Table of contents for April 2025 in The Simple Things

Spring is finally here; the puffer jacket has been stuffed joyously back into the cupboard along with the fleece-lined boots and woolly scarves. All’s good apart from the question of what to wear when it’s still quite chilly and the heavens can open at any moment? I could opt for my lightweight puffer. Or there’s the trench coat. Both will keep me warm and dry but only the trench will add that feeling of purpose to my stride as we enter the season of new beginnings. Despite its name, the trench wasn’t worn by soldiers in the trenches in WW1. It was, in fact, the higherranking officers who adopted it as their uniform when Burberry or Aquascutum (depending on who you ask) updated the rubber Mackintosh into a double-breasted coat…

Private No Access The animal in me is padding through woods in the rain, poking her nose in rabbit holes, forging a channel through the bluebell sea which quivers in her wake. The animal in me is rooting out spiders and insects, scuffing rich dirt beneath a dripping oak, close and low-down tracking the scent of musk which spells out the name of her kind. The birches’ eyes are on her and she does not care, for she has the world on her side, the green harkening follow-me world where every thing alive is permitted and everything is alive. Her ears prick – momentary – at the crunch of gravel as someone about-heels in deference to the sign. She runs and the wild-garlic stars burst open. There’s a heady, heightened…

“The modern world tells us constantly to look for affirmation: please love me, please think what I’m doing is good. It’s not healthy. What we need is our own internal sense of affirmation. Am I doing the right thing today? If I am, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.” (James) “I have learned to let things go – I prioritise sitting in a chair and reading, even if there’s a heap of washing upstairs that’s been ignored for three days. It will get done eventually.” (Helen) “People shouldn’t care about the future of farming because of token individuals like us. They should care because farming is at the core of what human society needs: food, good health, clean water, nature, beauty.” (James)…

In Britain we drink around 100 million cups of tea a day. In contrast to the ceremonial teahouses of Japan where ‘Chado’ (meaning ‘way of tea’) is considered as vital as its bright green matcha, or Tibet, where small bowls of salted butter tea are topped up by the host after each sip, the majority of British tea drinkers head to the kettle for a cup of black tea with a splash of milk, affectionately known as ‘builders’. Some of our most popular brews including Yorkshire Tea, Tetley and PG Tips are largely a mish-mash of the black tea plant (Camellia sinensis), which can be sourced from up to 20 different tea plantations across Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Back in Blighty, these are blended by expert tea masters,…

As spring arrives, Andrea Curtis’s home comes into its own. As if waking up from a long slumber, the spring light flooding through the windows bounces off the painted walls and makes the home feel crisp and bright. This is, unsurprisingly, Andrea’s favourite season. “I love how the house and garden come alive after the long winter. I look forward to a good spring clean, enjoying the process and taking the opportunity to rearrange furniture, move plants around and change soft furnishings for lighter versions,” explains Andrea, who lives in the colourful five-bedroom Victorian semi in Bridgend, South Wales, with her husband Alistair and daughters, Carys, 24, and Grace, 18, their pet cats, Storm and Roxy, and their cavapoochon, Charlie. “The colour scheme and design of our home has a…

Considering the UK’s temperate climate, it’s not surprising we have so many words for rain. Pluviophiles might appreciate a wet and showery, ‘dabbledy’ day in Herefordshire, while those getting soaked by misleadingly light precipitation in Lincolnshire might describe it as ‘dringey’. April’s ‘gleamy’ weather (showers and fitful sunshine, in Essex) has inspired a whole lexicon, while in the garden, too, a range of responses are needed for this challenging month. Whether your plot suffers from too little or too much water, here are some suggestions so you can get outdoors and enjoy it, instead of tiptoeing through a boggy lawn or spending your time watering new, dry plantings. SWEET APRIL SHOWERS DO SPRING MAY FLOWERS* Shakespeare’s ‘uncertain glory of an April day’ is apt in these days of climate change:…

