Our latest playlist celebrates the magic that can be found all around us. Take a listen here
DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Anneliese Klos
Competition | Win £100 to spend at Lazy Susan
The warmer weather is here, so get more from your outdoor space with elegant garden furniture and smart accessories
Spring has arrived and we’re looking forward to sunnier days, and plenty of time spent outdoors with friends and family. Now is the ideal time to enter our competition with garden-furniture specialists Lazy Susan, to help you prepare your garden for the warmer weather.
Lazy Susan was founded in 2007 by Michael Scott from his shed in West Sussex. After years of struggling to maintain his teak garden table, he realised that the long-term solution wasn’t to continue fighting a losing battle with wood, but to use cast aluminium to make garden furniture. Maintenance-free and rustproof, aluminium doesn’t tarnish or rot, and can be left outside all year round. After much searching, product testing and deliberation, Michael decided on a range that fit the bill and Lazy Susan was born.
Five lucky Simple Things readers are in with the chance to win £100 each to spend on high-quality garden furniture or accessories at Lazy Susan. Shop around to find the perfect set for your garden, patio or balcony; the wide variety means there is something to suit every outdoor area.
Lazy Susan specialises in timeless designs and each piece is powder-coated to produce a long-lasting finish. Elegant touches such as cushions, parasols and other accessories are also crafted with durability in mind, so you can find everything you need to create enduring memories in the heart of your garden.
For more, visit lazysusan.co.uk or call the customer service team on 01243 684 873.
How to enter
For your chance to win one of five £100 vouchers, click the button below and answer the following question by the closing date of 10 May, 2023.
Q: In which county was Lazy Susan founded?
Terms and conditions
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 10 May 2023. Five winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received, and notified soon after. The winners 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.
Competition | Win £300 to spend on Brakeburn Clothing
Win £300 to spend on clothing from Brakeburn, a UK brand making classic clothing for an easy way of living
As the temperature starts to rise and the days get brighter, it’s time to bring more colour and light to our wardrobes, too. Embracing clothes that fit effortlessly into our day-to-day lives is the way to go.
Brakeburn is a laid-back coastal brand born out of a deep love of the outdoor life, creating unique clothing and accessories that are influenced by the stunning beauty of Dorset’s beaches and the rolling Purbeck Hills. All its prints and styles are designed in-house at Brakeburn HQ, meaning every item of clothing reflects the team’s home environment and way of life.
With a focus on creating high-quality pieces that can be worn time and time again, Brakeburn offers a different spin on slow fashion. Including both womenswear and menswear lines, collections include colourful, easy-to-wear dresses, cosy knits, practical outerwear and more, with classic items sure to become much-loved staples of your daily wardrobe. You can explore the collections at brakeburn.com.
To celebrate its latest range, Brakeburn is offering one Simple Things reader the chance to win a £300 voucher to spend on the new spring/summer collection. What finer way to welcome a new season in style?
How to enter
For your chance to win a £300 voucher to spend on the new spring/summer collection at Brakeburn, enter our competition by clicking the button below and answering the following question by the closing date of 10 May 2023.
Q: The Brakeburn collection is influenced by the beaches of Dorset and which hills?
Terms and conditions
The competition closes at midnight on 10 May 2023. Voucher redeemable against full-price items in Brakeburn’s spring/summer 2023 collection. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received, and notified soon after. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. You’ll find our full terms and conditions on p125 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.
Image: Shutterstock
Wellbeing | Feelgood Feet
The Power Stance
The following exercise is recommended by Yamuna Zake, author of The Foot Fix (Watkins). Yamuna has developed an exercise programme to help people prevent and improve problems relating to the feet, and this exercise will help build your arches and align your feet. Use it throughout the day, such as when you’re standing in the kitchen or waiting for a train.
1 Stand with your feet parallel and hip-width apart.
2 Shift your weight into one foot. Line up the outside edge of the foot so it forms a straight line from heel to little toe – a rug or floor tile can help. If any padding from under the foot sticks out, tilt the foot onto the outside edge, bear weight into it, and press outward with your leg and foot. It should look different from the other foot and you should feel you are standing straighter.
3 Move your hip farther to the side so that your weight goes even more into that foot and all the toes except your fifth (little) toe come off the floor.
4 Keeping your weight on the outside edge of the foot, lower your fourth, third, second and big toes one at a time, keeping the knee directly over the middle of your foot and ankle. This will get easier with practice.
