This week’s small pleasures #424

Thistles and Kiwis

This week’s small pleasures post is coming to you on Sunday evening as tomorrow I am off for a cataract operation on my right eye. My left eye is known as a ‘lazy eye’ and I don’t see properly with it on it own, which should result in an interesting Monday! Anyway, here goes…..

Out and about – Wednesday

It was great to return to Pilates after the Christmas and summer break. I spotted these trolleys outside the the storage container at the top of Bond Street, covered with free books being given away by the city libraries. They had all been withdrawn from circulation, so naturally I had to take a look, and picked up a couple. From there I walked along to have a look at Eva’s Garage on Eva Street, which is a new space with a café, barber, craft stalls and I believe a florist. I was after lunch, but there was nothing much in the café, so I walked onto Shelley Bay Baker on Leeds Street for one of their egg sandwiches which was a delight. The picture to the left of the sandwich is taken looking down Eva Street.

In the basket

I also got this seed covered loaf of bread from Shelley Bay, and picked up these beautiful looking nectarines on the way home. The Wonky Box delivered a bunch of watercress, a lettuce, two ears of sweetcorn, tomatoes, mushrooms, a cucumber and potatoes (not pictured) and a bag of choy sum. I added a small bulb of fennel, a capsicum, a couple of courgettes, radishes, witloof, feta, raspberries and blueberries, chickpeas, and also pork mince and baby spinach for one of our favourite pasta bakes. I also treated myself to two figs.

Out and about – dinner

On Saturday evening we headed out for dinner at Noble Rot Wine Bar as an early celebration of Karl’s name day. It had been a while since we ate there, and we were not disappointed, having one of the best all round meals we have had for a while (food, wine and service). We were welcomed with a glass of bubbles as we perused the menu. I opted to start with oysters, and Karl had prosciutto and some good bread. I then had the lamb backstrap, with ‘eggplant and roasted pepper caviar, panisse, vadouvan yoghurt, witloof and lamb jus’. I can honestly say this was some of the best lamb I have ever had, soft and melting in the mouth with a wonderful range of flavours. Karl had the 55-day aged beef sirloin, and we had rosti on the side. As usual, we didn’t bother with dessert, but enjoyed a hazelnut and Frangelico dark chocolate bonbon with our coffee.

Out and about – Vivienne Westwood at Te Papa

On Sunday, a friend, her daughter and I headed over to the national museum, Te Papa, to see the Vivienne Westwood jewellery exhibition. This was a wonderful display of work, displayed in themes. There were some clothes too in the first room, including this amazing ball gown and Elizabethan inspired outfit.

Obviously, items were in glass cases, so not that easy to take pictures of. I loved this pearl necklace with her signature orb in the middle as well as the bejewelled teddy bear. The red and white pieces were made from recycled Coca Cola cans, and other pieces involved paper, papier-mâché and other found objects such as shells (as in the picture, bottom right – the object on the left is a pair of sunglasses). All in all, an excellent exhibition and highly recommended should you be in Wellington. I may well go back for a second look at some point.

SImple things

  • Appreciating lots of sunshine.
  • Starting up Pilates again.
  • Drinking tea and eating a ginger biscuit on Saturday afternoon.
  • Enjoying sparkling wine and oysters – because we all need a touch of luxury in our lives.
  • Spending time cooking.
  • Looking at this sunset on Friday evening

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.

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

55 Comments

    1. They were first spotted two years ago during a normal optician appointment, but at the time not worth doing anything about, Two years later and an op is needed. I have noticed the deterioration in my vision.

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  13. I hope that your operation goes well. I too have a lazy eye, but fortunately it was the one that they operated on first. It is still a bit lazy though, which the surgeon said would be the case.

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        3. I have been so bored today – thank goodness for podcasts. I did walk around to the bakery with sunglasses on but can hardly wait to get ‘back to normal’.

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        4. I have got two weeks to go before I can go to the optician to get the all clear and get some suitable reading glasses. Looking forward to that a lot.

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  20. Everything in the Wonky box looks so good and fresh. Fruits and some other veggies here right now are a bit sad looking. Your meal looks so good. I would love to see the Vivienne Westwood collection. It looked beautiful. Good luck with the cataract surgery, my husband has one almost ready to come off.

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    1. Thanks! Just coming to the 48 hour first milestone, doctor tomorrow. Can do more things after three weeks (eg bending down) and after 6 weeks I can go and get new reading glasses which I am desperate for to be honest!

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  23. I’d love to see the V. Westwood collection. She’s such a creative force. The food all looks so good. Wishing you a speedy recovery and clear vision soon. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

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