Make | A Jam Jar Garden

You’ll need:
Glass Mason jars or ordinary jam jars; a bag of hyacinth bulbs; a bag of gravel.

To make:
1 Give the jars a good clean and dry, then add gravel up to the shoulders of each jar.

2 Fill with water to above the top of the gravel in each one and place a hyacinth bulb on top of each jar.

3 You’ll need to keep the water topped up as the bulbs sprout. Just gently move the bulbs to one side and top up with a jug.

4 Gather all your hyacinth jars together on an old tray, in a small wooden crate or any other receptacle to make a centrepiece for a dining or coffee table, or simply line them up on a windowsill, or anywhere that catches your eye and create your own indoor jam jar garden to remind you that spring is just around the corner.

This is just one of the ideas for things to note and notice, plan and do from our Almanac pages. Find more seasonal inspiration in the February issue, in shops now or available to order from our online store.

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More from our Almanac pages…

More from our blog…

Recipe | Pomegranate Molasses

Homemade pomegranate molasses is both sweet and sour – drizzle it over bread and cheese or use it in dips, dressings and even drinks or desserts. Its vibrant colour will help give you a lift at the dog end of winter, too

Makes around 280ml

4-6 large pomegranates (juiced to produce 1 ltr pomegranate juice)
125g sugar
1 large lemon (juiced, to produce around 60ml lemon juice)

1 Peel the pomegranates and remove as much pith and membrane as you can, leaving the seeds intact.

2 Put the seeds in a large sealable plastic bag – you may have to do this in batches. Use a rolling pin to roll over the seeds, releasing their juices.

3 Cut a tiny hole in the corner of the bag and pour the juice into a saucepan. Squeezing the leftover seeds will release the last few drops.

4 Add the sugar and lemon juice to the saucepan and place over a medium-high heat. Once the juice starts to boil, reduce the heat and simmer. You should see the liquid boiling very gently in the middle. Let the mixture simmer for 45 mins, stirring occasionally to make sure that the juice doesn’t catch.

5 Reduce the heat very slightly and let it simmer gently for another 15 mins. To see if it’s ready, dip a spoon in. If it coats the spoon, it’s done.

6 Remove from the heat and leave the mixture to cool in the pan for 30 mins, then pour into a sterilised jar. The mixture will still be runny at this point but will thicken as it cools.

Cook’s note: You can store the molasses in the fridge for up to 6 months.

A project for while your molasses cools…

Watercolour painting is a quietly mindful activity that you can do while waiting for the oven timer to ping. Shed any thoughts of proficiency, this is not meant to be a masterpiece. The point is to simply look deeply and try to recreate what you see.

You will need:
Pomegranate, cut or torn in half
Watercolour paper
Pencil
Rubber
Paints
Palette or old plate
Brushes
Jar of water, for rinsing brushes

1 Arrange your pomegranate sections and take time to really look at it – its shapes, colours and textures, and how the light falls on the fruit. Notice what you’re feeling – perhaps you’re excited or nervous or calm.

2 With your pencil, sketch out the shape of the fruit – its form and the detailing around the seeds and their membranes. Use the rubber to remove any sections you’re not happy with and play around until you’ve got something you’d like to paint.

3 On your palette or plate, combine the colours you want to use. Adding a tiny amount of blue or yellow to pinks and reds can add depth to the colours in ready-mixed paints.

4 Begin to transfer the paint from palette to paper, building up in layers to create depth. With watercolours, you can continue to layer up when the paint is wet if you want to combine colours or wait until each area is dry if you don’t want colours merging, such as the yellow of the pith. Allow your painting to dry fully before putting it somewhere for you to admire.

This recipe and project are taken from our new series, Kitchen Therapy in which we celebrate spending time at home, cooking and baking, as a form of self care. Find more recipes and ideas for the end of winter in the February issue, which is out now. The recipes and makes are by Lottie Storey and the photography is by Kym Grimshaw.

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More ways with winter fruit…

Folklore | Beira Queen of Winter

Hills and hollows, cliffs and caves have inspired folklore for generations. Here’s one tale in which the British landscape has become a character in itself…

The appropriately named Loch Awe is Scotland’s longest freshwater loch, and we have Beira, Queen of Winter, to thank for this incredible view. As well as creating mountains and using the wild Corryvreckan whirlpool near Jura as her washing machine, this giantess with blue skin and one eye also made Loch Awe by mistake. One day, after drinking from a well, she forgot to cover it again. The water overflowed and flooded the land, forming this magnificent loch. It is now home to a monster, of course – the Big Beast, who has 12 legs and looks like a gigantic eel.

