Playlist | Starry skies

Heaven’s above! We’re getting a little starry eyed with this month’s playlist. You can listen to it on Spotify here.
And have a browse of all our playlists here

Sponsored post | Follow the trail to Wales

Winter is the ideal time to visit Wales and take in its unspoilt beauty, jaw-dropping wildlife and delicious local produce

The new year is here and with it, fresh opportunities to explore somewhere different or learn a new skill. If you’re raring to visit a destination that offers a rich mix of nature, culture, food and heritage, then look no further than Wales for an invigorating break that will heighten the senses.

It’s easy to feel that the long nights and grey days may never give way to sunnier climes, however, now is the ideal time to plan a trip to break up the monotony of winter. Whether it’s a weekend visit or a little longer to allow yourself more time to explore, Wales’ mix of dramatic landscapes and diverse culture is sure to open you up to new adventures.

Wales appeals to those who love the great outdoors and is home to three National Parks and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The adventurous will be in their element on a craggy mountainside, perhaps ascending Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) or Pen y Fan. The views will be worth the climb, but many routes won’t be for the faint of heart. For a more gentle amble, pull on your walking boots and head for one of Wales’ well-worn trails, maybe a stint along the Wales Coast Path for breathtaking sea views, or inland to take in the sights of ancient standing stones or ruined castles and to acquaint yourself with local folklore, myths and legend. 2023 is Wales’ Year of Trails, so whatever your ability or energy levels, there’s a route to suit and to guide you around the country’s beloved sights.

With spectacular scenery comes wonderful wildlife, so pack your binoculars. From the Wales Coast Path you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of dolphins – Cardigan Bay is a hotspot – or a grey seal bobbing playfully amidst the waves, particularly around the Pembrokeshire coast. Later in the year, on Skomer island, puffin colonies are a sight to behold, and twitchers will appreciate the red kites and ospreys to be found in Mid Wales.

Meanwhile, with large areas unspoilt by light pollution, budding astrologers will be in awe of Wales’ unrivalled network of International Dark Sky Reserves and Dark Sky Parks. Winter is the ideal time to wrap up warm, fill a Thermos, and embrace the long nights to gaze skywards.

After a day spent exploring, the promise of a good meal and a cosy night’s sleep will keep spirits raised. Head to a bustling market town or city and you’ll find an abundance of eateries proudly serving local produce, from inviting pubs with a welcoming fire to award-winning fine dining – you’ll want to extend your trip just to taste all that’s on offer. But one thing’s for certain, enjoying a taste of this beautiful land during the quieter months is sure to ignite a lifelong love affair with Wales.

Wonderful Wales

Three National Parks:

• Eryri (Snowdonia)
• The Pembrokeshire Coast
• The Brecon Beacons

Five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty:

• The Anglesey Coast
• The Gower Peninsula
• The Llŷn Peninsula
• The Clwydian Range and the Dee Valley
• The Wye Valley

For more information and inspiration, visit visitwales.com

Recipe | Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate

A hot drink when it’s cold outside is one of life’s simple pleasures. Classic Christmassy confectionery adds a festive feel. (It’s not Terry’s; it’s ours)

Serves 2

100g orange chocolate, such as Terry’s Chocolate Orange
30g dark chocolate
1 orange
400ml whole milk
100ml single cream
Pinch of salt

1 Finely chop both types of chocolate using a sharp knife.

2 Using a peeler, remove a 10cm piece of peel from the orange.

3 Combine the chocolate, peel, milk, cream and salt in a pan and place over a low heat. While the chocolate slowly melts, stir well with a wooden spoon.

4 Once melted, pour into two mugs and serve immediately, or transfer to a flask for outdoor adventuring.

This warming festive drink is just one of the recipes and ideas from our feature, Christmas is Coming from the December issue. It also includes popcorn garlands, gingerbread snowflake biscuits, retro glitter decorations, Night Before Christmas cocktails and lots more things to make and do during advent.

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More things to make and do in Advent…

More from our December issue…

Book Group | I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day

If you’re celebrating Jolobokaflod* with a new book and want something festive and uncomplicated, this gorgeously festive novel by Milly Johnson is like a great big hug. Six people are snowed in at a pub in a tiny hamlet on the Yorkshire moors. Will there be twinkly lights, red wine and plenty of heartwarming romantic unions? Oh, we think there might be…
Questions to ponder Johnson’s books are sometimes seen as “far-fetched.” Do you agree and, if so, did this spoil or enhance it? Which pub would you like to get stuck in?
Further reading You might also like Always in December by Emily Stone or The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan.