This edible and highly ornamental crop is native to the Americas. The seeds were a staple food of the Aztecs 6,000-8,000 years ago and were also used in their worship. The seeds and leaves are edible and rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. The leaves are used in Caribbean cuisine, called ‘callaloo’ after the traditional dish. How to… Amaranth is suitable to grow in any soil in full sun. It’s best to sow outdoors after the last frost. Sow approx. 2mm deep, in rows 40cm apart. Amaranth is a low-maintenance and problem-free crop. Water it after planting, however, plants might need support as the seedheads get heavy towards harvest time. When the seeds fall out of the seedheads after a light shake, they’re ready to harvest. Cut the seedheads, place…

LINER MEGA MUG Microwave and dishwasher friendly, comes in four stripe colours. Best for: Earning your stripes with a generous cuppa. £16, loaf.com POLO PICNIC RUG Ready for picnic opportunities, it’s woven in North Wales. Best for: Practicalities, thanks to its waterproof backing. £80.95, black-by-design.co.uk CORNFLOWER NAPKINS 100% cotton, in bold, broad or ticking stripes. Best for: Evoking that beautiful summer blue, whenever you use them. From £24, glassette.com…

Dice Make ours a double. A custom of hanging dice comes from WWII pilots, echoed by the ‘fuzzy dice’ classic car decor. Ladybird From Russia to Italy to Brazil, it’s lucky to spot a ladybird. Gardeners everywhere thank their good fortune for their help in managing aphids. Fly agaric No flies on the glückspilz (‘lucky mushroom’) in Germany, thought fortunate if found in winter. Red and white, they also do duty as festive decor. Maneki-neko Japanese in origin, meaning ‘beckoning cat’. Paws for thought: the right one up is about bringing fortune to a home, the left to a business. Four-leaf clover Related to the Irish shamrock’s symbolism, relative scarcity (1 in 10,000) makes these a lucky find. That means about one in each 1.2 sq. m, clover lovers. Acorn…

It happens by accident. Marian is sitting up in bed as is usual on a Tuesday afternoon – and every afternoon, for that matter – when a ticklish breeze invades the bedroom. Well, it’s really the lounge but since the stroke, Marian can’t manage the stairs, or much else, and so this space is her everything – sleeping quarters, dining room, library, cinema. Cage. The breeze persists. Come to think of it, Marian could swear the hum of traffic is louder than normal. Surely, Yvonne didn’t forget to close a window before she left. Marian had dawdled over her lunch, and Yvonne had then needed to rush to her next ‘lovely’ as she calls the elderly persons under her care. But still. Energised by panic, Marian levers her ailing body…

Morning, where are you waking up? My partner Tim and I have lived in Walthamstow for over 25 years. Our café is in South Woodford, nearby. First cuppa of the day? Tim usually pops over to Wood Street Bakery for flat whites to wake us up. We got a coffee machine to try and save money, but the bakery wins most mornings. How did you get a ceramics cafe? We bought the café 15 years ago, with little experience but a lot of enthusiasm. We’d both worked in retail and catering, and as a former animator and editor (Tim) and journalist and crafter (Karen) we’re pretty creative. There’s been lots of learning curves – the first mug I painted was so bad it made me cry – but it’s worth…

There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. This month, we’ve asked photographer Daniela Bathóová (danniephoto.myportfolio.com; @daniela206) to guide us around her home city. You may feel inspired to visit, but for now just sit back and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the city? I’ve been here for three years now. I grew up in Slovakia, and always thought I’d settle somewhere far away, as my work had me travelling to many different countries. But life has its surprises, and I found my happy place here in this charming city. What makes your city unique? Its balance between rich history and a relaxed, modern vibe. The Old Town is like stepping back in time, with…

People often ask why slugs are so abundant in gardens. There can be up to 200 per square metre, which means the average British garden might be home to – prepare yourself – 35,000 slugs. And that doesn’t include the snails. So why are our gardens not gastropod-ravaged deserts already? Most slugs and snails prefer decomposing plant material that’s been enriched by fungal activity. However, one of the most frequently given pieces of advice – keep your garden tidy – leaves slugs and snails with no option other than to eat our plants. Encouraging hedgehogs, frogs and toads also turns out to be mostly wrong. Nor do I suggest madcap methods such as flinging them over the fence, smearing your pots with salted Vaseline or medieval cruelties like snipping a…

