Table of contents for April 2024 in The Simple Things

OUTING As a child I used to be fascinated by a weather house at my grandparents' home. It looked like a thatched cottage, with walls covered in pale pink shells. It had two doorless openings, both containing a simple model of a person. Under one door, in shaky white paint, was written the word 'sunny'; under the other, 'wet'. As if by magic – even when I was told about the interplay between catgut* and moisture, it still felt like magic – the sun would draw the smiling man into the open air. Rain, drizzle, an approaching storm, or even a sniff of fog would send him indoors and draw forth the other man from the darkness. He crept forward with his hat pulled down tight as if he was…

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE Nature spot WATER VOLES The river bank is looking a bit Wind in the Willows at this time of year, and you might just spot a water vole, made famous by Willows favourite, Ratty. (Yes, in fact, Ratty was not a rat but a water vole, so now you know). What? We'll leave this to Kenneth Grahame: “A brown little face, with whiskers. A grave round face, with the same twinkle in its eye that had first attracted his notice. Small neat ears and thick silky hair. It was the Water Rat!” Where? Close to still or slowly moving water. They're difficult to spot in the wild so your best bet is a Wetland Centre or other reserve. When? Breeding season starts in April and…

FAVOURITE SHOP Pele e Osso Beautiful handmade leather items – their shoes are incredible. @pele–e–osso FAVOURITE RESTAURANT Cais 20 Serving traditional seafood, right on the coast. Try the lapas (limpets) and cracas (barnacles). cais20.pt BEST BEACH Praia dos Moinhos A stunning beach with parking, a café and beautiful flowers. FAVOURITE PLACE TO VISIT Caldeira Velha Thermal pools and waterfalls tucked into lush, tropical vegetation. Book beforehand, though. parquesnaturais.azores.gov.pt FAVOURITE MARKET Mercado da Graça, Ponta Delgada This Farmers' market sells fruit, veggies, fish and meat, plus it has a large cheese selection, too. FAVOURITE HOTEL Terra Nostra Garden Hotel Great restaurant and beautiful hotel. Guests get exclusive use of the thermal pools and botanical garden outside of normal opening times. bensaudehotels.com/en/terranostragardenhotel FAVOURITE WAY TO SPEND AN HOUR Piscinas do Pesqueiro A…

• In the garden As a cut flower gardener, Gemma Cutler creates splashes of invigorating colour in spaces of all shapes and sizes Whether it's a tiny patch of bluebells on a woodland walk or a sweeping bed of sunshine yellow tulips in a neighbour's front garden, nature's glorious palette has the power to lift our spirits. And you don't need a vast patch of land or double-fronted greenhouse to create a splash of colour of your very own, insists Gemma Cutler: “Even if you've only got a tiny space next to your front door, you've got room for a sweet pea.” Always drawn to bright tones, dyeing her hair pillar box red and dressing in vibrant fabrics, Gemma found an outlet for her passion for colour when she became…

Bilan is a team of five women journalists in Somalia, led by Acting Chief Editor Hinda Abdi Mohamoud. The team is celebrating the second anniversary of being the first, women-only, media team in the country, reporting on stories they consider important, bringing some balance and representation to Somalia's male-heavy news perspective. “Some stories were just not getting told in Somalia – like how people with HIV have to live in secret with no support, or how mums don't feel able to tell their daughters about periods before they happen,” says Hinda. “But with Bilan, these issues are getting covered and are creating a huge public debate.” A childhood dream and perseverance led Hinda to journalism and joining the Bilan team. “Bilan is changing how the news is told, not just…

For more than 40 years, my treasured item existed only as a memory. But as soon as I opened the red book that arrived after an internet hunt through secondhand booksellers, I knew it was the one. It's a reference book, The Oxford Book Of Birds. It's not a story book of mystery, escapism or wizardry – but it does contain magic. I first borrowed it from Leagrave Library in Luton. It was 1976 and I was nine. I'd missed my first chance of taking the book home the week before – I'd just picked it up and was flicking through it when a small child toddled over, whisked it out of my grasp and wandered back to a parent. I was too shy to ask for it back. I'd…

GOOD THINGS TO EAT Farinata with fennel, chicory & walnuts Originally from Genoa in Italy, this street food is winningly adaptable. Plan ahead, though, to give the batter plenty of time to rest. Serves 2-3 150g chickpea flour 1 tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for cooking 1 tbsp chopped rosemary ½ red onion, thinly sliced 1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced 1 small garlic clove, finely chopped 1 small red chicory 6-8 walnuts 200g blue cheese, crumbled (optional) 1 In a large bowl, mix the chickpea flour, salt, pepper and 2 tbsp of olive oil and slowly whisk in 300ml cold water until you have a smooth batter. Set the batter aside to rest uncovered for a minimum of 30 mins, but ideally a couple of hours. It can also be made the…

