Table of contents for July 2020 in The Simple Things

Vegetable tempura Work through a garden glut or nub ends of the veg box in style. YOU WILL NEED: Various veg cut into bite-sized pieces. Broccoli, baby corn, courgettes and mushrooms are good. 80g plain flour 1 tbsp cornflour Pinch of salt 200ml sparkling water, ice cold A few ice cubes Groundnut or sunflower oil Sauces for dipping 1 Sift flour, cornflour and salt into a large bowl. 2 Whisk in the sparkling water and add the ice cubes to keep the mix cold. 3 Fill the oil to one third full in a wok or deep pan to 190C. 4 Dip bits of veg into the batter and drop into the oil for 2 mins or until golden. 5 Remove with a slotted spoon onto a plate of kitchen…

Tell us about your first cuppa of the day. My tea marathon generally starts around 7am. I go down to the kitchen and bring back two cups, filled to the top, and I mean top, for me and my partner, Joe. Fill us in on your work life. At the minute, I have two jobs: my day job in beauty marketing and my own business, House of Lilah. My days can be quite long and hectic, so meditation is my ally for coping. I like to start the day with a 15 minute practice before I brew the tea. Why did you start your business? I’d worked in marketing for about 18 years, and always knew I’d create my own business one day. In 2016 I was made redundant and…

The high life Corfe Castle in Dorset has been quieter than usual this year, but for the first time since the 1980s, its high walls have welcomed a pair of peregrine falcons. The birds look for inaccessible places to nest, and, thanks to lockdown, the top of the National Trust ruins has proved to be the ideal spot. Natural healing Indoor office plants were the inadvertent casualties of the eight-week stay-at-home order in Paris, but city-greening business Merci Raymond has come to the rescue, with a plant hospital to revive sick and untended ferns, figs and rubber plants across the French capital with ‘water, care and sun’. Nonna know-how Octogenarian Italian nonnas have become surprising stars of YouTube. As the last generation of women who had to make daily pasta…

Though we might try and tame it, nature is a true rebel: just think of the daisy pushing its way through the cracks in the concrete. Liz Christy – the woman credited as the first ‘guerilla gardener’ – was a rebel, too. In the early 1970s, when many others were simply turning their backs on the plight of inner cities, she decided to change it from the inside: plant by plant, garden by garden. Living in the Bowery, one of the poorest areas of New York City, Liz – as part of the group ‘The Green Guerillas’– carried out small interventions that made a significant difference to how people felt about their environment: installing window boxes on empty buildings, or their “seed green-aids” – repurposed water balloons, filled with seeds,…

MOSTLY As Your storecupboard style is Barbara Good from The Good Life. Cheap, but very cheerful and nearly all homegrown. Occasionally it errs a little on the, erm, ‘different’ side of frugal, but the joy of unearthing a jar of something that was completely free to begin with will always fill you with pride. Keep up the Good work (and, if you’re going to slaughter that pig, make sure you’ve got some brown sauce in for the bacon sandwiches). MOSTLY Bs Your storecupboard style is Second World War cookery queen, Marguerite Patten. You take pride in being able to create a meal from longlife ingredients that others might reject and making a little go a long way. Even powdered eggs taste ok to you if eaten with a jolly sing…

In 1811, aged just 12, Mary and her brother Joseph unearthed the fossilised remains of a dinosaur in Lyme Regis, Dorset. It was the first complete skeleton of an ichthyosaur – a large marine reptile that could reach over 15 metres in length – ever found. Her family were poor, so she was tasked with collecting fossils to sell as curios to the gentry who would come and holiday by the sea. She continued fossil hunting throughout her life and made hundreds of important finds, which geologist Henry De la Beche used as the basis to describe prehistoric life. Being a woman, she wasn’t readily accepted into the scientific community and, despite her work, wasn’t allowed to join the Geological Society of London, so didn’t always get credit for her…

