Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2024 i The Simple Things

Bake gingerbread (a few biscuits, no need to make a whole house) Listen to carols by candlelight – in a church or just in your living room Invite friends over to watch a classic crimbo film Go to the coast when it's quiet for a winter walk along the beach Wrap presents with a tipple and our playlist Try some of our ideas, make up a few of your own, or just read and enjoy If you're a UK subscriber, you should have received a sheet of this jolly baubles wrapping paper with your December magazine – a little present to say thank you for supporting The Simple Things this year.…

Morning! How does your day begin? I start with two cups of English Breakfast tea, drunk in fairly quick succession, made after my husband, Luke, takes our daughter to nursery. Then it's on with my day. Tell us a bit about what you do I make patchwork quilts, cushions, stockings and kits, as well as teaching quilting classes. My studio is at home, and things are very busy in the run up to Christmas. The kettle's on, what do you fancy? Another English Breakfast, please, strong and milky. I sometimes have a coffee. During December I have it with cream, nutmeg and cinnamon. Ooh, we like the sound of that! Do you have a favourite cup? I found it on eBay: it's blue and white with a sort of Willow…

LOOKING BACK FILL YOUR BOOTS The now-ubiquitous turkey began ruffling feathers as a Christmas meat in the 16th century. It became so popular that eventually, hundreds of thousands of turkeys were being walked to the markets of London from farms in Norfolk every year. These turkey drives took several weeks, and some birds had their feet dipped in tar to help them endure the long walk, while others, rather more stylishly, wore tiny leather boots. Causing a bit of a stir Stir-up Sunday – the traditional day when our beloved Christmas puds get made – can be as much of a joy of Christmas as the day itself. However, the name doesn't come from the stirring of the pudding ingredients, but rather the Book of Common Prayer, which begins ‘Stir…

There's no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. We asked food, travel & motherhood blogger Yulia Dyukova (thatswhatshehad.com) to guide us around her city. You may feel inspired to visit one day, but for now, sit back and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the city? I lived in Nuremberg for three years. I come from a small town in the Ural region of Russia and had lived in several countries, including Sri Lanka and the USA before settling in Germany. It was my husband's job that brought us to Nuremberg – we'd never stepped foot in Germany before then, and had no idea of what to expect. Tell us what makes your city unique Nuremberg…

Fancy dress is definitely Marmite. For every one of us (me) that loves being surrounded by fake fur, feathers, assorted costume jewellery, some brightly coloured tights and a half-baked idea at 2pm on the day of the party, there's someone else for whom the words ‘Come in fancy dress’, make their heart sink. Whether it's a Christmas do, murder mystery, Halloween or birthday party, it's a chance to assume a new persona, not to mention to have fun creating something from stuff you have around. Growing up, my sister and I were dance school kids. My mum – who, along with my nan, made all of our costumes – kept the lot, from mini-Beefeaters to bugs and fairy princesses. Tutus, leotards, headwear, gloves. And then she gave it all to…

PROUDLY HOMEMADE ORIGAMI FAIRY LIGHTS Get ready for that glow of satisfaction. With a few folds, you can give your faithful fairy lights a jolly new look. You will need: String of LED fairy lights 15cm x 15cm paper squares (one for each bulb) Quick-drying glue Washi tape or masking tape (optional) 1 With the pattern face down, fold your paper square in half horizontally, bottom edge to top. Unfold. 2 Fold in half horizontally again, but this time, side to side edges. Unfold. 3 Now fold the paper in half diagonally. Unfold. 4 Then fold it again in the other diagonal direction. Unfold. 5 Turn the paper over, so the pattern side is facing up. 6 Repeat all the folds you've just created, so the paper has been folded both ways. Unfold.…

It may be in the middle of the house, but it feels a bit like walking into our own private cocktail bar. We found it in an antique shop in a little village that we were driving through on our way home from holiday. As soon as I spotted it, covered in dust and piled high with junk, I knew it could look amazing in our house. It's also an ideal spot for my ever growing collection of colourful vintage cocktail glasses. Marie McDonald, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire @charitybeginsat I spotted this tea trolley in a local charity shop and the idea for a home bar came to life. It fits in well with our vintage sideboard and can be wheeled out when we have friends and family round for a special…

