Table of contents for February 2016 - Issue 44 in The Simple Things

Best-selling novelist Marian Keyes loves many things – her husband, her family, holidays, make up and chalk painting furniture. She keeps rare, pristine Chanel nail polishes in a handbag at the bottom of her wardrobe. She can’t resist the allure of the chemist shop; for her, plasters and scented soaps smell like sanctuary when the world tilts into confusion and mental chaos. A life-long sufferer from depression, and contending with an addictive personality, she has learned to appreciate life’s simple pleasures, and these laugh-out-loud, perfectly pitched essays revel in her joy at discovering a strange and lovely shade of nail varnish or the fact that her mum has a freezer full of Magnums, in every flavour. (Michael Joseph)…

The recipes in the second Itsu cookbook are big on flavour, simple to prepare and quick to cook. Curries, soups and broths are spiced with coriander and turmeric and a sprinkle of chilli. Many of the ingredients are cupboard staples, but even the less-familiar can be found in supermarkets. There’s a guide to types of noodle, grain and rice, and what dishes they work best in, and then it’s on to the recipes – from Beef Shabushabu – thin, lean tender beef cooked in hot broth – to prawns in a seafood ramen to a cauliflower, coconut and pea curry. (Mitchell Beazley)…

PROUDLY HOMEMADE ALLIUM BROTH This delicious broth has many uses. Use it instead of water for cooking pulses and beans and it brings them to life immediately. Add some diced or shredded green vegetables and simmer until they soften for a nutrient-rich soup or simply stir in some green pesto and lemon juice and pour into a mug for a light lunch on the go. Makes 1.2 litres 2 large white onions, skinson, sliced2 leeks, green ends included,sliced1 bunch spring onions, slicedvertically4-6 garlic cloves, rolled andsmashed, skins on4 small shallots, skin on, slicedinto rounds2.25 litres water2 tbsp white wine vinegar4 cloves2 bay leaves1 tsp black peppercorns 1 Combine all the ingredients in a large pan. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil. 2 Lower the heat to a…

Browsing beautiful pictures Vogue celebrates its 100th birthday this month and marks it with an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery of 280 captivating prints from its archives. From 11 February – 22 May. Watching a great movie Catch Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes in simmering psychosexual drama, A Bigger Splash, at cinemas this month. A remake of 1960s film La Piscine, the film shows two of our favourite British actors at their outstanding best. From 12 February. Celebrating Chinese New Year One of the most fun ways to spend this festival must be in London’s Chinatown where celebrations to see in the Year of the Monkey are the largest outside of Asia. Officially Chinese new year is 8–10 February but ‘event day’ is 14 February. lccauk.com. Further north, the…

What February needs is something to liven things up, to add a splash of colour and a bit of energy to the dog-end of winter. Lucky then that we can adopt the vibrant annual celebration of Chinese New Year* (In 2016 it falls on 8 February and marks the start of the Year of the Monkey). Jenny Linford always takes time to celebrate it: “I spent part of my childhood living in Singapore and my memories from that time revolve around food: from eating satay, freshly cooked over charcoal, to family outings with my cousins to dine on tasty Hainanese chicken rice. Chinese New Year is huge in Singapore. As a child, I loved collecting the ‘ang pow’ (envelopes of money) given to me by family and friends, as is…

BEETROOT AND CARAWAY SEED LOAF CAKE 100g cooked beetroot**2–4 tbsp milk50g ground almonds1½ tsp caraway seeds150g butter, softened, plus extrato grease the tin150g caster sugar3 large eggs, lightly beaten150g self raising flour, sifted2 tbsp pearl or demerara sugar,to finish 1 Preheat the oven to 160C/Fan140C/310F. Lightly grease a 1.5-litre loaf tin and line with baking parchment, then butter the parchment. 2 In a bowl, mash the beetroot with some of the milk until smooth. You can do this in a food processor or with a stick blender if you like. Mix in the ground almonds and caraway seeds. 3 Using a hand-held electric whisk or mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition. 4…

THE JAPANESE ART of tea reaches its highest and most revered state in the potent brew that is matcha. As the centrepiece of the tea ceremony – a ritual devised by Zen Buddhist monks during the 14th and 15th centuries – it’s as integral to traditional Japanese culture as ikebana (flower arranging), calligraphy and martial arts. Today matcha is prized for its health benefits as much as its cultural significance. The monks imbibed it to keep them focussed during long sessions of meditation, although they probably didn’t know why. We now understand that a bowl of matcha contains about half as much caffeine as an espresso and is rich in an amino acid credited with lowering anxiety, enhancing mood and improving sleep. Western ‘wellness’ gurus have embraced this bright green…

