Books | Japanese Cat Fiction

The ancient art of cat fiction is enjoying a resurgence in the UK. If you’ve missed it so far, here’s all you need to kniaow

Japanese cat fiction, also known as ‘healing fiction’ and ‘cosy fiction’ if you’re looking for it in book shops had a long history, dating back more than a thousand years. 

They’re whimsical, comforting stories that provide escapism and generally feature bookshops, libraries, coffee houses… and cats, obviously. They’re usually contemporary and set in Japanese cityscapes but often have a magic-realist or time-travel element to them.

The first piece of Japanese cat fiction is arguably The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, written in the early 11th century, and is quite likely the world’s first novel, too, so definitely set a trend. 

In modern terms, however, it was I Am A Cat by Soseki Natsume published in 1905 and in English in 1961 that really kick-started the healing/cosy/cat genre. I Am A Cat eventually spawned ten books in the series. 

In the last few years, you may have noticed Japanese cat fiction piling up on bookshops’ ‘recommended’ tables with titles such as We’ll Prescribe You A Cat and Days At The Morisaki Bookshop flying off shelves in the UK. And with our long, cold winters, frankly we don’t know how we’ve done without books about cats in bookshops and coffee shops for so long. 

5 Japanese Cat Books to get you started

1. I Am A Cat by Natsumi Soseki

2. The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

3. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

4. The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai

5. If Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura

If you’d like to read more about cats in culture, you might enjoy our February issue’s ‘Know A Thing or Two’ feature by Iona Bower, which is all about cats. The issue is in shops now and available from our online store. 

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Make | Homemade Reed Diffuser

A low-maintenance way to fill a room with subtle scents, this can be topped up as needed, so no need to keep buying new.

You will need:

Small funnel

Bottle or vessel with a narrow opening

30 essential oil drops – we used eucalyptus (10), rosemary (10) and lavender (10)

100ml sweet almond oil – we got ours from thesoapery.co.uk

1 tsp vodka

5 reed diffuser sticks

1 Using the funnel, pour the essential oils, the sweet almond oil and the alcohol into your bottle. Swirl gently to combine them thoroughly.

2 Insert the reed sticks, flipping them after 10 minutes to disperse the scent.

3 Flip the reeds weekly for a scent refresh. The reeds should last for up to three months.

Maker’s note: This combination of oils is known to help with exhaustion, so use it somewhere where you like to relax. You can use any vessel with a narrow neck – if you don’t already have something, charity shops can offer an inexpensive vintage find.

This weekend project is just one of the ideas for homemade scent makes from our February issue - you can also find out how to make incense sticks and wax melts. The projects, photography and styling are by Louise Gorrod.

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Playlist | Mothers

To mark Mother’s Day on 15 March, our latest playlist is dedicated to mothers, mums, moms and mammas.

Have a listen here.

We make a playlist for every issue of The Simple Things. You’ll find this in our March 26 PEEK issue, available to buy here.

Sponsored Post | Tours For You

“Kindness is my ‘simple thing’. I believe it should be at the core of everything we do”

We catch up with Nuno Tavares, founder of Tours For You, to find out how kindness is key when it comes to tailored travel in Portugal and Spain

Hi, Nuno, tell us a little about yourself

Olá! I run Tours For You, a Portuguese-based travel company, which specialises in creating bespoke travel, events and experiences throughout Portugal and Spain.

That sounds exciting, how did this come about?

I started my career as a Telecoms Engineer, however, my true passion lay in travel. I loved exploring off-the-beaten-track, away from crowds, and instead of big-brand chains, I preferred boutique hotels with local charm. So, in 2003, I set up Tours For You to share these ideas with discerning travellers who wanted to experience Portugal in the same way. The business proved so successful that a couple of years later we expanded to include Spain. We also offer tailored incentive and event packages throughout Portugal for international corporate clients.

Wow, the company has really taken off!

Yes, 23 years feels like a lifetime. Luckily, we’ve had far more successes than failures – although every single step has taught us something along the way and, more importantly, they’ve helped us to build our respected reputation. Today, we’re an enthusiastic and passionate team of 35 – which still makes us a small enterprise, but not too small because we’re a niche operator.

What sort of experiences do you offer?

We don’t have ready-made packages or a list of options – not because we have too little to offer, but because we have too much! Our services start with a conversation, and we can craft something specifically shaped to the client’s needs. Whether it’s hosting a leadership retreat in Lisbon, organising a culinary team-building in Alentejo, or simply planning a break to discover the hidden gems that give Portugal and Spain their character, Tours For You can make it happen.

