - and an Extra Shot Cappucino for Mike. The first store bought coffee he's had for forty-three days.

And he was pretty happy about it.

Not a lot else happened, actually.  Work.  Cooked tea.  Tessa stayed for it.  And Mike and Toby drove her home - so no extra contact to record.

PT session this morning.  Mike got up with the larks (okay, with the tui) and was doing all sorts of things before I got up.

Accidental selfie

What I was trying to capture

Posed selfie

PT session - exercising your shin muscle.  It's a thing!

Andrew saw the mighty red galant on his walk this morning - still parked outside the chap's house that bought it.  Wow.

Mighty indeed.

I will try and fit some boxing into my busy day today.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,
Angela

Contact register:
Anna - collected an old laptop off the porch and dropped off a coffee on the porch
The Avo Tree - avocado delivery!
Tessa - 8:15am by bus, 8:00pm we dropped her home.

The Monday at work

Hi,

After a busy day at work, where we had after work drinks for May the Fourth, we went straight into a catch up with Sally and Andrew.  Chatted to them for ages.

Moxley plays with the yoga ball

Mike cooked tea - home made burgers.  Mine was a vege pattie and it was so good.  Toby ate two burgers!

I had to stir this one because it was strong

Iced latte

This morning is wet here.  Wind has dropped though.  Let's see what the day brings, eh?

Have a good day!

Love,
Angela


Contact Register
Tessa - home with her dad May 4
Tessa - 14 bus arrived at 8.20am May 5

The weekend in Wellington

Hi,

Some sobering news at the weekend.  Mike's Aunty May died in hospital - not related to covid-19 though.  She was in her ninetieth year and her frailty probably caught up with her.  Everyone was saddened to hear about it.  Our sympathies to everyone because this is a hard time to deal with grief when closure is difficult as we can't all meet and share our memories of May as we usually would.

My mother remembered when she was over visiting her dad in hospital and May offered up her house for them to stay in during that time.  Such kindness.  Family was important to May.  We will always remember her.

Well, there's a surprise.  Yep - a Wellington weekend.  Like there is any other option.  Up on Saturday to meet Janine at Otari bush bottom car park at 9am.  We stayed away from her so very low risk.  All info in contact list at the bottom of the blog post.

Scary selfie

Otari bush with Janine

Physical distancing in place at rimu tree (it's 800 years old!)

Magnificent

Enjoyed the walk with Janine.  We should totally do it again next weekend.  But maybe I should try to get out of bed earlier as by the time we were finishing at 10.30am, there were loads of others out there.

Mike made a saw horse.

Then mended fences

 Mike worked in the sunshine to mend the fence between us and Stuart.  He is now waiting on three 1.8m palings to finish it.  But we need Mitre 10 to open up for that.

Sunday was a rainy day so time for 'inside' jobs.  Mike did the supermarket run. We're going every 10 days or so. But we were out of tomatoes and running on longlife milk by Sunday.

Ten days of groceries ...

... bagged and filling the boot

He also tidied the garage.  Wow!

Garage tidied - see the punching bag back up?

I am going to get back into boxing today!

Monday iced latte

May the fourth be with you

Monday is May the fourth.  Iced latte and Star Wars t-shirt!  Oosshh!

The week beckons.  May already.  Phew - the year is hurtling through.

Have a good week.

Love,
Angela




Contact Register:
Tessa - Friday.  (Bus here Fri morning May 1st - 14)
Janine - Saturday from 9 - 10:30am.  Otari Bush.  Rimu loop.  May 2
Mike to supermarket Thorndon - 11:30am-12:30pm  May 3
Tessa - Monday.  (Bus here arrived 8.30 - 14)  May 4