Films | To See on the Big Screen

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

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

The Wizard of Oz, 1939

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

2001, A Space Odyssey, 1968

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

Lawrence of Arabia, 1962

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

How To Marry A Millionaire, 1953

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

Avatar, 2009

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

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

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

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

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Making | Find Your Next Craft Class

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

I want to make new friends

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

I want to get outdoors more

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

I want something hands on

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

I want to get out of my own head

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

I want to use my creative muscle more

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

I want to try something quirky

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

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

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

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Tipple | Rosemary & Ginger Hinny

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

Serves 1-2

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

For the ginger ale tonic:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Etymology | Bobble hats

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

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

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

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

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

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Playlist | Carnival!

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

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

Sponsored Post | Meet the people behind Laverock Law Cottages

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

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

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

How did it all start?

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

That sounds like a huge adventure

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

And how did Laverock Law grow from there?

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

Incredible. What else do you offer your guests?

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

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

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

So, what’s next for Laverock Law?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to enter 

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

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

Terms and conditions

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

History | Cornishware

A potted history of blue-and-white pottery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to spot a Cornishware fake

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

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

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

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

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

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Recipe | Bergamot Jelly

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

Makes about 7-8 x 200g jars

1kg bergamots

250g lemons

1.125 kg caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Wellbeing | Taking Cues from Pets

Illustration by Libby Vanderploeg

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

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

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

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

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

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Make | Citrus Print Tablecloth

Illustration by Kavel Rafferty

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

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

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

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

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

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Fiction | Top Towers from Books

Symbols of power, loneliness and mystery, towers feature almost as characters themselves in many stories. Here are a few that have stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Rapunzel’s Tower

Part prison, part enchanted home, Rapunzel’s woodland tower (as well as her hair) is very much the main character in this fairy tale. Locked in a tower with no stairs and no door by an evil witch, Rapunzel is about to make good her escape with her prince. But their plan is discovered by the witch, and the unfortunate prince leaps from the tower, landing in a patch of thorns which blind him. (Spoiler: don’t worry - it’s a happy ending). In some versions of the tale, the witch ends up stuck at the top of the tower herself, so the tower is at some point gaoler to all three characters. Apart from anything, the tale is responsible for the fact that almost all of us will find it impossible not to shout “Rapunzel, rapunzel! Let down your hair!” whenever passing a tall, thin building. It’s the law.

The Two Towers in Lord of the Rings

Although these two towers are the title of the second of the Lord of the Rings books, no one is quite sure which two towers exactly are referred to. There is a confusing plethora of towers in the novels ait turns out. Most readers assume the towers are Barad Dur (the dark tower) and the opposing Minas Tirith (tower of the watch). Tolkien himself foresaw this confusion and wrote to his publisher, confirming that he referred rather to Orthanc (Saruman’s tower) and Cirith Ungol (an entrance to Mordor). More confusingly still, the illustration Tolkien chose for the original book jacket pictured what is clearly Orthanc alongside Minas Morgul. Struggling to follow? Don’t worry - even Gandalf is confused at this point. Anyway, the important thing about the Two (or possibly five) Towers is that they are symbols of might and magic. In a land of hobbits and other very small people, towers are pretty awesome. 

Malory Towers

If you were once a fan of boarding school books, you’ll no doubt have been charmed firstly by Malory Towers’ swimming pool (naturally carved from the rocks and filled with sea water) but secondly by the building’s architecture with its four towers at each of the corners. North Tower, South Tower, East Tower and West Tower house the boarding accommodation for around 60 Malory Towers girls each and represent a haven for its inhabitants, who formed strong bonds to the pupils and teachers they shared a tower with. Blyton knew what she was up to. If you’re going to write about a wonderful boarding school, you definitely need it to have fairytale towers and endless spiralling staircases. The plot of the stories follows the girls in North Tower more or less exclusively. South Tower girls get an occasional mention. If you were West or East you’re basically a baddy. Like in The Wizard of Oz. 

The Tower of Flints, Gormenghast 

Mervyn Peake’s eerie trilogy is set in the castle of Gormenghast, and rising out of it ‘like a mutilated finger from among the fists of knuckled masonry’ is the Tower of Flints, covered in patches of black ivy and inhabited by owls. A symbol of profanity as well as decay, it’s a microcosm of the Groan family itself and also represents a place of escape both to and from madness for the characters. Let’s be honest; every completely bonkers Gothic trilogy needs a completely bonkers Gothic tower in it. 

