Ways to spend time in a window seat

A window seat is at the top of our home nook swishlist. Here are a few ways to make the most of yours if you’re lucky enough to have one.

1. Take tea in it. Proper china, mind. In fact, you probably want to invest in one of those trolleys for cakes and sweet treats, so you can perch your teapot and milk jug on top and not have to make too many needless trips to the kitchen.

2. Read in it. The obvious thing to do with a window seat is to sit down with a good book and look very picturesque and intellectual from the outside, even if your reading matter is a Jackie Collins and you’ve simply buried the front cover in your lap. Somehow, a window seat increases the appearance of culture in the same way spectacles do. Make the most of it, we say. 

3. Get a bit Gothic. Go all Wuthering Heights and sit and watch the rain lashing at the panes of glass while thinking wistfully of lovers long out of reach. 

4. Flaneur the hell out of it. Sit with the intention of doing absolutely nothing but people watching. If your window looks out only onto your garden you might have to employ a gardener first or send your family out to do some chores so that you may observe them hard at work. Try to make them the occasional mug of tea to avoid becoming a bit irritating. 

5. Become a wildlife expert. Whether it’s birds, butterflies, foxes or merely the local cat population, a window seat affords the opportunity to become au fait with all the living things that pass through. 

6. Turn informant. If your seat looks out on a public byway, get yourself a notebook and come over all Miss Marple. You never know what you might notice that proves useful at a later date. If you don’t spot anything you can always just pretend to be on a stake out, which is just as exciting. 

7. Cloud watch. The original and best bit of mindfulness available. Spot dragons, medieval battles and giant rabbits, all from the comfort of your seat in the window. 

8. Turn the window on its head and become an art installation. Dress up. Use props. Imagine your way into various scenarios and let others enjoy ‘viewing’ you each day, rather than you viewing them.

If you are feeling inspired to creat a window seat of your own, don’t miss our My Place feature in the May issue, in which Lottie Storey has gathered together some of her favourite window seats from Instagram and beyond, including this one, pictured above, which belongs to Jason Korinek @westcross_property_renovation. The May issue is in shops now or available to buy in our online store.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our May issue…

More inspiration for you home…

Tipple | Rhubarb Mimosas

The two fruits of the moment are pink, squeaky stemmed, forced rhubarb and lovely sour gooseberries. Either could be used for this spring cocktail, and should be treated the same way: stewed in a little water and honey to sweeten their sourness and then sieved to make a smooth syrup. Gooseberry is the more traditional ingredient for a Whitsun feast, but rhubarb makes a particularly pretty pink drink.

Serves 6

6 stems forced rhubarb (as pink as you can find)
Runny honey
1 bottle champagne or other sparkling wine

1 Chop the rhubarb into 5cm chunks and tip into a saucepan over a medium heat with a small splash of water – rhubarb contains plenty of water so you only need just enough to get it going. Let it bubble away until the rhubarb has completely softened and then use a fork to break and mash the pieces up.

2 Strain into a bowl and add runny honey to taste.

3 Pour your syrup into a jar and chill in the fridge. When ready to serve, fill half a glass with the chilled rhubarb syrup and top with sparkling wine.

This is just one of the recipes from our Nature’s Table feature by Lia Leendertz. The other late spring recipes include confit duck with petits pois and Lincolnshire Whitsun cake. You can find it starting on page 8 of our May issue.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our May issue…

More tipples to try…

Design | characters who rock a stripe

How a Breton top gives anyone a bit of an edge

Striped tops have become a wardrobe staple for many of us in recent years, but no matter how ubiquitous they become, they always make us think of a few famous stripes wearers.

Funnily enough, despite stripes being fairly commonplace now, there’s always something about a fictional character who rocks a stripe. They tend towards the unorthodox and rebellious. In Medieval Europe a stripe was a symbol of disorder and also difference, worn only by societal outcasts such as lepers, hangmen and clowns. So perhaps that’s one reason why characters who are a little ‘outside’ the bounds of normal are often portrayed in stripes. That, and the fact that we all know they just look cool, of course. 

Here are a few characters from fiction, film and television, who must have earned their stripes in the stripes-wearing stakes. 

Dennis the Menace

Dennis’s stripes have a long history. When he was first drawn in 1951 he had plain clothes and just a striped tie. Just a few months later the black-and-white tie became a black-and-white jumper and only a few months after that did the jumper become the signature black and red Dennis is famous for.  

Pippi Longstocking

Astrid Lindgren’s curious, kind and superhumanly strong nine year old character, Pippi Longstocking has become sort of synonymous with stripes, though we remember her most for her knee-length, mismatched stripy socks. 

Ernie and Bert from Sesame Street

Rocking a stripe in completely opposite ways, Ernie’s stripes are horizontal like his big wide smile, while Bert’s are vertical, like his long face. But they complement each other perfectly. 

