This week’s small pleasures #332

Despite having a cold this week, laying me low on Tuesday and Wednesday, there were still a lot of small pleasures to celebrate and enjoy. Actually, I was fine by the weekend, and was able to enjoy Pilates, get into the kitchen and even get through a pile of ironing. Mind you, I did watch another episode of Maigret from 1960 to help me through that (gosh they did smoke a lot during the episode!). Anyway, back to the good things of the week.

Eating out

First up, we returned to an old favourite this week, MariLuca Ristoro, a lovely old fashioned Italian restaurant with excellent service and good food. We shared the always excellent bruschetta, and then I had Spaghetti alla Carbonara and Karl the Fettuccini alla Bolognese. Lovely!

More food

In the shopping basket this week were first of the new season parsnips and Brussels sprouts, staples lemons and onions, another beautiful looking radicchio. a head of witloof or chicory, and apples. And so to lunch…and I worked at home on Thursday, and made myself a sandwich with sheep milk Gouda, microgreens, cucumber and salami with some red cabbage sauerkraut, and had lunch on Monday at August Eatery, enjoying once again the Istanbul eggs (poached eggs, Greek yoghurt, aleppo pepper butter, dill and sourdough toast).

An extra day off

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is Anzac Day, and a public holiday both here and in Australia. I also took today off, and with not working Wednesdays, am enjoying the small pleasure of a 5 days free from the office. I had a couple of errands to run, and stopped off at my favourite tea shop tLeafT for a large bag of Earl Grey blue flower tea and a bag of coconut rooibos which sounds perfect for cooler days. I also went to GoodFor for a browse and picked up some of their lovely dried apple rings, currants and black sesame seeds. Below you can just see a little cheeky sparrow that hopped in to the shop, hoping to pick up spillages. I couldn’t help but pop into nearby Good Books for a browse (and yes I did buy something…). I also picked up these lovely autumnal coloured candles from iko iko on Cuba Street.

The mural below, on the orner of Jessie and Taranaki Street is by British street artist Phlegm and dates from 2016. It represents the history of the building which is owned by Trevor Bettany and has been in his family since the 1930s when they were importing, servicing and maintaining cinema projectors. It worth taking a bit of time and looking at the detail of the work which is full of fascinating detail.

Simple things

• Hearing that the one of the book club members won NZ$500 in a crossword competition.
• Saying hello to two gorgeous short haired griffons in the cafe on Monday. Lovely wee dogs!
• Having time to read and drink tea.
• Lighting candles, drinking wine and being cosy.
• Seeing sunshine after the rain.
• Spotting the first camellia flowers on Sunday afternoon.

What were your small pleasures this week? Here are some other blog posts from a few fellow bloggers looking at the good things in life. 

• Deb at Deb’s World shares what’s on her bookshelf.
• Jo over at And Anyways also shares her reading.
• Natalie the Explorer  shares some great pictures of utility boxes in Toronto.
• It is dessert time over at Ju-Lyn’s Touring My Backyard.
• Spring is on show over at Tootlepedal’s Blog along with ducks.
• Anne over at  Something Over Tea shares Earth Day patterns.
• Now I’m 64 visits two very different castles.
• Nigella Eats Everything takes us on a guide of the best tea and cakes in Toulouse.
• And Popsicle Society motivates us on Monday.
• Green Dreams enjoys her allotment….and showcases her daughter’s rabbit.
• …and all the other lovely bloggers out there.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.com