Table of contents for June 2018 in The Simple Things

9-10 June NOSY PARKERS Over 200 gardens and squares in London open their gates for Open Squares Weekend; opensquares.org. 16-24 June BONNETS OUT… It’s Jane Austen Regency Week in Alton, Hampshire: antiques and craft fair, dancing (workshops and ball), talks and tours; janeaustenregencyweek.co.uk. 21 June Wake up with a round of sun salutations to celebrate the longest day “Good thoughts will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely”Roald Dahl, author NEW FESTIVAL Timber Festival celebrates woodland culture with immersive arts, cool music, wild wellbeing and camping in The National Forest. 6–8 July; timberfestival.org.uk. 14 June To do... GIVE BLOOD! If you don’t already, take the first step today on World Blood Donor Day. You can register at blood.co.uk. 25 June Over 100 owl sculptures…

“Every morning, on my way to work as a chef, I used to walk past a little green shed. It was used as a kiosk selling lollies and beach toys. It was only open in the summer holidays; the rest of the year it was boarded up. I’d watch the cattle grazing in the pastures above and the fishing boats harvesting the seas below; it encompassed all I loved about Cornwall. When I heard the National Trust was looking for someone to take on the lease. I jumped at it. It wasn’t all plain sailing – when I first picked up the keys one cold February morning, the locks had frozen and I had to break in through the hatch. It was full of huge spiders and the mud track…

MARIGOLD SHORTBREADS Makes 16 175g plain or spelt flour 40g caster sugar 6 tbsp (14g) marigold (calendula) petals* 110g cold butter FOR THE MARIGOLD SUGAR Marigold petals 50g caster sugar 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4. 2 Put the flour, sugar and marigold petals into a bowl, then rub in the butter as for shortcrust pastry. Gather the mixture together and knead gently on a lightly floured surface. 3 Roll out the pastry to 7mm thick, then cut into rounds with a 6cm cutter or into heart shapes. Bake for 15–18 mins until pale brown, depending on the thickness of the biscuits. Remove and cool on a wire rack. 4 While they cool, make the marigold sugar. Blitz the marigold petals in a blender with the sugar for a…

As I look back at New Bridge, it appears squat and not entirely symmetrical from where I’m standing. Its irregularity gives it a naivety, like a drawing of an imagined bridge. Built in the 13th century, this structure between Abingdon and Witney is arguably the oldest bridge across the entire span of the Thames. Hidden on the other side is a cheery pub garden, dotted with bright hanging baskets, and colourful barges moored at the water’s edge beside weeping willows. But looking out westward, I just see a low-hanging, ominous sky over a wide field leading down to the Thames. I’m following part of the Thames Path in Oxfordshire that runs snugly along an uneven bank. It juts out and then sinks into little bays. I enjoy the way it…

Cockles Skewer a few of these vinegary delicacies from a cardboard tub with a cocktail stick for maximum seaside snack authenticity. Ice-cream Wherever you find a prom, you will find an ice-cream parlour. It would be a crime not to indulge, whether you go for a simple cornet or a sundae. Doughnuts Sharing a bag of freshly-fried, sugar-coated doughnuts is an ideal accompaniment to a seaside stroll. Let an increase in appetite caused by the sea air be your excuse. Fish and chips A piece of sustainably sourced haddock in a light batter with a tray of fat chips and mushy peas? Yes, please. Milkshake This frothy glass of flavoured milk has bounded into the modern age with new flavours like Oreo Cookies and Cream, and Peanut Butter Fudge. Yum.…

Once the stable block, carriage house and outbuildings for the 18th century Bruern Abbey, the 12 houses that now form Bruern Cottages have been tastefully renovated to provide topnotch self-catering accommodation, in the hamlet of Bruern near Chipping Norton. With cottages sleeping from two to ten, there’s flexibility to enjoy a cosy break à deux or gather friends and family in one large house or spread around the estate. It’s plush yet comfy; all houses are dotted with antiques and decorated with classic fabrics and wallpaper from Nina Campbell, Osborne and Little, and more. The large glass-roofed heated pool is a real bonus; shared between the houses, it was never busy during our stay and, with large glass doors opening out onto a walled garden, on a sunny day it…