You can read more about British landscapes that have inspired folk tales in our January issue feature, Scene Setting. The issue is in shops now or can be ordered from our online store.

More folk tales…

More from our January issue…

How to | Make a Tea Cosy from an Old Jumper

Turn an old jumper into a tea cosy with this simple make project

You will need:

Old jumper(s) with high wool content

Cloth bag or old pillowcase

Pen and paper

Scissors

Pins

Sewing machine, or needle and thread

How to make:

1 Put the jumper in a cloth bag or an old pillowcase into your washing machine on a hot setting. This may seem wrong, but it’ll help it felt, making it easy to sew.

2 Take your (empty) teapot and lay it on its side on the paper. Draw a semi-circle over the top to roughly work out the size of your cosy. Neaten up the curve so it’s symmetrical. Add on 1cm all around the curved edge as your seam, and cut out to act as a template.

3 Once your jumper is dry, pin on your template. Position so the bottom ribbing of the jumper can double at the bottom edge of the cosy. Cut out a piece for the front and back.

4 Pin the two pieces together, with the sides you want on the cosy’s outside facing in, towards each other. Leaving the bottom open, sew around your 1cm seam allowance. If you’re on a machine, you can zigzag stitch the raw edges together.

5 Remove pins and turn right way out. You could use leftover scraps for mittens or slippers (see TST149), and enjoy your supply of warm tea.

This project is taken from our January Miscellany pages, where you’ll find facts and fun to interest you each month.

More simple make projects…

More from our January issue…

Sponsored Post | "We only buy products that we love and want in our homes"

We catch up with Jason Bensohn, Managing Director of One.World to see how family values play a role in the company’s success 

Hi Jason, tell us about One.World – how did it all begin?

We started out way back in 1989 when my mum, Kathy, was sourcing candles from Swaziland, while living in South Africa. My parents then decided to move to the UK and Mum continued with the Swazi candles, mostly selling at gift fairs in London. They became a hit but customers didn’t just want to buy the candles, they wanted to buy the pieces that Mum used to display them on, too, and the range just took off from there. My dad, Sid, also got involved to help grow the business and it’s slowly evolved to what it is today.

So it was inevitable that you’d join the family business, too?

Not at all – my parents never actively encouraged us to get involved. However, me and my brother, Jamie, had helped out so often in the warehouse or at trade fairs over the years that the pull of the family business became hard to ignore. We believe that the best businesses are family owned, because however small or big they may be, they typically have shared core values and they care that little bit more.

How has One.World changed since the early days?

Well, the product mix has changed from just candles to furniture, lighting, mirrors, wall art and so much more. The internet also arrived, which now makes the world a smaller place, enabling us
to communicate with our suppliers and customers across the world more easily. However, many things have also stayed the same. We have a philosophy that you must love what you do, and as a consequence, we only buy products that we love and we want in our own homes.

Oh, really?

Yes, we love timeless, statement pieces that you may one day hand down to a loved one. In fact, some pieces in our core range have stood the test of time and have been around since the early years of the business. Rightly or wrongly, we don’t follow trends because we don’t always love the latest trend. We try to seek out and develop timeless and interesting pieces that will last, grow and change in whichever home they find themselves in.

You’re clearly passionate about One.World’s product range

I feel lucky that I get to experience and be a part of so many aspects of One.World; developing pieces, marketing, speaking with clients and much more. But ultimately, it’s all about the products
– that’s what keeps us ticking and is what it always comes back to.

What company achievements are you most proud of?

The fact that it’s a family business and that family extends to cover our staff, too – many of whom started in the early days and are still with us over 30 years later. As we like to say, “We love what we do, with people we love.” We’ve also been able to give back and have funded the planting of over 30,000 trees, which is quite cool.

The future sounds exciting, so what’s next for One.World?

We have hundreds of new pieces launching – I believe this is our largest ever season launch. Plus we’ll be rolling out a brand new website soon, which we’re very excited about, so watch this space…

One.World is offering readers of The Simple Things 20% off all orders. Simply use code TST20
at Checkout. Offer valid until 28 February 2025. Subject to availability.

