Rustle digital by VictoriaSmith90

Issue One Outdoor Adventure lifestyle travel

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Boat life - wild swimming - window gardens - rolling home - james bowden green man - epping forest - holme from home - edible treasures - stockholm

RUSTLE Victoria Smith Editor-in-Chief Joshua Krohn Art Director Gerard Puigmal Photographer Calum Creasey Photographer Joseph Whitehouse Content Writer Lauren Smith Content Writer Eleanor Marsh Content Writer Molly Taylor Content Writer

Supporters

SEPTEMBER 2014 EDITOR'S LETTER

H hello September, our aesthetically pleasing, gift

boots and be defeated by the ever-declining

baring old friend. May you take our hand and

temperature – it’s a time to enjoy the last few

gently lead us into the raw, embracing arms of your

weeks of summer sun and even then, to brush the

linear brother. May you be kind and allow us a few,

dust off your autumn coat and continue without

final remnants of skin warming light and grant us the

a glance behind. In this issue of Rustle, we will be

variety of your seasonal tones upon that autumnal

exploring areas of London and meeting people

palette that you do so well. In return, we vow to

who have a story to tell. Read about Leila and

take up every opportunity, in one way or another, to

her offbeat London lifestyle, a couple’s account of

absorb and benefit from the rewards of your reign.

their extracurricular, globe trotting encounters and

When residing in one of the UK’s turbulent hubs,

investigate some of London’s hidden gems; from a

in our case London, it can be a challenge to find time

hands-on bike workshop to volunteering at your local

or even space to engross yourself in anything that

community garden or National Trust location.

doesn’t involve sky-high infrastructure and overcrowded

Thanks for choosing to pick up and purchase our

public transport. Here at Rustle HQ , we have taken

first ever issue of Rustle. Even if we enlighten, inspire or

it on as our duty and best interest to make it simpler

stimulate just one of your 30 days of September, then

or show you how to fulfil the small amount of time

our job here is done. To get in touch for feedback, to

that you have away from your fixed routine. Whilst

contribute any articles or photography or simply for a

gathering research to bring you our first, seasonal issue,

chat, feel free to drop us an email at: editor@rustlemag.com.

we learned about the limitless physical and mental

See you out there!

benefits of allowing yourself to sidestep away from the rat race to indulge in some fresh air and green space.

Victoria, Editor-in-Chief

September isn’t a time to hang up your walking

10 18 20 22 8

Boat Life Words: Victoria Smith Images: Gerard Puigmal

London top FIVE Words: Victoria Smith Images: Victoria Smith

Natural waterS Words: Joseph Whitehouse Image: Eleanor Marsh

Window Gardens Words: Victoria Smith Images: Victoria Smith

28 30 38 40

London Bike Kitchen Words: Victoria Smith Images: Joshua Krohn

Our ROlling Home Words: Lauren Smith Imagse: Calum Creasey

q&a with James Bowden Words: James Bowden Image: James Bowden

Festival Season Words: Molly Taylor Image: Eleanor Marsh

42 50 52 58

The People's Forest Images: Joshua Krohn

Adventure Essentials Words: Victoria Smith Image: Calum Creasey

Holme from Home Words: Eleanor Marsh Images: Eleanor Marsh

National Trust Words: Joseph Whitehouse Image: Victoria Smith

60 72 75 76

Edible Treasures Words: Victoria Smith Images: Joshua Krohn

Community Gardens Words: Joseph Whitehouse Images: Julian Pritchard

Travel Guides Words: Joshua Krohn Image: Paul Tridon

Stockholm Words: Joseph Whitehouse Images: Joseph Whitehouse

BOAT LIFE A DIFFERENT SIDE OF LONDON

WORDS BY VICTORIA SMITH / IMAGES BY GERARD PUIGMAL

FEATURE

It’s hard to imagine living in London with a stress-free lifestyle. However, actress, Leila Mimmack, has found an alternative that allows her the freedom and cheaper living that so many young people struggle to find in the capital. Rustle went along to visit Leila and her canal boat to get a feel for her rent-free, laid back lifestyle.

