Indice dei contenuti per June 2019 in The Simple Things

When people ask me what The Simple Things is about, I always give the same answer: ‘We like to think of it as a handbook for happiness.’ Yes, there are reads and recipes, projects and wisdom, ideas and inspiration, places and people. But the thread that stitches it together is celebrating the things that matter most. So, as you spend some time with this issue, I hope you feel that thread tugging you to connect with the people around you, to be active and get outdoors, to take notice and be curious, to keep learning, to give and be kind. Our purpose is straightforward: to remind you how good life can be when you remember these simple things. No matter where you live or how busy you are, there are…

7 June Woohoo it’s Friday and it’s National Fish & Chip Day, so indulge yourself. Eat them doused in vinegar with a side of mushy peas, preferably outdoors. BUY A BOOK Head to your local book shop during Indie Book Shop Week and catch a special event or simply enjoy a browse and recommenda tion for a special summer read. 15–22 June; indiebookshopweek.org.uk. BARNET IN BLOOM It’s Midsummer’s Day on 24 June and if ever you needed an excuse to make and wear a wild flower crown, this is it. According to Swedish folklore it will bring you good health all year. “Sometimes joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy”Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk WILDLIFE WATCH Help conservationists track…

STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM WHITE CHOCOLATE MUFFINS Makes 12 200g plain flour 1½ tsp baking powder 80g caster sugar 5 tbsp freeze-dried strawberries and a few more to decorate 80g white chocolate chips 1 egg 125ml whole milk 75ml crème fraîche 75g butter, melted ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 Preheat oven to 190C/Fan 170C/Gas 5. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin cases. 2 Sift the flour, baking powder and sugar into a large bowl with a pinch of salt. Stir in the strawberries and 60g of the white chocolate chips. 3 In another bowl, beat the egg, then mix in the milk, crème fraîche, melted butter and vanilla. Tip the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until just combined. The mix should be slightly lumpy, but with no…

Teeny bit of help US high school student Jody Bell has created an online resource to help US-born children and teens whose immigrant parents or guardians may be at risk of deportation. Bell, 16, came up with the idea for In Case of Deportation after hearing the concerns of close friends who were afraid to speak to adults about their fears surrounding deportation. Costa neutral Costa Rica has launched a plan to decarbonise by 2050, with the nation saying it aims to show others what’s possible to address climate change. Environment minister Carlos Manuel Rodríguez said that if the plan succeeds, in 2035 his grandchildren will have the same carbon footprint as his grandparents did in the 1940s – and by 2050 his grandchildren will have none at all.  How…

* There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who 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 vicarious travel. How long have you lived in the city? I moved to Ljubljana 20 years ago to study. Originally, I’m from a small town called Radovljica next to the famous Lake Bled. I moved here at 18 to study, fell in love with the city and never wanted to leave. The thing I remember…

“Savour all that’s great about the North York Moors and Howardian Hills on a self-guided trip” You’ll follow scenic self-guided walks, meet award-winning producers on guided visits by local food experts and eat dinner at some of the area’s best restaurants. This short break from ‘slow holiday’ company Inntravel is rather special, featuring a mixture of leisurely discovery, beautiful scenery, welcoming accommodation and regional cuisine. It savours all that is great about the North York Moors and Howardian Hills – the corner of the county that Inntravel is proud to call home. A group holiday this is not – the four-night itinerary is self-guided, meaning you can book, tailor and enjoy this short break with the companions and dates you choose. Your bags are transported for you, leaving you free…

As late as 2004, Volvo was claiming to have produced the first ‘female-designed’ car at the Geneva Motor Show. But more than 50 years before, a group of ten women on the team at General Motors in the US had also worked together to make their mark on the auto industry. The so-called Damsels of Design were a team of ten who made stylish and thoughtful additions to car interiors, not only with the colours and materials used, but also in terms of making cars work harder for everyone, not just the girls. Light-up mirrors? Not necessary, but appreciated. Safety locks for the kids’ back doors that were operated from the dashboard? Like the retractable seatbelts they also innovated – just the ticket.…

