The Simple Thingsの July 2023 の目次

As the sun goes over the yardarm (which technically means elevenses, but let's call it 6pm), there's nothing nicer than a cold beer and a plate of home-grown veg –radishes, peas in their sweet pods, carrots, raw baby broad beans, cucumber wedges. Serve with a small pile of flaky sea salt and a bowl of easy-peasy mayonnaisey. By hand or in a blender, whisk two egg yolks before adding 2 tbsp white wine vinegar and then slowly whisking in 250ml sunflower oil and 125ml olive oil, a few drops at a time. This will begin to thicken, making a glossy mayonnaise. Season with flaky sea salt and a good grind of black pepper. Decant into a jam jar and pop in the fridge for a few hours. When you're ready…

MEADOWSWEET CUSTARD TART Serves 8 75g unsalted butter 150g plain flour Pinch of sea salt 50g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting Zest of 1 lemon 9 egg yolks 600ml double cream ¼ tsp vanilla extract 4-5 meadowsweet flower heads 100g caster sugar Handful of strawberries, chopped 1 Whizz the butter, flour, salt, sugar and lemon zest in a food processor until it looks like breadcrumbs. Transfer to a bowl. 2 Stir in one egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of cold water, then bring together into a dough. Wrap the pastry in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hr. 3 Roll the pastry out on a lightly-floured surface to a 5mm thickness, then use it to line a 20cm tart tin, leaving 2-3cm of pastry…

Make a garden reading canopy Gather together: A hula hoop, an old sheet (patterned is nice), safety pins, a ball of string and scissors. Additional decorative trims if you like. •Attach the sheet to the hula hoop at one of the short ends of the sheet, taking the end of the sheet just over the hoop and fastening with safety pins underneath. If you're clever you can stitch this together properly, but safety pins work just as well for a temporary summer shelter. •Attach six lengths of sturdy string at equal intervals around the hoop, making each the length of the hoop's diameter. Gather the loose string ends and tie them in a looped knot. •Add fairy lights, ribbons and trims to decorate. •Hang your hoop from a tree branch,…

WELLBEING Let's be honest, there's a lot of serious issues going on, both on our doorstep and in the wider world, and most of us are feeling the impact. Whether it's healthcare, inflation, the climate crisis or war, engaging with the news often leads to escalating feelings of anger, anxiety and impotence. And research shows it's women who are feeling the biggest rise in negative emotions. In a 2022 Gallup World Poll, women scored higher than men in sadness, stress, worry and anger. Unsurprising, perhaps, given that women have been called the shock absorbers for austerity, having been most negatively affected by the economic impact of Covid and continuing to be hit harder by the cost-of-living crisis. Around the world women face issues daily relating to gender inequality, from wages…

WEEKEND PROJECT PROUDLY HOMEMADE LAVENDER BATH SOAK Run a deep bath with a few scoops of this soak to leave you feeling soft and soothed. You will need: 185g oats, ground to flour 125g baking soda 125g Epsom salts 125g Himalayan pink salt 1 tbsp dried lavender 10-15 drops lavender essential oil Jar with lid 1 Combine the ingredients. Add more dried lavender or essential oil if you prefer a stronger scent. 2 Decant the mixture into a glass jar and secure with a lid. Give the jar a gentle shake and label. To use, add 1-2 scoops of the bath soak to a running bath. HEALING HERB Lavender originated in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and India around 2,500 years ago and was spread across Europe by the Romans.…

HITCHIN LAVENDER, Hertfordshire The Hunter family, who run Hitchin Lavender, have farmed for more than five generations and have been at Cadwell Farm for over 120 years (Hitchin has been home to lavender farms since the 16th century). When you visit, there are plenty of options for food and drink, and a lavender museum, as well as the flower fields. Handmade toiletries and the farm's own brand of gin mean you can take some of the flavour home with you. hitchinlavender.com YORKSHIRE LAVENDER, York Set up in 1994 on a hillside farm within the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Yorkshire Lavender is not only filled with an array of plants but also offers a panoramic view of the Yorkshire countryside. Get lost in the lavender maze, take on…

