What a week…I’ve already mentioned Cyclone Gabrielle and the devastation it caused in Saturday’s post. Thousands are still unaccounted for, power is yet to be restored to many areas, and there is an issue with fresh water in some areas. It is just awful to see the pictures and read the news. However, I have heard from friends and colleagues who live in stricken areas, and have heard some good stories too, with one friend opening up her home, offering a gas stove and pizza oven for cooking.
Eating and cooking
To add to all this, there was a 6.0 earthquake on Wednesday evening. It was deep at least, but the epicentre wasn’t far from Wellington. As the Prime Minister said….look out of the window for locusts……Anyway, we happened to be at the new professors’ dinner to celebrate Karl’s recent award of this title when the quake happened. It didn’t stop the celebration at least. We enjoyed some lovely little little appetisers (I especially enjoyed the little prawn puffs) and we both had the beef for a change. The mini lemon meringue pies on the dessert platter were especially good.
I cooked a good tomato and fish dish (fish poached in charred tomato broth) from Ixta Belfrage’s Mezcla on Saturday and a lamb curry from Ashia Ismail Singer’s My Indian Kitchen for Sunday’s dinner with left overs tonight.
Food shopping
In the basket this week: ginger and chillies for the curry, spinach, apricots, seasonal courgettes and aubergine, mushrooms to have with pork filet during the week and a giant cucumber and cos lettuce.
Weekend
We had no plans for the weekend, and ended up just resting (and in Charlie’s case, his sleeping place prevented me for putting on a clean duvet cover) and doing a bit of gardening and housework. I also started reading Eleanor Catton’s new book Birnam Wood which I am really enjoying so far.
Simple things
- A Hawaiian pizza – yes for all my talk about good food and fine dining, I don’t mind pineapple on a pizza. Really,
- Hearing that a friend completed her third half-marathon.
- Sunshine!
- Walking to work through the Botanic Gardens
- The noise of cicadas because you know it is summer
- And best of all, meeting an old school friend who was on holiday in New Zealand and who I hadn’t seen for many, many years and picking up the conversation where we left off.
What were your small pleasures this week? Here are some other blog posts from a few fellow bloggers looking at the good things in life. Also shared in Natalie the Explorer’s Weekend Coffee Share.
- Ju Lyn at Touring my Backyard shares another interesting art work from the streets of Singapore.
- Natalie the Explorer shares more pictures of utility boxes – do check them out!
- Popsicle Society motivates us on Monday with some excellent words.
- Check out what’s on Deb’s bookshelf. She is also one of the hosts of this monthly blog challenge.
- Jo over at And Anyways heads over the Tasman after medical appointments.
- The polar punch hits Laurie’s library over at Notes from the Hinterland.
- Tootlepedal’s Blog shares some wonderful pictures of birds and nature around where he lives.
- Sit down and have a coffee with Trent.
- Anne over at Something Over Tea shares some creepy crawlies found in her garden.
- Retirement Reflections spends an evening with robots!
- Green Dreams makes pizza in the cold weather….
- …and all the other lovely bloggers out there. I’m a bit behind on my reading of posts this week….but I was away!
Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lo
Thistles and Kiwis 
I was reading about the devastation in New Zealand in this morning’s paper and thought of you as well as family I have there. By contrast, I have taken great pleasure in light rain over the weekend, the sprouting of tomato seeds, and seeing a variety of birds in my garden. Thank you for this uplifting post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Anne. Yes the devastation has been quite awful. I saw a picture today of navy personnel digging a cow out who was stuck in the mud almost up to her shoulders. People’s livelihoods and homes destroyed.
LikeLike
After a cyclone AND an earthquake, New Zealand must be feeling exhausted. The pictures of flooding are unbelievable, I really hope people who are currently uncontactable will be found soon.
How’s Ixta Belfrage’s Mezcla? I’ve been very curious about it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes…it is all just a bit much and add in humid weather it isn’t that nice!
