Playlist | Northern Soul

A guest playlist from Northern Soul DJ Jordan Wilson. Take a listen to the full playlist on Spotify here

Check out his record label and read more about Jordan and his fellow Northern Soul Modern Eccentrics in the November 2022 issue of The Simple Things.

Sponsored post | Create your own printed napkins with Seasalt

Take inspiration from nature with eye-catching printed napkins that’ll brighten up the dining table

There’s a nip in the air, so now’s the time to wrap up and plan a cosy get-together with good friends and good food. We’ve teamed up with Seasalt Cornwall and creative designer, Becki Clark, to bring you this printed napkin project, guaranteed to give your gatherings a lovingly homemade touch.

You will need

Fabric

Scissors

Small potato

Knife

Fabric paint

Paintbrush

1 Start by cutting your fabric to size. You could give old clothes a new lease of life – Becki’s used linen from preloved Seasalt garments. Also, think about the finish of your napkins; you may want to hem them, however pinking shears will give a pretty edge, while tearing the fabric will give a more rustic raw look.

2 For this simple pattern, cut your potato in half to create a circular stamp, then cut a thin slice of potato for your stem stamp.

3 Use your paintbrush to apply a thin layer of fabric paint to your thin slice of potato.

4 Begin on the left-hand side of your napkin and print a stem line downwards from the top. Stop and reapply more paint if needed to keep the paint line looking consistent.

5 Apply a thin layer of paint to the potato half and print circular leaf shapes opposite each other on either side of the stem line, finishing with a final circular print at the top of the stem. Repeat this process down the centre and right-hand side of the napkin.

6 Hang your napkins or lay flat to dry.

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

Discover Seasalt Cornwall and find more craft ideas at seasaltcornwall.com.

Becki’s Style

• Try creating a mood board with your chosen fabric, inspiration and colours to help you decide on the final look.

• I experimented with cream fabric paint before deciding to work with black for the final napkins.

• Take inspiration from nature. If you spot something that catches your eye whilst out and about, take a photo on your phone for reference. Many botanical motifs can often be broken down into simple shapes that you can recreate in a potato print.

• Sketch out your print idea and try repeating a single motif in different directions to explore repeat patterns.

Sponsored post | Make lip balm with Ricola

There are many things to love about the season’s cold weather – wrapping up warm and toasty, and crisp, clear skies – however chapped lips are certainly not one of them. If you’ve yet to discover the right balm for keeping lips soft and smiling, then try this simple project from our friends at Ricola.

It makes four small pots, so you’ll have plenty to see you through the winter months or to gift to friends.

You will need:

40g shea butter

3 tbsp almond oil

1 tbsp dried herbs (such as chamomile,

lemon balm or marigold)

5 drops of essential oil (such as peppermint, lemon, lavender or lime)

Bain-marie

Wooden spoon

Sieve

Jug

4 x 50ml lidded jars

4 labels

How to make

1 Over a bain-marie, gently heat and combine the shea butter and almond oil.

2 Add the dried herbs to the warm, melted oil mixture and leave to steep for 30 mins.

3 Sieve the mixture into a jug, then add your essential oil of choice and stir well.

4 Pour the balm into sterilised jars and leave to cool in the fridge for 30 mins, then label and enjoy.

It’s not just lips that need a little extra TLC, cold weather means that Ricola’s Soothe & Clear cough drops are a must. With 13 Swiss Alpine herbs, they come in three soothing flavours: Original, Honey Herb and Honey Lemon Echinacea.

For more info, visit ricola.com

Competition | Win £200 of Earthborn Paint

We’ve joined forces with eco decorators Earthborn to give two lucky readers pots of colour ,
each worth over £200

Planning on an interior revamp soon? Or perhaps you have cause to paint a nursery or redecorate a child’s bedroom? Then you could be in luck. Earthborn are all about environmentally friendly paints that are better for you, your home and the environment. And they’re giving two lucky readers the chance to win 12.5ltr of paint – in any one of the 72 beautiful shades in their palette. You can choose from Claypaint, a super-breathable ultra-matt, ideal for walls and ceilings, or Lifestyle, a hard-wearing washable emulsion that hits the mark in busy homes.

A spot of decorating can be a calming and uplifting task – especially when you’re working on children’s rooms. It brings with it the hope of a brighter future, as well as the satisfaction of a job well done. And choosing an eco-friendly paint is just one of the little steps you can take towards a greener world.