Where’s Wally?

Known for his red-and-white-striped jumper, as well as his red-and-white beanie and round specs, Wally is drawn by Martin Handford, usually tiny and surrounded by other red-and-white-striped things so as to make finding Wally trickier. 

The Cat in the Hat

Also sporting red and white stripes but far more ostentatious is Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, a six-foot-tall cat wearing a red-and-white-striped top hat. As if a massive, rhyming cat with a paunch might otherwise go unobserved...

Bee from Ant and Bee

Another character from children’s fiction who must be mentioned for their stripes is Angela Banner’s Bee from the Ant and Bee books. Although we’re not sure whether or not Bee counts as rocking a stripe, since he is stark naked and his stripes are all natural. Does that make him <more> stripy for being striped to his very core? Or less stripy because he didn’t choose his stripes? These are the sorts of big questions we are unafraid to ask here at The Simple Things. 

The chaps from O Brother Where Art Thou?

Literally rocking a stripe are Ulysses, Delmar and Pete, who escape in their prison stripes from a chain gang, head off in search of buried treasure and have an accidental hit record as The Soggy Bottom Boys. There’s something about those stripy prison slacks that looks a bit cooler in O Brother Where Art Thou’s faded sepia tones, too. 

Betelgeuse

In his vertical black and white striped suit there’s no mistaking Tim Burton’s obnoxious poltergeist. He might not have got away with that outfit in life, but he certainly cuts a dash in those stripes now he’s dead. Which just goes to show how a stripe really can lift any outfit. 

You can read more about the stripy Breton top in our Wearing Well series on page 83 of the May issue.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our May issue…

More musings on style…

Cake Facts | Upside-down Cake

Deliciously sweet and silly at once, we defy that hardest of cake haters not to smile at the sight of an upside-down cake.

But who first thought to invert perfection? Well it’s likely that the idea is quite old and began when breads and cakes were cooked over fires in skillet pans. Our cake-eating ancestors would have added fruit and sugar to caramelise it on the bottom of a pan and then poured a simple cake batter on top before cooking it over the fire. Turned upside-down, once cooked, it would look a lot more appealing than the top, which of course would cook eventually but may not brown so well when not done in the oven.

But as with many of the most fun things in life, a few centuries’ of knowhow and the invention of new gadgets and gizmos are what made the upside-down cake truly great. Around 1911, when James Dole’s company invented a machine that could cut pineapple into pretty, easy-to-deal with rings, and with the modern convenience of ovens to boot, the pineapple upside-down cake had its moment in the sun. The addition of a tinned maraschino cherry was literally the icing on the cake.

In our April issue, we have a recipe for the classic upside-down cake with a spiced twist, pictured above. Why not give it a go? You can find it on p25.

This delicious recipe is taken from Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings by Yossy Arefi (Clarkson Potter). Photography by Yossy Arefi

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our May issue…

More cake facts

How to | Become a Dormouse Monitor

Here’s how you can do your bit to strengthen the dormouse population

Numbers of hazel dormice have dwindled dangerously in recent years but they’re still there, particularly in southern England and parts of Wales. They’re fascinating creatures, which you can read more about on our Magical Creatures page this month (page 33), and a joy if you manage to spot one, or even signs one has been about. 

The People’s Trust for endangered species has lots of information about dormouse monitoring on its website but here’s a bit about how to get started. 

Carry out a nut hunt

Dormice leave a distinctive hole in hazelnut shells. They eat them when they’re green straight from the tree but the empty shells later turn brown and fall to the ground and are a sure sign dormice are about. That information can help organisations like The PTES protect those dormice in the future by advising landowners and woodland managers on ways in which they can help look after the little fellers. 

It’s best done in Autumn when the shells start to fall but you can start looking for spots to monitor now, and the PTES have produced a really useful Dormouse Monitoring sheet you can print out on all you need to know but here are the basics so you can get thinking about it.

• First, identify some land with hazel (The PTES sheet has instructions on how to spot hazel), and make sure you have the permission of the landowner if needed. 

• Take a container with you and spend about 20 minutes gathering hazel nuts and shells beneath each tree, group of trees or section of hedgerow. 

• Once home, go through the nuts with a magnifying glass to identify any that may have been nibbled by dormice and set them aside. 

• You can then send them (or good quality photos of them) to the PTES along with your name and contact details and an Ordnance Survey grid reference for them to check. 

• Congratulations! You’re officially a dormouse monitor.

More from our May issue…

More magical creatures…

Recipe: Wild garlic bannocks with asparagus pesto

Bannocks are a traditional May Day food, and Beltane cake may have been similar: a scone-like bread cooked on a griddle over the Beltane fire. Wild garlic is carpeting every woodland floor at the moment, and it makes a savoury and aromatic addition.

