Sommaire pour April 2016 - Issue 46 de The Simple Things

You can tell so much about a person from their bookshelves (or lack of them). I like to have a sneaky peak when visiting someone’s home – very Through the Keyhole I know, but always fascinating. The Simple Things team share their shelfies on page 78. My problem was which shelf to snap – the ‘cookbooks I can’t cope without’ section in the kitchen, or the ‘old travel guides I can’t bear to throw away because of the fond memories’ shelf in the study? Then there’s the prized shelf of atlases, Ordnance Survey maps and novels I’ve loved (and a few I didn’t). Perhaps my favourites are the ‘grow your own’ and ‘life I’d live on a smallholding if real life didn’t get in the way’ shelves. Dusty, yes. A…

more kindly practitioners might transform into something winning. She gives the lowdown and dirty on practically everything, from work, relationships, crimes and misdemeanours to how you deal with the toothpaste tube and what it means in terms of your less-than-stellar personality. Brilliant fun. (Ivy Press) Even if you scorn astrology from the bottom of your cool, rational heart, you will find yourself wickedly laughing at this smart, snarky, sarcastic look at the zodiac. Unlike other horoscope pedlars, Hyde is the opposite of happy-go-lucky – in her world it’s all cloud with no silver lining, and so her take on the 12 star signs is all about skewering personality traits that…

Gardens plants pack a flavoursome punch in Petal, Leaf, Seed by Lia Leendertz This delectable cookbook by The Simple Things’ Lia is all about discovering hidden flavours in garden plants – petals, leaves and seeds are “overlooked delicacies”. She serves up dishes that look like they could be served at a fairy banquet: crystallised flowers, fragrant tisanes and refreshing basil limeade. Shortbread is speckled with sweet cicely seeds, cheesecake is rich with lemon thyme, radish seeds pep up pakoras and there’s a lemon sponge cake glowing with a concentric ring of bright flower petals. “It will send you into the garden to pluck the petal or the leaf from the plant that will turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.” Enchanting. (Kyle Books)…

To enter the draw, you need to tell us what you think of The Simple Things. More of you than ever before are reading us each month (thanks for that!) so we’d love to hear from you. Your feedback means we can make and deliver the best magazine we can. All you have to do is fill in our online survey, tell us a bit about you, what you like in The Simple Things and what you’d like to see in the future. We promise not to be too boring but as an incentive to get to the end, we’re going to offer a £200 Anthropologie gift voucher to one lucky reader.* Inspired by the worlds of entertaining, art and individual style, Anthropologie is a one-of-a-kind shopping destination, offering an…

Terra Serena Prosecco Frizzante NV, £10 This is a frizzante style of prosecco – which means it has got a gentle sparkle, but not a full-on fizz. This makes it ideal as an aperitif or welcome drink, as it’s a delicate way to kick things off and pairs well with nibbles and canapés. Le Bois Aux Biches Sauvignon Blanc Val de Loire 2013, £8.50 A fantastic value, crowd-pleasing Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. This is aromatic, dry and fresh, with a touch of elegant minerality. Try it alongside salads, seafood or light starters. Mauro Guicheney Côtes de Duras 2011, £14 This silky-smooth organic Merlot is very easy to drink, yet elegant and complex. It is medium-weight and very versatile – working well with all kinds of mains, from grilled…

A LOVINGLY FILLED LUNCHBOX can feel like an oasis in everyday life – something to look forward to, rather than the often overpriced, unhealthy and unappetising sandwich or salad we grab while rushing from here to there. Recipes need to be quick and easy – things you can be bothered to prepare in the morning or the night before – and possible to eat anywhere. But most importantly, they’re something to sit down and savour, food that will restore your energy for the afternoon rather than lie heavily in your stomach and on your conscience. Clever prep Whether it’s a juicy sandwich, a colourful pasta dish or a delicate salad, if your food is going to survive a journey unscathed, it must be packed well • Wrap sandwiches, rolls and…