*An Icelandic tradition whereby everyone receives a new book wrapped up with some chocolate on Christmas Eve. We think this should not be only a tradition, but the LAW.

More book group meetings…

More from our December issue…

Wellbeing | How to feel more 'Christmassy'

Contrary to what the TV ads would have you believe, we don’t all turn into tinselled elves on 1st December, decking the halls and fa-la-la-la-la-ing with gusto. Christmasiness is not obligatory at all. But, if you feel as though you would like to embrace the season a little more but just aren’t feeling it yet, we’ve come up with a few ideas to help you feel more Christmassy instantly (or Christmantly, we suppose). Some take only a few seconds, others will require a couple of hours, but all will help you up the festive feeling if that’s your heart’s desire.  

As always, no pressure at all. Here at The Simple Things we believe in ‘could-do lists’ rather than ‘to-do lists’ so pick and choose as many as you fancy, make up your own, or simply read, smile inwardly and continue to Bah, Humbug to your heart’s content. We’re not here to judge. 

1. Shake a snow globe and imagine living inside it. 

2. Go to a Christmas tree farm, and enjoy the scent of Blue Spruce, even if you’re not buying a tree yet. 

3. Sit down with a glass of Sherry and write a Proper Letter in a Christmas card to a friend you’ve not seen this year.

4. Dig out the ubiquitous Christmassy candle someone will have given you last year and sit quietly with it burning in the dark.

5. Buy some pretty paper chains and string them together. 

6. Listen to the opening bars of Once in Royal David’s City and well up a bit at the lovely choir boy’s singing. 

7. Open the jar of cinnamon sticks in your spice cupboard and inhale deeply (not recommended with cinnamon powder!)

8. Visit a church in Advent, even if it’s just for a contemplative look round rather than a service. 

9. Seek out some carols in the open air (National Trust properties usually have some).

10. Make gingerbread biscuits.

11. Watch a black and white Christmas film (or Terminator if you’re not a purist).

12. Open the Quality Street tin early.

13. Have Christmas canapes for dinner one Friday night. Pass the brie and cranberry vol-au-vents and pigs in blankets, please!

14. Read a Christmassy book at bedtimes. A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas and The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater are just two of our favourites. 

15. Put up some fairy lights. If it feels too early to go the whole hog dec-wise, just drape some plain white fairy lights along a shelf or mantelpiece. 

16. Bake some proper mince pies. So much nicer than shop bought even if they are a bit fally-aparty. 

17. Roast chestnuts. Or, if that feels like too much effort, buy a tub of pistachios and retreat to the sofa for the evening with a film.

18. Visit a deer park and wonder about which deer are the magic ones… 

19. Do some ‘Nice’ Christmas Shopping. Not a mad dash around town. Just one or two trusted and lovely shops for a couple of thoughtful gifts for favourite people, a walk back past some Christmas lights with a silly Christmassy coffee (the only time when egg nog flavouring is acceptable) and then home to wrap your gifts carefully. Yes, of course with proper ribbon and handwritten gift tags. 

20. Have a roaring fire with one of your mince pies and more of that sherry. If you don’t have a fire in your home, find a pub with one and have one of their mince pies and sherry. 

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More things to make you feel Christmassy…

More from our December issue…

Cake in the House | Mulled Wine & Cranberry Tea Bread

Declare mulled wine season open and seek out fresh cranberries for this spiced cake (it’s also a good way to use up leftovers, come January).

Serves 12

A wine-mulling spice bag*
200ml light, fruity red wine
1 tbsp clear honey
75g ready-to-eat dried figs, chopped
50g crystallised stem ginger, chopped
75g blanched almonds, chopped
50g dried cranberries
50g dried sour cherries
100g light brown soft sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Zest of 2 oranges
100g fresh cranberries
225g self-raising flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground allspice

For the topping:
75g dried cranberries (or dried sour cherries, or sultanas)
2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
4 tbsp redcurrant jam

1 Start by lining a buttered 7cm deep loaf tin with baking paper. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 160C/140C Fan/Gas 2-3.

2 Place the spice bag in a pan with the red wine and honey and slowly bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Leave over a very low heat for 5 mins, then set aside.

3 Mix together the figs, ginger, almonds, dried cranberries, cherries and sugar. Remove the spice bag from the mulled wine, then pour the warm wine over the dried fruit and leave to soak for 30 mins.

