We have finally finished the dining room. Well, when I say finished, I mean, we've moved the dining table back in and all the major works are done, as of Sunday evening. We are still fighting about pendant lights and sideboards and the best arrangement of art and shelves and whatnot. But, I ate a meal at the table last night for the first time in a long time and we congratulated ourselves mightily. One room: took us thirteen and a half months to start, one month and three days to finish. At this rate, our house will be renovated some time this century!
I must say, the painting part of the process was lengthy but fundamentally enjoyable for me, even though I got up and down the ladder approx. eleventy million times and I am really not that good a painter. Can't pinpoint exactly why I like it but there you go. Sanding: hate. Filling: eh. Being P's assistant to hold this or that or the other: not bad for me, but I suspect painful for P, given my propensity to inform him of a better way to do things (clearly!). Also, who knew that renovating involved such endless tidying and cleaning? I felt like I spent a good chunk of the time shuffling sandpaper and tools and ladders from one place to another, readjusting drop cloths, vacuuming, sweeping, picking up nails, cleaning brushes and rollers etc etc. Safe to say I wasn't a big fan of that cleaning biz either.
I will take a picture for you blog, one of these days! I might even have people over to eat in my room! My god, the options are endless!
Busy-ish at work too, the usual. Spent two days in Wellington last week and am off to Christchurch again tomorrow. The places I've travelled for work have are not what you might call exotic. I could get behind a conference in the Seychelles or even Rarotonga (you know, if it has to be within a four hour flight) but as much as I like Wellington, it's not quite as glam as, say, Monaco. Ah well, at least with the trip to Christchurch I should get home in time to stand in the doorway and admire my new room before bed. Can't say that for Prague.
Showing posts with label Chch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chch. Show all posts
Monday, 15 September 2014
Monday, 28 April 2014
day in the life, autumn 2014
23 April 2014: Autumn, Auckland, New Zealand.
(Once again, a disclaimer: I am dull. Also, very few pictures as I spent the bulk of the day with work colleagues. If you don't have a taste for wordy blatherings and extremely poor quality photographs, I'd stop here.)
******************************************
5.45: roll over, eyeball clock, sigh. I woke up from a terrible dream about my Granny, which involved lashings of guilt and, inexplicably, picking up bacon at the supermarket. Flop onto my back, start scrolling through FB on phone. Even though I don't need to get up for another 15 to 30 minutes, if I go back to sleep now I'll be a wreck when I wake. P slumbers on, peacefully.
6.10: drag myself out of bed to feed the cats and have a shower. Disturb Tabitha, who had been curled up beside me, bushed after a night of exciting antics - the cat door allowed her to go outside at night for the first time. Cocoa is AWOL. We feel pretty confident that old Cokes can manage himself round the 'hood now (please don't let those be famous last words) as he's sauntering out for a couple of hours at a time during the day and evening, coming home when he's hungry and/or hot and/or wet and/or fancies a cuddle.
6.30: earl grey tea and a breakfast of canned peaches and muesli. It feels virtuous but is probably packed with sugar.
6.45: floating around the house aimlessly, starting to get ready (black pleated sleeveless dress, black belt, black cardigan, black tights for the first time this autumn, black stud earrings. WOE I am so BORING wearing the standard NZ black ensemble).
6.46: OH NO had forgotten work trip to Christchurch this afternoon. Hastily grab bag and throw in a change of underwear, make up, essential toiletries, phone charger, blue striped suit and black top. The suit'll get terribly crushed in the bag but decide I don't have time to find anything with less crumple-factor.
7.15: the car won't start. P has an 8am meeting and a dinner with friends planned for after work, so we intended to drive into town this morning. The flipping car however has different plans and I freak for a moment, wondering what new and exciting way I've found to drain the battery, as the last suspect to be behind the wheel (and a suspect with battery-draining form, at that). P is sure it's not the battery though so I may be off the hook - there's been a spate of gas thefts nearby over previous months, so it could be a cut line? No time to find out now - we need to leave if we're walking.
