This week’s small pleasures #472

Thistles and Kiwis

It is that odd time of the year between Christmas and New Year where there is no regular routine to reminding us of the day, of what we have to do. There are odd pots with leftovers in the fridge, a mound of chocolate (think we have enough for a year the rate we eat it), empty Christmas stockings waiting to be put away, and a strong disinclination to read the news. Anyway, there was one excellent piece of bird related news this week: a takahē chick was born (you can read the story here and more about this rare flightless bird here) just along the road from us at Zealandia. What a lovely way to end the year.

My bird spotting, however, was limited to these three ducks on Christmas Day, who look as if they have consumed a rather large dinner and are now sleeping it off.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

On Christmas Eve we had friends around for our usual feast of salmon (4 types), herring (3 types), Janssons frestelse, meatballs, sausages, ham, potatoes, salad (and yes I did do the watercress and fennel one I mentioned in a previous post), patés of smoked eel and smoked tuna and strawberries, cherries, cheeses and lots of sweet chocolate treats. Oh yes and beer and snaps…. All was going well until I took the Janssons out of the oven to cover it with foil and pop back in the oven. However, the wooden chopping board I put it on must have been wet, and stuck to the glass dish, then fell off and smashed the inner door of the oven. I am sure this should not have happened, but it did, though luckily everything that was in the oven was cooked and we were able to enjoy our food. However, this event meant I didn’t think to get a picture of our table, ladened with food, but you can look back at past posts to see what it normally looks like!

Anyway, we walked up to our friends on Christmas Day for more feasting (including a salmon en croute and a tiramsu, as well as beef and several salads). We opened our main presents on Christmas Eve evening, and I was very lucky to get a new iPad, this Moomin calendar and an embroidery kit. In my stocking the next day, there was chocolate, hand-cream The Anthony Bourdain reader and other fun things.

In the basket, on the plate

We didn’t take delivery of a Wonky Box this week to avoid getting a whole lot of things I didn’t want eg red kumara and a large head of broccoli. So, I picked up a couple of much needed onions, a cucumber, sweetcorn, a bag of mesculun salad, raspberries and blueberries, a bunch of radishes, burrata and bocconcini and a replacement jar of Thai green curry paste which is always useful to have around.

On Sunday, we drove up the coast to Paraparaumu for a walk on the beach and some lunch. The photos from our walk will be up maybe tomorrow or Wednesday, but for now, here is a picture of the rather good cheese, ham, pesto and tomato toastie we had for lunch at The Blackwood Bakes. I spotted strawberry tarts in the cabinet, so we bought two and brought them home for afternoon tea. Not that we really needed them, but gosh they were excellent.

Out and about

We headed out to the cinema on Boxing Day as is our tradition. It is a good thing to do on this day, getting us out of the house and doing something. This year we went to see Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser as an American actor based in Japan who begins working for a rental family agency, where he fills in hired roles for strangers. This is a lovely comedy drama that was just right for the day.

Simple things

  • Enjoying Christmas festivities.
  • Relaxing and not being at work.
  • Going for a walk on the beach – a favourite thing to do.
  • Finding a nice green top in Kowtow.
  • Realising we still have two weeks of holiday to go.
  • Looking at the glorious pōhutukawa flowers (featured image and below).

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. 

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

38 Comments

  2. It’s so precious, that time between Christmas and New Year, when you’re working. We always liked to fit in a couple of walks. I guess nothing has changed in that respect for us, but it’s been extremely wet since we came home on Boxing Day. Happy New Year to you xx

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  6. Oh my, that’s too bad about your oven door; can it be replaced or do you have to get a whole new range? Your Christmas meal sounds like a feast; wow! Thanks as always for sharing my recent blog. I hope you have a very happy new year!

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    1. Luckily the glass can be replaced, but we will have to wait until 12 January as the manufacturer is out of stock and of course 1/2 January are holidays here. We will be away for a few days before that and will have steak rather than roast beef (that we often have) on 1 January, and are going out on New Year’s Eve. We will manage!!

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    1. Luckily the glass is replaceable – but not until 12 January as they are out of stock. We will be away for a few days anyway, and we will have steak instead of a roast on 1 January – no hardship really!

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  16. Well now, it sounds like you’ve had the most glorious time filled with all the food and fun your belly and heart can hold! The liminal space around the holiday and shift into a new year is such a wild vortex, isn’t it. I’m equally ready to get back to my routine and just keep be chill forever. Ah well!

    Wishing you a most glorious 2026!

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    1. It has been a good couple of weeks…and we don’t go back to work until 12 January and off on a short trip next week. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to get back into routine and staying chilled.

      All the best for 2026!

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  17. What a wonderful and delicious week you’ve had. I love the red flowers in your photo header. Thank you for the mention and for your weekend coffee share. Have a great weekend and best wishes for 2026!

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