If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…I would tell you how much I enjoy not working on Wednesdays. Even just having time for errands and appointments without having to rush is nice, and the fact that we can make time to chat is even nicer.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would pop outside with our Moomin mugs on this lovely sunny winter day to look at all the buds on the magnolia. It is now winter, but everything still looks lovely.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about the weather, about the dreadful flooding in the South Island (see one story here), and about how after some rainy weather here, it was lovely to see the sun again.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would wonder when we will get our Covid vaccination. It seems the end of July, but it all looks very uncertain. We both agree we don’t want to travel to Australia or the Cook Islands (which are the only two places those living in New Zealand can travel to without having to go into quarantine on their return) until we are vaccinated. You also say you don’t want to get stuck somewhere if the borders close again, and I agree.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about what we had been reading and watching recently. I say that Dolly Alderton Ghosts was forgettable, Joan Didion’s The White Album is like a rich, chocolate mousse, Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge was not what I expected, but on reflection has left images and memories, and David Foenkinos The Mystery of Henri Pick was fun. We agree that Mare of Easttown was a great drama, and I say you should look out for the British comedy Motherland which is hilarious.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…as dusk sets in, I would invite you to stay for some butternut squash soup, with the bread I bought on Sunday covered in balsamic roasted onions and parmesan. You say yes you would love to stay, so we settle down for a cosy evening and carry on our chat.
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 
You have such a lovely mug worth drinking out of! I found ‘Olive Kitteridge’ a little strange to begin with and grew to really enjoy the story by the end – have subsequently read other novels by Elizabeth Strout, who has a fine eye for detail. Butternut soup is one of my favourite kinds for this time of the year, so ladle some into a bowl for me please 🙂
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I agree re ‘Olive Kitteridge’ – really grew on me too. I have the follow up ‘Olive, Again’ now sitting in my pile. You would be most welcome to join me with a bowl of soup!
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Well, I wish I was having coffee and reading all those interesting books, and accepting an invitation to stay for pumpkin soup!
I liked Elizabeth Strout’s book, Olive Kitteridge’s….once I got into to it.
Hope the weather improves in Canterbury and the South Island generally, the landslide looks awful.
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Yes it too me time to get into Olive Kitteridge as well. You would be most welcome to join us for some soup! I read today a horrific story post the floods of a farmer finding cattle washed up on his farm that did not belong to him.
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Not a huge fan of “Olive Kitteridge”—I didn’t finish the book—but I do want to point out that Elizabeth Strout is a Maine writer. I’m with Anne about squash soup. Wouldn’t it be grand if we could all get together for soup, bread, and talk about books and television series? Pretty much a perfect way to spend the afternoon/evening.
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I think we all agree it took some time to get into Olive Kitteridge. I might try the TV version that had Frances McDormand in it. I did note that the author was from Maine – one reason I picked it up and also as our work book club theme was ‘colour’! Yes wouldn’t it be great if we could all get together?
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Thank you for the coffee and as we head into summer you are in winter!! I enjoyed your book reviews, I haven’t read them but they sound interesting! Ooh, and I love butternut soup too! Yummy to the tummy! Enjoy the rest of your week! ❤️ ~ Diana
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Thank you for stopping by!
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Love Wednesday for you, I love the picture on your mug. The flood damage looks scary thank goodness none was on that road when it gave way. Volunteers are awesome people.
I could almost smell the sweetness of that pumpkin, yum. Pretty coloured leaves. Have a wonderful weekend my friend.
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Thank you! Hope you have had a good week too.
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ooh I love the Moomins!!!!!!!
would be having herbal tea with lemon contemplating adding a short of gin ha!
~B
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😀
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I need to find a copy of that Joan Didion book on my tablet, I’ve been meaning to read it for a while.
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When I went to part time work (ages ago now) those days off were bliss. Interesting you call that vegetable a different name to us here in Oz. We call it a butternut pumpkin. Sure is easier to get the skin off when I need to. I heard about that flooding in the South Island when someone who needed her radiation treatment for head and neck cancer was ferried to the hospital by helicopter. I below to a NZ based FB group for Head and Neck Cancer. Denyse #weekendcoffeeshare
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Lovely fall colours you have there. Butternut squash soup is delicious. I’ve also read Olive Kitteridge. Thank you for linking with #weekendcoffeeshare.
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I have Wednesdays off too and work the other four days of the weekday. I use it for appointments, my VA work or whatever else comes up.
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I realize you are in a completely different season in New Zealand than we are in the U.S., but your photos really made that real for me. What beautiful butternut squash and autumn leaves.
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