We all know we should be active. But there’s so much stuff that can get in the way: work stuff, life stuff, body stuff… We love Dr Juliet McGrattan because she understands. She was working as a GP when she realised, in her own words, “how powerful exercise was for improving my mental and physical health”. Looking for a way to share her knowledge beyond the consulting room, she began writing and blogging about it. She’s also given us one of the most useful fitness books we’ve ever read. Sorted: The Active Woman’s Guide to Health is an accessible handbook to staying active, whatever your life stage. It’s won awards and you only need to read a few of its (entirely 5* on Amazon) reviews to see how many people…

• Mix and match furniture and accessories from car-boot sales, auctions and bric-à-brac shops. This not only saved us money, but also worked well with the character of our bus. • Keep narrow interior layouts as light and streamlined as possible to give an illusion of space. We lined the walls with panelling and painted them off-white, and designed fitted cupboards to blend with the walls. • Invest in well made accessories. Tough enamelware and quality hand-thrown pottery look great, as do vintage Welsh cushions. • Refurbish original features; they will bring out the intrinsic character and charm of the place.…

CORNFLOWER With thistle-like flowers the colour of a deep-blue sky and trailing associations of wheatfields and butterflies, cornflowers are a distillation of a hazy summer’s day. Scatter a few seeds on a sunny bed or in a container and you bring a little burst of the countryside to your garden. You will also help to conserve this wild flower, almost wiped out by modern farming practices, and once so abundant it was considered a weed. Need to know Cornflowers grow best in poor, well drained soil (think of their natural habitat: barley and wheat fields and the edge of woodland) and flower until the end of summer. Keep picking the flowers to generate new ones. How to grow There is still time to sow seed to enjoy flowers in August…

Oh the joys of a loose, longer skirt on a hot day. No one needs to be constricted by a stiff, fitted garment when the sun is out, and there’s a skip in your step. The feel of soft cotton swishing around your bare calves feels right for summer. Worn with flat sandals and a T-shirt, a midi skirt is liberating, like you’re channelling a Californian hippie hitching a ride on a long, dusty highway with flowers in your hair. Unlike a pencil skirt, a midi skirt – the hem of which sits a little below the knee, hitting the widest part of your calf – allows movement. Wearing one, you can run, dance, throw interesting shapes, or sit comfortably cross-legged on the grass without showing your knickers. It looks…

1 Make The best way to create something truly distinctive is to make it yourself. Purchase a roll of lining paper and experiment with a few stencils or even with painting freehand. Or paint a wall in a single colour, and draw a blossomy bough over a bed. Alternatively, sign up for a wallpaper workshop, above, run by designer Louise Body in St Leonards-on-Sea, and learn how to hand-print wallpaper or fabric by block printing using your own design carved into lino.louisebody.com 2 Buy Wallpaper is having a moment with a new wave of independent designers creating desirable wall coverings. Abigail Edwards’ hand-designed wallpaper and fabric is influenced by nature and fairy tales. Her Secret Garden wallpaper, above, (£89 a roll, abigailedwards.com) is inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s book and…

There’s something nice about being able to lean out of the window and pick a handful of salad leaves or snip a few edible flowers. If you have no outside space there is still plenty you can grow on window sills. Even if you have a garden, how convenient to have herbs and leaves literally outside the kitchen door. The key to a successful harvest from these exposed, shallow, containers is to grow crops that suit them. Luckily, as well as those mentioned here, there are plenty of them; trailing tomatoes, radishes, strawberries, chillies and herbs all thrive in windowboxes. Edible flowers Growing a few flowers alongside your fruit and vegetables is always a good idea, not only because they look beautiful but because they lure pollinating insects. When they…

• Last month the UK passed one week without using coal power for the first time since 1882. • Sales of fossil-fuelled vehicles are on the decline in the world’s largest auto markets: China, US and Europe, as electric-powered vehicles grow in popularity. • 75% of US coal production now costs more than solar and wind in providing households with electricity. • The UK government aims to triple the number of employees in offshore wind farms by 2030. LOTS LIES BENEATH… Declared biologically dead in the 1950s, the river Thames is now a “hub of life”, says conservation charity ZSL and a “shining example of how wildlife can be brought back from the brink”. It is calling on people to pay attention to what’s going on beneath the surface of…

