Where to begin? It was a week of packing, a week of stressing about where to put things in the new house. It was a week where I remembered my brother Peter who died 4 years ago, just before the world closed down. It was week where I was able to talk to my other brother and my niece (who was visiting him in Vancouver from San Francisco – yes we are all spread about!). Yes it was a week of lots of emotions and activities.
Sandwich time
I am not sure why or how this started, featuring sandwiches of the week, but here goes! Tuesday saw me enjoy the egg salad sandwich I like from Dough Bakery, Wednesday the chicken salad with a coffee at Bordeaux Bakery and Friday another chicken one with big chunks of cucumber, tomato, lettuce and feta from ubiquitous chain Mojo. Today we stopped off for a bagel for lunch – mine with pastrami – which was just the thing.
In the shopping basket
We didn’t get a Wonky Box delivery this week for obvious reasons, but I still picked up some raspberries for Sunday dessert, some green beans and tomatoes, a couple of apples, a tube of harissa because you have to buy it when you see it, and some sausages which will be heading for the new place.
Getting the keys to the new house
Of course, getting the keys on Friday to our new place was a small pleasure. You can sort of see me reflected in the window that lets us out into the garden. Yes, I have no shoes on and yes my shoes are sitting by the steps. The featured image at the top of the post is one of our new views.
Eating out
On Saturday evening, after an afternoon of packing, we headed out for dinner at Daisy’s on Tinakori Road. We shared the paua wonton with a charred spring onion dipping sauce (just visible, top right at the back below) and house made crisps with onion dip. For the main dish, Karl naturally had steak frites which they do really well here, and I had the cavatelli with lamb ragu. We also shared a salad.
Simple things
- Enjoying Pilates – good for mind and body.
- Watching the final of Melodifstivalen – here is Sweden’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in May in Malmö.
- Realising it isn’t long until Easter.
- Getting an email from a friend I hadn’t heard from in a while.
- Catching up on listening while packing.
- Being welcomed to our new home with a little jar of homemade plum jam, sitting on a wooden dish. The apples and pears were added by me today!
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 entered in the weekly coffee share hosted by Natalie.
- Green Dreams celebrates…green.
- Boondock Ramblings shares her weekly Sunday bookends.
- Mr Tootlepedal over at Tootlepedal’s Blog alays brightens my days with his wonderful pictures from the Scottish borders.
- Anne of Something Over Tea spots a local cowboy.
- Deb’s World wonders if green is taking over orange…..
- Sue over at Women Living Well After 50 is co-hosting the weekend traffic jam reboot.
- Jo eats a lot of good food here in NZ over at And Anyways…
- Trent made me laugh at the title of his blog – just say, suspenders are quite different in British English!
- Ju Lyn of Touring My Backyard shares some great street art.
- .…and all the other lovely bloggers out there. Sorry if I have missed anyone…..
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 
Hooray, you made it! Now it’s all settling in and big pleasures.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The removal men come tomorrow for all th e’big stuff’ and then the real fun begins!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wishing you well in your new place, a lot of work goes into packing up and moving so rest up when you can! I didn’t realise that Malmö was hosting the Eurovision. I remember being shown the huge stadium where it was held quite some time ago when I visited friends in Malmö – many small pleasures!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanjs! Yes the final will be in that stadium.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t enjoy moving, until I am finally there, then I get cracking! Just remember that you won’t be able to do everything straight away!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wishing you all the best in your new house! That view is pretty and your food always looks so good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good Luck in your new home. Fingers crossed this is your last move for a while. Have you got a larger garden this time?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! there is a proper space this time. The house is a new build and some shrubs have been planted already. At least we have a space!
LikeLike
That’s great. Looking forward to seeing it developing over the next year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks – there is a small spot for a raised bed 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another move! Looks like all is going well. But what a lot of work. Like the picture of your reflection.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laurie – yes we had to move by August, but decided just to go now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Slowly does it, yet I hope you will both soon feel settled in your new home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes you are right – step by step!
LikeLike
It’s a very good thing after a day of packing to treat yourself to a lovely meal. You earned it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks – it was great to go out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
the view is gorgeous! hugs for you regarding your brother! happy moving day ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Barbara- Your unwavering focus on life’s simple pleasures is always an inspiration to read. Enjoy your new home!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
HI Barbara I hope you settle well into your new home. This week I was remembering my Dad who died 43 years ago about 5 weeks before my first child was born. Losing family (I’ve lost my Mum and Brother as well) is devastating but they live on in our hearts. Best wishes to you and enjoy your new home x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sue. We moved today and are sitting on our sofa surrounded by cardboard boxes but we are here, and met friends for dinner at a pub around the corner. I’ve lost both my parents, but my brother was somehow different.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If the rest of the house matches up to the view, you have made a good choice.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hope everything settles down for you very soon. Your new views look wonderful. What a huge and stressful task to move house. I am not looking forward to the day we have to move. We have been in this house for 26 years so we have lots of ‘stuff’. Have a good weekend. cheers sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yes your comment got through fine. I sometimes wonder why I have accumulated so much ‘stuff’. We got rid of a lot but there still seems to be a lot of things.
LikeLike
not sure if my comment went thru. Just wishing you well. Hope you have a great weekend and that everything settles down for you. cheers sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome to your new home and a new garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Garden pics to feature later today (it is Saturday here already).
LikeLike
I hope your move went smoothly. Your new home sounds great with garden space and nice views. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Natalie….we are getting there.
LikeLike
A beautiful blue sky, delicious sandwiches & moving not so much fun but looks like you got it under control besides the normal stress of it & it came with a perfect little welcome gift. Wonderful times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes moving is stressful but even though we are still surrounded by boxes, we are getting there.
LikeLike
Congrats on getting the keys to your new home.
I am now craving a chicken sandwich. I think that might have happened once before when I visited your coffee share, although it was an egg sandwich that particular day.
Hope you’re having a great weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Chicken sandwiches aren’t normally a go to but these were really good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for popping by my coffee share for this weekend. Since you did, you know what my not-so-simple pleasure has been. Our little guy is melting hearts everywhere through the magic of the internet. Then, this coming Friday we jump in a flight to visit our son, DIL and our first grandchild in person.
it’s a long drive to the airport and our flight leaves at 6am so you know we’re going to be getting up very early but we’ll arrive with plenty of time to meet and see everyone the same day.
I kinda doubt that I’ll be able to post anything on Friday. I’m going to be holding my grandson every moment I can.
blessings
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will be such an exciting trip for you! Travel safely and we look forward to hearing more about your new grandchild.
LikeLike
I hope the new house will bring you much happiness.
Did you like the winner of Melodifestivalen? We talked about the somewhat odd happening that none of the entries in the final was in Swedish. I liked most of the songs in the final, there was so many good ones this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do like the winner of Melodifestivalen and I agree there were some good songs this year. Now I have heard a lot of the other songs from around Europe I am not sure they will win again this year. We will see!
LikeLike
Congratulations with your new house 🏡
LikeLiked by 2 people