YPICALLY you are twenty-something. Typically your rent is expensive, bills aren’t included and you live miles from the nearest tube station. Work

is boring but the pay is okay. You have to wear restricting office clothes and say goodbye to the sunlight at nine in the morning until five in the evening, with a mere half an hour teaser somewhere in the middle. And this is your existence for five days a week. At least until the weekend comes from which you rinse every little drop of fun until your bank balance is trembling at the knees. What’s comforting is that you are one amongst thousands of your kind. Except for the rare breed that probably works somewhere in the creative sector, and manages to work just a couple of days a week and still have the same money as you do. While the core part of you feels raging jealousy, there’s a little voice in the back of your mind reassuring you that there is another side to the London life. 22-year-old actress, Leila Mimmack, has certainly hammered the nail in when it comes to a more abstract solution for ‘London plus lifestyle plus money.’ At the impulsive age of 19, Midlands-born Mimmack put her A-Levels on hold, discovered an agent and found small acting roles here and there – the savings from which she put aside to buy her own place in London. And by place, I mean boat. Pushing my way through the bustling station at Paddington on a Friday morning, I was almost certain I couldn’t be in the right place. From what I had been told, I should be in one of London’s safe havens, away from the screamworthy claustrophobia that our capital city does so well. Bursting my way out of the rear of the station, I felt a little embarrassed as people were leisurely strolling by or sat on deck chairs, drinking double espressos with newspaper in hand. Hands up in the air, I had been proven wrong. Little Venice was pretty much what it should have been. The cobbled paths lining the meandering canals were decorated with great, overhanging, leafy trees and boat after boat sat in line, one or two having been converted into a floating coffee shop and even a library. Leila greeted me outside her boat, The Hobbit, and encouraged me to leap across the two barges between the path and her home, “Yeah, you should see me trying to do that when I’ve had a glass or three,” Leila said. Climbing down through the door and in through the bathroom, the little home had so much character. Decorated with dream catchers, homemade heart decorations and piles of worn books, Leila said: “It was the cosiness of the boat that sold it to me. The lady who lived here previously (she gave it up as she was expecting and it wasn’t really ideal) covered the interior with fairy lights and candles and I just fell in love. A classic example of see it, love it, buy it.” If, like myself, you have never had the chance to experience the inside

FEATURE of a canal boat, it immediately strikes you how carefully thought out the design of the boat actually is. Every little feature from the sleeper-trainstyle bed to the kitchen shelves that fit so neatly into place, everything was made to belong there. A mixture of traditional appliances such as the wood burning stove and original brass thermometer alongside Leila’s colourful decorations strikes the perfect balance between old and new. Well into her second year of boat life, Leila is more than content with her home and lifestyle choice, from the experience of learning something new to the social life and work opportunities that arise from living in London. “It’s been a major learning curve for me. I originally moved in here with my friend Kate and it was quite a challenge for us both, but we made it work,” Leila said. After six months of adapting to their new home, Kate had to move out to pursue her degree in drama and Leila went on to live by herself for almost a year and a half, “I really enjoyed having my own space again, as much as I loved living with Kate, it did get pretty intense sometimes. I took the opportunity to really make the boat my own and started to buy a few more furnishings and decorations *looks around*, as you can see I kind of went a bit overboard (pun intended). My boyfriend Sam is currently living here with me until he finds his own place, which could be another few months. The summer evenings are great, we go for walks along the canal paths, eat dinner outside with a bottle of wine, it’s nice to not have to be inside if we don’t want to be.” So why a boat? Initially to buy a boat costs a considerable about of money; in Leila’s case £21,000. While this may seem like a monstrous amount of cash to fork out, when you break it down and compare it to monthly rental prices, it actually seems like a wise thing to do. In Paddington, where Leila’s boat is currently docked, properties can be anywhere in the price range of £300-£600 per week. On average you’d be expecting to pay around

THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AROUND HERE IS LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE. EVERYBODY TALKS AND IS WILLING TO HELP, WHICH IS SO UNUSUAL FOR LONDON AND I'VE MADE SO MANY GREAT NEW FRIENDS