4 Stir the eggs, orange zest and the fresh cranberries into the soaked dried fruit. Next, sift in the flour, cinnamon and allspice and mix well.

5 Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 55 mins. Leave to cool in the tin, turning out once cool.

6 To make the topping, gently heat the cranberries, orange juice and jam in a pan over a low heat, stirring until dissolved.

7 Brush the top of the loaf with the topping, then spoon the cranberries along the middle of the loaf and leave to cool before serving.

Cook’s note: If you can’t get dried cranberries or dried sour cherries you can swap for the same weight of sultanas

Taken from Comfort: A Winter Cookbook (Ryland Peters & Small). Photography: © Ryland Peters & Small

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More bakes for this month…

More from our blog…

Make | Festive Things on Strings

The best decorations are the ones you make sitting round the table over mince pies and hot chocolates with carols on in the background. Here are a few things you can fling on strings and then hang about the house looking pleasingly cheerful yet rustic…

1. Popcorn. It’s our go-to garland string item. Fun to make, delicious to eat as you decorate, and it looks so pretty wrapped around the tree, too. (For most effective results, hang the popcorn garlands in a spiral going from the top to the bottom of the tree, widening with each circuit as you go). You can find out exactly how to make popcorn garlands on page 11 of the December issue of The Simple Things. 

2. Cranberries. Plump, deep pink and so Christmassy, cranberries look stunning threaded onto cotton. For more natural garland inspiration, turn to our home tour in the December issue and read about Christmas Crafting Queen Holly Grundy’s Norfolk home. 

3. Dried orange slices. Dried in a dehydrator or a very low oven, slices of orange look like tiny stained glass window when threaded onto cotton and hung in the light. They smell absolutely delicious, too. 

4. Dried apple slices. If you core the apple before slicing you’ll have rings which look charming with lengths of ribbon threaded through the holes. Try tying a cinnamon stick in for every few apple slices you thread for a more textured and even more fragrant look. 

5. Bay leaves. For a simple, evergreen look, strings of bay leaves look wonderful. You probably need a bay tree to pull this off or you’ll need to invest in an awful lot of Schwartz jars. 

6. Chillis. Festive and fiesta-ish, fiery chillies look fun strung up in the kitchen. 

7. Pretzels and monkey nuts. This is a fun one as an edible decoration for a pre-Christmas drinks gathering. Be prepared to clear up lots of crumbs. 

8. Wine bottle corks. Start saving them up and simply thread onto cotton with a needle. Whether you’ll look like a lush or just like you know how to throw a great party, we wouldn’t like to comment.

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Photography by Rebecca Lewis

More from our blog…

More decoration inspiration…

Sponsored post | Deck the Walls

Gather nature’s decorations to create an eye-catching winter wall hanging with Seasalt Cornwall

Celebrate the magic of winter by gathering seasonal foliage from your garden or local woodland to create this beautiful wall hanging. You can use any greenery, but we love foliage such as bay and thyme which will give your hanging a wonderful scent. If you have any leftover cuttings afterwards, try popping them in fillable baubles for an additional touch of nature on your Christmas tree.

You will need:

A length of dowel or foraged stick
Jute twine
Scissors
Foliage (such as eucalyptus, ivy, thyme and bay)
Pinecones
Cinnamon sticks
Dried orange slices

This project was created by Becki Clark, a multidisciplinary creative designer and author. Her simple thing is nature and watching the seasons change, which in turn inspires her work, books and craft projects. beckiclark.com

Becki wears Wave Curve Jacket; Swan’s Way Shirt; Cabin Socks, all Seasalt Cornwall Deck the walls… Discover Seasalt Cornwall and find more craft ideas at seasaltcornwall.com

DRYING ORANGE SLICES

1 Preheat your oven to 125C/ Fan 105C/Gas ½. Using a knife, slice an orange into 1cm slices.
2 Lay flat on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 2-3 hrs, turning halfway.
3 Once the orange slices are dried and crisp around the edges, remove and leave to cool

Sponsored post | Sweet & Salty

Sprinkle extra love into your dishes with Maldon Salt’s trusted flakes of flavour

This year marks 140 years of salt craftsmanship for Essex-based Maldon Salt. The family-run business has enjoyed a whole year of anniversary celebrations designed to pay homage to this proud milestone, and to inspire current and future generations of foodies to seize the seasoning. Now run by the fourth generation of the Osborne family, Maldon Salt’s distinctive pyramid flake is still hand crafted in much the same way as it was back in 1882, and continues to be loved and cherished by chefs and home cooks alike. With the festive season almost upon us, homes across the land will no doubt be reaching for Maldon Salt to enhance the mouth-watering dishes being served up – but did you know that a small amount of salt also improves the flavour of sweet dishes? With this in mind, Maldon Salt has created several sweet recipes to enjoy, including Rum & Raisin Fudge (pictured above) and Chocolate & Amaretto Truffle.

