Unwind - Small Ways to Live Well Season 3 Episode 1

Episode 1 – UNWIND

This week, Editor of The Simple Things magazine, Lisa Sykes, finds ways to slow down with Wellbeing Editor, Becs Frank. Join them as they discuss active rest, holiday packing, why blue space is the answer and the joy of a good book. There will be time to put the kettle on, pause for a moment and dream of holidays with an original short story before enjoying an impromptu picnic.

Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.

To subscribe or order a copy of the magazine visit thesimplethings.com

Editing by Arthur Cosslett.

Transcript

Lisa Sykes (00:12):

Welcome to season three of The Simple Things Podcast, Small Ways to Live Well, it's high summer now, and our theme for this season is Everyday Holidays. I'm Lisa Sykes, editor of The Simple Things, which if you're not familiar with it is a monthly magazine and it's all about taking time to live well, slowing down a little and remembering what's really important. So this season is sponsored by, well, us actually sponsored by The Simple Things. So we're going to be mentioning it throughout and giving you a little bit of a flavour of what we have in the magazine and throughout this season we're going to be exploring how to take time off and time out this summer, whether you're going away or not. So follow us via your podcast app so you don't miss an episode. Now I'm here with wellbeing editor, Becs Frank, who will be giving us some ideas for some small ways to slow down this summer. Hi Becs, how are you doing? And what is it you love about Summer?

Becs Frank (01:00):

Hi Lisa. It's so nice to be back and it's summer, which is as one of my favourite times of the year, if not the favourite time of the year.

Lisa Sykes (01:07):

It is,

Becs Frank (01:08):

Oh, there's so much I love about it, the slower pace, the weather, when it's good being outside, but also I think it's a highly anticipated time of year, isn't it? So it's important that we manage our expectations as well.

Lisa Sykes (01:22):

Yeah, I think so. I think high summer's so full of high expectations, isn't it? Like you said, for the weather, for holidays, even for our gardens and life generally.

Becs Frank (01:31):

But

Lisa Sykes (01:32):

It's not always sunshine and roses, isn't it? I think our routines disappear and it can sometimes seem like other people are having more rest and recreation than we are.

Becs Frank (01:40):

Yeah, that's right. It can sometimes be quite hard to just suddenly slip into summer mode, can't it? And to people say, oh, relax, unwind. But that's easier said than done sometimes, isn't it?

Lisa Sykes (01:51):

I know, because some actually, a good summer is a mindset rather than a destination, isn't it? And I think there are simple things you can do and make and places to explore on your doorstep and small ways to find calm fun, but you do have to get your head into the right place first, I think.

Becs Frank (02:07):

Yeah, I think that's absolutely right. I think whether you're going away or not, having some time to rest and to unwind and to just ease yourself into a bit of a slower pace is a great thing to do. But there are different ways to do that and people rest in different ways, so it can be very hard. I don't know if you've ever felt like this when you go on holiday or if you've got a nice weekend at home with nothing planned that you've arranged and suddenly you are there and you're like, oh God, I don't actually feel very relaxed. So yeah,

Lisa Sykes (02:34):

Absolutely.

Becs Frank (02:36):

How do you feel when you go away?

Lisa Sykes (02:38):

Well, it's just hard to make that sudden transition, isn't it? And I do like a bit of active rest. I like doing some walking and gardening and swimming and they're kind of almost a buffer zone, aren't they? Between work and kind of sitting on the deck chair.

Becs Frank (02:53):

Yeah, I think that's it. It rest doesn't have to be lying down and doing nothing, so I like that active rest. So gardening is restful for many people. Walking is restful. You don't have to literally lie down and do nothing with a book. And sometimes that ease, that's the transition that you need when we arrive somewhere, if we are going away. It's actually really nice, isn't it, to unpack or get yourself settled a bit and then just go out and explore and that's active rest. Go for a swim, go for a walk.

Lisa Sykes (03:21):

Absolutely. Yeah, I think you've got to break that habit of being busy and we struggle with that. We, you're so busy and often you're even more busy because you're going away for a week or two weeks and you've got to make sure everything's okay while you're off and who's doing your work or is anyone doing your work and what can you get finished? And there's a lot of pressure plus the whole getting all your stuff together and making sure you haven't forgotten anything. And if you've got family, it's like packing for four or five or whatever, isn't it? Yeah.

Becs Frank (03:53):

But I think that's it. We're so stressed sometimes by the time we get away. I know I am that often I get ill and I arrive and I've got a cold and it's like, oh my God, I've been waiting for this holiday. But I think that's because we push ourselves so much to right up to the finish line, don't we? So if possible, and it's a bit of a kind of, I know this is a nice half, but I really do try not to just not get myself into that kind of state and make things a bit easier for myself before I go away with going a bit easier on the packing and things like that.

