Indice dei contenuti per May 2022 in The Simple Things

Sit outside at dusk to listen to the birds calling as they go to bed Make a ‘mix-tape’ or playlist of special songs and send it to a friend Spend an afternoon at a lake or river, messing about in boats Join a community choir (or start singing in the shower if you don’t fancy an audience) These are just a few things that make our hearts sing. Add your own ideas below. Sometimes you have to make your own kind of music.…

Bookshop browse BEYOND GRIEF The Year Of Miracles: Recipes About Love + Grief + Growing Things by Ella Risbridger ➛The Year of Miracles is a gorgeous book; there’s delicious, accessible recipes for on-the-hoof suppers, fancy fish pies, picnics in the park and Sunday morning pancakes, but it’s also a celebration of life and all it has to offer. Ella, still grieving the death of her beloved boyfriend, heads into a year of unexpected wonders; a year given over to the company and comfort of good friends, the pleasures of starting a make-shift garden and growing from scratch and the unlooked for joy of falling in love again. It’s beautifully written, filled with warmth, wit and wisdom. This is a book to cook with, but also one to cherish for its…

*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, but for now just sit back, relax and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the city? I’ve been in Osaka for two and a half years. It’s often overlooked and visitors generally head to Kyoto and Tokyo when visiting Japan, but I love it, particularly exploring its backstreets and sights. Where are you from and what brought you to Osaka? I was born and raised in Slovakia, but after finishing uni, my husband…

1066 William the Conqueror puts up palisades around common land removing common access rights. 1884 The first freedom to roam bill is brought to parliament. 1932 400 ramblers join the Kinder Scout trespass protesting for greater access to the moorlands. 1949 The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act passed, resulting in 15 UK National Parks. 1953 The battle to free Kinder Scout is finally won: The Duke of Devonshire signs over 5,624 acres to the Peak District National Park. 2000 The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act is implemented – allowing open access to certain areas of England and Wales. 2003 Scotland introduces an expansive right to roam as part of the Land Reform Act, subject to specific exclusions and behaviours. 2021 New legislation expands the definition…

A LENGTHY HISTORY Even in these days of machine-washable, mass-produced textiles, we can (often) gauge the tone of an occasion by the kind of cloth (or lack of it) on the table. Vintage chintz sheets say bridal; burlap runners over undyed linen signal a rustic country wedding; checked oilcloth is a classic for a backyard barbecue. Floor-length white, and you’re probably looking at the kind of fancy restaurant that uses a crumb sweep between courses. Medieval diners would be horrified at our casual attitude toward table linens. For knights and their ladies, good linen was a sign of good breeding. Eating on a bare table was for the peasants. If you could afford it (and maybe even if you couldn’t), your table would be covered by a white cloth and…

Hen-friendly: • Lavender – an insect repellent with calming properties • Nasturtium – great for chicken health with antiseptic properties • Rosemary – smells lovely when your chickens dust bath nearby • Sage – a good herb for general health and isn’t eaten too quickly • Oregano – being studied as a natural antibiotic for poultry (a superfood in the chicken world!) • Fennel – attracts insects for hens to eat • Sunflowers – dried seed heads make great boredom busters • Thyme – good for chickens’ respiratory health To avoid: • Bulbs – tulips and daffodils • Foxgloves – all parts are toxic • Green parts of the nightshade family – be careful growing potatoes around hens • Rhubarb leaves – oxalic acid can cause liver damage • Beans…

“The utility room was the first part of the house we renovated and some simple changes made a big difference. The room had no natural light and, rather than fight this, we embraced it by choosing a dark colour for the walls and soft, warm white for the woodwork. Originally the room had wall cupboards, multicoloured tiles and a dark granite-effect worktop. We were working to a tight budget and saved by getting the sink, worktop and tap from eBay. We also made the doors for the sink unit from MDF and now it’s a lovely calm space.” Jess Jackson, Tiverton, Devon@figtree.farm “This room has been a godsend in terms of its function, however, the lily-pad tiles and the overall design mean it doesn’t turn into a room where you…