Wild garlic bannocks

Makes up to 20 bannocks
550g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1⁄2 tsp salt
1 tbsp caster sugar
50g butter
a good handful of wild garlic leaves, washed and dried
1 egg
150ml buttermilk (or full fat milk with 3 tbsp of yoghurt stirred in)

1 You can cook these over a griddle on a fire or hob, or in the oven. If cooking in the oven, preheat it to 230C/Fan 210C/450F.
2 In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar, then chop in the butter and rub it in with your fingers until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Slice the wild garlic leaves and mix them in.
3 Beat the egg into the buttermilk (or milk and yoghurt) and then start mixing it into the dry mix to form a dough. Bring it together and knead it briefly on a floured surface, before rolling it out to about an inch in thickness (a little thinner if cooking on the griddle) and cut out rounds or squares from it.
4 Place on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 mins, or place onto a hot griddle and cook for around 5 mins on each side. Test one to check that it is cooked through. Serve the bannocks hot, split and buttered.

This is a wonderful way of using up any asparagus ends and offcuts, as they are full of flavour but the processing removes any stringiness and toughness.

Asparagus pesto

450g asparagus spears or offcuts
50g hazelnuts
1 clove of garlic, crushed
60ml extra virgin olive oil (plus a little extra for finishing)
75g finely grated Parmesan cheese
juice of half a lemon
salt and pepper

1 Steam the asparagus over boiling water for 8-10 mins, until it can be easily pierced with a sharp knife. Remove from the heat and leave the asparagus to cool.
2 Dry fry the hazelnuts over a high heat for a few minutes until the skins start to come away and the nuts become slightly toasted. Remove from the heat and tip into a clean tea towel then rub off any loose skins.
3 When nuts and asparagus are cool, tip them into a food processor with the garlic, olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Pulse until everything is broken up and amalgamated but still has some texture. If the pesto is too thick, add a little more olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and
a squeeze of lemon juice, to taste.

This recipe was first publisjed in the May 2016 issue of The Simple Things. so we think it’s definitely time to give it another go.

From our May issue…

More recipes for Spring days…

Fun facts | British Motorways

Surprise and delight your fellow passengers with these fast motorway facts

We’re all so excited to be planning and enjoying a few jaunts further afield now. In celebration of that we’ve put together a Pocket Guide to Pit Stops of places to stop, eat and enjoy just off the motorway around Britain. You can find it in the April issue with instructions on how to cut it out and fold it into your very own pocket guide to pop in your glove box. 

While you wait for your copy to arrive so you can plan your next sojourn, we’ve put together a few fascinating* facts about British motorways for you to share with your fellow passengers on the journey. Strap in! This could be a bumpy ride!

* The Simple Things can take no responsibility for what you or the next woman considers to be fascinating. We’ve led a sheltered life for the last year. 

• The first full-length motorway was the M1 but if we’re splitting hairs the first ‘stretch’ of motorway was in fact the Preston Bypass (now part of the M6), which was opened by Harol Macmillan in 1958. It was just eight and a quarter miles long. 

• The first motorway service station, meanwhile was Watford Gap, built on the M1 just a year after it opened. 

• Britain’s widest stretch of motorway is 17 lanes wide (both sides of the carriageway) and is found on the M61 at Linnyshaw Moss in Greater Manchester where the motorway meets the M60 and the A580. 

• The most haunted motorway in Britain is the M6, with sightings of Roman soldiers and a woman screaming at the side of the road. (Perhaps she’d seen the price of the service station coffee). 

• The longest motorway in Britain is the M6 (236 miles long), which runs from Catthorpe in Leicestershire up to the Scottish border, while the shortest is thought to be the A635M in Manchester at just under half a mile. 

• Rumours tell that there are dead bodies from gangland killings hidden in the concrete and cement that was used to make the M25. 

• On a more pleasant note, the M25 is also the only motorway we know of that has a cricket pitch on it. Well, ok, above it. There’s a cricket square on the Bell Common tunnel which the M25 passes under between Junctions 26 and 27. 

• The M1 has no junction 3. When it was built they planned to add in Junction 3 at a later date once the link road to the A1 was built. But the link road was cancelled so the junction was never built and a service station now sits where it would have been. 

• When the M25 first opened it had no speed restrictions. We assume they foresaw a time when speed restrictions on Britain’s busiest motorway would be pointless since it was at a standstill much of the time anyway.
  

  Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our May issue…

More fun for the journey…

Recipe | Hot Smoked Salmon, Caper and Dill Tart

A simple tart that will have everyone reaching across the picnic blanket for the biggest slice

A tasty and filling savoury tart that is ideal as the centrepiece of a spring picnic or a light lunch in the garden with friends. Serve with a big green salad or just cram it in with fingers and have cherry tomatoes on the side. Tastes as good sitting on the car boot with a view of the sea as it does out on the patio.

