This week’s small pleasures #422

It was hard to go back to work today. Getting on the bus, putting my lunch box in my bag and trying to remember my work computer password all seemed so alien after three weeks away from my desk. Still, it was nice to see people and catch up after the Christmas and summer break.

A short trip away – the views

Despite the unseasonal weather, we had a great break up in Napier and Hawke’s Bay. We have visited the region several times over the years we have been here in New Zealand, it being one of our favourite places to go. Below is the view from the hotel, one of the many Art Deco buildings (built after the catastrophic earthquake in 1931) and views from an afternoon walk along the waterfront.

On our way to lunch at Craggy Range on Tuesday (which you can read about here), we stopped to look at the view at Ocean Beach. You can see the beach and the road down to it below – not one for the faint hearted I think!

Havelock North and Hastings

On Thursday, we drove over to Havelock North, a lovely little place full of interesting shops, cafés. It is also home to Wardini Books which is also the setting of The Bookshop Detectives Dead Girl Gone which I read and really enjoyed last year (read about it here). Naturally, we had to go in and of course I had to purchase a couple of books. We also popped into Bellatino’s Food Lovers Market for a browse, and I naturally purchased a couple of things there too – see here for my food purchases on our trip.

From there we drove to Hastings, stopping to look at the Opera House (Toi Toi) complex, then walking into town, taking care to look out for trains (this is right in the city centre), and finding a place for lunch (very satisfying BLTs).

On getting back to Napier, we walked along the waterfront to walk off lunch and build up an appetite for dinner. The sculpture below, Ecliptic, is by David Trubridge and was put in place to mark the new millennium. Naturally, The weather noticeably improved as the week went on, just in time for us to drive south and home. Still, it was lovely to get away, and a real small pleasure to be in the Hawke’s Bay.

Eating, eating and more eating

As you may have seen from the last two posts (here and here), we ate extremely well on our trip. It wasn’t all about gourmet dining though. Breakfast each morning was eaten at a local café with me enjoying poached eggs on toast and Karl, ham and cheese croissants. And when we were in Hastings, we had to have an ice-cream from local legend, Rush Monro’s: I had the maple and walnut and Karl the salted caramel.

We got home on Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning saw us heading out to stock up the fridge and fruit bowl. Along with some chicken and lamb mince, there was this happy looking fennel bulb, an aubergine, some fine stemmed broccoli, two lots of tomatoes, a capsicum, mozzarella, a big, fresh bunch of coriander, sweet corn, lemons, red witloof and peaches. There was also raspberries and blueberries, nectarines and apricots.

Simple things

• Being on holiday.
• Seeing some sun – finally!
• Enjoying so much good food.
• Eating pizza at home from one of the local food trucks after our road trip back.
• Feeling relaxed after 3 weeks off work.
• Looking at these roses at Mission Estate Winery.

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.

• Anne of Something Over Tea writes about accumulating things – I know the feeling!
• The Glasgow Gallivanter shares a Geometric January.
• Enjoy a Wordless Wednesday over at Southern Patches.
• Deb of Deb’s World shares white sails and sandy beaches.
• Trent of Trent’s World always makes an excellent cup of coffee.
• Jo over at And Anyways writes about healthy eating – and of course a recipe.
• Mr Tootlepedal sees a dusting of snow.
• Wellness is being reimagined by both Sue and Donna (and others – new blogging theme/link event).
• There are more wonderful pictures of Paris over at Travels Through My Lens.
• Fred shares his six things in his garden.
• Maria of Green Dreams shares a beautiful silent Sunday.
• The Travelsketcher sketches.
• Mr Platypus of Now I’m 64 shows us snowmen and snowdogs.
• ..…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.