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, His nose, His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, ‘O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!’ ‘Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling Your ring?’ Said the Piggy, ‘I will.’ So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the…

January – 43 Forward Thinking. Whole year resolutions. Swedish-style afternoon tea and living Danishly. Exploring new neighbourhoods. How to listen well. Box-set suppers, orange cake and mittens. December – 42 Festive fun and games. Baking treats and making gifts. Almond snowballs and gin cocktails. Nordic wisdom. Making your house smell Christmassy. Why carol singing is uplifting. November – 41 Ideas for rainy afternoons. Bobble hats and spicy food under the stars. Toast, cake and artisan beers. The return of storytelling. Crafts with a twist. How to grow succulents. October – 40 Wisdom from the woods. Chalkboard art and how to stay curious. Fruit, nuts and pumpkins. Autumn glamping, DIY pizza night. Exploring a Danish forest retreat. Wine tasting and a spooky story. September – 39 An Indian summer supper. Crowd-free…

“It can be shifted from toes to tum with greatest of ease” Even with the advent of electric blankets and central heating, there will always be a place in our beds for the hot water bottle. Boil and decant a kettle, burp the bottle carefully, evicting air without spurting hot water over your hands, screw the tap on, tuck it under your arm and you have a friend for the night. (We shall ignore the bit in the morning when it becomes cold and hostile and you have to kick it out of bed.) The hot water bottle’s size is its strength: it can be shifted from toes to tum with the greatest of ease, dispensing localised heat and comfort as it goes. The electric blanket with its all-encompassing, regulated…

1. MAKE A START * Write a mission statement: think about why you want to open a shop, get your ideas clear and focused. * Plan finances: if you want a loan, a business plan is crucial. * Do plenty of research: there’s a plethora of online shops out there so make sure yours stands out from the crowd. Note what you like and dislike about each one in terms of design, layout, stock, creative content, social media. * Choose a good name: use instantdomainsearch.com to see if your shop website is available and that the name you have chosen has not been used elsewhere. 2. CHOOSE A PLATFORM You have two choices: pay for virtual ‘space’ online and use a website designer to create your bespoke website, or use…

From using a seen-better-days frock to a too-lovely-to-leave-behind charity shop cotton, fabric is a great – if perhaps not immediately obvious – material for jewellery. It can be braided, wrapped, pinched or stitched into many different designs. These three projects are pretty (and pretty foolproof) ways to create bracelets, brooches and necklaces from the odds and ends of spare fabric. Whether your taste veers towards graphic patterns, florals or bold blocks of colour, raid your fabric scraps stash to indulge your design sensibility. Scrap bracelets A SIMPLE BUT STYLISH PROJECT ALL WRAPPED UP YOU WILL NEED: scrap fabric bangle blanks in several widths, 1 blank per bracelet (homecrafts.co.uk) fabric scissors hot glue gun and glue sticks 1 Cut or tear fabric strips of 6mm by 150mm; you’ll need one or…

THE MYSTERY  The term ‘skyscraper’ was first used in the late 19th century to describe steel-frame buildings of ten storeys or more. Nowadays it can refer to any very tall multi-storey building, most often one covered in big windows. Many office employees today work in skyscrapers, and one of the benefits is the fun of watching the guys who clean the windows from special cradles trying to cope with the high winds, and being stared at. In 2012 Horace Morris, an experienced 60-year-old window cleaner who was working on a window on the 40th floor of the 84-storey Alto Tower, had a spot of trouble. Horace was smoking a cigarette and whistling along to the radio. He had cleaned the windows many times before and was not really paying attention…

Greenfinch The greenfinch is prized as a songbird in Malta. Expect slightly diva-ish behaviour at the birdfeeder – they’re known for squabbling among themselves. Magpie Dressed in black, noisy, chattering, will nick your stuff and be a general nuisance – the magpie is the eternal (misunderstood?) teen of the bird world. Pheasant Even if not a pheasant plucker, you’ll likely recognise these long, elegantly tapered feathers from the countryside and vintage hats alike. Woodpecker Noted for their loud call, woodpeckers can drum a tree at up to seven metres per second – proof that they’re high in the pecking order. Buzzard Common but unconventional – at least in their appearance. The French call them ‘la buse variable’ as their plumage ranges from brown to almost white. Jay These colourful crows…