5 Once all five toes are on the floor, press them down.
6 Now shift your weight onto the other foot and repeat steps 2–5. 7 Once you’ve placed each toe of the second foot down, shift to standing with equal weight on both feet and all five toes pressing into the floor. 8 Stand this way for a few moments, take some deep breaths, noticing how the breath moves up your body more easily creating a sensation of uplift.
The above exercise is from our feature, ‘Happy Feet’ from our March issue, in which Rebecca Frank explains why looking after your feet can help your entire body and mind feel better.
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Photography and styling by Helen Sellwood @baliol.house
Make | Your Own Gallery
A few ideas for things that look lovely, collected, curated and hung together on your wall…
The oddest things can look really effective hung together as a collection. And it’s not just about looking beautiful or creating something unique; curated galleries can bring back memories, evoke strong feelings and tell a story about ourselves for visitors to our homes to enjoy. We loved seeing all the mini ‘galleries’ in our My Place pages this month and were inspired to hang a few galleries of our own. Here are some ideas we had for things you could curate for your own gallery.
Maps of places you have holidayed.
Old book jackets on a theme.
Theatre programmes.
Tea towels.
Scientific charts.
Postcard collections.
Magazine covers.
Train tickets.
Lists (found or made).
Cross stitch kits.
Seed packets.
Sheet music.
Children’s book illustrations.
Family photos.
Vintage posters.
Botanical prints.
Record sleeves.
Pressed flowers and leaves.
Wallpaper or wrapping paper samples.
Tide times charts.
The gallery above is by Helen Sellwood. You can follow her on Instagram at @baliol.house. Turn to page 110 of our March issue to see the rest of the galleries in our My Place selection, and if you’re inspired to create a gallery of your own, please do send us a photo!
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Nature Table | March
We hope you enjoy looking at our March nature table. If you go out hunting for daffodils taken down by the rain, wind-snapped blossomy twigs or other natural treasures, do take a picture of
your own nature table and share it with us. The nature table photograph below is by Alice Tatham, of The Wildwood Moth, who runs workshops on seasonal photography and publishes seasonal journal stories from Dorset.
Photography by Alice Tatham
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Recipe and Photography by Catherine Frawley
Recipe | Apple Cake Bake
Cake to round off a woodland wander
Cuts into 16 squares
2 sweet apples (we used Gala), peeled, cored and cut into rings
Juice of half a lemon
250g butter
250g golden caster sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cinnamon
250g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
For the topping:
2 tbsp demerara sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp chopped roasted hazelnuts
1 Preheat the oven to 200C/ Fan 180C/Gas 6 and line a 20x20cm tin with baking paper.
2 Prepare the apples by squeezing over the lemon juice and setting aside.
3 Add all the ingredients for the topping to a small bowl, mix together and set aside.
4 Meanwhile, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy and light, then add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating before adding the next.
5 Add the vanilla extract, cinnamon, flour and baking powder, and mix until you have a smooth batter.
6 Pour half the batter into the tin and push it into the corners with a spatula. Add half the apple rings in a single layer, then cover with the remaining batter and add a final layer of apples. Sprinkle over the topping mixture and bake on the middle shelf for 45-50mins, or until the top is golden and a skewer comes out clean.
7 Allow to cool for 5 mins in the tin before removing and cutting into squares. Wrap up individual squares to serve up before leaving for the woods.
The apple cake bake is just one of the recipes in our ‘Gathering’ feature from our March issue. It’s a menu for a woodland picnic that we’ve called ‘Down with the Daffodils’ and includes recipes for Trail Mix, Sweet Potato, Ginger and Coconut Soup, Easy Loaf, Chorizo Chilli and Speedy Jacket Potatoes, with Mint Mochas and Peanut Butter Hot Chocolates to wash it down.
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How to | Start a Community Fridge
Feed the thousands and save food from landfill
We were inspired to hear about Chesham Community Fridges this month, an organisation which won in the Working Together category of our much-coveted Neighbourhood Awards.
You may have seen one advertised near you or tried it out yourself in a bid to save food from landfill. Community Fridges are popping up everywhere and doing so much good.Chesham’s Community Fridge was originally established with help from Hubbub, one of the first pioneers of the Community Fridge movement. They have a very helpful guide to setting up on their website. If you’re considering starting your own, here’s a brief overview of the things Hubbub say you should think about before you begin.
