Taking time to live well

September

TO U C H
A picnic under the apple trees • Early birds & night owls • Pub camping
End-of-summer lasagne & doughnut popcorn • Wriggle room for worms
How to replace a hug • Why we love an attic • Vintage style queens
 NEW
LOOK!
Same great bakes.

The nation's favourite

organic flour, milled
from sustainably grown
grain for extraordinarily
Kantar Worldpanel 52 w/e 22nd March 2020

delicious bakes!

@dovesfarm / dovesfarm.co.uk
 A could-do list
Touch

Choose a tactile new cushion for

your favourite chair for autumn

Change up coffee with a friend

and visit a ceramics painting café
or a cat café together

Visit a garden or stately home and

collect fallen petals to press

Buy a deliciously scented facial

oil to use each night before bed

Spend ten minutes properly

SWINGERS PARADISE WALLPAPER BY WOODCHIP & MAGNOLIA (WOODCHIPANDMAGNOLIA.CO.UK)

stroking a pet (or a friend’s pet).

Don’t forget behind the ears

Write down ways to reconnect

with friends, family or with
hobbies and interests here.
 Our sense of touch is powerful, so when
permission to physically touch friends
and family is taken away, we mourn it.
But the word has other connotations, too
– keeping in touch has never been more
important, while a nice touch, such as
a jug of dahlias on the table, can lift
our spirits. A touch of genius – when used
for good – is inspiring, and there are many
small ways to touch someone’s heart. In
this state of ‘together, but separate’ that
we are living through, finding new ways to
be sociable and companionable will surely
see us through. September stands for fresh
beginnings and usually gives us a sense of
purpose and a zeal for getting this done;
this year, it’s OK to not know what happens
next. Living in the moment has been forced
upon us, but it may well be something we
PHOTOGRAPHY: EMMA HARRIS

grow to embrace and appreciate. We all

need a touch of everyday magic.

Lisa EDITOR LISA SYKES


Project
P a magical
Plan
weekend jaunt
If you’re feeling you’re overdue
a few weekend breaks or outings,
why not make them magical?
Have a walk with the elves
Elva Hill in Cumbria is also
known as ‘Fairy Hill’ and is
purported to be a bit of a
gateway to fairyland. The name
is derived from Old Viking,
meaning ‘Place of the Elves’.  Michaelmas thenceforth. In other
Visit a giant
St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall
was said to be the home of
Cormoran the Giant, who
terrorised locals and was
eventually slayed by Jack,
a boy from Marazion. 
Take a dip with a mermaid
Mermaid’s pool in Derbyshire
is peculiar for being an inland
saltwater pool and was popular
for ancient Celtic water worship
rituals. It’s also said to be home
to a mermaid who may grant
you immortality if you spot her.  day this month and sound very
Attend a Fairy Queen’s court
Janet’s Foss in Malham, North
Yorkshire, is a small waterfall
that takes Gordale Beck into
a pool below (also a lovely spot
for a wild swim). Legend has
it that the cave of Janet, the
Fairy Queen, lies behind the
waterfall. If your socks get
wet, knock three times and ask
Janet to dry them out for you.
6
September Almanac
In the sky... In
Comings and goings. It’s that time of year when
feathery summer visitors slowly start to fly south,
foraging b
while others arrive from the Arctic and Iceland
for the British winter. Arriving from September September keeps your foraging
are Canada geese, wigeons, pintails and teals. bag busy, with hips and haws,
Departing are swallows and house martins. the last of the wild raspberries
The Wildlife Trust (wildlifetrusts.org) has lists for
which migratory birds you might spot and where. 
and strawberries, as well as sloes
(towards the end of the month).
Try recipes for fruit leathers, syrups
and wines, as well as good old jams.
In folklore... In the sea…
Michaelmas (29 September) is also September tends to be
known as ‘Goose Day’. Reportedly, the month for warmest
Queen Elizabeth I was dining sea temperatures, so if
on goose when she heard of the you fancy a dip, make the
Armada’s defeat and declared most of it now. In Inverness,
goose should be served every the average sea temperature
this month is a bracing
goose-related lore, after roasting, if but acceptable 13°C, while
the breastbones are brown, winter in Penzance, the waters
will be mild; if white, it’ll be severe. are a balmy 16.3°C.
1 2 3 4
HABIT TRACKER
Our school days may be (ahem)
a few years behind us now but we 5 6 7 8
still feel like September is a time
to start a new learning habit. We’re
planning to learn a new word each 9 10 11 12
learned by October. Why not join
us? Merriam-Webster’s website 13 14 15 16
(merriam-webster.com) publishes
a daily word of the day, or just
COMPILED BY IONA BOWER. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK
pick one that pleases you from 17 18 19 20
the dictionary and try to use it
in a sentence each day. Colour
in a star each time you manage it. 21 22 23 24
Star wordsmith 25 26 27 28 29 30
 A few suggestions of back-to-school books to enjoy this month Summer stews. We’re still enjoying the fresh flavours of summer
How to Grow Your Own Poem by Kate Clanchy teaches you how to but have one eye on our autumn crock pots. How about a summer
write poetry of your own. Shakespearean by Robert McCrum will veg stew with pesto drizzle, or a quick chicken or lamb stew
help you to get to know the Bard better; while Dear Reader: with summer veg thrown in ten minutes before the end?
The Comfort and Joy of Books by Cathy Rentzenbrink P Personalised mugs. Markers at the ready, there’s a simple
is described as a love letter to stories and reading. tutorial on p60.
P Sketches of birds. We’ve three ideas how on p102.
More things I want to read this month...
More things I want to make this month...
P
P
P P

P P

"/  ¿
 D.. . MAKE.
If you’re lucky enough to have
REA ..
a glut of figs, try one of these
tasty ideas. If you aren’t, we
think they’re delicious enough
to be worth buying some.

A nibble: Figs-in-blankets
Figs and goat’s cheese
baked in either filo parcels
or wrapped in puff pastry
as a moreish canapé.
Here are a few suggestions for things
A main course: Confit of duck
to read, do, make and think about this
Salty duck legs served with month. Pick and choose the ones you
sweet, baked figs and a want, do all of them or just enjoy
drizzle of honey. reading and do none of them!

A pudding: Figs with Make yourself a special

lavender crème fraîche cup of tea. No, not a
Griddled figs, served with 30-second Tetley (much
crème fraîche mixed with as that has its place); we
lavender flowers and a
RET mean properly brewed,
HINK
delicate drizzle of honey.
... DO... served in a nice cup,
perhaps with a slice of
A quick figgy crowd-pleaser: lemon on the side. If
Fig, gorgonzola and parma you’ve put a bit of effort
ham pizzas P The phrase ‘Indian P Visit a university town before in, you’re more likely to
Slice the figs thinly to look summer’. The term, used to the students return for a bit spend time savouring it. 
pretty and add colour and describe a late period of warm of dreaming spires inspiration.
sweetness to a salty pizza. weather, has colonial overtones and P Get up for the dawn chorus.
many are using new phrases. It’s been Something we all enjoyed while
suggested that in the UK we go for a ‘St the world was a quieter place.
Luke’s summer’, with his saint’s day falling in P Buy yourself an academic year diary. An
mid-October. In Brittany, it’s ‘the summer of easy way to put a tricky year to date behind
ferns’, and in The Netherlands it’s a ‘crane you. (We’ve a few very covetable ones on
summer’. We also like the simple idea of a ‘second our Things to Want and Wish For pages).
summer’. Let’s just hope it happens.
Other things I want to do this month...
Other things I want to think about this month... P
P P
P P
P
7
 Truly scrumptious
MAKE THE MOST OF APPLE SEASON WITH A PICNIC THAT CELEBRATES
THE BEST OF THE LAST FRUITS OF SUMMER
Photography: CATHY PYLE Recipes and styling: KAY PRESTNEY

8
 GATHERING

A
n apple orchard brings
visions of cheeky children
scrumping for fruit
before being scared
off by a furious farmer
brandishing a stick. Or maybe we just
read too much Enid Blyton as children?
Either way, there’s no doubting the draw
of an orchard, with its dappled light,
abundance of ripe fruit and the sweet
yet tangy aroma of windfalls. Under the
shade of the spreading branches, it’s a
lovely place to gather and set up a table
or just throw down a blanket and
prepare to celebrate the humble apple.
Whether yours are fresh from the
farmers’ market, or a pick-your-own day
out at an orchard, or you’re lucky enough
to have plucked them straight from a
tree in the garden, they can be used in
everything from sweet, sticky tarts to
zingy salads and creamy soups. Or turn
them into sauces and chutneys to store
away for the cooler months. »
 GATHERING
Apple and
parsnip soup
Fill up your flasks with this tangy
yet sweet and creamy mixture
Serves 6, or 12 as a starter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
4 large parsnips, peeled and
roughly chopped
4 small apples of your choice,
peeled, cored and chopped
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
leaves, plus sprigs to garnish
1 tsp ground cumin
800ml vegetable stock
200ml double cream
10
1 Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan,
then add the onion and garlic. Fry
gently, stirring occasionally, for about
5 mins until soft but not browned.
2 Stir through the parsnips, then
the apples, thyme and cumin.
3 Pour in the vegetable stock, turn
up the heat and bring the mixture
to the boil. Reduce the heat and
simmer for around 20 mins until
the parsnips and apples are tender.
4 Set the mixture aside to cool
slightly, then whizz until smooth
with a stick blender. Pour in half the
cream and whizz briefly to combine.
Reheat gently if you think it needs it.
5 Pour into bowls, mugs or flasks.
Drizzle over the remaining cream
and top with thyme sprigs to serve.

There’s no denying the draw of
an orchard, with its dappled light
and sweet aroma of windfalls
Orchard salad
If you like your salad with a little
crunch and sweetness, you’ll love
this lip-smacking flavour combo
Serves 6
6 small new potatoes
75g watercress, tough stalks
removed
75g rocket
½ small fennel bulb, trimmed and
very thinly sliced (use a mandolin
if you have one)
3 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced
1 apple of your choice (red makes
a nice contrast with the green salad
leaves), cored and thinly sliced (if
you’re preparing ahead, toss in lemon
juice to stop the apple from browning)
125g Stilton (or any other crumbly
blue cheese)
for the Dressing:
Zest and juice of ½ lemon
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp wholegrain mustard
1 tsp clear honey
1 Bring a pan of salted water to
the boil, add the potatoes and
simmer for 15-20 mins until tender.
Drain and transfer to a bowl of
cold water to cool.
2 Toss the watercress and rocket
together in a shallow serving dish
or platter. Arrange the sliced fennel,
radishes and apple over the top.
Crumble over the Stilton.
3 To make the dressing, combine all
the ingredients in a jar, put the lid on
and shake vigorously. Season to taste.
4 Roughly slice the cooled potatoes
and arrange on top of the salad.
Drizzle over the dressing to serve. »
11
 GATHERING

Apple sauce
If you have a glut of apples,
just scale up the recipe and store
in sterilised jars over winter

Serves 6
4 large apples of your choice, peeled,
cored and chopped
Zest of ½ small lemon
1 tsp soft brown sugar

1 Put the apples in a medium pan with

an inch of water. Bring to the boil, then
turn the heat down and simmer until
the apples have softened. Add the
lemon zest and sugar, and heat,
stirring, until dissolved.
3 Set aside to cool, then blitz to a
smooth purée with a stick blender.

Under the shade of an apple

tree’s spreading branches
is a lovely place to gather

12

Pork and apple
rissoles
These pork patties are quick and
easy to make, and go really well
with a spoonful of apple sauce
Serves 6
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
1 onion, finely diced
2 spring onions, trimmed and finely
chopped
1 small carrot, peeled and finely
chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
500g pork mince
1 apple of your choice, peeled, cored
and grated
1 egg, lightly whisked
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
½ tsp smoked paprika
50g grated parmesan
1 Preheat the oven to 190C/Fan 170C/
Gas 5. Grease a 6-hole muffin tin.
2 Heat the oil in a large frying pan.
Add the onion, spring onions, carrot
and garlic and fry for 5 mins, stirring,
until softened. Add the pork mince
and fry for 2-3 mins until browned.
3 Tip the mixture into a large mixing
bowl. Stir through the apple, then
the whisked egg, parsley and smoked
paprika. Season and spoon into
the prepared tin. Sprinkle over
the parmesan and bake in the
preheated oven for 20-25 mins.
4 Serve with apple sauce and
orchard salad on the side. »
CRAFT
CIDERS
CRAFTY NECTAR NO.7,
£17.24 for 6
Made with fresh pressed
apples, this 4.5% cider
is medium, with mellow
tannins and a delicate
sparkle to lift its appley
notes. A great choice
to go with roasted veg
and cooked meats.
ONCE UPON A TREE
PERRY, £27
This medium dry, gently
sparkling 5% perry is a
rare pear in a world of
apple ciders. It has a pale
golden colour and a lovely
soft rounded finish with
hints of sherbert lemon,
meaning it goes well with
a fresh salad and cheese.
PILTON FIRE CIDER,
£13.50
A rich dessert cider made
from fire-concentrated
apple juice. Fermented
and aged in Bourbon
barrels for six months,
this 6% cider is rich,
roasted and raisiny,
meaning it pairs well with
a good, sticky apple tart.
Ciders recommended by Crafty Nectar. For more
information and a wide selection of craft ciders
and subscription boxes, visit craftynectar.com.
13
 GATHERING
Apple juice
Press apples using a traditional
press or a juicer and blend to
a smooth juice. Add lemon juice
to help preserve it – and to add
tartness – or a little sugar or
honey if it’s too sharp.
14
French apple tart
Buttery pastry, sweet jam and
fresh apples combine to create
a classic dessert or teatime treat
Serves 6
1 sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry
2 tbsp plum jam (use greengage,
apricot or rhubarb jam if you prefer)
5 small apples of your choice, peeled,
cored and sliced
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Double cream, to serve
1 Preheat the oven to 190C/Fan
170C/Gas 5. Line a baking tray
with greaseproof parchment.
2 Put the pastry on the lined baking
tray and, using a round-bladed knife,
gently score a 2-3cm border around
the edge – this will help to keep the
sticky cooking juices from escaping.
Inside the border, prick the pastry
all over with a fork, then spread
over a very thin layer of jam.
3 In a large bowl, combine the
sliced apples with the lemon juice
and sugar. Arrange the slices in
overlapping rows over the pastry,
then sprinkle with the cinnamon.
4 Bake in the preheated oven for
35-40 mins until the pastry is golden.
Remove from the oven and, while
still warm, slide the tart from the
greaseproof paper to a serving plate.
5 In a small saucepan, gently heat
the remaining jam with a splash
of water, stirring constantly, until it
starts to bubble. Use a pastry brush
to brush the glaze over the apples,
then set the tart aside to cool.
6 Slice and serve with a jug of cream
on the side.
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 A story of larks
and owls
WHETHER YOU’RE AN EARLY RISER OR BURN THE MIDNIGHT
OIL, THERE’S PEACE TO BE FOUND WHILE OTHERS SLEEP,
SO EMBRACE YOUR BODY CLOCK, SAYS KATHERINE MAY
I
think of myself as a lark – someone who
wakes early and rarely stays up late – but
the reality is a bit more complicated. A
conscientious banisher of artificial light,
I tend to wake at dawn and feel sleepy at
sunset. In summer, that means I barely
skim five or six hours, my sleep broken by
vivid dreams. By the time of the autumn
equinox in September, when night and day are
almost equal in length, I’m lulled into longer
sleep: seven hours, maybe eight. In midwinter,
16
I feel as though I’ve entered some kind of
hibernation, sleeping for upwards of nine
heavy hours a night. I peel myself reluctantly
from my bed each morning, eyelids drooping.
ILLUSTRATIONS: SHUTTERSTOCK
But I’m a lark nonetheless. For most of the
year, I’m usually up at five. I often pass my
husband on the stairs. He’s a night owl who sits
up until one or two in the morning, watching
television while he waits for sleep to come, and
then falls asleep on the sofa. When I stir, he
wakes and plods upstairs to bed, and by the

time he gets up again, I’ll be on my second pot
of tea, full of daytime chatter. He groans at me
like an animal: “Too early.”
By the time his brain comes online, I’m
winding down. He gets absurdly conversational
at 8pm, when I have nothing left to say.
Between the two of us, we have the entire 24
hours covered. It’s just that we barely overlap.
I used to think my early waking was an act of
efficiency, evidence of my enormous discipline. I
now realise it’s just something my body happens
to do. I have no control over it. Our circadian
rhythms – the biological processes that dictate
wakefulness and drowsiness – emerge from the
suprachiasmatic nucleus in the brain, a cluster
of neurons that receive information from the
nerves in the eyes, detecting patterns of light
and darkness. These signal to the body when
it’s time to rest or wake, and this in turn triggers
the release of chemicals such as melatonin
at night and cortisol in the morning.
For larks, melatonin and cortisol peak earlier.
This is partly influenced by external stimuli like
light (and explains why it’s a good idea to dim
electric lamps in the evening). But a big part
of our waking pattern is encoded in our DNA.
The ‘clock’ genes we’re born with produce
proteins that drive our circadian rhythms. This
means that larks and owls can often trace their
sleep habits back through their families. My
husband’s relatives are in the habit of calling
each other for a chat at one in the morning
because they’re bored and no-one else is
around. None of them seem to need more
than a few hours’ sleep each night.
The nine-to-five life of the office worker
rewards early risers like me and punishes
the owls, who are often forced to wake before
“Between us, we have the
entire 24 hours covered. It’s
just that we barely overlap”
REFLECTION
“Light and darkness patterns
signal to the body when
it’s time to rest or wake”
they’re ready. Our productivity peaks at
different times: early in the morning for larks,
and late in the evening for owls. It strikes
me that both of these are moments associated
with the dark and quiet. We may be striving
at different ends of the day, but we’re all
seeking those blissful hours when we can
drop into deep concentration, undisturbed.
Night and day are not the only influences
on our sleep. As we age, we tend to get less
sleep at night, and it’s more disrupted. Many
menopausal women report terrible bouts of
insomnia, and older people experience lighter
sleep, waking three to four times a night. In this
modern age, when we anxiously count the hours
of our slumber and use apps to assess its quality,
we see night-waking as a failure, or a symptom
of some mental, physical or spiritual disease.
Yet in our recent history, we would have seen
night-waking as entirely ordinary, particularly
in the winter months. Research by A. Roger
Ekirch shows that, in the times before electric
light, people’s sleep tended to fall into two
shifts, with an extended period of wakefulness
in-between. This ‘watch’ was a very particular
moment in our imaginations, a time for prayer,
contemplation, light conversation, or sex. It
was not seen as sanity-destroying insomnia,
but as an opportunity for secluded rest and
restoration, half-dreaming.
As a regular night-waker, I’ve learned to
love my ‘watch’. I use it to read and write, and
sometimes, strangely, to cook. After a couple
of hours, I return to bed and sleep soundly until
morning. I’ve found that many of my worries
about sleep can be solved by acceptance. I
have my innate sleep rhythms, my husband
has his. Sometimes, we meet in the middle.
17
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Church Farm House, Wighton, Norfolk, NR23 1AL, UK
 PR E C I AT I O N O F W
AP
N IES
A
W
Words: LISA YOUNG
ild horses may bring to mind the
Wild West, but there are populations
of feral ponies among the hills and
dales of Britain. In Devon, Exmoor
and Dartmoor, ponies roam the
uplands. In Cumbria, Fell ponies
graze the windswept hills, while in Snowdonia, you’ll
find Carneddau ponies on the mountains. Welsh Mountain
ponies roam the coast near Stackpole in Pembrokeshire
and at Long Mynd in Shropshire.
Sometimes the ponies have been brought here to help
with conservation, as in the case of the Konik ponies,
originally from Poland, with their partially zebra-striped
legs, which wade through the wetlands at Wicken Fen near
Cambridge. But the ones I know best are the free-roaming
New Forest ponies – an indigenous breed, mainly rich
chestnut or bay, and often with white markings. There are
around 5,000 of them, and they’re good-natured creatures.
They’re a hardy breed – it’s thought that ponies have lived
in the forest since the last Ice Age. They’ve been used as
domestic animals and beasts of burden for centuries, and
ILLUSTRATION: ZUZA MIŚKO
for racing. In 1507, New Forest ponies were shipped to
wars in France, and from 1899 to 1902, they went to South
Africa with the Forest Scouts who fought in the Boer War.
New Forest ponies aren’t completely wild, as they’re
owned by ‘commoners’ – those who live in the forest have
the right to let their livestock graze freely. The principle
ILD
PON
dates back to around the time of the Norman Conquest.
Each pony is branded to identify its owner, and must
be registered with the Verderers, who administer the
laws of the forest. Agisters take care of the daily issues
regarding the ponies, such as caring for injured animals.
Growing up, I spent most of my days riding on trained
New Forest ponies, alongside the wild ones; sometimes
our four-legged friends, with manes flowing, would
gallop with us across the heathland, which allowed me
to experience something of their sense of freedom. But
it is in autumn, between August and October, when the
ponies are rounded up in ‘drifts’ by locals on horseback,
that you can get up close and feel their magic.
Officially, it’s a chance for the owners and the Agisters
to check the animals’ health, brand foals or take ponies
away for sale before the herds resume their feral life
among the heaths and copses of the National Park. Each
drift has a specific plan and although the atmosphere is
calm, tourists who stop their cars, interrupting the drift,
and passers-by in the wrong place at the wrong time, are
given short shrift. This is a job of work, not a spectacle.
When the pound fence is at last opened, the ponies begin
shuffling forward, tentatively at first, then in a rush as
liberty is sensed. Manes and tails stream past as more
than 100 ponies and foals gather pace and flee to the
forest to a life that’s centuries old, where they deserve to
be left in peace – protected, appreciated and respected.
19
 Mid-year diary |
£21.99 each
These mid-year
diaries are both handy
for the new academic
year and for putting
the rest of a tricky year
behind you. papier.com

Natural stone
coasters,
set of 2 | £16
A little bit rustic and a
little bit Scandi, these
eucalyptus coasters
have a wide appeal.
nordichouse.co.uk

Things to
want and
wish for
Loving your home, inside and out.
The polvarth jacket | £85
Not only is this jacket a gorgeous
colour, it’s also inspired by
Books and treats for you to enjoy. Cornwall’s artistic heritage, so grab
Supporting small shops both a brush and palette and pretend to
be a painter. seasaltcornwall.co.uk
in store and online to keep
the high street alive.

