As regular readers may know, I don’t work on Wednesdays, which gives me time to either do a lot or do very little. It depends on the mood, the weather, and what is in my diary. Today was a little bit of both.
It was another sunny, summer day, and perfect to stroll through the gardens around Parliament on the way to Pilates. I may no longer have my regular walk through the Botanic Gardens, but I can still get a touch of green on my way to town,
After Pilates, I had a bit of time to kill before meeting friends for lunch, so took a turn around Post Office Square, named after the former General Post Office which occupied the site from 1863 to 1974. It is an area of heritage value and importance to the city. I need to get out my Wellington walking guide book and read up a bit more.
You can also spot two phone boxes – one from the UK (if you like you can read about it here), one from France (an artwork by Corsican artist Elie Christiani in which you are supposed to hear sounds of the other side of the world – and no I haven’t, but should, try it). There is also an old post box.
I met my friends at Where’s Charlie, where I had a banh mi, and a good gossip. It was lovely to be able to have the time to spend over lunch like this, and enjoy conversation and laughter.
It was then time to call in at the supermarket, for a few things like olive oil, rice vinegar, green chillis, peaches, raspberries and asparagus. For dinner I made pork with ginger, spring onion and aubergine from Ottolenghi’s Simple, a favourite in this house.
I also made a beetroot and carrot salad with lots of seasoning and a dressing from lime scented olive oil. As you might be aware, I don’t like beetroot. so this was a real trial of whether I could eat raw beetroot, which I read was more appealing to those of us who don’t like this root vegetable. Well, it seemed quite edible, so I now have that as the basis for my lunches for the next two days. I will report back!
There was also time to start a new book, do some laundry and settle down in the evening to watch and episode of the UK drama Criminal Record (highly recommended).
This post has been entered in #wwwhimsy Wednesday Words & Whimsy hosted by Write of the Middle.
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 lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
This sounds like a blissful day – much better than waiting at home for a courier to arrive!
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Oh I hate that….
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A happy place.
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lovely photos. and what a splendid day it looks there!
https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
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Lovely to have lunch with friends, and then some tasty meals at home. I don’t like beetroot either, but I keep trying!
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Funny about beetroot isn’t it?
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Yes, too sweet or something..
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They taste like soil….not that I have ever eaten soil….but sure you know what I mean!
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I hadn’t thought of that, so now I’m definitely not going to eat beetroot!
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Sounds like a wonderful day!
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That sounds like a wonderful day!
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As we would say in Maine, a finest kind of day. How nice to have so many green spaces in the city. Like you, I am not a huge fan of beets, but that salad sounds very appealing.
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Yes we are lucky in Wellington – a very open and green city. Will report back on the salad.
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What a wonderful day! I’ll have to look up that pork recipe because I just borrowed ‘Simple’ from the library. Isn’t it a great book?
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I love it – make a lot from it.
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I love plain boiled beetroot but I have never eaten it raw. I shall be interested to find out what you think after a few goes. I would expect it to be very earthy.
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Will report back!
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Yay for trying beetroot! You’ve reminded me I need to eat it more often since I love it. You also make me want to go to NZ again. My cousin lives on the south island, but if I go I may try to get to Wellington. It looks lovely. (But then the whole country is lovely.)
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Oh do visit our islands again someday!
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That first photo looks like a film set! What a beautiful city you live in. I actually love beetroot, the OH not so much and I have heard it is very good for lowering blood pressure so I think I should start eating a lot more. Roasted with other veg is good. I have not tried it raw.
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I will report back on the salad. I wish I liked beetroot as it is so pretty to look at!
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It sounds like a wonderful “you” day.
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It was a good day!
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Hi Barbara, your day sounds like heaven to me. I hope you liked the beetroot. It’s very different to the canned stuff so you might?! Thanks so much for linking up with #WWWhimsy and enjoy the rest of your week! xo
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It was a good day! Well, the grated beetroot and carrot salad worked out OK. I have never had tinned beetroot, only boiled which was not pleasant (in my opinion!).
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I enjoyed reading this Barbara, and following your Wednesday. We have some of those post boxes in parts of Australia too. I would LOVE to try new salads but sadly my mouth can not handle the chewing. Take care, Denyse
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love getting insights into your life. Great post. Lovely photos.
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Thank you!
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Love days like that! The post office box was my favorite of the 3 you posted. Glad the beet root seemed all right in the salad.
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