INGA BATUR and her husband Nikica enjoy adventures with their daughters, Stela and Tesa. They share tips on family travel on their award-winning blog, coolkidzcooltrips.com. Inga provides the words and Nikica takes the photographs. Favourite cafés CAFETINO A small café, with a range of coffees from around the world. cafetino.si Favourite gallery KRESIJA GALLERY A small gallery in the city centre with free admission, featuring different Slovenian artists and projects the city is involved in. Stritarjeva ulica, 6 Favourite place to eat OPEN KITCHEN Our favourite stall is from a Chinese restaurant in our old neighbourhood. Pogačarjev trg Favourite markets CENTRAL MARKET Where you can buy all kinds of food and local produce. Pogačarjev trg Best ice-cream parlour VIGO A great selection of ice cream, which they make in front…

GENTLE GOAT’S MILK SOAP, £5.50, 115g All soaps from this small-batch company are palm-oil free and vegetarian. Ideal for sensitive skin, this bar has no natural colourants or essentials oils. allnaturalsoap.co.uk ASH SOAP, £12.50, 100g This bar is a mix of untreated charcoal ‘to draw out impurities’, olive and coconut oils, plus vetiver and mandarin essential oils. feldspar.studio EXFOLIATING SEAWEED BLOCK, £4, 80g A vegan-friendly soap made from British seaweed, plus crushed coriander seeds and peppercorns, aloe vera and tea tree oil. haeckels.co.uk BLACK POPPY & WILD FIG BAR, £7, 125g Made by a social enterprise which trains the visually impaired, disabled or people otherwise disadvantaged. Poppy seeds aid exfoliation, mixed with olive and coconut oils and cocoa butter. thesoapco.org VETIVER SOAP, £4, 125g Savonnerie Artisanale references traditional soap making…

Foraged crops are free, abundant and flavourful. All you need do is get yourself to a good spot at the right time, basket and secateurs in hand, and you have some of the best crops available. Through the foraging seasons of spring, summer and autumn, we’ll show you where to find these crops, how to pick them, and ways to turn them into delicious dishes. THE MONTH OF JUNE The days are long and warm. It’s a good time to pack up a picnic and get yourself to the seaside, but samphire – one of the year’s foraging highlights – makes a trip to the coast even more tempting. Searching for samphire will not make for a typical beach visit, however, as you’re unlikely to find it in the same…

Mumbai toasties These Indian-inspired toasted sarnies are packed with spiced potatoes, cheddar, coriander and mint – it’s a far cry from your standard ham and cheese. For the cut-out-and-keep recipe, see over the page. Mumbai toasties Makes2 2–3 tbsp ghee or vegetable ghee 1 tsp cumin seeds 10 curry leaves 1 onion, finely chopped 2–3 green chillies, sliced 1 tbsp garlic and ginger paste 1 tsp chilli powder (optional) ½ tsp ground turmeric 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed 3 tbsp chopped coriander 150ml mint and coriander sauce 4 pieces of white bread 4 slices of Cheddar 8 slices each of tomato, cucumber, red pepper and red onion Butter, for frying FOR THE SAUCE 2 tsp cumin seeds 1 large bunch each fresh mint and coriander, about 100g each 6 green…

Maker of the month Heather Scott’s furniture uses clean lines and simple profiles brilliantly The simple beauty of Japanese and Dutch styles can be seen in Cornwall-based furniture maker Heather Scott’s designs. Heather’s childhood was filled with Lego, Meccano and Scalextrics. Her first project, at age 14, was a house that she built for her chickens. Her latest work has seen her combine wood and steel. Highlights include her Stranger Table & Benches (from £550), stylish Observer Shelves (£180, pictured) and a hand-turned, solid timber Toast Plate (£45). heatherscott.org.uk Sleuth talking Susannah Stapleton investigates The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective Aptly subtitled ‘Secrets and Lies in The Golden Age of Crime’, this tells the hugely entertaining story of Maud West, who shrugged off the expectations of society and set…

It’s never easy being eco in business. But there are companies out there genuinely trying to make a difference, addressing issues of waste, innovating with their suppliers to reduce their impact on the planet and sourcing sustainably where they can. Over the page two businesses we admire tell us more “A love of organic is at the heart of everything we do” Abel & Cole is committed to food sourced from organic farms. Ed Ayton from Abel & Cole’s Green Team explains How did it all start? It was 30 years ago (aah, the 80s!) that Keith Abel ditched law for veg and never looked back. He started with a bag of spuds, selling door to door. Before long, a chap called Bernard Gauvier, who we still work with today,…

