This week’s small pleasures: 485

I can’t believe we have been here for three weeks already. Time is flying by, and with loosing a week due to disrupted travel, we have had to cut a couple of things from our ‘would be nice to do’ list. Anyway, it is spring here, and the clocks went forward on Sunday, meaning we are now 11 hours behind New Zealand. We have a regular visiting robin which is such a delight to see and I saw geese flying overhead in formation – can’t remember the last time I saw that. I heard what I thought was a very loud chaffinch yesterday, but I could have been wrong, it was quite far away, but the colouring helped me guess.

Anyway, we continue to carry out daily tasks, but as even just going to the local shops can be an adventure (what sort of bread to buy? Should I try a different type of mushroom – though having just listened to The Mushroom Tapes I am not so sure! When will local asparagus appear (I so want to have some of the white asparagus Germany is famed for)? In the meantime, every corner has something interesting, like this window installation below.

Food

I went into the wonderful looking nut shop I had spotted, and picked up these hot honey cashews, some ‘Australian gold’ which seem to be curry flavour (why?) and a taste of ‘safari deluxe’ which was a gorgeous mix of paprika and other spices on a very good mix of nuts. The shop roasts and makes all the blends, and honestly was such a lovely place to visit. Pity I can’t take any back to New Zealand, but I can take some up to Stockholm.

I had a couple of lunch sandwiches out – a very good one with beef, salad and an excellent dressing and an OK one with turkey that was tasty but just a bit overwhelming. We went to the market in Ottensen on Saturday, where we picked up some very good if a little expensive salmon which we had for Saturday night’s dinner, some sausages, and a few veggies – a radiccio, large red capsicum and some golden beetroot (which I will roast for a lunch). I also got some lamb’s lettuce, some lovely crackers and a piece of cheese called Schwarzer Peter which turned out to be a mild, slightly sweet cheese. Being in Europe, means we are missing feijoa season, but I did spot physalis in the supermarket, something you don’t get in New Zealand, so I have been enjoying them.

Sunday

Sunday turned out to be a sunny day, so we got on the S and U trains and headed to Eppendorf, known for houses along the river and some rather nice looking shops. We had excellent toasted sandwiches for lunch – mine was a sort of three cheese with fresh thyme which was delicious if rich. Karl stuck with ham and cheese. We took a walk to the park, noting the stunning cherry blossom tree and this fun sign for a dog park. The middle of the three vertical pictures below was actually taken from the station platform, and I spotted more interesting faces on the building bottom right.

Simple things

• Reading this important article from New Zealand 🙂
• Going back to the same local Italian restaurant and now being recognised.
• Falling into a routine and exploring at the same time.
• Finding I have lots of time for reading which is nice.
• Realising that Easter is next weekend.
• Spotting these little devil faces – at least that is what I think they look like!

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. 

• Lovely to see Lisa of Southern Patches back, and with a lovely new goose.
• Carol Ann shares her wonderful delights of the week.
• We go on a visit to Lan Su Chinese Gardens with Travels Through My Lens.
• Neal shares his Five Friday Happy Bringers.
• And Natalie takes us to the Winter Stations
• Anne shares black and white images.
• And Debbie embraces silliness.
• The Travel Sketcher shares so many wonderful things from The Pearl this week – memories of Croatia and a beautiful rose are a couple.
• And Mr Tootlepedal still spots some glorious things despite the rain.
• Laurie celebrates her 49th wedding anniversary and shows us more snow.
• Anabel of The Glasgow Gallivanter takes us to Richmond.
• As part of her daily gratitude series, Maria takes us down memory lane.
• Jo’s walk takes us to the beautiful Monte Brasil.
• The Eternal Traveller shows us the best view in Athens.
• And Jo describes reaching a mountain and overcoming it – in life and writing.
• Finally….Mr Platypus shares a wonderful bird picture.
• ..…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 and good food. Thistles and Kiwis can be found on Facebook and Instagram @thistlesandkiwis