Lisa Sykes (04:23):

I've started taking the day off before as well, just to kind of give myself time. And it's amazing though, isn't it? You do make the jobs full of time and now take all day to pack, whereas it used to take me two hours because that was all I had, but somehow I do think that is better because you just can kind of write a list, take a break, get things organised, and I try and take a day off when I get back now as well to kind of regroup. I

Becs Frank (04:50):

Went away recently and got back on a Thursday just that wasn't actually planned, but Friday was a bit of that kind of washing day and unpacking and sorting out dogs and things like that. And then we had the weekend before, I went back to work on Monday, which was so nice

Lisa Sykes (05:05):

And

Becs Frank (05:05):

I actually didn't feel completely frazzled, but I still felt quite refreshed for my holiday and ready for work.

Lisa Sykes (05:12):

I should probably do some full disclosure here that I only got back from my holiday the day before yesterday. So this morning when we were saying, right, let's record our podcast, I was like, who am I? What do I do again? Where am I? But yeah, so if I'm a bit all over the place, you'll understand why, but at least I rested on holiday actually, if you're not going away, you still need to find this way to rest. And I dunno about you be, but I find it really hard to rest at home.

Becs Frank (05:36):

There's

Lisa Sykes (05:37):

Too much domestic stuff calling for my attention. How do we do that? How do we find that time?

Becs Frank (05:42):

I think it's maybe just introducing the things that you enjoy on holiday and that help you to relax into your relaxation time at home. So we've written about this quite a bit in the magazine. We exploring your local area a bit, doing things that you wouldn't normally do, maybe going to some sites or trying to get out of the habit of things like consuming less news, being distracted by your phone a lot.

Lisa Sykes (06:08):

And I like to not shop at a supermarket. I like to go to a fishmonger and take time to buy nice food that I'm going to basically not cook the range on a plate you do when you're on holiday.

Becs Frank (06:22):

I've definitely slipped into that. The arranging things on a plate thing. I really do like cooking, but I do get really kind of tired of it. And I like that about summer you can just buy nice ingredients and assemble them on a plate like salads rather than involving lots of cooking.

Lisa Sykes (06:38):

I agree. I think you just have to embrace the sort of things you do. Maybe you can go sightseeing in your local area, can't you, and go to places and do things that you would do on holiday but you don't do right on your doorstep. But the flip side of that is, and I really like this idea and it's in the piece in our July issue, should give our little issue a plug. It's on sale now and you can order it from our online shop pix inc.com and the August issue has just gone on sale as well. So there's plenty to inspire you if you finding our podcast inspiring and we've got this article about, which in fact, I think you wrote it Beck, didn't you, about how to make summer slow. That's

Becs Frank (07:18):

Right,

Lisa Sykes (07:18):

Yeah. But there's also a suggestion in there that when you go on holiday, you should do what you love at home. So actually instead of it being a little bit stressful, somewhere different from home and you've got to get your bearings and all that stuff. So if you like running, take your running shoes and go for a run and it'll ground you in that new place. But likewise, it could be sewing, you could go and find a haberdashery or buying food or cooking. There's lots of ways to do it int

Becs Frank (07:48):

Yeah, yeah. Seek out the shops by the people and the things that you're interested in will be. And it was one of our contributors who wrote that really nice little piece at the end of my piece, which she wrote about how she was in Iceland, I think she had a day spare to do some sightsee, and I think she said to a friend who was a local, what should I do? And well, what do you do at home? She said, I like swimming at the weekend. So she actually recommended a place for Jo to go and swim with the locals and she swam s saed and she said that was great. She got a real taste of local life there. Nice.

Lisa Sykes (08:19):

And

Becs Frank (08:19):

I think it's a great idea isn't, it's a different way of thinking about it.

Lisa Sykes (08:22):

It is. And if you are not away that slow summer idea, summer's a really good time to experiment with a new way of being and living, isn't it? And I think you mentioned a really good thing, which is do less but do it at a more natural. And for me the key, a more varied pace. So you do tend to wake up earlier when it's light and you kind of might sit there fretting about things and surely the thing to do is to get up and do something when your brain's active and you are active. But then if you have your lull later the day, you've got to actually rest during that time. That's the time for deck chair dreaming, isn't it?