£1800 per month, so with a few calculations it becomes clear that in a year or so, Leila would have spent the same money that she used to purchase The Hobbit. “In the long run it definitely works out cheaper than renting for half of your life, it’s just a question of being able to afford the lump sum, which I know seems impossible but there are ways around it. With that aside, the monthly cost is pretty low - I just have to pay my Waterway License and River Canal Rescue (basically the AA for boats).” Leila said. Putting costs and expenses to one side, living on a canal boat in London really does have its perks compared to your typical static home, as Leila expands: “The sense of community around here is like you wouldn’t believe. Everybody

Leila talks about her life on the boat

Feature

FEATURE talks and is willing to help, which is so unusual for London and I’ve made so many great new friends. It makes you feel much safer to know people who you are docked next to, especially when Sam is away for a few days. For me, the real treat is that I get to feel more in tune with nature and the greener environment. Living on a boat gives you no other choice than to be environmentally conscious. I’m careful with how much water I use at a time, the only heating I have is provided from an old fashioned wood burner and rather than using a fridge, I store my milk just outside by the door. It does make you feel better about yourself. I think the slower pace of life has really helped me out and given me a shift of perspective when it comes to silly little things. A great example is a time Sam and I had an argument and I needed to get some alone time. When I climbed off the boat and onto the path, I was greeted by a trail of the fluffiest, newborn swans toddling past, following their mother. I completely forgot what we were even arguing about. It’s the little things like this that remind me why I chose this way of life, even when things are feeling a bit tough.” Leila is currently working on a new play that is set to be released in London in the new year.

London

TOP FIVE Outdoor lifestyle shops

Fed up of shopping at the high street outdoor apparel clothing stores? Want more variety and something different to everyone else? Yeah, us too. Don't worry we've done the hard work for you. We explored London to bring you our top five favourite independent shops - it seems to us that Shoreditch is the place to be.

WORDS / IMAGES BY VICTORIA SMITH

1. THE BROKEDOWN PALACE, SHOREDITCH

A recently opened pop-up shop at Box Park, Shoreditch, The Brokedown Palace’s spirit is all about cabin life. With brands such as Pendleton, Poler and Fjällräven, this shop has everything to satisfy your camping needs, from rucksacks and sleeping bags to home furnishings. If you can’t get down to Box Park then check out their online store: thebrokedownpalace.com

2. BY-WALSKI, SHOREDITCH

Based in Redchurch Street, By-Walski is your go to shop for any extreme sporting needs. If you’re off on an adventurous trip, this is the place to go to pick up the essentials. From waterproof cameras and accessories to sleek rain and wind repellent jackets. Plus the shop is extremely pleasing on the eye with it’s spacious, wooden interior. by-walski.com

3. THE GOODHOOD STORE, SHOREDITCH. Home to some of the finest apparel, homewear and lifestyle goods, The Goodhood Store carefully selects it’s products from around the world, including Scandinavia, USA, Europe and Japan. This new, two-storey flagship store is a place where you could easily spend a whole morning, perusing the unusual finds – and why not finish with a coffee in the basement café? goodhoodstore.com

4. SLICK WILLIES, KENSINGTON For those girls who are into their skating, whether it’s on boards or boots, you need to get yourself down to Slick Willies. One of the longestestablished skate shops in London, the store is situated next to Hyde Park, the perfect place to go and try out your news purchases. From a wide selection of colourful boards, to protective gear, Slick Willies has everything you need, whether you’re a pro or a first-timer. slickwillies.co.uk

5. LABOUR AND WAIT, SHOREDITCH Named by Time Out as one of London’s top 100 shops, Labour and Wait offers an alternative mix of contemporary apparel alongside unique and rather lovely home furnishings. From outdoor cooking equipment to tools for the garden, stationery and soap, this store has it covered – if you need it, Labour and Wait probably have it. Visit in store or online and discover the great range of products – especially if you are after an original gift. labourandwait.co.uk

natural waters swimming wild

This month is the perfect chance to make the most of the last stretch of summer before autumn well and truly descends. Try something different and go with a group of friends, a fluffy towel and an open mind and experience naturalpool swimming – we promise you’ll be yearning for next summer already.