➛ Calmness, a connection to the natural world, ingredients that are organic and cruelty free and a sustainable sense of comfort are the cornerstones of Weleda’s ethos. Here, in a book that celebrates a century of Weleda, Emine Rushton extols the value of self care – from body brushing, to stress-free sleepful nights; and describes how to use common plants and herbs to make beneficial beauty products, from nourishing moisturisers made with pot marigolds to a restorative eye bright compress for screen weary eyes. Holistic and wholesome, the book is brimful of rituals and natural remedies to savour and soothe. (Vermillion)…

How to post a cake so that it arrives in one piece Posting bars, cakes, cookies and confectionery is easier than you think. Baker and author Lucy Burton shares her foolproof ways to ensure your baking can travel well. SHELF LIFE This blondie, if wrapped in airtight packaging, will keep for 2 weeks. To post a cake there needs to be no elements, such as cream, that require fridge storage. Blondies and brownies can be sent with standard delivery, but anything with a shorter shelf life should be sent next day delivery. PACKAGING • Choosing your box The key to ensuring that items travel safely is to post them in a box as close in size to the wrapped item as possible. Empty space facilitates movement in transit, and it’s movement…

Favourite shop TOWER KNIVES Sells Japanese knives of the highest quality, and you can even get the blade engraved.towerknives.com Favourite bookshop HIRAKATA T-SITE A multi-floor department store dedicated to books and lifestyle goods. The most amazing feature is the 7m tall bookshelf. store.tsite.jp/hirakata/ Favourite galleries KAMIGATA UKIYOE MUSEUM This intimate gallery near Dotonbori showcases ukiyo-e – Japanese woodblock prints and painting. Exhibitions are changed every few months, so there’s always something new. kamigata.jp/ NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ART OSAKA The museum’s exhibition halls are hidden underground, but the entrance is decorated with a structure that represents a bamboo plant. nmao.go.jp/en Favourite café SPOONBILL A lovely café and flower shop in one. Serves delicious coffee, beautiful cakes and light meals. spoon-bill.jp Favourite restaurant MITSUKA BOSE RAMEN The best ramen in Osaka! My…

MAIN EVENT Wild garlic butter risotto with griddled asparagus DESSERT Rosy strawberry crumble NEXT DAY Arancini with asparagus stalk arrabbiata FREEZER Almond shortbread with rose sugar, wild garlic butter PANTRY Strawberry shrub; Rose sugar; Breadcrumbs Home economics needn’t mean stretching the monthly budget while being tied to the stove – but it can mean a new approach to the way we plan our meals. Reviving age-old wisdom about household management means deeply valuing all our resources: our time, ingredients and the money we invest in them. And it makes us feel good, too.…

1982 Born in west Berkshire 2001 Studies English at Cambridge University 2004 Co-founds Meat magazine with best mate, winning two Guardian Student Media Awards 2004 Art Foundation at London College of Communication (LCC) 2010 Moves back home to Berkshire to write first graphic novel 2011 First political cartoon appears in The Guardian. The same year, an encounter with a gamekeeper prompts an interest in trespass 2011 Publishes first of four graphic novels, The Rime of the Modern Mariner 2020 Launches the Right to Roam campaign with Guy Shrubsole 2020 Publishes The Book of Trespass: Crossing the Lines that Divide Us (Bloomsbury) creating support for his Right to Roam campaign 2021 134,000 people sign his Don’t Criminalise Trespass petition. Nick describes the resulting debate in parliament as “a pointless pantomime” and…

TV crews can gain access to the parts mere mortals cannot reach, providing exclusive tours of Britain’s busiest and boldest buildings. • Go beyond the Duty Free to explore a heaving transport hub in Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport (ITV Hub). • Tour some of Britain’s biggest factories, producing anything from malt loaf to mugs, on Inside the Factory (BBCiPlayer). • Or vicariously enjoy how the other half holidays in Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby (BBCiPlayer). • Secrets of the Museum, meanwhile, takes you to the V&A’s back rooms, to see how artefacts are acquired, stored and restored (BBCiPlayer).…