Serves 8

375g shortcrust pastry
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
180g ready-to-eat hot smoked salmon
35g capers, drained and rinsed
3 eggs 150ml single cream
50ml milk
15g fresh dill, fronds picked

1 On a lightly -floured surface, roll out the pastry and use it to line a 35cm x 13cm flan tin (alternatively, you can use a 26cm circular flan tin). Trim any overhanging pastry and prick the base with a fork. Chill in the fridge for 20 mins. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas 6.
2 Once chilled, remove from the fridge, line with foil and fill with baking beans. Bake for 10 mins, remove the foil and beans and bake for a further 10-12 mins, or until the pastry is crisp. Set aside to cool.
3 Heat the oil in a pan and gently fry the onion for 5 mins, or until soft and golden. Spread over the pastry base, then flake over the salmon and capers.
4 In a bowl , beat the eggs, cream and milk together, then stir in the dill and season to taste. Pour into the pastry case and bake for 35-40 mins, or until firm and golden. Leave to cool before slicing into portions.

This recipe is just one of the picnic ideas by Louise Gorrod in our feature A Vintage Day Out. You can find all the recipes, including Rainbow Chard and Feta Borek, Herby Hoummous, Strawberry and Mint Shrub, Summer Wraps and more beginning on page 54.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

From our May issue…

More picnic recipes…

Quiz | What's in my pocket?

It’s quiz time! Can you match the fictional character to the contents of their pocket?

We’ve made a list of items found in the pockets of people from the literary world. Can you guess which item was kept in which person’s pocket? Scroll down for the answers.

The unnamed 7-year-old narrator of The Witches (Roald Dahl)

Mr Pepperpot in the Mrs Pepperpot series (Alf Prøysen)

Sherlock Holmes in A Study in Scarlet (Arthur Conan Doyle)

Virgina Woolf

Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit (JRR Tolkien)

Marian in Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy)

William Brown in William Below Stairs (Richmal Crompton)

Hansel in Hansel and Gretel (The Brothers Grimm)

The Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens)

Harry in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (JK Rowling)

Lennie in Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck)

The soldier in The Tinder Box (Hans Christian Andersen)

Douglas Gold in the story Triangle at Rhodes from Murder in the Mews and Other Stories (Agatha Christie)

1 Gold coins

2 Breadcrumbs

3 Gin

4 The One Ring

5 Strophanthin

6 Stones, top, penknife, bits of putty, and other small objects… and a dying lizard

7 Silk handkerchiefs

8 Heavy stones and a heavy heart

9 A blood red stone

10 A dead mouse

11 Mrs Pepperpot

12 Two mice called William and Mary

13 A magnifying glass and a tape measure

In our April issue, we take a look at pockets and why it’s so important for women’s clothing to have them.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

Answers

1 Gold coins - The soldier in The Tinder Box (Hans Christian Andersen). 2 Breadcrumbs - Hansel in Hansel and Gretel (The Brothers Grimm).  3 Gin - Marian in Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy). 4 The One Ring - Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit (JRR Tolkien).  5 Strophanthin - Douglas Gold in the story Triangle at Rhodes from Murder in the Mews and Other Stories (Agatha Christie). 6 Stones, top, penknife, bits of putty, and other small objects… and a dying lizard - William Brown in William Below Stairs (Richmal Crompton). 7 Silk handkerchiefs - The Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens). 8 Heavy stones and a heavy heart - Virgina Woolf. 9 A blood red stone - Harry in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (JK Rowling).  10 A dead mouse - Lennie in Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck). 11 Mrs Pepperpot - Mr Pepperpot in the Mrs Pepperpot series (Alf Prøysen).  12 Two mice called William and Mary - The unnamed 7-year-old narrator of The Witches (Roald Dahl).  13 A magnifying glass and a tape measure - Sherlock Holmes in A Study in Scarlet (Arthur Conan Doyle)

More from our April issue…

More quizzes…

Music appreciation | The Flight of the Bumblebee

Join us for a brief music lesson on Rimsky-Korsakov’s 1900 composition The Flight of the Bumblebee and find out what all the buzz was about

The fast and frenetic Flight of the Bumblebee is probably one of the most loved and recognised pieces of music in the classical canon. Obviously, it’s intended to imitate the noise and flight pattern of a bee. But here are a few more facts about it so that if it’s ever played in your presence you can nonchalantly comment on it and look very clever indeed. 

Why was it written?

It’s actually just a very small part of an opera called The Tale of Tsar Saltan. Flight is an interlude between scenes one and two of Act Three. 

What’s it all about, then?

At this point in the opera, Gvidon has been separated from his father, but an enchanted swan, whose life he once saved, turns him into a bumblebee so he can fly to find him. 