A PLACE TO STAY Early spring can be a fickle time, tempting us outside with promises of cheery blossom and mild weather, then scuttling us back into the warmth of our sofas with sudden rain showers. Perhaps not the best time, you might think, to book a stay outdoors in the north of England. Venturing to the Lake District, however, brings abundant rewards at this time of year from ethereal mists suspended above tarns to fells swathed in every shade of green and glorious drifts of daffodils. Designed to bring guests closer to the wild, the six handcrafted oak shepherd's huts and secluded treehouse at Another Place, on the shores of Ullswater, are a welcome balm: a chance to bookend your day with open air moments – a morning coffee…

JERUSALEM We all know of the 'dark satanic mills' and 'England's green and pleasant land' from the hymn Jerusalem. It's sung in schools and at sport matches, appears at the Proms, royal weddings and in films – Chariots of Fire's name is even taken from its words. The lyrics are based on an early 19th century poem by William Blake, actually called And Did Those Feet In Ancient Time. While Blake's intended meanings are hard to pin down, it draws on imagery from the biblical book of Revelation about Christ's second coming. According to Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum – currently hosting an exhibition about Blake – his 'search for spirituality' was a response to 'war, revolution and political turbulence'. And it was in another turbulent period – the First World War…

IT'S IN THE BAG There are kits to make this 'camera-less photography' more accessible, but it's possible to make your own. Don gloves and an apron and use newspaper to cover surfaces either way. A light-sensitive solution is the essential – usually made from a mix of Ferric Ammonium Citrate and Potassium Ferricyanide with water – the iron is what creates the distinctive blue colour. A foam sponge brush helps apply the solution to paper or unbleached fabric. To make a print, you'll need a negative or a flattish object (such as leaves) to press on to your surface – then direct light, tongs and a tray of cold water for developing.…

FREE REIGN If someone allows you to do as you please, they're giving you free rein – not free reign. The correct spelling, without the 'g', comes from horse-riding: by holding the reins loosely, a rider gives a horse freedom to move as it wants. 'Reign' refers to ruling, as in a monarch reigning over a country. I suppose you could say you are free to reign over your own opinions, or to overrule other people if they disagree with you, but you'd still be wrong. Oh, and if you're looking for free rain, simply visit Ireland at any time of the year. Taken from Damp Squids & Card Sharks by Robert Anwood (Quadrille). Illustration © Daniel Rieley…

Wild garlic Find this in deciduous woodland, by sniffing out its garlicky smell. It's a favourite for butterflies and hoverf lies – and, of course, foragers, too. Wood anemone White flowers arrive early in spring, otherwise it takes its time, spreading via underground rhizomes less than two metres every 100 years. Tutsan Need some ancient healing? Get some tutsan tout de suite. Its name comes from French toutesain ('all heal') for its medicinal reputation. Bluebell Look for the deep blue of the British bluebell, rather than the paler Spanish variety, which was a Victorian garden escapee. Comprende? Wild strawberry Not only long established in woodlands, but in our homes, too – thanks to its appearance in William Morris' famous 1883 'Strawberry Thief ' pattern. Spindle This tree will be looking all-white very…

Brick in the wall Blush, brave, brush, brute, clove, clown, crate, crave, crush, shove, shown, slate, slave Quick-fire quiz 1. Play School; 2. A kit, or kitten; 3. Shakespeare; 4. Birkenhead; 5. Tulips Seeing Double 1. Bedeck 2. Elders 3. Accord 4. Uncork 5. Parade 6. Carafe 7. Eating 8. Notion 9. Pronto 10. Sponge Mystery keyword: Decoration Sudoku solution Puzzles provided by Lovatts Crosswords & Puzzles (lovattspuzzles.com) *You can see the tie on display in the Museum of London Dockland's exhibition Fashion City, until 14 April 2024.…

CUT OUT AND KEEP Spicy lamb and baharat parcels Harissa-spiced lamb in portable parcels of buttery puff pastry – what better way to kick off picnic season? » Spicy lamb and baharat parcels Makes 6 250g minced lamb 1 egg, beaten ½ tsp salt 1 onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tsp baharat Plain flour, for dusting 1 × 320g ready-rolled puff pastry sheet (or 6 sheets of filo pastry) 2 tbsp harissa paste 1 tsp za'atar, for sprinkling For the carrot relish (makes 8 jars):  14g mustard seeds 14g cumin 5g nigella seeds 95ml vegetable or sunflower oil 45g garlic, minced 45g fresh ginger, minced 30g red chillies, chopped 4g ground turmeric (optional) 540g tinned tomatoes, puréed 800g carrots, grated 360g apples, grated 5 tbsp cider vinegar 185ml water 100g sugar 50g tamarind pulp (available online and in Asian supermarkets) 20g salt 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/ Fan 180C/Gas 6. In a…