For more information and inspiration, visit one.world or follow on Instagram: @onedotworld.

Sponsored Post | Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

Suma’s recently-rebranded coffee range delivers both on flavour and Fairtrade ethics

There’s nothing quite like that first sip of a good cup of coffee. Whether it’s to kick-start your day or to give you a little pick-me-up mid-afternoon, a comforting cup of coffee offers a moment away from life’s busyness. But what if that cup of coffee could be more than just a drink? What if it could connect you to something bigger – a story of community, sustainability and ethical farming? That’s what Suma’s new-look coffee collection is all about.

With a selection of beans from Colombia, Ethiopia, Sumatra, Peru, and Honduras, the eye-catching new packaging tells the story behind the beans. Suma has also simplified the flavour profile of each variety to make it easier for you to choose a coffee to suit your tastes. However, these beans are so much more than your morning wake-up call, they’re a direct link to Fairtrade-certified farmers, who are working together in co-ops to empower their communities.

By choosing speciality coffee from Suma, an ethical, equal pay worker co-op for over 40 years, you’re supporting sustainable farming, protecting the environment, and investing in the future of these coffee-growing regions Suma’s carefully curated range of coffee is Fairtrade-certified to ensure that its beans are grown with care, respect for the land, and a commitment to fair pay for growers. Which means each sip is an invitation to pause, reflect, and appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into every cup. And when you choose Suma, you’re supporting a company that values transparency, ethics, and sustainability – values that resonate with those of us who want to make a positive impact, no matter how small the steps.

Suma’s coffee range is designed for those who appreciate the finer things in life – the joy of a well-made cup, the satisfaction of knowing where your food and drink come from, and the pleasure of sharing it with friends and family. After all, there’s nothing quite like a good conversation over a cuppa and, with Suma, you can rest assured that your coffee has a story worth sharing.

For more information and inspiration, visit suma.coop or follow on Instagram: @sumawholefoods

Playlist | A nice bit of brass

In our February GLIMMER issue of The Simple Things, we get to meet all female brass band, She’s Got Brass. And, to blow our own trumpet, we’ve put together a rather fine accompanying playlist.

You can have a listen here.

Not quite hitting the musical spot today? We make a playlist for each issue of The Simple Things. Have a browse of them all here.

February GLIMMER is on sale from 29 January.

Competition | Win a Year of Scented Blooms Delivered to your Door

Gift a loved one (or yourself) with fabulous flowers for an entire year, thanks to Scilly Flowers

Just imagine the smile on the face of someone who receives a gift box of scented flowers through the post on a dull mid-winter day. Enter our competition and you could win 12 boxes of scented narcissi, worth over £250, to send to your friends – however, we won’t judge if you choose to enjoy a few yourself.

Grown on the picturesque Isles of Scilly, off the Cornish coast, the ‘Tazetta’ narcissi – a scented cousin of the daffodil – flourish in sheltered fields from October to Easter. The Isles of Scilly are unique in being able to grow flowers outdoors throughout winter without the need for any additional heat or light. As the flowers are delivered directly from where they’re grown, they have a far lower carbon footprint than those grown in heated glasshouses or flown in from further afield. It also makes the scented narcissi a thoughtful gift to brighten a loved one’s day, whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Mother’s
Day or just to let a friend or family member know that you’re thinking about them.

Once the scented narcissi season comes to an end in late spring, owners of Scilly Flowers, Zoe and Ben Julian, and their loyal team of flower pickers at Churchtown Farm on the island of St Martin’s, turn their attention to the summer crop of scented pinks. Similar to carnations, pinks have a subtle hue and a delicate fragrance. On an island, fresh water is a particularly precious resource, and the pinks are grown in coir-filled tubs that reduce the need for irrigation. Once on display, these blooms will brighten any room and are a reminder of the joy that is home-grown in Scilly.

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

How to enter

For a chance to win a year’s supply of scented flowers (12 boxes of flowers to share over the year), enter by clicking on the button below and answering the following question by the closing date: 12 March 2025.

Q: Tazetta narcissi are a cousin of which flower?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 12 March 2025. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at: icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Reading | Books that Embrace the Cold

Photography by Joe McIntyre

There’s no time like January for hunkering down with a book but it’s not all about hiding inside from the winter weather. Here are a few of our suggestions for books that will help you to embrace the winter chill.

