This week’s small pleasures #217

Gosh…week 47 of the year (according to my diary), and only 45 days until the end of the year (again, according to my diary). It has been such an odd year, without the usual events that mark the passing of the year, and yet somehow we have got to the middle of November. From Wednesday, anyone using public transport up in Auckland has to wear a mask, and also on all domestic flights within New Zealand. This is in response to a handful of cases in the community, but other than that things are pretty normal here still. We can only hope it stays this way.

And so to the small pleasures of the past week. First up, Pilates resumed again at the new studio, a lovely, bright and airy space, with a city scape view from the windows. It was a real pleasure to be back.

Next, some foodie treats of the week. There were cheese scones to have with a cup of tea on Saturday afternoon, and I got some mini mincemeat pies from Arobake with this week’s bread order and ate my first one of the season. We had sourdough bread for Sunday breakfast (seen below wrapped up in a tea towel – what I do when I unpack the delivery), and I made Diana Henry’s creamy smoked fish gratin. This is a really rich and lovely dish, topped with cheese and with slices of tomato along with the potato for a bit of sharpness. Even better, there were leftovers for dinner tonight.

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On Saturday, a friend and I went to a concert at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by the Orpheus Choir. We heard Vivaldi’s Gloria, Poulenc’s Gloria, and after a short interval five works with a Christmas theme, including a wonderful piece by Michael McGlynn Jerusalem, which saw the choir spread about the church, singing wonderful harmonies. It was a really…excuse me…glorious evening.

Finally, I picked up these poppies which I think look fantastic as buds even before they come into flower.

Anyway, that is my quick round up on some of this week’s small pleasures. Here are some of my fellow bloggers good things in their lives:

• All Things Bright and Beautiful has a wonderful list of fellow bloggers and a Christmas themed post.
• Read a gratitude list from Little Pieces of Me’s Grateful Fridays
• Relax with my good blogging friend Laurie of Notes from the Hinterland Moments of Zen at a Friend’s House
• Check Weekly Smile posts from Nut House Central and Trent’s World
• Go on a virtual bike ride with Natalie the Explorer and then join in a wonderful virtual afternoon tea over at Zimmerbitch.
• Congratulate Nourish on her new book.

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? 

The featured image at the top of the post was one sunny lunch time last 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