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?

Editorial

joules

A could-do list for August

AWAY FROM IT ALL • SLEEPING UNDER CANVAS (OR IN A CABIN), COOKING OUTDOORS AND RELAXING UNDER THE STARS… A RECIPE TO HELP YOU SLOW DOWN AND LEAVE THE REAL WORLD BEHIND FOR A WHILE

Magical creatures • AN APPERECIATION OF THE CRAB

Rhyme & reason • BIBLIOTHERAPIST ELLA BERTHOUD SUGGESTS SOME GENTLE WAYS TO INTRODUCE THE JOYS OF POETRY INTO YOUR LIFE

Books for your shelf • Explore your tastes with these recommended volumes

Socially- minded poets

Try a haiku

Loafing around • WHETHER IT’S A GEM YOU STUMBLE ACROSS ON HOLIDAY, OR A HALLOWED PART OF YOUR DAILY COMMUTE, FINDING A GREAT LOCAL BAKERY IS A PLEASURE THAT’S ON THE RISE AGAIN. HERE’S A BATCH TO GET YOUR TUM RUMBLING

DID YOU KNOW…?

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE • August is the month to share a glut, savour the night sky and revel in an extra Monday off

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Soft summer berries and sweet pastry with a crunch are a delicious duo. Turn tart into pudding, by serving it warm with cream

My in day of tea cups • WE ASKED ANNA PARKES OF GALLERY TRESCO, ISLES OF SCILLY, TO TELL US ABOUT HER DAY IN CUPPAS

A simple thing...

Putting climate change in classrooms • CLIMATE-SAVVY EDUCATORS ARE PREPARING CHILDREN TO HELP PROTECT THE PLANET

GOOD FIGURES • Where statistics and optimism meet

SMALL CHANGE

Seafood & sandcastles • STICK ANOTHER PRAWN ON THE BARBIE… WE’RE GRILLING (AND CHILLING) WITH A SEASIDE FEAST

“I think you know when you’ve come home. It’s a sense of belonging that doesn’t go away” • Listening to her instincts matters to illustrator Jackie Morris. That and a well named cat. She shares her life lessons with Ruth Chandler

PORTRAIT OF A LADY The Jackie Morris CV

Nights at the theatre • THE THEATRE CHIPPING NORTON LIFTS THE CURTAIN ON A GREAT PRIZE TO WIN TICKETS TO TWO PRODUCTIONS

CASE OF THE MISSING ENDING • A murder mystery that’s so mysterious the conclusion isn’t even written yet! Channel your inner Poirot and enter our writing competition

PATERNOSTER • A murder mystery by Sophie Hannah and YOU

CLUES FOR WRITING CRIME

SIMPLE STYLE • THE SWIMSUIT

A simple thing...

excellent women • LEGAL PIONEER POLLY HIGGINS DEVOTED HERSELF TO DEFENDING HER MOST IMPORTANT CLIENT: THE EARTH

FOOD FOR THOUGHT • A simple recipe but with an interesting twist

A MOUTHWATERING DAY OUT • ESSE IS GIVING AWAY THREE PAIRS OF TICKETS TO A COOKERY EXPERIENCE AT KATE HUMBLE’S WORKING FARM IN WALES

VANCOUVER • BLESSED BY NATURE, WITH A VIBRANT FOOD AND ARTS SCENE, SANDRA HARRIS’S CANADIAN HOMETOWN HAS MUCH TO OFFER

SANDRA’S PERSONAL TOUR

About the author

A POETIC PAUSE

comfort the of things SOUVENIRS SOUVENIRS • There are certain things in the home that are like old friends: they always cheer you up. This month, we feel the love for things found on holiday

A simple thing...

THE MAGIC ON YOUR DOORSTEP • When the days are long and the sun is shining, there’s no place quite like home. We don’t need a holiday for a change of scene. It’s all about finding simple pleasures where you live

DAWN • Seizing the day doesn’t have to mean a vigorous start. Do something you love and it’s not so...