This week’s small pleasures #392

The skies have been grey and heavy today, though at least the promised rain has mostly held off. It really felt like a day to make tea, perhaps bake a nice cake, rug up and watch a good film. However, I was at work, so this dream eluded me. Anyway, let’s have a look at this week’s small pleasures.

Scone time

I had an unexpected doctor’s visit on Friday morning, and as I got to the surgery a bit early, I popped into the cafe next door for a cup of tea and a warm, freshly baked cheese scone. On a clear day (it rained all day on Friday) you have a wonderful view from here over the city.

In this week’s basket

The Wonky Box delivery this week included a spaghetti squash – something I have never eaten or cooked – so this is going to be an interesting thing to try out. Any ideas welcome! I did find a nice looking recipe with chickpeas and greens from Love and Lemons I might try, or even stuffing it à la Ottolenghi. Luckily everything else was ‘normal’ – carrots, turnips, broccoli, onions, potatoes and courgettes.

I topped this up with a bag of kumara, a couple of grapefruit, apples and tamarillos along with a bunch of cavolo nero. I used up the rest of the cabbage with the kohlrabi (finally), radishes and a carrot to make a very good coleslaw even though I say so myself, and made a lemon courgette pasta for Sunday’s dinner (and Monday’s lunch).

Other edibles, our local market and tea

On Saturday, I popped along to our local market, where you can pick up vegetables, baked goods, eggs and other things. I came home with some very good smoked cheese and a jar of chipotle salsa. And so to tea, and a couple of weeks ago, I bought this choco chilli tea from tLeafT and finally got around to making myself a cup. It is really good, and not too spicy hot but with enough of a zip – if that makes sense. Perfect for winter.

Out and about – Dr Who exhibition

Part of Karl’s birthday (which is later this week) was a ticket to the Dr Who exhibition being held at the new(ish) conference centre, Tākina. There are bound to be some of you out there who have watched this long running sci-fi series, first broadcast in 1963. I have watched Dr Who since a child, with admittedly gaps here and there, and introduced Karl and my step-son to the series on its return to the small screen in 2005. Anyway, we were greeted at the exhibition entrance by a dalek, and there were more of probably the Doctor’s greatest (certainly one of the oldest) enemies in the exhibition proper. Davros was also there (to the right of the dalek below).

The cybermen, who terrified me as a child, were there (bottom right), K9, the robot dog, who first appeared in 1977 and a terrifying weeping angel (first appearance in 2007). Karl is pictured in front of the TARDIS, this one appearing in the series starring Jodie Whittaker, and the bottom left is a recreation of the very first TARDIS engine. Definitely an exhibition for fans or watchers of the series only!

Simple things

• Spotting buds on a camellia bush next to the bus stop (see the featured image at the top of the post).
• Enjoying sunny winter days (and ignoring the wet ones).
• Seeing the Princess of Wales on the balcony at Trooping the Colour – no matter if you are a royalist or not, she is a mum of three young children who need her in their lives.
• Drinking tea and reading while the rain was falling outside.
• Chatting to my brother and niece, who is visiting him in Vancouver from California.
• Looking at the winter moon and thinking it is time to learn more about Maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar.

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 weekend coffee share hosted by Natalie.

• Green Dreams offers us a coffee and talks about the weather.
• Meanwhile Lisa of  Southern Patches shares her Friday Favourites, including home baked bread and interesting ice-cream.
• Mr Tootlepedal takes it easy over at Tootlepedal’s Blog.
• Jude over at Cornwall in Colours shares wonderful pictures from her garden.
• Sue over at Women Living Well After 50 takes on a challenge to find style imitating art.
• Natalie takes us to Strasbourg.
• You can always be sure of a good coffee over at Trent’s World.
• And Fred shares some wonderful things from his garden in France.
• .…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