The Tower (or tunnel) in Annihilation 

It’s true that towers are never quite what they seem in fiction, and in the strange, almost post-apocalyptic world created by Jeff Vandermeer, it makes sense that everything is inverted and unexpected. So what is referred to as ‘the tower’ is in fact a tunnel that plunges deep into the earth, inhabited by a weird creature that writes in moss on its walls. If you feel like this is cheating in tower terms, don’t worry - there’s a towering and equally creepy lighthouse in this novel, too. 

If you’re feeling inspired to visit a tower in real life, don’t miss our ‘Outing’ in our January issue that is all about towers from follies and monuments to lighthouses and churches. The issue is in shops now. 

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Competition | a Whitstable break worth £500

Win a seaside break to wonderful Whitstable on the North Kent Coast, renowned for its native oysters and stunning sunsets

If you are looking to escape to the seaside this year, Whitstable on the North Kent Coast, is just over an hour from London and is the go-to destination for food lovers and those looking to relax by the sea.

Ask anyone who has already visited Whitstable what they loved about their stay and they will say the local food is delicious and the hospitality warm and welcoming. The buzzing High Street is lined with unique independent shops, the beach walks and birdlife are beautiful, and the sunsets are simply stunning.

Whitstable Holiday Homes provides the perfect year-round accommodation for all, whether you’re looking for a weekend break, family holiday, dog-friendly stay, a big birthday celebration, or a romantic weekend away. Choose from over 25 holiday homes in Whitstable from traditional fisherman’s cottages, charming townhouses and incredible beachfront homes.

To ensure you are well looked after during your stay, Whitstable Holiday Homes owner Gail, a Whitstable local, is always on hand to offer personal recommendations on how to make the most of your visit so you can create some very special memories. Simply enter our competition below for your chance to win a £500 voucher to spend on your holiday home of choice. 

Visit whitstableholidayhomes.co.uk for more information, or follow on Instagram: @whitstableholidayhomes.

How to enter

For your chance to win a £500 voucher for a unique seaside break, simply click the button below and answer the following questions by 28 February 2026.

Q: What is the name of the Whitstable Holiday Homes owner who will be on hand to help you with your stay?

Terms & conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 28 February 2026. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. The prize is a £500 voucher which can be used towards any available property on the Whitstable Holiday Homes Ltd website. To use the voucher, you will need to contact Whitstable Holiday Homes directly by phone or email. The voucher must be used by 30 December 2026. Whitstable Holiday Homes Ltd booking terms and conditions apply (see website for details). If due to circumstances beyond their control, Whitstable Holiday Homes is unable to provide the stated prize(s), they reserve the right to award a substitute prize of equal or greater value. The prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. Transport is not included. This prize must be booked by someone aged 18+. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules

How to: Write a thank you note

Top manners = repeat invitations (and presents). Here are some tips for showing your gratitude with a good old-fashioned note

We all know the value of saying “thank you” at this time of year, (even if Nanny Vi did send bath salts again). These days, we have lots of easy ways to say it, from a blanket shout-out on Facebook to a quick text. But nothing tops a hand-written note. Here’s how to compose the perfect message.

BEGIN WITH A GREETING
Always use the correct form and spelling of the person’s name. 

EXPRESS THANKS
Kick off with the most important words: ‘Thank you.’ Or something fancier: ‘It made my day when I opened your gift...’ 

ADD SPECIFIC DETAILS
Tell them how you plan to use or display the present. Even if it was cash, describe how you might spend it (if it’s beer and pick ‘n’ mix, you have permission to make something up). 

LOOK AHEAD
Mention the next time you might see them, or just let them know you’re thinking of them. 

RESTATE YOUR THANKS
Add extra details: ‘I know my friends will be jealous of the beautiful reindeer jumper you knitted for me!’ 

SIGN OFF
‘Sincerely’ is a safe standby but for closer relationships, choose something warmer. Show the love! 

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Tipple | Pomegranate Rose Sharbat

Sharbats* are a syrup made from fruit and herbs – this one is particularly good paired with a natural sparkling wine or tonic.