Human beings have been making wine for millennia. Archaeological evidence from China suggests wine-making dates as far back as 9000 BCE, and from Georgia in the Caucasus, shards of pottery dating from 8000BCE were discovered to be harbouring residues of an ancient vintage. The making, sharing and drinking of wine is rich with symbolism. It is woven into religious rites, from the ancient Greek cult of Dionysus to the Christian Eucharist. Brimming goblets glow on the canvases of the world’s great artists, and wine drips from the pages of our most-revered writers, from the ‘wine-dark sea’ of Homer’s Iliad, to the ‘draught of vintage… cool’d a long age in the deep-delved earth’ that Keats longed for in his ‘Ode to a Nightingale’. There is a wonderful kind of poetry in…

• Organic wine is produced to the organic standards of the country of origin, generally grapes grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers. They also have a lower level of sulphites – chemicals used as preservatives, which can cause headaches, or even allergic reactions. Some add no sulphites. • Biodynamic growing has a small but increasing following among commercial winemakers. It starts with organic methods but goes further. Growers use the lunar calendar to prune, harvest and time applications of preparations such as fermented cow manure, which is stirred into rainwater before being sprayed on the soil. • Vegan and vegetarian wines are made without animal products used to clarify and filter, such as egg white, milk casein, gelatine or isinglass (from fish).…

“One wall covered with a bold flower paper will avoid mimsiness” In a perfect world we would all come skipping in from the garden with a trug full of home-grown blooms and arrange them artfully in generous vases. Back in the real world, however, it’s more a case of treating ourselves to a bunch on the way home from work and sticking them in a jug. Nothing is as lovely as a vase of cut flowers but if you aren’t fortunate enough to have the budget to buy them regularly, or a garden bursting with blooming borders, decorating with florals instead could help deliver the necessary horticultural boost. Nature, of course, has all the best designs so it’s little wonder that designers return to it over and over for inspiration.…

Even though I live in a flat, my decorative style could be called ‘country cottage’ ie the more flowers the better, whether they are in a vase or on wallpaper, cushions, etc. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is more Scandi in his approach to decoration. We are about to move in together – have you any tips on achieving interior design harmony? Answer in brief: take a rain check on the chintz and embrace crisp Scandi design instead for the best of both worlds. Fortunately, many Scandinavian designers, with their love of the outdoors and the summer months, are also enthusiasts of flora and fauna. However, unlike the UK tradition of flowery chintzes and sprigged prettiness, the Scandis tend to go for a more geometric, stylised take on natural…

By necessity, long, thin and shallow, windowboxes tend to dry out quickly and it can be challenging to keep them well watered in hot weather. They may need watering twice a day (early in the morning and evening) especially if they are on a windy ledge in full sun. If you have a ledge that is open to rainfall, that will help but it’s still worth adding a handful of water-retaining crystals to boxes in summer to keep the compost moist. Soil-based composts tend to dry out more slowly than multi-purpose ones, so these are worth considering – or use a compost that contains wool, as these retain water better. Mulching the surface reduces water loss through evaporation. Slate chippings look great, and gravel or wood chips also work. Boxes…

“It’s best to think of my checklist as helpful tool rather than a set of rules, you don’t need to tick each box every time you do something,” says James. “Some will come more naturally to you than others yet, no matter how obvious it may seem, each point has its role to play. Using the list should help you bring some of the things that are missing back into your life.” STORY Experiences give us stories, stories give us conversation, conversation creates connection, connection leads to relationships and relationships lead to happiness. So when it comes to spending free time well, experiences count. TRANSFORMATION This is about realising our potential, becoming the person we want to be, living the life we want to live. It means becoming a better…

Swallowtail Hindwing resembles a swallow’s tail. It’s rare in the UK, though, so head to the Norfolk Broads to spot this beauty. Crimson rose Stop at the red. The crimson colour of this Indian and Sri Lankan native indicates to predators that it’s not for eating. Dead leaf So called because of its nifty camouflage trick, with underwings that are every bit as appealing as a dead leaf. Malachite Less totally tropical, more totally rancid, as this South American butterfly enjoys to feast on the juice of rotting fruit. Orange-tip Found in pastures and woodlands from Europe to Asia. Here’s a tip: you’ll only find the orange markings on the male. Painted lady A well travelled lady, migrating more than 8,000 miles and found on every continent bar South America…