Seascape in winter
Bag | £95
Made in the UK,
this oversized shopper
can be folded up to
change the shape for
whatever the day holds.
abigailedwards.com

Studio Grey cereal bowls | £60 for 4

Handcrafted in the Denby Pottery from
locally-sourced clay, these make everyday
Chosen by LOUISE GORROD use a pleasure. johnlewis.com

Reviews by EITHNE FARRY

20
 WISHLIST

Skagerak Skagen tables,

benches and chairs | from £459
Savour the last drops of summer sun
with this mix and match garden
furniture inspired by 19th-century
Danish design. worm.co.uk
 Stoneware vase |
£40 – £80
Whether you have a single
stem or a whole bunch, there’s
a vase here that will show off
your blooms beautifully.
potterywest.co.uk

Jute twine in saffron | £2.30

Produced in Scotland
on the original winding
machines first used in 1922,
this twine can tackle anything.
nutscene.com

Small side table | £59

Great for your side-of-the-
sofa needs, whether that’s
somewhere for the remote or
your cuppa. johnlewis.com

Denim apron | €59

Made of durable denim,
this apron will last for
years, whatever food you
throw at it. fermliving.com

Double-fringed
cushion | £45
Who doesn’t love a bit
of fringing? Plus
this ochre cushion is
squishy and stylish,
too – a triple treat!
coxandcox.co.uk

22
 WISHLIST

Shop of the month

An independent store with good design and service at its core

Harriman & Co. is a handsome
shop with a welcoming pavement
display that’s been providing its
local community with furniture and
homeware since 2014. With an emphasis
on natural, well-designed, local and
ethically sourced products, both needs
and desires are well catered for.
Highlights include a glazed clay Sekki
salt jar (£9) for the home chef, a concrete
wall clock (£95), made using granite
aggregates from a local quarry, and
small batch handmade scented candles.
During lockdown, Harriman & Co.
refreshed their business, including
painting their Leicester shop front a
new optimistic shade of mustard yellow.
harrimanandco.com

Marble wallpaper print | £75

An original marbled print made in
the Japanese art of Suminagashi –
meaning ‘floating ink’ – is both
striking and calming. natmaks.com

A toast to bread
Loaf Story: A Love Letter to Bread, with Recipes by Tim Hayward

Tim Hayward loves a loaf; his affection
extends from the squashy comfort of
a white split-tin to the chewy-crusted
rustic sourdough, as this delicious
homage to bread and all the good things
that you can do with it reveals. There’s
toppings for toast – beans, sardines and
devilled kidneys, plus mushrooms which
have been “shuggled about” in the pan.
“Honest and uncomplicated” sandwiches
are also on the menu including tinned
corned beef (Tim’s personal favourite),
a cracking crisp sandwich, and the katsu
doorstep, made from panko-breaded
pork or chicken fillet and served with
shredded white cabbage slaw. (Quadrille)

23
 the month
Arranging the seasons

From cow parsley in a creamware pot

to dahlias in a Willow pattern jug,
there’s a charming familiarity to Susie
Hamilton’s subjects. The Bath-based
artist who loves to paint seasonal
flowers, begins each piece by
collecting flowers from her garden
or sketching while on a walk, before
retreating to her garden studio
to recreate them in gouache paints
and inks. The resulting artworks are Sunflower blind | from £190
Even if it’s grey outside, add instant
then reproduced on sustainably
cheer with one of these bold blinds
sourced art paper as prints (from £35) created by using images from The British
and card bundles (from £14). Library Collection. surfaceview.co.uk
susiehamilton.com

Practising positivity
How to be Hopeful by Bernadette Russell

In these uncertain times, negative are designed to encourage resilience

emotions have a way of swamping
our optimism, so this heartfelt book
is a timely reminder of how important
a sense of hopefulness is to our
wellbeing. Arguing that taking action,
however small that action may be, is an
important first move. Bernadette sets
out a series of easy-to-achieve steps that
– she recommends finding the beauty
in the everyday, bolstering courage
and finding activities that foster a sense
of community. Stories, accounts from
health professionals and scientific
research are to the fore in this inspiring
look at the way we can all boost our
positivity. (Elliott & Thompson)

24

Firewood candle | £20
Not only do these candles smell great but they
burn for 40 hours, too – longer than a campfire!
thisisholisticlondon.com
Dog travel bed | from £110
For pooches on the go, this travel bed will keep
your pup snuggly. pippaandcompany.co.uk
Going underground
G
Su
ubterranea: Discovering the Earth’s Extraordinary Hidden Depths by Chris Fitch
Deep under the earth are marvels of
many kinds. There are caves full of
tiny, blind dragons; hidden rock faces
which glimmer with the blue green
light of millions of glow worms and
cathedral-like spaces where stalactites
are as intricate as any man-made
column. There are hidden cities,
nuclear bunkers, wonderful marble
WISHLIST
Aged brass classic toggle
switch | £45
This switch has a living patina
that changes over time with every
touch. devolkitchens.co.uk
Printed cotton kimono | £45
Dyed and block printed
by hand, this kimono is
a great home working outfit
– Zoom meetings permitting.
thebristolartisan.com
Mon amie jug | £35
The flower pattern was
designed by Marianne
Westman during a rainy
Midsummer Eve in the 50s,
but still feels modern today.
nordicnest.com
water cisterns and ancient, unopened
tombs, guarded by terracotta soldiers.
Chris Fitch is fascinated by these
fantastical underworlds, and has gone
in search of enigmatic cave paintings,
eerie plague pits, the Svalbard Global
Seed Vault and the illicit smuggling
tunnels snaking between Mexico
and the USA. (Wildfire)
25
 eco desi gn
ready
Stovax Chesterfield 5 Wide Wood & Multi-fuel Stove A

Firing imaginations for over 37 years

Woodburning | gas M u lt i - F u e l | electric

www.stovax.com
CAKE
IN THE
HOUSE
How to make doughnuts more
delightful – shrink them and then
serve with your favourite film

DOUGHNUT POPCORN

Makes 150
100ml warm milk
4g fast-action dried yeast
20g sugar
150g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
80g white bread flour
½ tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
30g butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sunflower oil, for greasing and frying
Caster sugar, for dusting
6 heaped tbsp seedless raspberry jam

1 Beat together the warm milk, yeast

and sugar in a jug. Leave in a warm place
for about 10 mins until a thick foam has
formed on top of the milk. Meanwhile,
sift the flours into a large mixing bowl.
Add the salt, egg, butter and vanilla and
stir together. Pour in the yeast mixture.
Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough
hook, mix the dough on a slow speed for
2 mins. Increase the speed and knead
for about 8 mins until the dough is soft
and pliable. If you don’t have a stand
mixer, knead the dough by hand for 15
mins. The mixture should be very soft but holds an indent when you press with 4 Put the sugar on a large plate. When
not sticky, so dust with flour if needed. a fingertip. Remove the clingfilm and cool enough to handle, roll the doughnuts
2 Line two baking trays with baking leave to rest again for 10 mins. in the sugar to coat. Spoon the jam into
paper and lightly dust with flour. Take 3 Fill a large saucepan or deep fat fryer a piping bag with a round nozzle and pipe
popcorn-sized pieces of dough and roll one-third full of oil and heat to 190°C. into a small kitchen syringe with the
into balls. Space the balls out on the Take the baking paper and, using it as a needle removed. Inject a small amount
floured baking paper, cover with a clean, funnel, carefully transfer the doughnuts of jam into each doughnut, refilling the
damp tea towel and set aside to rest for to the hot oil, around 30 at a time. Fry syringe with the piping bag.
10 mins. Remove the tea towel, cover the for about 45 seconds on each side until
dough balls with a sheet of oiled clingfilm golden brown. Remove the doughnuts
Recipe by Hannah Miles, extracted from
and leave to rise in a warm place for 35-45 from the oil using a slotted spoon and Street Food (Ryland Peters & Small).
mins until doubled in size and the dough drain on kitchen paper. Photography: © Ryland Peters & Small

27
 My day in cups of tea
We asked Sharron Jenkins, the Bedfordshire-based creator of natural
soap and ski e range Kalabash, to tell us all about her day in cuppas
It’s ver happening? skimmed milk at lunch. I discovered Assam about
Th as my husband is a eight years ago and have never looked back.
6am. He always brings Do you have a favourite mug?
n he says goodbye. I prefer a china mug… which I inevitably smash!
breakfast? For now, I’m using an aluminium cup until I can
ts and berries with get to the shops to buy a new china one.
arabica coffee, How did you have to adjust during lockdown?
oon of sugar. I was a little overwhelmed and anxious at first,
bit and later by the impact of BLM on me as a Black
woman. I also had to adapt to sharing the space and
my negotiating shifts for the computer with my husband!
day What do you love best about what you do?
I’ve been making soap for over a decade now. I really
SHARRON JENKINS
is the founder of
ack appreciate the freedom of working alone at my own
Kalabash, an award- a pace and creating products that my customers love.
winning range of A bonus is that my house always smells amazing.
products, inspired by
It's been a long day. Fancy a final cuppa?
her Caribbean heritage.
kalabashbodycare.com. A lemon and ginger while I’m watching the early
with evening news and planning the next day’s to-do list.

28
 golden
time

wallpaperdirect.com
designerpaint.com
Make your home your own.
 A simple thing...
Just when nature looks like it has finished
blooming, out come the Michaelmas
daisies – a riot of purple and pink, found
wild in verges and on wasteland. Once
given as a farewell, collect and press a few
to say goodbye to this strange summer,
and a reminder that there’s always some
brightness to be found.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ALAMY
 GAZETTE
GOOD THINGS POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Back to life
ONE WOMAN HAS MADE IT HER LIFE’S MISSION TO
END TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
H
uman trafficking is worth
$32 billion in India and
southern Asia. Every year,
thousands of people are
sold into modern slavery. It’s a
travesty Hasina Kharbhih has
dedicated herself to changing.
Since 2000, her organisation,
Impulse NGO Network, has rescued
72,000 women and children who’d
been trafficked across India,
Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal.
She puts it down to a childhood
experience. In the 1971 war that led
to the formation of Bangladesh, her
father housed refugees in their family’s
farmhouse. Straight out of school,
aged 17, she worked with street
children to combat child labour –
this evolved into Impulse. Then, after
attending a conference in Kolkata in
the late 90s, she realised there was a
bigger problem: many of the children
were victims of human trafficking,
32
Hasina Kharbhih, Impulse NGO Network founder, created a model
being taken into forced labour to end trafficking of vulnerable people in India and southern Asia
under the ruse of better paid jobs.
“We visited coal mines to gather
photographic evidence,” she recalls.
COMPILED BY: JOHANNA DERRY HALL. PHOTOGRAPHY: TAMANA SARWARY/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK
Her campaigning led to threats, her
office was ransacked and her vehicle Taken from @the_happy_broadcast
was shot at and her driver killed. by Mauro Gatti.
“It only made me stronger,” she says.
Impulse created a model that is
now internationally recognised for
tracking trafficking, the key parts
of which are financial compensation
and repatriation that ensures
these vulnerable people don’t get
retrafficked. Collaborating with
the government and other NGOs,
once someone has been rescued,
they provide shelter, healthcare
and a future plan for the victim.
“Whenever a child or a woman is
rescued, the first thing I tell them is
that they have rights,” she says. “The
joy I feel at being able to give them
their rights is what keeps me going.”
 SMALL CHANGE

Electric dreams
The last combustion engine
car rolled off the production
line at Volkswagen’s
Zwickau plant in Germany
at the end of June. Though
this isn’t sad news. Instead,
the 1.8 million sqm site will
now be dedicated entirely
to producing electric
cars, making it the largest
electric car plant in Europe.

Ebola end
The second deadliest
outbreak of Ebola in history
has officially ended. You’d
be forgiven for missing the
announcement, but after
22 months of working to
contain the disease, the
Democratic Republic of
Congo was finally able
to declare an end to
its tenth Ebola crisis.

Dig for history

Thanks to garden YOUNG AFGHAN WOMEN at a jiu-jitsu training session on a snow-covered hilltop in Kabul. Under the Taliban regime, women
had very few rights, but since jiu-jitsu was introduced to the country in 2005, it’s become popular with both boys and girls,
archaeologists and home who hope to one day join a growing roster of Afghan women athletes representing their country in the discipline.
detectorists with time
on their hands during
lockdown, the British
Museum has reported the
discovery of lots of ancient
artefacts across Britain. W ere s tistics t

Items include a snake-
shaped Medieval belt hook,
a 4th-century piece of rock
with Ogham script on it, and
fragments of Roman pottery.
Community chairs
Travel company Tribes has
come up with a way of
recycling plastic bottles left
in the national parks of
Tanzania. It pays for them to
be made into desks and
chairs for a school in the
Maasai village of Tarangire,
attended by local children.
250 2024 95
K
million trees were will be the year the first New Zealand girls aged
planted by over two
million people in Uttar
woman walks on the
moon. NASA’s Artemis
between 9 and 18 miss
school because of their
Pradesh, northern India, programme plans to land periods, unable to afford
as part of a government people on our lunar sanitary products,
plan to increase forest neighbour for the first according to Prime
cover in the region. time since Apollo 17 in Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The Indian government 1972, and at least one But hopefully no longer
has pledged to keep a third woman will be among the thanks to the country’s
of its total land area under team. The name of the NZ $2.6 million pledge
forest and tree cover, as programme is inspired to have free period
part of their response by Apollo’s twin sister products available
to the climate crisis. in Greek mythology. in schools.

33
 WELLBEING

Losing touch
SOCIAL DISTANCING HAS LEFT MANY OF US CRAVING
CONTACT. REBECCA FRANK LOOKS AT WHY WE NEED TOUCH
AND HOW TO COMPENSATE FOR A LACK OF CUDDLES

34

A
fter months of blowing kisses
and hugging thin air, I was
surprised to find myself
flinging my arms around a
friend when I bumped into her
recently. We both jumped back
in surprise as I apologised profusely. In a brief
moment I’d forgotten the form and gone back
to a time when “social distancing” wasn’t even
a phrase and I could hug, kiss and touch my
family and friends to my heart’s content.
It’s a natural human instinct to make physical
contact with others, whether for comfort, cheer
or celebration. From a soothing arm around a
shoulder to a head massage at the hairdressers,
a simple handshake or a teasing tickle, we
touch and are touched in our daily lives more
regularly than we probably realise. Even those
of us lucky enough to have been able to enjoy
contact with others during the pandemic have
found it hard not to reach out to friends and
relatives outside of our household and keeping
a distance from elderly or vulnerable people
and young children can be agonising.
Our need for physical contact goes back to
the time of evolution. “After smell, touch was
the first sense to develop,” explains chartered
clinical psychologist, Linda Blair. “You only
need to look at a baby and its mother to see
how powerful and innate touch is. Right
from birth, a baby recognises the smell of
her mother’s milk and responds to the touch
of her skin. It’s a deep need within us that
makes us feel safe and secure.”
A C H E M I C A L R E AC T I O N
When we are touched or held it stimulates
the release of hormones and neurotransmitters
ILLUSTRATIONS: MIRJAM SIIM
including oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine
that make us feel safe, happy and relaxed.
Studies have shown that hugging can also boost
immunity, making us less susceptible to viruses.
No wonder a hug can make you feel so much
better in times of crisis. “When we’re stressed
or afraid, the amygdala – a tiny almond-shaped
gland in the brain that processes emotions –
is activated,” explains Linda. “This effectively
shuts down the cortex, the part of the brain
that controls cognitive function, and activates
the adrenal gland.”
This explains why we can’t concentrate
or focus when we’re stressed as our brain
shuts down and prepares for fight or flight.
A lack of human contact can lead to or
exacerbate feelings of panic and insecurity.
“At a time when we most need comfort and
security it can make us feel very unsafe,” says
Linda. “However, we have got to stay careful
and keep our distance from people so we need
to look at other ways to make us feel comforted
and relaxed.” Linda says the next best thing
to human contact is to use touch in other ways.
It’s proven that stroking a pet can reduce stress
and increase happiness and the surge in people
acquiring new pets during lockdown is no
coincidence. If you don’t or can’t own a pet,
instead of rushing out to buy one, you could
offer to walk a neighbour’s dog, stroke a cat
if you see one when you’re out and about or
think about getting a small pet that requires
less commitment. “Even a hamster is good
enough!” says Linda.
Ruth Timms is a yoga teacher and Thai yoga
massage practitioner (ruthtimmsyoga.com) who
has had to adapt the way she works to an online
or socially distanced version of before. “People
are understandably craving physical touch and
the happy hormones that it releases,” she says.
She recommends doing other sensory activities
that will stimulate the release of these
hormones in the body. “Mindfulness increases
serotonin and yoga will give you an endorphin
release as well because it’s a form of exercise
and a mindful activity.” Ruth explains how we
“hold our issues in our tissues,” which is why
people often find themselves feeling emotional »
“After smell, touch was the
first sense to develop...
It’s a deep need within us”
 WELLBEING

Fill up your senses

Ways to feel better without a hug
l Take a long shower or a bath and notice
the sensation of the water against your skin.
l Rub some oil into your body after your
bath or shower and give yourself a face
massage whilst cleansing your skin.
l Do things with your hands like baking
or gardening and go barefoot.
l Talk to people face to face if possible, or
on the phone rather than emailing or texting.
l Listen to music that makes you feel uplifted
or relaxed, depending on your mood.
l Make sure you do something meaningful
and enjoyable for yourself every day.
l Make conversation with people you meet
while you’re out walking or shopping.

during a massage or yoga class as the muscles

are worked and oxytocin is released. “Self-
massage is a great alternative, or just lying
on the ground and rolling around letting
the floor massage you.”
FRIENDS REUNITED
If you’re feeling anxious or unable to
concentrate, Linda advises contacting a friend,
even if you can’t hug them. “Meet up and keep
your distance – assuming you can do this
without it being too difficult,” she says. “And
make connections with people you meet while
going about your day. A simple ‘Hi, how are you
doing?’ when you’re out walking.” If you can’t
meet people, being able to see their face on a
screen is the next best thing. Video chatting
has proven a lifeline not just for businesses
but for grandparents keen to catch glimpses of
their growing grandchildren and kids missing
the social contact of school, sport and the
playground. “Talking while looking at someone
is good, talking on the phone is the next best
thing. What doesn’t help are emails or texts,”
“Let people know that you care
and you’re there - even if you
can’t touch them just yet”
says Linda. “The amygdala doesn’t know about
plastic boxes [mobile phones] and you won’t
feel connected.”
But what do you do if a friend (ahem…) doesn’t
observe social distancing or your partner feels
more relaxed than you do about getting back
out there again? Linda says it’s a time for
honesty. “It’s not in many people’s nature to
be very upfront, but you need to be open about
what you’re comfortable with right now,” she
says. “None of us have been here before so you
can’t assume you know how others are feeling,
even if you know them very well. Ask people
how they feel and respect the most conservative
person in your group as they’re the ones
who will be the most anxious.”
We can also help by reaching out to others
who might be starved of contact. If there’s
somebody on your road who lives alone, for
example, or you know somebody who might
be struggling, make contact with them and
you could make a huge difference to their
mood – and your own. “Letting people know
that you’re there – and you care – will alleviate
their anxiety and yours,” says Linda. “Even
if you can’t touch them just yet.”

