The Simple Thingsの August 2023 の目次

Morning! You’re up and out, what are you up to? My days usually start with an early 2–3km walk, coffee in hand. I like fresh air and exercise first thing. Impressive. Can you tell us a bit about what you do? As Curator of Chartwell – the home of Sir Winston Churchill – my work can involve so many different things. I might be leading a tour or filming. Otherwise, I could be planning for upcoming displays, carrying out conditionchecks or exploring our collections. Other times I’ll be liaising with museums around the world about potential loans of items. Even things like flag-raising/lowering can be on my to-do list! Thirsty work! Fancy a cuppa? There’s a liquorice and peppermint tea I love, so maybe one of those. What do you…

BEST BEACH Falassarna beach Less crowded than Elafonisi Pink Sand Beach or Balos Lagoon, but equally pristine. FAVOURITE ICE CREAM PARLOUR Kayak Pure Magic Ice Cream Flavours include Dark Forest, Pavlova, Mango Sorbet and Salted Caramel. Instagram: @kayakchania FAVOURITE MARKET Agora Reopening in 2024 after a major renovation, this covered market is a great place to smell spices, sample cheese and shop for authentic products. It also houses taverns serving delicious market food at affordable prices. Plateia Agora, El. Venizelos Avenue, Chania FAVOURITE RESTAURANT The Five In the quaint Chania district of Nea Chora, only steps from the beach. Their menu is delicious and creative, and their wine list is impeccable. thefivechania.com FAVOURITE SHOP Flakatoras Ceramics Traditional ceramic shop and school set in an ancient Venetian mansion with thick defensive…

OUTDOORS Mud between the toes and damp, woody aromas, the sweet smell of water mint while reeds tickle the tummy – no other swimming is as wild and wonderful as plunging into a river. Floating downstream, concealed from the path by swathes of bullrushes, you enter your own secret water garden, encountering nature in a more magical way than any other outdoor pursuit. But suggest you’re going freshwater swimming, and there will be a well-meaning friend, family member or even passing stranger who’ll question whether it’s safe, clean or allowed. And it’s no wonder, considering the steady flow of news about pollution and the poor ecological health of inland waters. Although it’s rare to get unwell from a river dip, much like sea swimming it’s important to understand the risks,…

GALLERY For some people it’s Elvis in a piece of toast, for others, it’s the man in the moon. For Jean Robert, it was a padlock, ‘gazing at him with whimsical intensity’. That was 40 years ago, and he and his brother Francois have been on the lookout for faces in inanimate objects ever since – and photographing and sharing them for us to appreciate, too. Just take a look at their Instagram @francoisrobertfaces for a taster. It’s a world where a bucket hat can appear unexpectedly friendly, a cactus can look surprised and you sense that even the side of a house might start wanting a good old chinwag with you at any moment… While the Robert brothers have got face finding down to an art, seeing faces in…

HOME TOUR For more than 30 years Mim McCormack dreamed of moving to the West Country. But life kept getting in the way and the dream put on hold until finally, in 2019, the time was right to pack up. “We have five children and one of our sons is disabled, which made the search harder as we needed the right house and school combination. So, we put it on the back-burner and enjoyed holidays here instead,” explains Mim from what’s now her home, a cottage in the village of St Neot, on the edge of Bodmin Moor. “We thought we’d end up in North Devon because my husband surfs, but when this place came up for auction it was just right – and cheaper, too, because it needed a…

Bookshop browse KEEPING TIME How Nature Keeps Time by Helen Pilcher Mayflies, who live and die in a single day, and ancient trees, whose existences span generations, are keeping time, but at a different pace. Helen Pilcher’s endlessly fascinating book, brimful of facts, and illustrated with accessible charts and diagrams, is an investigation into the way nature marks time – from those giddy mayflies to elder trees, she tackles growth, distance, age, reproduction, sleep and death, teasing out the interconnectedness of the natural world. She heads back to the fossil record and ancient history, explains the regeneration of landscapes ravaged by wildfire, identifies the slowest growing plant and describes the long-lived life of the immortal jellyfish. (Bloomsbury) Shopkeeper of the month Keeping it in the family A lifestyle shop that…