People want to be close to things. And ‘making’ helps you feel close to things. People see technology as mysterious, but we want to show it doesn’t need to be that way. Learning about technology isn’t just about acquiring knowledge – it can allow you to be creative. I compare society’s relationship with tech today with cooking. That’s undergone a renaissance in recent years – we all now have access to the recipes and ingredients to be able to make beautiful food, compared to previous generations who were limited by what you could buy or the convenience. We want to create the same confidence around tech. You learn by doing. It was important our kits would appeal to a wide audience – not just “techy” people. I brought nine years…

CARDAMOM BANANA CAKE  Serves 8 170g softened butter, plus extra for greasing 5 cardamom pods 4 ripe bananas, mashed 170g caster sugar 3 eggs 115g chopped walnuts 350g plain flour ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda 2¾ tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt icing sugar to serve (optional) 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Fan160/350F and grease a nonstick 25cm square cake tin. 2 Crush the cardamom pods, removing the seeds and discarding the pods. Crush the seeds to release their flavour, add them to the mashed bananas, and set aside. 3 Combine the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric handheld mixer until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue to beat. 4 Next, add the chopped walnuts and mashed banana…

FAVOURITE SHOPS Love Retrò Via Sulis 26, Cagliari Vintage sunglasses, jewellery and bags or choose clothes from owner Alice’s capsule collection. loveretro.it Soha Sardinia Il vico II Sulis 18, Cagliari Handmade filigree jewellery with a modern twist. It also has a skincare line, using the anti-ageing properties of Sardinian grapes. sohasardinia.com FAVOURITE BAR Dulcis Pasticceria, Via Baylle 25, Cagliari This place is a popular stop-off for a cup of herbal tea, coffee or a glass of Sardinian wine. Be sure to sample the homemade cakes. dulcispasticceria.it BEST MARKET Sunday street market Lazzaro waterfront, Sant’Elia Outdoor stalls laden with seafood, fruit and vegetables. Enjoy a bracing walk before stopping off for some prawns over coals. BEST VIEW Sella del Diavolo (Devil’s Saddle) Calamosca This cliff hangs over Poetto beach and is…

What is the quintessential Tuscan experience? Could it be enjoying an early evening aperitivo on a hotel terrace while watching the sunlight fade over Florence and its resplendent Duomo? Is it a meandering drive from one beautiful hill-top town to the next, beneath a deep-blue sky pierced by the soaring spires of cypress trees? Or might it simply be a convivial meal in a charming piazza – bistecca alla fiorentina (chargrilled T-bone steak), accompanied by a glass of rich Chianti? This region has drawn travellers, writers and artists ever since the Middle Ages, but everyone’s Tuscan story is slightly different, often with a twist in the tale: an astonishing work of art that’s been squirrelled away in an innocuous chapel, perhaps; prairie-like hills out west where butteri cowboys once roamed;…

Toga could be tailor-made for modern life – in a world that is getting more and more frenetic, stressed and insane, it feels wonderful to stop for an hour or so to cultivate a stretched, toned body and a calm, focused mind. Yet it is one of the oldest systems of exercise known to humankind. Yoga stretches back at least 5,000 years (some researchers think it may be twice as old), and was first mentioned in sacred Indian texts, the Vedas. This ancient yoga was a mishmash of techniques and ideas that often contradicted one another, and it was left to a man called Patanjali, often considered the ‘father of yoga’, to pull it together into a coherent whole (roughly 2,000 years ago). His yoga sutras (a list of teachings)…

Ranunculus The Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus) is from the same family as the common buttercup but, with its frills of delicate petals bunched atop slim, long stems, is its older, glamorous sister, all dressed up ready to go on a date. Spring is when it is at its most lovely and when its multi-coloured blooms, from deep crimson to bright yellow, appear in florists. An ideal cut flower – it will last a week or more – it looks good arranged in small glass bottles, on a window sill or somewhere it gets maximum attention. This is a flower that deserves to be noticed.…

