This week’s small pleasures #479

After a very stormy night, with gale force winds of up to 130km/h, and lots of rain, peace returned for a few short hours, at least allowing us to get home before the heavens opened again.

This week’s small pleasures #478

It seems summer has returned. The shorts and dresses have come back out, hats found and sunglasses dusted. Meanwhile, it is only 3 weeks until we go to Hamburg where I believe it is 0C at the moment and more snow expected. No comment necessary!

This week’s small pleasures #476

I can’t really believe it is almost the end of January already and only 5 weeks until we head to the other side of the world. Before that, there is a lot going on from the theatre, to a visitor next month to a couple of dinners out.

This week’s small pleasures #475

Today is the Wellington Anniversary holiday, so those of us who live in and around the capital, it has been a long weekend. This will mean a 3 day working week for me too – a small pleasure in itself.

Eat, drink and be merry…or more holiday eating

Regular readers know I love food. I enjoy cooking (for me, chopping vegetables is an exercise in mindfulness), reading about food, listening to podcasts on the latest in nutrition. It isn’t just about eating, it is about trying new things, enjoying old favourites, being happy with the simple and appreciating the art of good cooking.

A seat at the table: Craggy Range

This summer we decided on just having a mini break up in one of our favourite parts of New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay.

This week’s small pleasures #473

As I type this, it is a glorious sunny summer day. We have been blessed with (mostly) good weather so … More

This week’s small pleasures #472

It is that odd time of the year between Christmas and New Year where there is no regular routine to reminding us of the day, of what we have to do. There are odd pots with leftovers in the fridge, a mound of chocolate (think we have enough for a year the rate we eat it), empty Christmas stockings waiting to be put away, and a strong disinclination to read the news.

This week’s small pleasures #471

The holidays have begun, and there is only one more day to go to Christmas Eve when we will feast … More

The year in food

2025 certainly offered up many wonderful eating experiences, starting with our trip up to Hawke’s Bay in January where we enjoyed lunch at Craggy Range Winery, and excellent food at fish restaurant Hunger Monger and Central Fire Station Bistro in Napier.