We’re storytelling animals, hard-wired for it; it’s obvious in the innate storytelling capacity we’re born with. In pretend play, toddlers create uniquely plotted dramas, populating them with people and animals, pitching their voices differently for each character. Their play-acting isn’t all polite chit-chat: sometimes it’s positively existential – just like fairytales. We begin to perceive and make sense of the world through the stories we hear in childhood and their lessons are deep and rich. Anywhere, there may be a door to another world: learn to look for it. Always leave a trail of breadcrumbs to find your way out of the dark wood. Don’t maim yourself trying to fit into the glass slipper that was made for someone else. The characters are great teachers, too. Think of Eliza, the…

There is something marvellous about the best microfiction, we wrote back in April issue when we invited readers to have a go at writing a 100-word story. And you did not disappoint, they were indeed marvellous. We received several hundred stories on the subject of SUMMER, from wistful tales of love and romance to atmospheric rememberings of sunshine and seaside. There was comedy, tragedy, and wit, with some great twists in the tale, too. Our favourites are printed over the page but the winner, as judged by The Simple Things team, did what only the best microfiction can do; she made every word count. A big well done and a package of good books is winging its way (much like the frisbee in her story, right) to Kirsty Boswell. Thanks…

Diverse, subversive, mischievous… who couldn’t love a circus? Circus appeals to the rebel in us all. Even us Brits. Especially us Brits actually, because circus, with all its mystery, history and derring-do is as British as crumble and custard. “The French and the Americans, they go on about how they invented cinema, but we invented the circus,” insists Professor Vanessa Toulmin, of the University of Sheffield, founder of the university’s National Film and Circus Archive. Growing up in a family of travelling showmen and now a world authority on circus, and historical advisor to Circus250, it’s easy to see why Vanessa is still enthralled by the Big Top. And who knew that every moustachioed strong man, hatted ringmaster and tragic clown had a young Geordie to thank for his (or…

Delphiniums The towering spikes of delphiniums (aka larkspur), at their best in June, make ideal cut flowers. Easy to look after, they will last for up to seven days in a vase. “They are best displayed en masse in a tall vase,” says Ellie Marlow, florist at Catkin & Pussywillow. “Or with other strong blooms like hydrangea or peonies for a gorgeous summery bunch.”…

Crochet and outdoor chairs are not the most obvious combination but put the two together and you have a nifty upcycling opportunity. Have an old chair lurking in the shed, seat worn from many summers? This project uses a crochet knot to create a new seat and back from paracord. It may sound complicated but is actually relatively simple once you’ve got into the groove (if you need some extra help along the way, find handy video tutorials by searching ‘macramé chair tutorial’ on YouTube). Then sit back and admire your work, hopefully with a refreshing drink in hand. Macramé chair KNOT YOUR WAY TO A NEW SUMMER SEAT YOU WILL NEED Scissors Unloved aluminium camping chair 200m of 4mm rope (such as nylon paracord): 100m white, 50m grey, 25m…

We both get up around 7–8 am. In spring and summer, the first thing I do is check my plants to make sure they have enough water, open my greenhouses, and water any plants in propagators in the house while Wayne gets the fire going. We eat breakfast together, then I do household chores and Wayne tends to the generator or solar system. Once I have done my bodywork – pilates, tai chi, or yoga – I head out to the garden to pot up plants, sow seeds, weed, prune, and do general maintenance. We have lunch together and then focus on our art. We both carve, and I write, paint, dance, play musical instruments and sing. I am also a healer, so people come out to Freedom Cove to…

1 MAKE Petals or flower heads from blooms with strong scents (roses, lavender, jasmine) can easily be turned into pot-pourri. They work best combined with slices of orange, apple and spices like cinnamon or cloves. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 110C/Fan90C/Gas 1 until dry, then put somewhere dry for two days to get rid of any residual moisture. Mix well, bruising slightly to release fragrance, then store in a lidded jar for at least two weeks. Remove, put in a wide bowl and inhale. 2 BUY When it comes to buying home fragrance, it’s best to stick to organic products to prevent chemicals circulating in the air. Made in Cornwall using distilled water, Jasmine, Rose Geranium & Lemon Verbena Room Mist, £15, above, by Trevarno (trevarnoskincare.co.uk), is…

