It is four weeks to go to the holidays! 15 more working days, since I don’t work on Wednesdays, until 3 weeks summer holiday. I can hardly wait. Meantime, it is important to find ways to switch off and relax, from just lying on the bed, eyes closed, listening to the birds or sitting in the garden just staring into space and watching the bees, such as this one enjoying some clover.
Tastes
I popped over to the library cafe in town on Tuesday for lunch, enjoying this beef and salad flat bread sandwich and a pastel de nata, the latter of which was not strictly necessary of course. I had a gap between the osteopath and Pilates on Tuesday and needed a little something so tried this banana and chocolate chip scone at Pravda. The jam was not necessary though it wasn’t too sweet a scone and just a little different. I had a cheese and ham toasted sandwich at Black Lion for Wednesday’s lunch, which was not only very good but also a nice place to sit and read. Friday saw me enjoying an egg and pickle sandwich from Dough Bakery. Yes I do like sandwiches.
In the basket
I didn’t bother with a Wonky Box delivery this week, but did pick up asparagus, oranges, strawberries, garlic, tomatoes, peas, broad beans and strawberries (a whole punnet, not just four!). There was salmon, pork mince to make a spicy noodle dish for Monday’s dinner, and some other bits and pieces. I picked up some celery and new season white nectarines (still a bit hard but so good to see) from our local greengrocer and brie and a little sliver of roquefort from our local deli, as well as a couple of essentials like tomato puree.
Going out, staying in
At home, we enjoyed the thriller All Her Fault and British drama based on the uncovering of the big phone hacking scandal The Hack . We are also currently watching Australian political drama Total Control which seems good so far.
On Sunday, we went to see the British comedian John Bishop at the Michael Fowler Centre. I laughed until tears were running down my face. It was a great evening, and well worth ‘staying up late’ for! Below is part of the venue by the bars before the crowds arrived.
Simple things
- Going to the hairdresser and getting a very neat and tidy haircut – well, it was when I left the salon!
- Meeting up with the Marsden Books book club for a glass of wine and good conversation.
- Enjoying the warmer days.
- Eating strawberries and fresh peas – but not together.
- Spending a lot of time trawling through cook books seeking inspiration for this December’s cook book challenge.
- Treating myself to more peonies.
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.
- Travels Through My Lens reminds us of World Hello Day.
- The Eternal Traveller goes to Stockholm (I’ll be there again next year).
- Meanwhile The Travel Sketcher sketches and cooks in The Pearl.
- There is a day of proper rest for Mr Tootlepedal
- And the Glasgow Gallivanter continues her trip around North Wales.
- Anne of Something Over Tea is going to…..
- Deb shares what is on her bookshelf.
- Maria of Green Dreams shares a silent Sunday.
- Still Reslessjo looks back on a lovely place.
- And….Jo of And Anyways comes to the end of the road.
- ..…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.
Thistles and Kiwis 
Awful when you’re counting down the days, Barbara, but it will soon be here. Are you going away anywhere? And, changing the subject completely, what spices will you put in your spicy mince? I’m not a very imaginative cook. Many thanks for the link again xx
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We will go up to Hawke’s Bay again for a few days but we have a big trip to Europe planned for next year.
Pork mince, add fresh ginger and garlic. and the sauce is made from peanut butter, chilli sauce (whatever you have or like), soy sauce, rice vinegar and honey. I managed to find the recipe online, unfortunately only with US measurements and that strange way they have of calling pasta noodles but it gives an idea.
https://www.kitchenconfidencewithlili.com/blog/2021/5/18/peanutty-pork-noodles-with-crunchy-celery
You can balance out the sauce ingredients to suit your tastes, and I mix it into the meat rather than (proper) noodles.
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Thanks for that xx
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The peonies look very pretty and your sandwiches delicious! I am hoping to get my hair cut before long – the ‘elegance’ seldom lasts longer than the drive home afterwards!
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I love peonies I admit, and also sandwiches 🙂
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Sounds like a lovely week. It’s always nice to get a break from work; although I’m retired now, but I do remember how I looked forward to time off. Thanks, as always for the shoutout!
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There were some nice things to enjoy but so looking forward to the holidays.
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A beautiful week of great finds and some yummy bites!
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Thanks!
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I can just about remember that anticipation of a holiday from work!
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It is also the end of the academic year here too, and the winding down of so many things. January in Wellington is like August in Paris 🙂
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We also watche All Her Fault. I was not expecting the twist at the end. Clever.
“Spending a lot of time trawling through cook books seeking inspiration” I love doing this. Although I am naughty and tweak recipes.
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Agree the end was very surprising.
I sometimes have to change recipes too if there is something I know we don’t like or can’t get.
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Your simple pleasures sound fantastic!! I can hear the excitement for your break. Yay. We have Thanksgiving here in the states this week and it’s a week off homeschooling and lessons. My goodness, we are thrilled.
As always, your produce and fruits are artistic. Love it.
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Thank you so much! Hope you have a good week’s break.
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Did you enjoy The Hack? We watched it and had mixed feelings about it.
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Same here – good but not 100% sure.
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You’re welcome! And thank you…it’s going to be a relaxing week. Yay!!
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Oh, fresh ingredients and flowers too! It helped me relax just to see your post. Thank you for this ray of warm sunshine!
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Oh thank you for the kind comment!
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What a nice week you have enjoyed. I remember when I was working and could justify buying something delicious for lunch sometimes. Although I often took my lunch to work to save money and time. Love hearing about all the foodstuffs you are buying which are in season. Our stonefruit should arrive soon. Best wishes from across the ditch. Pauline (Happy Retirees Kitchen)
https://happyretireeskitchen.blogspot.com
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Thank you yes it was a good week. I usually take lunch to work but sometimes there are no leftovers or one needs a treat! I ate my first nectarine today, now they are ripe and very good it was too.
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just wondering if my comment arrived. Never sure on WordPress at times. Thanks Pauline (Happy Retirees Kitchen) Enjoyed your post.
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Your first comment arrived but had to be ‘approved’ but this one popped up – as you say, WordPress often has its own quirks 🙂
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We watched The Hack and found it very interesting. I do love a good egg sandwich, except the one I had for lunch at the rooftop cafe at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome last week. It was egg and salami, a combination I have no need ever to repeat. Luckily the custard filled donut I followed up with was delicious. 🙂
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Egg and salami….hmmm….would depend on the salami I think! The donut sounds a good ‘antidote’ though!
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The donut was excellent, the sandwich not so much. 😅
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