Becs Frank (09:00):

Yeah. I really think that that whole then premise of us kind of busying around multitasking, trying to do lots of things at once is quite a habit to try and get out in the summer and just pick maybe a short list of two or three things that you can do and actually do them well finish them off and then go and have your fun and allow yourself a bit more of a flexible routine. Yeah, maybe an early morning start for me, I'd rather do that in the summer. I'd rather get up early and then finish early and have a bit of more free time later on in the day.

Lisa Sykes (09:34):

And some of it's just about learning to say no a bit more isn't it as well? And making sure it's clear to people that you are not on call 24 7 and you are not going to Yes.

Becs Frank (09:45):

Put you out of office on,

Lisa Sykes (09:46):

I think it's important anyway. We should before we leave holidays and move on to other subjects, I think we should just have a word about packing because

Becs Frank (09:54):

Oh yes,

Lisa Sykes (09:54):

For a lot of people it's a difficult thing packing, isn't it? And over the years, I think we've covered this a few times in the magazine and it's that idea of keeping a list of what you always need and don't pack what you only might need. But yeah, those four or

Becs Frank (10:10):

Five I always take and then always take out of my suitcase again

Lisa Sykes (10:15):

Every time. But what do you always pack when you go away?

Becs Frank (10:19):

Well, it's sort of unusual things.

Lisa Sykes (10:21):

Well, I mean I always pack a big scarf, for example, so useful aren't there? That's like you can be a Ong, it can be a towel, it can be a blanket. It's essential, isn't it?

Becs Frank (10:32):

Me too. I always take one of those and then one of my teenage daughters always takes it off me and then I never see it for the rest of the holiday. I'm a bit like, this makes me sound a bit like, I dunno, my mum, God,

Lisa Sykes (10:44):

I would know what you're going to say now.

Becs Frank (10:47):

I always take tea bags of course, because I love a cup of tea. And then I'll take my favourite tea bags.

Lisa Sykes (10:54):

Your favourite brand is probably not available if you are leaving the country.

Becs Frank (10:58):

Yeah, I'll take my favourite brand of tea bags, herbal and breakfast tea so that I've got a nice one for bedtime and a nice one for when I get up in the

Lisa Sykes (11:05):

Morning.

Becs Frank (11:06):

I love trying the local coffee, happy with the local coffee, but I take my own tea.

Lisa Sykes (11:10):

Well, tea is essential and I should just tell people who are not familiar with the magazines. We actually have a section in every issue and we've been running this section for 10 years, which is my day in cup tea. And it's where we talk to someone about their tea breaks basically because we see those as the high points of anyone's day. And actually it is amazing how universal that pleasure is of putting the kettle on and enjoying it.

Becs Frank (11:38):

I always find it so fascinating that piece reading and we've been running it haven't we for such a long time. And there's all the people and all their different tea habits are just so interesting. And obviously they talk about their job and what they do in their day, but punctuate by their tea brakes, which is just brilliant. So think about other things. It's just I'm paranoid about getting my suitcase stolen even though it's never happened. Not stolen, sorry, that could be stolen but lost on the airline or something. So I have a few extra little bits so that I would get through my first day in my handbag or hand luggage. So that's quite organised of me, isn't it? Yeah,

Lisa Sykes (12:13):

Yeah, no, very good. And you won't miss out on your swimming time if you pack a cosy and all that. Exactly

Becs Frank (12:18):

That. Yeah.

Lisa Sykes (12:20):

Well, let's hope it never gets stolen anyway almost.

Becs Frank (12:23):

Well, I would not want to miss out on swimming time, Lisa, because that is, I have to say the highlight, one of the highlights for me my summer, wherever I am at home or away is getting to swim outdoors.

Lisa Sykes (12:35):

Yeah, well it's interesting. I am a poor swimmer and I'm not confident in deep sea, but I always pack a cossie wherever I go because there's something, in fact, I've written about this in this very issue of the magazine. We have another section called Wearing Well, which is about the clothes we love. And I've written about how, for me, packing a cosy is all about possibility. You might be able to have a dip in a hot tub or jump in a river or swim under a waterfall and it's just the kind of possibility, and it's never about a long swim over to that island. I'm not brave enough to do that. It's always about a plunge. Really, I That's interesting. But I do love the way it makes you feel alive. There's something about water and being in it, isn't it?

Becs Frank (13:20):

Yeah, and that's really interesting that you say that because that that's the effect of the water and they call it blue space. You know how we talk about green space and the wellbeing, benefits of being around water. You don't need to be in it. You could be paddling your toes in it, you could be walking alongside it or you could be immersing yourself in it, but you're going to get the relaxation, the lowering of the heart rate, the it basically has been shown to kind of activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is what calms us down and makes us feel nice and chill.