Recipe from Homemade Memories by Kate Doran (Orion Publishing) MAKES ABOUT 30 DODGERS 150g butter, softened100g shop-bought smooth peanut butter125g caster sugar25g light muscovado sugar1 egg yolk1 tsp vanilla extractlarge pinch salt265g plain white flour, plus extrafor dusting100g of your favourite jam 1 Cream together the butter and peanut butter for 1 minute. You can use either a medium bowl and a wooden spoon, or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add both sugars and beat for a further 2 mins until fluffy. Add the egg yolk, vanilla and salt and beat until combined, then sift over the flour and mix to form a soft dough. Knead a couple of times until smooth. 2 Preheat the oven to 180C/Fan 160/350F. Line two baking trays with baking parchment. 3…

ELLIE TENNANT is an interiors journalist, author and stylist. An extract from her latest book, Chic Boutiquers at Home, is on page 106. She enjoys pottering in her garden and decorating her Edwardian cottage. What makes you feel calm? Sunsets. We wrap up in blankets, sip hot chocolate from flasks and sit back to watch the show. CLARE GOGERTY When not working at The Simple Things, associate editor Clare Gogerty is usually at the seaside. Author of The National Trust Book of the Coast, she explores out-of-season beaches for this month’s Outing on page 64. What makes you feel calm? Coming back from a trip, when the familiar sounds, smells and sights of home wrap around me. LAURA ROWE has been writing about food for a decade and is currently…

Think Feeling about unsure what ? would do if you couldn’t fail you Go for a 20-minute walk this every week day Invite friends round for pudding straight and to the get main event Plan (thinking your about next holiday going makes feel away happier even you if you don’t actually go) Put thyme a sprig in hot of water lemon and drink to relieve a cold * We’d love to read your could-do lists for winter. Send them to becs@ icebergpress.co.uk…

Sofa.com are makers of beautifully crafted sofas, armchairs and beds. Their extensive range has styles to suit all tastes, from classic and traditional designs, to more mid-century and contemporary pieces. Their selection of house fabrics is something to behold, with over 150 colourways in a number of different fabric types that can be upholstered onto any of their products. Founded in 2005, they had the aim of making a better sofa, at a better price, than any other high street store, and have since been nominated for numerous awards for personal shopping and customer services. Because they really care that their customers find the perfect sofa, they also have dedicated areas in their showrooms in Chelsea, Edinburgh and Bath, where you can browse through a host of designer fabrics from…

DOMAINE DE PETIT COTEAU VOUVRAY 2014, £16 Match with: Braised pork Style: This zesty white from the Loire Valley has a mouth-watering citrus tang, with hints of lime and green pear. It will refresh the taste buds in between mouthfuls of rich belly pork. GITTON PÈRE & FILS ‘LES HERSES’ SANCERRE 2014, £16 Match with: Sea bass Style: Sea bass is a delicate fish, so you need a white wine that will elevate, but not mask, its flavour. White Sancerre is light-bodied but aromatic, with notes of gooseberry and green melon. CAVE ORSCHWILLER PINOT GRIS ALSACE 2014, £13 Match with: Prawn wontons Style: This fruity white wine has a crisp acidity to cut through the starchy dumpling wrapper, while a hint of sweetness goes well with the juicy prawns. *…

*There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people that 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’ve lived happily in Montreal my entire life and my mother’s side of the family came here from Ireland six generations ago. My father’s side has only been here for a little less than a century. Tell us what makes Montreal unique. Montreal is a meeting-point…

Ocean-facing Portugal has long been a nation of great seafaring adventurers, with explorers like Vasco da Gama bringing back riches during the 15th- and 16th-century Golden Age. This legacy lives on in the form of magnificent historical monuments and sumptuous palaces, and in cultural influences from former African and South American dominions. The origins of the mournful fado music are less clear, but this soulful lament perfectly encapsulates the national spirit of saudade – a nostalgic ‘longing’ for a past out of reach, and a sense of being a ‘land apart’. And although this is literally true, with Portugal’s position at the western edge of Europe, it is an incredibly rewarding country to visit, with vibrant, colourful cities and wonderfully unspoiled corners, both inland and along the beautiful Atlantic coast.…

• Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham Thought to have been the brewhouse for Nottingham Castle, with a Crusades-inspired name that ties in with its 12th-century claims. However, there’s no documentation, and the current pub’s oldest part is only 17th century. • The Old Ferry Boat Inn, Holywell, Cambridgeshire Sounds the part with its thatched roof, resident ghost and foundations dating to 460 AD. But it’s been significantly rebuilt over the centuries, with long periods out of use. • Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St Albans As an 11th-century structure on an 8th-century site, this was awarded ye olde crown by Guinness World Records. However, some believe the pub didn’t arrive on this site until the 15th century.…

Spring posy The mild start to winter has meant that early signs of spring are, erm, springing up all over. Bulbs are beginning to poke through the soil and those hyacinths planted indoors last October are now filling the house with scent and spikes festooned with blue and white flowers. Select a few blooms, add tulips, now widely available in florists, intersperse with that harbinger of spring – pussy willow* – and put in a jam jar for a cheering display. * The furry male catkins of the Salix appear before the leaves. Bring branches indoors, put in water and watch them develop and open.…

“A revival of botanically themed prints and fabrics in interiors and fashion has had an exciting impact on the horticultural world” A few months back I was given a baby spider plant by a friend who had seen it on a plant stall and thought of me. I’m embarrassed to admit that I put it on a shelf in the kitchen and didn’t think about it again until my son pointed out that it didn’t look very well. It was, in fact, beyond resuscitation. I felt dreadful but I am sure it’s a fate awaiting many houseplants that have been bought – or given – in a moment of generosity, only to be neglected and consigned to the compost heap. Thankfully, a revival of botanically-themed prints and fabrics in interiors…

Microleaves are nothing more than vegetable or herb seedlings, harvested when tiny. The secret is to choose those with full flavours: coriander, radish, celery leaf, rocket and fennel are my favourites. Each is more intense than its full-grown version, with any of that soapiness that occasionally characterises coriander or the woodiness of radish, pleasingly absent. For a splash of colour along with a mild yet fine flavour, red cabbage and beetroot work well. And they couldn’t be easier to grow. Although seed trays work perfectly well, I use a couple of lengths of guttering: they sit adjacent to each other on the window sill, are narrow enough to get even light to all the seedlings, are easy to handle, and their semi-circular profile allows the exposed plastic to warm up…

WILD MINT CANDLE A classic from the place that launched a thousand candles. BEST FOR: Providing minty freshness in the depths of winter. £28, thewhitecompany.com REWINED CANDLE Comes in thirteen alcohol-inspired scents, from Champagne to Sangria. BEST FOR: Guilt-free booziness. Even comes in a repurposed wine bottle. From £19, westelm.co.uk MULTI FLORAL TUSCAN HERB SCENT Does what it says on the tin – artisan candles in cans. BEST FOR: Bringing a touch of La Dolce Vita to a room. £15, cantocandle.com…

LOUISE GORROD Our Wishlist Editor, Louise, is also our Stuff of Life shopkeeper (shop.thesimplethings.com). Look out for this symbol for items in the shop. She also blogs, bakes and photographs at Buttercup Days: buttercupdaysuk.blogspot.co.uk. Enamel kettle| £30 Use on the stove top and brew a perfect cuppa.gardentrading.co.uk Sweeper and Funnel | £45 A fresh take on the good old dustpan and brush. By Menu at bearandbear.com Mast Brothers chocolate | £8 Made from goat’s milk and flavoured with lemon curd, thyme and toasted meringue. Tasty.cravedlondon.com Industrial wire cage pendant | £79 Stripped back and stylish. Good hung in clusters.thedenandnow.co.uk Desktop series | £96 Add a touch of elegance to your home office. anothercountry.com Bermondsey sofa | £680 A two-seater for cosy nights in with a box set.sofasandstuff.com Table | £379;…

Our shopkeeper’s picks for  February... “ These knitted kaleidoscope and graph cushions by Rose B. Brown [above] are ideal for grey days spent lounging on the sofa. But with spring on the horizon, our thoughts are turning to the garden and we’re stocking up on Sweet Pea, Nasturtium and Cornflower seed pots by Julie Dodsworth ready to get sowing next month. And for days when the weather tempts us outside we’ll throw on a linen scarf by The Linen Works: lightweight and soft, yet sufficiently thick to keep out the cold, it’s just right for those in-between months.” Louise Gorrod, Shopkeeper…

