The Simple Things

The Simple Things is a beautiful, useful, quirky and fun magazine about taking time to live well. We cover mindfulness and microadventures, eating and growing, forgotten wisdom, home life and slow moments. It's for people who love their lives but want to take the pressure off and remember what’s really important. We like tea & cake, learning stuff, being outside and the satisfaction of a job well done. Do you?

A could-do list May

Lisa

Up with the lark • START THE DAY AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON BY BRINGING TOGETHER FRIENDS FOR AN EARLY PICNIC WITH THE BACKDROP OF BIRDSONG - AND THE ADDED BONUS OF A SECOND BREAKFAST

Spring forth • FOR WHEELCHAIR USER BETHANY HANDLEY BEING ABLE TO WHEEL THROUGH PARKLAND COMING INTO LIFE IS A MOMENT OF GLEE - AND PERHAPS A PROMPT TO RETHINK IDEAS OF ACCESSIBILITY

Go wild! • ESSE IS OFFERING ONE LUCKY READER THE CHANCE TO CREATE FABULOUS FOOD FROM FORAGED FINDS, ALL UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF MICHELIN-TRAINED CHEF, DOMINIQUE ASHFORD

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Turn everyday breakfast croissants into a special teatime cake that has a certain je ne sais quoi…

My day in cups of tea • We pop round for a cuppa with a view of the North York Moors with Sarah Parker - one half of Nettle Cottage Prints, alongside partner Becky Ciesielski

May Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

TBILISI • WITH INFLUENCES FROM EUROPE AND ASIA, THERE’S A SURPRISE AROUND EVERY CORNER IN GEORGIA’S CAPITAL, SAYS EMILY LUSH

COULD-DO TBILISI • Emily’s favourite places in the city.

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

The joy of larking about • SWAP ORGANISED FUN FOR MAGICAL SPONTANEITY, SAYS EMILY PAYNE

A good life • ON THE EDGE OF THE DERBYSHIRE DALES, MICHELLE TANSLEY GROWS FOOD AND FLOWERS IN HER COTTAGE GARDEN. EACH TIME WE VISIT WE’LL DISCOVER WHAT’S COOKING IN HER KITCHEN AND FLOURISHING IN HER VEG PATCH…

magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE SKYLARK

“You have to work out what it is you feel, what it is you want, and go for it. Looking after yourself is a skill people have to learn” • Artist, agony aunt, psychotherapist, and now author, Philippa Perry hasn’t always been so in touch with her feelings - in fact, she’s had to play catch-up. She shows how there’s always space for change

SHRINK-WRAPPED

POTTERING AROUND • CLEVER WAYS TO GIVE OLD PLANT POTS NEW PURPOSE IN THE GARDEN

A simple thing…

Good THINGS • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

MODERN ECCENTRICS Mods

WE ARE THE MODS

Switching on the senses • THIS TIME OF YEAR IS A FEAST FOR YOUR FACULTIES - TUNNING IN AS YOU WALK BRINGS AWARENESS OF THE UNFURLING SEASON

HOT VICTORIANS • You may think them stern and serious, but this compendium of victorian men from a personal collection of historical photographs proves otherwise. Every distinguished moustache, starched collar, piercing stare and proud pose tells a story. Sit back, pour yourself a (porcelain) cup of tea and enjoy perusing this gallery of long-ago gents

A RIPE old age • ANCIENT TREES ARE OUT THERE FOR THE FINDING. IN A NEW BOOK, JULIAN HIGHT – THE ANCIENT TREE EXPLORER – CELEBRATES SOME OF THE UK’S OLDEST AND LEGENDARY SPECIMENS

SHELF ESTEEM • PRAISE IS LONG OVERDUE FOR PIONEERING LIBRARIANS. WE APPLAUD (SILENTLY) SOME OF THEIR STORIES THAT CHANGED THE HISTORY BOOKS

Bloom scrolling • A SPOT OF ONLINE HOUSEKEEPING WILL ENSURE YOUR FEEDS LEAVE YOU FEELING NOURISHED RATHER THAN DEPLETED

FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE • Bringing blooms indoors: it’s what every home needs

MY NEIGHBOURHOOD • RENOWNED FOR ITS MONTHLY MARKET, AS WELL AS GALLERIES AND COUNTRYSIDE WALKS, THE TOWN OF FROME HAS BEEN A WELCOMING...