36
IDEAS

The Cosmopolitan
of Las Vegas,
Las Vegas, NV, USA
“As a corporate pilot, I’ve
laid over in Las Vegas a
lot. I’ve stayed in about
every hotel on the strip,
from the good ones to
the, ‘OMG, what is that
stain on the towel from?!’
ones. The Cosmopolitan
is my favourite. Insider
secret: There is a hidden
speakeasy on the
second floor behind an
exit sign. Look for the
donkey on the door.”

Flying carpets
From Amsterdam to Japan, Bill Young charts his travels
through the most unlikely of objects – carpets...

F
ew things are as omnipresent and
forgettable as carpet. But pilot Bill Young
– used to looking at the skies – became
so transfixed by the weird and wonderful
floors in the hotels that he stayed in around
the world that he started documenting
them. “I’ve been a pilot for the last 30 years, starting
out in the Navy and currently flying posh business
aircraft all over the world,” explains Bill.
“I often find myself in hotel lobbies looking down
at my phone while waiting for fellow crew members
to arrive and it was during one of these times when
I realised that the carpet beneath my feet was unusually
festive. I took a picture with my phone and soon
after that, my Instagram account was live. It
wasn’t until a year later that my daughter, Jill,
took it upon herself to promote my pet project.”
Jill loved her dad’s new hobby so much that she
decided more than his meagre 80 followers needed to
see the exceptional floors that he was finding. “When
I tweeted about his page in November 2018 I was
blown away by the amount of excitement it received.
Within three days, almost half a million people were
following my dad’s account,” she laughs.
“The carpet pictures aren’t just fun – they’re
a testament to the wild and wonderful things
all around us that we often ignore.”
Bill’s collection, from geometric to abstract and
everything in between, shows there’s always something
to appreciate, even in the most unlikely of settings.
Taken from Hotel Carpets by Bill Young
(Hoxton Mini Press). Photography by Bill Young.
Follow Bill on Instagram: @myhotelcarpet
Long Beach Marriott, Long Beach, CA, USA “People often Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands
ask me which is my favourite carpet. I don’t spend a lot of “It was a beautiful, yet chilly day in Amsterdam when
time ranking them, but this Pink Floyd-esque pattern is I spotted this geometric pattern. Holland is great for
probably number one.” varied carpet designs.”

L’Hermitage Gantois, Lille, France “This was actually The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Detroit, MI, USA
a carpet hanging on the wall in an artsy and quirky hotel, “This looks like the shimmering effect you see when oil spills
but I think it still counts as a hotel carpet although I’m not into gutter water. As a kid I loved playing with water like this.
a fibre scientist.” I didn’t know much about hazardous chemicals at the time.”

Aloft Plano, Plano, TX, USA “This somewhat minimalistic Park Hyatt, Tokyo, Japan “My job has me in Japan almost
duo-tone reminds me of a lava flow I once saw from a monthly. I sought out this hotel because it was featured
helicopter in Hawaii. The warm tones translate to warm in one of my favourite movies, Lost in Translation. The
carpet under the toes – my favourite kind.” movie nailed what it feels like to be a westerner in Japan.”

39
 MICRO-FICTION COMPETITION

A sense of place
TRANSPORT US TO SOMEWHERE SPECIAL TO YOU
AND YOU COULD SEE YOUR WORDS IN PRINT AND
WIN A SEASALT SHOPPING SPREE

A SEASALT
SHOPPING
O
ne thing the last few months
have taught us is that there’s
no place like home. For
clothing brand Seasalt, home
is the sea-whipped cliffs and sandy
dunes of Cornwall. The same dramatic
scenery that inspires its practical
and beautiful clothing, has inspired
artists and writers for centuries.
We’d like to hear a story inspired by
the place you live or somewhere you
love. In a maximum of 100 words, tell
us a story about the unique spirit of
somewhere that is meaningful to you
– it could be a cosy spot in your living
room, a wild coastal landscape you
long to revisit or a sun-dappled lane
with special memories.
The writer who truly whisks us away
will see their winning entry in print
and receive a £250 Seasalt gift card,
while two highly commended entrants
will each receive a £100 gift card.
S PA R K YO U R I M AG I N AT I O N
Here’s a lovely piece of micro-fiction
from Cornish writer Amy Orchard
to inspire you to put pen to paper:
To view the full collection of Seasalt
womenswear, footwear and accessories,
visit seasaltcornwall.co.uk.
WI N
SPREE!
THE SUMMER GIANT
In years gone by, Cornish giants
were grumpy and lumpy, spending
their serious lives mining rocks
before meeting a grisly end
at the hands of a local saint.
These days, tin is thin in the
ground. Now, our giant wakes
in the hot months. Her hair is stiff
with salt, her skin is freckled with
sand and her fingers are sticky
with melted ice lolly.
Summer does not waste time
looking below the ground. She
marvels at the beauty above it. She
swims in cold waters, paints vast
skies and clambers over the rocky
worlds that her ancestors shaped.
COMPETITION
How to enter
For your chance to see your
story in print and to win £250
of Seasalt vouchers, enter
online at thesimplethings.com
/blog/seasaltstorycomp
by 7 October 2020.
Rules
1 Entries over 100 words
will not be accepted.
2 The closing date is midnight
on 7 October 2020.
TERMS & CONDITIONS THE PRIZE IS AS STATED
AND CAN’T BE TRANSFERRED OR SWAPPED
FOR CASH. YOU CAN FIND OUR FULL TERMS
AND CONDITIONS ON PAGE 127 AND ONLINE
AT ICEBERGPRESS.CO.UK/COMPRULES.
 WISDOM
“Our raison d’être has been to make
something that doesn’t exist. You’ve got
to be searching for something new.”
Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden started jewellery brand Tatty Devine over 20 years ago turning trash into
treasure. They tell Karen Dunn how collaboration is at the heart of both their business and their friendship
Devine has always been about
ing a statement. Whether you’re
ing support for women’s rights
our lapel or hanging a massive
ter around your neck, a piece
atty Devine jewellery is like a
oup of like-minded thinkers. It’s
an expression of who you are and a gang you can join
where there will always be a space at the table for you.
“People have made genuine friendships through
our jewellery,” smiles Harriet. “If they have to dress
sensibly for their job, they know that they can just
pop on a cheeky bit of Tatty and it’s like a signal
to other nice humans to come and have a chat.”
Rosie Wolfenden and Harriet Vine haven’t spent
20 years fashioning just a jewellery business, they’ve
brought together an entire community of women
who adore and hoard their stunning acrylic creations.
They’ve received MBEs from the Queen for Services
to the Fashion Industry and everyone from former
leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson (European
necklace) to Dame Judi Dench (lobster brooch) have
worn their Tatty pieces with pride. Yet despite now
being pillars of the fashion establishment, they still
refuse to play by the rules. “Our whole raison d’être
has always been to make something that doesn’t
exist yet. So, by default, everything that we make
has an originality about it,” says Rosie.
42
Harriet agrees. “We’ve been lucky enough to be
mistresses of our own destiny. We never waited for
permission. You should never wait for someone to
tell you it’s OK to do something. Just do it! Doing
things safely is always more challenging for us.
Rosie is a massive risk taker.”
Rosie laughs: “I think our customers would be
disappointed if we played it safe, so we’re really
in a lucky position. If we made boring stuff, they
just wouldn’t buy it.”
“It’s true,” adds Harriet. “I have an obsession with
learning new things and I’ve made it my goal always
to put myself in front of interesting things. I’ve
dragged my daughter to history festivals and
a bizarre scarecrow competition in a village in
Yorkshire because I’m always looking for inspiration.”
E X P R E S S YO U R S E L F
The Tatty Devine story began when Harriet and Rosie
met at art school in 1996. Both “grew up in families that
made stuff” and the duo took a stall at Camden Market
“We've a good shared work ethic, values,
and complementary skills sets, which
make an amazing energy happen"
Harriet Vine and Rosie in 1999 to sell the jewellery that they’d made by
Wolfenden, the faces scavenging supplies like magpies. They took £50 on
behind Tatty Devine,
have put their creativity
their first day, with jewellery crafted from leather
to good use, supporting samples found on the street to plectrums and trinkets
campaigns for women's found in charity shops. Soon, stylists and buyers started
rights, including
No More Page 3
searching out their stalls. “Tatty came from a need to
express ourselves. We were passionate about being
individual and we had no money, so if we wanted
something, we made it,” explains Harriet.
“At the time, fashion was really boring and minimal,”
adds Rosie. “Pashminas were never our thing, so
if we wanted an outfit for a night out, we made our
own. They only ever lasted a night out though, as
we weren’t the best at sewing!”
As two fearless women who “didn’t want to have
to get normal jobs,” they embraced their new business
with wide-eyed enthusiasm, racing to keep up as
orders rolled in. “Before we got our first studio or
the shop in London's Brick Lane, we worked from
our bedrooms in shared houses,” explains Harriet.
“My housemates would complain about the smell
of the glue and buyers would have to walk through
the disgusting kitchen for meetings. There were
so many calls coming in that, in irritation, Rosie’s
flatmate once swore at the buyer from Harvey
Nichols, saying that she wasn’t her secretary!”
Despite the surface chaos, the timing was just
right for Harriet and Rosie. “We were very liberated, »
43
 WISDOM
“People know they can pop on a cheeky
bit of Tatty and it’s a like signal to other
nice humans to come and have a chat”
we had no responsibilities – we didn’t have children
or mortgages yet and life was a bit cheaper. The desire
to make, express and communicate pushed us along
much more than making money,” explains Harriet.
“At our first fashion week we rocked up with giant
budgie brooches and stuff made out of old Rubik’s
Cubes. If you’re not having fun, then what’s the point?”
The world is their C O L L A B O R AT I O N N O T C O M P E T I T I O N
lobster. Rosie and Collaboration has always been at the heart of what
Harriet are celebrated
for their witty designs,
Tatty Devine do. Since their first effort with the band
which riff on everything Chicks on Speed, working with people, from galleries
from crustaceans to to artists, has helped to keep Tatty on their toes.
teapots, still sold in their
Harriet enthuses: “I love collaborating when it gives
Brick Lane shop and
proudly sported by me an engineering challenge that forces me to look
Tatty fans the world over at new materials and ways of working. You don’t realise
44
how much you know until you work with someone
who has a different knowledge base.”
However, it’s the pair’s friendship that they hold
up as their greatest achievement. “Rosie and I were
the original collaboration,” says Harriet. “We have a
good shared work ethic and values, plus complementary
skill sets, which make an amazing energy happen.”
Many friendships would be tested to the limit by
PHOTOGRAPHY: TATTY DEVINE, RICHARD BOSTOCK, XANTHE HUTCHINSON
working together so closely for so long. But despite
producing more than 6,000 different designs since
1999, and with the ups and downs that running a
business inevitably brings, they both insist that it is
their friendship that has helped them dodge obstacles
that may have tripped up other partnerships.
“The other day someone wanted to interview us
about conflict resolution in business partnerships
and I genuinely couldn’t give a single example. We
don’t let it get that far because we’re women, and
women are sensible. We love, trust and respect each
other,” says Rosie. That’s not to say they agree on
everything – “although we mostly do,” she notes.
“I think that when we do disagree, it's because we're
coming at it from slightly different angles. We both
 The duo have come a long
way since meeting at art
school in the mid-nineties
(below) and founding their
eccentric jewellery brand.
They received MBEs for
services to the Fashion
Industry in 2013 (right)
have our families, and things have changed as they
inevitably do, but we deal with everything and give
each other space.”
Last year, Harriet and Rosie marked two decades
of Tatty with a book, Misshapes: The Making of Tatty
Devine (Tatty Devine Publishing), and an exhibition.
It was the perfect opportunity to reflect on what this
approach has helped them to achieve. The exhibition
saw them digging out boxes and boxes of souvenirs,
samples and makes to create a scrapbook of career
highlights. It was a process that proved more cathartic
than either had ever expected. “It was such a privilege
to be able to stop and take a breath, because the past
20 or so years have been constant momentum. There
was never any time to look back and reflect because
we were always looking forward,” says Rosie.
“Putting the book together was like researching
ourselves to try to make sense of what we’ve done
and why we did it. The opening night of the exhibition
was incredibly overwhelming, but it enabled me to
really understand what we had achieved. For me,
it meant I was able to close that chapter and it's
really helped to clear some space in my brain.”
DEVINE MOMENTS
Harriet and Rosie’s CV
1977 Harriet and Rosie born, in Kent and
the Isle of Wight respectively
1996 The duo meet at Chelsea School of Art
1999 A chance discovery of a bundle of
leather sample books leads them to
create leather cuffs, which they sell
on a stall at Camden Market
2000 Fed up with working from their
bedrooms, they get a studio in east
London, including a courtyard shared
with a family of tortoises. They also
start their Brick Lane shop
2001 Tatty release their first collection
at London Fashion Week
2003 The pair invest in their first laser cutter
(Evil Edna) and create their iconic
lobster necklace, which they still sell
2008 Harriet and Rosie produce a
collaboration with Gilbert & George
2013 The pair collaborate with paper-cut
artist Rob Ryan and receive MBEs
from the Queen
2013 Seeing an increase in requests for
Feminist on their name necklaces,
they team up with the No More
Page 3 Campaign to produce
a special collection
2018 The pair collaborate with The Fawcett
Society, campaigning for gender
equality and equal pay
2019 Harriet and Rosie release their book,
Misshapes: The Making of Tatty Devine
(Tatty Devine Publishing) and embark
on a tour with an exhibition
And then, of course, 2020 brought new challenges.
During lockdown, Rosie has been “making sure that
Tatty and my two small children are OK,” while
allowing for distractions such as cooking and reading,
while for Harriet it's been roller skating. The time has
also offered space for reflection. The pair have always
had the confidence to pin their beliefs to their work,
creating for the likes of The Fawcett Society (who
campaign for gender equality and women’s rights) and
a Suffrage collection for the Museum of London. With
Brexit, Black Lives Matter and the climate crisis
shaping headlines, they feel a change is on the horizon.
As they look to the future, supporting others and
promoting causes is more important than ever before.
“Ultimately, Tatty Devine is about not conforming.
We’ve gone from raging against homogenisation and
globalisation to raging against inequalities,” says Rosie.
“We’re living through a seismic change and Tatty has
to adjust. The past 20 years have been a precious time
for us and society. That’s now exploded and we have
to pick up the pieces and make a new future. Creativity
will be key to that – and we’re ready for the challenge.”
For more info about Tatty Devine, visit tattydevine.com.
45
 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
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46
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 SIMPLE STYLE
THE PUSSY-BOW BLOUSE
F
ortunately, a new wave of stylish
women has rescued the pussy-
bow blouse from its inglorious past.
Worn by the likes of Katie Holmes
and Isabelle Huppert, it’s finally shaken
off the headmistressy image bestowed
upon it by Margaret Thatcher. Nevertheless,
you can see why she favoured it. Worn
at a cabinet meeting with a skirt suit and a
handbag looped over one arm, the former
prime minister thought it “rather softening”
and “pretty,” and so it unquestionably is.
It’s also tidy and demure; qualities
that make it entirely appropriate in the
workplace (whether virtual or physical).
Tied under the chin, the bow framing the
face sweetly, it draws attention to its
wearer without being shouty.
Films set in offices usually see at least
PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVE SCHAPIRO/GETTY IMAGES
one employee wearing one: Jane Fonda’s
was all ruffles in 9 to 5; while Melanie
Griffith’s had a neat white bow in Working
Girl. Royals like it, too: the Princess of
Wales had several in the 1980s when they
were very much favoured by Sloanes, while
these days, the Duchess of Cambridge has
revived the look and is often seen wearing
one when out meeting her people.
The pussy-bow blouse was so named in
Silk pussy-bow blouse | £120
Will take you from the office to post-work
cocktails – handy when they’re both happening
in your living room. jigsaw-online.com
Words: CLARE GOGERTY
1930s America, because it resembles the
bow tied around a cat’s neck at Christmas
or when people are coming over. It adds a
special-occasion flourish to any outfit (or
cat). At the time, newspapers described it
as being “intriguingly feminine.” Wearing
a bow around the neck, however, started in
earnest in 19th-century France when
a lavallière*, a type of cravat with a large
knot and floppy ends, was worn as a
badge of honour by artists, students and
intellectuals. Soon, bows were fixed to
dresses, and subsequently, blouses. Their
increasing popularity owed much to Coco
Chanel who loved to wear a black necktie
with a white blouse, and to Yves Saint
Laurent who co-ordinated a pussy-bow
blouse with his ‘Le Smoking’ suit (a trouser
Jane Fonda looking suit similar to a man’s tuxedo).
like the cat’s whiskers,
Today’s pussy-bow blouses can be worn
working her pussy-
bow blouse in 9 to 5 as happily with jeans as with a skirt. They
can be tied demurely at the neck, mid-
chest, or let loose for a more relaxed
look. There are heaps in the shops in an
“the pussy-bow draws enormous choice of colours and patterns.
Alternatively, dig around in charity or
attention to its wearer vintage shops for an original 1980s one –
it is guaranteed to add a “rather softening”
without being shouty” look to any outfit, now as then.
THREE DONE WELL
Bathing frog pattern tie neck Tie collar shirt | £14.99
blouse | £33 Ideal for emulating that original
Add some ribbit to your ribbon with art student vibe (and at a student
cheering print. cathkidston.com worthy price, too). hm.com
*Named after the Duchess of La Vallière, mistress of Louis XIV, who favoured one. 47
 MY CITY*

HANOI
NIOBE SHAW GUIDES US AROUND THE CAPITAL OF VIETNAM
(BY MOPED, OF COURSE), WHERE LIFE IS LIVED OUTDOORS

PHOTOGRAPHY: NIOBE SHAW; ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES

1
 MY CITY

*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’ve lived in Hanoi for two years, having moved
here in August 2018 with my boyfriend.

Where are you from originally and why this city?

My partner and I are both primary school teachers
from Nottinghamshire. We love to travel and fancied
a change, so decided to apply to international schools 4

in the city. Neither of us had ever been to Asia, so it

was quite a leap, but we wanted somewhere different.