When nights get hot and sultry, minimum nightwear is required. No one needs to be bundled up in fabric when the temperature rises. This is the time to fold away pyjamas with a grateful pat for all the comfort they’ve brought and bring out a cotton nightie. Loose, crisp and prettily feminine, a nightie – preferably sleeveless and made of gossamer-thin cotton – wraps you gently in its cool embrace and says, ‘sleep well and dream sweetly’. Nighties have had a bit of a revival of late. No longer frumpy, sprigged with florals and made of polycotton or flannel, newer versions come in organic cotton and riff on Victorian styles with lace and embroidery details. These long, oversized garments are so flattering you can wander out into the garden, sniff…

Moroccan roasted cauliflower Serves 4 1 cauliflower 200g unsalted butter 50g tahini ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp fennel seeds 1 tsp runny honey ½ preserved lemon, finely chopped 100g pine nuts Grated zest and juice of 1 orange Seeds from 1 pomegranate Petals from two tea roses A small bunch of flat-leaf parsley 1 Preheat the oven to 160C/Fan 140C/ Gas 3. Remove the leaves and put the whole cauliflower into a saucepan of cold, salted water. Set over a medium heat and bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 5 mins, then remove from the heat, drain, and leave the cauliflower to steam dry in a colander set over the hot pan for 10 mins. 2 In a small…

Once human activity is absent, it doesn’t take long for plants to creep back, animals to return and for birdsong to fill the air. First up are the pioneer species: ‘weeds’ like dandelions, nettles and buddleia, which can all survive in poor soils and whose long roots secure them in difficult terrain. These attract bacteria and fungi, followed by worms and insects – buddleia is especially rich in nectar – which entice birds and animals. Eventually shrubs and trees will get a foothold and the process of rewilding properly begins.…

Cosmos By Emma Harris While a big bouquet is always lovely to receive, a fantastic floral arrangement doesn’t have to cost a penny. A food tin saved from the recycling, foraged flowers growing beside a road (don’t take too many and never from the root) and a few cosmos from the garden beat a dozen red roses hands down. The magic of cosmos, which thrive throughout the summer, is that you only have to plant a few for a plentiful supply of delicate blooms.…

NATURAL BUG SPRAY This effective but sweet-smelling repellent works on mosquitoes and other warm-weather bugs YOU WILL NEED 120ml witch hazel extract 20 drops citronella essential oil 20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil 20 drops geranium essential oil 10 drops lavender essential oil 10 drops rosemary essential oil 10 drops cedarwood essential oil 5 drops tea tree essential oil 120ml water or apple cider vinegar ½ tsp vegetable glycerine 1 Pour the witch hazel extract into a bowl. Add the essential oils, apple cider vinegar and vegetable glycerine, stir together and pour into a 240ml spray bottle (there will be a little left over). 2 Shake well before using and apply as often as needed. Keep out of eyes, nose, and mouth. If you’re concerned about putting essential oils directly…

“There is nowhere better to sit to watch the sun go down than here. With a gin in hand, listening to the birds, sitting on the swing we made from old pallets, it really doesn’t get much better. The lantern hanging from the tree is a very special memento. My parents split when I was two, and mum and I headed off to Spain in a wooden gypsy caravan built by some friends. We were joined by a menagerie of animals – horses, ponies, dogs, cats and goats. When we returned to a few years later, I barely spoke English! My mum passed away before she had the chance to write a book about our crazy journey, so I’m determined to honour her amazing character and this wonderful time in…

Easy win Pop a wet sponge in your freezer. A dab on the wrists will offer a welcome cooler in hot weather. CAPTION COMPETITION OVER TO YOU… Make us giggle with a caption for these agile Royal Terns. Each month we pick our favourite and send a lovely book to the winner. Post your best efforts at facebook.com/thesimplethingsmag VEG BOX MUSIC Ingenious ways to make those edibles audible You will need: 4 melons • knife • metal spoon • 4 plates • pineapple • tin foil • wooden spoon Often, all that lies between the contents of our pantry and our musical quest is a willingness to experiment. Here, we turn a family of melons into pitched log drums accompanied by the offbeat clackety snap of a pineapple. This works…