Leah Larwood, hypnotherapist and lucid dreaming coach (themoonlab.net), suggests three techniques for creating an ideal dream environment. • Before you go to sleep… Keep a dream journal by your bed. Before you turn off your lights, note down the specific problem you’re seeking help with. • As you drift off… As you are settled in bed, relax your body and listen to your breathing. If you find this difficult, Leah recommends listening to a guided meditation. Bring your question to mind and repeat it in your head as many times as possible as you fall asleep. • When you wake up… As soon as you wake up, recall your dream and write it down in your diary. Did it provide any insight into your problem? Don’t feel frustrated if the answer isn’t obvious,…

MARINA TABASSUM calls her work “architecture of relevance”, designing homes for displaced people, refugees, and those affected by climate change, challenges all too visible in her home country of Bangladesh. Her most recent work is temporary, modular and mobile, a far cry from the high towers and grand façades that often come to mind when we think about great architecture. Not that she hasn’t designed her fair share of outstanding buildings. She created the Bait Ur Rauf mosque in Bangladesh’s capital city of Dhaka, noted for its absence of the typical Islamic symbols in an attempt to make it a more open space for the spiritually curious. But it’s her humancentric designs of low-cost Khudi Bari (which means Tiny House) for families affected by flooding in the Ganges delta, and…

20TH-CENTURY CLOTHS You may not have a linen cupboard to rival that of the Hons in The Pursuit of Love (as modelled on the one in Nancy Mitford’s childhood home, Asthall Manor), but chances are you’ve got a stash of your own precious cloths, the kind given as wedding gifts. Passed through generations, they may feel too precious to risk a gravy staining. Thankfully, a raft of colourful, more everyday designs became available. Tablecloth embroidery kits flourished in the 1920s and 30s. Even during WW2, Needlewoman and Needlecraft told its readers: ‘If you possess a plain piece of linen or even a plain tablecloth, don’t leave it as such. Embroider it and make it a thing of beauty.’ Cheap printed cotton tablecloths could impart the latest fashions, whether cottage florals…

Not only can you gaze out across Whitley Bay, which is just a stone’s throw from Caroline Briggs’ Edwardian home, but you can sit by the window and watch dolphins play in the sea, losing hours to the view, even on the rainiest of days. A life-long city girl, Caroline was considering a switch to the suburbs before a day trip to the seaside opened up the possibility of a life by the ocean. Having lived and studied in London for many years, Caroline moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne with her husband Dan, living in his flat while they looked for a family home. “We spent weekends exploring the suburbs around the city, but nothing ticked all the boxes. Then I took my sister and young son for a day out at…

THIS MONTH WE READ THE SUNNY NIHILIST BY WENDY SYFRET In a nutshell In a world where we feel the need to assign meaning to everything, author Wendy Syfret is suggesting an alternative approach, which has offered her a more peaceful and happy outlook. Sunny nihilism is a more optimistic version of nihilism (the belief that life is ultimately meaningless), one where you can just enjoy pointless things without worrying that everything in life needs to have some greater meaning or purpose. What’s behind it? You’re constantly reminded on social media to ‘live your best life’ and ‘make every day matter’. It’s a lot of pressure, says Syfret. What if today – or even your life – doesn’t actually matter that much? Her lightbulb moment came while working in a…

Some weekends away are all about familiarity and relaxing in a place you know well but others are about leaving your comfort zone and trying something new. For me, this Weleda Wellbeing Weekend fell firmly in the latter category. Full disclosure: I’m a newbie to yoga and meditation, a confirmed carnivore and my skincare routine barely qualifies. BUT my pledge for 2022 was to try new things and not stop learning. I like Weleda’s largely organic, medicinal plant-based products and, to celebrate their 100th anniversary they’ve launched a series of seasonal, three-night weekend retreats near their Derbyshire HQ, along with a ‘signature’ treatment. With the promise of ‘time to connect with nature’ (much more my thing), I packed my bag (including emergency crisps) and headed to the Peak District. Where…