What a great story, you must have had many highlights over the years

Indeed, just four years after we started, Tours For You was invited to become part of Virtuoso, a prestigious travel consortium, and several other travel brands have since followed suit. We also get regular coverage in well-known travel magazines, which keep us in the public eye. Tours For You has also been nominated for Best Destination Management Company/Tour Operator many times, and I think this is a direct result of our creative, highly reliable and kind approach towards our clients. However, the greatest reward is always great feedback from happy clients.

Your motto is ‘kindness-made’, tell us more…

Kindness is my ‘simple thing’. I believe it should be at the core of everything we do – especially in the changing world that we find ourselves in. In fact, it’s my aim to always have it at the forefront of our minds and to inspire everyone around us: our staff, our travellers, our partners, our competitors and, of course, ourselves.

It’s clear Tours For You is a passion project. What else interests you?

I’ve also been fascinated by ecology and film making since I was a boy. Five years ago, I combined them both when I directed a documentary called The Soul of a Cyclist. I wanted it to convey an ecological message about how the simple things really are the best things in life. It was exhibited at film festivals around the world, from the UK to Japan, and won some great accolades. 

That sounds fantastic. What else is on the horizon?

I want to learn more about permaculture and develop my ecological interests further. However, my focus is firmly on Tours For You and embracing our clients’ needs with the good values, practices and reliability that define us. When it comes to looking for new trends and experiences to offer our travellers, having a ‘startup mentality’ with the maturity and experience of a 23 year old company will hopefully stand us in good stead.

For more information and inspiration, visit toursforyou.pt or follow at: @toursforyoudmc

Competition | Win an Earthborn Paint Kit worth £135

If you’re planning a room revamp, enter our competition to win an Earthborn eco-conscious paint kit – watching paint dry has never looked so good

To celebrate the launch of its latest colour collection, Earthborn has teamed up with The Simple Things to offer three lucky readers the chance to each win 5 litres of paint, in
any colour or finish, along with a ‘Brush and Roll with it’ kit, worth £135 each – a great starting point for a fresh, feel-good transformation at home.

Renowned for its high-quality, beautifully crafted and eco-conscious paint, Earthborn’s new launch introduces 12 new colours to its iconic range. A collection of fresh, vibrant and timeless shades, the palette has been designed to deliver both versatility and joy. These are colours that feel just as at home in a busy kitchen as they do in a restful bedroom, making it easier to create spaces that are personal, practical and full of character.

Each shade has been carefully developed to balance timeless style with modern appeal, offering colours that people can truly live with and love for years to come. The new palette includes shades that Earthborn fans have been asking for, alongside fresh takes on classic hues
and bold new colours, all finished with
an unmistakable Earthborn twist. The launch also sees two beloved shades return from the archive, brought back by popular demand.

This competition is your chance to experience Earthborn’s beautifully different environmentally friendly paint. Whether you’re planning a complete room refresh or a smaller update, winning 5 litres of your chosen colour could be the spark your next project needs. Enter now and let Earthborn’s newest colours inspire your space.

Watch a video about the new shades here…

For more, visit earthbornpaints.co.uk or follow on Instagram at: @earthbornpaints

How to enter

For the chance to win one of three Earthborn paint and painting kits, worth £135 each, enter our competition by clicking on the button below and answering the following question by the closing date of 10 April 2026. 

Q: How many new colours are there within Earthborn’s new launch?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 10 April 2026. Three winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winners cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at: icebergpress.co.uk/comprules. 

Wellbeing | Friendly Habits

Friends can help lift your mood, boost your health and get you through the dog days of winter. Here are a few ways to nurture your friendships or make new ones

• Make plans and stick to them, no excuses or cancellations, unless it’s genuine.

• Answer the phone and speak to friends, even when you’re tired or don’t have time.

• Talk to people you don’t know very well, or at all, you may find there’s more common ground than you think.

• Take the more social option. Shop for your food in person, have your coffee inside the café, take off your headphones, smile at people, and share meals with your family.

• If you’re not feeling it, fake it. In one study when students were told to act extroverted for one week and introverted another week, they showed a big boost in mood while acting extrovert and a strong decline in mood while living as an introvert.

The friendly habits, above, are taken from our feature ‘Friends for Life’ by Rebecca Frank in our February issue.

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Recipe | Chocolate & Rose Mini Cakes

The way to our hearts is always with cake and these tiny treats are full of love (and chocolate).

Makes 20

100g butter, cubed

200g caster sugar

150g self-raising flour

50g cocoa powder

2 eggs

1 tbsp rose water

2 tbsp milk

Butter, for greasing

For the butter icing:

150g butter, softened

300g icing sugar

1 tsp rose water

Gold edible spray, optional

1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas 6. Meanwhile, grease a mini cupcake baking tray with butter and set aside.