1. You’ll need an organisation to ‘lead’ your project (it can’t be an individual) so consider who that could be. It could be a church, local charity or other volunteer organisation. You’ll also need them to include the fridge on their liability insurance.
2. Consider contacting environmental health before you start for advice and to make sure you’re properly registered.
3. When seeking a location, look for somewhere covered and secure. An area with good footfall is best but as long as it’s accessible that’s the main thing.
4. Things you might want in your space (as well as the fridge) include: a freezer, shelves for dry food storage, bins for packaging and recycling, a table on which to sort out the bags, scales for weighing things, wall space for an information board. You could even have a herb garden if you have some outdoor space, too.
Find out more about Chesham Community Fridges, as well as our other Neighbourhood Awards winners, which include eco initiatives, community shops and craft collectives, in our March ‘Light’ issue, on sale now.
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Photography by Kym Grimshaw
Recipe | Posh Beans on Toast
While there’s nothing wrong with a reliable tin of beans, ring the changes with a homemade version. These smoky cannellini beans on garlic toast are bursting with flavour, but still quick enough for lunch.
Serves 2
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tsp hot smoked paprika
½ tsp mixed spice
½ tsp oregano
Pinch of chilli flakes
200ml passata
½ tsp brown sugar
400g tin cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
A handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
4 slices sourdough bread
1 garlic clove, peeled and cut in half
1 Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, then add the onion and cook gently until it’s softened, but hasn’t taken on any colour.
2 Add the paprika, mixed spice, oregano and chilli flakes to the onion and stir for a further 1 min before adding the passata and brown sugar.
3 Simmer for around 5 mins, or until the passata begins to brown a little, then stir in the cannellini beans and cook for another 5 mins until the beans are heated through. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley.
4 Meanwhile, toast the bread and rub each slice with the cut side of the garlic. Top with the beans and serve.
This recipe is one of the ideas from our feature, ‘Use Your Loaf’, in our March issue, which includes lots of ideas for lunches on toast, including Sourdough Rarebit, Smashed Chickpeas with Harissa Yoghurt, Brioche French Toast, and Black Cherry Compote and Ricotta. The recipes are by Lottie Storey and the photography by Kym Grimshaw.
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Sponsored post | Spring Gift Guide
With Mother’s Day and Easter coming up, and no doubt a birthday or two, these are great
for giving (or simply keeping)
Voxblock
This screen-free audiobook player for children aged 3-12 was named ‘Best kids’ audio player 2022 for ease of use’ by The Independent. It has tangible blocks that snap into place, and children can listen through the speaker or headphones. There’s no need for WiFi or apps, and the battery offers 14 hours’ playtime.
The growing library of more than 120 titles ranges from classics to the latest stories. Visit the website to order a starter pack, which includes the player, three stories of your choice and a protective bumper for £53.99, when using the code THESIMPLETHINGS for 10% off (offer ends 3 April 2023). Voxblock.co.uk
Friend in a box
This small business puts a lot of love and care into its pretty blue gift boxes, and gets regular feedback that receiving one is very special. Whether for a happy or sad occasion, the range of carefully curated treats and your words of celebration and support make a real difference. The letter, which can be as long as you wish, is printed on beautiful watermarked paper and makes a wonderful keepsake. Owner Jane also enjoys being asked to create bespoke boxes, so please do get in touch. Friendinabox.co.uk or email: jane@friendinabox.co.uk.
Knit + Wear
The luxury knitting box delivered straight to your door! Formed by a team with more than 15 years’ experience designing in the knitting and craft industry, Knit + Wear offers beautifully curated kits. There are new designs and colours to choose from each quarter, created in luxury Rowan Yarns.
From accessories to cardigans there is something for all abilities – the perfect treat for yourself or as a gift for a knitting friend. Save 25% by using the code SIMPLETHINGS25 at checkout (offer ends 31 May 2023). Knitandwear.co
Stuff & Co
Everything at Stuff & Co is well-made, ethically sourced and carefully chosen to bring style, comfort and simple pleasure into your life. From scented candles to double-door mirrors reclaimed from French farmhouses, it presents an ever-changing collection of homeware, fashion, curios and an array of unusual, irresistible stuff! For the full experience, visit the 16th-century store in Midhurst, West Sussex – the heart of the South Downs. Or shop online and save 25% using the code SIMPLETHINGS25 at checkout (ends 30 April 2023). Stuffandco.co.uk
Illustrations: Vicki Turner
Two recipes for Pancake Day: fat and thin pancakes
An original fast food, pancakes take centre stage in February. How do you like yours?