Spring is the ideal time to breathe new life into your home, and this month’s competition gives you the opportunity to do just that with a £500 shopping spree at One.World up for grabs. Whether you’re drawn to reclaimed wood furniture, hand-finished ceramics, or rustic stoneware, One.World’s carefully curated range is designed to bring warmth, charm and effortless style to every home. As a family-owned brand, One.World believes in creating pieces that tell a story – crafted with care, made to last, and designed to be lived with and loved. “One.World only sells products that we love and want in our own homes,” says Managing Director, Jason Bensohn – and that passion is woven into every design. Sustainability is also at One.World’s core, using reclaimed materials, and crafting many of…

We live in an Edwardian house, so I wanted this room to feel traditional to match the house and be a calming space for me. The deep green colour on the walls paired with classic metro tiles, mosaic tiles, touches of wood and lots of plants makes it feel almost spa-like. It’s my little sanctuary where I can go to relax, make time for self-care and have a long, uninterrupted soak. Roxanne Fregona, London @vincent_the_house I wanted my bathroom to match the rest of my house – colourful, vintage and full of plants. I love my bath but I’m most proud of my mid-century cabinet from eBay, which I varnished, then added yellow hairpin legs and a basin to. Katherine Atkinson, Maidstone, Kent @theoldforgeincolour I’ve always wanted a free-standing bath…

POP MUZIK BY M New York, London, Paris, Munich, though almost half a century old, everybody’s still talking about Pop Muzik. M – or Robin Scott – conceived the song after looking back over the previous 25 years of pop. With disco in its heyday, he felt that while at first “rock and roll had created a generation gap, disco was bringing people together on an enormous scale.” A folk musician in the 1960s, and a producer for punk bands in the 1970s, Scott knew a bit about the various incarnation of pop. The lyrics contain plenty of clues to be picked over, from references to dance crazes such as the jitterbug or the milkshake, to children’s rhymes, such as “Eenie, meenie, mienie, mo.” Spot some of music’s biggest stars…

EURASIAN SKYLARK A symbol of hope and joy around the world, the skylark is treasured in many mythologies. Ostara, the Germanic goddess of the dawn (also known as Eostre), was deeply saddened when she came upon a frozen lark one early spring morning. Almost dead, the bird’s wings were damaged by the icy cold. While the goddess could not save it as it was, she took it in her hands and with a warm breath transformed it into a hare. In return, the newly changed creature gifted the goddess with eggs, establishing the link between Easter and eggs. The lark became synonymous with hope, renewal and the spring. The ancient Egyptians associated the bird with their mother goddess Isis, making it a popular emblem of fertility and new life. Its…

Which Bennet sister are you? Have you heard there’s a new tenant at Netherfield? Before we ruminate on that, though, we’d better find out which of the five Bennet sisters from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is your spirit literary heroine. Simply answer the questions below to find out. Now, about that new tenant at Netherfield… What is your greatest accomplishment? A I like to think I’m honest, good and kind. What greater accomplishments could there be? B Having married for love and been lucky enough to find a good man. C My pianoforte is excellent. I’m also a very accomplished reader. D Great hair. And great hats, too. E Well, I’m a bit of a boy magnet. Does that count? Ha! I’m really not just saying that. Ask anyone!…

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE APRIL’S BIRTH FLOWER DAISIES AND SWEET PEAS With daisies symbolising purity and sweet peas, friendship and gratitude, a posy of April birth flowers is a good representation of the loyalty and kindness typical of those born this month. They tend to appreciate the simple things in life, and what could be more lovely and simple than neat, bright daisies and headily scented sweet peas? Folklore WALPURGIS NIGHT If you enjoy a bit of a creepy celebration, you might like to mark Walpurgis Night on 30 April – also known as ‘the other Halloween’. It began in Germany but is now celebrated across Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in Sweden (the Swedes always know how to take a bit of folklore and make it into a…