It's the eternal Yuletide paradox: just as children's desire to see Santa reaches its height, the great man is unavoidably detained at North Pole HQ, overseeing lastminute preparations for his sleighborne odyssey. While the need for impersonators is quite clearly unavoidable, their burden is a heavy one – a wonky beard here, an unfortunate cry of “Ha-ha-ha!” there and youngsters might think that even Santa himself is a fraud. Happily, a professional is here to help. Every December, at half-hourly intervals, you'll find Danann McAleer dropping down the capacious chimney in the great hall of Ashton Court Mansion, Bristol, to be met by another audience of awestruck kids. “It's about being big and booming, almost Brian Blessed-esque, but not to the point where you terrify smaller children,” he advises. “You…

MILK THISTLE A hangover helper, milk thistle is native to Asia and southern Europe, but is now widespread. This tall herb can grow to 2m or more, producing large purple flower heads with spiky leaves. According to legend, the white of the leaf veins comes from a drop of the Virgin Mary's milk. It was traditionally used as a herb that stimulates milk production, hence the common name ‘milk thistle’. By the Middle Ages, milk thistle was known for its treatment of liver illnesses and help with the elimination of toxins. It contains silymarin, a chemical effective for treating liver disorders, including damage caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol. The herb is also a powerful antioxidant. It's currently one of the most popular herbal products in the United States,…

Puzzles provided by Lovatts Crosswords & Puzzles (lovattspuzzles.com) Wheel words: Anew, Fawn, Flaw, Flew, Flow, Fowl, Knew, Know, Lawn, News, Sawn, Sewn, Skew, Slew, Slow, Snow, Sown, Swan, Wake, Wale, Walk, Wane, Weak, Weal, Wean, Woke, Wolf, Askew, Awoke, Flown, Swale, Swank, Waken, Woken, Awoken. 9-letter word: Snowflake Quick-fire quiz 1. Is there a Santa Claus? (She received an affirmative answer); 2. Black; 3. The Sugarplum Fairy; 4. The Man With the Golden Gun; 5. 26 December/Boxing Day Christmas tree search Tradition answer: Kissing your sweetheart under the hanging mistletoe Sudoku…

Time to hang the stockings, peel an orange, wrap yourself in a blanket, make a hot chocolate (or pour a sherry) and wait for Father Christmas – no lighting the fire until he's been though… Bookshop browse CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER A Year Of Living Curiously by E. Foley and B. Coates Ever wondered what the dashing Mr Darcy would be like as a life partner, why a heart isn't heart shaped and what are the combination of spices in a Speculoos biscuit? E. Foley and B. Coates are on hand with the answers to these questions and many more in their fun, fact-packed book, which provides ‘a nip of wonder’ for every day of the year. Aware that we're often too busy to appreciate all the nature, art, culture, and…

WEEKEND PROJECT PROUDLY HOMEMADE WINTER HERB BUNDLE A velvet ribbon adds a special touch. These are also good in cupboards and wardrobes to help deter insects and dust mites. MAKES ONE BUNDLE You will need: Bunches of sage, rosemary and thyme Scissors Twine (hemp, jute or sisal are the eco-friendliest) 1 Cut the stems of each herb bunch to your chosen length. Strip away any of the lower leaves where you plan to tie the bundle. If you don't remove the lower leaves from the stems before you bind them with twine, the herbs can become mouldy and it can affect the rest of the bundle. 2 Cut a 30cm length of twine for each herb bundle. Wrap the twine tightly around the stem of each bundle and secure with a tight…

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT Globo A wonderful restaurant serving seasonal dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients. globorestaurant.de FAVOURITE GERMAN FOOD RESTAURANT Zum Gulden Stern A small and cosy place serving German classics. bratwurstkueche.de FAVOURITE COFFEE SHOP Machhörndl Kaffee The best coffee in town. There are several locations around the city and they have their own roastery, so you can buy their beans, too. machhoerndl-kaffee.de FAVOURITE PLACE TO GET ELISENLEBKUCHEN Wicklein Lebküchnerei If you're looking for a souvenir, this place has all kinds of pretty tins with lebkuchen inside. But if you want a bite right away, try the freshly baked gingerbread, made in-house. wicklein.de/en/genusswelt FAVOURITE WAY TO SPEND AN HOUR Walk down Weißgerbergasse, the prettiest street in the city, and have a coffee at Bergbrand café, located right at the start of the…