Which instruments can I hear?

It’s been played by many different ensembles, but chances are you can hear a lot of strings (mainly violins) and a flute and piccolo. Originally it was written for a symphonic orchestra. 

What should I be listening for?

Note the unusually fast tempo, which never slows, and actually becomes more frenetic as the piece moves towards its end. It’s made up of running chromatic semiquavers (sixteenths of a note), which give the buzzing, humming effect. 

Have I heard this somewhere else?

Definitely. Artists of all kinds have sampled and referenced it over the years. It’s appeared in the computer game Tetris, in a Bob Dylan track, and it even appeared in the pilot episode of The Muppets. 

Do say… “Rimsky-Korsakov’s composition really is a stunning piece of violin virtuosity. Doesn’t it just lift the soul?”

Don’t say… “Oh. LOVE a bit of Rip Your Corsets Off. Pass the fiddle, I can play a passable version myself, I reckon.”

The beautiful bumblebee picture above was used on our subscriptions page this month, which you can find out more about by clicking the subscription link below. .
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

From our April issue…

More musical appreciation…

Sponsored story | Forest Bathing

If you’re looking for a break that will bring total relaxation and also bring you closer to nature, Austria is worth a look. Here’s some advice on getting started from the Austrian National Tourist Office

We all know the boost we can get from heading outdoors and immersing ourselves in nature, be it a walk in the woods, a picnic by a shimmering lake or perhaps a day trip to a local beauty spot. So imagine the wellbeing benefits that can be gleaned from a holiday to a destination where the landscapes are simply jaw dropping and the opportunities to get up close to nature are second to none. Whether you’re looking to get active or to completely switch off and recharge your batteries, Austria offers something for all of us. But what is it about being in nature that helps to focus our minds, ease any worries and boost happiness? One popular concept is the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, the process of switching off – quite literally – from the modern world and reconnecting with nature through your senses. Research shows that, as well as producing oxygen, trees also release biochemicals called phytoncides to warn other trees and to defend themselves against harmful bacteria. Breathing in these phytoncides has an anti-microbial effect on our bodies, which can help to boost the immune system.

Follow your nose

Forest bathing isn’t about exercise or getting to a destination, either, but about being in the moment – you may choose to wander without purpose, letting your senses guide you, or you may prefer to stop and sit, absorbing the sounds, smells, colours, textures and tastes that surround you. The experience will be different for everyone – some may be drawn to the damp earthy scents, others will delight in the rich palette of seasonal colours dappled in sunlight, or you may feel yourself unwind simply by closing your eyes and listening. However, you chose to enjoy forest bathing, the benefits are clear with studies linking it to reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol, anxiety and high blood pressure, while mood and creativity are boosted.

“Humans still operate on the same software as in the Stone Age,” says wood expert and former forester Edwin Thoma. “And that’s why spending time in nature is so refreshing. The biochemicals trees exchange are a true elixir for us humans.”

Spoilt for choice

With six national parks and almost half the country covered in forest, Austria’s diverse landscape has plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in nature. Even its capital, Vienna, is famed for being the world’s greenest city. No matter the appeal, Austria offers the ideal destination to recharge and revive. So start planning your trip now and unlock the rewards that a backto-nature holiday can deliver. For more information, visit austria.info.

Get the most from Forest Bathing

Time it wisely Avoid the crowds and try early morning or mid-week when your patch will be quieter.
Turn off all devices No one needs the distracting ping of a WhatsApp to shatter the peace.
Slow down Don’t aim to get from A-B, just let your feet take over, or better still, follow your nose and seek out those deep earthy smells.
Focus on your senses What can you smell, hear, see or feel?
You may prefer to stop and sit. Remember, the quieter you are, the more alive the nature around you will become.
Take in your surroundings Studies have shown that shades of green and blue, found in abundance on a clear day in the forest, are proven to help people relax the most.
Breathe Concentrate on your breathing with deep breaths in and out, taking in all those beneficial phytoncides produced by the trees

Where to visit

Long for a fresh forest landscape? Austria has something for you The Styrian Mountains, known for its forests of larch and Swiss pine. The Waldviertel region, which translates as ‘Forest Quarters’. Böhmerwald in Upper Austria has deep forests and granite rocks. Bregenzerwald, famed for its distinctive wooden architecture. The Karwendel region of Tirol, with over 2,000 sycamore maples. Salzburg’s Lungau region, is home to the country’s biggest UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Playlist | How does Your Garden Grow?