For the above recipes and more, visit maldonsalt.com or follow on Instagram: @maldonsalt

Recipe and styling: Libby Silbermann. Photography: David Loftus

Pistachio & Dark Chocolate Cookies

These make an ideal homemade gift, or have them to hand should people pop by unexpectedly

Makes 15

For the cookies:
150g unsalted butter
150g caster sugar
2 egg yolks
250g self-raising flour
30g cocoa powder
50g dark chocolate, finely chopped

For the topping:
100g dark chocolate, melted
50g pistachios, finely chopped
Maldon Sea Salt

1 Preheat the oven to 190C/Fan 170C/ Gas 5 and line a baking tray with baking paper.

2 In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks, then sift in the flour and cocoa before mixing well. Knead in the chopped chocolate until you have a smooth dough, then roll into a ball and cover in food wrap. Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hr, ideally overnight.

3 When ready, roll out the dough on a lightly-floured surface until it’s 2cm thick. Using a 7cm cutter, cut out your cookies and place on the baking tray. Bake for 8-10 mins before removing and leaving to cool on a wire rack.

4 Once cool, dip half of each cookie in the melted chocolate, then sprinkle with the chopped pistachios and a good pinch of Maldon Salt

Think | Why the best kitchen tables look lived in

Like laughter lines, stains on a well-loved table are a sign of a life well lived. We’re rethinking all those imperfections and taking a look at the marks, spills and stains that every table needs

Red wine

From that memorable dinner party where your friend brought an unexpected guest (who was that?) and they spilled a full glass of Merlot while reaching for the cheese knife, and then one of your other guests didn’t go home for two days because their hangover was so appalling and then Sunday lunch happened. 

Candle wax

From the time your book club turned into a bit of a counselling session and no one noticed the candle burning too low and pouring all over the table top. 

Sharpie pen

From the one and only time you forgot to put a plastic mat under a child’s artwork and they drew a (very unflattering) portrait of you complete with “bigg bottom”.

Curry sauce

From that evening when your best friend had had a row with her partner and turned up <just> when it was too late to stretch dinner, so you piled it all into Tupperware and phoned for a takeaway instead. 

A deep scratch

After the time you briefly took up lino cut printing and got a bit over-enthusiastic with the small ‘v’ gouge while carving a pastoral scene into your linoleum piece.

White heat marks

From the lunchtime when you were so pleased with the paella you’d made, you put the skillet straight down on the tabletop without thinking.

Dents from shoes

From the day you had a few friends round and a quiet drink and some nibbles turned into impromptu karaoke and your sister didn’t take off her heeled boots before strutting her stuff on the table to Don’t Stop Me Know. 

If you also see the joy of a well-loved kitchen table, you might like to read our My Place feature this month, which is looking at views around the kitchen table, such as the one by Samantha Hansard @vintagecuratorinteriors, pictured above.

More from our November issue…

More things we love about home…

Playlist | A Christmas mood

DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Shutterstock

Want to listen to something to get you in the Christmas mood? You find our playlist on Spotify here.

We’ve plenty more actually good Christmas playlists. Take a listen here, here and here.

Competition | Win a Colourful Shopping Spree at Gudrun Sjödén

Two lucky readers have the chance to win a £200 Gudrun Sjödén voucher to update both their wardrobe and their home

This season, immerse yourself in Gudrun Sjödén’s latest collection – a gorgeous love letter to the brand´s heritage of Nordic folklore and textile arts. A rich range bursting with pattern joy, swirling botanical motifs and bold stripes, all in a palette of frosty white, tomato red, aubergine and golden citrus, be creative with winter layering and play with combining warming, tactile materials, contrasting block colours and patterns. If all this inspires you, enter our competition to win one of two vouchers – each worth £200 – to spend online or in store.