2 Cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and cocoa powder. In another bowl beat together the eggs and rose water. Alternate adding a spoon of flour and egg mix to the butter and sugar, beat until incorporated each time before adding the next spoonful.

3 If the mix is too thick, add a little milk to loosen it. Spoon the mix into the prepared mini cupcake tray and bake for 15 mins. Test with a skewer – if it comes out clean they are done, if not, bake for another few mins before testing again.

4 Allow to cool for 5 mins in the tray before removing to a cooling rack.

5 Make the butter icing by beating together the butter and half the icing sugar, add the rest slowly keeping a smooth, silky consistency, towards the end, add the rose water.

6 When the cakes are completely cool, add the icing to a piping bag with a star nozzle, pipe each cake and spray with gold spray, if using.

This recipe is one of the ideas from our feature ‘Tea and Tarot’ in our February issue, a menu for an afternoon tea with a twist. It also includes recipes for Citrus Fizz, Chamomile Chai Tea, White Bean & Cauliflower Soup, Rosemary & Cheese Scones, Buttermilk Scones with Lemon Curd, a trio of sandwiches and Sausage Rolls with Nutmeg and Caramelised Onions, The photography and recipes are by Catherine Frawley.

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Magic | Love Potions

Who needs aphrodisiacs and foods of love when you can use a love potion?

Back in the mists of time, this was often the answer to a romantic conundrum. Through folklore, history and literature (think Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) weird and wonderful concoctions were used to encourage a heart pounding attachment. Legend has it that French beauty, Madame de Montespan seduced King Louis XIV by spiking his food with a tincture which included blood, intestines and bits of toad. She went on to have seven children by him, so maybe there was something in it. Should you wish to investigate without sorceress support, start with a liquid, like water, tea or wine, before adding herbs and mythical ingredients that you may be hard pressed to find in the supermarket. The rare and lethal mandrake, perhaps? Or sparrow’s liver, dove’s heart, swallow’s womb and hare’s kidney, ground into a powder. A small vial added to a drink and your beloved is sure to swoon. Possibly for the wrong reasons.

Thanks to Bring Me Love by Icy Sedgwick (Watkins)

If you’d like to woo a lover with something more tasty and less off-putting, you might like to read our feature ‘Foods of Love’ by Lucy Brazier in our February issue, which is on shelf now.

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Recipe | Cavolo Nero Gnocchi with Sage Butter

Green leaves at this time of year are few and far between outdoors so you’ll need to get your chlorophyll dose in the kitchen. The spotlight’s on darkest black-green cavolo nero and pale sage leaves in this tasty comfort food dish.

Serves 4

1kg maris piper potatoes (you’ll need 700-800g of fluffy potato once you’ve removed their skins)

150g cavolo nero, stalks removed

1 tbsp olive oil

2 eggs

200g pasta flour

Salt

25g butter

Small bunch of sage

1 lemon, zested

1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180/Gas 6. Pop your potatoes straight onto the oven rack and bake for about 1½ hrs, or until they’re fluffy inside. Cut them in half and leave to steam while you get on with the greens.

2 In a pan, braise the cavolo nero with a splash of water and the olive oil until tender. Drain well, squeeze out every drop of water, then whizz with the eggs in a food processor until smooth.

3 When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop out the insides while still warm. Push through a sieve or use a potato ricer if you have one. Measure 700–800g of potato flesh.

4 In a large bowl, mix the sieved potato, cavolo nero paste and the flour. Bring together into a dough,

then turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Add a little more flour if it feels sticky.

5 Roll the dough into thin cigar shapes, dusting with flour to prevent sticking. Cut into bite-sized pieces.

6 Drop them into a pan of salted boiling water. They are ready when they bob to the surface. Retain

some of the pasta water before draining the cooked gnocchi.

7 Meanwhile, in a large pan, melt the butter. Add the sage leaves and let them sizzle. Stir in a couple of spoonfuls of the starchy pasta water until the sauce comes together.

8 Add the cooked gnocchi to the sauce and shake the pan to coat. Grate over some fresh lemon zest and black pepper, loosening with more pasta water if needed. Taste, season, and serve immediately.

This recipe is taken from our February issue’s ‘Kitchen Therapy’ pages, which this month focuses on earthy and simple foods to help you embrace dark days. The recipes are by Lottie Storey and the photography is by Kym Grimshaw. The February ‘Heal’ issue is in shops now.

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Films | To See on the Big Screen

Visual films that are best watched from a flippy up seat with popcorn

Some films are best watched under a blanket on the sofa with a cup of tea and a box of chocolates. But other films are so visual they really should be seen in the cinema if at all possible. With the indie cinema scene exploding at the moment, lots of indies, drive-thrus, pop-ups and small chains are showing classic and older films so we can enjoy them again as they were intended to be seen. Here are a few that we think it’s definitely worth catching on the big screen if you ever get the opportunity.