A caring environment

We all want a safe, caring home for our family. So we’re happy to note that Earthborn paints all carry the Toy Safety Standard. This means they contain no hidden nasties and are fume free, so you can get on with creating gorgeous spaces for your children, without compromising on colour.

There’s no limit to the colour you can introduce, from walls to furniture and even toys – and all help to provide a colourful environment where youngsters can grow and play. Whatever your style, we’re sure you’ll find something to inspire you at Earthborn.

The finishing touch? Knowing your paints are gentle on your home and your family.

How to enter

For your chance to win 12.5ltr of Earthborn paint, worth over £200, enter our competition by clicking the button below by the closing date of 7 December 2022 and answering the following question:

Q: How many colours are in the Earthborn palette?
a. 72
b. 172
c. 772

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 7 December 2022. Two winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. The winners cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. Subject to availability. Details of our full T&Cs are on p125 and at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

For Fun | Spine Poems

Poetry can be found in the most surprising places. See if you can spot some in the wild

The wonderful thing about poetry is that you can find it anywhere. Look around you and you’ll find words creating images in billboards, graffiti, on cereal packets... A well-crafted poem is a thing of beauty, certainly, but ‘found’ poetry is somehow more magical: two words that accidentally rhyme, or mirror each other, or simply form a new meaning, having collided completely by accident feels like a happy secret. 

In our October issue, our ‘Gallery’ feature took images from the book Spine Poems by Annette Dauphin Simon (Harper Design). Spine Poetry (see the one above) began as a game in a Florida bookshop when Annette and her colleagues would compete to spot the hidden poetry in the spines of randomly stacked books. So the one pictured above reads:

Like my father always said

Listen to your mother

Listen to your heart

Listen to your Gut.

What’s for dinner?

Clever, isn’t it? You can read a few more of the Spine Poems from page 44 of the October issue. We were so enchanted by the idea, we thought we’d see what a Simple Things Spine Poem from the last 12 months would look like. For those who don’t keep their back issues lined up beautifully on their book shelves, here’s our Spine Poem taken from the magazine’s spines from last November to this October. 

Building Bonfires & making gifts

Taking time to live well

Candles & clementines

Snowdrops & seedheads

Bunches of flowers & sunny day cycling

Easter chocolate & spring adventures

Floral dresses & being outdoors

Salad days & summer nights

Lavender fields & lemon spritzers

Jolly sunflowers & going barefoot

Ripe tomatoes & trying something new

Birthday cake & gathering seeds

We’d love to see your spine poems, too. Do snap a picture and comment on our blog or tag us on your social media with your own Spine Poem pictures. 

Image taken from Spine Poems by Annette Dauphin Simon (Harper Design) which is released on 13 October and can be ordered now.

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More fun to have with books…

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Make | Conker Laundry Soap

Gather up your champion conkers and give them a new life as a laundrette

Horse chestnuts contain lots of saponin – an organic chemical with a name that’s a clue as to why they’re useful: sapon is ‘soap’ in Latin. While it won’t zap the toughest of stains, this homemade liquid is an economic and eco way for more everyday washing.

The prep: 

• Gather your conkers (about a handful per wash load).
• Remove the outer brown layer, then quarter. 

• Blitz into small pieces in a blender or bash with a rolling pin through a tea towel (Wash any kitchen implements very carefully afterwards as conkers are poisonous to humans). 

• Leave the mixture to dry somewhere like an airing cupboard or windowsill. 

• Once completely dry, store in an airtight jar ready to use. (You can buy ready made ‘washkers’ at watercressqueen.company.site/products)

The wash

• Boil a kettle and add double the quantity of water to the mix used. 

• Steep for at least 30 mins. 

• Filter the liquid through a muslin. The used bits can go in your food waste/compost.
• Use the liquid as you would a normal laundry liquid (add a couple of drops of essential oil if you like it scented).
• Any leftover liquid can be kept in the fridge for a week. 

This Horse Chestnut Laundry Wash is just one of the fascinating ideas from our October Miscellany pages. Turn to page 117 of the October issue to read more miscellaneous things from puzzles and paperweights to turnip carving and foraging for fungi. 

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More autumnal fun…

More from our October issue…

Make | Heather Biscotti

These biscuits, from The Hebridean Baker by Coinneach Macleod are the invention of Amanda who runs the Temple, a beautiful café in Northton on the Isle of Harris. Bringing a Scottish twist to these Italian baked biscuits… maybe we should call them biscotty?

