Innehållsförteckning för July 2025 från The Simple Things

My own fascination began around the corner from my childhood home in northeast Scotland, where a house – gleaming white walls, multi-paned windows, sleek flat roof – caught my eye every day. It seemed so bold, so special, so modern. I still love it, my introduction to the enduring style I now recognise as Art Deco. Deco's sharp lines and stylised shapes can be spotted all over the UK, on residential streets and in buildings built for fun, from lidos to cinemas to ice-cream parlours. Its debut came in 1925 when the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes opened in Paris, exhibiting architecture, furniture, jewellery, glassware and more. Millions admired France's vision for ‘le style moderne’, which would, four decades later, become known as ‘Art Deco’. Eclectic influences…

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE Local lore BLESSING OF THE WATERS,WHITSTABLE Oyster season begins this month and in Kent it's marked by blessing the waters at St Reeves’ beach. The ceremony, also known as the Blessing of the Boats, has been happening around the feast of St James (patron saint of oyster fishers) on the 25th since the early 19th century. A parade comes from St Peter's church, stopping at Starvation Point, to remember Whitstable's merchant seamen who served in the wars, before heading to the beach to bless the waters, appeasing the seas and ensuring a bountiful catch for the year. Field work SPITS You know those ‘sticky out’ bits you sometimes see at the coast? They're spits, a depositional landform created by sediment carried along the coast by…

FAVOURITE SHOP Olicatessen A modern grocery store selling Greek products including olive oils, honey, tahini, jams, herbs, spices, plus natural bath and body products. olicatessen.gr FAVOURITE ICE CREAM Vanilla Gelateria Serves homemade gelato made from scratch daily. A real treat during the summer! Mitropoleos 129 FAVOURITE CAFÉ Ypsilon Has a quiet working area and outdoor seats, and is as good for morning coffee and brunch as it is for evening cocktails. ypsilon.com.gr FAVOURITE RESTAURANT Stou Mitsou Traditional Greek dishes are given a modern twist with a warm and authentic atmosphere. @stoumitsou FAVOURITE MARKET Athonos Square Historic Athonos Square has small workshops, farmer's markets, jewellery shops, and tavernas. FAVOURITE HOTEL Pillow urban stay A boutique hotel found in the heart of downtown Thessaloniki pillowurbanstay.gr FAVOURITE WAY TO SPEND AN HOUR If…

Crispy fennel seed socca with caramelised onions This salty snack is the ideal aperitif – quick to make and an excellent accompaniment to a glass of rosé. Serves 2, or 4 as a snack 130g chickpea flour 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Olive oil, for cooking 2 red or white onions, thinly sliced 1 tsp fennel seeds 4 bushy sprigs of rosemary, leaves picked Flaky sea salt 1 Combine the flour, the extra virgin olive oil, 240ml water and a pinch of salt in a bowl and whisk to combine, making sure there are no lumps. 2 Heat a glug of olive oil in a cast iron or non-stick pan over a medium heat. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and fry for 7-8 mins, or until they colour but aren't too soft…

Oh summer, don't make me hate you, just let me sleep! It's 4.26am and I'm writing in my journal on one of the many midsummer nights where I've laid awake and watched the dawn break through the chink in my curtains. I don't know if it's the warmer temperatures, fluctuating hormones, too many bed fellows (husband and dog) or that cheeky sundowner, but over recent weeks my bed has become more of a source of stress than rest. In my search for answers, I've found that I'm not alone in my summer sleeplessness. During our spring heatwave, online searches relating to sleep in hot weather rose by 925% in a week, according to Martin Seeley, a sleep expert at mattressnextday.co.uk. Determined not to fall out of love with my favourite…

NASTURTIUM Nasturtiums are edible with leaves rich in vitamin C, which made them popular with scurvy-ridden sailors. Brought to Europe in the 1560s by conquistadors, Tropaeolum minus originated in Ecuador and Peru. The orange, yellow or red garden nasturtium we now know are derived from a similar Peruvian species, Tropaeolum majus. Thousands of popular plants have found their way into our gardens carried by crusaders, traders, pilgrims, diplomats, soldiers, botanists and plant-hunters HELLEBORE There are about 15 species of hellebore, most of which are native to Europe, plus one species only found in China. They're tough, handsome plants, most of which flower in winter. Until the 1960s, they came in an uninspiring range of muddy pinks and greens, but a series of hellebore heroes changed all that, and today there…