The Wizard of Oz, 1939

Made when the idea of a screen in your own living room was merely a twinkle in Dorothy’s eye, The Wizard of Oz, named in 2018 as the most influential film of all time, was designed for the silver screen. Watching it as it was intended and as audiences would first have seen it is something almost as magical as Munchkin Land itself. Although it wasn’t the first film to use technicolour it’s arguably the most famous for doing so. Sit back and imagine how jaw-dropping the moment when Dorothy steps out of sepia and into technicolour would have seemed to pre-war audiences, sitting watching Oz in the cinemas.

2001, A Space Odyssey, 1968

Arguably, any of Kubrick’s films are better seen in the cinema than anywhere else, but 2001 is probably his most visual movie and the one that gains most from being watched on the big screen. More experience than narrative film, and accompanied by one of the most emotionally rousing scores in film history, 2001 is all about how tiny we really are in terms of the universe, and feeling dwarfed by the film itself is what it’s all about. 

Lawrence of Arabia, 1962

David Lean’s biopic of TE Lawrence starring Peter O’Toole offers cinema-goers a fabulous experience, with its sweeping shots of golden deserts and huge sand dunes. It’s a visual feast whichever medium you choose to watch it but the big screen really lets you feel the vastness of its landscapes. 

How To Marry A Millionaire, 1953

This classic comedy starring Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable was one of the first films to use CinemaScope, a widescreen lens that created a picture almost twice the width of other films. Viewed in other formats, you literally don’t see all of the film as the edges are usually cut off, so it’s one really worth enjoying at the cinema if possible. Take a bunch of girlfriends, immerse yourself in its optimism and fun and come out feeling like Monroe, Bacall and Grable as you head off for cocktails. 

Avatar, 2009

James Cameron’s story of a man in a wheelchair who protects a group of aliens is packed with special effects and was completely groundbreaking at the time with its use of 3D. Cameron had to delay filming for some years to allow technology to catch up with what he needed. While technology may have surpassed the film itself, it’s still a visual treat to watch on the big screen and a little piece of cinematic history that’s best enjoyed ‘properly’.

A few more films to ‘go big’ on (in no particular order)

The Great Escape, the Star Wars (original) trilogy, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dune (2021), Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, 1917, Alien, The Searchers, Gandhi, The Greatest Showman, Finding Nemo, Howl’s Moving Castle, Akira, Ad Astra, Napoleon, Dunkirk, The Life of Pi, There Will Be Blood, A River Runs Through It, Gravity. 

Feeling inspired to take a cinema trip yourself this month? You might like to read our ‘outing’ feature, ‘Admit One’ from our February issue, which looks at some of the UK’s best historic, volunteer-run and quirky cinemas. The issue is on sale now. 

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Making | Find Your Next Craft Class

Many of us are looking for a new creative outlet but finding precisely the right thing can be tricky. Here are a few suggestions for ways to match your ‘creative itch’ to a new craft to try

I want to make new friends

Sitting alongside others all doing the same craft is a great way to open up conversations and meet like-minded people. If you’re looking for a craft class that’s as much about the socialising as the making, look out for dedicated classes where the clue is in the title - Sip & Paint, Knit & Natter… maybe even Stitch & Bitch if you’re feeling brave. Otherwise, crochet is a craft that encourages a nice chat as you stitch. Even if you’re a beginner it’s fairly easy to pick up and you’ll soon be able to absent-mindedly stitch granny squares while nattering to those around you. And if you get distracted and mess up, there’s probably someone round the table who can get you back on track again. 

I want to get outdoors more

Look for something nature-focussed, maybe at a rural crafts centre or forest location, for a craft course with a dose of fresh air. There are lots of one-off workshops for willow-weaving, trug-making and spoon-whittling that might give you a taste for a new outdoorsy craft as well as lots of sunlight and the chance to feel closer to nature. 

I want something hands on

There’s nothing like pottery throwing if you want to really get up to your elbows in craft. Obviously it keeps your hands very much busy but pottery also uses your whole body as you shape clay at the wheel. It’s a wonderful feeling going back to collect your pieces from the kiln and seeing your own thumbprints and the marks your hands left as you crafted your pieces. 

I want to get out of my own head

While repetitive crafts such as knitting and colouring can feel very soothing, sometimes you need something a bit ‘difficult’ to keep your brain busy and stop overthinking. Jewellery making can be as simple or as complicated as you like. You can buy a few tools, some wire and beads online and be crafting rings and earrings at home by yourself as soon as you like. But there are lots of courses in silversmithing around that will teach you the basics such as soldering, riveting and texturing and hammering to create patterns. There’s a lot to learn, and you need to concentrate on the job in hand - plus you’ll come away with something really beautiful every now and then. 