Joyous Sound Van Morrison At the Café Rendezvous Peggy Lee Cemetry Gates The Smiths Meet Me on the Corner Lindisfarne Le Rendez Vous Manu Chao Waiting on a Friend The Rolling Stones Rendez-vu Basement Jaxx Disco 2000 Pulp Me and Mrs. Jones Billy Paul Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis Judy Garland Meet Me in the Morning Everything But The Girl Museum Donovan Fancy Meeting You Here Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby Downtown Train Tom Waits Club at the End of the Street Elton John Meet Me at The Copa Frank Sinatra Listen at thesimplethings.com/blog/meetingupplaylist…

The island of Mallorca inspired Gudrun Sjödén’s new collection, its designs reflecting the climate, history and gardens of this beautiful Balearic destination. Lush gardens, wild cacti and a trip to the Joan Miró Foundation are at the heart of the vibrant summer collection. Rendered in warm Mediterranean hues, these designs are just right for holidays, lazy days in the garden, or brightening a stroll around town. TRAVELLING THE WORLD Gudrun Sjödén is one of Scandinavia’s most successful and distinctive designers. In fact, it’s become a cult brand for women around the world, who look for sustainability and a story behind the clothes they wear. With the latest collection, as always, Gudrun Sjödén has focused on using sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, linen and lyocell. GARDEN OF IDEAS My travels…

The world’s first malaria vaccine has been launched in sub-Saharan Africa. The large-scale pilot, which the World Health Organization says could prevent some of the 250,000 child deaths each year from malaria, has begun in Malawi. New York City Council has passed a law requiring all new buildings – residential or commercial – to have a roof with either plants, solar panels, wind turbines, or a mix of all three. It also applies to buildings having significant renovations. of people in the UK would be willing to pay more for eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging, according to a YouGov survey. Some 46% of people feel guilty about the amount of plastic they use, the research found. * These articles have been written by our friends at Positive News, the magazine for good journalism…

We are not symmetrical, heart to the left, appendix off centre, and you will see one of my ears, if you look closely, is unlike, and my hair falls more one way and will not be retrained. We are not spheres, nor billiard balls, and mirrors must not be trusted. We are programmed, they tell us, to assess each other’s faces half by half, and if one certain half is beautiful, then so’s the whole, especially women to men. O evolution, you look at us sideways, slant. Is my half-face, the face I turn to you, why you say you love me? Or, would it be true with your eyes shut, my eyes shut too? About the author Formerly a science journalist, Tania Hershman is now a poet, teacher, a…

Start looking at instructions on how to make your own soap and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. It can be much more straightforward than it initially appears. Most recipes use one of two methods: cold-process or melt-and-pour. Cold-process is the more advanced method, where the maker has much more freedom about the ingredients that go into it, but takes longer and requires working with lye, which is potentially dangerous if not handled properly. A simpler way to get a taste for soap-making is using melt-and-pour. This is a pre-made soap base, available from the likes of hobbycraft.co.uk, which you can then customise to your taste: • To use, you simply melt down the base, using either a microwave or a bain-marie on the stove top, stirring as you go. When…

Minnie Palmer was the first woman to own and drive her own car in the UK, back in 1897. Car companies have jostled to sell to women ever since, and had varying degrees of success with their ‘thoughtful touches’. From the flower vase in a VW Beetle (fun) to the ‘handbag hook’ in Volvo’s XC40 (essential for takeaway curries). In 2016, when Seat trumpeted the launch of its Mii Cosmopolitan with ‘eyeliner headlights’ as a car specially for women, Twitter erupted. “Does it also have holders for my tampons?” was one of the more polite put-downs. It seems that on the road, as in life, we just want to be equal.…