Treat yourself Perhaps it's a bright scarf, a soft blanket or a hot water bottle, anything that makes you feel comforted and joyful. Ask yourself what you need Reach out to those who care about you. Ask for help, some company or a hug. Be mindful of social media Scrolling through pictures of ‘perfect’ Christmases isn't helpful if you're not feeling your best. Pass on kindness Do something for someone else who might be finding it hard, too. Allow yourself to be sad Try not to use busyness as a way to avoid the feelings.…

REFLECTION Christmas Day is all very well. But so often it's not quite what I envisaged. Sometimes I expend so much effort that I forget to enjoy it. Or, after all the anticipation, it gets a bit lost to feeling like it's ‘all over now’. Enter Boxing Day. A fresh start on the Christmas holidays. A day not for planning or prepping or stressing, but merely ‘being’. If Christmas Day is your loud, shouty friend who always turns up in party mode but who, in all honesty, you can find quite hard work, Boxing Day is the quiet but dependable mate who'll show up on time, won't judge the state of your house, and will make you both a cuppa. And that's just part of why it's my favourite day…

A PLACE TO STAY A December break that also ticks a few things off the Christmas list? Yes, please. And no place better than an ancient Scottish estate where you can choose, fell and decorate a festive tree – as well as plant one for a future year. Lesser-known but historic Clackmannanshire is the kind of place people pass through on their way to the beaches of Fife or the mountains of the Highlands. Once you're there it feels remote, but it's surprisingly easy to get to, crossing the Kincardine bridge over the River Forth just east of Stirling. It offers a more relaxed approach to the busiest time of year; Christmas markets, farmshop goodies, festive eating and forest walks await. Where we stayed Back in the 1500s, Brucefield Estate…

IN THE STOCKING Stocking fillers have stayed pretty constant over the years. Take coins, for example, often the chocolate kind from the 1920s. Fruit, too, especially when it was a luxury item, though these days you're as likely to see a chocolate version – Terry's became available in 1932. Other sweet items, such as sugar mice, boomed after rationing ended in 1954. Then there's the Rubik's Cube, celebrating its 50th birthday this year. But what about the threat of coal? Get a ‘bath crumbs’ version at iwoot.com, making Christmas morning that bit less disappointing.…

Something to sprout about Brussels sprout kimchi. Makes 1 large jar. Add the following to a mixing bowl: 450g Brussels sprouts, halved; 5 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tbsp minced ginger; 5 spring onions, chopped; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 3 tbsp Korean red chilli flakes (gochugaru); 3 tbsp maple syrup; 1 apple, grated; 10g sea salt. Use your hands to mix for 5 mins. Cover and leave for at least 2 hrs. Compact into clean glass jar. Cover with baking paper, then seal. Let ferment for 2–5 days out of fridge, then it keeps for 4–5 weeks in the fridge. Taken from Plants Only Holidays by Gaz Oakley (Quadrille)…

Well, you can't really ‘ride’ them, like you would a horse. The Dukha people in Mongolia do, but it's their children who train them. We're too tall and too heavy. But reindeer are helpful at travelling across terrains that a horse would struggle with, thanks to their wider hooves, with rims that help to stop skidding. They're also good at pulling things They can manage about 140kg each for a couple of hours. However, it doesn't come naturally to them – they have to follow a track. More recently, reindeer have been trained to pull sleds with humans in them. It takes four years for the reindeer to advance from kermikkä (learning to wait, and trust people) to kunteus, and take people a couple of times a week, according to…