FRUITFUL FASHION
Included in the collection is the cosy Apelsin sweater with its lustrous citrus print, which is sure to inject some vitamin C into your wardrobe, while the Orsa dress makes the ideal Christmas outfit and comes in a luxurious velour, printed with a folky rose pattern. Gudrun Sjödén’s jewel-coloured treats aren’t just limited to your wardrobe, either; adorn your home with beautiful handmade pieces that have a story to tell. Frame your festive gatherings with invigorating homeware printed with winter blossoms and citrus fruits in warming colour combinations. While tea towels, tablecloths ceramic mugs and hand-painted baubles, all with striking motifs, make for lovely Christmas gifts, either to yourself or for a loved one.

For more info, visit gudrunsjoden.com or follow on Instagram: @gudrunsjoden.ldn

How to enter For your chance to win one of two £200 vouchers* to spend online or in store at Gudrun Sjödén, enter our competition by the closing date of 11 January 2023. Just click the button below to enter and answer the following question:

Q. Gudrun’s latest collection is a gorgeous love letter to…
a. Cosy winter
b. Nordic folklore
c. Swedish snow

TERMS & CONDITIONS This competition closes at 11.59pm on 11 January 2023. Two winners will be selected at random from all the correct entries received and notified soon after. The winners cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. *Vouchers are not valid for carpets and rugs. Entrants must be UK residents. Details of our full terms are on p121 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Sponsored post | The Gift of Giving

With Christmas just around the corner, here are some of our favourite brands to provide a little
shopping inspiration…

Pom Pom: Happy Knits For Little Kids

What could be better than a hand-knitted present for that little person in your life, or perhaps for that knitter who loves to make for kids? Mini Pomis Pom Pom’s collection of 11 versatile knitting and crochet patterns for kids aged 0-10. From classic pullovers, to a granny square cardigan, and the perfect mittens for colder days, these are patterns that kids (and grown-ups) will love! Readers of The Simple Things can save 25%* by using the code SIMPLETHINGS at checkout. pompommag.com

Bare Kind

Nothing beats the feeling of cosy toes, except the feeling of cosy toes alongside the warm glow of helping to save endangered animals. At Bare Kind, 10% of profits are donated to help save the animal featured on their beautifully soft bamboo socks, and last year they helped to protect 1,200 acres of rainforest, planted 13 rugby pitches worth of wildflower seeds and released 4,300 baby turtles on a beach in Sumatra, which makes them a gift worth giving. Readers of The Simple Things can save 15%* by using the code SIMPLE15 at checkout.barekind.com

Oubas Knitwear

Based in Cumbria, Oubas is an independent knitwear company whose ethos is to help people enjoy dressing naturally and to embrace a slower pace. Offering knits in beautiful shades of pure wools and cashmere, Oubas has been designing and producing knitwear for 10 years, with each piece carefully made by hand. For inspiration for ideal Christmas gifts, discover their range of colourful, warm winter accessories, all in natural fibres. oubasknitwear.co.uk

Keen

Keep feet looking stylish with KEEN’s new consciously created Mosey Chukka desert boot. Featuring natural fibre laces and pull tabs, a chemical-free anti-odour system and gum rubber and cork outer sole, the women’s boots come in either felt (Natural or Taupe) – made from a planet friendly 50% recycled wool blend – or a soft, supple leather (Olive), sourced from an environmentally preferred Leather Working Group (LWG) tannery. Meanwhile, the men’s environmentally preferred leather edition comes in three colours.keenfootwear.com

Meaningful Mornings

If you’re after a dose of positivity, then the Meaningful Mornings planner has been designed to help you live a happy, healthy and meaningful life. It’s ideal for getting organised and keeping on track with all of your projects and appointments thanks to its sections for monthly, weekly and daily planning. There’s also a dedicated space for recording everything that you’re grateful for and all those happy moments that you cherish. Weekly inspirational quotes will help to inspire, along with self-care tips for improved mental and physical health, happiness, productivity and wellbeing. meaningfulmornings.co.uk

Gaia Skincare

This festive season, GAIA Skincare has launched six new gift sets to support the wellness of the ones you love. Included in the line-up is GAIA’s Strengthening Gift Set, designed to support mind and body with a Strengthening Body Oil and Pulse Point. Both infused with black pepper and ginger essential oils, they’re blended to relieve aching muscles and awaken the senses, while an energisingCitrinecrystal complements the set and is said to offer healing qualities and aid emotional balance. gaiaskincare.com

