This week’s small pleasures #440

Thistles and Kiwis

A week that saw the Eurovision Song Contest is a week full of….some good, some bad and some let’s say, unusual songs. Those who watch and follow it will surely agree! More on my thoughts on that below. I was at the osteopath, the physio and Pilates, read a bit, watched a bit, cooked, listened to some podcasts…in other words, a pretty normal week. Now I’m not sure if this was a small pleasure or just something interesting to see, but as I left for Pilates on Saturday morning I was surprised by this very large stick insect, perhaps even 20cm long, sitting on the front door. It had left by Saturday evening, to where we don’t know, maybe to a stick insect party.

In the basket

The Wonky Box delivered up a piece of pumpkin which I will roast for week day lunches, parsnips, potatoes, kumara, another wee leek, carrots and baby carrots, purple Brussels sprouts and some PiqaBoo red pears. We spotted some Jerusalem artichokes on sale on Saturday, so bought some to make soup on Wednesday. I also got lemons, shiitake mushrooms, Thai green curry paste, some chicken mince, venison burgers (for a quick meal before Thursday’s book club) and some mozzarella to top a pasta bake for Sunday/Monday eating (this one from Sip and Feast made with sausages from the butcher).

Staying in

Sunday morning, New Zealand time, saw us get up early to watch the Eurovision Song Contest from Basel. A couple of friends came round to enjoy breakfast bagels, pastries and Moore Wilson’s orange juice (the freshest and best in the city) along with tea and coffee. As to the competition…well, let’s just say that I really dislike the song that won…just not my taste at all. The jury votes were as usual different to the popular vote, and there was shouting in disbelief at some of the voting…as well as clapping when the points fitted with our views. Anyway, next year the competition is in Austria. Sweden came fourth and it was good to see Latvia just make it into the first half.

It poured with rain all Sunday, so tea was made, and I watched the old Gene Kelly film An American in Paris. The Gershwin songs were a good antidote to some of what we heard in the morning 🙂

Out and about

I managed to get out and about in town a bit more than I have done recently on Wednesday, picking up a lovely new shirt from Kow Tow, and enjoying lunch at Prefab. I had the avocado and tomato on rye with marinated feta – the bread was excellent and exactly like a Danish rye (which I haven’t had for years). I decided to also have a berry friand because…why not? On Thursday, I walked around the corner without my stick (hoorah!) to our local pub and opted for one of their chicken burgers. Karl had a pizza…the picture is most odd making the pizza look tiny and my burger massive – I can assure you both were normal size! And I did share my chips….

Simple things

  • Feeling that my foot is getting better day by day.
  • Laughing with friends at the ‘inter-agency’ bookclub (the theme was ‘vengeance’).
  • Reading lots of posts from my blogging friends and saying things to people like ‘it has been a warm autumn in South Africa too’ or ‘would love to see that exhibition in….’ as a result.
  • Spending time in the kitchen, even though Wednesday’s curried fish soup was not as good as usual for some reason.
  • Lighting candles and ‘rugging up’ as they say in this part of the world.
  • Finding more amber coloured fungi…

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

41 Comments

  4. Hi Barbara I’m glad to hear your foot is improving. You will be running around before you know it! I’ve never watched the Eurovision Song Contest and only know that ABBA won it. Thanks for sharing your week. I have a small pleasure today as our orchid is ready to bloom again plus there is another stem emerging. I’m doing a happy dance. Have a lovely week. Sue L xx

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      1. We once had one to care for during the school holidays. The kids had to keep raiding the neighbourhood for privet leaves! 😂

        I have once found one in my garden. I thought it was a twig as I was cutting the bay tree. Lucky escape.

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    1. Yes the foot is definitely improving. Eurovision – the UK did come second a few years ago but usually the songs they send are dreadful (like this year in my opinion!). Married to a Swede it is hard to escape Eurovision 🙂

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  9. I have watched Eurovision in the past, but some of the acts just get more and more outlandish, and as for the songs! Gave it a complete miss this year. Glad to hear the foot is improving.

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  10. The stick insect is truly amazing; I have never seen one in my little corner of the planet, so it would stop me in my tracks! Looks like you had some delicious meals, and that’s great news that you’re healing and walked without the cane; well done! Thanks again for tagging my post; you’re very kind.

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    1. I confess I did make a rather loud exclamation when I opened the door and saw it there…but quite fascinating to see. I do enjoy your posts and happy to link to them!

      And yes….a gradual improvement of my foot is the best!

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  12. As always, so many delightful pleasures to partake. The stick insect and the lovely coloured fungi are my favourites!

    The sight of it at your front door must have taken your breath away! I wouldn’t have recognised it as an insect!

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  14. Great to read your post Barbara and to see you venturing out without your stick! What did you think of Australia’s Eurovision song choice?

    Thanks for sharing my flight post too.

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  18. That’s great news about your foot. Your Eurovision breakfast looks yummy. The stick and the fungi are so interesting. Thank you for the mention and for your weekend coffee share.

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