Makes 8 cocktails

100ml honey

100ml pomegranate juice (fresh or bottled, see note for fresh below)

2 tbsp dried rose petals

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

Sparkling wine, kombucha, kefir or tonic

1 Add the honey and pomegranate juice to a 300ml (or larger) jam jar. Stir to mix thoroughly.

2 Stir in the rose petals and then add the rosemary to the mix, ensuring it’s fully covered by the honey and juice (snap the rosemary into smaller pieces, if needed).

3 You can use the mixture straight away, but you can also leave it at room temperature for up to 1 week, as it will ferment into a fizzy cordial. It will then need to be refrigerated, where it’ll keep for up to 1 month.

4 To use, strain 1 tbsp of the sharbat syrup into a wine glass and top up with a fizzy drink of your choice.

Bartender’s note: To make fresh pomegranate juice, cut a pomegranate in half horizontally. Cut the halves into wedges by slicing through the thick white membranes that segment the seeds. Use your fingers to tease the seeds out into a sieve (set over a bowl or jug) and simply squeeze the seeds with your hands to extract the juice. It’s very satisfying! Pomegranate juice and rose petals are both great for heart health as they aid circulation, which will also help to keep us warm in winter. The addition of honey and rosemary mean that this cordial has gut-health benefits, too.

*Sharbats were first featured in a monumental tome on health called Canon Of Medicine, written by Persian physician-philosopher Avicenna in the 11th century.

This recipe is from our January issue’s ‘Gathering’ pages, ‘A Taste of Persia’. The menu also includes recipes for Buttery barbari, Tahdig, Fesenjan, Kaale seerabeh salad, Persimmon parfait and Baklava biscuits. The recipes are by Rachel de Thample and the photography by Katharine Davies. The issue is in shops now.

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How to | Sleep on a Sofa

Scene of sleepovers, telly fests and sloth – make sofa-sleeping more comfortable this
New Year’s Eve, whether you’re a guest or a host

At some point in all our lives, due to a unfortunate domestic squabble or the arrival of unexpected guests perhaps, we will find ourselves sleeping downstairs on the sofa*. This could mean a night of cramped discomfort and a face pressed against the button-back upholstery. 

Here are a few ways to help avoid potential insomnia:
1. Take as much bedding as possible – preferably a duvet, but a pillow at the very least. Scatter-cushions, a forearm or a bunched-up coat simply won’t do.
2. Remove the back cushions. This creates a surprising amount of room.
3. Lay a sheet on the sofa first, especially if you are on a leather or pleather sofa. Otherwise you will have to be unpeeled in the morning. 
4. Ensure any pets are in another room. There is no room on a sofa for unwanted marauders. 
5. If the TV is nearby, enjoy a spot of supine late-night viewing – one of the very few perks of sofa surfing.

* An average sofa will have been used as a bed for up to 489 visitors in its lifetime.

 This blog was originally published in December 2014.

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Competition | Win a Le Boat holiday in the UK

Enter our competition and you could win a week’s holiday for you and five friends

Ready to explore the UK from the water? The Simple Things has teamed up with Le Boat, Europe’s number one self-drive boating holiday company, to give you the chance to win an unforgettable seven-night holiday for up to six people aboard your choice of a Value Boat or Comfort Boat. No experience or licence required! Le Boat’s expert team will show you everything you need to know before you set off, so you can relax and enjoy from the very first moment. 

Picture this: mornings on deck watching the world ease by at your own pace. Discover the UK’s charm on the River Thames, passing quaint villages, cosy waterside pubs and rolling green countryside. With the freedom to stop when and where you like, you can moor up whenever something catches your eye. Explore a historic town, take a riverside walk, enjoy a slow lunch, or simply stay aboard and savour the stillness. 

Or choose something truly spectacular and explore Scotland’s rugged beauty. Navigate its legendary lochs and the majestic Caledonian Canal, framed by soaring mountains, mirror-calm water, and rich local history. Every bend brings a new view, a new story, a new moment to remember. 

Your boat will be your floating home for the week: comfortable, spacious and easy to handle, with everything you need for relaxed, stress-free cruising. With space for up to six people, it’s perfect for families, friends, or anyone craving time together in nature, away from the rush. 