THIS MONTH WE READ THE WELL-LIVED LIFE BY DR GLADYS McGAREY In a nutshell At the grand age of 102, Dr Gladys McGarey shares the wisdom gained from a life spent caring for others as a medical and holistic doctor and mother of six children. Her vast experience has led her to conclude what constitutes good health and happiness and it’s probably not what you’d expect. ‘The point of medicine – and of life – is quite different from what I was taught in medical school,’ she writes. ‘True health has nothing to do with diagnosing a disease or prolonging life for the sake of it; it’s about finding out who we are, paying attention to how we’re called to grow and change, and listening to what makes our heart…

DOWN TO A TEA TOWEL Not only a visual celebration of our connection to nature, this organic cotton design reinforces its maker's ethos to create 'useful, made-to-last' things in a sustainable way. £6.50, elliegood.co.uk 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) “Every time I travel I meet myself a little more” Yrsa Daley-Ward in Coordinates The skull and crossbones as an identifying flag is credited to prominent pirates in the 1710s: the description ‘jolly roger’ appeared in print the next decade. But notso-jolly images of skeletons were used on pirate ships at least a century before. WHAT…

Mackerel burgers Tasty and Good for you – mackerel makes an excellent burger. Makes 4 FOR THE BURGERS: 2 x tins mackerel, drained (we used 1 x tin peppered mackerel and 1 x tin mackerel in olive oil) 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 large pickle, finely chopped ½ shallot, finely chopped Small bunch parsley, finely chopped 2 heaped tbsp panko breadcrumbs 1 tbsp olive oil FOR THE MUSTARD MAYONNAISE: 4 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tbsp dijon mustard TO SERVE: 4 brioche buns Salad leaves, tomatoes and extra pickles 1 In a large bowl, add the drained mackerel and use the back of a fork to break it up into small pieces. Add the garlic, pickle, shallot, parsley and breadcrumbs, then mix together until you have a chunky but combined mixture. Chill in the fridge for 20 mins. 2…

BOOKS How do you pack for your summer holiday? If you’re strictly a ‘books before bikinis’ packer you will be familiar with the mild panic that begins in late spring about how to curate your summer reading list. Is more than one hardback going to restrict capacity? Is there enough variety? What if the weather doesn’t complement the 1920s novella you specifically picked to read at the edge of the pool? And how many is too many? You don’t want to be outfaced, but equally, you don’t want to find yourself with a Really Good Reading Day (rain) on day six, having read most of your library already and be stuck eking out the worthy choice you optimistically packed. Half the joy is in the anticipation. It’s a bit like…

Whether you’re on a camping trip or have a space in your garden to build a fire, it’s a great way to get everyone involved. A fireside feast is all about collaborative effort – mismatched plates and bowls from everyone’s stash, people pitching in with fire-tending and food prep – and belly laughs all round while stories are shared. You don’t have to limit yourself to sausages or s’mores, with bread made in a bag by the fire, trout roasted on wooden boards and chargrilled veggies that’ll have you piling up your plate. If you don’t fancy being a fire-starter, all recipes can be recreated in the kitchen, but where’s the fun in that? Fire brings an unmistakable flavour to the party, while enjoying a drink as the embers burn…

RAINBOW STREETS Gloucester neighbourhood is first of many to get a glow up When Tash Frootko started painting houses in Gloucester five years ago, she wanted to bring joy and colour to neighbourhoods that felt unloved. Her work was entirely self-funded but thanks to the positive impact that bringing colour to the streets has had on its neighbourhoods – and 134 spruced up terraces and 1,300 litres of paint later – she's now been awarded funding to continue her quest to create a Rainbow City.@tashfrootko BLOOMING GREAT A wildflower found only in York – thought to have become extinct in 1991 – is blooming again. Thanks to seeds saved at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, the reemergence of York groundsel is the first de-extinction event in the UK. 13 gigatons of…