Mexcla – I’ve made three things and while all tasty, there is a lot of chipotle and chilli and I think you need to spread out the dishes so you don’t get bored of spicy food and tomatoes – or maybe that is just what I have made so far!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting, yes I remember feeling exhausted by Mexican food after just a few days in Mexico because there’s a lot of similar flavours, although that said I came back around very quickly! Will keep your thoughts in mind, maybe mark the pages without chilli and tomatoes to alternate between!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, my! I have been reading the news about New Zealand. So very sorry. It can take a long time to recover from such devastation. Glad to read that folks are helping each other. And then came an earthquake. Holy cats! Glad to read it wasn’t too bad and that the dinner for Karl could go on as planned. (Congrats, Karl!) I have requested Birnam Wood through interlibrary loan, and I am looking forward to reading it. As always, thanks for the mention.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it will take years for the hit areas to fully recover. I was also so pleased that the earthquake was not a damaging one – the table we were seated at would have struggled to get all 9 of us underneath it!
I’m certainly enjoying Birnam Wood so far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a week! Thank goodness the earthquake wasn’t too bad, that’s all you need right now. As usual reading this post of yours always makes me hungry (and envious) and if that is your walk to work then I am doubly envious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it was some week! And yes that is my walk to work 🙂
LikeLike
What a lovely post idea! It’s so important to appreciate the little things, especially when there are so many terrible things happening in the world. Speaking of: I’m sad to hear of the destruction and deaths caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. Glad that you are well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yes we feel so thankful for being safe.
LikeLike
Hi, Barbara – That Tomato-Fish dish sounds delicious. And Charlie fast asleep? Absolutely gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The tomato-fish dish was good and made a nice change too with little effort. Charlie is quite lovely even though I say so myself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am very envious of your third simple thing! I am pleased that your earthquake was mild enough not to stop your celebration. What with cyclones and earthquakes, i am beginning to think that not having a plan to cycle to New Zealand may be a good idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh don’t worry about cyclones! This was a very rare event. Once in a lifetime type of thing. And earthquakes – well you shouldn’t worry about them either. Not all earthquakes cause damage. However, I wouldn’t recommend NZ for a cycling holiday – lots of hills!
LikeLike
Thank you for the advice. My brother lived in Wellington at one time so I know about the hills there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love how much positivity you find in your every day life despite the nature disasters. I have a feeling we have some things in common in that matter, always trying to see the good in things.
“The new professors’ dinner” sounds interesting. Did Karl recently earn the title professor?
Have a fabulous new week?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think there are days when it is harder to find the good things, but there is always something, even if it just a cuddle from the cat!
Yes Karl was awarded the title of Professor in December. It is the proper European meaning here too ie he was awarded it for his research and work in the university.
Thank you! Hope your week is good too.
LikeLike
I really need to get myself a copy of Mezcla – I’ll be waiting months for it to come back off reservation at the library.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are a few nice things – but don’t forget to stock on chipotle!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read about the natural disasters in NZ in the news. I’m glad that the earthquake didn’t interrupt your and Karl’s New Professors dinner. It’s refreshing to see the blue and green in your header photo as it’s winter over here. Your food and groceries all look delicious and healthy. Thank you for the mention and for your weekend coffee share. Have a great weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Natalie!
LikeLike
Loving the food pictures, and the brightness. Longing for warmer days here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is definitely heading to autumn here with darker mornings though! Still, beautiful blue skies today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Barbra,
I’ve not been paying much attention to the news and hadn’t heard about either your earthquake or Cyclone Gabrielle. Gracious!
Here, we can’t get any news without first hearing about the earthquake in Turkey. It makes an amount of sense because so many lives were lost and survivors displaced. Our church took up an offering to help out.
Our weather has been a bit nuts, but nothing on the scale of what you’ve experienced.
Stay safe my friend.
Many of us are rather dependent on hearing from you each weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes – cyclone, earthquake and a tornado on Saturday morning up north too!
Thanks Gary – will stay as safe as we can! Barbara
LikeLike
I’m so sorry about all the crazy weather stuff going on. Wow. Your market basket looks amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s always nice to see old friends. Even if time has passed, if we see each other in person, we’ll chat as though we saw each other yesterday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The opening photo of your post is breathtaking. The stew sounds delicious I am going to have to check out Ixta Belfrage, Mezcla cookbook from my local library
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hoping that very soon everyone will be as cosy & content & comfortable as your Charlie. It’s always great to hear of kindness during such tragic times. All the food & reading looks all delicious for mind body & soul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfortunately our little cat has since died….but he did look so sweet in that picture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so sorry, . So sweet you have such cuddly photos to remember him by.
LikeLiked by 1 person