Long Weekend

At last, a 3 day weekend.
Although waking up at 5 am on Friday, it didn't stop me from my normal 8 hours of work, followed by a 10 hour drive (okay really a 9 hour drive but I stopped for a 1 hour sleep). But it did mean I arrived in beautiful vineyard region of Martinborough just as dawn broke Saturday morning.
Wife and I were visiting our daughter.
While I might occasionally appear a bit girly (like wearing pretty yoga tights while relaxing with wife and daughter), I'm also the only person (man or woman) who can walk her dogs. Not only am I tough enough for her dogs, I actually had fun walking them.

During our stay, I managed to knock off 1 of my light house visits - it's an excuse I use to force wife and I out on road trips. I think there's about 13 scattered around the country.

Cape Palliser also has a fishing village and a seal colony near by.

But your probably not here to read how cool my weekend was, but to see photos of my outing today.
So I wore the dress the same daughter as above, gifted me, foundation, mascara and lip stick and I was out the house - twice.
First I had to drop second oldest daughter off at her work, then return, pick up the youngest daughter and take her to school - only then did I have time for a coffee stop.

Wife was still at home, waiting for a council man to visit and inspect our building works. I didn't want to be there as we had approved, engineered solution which he ignored and forced us to go 200% over budget. The inspection failed as there wasn't any silicon around the shower - basically I don't like silicon as it gets moldy very quickly, but a breathable junctions between the tiles and glass walls dries easily.

Anyway - shopping more fun than fighting.
I tried a lot of stuff on over the next few hours but nothing gave me the WOW feeling, so I'm still in the same clothes

One thing on my agenda soon is a 4 day mountain hike and my old boots looks like they are about to fall apart so while at Sylvia Park, I decided to check the boots at MacPac. I ended up buying this pair and signed up for their members discount as I still need a few things like water bladder, socks, food etc. Signing up also means I don't have to keep receipts if the boots fall apart.

Night away

I know, a night away is an opportunity to dress up, in a hotel miles from home.
Anonymity is great
So I dressed up (as you do when away)

Unfortunately, just getting dressed and sticking on a wig, doesn't always release our inner girl.

I mean, sure I felt pretty, but my female personality was not wanting the freedom (she'll probably pick a more inconvenient time - it's what girls do).

So a change back to male clothing and off to an amazing dinner - Eye fillet medium rare followed by stick date pudding.

 
 

At last FREEDOM !!!

So as you know I've been busting my A with the home renovations every minute I've been home.
Well yesterday (Saturday) was a 13 hour work day, installing kitchen benches and completing the fence to the yard and I was totally burned out and told the wife I needed a few hours this morning to relax.

So first it was a McDonalds coffee stop around 7 am, then to Kmart for a browse, I decided to purchase some much needed printer paper.

8.30 in the shopping mall, time for another coffee and read of the paper

9 am and the nail shop in the mall next to me opens - well why not?

I feel like I'm walking on clouds, so happy...

I posted these two photos to my 21 year old daughter who had her nails done yesterday.
she says "nice... but isn't that my dress?"
To which I replied, "it's not about the dress, which is also very nice :)"

I checked out a few more shops, chatted to some really nice and helpful sales staff.
I decided, while in East Auckland, I might as well check out the Howick Historic Village.

After getting home, wife had me get changed asap to get to the shops for more shelving units and to return the surplus flooring.
While she was surprised by my nails, after removing the color she was happy for both of us and our youngest daughter to have lunch out at a cafe. Once we got back home, I cut down my nails to a more manly length.

After such an outing, I can only say, I feel absolutely fantastic.

Busy every minute of the day

My only relax time is so short and infrequent, I have to relax in semi-girl mode (no make up or wig)

 

I don't really mind, everyone's treat me nicely, even though they probably thought I was weird.
I was hoping to get fully dressed and out to the pub with my girlfriend tonight, but found my email to her still in my "draft" folder and she leaves on holiday tomorrow morning.

Tonight though, another rare thing has happened
- It's just the wife and I at home alone for the first time since I can remember. Probably fish and chips on the beach watching the sunset (wonder if I can get a bottle of wine to go with that?)