This recipe calls for dried heather, which can be made by cutting the spikes of flowers while they’re still in bud, then hanging them to dry in small bunches out of direct sunlight.

Makes enough to share

40g whole hazelnuts

355g plain flour

1½ tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

105g caster sugar

150g light brown sugar

3 eggs

½ tsp almond extract

85g olive oil

1 heaped tsp dried heather flowers

Zest of ½ orange

1 Preheat the oven to 160C/Fan 140C/Gas 2-3. Place the hazelnuts on a tray and toast lightly in the oven for 5 mins, then leave to cool.

2 Once cool, add the nuts to a bowl along with the flour, baking powder, salt, both kinds of sugar and combine.

3 Blend together the eggs, almond extract and olive oil then add half the heather flowers and half the orange zest and stir together.

4 Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until well combined – it’ll be a sticky dough. Let it sit in the bowl for about 10 mins as this helps to make it more manageable to shape.

5 Meanwhile, line a baking tray with baking paper. Wet your hands to avoid the dough sticking to them and roll it into logs, each about 25cm long. Place on the baking tray and sprinkle with the remaining heather and zest.

6 Bake for about 20 mins until golden. Remove and allow to cool for 10 mins.

7 Reduce the oven temperature to 150C/Fan 130C/Gas 2. Slice the biscotti into 12cm slices, then return to the oven and bake for 5 mins, turn over and bake for 5 mins more, or until golden. Place on a wire rack to cool and store in an airtight Kilner jar.

Taken from The Hebridean Baker: Recipes and Wee Stories from the Scottish Islands by Coinneach Macleod (Black & White Publishing). Photography: Euan Anderson. You can find more recipes by The Hebridean Baker in our October issue, including Bride’s Bron, Bramble Whisky and Bra Braw Buns.

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More Scottish inspiration…

Recipe | Beetroot Linguine with Goat's Cheese and Garlic Crumb

There’s nothing subtle about this. It ’s outrageously pink and all the lovelier for it. The crumbs are a must: they add a crunchy contrast to the rich sauce and a salty kick to balance the sweet beetroot.

Serves 2

325g whole beetroot, washed
120g soft goat’s cheese, no rind
½ lemon, zest and juice
180g linguine
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
30g panko breadcrumbs
1 tbsp thyme leaves, chopped
2 large garlic cloves

1 Preheat the oven to 210C/Fan 190C/ Gas 6-7. Wrap each of the beetroot in foil and bake on a baking tray for 90 mins or until you can poke a skewer through without effort. Unwrap and leave to cool before peeling (the skin should just rub off).

2 Chop the beetroot into chunks and whizz in a blender until smooth. Tip the pur ée into a pan over a low heat and warm gently. Stir in half the goat’s cheese and all the lemon juice, season , then remove from the heat.

3 Cook the pasta according to pack instructions. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the breadcrumbs and thyme and fry for 2-3 mins, or until golden. Crush the garlic to a paste with a little salt and add to the pan with the lemon zest, fry for a further 1-2 mins. Set aside.

4 When the pasta is ready, use tongs to lift it, and any cooking water that clings to it, into the beetroot sauce. Stir to combine then pile onto warm plates. Top with the breadcrumbs and remaining goat’s cheese and serve. Cook’s note: The breadcrumb s and sauce can be made a day in advance, but the finished dish needs serving immediately, so it doesn’t go stodgy.

This recipe is just one of the ideas from our regular Veg Patch Pantry series, by Kathy Slack. @gluts_gluttony. In our October issue you’ll also find Kathy’s recipes for Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, Parsnip Soup and Pumpkin and Ginger Cake. for more deliciously seasonal ideas, you might like to buy Kathy’s book, From the Veg Patch or tune in to her podcast Tales From the Veg Patch, via her Instagram page.

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More seasonal veg patch recipes for Autumn…

Sponsored post | Get away in the UK with Classic Cottages

Classic Cottages have an idyllic collection of holiday cottages across the UK - just perfect for that well-deserved getaway any time of the year. Choose from cosy, traditional cottages tucked away in the countryside, to coastal escapes ideal for a restorative few days’ break.

So, where can you go? Cornwall and Devon are always a wonderful choice, whether you’re craving the coast or the countryside, the beautiful landscapes of Somerset and Dorset are rather special, and you’re sure to spend an unforgettable holiday exploring the magic of Sussex, Pembrokeshire, the Isle of Wight or the Cotswolds, to name just a few.