“It was as dramatic as a thunderstorm, yet calm. Gentle, yet astonishing,” says plasma physicist Dr Melanie Windridge as she watches the Northern Lights dance and swoop over the Arctic skies. Fascinated by the phenomenon of the aurorae, she headed to the coldest, darkest spots on earth to watch the display, skimming over icy lakes in Norway, waking to a tent covered in a thin layer of fine black dust in Iceland and ending her travels in Svalbard (land of the cold coasts in Old Norse) where fjords freeze over and the formidable landscape is one of glaciers and perma frosts. The result is a brilliant blend of auroral science, polar exploration, Sami heritage and folklore. Melanie Windridge’s book is full of wonders. (William Collins)…

“It combines utility with style in a rough-and-tumble, Britpop way” If ever there was a garment that segued easily between town and country, the parka is it. Just the thing for the weekend, it is equally at home worn at a farmers’ market as watching a kickabout in the local park. It’s robust enough for country lanes and cool enough for Shoreditch High Street. It combines utility – its many and various pockets can be used to stow dog leads, handfuls of humbugs and cold hands – with style, in a rough-and-tumble, spirit-of-Britpop way. No surprise then, to learn that the parka’s origins lie in the frozen Arctic, a land where warmth and practicality in a garment are non-negotiable. Made from seal and caribou skin, the Inuit wore one to…

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Morning! What are you up to? I live in a cosy flat in Kingston and commute in to the Tipplesworth studio in Battersea. By the time I have my first cuppa of the day, I’ve conquered part one of my daily task list. Emails have been answered (usually during my train journey) and I’ve settled into the office. I’m not a morning person, so become less grumpy after my cuppa. What does your work involve and do you have a daily routine? Being a founder and CEO of a small business means I have become a jack-of-all-trades. I can be packing pallets in the warehouse, managing accounts in the office, filming cocktail-making videos, developing new products, pitching to retailers and organising cocktail events. Time for elevenses – can we make…

FAVOURITE SHOP S.W. Welch Booksellers I’m a sucker for used-book stores and this one in Mile End is my favourite. It’s stocked with all manner of hard-to-find books. 225 Saint Viateur St. West welchbooks.com BEST GALLERY Galerie Eric Klinkhoff This gallery displays and sells important works of Canadian art, many of which are museum-worthy. 1200 Sherbrooke St. West klinkhoffart.com FAVOURITE BAR Dominion Square Tavern This historic institution has been restored to its original glory. It’s a great place to have a drink – even the bathrooms are worth visiting. Seriously. 1243 Metcalfe St. tavernedominion.com FAVOURITE CAFÉ Café Vasco Da Gama A Portuguese sandwich shop with bright and inviting decor, a laid-back vibe and friendly staff. 1472 Peel St. vascodagama.ca FAVOURITE RESTAURANT Le Taj…

Kindness should come from the heart, not a to-do list. It isn’t about ticking off a list of ‘kind’ tasks every day. It’s about cultivating a compassionate outlook on life, one that is authentic to your personality and lifestyle. Here are some ideas: • Practise conscious commuting – instead of tuning out, look for ways to help others, like offering a seat to someone. If you drive, be the one who lets people out at junctions. • If you work in an office, bring in kindness Fridays. In one study, people who designate a day a week to it experienced a bigger happiness hit than those who spread their good deeds throughout the week. • Turn walking the dog into an awe walk – walking somewhere so beautiful it inspires…

We’re a culture that’s highly attuned to what’s beautiful and moving about love; we know its high points and celebrate its ecstasies in films and songs. By comparison, work is the dull, tedious bit – the thing we have to do to pay the bills. And yet what’s striking is how often work, despite its lack of glamour, in fact turns out to be the easier, more enjoyable and ultimately more humane part of life. There are a number of reasons: FIRST : You have to be professional Work demands that all who walk through the office door must behave ‘professionally’. And what that essentially means is that situations where you’re deep inside tempted to explode, insult, curse and weep require you to handle yourself with stoic calm and reserve.…

