April 18th
Another week draws to a close, and I write this while watching the text commentary of the Chinese Grand Prix on the BBC website.
Nicky has been busy at work as usual, apart from Friday (see below). She has finished her Maori course now and probably won't continue to the next levels and they run on evenings where she already has commitments. I have had some Mac work which has been good again. Claire has been studying for a Psychology test which she has on her first day back (tomorrow).
On Monday evening I joined the Eden-Roskill Camera Club as a paid up member. This means I can submit work for the regular competitions. On Tuesday Claire was of laser striking again, and on Wednesday she and Ryan to Mission Bay for diner and a film.
On Friday Nicky was on annual leave. She had booked the day in order to go to a listening course in Hamilton which was due to run Friday to Sunday. Unfortunately, the course was cancelled, but she decided to have the day off anyway.
She started out with a bit of retail therapy. She had received a voucher in the post from Spotlight (a fabric, home furnishing and general haberdashery type store) for $40 off if you spend $100 before April 18th. She wanted some fabric for a quillo, ironing board cover and other bits and bobs. So, she was keeping a count of what she was spending while going round the store, and got to a little over $100 before heading for the till. As the items were going through the checkout she broke into a cold sweat as she discovered some them were on sale so she might not make the $100 and not be able to use the voucher!!! When the checkout girl finished going through her basket however, the total came to $100.19, so she got the $40 off and had a good start to the day.
After a cup of tea on her return, Claire took us down to the station to catch the 12.15 train to Newmarket. Nicky and I swam and steamed, saunad and jaccuzied for an hour or so, before hunger got the better of us. We caught a train (which was standing at the platform just as we arrived) from Newmarket to the Britomart, and walked up to Wagamamas on High Street. I had a BOGOF voucher for a main course. We both had the fruit juice special (Apple, Orange and Passion fruit) and mains of pan-fried rice with egg, chicken, shrimp, peppers and other bits, and sides of endame beans and chilly fried squid. It was all excellent - the flavours subtle and nothing too overpowering. We couldn't manage any dessert (for at least 10 minutes anyway) so went of the Elliot Stables because Nicky wanted to visit the Chocolate Cake shop there to see what they did (big wedding cakes starting at $400). We bough some wee Orange and Cointreau chocolates for later. Then we stumbled (?!?) into the Kapiti ice cream shop, and each had a cone of ice cream for dessert. Nicky had Doris Plum and Créme Fraiche and I had Spicy Apple Crumble. Wonderful.
We just managed to finish eating our ice cream before getting the bus back to Blockhouse Bay, where Claire was cooking dinner for us and Ryan. Even though the vegetable pastabake, salad, and Pan de Casa were all excellent, Nicky and I didn't eat very much with having had such a large late lunch and ice cream.
To round the day off we watched the very first St Trinians film (with Alistair Simm) while Nicky dozed off in her chair. I think she enjoyed her day off.
On Saturday in addition to the usual household duties, Nicky went to the Ordination of the new Bishop of Auckland at the Cathedral. We met Ross Bay a couple of years ago when he was a Deacon and providing lodging for the son of friends of ours from Loughborough. We have had a quiet day at home today, Claire studying and Nicky and I enjoying the autumn sunshine when we can. We are still getting some good warm days, but to mornings and the wind are cooler now, and the evenings start much earlier with having changed the clocks.
So, it's back to our usual routine this week. Bye for now,
Rick
Nicky has been busy at work as usual, apart from Friday (see below). She has finished her Maori course now and probably won't continue to the next levels and they run on evenings where she already has commitments. I have had some Mac work which has been good again. Claire has been studying for a Psychology test which she has on her first day back (tomorrow).
On Monday evening I joined the Eden-Roskill Camera Club as a paid up member. This means I can submit work for the regular competitions. On Tuesday Claire was of laser striking again, and on Wednesday she and Ryan to Mission Bay for diner and a film.
On Friday Nicky was on annual leave. She had booked the day in order to go to a listening course in Hamilton which was due to run Friday to Sunday. Unfortunately, the course was cancelled, but she decided to have the day off anyway.
She started out with a bit of retail therapy. She had received a voucher in the post from Spotlight (a fabric, home furnishing and general haberdashery type store) for $40 off if you spend $100 before April 18th. She wanted some fabric for a quillo, ironing board cover and other bits and bobs. So, she was keeping a count of what she was spending while going round the store, and got to a little over $100 before heading for the till. As the items were going through the checkout she broke into a cold sweat as she discovered some them were on sale so she might not make the $100 and not be able to use the voucher!!! When the checkout girl finished going through her basket however, the total came to $100.19, so she got the $40 off and had a good start to the day.
After a cup of tea on her return, Claire took us down to the station to catch the 12.15 train to Newmarket. Nicky and I swam and steamed, saunad and jaccuzied for an hour or so, before hunger got the better of us. We caught a train (which was standing at the platform just as we arrived) from Newmarket to the Britomart, and walked up to Wagamamas on High Street. I had a BOGOF voucher for a main course. We both had the fruit juice special (Apple, Orange and Passion fruit) and mains of pan-fried rice with egg, chicken, shrimp, peppers and other bits, and sides of endame beans and chilly fried squid. It was all excellent - the flavours subtle and nothing too overpowering. We couldn't manage any dessert (for at least 10 minutes anyway) so went of the Elliot Stables because Nicky wanted to visit the Chocolate Cake shop there to see what they did (big wedding cakes starting at $400). We bough some wee Orange and Cointreau chocolates for later. Then we stumbled (?!?) into the Kapiti ice cream shop, and each had a cone of ice cream for dessert. Nicky had Doris Plum and Créme Fraiche and I had Spicy Apple Crumble. Wonderful.
We just managed to finish eating our ice cream before getting the bus back to Blockhouse Bay, where Claire was cooking dinner for us and Ryan. Even though the vegetable pastabake, salad, and Pan de Casa were all excellent, Nicky and I didn't eat very much with having had such a large late lunch and ice cream.
To round the day off we watched the very first St Trinians film (with Alistair Simm) while Nicky dozed off in her chair. I think she enjoyed her day off.
On Saturday in addition to the usual household duties, Nicky went to the Ordination of the new Bishop of Auckland at the Cathedral. We met Ross Bay a couple of years ago when he was a Deacon and providing lodging for the son of friends of ours from Loughborough. We have had a quiet day at home today, Claire studying and Nicky and I enjoying the autumn sunshine when we can. We are still getting some good warm days, but to mornings and the wind are cooler now, and the evenings start much earlier with having changed the clocks.
So, it's back to our usual routine this week. Bye for now,
Rick
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