It's taking part that counts, but these help hone skills. Egg and spoon race Key skill: balance Improving balance (such as practising standing on one leg) helps with stability. Avoid jerky movements with a relaxed body, weight spread evenly. Hold (don't grip) the spoon with only your thumb on top of its handle. Look ahead, rather than at the egg, as you go. Coconut shy (and other throwing games) Key skill: aim Do you have a specific game in mind? Practise again and again with the specific tools, whether ball or beanbag. The BBC's Muscle Mass, which explores sports day science, says to keep your head still and eyes fixed on the target. Look for visual clues each throw, adjusting position as needed. Sack race Key skill: co-ordination A tough…

BERTIE WOOSTER* Bally: an alternative to ‘bloody’; bluebottle: a policeman; dekko: a quick peek; gasper: a cigarette; nosebag: a meal or food; rannygazoo: nonsense; rummy: odd, peculiar; shift-ho: time to move; tinkerty-tonk (and toodle-doo): goodbye, see you; whiffled: intoxicated *P.G. Wodehouse – author of the Jeeves and Wooster books – is also to thank for being the first to commit the word ‘cuppa’ to print, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Now, that's what you call a P.G. tip!…

When your dog is a digger, you'll soon know about it. Don't be dismayed, even if they've demonstrated their new enthusiasm in your plant pots: instead, look at ways that they can dig happily – outside – without it being a problem. Bury toys in a couple of large, shallow plastic pots filled with sand; if you've got a garden, find a doesn't-matter patch under a shrub and bury something desirable there, then direct them where to dig. You could even buy a dedicated sand pit – some small ones for toddlers would fit on a patio or deck. Get the digging going by encouraging your pet to watch while you bury something tempting and repeat a few times until it's become their favoured digging spot. And if you're a…

The Scent of Rain Is it that, the tang we sense when the kitchen of heavens is opened, and the earth smells of cinnamon? After the feast, it lingers in the sap, to lull earth sweetly, kissing its famished skin. There's nothing quite like the scent of a summer shower. Here, Menna Elfyn beautifully captures how the generous fall of the rain and its released fragrance replenishes the ground and our senses. Things to ponder: How does Menna make the poem feel both domestic and majestic? How would you describe the smell of rain after a spell of warm weather? The Scent of Rain is the second section of the poem Weather Forecast, translated from Welsh by Joseph P. Clancy. Taken from Murmur by Menna Elfyn (Bloodaxe Books).…

“Hope is a discipline. We have to imagine a future which is not like the present we inhabit, but it's not enough just to dream another way of being. The discipline is in the work required to realise that change.” “People listening to me speak about discovering the fact that time, like rivers, is always flowing rapidly will be like, duh, yes, of course. It's no surprise to a Buddhist. But it has helped me dwell in the given moment better.” “I feel very hopeful about what's happening in this country. An astonishing grassroots resistance has sprung up from swimmers, surfers, walkers, paddleboarders and river lovers; citizen scientists who are teaching themselves to test water, holding water companies to account. It's thrilling to watch.”…

For my husband's six-month sabbatical, we decided to move our family of seven from the States to study abroad. While those months were quite challenging at times, it was also an incredible gift. We still reap the benefits of that adventure. Reflecting on my role during our sabbatical season – to educate our five children and manage, care for and provide hospitality as we studied and toured – I remember the simple things that kept me grounded. My travel backpack immediately comes to mind – my favourite tool in that season. This pack went everywhere with me. You practically had to pry it off my back when we returned home after those six months. I lamented returning to ‘normal life’ – one that didn't require the daily use of my…

