If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea

Thistles and Kiwis

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would agree it was nice to meet up again after a month. We would talk about the weather which has been so changeable, with heavy rain and sunny days that one never knows what to expect.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…I would tell you how busy work is as it is that time of year. You say, at least the summer holidays are approaching and I agree.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…I would tell you I went to Supra for lunch again on Friday since I wasn’t working, and how good the food is. You would ask me what I had and I tell you I had pickled mussel toast and then gnocchi with chicken fat butter and a 0% alcohol beer from Garage Project. I say the pickled mussels are fantastic and one of my favourite things and you say I must go.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about what we have been reading, watching and listening to. I say we quite enjoyed Dem som draeber, a Danish crime drama and that we watched When Harry Met Sally. You say what fun – maybe we should watch it again too and I said yes you should.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea….I would tell you I had been to the hairdresser on Wednesday and how nice it was to sit, reading, undisturbed for a while, and have conversation about books with the young woman washing my hair. You say that sounds good and I say yes it was.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would suddenly realise it is Halloween. I say when I was a child we made lanterns our of turnip (swede) and went dooking for apples and there was none of this modern thing of children demanding lollies (or sweets). I say I don’t even think I saw pumpkin, but I do remember wanting a witch’s hat. You smile (check this out).

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…I would ask you if you would like to stay for dinner, just an old favourite of Julia Turshen’s turkey meatballs and pasta. You say oh yes please! So we sit down and open a bottle of wine and carry on our conversation.

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. 

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

37 Comments

    1. Luckily not much is made of Halloween here either. In the suburb we live in now, one street organises an event with decorations, sweets etc that all the wee kids seem to go to. It becomes a community event which is so much nicer.

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  3. Funny how Halloween was so different for you. For me as a child, Halloween was pretty much the same as it is now: a time to go out in the dark and collect candy. Oh, how I loved Halloween! 😉

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    1. Neither of my parents knew about Halloween traditions until they moved to Scotland (my mum grew up in England, and when she was young it wasn’t a thing where she grew up). I wasn’t allowed to go out and ask for money (no sweets) but I did make a turnip lantern and ‘dook’ for apples.

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        1. I believe the money thing came from children collecting money to buy fireworks for Guy Fawke’s Night on 5th November, or rather, a ‘mash up’ of the two things. Round the corner from where we lived, there was always a small bonfire on the 5th. Gosh – you wouldn’t be allowed to do that now!

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  4. We would collect candy as well at Halloween when I was a child, but most of us wore homemade costumes – lots of ghosts, pirates, gypsies, tramps, and witches – and our village was small, so many of the houses, especially those with other kids, had little snacks set up and cider and sometimes a game on the lawn. The Grange stayed open and the ladies handed out popcorn balls to us all, and the general store gave us full-sized candy bars.

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      1. Our little village here still does that sort of thing. There’s a pumpkin carving contest, the senior center and library have things going on, and there’s always a band too! It’s great for the kids, and everything stops at 9 pm, so it’s great for the parents too!

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  5. Dinner sounds delicious; I’m trying my hand at a skillet lasagna and some homemade garlic swirl bread. Now that my boys are grown Halloween is just like any other night and I do not miss those days of trick or treating (though I do miss raiding their candy stash!).

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  6. Hi, Barb – I love how Hallowe’en is celebrated differently throughout the world. Here on Vancouver Island it is similar to how it was when I was a child growing up. Like last year, I have stashed candy into disposible plastic gloves. Very creepy looking which adds to the fun! I always look forward to it.

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    1. When I moved to Denmark 20 years ago Halloween was just beginning to take hold. It isn’t a European thing, with All Saint’s and All Soul’s Days being commemorated instead. The influence of American media has seen the growth of Halloween.

      Luckily in the suburb we live in now we have a little local event on a couple of streets where all the kids seem to go which is nice.

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  13. I always enjoy having a virtual ‘cuppa’ with your Barbara. I’ve never celebrated Halloween because growing up in Australia it really wasn’t a holiday that was in the forefront. I do see people now decorating their homes more for this festival and that is just a matter of time I suppose for things to take off. The turkey meatballs and pasta look delicious and aren’t ‘old favourite’ recipes comforting? Thanks so much for joining us again at #WBOYC? and have a lovely November. x

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