Callie sees them standing together, one big, one small, over by the dodgems, where the boys are hanging off the poles, cigarettes fizzing in the dark, steering with their feet into the back of the punters' cars and making the girls scream. They are brothers. She can see it straight away. The same slanting nose, the same mucky blond hair. But one is taller and stronger, and he knows it. The smaller boy looks up with envy at the prizes spilling from his brother's arms, but the brother does not share his spoils, keeping them tight to his chest, eyeing the fair stalls for his next victory. In the shadow of her stall, Callie draws her knees up to her chest, watching. “Roll-a-ball horse race,” her da is calling out…

*For more jumpsuit and coverall comfort, see p92. No matter the size of your store cupboard, having a good spring sort out and tidy up scores highly on the job well done scale. Bookshop browse BACK TO SCHOOL Reading Lessons by Carol Atherton ➛ Carol Atherton has been an English teacher for nearly thirty years and has introduced countless students to the plays, poems and novels that make up the school syllabus. Here she revisits 14 of these set texts, from Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre to Maya Angelou's I know Why The Caged Bird Sings and opens up whole worlds of thoughts, feelings and meanings. Quoting Jeanette Winterson, who says that literature 'isn't a hiding place. It's a finding place,' Carol wonderfully shows that books can be both – a…

My mother craves new potatoes – dripping with butter, sprinkled with salt. They taste of the earth, she says and remind her of corncrake mornings, crex crex crex crex from the fields. She'd skim the cream, let it sit on the sill to ripen, hold the jug high and pour, then turn and turn to a rhythm unhurried as milking, till the butter balls clustered, floating yellow as freshly dug Queens. In her days of gathering dusk, she clasps them under the pump, rinses till the water runs clean. Grainy salt, the yellow of newly dug Queen potatoes and freshly made butter, the fields loud with birdsong and a relish for the simple pleasures of an older woman are beautifully captured in this finely honed poem. Things to ponder: How…

REFLECTION Spring is finally here. As I throw open the hatch to let in sunlight and a fresh, gentle breeze, it feels like my little narrowboat home breathes a sigh of relief – and so do I. After a long winter huddled inside, the arrival of lighter, brighter days couldn't be more welcome. My husband Nigel and I bought our boat back in 2021. We'd had a difficult few years – a severe breakdown in my mental health, compounded by the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic – and we knew it was time for a change. Feeling suffocated by a job that no longer fit me, I'd been yearning for wide open spaces – for clean, quiet air, and the chance to catch my breath – so when Nige…

Gather some gorse while out on a walk to create a zesty cocktail that tastes of the coast CORNISH WRECKER Royally good. Served to the Queen on a visit to the Eden Project in 2021 – this is Cornwall in a glass. Makes 1 FOR THE SYRUP: 200g caster sugar 2 handfuls of gorse flowers 2 drops of natural coconut flavouring FOR THE COCKTAIL: 50ml Wrecking Coast Clotted Cream gin (or your favourite gin) 12.5ml coconut rum 1½ tbsp lemon juice 1½ tbsp gorse flower syrup Ice cubes Soda water 1 lemon twist (or slice), edible flowers (we used borage), to garnish 1 First, make the gorse flower syrup. In a saucepan, heat the sugar, gorse flowers, coconut flavouring and 100ml of water over a very low heat for about 30 mins, or until the sugar's dissolved, the flowers have…

GOOD WORK My living The Book Case The story so far: Kate Claughan was working as the children's bookseller at Hebden Bridge's The Book Case when, in 2011, the chance came to buy the shop. The shop made headlines in 2015 when it was badly hit in the town's floods. In 2017, she opened a second shop, The Book Corner in Halifax. bookcasehebden.wordpress.com When I bought the shop, everyone said books were obsolete. That 'people want e-books, not physical books'. Amazon and supermarkets were undercutting prices and bookshops seemed to be closing all over. But buying the shop was less scary than having to find another job! I bought it on very good terms, paying it off gradually. And, since then, independent bookshops have had a renaissance. The 2015 flood was miserable.…

Snake's head fritillary It's not entirely clear where this elegant little wildflower got its name. Some say the drooping buds and justopening flowers have the same profile as the heads of serpents; others see the distinctive chequered petals as similar to the scales of a reptile. Either way, they're certainly more graceful and suited to the dining table than their namesake. You can take a pot of them indoors (they grow from a bulb), or place them in a jam jar, milk jug or small vase to bring a bit of spring inside.…