Tell us what makes your city unique

Hanoi is a city full of juxtapositions. The people are
laid back and friendly, yet there’s constant hustle and
bustle on every corner. It’s a city that’s developing
rapidly – there’s construction everywhere – but Hanoi
holds on to its roots. It isn’t just shopping malls and
tall towers, there’s plenty of authenticity, quirks and
culture, too. It’s clear from the architecture that there
have been many influences throughout Vietnam’s
history, yet the city still has its own sense of identity.

What’s it like in autumn?

3
Hanoi is far enough north to have distinct seasons,
unlike the south of the country. Autumn is my
favourite – these balmy days are the best time to enjoy
the city. The summers are stifling and humid with
electrical storms most nights. But by late September, 1 Sunsets over

temperatures have cooled and the rains are infrequent. Hanoi’s 100-plus
Blue skies are common and there’s a real buzz in the lakes are the stuff
of legend.
air as people gather by the lakes and in outdoor bars 2 Coffee shops,

and restaurants, pleased to be outside after spending a Hanoi institution.

the summer inside trying to keep cool. 3 Turtle Tower on

Hoan Kiem Lake

commemorates 15th
What time of day do you most enjoy? century Vietnamese
I was surprised by how early the sun sets, but we see warrior Le Loi.
4 Two wheels are
some beautifully vivid skies from 5pm to 7pm. Sitting
best in busy Hanoi,
out with a refreshing drink and watching the clouds where street sellers
roll over the varied hues of the sky – everything make the most of
reflected in the lake – is a wonderful end to the day. their bikes.
5 The electrics may

look terrifying, but

What’s the nature like? it’s all part of the
The city is full of water: there are more than 100 lakes, city’s unique charm
5
the largest of which is West Lake (Ho Tay). Hoan Kiem »

49
 1

“It’s a noisy place, but much of this noise comes from

people laughing, cheering or celebrating together”
Lake (or Lake of the Returned Sword) lies in the heart
2
of the Old Quarter and attracts tourists and locals.
The Red River runs through the city, too, with several
bridges crossing over it, including the historic Long
Bien Bridge. On clear days, you can see the mountains
of Ba Vi National Park, which lies 48km from Hanoi.

Where’s your favourite outdoor space?

Hanoi is known for its hectic streets, but at the
weekends the roads surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake
are pedestrianised. Music booms as dance classes take
place, Hanoi’s youngest citizens practise their driving
skills in toy cars, which have free rein around the
street, and the ice cream parlours are full. I love the
hustle and bustle every time I wander around this area.

Tell us about the light and the colours of your city. 

Hanoi is a vibrant city, with yellows, reds and greens
standing out in particular. Many important buildings
are painted ochre and proudly fly the red and yellow
Vietnamese flag. From my apartment, I can see red and
green corrugated iron roofs jutting out at all angles.

Tell us about the people who live in your city. 

Life is all about being outside. People gather together to
play games and cook outside, perching on plastic stools.
Drivers stop for a quick snooze atop their motorbikes.
There’s a buzz of community: strangers help each
other; they share and laugh together. Many suffered
during the war, but people are proud of their country
and work hard to build lives they’re proud of.

Where are your favourite places to go with friends?

Hanoi has a thriving coffee-shop culture. These serve
specialities like ca phe trung (egg coffee) and caa phe
sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee), as well as Western
favourites. I love meeting friends in cafés all over the
city and use them to explore different neighbourhoods.

Tell us about eating in your city.

You can find cuisines from almost every culture
here, and eateries range from street sellers to swanky,
upmarket restaurants. Authentic Vietnamese food
can be found on every corner: banh mi (sandwiches),
pho (noodle soup) and bun (noodles with grilled meat,
fish or tofu) are served from food carts, hole-in-the-
wall kitchens and proper restaurants. I’m vegetarian
and, while it’s harder to find street food without
meat, it is possible, and growing in popularity.

3
What’s your favourite way to get about the city?
There’s nothing better than sitting on the back of a

50
 MY CITY

motorbike, driving past West Lake, with the wind

blowing on my face and blue skies overhead.

What’s the shopping like?

Although the number of shopping malls here is
growing, most shops are small, independent and
family-run. Traditionally, traders came to Hanoi
and built homes together, from which they sold their
goods. These streets were named after the items sold.
Hang Vai sells bamboo poles and ladders, Hang Bac
is full of silverware, and vibrant Hang Ma sells seasonal
goods for celebrations and festivals. There are also
a huge number of tailors dotted around the city,
who make, repair or replicate any item of clothing.

Where do you like to escape to?

My favourite day trip from Hanoi is to Tam Coc, in
Ninh Binh Province, which is part of a UNESCO World
Heritage site. Taking a trip on a rowing boat through
lush rice paddies, surrounded by large limestone karst
cliffs, is a wonderful way to reconnect with nature. 5

What’s been your best discovery about your city?

Wandering down any of the narrow alleys will take
you to a whole other world. They’ve led me to beautiful
street art, hidden bookshops and quirky cafés that
I would never have found without taking that turn.

What do you miss most if you’ve been away?

I miss the atmosphere and the good vibes of the city.
It’s a noisy place, but much of this noise comes from
people laughing, cheering or celebrating together.
There’s always a real buzz and it’s great to be part of it.

What would surprise a newcomer to your city?

The traffic. Newcomers will either be positively
surprised by the order or amazed by the chaos of the 1 Long Bien Bridge
roads. Motorbikes – sometimes carrying four or more is open to trains,
pedestrians and two
people – seamlessly weave around buses and cars. wheels only.
2 A motorbike

What would you change about the city if you could? doubles up as a
handy mobile bed.
The pollution. There are days when Hanoi has topped 3 A day spent
the world’s most polluted Air Quality Rankings. exploring the Old
Quarter’s alleyways
Where would you recommend somebody to stay? is never wasted.
4 Blooms by bike at
The Old Quarter – here, the link between past and the flower market.
present is truly apparent, with street traders and 5 Woof! Buns at

ancient temples tucked into streets, so hidden away Bao Wow are no
dog’s dinner.
that they’re easy to miss. 6 Still standing: the

Vietnamese and their

What keeps you in your city and where would buildings are known
you like to live if you couldn’t live here? for their resilience

Hanoi has a real charm about it. I’ll often see or

do something that makes me smile and realise how
much I love the city. I recently holidayed in New
Zealand and I’d love to live there for a while. I’m not 6
sure I could have picked two places more opposite! »

51
 2 3

NIOBE is a primary school teacher who

spends much of her spare time writing,
reading and illustrating in coffee shops
while day-dreaming about her next
adventure. She blogs at niobeetc.com
or follow her on Instagram @niobeetc.

NIOBE’S PERSONAL TOUR

1
1 Collective Memory,
a brilliant place to
pick up local crafts.
2 Colourful Hanoi is
home to the world’s
longest mosaic wall,
which runs for more
than 6km.
3 A fabulous oasis
in the city heat:
the luxurious
Metropole hotel.
4 Veggie fans flock
to Labonté café
Favourite shop
COLLECTIVE MEMORY
Full of beautiful curios
from some of Hanoi’s best
artists and small businesses.
collectivememory.vn
Favourite gallery
THE CITY’S STREET ART
Hanoi is home to the world’s
largest ceramic mosaic wall,
which runs for 6.5km from
the Old Quarter to West Lake.
Local artists also decorate
pavement electrical boxes
with beautiful floral paintings
and environmental messages.
Favourite café
LABONTE
A vegetarian café, it’s my
favourite place to write, eat
or to gather with friends.
Instagram: @labonte.vn
Favourite bar
UNICORN PUB
Serves cocktails with a
Vietnamese twist. Award-
winning mixologists have
created the surprisingly
delicious pho cocktail.
the-unicorn-pub.business.site
Favourite restaurant
BAO WOW
Serves fresh, delicious and
creative baos in a cool, al
fresco dining experience.
baowowhanoi.com
Favourite market
QUANG BA FLOWER
MARKET
It’s a sensory experience with
myriad colours and scents.
Peak hours are 1–2am, but
you can still buy after sunrise.
chohoaquangan.com
Favourite hotel
THE METROPOLE
Combining 5-star service with
French colonial architecture,
the Metropole is a calm oasis.
sofitel-legend-metropole-
hanoi.com
Favourite way to
spend an hour
WANDERING THE STREETS
I love strolling around this
city. You never know what
you might find. When it gets
too hot, I’ll dive into a café
and watch the world go by.
The one thing
you have to see
TRAIN STREET
These famous tracks are tucked
between houses and shops,
with barely enough room for
trains to pass through.

52
 A POETIC PAUSE

Sheriffmuir
By Heidi Williamson

The bracken moults fine hairs;

browning with the heat,
it crackles as we brush past.
In the warm autumnal air
we scan for wildlife:
tundra hares may come this low.
Picking through the undergrowth
we scatter something, breaking
through and out into the light
we came to pause in. Too long
enclosed in small rooms
dusty with books and chores,
we stride the layered moor
on towards the Ochil Hills,
which clear us of ourselves.

About the author:

Award-winning poet and creative writing tutor Heidi Williamson
was born in Norfolk, but lived and studied in Scotland for a decade.
Her third collection of poems, Return by Minor Road (Bloodaxe
Books, 2020), revisits her time there, and reads like a lyrical book of
remembrance, recalling the Dunblane tragedy and its aftermath,
while exploring the healing properties of the landscape.

53
 PASSIONS

M O D E R N
E CENTRICS
VINTAGE STYLE QUEENS
Photography and words: ZOEY GOTO

54
 IN A WORLD THAT CAN FEEL
INCREASINGLY UNIFOR M ,
WE’RE CELEBRATING THOSE
HAPPILY DOING THINGS a bit
d if f e re n tl y. Me e t t h e
PEOPLE WHO ARE seriously
P A S S I O N A T E about
their pastimes . PERHAPS
THEY’LL PERSUADE YOU TO
TRY s o m e t h i n g N E W ?
G
ood style never goes out of fashion.
These four women live this saying,
choosing to reject contemporary
fashion and to immerse themselves in
the looks of the past. Together, they
are a testament to the creativity and
individuality of vintage styles, the variety evident from
Rachel’s Hollywood apartment, to Meihui’s dress-up
and play approach to Victoriana. The stories behind
each vintage enthusiast are as diverse as the wearers
themselves, but common threads weave their way
through their stories, such as an appreciation for a low-
consumption lifestyle, a feeling of being outside the
mainstream, or an early interest sparked by a wonderful
bygone movie or musician.
While these examples may be at the more extreme end
of vintage fashion, it’s a surprisingly accessible world to
dip your toes into. A flick of winged eyeliner, a rockabilly
bandana or just an hour on a Sunday evening spent
looking through second-hand bargains on
A love of upcycling eBay are good starting points, open to all.
and salvaging, and a
Wearing vintage has plenty of perks;
desire to help people
enjoy vintage clothes saving money, expressing individuality, or
and find their own just knowing that each garment comes
style inspired Meihui with its own history. Let these vintage
to launch her own
fashion label and,
style queens inspire your own journey of
more recently, gallery fun in the way that you dress.
THE UP-CYCLING QUEEN:
Meihui Liu
East London designer Meihui (Instagram @meihuiliu8)
was one of the early pioneers of upcycled fashion. Armed
with a secondhand sewing machine and some salvaged
textiles, she started up her Victim fashion label in the late
90s. More recently, she’s opened Victim Fashion Street
– a gallery space adorned with antique furnishings and
clothing, where people are invited to come and play
dress-up, while enjoying a very English tea party.
Do you dress this way every day?
Yes, I do. I used to dress up to go to nightclubs or
parties, but I don’t do that anymore so now I just
dress like this in the day to meet friends for tea.
When did you become interested in vintage style?
When I moved to London in 1994. Before that, I was
obsessed with designer brands. One day, I decided to
sell all my designer clothing and begin again, this time
just wearing vintage and upcycled clothing.
Where do you get your style inspiration?
I grew up in Taiwan and loved listening to English
music from the 80s. I was into the New Romantic style.
I’ve lived in Italy, Paris and London, and travelling has
helped me create my own vision and style.
Tell us about your gallery space.
It’s a sustainable fashion gallery; an installation space
where people come to dress up in the clothing and have
a traditional English tea party. They can enjoy dressing
up without feeling like they need to own the clothing,
and it means that I can share my wardrobe and vision,
rather than my clothing being hidden away.
Any tips for breathing life into vintage clothing?
I’ve always said that you shouldn’t give up on your used
clothing – fix it, upcycle it and bring it alive again!
Every item can be precious and can one day become
vintage, so buy clothing that you really like and wear
it over and over again. »
 THE MID-CENTURY MODERN ACE:
Lindsay Jarvis

The mid-century aesthetic permeates Lindsay’s life, from

her modernist house in Palm Springs – a mecca for lovers
of mid-century design in the United States – to her
vintage interiors, wardrobe and her job at a modernist
design magazine (Instagram @lindsayjarvisland).

Is Palm Springs linked to your personal style? 

I was drawn to Palm Springs because of the mid-
century vibe. I’ve had to adapt my style to the hot
desert summers though! 1940s beach-style is one of my
favourites, a look that I think pairs with Palm Springs.
How would you describe the way you dress? 
Everyday elegance. Casual, comfortable and functional
vintage. I love styles from the 1920s to the 1960s, but
the pieces that work best for my lifestyle are usually
from the late 1930s to the early 1960s. While I love the
extravagant gowns of those eras, I gravitate towards
wearable styles that are functional.
Do you dress this way every day?
I do! Some days certainly end up looking more ‘vintage’
than others, but this is the way I dress all the time.
Are environmental concerns a factor?
Absolutely! Not just for clothing, but also for home
décor. It helps to cut back on materials/sourcing for
new products and also on all of the extraneous
packaging and plastic used to transport larger items
like home goods. If you can re-use an item, why not?
Where do you source your clothing?
Lately, I’ve been buying directly from other vintage
enthusiasts on Instagram. Sewing and knitting are two
of my favourite hobbies, so I make some of my own
clothing using vintage patterns. I also have some
reproduction pieces, especially shoes:
Bringing Californian Remix Vintage is a fantastic
glamour to the
utilitarianism of mid-
reproduction company.
century modern, Beyond dress, which other aspects of
Lindsay is living her your life are influenced by vintage?
modernist dream and I love the aesthetics of the mid-century,
enjoying leading a
more sustainable but not the values. Vintage fashion, not
lifestyle, too vintage values!
 PASSIONS

THE MODERN-DAY PIN-UP:

Lady Eccentrik

The style of Lady Eccentrik (Instagram @ladyeccentrikb)

combines the glamour of the classic pin-up looks of the
40s and 50s with her Jamaican heritage and desire to
always look dapper. Her background in the performing
arts (she’s CEO of a company that promotes musicians)
is evident in the pure theatre of her image.
movies. I love the costume designer Edith Head and
What vintage era are you interested in and why? watch films she worked on just to see the costumes.
The 40s and 50s, due to the way the clothing shapes How long does it take you to put your look together?
the body. Dressed this way, I walk head held high. I get dressed in my mind the night before, so it’s quite
How do you bring your heritage to your style? quick. My make-up takes 45 minutes and my hair
Jamaican people take a lot of pride in how they dress doesn’t take long as it’s a wig. I’m proud of my natural
and are always well coordinated. It’s part of Jamaican hair and have recently been doing vintage-inspired
culture that you could never look at us and determine natural hair videos, as I’ve been getting messages from
our financial or social status from our dress. Black girls interested in vintage style but who don’t
Is there a vintage scene in Jamaica? want to damage their hair with straighteners. But, for
Absolutely not! In Jamaica, vintage would be called my own personal look, I like to wear a wig.
“old bruk” and people just don’t want to be seen in Why do you choose to
secondhand clothing. dress this way?
When did you start dressing this way? Although I am quite
About four years ago, but I’ve always introverted, I want to
Lady Eccentrik’s wanted to be different to my peers. stand out and express
unique style is a mix When I came to the UK from Jamaica myself with my
of her Jamaican
heritage, where
aged 11, I discovered Grace Jones and clothing. When I’m
fashion is all, started mixing 70s and 80s clothing into dressed this way,
irrespective of my wardrobe. people want to come
class, and the
Where do you get your inspiration? over and interact. I like
classic ‘pin-up’
looks of the 1940s Pinterest! I also like researching vintage to make the world a bit
and 1950s. clothing patterns and watching old more colourful! »

57
 FINDING LOST ANGELES:
Rachel Kafka

Rachel, a recruiter for the entertainment industry, and

her partner Nate Hennagin, a lawyer, live in an Art Deco
building in Los Angeles. Walking into their apartment, a
modern TV is the only clue that we’re in the 21st century.
The entire space is a carefully curated homage to Rachel
and Nate’s passion – The Golden Era of Hollywood. Their
blog, Finding Lost Angeles (findinglostangeles.com), is
dedicated to preserving the city’s storied past.

Describe your style.
Styles from the 1940s and 50s that are classic and
feminine. I’ve always loved old music and antiques.
When I was a little girl, I’d watch old Hollywood
movies with my grandmother. The clothing side was
gradual, and I started collecting about ten years ago.
Do you dress this way every day?
No, but I wish I did! I work in a corporate office, so my
look still has a 40s flavour but is much more subdued.
How long does it take to get ready?
An hour on average. I sleep in curlers the night before,
so it’s just the make-up, which takes 20
Rachel and Nate’s minutes, then brushing out my hair.
apartment in an Art Where do you get your style
Deco building is a
shrine to the Golden
inspiration?
Era of Hollywood, I love Rita Hayworth’s style and poise,
with pieces picked up plus Marlene Dietrich, Betty Grable,
over nearly a decade Marilyn Monroe. I’m also active on
from thrift stores,
flea markets Instagram where there is a big vintage
and Craigslist community that I draw inspiration from.
Where do you buy your clothing and furniture?
It’s years of collecting. Nate and I have pieced things
together from flea markets, thrift shops, Craigslist and
antiques stores. For clothing, I sometimes shop on Etsy.
Why do you not dress in a contemporary style?
I’ve always been someone who likes to dress up and be
noticed. There’s something special and a bit sentimental
about earlier eras, especially living in a city like LA
where it’s all around you.
Would you like to have lived in the era?
I would love to time-travel for a few days, but I am
actually very happy living in the 21st century! I do
think it’s easy to oversimplify or romanticise many
of the hardships that people went through – with the
War and Civil Rights struggles.
Adapted from Vintage Style: Inside the Dapper
World of Retro Enthusiasts by Zoey Goto,
published by Redshank Books
 PASSIONS

“I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE

TO TIME TRAVEL BU T J UST
FOR A FEW DAYS”

59
 MAKE, DO AND BREW
WANT A PERSONALISED CUPPA? BRUSH LETTERING
AND A FEW FLOWERS CAN MAKE A MUG YOUR OWN

Project: BECKI CLARK Photography: JESSE WILD and BECKI CLARK

This enamel mug may

have been filled with more
marshmallows than is strictly
decent in our opinion, but row
back on the mallow mountain
and your handmade mug will
look stylish and very giftable