The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vessas

In a rural Norwegian community two young girls, Siss and Unn, meet and find they have a connection that neither of them fully understands. When Unn goes missing in the wintry landscape, Siss struggles with her disappearance. A wonderful, wintry story that should be a classic by rights. 

A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter

A one-of-a-kind memoir from 1934, when the author accompanied her husband to the Arctic island of Spitzbergen for a year. At first she finds the cold and isolation tough but slowly she begins to fall in love with the wildlife and the wild landscape.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

A winter classic that you’re never too old to reread. Lose yourself in Narnia, condemned to an eternal winter by the White Witch, and its cast of enchanting characters. 

A Winter Book by Tove Jansson

A collection of beautifully crafted short stories by the Finnish creator of the Moomins. Spanning most of the twentieth century, this is a wonderful book to dip in and out of while the snow is falling outside.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

This Gothic novel opens with a storytelling session on Christmas Eve. The action then moves to follow the story of an unnamed governess, trying to protect her charges from evil supernatural beings in the house they share. Chills for chilly days. 

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Jack and Mabel are a childless couple living in 1920s Alaska. One day they build a child out of snow and a fairytale encounter begins…

Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg

Set in Copenhagen, this novel follows in flashback Smilla’s relationship with a young boy called Isaiah who is part Greenlandic, as is she. During her own childhood in Greenland she developed an intuitive understanding of the various types of snow, which she used in her adult career as a scientist. Now, in the present day, it will help her to unravel a mystery surrounding Isaiah.

The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse

When Freddie’s car is forced off the road in a snowstorm he takes shelter in a tiny village on the edge of the Pyrenees, where he meets Fabrissa. They spend the night talking of love, loss and mourning but when day breaks… she vanishes. And that’s only the beginning of the mystery.

If you’re looking for more inspiration for winter reading, don’t miss our feature, Fireside Yarns, in our January issue, which is in shops now.

More bookish things…

More from our January issue…

Recipe | Chocolate, Bay Leaf and Spelt Oat Cookies

Chewy, chunky cookies. Add ice cream to make it a pudding, or keep for whenever the need arises. You’re never too old for a midnight snack, after all.

Serves 1

125g salted butter

2 tbsp honey

70g light brown sugar

3 fresh bay leaves, very

finely chopped

1 egg, beaten

50g plain flour

100g spelt flour

½ tsp baking powder

85g jumbo oats

75g dark chocolate

60g blanched hazelnuts, chopped

1 Preheat the oven to 190C/Fan 170C/Gas 5. Place the butter, honey, sugar and bay leaves into a saucepan set over a low heat and allow everything to melt together. Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 5 mins, then whisk in the egg.

2 Combine all the other ingredients in a separate bowl, then pour over the butter mixture and stir together to make a stiff dough.

3 Spoon tablespoons of the dough – as many as you want to eat now – onto a lined baking sheet, leaving plenty of space between them, then bake for 10-12 mins, or until just golden on top. Leave to cool and harden a little before serving.

Cook’s note: The dough freezes well, so make as many as you want for yourself, then come back for the rest whenever the need strikes.

This recipe is just one of the ideas from our feature ‘Please Yourself’ in which Kathy Slack devises a seasonal menu to cook and enjoy alone. You’ll find the rest of the recipes, which include cauliflower, leek & mushroom bean bake, bitter leaves and fennel with hazelnut dressing, and malted turmeric milk, in our January issue, out now.

More sweet things best enjoyed alone…

More from our blog…

Recipe | Jansson's Temptation

We don’t know who Jansson was but there’s no need to resist this Swedish winter staple – a potato dish proven to warm body and heart.

Serves 4-6

30g butter, plus extra for greasing

2 white onions, finely sliced

1kg maris piper potatoes, cut into batons

100g jar of anchovy fillets (or 2 tins pickled sprats – anchovies are an alternative option for those of us outside of Sweden)

500ml double cream

3 tbsp breadcrumbs

1 Melt the butter in a large pan and add the onions plus a generous pinch of salt. Cook gently for about 15 mins, or until they’re soft and golden, taking care to stir often to avoid them catching.

2 Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas 6 and grease an ovenproof dish with a little butter.

3 Season the potatoes and then split them into three equal piles. Layer the first pile at the bottom of the dish, next add half of the cooked onions, followed by half of the anchovies or sprats. Add a second layer of potatoes, the remainder of the onions and the remainder of the anchovies or sprats. Finally, top with the last third of the potatoes.