Lisa Sykes (13:49):

So there's actually a physical process that takes place, but presumably there's a psychological process as well alongside that because isn't there something about how we're more playful and active near water?

Becs Frank (14:01):

So studies have shown that as well as helping us to relax and feel calm. So obviously you could listen to the sound of the waves like many people do in wave music and visualisations and things. A lot of them involve to sea, but there's also the fact that people are more playful and active around water, so you get out a ball or you muck about don't you, in a pool or in the sea.

Lisa Sykes (14:22):

Yeah. And also you bond with people, don't you? Because if you connect a bit, don't you in a way that you might not just in a park.

Becs Frank (14:30):

Yeah, exactly.

Lisa Sykes (14:31):

Yeah, exactly.

Becs Frank (14:32):

Swimming groups or paddle boarding or just trying out something, you're more likely, I think you're a bit more adventurous.

Lisa Sykes (14:39):

Yes. I grew up 70 miles from the sea in West Yorkshire, so it was such a huge deal going to the seaside, whether it was a day trip or holidays in the last two weeks of August in Cornwall and Wales, but my other half who grew up in Morum totally takes it for granted. He was always there,

Becs Frank (14:58):

Right.

Lisa Sykes (14:58):

But whenever we go up to see the family, I always insist as long as going on the front to see the sea because it still makes me excited to be there, but I suppose actually it's not just talking about the sea when we're talking about blue spacer, we were talking about lakes and canals and you don't have to be near the ocean, do you?

Becs Frank (15:15):

No. And I walk every day by a canal and look at the water, watch the boats, watch all the different wildlife that I see and at different times of year and that's definitely has the same kind of relaxing effect on me, and I seek that out and I love being able to just sit for a little while and watch the water. I find it so relaxing.

Lisa Sykes (15:35):

It really does clear the mind, doesn't it? Because we had our planning meeting me, you and Joe who's going to be joining us in a later episode. We planned this podcast season. We met at the tower head, very beautiful national trust estate, but we walked around the lake, didn't we? And it was so easy to talk about all the ideas we wanted to talk about while we were walking and that beautiful water just sat there.

Becs Frank (16:00):

Yeah, I found it so much more kind of creative and free, didn't you? And we just walked.

Lisa Sykes (16:06):

Well, we planned our next one, haven't we? Next time we're going to swim at the Thames Lidar, which is going to be very exciting.

Becs Frank (16:12):

Yeah, maybe we should make all our meetings so much better than doing it over a zoom call that makes

Lisa Sykes (16:18):

It sound like we're all sitting in a jacuzzi or something.

Becs Frank (16:21):

Oh yeah, but we did sit, didn't we, by the lake, and I think that is that you do gravitate. Don't you find yourself throwing a picnic blanket down? It tends to be, oh, can we find a nice spot by a lake or by a stream?

Lisa Sykes (16:32):

Definitely. But if you can't get to water, there are stuff you can do at home. They isn't there something about even and soaking in the bath, it's one of the reasons we get good ideas in the bath and can relax and switch off because it's that immersion thing again.

Becs Frank (16:46):

Or you might have a pond in your garden or you can make little simple kind of pond. I like the idea of it, which we did once was making a plant pot pond, which is filling some water, putting a few little water plants in there. You can visualise the ocean, you can listen to. There are many, many recordings, podcasts, really relaxed. Listening to the sounds of water,

Lisa Sykes (17:08):

I realised a lot of the art in my house is watery, which hadn't really dawned on me, but in my bedroom there's a painting of the Cornish coast

Becs Frank (17:18):

And

Lisa Sykes (17:18):

This postcard that I've had for a long time, I had it when I was a student and I've just never thrown it away and it sort of crops up here and there and it's like a pod of orca. I think it's taken him like British Columbia or somewhere and it's all misty and the seas just dead calm and there's these huge fins in it, and there's something about that picture that just makes me go

Becs Frank (17:39):

Really calming.

Lisa Sykes (17:40):

Yeah,

Becs Frank (17:41):

Yeah, I can imagine. That's

Lisa Sykes (17:42):

The thing, isn't it? Sometimes it's the dreaming about going away and the anticipation of it that's actually as good as the real thing and our short story. This episode is about exactly this. I think regular listeners will know that. We take a pause roundabout now and we read aloud the short story. So maybe get the kettle on or listen outside if it's sunny with you. Peaches and figs. A short story by Harriet Dario. You love the coolness of the marble under your feet, don't you? Or maybe the way your feet look when they turn. Nook brown. We are always busy at work, but squeezing the chat when we can. As the days grow hotter, our chats have been turning to fairytale villas in the sun. Far, far, far from here. Look at this one. I swivel the screen round so she can see the image of the crumbling sunbathed cottage on the cliff.

