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 Flower

Editor

Salad days • LAY A TABLE IN THE GARDEN FOR A LUNCH WITH FRIENDS THAT LASTS AS LONG AS THE SUNSHINE

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love SUNGLASSES

THE WATER’S LOVELY • TAKE A DIP INTO MOUNTAIN LAKES, EMERALD RIVERS AND WATERFALL-CARVED POOLS. HERE ARE OUR FAVOURITES, FROM WILD SWIMMING ALPS

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • The classic Victoria sponge gets a sweet shop twist and is a nice royal nod for any jubilee parties, too.

My day in cups of tea • Selling ethical goods in a partnership that spans the globe, we asked Aniqah and Naeema of QÄSA QÄSA how their cuppas help to keep them connected

June Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing...

MY CITY* DUBROVNIK • VESNA ČELEBIĆ GUIDES US AROUND THE HISTORIC PALACES AND WALLS OF HER CITY ON THE DALMATIAN COAST

VESNA’S PERSONAL TOUR

A POETIC PAUSE • Sundaysong

Pick 'n' Mix • THE SUMMER GARDEN INVITES US TO GROW AND GATHER FLOWERS AND HERBS. EACH MONTH, LOTTIE STOREY HARVESTS PETALS AND LEAVES TO USE IN THE KITCHEN

“You have to keep taking risks and never stop learning, you won’t feel old if you’re always trying something new” • The Great British Sewing Bee’s Esme Young has spent over 50 years at fashion’s cutting edge. Karen Dunn learns some of the secrets to a life lived collaboratively and creatively

The Esme Young CV

LIFE'S A PICNIC • WHATEVER THE OCCASION, LOCATION OR SOMETIMES, EVEN THE WEATHER, YOU CAN’T BEAT THE SPIRIT OF A GOOD BRITISH PICNIC, AS THESE ARCHIVE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW…

The forgotten sense • WITH STRONG LINKS TO EMOTIONS AND MEMORY, YOUR SENSE OF SMELL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU MAY THINK

Scent training • Stimulating your sense of smell will improve any loss or change to the way you detect odours.

PRESSED AND FOLDED • WITH THIS DIY FLOWER PRESS, NOTEBOOK AND BAG, YOU’RE ALL SET TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SEASON’S NATURAL FINDS

MODERN ECCENTRICS At the roller derby • IN A WORLD THAT CAN FEEL INCREASINGLY UNIFORM , WE’RE CELEBRATING THOSE HAPPILY DOING THINGS a bit differently. Meet the PEOPLE WHO ARE seriously PASSIONATE about their pastimes . PERHAPS THEY’LL PERSUADE YOU TO TRY something NEW?

A simple thing...

GOOD THINGS • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

SMALL CHANGE

A light in dark places • AS THE WORLD MARKS WORLD REFUGEE DAY ON 20 JUNE, INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE IDEAS ARE TRANSFORMING REFUGEE CAMPS FOR THE BETTER

EXCELLENT WOMEN • Fighting for the water rights of her community

WHAT I TREASURE • Whether precious or humble, rather than stowing sentimental objects away, reinventing or reinvigorating them as something new can help embed memories of loved ones in our daily lives

MAKING HAY • A MEADOW MAY LOOK LIKE THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER SIMPLICITY BUT THEY’RE CREATED BY A DELICATE INTERACTION OF PLANT, ANIMAL AND US. MEET A FEW OF THE PEOPLE WORKING TO PROTECT MEADOWS FOR OUR CONTINUED DELIGHT

Magical Creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE EARWIG

Girls aloud • WOMEN’S CIRCLES OFFER A SAFE SPACE TO TALK, LISTEN AND EXPLORE MINDFUL ACTIVITIES

Your circle, your way • Fancy holding your own circle? Here’s some advice from the experts

FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE • Bringing blooms indoors: it’s what...