In our opinion, the different seasons all have something special to offer to your UK getaway. Spring is a wonderful time to spend idyllic days exploring and celebrating the return of outdoor living, to admire colourful flowers and hear the buzz of wildlife in the countryside, and feel the sun on your skin by the sea. Summer is made for those salt-kissed getaways, sure to create magical memories for years to come. Autumn brings the opportunity to sneak off to a cottage for a few days (or more!), perfect for taking some time to unwind, discovering a new corner of the UK, and crunching through autumn leaves on a woodland walk. Winter is often looked over for a UK holiday, but we love this time of year for wrapping up warm and wandering along tranquil beaches, finding sweet cafes for a hot chocolate and warm and welcoming pubs for delicious lunches, spending cosy evenings curled up by the fire, and simply sinking into relaxation mode for a little while.

Turner Hall

Looking for some inspiration on where to stay? Well, you’re simply spoilt for choice! A few of our favourites include Acorn Barn, a dreamy retreat nestled in the heart of the glorious South Downs National Park - perfect for exploring any time of the year; admire the beauty of the Cotswolds and discover the picturesque Cotswold villages with a few days away at charming Stonewell Cottage; spend an idyllic weekend at Wayside Cottage, a gorgeous thatched retreat nestled in a sweet Dorset village; gather the family together for an unforgettable holiday at magical Turner Hall, tucked away in a woodland glade in Dartmoor, and escape to peaceful seclusion at Tom’s Cottage, a beautiful Cornish cottage, close to the glorious north coast and surrounded by oh-so-lovely countryside.

Acorn Barn

A peek inside Acorn Barn

Book Group | The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

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

Not many books are narrated by Death himself, and that gives this novel set in 1939 Germany a unique perspective. We follow Liesel, a little girl being sent away to live with strangers whose brother dies on the journey. She steals a book and so begins a lifetime of finding comfort and strength in the pages of books.

Questions to ponder
How does this book compare to wartime stories from a British perspective? Are the concerns similar?

Further reading
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly also looks at the impact reading can have on us. It follows an orphaned child who lives in an attic room, surrounded by books that have begun to whisper to him…

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Cake | Things to Sandwich Inside a Sandwich Cake

We’re celebrating the tenth birthday of The Simple Things this month, with this delicious blackberry and white chocolate sandwich cake, designed, made and photographed by Catherine Frawley. Why had we never thought of the winning combination of blackberry and white chocolate before, we ask ourselves?

While we were blowing out our candles, we got to thinking that there must be lots more winning combinations and things we had not previously considered sandwiching in a sandwich cake! A classic Victoria Sponge with raspberry jam and cream is always a winner, but the sky really is the limit here. We’ve put together a few ideas for sandwich cake fillings, as well as some suggestions on cake flavours to pair the fillings with. Pass the cake forks round, please!

• ·       Passion fruit curd – goes well with orange cake

• ·       Toasted marshmallows (or marshmallow spread in a jar) – goes well with chocolate cake

• ·       Whole Maltesers and buttercream – goes well with salted caramel cake

• ·       Cookie dough – goes well with chocolate chip cake

• ·       Eton mess (cream, crushed meringue and chopped strawberries) – goes well with a vanilla sponge

• ·       Blueberry curd – goes well with lemon cake

• ·       Coffee butter cream (mix some espresso powder into the cream – goes well with walnut cake

• ·       Marmalade – Goes well with white chocolate cake

Happy baking! And if you’d like to cook Catherine’s cake, pictured here, you can find it in our October issue on page 22.

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More cakes to bake…

Sponsored post | Shepherding in the Peace

Enjoy all that nature has to offer with the comforts and cosiness of a Blackdown Shepherd’s Hut

As the autumnal chill sets in, there’s no greater pleasure than creating a cosy space in which to retreat and watch as the seasons evolve. Whether it’s snuggling under a blanket outdoors, against the glow of a warming firepit, or heading inside to enjoy the crackle of a log-burner, a cosy Blackdown Shepherd hut is a fantastic backdrop for creating those long-lasting happy memories.

Whether you’re keen to invest in your own little slice of shepherd hut heaven at the bottom of the garden, or simply taking a well-earned glamping break in one of the many huts available throughout the country, a Blackdown Shepherd Hut is the ideal way to get the most from the great outdoors without ever having to step outside of your comfort zone.