FAVOURITE SHOP Place Store A hidden gem for unique, handmade Slovak crafts and jewellery. Pick up one-of-a-kind pieces from local designers that capture the very essence of Slovakia. placestore.sk FAVOURITE GALLERY Nedbalka Gallery A quirky, vibrant spot where art and street life come together, giving you a burst of colour on any day. nedbalka.sk FAVOURITE RESTAURANT Brixton House Offers a cosy atmosphere and a menu full of mouth-watering comfort food with a twist. The flavours are fresh, and it’s always a treat to eat here with friends. brixton.sk FAVOURITE ICE-CREAM Arthur serves unique flavours you won’t find anywhere else in the city. Instagram: @arthurgelato FAVOURITE CAFÉ Vík Vegan pastries and treats so delicious they’ll win you over in a heartbeat, whether you’re vegan or not. Instagram: @vik_bratislava THE ONE THING…

It’s Monday morning at Racy Ghyll Farm in the Lake District and, in the kitchen of their converted barn, Helen Rebanks pours a mug of tea for her husband, James. He’s peeling off his overalls, somewhat flustered, having been out helping their daughter Bea, a 17-year-old farming apprentice, pull a quad bike out of a ditch. Helen is not long back from driving Tom, their youngest, to his primary school. But any hope of peace and quiet is being scuppered by the seven-month-old Springer spaniel tussling with Bea’s nine-week-old sheepdog pup on the flagstone floor. The scene could be typical of any morning in the kitchen of a busy farming family. But Helen and James Rebanks are far from typical. As well as caring for 500 acres, 300 Herdwick sheep,…

Leaving a career in financial services Jane Pearce was looking to be in at the beginning of something game-changing. Co-founding Rookwood Operations in Somerset with two others, she wanted recovery and reuse to be at the heart of their business. Their work, she says, “was right in front of us.” It was plain to see the way that phosphates used in farming fertilisers run off into rivers, creating algal blooms that kills fish and marine life. “Phosphorus is considered the second most critical macronutrient for sustaining life,” she explains “and there’s an excess of it in the wrong place. It was an opportunity for true circularity.” They created Phosphate Removal Material. Made from natural materials, it absorbs phosphates from water and can then be put on fields as a soil…

PROUDLY HOMEMADE RAFFIA PLACEMATS You can find raffia placemats everywhere. They last for ages, but after a while can get a bit grubby. Instead of throwing them away, turn them into pieces of art for your walls or to display on your table. You will need: Old circular placemats made from raffia, jute or seagrass Chalk paint in your chosen colours Detail brush set 1 You can use anything circular for this project – raffia placemats, coasters, old bowls – but the trick is to paint lots of them and preferably in different sizes, too. Getting a good palette of colours that work together is the most important bit, so spend some time picking out your palette. 2 Try to repeat some of the colours across the placemats so that…

Stars of spring Create a stellar posy with the earliest wildflowers of the season. Greater stitchwort, also known as ‘Star of Bethlehem’ for its five-petaled white blooms, is common along hedgerows, roadside verges and grassy banks. Similar in colour and shape, wood anemones grow there, too, but also, as their name suggests, in forests. In Roman times, these snowy blooms were considered lucky charms; you’d certainly consider yourself fortunate with such a pretty bunch.…

Maker of the month Gilded stitches Go for gold with beautiful embroidered brooches and kits. ➛ Embroidery artist Hattie McGill stitches magic into every piece she creates in her cosy Hertfordshire cottage. Specialising in the intricate art of goldwork embroidery – a centuries-old technique using metal threads – Hattie’s on a mission to make it more accessible for makers. Trained at the Royal School of Needlework, Hattie launched her business in 2016 while freelancing in film and fashion, initially creating pieces for friends before opening her own Etsy shop. Balancing bespoke commissions, embroidery kits, and work for film and TV, Hattie finds joy in the mindful, slow nature of her craft. “It’s about creativity, discovery, and problem-solving,” she says. “It’s mindful and slow work, which is needed in a fast-paced…

CHEER UP A CHORE That’s entertainment Pop on favourite tunes and belt or dance it out. Try our Spotify playlist of ‘sing aloud songs’, or the radio, audiobooks or podcasts (try ours!) can all offer merriment as you work. Mindful moments It’s a chance to practise mindfulness. One survey, looking at dishwashing, showed that focusing on water temperature and the like reduced nervousness by about a quarter. Write a list Make big jobs smaller tasks. Dopamine is released as we complete things – that’s why ticking off a list is satisfying. Your body recalls that happy feeling, so repeating the task is a bit happier, too. Get the kids involved It’s for their own good: research suggests that for children aged 5–13, it can help with focus, planning and behavioural…