7.30: huffing and puffing up the hill, hauling my bag, P striding ahead sending emails on his blackberry regarding tardiness. The sun's out this morning, despite the crispness in the air. P's iPhone tells him it's only 12 degrees celcius outside, but I don't believe it. I've thrown on a light floral scarf and even that's proving too hot for the walk.
7.33: P spots the free bus that runs down Queen St. We run for it and nab a seat to head down the hill to save P a minute or two.
7.50: I arrive at work and contemplate my inbox. Gah, horrific.
7.55: TEA. Cannot face inbox without tea.
8.05: check in to flights for today and tomorrow online. MUST REMEMBER TO PRINT BOARDING PASS.
10.20: text message my sister K, who is in the throes of a protracted house purchase negotiation. Late last night she told the agent she'd think about the vendor's final offer overnight and respond in the morning. I ask her what the story is; but she's only just got up and hasn't called the agent yet (school holidays, she's a teacher). I don't know why she's now dragging it out - she's totally going to accept the offer. I've seen her run through the gamut over the past few days: uncontrollable nervousness, uncontrollable excitement, disbelief at counter offer, sly negotiation, expectation management, despondence, and finally, power tripping? She's a cracker, that kid (who may be 30 but will forever be a kid to me).
10.47: More tea, please.
12.35: ack, close to being late! Call cab, round up colleague M. M is the reason I have this job - she and I met at our hall of residence and flatted together for four years during university while studying. On my return to Auckland she passed my CV to my boss, knowing that I'd like working with him because she and I worked so well together as undergraduates. It's been awesome having a friend like M in the workplace.
1.20: arrive at airport. I briefly mourn the sunny, muggy day - Christchurch is going to be cooooooold, wish I didn't have to leave!
1.22 bag check, reprint boarding pass as I'd forgotten that I did in fact print my online check in. Worse, get tapped on the shoulder two minutes later as I'd left the boarding pass on the kiosk. Hopeless.
1.30: M looks at me slyly after checking in and suggests we eat the forbidden fruit for lunch prior to takeoff: McDonalds. It hit the spot and the remorse is only minor today. Wickedness is so much more fun with an accomplice.
2.10: take off. M and I have packed materials to work on a presentation we're giving together in May. However, temptation to use next hour and a half to gossip proves too great and the presentation remains untouched.
3.45: plane lands in Christchurch a little late. We hustle to meet our boss from the Wellington office and grab a cab to visit the client.
4 - 6.15: meeting with client. Out the window of the meeting room, the giant sky (Canterbury always seems so flat to me, with an enormous sky) is fading quickly and you can feel the chill set in.
6.15: Another cab, driving through the dark streets of central Christchurch to check in and drop off our bags at the hotel.
7: arrive at Saggio di Vino for a meal with clients. I had a really lovely time with M, Wellington Boss and two clients, chatting and eating tasty things, including but not limited to: beef carpaccio (is the beef redundant? do you automatically assume carpaccio is beef?), terakihi with lemon beurre blanc on a bed of sauteed leek and tiny pieces of grapefruit, Dog Point pinot noir and gooey cheese.
10.45: back at the hotel and realise I've forgotten the plug for my charger. Borrow one from reception and discover bulk messages waiting on my phone. Sister K's bought her first house! Cocoa is home safe! Friend A is pregnant! Call K and P for a quick chat with each.
11.30: fumble around the hotel remotes attempting to turn on the heat pump. The hotel room has steadily decreased in temperature - its 6 or 7 degrees celcius outside which this sub-tropical Aucklander finds chilly.
11.45: return hotel charger. Climb into bed and feel terribly naughty - I'm sleeping on P's side! Out to the count almost immediately.
(Once again, a disclaimer: I am dull. Also, very few pictures as I spent the bulk of the day with work colleagues. If you don't have a taste for wordy blatherings and extremely poor quality photographs, I'd stop here.)