THE ALL-SEEING BUTTERFLY New genus of butterfly pays homage to Tolkien's famous villain With its bright orange hindwings and dark eyespots, Dr Blanca Huertas, Senior Curator of Butterflies at the Natural History Museum, immediately thought of the fiery eye of Sauron from JRR Tolkien's classic novel, The Lord of the Rings when she came to name a new genus of butterfly. Using DNA sequencing to identify the insects not just by their appearance but also by their genetics, so far there are two in the newly minted Saurona genus – Saurona triangula and Saurona aurigera – with more expected as the research continues. CHARGE AS YOU GO Sweden is building the first permanent e-motorway. The electrified road can charge vehicles while they're on the move, and is set to be…

This is a brilliant way of using beeswax and makes a lovely gift. Even better, it's hugely versatile and can be used as both a lip balm and a body butter. MAKES 90g YOU WILL need: 2 tbsp grated beeswax 2 tbsp shea butter 2 tbsp coconut oil 2-3 drops of your favourite essential oil, such as peppermint, rose or wild orange (optional) A small reusable lidded jar or a few cardboard lip balm tubes 1 Put the grated beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil into a small glass bowl set over a small pan of boiling water. Stir constantly until melted. Remove the pan from the heat, but keep the bowl over the still-hot water in order to keep the mixture melted. 2 Add your choice of essential oil, a few drops at…

Oxeye daisies Growing in swathes on field edges, roundabouts and in hay meadows, these cheerful wildflowers (our largest native daisy) can't fail to light up a room. So bright they appear to ‘glow’ in the evening, the humble oxeye is also known as a ‘moon daisy’. Combine with poppies and foxgloves for a wildflower bouquet or let them shine on their own in a simple jug. As with any wildflower, pick sparingly and only when in abundance.…

Festivals markets & fairs The Sustainability Show If you're looking to live more sustainably, and learn how to be a savvy consumer, from upcycling and mending to renting and refilling, head to The Sustainability Show. Held 8-9 July at Manchester Central, entry is free. sustainabilityshow.co.uk Love Trails Festival By day, enjoy trail running adventures, trips to the beach, wellness, outdoor adventures as well as talks and good food. Then at night, dance under the stars at one of the four stages. Ideal for runners, the festival takes place 6-9 July at Gower Peninsula. Day tickets start at £79. lovetrailsfestival.co.uk Also Festival From swimming in a lake to talks, workshops, dancing, music, comedy, food and more, Also is a grown-up festival for those eager to learn. Taking place at Park Farm,…

DOWN TO A TEA TOWEL Beautiful British wildflowers adorn the Freidaa Sky tea towel from Birmingham-based, designer Abigail Borg. Wild for the pattern? It comes on wallpaper, fabric and coasters,too. £14 from abigailborg.com BRICK IN THE WALL How many five letter words can you find reading down the face of our wall? The letters of each word can only read downwards on touching bricks, taking one only from each line (answers on page 124) “The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave” Thomas Jefferson The Plimsoll line is a simple symbol to show if ships are overloaded. The name comes from a Victorian MP for Derby, Samuel Plimsoll, who campaigned for sea safety. It's now used the world over, with some extra helpful additions. WHAT TO DO WITH… PAPER…

YELLOWHAMMER As the birdsong season winds down, a few birds are still singing lustily. One of these blessed birds is the yellowhamrner. Multiple-brooded, the male is seized with the need to keep going. On a summer day it might repeat its ditty 7,000 times. One description is of a bird singing a phrase of dry notes and then running out of breath, inhaling heavily at the end. And while yellowhammers’ songs must pass muster, they must also pass the mustard test – ensuring that they're yellow enough – to keep the attention of their mate. The main source of the required carotenoids is plant leaves. Since yellowhammers don't eat leaves directly, they must consume leaf-eaters instead – mainly caterpillars. It's likely something of a pain to spend your moulting period…