HAPA ZOME Petal printing, or ‘hapa zome’, is an ancient Japanese printing technique that offers a simple yet effective way of imprinting the fleeting beauty of flowers and leaves onto fabric. You will need: Fabric or paper of your choice A good number of flower heads and leaves of your choice (we used pansies and violas) Wax paper A mallet or hammer Tweezers 1 Lay your fabric or paper out on a hard surface – I've found that my floor works best, because when I attempted to hammer onto my wooden kitchen table it wasn't quite sturdy enough. 2 Lay the flowers face down on the fabric or paper in your chosen pattern and position. 3 Place a layer of wax paper over the top of the flowers. I like to use wax paper…

As a food writer, I spend a lot of time in my kitchen and this ever-changing view from the sink keeps me on track. Washing up mountains of dirty dishes isn't such a bad job when you're watching tits on the bird feeder or bees buzzing around the blooms. I never tire of this view, it feels like an oasis of calm in the city. Jenny Chandler, Bristol @jennychandleruk One way looks towards the sea and the other, towards Kingsbridge. In summer, the water's filled with activity from yachts and paddleboards to the iconic ferries and sail boats. It's also my cats’ favourite spot for a bit of seagull watching. Zia Mattocks, Salcombe, Devon I love the simple rustic charm of the kitchen and the way the stone wall frames…

THE PUFFIN These portly parrots of the sea bring a smile to anyone's face; no wonder they are called the ‘Clowns of the Ocean’. That said, their Latin moniker Fratercula marina hails from a more sombre viewpoint. It was thought these playful birds resembled medieval friars, thanks to their fat bellies and dark black back feathers which looked like capes. It is also believed that their habit of holding their feet together as they launched beneath the waves looks similar to a monk in prayer. Puffins have a long and mysterious history with humankind. The Irish revered the puffin. They refused to eat these birds, believing the sea-bound beauties were sacred, and could even be the souls of deceased Celtic monks. In Iceland, the puffin was also known as the…

Prawn and courgette fritters with mint and parsley Who doesn't love a fritter, and these have a creamy, citrussy flavour – plus they're a great way to use up a glut of courgettes. Prawn and courgette fritters with mint and parsley Serves 4 150g cottage cheese 2 limes, zested Handful of fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped Handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped 140g large prawns, cooked, peeled and chopped 4 tbsp plain flour 1 egg, plus 2 egg yolks 2 courgettes, topped, tailed and grated 1-2 tbsp olive oil 1 In a bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, lime zest, mint, and parsley. 2 Add the prawns, flour, egg and yolks, then stir together and season well. 3 Grate the courgettes into a clean tea towel. Bring the towel together and squeeze out the excess water over…

GRAPEFRUIT DRIZZLE LOAF Makes 1 loaf 200g soft butter 200g caster sugar 4 eggs 200g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla paste Finely grated zest of ½ grapefruit FOR THE TOPPING: 100g caster sugar Juice of 1 grapefruit (about 100ml) TO SERVE: Yogurt or crème fraîche, optional 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/ Gas 6, and line a 900g loaf tin. 2 To make the cake, beat together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Then add the eggs, one at a time, and scrape down the sides of the bowl between each mix. Sift in your flour, baking powder and salt and fold in to form a smooth batter. Finally, add the vanilla and grapefruit zest and give a last gentle mix before pouring into your prepared loaf tin.…

THE HAPPINESS OF DOGS: WHY THE UNEXAMINED LIFE IS MOST WORTH LIVING BY MARK ROWLANDS In a nutshell Socrates claimed that dogs are natural philosophers, something that Professor of Philosophy and doglover Mark Rowlands heartily agrees with. Offering a thought-provoking insight into a dog's life, Rowlands draws on the work of eminent philosophers with the latest thinking in canine cognition to explore how we can attain meaning without striving for achievement and aim to live a more authentic, joyful life. Why now? We're a nation of dog lovers; 36% of UK households have at least one dog and many who don't will walk, borrow or care for a four-legged friend. We're spending all this time with dogs, so what can they teach us? So, what is so great about a…