4 Pour over the cream and push down any uncovered potatoes. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and cook for 60 mins. You want the top to be golden and the potatoes underneath to be soft. If the top is cooking too fast, cover it with foil and increase the cooking time until all layers of the potatoes are cooked. Let the dish rest for about 10-15 mins before serving.

This recipe is taken from our January issue’s ‘Gathering’ feature, a hygge Swedish feast for friends, which we have called ‘Comfort and Cheer’. It also includes recipes for Herring & Beetroot Salad, Swedish Glogg, Cucumber Pickles, Danish-Style Salad and Boozy Rice Pudding. The recipes are by Catherine Frawley and the photography is by Kay Prestney.

More hyggelich things for winter…

More from our January issue…

How To | Slow Your Pace

Winter calls us to slow down, but this is no mean feat when there’s so much noise about productivity and stacks of stimulation, not to mention bulging to-do lists. There’s a difference between slowing down and grinding to a halt. Try any of the following ways to gently alter your pace:

• Slow smooth exhalations

• Repeat: “I have all the time I need”

• Chew your food slowly and deliberately

• Take, and notice, slow, steady steps

• Turn up your listening skills

• Green-gaze out of the window

• Take regular screen breaks

• Have slow hugs

The above extract is taken from Self-care For Winter: Seven Steps To Thriving In The Colder Months
by Suzy Reading (Aster). You can read more in our January issue.

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Ways to increase your wellbeing…

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Competition | Win a Janome Sewing Machine worth £449

JANOME sewing machines are synonymous with innovation, quality, and ease of use. This
Winter JANOME have a great all-round sewing machine for one lucky reader to win.

Whether you are sewing for thrift, sustainability or simply pleasure the Janome DC3200 computerised sewing machine is the perfect companion. With a few easy steps you will be up and sewing.

Model DC3200 has lots of easy-to-use features which make sewing a pleasure, It is the machine to grow with your skills and is suitable both for beginners and more experienced sewing practitioners. Fully computerised with stitches and settings at the touch of a button. No fuss threading with the auto needle threader, top loading easy set bobbin & a hard cover for storage.

The Prize

JANOME DC3200 computerised model has 30 stitch choices and three buttonhole styles; this machine is perfect for beginners and more advanced hobbyists alike. Begin your sewing journey with a smooth operating, robustly built JANOME, make the right choice first time.

Visit your local Janome retailer to see the JANOME range or click here to find your nearest store. Follow Janome online at @janomeuk.

How to enter

To be in with a chance of winning just click on the button below and answer the following question by the closing date of 14 February 2025.

Q: How many button hole styles does the Janome DC3200 have?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 14 February 2025. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 of the magazine and online at at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Tipple | Fireside Old Fashioned

Make a woodsy variation on the classic Old Fashioned for a chilly January evening by adding smoky maple syrup for a warming fireside tipple.

FIRESIDE OLD FASHIONED

Serves 1

½ tsp maple syrup

2 dashes Angostura bitters

60ml bourbon or rye whiskey

Orange-peel coin, to garnish

Rosemary sprig, to garnish

1 Stir the maple syrup, bitters and whiskey together in a lowball tumbler. Taste and add another ½ teaspoon of syrup, if desired.

2 Squeeze the orange-peel coin, peel side face down, over the cocktail to spritz orange juice over the top.

3 Add ice, stir for 10 secs, and serve with an added sprig of rosemary.

Bartender’s note: You can make an Old Fashioned with spirits other than whiskey – try this recipe with brandy, apple brandy, aged rum or a barrel-aged gin, too.

Taken from New Camp Cookbook: Fireside Warmers by Emily Vikre (Harvard Common Press)

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More tipples to try…

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Competition | Win an organic gardening consultation worth £500

It’s the perfect time to plan for the gardening year ahead – and we’ve teamed up with Garden Organic to offer a consultation with its head of organic horticulture and former Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins

Do you want to welcome more wildlife into your garden in 2025, or grow more organic veg? If you’ve always wanted to try gardening the ‘organic way’ then this fantastic competition with the nation’s leading sustainable gardening charity is for you.

Garden Organic promotes organic growing and composting, citizen science and research at its headquarters at Ryton, Coventry – as well as seed conservation through its unique Heritage Seed Library.