Hecate A triple threat, at least in later depictions of this Greek goddess. Known for lurking in liminal spaces, between light and dark; birth and death. Hel You’re on a highway to ‘hel’ with this Norse goddess of the underworld. No fiery furnaces, however: Hel’s netherworld was of snow and ice. Loviatar A Finnish figure of pure evil: one of her most heinous crimes? The names she bestowed on her sons: including Gout, Rickets and Scab. Ma’at Being a goddess of tidying up doesn’t seem that glam. But ancient Egyptians respected Ma’at for establishing order after the world’s creation. Maman Brigitte Derived from St Brigid, Maman Brigitte is very different. The voodoo she does so well includes drinking, swearing and general raucousness. Tara Spanning Buddhism and Hinduism, she’s there for…

July Almanac In your foraging bag Wild strawberries are about now in hedgerows, deciduous woodlands, scrublands and even railway cuttings, and thrive particularly in chalky soil. You might even have some in your garden. They’re best eaten un-messed-aboutwith, perhaps with a dollop of cream if you want to be fancy. By the water Dragonflies and damselflies are darting about now, but can you tell one from the other? The easiest way is to look at their wings at rest. Dragonflies hold their wings out like an aeroplane; damselflies hold them up together over their backs. If you want to identify a precise species of either, visit The British Dragonfly Society’s website: british-dragonflies.org.uk. In folklore If you thought the ‘dog days of summer’ referred to dogs lying around in the sun,…

There’s a chill in the air in the upper reaches of the former convent of Saint Rose of Lima, the Gothic-style building in which the Boss Morris dance troupe are rehearsing for a coming festival performance. “Let’s just blow away the cobwebs,” says Alex Merry to the rest of the circle. Saint Rose herself would surely disapprove; in Earthly form, Isabel Flores de Oliva was a 16th-century nun with an asceticism to match her benevolence. And although any dancing is likely to have darkened the sister’s countenance, witnessing that practised by Boss Morris may have sent her straight to the hereafter. Because, while the mind’s eye generally sees Morris dancers sporting white tops and black trousers, the all-women Stroud-based ensemble don an ever-changing wardrobe of flamboyant, ultra-vivid colour, with make-up…

Summer shoes come in all shapes and styles, but one of the enduring classics is the Spanish espadrille. Originally created by Catalan peasants in the 14th century, the basic jute, now rubber-soled, shoe has never gone out of fashion, thanks to its practicality and simple style, which make it as good for walks on hot sandy beaches as it is for a summer stroll around town. The good news is that they’re not only relatively simple to make but the pattern is infinitely customisable, too. Make the heel piece smaller and add a ribbon tie for a dressed-up version, order a sole with a bit of a wedge, or add some embroidery to make them unique – how you customise the base pattern is up to you. Even better, as…

* There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. Every month we ask someone, clearly in love with their city, to take us on a personal tour and tell us what makes it so special. You may feel inspired to visit one day, but for now just sit back, relax and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the city? I moved to Helsinki in 2010. Originally, I’m from Luxembourg. I came to Helsinki for an exchange year, fell in love with the city, and never went back. Tell us what makes your city unique Helsinki unites influences from both East and West. It has an innovative restaurant scene and ranks really high in lists of…

Be responsible and respectful: Anything you find on the beach is yours to keep. However, if you think you’ve found something rare, have it looked at by experts – it could be a scientifically important find. Take care on cliffs: Cliffs are the property of the local landowner, so it’s not a good idea to climb on them or dig into them. Cliffs are also dangerous, so keep your distance. Size matters: If you discover a fossil that looks too large or fragile to remove yourself, leave it to the fossil hunters who’ll be more experienced. Leave something for the next hunter: When you first start finding fossils, it can be tempting to take everything home, but many people enjoy fossil hunting, so if you’ve found lots of one type,…