(18:36):

Heavenly she says, but the front door has to be the colour of the sea swamped in pink flowers. The blue just drenched in pink. Have I told you about the fig tree? I offer it as a gambit testing the water, wondering if she has enough time to dream with me. This is our game. No, definitely not. Tell me now. Nella demands. She grins. Leans in ready to listen. Well of course there's a sunny courtyard filled with huge terracotta pots with an ancient fig tree. The figs will be ripening to perfection in the sun right now. Brown and shrivelled on the exterior, but succulent soft and I stop. Maybe I've lost her. Do you even like figs? I ask who doesn't? But what about peaches? She requests, hang on a sec. I'm thinking about the kitchen now. Of course, it's the coolest place in the house.

(19:24):

The marble tiles help and the long wooden shutters keep out the strongest heat of the day. Now I've started, I can't stop. I always get up early when I'm the villa. I collect lemons each with their own little green leaf attached and pick sweet yellow peaches. She's right. Peaches are important. Whatever we need. Sometimes very early I take a cool shower, put on a white cotton dress, slip on my sandals and walk to the village to buy bread from the market. Back in the kitchen. I eat the sticky sweet peaches with the fresh bread and I make a pot of very strong coffee, which I drink as I listen to others. Just getting up. Do you drink your coffee black on holiday? Yes. I think I do. Me too funny that we pause and contemplate our holiday selves and how they differ from our regular at home and work selves.

(20:13):

And then she nods and continues on for me in the afternoons after we've swam and taken a siesta, the neighbours pop by. I would slice one of those fat lemons you picked. Collect ice from the cellar and we would all sit around the table, drink homemade lemon cello and laugh. Maybe have the radio on. They would bring their dog a golden scruffy little thing mil, I think I can't hear Nella. I can hear millet barking. The radio zuzu in a coral skirt, tapping her matching fingernails on the table next to the glasses of lemon cello and a painted pottery bowl of bitter black olives. I feel a familiar flood of joy seep through me. I look down at my tan toes. Cool. On the marble tiles. Here I am. I think this is really me. The music on the radio sounds like ringing. Lucy Nella is laughing, pointing at my phone. I finished the call and look over at Nella. She's looking at me expectantly. Let's do it. I say I'll book tonight.

Becs Frank (21:20):

Oh, I just love that story, Lisa. I feel like I'm there, don't you? I like how it's all the sensors, isn't it? You can feel it. You can smell it like the sticky sweet peaches and the cold marble on the floor. It's brilliant.

Lisa Sykes (21:34):

You actually are there, aren't you? Oh my God. I wish I was such clever writing. But also the day I recorded that story, it was the most dismal day and I just immediately wanted to book holiday the moment I stopped reading it. It's

Becs Frank (21:48):

Great. But I think it's quite a good little sort of exercise in visualisation. It just shows you how sometimes we write this and we hear it, close your eyes and think about your happy place and think about the smells and the sights and how it feels. And that really just shows how in that couple of minutes or something, a few minutes you can transport yourself. Yeah, transport yourself

Lisa Sykes (22:11):

Somewhere else. Yeah, I the 500 words I've been on holiday. Yeah, totally. Well that's good. But I think that it's one of the reasons we print original fiction in every issue, isn't it? Because the simple things is one of the few lifestyle magazines that does this. And we commission one especially for each issue along with an illustration that really captures it beautifully. And it's one of the most read sections of the magazine

Becs Frank (22:33):

I always

Lisa Sykes (22:33):

Read. And I think it is that way. It transports

Becs Frank (22:35):

You.

Lisa Sykes (22:35):

Yeah. That's also why we love print, isn't it? It's portable. You can read it anywhere. Not like a device. You won't get sand stuck in it. And they're arguably more beautiful than books, magazines, aren't they? Because the pictures are as important as the words and you can dip in and out of them. They last all months.

Becs Frank (22:54):

Yeah. There's nothing quite like a new magazine in your hands. Not open it yet. You've got all that pleasure ahead and it is the tactile. It is touching it and looking at the picture. Definitely. I mean I do read online a lot as well, but I'm obviously going to be all for print really.

Lisa Sykes (23:10):

I know. I think it is really a special thing that has been quite underrated for quite a long time. And also it's partly because some magazines are so focused on gossip and celebrity imp perfection that actually people have quite rightly shunned away from that and they're very

Becs Frank (23:28):

Disposable

Lisa Sykes (23:29):

And we're about positive stories and making you feel better. But we also compile a playlist so it's not just a visual experience. So you can have the music that reflects the mood of each month too. But reading is such a brilliant way to unwind, isn't it? Especially if you can't go anywhere.