Words: LAURA ROWE Illustrations: VICKI TURNER
Associated with many religious festivals including Shrove Tuesday (celebrated on 28 February this year) and Hanukkah, pancakes’ few ingredients symbolise big things: eggs for creation, flour the staff of life, salt wholesomeness and milk purity. It was also a celebratory way to use up the foods forbidden during Lent fasting.
Over time they’ve become more everyday. In the US they like them in the morning, fat, stacked high and covered in maple syrup. Maybe you prefer a mini version; bitesize buckwheat blinis from Eastern Europe, topped with sour cream, smoked salmon or caviar? Or perhaps you’re a fan of the thin pancake, rolled and stuffed with shredded roast duck, hoisin sauce, cucumber and spring onions for dinner in a bao bing like the Chinese. There’s a pancake for everyone and any time. But whichever way you like to eat them, the question remains: do you flip high or slide low?
FAT PANCAKES
Mix 135g plain flour with 1 egg, 130ml milk, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 tbsp caster sugar and 2 tbsp melted butter and whisk for a thicker batter. You want the consistency of double cream.
Drop 1 heaped tbsp into a hot, buttered frying pan and fry for 1 min until you begin to see bubbles on the surface. Flip or turn over and fry until golden brown and risen
THIN PANCAKES
Mix 100g plain flour with 2 eggs, 300ml milk and 1 tbsp melted butter. Whisk thoroughly and rest for 30 mins. You want the consistency of pouring single cream.
When ready to cook, add a knob of unsalted butter to a non-stick frying pan. As it starts to melt, add a ladle of the rested batter and swirl the mix around the pan until it covers the entire base.
Cook for 1-2 mins before flipping, or gently turning over and repeat on the other side. Then bin it: the first pancake is always the worst. Repeat and you’ll have perfect pancakes for the rest of the batch. Serve with lemon juice and sugar or whatever takes your fancy.
Extract from Taste: The Infographic Book of Food by Laura Rowe, illustrations by Vicki Turner by Aurum Press, £20. Buy your copy here.
This blog was first published with issue 44 of The Simple Things.
More pancake ideas…
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Photography by Finn Beales
Photography | Magic Light
How do you capture that fabulous light when photographing nature?
With a sprinkling of magic!
There are five types of natural light, as far as wildlife photographers are concerned: front light, side light, back light, diffused sunlight and… Magic Light. The first four are pretty much self explanatory. Magic Light is a little bit harder to pin down but if you manage to capture it on camera, always worth the wait.
It’s also known as ‘God’s light’, which seems fitting when you notice the way the light seems to ‘fall’ on your subject, as if sent directly from the heavens, surrounding them in a glowing halo. But if we’re accepting that The Big Man has more important stuff to do than giving our photographs a lovely finish, where does it come from?
Magic Light tends to occur at times of change, being most in evidence at the change of seasons, as well as as dusk turns to night or sunrise into morning. It’s also more obvious as the weather changes, so just after it has rained or when there is interplay between the sun and the clouds. It’s impossible to pin down exactly what Magic Light is but what it looks like is, well, like magic… as if someone is shining a torch down through the clouds onto the landscape below. Rather than a light which illuminates its subject in various ways, Magic Light can often be the subject of a picture itself.
Do not make the mistake of muddling Magic Light with the ‘Magic Hour’. The Magic Hour refers to the hour after sunset and the hour before sunrise when photography takes on the warm colours of the sun. And Magic Hour itself is not to be confused with the Golden Hour, which occurs the hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise. If you take a few pictures around these times, you’ll see that Magic Hour photos have more bluey pink tone and Golden Hour photos have more golden yellow about them. As we say, it’s difficult to pin down, but so worth taking the time to get to know these variously tinted lights a little better so that you can use them in your photography, whether you’re a semi-pro or simply snapping pictures on your phone.
At the change of seasons, wander outside with your camera in the mornings and evenings, maybe during the Magic Hour, even, and see if you can capture a little of the magic for yourself.
The photograph above was taken by Finn Beales in the Redwood National and State Parks, California. It’s just one of the photographs featured in our Gallery this month, which we’ve called ‘To Dramatic Effect’. The picture is taken from Let’s Get Lost: The World’s Most Stunning Remote Locations curated by Finn Beales (White Lion Publishing). The March issue is in shops now or you can buy from our online store.
