mostly just coffee...

As it's been pointed out, again, it's been a little while. so this weekend I am catching up on a few things, (nothing exciting in the blog unfortunately).

Joe is away for the weekend on a badminton trip so have done all the washing, cleaning and made fresh muesli.

We had a dessert evening on Friday for Sheri's leaving and a Thai lunch on Saturday for Kieren's 21st so has been good a weekend for food, (lamb fillet and crispy noodle salad for tea last night was AWESOME..!)

I have started Uni again this last week and so far been late or on time for every lecture and left early for all, establishing an expectation early me thinks. Should be good going back to having to think and learn a bit more about things not directly related to just work.

Have been starting my mornings with a small coffee lately, is nice and easy to make 2 and is just right in case I have to have my second one on the way to work.

My new coffee cups ordered into Ballentyne's. even cooler than I'd hoped so may have to get another set when or if I can afford it sometime. Bodum double wall glass cup and stainless saucer. perfect for coffee and had a cup of tea last night too so even better.

Hannah and Debs came around Saturday morning for coffee before going to lunch.

And back in the afternoon for a second attempt at a good coffee.

Sunflowers they brought are lovely.
Still a cool lamp thanks Amy..! (and Matt of course).

NO longer all alone...

Well, Joe has moved in on Saturday so there is a little bit of space gone and a few more things to come to terms with. I'm sure it will do me good to share space etc etc. However there are a few middle grounds to be met, NOT digging in the butter was a good first lesson, and the toilet seat, Oh and if it's yellow, we don't let it mellow.
It is good though to have some company and someone to help with he dishes and to encourage a little more outdoors time.
We joined the Uni gym today which has excellent facilities including two indoor courts, full gyms, squash courts and climbing room. Will be good if we can get a routine sorted for weeks to come.

Have also been surfing a few times with Joel which has been good fun despite only today having almost normal use of my left arm after Friday night. It seems I may not be as accustomed to paddling as necessary for several hours thereof.

Taylors Mistake, 7am on Waitangi weekend Monday..!

Looks closely, see them..? Aren't they SO cool..! Paul Smith.

MUFFINS...! Yes I baked, thanks Kate.

Home... and food.

It seems that a good portion of all that is posted on here is a new things, an although this is no exception, these are just a few things that are helping make my little place feel like a home.

Have been on a 'proper food' type resolution this year and trying to cook more.. Crispy noodle and lamb salad is a favorite. is Delicious..!
Am also going to get some instructions on making muesli off Ay or Stacey before Joe comes just in case I ever get up in time for a breakfast or he eats before 9am.

.....! have just discovered I don't have enough coffee beans to make my coffee..!

Some lovely flowers Kelly bought me, (had a few work mates to dinner this week).

My lovely new shaggy rug... and the chrysanthemums I got so lots of fresh flowers about.

Am making the most of my last week before I have to share my space so everything is getting a spring clean and put back in it's correct place, (yes I do use a tape measure to position furniture).

An update to come after tomorrow, am going surfing with Joel and Lloyd at 6.30 in the morning and then to Hanmer so will have something interesting with a bit of luck.

Colours of my world

has been a little while but not too much exciting going on, bit hard getting up at a reasonable hour again for work but is going Ok so far.

The first of some lovely flowers.

And some more colour.

Has made a few coffees these past mornings, may need to adjust my purchase of milk however...

The new coffee cups and sugar/coffee jars. Have found Bodum also do a glass and stainless tea cup...! I want some.

A touch more colour for the kitchen, have done steak and a roast so far and seem to work well.

Not all for the home, will be a goodie for winter.

The month before Christmas.

For some reason, everybody thinks that the world ends at Christmas and anything not done by said date may never get done. To some extent I can agree that it is a nice deadline and it is good to have things tidied up before taking a break. But what happens when things to be finished by christmas outweigh the allocation of time therefore. December sucks..!

I am to arrive at work on Monday and bring to some resolution, (before Christmas), 3 houses measuring a combined 2000m2 and 10mil ish. but, it is interesting and a little enjoyable mostly.

I love my job..!

So... a little colour and serenity helps of an evening.

I love that my washing machine makes a complete tangle of shirts every time that results in having to unwind each sleeve before trying to smooth and dry, (ironing still not that fun).

The gardening has been done..! (with a carving knife). Have also removed the second washing line that was rusting, sagging and always covered in cob webs and generally looking unpleasant.

Big thanks to Matt and Amy for the very cool lamp they bought me for Birthmas.

The new couch that arrived at 8.00am..!
I now have an extraordinary amount of cardboard and even MDF to file into a miniature recycling bin. but it is very cool, lamp looks good beside it.

So has been a good weekend with many coffees, good food and brilliant weather. thanks Amy and Matt for visiting.



And that is the update..

My Saturday

Has been a little while but not a lot exciting has been happening... Until 7.45 this mooring when my new seating arrived.

Last Saturday I partook in the 6hr McLeans island bike race with a team from our QS pod at work and was a lovely day, very hot and got a little burnt. heaps of fun, obviously placing and times aren't necessary, we're all about participation.

Purely an ergonomic choice this, allows a more correct posture at the err, computer thingy..

A morning refresher, the cake, (somewhat gone by this point) was a delightfully moist lemon syrup cake.

Further 'energising' refreshments in the new glassware

A bit dusty but now in the dishwasher.

It's been a lovely day here after the wind died away this morning and have managed several loads of washing, cleaning,  groceries and even a little work.

Oh, almost forgot, (not really) new sunnies, Not a brilliant photo.

Hope you all have a pleasant week wherever you may be, perhaps even if you've been flown away for a weekend by MUMMY..! some of us get sent a weekends work instead... am just saying.

The last few days, (weeks)

Indeed it has been a short time since I have updated my blog so time to scrape the barrel for a few interesting things in the region that may pr may not capture anybody's interest, but, that's my life.

Well, a few weeks ago I did a site visit to Akaroa and after finding a good coffee and chocolate croissant we found our way up into the hills where we're doing our first repair of the project, (and remains the only one in construction to date), a lovely house built on a hill with major structural damage to cantilevered decks and slab/block basement. I was slightly more impressed by the landscaping I guessed over time cost as much as the house, was awesome...!

Some schist for Mother.

Not too bad a view in the morning either.

Flowers of the week, they 'orange ones', (I do know they are mini Gerbera but am a guy so can get away with that and I even get to keep a little dignity after buying flowers)

They actually opened up more and were very cool for a couple of weeks.

Token new wallet, is very cool obviously.

The view from what should have been the top of a MTB ride on Saturday.

A couple of hills over and at the top of a new track I got a  view out to the South before riding down and then having to come half way back up another hill to find my way home down another track in Victoria park.
There is a veritable maze of tracks up in the port hills that are very cool and 'handy' but when this unfit, be careful not to be fooled into thinking that 'this really cool track, just up here' is going to be less than ANOTHER hours ride away up ANOTHER .$%&*, (jolly) hill. sufficed to say I arrived home three and a half hours later quite exhausted and ready for dinner after my light salad lunch.

And lets end on a rather typical and predictable note of a new jacket.. :)
This is the jacket I wasn't allowed to buy in Auckland as it had 'vulgar and ostentatious' labeling. apparently I liked it anyway.


Well thats all from me, I am going to take myself off to bed with a few sweets and a cup of tea. 
Had delightfully tasty bacon and banana pancakes for dinner after sudden craving mid supermarket shop so feeling good and full..! obviously living by myself I can't afford to waste food so this does leave rather a quandary when looking down the barrel of an entire pancake mix..!


Night night..!