This week’s small pleasures #86

Here we are again with the small pleasures of the week.  It is back to shorts weather, I am glad to report, after a few cooler and wetter days.  Still, I am so glad I am not in northern Europe with all the snow – something I do not miss at all!.

Yarnbombing on Cuba Street

I love yarnbombing, there is something so charming about it.  The time people take to make the things and decorate the public spaces has to be admired, and let’s face it, it always brings a smile.  Here’s some that has appeared on Cuba Street, Wellington.

My tiny cucumbers

I now have 5 mini cucumbers!  I really hope one of them gets big enough to taste.

Golden raspberries

Raspberries are probably my favourite fruit…or at least are in my top ten list.  Found these golden raspberries in Moore Wilson’s the other day which were so tasty and full of raspberry flavour.

New Zealand Festival

Two stunning performances this week to remind us of what great theatre can be about. First, on Friday we went to see Barber Shop Chronicles, a drama set in a London barber shop written by Inua Ellams. The play takes the form of a series of stories told by visitors to the shop about times in different African countries.  There are some common elements to the tales, and the piece formed a seamless whole. There is lots of music, some dancing, humour and moments of sadness.  The set was a delight, with posters, barber shop paraphernalia and a giant globe, and the TSB arena was miraculously made into a more intimate space.  It featured the original London cast too.

I find it hard to find words to express how much I enjoyed Betroffenheit on Saturday night, a dance/theatre piece conceived by Crystal Pite, a Vancouver based choreographer whose work I love, and writer and performer, Jonathon Young.  The inspiration, if one can call it that, for the piece comes from Young’s own traumatic experience of losing his daughter, niece and nephew in a cabin fire whilst on a family holiday in 2009. From the slithering, snake like cables at the start of the piece, to the heart-stopping moment at the end of the second part, the piece was a compelling and truly special piece of theatre that will be hard to forget.

Sunday 

Still in Festival mood, we also popped into see Future Playground  a digital installation event (loved the infinity room!), followed by dinner at Charley Noble‘s. I had the biggest piece of monkfish ever, beautifully cooked on the wood-fired grill  with some veggies.  Karl’s burger was also given a thumbs up.

Thanks to Mani over at A New Life Wandering for the original idea.

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