And with Le Boat’s trusted support team by your side throughout your holiday, you can simply focus on what matters: freedom, connection, and discovering a new perspective of England and Scotland. 

To enter

To be in with a chance of winning a self-drive Le Boat holiday just click on the button below and answer the following question:
Q- What is the maximum number of people the boat for this prize can accomodate?

Terms and conditions

*T&C’s Apply: Must be booked at least eight weeks in advance, and used before 31st October 2026, excluding select dates and boat types. Available for departures in the UK on budget and comfort boat types only. For full terms and conditions, visit the Le Boat website. Read The Simple Things’ terms and conditions on page 125 of the magazine or visit thesimplethings.co.uk/comprules.

Nest | Soak in a spruce needle bath

Don’t throw away your Christmas tree clippings just yet. Spruce needles are an invigorating natural remedy, great for clearing the head. If you feel a cold coming on or are simply exhausted, have a bath with this spruce tree essence and let the scent of a forest work its magic

You will need:

3 fresh twigs from a spruce tree, washed
1 litre water

1 Cut the spruce twigs into small pieces, place them in a saucepan and add the water. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
2 Now remove the pan from the heat, cover with a cloth, and let the solution of twigs infuse for another 10 minutes while you run your bath.
3 Strain and add the solution to your bath. Relax in the bath for 20 minutes, breathing in deeply and taking in all the wonderful forest scents.
4 Go to bed immediately and rest!

From Vinegar Socks, Traditional Home Remedies for Modern Living by Karin Berndl and Nici Hofer. This blog was first published in the January 2018 issue of The Simple Things.

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Make | A Seasonal Tonic

Make a batch of these immune-boosting shots to prevent a cold from ruining your Christmas

Opt for fresh, organic produce to maximise benefits – and if one ingredient is unavailable, just double up one of the others.

Makes 6 x 50ml shots
2 tbsp chopped garlic
2 tbsp chopped onion
2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
2 tbsp grated horseradish root
2 tbsp chopped cayenne pepper (or any other chilli)
350ml raw apple cider vinegar

1 Pile the garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish and pepper into a 350ml lidded sterilised jar. (To sterilise, wash it in hot soapy water, dry with a clean cloth, then place in a 200C/Fan 180C/ 400F oven for 10 mins.)
Fill the jar with raw apple cider vinegar, close the lid tightly and shake.
2 Store in a cool, dark place, shaking at least once a day for two weeks.
3 Filter the tonic through a clean piece of muslin, pour into a sterilised bottle. Take a 50ml shot three times a day (on an empty stomach) as soon as you feel the symptoms of a cold. It will keep at room temperature for up to six months.

Recipe from Tonics & Teas by Rachel de Thample (Kyle Books).

This blog was originally published in the December 2017 issue of The Simple Things.

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Traditions | The emergency present drawer

Kate Pettier explains the art of the emergency present drawer.

Tag-along cousins, pop-up neighbours – surprise guests over the holiday season are as inevitable as leftovers on Boxing Day. And leftovers, in the gift department, are exactly what you need. Not having bought someone a gift is one of those faux-pas that’s hard to laugh off. Emergency present drawer to the rescue!

In essence, it’s a stash of borderline impersonal gifts ready for dispatch. My mum’s was kept in a box in the under-stairs cupboard: gift-wrapped Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisps, Yardley powder puffs and multipack men’s hankies were its staples. As a child, how I hoped there’d be unclaimed Orange Matchmakers...

The gifts may have changed, but for my own spare-present haul, I stick to Mum’s principle that it’s the thought that counts. Emergency gifts are less a display of wealth, more a social polyfilla with which we smooth over the awkwardness of someone having been overlooked by Santa. Notelets, scented candles, V&A hankies, truffles and gift-set toiletries wait in the wings to be given away at the last minute. And of course, ever the optimist, I leave the Orange Matchmakers till last.

This blog was first published in the December 2014 issue of The Simple Things.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

1. Soy scented candles from Anthropologie, £14
2. Liberty print handkerchiefs, £5.95
3. Belleville Bakery body wash and body Lotion, & Other Stories, £14
4. Matchmakers, widely available, around £2.50
5. Letterpress pencil correspondence cards, Meticulous Ink, £20
6. Black Forest gateau truffles, Prestat, £12

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