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Photography, makes and styling by Louise Gorrod
Make | Homemade Cleaning Wonders
Kitchen table potions to make spring cleaning feel that little bit more lovely
A good spring clean always makes us feel better. And, while no one is pretending cleaning and chores are anyone’s favourite way to spend their time, having some gorgeous-smelling homemade cleaning products to hand definitely makes the job more enjoyable. These wipes and all-purpose surface cleaner can both be made in an afternoon, ready to help you scrub, polish and shine your way to a freshly scented, sparkling home.
All-Purpose Surface Cleaner
Choose a scent that you really like for kitchen worktops, sinks and other surfaces. Maybe not your bed, though…
You will need:
500ml bottle with a spray nozzle
25ml Castile soap (we used
Dr Bronner’s with a rose scent)
Fill your bottle with tap water and add the soap (be sure to add the soap after the water, otherwise the mixture will become foamy). Attach the nozzle, spray the surface and wipe with a damp cloth.
Reusable Cleaning Wipes
Upcycle old bathroom towels into microfibre cloths. Hey presto! Use-again eco-wipes.
You will need:
125g distilled white vinegar
1 tbsp washing-up liquid
10 drops of essential oil of your choice
6 textile squares (approx
20cm x 20cm)
Glass container or jar with lid
1 In a bowl, stir together 250ml water with the vinegar, washing-up liquid and essential oil, then set aside.
2 Fold your cloths and place in the jar – you can add more cloths if it’s not enough to fill it. Pour the cleaning solution into the container – making sure all the cloths get covered and are damp – then screw on the lid.
Note: The wipes will last for about one week in an airtight container. Once they’ve all been used, you can simply wash them and repeat the process again and again.
These makes are just two of the ideas from our weekend project, ‘A Fresh Start’ by Louise Gorrod. You can find the other natural cleaning makes, including Toilet Fizzes, Oven Cleaner and Bathroom Cleaner in the March issue, which is out now, or you can buy it from our online store.
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DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Anneliese Klos
Playlist | spring light
Welcome the return of spring light with our playlist. Take a listen on Spotify here.
Sponsored post | Salzburg - the best of two worlds
Tradition meets zeitgeist in this small Austrian city with big cultural cachet and
breathtaking scenery, too
As your thoughts shift towards longer days and getaways, now’s the time to turn that city break you’ve been dreaming of all winter into reality. And if the prospect of culture and concerts makes your heart sing, then grab your passport and book a short flight to Salzburg, a cosmopolitan destination to delight all your senses.
As you might expect from the birthplace of Mozart, Austria’s fourth-largest city is renowned for its musical heritage and outstanding live events. For more than 100 years, the Salzburg Festival has transformed the city into a cultural centre, with the old streets and squares becoming a stage for top-class orchestras and classic theatre.
Discover the city’s unique beauty for yourself with several themed walking tours, exploring the Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – as well as other off-the-beaten-track options. Or simply wander around the many charming shops, where old traditions meet new creativity, from bakeries to breweries. (Often dubbed the beer capital of Austria, with a legacy dating back more than 600 years, the city is currently home to an impressive 11 breweries!)
To really make the most of your stay, consider buying the Salzburg Card, which offers a range of benefits. These include one-time admission to the city’s tourist attractions and museums, discounts on cultural events and concerts, plus free travel on some modes of public transport. You can get a card for 24, 48 or 72 hours, and they’re now available digitally as well (meaning no more rummaging around in your wallet).
So book that break today and experience for yourself the true magic of Salzburg – where the whole city becomes a stage.
For further information, visit austria.info
Photography: A. Hechenberger; GÜnter Breitegger, all © Tourismus Salzburg GmbH
Competition | Win a Year's Supply of Scented Blooms from Scilly Flowers
Make each month special with a fragrant delivery, from the Isles of Scilly to your front door
There’s nothing quite like the joy of receiving a beautiful bunch of flowers. Which is why we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to enjoy 40 scented blooms straight to your doorstep every month for a whole year.
Each delivery comes from the picturesque Isles of Scilly, which on a clear day are just visible on the horizon from the far-west tip of Cornwall. This small archipelago of granite islands juts out into the Atlantic, and in the warmer months attracts a steady stream of visitors who come to explore the natural beauty and plethora of beaches.