“Domestic goddess-ery will be yours, right there for the taking” Like many kitchen gadgets, the food mixer comes trailing giddy, utopian promises. With this device, your life will improve beyond your imaginings. Time will be saved and arms will be rested as it creams butter and sugar and kneads dough. You will create the plumpest of loaves, bake the lightest of sponges and whip up the meringuiest of meringues. Domestic goddess-ery will be yours, right there for the taking. But unlike many kitchen gadgets (we’re looking at you, spaghetti measurer and pasta maker), the food mixer actually delivers. With one of these lovelies in your kitchen, cooking, and baking in particular, is actually easier and more pleasurable. The real hero here is the stand mixer, as opposed to the hand-held…

OUR DAILY RITUALS of showering and bathing are much more than a means of keeping clean. Baths are a contemplative and leisurely process of running hot water, adding lotions, shutting the door and putting away the day’s troubles, to sink into a tub, loll about meditatively and stay there until the water cools and the skin wrinkles. The shower, on the other hand, is faster, more purposeful, and serves to revive rather than relax. Little wonder then that these days, when we are all time poor, we are showering more and bathing less. There is room for both, of course. Standing beneath warm running water in the morning gets the day off to a perky start, and sinking with a sigh into a bath in the evening eases the stresses…

Growing plants from seeds needn’t be complicated. You can sow directly outside, or inside in pots. Here are some top tips: make sure your seeds and potting compost are organic and peat free. Stand your seed pots in water to moisten the compost. If sowing outside, wait for a day when you feel warm enough not to wear a coat. Organic growers like to mix flowers with their vegetables. So when you are planning your rows of lettuce or cabbage, make space for some flower seeds, such as Phacelia, Limonthes or Californian poppy. Their blooms will attract beneficial insects such as bees, hoverflies and parasitic wasps – useful pollinators and predators on pests such as aphids. HOW TO SOW INDOORS If you are growing plants inside, use a flower pot…

POKE Say aloha to poke, a raw fish salad washed up on these shores from Hawaii. Chunks of (usually) tuna and salad are marinated with Asian dressings and served with the likes of seaweed and avocado. A hit with protein lovers, and chimes with the wave of Hawaiian-inspired eateries hitting London, like POND Dalston. TRY IT: Blog A Cozy Kitchen has a poke avocado bowl recipe: acozy kitchen.com/poke-avocado-bowl BUY IT: Sample at Poke, which sells at London street food market, Kerb eatpoke.co.uk SEE IT: On our Tasty Trend Pinterest board.…

LAPSANG SOUCHONG This famous black tea originates from the Fujian province in China, and is traditionally created by smoke-drying the leaves over pinewood fires. The resultant tarry taste gives it a reputation as the Marmite of the tea world. SERVING NOTES: Brew for three to five minutes, according to taste. Adding a spoonful to other black teas can add richness without overpowering. Or put that smokey flavour to good use as a meat rub.…

Who doesn’t want the beauty advice dispensed from a slightly bonkers ex-Italian princess in the 1970s? This book more than lives up to its potential with advice on everything from the importance of single bedrooms in marriage to lash implants and tips for travelling with wigs. It is, of course, all perfectly scoffable and ridiculously unachievable. But few of us can be as driven (or indeed as “beautiful”) as the former Princess, who earnestly states that “what really matters” is that “beauty makes the world a pleasanter place to live in – and people easier to love.” Found at ablebooks.co.uk…

HAYFEVER MEAD Clear the sinuses with this natural hayfever repellent. MAKES575ml KEEPS more than a year INGREDIENTS 1 handful of elderflowers 1 handful of thyme, leaves and flowers 1 handful of eyebright, leaves and flowers 1 handful of plantain leaves 1 handful of chamomile flowers 1 handful of nettle tops 600ml mead METHOD 1 Gather the herbs, if using fresh. 2 Remove from stems, then cut up or shred. 3 Mix the herbs together and make a tincture using the mead. 4 If already suffering from hayfever, take 1–2 tsp three times daily. To prevent onset, try ½-1 tsp. Children can take 10–20 drops three times daily. Adapted from The Domestic Alchemist: 501 Herbal Recipes for Home, Health and Happiness by Pip Waller (Leaping Hare Press)…