Lovingly built by the talented team in Ilminster, Somerset, each bespoke hut is designed to use every last inch of space, offering style, craftsmanship and flexibility. A restorative escape to enjoy time with loved ones, or simply time alone with your thoughts.

And, as the final embers die down in the firepit outside, you take that as your cue to retire indoors to the warmth of the log-burner where you can continue the stargazing, swaddled up tight beside the window, watching as the sky twinkles peacefully. A quick peek in the fridge reveals fresh milk and cream and soon a hot chocolate is on the go, with cookies ready to dunk. An evening well spent.

As you climb into the comfiest of beds feeling thoroughly rested and relaxed, you know that after the soundest of sleeps, the morning awaits you with a whole new vista, ready to do blissfully nothing all over again.

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

Quiz | Which member of The Famous Five are you?

Hallo! We’ve a jolly exciting quiz for you all! Just answer the questions below and you’ll discover which Famous Five character you are most like. “Gosh,” we all said. “Woof!” said Timmy. 

1. Which page of The Simple Things magazine do you always turn to first?

1. I always read the Editor’s message. I like to know what the issue is about and make sure I’m clued up as to what it’s all about. 

2. I love to read about others’ adventures and often turn to the Wisdom pages first to be inspired by people doing something new and different. 

3. Anything outdoorsy, especially if it’s on water - wild swimming, boating, paddle-boarding. 

4. Home Tour! I just love seeing the beautiful ways in which people turn a house into a home. And the recipes! I love to whip up a batch of something sweet for my friends!

5. Cake in the House. I could just woof it down in one go. 

2. What’s your ‘role’ in your friendship circle?

1. I’m the leader. To be honest, I don’t know where they’d all be without me. 

2. I’m the crisis manager. I tend to be the one that sorts out all the problems and gets my hands dirty - even though I don’t get much credit for it.

3. I’m the ideas person, I tend to drive our meet-ups, be the one who comes up with the ideas and then sees it through. 

4. I’m the calming influence. It’s always me clearing up at the end of a good night. Someone has to I guess!

5. I’m the loyal one and the glue between us all. I’d do anything for my friends. 

3. What is your must-have picnic item?

1. A delicious ham. An army marches on its stomach and so do I!

2. Spam sandwiches. Easy and delicious. And even better sheltering under a tree in the rain. 

3. Ginger beer! Lashings of it!

4. Hard-boiled eggs. 

5. Potted meat - or a juicy bone!

4. You have caught a cold (due to swimming in the sea in April) and are unable to go on your planned holiday. What will you do instead?

1. I’d look into the mystery of the birdwatchers down by the old ravine. I suspect they are forging banknotes!

2. I’d help Uncle Quentin with his investigations into two scientists who have gone missing, suspected of selling secrets to the Russians!

3. I’d just go swimming some more. 

4. Tuck myself up in bed with a good book and make sandwiches for my holiday pals for when they return. 

5. Round up some other friends and go for a nice walk in the sunshine. 

5. You’ve been locked in a deserted house on an island by smugglers. What do you do?

1. I would delegate someone to alert the police, someone to distract the smugglers and I would get the boat ready to make good our escape. I’m a bit of a hero like that. 

2. I would rig up a rope and pulley system to climb to the top of the roof and use a magnifying glass to start a small fire and alert the coastguard. Then I would swing down and make a citizen’s arrest just in time for the police to arrive. 

3.  I would tear the smugglers off an absolute strip. It’s not their bally island anyway. It’s my island. 

4. Sit tight and wait for help to arrive. Oh, and I’d make everyone a strong cup of tea to see us through. 

5. Run for help. Untie a boat using only my teeth and then float it out to sea and shout loudly for help until someone followed me back to my friends. 

6. What is your ‘Simple Thing’?

1. A job well done. 

2. Small adventures.

3. Swimming outdoors.

4. Making my home cosy. 

5. A good long walk.

Mostly As

You are Julian. A born leader and a great organiser. But perhaps try not to let it always <show> quite so much?

Mostly Bs

You are Dick. You’re always in the thick of the adventure and can be depended on to show no fear.

Mostly Cs

You are George. You love the outdoor life (and your dog) but can sometimes be a bit blinkered to the needs of others at the expense of your own needs. 

Mostly Ds

You are Anne. Welcoming and a wonderful host, you love nothing more than home-making and helping others feel at home, too. 

Mostly Es

You are Timmy the dog. You are loyal, brave and love tasty treats and a good walk!

