The Simple Things

The Simple Things is a beautiful, useful, quirky and fun magazine about taking time to live well. We cover mindfulness and microadventures, eating and growing, forgotten wisdom, home life and slow moments. It's for people who love their lives but want to take the pressure off and remember what’s really important. We like tea & cake, learning stuff, being outside and the satisfaction of a job well done. Do you?

A could-do list September

Editorial

Merry Michaelmas • CELEBRATE THE END OF SUMMER HAVEST WITH A NOD TO CENTURIES-OLD TRADITIONS ALONGSIDE GOOD FRIENDS

GATHERING

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF VOLES

Open all HOURS • PLANTS HAVE THEIR OWN RHYTHMS AND TIMES TO BLOOM SO STEP OUTSIDE AT DAWN, NOON AND DUSK TO APPRECIATE THE GARDEN AT EVERY TIME OF DAY

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • A simple Italian loaf cake – with a little bit of added veg – for teatime, or maybe with an espresso for breakfast.

My day in cups of tea • We pop over to South Yorkshire to enjoy a cuppa and a slice of cake with sustainable printmaker, Rachel Fearnley and to find out how she spends her day

September Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

WARSAW • FROM A NEW OLD TOWN TO MODERN SKYSCRAPERS, RIVERSIDE STROLLS TO STREET FOOD IN FORMER FACTORIES, KAMILA NAPORA GUIDES US AROUND THE POLISH CAPITAL

COULD-DO WARSAW • Kamila’s favourite places in the city

Tales from a veg patch • MAKING THE MOST OF THE HARVEST AT HOME - AND THE LOCAL HEDGEROWS, TOO - KATHY SLACK COOKS UP A SEASONAL FEAST AND SHARES STORIES FROM HER PATCH

“When food comes from your mum it’s like a hug and it’s that sense of generosity that makes it important” • Food plus people: it’s a simple recipe but one that’s at the heart of all Tom Kerridge does, spreading the love for British food and farmers and the importance of connecting with loved ones at the table

RECIPES FOR SUCCESS

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love CROCS

DOG DAYS OUT • DON’T LEAVE YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND AT HOME. AROUND THE UK, THERE ARE PEOPLE AND PLACES GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR DOGS

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

FINDING THE PLOT • PLACES TO GROW AND SPEND TIME WITH NATURE, PROVIDING FOOD FOR THE TABLE AND CALM IN TIMES OF CRISIS. ALLOTMENT HISTORIAN JC NIALA DIGS INTO THEIR STORY…

NATURAL CONNECTION • A ROPE SWING, A CAIRN AND A DEN: THESE HUMBLE, HANDMADE FEATURES IN OUR LANDSCAPES MAY JUST HOLD THE KEY TO IMPROVING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE, SAY THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE RIGHT TO ROAM CAMPAIGN

A simple thing…

Good Things • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Down memory lanes • TRAWLING HEDGEROWS FOR JUICY BLACKBERRIES IS A TREASURED TRADITION FOR LUCY BRAZIER, MARKING THE PASSING YEARS AS MUCH AS THE SHIFTING SEASON

IN THEIR ELEMENT • PHOTOGRAPHY CAN REVEAL THE FASCINATING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT OR PATCH - AS THESE WINNERS OF THE BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS SHOW

WHAT I TREASURE • My mum’s fabric scissors by Clare Harwood

Give a little respect • HOSTILITY IS BAD FOR OUR HEALTH, YET PEOPLE ARE GETTING RUDER. IS IT TIME TO BRING BACK POLITENESS?

Kindfulness • Try these ways to practise kindness from Dr David Hamilton…

One for the team • WHETHER HOCKEY OR NETBALL, RUGBY OR CRICKET, RE-VISITING TEAM SPORTS AS AN ADULT CAN OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH BENEFITS - ALONG WITH LASHINGS OF FUN

Team sports near you • Most local sports clubs have a dedicated website or social media page, but these links will help you to find out more…

My living • Many of us dream of running our own business. We ask the people who are actually doing it to share...