Serves 4-6 3 red peppers, cut into strips olive oil, to drizzle ½ Arabic flatbread* ½ tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp smoked chilli powder 150g chopped walnuts 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses juice of ½ lemon 1 tbsp plain (natural) yoghurt 1 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley 2 tbsp pine nuts, soaked in water for 20 mins, then drained salt and pepper pitta bread to serve 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan180/400F. Place the strips of pepper on a baking sheet and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Roast the peppers for about 30 mins, until soft. Remove from the oven, put into a bowl, and cover with clingfilm. 2 Put the flatbread onto a clean baking sheet and bake for five mins until golden and crisp. Transfer to a food processor and…

JULIAN OWEN is a freelance journalist and writer who lives with his wife in Bristol, where they share too many books and too few bookshelves. This issue, he gets a taste for sugar-packet collecting, page 112. What is your motto to live by? Borrowed from James Joyce: “Just write, dammit, what else are you going to do?” YELENA BRYKSENKOVA is a freelance illustrator and fine artist and the woman behind this month’s cover. Russian-born and Cleveland-raised, she now lives and works in Connecticut, surrounded by books, plants and her favourite objects. What is your motto to live by? Be present and treat everything you do, no matter how small the task, with attention and care. KIRSTIE YOUNG is a photographer specialising in food and interiors. Her work regularly appears in…

Surrey-based designer, Heidi Harrington’s innovative ceramics combine clay with photography. Heidi takes images of nature during country walks then screenprints them on to porcelain, before they are formed over moulds into plates, bowls and wall pieces. We love the monochromatic Forest Tableware, above (plates, £25; mugs, £12.50). Heidi also runs classes, from introductory courses to more in-depth ceramics workshops. heidiharrington.co.uk…

“Slip one on and off you go out into the world, all comfort and confidence” Those of us who appreciate the encompassing ease of an all-in-one outfit welcome the return of the jumpsuit. Like a dress, it can be slipped on and forgotten about, but unlike a dress you can stomp about in it feeling simultaneously on-trend and invincible. Add a pair of shoes (flats and heels both work) and off you go into the world, all comfort and confidence, whether you’re heading to a day at the office or an evening with pals. Fortunately, the days when wearing one was considered brave, foolhardy – ridiculous even – are over. Jumpsuit naysayers have been silenced as more and more of us buy into this handy dress/trouser hybrid and prove its…

1975 The story begins. In Norwich 1986 Loughborough Grammar finds Nic “angry, disillusioned” at its Oxbridge-or-nothing ethos 1991 Eschews the expected path to Stamford Grammar for Oakham’s more egalitarian sixth form college, “the best two years of my education” 1993 America! 1994 Nottingham 1998 “I was a derivatives lawyer, something that sends the eyes into glaze-over mode” 2002 Capital time in Prague 2006 Opening chapter of Mr Bs 2009 Birth of Leah 2012 Twin sequels: Aidan and Jessica…

IN THE CUPBOARD Potatoes Onions Bread Pasta Grains (couscous, bulgur wheat) Rice Lentils Pumpkin and sunflower seeds Pine nuts Sesame seeds Chilli flakes Chopped tomatoes (tinned) Passata (jar) Chickpeas (tinned) Pesto IN THE FRIDGE Eggs Butter Cream cheese Natural yoghurt Crème fraîche Plain tofu Jam Hard cheese Halloumi cheese Camembert Feta cheese Jar of olives Mustard Pizza dough* Filo pastry* Puff pastry* IN THE FREEZER Frozen bread rolls Frozen vegetables Frozen herbs (when you’ve got more herbs than you need, freeze in small amounts) *These can also be frozen in smaller portions and defrosted as needed…