“Muuuum!!!” Della put her fingers in her ears and leant towards her computer screen, where Chapter Seven blinked back at her. She always ignored the first morning call from her youngest – she knew there would be more. “Have you got any clean shirts?” “MUUUM!” More insistent this time and from the top of the stairs. Over the years, Della had developed skills of echo-location, like a whale, so she knew where her babies were calling her from. “Mother!” On Charlie’s third call, and now with Jay having opened the study door to stand there dressing-gown-hood up, eating a bowl of cereal, Della lost her cool. “For God’s sake!” she got up and pushed past Jay. “You know this is my time for writing, what is it with you two?”…

MAKER OF THE MONTH Laura-Jane Atkinson has given linoleum a new lease of life Once associated with kitchen floors, linoleum has been given a new lease of life by Manchester-based designer Laura-Jane Atkinson. She uses this “clean material” to make a playful range of lighting and vases, above, from £80, by hand cutting squares, laminating them and then turning on a lathe. She intends to expand the range with a new collection launched next month at ‘New Designers: One Year On’ at the Business Design Centre in London. A designer destined for the spotlight. laurajaneatkinson.com FEELING YOUR WAY How to develop natural intuition in Wild Signs And Star Paths by Tristan Gooley* Once upon a time, the shape of a tree glimpsed on a horizon could tell you which way…

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Good morning! How do you begin your day? I nip downstairs and make a pot of coffee: filtered Monsooned Malabar. I work my way through the whole pot, planning my day. And what might that plan involve? I love painting the caves and coast, so my time is divided between the studio and working outdoors, depending on tides and weather conditions. If I’m working outdoors, I may need to travel a few hours away, sometimes with a further half hour or so by kayak to get to a particular spot, or it could be just a five-minute walk down to the beach. It takes a while to get kitted out: art materials, waterproof clothing and other bits and pieces go into a backpack, including a flask and food to keep me going.…

* There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. Every issue, 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 vicarious travel. How long have you lived in the city? I’ve lived here for 15 years. I had lived in London for 10 years, then Ecuador, and wanted to carry on speaking Spanish but closer to home. I was looking for a small, sunny city with friendly people, lots of history and close to interesting…

Southend-on-Sea, Essex The longest pier in the world, no less: 1.5 miles, complete with a railway that takes you to the end of it. Llandudno, Caernarfonshire A pretty pier with an ornate blue and white balustrade stretches out from the curl of the northern foreshore. Eastbourne, East Sussex Built by Victorian engineering genius, Eugenius Birch, the pier is a proud complement to the town’s elegant, white seafront. Blackpool, Lancashire Boasts three piers – Central, North and South – each reaching out from the promenade and devoted to rides, shows and other hedonistic pursuits.…

“I thought of that while riding my bicycle” Albert Einstein, on his theory of relativity Wouldn’t it be great if we could actually live more meditatively – practising as we go, with no distinction between rehearsal and performance? This is where the bicycle comes in – a machine that blends meditation with movement; curiosity with velocity; mindfulness with mudguards. On a bicycle, you can achieve in a few weeks an art that Buddhist monks spend decades learning, and which the great Einstein encapsulated effortlessly: mindful living. By helping us to avoid getting caught up in our thoughts, cycling can bring our whole worldview into balance. If you’re feeling tired, it picks you up; when you’re drifting, it gives you direction; when you’re struggling, it gives you momentum. No…

My life. My history. My adventures. Captured in miniature, in four square metres of blue fleece. Although there’s little of the blue fleece visible. My camp blanket is covered – practically every centimetre – in sew-on badges. And, yes, I did actually sew them all on. It didn’t always look like this though. It started life when I was a Guide, aged 10, going on my first camp, and I needed a blanket. My mum found a heavy woollen one, rough and scratchy, that had belonged to my Granny. I carefully started sewing my badges onto it. Over the years though, this blanket developed holes, possibly due to campfire embers, or sticky marshmallows, or getting caught on twigs. It was simply too big, and too heavy, to use easily. I…

