I love reading The Simple Things magazine. It’s always filled with articles of interest, things to learn and do, ideas to slow down and enjoy life. I learned to hoot like an owl because of a tutorial in the magazine. I love being a subscriber as well, because I know that once a month I can sit down, sip my tea and enjoy a well-earned … Continue reading My Could Do List for November (inspired by The Simple Things)
Halloween. Golly, if there was ever a lesson in how a thing can be taken, twisted, rejiggled and brought back to life as something completely different, Halloween is it. What was once a spiritual time of year (if you were a pagan or a Christian) went over to America, became secularised and made into a fancy dress parade with collecting sweets as the prize and … Continue reading A Hygge Halloween? Yes, why not?
The UK and the USA are two nations divided by a common language. You say potato, I say spud, and let’s not get into boots vs trunks, pavements as against sidewalks and nappies or diapers. Getting into any of those would be dangerous, silly and probably impossible. One of the American language’s most endearing traits is the ability to verb anything, by which I mean … Continue reading Winterize your home for peak hygge season!
Let’s face it, it’s getting dark out there. And dusk comes earlier every day. The long, golden days of summer seem so far behind, the winds have picked up and the frosts of winter will soon be nipping at your nose. And you have an issue: you’d like to go out with your friends, but a great big chunk of you just wants to stay … Continue reading When the nights draw in, have a hygge spa evening.
One of the chapters in my new book is all about the celebrations of Winter, like Diwali, Hanukkah and the Winter Solstice. I love any celebrations, and the fact that we can pack so many in within a small space of 3 or 4 months is remarkable. I think it reflects the fact that the weather can be so dreary, that we don’t spend hours … Continue reading Recipe Tuesday: Lancashire Parkin
I don’t know about you, but some days I just need to hunker down in my safe space and get cosy alone. At times like this, I reach for my comfort kit. I keep it all in a handmade bag at the side of my usual chair, but I have at times kept it in a basket by my bed, in a box under the … Continue reading Creating a Comfortable Space Wherever you are.
Last night I slept well. I fell alseep, as usual, listening to a book on Audible (This little tome is a guaranteed sleep aid: not because it’s boring, because it’s not, but because I’ve heard it so many times and I just fall asleep anyway) and woke today refreshed, happy and keen to get to my desk. Why am I telling you this? Because … Continue reading La Rentrée: Let’s all celebrate a new year.
This week’s word will be all over the cuddly shelves of the bookshops on September 7th. It’s the word Meik Wiking has chosen for his new book, The Little Book of Lykke. Unlike hygge, this word does have a direct English translation: it means happiness. Okay, so I’ve chosen it as the word for the weekend because the new book (which I reviewed here) is … Continue reading A Word for the Weekend: Lykke. It’s Danish for Happiness
