Some weeks are full of small pleasures, others are quite the opposite. What with the news stories around the Whakaari/White Island volcano tragedy, the awful UK election result (I won’t say any more) plus DHL messing up my passport delivery (briefly, they didn’t contact me to say they had tried to deliver…) and some other frustrations, it was not a particularly good week in many ways. Still, as usual, there were a few small pleasures to brighten up difficult days.
Going to Squirrel as usual for toast on Saturday before Pilates helped me to calm down and appreciate the good things in life. The simple pleasure of smoked salmon on toast, tea and a quick hello to the other regulars really lifted my spirits, We picked up lots of good things when grocery shopping, from fine asparagus to sweet corn to some smoked salt from Pickle and Pie.
On Saturday evening, a friend and I went to a special preview of the latest film version of Little Women. Directed by Greta Gerwig, it stars Emma Watson as Meg, Saoirse Ronan as Jo and Meryl Streep as Aunt March. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and think it is really worth seeing, with wonderful costumes, great acting and stunning visuals. Highly recommended.
Sunday was a sofa day for me. I wasn’t feeling 100%, so decided to take it easy, watching daft seasonal films on Netflix, wrapping presents and dozing. In some ways, this was also a small pleasure, and really helped to switch off and relax.
It is almost feeling like Christmas, with the first of the cards arriving from overseas and a fridge full of Swedish herring for Christmas Eve. Roses are blooming, days are long and….yes it is all quite different from cold and cosy Christmases in the north…but it is still Christmas and summer is here.
What were your small pleasures this week?
Thanks to Mani over at A New Life Wandering for the original idea.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram@thistleandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
I love Hydrangeas – I have loads of bushes in my garden.
I am in dispair over the Election Results! My MP is still Labour but two of the neighbouring seats have gone to the Tories!
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I was shocked at the election results…I’m from Scotland originally and now wonder what will happen up there.
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I think there will be BIG BATTLES ahead.
Nicola Sturgeon seems a very capable lady and should be able to run rings around Boris.
Scotland want to stay in the EU.
The DUP in Northern Ireland have lost seats – so now there are more Nationalist MPs than Unionist.
Boris has done more for Irish Unity than the IRA.
Today’s headlines on what he has in mind are dreadful – it will be no deal. Or any deal will be rubbish compared to what we have now.
My constituency is Batley & Spen.
My MP was Jo Cox.
Murdered in the Market Place just one mile from my house.
She was Remain.
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I’ve been wondering about the new ‘Little Women’ movie – glad you enjoyed it so I may well see it myself when it is released here! 🙂
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Yes, hard to appreciate the small things when there is so much terrible news. But maybe it is even more important then. Thanks for the thumbs-up for “Little Women,” a movie I want to see. The flowers are beautiful and to think you got them from your garden. Around here, I’ve only seen them in stores as cut flowers, not in gardens.
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Yes the film is good – visually stunning too.
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Glad you had a day of self care and was able to reset your week and to get ready for Christmas.
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