This week’s small pleasures #218

For most of 2020, I have made a note each day of three things that have brought me joy, made me smile or just feel grateful for at that particular moment. It isn’t a gratitude diary as such, it is just a few notes of nice things that occur or that I see. Some of these things make it to my weekly small pleasures posts.

One of small pleasures this week was Friday’s walk in the Botanic Gardens. I was working at home, and took a lunch time walk through the gardens, stopping to take note of the changing seasons (the spring flowers have moved on, some signs of summer are appearing). I loved this group of Canterbury bells, spotted as I walked down the hill.

And so to food….a stroll to the little market at lunch time on Wednesday resulted in the purchase of a purple cauliflower and some asparagus, as well as a focaccia from the Shelley Bay Bakery stall. On Sunday I picked up some more fresh peas, and naturally, a few tomatoes. We had dinner on Thursday at Cosa Nostra, our local Italian restaurant, where I enjoyed a spaghetti carbonara and Karl the pasta of the day, and then we totally indulged in an affogato with amaretto for me and grappa for Karl. What a treat! Things were much simpler with Friday’s lunch at home – a bagel with egg mayonnaise, dill from the garden and a couple of cornichons.

Of course, the week wasn’t just about food! On Friday, I went to the ‘Here and Now’ evening of dance at the New Zealand School of Dance. This was a chance for the contemporary dance students to show off their talents in 5 different works. I always am struck by the sheer energy and enthusiasm of the dancers, and the clear love of what they are doing. A rather different event at the weekend was Beervana, the big craft beer festival this weekend. Postponed from August, the event was still able to take place, albeit in November. More on this on Wednesday.

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

• Deb over at Deb’s World listed the things she has been thankful for in 2020.
• Ju Lyn shared a happy space in Singapore over at All Things Bright and Beautiful.
• Little Pieces of Me lists things she is grateful for this week.
• Lovely views Grenadier Pond from Natalie the Explorer to brighten our days.
• Laurie’s Friday Favourites over at Notes from the Hinterland.
• And Weekly Smiles from Piglet in Portugal, Trent ‘s World and Writing Sparkle.

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? 

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