Table of contents for October 2019 in The Simple Things

Autumn is a season to inspire creativity: the explosion of colour, darker indoor evenings that lend themselves to kitchen-table projects and a harvest of fruit, nuts and veg that call out to be pickled, preserved or simply served up for supper. What you create depends on what ticks your boxes. But the end result doesn’t have to be perfect or prize-winning (in fact, we have a ban on the word ‘perfect’ in The Simple Things) – it’s the process that is enjoyable. If creativity is about using your imagination to make something new, who says it also has to be something ground-breaking? New-to-you is satisfying in itself. There are lots of ‘proudly homemade’ ideas in this issue, whether you like to write or draw, make or knit, grow or cook.…

RYE & RASPBERRY BROWNIES Makes 9-12 250g butter 100g good-quality dark/bittersweet chocolate 100g good-quality milk/semi-sweet chocolate 275g caster or granulated sugar 3 eggs 75g Doves Farm Organic Stoneground Wholemeal Rye Flour 50g good-quality cocoa powder 1 tsp baking powder Pinch of salt 1 tsp vanilla sugar or extract 150g raspberries 1 Preheat oven to 180C/160C/Gas 4. Rub in a little butter around the inside of a 28x20cm brownie pan and then line with a piece of baking parchment. 2 Melt the butter and two types of chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Do not let the base of the bowl touch the water. Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate in the microwave, but take care to melt, not cook it. Set aside to…

Bottles to bones An engineer at De Montfort University has developed a prosthetic limb socket made from polyester yarns spun from recycled plastic bottles. It cost about £10 to produce, compared to an industry average of £5,000. Feeling the heat Public buildings in Stirling, Scotland, are being kept warm by heat recovered from a nearby sewage works. That’s thanks to a new £6 million energy hub, the first of its kind in the UK. The Stirling District Heat Network delivers low-carbon heat to public buildings, including a leisure centre and football stadium, saving 381 tonnes of carbon annually. Teacher training A training programme to improve mental-health care of children and young people is being rolled out nationally this academic year. Teachers and those working in mental health will collaborate: “Schools…

Nina Dodd was on the bus when she had a great idea. She wanted to knit a jumper that would match the upholstery of the seat on which she was sat. Luckily, rather than just having the bright idea, she had both the skills and the dedication to make her vision a reality. Step forward lover of optical illusion Joseph Ford, who suggests styling her handiwork, in situ on that same bus. And it worked so well that a masterful creative collaboration was born… A new book, Invisible Jumpers, brings together 25 of their projects, photographed over the following five years. Looking at the photo of, say, Lo (right) at first, perhaps, you don’t notice where the colours of a wrap end, and the edge of a cliff begin, but…

1977 Born in Hampshire 1988 Goes to (famously liberal) Bedales School 1995 Interns in Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s Orchid Collection 1996 Gets first job at RHS Wisley 1998 Moves to New York City to work in the Botanical Garden 2001 Completes three-year diploma in horticulture at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2002 Graduates with MA in Society, Science and the Environment from UCL 2007 Settles in Birmingham and publishes The Thrifty Gardener 2008 Is given her Jack Russell Isabelle as a gift and becomes a columnist for The Guardian 2016 Comes out as gay and publishes Hidden Nature 2019 Publishes A Modern Herbal…

When it comes to traditional crafts, up there in the realms of marvellous is glassblowing. While, since the 19th century, we’ve been used to glass being industrially produced, the original method is still being practised, with creatives exploring its wondrous possibilities. Catriona MacKenzie is one of those people – creating both jewellery and glassware inspired by the natural world. As a method of creating glass, glassblowing dates back to the first century. The process hasn’t changed much since then “but it still fascinates me!” says Catriona. She discovered her love for it by accident while studying jewellery at Edinburgh College of Art. “They claim you need at least ten years to be able to do it,” she says, “but really, it’s a lifetime of learning.” Catriona has spent the past…

Homemade toffee apples Makes6 6 crisp eating (dessert) apples, such as Braeburn 400g golden caster sugar 100ml water 1 tsp lemon juice 4 tbsp golden syrup 6 clean, sturdy twigs (or wooden skewers) 1 Fill a large bowl with boiling water, add the apples and leave for a minute or so. This removes any wax they may have on their skin and helps the caramel stick. Dry with a paper towel and remove the stalks. Push a twig or thick wooden skewer to about halfway into each apple. 2 Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Put the sugar and water in a deep, heavy-based saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer until the sugar has dissolved, brushing any undissolved crystals down the side of the pan…

Researching and building your own family tree is a surprisingly addictive activity. Like doing a jigsaw puzzle or a crossword, it can be mentally satisfying, working those brain cells to make links and solve problems, and it can also relax you after a hard day at work. There is a network of family historians out there that’ll enable you to connect with like-minded souls who can help you and share research. Where do you begin, though? It may seem obvious, but always start from recent times and work your way back. Ask your parents and grandparents about what they know – who do they remember, and what did they do for a living? Where were they born, and were they brought up there? You’ll find it helpful to record these…

