This week’s small pleasures 502

This week was definitely one that improved as it went along, from feeling pretty grotty at the start, to making a recovery, meeting friends, and enjoying the wonderful new comedy Ann Droid and the rather different crime drama, Bookish. The Commonwealth Games started in Glasgow, with the king and queen arriving in the Tardis and a spectacular Tunnock’s tea cake at the end of the opening ceremony.

Meanwhile, the weather is often a topic on this blog, and on Saturday morning we had a quite spectacular ‘weather event’ with 40mm of rain falling in 30 minutes, which caused a mini river to form and gush down Tinakori Road. I was on the bus when this happened, and I could not believe my eyes when I looked out of the window. It just came down so suddenly, and then stopped. You can see here what is was like. Not exactly a small pleasure but interesting to see none the less. There is never a dull moment in Aotearoa thanks to Mother Nature – there was a 5.9 earthquake near Taumarunui in the early hours of Saturday morning too.

Anyway, this was Monday lunch time in Wellington. A cold day, starting with a twinkling frosty morning, the sun nevertheless made an appearance for a while.

Sandwich time

To celebrate getting my appetite at least partly back on Wednesday, I went for lunch to Pickle & Pie, a long time favourite place of mine. I opted for the hot honey chicken schnitzel, with pickles on the side of course. Absolutely delicious.

On Sunday, we headed to our local café at the library again for their excellent toasties. So simple and so well done, it is a great wee place to have so close to home.

In the basket

The Wonky Box delivered up this week two potatoes, one kumara, 2 parsnips, yams (oca), broccoli (again), pak choy, a bag of Brussels sprouts and a lettuce. I topped it up with half a small cabbage because it looked so beautiful, a grapefruit and some mandarins. We bought sausages from our local butcher, and I made a classic puy lentil/sausage dish for Saturday dinner along with kumara and the Brussels sprouts on the side for a suitably winter dish that suited the dreich weather perfectly. Side note: dreich – one of those good Scottish words that so perfectly describes grey, wet, miserable weather. I also bought some tulips as can be seen in the featured image.

Simple things

• Laughing at our online work book club. Our next topic? Pick a book whose cover you like. Should be interesting.
• Seeing moments of sunshine on Sunday afternoon.
• Going to our local pub with friends and enjoying laughter, wine and fish and chips.
• Hearing Karl cheer when he announced his lottery win – not enough for a round the world trip, but enough for, as a friend said, a nice dinner with good wine.
• Staying warm and dry.
• Spending a wet Saturday afternoon with a book, tea, a couple of biscuits and the sofa.

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.

• Carol Ann shares her delights of the week.
• And Alex of Scribble and Scran writes about peonies, chicken anc cheese.
• Then take a look at six things in Fred’s summer garden.
•  The Glasgow Gallivanter goes on a Clydeside Scottie walk.
• While Jo shares more from Silves.
• Meanwhile Travels Through My Lens leaves Montenegro.
• Enjoy the past week in The Pearl with The Travel Sketcher.
• Mr Tootlepedal has a quiet Sunday.
• While Ilze enjoys the first courgettes – or zucchini – of the season.
• Maria enjoys good friends, good coffee and good books – sounds perfect!
• And Neal has a silent Sunday.
• Natalie shares a Medley of Murals.
• Lisa of Southern Patches gets braces. My sympathies.
• And Jo of Story Crumbs serves up Grandma Goulash.
• Finally….Mr Platypus takes us to an interesting church.
• ..…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