If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would be sitting outside in the rather humid weather listening to the very noisy cicadas. We agree they are extremely loud this year.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about the demonstration and blockade of vehicles outside Parliament. We would talk about how awful it has been for small businesses in the area who have had to close, the abuse hurled at people wearing masks and the mess that will need to be cleared up once they leave (there is a piece here you can read – three people have been arrested, and the protestors on the lawn have been declared as trespassers).
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would also talk about the weather. There was gorgeous sunshine on Tuesday, but today is grey and humid. I say I hate this sort of weather and you agree. We talk about the long stalks of wild fennel that seem to pop up everywhere, and I show you this picture…look carefully and you can see the moon.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about this season’s stone fruits, the gorgeous apricots and yellow fleshed peaches.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about Jane Campion’s second nomination for an Oscar for best director, and how The Power of the Dog has been nominated for 12 Oscars. I confess to not having seen the film yet, and you say it is on Netflix so maybe something for the weekend?
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about our plans for the weekend ahead, what we have been reading and what we have been watching. I say I have just started Mary Li’s memoir about her life and career. You say she is the wife of ‘Mao’s last dancer’ Li Cunxin? And I say yes. You say you will be interested to hear more.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…well, you will stay for dinner? You say yes and I say it is pasta…and you say…of course, with a smile.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
Small businesses have gone through such a difficult time. I hope the pandemic eases completely soon!
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Life can be good, even under these circumspect days of the pandemic, and I love that you remind us of the things that make up a good life. I have finished reading some of our local history – about intrepid botanists especially who travelled through an untamed land over two hundred years ago and who have left us a legacy of named plants,early maps, and anecdotes of the people they met; I enjoyed tea this morning with a friend last seen four months ago – the encounter left us both feeling upbeat and I enjoyed baking spice biscuits with a chocolate topping to go with our Earl Grey tea.
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The stories of your local history sound fascinating. Those biscuits sound good!
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It was interesting to read about the protests in Wellington, we have had a similar time here in Canberra. One or two of the restaurants and pubs have closed for a few days. I feel sorry for them because things have just started to open up. However, now the protesters have been moved to the show grounds and I’ve heard that a few of them have started squabbling with each other! Enough already!
I think I would like to read Mary Li’s book, but I have such a pile of books to read at the moment…not enough time!
Hope the blue skies return.
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The police have taken a firm but softly softly approach to moving the protestors on and made 120 arrests. I have zero sympathy for the protestors, especially when they do things like throw an eg at a 17 year old girl who was wearing a mask. There doesn’t seem any rhyme or reason to their protests either, and some of the messages have been really unpleasant. So…a good time to escape with a good book!
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Is this blockade related to the one in Ottawa? I don’t really understand how people think mask wearers warrant any abuse! I was on my walk yesterday and noticed a half moon too. I love seeing it to remind myself all our squabbles here are just a speck of dust in the cosmos.
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Yes it is – a copy cat though this lot have put tents up on the grounds outside Parliament. Some of the vehicles have been towed away, but there was an awful case yesterday of someone trying to get to the hospital who couldn’t get out of their building. School pupils on their way home were heckled for wearing masks and a 17 year old girl had an egg thrown at her for putting on a mask to enter a supermarket. None of that is acceptable behaviour, and the patience of residents with these people has gone.
Anyway…..yes looking at the sky, listening to the birds is just what I need right now!
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Oh wow. Glad the residents have had enough. There’s really a fine line between protesting something and it turning vile which sounds like it has.
We just got more rain here again today. At least it’s not bush fires!
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Raining here now….might move some of the protesters!
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I feel so satisfied & cultured after tea with you – and your mug with attitude has illicited more than one smile.
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Oh thank you Ju-Lyn!
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I am very interested in hearing more about Mary Li’s memoir. And yes, pasta would be lovely! 😀
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Hopefully I will have finished it before the next ‘what’s on my shelf’ post. I just need a bit of time for reading!
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Hahahahah T&K,
Isn’t the word ‘cicada synonymous with inhumanly loud insectial racket?
i was in Washington DC one year during a weekend when the local chapter took over the city.
Wow! What a noisy mess. You almost could not think outdoors.
But in the past few days, outdoor has become the place to be. Summer has arrived to the California Sonoma County wine country. By 11 am it was warmer outside than it was inside. The sun is bright and everything in our yard is growing wildly.
Thankfully, no cicadas anywhere nearby.
Have a great week!
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Our cicadas appear every year unlike the DC ones which I believe come out every 17 years. We are expecting the tale end of a cyclone which has dampened (ouch!) the singing for now.
Have a great week too!
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yea – those who wait for 17 years act as if they have to make up for lost time – loudly. . .
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Thank you for your weekend coffee share that transported me to summer with cicadas and stone fruits. Pasta would be lovely. Have a wonderful weekend!
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The mug in your first shot is a Finnish product. 😃
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Yes I know – I have been to Finland several times, have a Swedish husband and used to live in Denmark 🙂
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I love the Finnish mug :). For a minute I thought you were talking about the protests in Canberra but then realised you were also having them over there, it sounds very familiar and I read your link to the article. Enjoyed your update and our cup of tea together, thanks 🙂
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Yes….we are having protests here….tonight the police are playing music and Covid messages to the protestors. I think they are hoping the tail end of the cyclone and all the rain will turn people away as well. But let’s enjoy a cup of tea!
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It’s hard for me to imagine humid weather right now, in the middle of the winter, but I’ll do my best 🙂 Thank you for the tea, and the dinner invitation, of course I’ll stay for dinner.
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I am here in Ontario where a state of emergency was declared yesterday due to the Freedumb idiots.
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It is just unbelievable isn’t it? Saw the French police just went straight in with tear gas…
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Love the mug, and the reminder about the film. I need to get it on my list, might even get in front of the boss now it has a few oscar nominations. Dune definitely deserves one as a work of cinematography
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Thanks for the visit. I love the mug and will never turn down pasta.
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I see that you have had a similar problem as over here. Even though I don’t agree with it, they have a right to protest but also a right to clean up after themselves, which they refuse to do. Not good.
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