******************************************
5.45: roll over, eyeball clock, sigh. I woke up from a terrible dream about my Granny, which involved lashings of guilt and, inexplicably, picking up bacon at the supermarket. Flop onto my back, start scrolling through FB on phone. Even though I don't need to get up for another 15 to 30 minutes, if I go back to sleep now I'll be a wreck when I wake. P slumbers on, peacefully.
6.10: drag myself out of bed to feed the cats and have a shower. Disturb Tabitha, who had been curled up beside me, bushed after a night of exciting antics - the cat door allowed her to go outside at night for the first time. Cocoa is AWOL. We feel pretty confident that old Cokes can manage himself round the 'hood now (please don't let those be famous last words) as he's sauntering out for a couple of hours at a time during the day and evening, coming home when he's hungry and/or hot and/or wet and/or fancies a cuddle.
6.30: earl grey tea and a breakfast of canned peaches and muesli. It feels virtuous but is probably packed with sugar.
6.45: floating around the house aimlessly, starting to get ready (black pleated sleeveless dress, black belt, black cardigan, black tights for the first time this autumn, black stud earrings. WOE I am so BORING wearing the standard NZ black ensemble).
6.46: OH NO had forgotten work trip to Christchurch this afternoon. Hastily grab bag and throw in a change of underwear, make up, essential toiletries, phone charger, blue striped suit and black top. The suit'll get terribly crushed in the bag but decide I don't have time to find anything with less crumple-factor.
 |
| AT LEAST SOMEONE GETS A SLEEP IN. JEAL. |
7.30: huffing and puffing up the hill, hauling my bag, P striding ahead sending emails on his blackberry regarding tardiness. The sun's out this morning, despite the crispness in the air. P's iPhone tells him it's only 12 degrees celcius outside, but I don't believe it. I've thrown on a light floral scarf and even that's proving too hot for the walk.
7.33: P spots the free bus that runs down Queen St. We run for it and nab a seat to head down the hill to save P a minute or two.
7.50: I arrive at work and contemplate my inbox. Gah, horrific.
7.55: TEA. Cannot face inbox without tea.
 |
| GLORIOUS DAY OUT THE WINDOW. DON'T LET THE CALCULATOR FOOL YOU, I DON'T DO NUMBERS. |
10.20: text message my sister K, who is in the throes of a protracted house purchase negotiation. Late last night she told the agent she'd think about the vendor's final offer overnight and respond in the morning. I ask her what the story is; but she's only just got up and hasn't called the agent yet (school holidays, she's a teacher). I don't know why she's now dragging it out - she's totally going to accept the offer. I've seen her run through the gamut over the past few days: uncontrollable nervousness, uncontrollable excitement, disbelief at counter offer, sly negotiation, expectation management, despondence, and finally, power tripping? She's a cracker, that kid (who may be 30 but will forever be a kid to me).
10.47: More tea, please.
12.35: ack, close to being late! Call cab, round up colleague M. M is the reason I have this job - she and I met at our hall of residence and flatted together for four years during university while studying. On my return to Auckland she passed my CV to my boss, knowing that I'd like working with him because she and I worked so well together as undergraduates. It's been awesome having a friend like M in the workplace.
1.20: arrive at airport. I briefly mourn the sunny, muggy day - Christchurch is going to be cooooooold, wish I didn't have to leave!
1.22 bag check, reprint boarding pass as I'd forgotten that I did in fact print my online check in. Worse, get tapped on the shoulder two minutes later as I'd left the boarding pass on the kiosk. Hopeless.
1.30: M looks at me slyly after checking in and suggests we eat the forbidden fruit for lunch prior to takeoff: McDonalds. It hit the spot and the remorse is only minor today. Wickedness is so much more fun with an accomplice.
2.10: take off. M and I have packed materials to work on a presentation we're giving together in May. However, temptation to use next hour and a half to gossip proves too great and the presentation remains untouched.
3.45: plane lands in Christchurch a little late. We hustle to meet our boss from the Wellington office and grab a cab to visit the client.
