This is our 100th issue of The Simple Things

– a milestone for any magazine but coming as it does in such an uncertain and perilous year, we feel even more proud that we have continued to publish every month. Eight years in, we hope The Simple Things has become a part of your life, the way it has ours.

When it launched in the autumn of 2012, it offered readers a clear promise ‘to celebrate the things that matter most’ – a reminder of how good life can be when you slow down a little, live in the moment more, and take notice of your surroundings.

I wasn’t the editor back then, but I soon became an avid reader. For me, each issue is a nudge to remember that no matter where you live, or how busy you are, there are always opportunities to take time to live well, an idea we adopted as our slogan when I joined the editorial team at the end of that first year. It was in 2014 that my partner, a friend and I decided to plough in our savings and borrow the rest to set up our own publishing company in order to save and run the magazine we loved.

With the support of a close-knit team who share our fondness for slow food rather than show food, a preference for could-do rather than to-do lists, and a ban on the word ‘perfect’, we’re still here and selling more copies than ever before. My favourite comment from readers is; “It’s like you know me” and by telling your friends, you’ve helped us more than treble our subscribers since we took over.

In difficult times, The Simple Things is appreciated for bringing comfort, calm and cheer, and a chance to relax, ideally with tea and cake. What’s not to like about that?

Put the kettle on, join us in a celebratory cuppa and take a moment to pick your favourite of our covers. And, if you’re a subscriber, enjoy the free mini-prints of some our own. Lisa