60

W
hat’s even
better than
sipping a
hot chocolate
from an
enamel mug,
next to a campfire? Sipping it from
a mug you’ve designed yourself, of
course! Pretty up your enamelware
with brush lettering and a simple
pattern that can be created in
minutes. A hand-drawn enamel
mug makes a great gift, whether
they’re a dedicated camper or
could just do with a mug for
the allotment or garden.
If you think florals might be
too tricky, spots, stripes, dashes
or abstract shapes work just as
well, and you can also try this
technique on ceramic surfaces
as well as enamelware.
“USE A MIXTURE
OF WRITING
STYLES AND
LETTERING TO
CREATE A QUIRKY,
RUSTIC EFFECT”
Taken from Modern Brush Lettering
by Becki Clark (White Owl).
Photography: Jesse Wild and Becki Clark
P R O U D LY
HOMEMADE
Go freehand if you like
and simply rub out any
bits that don’t work.
Taking brush lettering too
seriously is a mug’s game
PERSONALISED
ENAMEL MUGS
Super quick but satisfying
for both maker and drinker
you will need:
Enamel mug
Permanent markers (the Docrafts
Dual Tip Brushmarkers work well)
An oven
1 First decide on the phrase for your
enamel cups. Is it for you or are you
going to give it away as a gift?
2 Practise what you would like to
write on a piece of paper before you
move on to the mug, so you can
check it will fit where you would like
to place your lettering. Use a mix of
writing styles to create a quirky, rustic
effect. If you don’t want to free-style
your design, cut a piece of paper to
the same size as the mug to work
out the exact space you have to work
with. If you go wrong at any stage,
you can easily wipe away your
mistake without ruining the rest
of your design. The pen will only
set when it’s baked. Note that the
WEEKEND PROJECT
permanent markers are not food
safe, so just be careful using them
on any surface that will come
into direct contact with food.
3 Make sure you choose a strong
dark colour for your lettering and
start on the front of the cup. Think
about whether the person is right-
handed or left-handed to decide
which side the lettering should be on.
4 When you’ve lettered your phrase
across the mug, add some decorative
floral patterns. Create ditsy flowers
with different sized circles and leaves
with simple teardrop shapes. Mix
the sizes and colours of your flowers
before adding the stems and leaves,
then tidy up the letters. You don’t
have to cover the whole cup with
your pattern, just work around
your lettering to frame it.
5 If you’d like to create a 3D effect,
leave your cup to dry and then
draw further designs over the top.
6 Put the mugs in the oven on
180C/Fan160C/Gas 4 for 30 minutes
to set the design. Leave to cool.
Baking will set the design, but they
won’t be dishwasher safe so they
will need to be hand washed.
61
 Good mood foods
COLOURFUL INGREDIENTS LOOK PRETTY
ON YOUR PLATE, AND ARE THE BASE FOR
REALLY HAPPY MEALS, TOO
Recipes and photography: CATHERINE FRAWLEY
Words: REBECCA FRANK

62

E
ven if we know it’s not great
for us, in times of stress or
sadness we tend to reach for
the biscuit tin or order in a
pizza rather than instinctively
making a healthier, well-
balanced meal. While there will always be
a place for biscuits, if your diet is becoming
more studenty by the day and your spirits
are low, it could be worth looking at what
you’re putting into your body and how it
might be affecting your mood.
The link between food and mood,
known as nutritional psychiatry, is a
hot area of scientific research and, with
mental health problems rising globally,
it has never been more relevant. It’s all the
more exciting because diet is something
that most of us can change relatively
easily with the right knowledge.
Mood-boosting eating isn’t faddy or
restrictive. It basically involves eating
more foods that help to maintain a healthy
microbiome (the army of bacteria that live
in the gut) and less of the foods that deplete
it. Research shows that the trillions of bugs
we have in our gut produce short-chain
fatty acids that play an important role in
the communication between the gut and
the brain. Eating more colourful, fibre-
rich vegetables such as sweet potatoes,
cruciferous veg like cauliflower,
wholegrains, nuts and seeds and
fermented foods, such as live yogurt,
will keep the microbiome and the
gut-brain connection functioning
well. On the flipside however, eating
too many processed foods and foods
high in refined sugars can deplete
the wealth of gut bacteria. Put
simply: more broccoli, fewer crisps.
At the forefront of nutritional
psychiatry is Professor Felice Jacka
of The Food & Mood Centre at Deakin
University in Australia. Her famous
SMILES trial in 2017 found that
dietary changes reduced symptoms
of moderate or severe depression to
the point of remission, meaning it no
longer had an affect on the patient’s
life, in 30% of patients. Experts also
believe that keeping a healthy and
balanced gut microbiome may help
to prevent symptoms of anxiety as
well as strengthen the immune system
and reduce inflammation in the body.
If your eating habits have taken
a nosedive in recent weeks, it could
be time to add some mood-boosting
ingredients into your meals. So step
away from that convenience snack
pack and step in to your kitchen
for some dishes that will have you
feeling better both inside and out.
GOOD THINGS TO EAT
Sweet potato jackets
with cauliflower,
minted yogurt and
pomegranate seeds
Jacket potatoes are a great comfort
food and, combined with creamy
minted yogurt, make they for a really
filling no-fuss meal.
Serves 4
4 medium to large sweet potatoes
Extra virgin olive oil
Small head of cauliflower, cut
into florets
250g natural yogurt (or
dairy free alternative)
4 tbsp pomegranate seeds
2 large sprigs of mint, finely
chopped, plus extra to garnish
1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan
180C/Gas 6. Prick the sweet potatoes
with a fork and rub the skin with
a little olive oil. Place on a tray and
cook for about 40 mins (depending
on size) until the insides are soft.
2 Spread the cauliflower florets onto
a baking tray, drizzle with oil, season,
and place in the oven for the last 20
mins of the potatoes’ cooking time.
3 Add the yogurt to a bowl, season to
taste, then add the chopped mint and
mix to combine. Set aside until the
potatoes and cauliflower are cooked.
4 When the potatoes are done and
cool enough to handle, cut a large
deep cross to the top and open
the potato up. Add the cauliflower,
2-3 tbsp of the yogurt mixture,
then sprinkle over the pomegranate
seeds and garnish with fresh mint.
Why it’s a mood booster: Sweet
potatoes are lower in carbohydrates
than the average spud, but have all
the comforting benefits. Meanwhile,
cauliflower is high in fibre and B
vitamins; pomegranate is also
a good source of fibre and vitamins
A and C, while yogurt contains
nutrients that help with bone health. »
63
 GOOD THINGS TO EAT

Simple style
shakshuka

Officially brunch, but actually

a great meal for any time of day
– plus cooking and serving in a
skillet means less washing up, too.

Serves 2-3
2 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 peppers, cut into thin strips
2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp paprika
3 large eggs
Fresh coriander to garnish, optional

1 Heat the oil in one pan or split

between pans if you’re using
individual skillets. Add the onions,
garlic and peppers and cook
over a medium heat until softened
(this should take around 5 mins)
2 Add the tomatoes, sugar, paprika
and season to taste. Stir well and
allow to simmer for around 10 mins.
With the back of a spoon, make a well
in the sauce and crack an egg into it.
Continue to cook for another 8-10
mins, until the egg is set. Season again
and serve garnished with coriander. “A DISH FULL OF COLOUR, THE EGGS
ADD THE FINISHING TOUCH WITH
Why it’s a mood booster: Eggs are
a real ‘superfood’ as they contain,
MANY MOOD BOOSTING BENEFITS”
essential fatty acids, vitamins A and
D, zinc and amino acids, which make
up the chemicals your brain needs
to regulate thoughts and feelings.

64
Salmon, greens and 30g sugarsnap peas
brown rice bowl Handful baby spinach
1 tsp black sesame seeds
½ fresh chili, optional
Eating your greens is never more Fresh parsley, optional
pleasurable than alongside honey-
and-soy-coated salmon. 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/
Fan 180C/Gas 6. Cook the rice
Serves 1 according to instructions, usually
75g brown rice 20-25 mins. Place the salmon on
1 salmon fillet a baking tray. In a separate bowl,
2 tbsp soy sauce add the soy sauce, mirin, garlic,
2 tbsp mirin ginger and honey and whisk to
1 garlic clove, chopped combine. Drizzle over the salmon,
1cm fresh ginger, grated reserving some for the final dish.
1 tsp honey 2 Cook the salmon in the oven for
50g tenderstem broccoli, 12-15 mins. Meanwhile, add the
trimmed broccoli and sugarsnap peas to
a pan of boiling water and cook for
2-3 mins. Drain under cold water to
retain the colour. Once the rice and
salmon are ready, assemble your
bowl by adding the rice and raw
spinach, followed by the broccoli,
sugarsnap peas and salmon.
Sprinkle over the sesame seeds,
season, and finish with fresh chili,
parsley and the remaining dressing.
Why it’s a mood booster: Salmon
is a great source of omega 3 fatty
acids EPA and DHA, which can
decrease inflammation and lower
blood pressure, as well as help
with brain health. It’s also high in
protein, B vitamins and potassium. »
65
 Berry and oat
yogurt pots
Start the day as you mean to
go on with these creamy and
fruity pots of goodness.
Serves 4
200g mixed frozen berries
2 tbsp honey
50g oats
200g Greek yogurt (or dairy
free alternative)
2 tsp chia seeds
20 fresh blueberries
66
8 fresh raspberries
4 tbsp mixed nuts
1 Add the frozen berries to a
pan and slowly heat for about
10 mins, then add half the honey
and simmer for a further 10 mins.
2 Preheat the oven to 180C/
Fan160C/Gas 4. Meanwhile, mix
the oats with the remaining honey
and once thoroughly coated,
spread on a baking tray and bake
for about 10 mins, or until golden.
3 In a bowl mix the chia seeds
into the yogurt. When the berries
and oats are ready, assemble by
dividing the warm berry mixture
between four pots, then add a
layer of the yogurt and chia mix,
followed by the fresh fruit, then
sprinkle over the oats and add
1 tbsp of nuts to each pot.
Cook’s note: Once cool, the
pots can be refrigerated and
will keep for up to two days.
Why it’s a mood booster: Berries
are high in fibre, and a good source
of vitamin C and antioxidants, as
are chia seeds. Meanwhile, nuts
are filling, nutrient-rich and may
help with Type 2 diabetes.
 GOOD THINGS TO EAT

Banana, chocolate
and brazil nut tart

Chocolate is good for you! And

a slice of this delicious tart will
lift anyone’s spirits.

Serves 6
1 sheet of puff pastry
4-5 bananas (medium)
40g butter
50g dark chocolate (at least 85%
cocoa)
8 brazil nuts, roughly chopped

1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan

180C/Gas 6. Line a baking tray with
baking parchment, lay the rolled out
pastry on top and score a border
about 1cm from the edge.
2 Cut the bananas into ½ cm discs
and line the pastry (within the border)
with each banana slice slightly
overlapping the last.
3 Melt the butter in a saucepan or
microwave and use it to brush the
pastry border. Bake for 20 mins,
or until the pastry is golden and
banana edges are starting to brown.
4 Once the tart is ready, melt the
chocolate in a microwave (do this in
30 sec increments so as not to burn
it). Once melted, drizzle over the tart
and sprinkle over the chopped nuts.

Why it’s a mood booster: Bananas

are not only a great source of
potassium and some B vitamins, but
they also aid digestion. Chocolate
gets a bad press, but if you pick dark
chocolate with a high cocoa content,
there’s some evidence that cocoa can
be protective against heart disease
and may improve brain function.

67
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 BY CHANGING PERCEPTIONS OF ROUGH SLEEPERS, ZAKIA
MOULAOUI IS GIVING THESE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY A VOICE
D
espite the best efforts of
charities large and small,
among the major remaining
prejudices in our society
is towards those without
a roof over their head. They
are viewed less as people and more as a
problem, seen en masse rather than as
individuals. Zakia Moulaoui reminds us
that each person affected by homelessness
has a story. Whether they are still sleeping
rough, living in a hostel or finally in
permanent housing, Zakia recognises their
talents and helps them become tour guides,
giving them a voice and raising confidence.
Zakia has worked to improve the lives
of rough sleepers for nearly ten years,
beginning with a job for annual football
tournament, the Homeless World Cup,
which she describes as life changing; while
all the players felt the same sense of pride
in representing their countries, they also
suffered the same stigma at home. During
a work trip to Athens she discovered that
vendors of Shedia, the equivalent of The
Big Issue, also offered personal tours of
the city. Zakia was inspired to recreate
this back home in Edinburgh and, in 2016,
with the help of partners including Crisis,
set up social enterprise Invisible Cities.
It has since launched in Glasgow,
Manchester and York. So far, the scheme
has trained 60 people who have informed
and entertained over 8,000 guests. Miles’
walks around York focus on the city’s
health and wealth through history, which
echoes his own background as a banker-
turned-addict, while Australian Angie,
a former drama teacher who spent six
years living on the streets of Edinburgh,
now takes visitors on a cultural journey
around the city, shaped by her passion
for the arts. As Zakia learnt for herself,
just one conversation can challenge
assumptions and shift attitudes.
Zakia Moulaoui both Until mid-July, the social enterprise
raises awareness ceased tours but is now operating again
of the issues facing
people affected
with safety measures in place. “Ironically,
by homelessness for a lot of people who were rough sleeping,
and creates jobs lockdown provided a bit of rest as they
for them, too.
were put into hotels,” Zakia says. “But
homelessness is a year-round issue and
my concern is what happens once this
is over – where do people end up?” With
this element of uncertainty, perhaps it
has never been more important to support
homeless causes. The Invisible Cities
tours are just one visible arm of the
social enterprise: profits are reinvested
WORDS: RUTH CHANDLER PHOTOGRAPHY: SALTAIRE SOCIETY SCOTLAND
in training, funding awareness campaigns,
and events such as Street Barber, which
offers homeless men free haircuts and
shaves. “It won’t change the world,” Zakia
says, “but by making people feel like they
are people again, it will definitely change
theirs.” invisible-cities.org
Want to nominate an excellent woman?
Email thesimplethings@icebergpress.co.uk.
“So far, the scheme has trained
60 people who have informed and
entertained over 8,000 guests”
69
 PAST IMPERFECT
AS THE NATIONAL TRUST CELEBRATES 125 YEARS, IT’S
LOOKING BEYOND THE RICH AND POWERFUL INHABITANTS
OF THEIR PROPERTIES AND REMEMBERING THE SURPRISING
(SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE) CHAPTERS IN THEIR HISTORY

Words: NATASHA TIDD

70
 LOOKING BACK

T
he National Trust, beloved favourite
for long walks, garden inspiration
and, of course, scones, is 125 years
old this year. But it may surprise
you to know that this paragon of all
things wholesome was not seeded
in England’s countryside, but in city smog. Social
reformist Octavia Hill spent her life working in
Victorian London’s dark, industrialised streets.
She was shocked by the lack nature and believed
exposure to green space was essential for health
– something that feels especially relevant this
year. As she said, “We all want quiet. We all want
beauty… We all need space. Unless we have it,
we cannot reach that sense of quiet in which
whispers of better things come to us gently.”
From this thought came the National Trust,
founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Robert Hunter
and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley. The trio went
forth under the motto ‘For everyone, for ever.’
The following year, they splashed out £10 (a steal
in today’s money at about £600) for their first
property, Alfriston Clergy, in East Sussex.
After 125 years, the National Trust has cemented
itself as a national treasure. It’s grown to care for 20%
of our nation’s coastline, more than 250,000 hectares
of land (roughly the size of Northamptonshire)
and, of course, thousands of wildlife species. Now Thanks to Octavia Hill
Europe’s largest conservation charity, it’s achieved (above) the National Trust
now provides us with a
mammoth wins, including saving part of the White
window to the past, while
Cliffs of Dover; reintroducing an extinct butterfly its conservation efforts
– the Large Blue – to the UK; and creating a thriving are helping to shape
otter-safe haven in Pembrokeshire’s Stackpole Estate. the future, too

That’s not to say those 125 years have all been smooth
sailing. In 2015, a fire devastated Clandon Park in
Surrey, which led to several years of media scrutiny
on its practices. The same year, it landed in even
hotter water when it mooted reducing the amount of
art and exhibitions at some properties. Then, in 2017,
it was revealed that the charity was working to raise
some of its private tenants’ rent by up to 10,000%.
Following the Black Lives Matter campaign, the
idea that the Trust is ‘For everyone, for ever’ has
been put into sharp relief. The National Trust was
quick to admit that it needed to do more to tell the
story of Black British history and committed to
re-assessing its collections and properties with links
to colonialism. So much so, in June, Dunham Massey
in Greater Manchester removed a Blackamoor-style
statue dating from the 1700s. Blackamoor figures,
often depicting subservient Africans, were once
a common sight in stately homes. As John Orna-
Ornstein, Director of Culture and Engagement of The
National Trust, explains, “We have a long way to go
but we’re working to address painful and challenging
histories attached to our places and collections.” »

71
 LOOKING BACK
“The National Trust has been
focusing on the way it recounts
history for a while now”
Many of us associate the National Trust with peace
and tranquility, yet it’s actually custodian of some of
history’s most charged places. Picturesque Chirk
Castle in Wales, for example, was bought in 1593 by
Thomas Myddelton, a founder of the East India
Company, which relied on slave labour in the 17th and
18th centuries. This history may be uncomfortable,
but it needs to be addressed. And National Trust
properties may be great places to do this.
In Derbyshire, Kedleston Hall houses an Eastern
Museum. The collection, collated in the 1800s by
George Curzon, then Viceroy of India, includes
carvings, a throne and even samurai swords. The
National Trust is working with experts to change the
Eastern Museum into something that’ll embrace and
highlight the many cultures the collection came from.
And although its work tackling our colonial past is
still in the early stages, the National Trust has been
Above L-R: Washing for the focusing on the way it recounts history for a while. It
entire Shugborough estate
needs an understandably launched its Challenging Histories programme in
large laundry room; while 2017, celebrating unsung chapters of our past, kicking
inventive Lord Armstrong off by focusing on women’s history. With revenue
came up with several
labour-saving ideas to help
badly hit during lockdown, it’s time to show support
his Cragside workforce for these new ways of exploring our national history.
72
U P S TA I R S , D O W N S TA I R S 
Don’t let the huge stately home facades
fool you. Some of history’s most interesting
nuggets are discovered by heading
downstairs to the servants’ quarters. 
In the Victorian era, domestic service was
one of the most common jobs in the country.
And if you think your 9-to-5 is hard, the
maids and cooks at Penrhyn Castle, Wales,
often worked up to 20 hours a day to cater
for the residing Pennant family. You can
now explore the castle’s kitchen where
they spent so much of their time. 
In comparison, the servants of Cragside
in Northumberland, had it easy. The
eccentric master of the house, Lord William
Armstrong, was an inventor and loved
nothing more than creating labour-saving
devices for his staff, including an early form
of dishwasher. The gas stove he created has
been restored and National Trust volunteers
use it to recreate Victorian baked goods.
But it wasn’t just cooking that was a
servant’s job. Shugborough Estate in
Staffordshire employed a small army of
servants and you can still see their quarters
today, including the enormous laundry
room, where the task of keeping the linens
clean was so gargantuan that the operation
was split in two, with one half specifically
for washing and the other for drying. »
 U N S P O K E N LOV E
Following a national programme
of events in 2017 to mark 50 years
since the partial decriminalisation
of homosexuality, the National Trust
stepped up its LGBTQ+ game. Kingston
Lacy in Dorset houses one of the
country’s finest private art collections,
compiled in the 1800s by explorer and
Egyptologist William John Bankes. In
1841, William, charged with taking part
in an ‘indecent act’ with a man (a capital
offence), was forced into exile, but
the story goes that he risked his life to
secretly visit his beloved Kingston Lacy.  
Writers Virginia Woolf and Vita
Sackville-West had one of the most
passionate relationships in literary
history. Virginia’s novel Orlando was
partly inspired by Knole, Vita’s family
home in Kent. It’s described as one of the
longest love letters in history. Knole still
houses the first manuscript of the novel,
inscribed Vita from Virginia.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ALAMY, NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES, THE INTERIOR ARCHIVE

The Venetian Ambassador’s

room at Knole, featuring a bed
made for King James II. It was
here, the family home of Vita
Sackville-West (inset), that
helped to inspire her lover,
Virginia Woolf to write Orlando

73
 LOOKING BACK
Surprising National
Trust days out
l The National Trust cares for
39 pubs, including London’s
The George Inn, immortalised
in Dickens’ Little Dorrit.
l Whipsnade is home to a Tree
Cathedral, a unique garden with
trees planted to create the layout
of a cathedral, including cloisters
and chapels of flora and fauna.
l The charity looks after several
islands, including Farne Islands,
off Northumbria, which are accessible
only by boat. Puffins and seals
both call this magnificent isle home.
l Dolaucothi in Carmarthenshire
is a former gold mine, and you
can delve into its underground
caverns on a specially guided
tour (hard hats included).
l At Lincolnshire’s Woolsthorpe
Manor sits perhaps the world’s
most famous apple tree, whose
fruit-fall allegedly inspired Sir
Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity.
74
“After 125 years, the National
Trust has cemented itself
as a national treasure”
STORIES OF SISTERHOOD
Although Octavia Hill was actually anti-
suffrage, some of the first seeds of suffrage
took root in National Trust properties.
George Bernard Shaw, whose writing
inspired the Pankhursts, lived at Shaw’s
Corner in Hertfordshire where, with his
wife, Charlotte, he campaigned for women’s
right to vote. You can still see their home
much as it was when they resided there
and explore the couple’s extensive library.
The tranquil haven of Smallhythe Place
in Kent was home to another feminist,
theatrical darling Dame Ellen Terry.
Her daughter, Edith Craig, lived in the
property’s Priest House with her partners,
artist Tony Atwood (originally called
Clare) and suffrage campaigner Christopher
St John (born Christabel Marshall).
At Smallhythe, the women worked on
bringing the suffrage campaign to the
stage, performing political plays across
the country. After her mother’s death,
Edith transformed Smallhythe’s barn
into a theatre, which still puts on plays
and is a wonderful reminder of the amazing
theatrical work that took place there.
Then there’s Ireland’s Mount Stewart
in County Down, home to the fantastically
named Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart, who
spent her life rallying against the idea of
‘women’s work’. She formed The Women’s
Legion during the First World War and
became the first Dame Commander of
the Order of the British Empire in 1917,
in recognition for her ground-breaking
war work. Her library (currently being
digitised) gives a sense of the books that
made her into such a formidable force.
The National Trust is slowly reopening sites
and you currently need to book in advance.
Also, some sites not normally open at this
time of year may be open, so check up-to-
date info and book at nationaltrust.org.uk.