perpetually drowning pensioners and the sad set of red spectator seats looming down on you, faded and empty. To dive in is to hear the cold rasp of your lungs as they struggle, crazed for air, with your skin tightening from the cold bite of the water and you suddenly realise, there’s no lifeguard to save you. Let me paint you a picture: you, a few friends, a cooler full of beer, a hazy late September afternoon with

HERE’S something truly ethereal about

the warmth of summer still clinging on. Roll and

swimming; taking the plunge, dipping in a toe,

glide around the water without a care in the world.

being thrown in at the deep end. They’re phrases

Jump, dive and bomb from whichever precipice takes

that all resonate with us for one reason or another

your fancy. You’re in the wild now boy.

and they are all based on the human obsession with

the mundanity of the piss infested shallow end, the

Our top spots for outdoor swimming in

water. Away from the pools and lidos of city centres

London are: Hampstead Heath Ponds, Hackney

and the suburbs, are vast expanses of little natural

West Reservoir or Shadwell Basin. For more

pools, surrounded by overhanging trees - slightly

information or if you are looking to join a club,

murky, yet calm and still. To dive in is to escape

visit: wildswim.com

Eleanor and friends swimmng in Norfolk

PHOTO FEATURE

Window gardens Personal garden space in London is as common as finding a seat on the 8am underground tube to London Bridge. With extortionate rent prices allowing not much more than a bedroom and shared facilities, we can do nothing but dream about owning a garden. A growing alternative to this problem is window gardens â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and London really does know how to do these well.

WORDS / IMAGES BY VICTORIA SMITH

HERE appears to be a new fashion going down in

London. For some, the idea of a window box is purely

London and it involves flowers and plastic plant

to improve the aesthetic of their home, whilst for others

pots. Scrolling down the infinite screen of Instagram,

it is more of a necessity if they want some greenery

more and more people are getting on board with the

in their lives. With the crippling prices of rent in the

idea of windowsill boxes and who can create the most

capital, a garden is certainly a privilege that many

striking. Walking through the different boroughs of

cannot even think about having. Windowsill boxes are

London, from Kensington and Chelsea to Camden,

a cheap and low-maintenance resolution to having

everybody is attempting to brighten up their town

your very own little garden to grow plants, flowers and

houses with an array of window displays. From a

vegetables. We snapped some of our favourites from

multitude of flourishing flowers to a more contemporary

around London to show you how simple or luscious they

green-only approach, these little boxes help to create a

can be. Also, turn to the page 26 for tips on starting your

more country feel to the otherwise concrete streets of

very own window garden.

PHOTO FEATURE

Top 7 window box tips Measurements Make sure you measure the width and length of your windowsill before you go flowerbox shopping – and make sure your windowsill is strong enough Ideal Plants Ivy, lavender, heather and hebe – they don’t mind being cooped up Ideal Vegetables Beans, carrots and herbs are easily grown in a windowsill box – the deeper your box, the wider range of vegetables you can grow Drainage Your box must have drainage holes, if not then drill them in yourself Climate Consider the climate conditions for the time of year when you choose your plants/herbs – pansies, polyanthus and forget-me-nots can hack the cold but will wilt in the summer. Sage, rosemary and thyme are ideal to grow throughout the winter Soil Buy a soil that is specifically designed for plant pots as the soil from your garden is too heavy Colour Choose a windowsill box that blends in with the colour of your walls for a natural look or if you are after something that stands out then go for a terracotta or deep grey for a more contemporary approach

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on yer bike London Bike Kitchen

From building a bicycle from scratch to knowing how to repair your trusty set of wheels, the London Bike Kitchen is here to show you how.