Pom Pom: Knit How

Always wanted to learn to knit gifts? Or perhaps you’re looking for a present for a new knitter in your life? Packed full of tutorials and advice, Pom Pom’s Knit How is your go-to guide to start your journey through the world of yarn. From your first few shaky stitches, Knit Howguides you through ten projects, each increasing in complexity until you’ve truly mastered your craft! Readers of The Simple Things can save 25%* by using the code SIMPLETHINGS at checkout.pompommag.com

Valiant

Whatever your tipple of choice – whether it’s a minty mojito, a classic old fashioned or a simple G&T – if you’re after a gift for any budding mixologists in your life, look no further than the Valiant Cocktail Multi-Tool, which makes the ideal stocking filler for cocktail lovers this Christmas. This handy 7-in-1 foldaway device includes a stirrer, jigger, muddler, reamer, straight, zester and corkscrew – and is a great addition to any home bar or to take away for cocktails on the go. simplyvaliant.co.uk

Competition | Win a shepherd hut stay worth £340

Enjoy the best of both worlds with a break that offers nature on your doorstep and all the
creature comforts of home, too

The festive season – many of us spend all year looking forward to the final crescendo of the year, when celebrations fill the social calendar and spending valuable time with loved ones takes centre-stage. Whether it’s sipping bubbles at parties or bracing winter walks followed by cosy afternoons in front of the fire, life is full. But as we move into a new year, things slow down to a more sustainable pace and thoughts tend to turn to plans and ambitions for the year ahead.

If you’re longing to pencil in a treat on the horizon – but something a little more peaceful than activities of late – then a glamping break might be just what you’re after. We’ve teamed up with our friends at Blackdown Shepherd Huts and glamping retreat, Dimpsey, to offer one lucky reader of The Simple Things the chance to win a two-night stay for two in a beautifullycrafted shepherd hut in Somerset. With all the comforts of a high-end break, including sumptuous beds, cosy wood-burners and UK-made artisan pieces throughout, a shepherd hut stay at Dimpsey combines the best of luxury living with the simplicity of nature just outside your door. So you can relax and embrace the opportunity to totally switch off and recharge your batteries, ready to tackle all the adventures that are yet to come.

HOW TO ENTER For your chance to win a two-night break, enter our competition by the closing date of 11 January 2023 by clicking on the button below and answering the following question:

Q. Which county is the shepherd’s hut stay based in?

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This competition closes at 11.59pm on 11 January 2023. A winner will be selected at random from all the correct entries received and notified soon after. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. Subject to availability. The off-peak break must be taken by 30 June 2023. Excludes Christmas, New Year, Easter, school holidays and weekends. Full terms are on p121 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

For more info, visit blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk and dimpsey.co.uk, or follow on Instagram: @blackdownshepherdhuts; @dimpsey_glamping

Book Group | Jonathan Livingston, Seagull

Share with your book group, read alone and join us virtually on The Simple Things sofa, or simply find a bit of inspiration.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story by Richard Bach is a short but fascinating book all about how, if you strive for higher learning, you can achieve great things. Frankly, from an author who wrote a bestselling book with a cast made up entirely of seagulls, we’re listening. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is cast out by his fellow birds for reaching for the stars and sets off on his journey towards self-enlightenment.

Questions to ponder
What sets Jonathan apart from the other gulls? What does flight symbolise in the book?

Further reading
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho both offer life lessons with a little allegory that is good for the soul.

More from our November issue…

More from our book group…

Think | Why We Want More Icelandic Things

Some cultures just really know how to do things <well>, don’t they? Here are a few weird but wonderful Icelandic traditions, customs and ways of life that we’re campaigning to bring to Britain

Jolabokaflod

We rave about this with alarming regularity but it bears repeating. Chocolate and new books for everyone on Christmas Eve?? Why is this not just the law rather than a charming Icelandic tradition?

Thorrablót

Just when the joy of Jolabokaflod is beginning to disperse, January and February arrive and bring Thorrablót, a feasting night with poems, speeches and traditional Icelandic foods. It can be a dinner with close friends or a whole town getting together, but however it’s celebrated it’s a moment to bring a little light and laughter to midwinter. Just what you need. 

Bolludagur

Hot on Thorrablót’s heels (we like the way they really keep the good stuff coming through winter, by the way), Icelanders celebrate Bolludagur - BUN DAY. As if we need to say more than “BUN DAY”, this festival in late February or early March happens the day before Shrove Tuesday. Children make bun wands and spank their parents with them. Each spank is rewarded with a chocolate bun. We didn’t say Bolludagur was about good parenting, but we want a Bun Day, too. 