Read our ‘Nostalgia’ feature, Lessons From The Famous Five, in our September issue, in shops now. 

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More from our September issue…

More fun for fans of children’s books…

Playlist | Harvest

DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Shutterstock

“Now we’re gonna live, now we’re going to work it out, the pain is now over and the harvest is here”

Take a listen here
And browse our back issue playlists here

Competition | Win a Weleda Skinfood Bundle worth over £120

Weleda’s iconic Skinfood - its little green hero - is the ultimate saver when it comes to rescuing dry skin

Autumn, the ideal time to wrap up warm and get outdoors to enjoy the spectacle of nature’s changing palette. But as the air cools, your skin may become extra thirsty. Give it the attention it deserves with Weleda’s Skin Food – its iconic little green hero. And now three lucky readers have the chance to win a Skin Food bundle, worth over £120, packed with skin-soothing products, plus a limited edition, money-can’t-buy sweatshirt, designed by illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve, featuring the original multi-purpose marvel.

Since its introduction in 1926, Weleda Skin Food has evolved from a little-known cult classic to a firm favourite for every body. In fact, a tube is sold every 11 seconds! Blended using pure plant oils, protective waxes and organic plant extracts, including calendula from Weleda’s own medicinal herb gardens, organic chamomile from Weleda’s farming partners in Kosovo, alongside rosemary from Portugal and organic sunflower seed oil from Hungary, it results in a much-loved multi-tasking product that cares intensively for hands, face and body.

All Weleda products are NATRUE-certified natural and made without synthetic ingredients or artificial additives of any kind. Weleda’s supply chains are UEBT-certified sustainable to verify that biodiversity is conserved, ingredients are sourced ethically, and that all partners along the supply chain are treated equitably and paid fairly.

So if your skin’s in need of a little TLC, enter our competition and you could win one of three bundles. Each bundle includes both sizes of Weleda Skin Food original, plus its lightweight sibling, Skin Food Light, together with a skin-nourishing bottle of new Skin Food Body Lotion, a luxuriously indulgent Skin Food Body Butter, and a protective Skin Food Lip Balm, plus the sweatshirt to show off your green credentials with pride.

For more information, visit weleda.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @weledauk

How to enter

For your chance to win one of three Weleda Skin Food bundles, worth over £120 each, click the button below and answer the following question by the closing date of 9 November 2022.

Q: When was Weleda Skinfood introduced?

Terms & Conditions:

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 9 November 2022. Three 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.

Sponsored post | Stoking the Flames of Evolution

With over 50 years’ experience, Charnwood proves that it’s always at the forefront of wood-burning technologies

This year marks a very special year for family-run British business Charnwood, it’s 50 years since founder Alfred Wells and sons Alistair and John created their first wood-burning stove. Based in Niton, on the Isle of Wight – and against a backdrop of the oil crisis and Dutch Elm disease that was sweeping the nation at the time – they built a stove that wasn’t reliant on fossil fuels and could use the abundance of wood that was available. The result proved so successful that Charnwood was born and the family haven’t looked back since, always striving to break new boundaries and provide the latest innovations.

Setting the standard

Having grown from those three founding members to a team of over 180 people, the company has evolved to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry and in the coming months will launch two new models, each designed to make the burning process cleaner, greener and more accessible. The revolutionary Skye E700 with its intelligent wood-burning technology will soon be unveiled across the pond in the US followed by a European launch, while the Haven – a new compact wood-fired range cooker – is set to heat up the wood-burning market over here. Featuring a large view of the fire within, the Haven combines the charm of a traditional range with the very latest efficiencies and clean-burn know-how, and has been designed for cabins, bothies, off-grid and smaller homes.

A sign of the times

Charnwood doesn’t just limit its expertise to wood-burners, either. Since the installation of its vitreous enamel plant over 30 years ago, which enabled the company to enamel its stoves in-house, it has worked to extend its services to other industries, most notably transport signage. Operating under the name of AJ Wells, the company has a strong working relationship with Transport for London, being the principle supplier of signage for the London Underground, and also supplies the Paris Metro.

For more information, and to find your nearest stockist, visit charnwood.com.

How To | Have a Secret Day Off

A day off just to yourself is the best secret. Disappear for a day, Agatha Christie style, and recharge your batteries. Here’s how…

Book a day off, pack up a lunch, turn off your phone, and disappear somewhere nobody knows you! (It’s a good plan to leave a secret envelope and alert a loved one to your vanishing just in case but otherwise, jump on a bus or train and enjoy nobody knowing where you are for a few hours. 