Kitchen. Set in the heart of Hackney, Jenni and her team of mechanics are open six days a week to provide classes and a helping hand to anybody who is looking to build, fix or maintain their own bike. LBK mechanic,

HETHER it’s your Sunday afternoon

Griff, said: “To be able to fix your own bike is a pretty

pleasure, your pride and joy or your rickety

cool thing. Normally you take it to a mechanic and they

old thing that gets you from A to B, bicycles have a

repair it behind a closed door, where you never actually

place in most people’s lives. With every corner you

find out what was wrong or how it was mended”.

turn in London, there are more and more cyclists

The London Bike Kitchen aims to make bicycles

getting around on push bikes, opting for a cheaper,

accessible to all people, not just those who can afford

alternative mode of transport.

an expensive brand and pay to maintain it. They hold

If like Jenni Gwiazdowski, director of the

weekly classes where members can receive a discounted

London Bike Kitchen, you cannot afford to fork

rate on the use of the workshop as well as drop in

out much for a trusty steed, then she has the perfect

sessions, general bike tips and information. Griff said:

solution for you. Just a few years ago, Jenni found

“We have around 2000 members who are all extremely

herself at a dead end when she purchased a frame

loyal, from young kids to older men. No problem is too

with the intentions of building a bicycle from scratch

big or small and we welcome a challenge”. To find out

but couldn’t find any workshops in which to do it.

more information, visit: lbk.org.uk or email: fixit@lbk.

Originally from San Francisco, where Bike Kitchens

months later she opened her very own London Bike

org.uk. Jenni and the team are always happy to see new

are a big thing, Jenni set out to open her very own. With

faces so feel free to pop in at any time, 28 Whitmore

the help of the London Cycling Campaign grant, just

Road, N1 5QA.

Griff, London Bike Kitchen Mechanic

London Bike Kitchen, Hackney

OUR ROLLING HOME THE MEANS OF ESCAPE

WORDS BY LAUREN SMITH / IMAGES BY CALUM CREASEY

Fine dining, camper style

Matching sleeping bags, ready for a cosy night

FEATURE

The Rolling Home is exactly what it sounds like. A fully refurbished and equipped camper van that recent graduate, Lauren Smith, and her longterm boyfriend, Calum Creasey, depend upon to satisfy their adventurous needs and travel the globe.

AKING up to sunbeams streaming through the gap in the slightly ill fitting curtain (made by myself) is probably one of my favourite

feelings. Taking a peak to check the colour of the sky, which will ultimately determine our plans for the day ahead. While as much as I love the blue skies of a summer’s day, with the chance to surf to our heart’s content and fish for our evening meal, there is something equally as appealing as waking up to a bit of drizzle. Sitting in our cosy van, we will sip on endless cups of tea, read and make plans of where to take ourselves next. Since 2010, our plans always seem to involve the Rolling Home. While we’ve travelled for as long as we’ve been together – just over seven years now – the Rolling Home has only been a part of the picture for the last four. Previous to the big purchase, we travelled, as most people do, by plane and toured the country in the smallest, oldest car known to man. Getting our van meant that we could do things slightly different, at our own pace and at a bit of a reduced price. On our first, weekend-long outing in the van, we travelled down to the south coast. By the time we reached the seaside town the sun had called it a day and so we parked up in a little pebbled car park where the street lighting was limited. The following morning we were greeted from our slumber by a stream of light flooding the van. As I warily peered through a gap in the curtain, still uncertain as to where we’d parked, I was astonished by the scenery that had revealed itself around us. It was from this moment that we knew this was going to be a lifelong hobby. During the four years, our travels have taken us from the bustling beaches of southwest France to the hidden coastal retreats of northern Spain and the desolate nature reserves of Sweden. Our most recent and momentous trip consisted of 6791 miles, 17 books, 13 tanks of diesel, 12 countries, 11 weeks, 11 films, four ferries, three seas, two new bulbs, one hire car and one alternator. Through our dedication to wandering the world in our trusty old VW, we’ve concluded that van life is simple; the only stress you will have is trying to find somewhere to stay for the night and whether you have enough money for dinner. No mobile phones, no internet, pretty much no stress. When travelling, you are granted the pleasure of meeting so many different characters, all a mixture of nationalities. It is thanks to these fellow travellers that we have discovered half of the breathtaking spots that we have been so lucky to uncover; it is with the influence of our new friends that we decided where to head to next. One thing’s for sure – wherever we travel to, you will always find us by the ocean, constantly following the coastline as if it is our religion. Probably the most memorable of recommendations came from our friends at home and

