This week’s small pleasures #338

Thistles and Kiwis

Well, what can I say? What seemed to be a lovely week, turned into one of the most stressful I’ve experienced. If you read Saturday’s post, you will have seen that there was a landslide, and that as we have no water or gas, we have had to move out of the house. We stayed Saturday night with friends, and moved into a hotel yesterday (Sunday). We will stay here until Wednesday, then move into a temporary apartment until we leave for Europe. Of course it was raining today, but more council engineers were round so our neighbours told us, and it seems that work will start on moving some of the debris tomorrow. EQA (Earthquake Commission) are also involved and will say if the building can be lived in again or not. To say stress levels are high would be an understatement! At least we had a good night’s sleep last night. The featured image? The tape at the top of the steps by our house.

Actually, the slip happened just as we were enjoying some dropped scones with raspberry jam and a cup of tea. Dropped scones have featured before, and are a lovely, quick and easy treat for a wet afternoon, and at least we got to enjoy them before we had to leave. The dishes, however, were not washed!

During the week, we enjoyed this curried lentil soup from Ottolenghi’s Simple (featured in an old blog post here) and some very good focaccia from Shelly Bay Bakery, and inspired by Mr Tootlepeddle, I enjoyed sardines on toast for a working at home lunch. These ones came with lemon.

On Thursday evening, a friend and I were fortunate enough to attend another Behind the Scenes event at the New Zealand School of Dance. This is the second one like this we have been to, and gives the school the opportunity to show students working with guest choreographers and dance teachers. The guest teacher on this occasion was David Peden, a native of Stirling in Scotland, and ex Royal Ballet dancer. We saw him coaching two young dancers in two different variations from Swan Lake and Les Patineurs. It was followed by a short discussion with the director of the school, wine and canapés. A lovely evening all round.

So that was basically all the nice things that happened this week. My blogging plans have changed a little bit, but I will be back on Wednesday or Thursday depending on how things work out.

Simple things

  • Having a conversation with the ducks in the Botanic Gardens
  • Listening to a very loud tui while having breakfast on Saturday.
  • All my wonderful blogging friends.
  • Attending The Food Show on Sunday morning…though my mind was elsewhere.
  • Enjoying a peaceful lunch away from everything in the library.
  • The kindness and concern shown by friends and colleagues after Saturday. Quite overwhelmed.

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 The Weekend Coffee Share hosted by Natalie.

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 lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.com

Published by Thistles and Kiwis

47 Comments

  3. Some good experiences, good food and the warmth of friendship – all hard to put a price on, especially in the face of this horrendous experience.

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  4. I have been thinking about you a lot and can only imagine how stressful it is for you and your husband right now. I was glad to read you have found an apartment to live. Still, the uncertainty of the situation must be terrible. Glad you were able to enjoy some small pleasures. Keep us posted. I am so hoping that you will soon be able to move back into your home.

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  5. Yikes, it seems a minor slip, but major headaches for you. I hope they can straighten it out – I know “will say if the building can be lived in again or not” would scare me. Glad you found some comfort with friends and hope that your trip to Europe goes without a hitch.

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  6. I’m so sorry to read about your recent trouble with the landslide and having to leave your home. How very stressful! And when you are about to leave the country, on top of everything else?!? And yet you are still blogging! You are tough stuff, indeed!

    Deb

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  10. So happy that nobody was hurt! when I till lived in Seattle, there was a landslide that took out 49 houses and 43 people in the Oso area. The face of the hill just sloughed off and covered about a mile to a depth of up to 20 meters or so. How stressful, yet there is something restful about knowing that there is nothing you can do at this time. Everything will be dealt with when the time comes, so for now, enjoy Europe!

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  11. Oh Wellington! City of earthquakes and slips. I’ve just read this post and your recent SOS (appropriate nickname). What a terrible time you’re having, Barbara. I do hope your house won’t be condemned. You are amazing to keep blogging with outward calm through this disaster. Sending a hug.

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  12. A nightmare made much worse by not knowing what the outcome will be. Your post was amazingly calm under the circumstances. (I had my sardines in a pate with yoghurt and lemon today.)

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  13. So sorry to read about the landslide and how it has affected you, I agree with previous comments, you are very calm under the circumstances. Thank goodness you had “Behind the Scenes” to go to as a distraction, later in the week. It must have been lovely to see an ex-Royal Ballet dancer David Peden coaching young dancers.
    Best wishes to you and your husband.

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  14. Hi, Barbara – I am so sorry to hear about the landslide and all of the damage that it has caused to you and others. I am incredibly impressed by how calm you have been – carrying on with your regular activities and blogging. Like Deb (WBA) said – you are definitely tough stuff. Sending warm thoughts your way.

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    1. Hmmm…..you should have seen me on Saturday and the sleepless night I had! I’m still terribly anxious but at least doing things like going to work and blogging keeps normal things going!

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  15. Oh my goodness! So very sorry that all this is happening! I am glad to hear that you were able to find temporary accommodation meanwhile – hopefully all the work will be done expediently before? while? you are in Europe!

    I love your sense of humour even through all this – that you were able to finish your tea even if you couldn’t wash the dishes! It is not a funny situation you find yourself in, but I couldn’t help a chuckle.

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  16. Pingback: If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea – Thistles and Kiwis

  17. I’m sorry to hear about the landslide and your temporary displacement right before your trip to Europe. What a stressful situation. I hope it will get resolved quickly to give you some peace. Sending love and positive thoughts your way. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

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  18. WOW! I am so sorry. This is horrible! Did you know that you lived in a zon where this could happen? Mother Nature can be so brutal at times. I can understand how stressful the situation is, having lived in an area known for forest fires for several years. I hope that you and your husband still can enjoy your upcoming trip and change of environment.

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  19. Holy moly! I’m so sorry to hear about the landslide! That sounds so scary! I do hope it all turns out OK in the end and trust that your positive attitude (even if it wavers a bit in the face of such challenges) carries your through! Wishing you a peaceful weekend and week ahead!

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  22. Oh no! I can’t imagine. That would be incredibly stressful and a bit frightening too, I would think. I love that you were still able to enjoy the simple things in spite of it. And since nothing about this situation is within your control, I hope you can just forget about it and enjoy your trip to Europe.

    Michelle

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  24. Barbara, I’m so sorry you are having to go through this. There are few things more stressful on the chart of stressors! And yet you brought us some delicious looking food. I wish you the best luck as your life gets back to normal as quickly as possible.

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