GARDENS Picture a gorgeous day in a garden, and it’s likely your imagination will transport you to the hazy heat of a summer’s afternoon; warm sun on your skin, bright light sparkling through generously billowing borders and clear blue skies to which rain can be little more than the faintest of rumours. And all of this with the promise of a long evening’s entertainment in the happy company of friends and family, as moths sip from the pale blooms of night-scented plants, flitting silently in the slowly failing light from evening primrose to jasmine, from jasmine to honeysuckle, from honeysuckle to nicotianas and stocks. THINK LIKE A PLANT Opening my eyes, I find I no longer have to imagine – high summer has taken possession of each leaf and bud…

FOLK ART ENAMELWARE You will need: Enamelware (we used a tumbler, bowl and plate, however these motifs could be applied to any item) Posca paint pens 3m tip, or enamel paint and brush Clear spray varnish TUMBLER 1 Make sure your enamel surface is clean and dust free before starting. Your first motif is made up of four branch lines working upwards to the top of the tumbler. 2 Repeat this motif around the tumbler, leaving equal space between each of your motifs. 3 Add small bud shapes at the ends of the branches using other colours. We used ochre and pink, to complement the blue and give a nod to traditional folk art colour palettes. 4 Add your bottom border by drawing lines (around 5cm long) at the base.…

“It always feels like a real treat when I get time to hide down the bottom of the garden to sit in my favourite shady spot. I bring a drink to enjoy here, whether it’s a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening, it’s so calm and quiet. It’s the best place to take a few minutes out of the day to just stop and be still – although just as nice to invite a friend to share the wine with! There’s always something new to see in the garden, whatever the season, and I love sitting listening to the birds.” Liz Boyd, West Norwood, south London @urban_daisy “My shady spot is under the gazebo in a corner of our somewhat wild secret…

PRINTED CAMPING TABLE A lightweight, foldable table. Best for: the cheering Orla Kiely pattern, which makes for happy campers. £110, regatta.com RETRO THERMOS Cocktail or coffee, keep them cool or warm – as desired – in this classic design. Best for: both bringing back memories, and making them. £30, thermos.co.uk VALIANT PORTABLE BBQ Portable, foldable, but definitely not disposable. Best for: flexibility. As good for picnics and park gatherings as for campsites. £54.99, lifebeforeplastic.co.uk QUICK-FIRE QUIZ 1 What duo are behind the classic children’s book, The Jolly Postman? 2 What was established in August 1854 by Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy to help seafarers? 3 The Burdock plant inspired George de Mestral to invent what? 4 What decade saw the first Edinburgh International Festival? 5 Mulberry leaves are the only food source…

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE Field work Investigating sand dunes Dunes are formed when grains of sand and shells blow across the beach and become trapped in plant life growing above the strandline. The more sand that’s trapped, the easier it is for more grains to pile up, and eventually dunes are created. The grey-green spiky tufts that you’ll see blowing in the wind is marram grass, the daddy of the dunes. Its matted roots literally hold the dunes together, keeping them stable and allowing other plants to colonise. Dunes are in a constant state of development, so you’ll find them in various stages, from ‘embryo’ and ‘mobile’ dunes to the more stable ‘fixed dunes’ and ‘dune heaths’ once the marram’s done its work. Sheltered hollows in more developed dunes…

MARGARITA BARS Makes 16 190g plain flour 30g icing sugar ¼ tsp fine sea salt 115g unsalted butter, melted, plus 85g, cut into cubes, at room temperature 6 limes, zested and juiced 2 lemons, juiced 300g granulated sugar 2 large eggs 3 large egg yolks 2 tsp cornflour 2 tbsp tequila 1 tbsp Grand Marnier 1 Meyer lemon, cut into paper-thin half-moon slices (optional, or swap for a standard lemon, if not in season) Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling 1 Preheat the oven to 170C/Fan 150C/ Gas 3 and line a 20cm square pan with baking paper. 2 In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, icing sugar, and salt, then mix in the melted butter. 3 Transfer to the prepared pan and press it evenly over the bottom to…