From L-R: Hotbeds for political
change at Shaw’s Corner and
Smallhythe Place, the family home
of Edith Craig. Meanwhile Britain’s
industrial past is still in evidence
at Quarry Bank and Cornwall’s
Levant mine and Beam Engine
WO R K I N G - C L ASS
HEROES
As John Lennon said, A working class
hero is something to be. Interestingly
enough, the National Trust offers
tours of his and Paul McCartney’s
childhood homes in Liverpool.
Although the individual stories
of the thousands of men and women
who fuelled the industrial revolution
are rarely remembered, you can
get a glimpse into that past at
several National Trust properties.
Cheshire’s Quarry Bank was a textile
manufacturer that was home to an
entire industrial community which
included many orphaned and destitute
children, who were raised in the site’s
Apprentice House before going on
to become workers at the factories.
Then there’s Cornwall’s Levant Mine
and Beam Engine, which employed
hundreds of men, women and children
during the 1800s and today explores
the rich history of the area’s mining
community. Here you can see the
perils the miners faced every day as
they toiled underground. The women
and girls stayed up top, breaking down
the mined copper, as it was considered
bad luck for them to go into the pits.
75
A simple thing...
Come on in, we don’t need to tell you
that the water’s lovely. What better way
to make the most of any September
good weather than with a wild swim?
Your favourite bit of safe open water will
likely be a bit less busy now, but all the
more inviting for it. It’s time to spend
close to nature and away, just for a bit,
from everything else. Whether you have
time for a quick, cool dip or a prolonged
bathe, it’s a moment for pause – before
you emerge refreshed and reinvigorated,
and that bit readier for whatever is
coming next.

PHOTOGRAPHY: STOCKSY
 Say hello to oh
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 FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A simple recipe, with an interesting twist

A late-
summer
lasagne
Swapping pasta for
courgettes and making
tomatoes the star of the
show, this layered bake
is a great way to make
use of a generous crop
of homegrown toms. »

79
 A late-summer lasagne
Serves 6
1kg heritage tomatoes, halved or
quartered, depending on size
2 aubergines, cut into 2–3cm discs
1 garlic bulb, separated and peeled
2 tsp fennel seeds, crushed
Pinch of chilli flakes
2–3 rosemary sprigs, leaves
roughly chopped
8 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Small bunch of basil, shredded
Small handful of flat-leaf parsley,
leaves finely chopped
6 large courgettes, thinly sliced
lengthways
FOR THE WHITE SAUCE
750ml whole milk
4 bay leaves
1 onion, sliced
1 celery stick, sliced
Black peppercorns
60g unsalted butter
60g plain flour
125g cheddar cheese, grated
1 Preheat the oven to 150C/Fan
130C/Gas 2. Put the tomatoes, cut
sides up, aubergine and garlic on a
large baking tray. Sprinkle over the
fennel, chilli and rosemary. Drizzle
over half the oil and season. Roast
for 1 hr 20 mins, stirring once or
80
twice. Remove from the oven and
scatter over the basil and parsley.
2 Turn the oven up to 200C/Fan
180C/Gas 6. To make the white
sauce, bring the milk to a simmer
in a pan with the bay, onion, celery
and peppercorns. Set aside.
3 Heat the butter in a heavy-based
pan. Add the flour and cook, stirring
with a wooden spoon, for 1 min.
Sieve in half the milk and work into
the butter and flour until thickened.
Repeat with the remaining milk,
then beat with a whisk to a smooth
sauce. Stir in all but a handful of
the cheese and season well.
4 Spoon one third of the tomato
mixture over the base of a 25cm
square baking dish. Add half the
courgettes in a single layer. Season,
drizzle over half the remaining oil,
then spoon over half the sauce.
Repeat, then finish with the last of
the tomato mixture. Scatter over
the remaining cheese. Bake for
30–35 minutes until bubbling. Cool
for 10 mins before serving with a
green salad and crusty bread.
Extracted from Root, Stem, Leaf, Flower
by Gill Meller (Quadrille). Photography
by Andrew Montgomery

 A could-do list –
delivered to your door
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 GALLERY

ANIMAL MAGIC
THE INHABITANTS OF BRITAIN’S ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS
HAVEN’T SEEN MANY VISITORS LATELY. BUT AN ARMY OF STAFF
AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON THEM

82
 S
taff and volunteers at zoos throughout
the UK and Ireland have a unique
insight into the animals in their
care. A photo competition run by
The British and Irish Association
of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA),
open only to those who work behind the scenes,
aims to show some of the conservation and
education done by these institutions – at a time
when many are struggling with the financial impact
of lockdown. There’s the rare Ethiopian mountain
adder, photographed at ZSL London Zoo by Daniel
Kane, who is sharing his knowledge about this
little-known species with herpetologists worldwide.
And the adult and juvenile Thao whipping frogs
– successfully bred at Paignton Zoo for the first POUNDS AND OWL-CES
time last year. Meanwhile, a snake-horned markhor By Niall Owen
– a native of the mountains of the Hindu Kush A charismatic great grey
– looks out over the Scottish Highlands from its owl chick is weighed at
naturalistic enclosure. It’s all happening at the zoo… the Welsh Mountain Zoo. »

MARKHOR PARKOUR
By Alyson Houston
Markhor are a species
of mountain goat with
twisty, spectacular horns.
This was taken at RZSS
Highland Wildlife Park.

83
 GALLERY

IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

By Eleanor Stobbart
These Thao whipping frogs
were bred at Paignton Zoo
for the first time last year.
They’re known as whipping
frogs because of the way
the female frog creates a
foamy nest for her eggs.

84
 NOT TO BE SNIFFED AT
By Samantha Allworthy
A prehensile-tailed
porcupine at Longleat.
An arboreal and nocturnal
animal, its massive
nose helps it to find food
in the dark.

WEARING HER HEART

ON HER NOSE
By Jo Thrower
A Siamang gibbon – named
Beatrice – at Noah’s Ark
Zoo Farm. Siamang are the
largest species of gibbon,
and can be 1m tall. »

85
 GALLERY

PENGUIN PARADE
By Robert Everett
This winning image of
Humboldt penguins was taken
at Chester Zoo. “I think this
picture represents how
up-close experiences with
animals in good zoos can
inspire a lifelong fascination
with nature,” says
photographer Robert Everett.

SNAKES ON A PLAIN
By Daniel Kane
“It’s exciting to care for such
a rare and little-known species
as the Ethiopian mountain
adder at ZSL London Zoo,”
says Daniel Kane.

86
 DAY
SATUR 021
2
29 MAY S
PLACE
LIMITED

ANNIV TH
£20 MIL ERSA
RAISER Y
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Cycle 50km or 100km through London at night for Breast Cancer Now, Jo's Cervical Cancer
Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action. Celebrate ten years of cycling against cancer.
For more information and to register online:
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01590 646410 //events@dream-challenges.com

To take part you need to pay a registration fee of £45 and fundraise £100 for the Women V Cancer charities.
Registered Charity Nos. Breast Cancer Now: 1160558/SC045584, Ovarian Cancer Action: 1109743/SC043478, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust: 1133542/SC041236.
Women V Cancer is established under Giving Works. Registered Charity No. 1078770.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: TARA ROMASANTA PHOTOGRAPHY/STOCKSY
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 REMEDIES

GEN T L E H E A LI NG
Making your own potions and lotions is a satisfying project
– and you know exactly what’s gone into them

Recipe JULIA WATKINS

90

OAT M E A L -
C A L E N DU L A IT CH
R E L I E F BAT H SOA K
You can’t beat a good soak in the bath,
but one that also soothes dry, itchy
or inflamed skin will be an extra relief
to many. Oatmeal and calendula are
anti-inflammatory, while bicarbonate
of soda raises the pH of the skin to help
reduce itchiness with conditions like
eczema, chicken pox or mosquito bites.
you will need:
44g oatmeal
A handful of dried calendula flowers
45g bicarbonate of soda
5 drops lavender essential oil
1 Using a food processor or blender,
grind the oatmeal into a fine powder.
2 Combine all the ingredients in a medium-
sized bowl and mix well. Transfer the
mixture to a nylon stocking or thin cotton
sock and secure the top with a knot.
3 To use, add the stocking to a warm
bath and soak for 30 mins. Squeeze the
stocking periodically to release as much
of the oatmeal starch as possible. Once
used, compost the ingredients, rinse the
stocking and line-dry ready to reuse.
Taken from Simply Living Well: A Guide
to Creating a Natural, Low-waste Home
by Julia Watkins (Hardie Grant)
SOOTHING
WORDS
Having a word in your linguistic armoury
that encapsulates a feeling can be comforting;
it means that someone, somewhere
has experienced the same thing.
Paul Anthony Jones, author of The Cabinet
of Calm: Soothing Words for Troubled
Times (Elliott &Thompson) defines a word
each month that may provide solace.
MINDING
when you miss someone
F
or the general, somewhat discomforting
feeling of missing someone, we need,
one way or another, a reminder.
At the root of the word reminder is
mind. One of the barest bones of the English
language, mind has been used of a person’s
mental faculty or intellect since the early
Old English period, when it referred
specifically to memory, and the brain’s
ability to recall, recollect and remember.
Derived from that, a minding is an instance
of recollection or a single memory; a forgotten
thought cast back into your consciousness, or a
memento or token, serving to remind someone
of something, and keep them from forgetting it.
When someone is no longer in our lives, the
things that were once theirs suddenly become
so much more meaningful. Everyday objects
that the person we are missing knew, and
liked, and used are all but transformed into
precious heirlooms. They might mean little
to anybody else, but to us and to anyone
aware of their import and heritage, they
carry a tantalising connection to a much
loved person that we can simply no longer see.
These mindings can be upsetting, especially
when our sense of loss is still quite new.
But they can also be immensely comforting
and reassuring, giving us a tangible, tactile
connection to the people that we miss,
complementing our thoughts and memories
of them. They can remind us of the people we
once had in our lives in more ways than one.
Paul Anthony Jones blogs about language
at HaggardHawks.com.
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 FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE
Bringing blooms indoors: it’s what every home needs

Dahlias
By Emma Harris
As the seasons change, the trusty dahlia
continues to flower until the first frosts.
These big, blousy blooms – in colours
that range from palest cream to darkest
claret – have seen a resurgence in
popularity over recent years, and will
brighten up the darkest of corners. If you
can’t get your hands on a bunch, a single
stem is just as effective at bringing a last
burst of summer into your home.
PHOTOGRAPHY: EMMA HARRIS

93
 HOME TOUR

COLOURFULLY CREATIVE
AN ARTIST’S HOUSE WAS NEVER GOING TO BE A MUTED AFFAIR
AS JENNIE MAIZELS’ HAMPSHIRE HOME PROVES

Photography: CARMEL KING Words: KAREN DUNN

94
Intended to blend into
its setting from the
outside, inside Jennie’s
home draws on her
illustrator’s eye, from
the carefully colour-
matched cupboards to
the hand-painted
salvaged wood, with
some vintage finds and
savvy buys
 “DON’T BE AFRAID TO DECORATE
WITH YOUR OWN CREATIONS –
THEY’LL MAKE YOUR HOME UNIQUE”

N
ot many people can boast that
they own a rainbow kitchen,
but for Jennie Maizels, when
it came to building her dream
home, it was a deal breaker.
The illustrator, who lives
just outside Alton in Hampshire with her husband
Marcus and teenage daughters, Millie and Rosie,
(not forgetting Charlie the cockerpoo and her
three cats, Oscar, Charlotte and Lizzie), never
thought she would build a home from scratch.
However, thanks to a change in the law and a
large back garden, she was able to not only create
a home she could work from, but also get that
rainbow kitchen that she’d always wished for.
The family originally lived in the house in front
of their new build, but when settlement boundaries
changed and letters started flooding in from
developers desperate to build on their garden,
Jennie decided to do it herself. “We love our village,
and we’ve made really good friends,” she says. “Our
old house was gorgeous but, as it was built in the
HOME TOUR
1800s, it had lots of little dark rooms. We bought it Left: Jennie created
slightly foolishly thinking that one day we’d be able impact in her hall with
coloured flex and Ikea
to do the work it needed, but could never afford it. globes, a fraction of the
With a new house we could get the light and space price of a chandelier.
we wanted – even though it’s slightly smaller.” Above: Every part of
Jennie’s home is rainbow
They enlisted the help of Snug Architects. “They inspired, including
really listened,” says Jennie. “Millie mentioned to her studio with its
the architect that she wanted a corner window and meticulously organised
Rosie asked for a window seat. I forgot all about coloured pencil collection
it, then when the plans arrived, there they were
– and they really add something to both rooms.”
As a new build, the family wanted it to settle
into its countryside surrounding. “From a distance
you can just see the wooden cladding, making it
look like an agricultural barn. It’s clad in Kebony,
where the wood is kind of pickled, like the Mary
Rose, to give it longevity.”
The build took a year to the day, but it was with
the interior design that Jennie’s love of colour came
to the fore. “I had to have a rainbow kitchen, like
a complete child!” she laughs. “It took me about six
months to choose the colours because each one had »
97
98
 HOME TOUR

Designing a home from

scratch has enabled
Jennie to create a space
filled with light and the
ideal canvas to display
her love of vibrant colour.
The inherited baby
grand piano takes pride
of place in the lounge,
alongside cockerpoo
Charlie, of course
 HOME TOUR
to be my personal favourite. I had all these little
pantone squares and stayed up until the small
hours ordering them. To my amazement, the
company who painted the kitchen got it spot on.”
She continues, “I’m a massive believer in humour
and colour in a home. Choose your favourites
and go with them, even if they’re bright and
bold. Homes can be so dull when it comes to
colour – Farrow & Ball have a lot to answer for!”
The kitchen, which has a distinct mid-century
feel, also houses a huge dining table for the family
to gather around – not to mention a comfy sofa
packed with cushions to collapse on after eating.
When the large windows are open, it feels like
the kitchen is part of the garden.
Off the living space is Jennie’s light-flooded
studio, which also hosts her workshops. She
works amongst a dizzying array of art supplies
and cute finds, including the largest collection
of coloured pencils you’re ever likely to see.
“It’s all about making it look pretty. The only
thing that’s organised is my pencils,” she laughs.
The colours are calmer in the living room, home
to a very impressive baby grand piano. Jennie
100
explains, “We knew we needed a big lounge to Top left: The house is clad
fit in the piano, which my grandma left me. She in wood to help it blend
with its surroundings.
used to play the piano for silent movies, and now Above: daughter Millie
Millie plays it, although it feels very grand!” bought her own bamboo
The best view though is in Jennie’s bedroom, bed – now Jennie’s
favourite piece in the
which looks out on to the fields and beyond. Even
whole house. Right:
better – you can gaze on the countryside while The pink bath was a
having a soak. “The sunsets from here are amazing, freebie find that simply
especially in spring,” she says. “We found the bath needed a lick of paint
abandoned outside a house. All it needed was paint.”
Despite building on their original garden, there’s
still plenty of outside space with a well-placed
hammock, large table and fire pit for evening
gatherings. However, making the house even more
covetable is the swimming pool. “We ‘took it with
us’ when we built the new house,” says Jennie. “We
think it dates to the 50s and used to be unheated –
we’d have to pull the kids out when they started
turning blue! Building was never about making
money, it was about future proofing our home,
because we’re never going to move again!”
If you’re inspired to create your own artwork, turn
the page for Jennie’s simple Sketchbook Club
tutorial on how to draw birds three different ways.
JENNIE’S STYLE
l Find your colour palette. Don’t follow
fashion, choose the colours you love.
l Neon lights are a great way to

create impact in a large space.

l Mix new and old. The pink sink in our
downstairs loo was new, but the Ercol
cupboard was found on Facebook.
l Don’t be afraid to use your own

creations. Colour wheels are fun to

make or paint on salvaged wood. It’ll
be unique and personal to you, too.
 SKETCHBOOK CLUB

with Jennie Maizels

LEARN THE BASICS OF PAINTING AND
DRAWING TO CREATE THREE SIMPLE
BIRD IMAGES THAT FLY OFF THE PAGE

“
D
rawing is daunting, but
not if you follow clear YOU WILL NEED:
instructions,” explains Pencil
Jennie Maizels, the Small paintbrush
founder of Sketchbook Watercolour or
Club, who has put Gouache paint
together this easy-to-follow drawing Coloured pencils
tutorial. “You wouldn’t start to knit as Black fineliner pen
a beginner without instructions, or cook (Everything you need
without a recipe, so what’s the difference?” can be purchased at
Some people frown on copying pictures, jenniemaizels.com)
but when you’re starting out, it’s a great
way to grow your confidence quickly.
“I believe it matters that you are proud of
your creations,” says Jennie. “By copying,
tracing and following foolproof Sketchbook
Club instructions, everyone learns and
grows as artists without the stress or the
disappointment of unsuccessful drawings.”
And what better way to start learning
than with birds, which can be both
colourful and highly decorative. Birds
can be tricky to draw but, using the
following ‘cheats’, you’re guaranteed to
have stunning paintings of our feathered
friends that you’ll want to frame…

102
 CREATIVITY

BIRD IN A CAGE
Create exotic birds in ornate
cages in just a few simple steps

1 Using the birdcages below as

inspiration, roughly draw a few cages BIRDS IN FLIGHT
using a pencil. Start by plotting the AND A DECORATIVE
horizontal points on your cage like SONG BIRD
the base and the tip and then join
them up with the vertical lines. Tracing isn’t cheating, use
2 Next, copy one of the little birds pre-drawn birds as
below in pencil then add a layer templates for your own
of painted colour – use any paint feathered friends
you feel comfortable with and in
any colour you like – the birds don’t
have to be realistic, just pretty.
3 When the paint on your bird is
dry, add a few lines using a coloured
pencil in the same colour, but
slightly darker, to pick out
the detail on the bird.
4 Finally, draw over the
pencil lines of your cage with
a black fineliner pen and rub
out any pencil lines still visible.