Becs Frank (23:46):

Yeah, it is. Apparently I read something recently that reading for 30 minutes, it has the equivalent kind of relaxation effects on the body as doing a yoga class. Yeah.

Lisa Sykes (23:58):

Wow. You see, I would much prefer doing 30 minutes of reading with 30 minutes of yoga if I'm honest. I know you're quite a yoga fan, aren't you?

Becs Frank (24:07):

Yeah. But I was really surprised by that actually. And I think it's just that taking that time, pausing, closing your mind off from everything else and letting yourself go.

Lisa Sykes (24:15):

Well it is. It's total seclusion, isn't it? In the best possible way. But yeah, so I love it. I love packing my books and choosing my books to go on holiday and I've definitely a kind of books before Bikinis packer, they make the space in my suitcase. So do you remember we did that highly scientific piece, not to suggest the best combo of books to take on a fortnights holiday or actually it could apply to a whole summer reading selection, couldn't it? We do.

Becs Frank (24:44):

I like to think it was a summer reading selection because I'm never going to that many books on my

Lisa Sykes (24:49):

Holiday. There were seven kinds of books and I think you've got to be some reader to get through seven books in a fortnight. Although I just did get through three in a week, which was quite good. It depends on the kind of

Becs Frank (24:59):

Holiday you're doing, doesn't it?

Lisa Sykes (25:00):

It's true.

Becs Frank (25:01):

I thought it was great. Yeah, the different types.

Lisa Sykes (25:05):

Yeah. So the types of book then. Yes. It is like a smorgasbord, isn't it? You have the worthy but rewarding book, the one that's important that you kind of need a good chunk of time to get into. The problem I find with that one is I take it with me and it's the one I leave to the end because yeah,

Becs Frank (25:23):

I was just about to say that will be bottom of the pile I think.

Lisa Sykes (25:26):

And then cosy crime, which is obviously great and really easy to read. So that's good Family fortunes. I like a good family saga, don't you? A bit of an epic that stretches across generations. Characters fun, froth, easy bit cheek litty, although I don't really like that phrase, but something that's easy. And just

Becs Frank (25:46):

Airport book.

Lisa Sykes (25:48):

Yes,

Becs Frank (25:48):

Exactly.

Lisa Sykes (25:49):

Rewriting history. I think that's quite nice. So historical fiction. I guess we're focusing on fiction, but I do quite like to take a biography sometime as well if it's something I really want to read.

Becs Frank (26:00):

It's quite nice when you're having two books to dip in and out of

Lisa Sykes (26:03):

Something

Becs Frank (26:03):

That's more like the history or the biography. And then you can have

Lisa Sykes (26:08):

Two going on at once thing, can't you? Yeah. Stranger than Fiction. Oh, I think that was our nonfiction book actually, but they're kind of

Becs Frank (26:18):

Oh, okay. I wondered if that was like a sci-fi or something.

Lisa Sykes (26:20):

No, I've actually forgotten

Becs Frank (26:21):

Now. I'm

Lisa Sykes (26:22):

Not being very excited. It was scientific and then short, but satisfying short stories. Now I know you've been reading a few short stories, haven't you?

Becs Frank (26:31):

Yeah, I've just read, and it's not a new book, but Claire Keegan, who she's an excellent writer.

Lisa Sykes (26:35):

Oh yeah.

Becs Frank (26:37):

And her Antarctica was her first book and it was a compilation. It's short stories. Oh, they're just brilliant. I'd recommend it.

Lisa Sykes (26:44):

Why is it called Antarctica? Are they all set in Antarctica then?

Becs Frank (26:47):

No, they're not actually. They're set in different places and they're really great characters and they're often featuring women with different things and kind of things going on in their lives at different life stages. And she just has this amazing knack of getting this character over in such a short amount of space then you are in that world. Oh, it sounds great, but that thing of feeling like you can achieve something and complete it and finish it, that's the great thing about a short story. And I can read bed at night or on a short journey and you get to the end and that really appeals to me. So I'm going to take a novel, just one story, small things like these. Have you read that? I'm going to take that on my next trip and it won't take up much space.