4 - 6.15: meeting with client. Out the window of the meeting room, the giant sky (Canterbury always seems so flat to me, with an enormous sky) is fading quickly and you can feel the chill set in.
6.15: Another cab, driving through the dark streets of central Christchurch to check in and drop off our bags at the hotel.
7: arrive at Saggio di Vino for a meal with clients. I had a really lovely time with M, Wellington Boss and two clients, chatting and eating tasty things, including but not limited to: beef carpaccio (is the beef redundant? do you automatically assume carpaccio is beef?), terakihi with lemon beurre blanc on a bed of sauteed leek and tiny pieces of grapefruit, Dog Point pinot noir and gooey cheese.
10.45: back at the hotel and realise I've forgotten the plug for my charger. Borrow one from reception and discover bulk messages waiting on my phone. Sister K's bought her first house! Cocoa is home safe! Friend A is pregnant! Call K and P for a quick chat with each.
 |
| PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE FROM P THAT COKES IS HOME SAFE. SEE THE SLIGHTLY EVIL EXPRESSION? THE NEXT DAY I ARRIVED HOME TO FIND A PILE OF CAT BARF ON THAT VERY SPOT ON MY BED. |
11.45: return hotel charger. Climb into bed and feel terribly naughty - I'm sleeping on P's side! Out to the count almost immediately.
Friday, 7 February 2014
where i have been / more cat news
Ack. I joined an internet thing, met lots of nice people, and then vanished off the face of the earth for nearly two weeks. Awesome work, A.
In my defence, I was working and the working thing was not my fault. Boss people, with all their demands and their 'we pay you a salary' thing, right? I know. Horrific. Can't believe I'm supposed to deal with this for the next 30 odd years. When do I get to retire, please?
(Yes. Am Entitled and Awful, I know.)
Aaaaaanyway, I spent some of this week working in Christchurch. Christchurch is still recovering from a series of earthquakes the effect of which I find difficult to put into words, given that the newsmedia has just about destroyed the impact of 'devastating' or 'catastrophic'. I drank tea from a makeshift cafe in a shipping container in a carpark while I was there, and it was great. Christchurch has an almost indomitable feeling to it - the CBD is still largely empty, but there's action there, if you look hard enough. Christchurch was also sunny and warm and not humid (Auckland, I'm giving your humidity some serious side-eye right now. Don't make me move to the South Island, yo. You know I'd have better hair there, right?)
In other cat news, my slide down the slippery slope to crazy-cat-lady-ness has gathered momentum. We are rehoming a cat named Cocoa, who was adopted some years ago by my mother-in-law and her flatmate of the time, J. When my MIL moved to Germany for work, J retained custody of dear old Cocoa, who is a dark cocoa-coloured (!) fluffy number with no voice. J has not been well for the last few years and we received the bad news that she is now receiving respite care at the hospice. The least we can do in the circumstances is to provide Cocoa with a new home, though we do so with a heavy heart. It's very hard to acknowledge that J won't be home again.
In the space of a month, therefore, P and I have gone from a no-pet family to a family of five. It's going to be a fairly traumatic move for Cocoa, who we're picking up from Hamilton on Tuesday. We'll be keeping her in the spare bedroom for a while and buttering her paws, but if you have any other suggestions for helping Cocoa acclimate to her new home, I'd love to hear them. Timmy and Tab will be kept apart from Cocoa but they'll be able to smell each other and swipe paws under the door. We're hopeful that since the Terrormouses are still only 14 weeks old, they'll be young enough that they'll accept Cocoa quickly and with any luck, she them.
So, it's a very bittersweet time at the A+P household (no pun intended - seriously, no pun intended, I just can't find a better word). We're happy to have this old puss, but so sad that she's coming to us in these circumstances.
In my defence, I was working and the working thing was not my fault. Boss people, with all their demands and their 'we pay you a salary' thing, right? I know. Horrific. Can't believe I'm supposed to deal with this for the next 30 odd years. When do I get to retire, please?
(Yes. Am Entitled and Awful, I know.)