Cotton embroidered nightdress | £20 Lace and length: a classic combo.marksandspencer.com Cotton scallop nightie | £99 Bonus pockets for squirrelling away midnight snacks. toa.st Cotton embroidered pintuck nightie | £65 Let those legs air unencumbered at night. thewhitecompany.com *The ‘babydoll’ was created by American designer Sylvia Pedlar in 1942, in response to wartime fabric restrictions. She wasn’t a fan of the name given to it, and its reinvention as an item of ‘adult apparel’.…

This time last year, a stroll from the home of John and Carol-Ann Richardson was a noisy and smelly business. Living in a house at the end of Heathrow’s southern runway meant that planes flew overhead every 90 seconds. Gusts of easterly wind carried the smell of aviation fuel. Any blue sky or birds brave enough to fly were obscured by the undercarriages of Boeing 747s. It was enough to make you never want to go out. This year, however, that walk has been transformed. As flights were reduced by 90% during lockdown, a quiet calm descended. Birds returned. Nature reawakened. Local people ventured out on foot and on bikes and found a surprising world on their doorstep. “It has been a golden time for us,” says John. “We have…

The great authoress Ms Jane Austen once famously said, “… but indeed, I would rather have nothing but tea.” Anyone who knows me will testify to the fact this is a sentiment I wholeheartedly relate to, rarely found without tea to hand. While not too fussy (though no milk, thank you!) my blend of choice is Earl Grey or, as a special treat, Lapsang Souchong. So, it is little surprise my treasure is tea related. On opening a gift from a dear friend a few years back, I discovered a gloriously shiny flask, just begging to be filled with tea and taken on an adventure. Its design is so fitting for me that more than one friend has enquired as to whether I had a hand in it: a circumference…

Even as you arrive at the arch of climbing Kir Royal roses over the garden gate, it’s clear there’s going to be something special waiting just beyond, past the hodgepodge of plant pots and busy rows of vegetables. For anyone who’s ever sat outside their allotment shed wishing they could live there, Leena de Fries’ home in Ballerup, Denmark, is the stuff of gardeners’ dreams. Leena, her husband Torben and their teenage son Philip, began their journey on the plot nine years ago when they were tipped off about it by a neighbour. In Denmark, allotment associations allow you to live in homes on your land, but only for part of the year, so in the summer they are thriving communities of enthusiastic gardeners all growing their own and making…

FROWST when you’re feeling exhausted When you have tired yourself out with sport or exercise, feeling exhausted can be strangely invigorating. When you’re worn out from a long slog at work, or a race to hit a deadline, exhaustion is less energising, but the rest that it demands at least feels well earned. But when you’re exhausted simply from being worn down or overwhelmed by troubles and stresses, that is quite different. No matter why you’re feeling run down, the solution is often the same: we need to take the time to be kind to ourselves, reward our efforts with some much needed self-indulgence, and find the time to rest and recharge our batteries. However, if, even after a good night’s sleep, you’re still not feeling sufficiently recovered, there’s frowst…

THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA It’s a song that takes you somewhere hot, where there’s always a caipirinha close by. The origins of ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ are also easy on the ear: songwriters Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius De Moraes hanging out the Ipanema area of Rio de Janeiro were transfixed by a ‘tall and tan and young and lovely’ teenager. Recorded many times (only behind ‘Yesterday’ in the cover stakes, apparently), it was the 1964 Stan Getz version that made people want to know who exactly this girl was. The answer, Heloísa (Helô) Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto, whose world was “turned upside down”, going on to model, act, study law and even carry the flame in the Rio Olympics. However, in 2001, Jobim and Moraes’ descendants took Helô to…

