This week’s small pleasures #472

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. 

• Sanch reflects on her year with the writer Anne Tyler.
• And Travels Through My Lens wishes us happy holidays.
• The Travel Sketcher sends greetings from The Pearl.
• While Natalie reviews her 2025 travels.
• And Mr Tootlepedal looks at a little pond life.
• Meanwhile Fred the French Gardener reviews his garden in 2025.
• The Glasgow Gallivanter continues her tour of North Wales in Anglesey.
• Maria of Green Dreams offers us a coffee at Christmas.
• Melissa of Under the Elderberry Tree writes about the weather and books and offers us tea.
• The Life of B shares a silent Saturday.
• ..…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.