Who can believe it is November already? 2020 has been such a strange year we all agree. Forgetting the headlines around the world this week – and there have been many of concern – let’s turn to some of the small pleasures of the week instead. It isn’t a question of burying our heads in the sand, but looking for the good things in the world around us in these difficult times.
On Thursday, we went for our last Wellington on a Plate event for this year, the burger at Bellamy’s by Logan Brown. Readers who have been reading the blog for a while, might remember me mentioning going to this restaurant before – it is situated within The Beehive ie the New Zealand parliament building. This was only our second burger on the festival this year, but well worth it. The beef patty was juicy, and full of flavour, and all the trimmings went well together making a real feast and a good end to WOAP 2020.
Sticking with food, we had bread delivered from Arobake on Saturday morning, picked up a bag of limes, some asparagus, tomatoes, aubergines and courgettes, another jar of my favourite brand of sauerkraut (really must have a go at making my own) and some halloumi. I ate smoked salmon toast at Squirrel, though sadly, it was the last Pilates class in the current studio space, so it may be my last Saturday morning stop for toast for a while. We’ll see how thing work out.
Saturday evening saw…a trip to the theatre! Yes folks for the first time since February I got to go to see dance…live. While The Sleeping Beauty may not be my favourite of the ‘big classics’, I was so happy to go to the ballet, enjoy some wonderful dancing from The Royal New Zealand Ballet, and spend an evening doing one of my favourite things. Not only that, we had fantastic seats – the picture below shows you where we were sitting in the Opera House. Truely the biggest small pleasure of the week.
The ballet wasn’t the only thing I went to see this weekend. On Sunday, a friend and I went to see a National Theatre Live film of the play Hansard by Simon Woods. Brilliantly acted by Lindsay Duncan and Alex Jennings, the drama was amusing and also very moving and sad. I love the fact that we, at the other end of the world, can get to see drama from one of the major theatres in the UK.
And to end…a picture of Charlie, sleeping, as he often does, and happy to be home from the cattery at the vet clinic. Always a small pleasure to spend time with him.
Anyway, that is my quick round up on some of this week’s small pleasures. Here are some of my fellow bloggers small pleasures:
- Gorgeous mini pumpkins at All Things Bright and Beautiful.
- Little Pieces of Me Grateful Fridays
- Trent’s World for The Weekly Smile and other autumnal posts (though it is spring for us of course)
Wherever you are, take care and look out for those little things that bring you joy. What were your small pleasures of the week just past?
Featured image: one of three wonderful peonies I purchased this week.
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 
Triple cooked beef fat fries sounds like the best fries in the world! Sounded like such a lovely weekend- was the set and costuming of Sleeping Beauty really nice? It’s been raining and storming over this way but it’s been nice and cosy staying in reading.
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Yes the chips (fries) were really good too – really crispy. Yes the set and costumes were lovely (except for the pink courtier costumes at the beginning!). After a lovely sunny day on Sunday, it has returned to rain….
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“It isn’t a question of burying our heads in the sand, but looking for the good things in the world around us in these difficult times.”…I absolutely love this sentiment!!!!
A trip to the ballet…how lovely, I’ve forgotten what it is like to sit indoors and enjoy something with a group.
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Thank you!! It was so good to go to the theatre, and you could see everyone around us felt the same.
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As always, such a pleasure to read your week’s small pleasures. Although your trips to the ballet and the theater seem like a long-forgotten dream. As Covid-19 surges in Maine, our governor has put further restrictions on what can and can’t be open. Completely understandable. It will be a long, long time until we reach the level of openness that New Zealand has. Our own fault, of course.
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I hope your life is not too disrupted by further restrictions. Hope the new book is coming along well!
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The new book is going well. Thanks for asking! I think our life will be disrupted until a vaccine comes out.
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The theatre experience is something I have yet to do, one day and your post has made me think I should do it sooner than later!
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Yes you should! I have been going all my life and it is one of my favourite things to do.
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I should’ve said I have been to plays in NZ, France and Italy, just not a ballet theatre. Yes, one day.
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“It isn’t a question of burying our heads in the sand, but looking for the good things in the world around us in these difficult times.” Yes indeed!!!! (followed by loud cheering!!!!)
Last Wellington on a Plate – you’ll have to turn to other culinary adventuring!
I envy your trip to the ballet. I’ve tried to follow our local orchestra online – bless their hearts they have worked so hard to make programming available this way. But as you know, it doesn’t even come close.
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I have some culinary adventures planned! I saw another NZ based blogger saying the other day that she almost had ‘survivor’s guilt’ by being able to go to the theatre etc. I know what she means. I think there have been some very ingenious things done to keep the performing arts alive during these difficult times.
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