Sommaire pour October 2024 de The Simple Things

ISA'S PEAR CAKE Serves 8-10 4 large, firm pears (about 900g in total), peeled and cored 180g self-raising flour 110g sugar ½ tsp ground cinnamon Zest of 1 lemon 2 eggs 120ml light olive oil or grapeseed oil 60ml milk 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 generous tbsp raw cane sugar 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4. Grease the base and side of a 21cm round, loose-based cake tin and line with baking paper. 2 Cut the pears into quarters, slice them lengthways into segments, then chop the segments in half. Set aside in a bowl. 3 Place the flour, sugar, cinnamon and lemon zest in a bowl with a good pinch of salt. Mix to combine. 4 In a second bowl, whisk the eggs, oil, milk and vanilla extract together. 5 Pour into the flour mixture and stir until well…

MY CITY There's no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. This month, we've asked photographer and interior designer Matthew Raef to guide us around his home city. You may feel inspired to visit one day, but for now just sit back and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the city? I was born in Alexandria and I've always lived here. I'm an interior designer, and have worked as a travel and documentary photographer for the last seven years, too. I've discovered a talent for pottery, so I also have a business designing home accessories such as table lamps, vases and pots. Tell us what makes your city unique Alexandria's weather brings lots of visitors, especially in…

“Be very single minded about making your passion a really important part of your life and that will reap dividends.” “I give myself a talking to when I find I'm grumpy and there's absolutely no reason I should be. I have to say, 'listen, wake up, get involved, and take part.' I think that's the thing.” “The physical side of living is what helps you deal with all of the other stresses and challenges. Doing some kind of physical activity brings balance to your life.”…

PASSIONS IN A WORLD THAT CAN FEEL INCREASINGLY UNIFORM, WE'RE CELEBRATING THOSE HAPPILY DOING THINGS a bit differently. Meet the PEOPLE WHO ARE seriously PASSIONATE a bout their pastimes. PERHAPS THEY'LL PERSUADE YOU TO TRY something NEW? Hear the word 'taxidermy' and chances are the association in your mind's eye will be of a rather stiff-looking creature that has, no two ways about it, long since shuffled off its mortal coil. And even if the taxidermist had managed to inject a little life into their subject, the glass case in which it's housed suffocates any hint of doubt. Now take a look over here. A pair of riding boots from which poke two fox cubs in casual repose, each wearing a knowing grin. A kitten taking flight with outstretched, angelic wings.…

• Exercise Linked to a more diverse gut microbiome, exercise helps good bacteria to grow and produces short-chain fatty acids that maintain the health of the gut barrier lining. Movement also increases blood flow, helping your gut to move food through efficiently. • Sleep The better quality sleep you have, the more diverse gut microbiome you're likely to have. Studies show that going to bed earlier and keeping a regular routine is linked with higher levels of 'good' bacteria. • Friends and pets Many of the new bacteria introduced into your gut are from the air around you and the people and pets that you come into contact with. Loneliness is linked to lower gut microbiome diversity. • Antibiotics If prescribed antibiotics for a bacterial infection, always take them, but…

LOOKING BACK When her second book, How To Be A Domestic Goddess, hit the shelves in 2000, Nigella Lawson caused a stir. Was she really encouraging women to don frilly pinnies and step back to the 1950s in a cloud of icing sugar? She has since described the book as an “important feminist tract” rather than a call to do more chores, and like all her work, it celebrates the joy of cooking and eating. Nigella is now synonymous with the term 'domestic goddess', but she's not alone in her delicious realm – domestic goddesses have been influencing the way we cook for centuries. Writing brilliant recipes isn't quite enough to qualify as a full-blown domestic goddess. That extra secret ingredient can be hard to discern, and it's certainly moreish.…

GROWING The boundary of the garden can be a forgotten space, neglected as simply a separation of your plot from a neighbour's. Common choices for barriers such as wooden fences or privet hedges don't bring much in the way of colour or fragrance, and your eye tends to… well, glide over them. They do the job, but they're hardly exciting. But it is possible for the margins, or dividers in larger gardens, to bloom and bear fruit. Welcome to the world of 'fedges'. A portmanteau of hedge and fence, fedges are fences made from living plants that are woven together – generally species that are fast growing and easy to manipulate, like willow. You can sometimes come across them in playgrounds, grown and shaped into tunnels and domed dens for…

A PLACE TO STAY I'd always liked the idea of a silent retreat. But I also like my creature comforts and the only retreats I could find involved dawn meditations, dormitories and fasting after 4pm. Then I found Sharpham Trust, which offers retreats on its Devon estate, the centrepiece of which is a grand Palladian house where they host silent retreats, but also offer a comfy bed, swimming pool and three good meals a day. There's no talking for guests once you've settled in, but the two tutors who run the retreat do speak. More challenging, for me, would be the no phones policy, and, if you want, no reading either. Just you, nature and silence. I was fascinated to see what happened when I removed all distractions, so I…