“We used litres and litres of white paint,” says Elisabeth Borger about decorating her home in the village of Schoorl in the Netherlands. “We didn’t just paint the floors and walls white but the doors and the staircase, too.” Elisabeth’s aim – to bring as much light as possible into the house, an idea inspired by Scandinavian interiors – paid off. The home she shares with her partner René Douma and their daughter Merel is as bright and spacious as it is possible to be. The all-white interior is calm, restful and airy. The house is a tranquil place, somewhere to escape the clamour of the city. A RETURN TO NATURE Elisabeth and René had always dreamt of moving to Schoorl, which is located behind the dunes and a short…

Organic growing doesn’t just mean throwing out chemical weed killers and pesticides; it’s about using natural ways to promote a healthy and sustainable growing environment. Here are three ways for successful organic growing. CARE FOR YOUR SOIL A healthy soil has good texture and is full of nutrients that feed your plants. The secret is compost. Adding compost (or well-rotted manure, if you can get it) will bulk up loose, sandy soil and break up any compacted clay. The ideal texture feels rich and crumbly – think of an expensive fruit cake! Compost contains vital nutrients. These are especially important if you grow veg or salad in a pot or a window box, as your plants will quickly use them up. Commercial grow bags contain huge amounts of added phosphates…

1. MICKE WALL DESK | £90 Has a magnetic board on the back panel to pin up reminders and so on. ikea.com 2. ASH ESME DESK | £279 Like a funked-up bureau. Has a handy hole for keeping cables tidy. made.com 3. RANDALL DESK | £295 With integrated drawers to tidy away stationery and documents. swooneditions.com 4. QUINT LAPTOP DESK | £295 A smart shelf for your laptop: a neat solution for small spaces.habitat.co.uk 5. WAFER DESK | £195 A large flat surface to spread your creativity wide. Plus trestle legs. loaf.com THE POWER OF A POT PLANT Walk into any corporate office and you will find no end of dusty rubber plants sitting in pots of dessicated compost. Even though these plants are woefully neglected, they still serve a…

HONEYCOMB This sweet treat caused outrage when a contestant on Masterchef: The Professionals dared to serve it with fish. Don’t be put off – a honeycomb and sorrel sorbet helped another chef get into the final of Great British Menu. At its best in indulgent snacks, such as salted caramel or honeycomb doughnuts. TRY IT: in Amelia Rope’s sea salt and honeycomb chocolate bars (ameliarope.com) BUY IT: from Mighty Fine Honeycomb (http://mighty-fine-chocolate.myshopify.commighty-fine-chocolate.myshopify.com) SEE IT: on our Tasty Trend Pinterest board…

seeds can be direct sown in the ground from March to early May and will provide a crop to pick throughout the summer. WHEN TO HARVEST? Keep an eye on plants and when you can see small pods on the lower trusses, pinch out the growing tip of the plant. This encourages the fruits to set and reduces the risk of pests, like blackfly, which love tender new growth. These tips are edible and can be steamed or stir-fried. Once the beans have swollen inside the pod they are ready to pick. Work from the bottom up and go for small, sweeter ones that will be tender. WHICH ONE? The most reliable variety for early sowing is ‘Aquadulce Claudia’, which is hardy and produces long pods. ‘Witkiem Manita’ is another…

COLD AND FLU REMEDY This can help prevent a cold if you catch it early, just as you begin to shiver. It stimulates the circulation and promotes sweating MAKES 90g herb mixture KEEPS for a year INGREDIENTS 30g elderflowers30g peppermint leaves30g yarrow flowers METHOD 1 Mix the ingredients thoroughly. 2 Make tea using 2–3 tsp per mug of boiling water, infused for 5 minutes. 3 Drink freely. (Or you could add honey and then freeze in lolly moulds – suck to calm a sore throat.) Adapted from The Domestic Alchemist: 501 Herbal Recipes for Home, Health and Happiness by Pip Waller (Leaping Hare Press)…

HOMEOSTASIS Despite the fancy name, homeostasis is something we see in action all the time. It describes the processes that maintain a constant internal environment in the human body in response to external conditions. Think of how we respond to changes in temperatures. Ideally, it’s a balmy 37C in our bodies: if we get hot, we sweat and, as the sweat evaporates, we lose heat energy and start to cool down. If we get cold, the hairs on our skin rise to help trap a layer of heat above the skin. Our clever bodies employ similar processes for water content, carbon dioxide, blood sugar levels and more. It’s also done thanks to negative feedback mechanisms – if the level of something rises, these mechanisms reduce it again, or if the…