In this second episode at the start of the new school year The Simple Things’ Editor Lisa Sykes and regular contributor Jo Tinsley indulge in a bit of schooldays nostalgia but also discuss why it’s a good time to take on new projects, find new habits, make something new and learn a few skills.

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Editing by Dhylyn Foster. Music by Arthur Cosslett. 

On the blog

Things to do with Weird Veg Box Vegetables

 Parsnip panpipes (yes, really)

To read

Forecast: A diary of the Lost Seasons, by Joe Shute (Bloomsbury)

In The Simple Things

From the September TREASURE issue (159) 

The Slapdash Manifesto: General principles for good enough

Wearing Well: Wristwatches

Buy the September issue here

IN PREVIOUS ISSUES

Revisiting team sports (Issue 147, September 2024)

Veg box suppers: golden marrow marmalade, Moroccalili (Issue 111, September 2011)

Wearing Well Backpacks (Issue 111, September 2021)

Miscellany: How to win at conkers (Issue 136, October 2023)

Clapping game lyrics

A sailor went to sea, sea, sea

To see what he could see, see, see

But all that he could see, see, see

Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea

A sailor went to knee, knee, knee

To see what he could knee, knee, knee

But all that he could knee, knee, knee

Was the bottom of the deep blue knee, knee, knee

A sailor went to chop, chop, chop

To see what he could chop, chop, chop, 

But all that he could chop, chop, chop

Was the bottom of the deep blue chop, chop, chop