COLLECTIVE NOUNS TALK LIKE … YOU'RE FROM ESSEX* bog: to boast; dapster: adept or proficient; deadly: superlative degree of any thing, as deadly good; Essex stile: a ditch; gannigking: gossiping, idling; muggy: half intoxicated, tipsy; proper: very, as proper nice, proper good; to rights: properly, neatly; saacy: saucy *In honour of St Cedd's Day on 26 October, the patron saint of Essex. All definitions come from A Glossary Of The Essex Dialect by R.S. Charnock, published 1880.…

Gloucestershire Old Spot Once found feeding off orchard windfalls, it's harder to spot this centuries-old native breed these days – it's now officially listed as 'at risk'. Hereford hog Mostly found in the US midwest, where farmers in the early 1900s went the whole hog to breed a red and white pig to match Hereford cattle. Kunekune pig 'Fat and round' according to the Māori name of this 19th-century Kiwi breed. Also small and hairy. Its double wattles confirm what's what. Göttingen minipig This piggy first went to market in the 1960s for scientific research. Today, these petite pigs (weighing just 35kg ) are commonly kept as pets. Poland China pig Pigs do fly: this large black swine, was bred from Chinese and European pigs in the USA in the…

Wriggling forwards, with the tangled barrier tugging at the backs of our jumpers, we dragged ourselves under the hedge. Thorns raked hair and flesh, and though the earth beneath was dry, our knees still squelched in the damp grass of the verge. First my head and then my shoulders emerged, and soon I could haul myself up into a crouch. Dusting off my hands, I took stock. To our left a wall of firs loomed above us, while to the right and rolling out below – freshly ploughed, dark and thick as chocolate gelato – the fields seemed to stretch on forever. We were in. But we daren't linger long: this was forbidden territory. “Remember to stay low,” I whispered, rubbing hard at a nettle sting. Mark nodded his ascent,…

Morning! Fancy a cuppa? A big mug of strong, black coffee please. I don't like to rush, so it's a leisurely breakfast with my fiancé Tom. Too right! Can you tell us a bit about your work? I'm coming towards the end of my masters in textiles at the Manchester School of Art, specialising in embroidery – a career change from being a pediatric nurse. I taught myself to embroider in 2016, looking for something to destress after a long shift. Now I make botanical textile foliage installations by day and bargello needlepoint kits by night. Impressive! Do you work at home? I live in a Victorian terrace in Manchester. We converted a spare room into a studio, so I'm either in there making a creative mess or at university,…

FAVOURITE CAFE Délices An old coffee shop, with a cosy atmosphere. Mostly I go there for the espresso, but they have really good desserts, too. facebook.com/DelicesGroup FAVOURITE BOOKSHOP Rahaala Bookstore A great place for new and used books. rahaalabookstore.com Microphone Bookstore Sells all kinds of books and I like going there, as it has a small café and reading area. almicrophone.net FAVOURITE GALLERY Vermilion – House of Art Shows artwork by local artists, and hosts exhibitions and seminars by artists and poets. galleryvermilion.com FAVOURITE SHOP Kilim Farha Sells handmade Egyptian homeware, such as pottery, kilim rugs and earthen tableware. Instagram: @kilim.farha FAVOURITE RESTAURANT Rooftop It has a great view over Alexandria and the sea, and offers superb Egyptian dishes Instagram: @alexrooftop FAVOURITE HOTEL Steigenberger Cecil Hotel A historic downtown hotel,…

THIS MONTH WE READ THE JAPANESE ART OF LIVING SEASONALLY BY NATALIE LEON (WATKINS) In a nutshell Ancient Japan used to celebrate 72 micro-seasons every year, each lasting five days, to recognise the importance of the impermanent natural world. This reverence for the changing seasons lies at the core of the Japanese value system, explains Natalie. But beyond their love of sakura (cherry blossoms), Japan has Kisestukan, 'a sense of the seasons' which encourages noting and appreciating the natural world in all its transitions. Can living seasonally help my post-summer blues? As we move into autumn, many in the northern hemisphere start to feel the negative effects of the shortening days. Yet noticing and appreciating the beauty of each season can encourage a positive relationship with the natural world. Natalie…

GOOD THINGS TO EAT Beetroot soup with anchovy and caper breadcrumb topping Blitz some beetroot for a sweet and velvety soup. The topping adds texture but also an umami pop. Serves 2 500g whole, raw beetroot 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4 tbsp panko breadcrumbs 1 fat garlic clove, finely sliced ½ tsp anchovy paste (or 3-4 finely chopped anchovies) Zest of ½ a lemon 1 tsp baby capers 2 tsp finely chopped parsley 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Wrap each beetroot in foil and roast for an hour or until cooked. (They must be well cooked; otherwise they won't blend.) Unwrap and, once cool enough to handle, slide the skins from the beetroot. 2 Put the beetroot in a blender with 300ml water and a sprinkling of salt. Blitz to a smooth purée,…