I want to use my creative muscle more

Painting is a wonderful way to harness your creativity. Watercolour classes are a great way to start. Even if you can’t draw a stick man right now, painting classes tend to be very welcoming and non-judgemental and watercolour painting is something you can practise at home alone, too, if you want to improve. For those making a first foray into painting, splatter painting is a really fun thing to do for a day with your family or a group of friends. You basically dress in a boiler suit, are given a canvas and then you splatter paint all over it until you have a colourful, messy piece of artwork you can take home and hang on the wall. If you’re lucky enough to have an art school or an adult education college near you, you could even try out a specialist art class in life-drawing, charcoals or inks, maybe? 

I want to try something quirky

The great thing about the crafting community is that it’s full of quirky people so if you want to try something a little bit different, you won’t be the only one… 

If you enjoy wielding large tools, tufting lets you make rugs with a tufting gun - very satisfying. Or how about learning the scientific and sensory art of perfume making so next time someone compliments you on your fragrance you can say smugly - oh this? It’s just one I made myself! If you’d like a new craft hobby that will be a real conversation starter, how about Fluid Art Bear Painting? Yes, that’s what we said! You’re given a 3D resin teddy bear, which is your canvas, then you mix liquid acrylics with water or silicone oil, layer them up and pour them onto your bear, tilting it from side to side to create fluid, marbled patterns. 

If you can’t find the craft you want to do locally to you, you could always set one up yourself! In our February issue, we met the founders of community arts and craft space, Aunty Social (auntysocial.co.uk) and found out how they got started and what they’re up to now.

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Tipple | Rosemary & Ginger Hinny

A no alcohol take on a classic mule cocktail, this version has the signature ginger tang, but swaps mint for rosemary

Serves 1-2

2 fresh rosemary sprigs (save 1 to garnish)
Ice cubes
240ml ginger ale tonic (see below)
240ml freshly squeezed lime juice
Simple syrup, to taste
Sparkling water, to taste

For the ginger ale tonic:

14g fresh ginger root, sliced thinly (no need to peel)
1 tbsp ashwagandha root powder
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise pod
Honey or preferred sweetener, to taste

1 Muddle a few rosemary leaves in the bottom of a glass, then fill the glass with ice.

2 Make the ginger ale tonic by combining 475ml of water and the spices in a pan. Covered, bring it to a slow simmer over a low heat for 20-30 mins (for a stronger ginger ale, simmer for up to 45 mins).

3 Add the honey or your preferred sweetener while still warm, and taste, adding more if necessary. Let the ale cool before straining through a fine-mesh sieve or a cheesecloth into a clean jar.

4 Add 240ml of the tonic, the lime juice and a splash of simple syrup to the glass with ice and rosemary.

5 Stir gently and top with sparkling water and a rosemary sprig. Bartender’s note: If the rosemary is flowering, add the purple flowers to ice cube moulds to create pretty ice cubes, which can then be added to the tipple.

Taken from The Herbalist’s Guide For The Sober Curious by Leah Jorgensen Jean (Chartwell Books)

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Etymology | Bobble hats

‘Bobble hat’ must be one of the most pleasing words in the English language, but what’s the meaning behind the bobble bit? 

The word ‘bobble’ has several meanings. It can mean a ‘mistake’ or fumble, so you might go to catch a ball and ‘bobble’ it. It can also refer to a ‘repeated, jerky movement’ as in ‘bobbing up and down’. We like to think the way it bobs up and down upon one’s head is what gives the bobble hat its name, but it probably comes from the third meaning - ‘a small ball of fabric used decoratively’. This can be as tiny as the little bobbles of wool on your jumper, which gives us the eternally useful verb ‘to de-bobble’, or as large as the biggest pom-pom you can imagine.

The word can be found as early as 1812 when the term ‘bob’ (as in up and down) first had the ‘le’ added to it to create the bobble as a verb. It’s first recorded as a noun in 1836. Bobble hats definitely existed before then with bobbles being used for centuries by both the military and the clergy to denote rank, but they were previously known as pompoms rather than bobbles - another splendid word. 

So as you’re bobbing along with your bobble bobbling up and down this winter, look where you’re going so you don’t miss your footing and bobble yourself onto the pavement. 

You can read about the history of the bobble hat on our ‘Wearing Well’ page in our January issue, which is in shops now.

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Playlist | Carnival!

