THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON BIRTHDAY WEEK

• A friend got me a rare story book and a rare Japanese KitKat!
  I love story books. I love chocolate. And I love rare things.
  I found a quiet space and read the book while eating the kitkat. It was bliss. 

• Another friend got me a bag full of yummy food. Seriously, she know me too well hahaha.

• Went to a French Market + French film screening in Takapuna with a couple of friends. It was such a good evening. So much laughter. J baked some amazing fig & walnut tarts. They were so amazing that we wondered if she had just bought some from the market while we weren't looking. Oh and the films themselves were really thought-provoking. Really good.

Clockwise from top left: Very edgy cancan dance performance; Outdoor film screening; Revive salad and AMAZING fig and walnut tart that my friend baked herself; Salad bits that got stuck in the seat; Stranger with a cute jumper. 

• A friend who knows that I like beans and nuts, made this super sweet card. I was smiling all day after I got this. I'm still smiling.

• Another friend shouted me lunch. It was a nice afternoon.

• Lastly, I caught up with one of my friends and she broke my heart. She told me she is moving to Sydney. I cried like a baby. I haven't cried for over 4 years so it was really awkward. Why are tears uncontrollable? :( I'm so upset but I'm also really happy for her. She will do well in Sydney. 

Went to the post office with her to send some documents. I want to be sent away too. 

ANOTHER SUNDAY MORNING STROLL THROUGH THE TAKAPUNA FLEA MARKET

Pretty cups and teapots

Mrs Ebdales homemade jams, spreads, chutneys. $6 each. The lemon honey flavour is really nice.

One big juicy organic mandarin

WALNUTS, WE MEET AGAIN.

Beautiful little walnuts just sitting there, all round and walnutty (Photo was taken before I began eating).

Dammit. Just ate one month's worth of walnuts in one sitting.
I seriously think I have an addiction problem with nuts. 

The first step to recovery from any sort of addiction is admitting that you have an addiction problem.
So yes, tick, I've taken the first step.



**Update**

I've just read through the "Twelve Step Recovery Program" from Alcoholics Anonymous and "Addiciton Recovery Steps and Strategies" by Dr. Phil. I will apply it to my nut addiction. 

Here is my very own Seven Step Recovery Program for Nut Addicts (for people who may be in a similar situation):

1. Admit that you are powerless over nuts
2. Make a decision to stop all addictive behaviour – this includes nut munching, peeling, cracking, roasting, picking...etc etc – anything that involves nuts
3. Find what triggers your need to eat nuts and make a note of "danger zones" e.g. time of the day, particular locations, people. 
4. Develop alternative coping skills 
5. Understand "Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome" - be aware of your thought patterns and watch out for "addictive thinking"
6. Seek guidance and rebuild your relationships. Understand that it is possible to build relationships with people as you start to break away from your relationship with nuts
7. Reward yourself (but not with nuts)

OH GOOD MORNING FEIJOAS

How to make a basket really quickly in cases of emergency or when you need to carry feijoas (and other little things) for short distances. 

Went for a short stroll this morning. I came across a feijoa tree with heaps of feijoas on the ground. So I casually picked them up and put them in my makeshift basket (made by stretching my sweater). It's not stealing if it's on the footpath, right? They would have been trampled on or squashed by less observant walkers if I hadn't picked them up. Anyway, I ran home and ate them. They're gone now.