The merest nip of autumn in the air is enough to trigger my most predictable Pavlovian response: dusting off my faithful old satchel for another season of filling it with books and assorted temptations found on the forest floor. Hearing that satisfying creak of leather is like cracking my knuckles before getting stuck into an exciting project – my satchel is the sartorial equivalent of starting a new school term. Much as I adore a bung-it-all-in bag (I've previously written about my love of totes, see TST 133), the structured sturdiness of a satchel brings order to my portable life that, by this time of year, is often long overdue. This seasonal reorganisation has a knock-on effect on my mind – carefully arranging an unblemished notebook, my favourite pens and…

WEEKEND PROJECT PROUDLY HOMEMADE HANGING BASKET A 70s-inspired hanging basket for fruit, veg or obliging plants You will need: 120m of 3mm three-strand cotton rope in off-white/natural color Two metal rings, 20cm diameter (we got ours from fredaldous.co.uk) Two metal rings, 25cm diameter Measuring tape Scissors S-hooks and working rack (optional) Cut List: 2 × 4.6 m lengths of 3mm three-strand cotton rope 10 × 5.5m lengths of 3mm three-strand cotton rope 1 × 3.7m lengths of 3mm three-strand cotton rope 3 × 1m lengths of 3mm three-strand cotton rope 16 × 1.8m lengths of 3mm three-strand cotton rope 16 × 1.2m lengths of 3mm three-strand cotton rope 1 Wrap all four metal rings using the Wrapping A Ring technique (see over the page for how to tie the various knots described). Each 20cm metal ring will need its own…

BELONGINGS When my mum was dying of cancer in 2014, she gave me her Medusa pendant. She knew that I'd always been fascinated by it, as well as the myth behind it. The pendant is a gold-plated medallion – a copy of one in the British Museum dated to the second century CE. Mum bought it in the 1970s and I always remember her wearing it over a dark polo neck on a long gold chain that reached just past her chest. The chain has long since broken but the pendant remains in all its shiny glory. Growing up I was the only kid in my class with curly hair, and I was teased mercilessly over it. I hated it – both being teased and my hair. Even now in…

DOWN TO A TEA TOWEL Cherith Harrison is based in the Scottish Borders but it's Highland Cattle who are the star of her design, that and the beautiful patchwork fields. It's £12.50, cherithharrison.com RED HERRINGS Fill in the gaps with letters to find eight words that are musical instruments. Two of them are red herrings. All the answers have eight letters. (answers on page 124) “We always may be what we might have been” Adelaide Anne Procter Forestry England came into being in 2019, a division of the Forestry Commission. Its logo echoes the FC's design, with a conifer and a broadleaf tree-here, in the same shade of green. WHAT TO DO WITH… USED COFFEE GROUNDS PRACTICAL: Add straight to your compost heap to help boost the rot. Grounds contain high…

While humans can't hibernate (NASA are working on it), some store cupboard friends can see you through the winter. Stow somewhere cool & dry: Squash: If kept airy with no bananas, should last to March. Garlic: As above – not breaking up the bulbs helps longevity. Potatoes: Pop into the dark for three months of spuds. Tins (if not dented): 'Low acid' contents will last longer, for example, not tinned fruit. Spices: Ground keep for up to 3 years and whole spices for 5. Stow somewhere cool, dry - and in an airtight container: Nuts: Varies by type, reckon on them keeping for 6–9 months. Rice: The brown type will keep through to spring, while white can last for up to 30 years. Beans: Tinned beans are fine; dry beans…

OUTING Woven into the British Isles is the story of our textiles. And traces of this history are found everywhere, from the sheep that graze our hills to the mills that skim our skylines. These threads take us from farms to weavers to merchants and from town and village to all over the world. They've shaped grand civic buildings and humble domestic dwellings; we've used natural resources to power production and brute force to build railways and canals for transportation. There are specific local histories – such as Dundee's jute, Welsh tapestry blankets, and the ganseys of the Shetland Isles and coastal communities. Then there are the specialist trades, such as lace, silk, dyeing and finishing. The following are only a taster of the stories out there – there are…

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE OCTOBER'S STAR SIGN LIBRA: 23 September – 22 October The constellation Libra, meaning 'weighing scales' in Latin alludes to the shape of the stars as well as to the fact that when the sun entered this part of the ecliptic it is the autumnal equinox in which days and nights are equal. Librans are similarly said to be well-balanced, making things orderly and playing peacemaker. They are witty and outgoing, but with a firm sense of justice. Local lore HINTON ST GEORGE PUNKIE NIGHT On the last Thursday in October, the children of Hinton St George, in Somerset, take punkie lanterns (carved from mangold or mangelwurzels) around the town, stopping for morris dancing, songs and judging of the punkies. Legend says the original punkie lanterns were…