Inspired by global celebrations of Carnival and Mardi Gras, our February playlist brings together music from Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Colombia, Cuba and New Orleans. Though countries celebrate on different days, these festivals are filled with parades and street parties; dancing and music – a final fling before Lent begins.

Have a listen here.
You’ll find this playlist in our February 26 HEAL issue, on sale from 30 January. Order a copy from Pics & Ink.

Sponsored Post | Meet the people behind Laverock Law Cottages

We catch up with Harvest Rose and Dave (aka Birch) Harris-Jones, the heart and soul behind Laverock Law Cottages & Glamping, to find out how their passion for green living has evolved into an award-winning holiday business

Harvest Rose and Birch, it’s lovely to meet you. Tell us a little bit about Laverock Law

HR: Welcome. We run several dog-friendly, self-catering holiday lets near the beautiful Northumberland coast, five miles from Lindisfarne. We have three farmworkers’ cottages – Skylark, Swallow and Woodpecker – as well the Harvest Hut and the North Star treehouse.

How did it all start?

HR: I’d been teaching in Cumbria, but after struggling with mental health issues, we decided to move to Northumberland – where I’d spent happy childhood holidays – to build a new life closer to nature. In 2011, Birch and I came across the unloved, derelict cottages set within two acres of land and knew it was the right place to start our business and raise our children, Rowan and Poppy. Laverock Law means ‘Hill of the Lark’ and is a total wildlife haven full of birdsong.

That sounds like a huge adventure

B: It was, especially as none of the cottages were habitable, so to begin with, we had to live in ‘Daisy’ our old Fiat Motorhome whilst working every hour on the cottages – and on top of that, I spent the first two years commuting back and forth to Cumbria for work four days a week. It was hard work, but a total labour of love. The exhilaration that we felt when we got our first booking for Skylark Cottage, knowing that someone had put their faith in our dream, was incredible. That family still visit us to this day.

And how did Laverock Law grow from there?

B: It took several years, but we slowly renovated the cottages to offer self-catering accommodation, and then we restored a beautiful 1930s threshing hut, named the Harvest Hut, which sits in its own wooded space with fantastic sunset views towards the Cheviot Hills. We’re passionate about working in harmony with nature, so four years ago we started work on a sustainable heart-shaped treehouse called North Star. I built it with the help of a local joiner and we even commissioned a local potter to make bespoke crockery for it. We were thrilled when it was featured on BBC’s Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes last year.

Incredible. What else do you offer your guests?

HR: We’ve always strived to live a simple, sustainable lifestyle and that’s echoed in the accommodation, with luxury organic bedding, biomass heating and plenty of space for the local wildlife to thrive. Our motto is ‘your holiday is as important to us as it is to you’, so there are plenty of treats, too, such as local foods, homemade organic bread and cakes, a tree platform from which to enjoy stargazing, space for campfires, plus Heartwood, our wood-fired sauna.

Running Laverock Law must be hugely satisfying, does anything in particular stand out?

B: A big highlight for us was winning the VisitEngland Sustainable Tourism Gold award in 2018, and we have since gone on to scoop many more eco accolades, including being awarded Green Tourism’s Gold Standard, which we’ve very proud of.

So, what’s next for Laverock Law?

HR: I recently trained in both Yoga and Reiki, so we now offer those on site in the Heartspace, alongside workshops such as Creative Felting and Fun Breadmaking. Birch, meanwhile, shares his
passion for the outdoors with guided walks and family adventures, including a unique opportunity to walk barefoot in the footsteps of Saints across the tidal sands to Holy Island. We make sure that all of our guests get the benefit of our local knowledge, ensuring they can relax, rewind and reconnect while creating fun-filled memories to take away.

For more information and to book, visit laverocklawcottages.com, or follow the couple
on Instagram at: @laverocklawholidaycottages

Competition | Win a year's supply of flowers from Scilly

Cheer your year with fresh scented flowers delivered direct to your front door, thanks to Scilly Flowers

Just imagine the smile on the face of someone who receives a gift box of scented flowers through the post on a dull mid-winter day. Enter our competition and you could win 12 boxes of scented narcissi – worth over £290 – to send to your friends… however, we won’t judge if you choose to enjoy a few yourself.

Grown in the traditional way in a patchwork of small, sheltered fields on the Isles of Scilly off the Cornish coast, the winter crop of scented narcissi flourishes outdoors without any additional heat or light from October to Easter.

As the flowers are delivered directly from where they’re grown, they have a far lower carbon footprint than those grown in heated glasshouses or flown in from further afield. This makes scented narcissi one of the most sustainable and thoughtful ways to give flowers and brighten a loved one’s day, whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or just to let a friend or family member know that you’re thinking about them.