Fixie First loved by late 19th-century couriers, the wheel of history has made the fixed-gear a status symbol among their 21st-century counterparts. Christiana Cargo Thank Christiania – Copenhagen's car-free alternative enclave – for these bikes. Since the 1980s, their practicality has carried us away. Lotus Type 108 Developed with a one-track mind: Chris Boardman's Pursuit at the 1992 Olympics, a Gold-winning exemplar of man meets machine. Brompton Though taking Andrew Ritchie years to get his ingenious folding design out there, now about 50,000 get firmly behind their wheels a year. Raleigh Chopper Along with the disco bail and flares, a 1970s design icon, with over 1.5 million of them sold. Sadly came in for the chop in 1980. Dawes Galaxy This touring bike took you around the country (though not…

As soon as I saw the little red car swing around the corner, I began to feel better. Katya stopped, radio still blaring, grinning her familiar gappy smile. Wearing a gingham red sundress that tied in bows on her shoulders, “to match the car”, her skirt rucked up over her knees,“to feel the breeze”, she was unchanged from when we were kids, borrowing her brother's car to skip sixth form and spend an illicit day at the beach. It was a relief to see her. I threw my straw basket into the back, and took my seat by her side. She looked at me steadily, eyes locking with mine. “What's up?” she asked. “Nothing! Nothing. Just, well, you know.” “I do know. That's why I'm here. We need a day…

Morning! Tell us a bit about where you're waking up? I live in a beautiful Georgian flat in Bath. In summer, I often wake to the sound of the hot air balloons taking off in the park behind our garden. I love that sound as it means that it's going to be a sunny day. My partner Paul always brings me my first cuppa. What a start! What's on the cards? I've two children, so getting out the door is a mission. I eat pretty much the same brekkie – banana pancakes – each day. But when life allows, I add berries, syrup and a cuppa. Delicious! When does work begin? After school drop off, I head to the flower school. I've an hour or so to prepare before the…

MY CITY How long have you lived in the city? I was born in Marseille – I grew up an hour away from the city next to the Sainte-Baume mountains – and all my family live here. In 2013, while I was studying in Aixen-Provence, Marseille became the European Capital of Culture. We all saw the city change and Marseille's people have maintained this cultural energy in the years since. I returned to Marseille in 2014 and have never left. Tell us what makes your city unique Marseille is one of the sunniest cities in France. The fine weather contributes to the happiness of locals and the light is loved by artists. The Mediterranean is another blessing for the city. We go to the sea in every season: to swim…

Strawberry fizz Toast the fruit of the season with this refreshing tipple. Serves 4 400g fresh strawberries, washed and tops cut off, plus 4 to garnish 1 tbsp honey ½ tbsp chopped mint leaves, plus a handful of uncut leaves to serve Juice of 1 lime Ice Elderflower cordial Sparkling mineral water or prosecco 1 Put the strawberries into a blender with the honey, chopped mint leaves and lime juice, and blitz until smooth. 2 Fill each glass with a few ice cubes and pour over the strawberry syrup until the glass is about a third full. Add a teaspoon of elderflower cordial to each glass. 3 Top with sparkling mineral water, or prosecco. Give the mix a stir and dress each glass with a strawberry (cut to fit on the side of the glass)…

VOLUNTEER Look for local organisations to contribute to the causes you care about in your area. It might be litter picking, sorting food bank donations or helping an elderly person with maintenance (check out goodgym.org, a nationwide group of volunteers who combine exercise with helping others). Or volunteer your skills – write a press release to get media coverage, design a flyer or take photos to post on social media. Check out Nextdoor (nextdoor.co.uk), a website and app that'll enable you to partake in online discussions, or Meetup (meetup.com) a social media platform for gatherings. WRITE AN OBJECTION If you feel strongly about a planning application, don't sit back and let it happen. Plans are available to view on local authority websites and you can post your objection in the…

GOOD THINGS TO MAKE Venture into the wild, or even your own backgarden in summer, and you're likely to hear the buzz before you spot a hive of activity taking place in and around the marjoram, mint, borage, hyssop, chives and other nectar-rich blooms. Honeybees are mesmerising. Reflect on the laborious process involved in creating a jar of honey or a block of beeswax and you'll view their sweet offering as gold. Each teaspoon of honey is the lifetime's work of roughly 12 worker bees, having each collected nectar from thousands of flowers. Once brought back to the hive, the nectar goes through a transformative process that involves the bees’ swishing it around their mouths to mix it with enzymes. They then deposit it into the cells and fan it…