MARBLING The deeply satisfying craft of marbling probably originated in Japan in the 12th century. It was known as suminagashi (ink floating) and involved dropping splashes of black or blue pigment onto the surface of a tray of water. The ink would then be blown into patterns. By the 15th century, Persia and Turkey had improved on the technique by using oil paints and a thicker, viscous floating liquid. Two hundred years later, via trade and travel, marbling arrived in Europe and, even today, many people call marble paper ‘Turkish Paper’. Marbling is a relatively simple process: patterns are made by floating inks onto the surface of water or a gelatinous liquid called ‘size’. The inks are dropped in one after the other and then swirled around, feathered, combed or…

The Skogluft system uses golden pothos which is fast-growing and great at removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. But there are plenty of other plants that have powerful air-cleaning properties: PEACE LILY This simple and inexpensive glossy-leaved plant with white flowers is one of the best at removing VOCs such as formaldehyde, benzene and toluene. BAMBOO PALM This one helps eliminate airborne benzene and trichloroethylene. ENGLISH IVY Helps tackle formaldehyde found in cleaning products. WARNECK DRACAENA Helps combat chemicals from varnishes. BOSTON FERN Better at removing formaldehyde than any other plant. SPIDER PLANT Is almost as good, removing 90% of formaldehyde from a sealed chamber in 24 hours. ALOE VERA Removes formaldehyde and benzene from the air around it.…

She strides away from the station in the morning twilight as I run for the five-forty-two. My double – precisely me in height, in colour, the angle of her nose, the shape of her lips. This version of me has time to blow-dry her hair, and wears an old-fashioned dress with T-bar shoes, as if that is the most practical response to the day. My gaze travels with her – agog. Yet, she doesn’t acknowledge me, my loose jeans and worn-in Converse. The bleary early hour brings forward the thought, is this because I no longer exist? “You’ll be seeing us on the evening news,” I tell Eleanor – a joke – as I steam costumes. The job is beneath me, but Eleanor knew I was searching for something easy,…

Americans have long known the joys of carving a pumpkin and scooping out the fleshy insides to create pies aplenty. On this side of the pond we used to carve the less glamorous turnip, but pumpkin patches have sprung up across the country, so you can make like a farmer and harvest the humble squash for yourself. Put on your wellies, grab a jumper and pick a pumpkin before feasting by the fire with friends. Spooky stories optional, but highly recommended. Parsnip soup A CREAMY-TASTING SOUP WITH A BIT OF A SPICY BITE Serves 4 Glug or 2 of olive oil 1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped 500g parsnips, ends removed and roughly chopped (no need to peel parsnips if they’re clean) 1½ tsp ground coriander 1½ tsp ground cumin…

10,242 Number of firearms collected by police in New Zealand in the first month of a gun buyback initiative. In the wake of the mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch in March the government pushed through legislation banning semi-automatic weapons. 2035 The year by which Finland will be completely carbon neutral, according to a pledge by the country’s new government. Helsinki has also launched an app to encourage people to reduce carbon emissions by choosing more sustainable dining and transport. 12,500 The number of bikes that can be stored at the new multi-storey bike park in Utrecht, Netherlands. The new facility, beside the railway station, opened in August as part of a wider strategy to encourage more people to cycle and use public transport.…

Passengers on the move, not moving, becalmed in a between place on the way elsewhere. Dead quiet, staring intently into their palms. They are talking with their quick fingers, eyes flickering, picking up messages, catching the latest news. They know the price of gold, what’s happening in Iran, tomorrow’s weather; they scan the world, their faces backlit; they are no spectators but part of the play, tuned in to a global exchange where thoughts, facts, rumours, insults zip along wires like cash on a Baldwin Flyer. It’s off-key, this silence; it should hum, crackle with static; we should hear a buzz pitched just too low for eavesdroppers, the sound this glow would make, that wells from a dozen tiny screens into the room whose windows are dark with winter, looking…

* There s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. Every month we ask someone, clearly in love with their city, to take us on a personal tour and tell us what makes it so special. You may feel inspired to visit one day or to rediscover the charms of a city closer to you, but for now just sit back, relax and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the city? I moved to Kraków almost three years ago. I’m originally from Russia and was living in Moscow when I chose to follow my heart to Kraków, where my partner was living. At first it was hard to get used to a smaller, completely different…