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS Quick fire quiz 1. Winston Churchill; 2. foxgloves; 3. Liège; 4. Édouard Manet; 5. high. Twinset Byword, Rework, Poodle, Wooden, Aspect, Superb, Wicked, Sickly, Uterus, Energy Mystery Keyword: Woodpecker Carousel Abed, Aide, Amid, Arid, Bade, Bald, Bard, Bead, Bide, Bird, Bled, Brad, Bred, Dale, Dame, Dare, Deal, Dear, Deli, Dial, Dime, Dire, Drab, Dram, Idea, Idle, Lade, Laid, Lard, Lead, Lied, Made, Maid, Mead, Meld, Mild, Raid, Read, Ride, Abide, Aider, Ailed, Aimed, Aired, Alder, Amide, Armed, Baaed, Baled, Bared, Beard, Bedim, Blade, Braid, Bread, Bride, Debar, Derma, Drama, Dream, Ideal, Idler, Laird, Lamed, Limed, Medal, Media, Mired, Rabid, Rebid, Riled, Rimed, Abider, Abrade, Admire, Ambled, Bailed, Bedlam, Beldam, Blamed, Blared, Bridal, Bridle, Derail, Dermal, Laired, Lambda, Lambed, Limbed, Mailed, Marled, Medial, Milder, Radial, Railed, Redial, Ribald, Admiral,…

Putting down my paintbrush, I looked out of the window. We’d been in the house about five days and had unpacked most of the boxes but Andy had to go back to work today. I was determined to surprise him by painting our bedroom. Overlooking the back garden, it was my favourite room, or it would be when I’d hidden the revolting pale green walls under a layer of warm ochre. I watched as our elderly next-door neighbour sauntered down the long narrow garden, mug of tea in hand, to his immaculate vegetable patch in the farthest half of his plot. A black and white cat jumped out of the hedge and trotted closely at the man’s heels, tail in the air. Terraced houses in ex-colliery villages like this one…

Make a summer scrapbook (like you did when you were little) It’s likely some of your plans for this summer are a little different to expectations, but a log book or scrapbook is a lovely way to record memories, no matter how grand (or not) your plans. Remember when school holidays stretched deliciously for weeks before you and you scribbled about garden days in your notebook and assiduously kept postcards from friends? You can recapture that with a grown-up summer scrapbook. One day it will be a little piece of history. YOU WILL NEED: A really nice scrapbook. Treat yourself to something you love. We like those notebooks that have pockets in and a mix of squared and plain pages A good pen Some colouring pencils or pens A selection…

• To release your lollies from the mould easily, gently run them under warm water first. • We used the Norpro Frozen Ice Pop Maker Lolly Mould, which comes with wooden sticks. If you don’t want to buy lolly moulds, you could try using washed out yogurt pots or paper cups instead. To keep the stick in place, cut a slit in an upturned cupcake case and put it over the top. • Give it a dip! Sprinkles don’t just have to be for ice creams – once frozen, you can dip your lollies in chocolate or yogurt and cover them in sprinkles, nuts or even granola, then pop back in the freezer to harden up. • Don’t fill lolly moulds right to the top as they will expand a…

Favourite shops KÄMP GARDEN This shopping area unites the most gorgeous Finnish fashion and lifestyle brands under one roof in a beautiful setting.kampgalleria.com/garden Favourite gallery GALLERIA HUUTO Artist-run gallery with cool exhibitions in a lovely space. galleriahuuto.fi Favourite cafés TYYNI Relax on the pier in a deckchair or alongside the water on this café’s lovely terrace.facebook.com/kahvilatyyni WAY BAKERY The best bread in town and good coffee – what more do you need for a cosy morning? waybakeryandwinebar.fi Favourite bar BUENOS AIRES BAR Cosy spot for casual evenings. buenosaires.fi Favourite restaurant PAMELA Top local ingredients in dishes with a Middle Eastern twist. pamela.fi Favourite market HAKANIEMI MARKET HALL An indoor market selling high-quality ingredients. The summer outdoor market is a wonderful extension. Favourite hotel SCANDIC MARSKI Central location and great city…