Once the scented narcissi season comes to an end, owners of Scilly Flowers, Zoe and Ben Julian, and their team turn their attention to a mixture of spring flowers such as iris and gladioli. As summer starts, the pickers at Churchtown Farm on the island of St Martin’s, start harvesting the summer crop of scented pinks. Similar to carnations, pinks have a subtle hue and a delicate fragrance.

On an island, fresh water is a particularly precious resource, and the pinks are grown in coir-filled tubs that reduce the need for irrigation. Once on display, these blooms will brighten any room and are a reminder of the joy that is home-grown in Scilly.

For more info, visit scillyflowers.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @scillyflowers.

How to enter 

For your chance to win fresh scented flowers delivered to your door (12 boxes to share over the year), enter our competition by clicking the button below and answering the following question by the closing date of 13 March 2026.

Q: What is the name of the farm where the summer crop of pinks is picked?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 13 March 2026. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at: icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

History | Cornishware

A potted history of blue-and-white pottery

Probably one of the most recognisable and most coveted pottery ranges of the last hundred years, Cornishware was once a staple in most homes and is still flying off the shelves today. 

Its history is actually a bit of a love story. Thomas Goodwin Green had emigrated to Australia, having had his heart broken by one Mary Tenniel (sister of the illustrator of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, John Tenniel). He’d been nursing his heart while working as a telegraph pole erector when he had word that Mary had changed her mind about him and immediately upped sticks back to England. Tom was a man who knew what he wanted and didn’t need asking twice. 

Whilst on honeymoon in Scarborough in 1862, he met a potter who was selling his business and offered it to him. Ever decisive, Tom snapped it up, decided to learn the trade and the rest is breakfast table history. 

For many years, TG Green’s produced only very plain, utilitarian homewares, but following the first world war and the economic crisis that followed, the factory was down to two days a week and new work was urgently needed. The solution was the blue and white stripes that became known as ‘Cornishware’, allegedly in honour of the blue skies and white-crested waves of the Cornish coast. The clay was taken from Cornwall up to the potteries in Stoke on Trent, which worked out cheaper in terms of both materials and production. 

By the 1930s, the white-and-blue-striped ceramics were cheering the breakfast and tea table in many homes. The business successfully weathered the hardships of World War Two and went from strength to strength but in 2007, the economic crash saw TG Green’s off and the company went into administration, closing its factory in Church Gresley. 

But you can’t keep a cheery piece of crockery down for long. Having been produced abroad for some years, in 2017 the pottery began to be slowly repatriated, once again using Cornish clay, only this time the pottery was produced a factory in the West Country. 

The products are now available in a range of cheery stripes in varying colours but we’re die-hard fans of the original Cornish blue. 

How to spot a Cornishware fake

The popularity of Cornishware means it is often copied. If you’re buying secondhand from antiques stores or jumble sales, here’s how to spot a fake from the real thing.

Check the ‘back stamps’ on the back or underside. Fakes often have incorrect back stamps. Two common fake stamps are a triangle with the words ‘Gresley Ware’ inside or text reading T.G. Green & Co Gresley Ware’. Neither of those stamps was ever used by the company.

True Cornishware stamps differ according to their age. Cornishware from the 20s to 40s has a green maker’s mark of the church at Church Gresley. Most original Cornishware, however, has a black or green mark that is a shield with the factory name inside, crossed with the words ‘Cornish Kitchen Ware’.

Experts say you should be particularly wary of named storage jars - ‘flour’, ‘sugar’ etc as often the names were added later to make them appear to be more of a rarity.

The photograph above is by Paul Lawrence @diaryofacountryman, and is featured in our My Place pages in the January issue, which this month is all about dressers. The issue is in shops now.

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Recipe | Bergamot Jelly

If you’re lucky enough to come across bergamots, this recipe is a lovely way of preserving their sunshine in the depths of winter and will bring great cheer to your toast on darker mornings.

Makes about 7-8 x 200g jars

1kg bergamots

250g lemons

1.125 kg caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

1 Wash and cut the bergamots and lemons into eighths. Place in a large pan and cover with 2 ltrs of water. Place over a medium high heat and simmer for 45 mins, stirring regularly. The fruit should be completely softened and falling apart.

2 Place a colander over a large bowl and line it with a tea towel or muslin. Pour over the boiled fruits and strain. Gather the edges of the fabric and tie tightly together, then hang the parcel over the colander and bowl and leave to strain overnight. Don’t be tempted to squeeze it to speed up the process as you’ll end up with a cloudy jelly.

3 Measure the strained liquid into a pan – you should have roughly 500ml but don’t worry if it’s a little more or less. Top up with water until you have 2 ltrs of liquid overall.