TALK LIKE… YOU’RE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE* gambold: frolic, entertainment, pastime; kicky-wicky: girlfriend, wife; miching: sneaking, sulking, lurking; pell-mell: confused and/or disorderly mass; peregrinate: travel or wander from place to place; sneap: snub, reproof, rebuke *To mark Shakespeare Day on 23 April. Definitions given by shakespearesglobe.com. The summer 2025 season at Shakespeare’s Globe begins on 25 April, with tickets starting from £5.…

Pickled cauliflower with orange and turmeric Makes two large jars. To a large pan, add 750ml water, 500ml white wine vinegar, 350g caster sugar, 15g Maldon sea salt, the zest of 1 unwaxed orange (in strips), 6 peppercorns, ½ tsp chilli flakes, and 1 tsp ground turmeric. Bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 5 mins. Meanwhile, cut 1 cauliflower into bite-size florets. Pack into sterilised jars and pour over the pickling liquid. Seal while hot and leave for at least 1 wk. Good for a year, if kept in a cool and dark place. Taken from Service by Anna Hedworth (Quadrille)…

By looking at the forecast? Forecast accuracy has dramatically increased over the decades and continues to improve: a five-day forecast is now right about 90% of the time. Over 10 days, however, the accuracy falls to under half. Partly that’s because the weather depends on so many different factors, including local environment – such as built-up cities compared to a beach. Then, it’s how it’s presented. If there’s even a slim chance of rain, many forecasts display the rain symbol on the logic that people are less annoyed by carrying an unused umbrella than getting wet without one. By looking around you? There are centuries-old clues that can give a general idea of what may happen. Gathered grey skies or closed pine cones to suggest ‘bad’ weather, red skies at…

Rin Tin Tin Easy entertainment for a dull day It’s pouring outside and your dog is indicating that they could do with a diversion. Gather up the tennis balls that lurk in every corner and try the baking tin treat game. Take a tin with largish hollows (a muffin tin is ideal), put a treat in each, then cover the treats with tennis balls. Put the whole thing on the floor and let your dog figure out that they need to move the balls to get the treats. As you’d expect, responses vary according to the dog: some get it straight away, others take a little time, while a more indulged pet may simply glare at you until you do the work for them. And a few may be more…

Minor Swing Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli Sh-Boom The Chords I’ve Got My Mind Set On You James Ray. Foot Stompin’ The Dovells Bingo Bango Basement Jaxx The Puzzle Song Shirley Ellis Nathan Jones The Supremes I Got The Moves Habibi Badala Zamana (Habibi Funk 015) Zohra Soul Bossa Nova Quincy Jones Yeh Yeh Georgie Fame Cool Jerk The Capitols Pop Muzik M You Make My Dreams Come True Daryl Hall & John Oates Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da The Beatles Sunday Sunday Blur The Entertainer Scott Joplin Take a listen at thesimplethings.com/blog/jauntytunes stop look listen “Dance in the supermarket Dig it in the fast lane Listen to the countdown They’re playing our song again”…

Lamb with stilton gnocchi A fresh idea to go with your lamb, adding Stilton to your gnocchi for a pleasing cheesy punch Lamb with stilton gnocchi Serves 4 1 small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, chopped 25g flaked almonds, chopped 1 unwaxed lemon, zested 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 lamb loins (about 600g) FOR THE GNOCCHI: 500g cooked potato, riced 125g plain flour, plus extra for dusting 75g stilton, crumbled 2 egg yolks FOR THE SAUCE: 25g butter 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 small bunch of mint, chopped 1 small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, chopped 1 tbsp capers FOR THE GARNISH: 1 small bunch of mint, chopped 1 tbsp small capers 1 Preheat the oven to 220C/ Fan 200C/Gas 7. Mix the parsley, almonds, lemon zest and garlic together and spread…