This week’s small pleasures #446

It is already the end of June if you can believe it. The weather has been variable to say the least. There has been a lot of rain, with flooding in some parts of the country, bits of sunshine and warm temperatures for the time of year. Otherwise, it was a sad week at work with two colleagues leaving, one from a different part of the organisation and one from my team. One was retiring and the other heading off to pursue a new career in Early Childhood Education. I wish them both well.

The winter days mean lighting candles, putting on the heat pump, wrapping up in a cosy throw and brightening up a little corner of our living room with tulips, even if they are now past their best.

In the basket

I cancelled the Wonky Box this week (and thank goodness…there were more parsnips…) and instead picked up some things on Saturday morning after Pilates. There was half a bunch of celery, tamarillos, rainbow chard, a little ‘bouquet’ of purple sprouting broccoli, another bunch of lovely rhubarb (in a crumble with no added sugar to the fruit it was perfect), some cavolo nero, apples, and cream cheese from local producer Zany Zeus. There were sausages, cooked with puy lentils for Saturday’s dinner, lamb to make a ragu from our local butcher, and the usual weekly list of yoghurt, bread and Moore Wilson’s excellent freshly pressed orange juice.

Out and about

I managed to get to two more films on the French Film Festival, which finished on Sunday. First up was Riviera Revenge, a comedy about a man who discovers his wife had an affair 40 years ago, and how he goes to seek out the ‘other man’ and the consequences. All the characters find out things about themselves and there are lots of laughs and a couple of twists to the tale. The other film was The French Job, a fictionalised account of the true story of how five paintings were stolen from the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. The five paintings were estimated to be worth more than 100 million euros, and have never been recovered. The film posited a reason why. This is another fun film that is worth seeing, and in fact I can say that all four films I saw this year were enjoyable in very different ways.

On Thursday, we went to celebrate our friends getting their New Zealand citizenship. We got ours a few years ago, so it was lovely to see them also getting theirs. After the event, we all headed out for a celebratory curry.

Simple things

• Staying home, nice and cosy, watching the rain outside.
• Looking at the rain drops sparkling on the washing line.
• Lying on the sofa, reading, on Saturday afternoon.
• Finding one thing I thought I had lost (still to find another).
• Watching cosy things like Masterchef Australia, some old episodes of Inspector Lynley as well as the start of series two of The Marlow Murder Club.
• Seeing the first signs of bulbs awakening (yes I know it is still mid winter….).

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 shows us an African green pigeon.
• Natalie has had a beautiful and fun June.
• Travels Through My Lens takes us to Crater Lake National Park – what a beautiful part of the world Oregon is.
• And Ju-Lyn celebrates the changing seasons.
• Meanwhile we can celebrate six things in Fred’s summer garden.
• The Glasgow Gallivanter takes us to Jersey.
• Enjoy a coffee over at Trent’s.
• And Laurie celebrates Clif.
• The Travel Sketcher enjoys some excellent food this week in The Pearl.
• Deb of Deb’s World was juggling lots of things in June.
• Sue’s lets go of expectations.
• Mr Tootlepedal is enjoying summer.
• Ilze, the Latvian mum 🙂 enjoys a sunny day and nature’s goodies.
• And…Jo tastes Byron Bay.
• ..…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.