But it’s not all sea and sand: the Scillies are also famous for growing quality flowers outdoors, all year round. In early spring – as daffodils bloom in parks and gardens across the UK mainland – the Islands’ farmers have been busy picking the daffodil’s scented cousin, ‘Tazetta’ type narcissi, since late October. In March, the local flower farms step up a gear to meet the demand for traditional spring flowers ahead of Mother’s Day. Scillonian narcissi make the ideal gift: scented and sustainable British flowers, delivered direct from where they’re grown.
At Scilly Flowers on the island of St Martin’s, Zoe and Ben Julian send gift boxes all year round. Once the narcissi season comes to an end, attention switches to scented pinks, which are closely related to carnations but have been bred to retain their 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 are sure to brighten any room and remind you of the joy that’s home-grown in Scilly.
For more info, visit scillyflowers.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @scillyflowers and enter the competition below…
How to enter
For your chance to win a year’s supply of scented flowers (one box of 40 flowers every month), enter our competition by clicking the button below and answering the following question by the closing date of 5 April 2023.
Q: The Isles of Scilly are located off the far west tip of which UK county?
Terms & Conditions
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 5 April 2023. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Flower substitutions may be made depending on 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.
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Sponsored post: Graz - a feast for the body and soul
This year combine culture with cuisine for a delectable city break you’ll never forget
With spring almost here – not to mention the Easter and May bank holidays – now’s a great time to book yourself that well-earned city break. And if it’s a gastronomic getaway you’re after, look no further than the foodie’s paradise of Graz, a destination dishing up culinary highlights and culture in a stunning historical setting.
Austria’s second-biggest city, located in the south, Graz is known as the Capital of Culinary Delights – and it isn’t hard to see why. Partner restaurants serve high-quality seasonal fare from the region, washed down with the finest Styrian beer, wine and soft drinks.
You can also potter around the farmers’ markets, picking up a wide range of foods direct from the producer. From fresh fruit and veg to homemade bread and local specialities, you’ll find something here to whet every appetite. When you’ve finally managed to choose from the many temptations on offer, you can tuck in alfresco at one of the charming picnic spots.
Another of the city’s star attractions is the Long Table of Graz (pictured above), where the historic centre transforms into an open-air restaurant for around 750 guests. Imagine feasting on a five-course meal paired with wines beneath the sky, while musical entertainment stirs your senses. (The next event is expected to take place in 2024.)
But it’s not just amazing food on the menu: Graz also serves up a smorgasbord of cultural treasures. It’s a city with many different faces: the historic centre and Eggenberg Palace (above left) have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, yet it’s also a hub for young and vibrant art. This is a place that cherishes tradition, such as dirndl and lederhosen clothing, but also encourages new things to grow.
So if you’re searching for a deliciously different city break this year, why not discover the many charms of Graz for yourself? It truly is an enchanting city to fall in love with.
For further information, visit austria.info.
Photography: Harry Schiffer, Graz Tourismus Werner Krug
Photography: Alamy
Primer | Ocean Waves
Watching winter waves on a blustery beach is a surefire way to feel both calm and invigorated (and a little bit small in the universe). Let’s get to know them better.
Whether we’re jumping over them, trouser legs rolled up, or scuttling away from them up the beach, we all love a wave. If you’ve ever found yourself saying something like “Goodness! That’s a big splashy one!” and would like to sound like more of a Wave Afficionado, however, here are a few scientific Wave Terms you can employ. There won’t be a vocab test but they are rather fun.
Crest The high point of a wave
Trough The low point of a wave
Height The distance between crest and trough
Amplitude The distance from either the crest or the trough to the still water line
Attenuation A reduction in amplitude
Frequency The number of waves occurring at a single point in a given period of time
Period The time between swell crests
Fetch How far the wave has travelled
Swash The movement of a wave up the beach
Backwash The movement of a wave down the beach
Shoaling The change in wave height as the wave moves up the beach
If this has inspired you to take more coastal winter walks, you might like to read our feature, ‘A Shore Thing’ in our February issue, which is in shops now.
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Recipe | Coconut Kisses (Beijinhos de Coco)
Photography and Styling by Catherine Frawley
Their name means ‘coconut kisses’ in Portuguese. They’re typical party sweets, but this version has plenty of coconut
Makes about 20
1 can condensed milk
150g desiccated coconut (plus 50g extra to coat the outside)
30g butter
1 Melt the butter, condensed milk and coconut in a large pan over a low heat.
2 Stirring continuously, the mixture will thicken after about 5 mins. It’s ready when you can drag your spoon along the bottom and it takes a 2–3 secs to reform. Pour onto a plate lined with greaseproof paper and chill for 1 hr.