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Dean Martin Jing-A-Ling Harbour Lights I Was Born On Christmas Day Saint Etienne Make You Mine This Season Tegan And Sara Christmas Tree Farm Taylor Swift Listen the Snow is Falling Eerie Wanda Coldest Night Of The Year Whyte Horses Santa Claus Is Coming To Town The Andrews Sisters Looking For Me Santa Claus Sam Manning Le Petit Renne Au Nez Rouge Danièle & Michèle The Bells Of St Mary Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans Coventry Carol Sufjan Stevens O Holy Night Mahalia Jackson Christmas Without A Kiss Smoke Fairies All Now The Staves The Last Of The Melting Snow The Leisure Society Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Phoebe Bridgers Take a listen at thesimplethings.com/blog/winterwondersplaylist stop look listen Oh, the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so delightful And since we've no…

CRANBERRY CARAMEL UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE Serves 8 170ml vegetable oil 300g granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling 3 large eggs, room temp 120ml sour cream, room temp 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract ½ tsp baking powder ¾ tsp salt ¼ tsp baking soda 250g plain flour FOR THE CRANBERRY CARAMEL TOPPING: 70g unsalted butter, room temp 65g granulated sugar 65g brown sugar 300g fresh cranberries Whipped cream (optional) 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Fan 160C/ Gas 4. Meanwhile, grease a 23cm spring-form baking tin and line the bottom with baking paper. 2 In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar, eggs, sour cream, lemon juice, vanilla, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Stir in the flour with a spatula, then switch to a whisk and whisk…

OUTING FROSTY MORNINGS Early mornings can be bracing, but when the skies are clear of clouds, you may get the chance to go walking in a winter wonderland. It may not snow often, but frost can create a white Christmas, too. Frost occurs when water vapour from the air condenses onto surfaces and then freezes. The air temperature must be between 0°C and 4°C. More impressive is hoar frost – spiky, icicle-like frost fingers that form when surfaces are already below freezing, so water vapour condenses and freezes instantly. Frost is more likely to be found in valleys, where cool air sinks, so take a walk along rivers and streams to be in with a chance of seeing it. Frost has a habit of drawing your attention to the shape…

I Heard A Bird Sing I heard a bird sing In the dark of December. A magical thing And sweet to remember. “We are nearer to spring Than we were in September,” I heard a bird sing In the dark of December. Like a Christmas carol or a song in the round, I Heard A Bird Sing has its own simple melody, a lovely repeating refrain that thrills a promise of spring. Things to ponder: How does Oliver Herford create a sense of hope? How do the song of the bird and the song of the poem complement one another? What signs remind us that life in nature continues, even in the dead of winter? I Heard A Bird Sing by Oliver Herford can be found in A Happy Poem…

HOME TOUR “THE WOOD IS DRAWN BY WIND AND WEATHER, GIVING IT A UNIQUE CHARACTER AND STRUCTURE” As twilight descends, twinkling lights shimmer in the dark at Anouk and Rob's home in Geleen in the Netherlands. It looks warm, inviting and very, very festive. The family embrace advent and make the most of festooning their home for the season with lots of homemade decorations that bring the outside in – just the way they like it. Even though there's more than a nip in the air in December, their extension plays a big part in their celebrations, with a hand-built outdoor kitchen, a fire made for toasting marshmallows and plenty of pretty lights. “Our outdoor kitchen is the ideal place to celebrate – we've enjoyed many New Year's Eves here…

All about the base If you want to weave your own, you can buy willow in garden centres or plant nurseries. Or buy your base from a garden centre. I cover them with damp moss to keep the foliage fresh. Tie twine to the base, then place a handful of moss onto the structure and wrap the twine around to secure it. Don't cut the twine. Place the next handful of moss and secure it. Continue around the wreath. Foliage and frills Gather fir, holly, ivy and other evergreens and cut to a workable size that will fit on your wreath. First make mini bunches of mixed stems. Place the first mini bunch onto the base with the stems pointing inwards and secure with the twine. Again, don't cut the…

Create as many words of four letters or more using the given letters once only but always including the middle letter. Don't use proper names or plurals. See if you can find the nine-letter word using up all letters. 22 Good 26 Very Good 30+ Excellent (answers on page 124) “Be silly. Be honest. Be kind” Ralph Waldo Emerson The abbreviation of Christmas to Xmas has a very long history. The ‘X’ is from Χριστός, ‘Christos’ or Christ in Greek. 1021 saw the first written use of it in Anglo-Saxon.…