FEATURE many like-minded ‘vanners’ whom we had met on our travels. They all highly suggested that we were to visit the beautiful beach of Campelo in the Spanish region of Galicia. From just a simple Google search of the name, it is obvious that people go to Campelo for one thing and one thing only – to surf. While we were heavily warned that the beach was strictly for the use of locally ONLY (angry graffiti in the area told us so), we weren’t backing down. The lack of signposting to the beach (again due to locals graffiti-ing over signs so us tourists couldn’t find it) meant that we were down to my map reading skills –

ONE THING’S FOR SURE – WHEREVER WE TRAVEL TO, YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND US BY THE OCEAN, CONSTANTLY FOLLOWING THE COASTLINE AS IF IT IS OUR RELIGION

not my strongest qualification but eventually we headed in the right direction. The path took us down dusty one-way tracks, not suitable for anything bigger than a Twingo, and caused an uproar with the Spaniards as we went. When we finally uncovered the car park it was chaos, beeping, shouting and clouds of dust in every direction; more worryingly was the significant amount of Spanish number plates. Parking up, we hiked down to the steps overlooking the beach and could not believe the view that lay before our eyes. The whitest of sands, the clearest of seas and a relatively empty beach – you don’t realise how beautiful parts of Europe are, and it’s just on our doorstep. Keeping our heads down, we spent one of the greatest days of our lives surfing until our bodies gave up. When the day turned to night we stayed at Campelo drinking locally produced, unlabelled red wine, eating freshly caught fish and listening to good music with the neighbouring German van. This night was one of the special moments. We often stay in touch with our new friends, which recently resulted in a beautiful stay with them in their hometown of Ravensburg, south Germany. As a girl, living in a van can be pretty difficult at times, not having the usual everyday necessities such as a hot shower, toilets and mirrors – we don’t know how spoiled we are back at home. Travelling isn’t always glamorous but the slight hardships are fun and make the adventure exciting. Never knowing when you will have the next hot shower really does make you appreciate how great warm water feels. But if we had access to all of the above, it would be too easy, it allows us to gain an appreciation for the wild and the simpler way of life.

A well deserved dip in the ocean

FEATURE

HERE IS A LIST OF MY TOP-TIPS FOR ALL YOU TRAVELLING FEMALES: DRY SHAMPOO The lifesaver for all van trips is dry shampoo. I cannot live without the stuff FACE WIPES You never know when you will be having your next shower LARGE WATER BOTTLES Many times have I had to wash my hair on the side of the road 2 IN 1 SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER Beach showers are definitely not warm enough to do a full hair wash RAZORS Self-explanatory LOTS OF TOILET ROLL ...and then some – again, selfexplanatory LIMITED CLOTHES As much as you want to pack the denim shorts, the black shorts and the pale pink shorts, trust me, you will only wear one pair BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS As ungrateful as I sound, there will be days where you have nothing to do, whether it’s on a beach, in a van or a field in the middle of nowhere, books are a great way to pass the time

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Q&A James Bowden IMAGE BY JAMES BOWDEN

International photographer, surfer and wanderer, James Bowden, talks to Rustle about what it's like to have the best job on the planet.

What is your favourite memory/experience that your job has provided so far ? There have been so many ‘how the hell did I end up here’ moments over the last few years… in fact I think most of

R - I see you are currently based in Dorset. Is this where you

my life I’m thinking ‘how the hell did this happen!’ - I think

have spent the majority of your life?

I’m a very lucky man.

JB - Yes on and off. I went to school and college down here, but am originally from north Devon. I’ve spent a lot of time

Do you care much for social media? Do you think the

living in Devon and also Tasmania in Australia.

Instagram generation is a positive thing? I got into Instagram pretty late, but now I’m hooked… it’s so

Where did your love for surfing/wandering/adventure/

much better than all the others… well when used properly. I

photography spur from? Is it something you've been into

love seeing other people’s pictures.

since you were young or something you have grown into? I guess it came from when I was young, I’ve always loved

Describe your perfect weekend away in a few words: Who/

an adventure! Saying that, it was getting into surfing that

what/where/when/why/how?

really gave me itchy feet for travel… Dorset and the south

Girlfriend, van, space, waves, friends and a fire.

coast sucks for waves most of the time, so I had to get out of here to find the waves I wanted.