3Using a teaspoon, form into small balls and roll in the extra coconut.
Their name means ‘coconut kisses’ in Portuguese – and just like the brigadeiros, they’re typical party sweets, but this version has plenty of coconut
Cook’s note: These truffles will keep in the fridge for 5 days.
The Coconut Kisses are just one of the recipes from our February ‘Gathering’ feature which is a fiesta style Brazilian feast. It also includes recipes for Brazilian Cheese Bread, Chicken Croquettes, Brazilian Barbecue Steak with Salt, Sauce a Vinagrete and, of course, Caipirinhas. The issue is in shops now.
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Sponsored post | Top six campsites for grown-ups
Camping is a fantastic way to escape the bustle of everyday life, but peace and serenity aren’t always guaranteed. Here are a few adult-only campsites, that welcome caravans and motorhomes up and down the country, selected by Insure My.
Our top six adult only picks
1. Colemere Caravan Park , Shropshire
A beautiful campsite nestled beside Colemere Lake; this is the perfect place to come for tranquillity. The woods and fields are full of wildlife and you may even see otters swimming in the lake.
The site itself is dog- and BBQ-friendly, and has an indoor social space with sofas, a long table and kitted-out kitchen for guests to use. To add a touch of luxury to your getaway, you can hire a wood-fired hot tub with lilypond views for the ultimate peaceful retreat.
2. Parkland Caravan and Camping Site, South Devon
For the eco-conscious motorhomer or caravanner, this campsite has a strong focus on sustainability, with recycling points, energy-saving lights and solar-heated hot water. There’s also a disabled access wet room and a well-stocked shop onsite selling fresh local produce as well as the usual essentials, so you can feast on the finest Devon has to offer.
Parkland is close to the idyllic beaches of south Devon, attracting keen walkers, swimmers and surfers all year round. From nearby Bigbury-on-Sea at low tide, you can reach Burgh Island, the inspiration for Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
3. Barley Meadow Touring Park , Devon
Discover Dartmoor from your doorstep at this campsite – bring your bikes to hit mountain trails or set out on foot into the wild hills. The nearest pub is a mere mile away, with plenty more not much further.
This campsite has its own small information centre and a shop, as well as an off-leash dog area for your dog to run off any excess energy. Other than the odd over-enthusiastic pooch, this site is calm and peaceful, making it a great destination for active and laid-back visitors alike.
4. The Paddocks Caravan and Camping, Gwynedd
If you want to explore North Wales, The Paddocks, a small but well-connected campsite, is the perfect base. Raised fires and BBQs are permitted and there’s even a fridge and freezer for guests, as well as bathroom and washing up facilities. Local bus routes are within easy reach, the beach is just a five-minute drive away and, most importantly perhaps, the pub isn’t far.
For hikers and history buffs, Snowdonia National Park and Caernarfon, home to a spectacular castle, are a short drive away and the long, once smuggler-plagued sands of Pwllheli are a mere 10 minutes from your door.
5. Ashton Hall Caravan Park, Lancashire
Located on the Ashton Hall Estate near Lancaster, this adult-only site boasts forest walks, fishing in the river Lune and an 11-hole golf course with sea views. You can wander along the estate’s footways or branch out to the foot and cycle paths that wind through the surrounding woods.
The Lune Estuary footpath and Lancashire Coastal Way are both on your doorstep. The nearby Forest of Bowland, a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offers open stretches of moorland and lush green lowlands dotted with farms. If you prefer something more urban, Lancaster is less than six miles from the estate.
This dog-friendly site on the Jurassic coast has great views to the sea and is only 10 minutes’ drive from the striking landmark Durdle Door. The Southwest Coast Path is yours to enjoy as well as fossil-hunting at Ringstead Bay or Chesil Beach, just up the coast.
Just be aware that there’s no hot water during the winter but the multiple local fish and chip shops five minutes’ drive away more than make up for it.
Protection for both the journey and destination
Sadly, camping kid-free doesn’t completely shield you from unwanted interruptions but specialist campervan or motorhome insurance can.
With InsureMy, you can compare quotes from a panel of trusted specialist insurers in minutes and get the best deal at the lowest price – guaranteed. So, do the adult thing and get covered for accidental damage, theft and more, no matter where you are and who you’re with.