1 Pick the bird template that you’d like

to recreate, either one of the beautiful
birds in flight at the top of this page
or the larger songbird above.
2 Using an HB pencil, draw over the
lines of your chosen bird, including
as much detail as you’d like.
3 When ready to transfer your image,
turn the page and lay a blank piece
of paper underneath, then scribble
firmly over the back of the image,
making sure you cover all the parts
of the bird. Your bird should appear
on your blank paper, ready for colour!
4 Add watercolour or gouache paint
in your chosen colours, making sure
not to layer it on too thick. Go bold
and choose colours that complement Illustrator Jennie Maizels has run
each other, such as greens and blues Sketchbook Club from her home
or pinks and yellows. Once the paint and online for five years. For all
the kit you need to get started,
is dry, draw in further details and including paints, pencils and
shading using coloured pencils to paper, visit: jenniemaizels.com
really make the details stand out. and head to Jennie Maizels’
PROJECT: JENNIE MAIZELS

Sketchbook Club YouTube

5 When you’re feeling confident,
Channel for supporting ‘How to’
add extra details such as branches videos for these projects. You
and foliage, or even a few tweets. can also follow Jennie on Twitter
and Instagram: @jenniemaizels.
Jennie suggests: The larger bird
makes a lovely homemade card.

103
 My place
THE CORNERS OF OUR HOMES THAT MEAN THE MOST.
THIS MONTH: A ROOM IN THE ATTIC

Words: LOTTIE STOREY

“The loft bedroom’s

design was inspired
by a ceramic hippo
that we inherited.
My dad passed away three years ago
and while we were clearing his house,
my partner, Liam, took a shine to a
ceramic hippo. I wasn’t as taken by it
initially, but before I knew it I had
designed a whole room as a homage
to the dark green hippo, who we call
Colin, and is camouflaged in the room.
A key feature for the loft was having a
kettle and tea tray. It was a must!
There was no way I was traipsing
down two flights of stairs to make a
brew on a Sunday morning. It’s like
hotel living, but in your own home.
I love being in the bedroom, it’s
definitely an escape from reality for
five minutes. Although the colours are
a bold choice, it’s such a relaxing
room, probably because there are a
lot of candles and plants. The
atmosphere is completely different to
the rest of the house.”

Natalina Smith
Preston, Lancashire
@_the_green_house_

104
 HOW WE LIVE

“The loft marked the end

of our house renovation,
which makes us love it even
more. It’s a calm, quiet
space despite all the colour.
I particularly love the
hanging chair in the dormer
window and the hidden door
in the bookcase.”
Claire Williams, Faversham, Kent
@crayvilla

“My loft is ‘my’ area - no

boys allowed! It’s filled with
some of my favourite things
- clothes, hats and shoes.
I’m proud because I designed
it in my head and it came
out even better in reality.”
Chelsea, the Midlands @ourlittlehome2017

“My son loves the

secret cupboard
that runs along the
length of the wall
in his room - a real
Narnia playspace!”
I like the views of the tree tops, too,
which remind you how high up it is.”

Emma Paton, Suffolk

@finlay_fox

105
 “Our home is painted
in dark colours but
the loft is so light,
bright and airy,
it’s like a beachfront
apartment. It has a lounge area,
home office, bed and a walk in wardrobe,
so it really feels like a studio space.”
“I love my art deco-inspired Claire Air, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland
wallpaper and those deep, @our_home_on_sandridge
rejuvenating ultramarine
blues. Up here, I always
envisage sipping a cold
drink by a pool. I see this
room as a real pick me up.”
Emma Worthington, West Sussex
@moveovermagnolia

“We tend to chill

out in the evenings
up here.
It’s the TV room, so it’s a space to zone
out in. We also have a double bedroom,
a utility space and a bathroom up here
and could (in theory) make this space
into a huge dressing room one day. I just
need my husband to agree, too!”

Cara Mills, Surbiton, Surrey

@ginandinteriors

106
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TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT?
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND ADVENTURER
ROB GREENFIELD VOWED TO BE ENTIRELY SELF-
SUFFICIENT FOR A YEAR, EATING NOTHING HE HADN’T
GROWN (NO, NOT EVEN A DINNER COOKED BY FRIENDS)

108

F
or almost a decade, I’ve been
campaigning on food waste. I use
extreme projects to catch people’s
attention and take them on my journey.
A few years ago, I cycled across the
USA, dumpster diving and setting out
all the edible food I found in a public park the next
day. Many people were shocked by what I showed
them, and even more were angry at the waste when
around 50 million Americans are food insecure*.
So, for a while, I’d had this question in my mind:
could I exist without restaurants and grocery
stores? No packaged or processed foods, nothing
shipped from far away. Could I step away from
the agricultural industry and the destruction
it causes to the world?
For my most recent adventure I set myself the
task of attempting to grow and forage 100% of my
food for a year. At the same time, I wanted to wake
people up to the reality of our current food system
and inspire and empower them to make changes.
H OW I D I D I T
I chose Florida for my experiment because I prefer
to live in warm climates. In Orlando, I found a
strong movement of permaculturists and growers
who I could learn from and enjoy life with. As
a rookie (I’d grown almost no food before taking
on my challenge), I needed to be surrounded by
a community I could learn from and resources
that I could tap into. An urban environment
also meant that my gardens could be seen
by thousands of passers-by.
I arrived in Orlando with just a backpack
containing everything I owned. I had no land of »
Some of the fruit (and fish
and veg) of Rob’s labours
in his attempt to be self-
sufficient for a whole year
PHOTOGRAPHY: SIERRAFORD.COM; LIVEWONDERFUL.COM
GROWING
WHAT’S ON
THE MENU?
Rob logged all his meals for a year.
Here’s a taster of what he ate.
WINTER
Day 45 – 25/12/2018
Breakfast: sweet potato, fish
(striped mojarra), greens, and herbs
Lunch: sweet potato, greens and herbs
Dinner: sweet potato, greens and herbs
Snacks: orange, honey, papaya,
elderberry syrup, reishi mushroom tea
SPRING
Day 124 – 14/03/2019
Breakfast: papaya, loquats, coconut
Lunch: green papaya, coconut curry
with carrots, garlic, turmeric, lemongrass,
serrano pepper, salt and coconut oil
Dinner: green papaya, mashed sweet
potato with greens and herbs
Snacks: coconut, honey, greens,
tomato, elderberry syrup, orange,
grapefruit, lemon juice
SUMMER
Day 204 – 02/06/2019
Breakfast: white sapote, papaya,
sapodilla, starfruit, banana, roselle,
moringa, mint, holy basil smoothie
Lunch: carrot, seminole pumpkin, yam
soup with pigeon peas, greens and herbs
Dinner: yam, green beans, greens and
herbs, baked yam fries
Snacks: coconut, white sapote, bananas,
passion fruit, elderberry, bitter melon,
greens, mint, holy basil, honey water
AUTUMN
Day 347 – 23/10/2019
Breakfast: coconut milk, mango,
turmeric smoothie
Lunch: mashed sweet potato,
fish (mullet), greens and herbs
with sauerkraut
Dinner: sweet potato, green papaya,
venison, avocado, greens and herbs
with fermented green papaya
Snacks: elderberry syrup, pumpkin seeds,
fire cider, surinam cherry, grapefruit
* The phrase ‘food insecurity’ describes when a
household’s finances mean it lacks consistent
access to enough food for a healthy life. 109
 “The key to self-sufficiency
is to grow a large amount of
food in season and preserve it”
my own and I got to work getting to know the
community. I arranged a work-exchange in return
for living in someone’s backyard – I helped her
to grow her own food and live more sustainably,
and she let me build myself a tiny house out
of second-hand materials on her land.
I built my food plots in other people’s yards,
too. In exchange, they could eat all the produce
they wanted. There were six of these gardens,
spread throughout the neighbourhood. They
all started as grass lawns and I turned them into
abundant food gardens. I grew 100 different edible
plants. Perhaps half my food came from these
gardens and the other half from foraging in woods,
prairies, lakes, rivers, the ocean, public parks and
in abandoned lots. My sources were diverse and
varied as I explored and got to know the region.
In cooler climates like the UK, the key to self-
sufficiency is to grow a large amount of food in
season and preserve it through the winter. It’s
certainly possible – people all over the world
do it and have done throughout history.
W H AT I AT E
I had great diversity in my diet because I grew
and foraged 300 different ingredients. But it was
110
important to cook food that tasted good, because
when it didn’t, it was hard to keep going.
My favourite meal was a green papaya coconut
curry. I foraged for coconuts and made coconut
milk for the base. Green papaya was a staple I grew,
and I added whatever fresh veggies I had in my
garden, such as seminole pumpkin, sweet potato
and aubergine, along with fresh greens – spinach,
kale, rocket, chard, sorrel and leaves from “weeds”
and trees. Salt came from harvesting seawater
from the Atlantic. The herbs were a combination
of fresh and dried herbs from my garden, including
coriander, holy basil, red pepper and curry leaf
plant. I could eat that meal almost every day!
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
I often worked 40 to 80 hours per week: planting,
harvesting and maintaining the gardens, foraging,
cooking and preserving ingredients, and cleaning
dishes. It meant I couldn’t take a break, because
if I did, I’d either not have all the food I needed,
or something would fall apart. There are a lot
of moving parts to simply existing, but we’ve
lost touch with that through the globalisation
and industrialisation of our lives.
I did miss convenience. Having to grow and
forage every meal and prepare it from scratch
was time consuming. I missed having other people
make meals for me and I missed making meals
with friends even more. During the year, I did
have friends over for dinner, but I was often socially
isolated by how demanding the challenge was.

Overall, the project went according to plan
– gardening is a magical surprise each day, and
there were no major hiccups. However, it was much
harder to catch fish than I expected, which was
ironic, as that’s what I was originally most skilled at.
G R OW I N G R E VO LU T I O N
I want people to question their food. Where
does it come from? How does it travel? How
did it impact the earth, other species and the
people that grew it? If you don’t like the answers
that you find, you can help to change them.
In terms of growing your own, my advice is
to start where you are. Maybe you can grow a
little bit of your own food – a herb garden on your
windowsill, some tomatoes on your balcony, or
a raised bed in your front yard. Greens and herbs
are easy to grow and can be fast yielding. If you
have no space at all, you could join a community
garden or grow a garden for an elderly neighbour,
or perhaps harvest fruit trees in your community
for yourself and to distribute to others.
Most importantly though, seek out local
resources and find out what grows successfully
in your area, whether that means knocking on the
door of someone with a garden and asking to join
them, taking classes, volunteering at an organic
farm or finding books and online material.
Connecting with growers in your area is key.
Follow Rob on Instagram: @RobJGreenfield
and watch videos of this self-sufficiency
project at: YouTube.com/RobGreenfield.
GROWING
VEG IN A COLD
CLIMATE
If total self-sufficiency is beyond
your reach, here’s Alice Vincent on
what you can sow now and eat soon.
D
epending on how much you
gardened earlier in the year,
in late summer you might
be easing in for that traditional
horticultural activity: sitting back and
bathing in the glory of your hard work.
But if you’ve decided now’s the time to
get cracking, that’s fine, too: there are
plenty of things to be sown and grown.
First things first, create some space.
Whether you’re an indoor gardener
or one overwhelmed by a plot, making
room for growth is important, Tidy
up flowerbeds, or sweep away the
remnants of summer detritus to install
Rob grew and foraged a new planter or tub. Make sure it has
his food for a year and drainage – a decent hole in the bottom
found clever ways to
source new ingredients. – then fill with a layer of gravel before
Preserving foods while topping up with peat-free compost.
in season was also key Late summer is not too late to sow
edibles. If you’re new to growing your
own, this is where I’d recommend
sowing salad leaves – mizuna, rocket,
watercress; essentially the ones that
taste infinitely better from the ground
than from the shop – and herbs. Now
is a great time to plant up some mint
and parsley – even those pots from the
supermarket, given a little more space
and some good peat-free compost,
should keep going until mid-autumn.
But if you’ve been dining on your
own greens all summer, up your game
with some veggies that will tide you
over into autumn: chard and winter
cabbages are among the leafy greens
that can be sowed directly outdoors
now – an investment in some cloches
will protect them from being nibbled
by other things – and in smaller plots,
you can still get a couple of crops
of radishes planted in late summer.
Alice Vincent wrote Rootbound:
Rewilding a Life (Cannongate). Follow
her on Instagram: @noughticulture.
111
THE
G R E AT
BRITISH
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W H AT I T R E A S U R E
My plant pot ‘Brian’
By Alice Rook
M
y grandad, Brian, sadly
passed away in April this
year. He was 91 years old
and spent his last few years
very well looked after in
a care home just around the corner from
us. He was a true gentleman and family
man, always putting other people first.
When he first moved into care, my
parents put his bungalow up for rent and
called me over to see if there was anything
I’d like to keep from his house. It was a
difficult day, but I chose carefully: some
mugs that my grandparents brought back
from a trip to Hong Kong, a grandfather
clock that now stands proudly in our hall,
a painting by my Grandad’s best friend,
and a plant pot man with a very wide smile.
Throughout my childhood I remember
seeing the plant pot in my grandparents’
garden – it was always there in the
background, ever-present to the family
shenanigans. I placed it in my own garden
and we called him Brian, just like my
grandad. The next day I planted some
orange chrysanthemums and enjoyed
their bright, beautiful and summery bloom.
Over the years, Brian has smiled at me,
and although I’m not a great gardener,
I have always enjoyed planting flowers
in the pot and watching them grow.  head with a simple, “Morning, Brian.” It sets
BELONGINGS
To my utter dismay, at the start of
lockdown, we smashed Brian by accident,
and it shattered into tiny pieces. The
very same week, my grandad died. I was
devastated. We couldn’t visit him in his
last few weeks because of the pandemic
and, with my overthinking nature, I couldn’t
help but feel that it was symbolic somehow.
Seeing Brian shattered into lots of tiny pieces
(especially his face) made me sob. I don’t
think I realised it then, but my sobs were
for far more than just the broken ceramic… 
My kind and clever parents painstakingly
pieced Brian back together again and he’s
now once again in our garden. His smile is
a bit crooked and he’s super fragile, but I’m
pleased to have him back where he belongs.
A smiley, happy chappy, where I’ll continue
to plant flowers and watch them grow. 
My grandad was a lover of treacle sponge
(with ice cream, never custard), a tot of rum
(from his Navy days) and always dressed
smartly. I miss him ever so. And that’s why,
most mornings, I’ll step out into the back
garden with a mug of tea and pat him on the
my day off with a good intention – to be kind,
giving and to find joy in the small things.
What means a lot to you? Tell us in 500 words;
thesimplethings@icebergpress.co.uk.
 MAGICAL CREATURES MAGICAL CREATURES

THE OTTER THE FROG

MAGICAL CREATURES

THE OTTER

MAGICAL CREATURES MAGICAL CREATURES

THE SQUIRREL THE HEDGEHOG

MAGICAL CREATURES

THE OTTER
 Magical creatures
collection
Limited edition letterpress prints
In every issue of The Simple Things, we appreciate
a magical creature and Zuza Mi¾ko creates a lino
cut of them. We’ve selected four of our favourites
and asked Nomad Letterpress to make a hand-printed
collection

Made using Zerkall 225gsm mould-made paper

Each print is approximately 8x6”.
Display separately or as a set.

£15 each or all four for £50,

unframed, plus £2 UK p&p*
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

BUY AT PICSANDINK.COM
*Check online for overseas postage prices

53
 Where we stayed
The Gaggle O’ Geese in Buckland
Newton, Dorset, is your dream local
– a friendly couple, who used to run
a pub in Brighton, moved with their
young son to take over the closed
village pub two years ago, turning it
into a community hub. They became
the village chippy during lockdown
and in normal times field several
teams of skittle players. With five
acres of land, there’s room for a
quiet tent or campervan pitch, but
also a rustic mini-golf, a double-
decker play bus, pygmy goats
and live music in the chilled beer
garden. Special mention for the
Weekend away loo and shower ‘block’, actually a
picturesque shepherd’s hut, cleverly
A CAMPSITE AT A DORSET VILLAGE PUB OFFERS converted. We especially liked the
cisterns and washing up sinks made
THE BEST OF BOTH – AND A CHANCE TO from beer kegs. And you don’t even
RECHARGE IN QUIET COUNTRYSIDE have to bring a tent – there are two
more shepherd’s huts for glampers.

Words: LISA SYKES

T
here are times when camping feels so easy, you wonder why you don’t
live like this all summer long. But then there are also times when cooking
a meal for four on a two-ring stove can make you wonder if you are
actually on holiday at all. The way to ensure the first and avoid the latter,
we have discovered, is to camp at a pub. That way you can still enjoy all
the charms of the picnics and cooking on a barbecue, but simply wander
over to the bar for a drink and a meal whenever you feel you need a night off. You
should choose your pub carefully, of course. A country establishment in a quiet
spot makes sense, and somewhere that has a separate field or two for campers, so
you aren’t forced to keep company with the beer garden, especially on those nights
when you’ve decided to go to bed with the sun and slope off to your sleeping bag early.

116

What we ate
The Gaggle has plenty of well-
spaced tables for eating in or
out, and a BBQ shack and pizza
oven means you can get back-to-
your-tent takeaway. For general
provisions and picnic fodder, there
are farm shops dotted around the
place and village stores stocked
with local produce including Cerne
Abbas Brewery beer (try Watercress
Warrior for something different).
But worth seeking out in nearby
Milton Abbas is Steeptonbill Farm
shop. It could not be more hidden
away – when you think it can’t
possibly be up this steep track, keep
going and you’ll find an Aladdin’s
cave. It’s basically a tented camp
and hut, but they sell all manner
of delights – fresh dressed crab for
sandwiches and excellent sausage
rolls, as well as fresh fruit and veg,
good bread and everything you’d
need. After a long walk on Sunday,
it was a pleasure to come back to a
really good roast dinner (enormous
Yorkshire puds) at the Gaggle.
What we did
When you can see the pub from your
tent, you know you’re not planning
on going far, but it’s worth rousing
yourself for a stroll up the nearest
hill – this is Dorset, there’s always
one close by – to appreciate the
scenic ups and downs. Chalk
bridleways stride up steep slopes
among the grasslands. There’s a
A PLACE TO STAY
sense of ancientness here that only
increases with the vista to the north
of Salisbury Plain. Earthworks
appear all over the map of these
parts, but there’s one in particular
that is a must see…
The best thing
The peace and quiet, and (certainly
when we stayed as lockdown was just
easing over the summer) the feeling
of being as close to normal as it gets.
This patch of Dorset is not
fashionable or bustling like the
We also liked beaches of Purbeck and Lyme Bay,
The walk to take is the 7-mile round but that’s not why you come here.
trip to Cerne Abbas on footpaths The Cerne Valley grasslands quiver
and chalk bridleways (plenty of with insects, bees and butterflies
off-road bike riding opportunities, in high summer, dark cattle graze
too). It’s rightly famous for its peacefully as they always did. Back
chalk figure – the Giant – and it at the campsite, the twitter of birdsong
is extraordinary. Teenagers will is only broken by the church bells
snigger at the anatomy and you ringing, and a pint is only steps away.
can debate which theory you prefer This is camping as it should be.
for its construction date. It wasn’t
mentioned anywhere until 1694,
which gives rise to the ‘it was made
as a joke about Oliver Cromwell’
school of thought. But it could
equally be over 1,500 years old and
represent the Roman god Hercules.
You’d think at 60m high and 51m
wide, the Giant (clue’s in the name)
would be hard to miss, but he’s
barely visible when you’re on the
hill next to it. Instead, wander
past a stream and the remains of a
Benedictine monastery and across
to the road, where a viewpoint
provides the photo you’re after.
Cerne Abbas is a pretty village
of thatch and flint cottages and
walls, so is a nice place to linger Camping from £14 a night for
with a pint outside the Royal two adults, shepherd’s huts
Oak on the main street before around £95 a night in September.
the climb back over the downs. gaggleofgeese.co.uk.
117
 Miscellany
The practical, the playful and sometimes downright silly
Illustrations: KAVEL RAFFERTY Compiled by: FRANCES AMBLER

Easy win C OL LE CTIV E N O U NS

Revive a stained teapot by
sloshing around broken
eggshells in water, with
a squirt of washing-up
liquid. Leave for several
hours before rinsing.
PHOTOGRAPHY: BRIAN JANNSEN/ALAMY; MARION VOLLBORN/MINDEN/NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY; SHUTTERSTOCK

C A P T IO N
C O M P E T IT IO N
OVER TO YOU…
Make us giggle with a caption for
this jumping caracal. Each month
we pick our favourite and send
a lovely book to the winner.
A b u si n e s s o f fe r ret s
Post your best efforts at
facebook.com/thesimplethingsmag

119
 VEG BOX MUSIC
Ingenious ways to make those edibles audible
You will need: pear, knife, spoon, straw, scissors,
Make the humble pear, with its beaky stalk
and plump chest, coo like a lovestruck avian.
1 Cut the top off the pear and scoop out the
insides. Make a hole that fits a straw snugly.
2 Cut notches in the straw 1-2cm from one
end – one vertical and one at an angle.
3 Fashion a plug by pushing the straw into
a the pear’s flesh, then squeeze the piece
of pear back out. Slice the ends and the top
layer off so that the plug is flat on one side.
4 Reinsert the plug, making one end flush
with the notch, then fill the pear with water.
5 Make a small hole in the lid of the pear
to allow air to escape and place it back on
top of the bottom part. The end of the straw
needs to be fully in the water for the bird
to properly sing, then fruitfully add your
voice to nature’s winged chorus.
Musical Experiments for After Dinner by
Angus Hyland, Tom Parkinson, and illustrated
by Dave Hopkins, is published by Laurence King.
Available at laurenceking.com.

