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
Sorry about your friend, Barbara. It’s one of the saddest things about getting older.
Your vegetables always look very exotic (apart from the broccoli, which I really like but my husband doesn’t) Wishing you a week with no bad news and thanks for the link xx
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Thank you Jo. At least she is no longer in pain. The veggie box delivers up some different things.
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I am sorry to hear your sad news about your friend but as you say it was good you got to see her fairly recently. Lavender in the garden is one of my favourite things especially at the moment. We’ve had some chilly days but also some loovely warm days but that’s spring for you isn’t it?
Thanks for the mention!
Deb
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Thank you Deb. Our lavender is looking so good now. It is really cold in the mornings still here.
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So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. 💐
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Thank you.
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Sorry for the loss of your friend. Pancreatic cancer is a hard one to fight. Good that you got to see her this year.
Your days are getting longer whilst mine reduce. I shall be glad to share your spring. Thanks for the link xx
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It is another bright day here today. Yes pancreatic cancer is a hard one.
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Am glad you managed to see your friend ere her passing . . . pancreatic Ca is especially hard . . . so little can be done . . . Hope to see ‘Tony’ myself soon . . . having been an avid watcher of him, I was so saddened by how his life played out, I could not watch the replays of his programmes for quite a few years . . . Love the ‘wonky’ avocadoes – I order kilo bags of ‘imperfects’ at the supermarket and had two very weird-looking ones in the bag last week . . .
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Do try to see ‘Tony’ if you can. The Wonky Box does rescue odd veggies which is a great initiative.
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Comfort food … I am not surprised you needed it. We have reached the age when the parting of friends and family is becoming an awful reality. My husband fell down our stairs on Saturday morning and is in ICU in the next town two hours away, so comfort food is necessary for me too before I drive down to see him: I bought a frozen butter chicken this morning, which is cooking in the oven right now!
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One more person quietly keeping fingers crossed for you two . . .
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Oh Anne I am so sorry to hear your news – I do hope he is OK. Take care of yourself too.
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Thank you. He is on the mend and will hopefully be discharged before the weekend.
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I am so sorry to read about the loss of your friend. That’s never easy. Your comfort food looks so good. Our weather has been all over the place too.
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Thank you Joanne.
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Sorry about your friend, Barbara. Never easy.
Lavender looks lovely!
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Thanks Ilze. The lavender is looking so good at the moment.
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I have never seen such a good-looking specimen! I guess I need to search for seeds of this one 🙂
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Just have to say the pigeon sculpture is wonderful.
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It is isn’t it?
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So sorry about your friend! It’s a terrible illness with little hope once diagnosed, which is think is one of its cruelest aspects.
❤️
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Exactly – when I first heard I was more upset than I am now – somehow it was like a sentence.
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I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I hope the happy memories will bring you comfort. Thanks for sharing my blog post.
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Thank you and I was so happy to see her when we were in Sweden.
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So sorry to hear of your friend’s death but so glad you had a final visit.
I would suggeet roasted squash soup. It is so good, quick, easy and nutritious.
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Thank you. Unfortunately I wouldn’t get my husband to eat squash soup. We also had so many pumpkins and squash last year in our veggie box I went right off it!!
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So sorry to hear of your loss of your friend.
I love the colorful veggies. Yellow cauliflower and purple broccoli are at the farm stands here in NY.
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Thank you. I love the ways vegetables come in so many colours and shapes.
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I’m sorry to hear about your friend but glad you were able to see her recently. The pigeon is great, I’m surprised you managed to miss it for so long! Thanks for linking.
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Thank you! I also can’t believe missing that pigeon, it is so striking too!
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So sorry for the loss of your dear friend Barbara
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Thank you so much.
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One of my pleasures was undoubtedly looking at your two flower pictures at the end of the post.
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Oh thank you!
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So sorry to hear about the loss of a friend.
Love that pigeon. We have our first frost warning today and shorter daylight.
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Thank you. The pigeon is great fun.
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so sorry to hear about your friend. I lost one of my oldest friends about ten years ago to pancreatic cancer. She had tried to get a diagnosis for about 3 years before that but by the time they found out … So sad. Hope you have a good week.
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
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Oh gosh! That is a long time. My friend was diagnosed in weeks and had 18 months after that.
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Sending condolences on the loss of your friend. Your memory of your last visit with her must be very special. That purple caulini looks interesting. Does it taste like normal cauli?
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Thank you. Yes the caulilini does taste like cauliflower, but quite mild.
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