Valuing time together

Icelanders are big on the important things in life, such as remembering to tell people you enjoyed their company. When they meet, as well as saying ‘nice to see you’ they’ll also say ‘takk fyrir síꝺast’ or ‘thanks for the last time’ so that you know they enjoyed seeing you then as well and you both remember what a jolly time it was. We’d like to see more of this. 

Believing in magic

Apparently 8% of Icelanders are certain that elves exist and 45% believe it is likely that elves are a real thing. Iceland has a strong folklore tradition but we applaud the way the people throw themselves wholeheartedly into it. Especially the trolls - they’re seriously into their folklore... Yes, the trolls. What?!

Proper respect for carbs

With lots of fresh fish and veg in their diets, Icelanders live a fairly healthy lifestyle. But whatever you’re having you can be sure of a nice steamy bowl of potatoes on the side. If it’s possible to love a potato more than the British, Iceland has it covered and we can only applaud this. Every meal feels more comforting with a bowl of tatties on the side. 

Getting water right

Icelandic tap water is just about the purest in the world. No need for buying plastic bottles of water here, the stuff that comes out of the tap is basically Evian. Very refreshing. And very refreshing to see the reduction in wasted plastic from all those bottles they don’t need to buy. We’d like spring water from our taps, too, please. 

Taking things slow

The top speed limit in Iceland is just 55 miles per hour, so you don’t get boy racers screeching past you on the roads. It’s safer, it’s greener and it’s just less stressful when everyone is pootling along taking in the scenery rather than racing from A to B. 

Scaring children just the right amount

Rather than saccharine Santas, at Christmas, Iceland has Gryla (a child-eating ogre) and The Yule Lads (Gryla’s child-eating progenies). There’s also a terrifying Yule Cat who eats children who don’t get new clothes for Christmas. Is anyone else spotting a child-eating theme emerging here? However, a law was passed in 1746 which prohibited adults from scaring children with these tales. The tales remained but after that, kids got presents in shoes as well to calm things down. Seems fair to us. 

Bjordagur

We’re having Bun Day for sure, that’s safe. But now we’ve heard about BEER DAY (Bjordagur) and we definitely want that, too. Beer was actually prohibited in Iceland from 1915 to 1987 so now they celebrate its return by drinking lots of beer every 1st of March. Well, you’d want something to wash down all the buns, wouldn’t you?

If you’re feeling inspired to find out more about the Land of the Midnight Sun, don’t miss our ‘My City’ feature on Reykjavik in the November issue of The Simple Things.

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Sponsored post | Have a delightfully undigital Christmas with Rex London

Rex London is passionate about helping you enjoy the festive season as a family. Too much technology - and too much screen time - can often get in the way of this. That’s why Rex London has curated a collection of classic games, wooden toys and traditional gifts and stocking fillers to provide the perfect digital antidote this Christmas. Sometimes modern problems need old-fashioned solutions!

Learning through play 

It’s time for tea! Children will love hosting the ultimate tea party for their friends, siblings, or even teddy bears. This beautiful play set is ideal for helping them to develop their social skills, as well as their creativity and imagination. This charming tea party set comes in a sturdy cardboard case for tidy storage that will look gorgeous in any room of the house. Or why not use it as a suitcase, for even more imaginative adventures?

Fairies in the Garden tea party set

For younger children, there is little as timeless as a classic wooden toy. Hardwearing and beautiful, they are ideal for little ones who are mastering their fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. 

Wild Wonders wooden elephant push along toy and wooden shape sorter

Vintage entertainment

There's nothing quite like treating the children in your life to a classic toy you received yourself when you were young. Get all nostalgic with Rex London’s favourite retro toys and games, from kaleidoscopes to juggling balls. Perfect for popping into stockings this year for hours of undigital entertainment on the big day.

Traditional stocking fillers for children

Family fun

The Christmas holidays aren’t complete without the family battling it out over some classic games. With more than 20 different games from dominoes and tiddlywinks to bingo and table tennis, Rex London has loads of fun and affordable options to keep the family entertained. One of this year’s most popular gifts is their Ocean memory game. Young children will enjoy finding the matching pairs, while older kids (and grown ups!) can discover new species and even learn their Latin names.