Animals in circuses have been a contentious topic for some time, quite understandably. Circus animals are protected by the Animal Welfare Act in the UK but, even leaving aside the many allegations of cruelty, the fact is animals’ needs are simply not met in the circus environment. Though bred in captivity, they were often by no means ‘domestic’. On tour, they usually graze in fenced areas but big cats often stay chained up in trucks. They might look like they enjoy performing but that’s probably because it’s the tiny percentage of their day that they aren’t kept in cramped conditions. In February this year, after more than two decades of campaigning by the Animal Defence League and others, the Government promised to ban wild animals in travelling circuses in England…

“The days of elaborate displays using blocks of oasis are over” Of all the treats you can give yourself, impulsively buying a bunch of flowers is one of the best*. First, there’s the joy of standing by the flower stall umming and ahhing. Should it be a bunch of tightly furled ranunculus with their layers of crinkled petals? Maybe a clutch of peonies in bud, about to burst into spectacular bloom? But then there’s the allure of half a dozen roses, hard to beat for scent and staying power… Once you have made your choice, there’s the additional pleasure of it being wrapped by the florist in a cone of brown paper, and then carrying it home, carefully inhaling the scent and peeking at the blooms as you go. Back…

Is it ever excusable to display fake flowers rather than real ones? I live in a city flat and can’t wander into the garden with a trug to cut fresh blooms or pick blossom at dawn from the hedgerow, and there are times when buying from the florist is beyond my budget. Fake flowers could fill that gap, perhaps? Answer in brief: chosen carefully and used with discretion, artificial flowers are a sensible and lovely option. There is no shame in a vase of faux flowers. They have come a long way from crude plastic stems and dusty, felted leaves. Interior designer Abigail Ahern (abigailahern.com), for example, champions artificial flowers and her range of wilder-looking blooms, including hops, mimosa and mossy branches, are lovely and natural-looking.Neptune (neptune.com) has all…

Ada Lovelace Even though it’s from the 19th century, Ada’s ‘computing machine’ understanding exceeds our ‘turn it off and on again’ limits. Amelia Earhart The first woman to fly the Atlantic solo. She also formed an organisation for female pilots, The Ninety-Nines. Audrey Hepburn Hepburn not only conquered the screen, but – through her work for UNICEF – tackled real-life global issues, too. Coco Chanel Her designs liberated women from the corset’s constraints – presumably enabling us to buy more No5. Frida Kahlo Dreams of becoming a doctor dashed by illness, Kahlo produced over 140 artworks on identity in Mexican society. Emmeline Pankhurst Pankhurst’s suffrage organisation smashed ideas about women’s capabilities, and many windows in the process. Marie Curie Developing the theory of radioactivity (and coining its name), her findings…

“Summer hasn’t really arrived until you’ve worn sandals three days in a row” Summer hasn’t really arrived until you’ve worn your sandals for at least three days in a row. Those odd days when you optimistically whip them out only to have regrettably chilly toes by evening don’t count. The constant wearing of sandals is a surer indicator of summer than the arrival of the first swallow. Like autumn boots and winter coats, sandals are a key seasonal item. As such, they benefit from a refresh each year: slipping freshly pedicured feet into a brand new pair will put a bounce in anybody’s step. (Providing they don’t rub, of course.) As with any other item of clothing, however, sandals are subject to the vagaries of fashion. We’ve all padded around…

Favourite shop ISADORA This boutique has fashion with humour – dresses embroidered with octopus by Malaga label Pepaloves, and relaxed pieces by Skunkfunk.facebook.com/isadora.sevilla Favourite gallery CENTRO ANDALUZ DE ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO The CAAC is housed in a 15th century monastery. caac.es Favourite café LA CACHARRERIA On trendy Calle Regina, this café-bar is busy from morning till night, with healthy breakfasts and delicious cakes, rolling into moreish caipirinhas. Calle Regina, 41003 Seville Favourite bar PURA VIDA Of the several hotel rooftop bars, the most relaxed is at Hotel Fontecruz Sevilla Seises.facebook.com/puravidaterraza Favourite restaurants LA COMIDILLA Next to Triana market, this small, unpretentious place has outside tables and lots of daily specials.facebook.com/comidillatriana SAL GORDA Try their creative dishes like tuna tartare or prawns with ponzu sauce. facebook.com/salgordasevilla Favourite market MERCADO DE TRIANA Built…