“Hello sunshine
So glad to see you sunshine
Hello sunshine
It’s been dark for a very long time”

A bit of sunshine, a bit of rain and a lot of love. Hear the playlist here

DJ: FRANCES AMBLER

Why we love | ridiculous romantic novel titles

We know you should never judge a book by its cover but sometimes it is rather fun

In our April issue, we’ve been celebrating the romance novel in all its forms. From Austen heroes brooding in drawing rooms, to steamy scenes from more modern times, romance as a genre is something we can all relate to and something we love to love, even though we know it’s just a bit silly. So in honour of all that, we’ve collated eight of the more silly and very real titles of romance novels we encountered and have imagined how their plots might pan out. 

Mad, Bad and Dangerous in Plaid

Two kilt makers in the Highlands are driven to a turf war over ownership of a design. The last thing they expected was for love to blossom over a patent rights dispute. 

Beginner’s Guide to Rakes

When Susan gets her first allotment, she is confused by the range of garden and DIY tools on offer in her local Homebase. Fortunately, Roger is there to lend a hand. 

Aroused by Two Lions

A chance encounter while on a day trip to Whipsnade brings more than Elsa bargained for.

Emily’s Magical Bejewelled Codpiece

Tudor historian Emily discovers the costume department of the museum contains a secret door to the court of King Henry VIII and adventure awaits. 

Desert Prince, Defiant Virgin

Prince Ali has never left his village home on the edge of the desert and decides if he is to find love, he must take his search to further flung lands. Unfortunately, due to Richard Branson’s cuts, the flight is cancelled. 

Grace Before Meat

The Reverend John Alford is a regular at his village butcher. Then one day a new apprentice arrives in the form of beautiful Emily Bones, and love blossoms over the lamb shanks.

Romance Goes Tenting

A dark and rainy night, a young couple on their first holiday… a row over why on earth he didn’t book the caravan as she’d suggested. Things are going to get stormy before they get steamy. 

Apollo’s Seed

An unlikely romance blooms between Ted, who is putting in his annual Thompson and Morgan’s seed catalogue order, and Octavia, a young Greek woman, working at the call centre. 

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our April issue…

More literary inspiration…

New hobby | Plein Air Sketching

Make a walk an event by sitting down to sketch the landscape for a short while

There aren’t many things that don’t feel just a bit more ‘alive’ for being practised outdoors; eating alfresco is so much more than just supper, sleeping under the stars turns a daily fact of life into something magic… And art? Well, painting a landscape, live, out in the fresh air, is like the difference between watching a BBC schools TV film of Julius Caesar and being in the Globe watching the RSC perform it live. 

‘Plein Air’ painting, the act of painting a landscape like a sitting portrait, with the artist able to better capture the changing light, weather and atmosphere, began in the 1800s, pioneered by Constable, whose painting, Boatbuilding, Near Flatford Mill was conceived and painted entirely outdoors. The catalyst, lovely though the great outdoors is, was the rather more prosaic fact of tubes of oil paints suddenly becoming available. Paints had previously needed to be mixed from raw pigments which did not lend themselves to being thrown into a bag for an impromptu day’s painting out in the fields. A few tubes fitted nicely into your artist’s knapsack alongside a Thermos and a cheese sandwich. 

The Plein Air movement soon spread to the continent, its high point coming with Impressionist landscapes; think the likes of Monet, Renoir and Pissaro with their dappled light and soft, outdoorsy colours. 

Perhaps it’s the fresh air going to our heads, but we think we might just be inspired enough to give plein air a go ourselves now the weather’s warming up. How hard can a few water lilies be to paint anyway? If you fancy trying it too, here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Put together a bit of a kit. You don’t need a full-on pochade box, though. In fact, it’s best if you travel fairly light. Just a modest art kit (more on that below), something to keep warm if you’re sitting still for long periods, a hat if it’s sunny (or chilly), and we recommend a flask of tea and a generous slice of cake. Art is not fuelled on inspiration alone, you know. 

2. If you’re painting you just need something to paint on (paper, card, a sketchbook or canvas), a couple of brushes of different sizes, something to put water in and a cloth to wipe your brushes. Watercolours travel more easily than oils but don’t be put off oils or gouache if that’s what you prefer. You don’t need to take them all either; just consider your location, and pick out a few tubes of paint to match the colouring of the scenery.  Plein Air fans often say they prefer to use ‘found’ water for rinsing brushes than taking their own. There’s definitely something charming about using water taken from the sea to paint your beach scene, or even just asking the cafe that features in your scene for a glass of water to paint with.

3. Of course, sketching with coloured pencils or charcoals is lots of fun, too. We think if Monet had had the wealth of colours offered in a Faber Castell kit, he’d have given it a go, too. 

4. Choose a location that inspires you. It doesn’t have to be a pastoral idyll; just somewhere that ‘speaks’ to you. It also needs to be somewhere you can easily sit undisturbed (so if the roundabout at Elephant and Castle speaks to you maybe think again). You also need somewhere comfy enough to sit, whether that’s a grassy hillock or a camping chair on a street corner. 