Where is your favourite place in the world? Tasmania - like a giant, unspoilt adventure playground.

How did you learn your photography skills? Did you study at college/university or are you self taught?

Where do you see yourself in five years from now?

I did A-Level photography when I was 17, but to be honest,

Owning a little piece of land somewhere in the world, not

I don’t think I actually learned anything more than being

too far from the sea… with trees!

able to use the darkroom. I’ve dabbled with the idea of studying at University, but never actually made it, I just kept

In one word, describe the feeling of entering the sea with

deferring, year after year… and here I find myself!

your surfboard. Joy.

Describe your favourite aspect of your job The places it takes me and the people I get to meet. 100%.

Commentary

The ominous Green Man watching over his festival. Image Source - Nicholas Smale

Commentary

festival season green man Summer in the UK offers the chance to attend some of the best festivals that exist across the globe. If your Bestival or Reading days are over and you didn’t manage to win the Glastonbury lottery, we have your 2015 festival sorted. We sent Rustle contributor, Molly Taylor, to get the low down on this year’s Green Man.

OW into its eleventh year, Green Man still firmly holds the title for most tranquil yet

performance from Mac DeMarco at the Far Out tent. He delighted onlookers with an explosive set, playing heavily off his recent Salad Days EP and finished up by crowd-surfing his way through the audience. Mac was clearly having a great time, and thoroughly succeeded in setting the weekend off with a bang. Other notable artists included the Peckhambased-punks Fat White Family, Nick Mulvey and his nostalgic melodies and the energetic spectacle that was Neutral Milk Hotel. Aside from the vast array from the music scene,

striking of festival sites. Set in the heart of the Welsh

Green Man offers so much in terms of culture, from

Brecon Beacons, the festival boasts a chilled, intimate

the hundreds of local ales and ciders, the literary

atmosphere like no other – perhaps it’s the shamanistic

talks at the Talking Shop, the Nature and Nurture

spirit of the Green Man himself ? With gentle streams

Spa, as well the chance to get involved with a handful

to be discovered throughout the campsite and fields of

of unusual crafts.

trees as far as the eye can see, Green Man is the perfect

The final day came to a wrap at midnight with an

family-friendly event or a haven to blow away those early

almighty blaze from the burning of the Green Man.

morning hangovers with your friends. Plus, it really is

The annual ceremony sees the festival’s omniscient

a sign of a remarkable festival when there’s even hand

mascot go up in flames to mark the closure of the

sanitiser and toilet roll available on the final day.

event. The crowd applauded as the antlers sent the

As ever, the line up this year had something to

first fiery embers into the inky night’s sky, concluded

please everybody with over 1,500 acts ranging from

by a grand display of fireworks to say farewell to

folk to experimental. The highlight of the Friday

the magical weekend. For 2015 ticket info visit:

night, and possibly the whole weekend, was the

greenman.net

EPPING FOREST THE PEOPLE'S FOREST

IMAGES BY JOSHUA KROHN

Our September Adventure Essentials IMAGE BY CALUM CREASEY

It's time to start layering up for the autumn months, so what better opportunity to purchase some new wardrobe necessities and gadgets. Make sure you're prepared for all eventualities with our selection of essentials fit for any walk or adventure.

SHOPPING

Jack Wolfskin - Caribou Lodge Women, £95

Fjällräven - Foldsack No.1, £90

Sigg - Sigg Hot & Cold 0.5L, £29.95

Lush - Handy Gurugu, £7.95

Heritage of Scotland - All Wool Tartan Blanket, £27.98

Timberland - Chocorua Trail Mid, £110

The North Face Winter Trekker Trousers, £80

Nikon - Coolpix S3600, £109.99

HOLME FROM HOME TWENTY YEARS OF NORFOLK

WORDS / IMAGES BY ELEANOR MARSH

FEATURE

That warm, settling feeling of nostalgia. We all recognise it so well in one form or another. For 26-year-old Eleanor Marsh, it has been a recurring sensation for the past two decades, ever since her parents bought their holiday home in Holme, Norfolk. This year the family celebrates their twentieth annual summer trip. To commemorate, Ellie looks back over their time spent at the English coastal retreat.