Morning! We can see you've started on the tea… I love being the first up, especially in summer. I sit in the garden with a tea and start my list of things to do. Where you live? I live in a Victorian terraced house, near West Hill Park in Hastings, with breathtaking views out to sea. I'm very fortunate to have a studio in the house. How do you like to begin work? By making collages. It's meditative and playful without any rules or expectations. For the rest of my day, I'm juggling tasks. I'm creating a Henry Moore puppet, so I'll listen to podcasts about him as I pack orders. How did you land at what you do? My daughter was very young, and I wanted something more fulfilling.…

Each year, huge quantities of waste – an estimated 1.5 million tonnes in 2020 – is illegally ‘trafficked’ from wealthy nations to developing countries. Tunisian scientist Semia Gharbi has dedicated her life to researching ways to keep environments free of toxic chemicals, campaigning against the use of harmful pesticides in farming, teaching methods better for nature. When she discovered that the Tunisian government was quietly investigating rumours of illegal waste arriving from Italy, she knew she had to do something. She launched a campaign urging the governments of both countries to take action, appearing on TV, writing letters and meeting ministers. Her campaign was successful: several people were prosecuted, the waste was returned, and the European Union took measures to prevent future fraud. This year, Semia was one of the…

The thrill of the car-boot sale is ideal to wake up to on a sunny Saturday morning: the search for treasure is incentive enough to get me out of bed. But the car-boot sale is more than just retail therapy; its atmosphere is special, something of a jamboree en plein air – with bacon sandwiches – a meeting point for people, and a melting pot of sorts. The man in triple denim and a cowboy hat; the woman with two baskets and a fur-collared coat that sweeps the wet grass; a young man in leather perusing the vinyl; a group of people and their dogs exchanging pleasantries, all looking for their own particular kinds of treasure. Each table is an island of surprises, some carefully set out, with gentlemanrelish tops,…

Necessity is said to be the mother of invention, so the fan must be up there as one of civilization's most useful and beguiling accessories. There's the fan of childhood, when folding a piece of A4 paper into pleats was the easiest way to keep cool in a stuffy classroom. Thousands of years before, our ancestors were using long grasses to similar effect; seeking relief from the beating sun and wafting away insects with a quick flick of the wrist. Dating back to around 3,000 BCE and taking shape in China, Japan and Egypt, the first handheld fans were believed to be fixed fans rather than the folding types, consisting of a handle mounted with a simple screen or feathers. A clutch of fans found inside Tutankhamun's tomb embossed with…

If you dream of sand dunes and salty air, this is your sign to head to the coast. If that's not possible right now, then at least dream in comfort with the help of a parasol and a chair that rocks. Bookshop browse I WANT TO RIDE MY BICYCLE Freewheeling: Essays on Cycling E-bikes to hire, tandems, bikes built from scratch and a reliable, although not particularly remarkable commuter bike are the cycles that open up a little pocket of freedom for their riders as they travel across busy cities, up steep hills and coast down again. In this lovely celebration of cycling, and the way it offers routes into feelings, essayist Yara Rodrigues Fowler and Xani Byrne take to a tandem to assuage their grief, Roz sets off on…

As a family with school-age children, we're always looking for things to do over the summer holidays. We need plenty to keep children entertained, active, and outdoors, if possible. So, when we look to go away for a few days, we need somewhere that lets us try out new things, indulge in well-loved sports and relax at the end of the day, tired in the best way possible. With this in mind, we travelled to Fritton Lake, a private holiday club in Norfolk, where both children and adults can enjoy sports and activities on the water and off. Not only that, but the site is also a rewilding project, so we'd have the chance to do some wildlife watching and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. Where we stayed Set along…

Cassie Scott was not a big fan of spontaneity. She was a woman who liked an itinerary. Loved a spreadsheet. Lived for a to-do list. But it was summer. Which meant summer Fridays. Although she had all sorts of schemes to use the precious time wisely; read improving books, declutter, then pack for a big house move, her best friend Lucy had other ideas. Lucy was a free spirit. Or as much of a free spirit as she could be when life hadn't always been kind to her. She was all about the spontaneity and because Cassie loved Lucy, she could be spontaneous, too. Or at least she'd try. It was a simple plan. They'd meet one Friday lunchtime at a mainline station and get on a train to somewhere.…