This little thimble was never worn to work, so why did you insist that I keep it with me? Tiny shield of steel. I keep it in my pocket, my amulet against hardship. When things get dark, I bite my lip and slip my finger into this silver shell. Sometimes, I wonder if you wore it before you died, whether your fingerprints might still be stitched inside. There's often a melancholy magic to the trinkets and the tiny treasures that once belonged to a beloved person. Here, a thimble is a protective talisman against the bad days and a silvery reminder of the person who has gone. Things to ponder: Poet and author Doireann Ní Ghríofa explores how the past makes itself felt in the present. How does that work…

WELLBEING Most of us are familiar with the concept of 'good and bad bacteria' but may not realise to what extent this 'microbiome' that thrives in our gut influences our wellbeing. This area of research is still new (we didn't know the microbiome existed 20 years ago) but rocketing, with evidence linking a healthy digestive system to improved immunity, better mental health and a lower risk of diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. A healthy gut (the gut refers to the whole digestive system from mouth to bottom) contains a diverse community of micro-organisms known as the gut microbiome that need certain nutrients to thrive. As the good gut news has spread, our shelves have become packed with gut-friendly foods, drinks, supplements and shots. But how…

IDEAS Elizabeth draws our attention to the stars overhead, the great silver swoosh of the Milky Way and beyond that, the galaxy of Andromeda, smudged like a pale thumbprint in the sky and the furthest thing from Earth that's discernible to the human eye. She's a Biosphere Dark Sky Ranger in Galloway Forest Park, taking people outdoors to explore the night, year round. For the past few years, in early autumn, I've been leading groups with her on night walks during the Wigtown Book Festival. Galloway is known for its exceptionally dark night skies, and Galloway Forest Park became the UK's first Dark Sky Park in 2009 in recognition of the exceptional stargazing conditions. There are now nine other Dark Sky Parks and Reserves in the UK. Throughout the nighttime…

HOME TOUR Down a quiet lane in Northern Ireland's gloriously green countryside is Eniko and Michael Kirkwood's cottage. Under slate grey skies, surrounded by mature trees and a babbling stream, the only sound you can hear above the water and occasional bursts of rain are the birds, as you step over the threshold into a cosy home that seems made for autumn days. While searching for a place to call their own that was also close to Michael's family, local knowledge helped them to find the cottage that is now their home. “We'd seen lots of houses, but nothing stood out until Michael mentioned a cottage for sale that was 10 minutes away from his parents in a lovely area where he used to play as a child,” explains Eniko,…

We're lucky to have a large hallway, it's such a joyful place to walk into. We've added lots of personality with art and antique mirrors as a gallery wall. We made sure we retained all of the period features, including cornicing and original doors, but added Victorian-style monochrome tiles and panelling. It looks great and is also really practical as it doesn't scuff easily. Karen Cook, Teddington, southwest London @upstyleyourhome I always like a space to function well, but it must feel fun, too – it's FUNctional! It used to be tiny but we knocked down a wall to open the space up. It's mid century mixed with a bit of whimsy and a lot of joy. It's very me! Charlie Dansell, Salford, Manchester @number30eight This entryway was the first…

GARLIC Garlic was one of the first crops - there's evidence that people in ancient Babylon were growing it more than 4,000 years ago. And it's clear why: garlic is useful in so many dishes and it's easy to grow. You need to plant it in a sunny spot that doesn't get waterlogged, or you can plant it in a wide pot and position it accordingly. How to do it Although possible, it's not recommended to grow your garlic from bulbs bought at the supermarket, as they could have viruses. Garden centres sell disease-free bulbs, or buy from thegarlicfarm.co.uk, a family business based in the Isle of Wight who specialise in the bulbs. Once you have your bulb, gently separate out the cloves. Be careful not to damage them, as…

Veggie pie For a hearty supper, head to the store cupboard to make a pie packed with lentils and vegetables Veggie pie Serves 4 500g ready-made puff pastry 1 egg, whisked 2 × 400g tins green lentils, drained and rinsed 400g tin petit pois and baby carrots, drained and rinsed 400g tin green beans, drained and rinsed 400g tin potato and leek soup 25g plain flour, plus extra for dusting 15g butter, diced 1 tsp dried mixed herbs 1 tsp salt ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper ½ tsp curry powder 1 Preheat the oven to 220C/Fan 200C/Gas 7. Cut the block of pastry in half and roll out one half on a floured work surface to a thickness of about 3mm. Use this to line a 28×20cm baking tray, allowing the pastry to overhang the top lip of the tray.…