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 April

Lisa

Turning a new leaf • GATHER WILD GARLIC AND GET FRIENDS TOGETHER - A CHANCE TO BE OUTSIDE AND SAVOUR THE SIGHTS AND FLAVOURS OF THE CHANGING SEASON

Lost in Austen • IT’S 250 YEARS SINCE JANE AUSTEN’S BIRTH, AND EVENTS ARE BEING HELD TO CELEBRATE. BUT WHICH TO ATTEND? LET US HELP YOU DECIDE, BY WAY OF A QUIZ…

Euro stars • CELEBRATE EASTER WITH SOME TRADITIONAL BAKING. MAKING AN ITALIAN TART OR AUSTRIAN CAKE - AND LEARNING A LITTLE OF THEIR HISTORY - IS A SATISFYING WAY TO SPEND AN AFTERNOON

My day in cups of tea • We pick up a paintbrush and head to Creative Biscuit Ceramics Café in South Woodford with Karen Dunn for a cuppa and some pottery decoration

April Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love TRENCH COATS

BRATISLAVA • FROM THE COBBLED STREETS OF THE OLD TOWN TO THE FUTURISTIC MODERN ARCHITECTURE, SLOVAKIA’S CAPITAL ON THE RIVER DANUBE IS BUZZY BUT LAID BACK, SAYS LOCAL DANIELA BATHÓOVÁ

COULD-DO BRATISLAVA • Daniela’s favourite places in the city

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

Kitchen Therapy THE fresh START OF spring • SPENDING TIME AT HOME, COOKING AND BAKING, CAN BE A FORM OF SELF-CARE. LOTTIE STOREY INVITES US TO FEED OUR SENSES AND PICK A DISH OR TWO THAT BRING US PLEASURE

“We are one another’s champions. When one is on the floor, the other is asking: ‘What do you need? Let me pick you up’” • Farming and family, writing and rest time, for best-selling authors James and Helen Rebanks, it takes two when it comes to learning how to find balance

COMMON GROUND • Helen and James’ lessons for life

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE MALLARD

WHERE THERE’S MUCK • THERE’S BRASS AND SILVER, GOLD AND MUCH MORE BESIDES. MUDLARK FINDS ARE GLIMPSES INTO THE LIVES OF OUR ANCESTORS

A simple thing…

THE LACING ON THE WALL • Bradford’s new murals are painted portals to the past

BAG IT UP • Portable solar panel school bags light the way for Tanzanian school children

Excellent WOMEN • Changing the river-to-soil cycle.

Moodscapes • THINKING ABOUT THE SCENERY YOU WALK THROUGH AND WHAT YOU NEED WILL HELP YOU PICK THE RIGHT ROUTE FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY

ON THE trail • WITH HELPING HANDS FROM UNLIKELY CREATURES, YOU CAN KEEP SLUGS AND SNAILS IN CHECK AND HAVE A WILDLIFE-FILLED GARDEN, SAYS JO KIRBY

CHALK IT UP • CHALK PAINT YOURSELF HAPPY AND GIVE A CHEERFUL NEW LOOK TO OLD PLACEMATS AND CHAIRS IN JUST A FEW HOURS

Know a thing or two… tea • Black, builder's, bubble - all about the leaves that are just our cup of tea

The world in your pocket • HER A-Z GIVES FRANCES AMBLER THE FREEDOM TO ROAM, WHETHER DOWN MEMORY LANE OR INTO PASTURES NEW…

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

SPRING SWATCH • HAND-PAINTED DETAILS AND A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED PALETTE HELP CREATE THE BEAUTIFUL HOME OF ARTIST AND COLOUR CONSULTANT ANDREA CURTIS

Feather your nest • GIVE YOUR HOME A SPRING REFRESH WITH TIMELESS CLASSICS DESIGNED TO BE CHERISHED

WHAT I TREASURE • Mum’s dish

Right AS RAIN • SUN AND SHOWERS CAN PARCH A GARDEN OR LEAVE IT BOGGY, BUT WITH HELP, YOUR PLOT CAN THRIVE...