The complex and considered process involved in creating each drop of honey imbues it with layers of nutritional and healing properties. Just one of its perks is that it's an antiseptic. We've all heard the advice to drink hot water with honey and lemon for a sore throat or cough and there are many studies to back this up. It can fight a number of strains of bacteria, and can also help to draw water out of tissue, which can reduce swelling and discomfort if you have a sore throat. High in vitamins B, C, D, E and K, minerals, enzymes and essential oils, honey's also rich in antioxidants that help it fight respiratory infections. The ancient Egyptians used it to make eye and skin ointments, and would also use…

HOME TOUR Close your eyes and imagine waking up to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, the smell of the salty ocean air wafting through the windows and the feel of the warm sun shining down on you. It may sound like a dream, but for Cameron Munro and Justin Rhodes, this is their reality every morning as they enjoy their seaside home in Misty Cliffs, a South African conservation village close to Cape Town. Their home feels like it's suspended from the cliff face, almost hovering above the Atlantic Ocean. Set over three levels, it has two bedrooms on the lowest level, with another tucked into the loft under the A-frame ceiling, lined with reeds. “When the roof windows are open, it feels like you're on a…

HABITATS CLOSE TO HOME Footprints In The Woods by John Lister-Kaye Sir John Lister-Kaye, a leading naturalist and conservationist, has a fine eye for detail and a poetic turn of phrase as he beautifully describes the comings and goings of members of the Mustelidae family – graceful otters, beavers, bear-like badgers, ferocious weasels and elegant pine martens, which make their homes in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands, where he lives and works. Attuned to the changing season, he vividly captures the look of the landscape as spring turns to summer, autumn to winter. His descriptions of the habits and habitats of the creatures of forest and riverbank are just as mesmerising as he observes them over the course of the year. (Canongate) Shopkeepers of the month Made by hand…

“I love waking up to the sound of the waves and the wonderful sunrises from our window. We're on Douglas Promenade, in the Isle of Man, looking out over the Irish Sea. Our apartment is on the top floor, so we have panoramic views over the bay from every window. The views are incredible, even when the sky is stormy and the sea is rough. In the summer, horse trams run along the promenade and it's lovely to hear the clip-clop of hooves as they make their way along the prom. I also like to search the beach for treasures, such as shells, sea glass and driftwood, to attach to my woven wall hangings.” Marilyn Harrison, Douglas, Isle of Man @ourapartmentbythesea “I love our view over Whitley Bay, where we…

RE-COMB RUBBISH COMB Colourful combs in limited numbers. Best for: Made from only one plastic type, so can be recycled again. £18, re-comb.com BATOKO SWIMSUIT Plastic from landfill reworked with eye-catching prints. Best for: Sharing the love –part of profits go to wildlife and environmental charities. £60, batoko.com LØCI TRAINERS Made from natural and recycled materials: roughly 12 plastic bottles a pair. Best for: The wide range means no compromise on style. From £145, lociwear.co.uk QUICK-FIRE QUIZ 1 What band last won Eurovision for the UK? 2 Bing, Kordia, Morello and Stella are all varieties of what? 3 Last July, Coningsby in Lincolnshire achieved a UK record for what? 4 Which British folk horror film, set on the Scottish island of ‘Summerisle’, was released 50 years ago this month? 5…

Increase your greet expectations • First, shift your mindset. Stop thinking of some names as ‘tricky’. The ‘Say My Name’ project at Warwick University notes that it won't be to whoever's name it is. It's not only about politeness – having your name continually said incorrectly negatively affects wellbeing over time. • Ask, and listen: Unsure of how to say someone's name? Ask politely. And then listen, checking back that you've got the pronunciation right. Even if you know someone with that name, don't assume it'll be said the same way. • Like any skill, it needs practise. In its newsletter on this topic, fightingtalk. substack.com suggests online prompts at nameshouts.com and pronouncenames.com. • It'll help if you attach a mnemonic – such as a rhyme or an image –…