OK, so you can t give yourself psychotherapy but there are plenty of techniques you can harness from outdoor therapy that may help you to face up to difficult feelings and encourage you to think in a healthier way. • If you need to have a difficult conversation, try suggesting a walk. It can be easier to open up when you’re alongside another person rather than facing them. • Feeling anxious? Try a mindful stroll – when you have a range of sensory cues to tune into it can help to focus your mind. Each time you find yourself distracted by an anxious thought, pull your focus back to the natural world – tune into the sound of birds, or wind in the branches, or train your eyes on the…

Glassmaking prospered in Bristol in the late 17th century, thanks to its location. It not only benefitted from great trade links, it also had the required resources – coal, glass, kelp and clay – close to hand. By the end of the following century, there were about 20 glassmaking firms in Bristol. The city is known for its own type of glass, Bristol Blue Glass, made by combining cobalt oxide with lead crystal. It once graced the aristocratic homes of Europe but today is probably most associated with the distinctive bottles of Harveys Bristol Cream sherry.…

The Simple Things Fairylights Making Workshop, which has ten places available, will be held at Joanna’s studio in Hove, East Sussex, on Saturday 9 November 2019 from 10.30am-1pm. Tickets cost £37 which includes use of all the tools, pretty papers and fabrics you will need, though you’re welcome to use your own (you’ll need about ten pieces of paper or fabric measuring 20x10cm). Tea, coffee, snacks and cakes are also included. HOW TO BOOK Email hello@lumelighting.co.uk or call 01273 723116 with any questions. For more information, visit lumelightin g.co.uk.…

“This is my favourite time of year,” says Jackie Roby kicking up leaves in the forest near her home in the village of Brockweir in the Wye Valley. “I like wearing big boots, jumpers and coats and going out into the woods.” It’s no coincidence that Jackie’s home on the banks of the River Wye is surrounded by trees: they were what drew her here in the first place. “I grew up in the suburbs of Solihull but I always wanted to live in the country,” she says. “I GREW UP IN SOLIHULL BUT I ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY” Her love for all things arboreal led Jackie to become a forest school leader, and she is now a Forest School Association Endorsed Trainer. She also holds women’s…

Maker of the month Designer of beautiful papers for walls, Fiona Howard Fiona Howard is a British designer best known for Dandelion Clocks, her iconic 50s wallpaper for Sanderson Studio. Fiona’s wallpapers are produced in England on FSC papers with environmentally friendly inks. Each design starts out as a pencil sketch before being transferred onto lino to be carved, inked and printed onto paper. The detail can be clearly seen in the newly launched Woodland wallpaper, above. We’ve a hunch this design is going to be very popular. fionahoward.com A fragrant tale Scent Magic: Notes From a Gardener explores the smells of the natural world Isabel Bannerman’s Scent Magic casts a romantic spell. She loves plants, their look, lore and history, but above all she loves how they smell. Page…

Jørn Viumdal s book, Skogluft (Harper Thorsons, £14.99), sets out to share the secrets of the system. You can buy the whole system from the Skogluft site (skogluft.com) or DIY it by buying the separate parts yourself. Here’s how: MAKE A SIMPLE WALL PLANTER by fastening a frame to the wall with a couple of screws – an old picture frame will do the job. Then attach four plastic flower boxes to the frame. Or you can buy one ready-made online. BUY 20 GOLDEN POTHOS PLANTS, also known as Devil’s Ivy, from your local garden centre or order online (see previous page for alternative plants). BUY A WALL OR CEILING-MOUNTED LED LIGHT FIXTURE you can angle at your plant wall. Fit it with a light bulb that has at least…

One night in late September I happened to be on the north Norfolk coast, cocooned in a duvet in the back of my car, like a human burrito. I’d driven to Snettisham, an RSPB reserve formed of lagoons and mudflats that sprawl out to the Wash estuary and into the black North Sea. By midnight a waning moon hung in the sky, and I lay awake listening to waves crash down onto silted sands. Outside the birds slept and the earth continued to revolve, so indifferent to the individual creatures in its web: the ocean was alive, the stars exploding, the soil murmuring with blood flow. Everything we do depends on the sun rising every day, but half of our lives are spent in darkness. How much energy continues to…

You’re undeniably a pretty excellent woman if you’re a gold medallist – and Liz Johnson has smashed that, winning gold in the 100m breaststroke at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, in addition to several World Championships. But what makes Liz truly excellent is her dedication to making our workplaces, and society generally, more inclusive, specifically in relation to disabilities. As she says, “disabled people shouldn’t need to be Paralympians to be accepted and celebrated. They should be seen as vital members of the UK’s workforce and recognised for their abilities, not their disabilities.” Now retired from competitive swimming, Liz is co-founder of The Ability People (TAP) – a consultancy staffed entirely by disabled people. She was prompted to action after hearing of a 30% difference in employment rates between people with disabilities and those…