Maybe it’s because Brighton is where you run away to from London, but many low-budget British films end there, often badly, and usually on the prom. Brighton Rock The 1948 film version of Graham Greene’s book sees unpleasant gang leader Pinkie Brown (played by Richard Attenborough) fall to his death from Palace Pier. (The 2010 version was filmed on Eastbourne pier, so doesn’t count.) Quadrophenia A series of brawls between mods and rockers was filmed on Brighton promenade. After being arrested and disappointed in love and by his hero (Ace Face played by Sting), Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels) drives Ace’s scooter over the cliff. Mona Lisa George (Bob Hoskins) confronts Simone (Cathy Tyson) about her deceptions on the pier before they are chased by vengeful criminals as…

Being But Men Dylan Thomas Being but men, we walked into the trees Afraid, letting our syllables be soft For fear of waking the rooks, For fear of coming Noiselessly into a world of wings and cries. If we were children we might climb, Catch the rooks sleeping, and break no twig, And, after the soft ascent, Thrust out our heads above the branches To wonder at the unfailing stars. Out of confusion, as the way is, And the wonder, that man knows, Out of the chaos would come bliss. That, then, is loveliness, we said, Children in wonder watching the stars, Is the aim and the end. Being but men, we walked into the trees. About the author Welshman Dylan Thomas (1914–1953) had a reputation for being a “roistering,…

Isaiah wasn’t known by his biblical peers as “the prophet” for nothing. His pronouncement that ‘Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them’ ably describes the life of a man approximately three millennia his junior. Howard Parker has spent a considerable portion of his life living in a photographic darkroom, and considers the moment of revelation to be “the best thing ever. You’ve controlled everything from the start: composition, exposure, developing, printing. It’s the essence of the word photography – making something with light.” When Howard discovered analogue cameras at university, they so rapidly took over his life that he dropped out and cofounded the land of infinite variety that is West Yorkshire Cameras – an analogue camera shop, now based in Leeds’ glorious Corn…

Five of the most famous • Joseph Grimaldi 1778–1837 Not strictly a circus clown (he performed mainly in panto), but deserving of a mention as he was the first to sport ‘whiteface’ and a red smile, and is known as ‘the father of modern clowning’. • Grock 1880–1959 A Swiss acrobat, Charles Wettach started as a clown in 1903. He left the circus to perform in music halls instead, subverting the form, as someone who ran away from the circus rather than to it. • Emmett Kelly 1898–1979 American, Kelly, clowned as ‘Weary Willie’, a character based on the ‘hobos’ of the depression era. His son, Emmett Kelly Junior later continued the act. • Charlie Cairoli 1910–1980 French clown of Italian descent, Charlie began clowning at the age of seven…

• Look for furniture and materials in skips and jumble sales. Talk to people who are tearing down buildings and ask their permission to take unwanted stuff. • Recycle as much as possible: it’s economical, environmentally-friendly and gives your home personality and style. • Take your time and relax during the process. It’s important to enjoy your home even when things aren’t finished and don’t look perfect. • Involve the whole family: our children were happy to pitch in with easier tasks.…

BUD VASE Small and dumpy and suitable for small posies of delicate flowers: lily of the valley or forget-me-nots, say. A pretty addition to a bedside table, especially when making guests welcome in the spare room. CERAMIC PITCHER A large jug with a wide opening – either vintage or new (John Lewis’s Croft collection has a plain white Luna jug, £25) – is lovely filled with branches of blossom or twigs festooned with catkins. The country cottage/ farmhouse table vibe, right there. GLASS COLUMN VASE These come in a variety of widths but are always tall – 28–40cm usually – and elegant. Suits long-stemmed blooms with height like dahlias or gladioli. Flowerheads just about popping over the rim look foolish. SINGLE STEM VASE Use to show off an attractive specimen:…

Gemini 21 May – 21 June ★“Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?” asks Canadian author Danielle LaPorte. We all need to recharge sometimes and the Sun’s journey through your sign in June is your chance to replenish your spirit by honouring your needs and engaging in pastimes that plug you into the universal battery. August builds on this theme of time out as Mercury goes retrograde, so whether you schedule a regular massage, daily meditation or creative hobby, know that this isn’t so much a time for pushing out into the world, but a time to reflect and heal, physically and emotionally. A time to reflect and heal, physically and emotionally Cancer 22 June – 22 July ★“Each night, when I…