This week’s small pleasures #513

It was another week of ups and downs…some gorgeous weather, some very heavy rain on Sunday morning. Meeting a friend for lunch, seeing another friend set off for her adventure to compete in the Chicago and New York marathons, but getting really sick on Saturday (when, of course, it was beautiful weather) with one of my ‘stomach migraines’. But these things pass.

Anyway, it was a good reminder just to stop sometimes, and look at the world around you.

Lunches and a dinner

As I mentioned, I met a friend for lunch at our usual haunt of August on Wednesday. We both had the calamari salad which was fantastic, with a lovely lemony dressing. I was at home on Friday (the prelude to Saturday’s sick day as it turned out) and popped to our local deli for some nice things for lunch: coppa, olives and sour dough to which I added salad greens and a little camembert. Even better, it was warm enough to sit outside.

I made the chicken, potato and leek gratin from Rick Stein’s Simple Suppers for Sunday dinner. By that time, my Saturday upset was all clear, and I felt fit and able to cook and eat. It is a simple dish of chicken cooked with leek in a creamy cider sauce and topped with potatoes (I made mine a mix of potato and kūmara) and lots of grated cheddar cheese. Leftovers will be consumed on Monday and I finally got to use the leek that had been sitting in the fridge.

In the basket

The Wonky Box delivered up parsips, carrots, more of those white kūmara, more avocados, mushrooms, asparagus, a bag of spinach leaves (which we had on Sunday) and a giant head broccoli. Well it seemed like that….and now am really fed up of broccoli. This was topped up with a lovely glossy red capsicum, green kiwi fruit, potatoes, more asparagus (these all had their tips unlike the Wonky Box ones), feta (Zany Zeus make the best), some mature cheddar, Boursin (‘cos you have to buy it when you see it) and this red cabbage sauerkraut, along with chicken, potatoes, lamb mince and other bits and pieces.

Out and about

On Sunday, feeling much better we went to see the new film about Facebook, The Social Reckoning. It was very good, and I didn’t look at my watch once (my test of a film). It is the follow up to The Social Network which was about the founding of the social media behemoth. Well worth seeing. The sofa is in the upstairs lounge area of the cinema.

Simple things

• Hearing that my friend had completed the Chicago marathon (see above!).
• Looking at blue skies.
• Laughing with friends in the pub.
• Swapping winter clothes for spring ones (but having sweaters close at hand).
• Booking a dinner out and some more dance events.
• Enjoying flowers of the season on a short walk after work today.

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 gotcha day and goes for lunch.
• Fred shares six things from his garden.
• Jude at Cornwall in Colours also shares her beautiful garden.
• Jo’s Monday walk takes us to Lagos.
• Anne of Something Over Tea continues her Photober series.
• Meanwhile Travels Through My Lens takes us to some wonderful gardens in Helsinki.
• The Travel Sketcher shares his week in The Pearl.
• Mr Tootlepedal is keeping calm.
• Have a coffee with Maria in Sweden.
• And Neal shares Five Friday Happy Bringers.
• Ju Lyn is off on a train adventure.
• And Ilze goes back to work.
• While Natalie celebrates ten years of blogging
• Deb also celebrates birthdays.
• Finally….Mr Platypus visits the wonderful kelpies.
• ..…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