SHARING In the first light of the morning, I like to wander into the garden, mug of tea in hand and the secateurs tucked in my dressing gown pocket. It's the coolest and quietest time in the veg patch, with the dog snuffling along the hedgerow boundary and the vivid sun yet to reach the raised beds. I can check for overnight marauders leaving slippery trails, pick a few small courgettes for my lunch and cut the latest flurry of sweet peas. Often, I just sit and watch the swooping swallows, who return every year to nest in the eaves of our neighbour's old barn. Although there's still work to be done this month, it's also a moment to enjoy what has been achieved already. I never need any encouragement…

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE Nature spot GREEN-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLIES During mating season the males sprinkle females with clouds of ‘love dust’ (that's a scientific term), which smells so strongly of Lemon Verbena that even humans are able to detect it. What? A butterfly with white wings and faint black spots on the top wing and prominent green veins on the underwing. Where? Across the UK, on riverbanks, in meadows, hedgerows and moorlands. When? April to October but, having pupated, adult butterflies are emerging this month. Local lore EBERNOE HORN FAIR. SUSSEX Every St James’ Day (25 July), a very English spectacle takes place on the cricket green in the village of Ebernoe, but you can leave your cucumber sandwiches at home for this one. While a match is played…

Favourite shop MAISON EMPEREUR The oldest hardware store in France. It's like travelling back in time; you can find anything. empereur.fr Favourite bookshop LIBRAIRIE MAUPETIT A city institution; you can find any book you want and they always have good advice. It's also an exhibition space, which regularly hosts photography exhibitions. maupetitlibraire.fr Favourite gallery FOTOKINO A discreet gallery near Maupetit that specialises in visual arts and colourful exhibitions. Great for families. fotokino.org Favourite café CAFÉ LA MUSE From breakfast to drinks on the terrace, a neighbourhood café where you feel good. cafelamuse.fr Best restaurant PLACETTE A quiet terrace restaurant under trees, serving creative French food with friendly service and local ingredients. placette-marseille.com Favourite market FISH MARKET IN VIEUX-PORT It's very traditional and bustling, where you'll overhear local fishermen and sellers…

CRAFTIVISM Sarah Corbett of Craftivist Collective was a conventional activist for 30 years before setting up this group, whose members use “beautiful crafted works to help themselves and encourage others to be the change they want to see in the world.” Pick a project you'd like to work on, from barbie doll activists to stitched messages on hankies, and work individually or as a group while connecting with other craftivist members. RIGHT TO ROAM Join the campaign for greater access to our land and waterways. There are lots of ways to get involved, from joining peaceful protests and trespass events to checking and recording the rights of way in your area. Check out righttoroam.org.uk for updates and details of future events. Recent changes to the law that prohibited wild camping…

Lavender can ease headaches and help with insomnia, so lie down, pop on your eye pillow… and relax. You will need: ½m linen (you will have extra) 170g flax seed 30g lavender buds Lavender essential oil (optional) 1 Make sure your linen is washed and dried before you begin. For each pillow, cut 2 layers of fabric measuring 12cm × 27cm. 2 With right sides together, sew 3 of the 4 sides, with a 5mm seam allowance. Turn the pillow the right way out and press. 3 In a bowl, mix the lavender buds, flax seed and a few drops of lavender oil. Add to the bag until mostly full, before folding in the seam allowance of the open edge and sewing it closed.…

GOOD THINGS TO DRINK PORT AND POMEGRANATE White port – which is drier and fresher than dark port – paired with sweet grenadine and pops of pomegranate, creates a refreshingly fruity cocktail. Serves 1 Ice 80ml white port Tonic water 2 tsp grenadine To serve: A few pomegranate seeds (or perhaps a maraschino cherry) A thin slice of orange 1 Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in the white port. 2 Top with tonic, to about 1cm below the rim of the glass. 3 Once the bubbles have settled, tilt the glass and pour the grenadine down the side. Top with pomegranate seeds (or a cherry) and a slice of orange, if using. A simple thing… Just looking at this pic makes you feel instantly cooler and calmer,…