My daughter has a head of ginger ringlets, and that’s why she wants to be Annie. It bothers me sometimes. “She’s an orphan,” I say, tugging her curls. “Is that what you want?” “No ” she replies grinning. “I just really like the story.” She also wants the dog, Sandy, but I keep telling her we can’t, not in our flat, with its tiny fourth-floor balcony, and me working all hours. Where did the ringlets come from, and the ginger? That’ll be her dad. Mine is lank, straight and mousy. Her hair is a conflagration, a reminder of a short and fiery relationship I’d rather forget. Yet here she is, my Annie – actually it’s Evie. Not what I planned, or wanted at the time, but she’s brought me so…

Every morning I wake up and play a game in my head: I look outside to see the first bird of my day. Often it’s the resident blackbird in the garden, looking at me with his orange-rimmed eyes, or a robin singing his heart out in the apple tree. I might spy a starling on the roof or a crow flying past the window. Sometimes more unlikely birds are my first bird: a rosy chested linnet as I walk across farmland; a raven twisting in the wind; a skylark hovering high above me, lighting up the countryside with its song. During May, I look forward to the silhouettes of swifts wheeling across the rooftops, bringing summer with them. I’ve played this game for years. Although simple, it helped me carve…

Can you tell us a bit about what you do? Vanessa worked in the shoe industry and we’re both keen gardeners. We felt there weren’t any lovely gardening shoes out there – so we created our own. What’s your daily work routine? We live about 60 miles apart in Cheshire and Shropshire and often text each other first thing to talk about the day’s tasks. Breakfast happens about mid-morning, always featuring a cup of tea: an Earl Grey for Vanessa and a strong ‘builder's’ for Justine. Working from home is great, but can lead to being distracted by the garden... What does tea break look like? We both have chairs that look out over our gardens, so we might sit and think about jobs for the garden, and maybe plan…

I singof the beauty of Athenswithout its slaves Of a world freeof kings and queensand other remnantsof an arbitrary past Of earthwith nosharp northor deep southwithout blind curtainsor iron walls Of the endof warlords and armoriesand prisons of hate and fear Of deserts treeingand fruitingafter the quickening rains Of the sunradiating ignoranceand stars informingnights of unknowing I sing of a world reshaped. About the author: Poet Niyi Osundare was born in Nigeria in 1947. His work, grounded in the oral poetry tradition of his Yoruba culture, champions free speech, creativity and political activism – all beautifully illustrated by this poem; angry, beautiful and hopeful. I Sing of Change, from Pages From the Book of the Sun, is printed with the permission of the publisher, Africa World Press, and the author,…

Today, the sun is shining, and on his Thames houseboat, Nick Hayes is in the mood for a swim. “I’m lucky, I can jump into the river any time I want,” he smiles. Wild swimming and kayaking are among Nick’s favourite ways to relax, and two of the many ways of enjoying nature that he wants to be accessible to more people. For while you might think you can hop into your nearest river for an innocent dip, paddle board or canoe ride, it’s almost certain that in doing so in England you’d be trespassing. As Nick explains, “We’ve access to only 8% of our land and 3% of our waterways. The rest is privately owned.” Being known as a trespasser may seem a world away from Nick’s day job…

ROSEMARY RUM SPRITZ Rosemary and red wine syrup makes this cocktail aromatic and complex rather than sticky and sweet. Makes 1 7.5ml red wine syrup 2 rosemary sprigs, plus one to garnish 45ml three-year-old rum 60ml pink grapefruit juice Ice cubes Soda water, to top up FOR THE RED WINE SYRUP: 100ml red wine 100g caster sugar YOU WILL NEED: Pan, funnel, cocktail shaker, muddler and strainer 1 To make the red wine syrup, place the wine and sugar in a pan, stir well and heat gently to a simmer (do not boil). Keep stirring until the sugar has fully dissolved then remove from the heat. Leave to cool before using a funnel to pour the mixture into a clean glass bottle (you can store this in the fridge for…