KATE BOWLES is an artist and bookbinder, based in West Yorkshire, who makes hand-bound notebooks using recycled papers and fabrics. A selection of her books can be found in her shop.katebowles.folksy.com Rise and shine! What’s happening? I’m very lucky in that my husband usually wakes me up with a cup of black coffee, before making a swift exit… I’m not a morning person! I try to ignore the internet during the day, so I do a quick catch-up of social media and blogs while comatose and eating porridge (did I mention that I’m not a morning person?). We’re with you! Do you have far to go for work? I work from home – it has its limitations but there’s no commute. We live in a shabby, but loved Victorian terrace…

We’ve teamed up with The Folio Society, publishers of illustrated editions of the world’s greatest literature, to offer one reader a book of their choice* every month for a year. To enter, tweet or instagram us a pic of your bookshelf and go to simplethings.com/blog/beautiful books to give us your details. The Folio Society publishes an extensive range of fiction and nonfiction, so the only problem the winner will face will be which of the titles to choose each month. Selected from the best-loved books in literature, each Folio edition is produced with careful attention to detail and high production values. This shelfie from Johanna Geary at The Folio Society is, as you’d expect, a collection of Folio's beautiful books. She says: “A variety of type brings character to every…

FOR FREE SPIRITS Yobaba Lounge is a quirky, stylish boho village château in Southern France. Gertrud, the owner, has a passion for authentic yoga and outrageously good raw food. Either go on a dedicated retreat or do your own thing (you can join Gertrud in her self-practice). yobabalounge.com FOR FRIENDS AND SOLO TRAVELLERS Kaliyoga runs convivial yoga retreats in Spain and Italy (and the occasional short retreat in the UK). As much a holiday as a yoga retreat (you can add in some horse-riding, walking or time by the pool), the vibe is relaxed and friendly. Teacher Tashi Dawa is highly recommended. kaliyoga.com FOR THE ARTISTIC SOUL Everyone who makes the trek to Silver Island raves about this private, peaceful Greek island. Choose your yoga style (from calm and slow,…

Wild harvesting Explore what’s growing wild that you can eat. For example, cherries from the tree will have all the microbes of the soil still on their skin, whereas supermarket ones will have them all washed off. Plus they’re free. (For more on foraging, turn to page 64.) Grow something Take time to grow, harvest and eat your own food in a small patch of living soil, whether it’s in a window box, on your doorstep or in an allotment. “It doesn’t matter how small the space, it’s amazing how much you can get from a tiny amount,” says Daphne. Buy organic “It might seem more expensive,” says Daphne, “but when you’re hungry, it’s the body crying out for more nutrients. Plants grown in organic soil are richer in phytonutrients…

“We made friends with other creatives seeking inspiration from the local coastline” Like many house buyers, children’s book illustrators Helen Stephens and Gerry Turley had a long list of things they wanted in their new home. “We had been living in London for 16 years, but after the birth of our daughter Frieda seven years ago, we ran out of space,” says Helen. “We also felt the call of the sea, and the need to slow life down a bit. We had a checklist of things we wanted: the seaside, the main trainline to London for publishing meetings, and to be nearer to our families in County Durham and Glasgow.” The family found what they were looking for in a former fisherman’s cottage, built in 1850, in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. “We…

Gardens, whatever their size, are a work in progress. Yet, more often than not, most of us think that once we’ve created a border or planted a container, then our work is complete. However, plants can be a bit like toddlers – bold, bright and joyful, but also wild, unpredictable and susceptible to growth spurts! The good news is that now is the perfect moment to address anything that needs sorting in the border as some plants are still dormant or just waking from their winter slumber. There are a number of ways to revive borders and reinvent them – either moving plants to a different location, dividing them to reinvigorate their growth and improve their habit, or introducing a new star to take centre stage in the summer. We’ve…

YOU MAY NEED... Towels, the bigger the better A bathmat that is soft underfoot A bath bridge to perch a glass and a bowl of nuts on A towel rail or ladder to dry soggy items Attractive jars full of luxurious products…