Lisa Sykes (27:28):

That sounds good. Yeah, no, taking up space is difficult, isn't it? I am, in fact, I've just been away and I did take some books with me, but I was in the middle of Kate Atkinson's latest book, shrines of Gaity, which is set in 1920 Soho nightclub underworld. And as I was going to the Scottish Isles, I thought this would be a really good incongruous read where it's something that's not set anywhere where you are, but it was a hard back and I just couldn't squeeze it in so it didn't make the final cook. So I've got to finish that now. But

Becs Frank (28:00):

I think quite the ones for home they,

Lisa Sykes (28:02):

I know I quite like British Library's crime classics. I've got one. It's actually short stories too, although the most of them aren't and they kind of golden age detective stories basically. But these ones are all set in holiday resorts, so it kind of feels right for the mood. But oh gosh, we could recommend loads of stuff, couldn't we? But I love that idea that you often forget the book, but you remember where you were when you read it, when it's something you've taken on holiday.

Becs Frank (28:33):

That definitely happens with holidays, doesn't it? Definitely. I think I remember when I went travelling, I can remember so well all the books I read there, I think probably because I was just completely immersed in my book only and

Lisa Sykes (28:44):

You didn't

Becs Frank (28:44):

Have to think about lots of other things.

Lisa Sykes (28:46):

Well, the first time I read Mrs. Gaskell's North and South, which is one of my absolute favourite books, and I'm not a big reader of classics, but that is one of my favourite books. And I read it in the Australian Outback. And so you've got this story of Victorian England reading it in the Outback and that was very memorable for juxtaposition really.

Becs Frank (29:07):

Yeah. Or sometimes a book just makes you want to go somewhere, doesn't it as well. Yes, the Trump Transport, I remember reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was set in Savannah, and I've still never been to Savannah, but I've got this image of it in my head, this sultry place and the Heat and the People and I will get there one day.

Lisa Sykes (29:25):

No, it absolutely went on my must GoTo list after reading that as well. And in fact, in our August edition we've got, that's exactly the theme our reading recommends because we nearly always run a summer reading roundup and they're not always like books just published. Some of them are older ones that you might've missed or classics that, and our books editor, Etna has just got such brilliant taste. I've already, oh, she has bought two of the books that she suggested. I

Becs Frank (29:51):

Like the surprises as well.

Lisa Sykes (29:52):

Yes, I know. And things that you think, why haven't I read this before? Yeah, the theme is travel through books, even if you're not going away, it's about experiencing it vicariously. So we've got things like epic journeys, an island in the sun or summer in the city or rural life, country house hotels, that sort of thing. So yeah, there's going to be lots to take there.

Becs Frank (30:13):

I think it's really good to choose a book that sort of suits what your mood as well, don't you think? Sometimes? I was saying about that. Sometimes you just want escapism. Don't you just want to switch off and not think about anything. Whereas sometimes I want to stimulate my mind and think about something and dive into something.

Lisa Sykes (30:31):

Yeah, it depends on where you are at really. And that's why I think it's no bad thing to have more than one book on the go, to be honest. Then you can pick the one. But in our June issues, you remember we did a good piece, we combined books and the other great summer pastime of picnics because there are plenty of famous literary picnics. If I say to you, Beck Lashings of ginger beer, you know what I'm talking about,

Becs Frank (30:54):

Right? Yeah. Back there. Famous fire. And I am a child.

Lisa Sykes (30:59):

Absolutely. I mean they did picnics brilliantly. They were like some hard boiled eggs and some ginger beer and you I was just about say and a small adventure and you there. But then of course there's Jane Austen's famous picnic on Box Hill in Emma, which is

Becs Frank (31:18):

Near you, isn't

Lisa Sykes (31:19):

It? It's, and coincidentally, it's actually where I experienced my first rush of going downhill very fast on a mountain bike. So for me, box Hill doesn't always mean Jane Austen, but you of course live in bass, which is the home of Austin really, isn't it? The

Becs Frank (31:34):

Home of Austin and amazing place

Lisa Sykes (31:36):

For picnics. You must see plenty of people wearing bonnets and things around your way

Becs Frank (31:41):

During the Jane Austen Festival. There's a lot of bonnets around, but there's also loads of picnics. We have these hills around the city. So there are many places you can sit with beautiful views. And I do really like a picnic, but I think I've come to the conclusion that I'm a no F picnic kind of

Lisa Sykes (31:58):

Person.

Becs Frank (31:59):

Amazing. If I got invited to one of the Jane Austen's full China tea service picnics, what

Lisa Sykes (32:05):

Would the raft of servants in silverware a guest there

Becs Frank (32:08):

To be a

Lisa Sykes (32:09):

Guess. Not to organise it though. Well, they didn't really have ware back then, did they? So No, no. All

Becs Frank (32:16):

Finger food. Really. I can't imagine Jane Austen doing

Lisa Sykes (32:19):

Full cutlery. Full crockery. But the thing is, I think it is about that. No faff, isn't it? You can just buy everything and it really is about assembly. I mean, my favourite picnic food is probably sausage rolls, but I also like the fact that you can just eat bread and cheese and ham, especially if you are in France and it's just the most wondrous thing you've ever eaten. Right?