A desire to live off-grid and raise their three girls surrounded by nature led Layla and Rob Robinson to move to the Welsh borders near Hay-on-Wye in April 2008. As the children grew, so the need for more space for the family and visitors became more apparent. The couple also wanted a project that would bring extra income to subsidise their work during quieter patches. A vintage 1968 Bedford Panorama bus, spotted on Ebay, got them thinking. It could be the answer: not just as an extension to their home but also as a place to run as a holiday let. Without hesitating, they put in a bid and bought the bus from family-run coach firm Brodyr Williams in Upper Tumble, near Carmarthen, in Wales. A haulage contractor brought the…

Legs Also called ‘tears’, these are the lines of wine that run down the side of the glass after swirling. Thicker, more viscous ‘legs’ often indicate a higher alcohol content. On the nose What the wine smells like when you swirl it then stick your nose in the glass. Dumb A wine that is not ‘expressive’ – ie, it lacks aroma. The wine could be over-chilled, while some ‘dumb’ wines are immature and need time in the bottle to develop their character. Oaked Ageing in oak barrels – or with oak chips – adds body to many wines and has a distinctive and easy-to-spot influence on aroma. Think vanilla, butter, cream – even coconut or banana! Body The richness and density of the wine’s flavour. More body is not necessarily…

Pinot noir Notorious for its capricious nature – it demands precisely the right conditions before it will flourish – pinot noir nevertheless remains one of the most important red grapes in the world because it can make such exceptional wine. Relatively delicate, with gentle tannins and characteristic red berry and cherry flavours, it is used to make the great reds of Burgundy, and is one of the three principal grapes (along with chardonnay and pinot meunier) used for Champagne. Best suited to cooler climates, pinot noir is also the most widely planted grape in English vineyards – used for many years to make sparkling whites, it is central to the exciting new genre of English red wine too. Grenache Also called garnacha, this is an old, widely planted red variety…

Swathe the home with fabric Or at least add a few cushions, those instant sofa-refreshers. Dig around in the remnants box in the soft furnishing floor at department stores for appealing floral fabric off-cuts. And if your sofa is looking shabby, now might be the time to reupholster. More expensive but a source of delight in your living room. Make time for tea Come over all Lady of the Manor and serve tea from a teapot, poured into bone china cups and saucers decorated with floral sprigs. Buck the trend for plain glazed ceramic tableware and dig around in charity shops for rose-covered, fluted tea sets with gold rims. Have a gathering coming up but not sure you want to commit? Hire an afternoon tea set from bettylovesvintage.co.uk, from £49…

When Tutankhamun died at the tender age of 18, in 1323 BCE, he was buried with enough clothes to last him his entire afterlife, including piles of loincloths, tunics, kilts, shawls, socks and gloves. Just like a modern wardrobe, while some of these clothes were fairly quotidien, a selection were gorgeously fancy. Among the clothes and other textiles were a number of items that had been painstakingly appliquéd, including a faux leopard skin with appliqué spots, a pair of wings appliquéd with a falcon and vultures, and child’s tunic with an appliqué collar. Appliqué is a technique that involves stitching smaller cut-outs onto a larger foundation cloth. The term ‘appliqué’ comes from the French appliquer, ‘to apply’ or ‘to put on’, and it’s tempting to think that appliqué must have…

British seaside breaks are always a gamble, but sometimes bad weather can go in your favour, forcing you to slow down and do things a little differently. A clifftop walk becomes a morning swim or massage and a to-do list of sights can be traded in for some quality time with your book. It can be hard to switch from busy to doing nothing much but a really good hotel with just enough to do to keep everybody entertained makes it a lot easier. Whilst the wild beauty of north Cornwall beckoned, Storm Gareth had other ideas and this became a weekend for swimming, soaking in the hot tub, playing games and reading, interspersed with a few blustery gulps of fresh air. We’ll definitely be back to walk the coastal…

“Okay, Gran, ready?” Esther smiled as Anna helped her from the car. She looked like the love child of a sailor, Esther thought, and a Disney mermaid. Her hair was electric blue, blunt-fringed and tied with gingham to match her pedal pushers. A 50s look – rockabilly. Her tattoos brought the sailor to mind, of course, but there’d always been a seaside air to Anna, freedom and fresh air: you could imagine her on a rock, sunning her tail. They weren’t by the sea, though. When Anna suggested they go away together – she’d had her heart broken again – Esther thought of Cornwall; they’d sit on the beach, eat fish and chips. But Anna shook her head: “Would you trust me to arrange a surprise?” “With you, love,” she’d…