The Library conserves the National Collection of Heritage Vegetables, and Calendula, and aims to conserve rare heritage seeds that are not widely available. Each year, it shares the seeds with gardeners through its Seed List so they can be grown again – and in doing so protects plant diversity and food security. You can find out more about heritage seeds in the January issue of The Simple Things, which is on-sale now.

Learn to grow organic!

You can make it your New Year’s resolution to boost biodiversity in your growing space with a two-hour organic gardening consultation. Chris Collins will offer advice and guidance on how to use more natural, wildlife-friendly methods, such as composting, recycling and growing pollinator-friendly and pesticide-free flowers and vegetables.

Organic gardener Chris Collins has more than 35 years in horticulture, and has worked with Garden Organic since 2016. With a huge enthusiasm for gardening sustainably without peat or pesticides, he’ll take you step-by-step through the process - whether you want to sow more heritage seeds, nurture your soil, build a pond, or grow organic vegetables in containers.

What the prize includes

Garden Organic is offering a two-hour online consultation with its head of organic horticulture Chris Collins, which can be redeemed during 2025 once a date between the winner and Chris has been agreed

How to enter

Click on the button below and answer the following question by the closing date of 14 February 2025:
Where is Garden Organics’ HQ?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 14 February 2025. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules. 

For more information about Garden Organic or its Heritage Seed Library, go to gardenorganic.org.uk, or find the charity on social media @gardenorganicuk.

Almanac | A simple, seasonal idea for every month

We include an ‘almanac’ in every issue of The Simple Things, with a few ideas of things to note and notice, plan and do each month. We thought we would start 2025 in a similar way, with an idea for something seasonal you could do each month. We hope you like them and perhaps think up a few of your own, too…

January - Hunt for snowdrops. You may even discover a new species.

February - Light a candle to mark Candlemas.

March - Pick a clear night to try stargazing. 

April - Pack up a picnic and some outdoor games for a day in the fresh air.

May - Visit a fete or fayre. Bonus point if you bring home a coconut.

June - Host a midsummer meal for friends outdoors. 

July - Head to the coast and try rockpooling.

August - Go on a bramble ramble (blackberrying).

September - Toast bread over a bonfire for a simple supper.

October - Mark National Bookshop Day by buying a book of ghost stories to tell with friends.

November - Bake Soul Cakes for All Souls Day.

December - See some winter lights, even if it’s just in your neighbourhood streets.

The January issue is out now, and in it you’ll find lots more seasonal things to do. Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our Almanac pages…

More from our blog…

How to | Make a Could-Do List Happen

Apparently only one in ten of us sticks to our New Year’s Resolutions, although here at The Simple Things, we favour Could-Do Lists rather than strict rules and ideas that work at any time of year, rather than piling the pressure on all on one day.

These tips will improve your odds of making your could-do list happen… whenever you choose to do so…

1 Resolve to make a change that you want. Success is more likely when driven by internal, rather than external forces.
2 Focus on one thing. Scientists have shown that willpower requires energy. Channel it well.
3 Be specific about what you want to achieve, when and how. You’re more likely to succeed than if starting with a vague plan.
4 Tell those around you. In a study, more than 70% who sent weekly updates on their goal to a friend reported success (compared to 35% of those striving alone).
 

And here are a few ideas for things you might want to add to your 2025 Could-Do List…

• Mix a great martini 

• Book a trip somewhere on your bucket list

• Read a book by an author you’re unfamiliar with

• Spend a day wildlife-watching… birds, badgers.. it’s up to you

• Have a small party for no reason at all

• Spend time outdoors every day

• Learn a new craft

• Get a penfriend or strike up a correspondence with an old friend

• Go on a ‘pilgrimage’ to somewhere meaningful for you

• Use local ingredients to make a local recipe

• Watch a film in the open air or at a drive-through

• Keep a diary for a month and keep the habit if you enjoy it

This blog was first published in December 2018. You’ll find a Could-Do list in every issue of The Simple Things. Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More could-do lists:

More how-to posts…

Sponsored post | Basking Shark Scotland

The Hebrides are home to incredible wildlife and spectacles, and Basking Shark Scotland can guide you through all they have to offer

A vast archipelago of islands that lie off the west coast of Scotland, the Hebrides are located on the edge of the Atlantic. They’re a wild place but also one full of wildlife. Gaelic culture of the people and land merge into spectacular landscapes and habitats – from towering mountains to temperate Atlantic oakwood rainforest, wildflower machair meadows to white shell sand beaches and turquoise waters – it’s a place of four seasons in one day.