WEEKEND PROJECT PROUDLY HOMEMADE DÉCOUPAGE BATHROOM WALL Makeover small rooms without the expense of wallpaper by creating a découpage collage. It costs very little and can be done over a weekend. You will need: Filler (optional) Fine to medium grade sandpaper Several calendars of your choice Scissors Blu-tack PVA glue Bowl Water Stirring stick Paintbrush Plastic mat or pasting table Cotton cloth Clear matt waterproof varnish 1 Start by giving the wall a good clean. Fill in any holes with filler and smooth out any bumps using the sandpaper. 2 Cut out all your images and pop a tiny blob of Blu-tack on the back of each. You could skip this step and start gluing the images straight to the wall, but I recommend having a play around with them before you commit them to their final position. If the images are varied,…

The average UK home gathers 18kg of dust annually – so it's not easy. These hints may help… Seize the day According to behavioural expert Kathleen Vohs, 'temporal landmarks' help sustain resolutions, one landmark being the start of spring: basically, if the cleaning urge bites, carpe diem (or carpet clean diem?). Easy wins Vacuum and wash your bedding weekly. Use doormats (see opposite) and take off outdoor shoes on coming in – they carry about two thirds of dust into homes. Regular grooming helps with another big contributor – pets. Do it outside or in an easy-to-clean area, likewise with food bowls and litter trays. All in order For thorough cleans, work from top to bottom of the room. Do a dry sweep first (with a microfibre cloth or a…

THE WESTERN HONEY BEE Scan to hear my sound After winter, these remarkable insects are appearing in large numbers again. Although honey bees don't hibernate, life slows down. Now, though, the queen begins laying eggs once more, the workers forage and the colony's activity shifts up a gear. The worker bees perform tasks according to age. Younger workers begin with in-hive duties, including keeping the hive cells clean, feeding the larvae and producing royal jelly. After a few weeks, they're promoted to foraging duties or defense of the hive. These are the bees we see out and about. If you see a honey bee at your garden flowers, it'll be at least 20 days old. Successful workers come back to the nest and pass on where the best nectar sources…

You will need: Empty jar or can, without lid Balloon (not inflated) Scissors Elastic band Tape or glue Drinking straw Paper Pen 1 After cutting the neck off your balloon, stretch it tight over the opening of your container. Use the elastic band to secure. 2 Lay the straw across the diameter of the balloon surface, making sure one end extends out over the edge of the container. Stick in place. 3 Position the jar so the straw points at the wall. Avoid placing near windows or radiators. 4 Stick your paper on the wall, marking the point level with the end of the straw. To use: A barometer measures air pressure, which can be used to forecast weather changes. When the end of the straw rises with higher pressure, it means clearer, sunnier weather is on…

PLAYLIST Soundtrack to April Singin' In The Rain Gene Kelly Windy Andy Williams Sunshine Of Your Love Spanky Wilson Sunny Bobby Hebb Thunder Imagine Dragons Sunny Weather Lisa Ekdahl Walking In The Rain The Ronet tes One Fine Day The Chiffons I Wish It Would Rain The Temptations This Is A Low Blur Who Loves The Sun The Velvet Underground Cloudy Simon & Garfunkel Crying Lightning Arctic Monkeys It's Raining Irma Thomas Weather To Fly Elbow Dreams Fleetwood Mac Weather With You Crowded House Take a listen at thesimplethings.com/blog/weatherplaylist stop look listen Oh thunder only happens when it's rainin' Players only love you when they're playin'…

GATHERING They say there's no such thing as a free lunch or, in this case, supper. But if you are raising money for something close to your heart it only adds to the pleasure. No need to make it complicated, all you really need are some simple recipes, a few friends, and a charitable cause. This is a dinner party with a difference because at the end of the meal everyone donates what they would have paid to eat out (or whatever they can afford) and then that all goes to your charity of choice. For one night, you can host your own little pop-up restaurant, serving simple dishes from your dining table. Our menu has smoked salmon rostis and homemade focaccia to get the party started, followed by courgette,…

LAMINGTON LOAF Serves 8 200g unsalted butter, very soft, plus extra for greasing 200g caster sugar 200g self-raising flour 3 eggs 3 tbsp milk 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla paste For the coating: 40g unsalted butter, melted 75ml whole milk 30g unsweetened cocoa powder 100g icing sugar 100g desiccated coconut For the Filling: 300ml double cream 1 tbsp icing sugar 150g jam (we used raspberry) 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/ Fan 160C/Gas 4. Meanwhile, grease and line a 900g loaf tin with butter and baking paper. 2 Put all the ingredients for the sponge into a large bowl and beat together until smooth (you can use an electric whisk if you have one). Tip the batter into the lined tin and level with the back of a spoon. Bake for 50–55 mins, or until golden brown. Cool in the tin…