Before you book trains or make plans though, decide what you want from the day. We’ve come up with a few ideas to get you going. 

In need of a bit of culture?

Head to a city with a gallery or museum you’ve never been to. If you’re in the north, Edinburgh, Oxford, York and Glasgow are good options for cities with galleries and plenty of culture. Brighton, Bristol and St Ives are good if you’re a touch further south, 

For a quirky museum, try the dog collar museum in Leeds, the pencil museum in Keswick, or the Flea Collection (viewable only through a microscope)at Tring Natural History Museum. 

In search of adventure?

Climb a hill! Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons is a nice easy hill to climb if you’re a beginner. Yes Tor in Dartmoor or Cat Bells in the Lake District are also good choices for a ‘do in a day’ mountain hike. Just pack plenty of water, snacks, warm and waterproof layers and maps. And this is one to disclose to a loved one, maybe. You don’t want Mountain Rescue being called out for nothing. 

Fancy lunch alone?

Pop a good book in your bag, do some menu perusing and find an eatery where you can relax alone over several courses, not feel silly and - crucially - not have to make pointless small talk. Here are a few ideas that are perfect for a date with me, myself and I:

Asian restaurants where the kitchen is on view give you plenty to look at without feeling silly for being alone. From Wagamamas to Shoryu Ramen, Japanese street food was made for eating alone. If you don’t fancy watching the chefs at work, why not go for a restaurant with a view. Anywhere on the water is a good bet - there the scenery is always changing. We like Hix Oyster and Fish House at Lyme Regis, or the River Exe Cafe in Devon, but you might find the most humble of pizzerias or cafes on the banks of a river anywhere. 

Do a secret event 

It might be a non-league football match (or even a big league team you’ve followed). Or how about seeing a favourite band in concert, a premier for a film or exhibition or the recording of a TV show you love? Or even the opening of the Chelsea Flower Show? Whatever it is you fancy doing, do your research and then book your day off around it. Bonus points if you appear on the big screen in your sunglasses and hat disguise!

Hide in nature for a day

Drive or take a train to a wood or planned walk with amazing views. Visit a beach with great sunsets with a Thermos of soup. Or simply find a path through fields that will allow you a pleasant walk, plenty of fresh air and lots of peace and birdsong. Try The ORdnance Survey’s Get Outside app https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/app/ for more ideas and to plan a walk. 

Looking for nostalgia?

Why not visit somewhere you’ve been before? It might be your home town if you’ve since moved away (and can rely on your playgroup teacher not spotting you and squeezing your cheeks) or it could be the location of a childhood holiday or a first holiday with a new partner. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of turning each corner and saying to yourself “Oh! That’s just how I remember it!”

Feeling spontaneous?

There’s lots of fun to be had in simply sticking a pin in a map or a train route planner and Just Going. You could make it fun by picking a page number of the A-Z and just going there, or deciding to visit somewhere with a rude name, or a castle or a beach that you’ve never been to. The best part is never telling anyone you went there. 

We were inspired to plan a Secret Day Off by our feature How Hard Can It Be to take a Secret Day Off in our September issue.  Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our September issue…

More outings to get excited about…

Recipe | Tomato Focaccia

Almost as much joy to bake as it is to eat. Use cherry tomatoes to get juicy little planets of blistered and sweet tomatoes in the surface of the bread, some sinking into the doughy dimples, and some not.

Makes 1 focaccia

330ml lukewarm water
7g fast-action dried yeast
500g strong white bread flour
6 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
1 tsp salt
200g cherry tomatoes, some halved, some not
8 sage leaves or 3 rosemary sprigs, torn
Generous ½ tsp flaky sea salt

1 Stir together the water and yeast and leave it to sit for 5-10 mins, or until it becomes foamy.

2 When it’s ready, tip the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the yeast mixture, mixing vigorously, either by hand or using the dough hook on a kitchen mixer for a minute or so, then add 2 tbsp of the olive oil and the salt. Continue mixing for a further 10 mins, or until the dough becomes less sticky, smoother and more cohesive.

3 Brush a bowl with olive oil and tip in the dough. Cover and leave the dough to rise in a warm place for about 1-1½ hrs, until it has nearly doubled in size.