Aaaaaanyway, I spent some of this week working in Christchurch. Christchurch is still recovering from a series of earthquakes the effect of which I find difficult to put into words, given that the newsmedia has just about destroyed the impact of 'devastating' or 'catastrophic'. I drank tea from a makeshift cafe in a shipping container in a carpark while I was there, and it was great. Christchurch has an almost indomitable feeling to it - the CBD is still largely empty, but there's action there, if you look hard enough. Christchurch was also sunny and warm and not humid (Auckland, I'm giving your humidity some serious side-eye right now. Don't make me move to the South Island, yo. You know I'd have better hair there, right?)
In other cat news, my slide down the slippery slope to crazy-cat-lady-ness has gathered momentum. We are rehoming a cat named Cocoa, who was adopted some years ago by my mother-in-law and her flatmate of the time, J. When my MIL moved to Germany for work, J retained custody of dear old Cocoa, who is a dark cocoa-coloured (!) fluffy number with no voice. J has not been well for the last few years and we received the bad news that she is now receiving respite care at the hospice. The least we can do in the circumstances is to provide Cocoa with a new home, though we do so with a heavy heart. It's very hard to acknowledge that J won't be home again.
In the space of a month, therefore, P and I have gone from a no-pet family to a family of five. It's going to be a fairly traumatic move for Cocoa, who we're picking up from Hamilton on Tuesday. We'll be keeping her in the spare bedroom for a while and buttering her paws, but if you have any other suggestions for helping Cocoa acclimate to her new home, I'd love to hear them. Timmy and Tab will be kept apart from Cocoa but they'll be able to smell each other and swipe paws under the door. We're hopeful that since the Terrormouses are still only 14 weeks old, they'll be young enough that they'll accept Cocoa quickly and with any luck, she them.
So, it's a very bittersweet time at the A+P household (no pun intended - seriously, no pun intended, I just can't find a better word). We're happy to have this old puss, but so sad that she's coming to us in these circumstances.
Monday, 26 August 2013
nerd alert
DID YOU MISS ME?
Of course you did (ahem).
I am back now and better than ever, even if I did come home from what I now admit to be a giant camp for lawyers (does it get any better than that?!) feeling greasy from my dormitory stay. Personal highlight? Organisers were getting a group photo in front of the Courts on Saturday evening, with all of us garbed in our best dark suit/white shirt/suitable shoe combos. Guy driving past slows down, winds down his window and yells "GEEKS" before shooting off. Best. Driveby. Insult. EVER. We completely, totally and utterly deserved it.
I absolutely loved, loved, loved coming home yesterday. Even if it was clearer in the deep south with gorgeous views to the snow-capped Southern Alps, I stepped off the plane in Aukalofa and had to take my jacket off because of the warmth and humidity. I wore short sleeves yesterday! Also, my house is now insulated in the ceiling and under the floors and it now retains heat! Who knew what a difference a boatload of some kind of polyester situation would make? (Lots of people, apparently, but I'm still marvelling). Oh yeah, very nice to see P too after 7 days of pining (him pining for me obv, I'm awesome).
Um, what else? I am most definitely not going to tell you any more about my big geeky week because I'd bore you to tears and you'd loathe me forever. Oh, wait, one thing: suffice it to say that I have ACTUALLY missed my calling to be an Actor. We got to play witness a little bit and fuck me, if it didn't all come rushing back and MY DAUGHTER WAS SHOT IN FRONT OF ME OF COURSE I'LL BE ON THE VERGE OF QUIET YET PROFOUNDLY EMOTIONAL TEARS IN THE WITNESS BOX. Why I didn't pursue that career is beyond me. (No it's not. It's because 16 year old me was a fuddy duddy and decided to give up the dramatic arts for something that would be more lucrative / steadily employed. I think 16 year old me wasn't ready to admit it either, but with these looks and stooped shoulders I was only ever going to be competing for the 'character roles', if you know what I mean. Ah well, still time for a career change nearly half my life later, right?) (RIGHT??!)
