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 October

Editorial

Life is brew-tiful • BRING OUT YOUR BEST CROCKERY, LIGHT A FEW CANDLES AND GATHER FRIENDS AT DUSK FOR A LATE-AFTERNOON TEA THAT MAKES THE MOST OF THE SEASON

Let there be light • FOR JESSICA FURSETH, LEARNING TO LOVE THE COLDER MONTHS IS ABOUT FINDING AS MUCH LIGHT AS YOU CAN – AND THAT MIGHT BEGIN WITH NOT PUTTING YOUR CLOCK BACK AN HOUR THIS OCTOBER

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE MUNTJAC

Things to want and wish for

FOLLOWING A THREAD • EXPLORING BRITAIN'S TEXTILE HISTORY THROUGH THE FABRIC OF OUR CITIES, TOWNS AND COUNTRYSIDE MAKES FOR A FACT-FULL AND FASCINATING DAY OUT

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Juicy pears and a firm, sugary crust make this seasonal cake great with a cup of tea or a jug of custard – or both!

My day in cups of tea • We head up to Manchester to talk plants and peppermint tea over a cuppa with embroiderer and textile artist, Hannah Louise Paren

Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

ALEXANDRIA • EGYPT'S COASTAL CITY HAS BEEN A MEETING POINT OF ARAB AND MEDITERRANEAN INFLUENCES FOR CENTURIES. LOCAL MATTHEW RAEF INTRODUCES US TO ANCIENT SITES, STREET FOOD AND SUNSET STROLLS

COULD-DO ALEXANDRIA • Matthew's favourite places in the city

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

Mending woollens • HANNAH PORTER SHOWS HOW YOU CAN SAVE AND TRANSFORM YOUR KNITWEAR WITH SOME YARN AND A BIT OF TIME, AND SHARES WAYS TO KEEP THESE COSY FAVOURITES LOVED FOR LONGER, TOO

THE BIG IDEA • So many wellbeing books, so little time. Our deconstruction of someone's fresh thinking could send you in a new direction

“Find your passion. It doesn't matter whether it's reading books, playing chess or fencing, but that's where the sweet spot is in life” • Over twenty years of parkrun, its founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt has learned that pursuing what you love is key to happiness and connection – and, if it works for you, it may just work for other people the world over

BEST FOOT FORWARD • Paul's lessons for life

Souper Foods • IT'S SOUP SEASON. WHICH MEANS WARMING BOWLS OF COLOUR TO COMFORT AND LIFT THE SPIRITS. PLUS TOPPINGS THAT TURN THEM INTO KEEPERS

A simple things… • It's not only delightful red squirrels that stock up for winter, we also benefit from being busy outdoors before weather and darkness drives us inside. Enjoying the colours of autumn on rambles, clearing leaves in the garden and eating seasonal foods sees us calmer, more contented and feeling stronger. And if you happen to spot a red squirrel, so much the better…

Good things • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

MODERN ECCENTRICS • The taxidermist

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love SATCHELS

Inside out • EATING GOOD FOOD, IN THE RIGHT AMOUNTS, CAN BE TRICKIER THAN IT SOUNDS. BUT BEING KIND TO YOUR DIGESTION CAN HUGELY IMPROVE YOUR WELLBEING. IT'S TIME TO GO WITH YOUR GUT…

Gut friends and foes • As well as food there are other factors that influence our microbiome.

STRING THEORY • EQUIPPED WITH A LITTLE KNOT-KNOW-HOW, SET ASIDE A FEW HOURS TO CREATE A BIT OF CLEVER STORAGE

OVERNIGHT DELIVERY • THE EVENINGS ARE CLOSING IN, BUT THERE'S NO NEED TO STAY INDOORS, SAYS DAN RICHARDS, AS HE GUIDES US ON A NIGHT...