4 Once proved, brush a deep-sided baking pan with a little olive oil, then tip the risen dough into the pan. Pull the dough towards the edges of the pan and use your fingertips to dimple it in places, keeping some spots still nicely aerated. Add about 1 tbsp more of olive oil over the surface of the dough, cover and leave to prove once more for about another 20 mins.

5 Preheat the oven to 230C/Fan 210C/Gas 8. Add the cherry tomatoes to the dough, squeezing some deep into pockets and leaving others protruding out a little more. Do the same with the sage leaves or torn rosemary sprigs, then sprinkle over the flaky sea salt.

6 Bake the dough in the very hot oven for about 25 mins, or until the crust is golden brown and puffed around edges.

7 Once baked, remove the focaccia from the oven and immediately drench it with the remaining olive oil, then allow it to cool for at least 10-15 mins before slicing.The loaf should sound hollow when it is tapped on the underside.

Taken from Tomato by Claire Thomson (Quadrille) Photography: Sam Folan

Find more tomato recipes from the book above in our September issue, including Tomato Carpaccio with Tapenade, Roasted Tomato Falafels with Tomato Yogurt and a Borscht.

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

More from our September issue…

More tomato recipes for late summer suppers…

Book Group | To The River

To The River by Olivia Laing

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

In To The River Olivia Laing follows the River Ouse, where Virgina Woolf drowned herself 63 years ago, from its source to the sea one summer’s day. As we follow her, we reflect not just on this one river and its literary connections, but also on the role that rivers play in fiction, mythology and more. A lyrically beautiful non-fiction read.

Questions to ponder
How does history weave its way into landscapes that you know? In what ways are rivers a metaphor for creativity?

Further reading
In A Sleepwalk on the Severn, a play for voices, poet Alice Oswald describes walks along the Severn

Find our book group every month on our Almanac pages where you can also read about seasonal things to note and notice, plan and do each month.

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

More from our September issue…

More literary things to amuse book lovers…

Competition | Win a pair of Mosey shoes from KEEN

Driven by a passion to make the outside and trades accessible for all, KEEN is a values-led, family-owned footwear brand from Portland, Oregon committed to creating original and versatile products, enhancing lives, and inspiring adventures outside.

For AW22 KEEN proudly present the Mosey Collection - their unapologetically comfortable, purposely crafted-to-last-all-day shoe.  All styles in the collection adhere to KEEN’s ‘Consciously Created’ approach, that commits to using materials that favour sustainability, do not disrupt the natural order or harmfully impact the environment in their construction.

From timeless Chelsea boots and classic Chukkas, through to quintessential Derby Lace-ups for men and women, all models in the collection feature a distinctive silhouette that perfectly blends form and function. All models are designed with KEEN’s legendary Original fit which provides generous space in the forefoot, giving comfort straight out of the box.  All models feature pesticide- and chemical-free Eco Anti Odour insoles, which use an effective natural probiotic proven to have no downstream environmental impact.

Choose from several options for men and women in a fabulous array of warming Autumnal shades. The Mosey Chukka (RRP £110) is a desert boot-inspired style featuring natural hemp laces and pull tabs and a gum rubber and cork outsole that reduces petrochemical use in construction. Choose from two upper options – a Felt option in the women’s edition, manufactured from a planet friendly 50% recycled Italian wool blend or a dark olive edition in  supple leather sourced from an environmentally preferred Leather Working Group (LWG) tannery.  The men’s leather edition (LWG sourced) comes in a choice of three colours.

The Mosey Chelsea  (£110) is a timeless classic for women in two colours.  Luxurious soft leather uppers from environmentally preferred sources feature stretchy, gore panels for for easy on and off, with a distinctive contrast gum rubber and cork outsole.

Available in men’s and women’s editions, the Mosey Derby (£90)  is classic lace up, featuring contrasting 100% recycled plastic laces and a removable PU insole with built-in arch support for all day cushioning. Choose from two colours in the men’s and women’s leather editions or Taupe, Blue or Red  in the natural felt wool edition for women.

For more information or to buy online visit keenfootwear.com

 Win a pair of Mosey shoes

To celebrate the launch of the Mosey, The Simple Things has teamed up with KEEN to give three lucky readers a chance to win a pair of Mosey Shoes. You can enter below…

How to enter

For a chance to win, simply click the button below and answer the following question:

Q: Which US state do KEEN Footwear call home?

Competition closes at midnight on Monday 10 October 2022, with the winners announced shortly after. For full magazine terms & conditions see page 125 of the mag or visit icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.