4 Return the pan to a medium heat and once the liquid is boiling, add the sugar. Stir to dissolve.

5 Bring the mixture back to a simmer and monitor the temperature, stirring regularly. Begin testing once the mix reaches 104C.

6 Dollop a small spoonful of the jelly onto a chilled plate and pop into the freezer for 2 mins. Remove and run your finger through the middle of the jelly – if the surface wrinkles and holds its shape, it’s reached setting point. If the jelly remains liquid and runs back to the centre where your finger has run through the middle, return it to the heat and continue cooking.

7 Repeat the wrinkle test, using clean chilled saucers every time, until the jelly passes the test. Keep stirring the jelly regularly to avoid it catching on the base of the pan. I find that sometimes you need to cook this jelly until it reaches 110C, so do be patient and repeat the test regularly until you achieve the result you are looking for.

8 Once the jelly has passed the wrinkle test, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla paste, then begin transferring it to sterilised jars using a funnel. Seal with the lids immediately. Leave to sit until cool enough to handle, then make sure the lids are on as tightly as possible and wipe away any sticky spots. Label and store somewhere cool and dry for up to 6 months.

This recipe is taken from Winter in the Highlands by Flora Shedden (Quadrille) and you can find a longer extract in our feature Cold Hands, Warm Heart, in our January issue, including recipes for a Cranberry Shrub, Prune & Pecan Porridge, Onion Soup and Leek Dauphinoise. The issue is in shops now.

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Wellbeing | Taking Cues from Pets

Illustration by Libby Vanderploeg

Paying more attention to the animals around us can help us guide our way through the changing seasons of life

It’s a dog’s life, we say. But why do we think that? Because of the utter joy they get from simple activities like chasing a ball? Or the unconditional devotion and loyalty they show for one human? Perhaps it’s the ability to nap whenever they need to? Or how they find pleasure from the same things, day in, day out? It’s all the above and more, but it’s not just dogs that we can learn from. Who hasn’t envied the self- containment of a cat, curled up in the sunniest, comfiest spot in the house? Or admired ants working so efficiently as a team to survive in a world where you’re one of the smallest.

In his book The Happiness Of Dogs (Granta), Mark Rowlands explains how animals differ from humans in their inability to self-examine. They don’t ruminate or compare themselves to others, worry about their achievements, material possessions or looks. “When a dog doesn’t react to its reflection, it’s most likely because it doesn’t care how it looks,” he says. Of course, we have much to thank for our questioning brains, but we can still learn from animals. Perhaps the most relevant lesson in today’s world is how to deal with stress. We know animals get stressed – they’re always alert to danger and there can’t be many things more stressful than fleeing from a predator. But once the moment is over, they relax and rest. By contrast, we keep going, piling on more stress, which can lead to anxiety, insomnia and cravings for sugar, alcohol and other stimulants to stay alert.

So how can we be more animal like? When stressed, counter it with some physical activity that triggers the release of endorphins which leave you with a relaxed, happy feeling, like a ‘runner’s high’. Do the difficult thing on your to-do list, even if it’s not perfect and then move on instead of procrastinating and making yourself more stressed for longer. Try to be more resilient and forgiving of yourself and others – animals experience disappointment and sadness, but they bounce back and try again. Luxuriate in simple joys and glorious ordinary moments and make sure you rest when you need to, and even when you think you don’t.

The blog above is an extract from our wellbeing feature Taking Cues… in our January issue by Rebecca Frank. You can read the whole piece, including advice on taking cues from the young, the elderly, nature, our heroes and ancestors from page 70. The issue is in shops now.

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Make | Citrus Print Tablecloth

Illustration by Kavel Rafferty

Brighten your January table with a zesty cloth to protect it, just in time for marmalade season.

Pick your fruits
A few differently sized citrus fruits look effective, so maybe buy a couple of lemons, a couple of limes, a large orange and a grapefruit. Cut each in half widthways (so that you get a print that shows the separate segments). Juice each half carefully, taking care to break up the pith between each fruit segment. Leave the juiced fruit halves out to dry a little.

Choose your colours
Squeeze a generous amount of fabric paint into foil trays, using a different tray for each colour. Classic orange, yellow and acid green look effective but you could also pick colours to match to your decor if you prefer.

Make your mark
Dip the citrus halves into the paint, or apply the paint to the bottom of each half carefully with a paint brush. Gently press each painted half onto a plain tablecloth, working from the centre towards the edges. If it’s a large cloth you might need to stamp in sections and leave each one to dry. Once complete, throw it on your table to show off your homemade marmalade on toast and orange juice to its best effect.

This kitchen table project is taken from our Miscellany pages, which are full of seasonal fun facts and silliness each month. The January issue is in shops now.

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