MY ISLAND *There's no better way to get to the heart of somewhere than through the people who live there. This month, we're continuing our detour from cities, and retired tour guide GABRIELA TEVES introduces us to her island. You may feel inspired to visit, but for now, relax and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the Azores? I've lived on São Miguel my whole life. I was born and raised here and I brought up my two children, who now live here with children of their own. I live in Ponta Delgada, the archipelago capital. Before semi-retiring, I guided tourists around the archipelago for 34 years. What makes your island unique? São Miguel is the largest of this nine-island Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Its…

Pampering: Retreating with friends? Bring skincare and bathing products to share. Retreating alone? Look up some simple self-massage techniques. @the_moments has some great videos on Instagram. Or consider booking a professional therapist. Movement: Ekhart yoga has a two-day virtual retreat, with meal plans and 2.5 hours of yoga a day (ekhartyoga.com). Or for free classes, Yoga With Adriene is great (yogawithadriene.com). Meditation: The Sharpham Trust offers one-day at home meditation retreats, with live teachings and guided practices (sharphamtrust.org). Creativity: Beth Kempton's Breathe Write Repeat retreat can be done over a couple of days or over an entire week (dowhatyouloveforlife.com). Create Academy has an inspiring range of online creative courses from block printing to garden design (createacademy.com).…

HOME TOUR As soon as you step over the threshold into Aude's apartment, the Parisian boulevards, and their heavy traffic, are quickly forgotten. Behind a pretty courtyard, the interior designer's home is a welcome refuge from the city and packed with florals to bring the outside in all year round. There is space to sit out, surrounded by gardens and houses. “There's no access to cars or even to people,” explains Aude. “It's fabulous and so rare in Paris. When the weather is fine, we live with the windows open, lulled by birdsong.” The enchanting outside matches the interior's flowery, bohemian atmosphere. The flat may be rented, but Aude has been able to personalise her apartment and get it just how she wants without doing any structural work. “I couldn't…

My little haven, a place to escape everyday stresses. I managed to pick up my shed for £30. I had to cut it down to meet the allotment rules and added some cute little windows and a stable door. I wanted a traditional shed but with a hint of quirkiness. As soon as I enter my allotment I feel at ease, that's the beauty of nature, and my cosy shed makes it even better. Katie Lane, Southampton @theoldorchardgarden I like to potter in here, especially when it rains. My pug, Frank, likes to keep me company and has a little bed in here, too. I bring a cup of tea and the radio and I could be here happily pottering for hours, sowing seeds and hiding away. Victoria Lusty, Gloucs…

MILLER'S CRAFT, THE NETHERLANDS Think of the Netherlands and you'll likely picture windmills. But working windmills and knowing how to look after them is a skill that needs maintaining, especially as being a miller is no longer a common livelihood. However, 11 'Master Millers' in the Netherlands and about 105 instructors keep the practice alive. And there's The Guild of Volunteer Millers – where anyone can apply for training. Nearly 2,000 volunteers have done that. So, with a fair wind behind it, long may the skills sail.…

SIMPLE PILATES Spine stretch Strengthens the abdominals and back extensor muscles. Improves articulation of the spine and hamstring flexibility. 1 Start sitting upright on your mat with legs stretched out in front of you and shoulder width apart. Flex feet with toes pointing to the ceiling. Keep back and arms straight, with arms by sides and palms facing the mat. 2 Exhale. Draw in abdominals, lower chin to chest and roll upper spine down slowly as if peeling away from an imaginary wall. Glide hands forward across the mat as you move, being mindful of keeping shoulders down. 3 Inhale. Pause when you can't go any further and hold. 4 Exhale. Roll spine back up that imaginary wall returning to the start position. Visualise stacking one vertebra on top of…

Laugh Create a laughter stash of favourite videos, podcasts, photos, memes… anything that reliably makes you laugh. Use as soon as you feel anxiety rising and laugh to relieve stress or release pent-up emotions. The science: Laughing releases opioids which can relieve pain, reduce anxiety and enhance mood. It also reduces circulating levels of cortisol – the stress hormone. Among many other benefits, a shared laugh promotes interpersonal bonding, helping to forge enduring relationships. Taken from Brain Gym by Dr Sabina Brennan, illustrated by Andy Goodman. Available at laurenceking.com…