This week’s small pleasures #512

It has been another mixed week, with some good and not so good things going on. On Saturday morning, I had the not unexpected but still very sad news that one of my oldest friends (we bonded over both having English mothers) had died. She really fought pancreatic cancer, and her attitude was a good example to us all. I am just so glad I was able to spend some time with her in Stockholm when she came to visit us when we were there earlier this year.

Spring weather is a fickle mistress. One day it is wet and grey, the next sunny and bright. The pictures below were taken on Tuesday when I went for a lovely lunch time walk along the waterfront. It was one of those perfect days, when Wellington looks its best. The bronze statue is Solace in the Wind, which I know has been on the blog before.

Shopping basket

The Wonky Box this week presented carrots, white kumara (a type of sweet potato), chioggia beetroot (so much nicer), giant onions, a squash (groan…) and some lovely misshapen avocados. There was yet another head of broccoli (now officially tired of that vegetable as it seems to be in the box ever week) and some purple caulilini, which went well with sausages from our local butcher and a potato and kumara mash. I added some lemon myrtle, basil and kawakawa infused olives which sound delightful, and a jar of a Marmite alternative made with tahini that I haven’t had for ages. 

This was topped off with asparagus, oranges, tangelos, limes, (as it turned out, the wrong sort) chipotle peppers (I had some powdered chipotle I used instead) and some dried tart cherries to go in a salad from Ottolenghi’s Simple Too.

Lunches

I was in need of comfort food this week, and so had a tuna bagel at Bond Street Deli on Wednesday and one of the sandwich deals at Tipple on the Nook on Friday. Both were just the things I needed.

Out and about

On Wednesday afternoon, I took advantage of the Lighthouse cinema’s “older person’s” offer of a cheap ticket including a tea or coffee, and went to see Tony, the biopic of the early life of Anthony Bourdain. I thought I had missed it at the cinema, so was pleased to see it was being shown at this time. It was a good drama, and didn’t go overboard in predicting how his life would roll out.

When I came out of the cinema, I spotted this pigeon and wondered why we have never noticed it before. It is just opposite Lighthouse Cuba, our preferred cinema venue, so you would have thought it would have been noticed.

Simple things

• Going to the hairdresser and accepting that the shorter look is better.
• Switching off from everything at the weekend.
• Baking scones for Saturday’s afternoon tea treat.
• Picking up the latest Richard Osman for perfect weekend comfort reading.
• Appreciating the longer evenings.
• Enjoying the lavender in the garden

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.

• Laurie celebrates a birthday.
• Fred shares six things from his garden.
• Jude at Cornwall in Colours also shares her beautiful garden.
• Jo shares a Monday medley.
• Did you know that there is a Shakespeare Lego character? Check out Anne’s post over at Something Over Tea.
• The Glasgow Gallivanter goes gallivanting in September.
• Meanwhile Travels Through My Lens shares lunch in Paris.
• The Travel Sketcher shares his week in The Pearl.
• Mr Tootlepedal may have had a dull day but there are some gorgeous flowers to look at.
• Have a coffee with Maria in Sweden.
• And Neal shares some five happy things.
• Ju Lyn notes the power of art.
• Ilze makes cinnamon buns.
• And Natalie gathers an early autumn bouquet.
• Deb writes about school holidays.
• Finally….Mr Platypus takes us to a very special library.
• ..…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