Finally, a dinner out

Last weekend has been about cutting down my Blue Gum tree (when I get a spare hour).
It still stands at about 10 meters high, and so far I've been mostly running cables over various branches. I have cut down about 200 Kg worth of branches, but still a long way to go. My highest anchor point is about 7 meters high, kind of scary at that height while playing with a chainsaw.


After weeks of work, today I finally found a few hours of girl time - So dinner out, at The Little District, Sylvia park shopping center. Wife rang and reminded me to get changed properly before heading home as she had visitors and didn't want any make up on me - not that I was wearing anything except foundation.

 

After a delicious meal and desert, I headed to McDonalds for a coffee to finish off my evening out. I really wanted to watch Big Brother (Australia) with the wife, so I returned home just after 8 pm.

MOST RELAXING DAY I'VE HAD SINCE BEFORE COVID LOCK DOWN

Got my vehicle Warrant of Fitness

Our cars need a safety check every year.
Last weekend mine failed on rear brake pads.
I spent that weekend fighting the brake cylinder, before finding a method of rotating and retracting the cylinder.

This weekend (Saturday) saw me adding a 50 cm wall and adding a door & frame.

Sunday I got chance to relax for two hours before getting back into the home renovations.

Coffee at McDonald's at 7 am.
I really like this dress my oldest daughter gave too me, I just don't really have an opportunity to wear it. Wife did feel a little guilty for not letting me go out to the pub last night, she's worried about other males getting a bit stroppy towards me.

 

At 9 am I had my second coffee, this time at Sylvia Park, there's a coffee shop I really enjoy, great spot for people watching when I'm not reading the daily news paper.
BTW, the skirt is blue with white stripes, not sure why the camera is colour blind.

 

After second coffee, I headed down to the vehicle testing station and got my Warrant Of Fitness.
Oldest daughters happy, she's visiting for a few days and is happy to have a car to use.

Afterwards, I got changed and returned home, where the wife greeted me and advised I needed to wash off, the tiny bit of make up, that my make up wipes failed to remove.

Sunday afternoon, I had a bit of time to spare, so I rope climbed my tree and reset the anchor point an extra 2 meters up (now at 6 meters). I would have gone higher, but a neighbour stopped for a chat and it looked like rain was heading my way.

One of those weekends

Saturday started fine, brunch with friends, then...
Having 2 identical faulty washing machines, started parts swapping and got one to wash but wouldn't rinse, swapped a control board and then the motor board blew up. Back peddled and did a motor replacement, taking about an hour - still didn't run, suspect the motor board blowing up affected the controller.

Sunday - woke at 5 am with a dog on my legs, scratching himself. He settled a bit but I couldn't sleep. By 6.30 I was dressed and out for a coffee.

             

I was planned to get some rope for my climbing rig and also some walking poles for hiking with.
I visited Bivouac Outdoors, Sylvia Park at 9 am, but before then a stroll around the 24 Hour Kmart, another coffee and a piece of cake for breakfast.

 

I eventually got new hiking poles and the rope I needed for single rope climbing.

Next on the list was a Warrant of Fitness for my car - failed on rear brakes.
It was at this stage I got changed and went home.
Wife still detected make up on my face, so after a quick wash she took me to lunch.

The next 5 hours I was fighting with my car brake calipers, covered in brake fluid, trying to retract them - epic fail even after purchasing a reset tool (looks like a special tool that rotates and pushes is required). I've re-assembled the brake and will call the mechanic tomorrow, knowing they have the correct tools.

Diving

So 28 years ago I bought a wetsuit.
Apart from about 4 snorkeling sessions, it's been saving space in the shed.
Last weekend and this weekend I've been using it to get my Open Water Certification.

Driving to the dive spot and back, I did get time in the airbnb accommodation and the next I morning had breakfast at McDonalds, Orewa Beach.

 

 

first outing since lock down

I found a spare hour to relax.
I did a bit extra with make up, using a pink under my beard area and thought it did a nice job of blending my newly shaved chin.

So it was just a coffee out.

It felt a bit weird as I couldn't connect to my female side, it's like 'What the heck am I doing dressed like this?"