Did lockdown bring out the 1940s housewife in you? Maybe you discovered an unexpected talent for making gourmet meals from nothing but a tin of baked beans and a bottle of Tabasco. We’ve all embraced our storecupboards a little more in recent months, so what better excuse for a tenuous quiz to help you find out what your storecupboard style is. Think of it as a little like the Myers-Briggs personality test… but with strong bread flour and tinned pears... Your supermarket delivery had no eggs in it and you have a birthday cake to make. What will you do? A I shall wander down the garden and pop my hand under a few hens. What is this ‘supermarket’ of which you speak? B I’ve got a brilliant Second World…

• Check the beach or coastal path is open and think about how you’ll get onto it – are the paths wide enough to stay 2 metres away from others? • Try to stay local and walk or cycle to your spot. If driving, check parking; some car parks have limited or pre-booked access right now. • Think about loo breaks. Public toilets might be busy, and you’ll need to keep your distance from others. • Beaches will be far busier on weekends, sunny days and in school holidays, but fossil hunting is just as good on an overcast weekday. • Be aware that lifeguards are not currently operating a full service. • Local businesses would love your custom. Find out what’s open, adhere to social distancing advice and be…

• Common Ground by Rob Cowen: an account of the wild and forgotten places where humans and nature meet. • Edgelands by Paul Farley and Michael Symmons Roberts: a celebration of the strange beauty of wild places on the fringes of civilisation. • The Unofficial Countryside by Richard Mabey: a world of wildflowers and wildlife found in car parks, inner-city canals and other forgotten parts of the urban landscape. • Field Notes from the Edge by Paul Evans: a journey through the in-between spaces of nature including mudflats, strandlines and cliff tops.…

With our country, and countryside, gradually re-emerging, it’s a good time to pause and to pay respect to our rural heritage. Angus D. Birditt and Lilly Hedley’s book Our Isles: Poems Celebrating the Art of Rural Trades and Traditions (Pavilion) does exactly that – it’s a love letter to the skills and knowledge found in the British countryside, as told through Angus’ poetry and Lilly’s printmaking. Each of the 30 poems and prints is inspired by someone they met while travelling the British Isles: the “inspirational individuals who have devoted their lives to sustaining our rich rural heritage and preservation of the land.” Angus and Lilly hope that their collection “looks forward to the recognition and sustainability of the crafts of the country,” and, as the world feels on the…

• Suspend furniture like a chair, a hammock or a sofa to create height in your outdoor space. • Don’t be afraid of using bold colours. Have a white background as your foundation then use colour samples to make sure your choices mix and match well. • Hay, straw, reeds, bamboo and rattan are good materials for floor and furniture in summer. They add warmth and are easy to move around. • You can never have too many plant pots. Use them to create little passages • A mosquito net is a great way to create an interesting corner. It not only adds height to the space, but is also very inviting.…

Here are some tactics for making incredible compost quickly. But, don’t worry, you don’t have to regularly measure, test or turn your heap, simply leaving nature to do its thing will also result in compost, given enough time. 1 Test the moisture levels in your heap. Too little water and it’s not rotting; too much and it’s going anaerobic and smelly. Grab a deep handful of compost and squeeze hard – a few drops of moisture between your knuckles is ideal. 2 Put a cover on the heap, which could just be an old bit of black plastic. It keeps the moisture in and rain won’t wash away all your hard-earned nutrients. 3 Add carbon, carbon and more carbon. Most gardeners put in grass clippings and food scraps, which can…

MOSAIC Piece together the Mosaic by placing the numbers 1 to 6 into each hexagonal tile so that where the tiles touch, the numbers are the same. No number is repeated in any tile. CAROUSEL Enjoy a frolicsome ride on the Carousel. Create words of four letters or more using the given letters once only, but always including the middle letter. Don’t use proper names or plurals ending with S. See if you can finish your ride by finding the nine-letter word using all the letters. TWIN SET Just as twins share a bond, each pair of the Twin Set words share two middle letters. The first is filled in as an example. Complete the remaining words to find a word reading down the middle.…