This is a really clever technique, created by Dutch garden designer, Piet Oudolf and championed by leading plantswoman and TV presenter, Carol Klein. It makes planting as eye-catching as possible, if you don’t have a lot of room to play with. The idea is simple: plant ‘waves’ of single varieties, weaving them from the front to the back of the border or planting trough, to create rhythm. This approach isn’t to be confused with the more traditional one that uses ‘blocks’ of plants grouped in odd numbers. Wave planting creates a ribbon-effect, which allows plants to lap against one another, giving the border or container movement and dynamism. It’s easy to do if you keep in mind the following five steps: 1 Stick to a small number of plant varieties…

LOUISE GORROD Our Wishlist Editor, Louise, is also our Stuff of Life shopkeeper (shop.thesimplethings.com). Look out for this symbol for items in the shop. Louise also blogs, bakes and photographs at Buttercup Days: buttercupdays.com…

Our shopkeeper’s picks for April... “This month, if the weather permits, I’m hoping to spend a little more time outdoors. This artisan pinny by The Linen Works is perfect for busy days in the kitchen and the garden. I’m keeping the handy fold-up events stool by The Glam Camping Company by my back door, ready to bring into the garden – it’s the perfect portable perch, ideal to sit on while enjoying an alfresco cup of tea in my favourite everyday mug by Emma Lacey.” Louise Gorrod, Shopkeeper…

“species that have lived for thousands of years are disappearing”, but, as he cogently argues, all is not lost – this can be reversed, the land can be “re-wilded”. Otter have already returned to the River Tyne, there are beavers on the River Otter and in London, peregrines, the fastest birds on earth, speed across the city sky. Inspiring and hopeful. (Square Peg) This lyrical, powerful book asks a simple question: can Britain make room for wildlife? Naturalist Stephen Moss is passionate about the natural world, from the wild wood, to the country hedgerows to the little pockets of green in the towns and cities, all of which provide habitats for birds, insects and animals of infinite variety. But it’s under threat: as Moss points out:…

Admiring spring blooms At the Cornwall Spring Flower Show (2-3 April), the RHS Flower Show Cardiff (15-17 April, rhs.org.uk) and the Harrogate Flower Show (21-24 April, flowershow.org.uk). Cheering on the athletes Show your support to the runners in the London Marathon (24 April) and the cyclists taking on The Tour de Yorkshire, which departs from Beverly (29 April) ending in Scarborough (1 May). Walking more It’s National Walk to Work Day on 1 April so start the month as you mean to go on. If it’s too far to walk to work or school or the shops, walk to a further bus stop or train station, or park your car a bit further away. Experiencing adventure The Banff Mountain Film Festival is currently touring the country with its series of…

Across between a dinner party and a restaurant, holding your own supper club is a thoroughly modern way to gather food-loving friends and strangers round your own kitchen table for a home-cooked meal. Lia prefers to cook mainly vegetarian food, with the odd meat-based dish, so there’s no need to offer a vegetarian alternative. So spread the word, plan a menu and rearrange the furniture – guests are coming for dinner… THE SIMPLE THINGS SUPPER CLUB menu Broad bean arancini with salsa verde Pancake cannelloni Braised lentils, asparagus and toasted walnuts Fennel stuffed peppers Watercress and cheese soda bread Rhubarb and rosewater frangipane tart Broad bean arancini RISOTTO, BUT IN LITTLE BALLS OF DEEP-FRIED HEAVEN Makes about 30 balls For the risotto 350g broad beans (podded, skin on weight) 1…

Early Morning Rain Gordon Lightfoot Fire and Rain JamesTaylor I Can’t Stand the Rain Ann Peebles Here Comes the Sun TheBeatles Rainy Days and Mondays Carpenters Sunshine After the Rain Elkie Brooks Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head BJ Thomas Walking in the Rain Love Unlimited Umbrella Rihanna and Jay-Z Wash in the Rain The Bees Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Willie Nelson Dry the Rain The Beta Band Rainy Night in Georgia RandyCrawford Sun is Shining Bob Marley I Can See Clearly Now Johnny Nash Listen at thesimplethings.com/blog/rainydaysongs stop look listen This month’s playlist is music to accompany puddle-splashing and shower-dodging. Plus, some cheery tunes for sunny intervals and bright sunshine days.…