So, weather report, Spring has basically Sprung here. It is seriously awesome, I love it. There are daffodils and lambs and new produce and it is all la-di-dah very lovely.
God I'm boring. Sorry.
Of course you did (ahem).
I am back now and better than ever, even if I did come home from what I now admit to be a giant camp for lawyers (does it get any better than that?!) feeling greasy from my dormitory stay. Personal highlight? Organisers were getting a group photo in front of the Courts on Saturday evening, with all of us garbed in our best dark suit/white shirt/suitable shoe combos. Guy driving past slows down, winds down his window and yells "GEEKS" before shooting off. Best. Driveby. Insult. EVER. We completely, totally and utterly deserved it.
I absolutely loved, loved, loved coming home yesterday. Even if it was clearer in the deep south with gorgeous views to the snow-capped Southern Alps, I stepped off the plane in Aukalofa and had to take my jacket off because of the warmth and humidity. I wore short sleeves yesterday! Also, my house is now insulated in the ceiling and under the floors and it now retains heat! Who knew what a difference a boatload of some kind of polyester situation would make? (Lots of people, apparently, but I'm still marvelling). Oh yeah, very nice to see P too after 7 days of pining (him pining for me obv, I'm awesome).
Um, what else? I am most definitely not going to tell you any more about my big geeky week because I'd bore you to tears and you'd loathe me forever. Oh, wait, one thing: suffice it to say that I have ACTUALLY missed my calling to be an Actor. We got to play witness a little bit and fuck me, if it didn't all come rushing back and MY DAUGHTER WAS SHOT IN FRONT OF ME OF COURSE I'LL BE ON THE VERGE OF QUIET YET PROFOUNDLY EMOTIONAL TEARS IN THE WITNESS BOX. Why I didn't pursue that career is beyond me. (No it's not. It's because 16 year old me was a fuddy duddy and decided to give up the dramatic arts for something that would be more lucrative / steadily employed. I think 16 year old me wasn't ready to admit it either, but with these looks and stooped shoulders I was only ever going to be competing for the 'character roles', if you know what I mean. Ah well, still time for a career change nearly half my life later, right?) (RIGHT??!)
So, weather report, Spring has basically Sprung here. It is seriously awesome, I love it. There are daffodils and lambs and new produce and it is all la-di-dah very lovely.
God I'm boring. Sorry.
Thursday, 18 July 2013
this is not a real post
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK. It's what's for dinner just now.
(not werk)
(am I using that right? probably not)
So, I am aware that some of you sneaky readers know me from my real, unembellished life! OUT YOURSELVES IN THE COMMENTS SECTION PLZ. Validate my online existence!
Plz to keep all fingers and toes crossed for me on Sunday, as contingent on a thing what will happen (or not) on Sunday, I may be living and breathing work for all of August in Christchurch. I'd really rather not do that. What I would like to do instead in August is noodle around Auckland and find somewhere selling gluhwein.
OH YES, I AM VERY INVESTED IN DROWNING MY SORROWS IN A VAT OF HARD LIQUOR THIS EVENING. IF I AM NOT WORKING. AND IF I AM WORKING, MAYBE EVEN THEN.
Can you tell I'm basically the world's laziest person what is also liquor dependant? Thought so.
(not werk)
(am I using that right? probably not)
So, I am aware that some of you sneaky readers know me from my real, unembellished life! OUT YOURSELVES IN THE COMMENTS SECTION PLZ. Validate my online existence!
Plz to keep all fingers and toes crossed for me on Sunday, as contingent on a thing what will happen (or not) on Sunday, I may be living and breathing work for all of August in Christchurch. I'd really rather not do that. What I would like to do instead in August is noodle around Auckland and find somewhere selling gluhwein.
OH YES, I AM VERY INVESTED IN DROWNING MY SORROWS IN A VAT OF HARD LIQUOR THIS EVENING. IF I AM NOT WORKING. AND IF I AM WORKING, MAYBE EVEN THEN.
Can you tell I'm basically the world's laziest person what is also liquor dependant? Thought so.
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