This week’s small pleasures #420

This past week of course included Christmas, a time of much feasting and spending time with friends. Books have been read, laundry done, naps taken and leftovers dealt with. There was even a trip to the garden centre. And of course we enjoyed Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

Christmas Eve

After a morning of peeling potatoes and slicing them into matchsticks for the Janssons frestelese, it was time to lay the table, put out the crackers and prepare the rest of the meal. There was four types of herring, little sardines, three types of smoked salmon, potatoes, meatballs, ham, salamis, sausages, a green salad, a cucumber salad, smoked salmon paté, devilled eggs and of course the Janssons (pictured almost finished below). There was Christmas cake, chocolate, a ginger cake made by our friend, chocolate and strawberries for dessert. And of course beer and snaps!

Below is the end of the Janssons, the left over meatballs and dessert. I made the left over strawberries into a compote which went well with ice-cream for dessert and yoghurt for breakfast. We opened our presents, and suffice to say, we were both very happy with what was left for us under the tree.

Christmas Day

I insist on stockings still on Christmas Day, filled with chocolate, useful gadgets and….always something funny. Santa popped a ball of string into mine this year.

We strolled up to our friends for lunch, enjoying crayfish, salmon, a pie, chicken and salads followed by a gorgeous white chocolate cheesecake. There was no need for any more food that day.

Out and about

On Boxing Day, as per a tradition started many years ago, we headed out to the cinema to see Touch, an Icelandic/Japanese romantic drama. It was OK (well acted, good characterisations), but seemed to go on for ages, and I found myself trying to check my watch to see how long we had to go.

On Sunday, we headed over to The Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt. I particularly wanted to see the Derek Jarman: Delphinium Days exhibition. This was really interesting, with photographs, film and some of his art work. He is also well known for his garden and home, Prospect Cottage in Dungeness, Kent. The top right picture below is a photograph of the house and garden.

I also enjoyed Whenua Whatu Māori ceramics from the museum’s collection, particularly this one by Aaron Scythe, with the cat. Scythe studied and worked in Japan as you can see from the design.

We also saw to the moving exhibition by Australian artist Yhonnie Scarce (Kokatha and Nukunu peoples), Missile Park (2021). This is made up of three scaled-down sheds, a reference to the military base in Woomera, South Australia, a place now unliveable due to the excessive radiation still being emitted from the soil from the nuclear testing in the 1950s and 60s. One of the sheds was open to enter and stand in for at least three minutes – such a moving experience and not easily forgotten.

There was a huge contrast in the next room with Hanna Shim’s Pillow Garden, featured oversized plant-inspired soft sculptures you can see below – some with snakes, some with apples, but all bright and cheerful. All in all, a great morning out.

In the shopping basket and out for lunch

Our Wonky Box got delivered on Christmas Eve, so I just put everything away without taking a picture. There was caulilini, “Ilam Hardy Potatoes”, a bunch of baby carrots, aubergine (eggplant), two baby cos lettuces, a leek, a bunch of pak choy and two red onions. I topped this up with these gorgeous looking radishes, sweetcorn, asparagus and mushrooms (not pictured), as well as picking up more pasta, pecorino romano and parmesan. Of course, something always gets forgotten, so I had to go out again for necessary garlic, a bag of nectarines and blueberries from our local greengrocer.

We had lunch at the Dowse, with Karl enjoying an excellent baguette with ham, cheese and salad and me, a roast beef sandwich with tarragon mayonnaise and lots of salad. Both were very good, and a cafe to remember.

This will of course be the last post of 2024. Wishing all bloggers and readers out there a very happy new year, and may 2025 be a good one.

Simple things

• Hearing from Carol Ann (of Fashioned For Joy) and Laurie (of Notes From the Hinterland) over the festive period.
• Speaking to my brother and one of my nieces in Washington DC.
• Sitting in the sun for a short while.
• Waking up early and listening to the bird song.
• Looking forward to a new year, whatever it will bring.
• Spotting this thistle on a walk 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.

• Anne of Something Over Tea updates us on the urban herd.
• Natalie shares some lovely December walks.
• Deb of Deb’s World shares her December highlights.
• The Glasgow Gallivanter goes to Bradford-on-Avon.
• Trent of Trent’s World offers us some good coffee.
• Jo over at And Anyways shares her year in books.
• Mr Tootlepedal is keeping calm.
• Sue is planning a healthy 2025.
• There are travel highlights of 2024 over at Travels Through My Lens.
• Fred shares his six on Saturday.
• Maria of Green Dreams shares a weekend coffee share.
• The Travelsketcher shares his year.
• ..…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.