For 12 years, Basking Shark Scotland has been running ocean adventures with a difference. Small groups are guided by marine biologists with a passion for the ocean. Tours have a focus on snorkeling, wild swimming and wildlife watching, exploring amazing places, while conducting citizen science. It’s the kind of trip where we might be spotting whales in the morning and doing an impromptu beach clean while exploring ashore in the afternoon.

During spring, the adventurous week-long expedition to the southern islands of the Outer Hebrides visits some of the most spectacular islands on the west coast. Azure waters hold huge seal colonies, while puffins nest and eagles soar unencumbered by human habitation. Island hikes reveal layers of history covered by fields of pastel-coloured orchids. Dolphins, whales and sharks all visit the islands and there’s also a chance to visit the offshore World Heritage site of St Kilda.

Back on the mainland, the regular base for tours is from Oban’s little bay, just a couple of hours from Glasgow. Named Scottish town of year for 2024, the bustling harbour has award-winning seafood eateries, a whisky distillery that was founded in 1794 and sunsets that’ll stick in the memory long after the sun has disappeared. Tours discover the volcanic landscape and wildlife of the Isle of Mull. Whether it’s snorkeling into the cavern of Fingal’s Cave and discovering the basalt columns which tower above you, floating around at the spectacular Hebrides lagoon, or witnessing the Corryvreckan whirlpool – the third largest in the world, there’s something to ignite all levels of adventure.

Moving on to the Isle of Coll – a jewel of the Inner Hebrides – which sits bang in middle of the basking shark’s only marine-protected area worldwide. Multi-day tours enable you to snorkel around the abundant kelp forests, to hopefully catch sight of grey seals and puffins, and to potentially spot cetaceans. You may also be lucky enough to experience the basking shark, the second largest shark in the ocean, in this Hebridean hotspot. So, do you dare to dive in for the adventure of a lifetime?

For more information and inspiration, visit: baskingsharkscotland.co.uk or follow on Instagram at: @baskingsharkscotland

Recipe: Slow Orange Poppy Seed Cake

Cake is never off the menu at The Simple Things, even post-Christmas. But this gluten-free cake is as healthy as they come – no refined sugar, and you can even pop it in a slow cooker and head out for a walk

Serves: 8
Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 3 1⁄2 hours (slow cooker) 1 1⁄4 hours (oven)

200g ground almonds
120g quinoa flour
2 1⁄2 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp poppy seeds
finely grated zest and juice of 2 oranges (approx 250ml)
125ml light olive oil
130g Greek yoghurt
185ml honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Candied oranges and syrup
juice of 1 large orange
4 tbsp honey
1 large orange, thinly sliced

In the slow cooker:
1 Grease slow cooker and line with baking paper. Cover the lid of the slow cooker with a clean tea towel, securing corners around the knob with string or an elastic band – this is to prevent condensation dripping onto the cake as it cooks. 
2 Combine ground almonds, flour, baking powder and poppy seeds in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the orange zest and juice, oil, yoghurt, honey, vanilla and eggs, then gradually whisk into the almond mixture to make a batter. 
3 Pour cake batter into the slow cooker and cook on low for 3 hrs until a skewer comes out of it clean. Turn off slow cooker but leave the cake in another 30 mins.
4 For the candied oranges and syrup, put juice and honey in a small, non-reactive pan. Bring to boil, then reduce heat. Add orange slices and cook for 5 mins each side until oranges caramelise.
5 Remove the cake and top with the candied oranges and syrup. 

In the oven:
1 Preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160/350F. Grease and line a 24cm cake tin. Follow step 2, above.
2 Pour batter into tin and bake for 55 mins until a skewer comes out clean. Cover cake with foil if browning too fast. Follow step 4, above.
3 Turn out the cake and top with the candied oranges and syrup.

Recipe from Whole Food Slow Cooked by Olivia Andrews (Murdoch Books)

* This cake was made in a 5.5 litre slow cooker. If yours is larger or smaller than this, the cooking time may vary, so keep an eye on your cake for the last hour or so.

This blog was originally published in January 2016. We still have at least one cake in every issue of the issue. Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More cakes for your tin…

More slow things for slow days…

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