Lately, I have taken up embroidery again. I started off simple with sets I bought online; now I’m trying to do more complex pieces. It was while I was baulking at the cost of thread online that I remembered something, tucked away, deep inside a cupboard, that I had half forgotten. After some rummaging, and getting a bit of a sweat on, I found it and pulled it out of the cupboard: my mum’s embroidery roll. When you open the roll, a rainbow comes to visit. It is not that tidy, in fact it’s a little chaotic and busy, just like my mum. Similar colours are grouped together with the odd one in the wrong place. Although there are strands sticking out all over the place, and frizzled bits, breaking…

• If you fancy getting back into football, or want to level up your fitness and learn the game, The FA and Sport England have created Soccercise (thefa.com/womens-girls-football/get-involved/soccercise), a football-based gym class that can be done at home or in gyms and sports halls across the UK. The Scottish FA runs a programme, Player Pathway, to gets girls into football (scottishfa.co.uk/football-development/participation) and there’s a similar scheme in Ireland (irishfa.com/irish-fa-foundation/grassroots-and-youth-football/girls-and-womens-football). The Football Association of Wales is working to help 600 women become football coaches by 2024 (fawtrust.cymru/coaching/courses/women-coaches). • Netball Scotland has launched Bounce Back to Netball which aims to encourage both men and women to rediscover their love of netball (netballscotland.com/bounce-back). You can find netball sessions and clubs online in England (englandnetball.co.uk/netball-sessions), Wales (welshnetball.com/club-finder) and Northern Ireland (netballni.org/clublocator). • If you’re…

It doesn’t take much to scare me at this time of year. The long sunny evenings of summer have been snuffed out by the change of the clocks and suddenly it’s dark on the commute home. The brooding skies and drizzle of autumn make for a melancholy mood, heightened by the piles of dead and dying leaves; fallen, decaying fruit underfoot and the enormous, invisible spiders’ webs strung like booby-traps between the shrubs in the garden. Every crunch of gravel outside my window is a potential intruder; every creak on the stairs an omen of impending doom. An errant firework and I’m hyperventilating under the table. And that’s before we even get onto the possibility of ghosts and ghouls. Google the name of your area and ‘haunted’ and see what…

There’s a photo on my laptop that always makes me smile. It’s my nana, proudly holding my newborn daughter Alice – there are 87 years between them and maybe it was thinking about the generations that got me delving into my family history. Satisfying though that is, it isn’t just about creating a family tree. What it really gave me is a new grown-up relationship with my nana. Start by questioning your oldest living relative, was the expert advice. So I did. Nan made us both a cup of tea (in a pot, always), put out a plate of biscuits and I ‘interviewed’ her about her mum and dad, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. She told me of tragedies and gossip, proud moments and household affairs. Even in a very…

shimmering Wye coursing through limestone gorges dense with woodland is particularly lovely at this time of year. In early morning, the mustard and copper colours of the broadleaf trees appear through the soft mist as it rises from the river. Although understandably popular with tourists (and loved by Victorian poets and artists including Turner, Coleridge and Wordsworth), a stroll along the Wye Valley Walk will soon take you away from the crowds and out into the woods.…

CAMASSIAS Camassias were much in favour at the Chelsea Flower Show this year and it’s easy to see why: tall, with striking, star-shaped flowers, they sway graciously head and shoulders above more humdrum blooms. Get a few bulbs into a sunny border this autumn and you too will enjoy the sight of their six-petalled flowers opening along straight stems next April/May. They’re great in wildflower meadows, too – coming in subtle shades of blue and creamy white and spreading in satisfying clumps. Need to know Camassia leaves are slow to die down so if you do plant among grass, for example in a lawn, this will make mowing difficult. Best to plant in a meadow, then you can leave the leaves alone and let them die back naturally. How to…

You may be surprised to hear that the average adult spends almost 90% of their time inside. Even though we may go for a wander at lunchtime, bike to work and spend our weekends on country walks, the reality is that most of us live lives that are more indoor than we like to think. As research continues to confirm the positive effects of being around nature and the negative impact on our wellbeing when we’re starved of it, innovations in indoor planting are growing. And with potential benefits from reduced blood pressure to increased alertness and better mental health to be gained just by living and working alongside houseplants, it’s a movement that’s worth taking seriously. “Living and working alongside houseplants can reduce blood pressure, increase alertness and lead…

As the nights draw in, our thoughts turn less to holidays and more to cosying up in our homes. Yet this can be one of the best times to get away, a moment to enjoy nature at its finest without the crowds. Autumn often rewards with warm sunny days ideal for walking or cycling, and clear night skies provide great stargazing opportunities. The North York Moors has all the ingredients for a mood-lifting weekend away with a unique landscape offering miles of magical heather moorland, pretty market towns, harbour villages, heritage sights and sandy beaches. And when the clocks go back, we can fully appreciate the vast expanses of unpolluted skies that come to light during the darker months. It’s time to stop mourning summer and take advantage of all…