Family memories Swanage in Dorset for a family holiday: the flat sandy beach (ideal for paddling and sandcastles), the steam train, the cafés – @geewhites is our favourite – little shops and the surrounding coast and countryside. @designbyjessx Widemouth Bay in Cornwall is amazing. We went in 2019 on a motorhome tour. We parked next to the beach, so after a splash in the rock pools we could get the kids stripped off, while the kettle boiled and the pasties warmed in the oven. Such a simple but memorable trip. @ninaaspencer Appley beach at Ryde, on the Isle of Wight for tranquil holiday memories. Walton-on-the-Naze for a good Essex family day out @pearls_attic We love Runswick Bay in North Yorkshire for its beautiful village built into the cliffs and long…

Welcome to my veg patch Take a stroll with me in my garden and see it change through the seasons. I’ll share what I’m planting, harvesting and cooking, including my successes… and my failures. We’ll gather the goodies in a muddy bucket and head to the kitchen to make a joyful meal (we’ll even use the slug-nibbled ones). These are simple, seasonal recipes I make after a day in the garden. I hope they give you some new ways to celebrate nature’s bounty. Slow days and warm nights High summer is not the time to slave over the hob. In fact, you should hardly lift a finger in the garden or kitchen in my view – nature is doing the hard work for you. All you have to do it…

On a quiet afternoon on one of this year’s seemingly unending bank holidays I found myself sitting cross-legged on the floor of a sunny room in the company of several strangers. My eyes are softly closed, my palms close to my lips so I can feel my breath on my fingertips. HA! HA! HA! I exclaimed. HO! HO! HO! I continued, pumping my arms forcefully down by my sides. HA! HA! HA! HO! HO! HO! My actions getting faster and my voice getting louder as I repeat each of the phases. I and seven other slightly self-conscious adults are taking part in a series of warm up exercises that form part of the Big LoLz Laughter Yoga class run by sisters Holly and Melissa Layton. I’m not sure what I…

Sunflowers Have you ever marvelled at the way sunflowers follow the sun? While Greek myth tells the story of love-struck Clytie gazing at Apollo until her limbs take root and she turns into a sunflower, the plant’s heliotropism is actually a quirk of its circadian clock with young plants facing east at sunrise then swinging west, resetting overnight. August is a fine time to fill your home with these jolly blooms. Harvest as the petals unfurl, but leave a few stems standing as natural bird feeders for autumn.…

To preserve both the energy of the gardener and that of the planet, it makes sense to consider perennial plants that will look reliably good year after year while asking very little in return. A modest planting palette keeps the borders buzzing with pollinators, while delighting the senses with colour, movement and often scent. Climbers for walls, fences, and bees Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) Subshrubs for scent and flavour English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Maillette’) Trailing rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus ‘Prostratus’) Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) Herbaceous perennials for movement and height Hemp-leaved mallow (Althaea cannabina) Purpletop vervain (Verbena bonariensis) Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) Grasses for sparkle and texture Golden oat grass (Stipa gigantea) Tussock grass (Deschampsia caespitosa ‘Goldtau’)…

Folk art can be anything, made by anybody – it’s simply things made outside the traditional concepts of ‘art’ and ‘artists’. As a result, its histories are often unknown. In the UK, ‘Roses and Castles’ art is associated with painted narrowboats, from the mid-19th century, a style thought to originate in the Midlands, while the carved and decorated Vardo – the Romani Gypsy caravans – often include motifs inspired by nature and animals, as well as flowing scrolls. Fairground art also frequently includes some of these elements. Floral folk art traditions can be found all over the world, from Germany to Turkey to Bangladesh, while a specific style of decorative painting called ‘Petrykivka’, is linked to a village of that name in Ukraine. On Instagram, @thefolkarchive is a good source…