5. Take a photo of the scene you’re painting just for reference later on. It’s very satisfying once you start to get a little bit good.

6. Before you start, do a quick sketch of the scene you want to recreate; what plein air artists call a ‘thumbnail sketch’. It just gives you an idea of composition and what’s going where. Try to pick just one or two elements to focus on in the picture.

7. Once you’re painting or drawing, your watchword is ‘speed’. That might seem to go against the whole ethos of the thing, but you’ll be surprised how quickly the light changes. If painting, use a broad brush and just block in colour. You can add more detail and colour on top later, but you need to get the basics in first so the light doesn’t change the colours and where shadows fall too much while you’re working. 

8. Be prepared to chat to passers by and show off your work (or adopt the look of a serious artist who must not be disturbed by trivialities and wear obvious headphones). 

The photograph above is by Dr Ali Foxon, who we spoke to in our April issue for our ‘Walking with Purpose’ feature. Ali runs boggydoodles.com which organises green sketching events for groups. Turn to page 44 to meet Ali and more people who have added ‘purpose’ to their walks in different ways. 

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our April issue…

More artistic inspiration…

Make | Chocolate & Peppermint Lip Balm

A simple project for a sweet-smelling Easter gift to make a change from a chocolate egg

Homemade lip balm is easier than you might expect. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can experiment with different flavour combinations. This version is like mint choc chip ice cream for your lips.

Makes two pots of lip balm

1 tbsp coconut oil
1½ tbsp shea butter
1½ tbsp cocoa butter
1 tbsp cocoa powder
3 drops peppermint essential oil
2 x 30ml jars

1 Put the coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter and cocoa powder into a jam jar or bowl.

2 Set the bowl over a pan of boiling water, taking care not to let it touch the water. As soon as they’ve all melted, remove from the heat. Alternatively, heat in the microwave for 60-90 seconds, or until melted.

3 Let the mix cool for a few minutes before adding the essential oil.

4 Stir well before pouring into your jars. Be careful not to spill the mixture around the top of the jar as this’ll make it difficult to open once cooled. To speed up the cooling process, put your jars in the fridge or freezer.

This recipe is just one of the creative projects by Lottie Storey that feature in our Heart, Body and Soul pages, which this issue focuses on chocolate (of course). There are also instructions for making a chocolate and rose petal salami, chocolate tagliatelle and a pain au chocolat miso pudding. Photography by Kirstie Young.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our April issue…

More chocolate (because there can’t be too much)…

Recipe | Campfire Salmon

You don’t need to catch your fish for it to taste just better when eaten on the beach

This campfire salmon with tomato skewers is just the ticket for an impromptu day spent at the beach. It’s best eaten with windswept hair and mopped up with crusty bread after. 

Serves 4 

4 salmon fillets 

Salt and pepper 

1 lemon, sliced 

A punnet of cherry tomatoes 

Olive oil to drizzle 

1 Take two pieces of foil big enough to wrap the fish in. Place them on top of each other and place the salmon fillets in the middle. 

2 Season the salmon with salt and pepper then cover with lemon slices. Wrap the foil over the fish making sure there aren't any holes or gaps. 

3 Using wooden skewers, thread the cherry tomatoes onto the sticks, drizzle with a little oil and season with salt and pepper. Place a wire griddle over the fire – above the burning embers and away from the flames – and place your skewers on top, turning regularly until they begin to blacken. 

4 Meanwhile, place the foil salmon packet directly in the fire and flip roughly every 5 mins, cooking for around 25 mins, or until the fish is fully cooked. Serve with the tomato skewers and home-baked soda bread. 

Cook’s note: Soak your wooden skewers before using to stop them from charring and bring an old wire rack to balance on the fire to make cooking quicker. 

This recipe is part of our Gathering feature, Bright and Breezy, from our April issue, a complete guide to having an impromptu spring day by the sea. Alongside campfire and picnic recipes, it also features ideas for enjoying the beach responsibly and games to play on the sand. Photography by Brent Darby Photography and Narratives Photo Agency.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our April issue…

More campfire recipes…

Recipe: Hot Cross Bun Cakes

Make Good Friday the best Friday ever with these seasonal buns that are just a bit different from an ordinary HCB

Makes 12

2 duck eggs or 3 large chicken eggs
90ml buttermilk
185g butter
Zest of 1 orange
185g self-raising flour
1⁄2 tsp baking powder
70g ground almonds
185g light brown sugar
2 tsp mixed spice
120g sultanas
1 tbsp apricot jam or marmalade 

for the icing
60g cream cheese
40g butter
60g icing sugar
Zest of 1⁄2 an orange equipment

Cupcake tin
12 cupcake cases Piping bag and nozzle 

1 Preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160C/350F. Beat the eggs in a bowl and then add the buttermilk. Melt the butter, add it to the bowl and mix well. Stir in the orange zest. 
2 In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar and mixed spice, and stir in the ground almonds. Then fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture. Stir in the sultanas. 
3 Spoon the cake batter into the cake cases, about three-quarters full, and bake for 18–20 mins until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tin for a few mins before transferring cakes in their cases to a cooling rack. 
4 Meanwhile, heat the apricot jam or marmalade in a saucepan with a dash of water until it becomes liquid. Using a pastry brush, glaze the cakes while they are still warm and then allow to cool. 
5 Mix all the icing ingredients together. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a small, plain nozzle and pipe a cross onto the top of each cake.