You will need: Ribbon or twine Natural bits, (such as holly leaves, pine needles, berries, orange slices) Yorkshire pudding tray, or similar Kettle and water 1 Place a small length of ribbon or twine into each hole of the Yorkshire pudding tray. You want about a third of the ribbon in the hole and the rest hanging out of it. 2 Add a small amount of the natural materials into each of the holes. 3 Boil a kettle of water (it stops bubbles) and fill to the top of each hole. 4 Take the tray outside and leave overnight, if some freezing temperatures are forecast. Alternatively, you can stow it in your freezer. 5 In the morning, pop out the ice (place into a sink of cold water if it…

CHAMPAGNE SAUCERS Hand-blown, hand-engraved. Best for: Looking at life through a rose-tinted glass. £68 for four, thevintagelist.co.uk GLASS STRAWS Three curved, three straight straws in colourful glass. Best for: Smug supping, no-one enjoys a soggy paper straw. €11, kikkerlandeu.com ARTLAND TRIFLE BOWL Give your trifle the showing off it deserves in its own glass bowl. Best for: Adding the ta-da! to special desserts. £40, johnlewis.com…

SIMPLE RELAXATION This breath is wonderful for your mood as it balances levels of serotonin, ‘the happy hormone,’ in your brain and relieves stress. 1 In a comfortable standing position, or seated either in a chair or on the floor, place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly. 2 Inhale and as you exhale make a deep humming sound like a bee. Hum from the chest and belly more than from the lips. 3 Let the “breath buzz” fade out naturally. Do not strain for the sound to last, rather let it softly and naturally fade in the way a buzz from a bee fades as it flies farther away from you. Taken from Winter Wellbeing, (CICO Books)…

Games for round the fire Object of the game: come up with creative ways to avoid the forbidden word. How to play: • At the start of the day, give everyone red dot stickers – these will act as your ‘mosquito bites’ • Pick a common Christmas word – such as turkey, remote control or glass – to ban for the day. • Any time you hear someone saying this word, sting them with a mosquito bite sticker. • You'll need to think outside the box to avoid getting bitten. Glass, for example, might become ‘hydration receptacle’ or ‘chalice of life’. • The person with the most red dots at the end of the day loses. Adapted from Campsite Games: 50 Fun Games To Play In Nature (Smith Street Books)…

CUT OUT AND KEEP Cauliflower Wellington (with its own gravy) Make veg the centre of attention with this crowd-pleasing cauliflower and a deep, rich veggie gravy. Cauliflower Wellington with its own gravy Serves 4-6 2 carrots, chopped 2 celery sticks, chopped 1 leek, chopped 250g chestnut mushrooms, chopped 2 red onions, chopped 3 garlic cloves 4 fresh thyme sprigs 2 tsp sea salt 1 medium cauliflower Juice of 1 lemon 500g ready-made puff pastry Plain flour, for dusting FOR THE CAULIFLOWER MARINADE: 3 tbsp tomato purée 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp dried sage 1 tbsp dried rosemary 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp miso paste FOR THE DUXELLES: 200g mushrooms, chopped 2 shallots, chopped 1 tbsp dried thyme 1 tbsp dried sage FOR THE SPINACH LAYER: 1 tbsp olive oil 300g spinach FOR THE GRAVY: 3 tbsp tomato purée 3 tbsp plain flour 360ml white wine 2 tbsp Marmite or…

Moira opens the car door for Rebecca, a laughing bundle of layers and bags. The two women drive away from the city, tarmac glittering under the streetlights. Moira is cautious on the dark winding road to the hills: deserted, but so icy. The night is calm and cloudless, blurry half-moon, only the sound of the blow-heater and tyres hissing on the road. Rebecca checks herself in the mirror, and plucks at a stray grey hair. “I'm not ready to be old yet.” Moira glances sideways at her friend. “Just put your hat on. You're fine.” A pause. “Do you know we've only 7 hours, 49 minutes and 41 seconds of daylight today?” Rebecca laughs. “How do you even remember that?!” But Rebecca knows that's just Moira. Practical and organised: Moira…