Tree of the month

BEECH
If oak is the king of the British tree, beech
has long been considered its queen.

Native in southern Britain (possibly arriving in

the stone age), though found throughout the
UK, their dense canopy makes for dark woods
– great for wildlife and, according to folklore,
fairies! Meanwhile, their nuts (masts) have fed
A C L E V E R T HIN G:
pigs, been used to make a kind of coffee and LOST STOCK
even been pressed for oil. Covid hit the Bangladeshi garment industry hard.
Look for: tear-drop shaped
leaves with waved edges;
Retailers cancelled billions worth of orders,
grey bark; triangular masts leaving piles of unwanted clothing, and workers
housed in spiky pods. without pay. A Lost Stock box helps save clothing
Celebri-tree: The ‘Dark from landfill and funds a supply parcel for a
Hedges’ form an imposing garment worker’s family. You’ll get at least three
entrance to Gracehill
House in County Antrim –
tops originally heading to the high street, picked
now famous as Kingsroad for your size and taste. Thinking outside the box.
in Game of Thrones. £35, loststock.com

120
 trio
RATTAN

STORAGE BASKET
Three tiers of tidy-away places.
Best for: flexibility, works as
well for bathroom bits as
for kitchenalia.
£60, roseandgrey.co.uk

HOW HARD CAN IT BE…

T O S T AY W A R M O U T SI D E
O N C O O L E R E V E NIN G S
There are some very sensible ways to do it, and then…

Imagine that it’s been a pleasant September day, and you’re

outdoors happily socialising. Then, the sun goes down, and you’re
freezing. Without cutting the fun short, what can you do? Ideally, YUMA WALL MIRROR
you’ll pop on some extra layers, fetch a wool rug or gather round A rattan-framed mirror,
a fire pit and carry on your fun. In reality, you could try: handmade in Vietnam
‘Borrowing’ clothes Bust out the Apprentice-style negotiations Best for: a statement piece
– friends don’t really need both arms of their cardie, do they? that won’t harm the bank
Drinking something warm A hot cider will probably fit the bill. statement.
Make sure you’re not sitting on a cold surface, as it’ll make you £25, habitat.co.uk
cooler. Gentle exercise will warm you up, although avoid any
sweating. Just five push-ups then?
Eating: purely to get your metabolism up, obviously.
Stuff your clothes with scrunched-up newspaper (more useful
if you’re in trousers, rather than a skirt).
Or, erm, take the gathering indoors. Now that’s nice and toasty...

A JOLLY GOOD FOLLOW PORTMORE GLASSES

Cheering shot glasses, with
@mindful_mending added rattan adornment
Best for: pretending you’re
inspiration on ways to mend and fix-up old clothes
drinking the local aperitif
(Instagram) on your hols.
£8 for two, gardentrading.co.uk

121

ECO TWEAKS:
Reworking your wardrobe
According to wrap.org.uk, the UK sends about
350,000 tonnes of clothing to landfill every
year. And that’s not accounting for the unworn
clothes within our wardrobes: around 30%.
GOING RENTAL
How about renting your clothes? Possibilities now
extend far beyond men’s suits, with a growing
number of companies aiming to make the process
as easy as possible. For one-of-a-kind dresses for
special occasions, take a look at Girl Meets Dress
(hire.girlmeetsdress.com) and Rotaro (rotaro.co.uk).
The Endless Wardrobe (theendlesswardrobe.com) is
a great option for the range of sizes on offer. Onloan
(onloan.co) is rental for every day, with a monthly
subscription option. All take care of cleaning for
you. And if you’ve got an enviable wardrobe already,
122
HOW TO
W E LC O M E W O R M S IN T O
YO U R GA R D E N
Hello crawler, how can we help?
Worms are brilliant garden helpers: they
aerate the soil and help it become more water-
permeable, as well as distributing nutrients.
Help them out by trying these handy ideas:
Give them a worm welcome: Carefully work
peat-free organic compost into the top layer of
soil. Or use as mulch on top of the soil. Organic
mulch will not only provide digestive material,
it’ll also help keep the soil at a worm-friendly
level of moistness: buy or make your own.
The lazy gardener entices the worm: don’t
rush to clear up fallen leaves and other plant
debris, and let those grass cuttings sit awhile.
Allow plenty of wriggle room: limit the use
of paving slabs that restrict movement, and
also don’t dig as much as possible – it’s likely
to hurt the poor, busy creatures. And, if you
have to do it, better with a fork than a spade.
Get a wriggle on: For gardens that have
been subject to lots of building work and
the like, you can order garden worms from
wigglywigglers.co.uk. The site has lots of
advice on how to introduce them, too.
why not share the love (and possibly earn a bit of
extra cash) by lending it out? Take a look at the app
By Rotation (byrotation.com) and the website Hurr
(hurrcollective.com): both work peer-to-peer, so
you’re in charge of cleaning and arranging delivery.
GET LISTING
And, while the options of donating to charity or
listing on eBay both still offer more eco ways to
clear out your wardrobe, there are plenty of peer-
to-peer apps which may be more suited to you.
Depop (depop.com), has slightly younger, Instagram-
savvy users of all sexes, Vinted (vinted.co.uk) lists
mainly female clothes, while Shpock (shpock.com)
is targeted to your local area, and is like eBay where
you’re more likely to find larger items such as fridges,
footstools and much more alongside the fashion.
 BOAR D GAME
QUICK FIRE OF T H E MONT H
QUIZ YAHTZEE

1 What famous music The clue’s in the name, or

D O GS IN
•B L A N K E T S•
Alfie, 4, terrier cross
Nominated by Emily Dineen
CATS O N
•M ATS•
Hauru, 10
Nominated by Louise Ravn
Pet’s Corner. Tweet us a picture
of your #dogsinblankets or
#catsonmats @simplethingsmag
so the story goes. ‘Yahtzee’
festival took place originated in the mid-1950s,
for the first time on from a game said to be
19 September 1970? played by a couple on
their yacht – yacht, see? Liz
2 Which bird commonly
Taylor was also apparently
appears in Renaissance a fan but, as around 50
Madonna & Child million sets sell annually,
paintings, as well as being you don’t have to be an
A-lister to enjoy this dice-
the title for a 2014 based game. The aim is to
bestselling novel? tick off different patterns of
3 Nyponsoppa is a rolls – ‘full house’, ‘three of a
Swedish soup made with kind’ and so on – aiming to
achieve the highest score
what seasonal fruit? overall. A bit of luck, a bit
4 Which musicians of nerves, and a good grasp
originally asked if you of probability will stand
you in good stead.
could remember the
£10, argos.co.uk
21st night of September?
5 Six faces, each one
individually coloured blue,
green, orange, red, white
or yellow. What am I?
(answers on page 126)

The story of songs

I’M G O N N A B E (5 0 0 M I L E S) B Y T H E P R O C L A I M E R S Put together in 45 minutes
by one half of The Proclaimers, Craig Reid, who was killing time before travelling to a gig in Aberdeen (approximately
128 miles away). While Craig and his twin brother Charlie describe it as a love song, the lyrics offer more to ruminate
upon. Namely, while it’s feasible to walk 500 miles, how would you realistically walk 500 more within the UK?
Handily, a man called Kenneth Field mapped the possibilities at cartonerd.blogspot.com, while Leicester University
students checked out the physical possibilities, concluding that the average Scottish man could indeed walk 500 miles,
and 500 more, but would lose 2.8% of their body mass in the process. Cue another unintended application: the Scottish
Government suggested using the beat of the song when performing emergency CPR.

123
 Puzzle pause
Grab a pen and a few moments’ peace to set your mind to our brain-diverting puzzles.
When you’re ready, you’ll find the answers on page 126.

PRISM CR O SS-STITCH
Search the Prism for the six different dances hidden in the Practise your embroidery by weaving all the listed words
concentric circles. They are moving in either direction and into the Cross-Stitch grid. Each word can be used once only.
appear on alternate spaces.

A R
D F
N E M A
K P
H O
G J H O
L A I I
O E A O
D K V I
A P
A R N G
W N
A L
L N

3 Letters Ether 6 Letters Scroll

Ail Extol Abrade Sorbet
Ink Goose Artery Starve
Tar Kites Erotic Teeter
Urn Nerve Extras Tragic
Photo Floral Udders
5 Letters Raced Idlers Vessel
Abode Reeks Kneels
Arise Slyly Mentor
Cells Stain Metric
Easel Tribe Pertly
Elves Vests Repeal
Enrol Vocal Sanest
Erect Scored

124
 • I D E N T IFI E R •
Tarts
No need to get in a jam when it comes to your tarts. Just consult our
handy guide to help you tell your Manchester from your Maid of Honour…
Ch er ry B a kew ell M a i d of Ho n ou r
Bakewell purists turn the page – this is by no Said to be named after Anne Boleyn, who Henry
means the Derbyshire original. But for cheer? VIII noticed savouring this curd cheese number.
Say pretty please to this, with a cherry on top. Shame he was as flaky as its puff pastry.
Apple Ta r t Ta r te Ta ti n
A core player in the tart game – with the first The French fancy take, centred on caramelised
recorded version in English dating back to 1381. apples (or other fruit). Calville or Reine des
Its ap-peel hasn’t waned over the centuries. Reinettes offer ‘authentique’ flavour.
Ca r a m el Ta r t M a n c h ester
st r Ta r t
If you thought tarte tatin was the upside down Not just popular on Coronation Street,
tart of the group, step forward this sweet this custardy, coconutty favourite was named
number, a long time favourite in Australia. a top five food by child Eastenders in WWII.
These cheery illustrations are the work of Sarah Edmonds and are available as a print. Follow Sarah’s work on Instagram:
@sarahedmondsart or visit her site at sarahedmondsillustration.com to see more and find out where to buy.
Ja m Ta r t
Perhaps the most literary , oft associated with
the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland.
Just watch those jammy fingers on the pages!
B utter Ta r t
Celine Dion, maple syrup, Anne of Green
Gables: our list of favourite Canadian things
grows with the discovery of their Butter tart.
Ch eesy Ta r t
Let’s face it, the classic combination of cheese
and pastry is pretty unbeatable. In fact,
sometimes it feels almost too gouda to be true.
125
 Colour it in
These flowers may be in full bloom, but let your imagination – and
your colouring pens – take control for a burst of creative calmness

P U Z Z L E S O LU T IO N S

Quick fire quiz V E S S E L R E E K S

1. Glastonbury; 2. The goldfinch; E X T O L M E T R I C
3. Rose hips; 4. Earth, Wind & Fire;
S T A R V E P H O T O
5. Rubik’s Cube
T R I B E T E E T E R
Prism S A N E S T A R I S E
Jive, haka, moonwalk,
S T A I L C D
hornpipe, fandango, galliard
T S U R N M F
Cross-stitch R A C E D K N E E L S
See panel (right)
A B R A D E E N R O L
G O O S E A R T E R Y
Puzzles from Audrey Puzzle Daybook I D L E R S V O C A L
and provided by Lovatts Crosswords
& Puzzles (lovattspuzzles.com). C E L L S P E R T L Y

126
 OCTOBER ISSUE

ROOTS
Good things to eat Wellbeing My place
Porridge for the morning Sleep, dreams and dark nights The joy of well stocked larders

Home tour Weekend projects Outing

Inside an upholsterer’s world Continuing your summer hobbies How to understand your walk

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ISSUE…

… you can buy the next one at picsandink.com from 23 September 2020
If you really liked it, might we suggest a subscription delivered to your door? – see page 88
PHOTOGRAPHY: CATHY PYLE/NARRATIVES; EMMA CRONAN

ON SALE 23 SEPTEMBER 2020

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GETTING IN TOUCH WHERE WAS THAT?
thesimplethings@icebergpress.co.uk Good things to eat Good people & places Style: Pussy-bow blouse 47
020 3950 1835 Apple tree picnics 8 My day in cups of tea 28 Flowers in the house 93
thesimplethings.com Doughnut popcorn 27 Good news 32 Home tour 94
Visit our blog for original features Good mood foods 62 Wisdom 42 Attic rooms 104
and sign up for our newsletter End-of-summer lasagne 79 My City: Hanoi 48 What I treasure 113
Vintage style queens 54
Iceberg Press Feeling better Excellent women 69 Proudly homemade
Exchange Workspace Early birds & night owls 16 The National Trust 70 Mug messaging 60
1 Matthews Yard How to replace a hug 34 Gallery 82 Itch relief bath 90
Off Surrey Street Poem 53 Self-sufficiency 108 Drawing birds 102
Croydon CR0 1UH Soothing words 91 Weekend away 116
Playlist 129 … and more
Bedtime story 130 The comfort of things Could-do list 3
Wishlist 20 September journal 6
/THESIMPLETHINGSMAG
Hotel carpets 38 Magical creatures 19
/SIMPLETHINGSMAG Miscellany 119
/SIMPLETHINGSMAG Puzzles 124
Overthinking 132
/SIMPLETHINGS
MEET THE TEAM
Subscriptions Editor Lisa Sykes Art Editors Wishlist Editor
subscriptions@icebergpress.co.uk Deputy Editor Anneliese Klos Louise Gorrod
020 3950 1835 Frances Ambler Joe McIntyre Reprographics Editor
Sub Editors Commissioning Editor James Wootton
Advertising (Homes, food & projects)
Abbie Miller Commercial Director
rob@icebergpress.co.uk Karen Dunn
Francesca Clarke Rob Biddiss
07896 239433
Editor-at-Large Commissioning Editor Subscription Manager
Iona Bower Jo Mattock Olivia O’Connor
Publishing & Licensing
david@icebergpress.co.uk Picture Researcher Books Editor Managing Director
07768 873139 Liz Boyd Eithne Farry David Parker

Taking time to live well

Co-founders
September
David Parker, Guy Foreman, Lisa Sykes
icebergpress.co.uk

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We print on chlorine-free paper from suppliers that have been independently certified by the Forest
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TO U C H
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composted. © Iceberg Press Limited 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used
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 PLAYLIST

Soundtrack to September
TOUCH

I Want to Hold Your Hand Al Green

The Clapping Song Shirley Ellis
Close To Me The Cure
Make Me Feel Janelle Monáe
Feel Good Inc. Gorillaz
Why Can’t I Touch It? Buzzcocks
Hard to be Close Here We Go Magic
I Am, I Feel Alisha’s Attic
Electric Feel MGMT
Reach Out and Touch Diana Ross
The Sun Always Shines on T V a-ha
Place Your Hands Reef
Cuddly Toy Roachford
Hold On Wilson Phillips
Don’t Talk The Beach Boys

thesimplethings.com/blog/touchplaylist

stop
look
DJ: FRANCES AMBLER

“Reach out and touch

Somebody’s hand,
Make this world a better place
listen
If you can”

129
 BEDTIME STORY

SUMMER’S END
A short story by SARAH STEELE

I
n a normal year, this would be the best part of the season,
and the worst. The best because the tourists have gone
home, the seafront belongs to the locals again and, as soon
as I’ve shut the café up for the winter, I get to spend time
with my husband and kids again. The worst… well, the
same reason really. This year, though, the tourists have only
just come back, and there’s no way any of us can close for the
winter. Every cup of tea and every bucket and spade counts.
This café was my gran’s, then my mum’s, before I took over,
and I love it. It’s nothing fancy: wipe-clean tablecloths, all-day
breakfasts and take-it-or-leave-it coffee. The only sign of the
times is the hand sanitiser by the door and the ‘keep-your-
distance’ signs everywhere. My clientele’s mostly old folks
who’ve been coming on holiday here ever since their parents
brought them on the works’ summer outing, and probably
had a knickerbocker glory served by my gran.
A bit like that woman sitting by the window, in the
expensive-looking coat she never takes off. Mind you, you
need it now: winter arrives here the minute the kids go back
to school. She’s been here every day this week. Arrives at
two sharp, sits in exactly the same chair. Orders a pot of tea
for two, puts the other mug opposite her, like she’s expecting
someone. Well, they’d better hurry up. See that old clock dripping rainwater all over my floor. I’ll have to tell her that
on the wall that Mum and Dad bought in Lanzarote? we’re not taking any more orders.
Soon as the long hand reaches the top of the palm tree, Except she doesn’t look at me. Just heads straight across
it’s officially the weekend and I’m putting my feet up. to the window table. Sits right opposite my customer, and
She’s not as friendly as some of my regulars, but pleasant they stare at each other. Not a word.
enough. Well turned out for her age, and lovely hands: And then the old lady stretches those lovely hands across
incredibly long fingers and beautifully manicured nails. I the table, and the younger woman does the same, and blow me
notice these things: my sister’s a beautician, you see. Hard down if she doesn’t have the exact same long fingers. They’re
to ignore, anyway, when she sits there picking that cup up about to touch, until they remember we’re not allowed to do
and putting it down all afternoon, never taking a sip out of it. that any more, but there’s an electricity between them. Gives
It’s started raining: nothing on the prom now except three me goosebumps, it does. The sun suddenly breaks through
seagulls and a mobility scooter. No one will be coming in this outside, lighting up the space between their fingers, and
late, so no harm doing a bit of ‘gentle clearing up’, as Mum the grey sea starts to sparkle through the steamy window.
ILLUSTRATION: LARA PAULUSSEN

called it, when you want your stragglers to clear off, without
actually putting their chairs on the tables. I ought to warn
my lady that I’m about to close, but I don’t like to disturb
her. She looks so sad, staring out that rainy window. I’ll
wipe some tables down, hope she takes the hint.
And isn’t that just typical? Ten minutes left, and the bell
over the door starts ringing. A youngish woman stands there,
Perhaps I’ll give it another half an hour, see if my lady wants
a fresh pot. She’s waited long enough to share it, after all.
Sarah Steele trained as a classical pianist and violinist before heading
into the world of publishing. Her debut novel The Missing Pieces of
Nancy Moon (Headline) is an escapist read, inspired by her love of
dressmaking. Her Simple Pleasure is “making music with friends.”

130
 ISSUE 99 • SEPTEMBER 2020 • PRINTED IN THE UK
£6.00

REPRINTED FROM AM I OVERTHINKING THIS? BY MICHELLE RIAL (CHRONICLE BOOKS)