Save money with a subscription (12 issues a year) – now available on even more devices. Just click on the links below for details and prices. Share your simple things with us on Twitter @simplethingsmag #mysimplething CHOOSE  YOUR APP AND DEVICE • Apple for iphone, ipad or ipod touch• Barnes & Noble for Nook• Google for Android devices and to view on your computer• Amazon for Kindle Fire and Android devices• Zinio for Apple, Android and Windows devices and to view on your computer• Press Reader for Apple, Android, Windows and Blackberry• Readbug article stream for iphone and ipad…

EMMA Emma is a freelance journalist who splits her time between Cagliari and Olbia in the north of Sardinia. When she’s not writing, she can be found on her paddleboard exploring the island’s coast. She blogs at birdonthebeach.com *There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people that live there. Every month, we ask someone, clearly in love with their city, to take us on a personal tour and tell us what makes it so special. You may feel inspired to visit one day or to rediscover the charms of a city closer to you, but for now just sit back, relax and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in Sardinia? I’ve been here 13 years and love it. I’m…

Something delicious happens in my local woods each spring. It starts with the smell, a pungent note rising gradually over the scent of mud and leaves, growing stronger by the day. Then comes the slow explosion of white, as wild garlic flowers erupt from bright green blades that have been spreading across the forest floor for weeks. It’s something of a ritual now to kneel down and eat my first ramson flower, pinching out the tiny white blooms still attached to miniature green bulbs. I crunch them between my teeth, savouring the soft-edged garlic hit that shoots up my nose. Summer is coming. Gathering wild food connects us with the seasons in an elemental way. The sights, smells and tastes of edible flowers, leaves and berries don’t just liven up…

When I nip into the GP’s surgery To pick up a repeat prescription For anti-depressants and sleeping pills I find the fair-haired receptionist On her elbows with laughter, For no reason other than that this April day Is all sunlight and blue skies, Street lined with limes of new green leaf, Tiny gardens jungles of white magnolia. She announces: “Today is the day For buying a villa on the seafront: I know I must win the Lottery – But how can I win the Lottery When I do not even remember To buy a Lottery ticket? And even then, in any case, I forget to check the results!” She is weeping with laughter. I wade out into the street And not caring if YOU are watching me I pluck a…

WOODLAND ESCAPE Greg Farrell fell in love with the Adirondack Mountains in 1956 when he worked at a summer camp. Twenty years later, he and his wife Cathy, helped by around 50 friends, built this distinctive wooden yurt as a holiday retreat. Next came a pantry, barrel sauna and hot tub and then, in 2006, another larger yurt built by their sons Nick and Andrew. “One thing just led to another,” says Greg. “And it came out beautifully.” NORDIC IDYLL While some cabins are unique, others are of a more standard design, even pre-fab, and yet still utterly of their place. This beautifully simple dwelling on the east coast of Greenland is reminiscent of many rural holiday homes in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and beyond; its ochre paint echoing the landscape…

Strike a pose Yeo Valley has created its very own Yeo-ga workout, with a little bit of fun at its heart. Flex a tight back with ‘pig in mud’, stretch out with ‘mud angel’ – for the full workout, go to yeovalley.co.uk/ahealthieryeo and you can share your workout photos using #ahealthieryeo The people at Yeo Valley love good food, good company and good fun, and the latest recipe from their kitchen brings all of this together. Bio Live is a new adult range of yogurts with no added refined sugar. These delicious yogurts contain live cultures and less than 10 per cent total sugars, meaning you can fuel your busy day with good, clean energy without compromising on taste. Yeo Valley thinks that striking the right balance should be about…