Recipe from Love, Aimee x by Aimee Twigger (Murdoch Books)

 Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

From our April issue:

More Easter inspiration:

Wellbeing | cold water therapy

Plunging into something a little chilly brings benefits that go far beyond a thorough wake-up call

In our March issue, we’ve looked at the rise in popularity of cold water immersion and some of the benefits it can bring to both mind and body.

You don’t even need a lake or river to swim in; these days, folk are getting wet and wintry in barrels and baths in their garden, and even just dipping their toe into cold water immersion with a quick blast at the end of a morning shower. 

You can read more about it all from page 74 of our March issue. In the meantime, here are a few tips to help you get started on your cold water journey. <Passes you a Thermos and a warm towel>

Ready to take the plunge? Some good preparation will help 

1 Let yourself acclimatise to cold water by slowly increasing the time you spend in it and if you’re swimming outdoors, starting when the water is warmer in the summer and autumn. 

2 Stay warm as long as you can before you go in. Wrap up warm if you’re outside or have a warm shower before you turn the temperature down. 

3 Practise some breathwork to help you keep calm when you get in. Visit wimhofmethod.com for tips. 

4 Take your time getting in, splashing water onto your legs, torso, arms and shoulders before immersing yourself. 

5 You’ll be at your coldest 10 minutes after you come out, so get out while you’re still feeling good, dry off then layer up and keep moving. 

6 Don’t be too brave. If you prefer to wear a wetsuit, then wear one. 

7 If you don’t fancy going the whole hog, try immersing your face in cold water for a few seconds (more than just a splash!). 

8 Have fun! Experiment with water butts, barrels and icy baths, and play music and dance about to distract you from the cold.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our April issue…

More ways to be well…

Recipe | Whitby Lemon Buns

Whitby lemon buns are similar to Iced Fingers, but are usually square. The icing will harden, so for a softer version, add 1 tsp of water. 

These have been a speciality of E Botham and sons of Whitby since the 1860s, but are made by other bakers now, too. Plump, filling and beautifully zesty, they make an occasion of any cup of tea and are a cheering sight in the cake tin. Here’s how to make them yourself.

Makes 12 buns 

For the buns: 

15g dried yeast 

250ml lukewarm whole milk 

500g plain flour 

½ tsp baking powder 

60g demerara sugar 

100g butter (room temp), cubed 

2 eggs 

5g fine sea salt 

Zest of ½ lemon 

150g raisins or currants 

For the glaze: 

200g icing sugar 

35ml lemon juice 

1 Add the yeast to the milk and stir to gently activate. Meanwhile, in a bowl or electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, baking powder and sugar, then add the butter on top. Pour in half of the yeast mix and knead. When fully absorbed, add the rest of the yeast mix, along with the eggs, and knead for 5 mins more. Leave to stand for a few mins. 

2 Add the salt, lemon zest and raisins and knead for 10 mins more, or until it’s formed a smooth, elastic dough. 

3 Cover and set aside for 1 hr. Line a 39x27cm tin with baking parchment. 

4 Divide the dough into 12 equal parts. Take each piece and lightly flatten, pulling in the outer parts like a purse and squeezing together. Turnover and place in the baking tin. 

5 Cover with a cotton cloth, then wrap in a plastic bag. Rest for 1 hr, or until doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 210C/Fan 190C/Gas 6. 

6 Bake for 8–10 mins, or until golden. Allow to cool, then make the glaze by mixing the icing sugar with the lemon juice and using to top each bun. 

Cook’s note: You can freeze these buns before icing: thaw and revive in a hot oven before adding the icing.

This recipe is taken from Oats in the North, Wheat From the South by Regula Ysewijn (Murdoch Books). Photography by Regula Ysewijn.

You can read more of the recipes from the book, including Tottenham Cake, Manchester Tart and Devonshire Splits, in our April issue, on sale now. 

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

From our April issue…

More bakes to make…

March | a final thought

We’ve reached the end of our March ‘Balm’ issue. We hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed making it.

Our April issue will be on shelves (and on your doormat too) if you order directly from us. In the meantime, we hope this gorgeous illustration by Amber Fossey cheers and comforts you a little.

More from our March issue…