You don’t have to step inside a building for a behind-the-scenes experience. A walking tour will tell you the stories behind the façades. That red brick office building was once a Georgian garrison, that chi-chi food hall a Victorian asylum… Pick your interest — industrial heritage, pubs, ghosts, LGBTQ+ history — and your location and you’re off. Guided tours promise extra personality and the chance to ask questions of an experienced guide. London Walks (walks.com) employs everyone from Shakespearean actors, to barristers and doctors – while digitised versions let you explore at will.…

Dreams can often seem like a stream of random imagery. Ian Wallace says the key to decoding them is identifying why those images are important and what they represent in life. • An image of a person is you exploring a valuable aspect of your character. The quality you associate with that person is the characteristic you can develop yourself. • A place connects you to a specific situation in your waking life, one where you have the resourcefulness to increase your self-worth and awareness. • Dreaming of an object connects to an ability you possess that can be used in your personal development. • An image of an event represents an opportunity to take positive action. • Dream animals represent your instincts and creativity, solving problems using your experience…

Judging equality When Radwa Helmi made her debut in court a couple of days before International Women’s Day this year, she became the first woman ever to take a seat at the bench of Egypt’s top court. It’s a sign of change and a significant symbol of progress towards gender equality in Egypt. Sheer endurance Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost vessel, The Endurance, which carried the Antarctic explorer through the Weddell Sea has been found after 107 years. Considered the most challenging shipwreck search ever, its discovery was the work of years and extensive collaboration, adding a new story to the canon of inspiring polar expeditions. One big family tree If you go back far enough, we’re all related, and researchers from the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute are proving…

DOWN TO A TEA TOWEL A bit of garden inspiration, with this bee-utiful design. Got your planting sorted? Then simply turn to our Identifier on p123 to see what type of bees you've brought to your yard. £11, mintandmay.co.uk MATCHBOXES PUZZLE “The only thing better than singing is more singing”Ella Fitzgerald :-) The first computer use of the smiley emoticon belongs to a university professor in 1982, trying to show sarcasm in his messaging. However, these simple lines have appeared much further back: on a Hittite pot, from about 4,000 years ago. The PRACTICAL, the PLAYFUL and the SILLY The cucumber isn't just cool, it's also very handy. PRACTICAL: The cleaning tool you didn’t know you needed. Wipe over a…

LOS CABALLOS DEL VINO (WINE HORSES), SPAIN Among the many early May celebrations that happen across Europe, Caravaca de la Cruz, in Murcia, southeastern Spain, has its ‘wine horses’. This event takes place on 2 May, as part of three days of celebration every year. It’s a parade of horses through the town. Each horse is bedecked for the occasion in lavish hand-embellished robes of silk and gold thread and is accompanied by their own singing and carousing supporters. Later, echoing a story with its roots in the Middle Ages, all 60 horses race uphill to the Basilica of Vera Cruz. It’s not only the fastest horse honoured, but also the best-dressed one, too – it’s beloved by UNESCO for the skills required in both categories, which have been handed…

Sauerkraut and herb potato salad Make the most of new potatoes with this fresh and herby spud salad. No mayo necessary. Serves 4–6 750g new potatoes, quartered 1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped 1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 tbsp red wine vinegar (or cider vinegar) ½ tsp sea salt ½ tsp freshly-ground black pepper 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 heaped tsp dijon mustard 2 tsp honey (or agave) 100g sauerkraut, roughly chopped ½ tsp caraway seeds, crushed ½ bunch of dill A few mint or tarragon sprigs 1 Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and place the potatoes in the pan. Cook for around 15 mins, or until tender. Drain and leave to steam dry for around 5 mins. 2…