A PLACE TO STAY With three kids to amuse, a trip to the beach is always guaranteed to tick the ‘family fun’ box. One of life’s simple pleasures, a stay near the seaside offered pristine sands, a natural playground and a treasure trove of washed-up discoveries. Memories of a happy childhood came flooding back, a much-needed reminder that some of the best things to do are free. Although it’s also nice to spend a penny or two, and the ancient medieval town of nearby Rye didn’t disappoint with its eclectic mix of independent shops filled with delicious local produce and beautiful interiors inspiration. With so much to do, this weekend break in a luxurious home-from-home in Camber, East Sussex, proved to be a hit with both young and old. Where…

COLLECTIVE NOUNS TALK LIKE … YOU’RE FROM JERSEY* Bouônjour: Hello; Coumme est qu’ tu’es?: How are you?; Oui: yes; Nânnîn: no; Mèrcie bein des fais: Thank you; À bêtôt: goodbye; Pouque: bag; Viages: journeys; Dés crouaîsis: Fingers crossed! *That’s by speaking Jèrriais, the traditional language of Jersey. It’s related to French, but is a distinct language, rather than being a dialect. 18% of Islanders say they can speak some words and phrases.…

Slieve Donard (County Down) A walk not just up Northern Ireland’s highest peak, but also a trip back in time, with two prehistoric burial cairns on its summit. Ben Macdui (Aberdeenshire) Once thought higher than Ben Nevis, it’s 36m shorter. ‘Sublime’, said Queen Victoria, who did imbibe some ‘whisky and water’ on her ascent. Kinder Scout (Derbyshire) While the 1932 Kinder Scout trespass reached a plateau – topographically – their impact went on, as it became part of the first National Park. Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa (Gwynedd) From this great peak, have a great peek over to Scotland’s Merrick: it's theoretically the British Isles’ longest line of sight. Roseberry Topping (N. Yorkshire) Perhaps gave James Cook an early taste for exploration when he lived nearby. Fellow travellers can spot it in Teesside…

While the work required is no laughing matter, you should be able to learn how to earn a few Stand-up comedy isn’t only about being naturally funny – though that helps. It needs work, and lots of practise. Look on the bright side: look at what’s going on about you; eavesdrop. Note down interesting things and identify what’s funny in experiences – even if not a fully-formed ‘joke’ yet. Find your funny bones: think back about your past – what are your strongest memories? What unique things can you draw on? And now: what things make you laugh? Write it out: try and develop your notes into actual jokes. Set aside small, regular slots to work on it. Build it up: For a ‘set’, you’ll need a strong opener and…

CUT OUT AND KEEP Mango and coconut curry Serves 4 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 onion, diced ½ tsp mustard seeds Good pinch of dried chilli flakes 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground turmeric 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 rounded tbsp mild curry paste 2 x 400ml tins full-fat coconut milk 2 firm unpeeled mangoes, washed and sliced into wedges 100g fine green beans, trimmed and halved 1 tbsp mango chutney Good handful of spinach leaves 1 tbsp flaked almonds 1 tbsp desiccated coconut Juice of 1 lemon Good pinch of sea salt Handful of fresh coriander leaves, roughly torn 1 Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion, mustard seeds and chilli flakes and cook over a mediumhigh heat for 2–3 mins, or until the onion begins to soften and the mustard seeds start to pop. Stir in the cumin, turmeric and garlic…

Madame Zarina’s tent was already thick with heat, the smell of hot canvas coddling with Seafood Sid’s Whelk Stand next door. She took her crystal ball from its box, positioning it carefully on the draped table to catch the meagre light just right, wiping a smudge with the cuff of the wrap that still smelled of her mother even after all these years. Oh Ma. She’d watched her wither away behind this table. And now it was her turn. She didn’t need that ball to tell her what lay ahead. “Alright, Al?” Seafood Sid stuck his head through the opening. “Stinker out there today.” “Telling me,” she said, raising an eyebrow and setting off the bells on her headdress. She liked that Sid used her real name – and that…