ONE EASILY FORGOTTEN rule when growing veg is to grow what you actually like eating. There’s no point spending time picking beans, or devoting space to squash, if you can’t stand the taste. Ideally, you want to strike a balance with things that are hard to find, expensive to buy or at their best soon after harvesting. Carrots, potatoes and onions are cheap and available, so why not try something more adventurous on your own plot? This doesn’t have to mean complicated – there are delicious, out-of-the-ordinary plants you can grow that need little in the way of expertise or special attention. THE EXOTIC ONE Callaloo (Amaranthus spp) If you’ve ever noticed a plant covered in deep-maroon, furry tassels, rather like the remnants of a party-popper, what you’re…

Soggy toes make for sad faces. April is the month to be prepared – it’s famed, after all, for its ability to spring a shower or two. But if you don’t want to stride out in wellingtons, try this easy plimsoll makeover. Trainer devotee Pascal Anson came up with a nifty solution to deal with the unpredictability of the British weather. He was inspired after seeing some Plasti Dip, a dipping rubber that comes in bright primary colours (including glow-in-the-dark), air dries and gives a great finish. Dipping a plain pair of plimsolls in yellow dipping rubber doesn’t only waterproof them; it’ll also bring some cheer to the gloomiest of weather. Oh, and it’s an ideal project to undertake on a rainy day (and listen to our ‘Sunshine and showers’…

BIKE BOOKENDS Laser-cut metal by design tandem Lena and Dmitriy Ol’shevskiy. BEST FOR: Tidiness. Your books will look neat, upon the seat, of a bicycle made in two. £34.95, howkapow.com K2 PHONE BOOKEND Pay homage to Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s famous 1920s design. BEST FOR: Solidity. If you need to hold up books, what use is a mobile? £18, susanbradley.co.uk AGATE BOOKENDS Each piece is unique, polished to reveal its special sparkle. BEST FOR: Showing off all those really precious titles. £24, westelm.co.uk…

WHY GROW THEM? Easy and fast-growing, spring onions are also very versatile. They make a great addition to the veg patch, work well squeezed in between ornamental plants in a herbaceous border and are very happy in containers. Just make sure they have some sunshine and are in well-drained soil. WHEN TO SOW? If you want to be able to enjoy fresh spring onions over the summer, start them off in April and sow every three weeks. There’s no need to start seeds off in small pots, pop them in a prepared channel about 2cm deep – you can make this with the edge of your trowel. It’s important to rake the soil first, removing any weeds, so that it’s a fine, crumbly texture and the seeds can settle into…

Storm Petrel Small but hardy, they spend most of the year out in all weather. Particularly inclement conditions can blow them far inland – hence their name. Parasitic Jaeger Their name reflects their bullyboy reputation. To get the moves like a Jaeger, chase, harangue and intimidate someone until they drop their lunch. Osprey This migrating seahawk delights fans from Britain to Australia. One of the world’s most widely distributed birds – the only Osprey-free zone is the Antarctic. Arctic Tern Graceful good looks, picturesque Norfolk breeding ground, two long-haul holidays a year AND they live to the ripe age of 30. Some birds have all the luck. Smew Spends most of the year in the Eurasian wilderness. Come winter, Mr flashy feathers embarks on a North Sea coast vacation to…

CURRENT, VOLTAGE AND RESISTANCE An electric current flows when negatively charged electrons move around a circuit. The rate of flow of electric charge is the ‘current’ – measured by ampheres. For an electric current to flow around a circuit, it needs a ‘potential difference’, which is provided by something like a battery. It’s also called ‘voltage’ and is measured in volts. But even the flow of current faces resistance. In a long piece of wire, the charge-carrying electrons will collide with more ions than in a shorter piece of wire. The resistance in a longer piece is therefore higher. Resistance is measured in ohms, named after the 19th-century physicist George Ohm. ‘Ohm’s Law’ shows the relationship between current, voltage and resistance: voltage = current × resistance. Hopefully, that’s your light…