Becs Frank (32:42):

Yeah. It's funny you should say that. I was in France quite recently and we did exactly that. We went to a lake, we were in Ong, we set off on a day trip to a lake and we did exactly that. We just called it the local supermarket, picked up a baguette, some ham and cheese and olives, and that was our, oh, it's never tasted so good. I dunno if that was just the French cheese and ham and baguette, but it was really simple.

Lisa Sykes (33:05):

There's something about a spontaneous picnic, isn't it? It's like, and sometimes it might be a romantic picnic that you've just met someone or

Becs Frank (33:14):

Yeah, exactly. A bit of a one day picnic.

Lisa Sykes (33:16):

Oh yeah, the one day picnic. Have you ever had a one day picnic?

Becs Frank (33:20):

Do you know? I actually have, when I first met my husband, we were in Oxford and we had our own little picnic in a quad of, I can't remember which college we were, where we were, but we shared a pan of strawberries. I remember we've got a photograph, so this is why it's really in my mind as well, plenty of strawberries and a bottle of white wine probably wasn't even cold. And I think we probably drank it out of the bottle, but it was very, very memorable picnic. Definitely.

Lisa Sykes (33:47):

But that's the point, isn't it? It's not the food that's important. It's the company. And I read a piece, I'll give you a little plug here. Beck's edited two bookazine for us recently called both called Flourish. And the first one had a piece in picnics, sorry, on picnics. And there's a line in there that really, and she's talking about how imperfection is fine and actually anything tastes great at the top of a big hill. But she said the path of my life is scattered with squashed quiches and warm orange Jesus. I think we can probably all relate to that, but yeah, it's one of the reasons we have in the summer. We have our simple things planning meetings in the park, don't we? Yes. I love that. Everyone brings their own picnic and a glass of fears and we get all the magazines out on the grass and it takes all the pressure off. It doesn't feel like a meeting, it just feels like you're having a good time. And actually that makes it more relaxed and we come up with better ideas. So I think all of that is great.

Becs Frank (34:50):

And the sharing picnics are nice as well, aren't they? So sometimes if you do want to be a bit more special, but you don't want all the kind of hassle of making everything yourself, it's quite nice to bring one thing and share it as a group and then you never know. We've done that a few times. Yeah, we have. You never know what you're going to get and someone baked.

Lisa Sykes (35:05):

No, I love that.

Becs Frank (35:07):

Yeah, exactly.

Lisa Sykes (35:08):

I'm going to one in a couple of weeks with the people who I do my ballet class with and the teacher hosts a potluck picnic house and we all bring something, so it's going to be fun.

Becs Frank (35:18):

It's just that thing again about that simple no fu summer food, isn't it? And just making life simpler, giving you more time to just relax and enjoy it rather than, and you don't get the washing up really.

Lisa Sykes (35:30):

And of course the easiest of all picnics is in your own garden, isn't it? Yeah. I think nothing more. I'm feeling more chilled out already now. We visualise water, we started a good book, we've had a picnic. And so actually, yeah, I feel inspired now. I'm going to make state an intention. We like to do this at the end of each podcast. We, our favourite way is to unwind in summer. And for me it is walking in the woods late in the day when everything's kind of back lit. The sun's really low coming through the trees. And I might see deer or forks or even badger. And sometimes I leave the dog at home and just go out by myself. And I love that kind of end of day moment really. It's just lovely. It's

Becs Frank (36:12):

Quite still, isn't it?

Lisa Sykes (36:14):

Yeah, I

Becs Frank (36:14):

Agree. It's really lovely.

Lisa Sykes (36:15):

What's yours then?

Becs Frank (36:16):

So I think for me, well, I think I've said already that I love swimming outdoors and swimming in the sea is a really big thing for me. So I'm going to try and do that as much as I can. Or when I'm at home, maybe in the river or Lido, just swim outdoors because I have this thing where I go away and on my last day of holiday, I always try and swim in the sea on my own early in the morning, and I try and capture that feeling and make it last. So I'm going to do that as much as I can, not just on my last day of holiday.

Lisa Sykes (36:41):

Oh, that sounds great. I mean, the last thing that remains to say really is if you found our first podcast in this season inspiring, don't forget to follow us so you can not miss the next one. But also remember, our July and August issues are on sale at our online shop, which is called pix inc.com. Or you could try an immediate start subscription and all the details are in the show notes. And there'll be plenty more of this as we go through the summer. See you next time. Bye.