Ocean memory game

Feeling inspired? Be sure to visit Rex London to discover hundreds of unique and thoughtful gifts for all ages and interests. Gifts they’ll adore, at prices you’ll love. 

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Learn | Street Photography Tricks

All you need to be a street photographer is a camera (or even just a camera phone) and some free time. Here are five tricks to try that will help improve your pictures instantly

1. Get down low. Putting your camera actually on the pavement captures a whole new perspective that none of us usually sees. Seeing the world from a pigeon’s perspective (see above) adds a completely different dimension to your photographs. 

2. Try a tilt. This works particularly well with straight lines, such as buildings. Frame your focal object centrally and upright and then tilt your camera 45 degrees before taking the picture for a slightly more interesting shot. 

3. Find a setting and then wait for the subject. If you spot a fabulous backdrop, find a good place to stand to capture the photo in the best light and with the best composition and then wait… for the right person to walk into shot. This often makes for a much better photo than when you focus on looking for a subject primarily and let the background take care of itself. 

4. Get a grid. Most camera phones let you turn on a ‘grid’ on your camera in your settings and it’s really helpful for composing a picture. The grid gives you nine equal squares and you want to place your subject on any of the corners of the central square, leaving space in the rest of the image - this is known as the ‘rule of thirds’, as you’re filling one third of the grid, on the left or right, and leaving the other two thirds emptier. Try it and you’ll see.

5. Look for leading lines or patterns. Leading lines are lines in an image that draw the eye somewhere, so that could be a path, a river, a staircase, a telegraph wire… They can go in any direction or even be curved, but they’ll add depth to your picture. Patterns, particularly repetitive patterns such as those in floor tiles or on a table cloth, also create visual impact. They look great when they seem to have appeared accidentally, or when the pattern is just slightly broken, for example: five brown eggs in a bow and one white one. Just look out for the patterns and lines and have fun! 

Inspired to give it a go? First read our feature on Street Photography, ‘These Streets’, in our November issue, which is taken from the wonderful book Think Like a Street Photographer by Matt Stuart (Laurence King).

More from our November issue…

More photography inspiration…

Recipe | Sticky Sloe and Nut Clusters

These snacks are gooey, sweet, sticky, crunchy… and hard not to finish all in one sitting.

We were inspired to some sweet and slow cooking by the sloe recipes in our feature Let it Sloe in our November issue. It included Sloe Syrup, Sloe Gin Chocolate Cake and a Sloe Treacle Tart. But these munchy Sticky Sloe and Nut Clusters were too good not to share. Find the rest of the recipes in our November issue…

Makes 36

40ml rapeseed oil
140g demerara or soft brown sugar
200g sticky sloes, pitted
70g plain flour
1 heaped tsp cornflour
150g almonds or hazelnuts, roughly chopped

1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas 6 and line a large baking tray (30 x 40cm) with baking paper.

2 In a bowl, mix the oil and sugar, plus 1 teaspoon of water and the sticky sloes. Stir, then add the flour, cornflour and nuts and stir well to combine.

3 Make the clusters by distributing heaped teaspoons of the mixture evenly across the baking tray, with enough space between them for the mixture to spread out a little.

4 Bake for approximately 12 mins, or until the clusters are bubbling and dark brown at the edges. Remove from the oven immediately and leave for 5 mins before gently transferring from the tray to a cooling rack.

Cook’s note: These can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Taken from Wild and Sweet by Rachel Lambert (Hoxton Mini Press) Photography: Elliott White

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Make | Homemade Bath Salts

Just a light sprinkling of these soothing salts will turn bathtime into a luxuruious treat

You will need:

120g Epsom salts

120g pink Himalayan salt

¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda

10 drops each of your choice of essential oils (we used Moroccan rose, lavender and chamomile)

1 tbsp dried flower petals (we used rose, lavender and chamomile)

Airtight glass jar (a Mason jar

or apothecary jar look pretty)

Equipment:

Bowl

Spoon

For giving:

Ribbon and gift tag

1 Mix the salts and bicarbonate of soda in a small bowl.

2 Add 10 drops each of your essential oils and mix together, ensuring everything is evenly distributed. Then add the dried flower petals.

3 Decant the bath salts into your jar and decorate with a ribbon and gift tag with your message and the following instructions: “Dissolve a handful of salts in a hot bath. Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.”

These bath salts are just one of the makes from our feature, The Personal Touch, in our November issue, taken from The Art of Gifting Naturally by Angela Maynard (Hardie Grant).

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More calming bathtimes…

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