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 September

Lisa

Take the lead • TURN A DOG WALK INTO A GATHERING BY PACKING A PICNIC AND HEADING OUT WITH HOUNDS AND FRIENDS

A little bit of what you fancy • YOURS MAY INCLUDE CHEESE, HAM, CELERY, EGG OR CRISPS, AND WHAT YOU CALL IT MAY BE JUST AS UNIQUE AS ITS COMPONENTS. SIAN MEADES-WILLIAMS CELEBRATES THE PLEASURES OF THE ‘PICKY TEA'

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE WILD BOAR

Drink it in • WHEN THE PACE OF LIFE HEATS UP, SLOW DOWN WITH A CUPSMITH BREAK – WE HAVE TWO HOT DRINK HAMPERS TO WIN, WORTH OVER £230 EACH

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Ripe figs sunk into syrupy banana bread for elevenses, afternoon tea or even toasted with butter for breakfast.

My day in cups of tea • We asked upcycling whizz Kayleigh Andrews to tell us a bit about her day in cuppas – and let us into a few tricks of the trade, too

Slowly does it • BY ADOPTING A MINDSET RATHER THAN A MODE OF TRAVEL, WE REALISE THAT OUR JOURNEYS DON'T NEED BIG BUDGETS OR LONG, FAR-FLUNG TRIPS TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE, SAYS JO TINSLEY

September Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

MY CITY * GLASGOW • ANNA PANDE GUIDES US AROUND THE CULTURAL, BOTANICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS OF THIS WELCOMING SCOTTISH CITY

COULD DO GLASGOW • Anna's favourite places in the city

Which Roald Dahl character are you? • Welcome, human beans, to our gloriumptious quiz. Roald Dahl Story Day is celebrated each year on 13 September – and if you've ever been captivated by the boisterous, imaginative and colourful world of Roald Dahl's characters, you might like to take our quiz to find out which one of them you are most like. Don't worry; it's not too complicated, so stop natterboxing, sit down with a cup of tea and a Wonka bar and have a go yourself…

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love PLEATS

Welcome to my veg patch

Veg Patch Pantry • GROWING YOUR OWN, GETTING OUTSIDE AND COOKING UP KITCHEN TABLE DISHES, KATHY SLACK SHARES HOW TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOURS FROM HER GARDEN PLOT

“I've always been a risk taker because I can see a way of doing things differently” • Clothing designer and maker, Patrick Grant, likes to put his ideals into action when it comes to changing our relationship to fashion – and building happier, healthier lives to boot

Healing waters • TAP INTO THE TIME OLD TRADITION OF TAKING THE WATERS (NO LUXURY SPA BREAK REQUIRED)

TIPPLE OF THE MONTH • A berry good cocktail to toast the last fruits of summer.

A simple thing…

Good things • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

NO STONE UNTURNED • BRITAIN'S GEOLOGY REVEALS ITSELF NOT ONLY IN FOSSILS, BUT THROUGH DISTINCTIVE LANDSCAPES, WILDLIFE SPECTACLES AND MYTHOLOGIES – AND EXPLORING THEM MAKES FOR A GREAT DAY OUT

My living • Many of us dream of running our own business. We ask the people who are actually doing it to share some of their insights and inspirations, the reality of the graft and their hard-won wisdom – and why they wouldn't have it any other way…

MODERN EƆCENTRICS The miniaturist • IN A WORLD THAT CAN FEEL INCREASINGLY UNIFORM, WE'RE CELEBRATING THOSE HAPPILY DOING THINGS a bit differently . Meet the PEOPLE WHO ARE seriously PASSIONATE a bout their pastimes....