IDEAS Whether a weekend jaunt, or holidaying at home, summer gives an extra prompt to get out and do. However, such pleasures can take a toll on the wallet, and surely the only thing better than a nice day out is knowing you've got a good deal in the process. So, as you eagerly pack the picnic, it's worth checking if where you're heading runs a membership scheme*. While that initial lump sum can feel pricey, if it's an organisation or venue that you're likely to visit again and again, you'll make your money back in no time. Plus, as many of these organisations are charities, everyone's a winner. Whether your taste is for views, Victorians or Victoria sponge, there are surely few ways of spending a day more pleasantly…

There are more than 300 varieties of flowers and blooms that honeybees can visit, which means the flavour, colour and smell vary greatly from honey to honey. You can view honey like wine. As wine has terroir (a term used to describe the environmental factors that affect a crop's character), honey is also a delicious consumable capsule of time and place. Some beekeepers are dedicated to the art of reflecting this. They'll move their bees to different fields rich with specific flowers to capture their flavour. Seasons can also play a role in honey's composition and taste. Most beekeepers will tend to have one main harvest a year, in late summer or early autumn – although you can harvest spring honey which will reflect early blooms like cherry and apple…

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 about their pastimes. PERHAPS THEY'LL PERSUADE YOU TO TRY something NEW? The first record of people thinking ‘Actually, that shrub might look nicer if it was shaped like a tortoise’ dates to Roman times. From his villa in San Giustino, Pliny the Younger wrote letters describing all manner of shapes – obelisks, inscriptions, animals – formed by clipped greens. A hundred miles north-west and a couple of millennia later, a man was born for whom topiary became an almost spiritual calling. “I chose to do this job out of passion and love,” says Luigi Frosini. “The creativity that's the essence of this job is synonymous with…

During lockdown, my husband and I set ourselves a challenge. An adventure. Along with our two boys – now four and two – we wanted to visit every lighthouse in England, Wales and the Channel Islands by the time we turned 40. Why lighthouses? To be honest there were lots of reasons: firstly, we've always loved the sea. Some of our happiest memories are from there – fossil hunting, wave jumping, swimming, sandy picnics and coming home with pockets pull of misshapen stones. Secondly, I'm a Geography teacher and being able to visit more of our country excites me – we've visited some wonderful places, and have always been surprised. We booked a stay in Hull as soon as the hotels reopened. People looked at us weirdly as we explained…

A PLACE TO STAY Our family are regular campers, and our much-loved-but-not-entirely-reliable campervan Brown Betty is part of the gang. Trips can be a bit of a squash and a squeeze, so the chance to level up and go glamping – while en route to Wales with the campervan – elicited real excitement from the kids. Hope Farm Retreats in the Forest of Dean is a working flower farm and offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in beautiful blooms: sleeping in a wildflower meadow and the chance to learn some floristry skills at a workshop. After an eventful journey there – including Brown Betty breaking down en route – the relative ease of glamping definitely appealed, but the beauty of this place is about more than those little luxuries, giving…

COLLECTIVE NOUNS TALK LBICE … A POLARI SPEAKER* Una: one; Dooey: two; Tray: three; Omi: man; Palone: woman; Capello: hat; Bevvy: drink; Bona: good; Fambles: hands; Lallie tappers: feet; Vada: look; zhoosh: fix up/style up *Polari is a type of slang: it has a long history, but was most commonly used (but not exclusively) by gay men in the UK from the 1930s through to the 70s. It included snippets from Italian and Romani, as well as other bits of street slang. See the book Fabulosa!: The Story of Polari, Britain's Secret Gay Language by Paul Baker (Reaktion Books) for more.…

CUT OUT AND KEEP Ginger beer prawns Serves 2 (4 as a starter) 16-24 shell-on raw king prawns 1 garlic clove, crushed 2.5cm piece of ginger, finely grated Vegetable oil, for deep-frying 50g cornflour 50g plain flour 120ml ice-cold ginger beer (not diet) Lime wedges, to serve 1 Remove the heads and shells of the prawns, leaving on the tail sections. (You can also use shelled prawns, as long as they are raw.) Mix the prawns in a bowl with the garlic, ginger and some black pepper, and leave for 30 mins. 2 Pour oil into a medium-sized saucepan – following all the usual precautions for deep-frying – and heat to 180C. 3 Mix the flours in a bowl and pour in the ginger beer. Stir loosely, as vigorous mixing…