01/08/1994 Today has been a good day. Just like mum said it would be. Earlier this year in March, she had to sign a bit of paper to say that we were allowed to have our very own caravan by the seaside, I don’t really understand. All I know is that I’m glad she did it. Today we went to pick up the keys and spend our first week at the new holiday home. On the way here, Me and Will were squashed in the back of the car with all of the bedding and suitcases for three hours. I mean as much as I like him as a brother, he really does moan. The long car journey was definitely worth it. The caravan site is so big and green with so many children playing on swings and bikes. We couldn’t wait to get out there and start playing, but mum said we had to unpack our clothes and sort out our rooms. Me and Will are sharing a room and we have bunk beds! It’s quite small but it makes me feel cosy and excited and mum’s made it look really nice with our bright yellow bedspreads. Everything was sorted by lunchtime and mum took us to get some lunch at this really nice café. The inside was covered with fairy lights and they had every cake you could ever dream of. After lunch we went back to the caravan and packed mum’s big beach bag with our swimming suits, towels, my bucket and spade and some snacks for when we got hungry from all of our adventures. Me and Will spent the afternoon fighting the waves in the sea, digging holes to Australia and finding crabs in the shallow pools with our new nets. On the way back to the caravan we went to the best ice cream parlour in the world. The shop had every single flavour that you could ever dream of – bubblegum, popcorn, cookies and marshmallow! You don’t get anything like that back in Loughborough. 01/08/2014 Ah hello Norfolk, my old friend. It does feel good to be back. It was only Christmas when we were last here but so much has happened since then, it feels like a lifetime ago. When mum told me this was year was our 20-year-anniversary since we’d first started coming to Norfolk, I couldn’t believe it. How has it been two whole decades since we first pulled up outside the little caravan as excited children? Me and Will were having a laugh the other day about how much, yet so little has changed in that large time frame. Even though we’ve both been on holidays abroad with our friends for the past two years, we still get so excited the night before our Norfolk trip. The main change is that we are no longer

Eleanor and Will's favourite ice cream parlour

Even now they're older, bike rides are still their favourite crammed into the little caravan. The rents decided that it was time for a major upgrade. As we grew bigger, the caravan seemed to shrink around us and all of a sudden there wasn’t enough room for four grown (and growing) adults. Saying goodbye to our little house on wheels was pretty heartbreaking – at first I couldn’t understand how mum and dad could get rid of it like that. As stubborn as I felt and was probably being, when I saw the new place I instantly knew why – it was an actual house made of bricks with full sized bedrooms, a kitchen, everything. The only other thing that has changed from our first pilgrimage those many years ago, is that me and Will drive up in my car now – no more pins and needles or having a mountain of pillows and quilts piled up on top of us. Today we spent the day as we always do on our first afternoon in Norfolk – at the beach with mum’s homemade sandy sandwiches. While we don’t tend to dig our way to Australia anymore, me and Will have realised how good Norfolk actually is for a bit of bodyboarding and an afternoon cycle along the winding country lanes – mum would kill us if she knew that’s where we cycle. Tonight we’re heading to the local pub with a couple of the Norfolk oldtimers (the other kids that have been coming as long as we have), they do a really good home-brewed cider there! Oh how simple life is when we’re in Norfolk.

Joseph at the Clent Hills, Worcestershire

Anti-ageing the national trust

The National Trust – an institution of British heritage, endless green meadows and beautiful manor houses; seen as the preserve of the 60 plus generation. No longer. Recent graduate, Joseph Whitehouse tells us about his experience with the National Trust.

hanks

Since being there, I’ve done everything from lambing to dragging a tree out of the Avon River, driving a Land Rover around the park’s rolling fields to feeding deer. It’s not just the things I get to do as a volunteer that illuminate the Trust for me; I’ve met and mixed with some of the most interesting people, some of whom I never would have met, who have taught me more valuable lessons than much of my education.

to a D&AD YouTube video by Frank

Close that went viral, the National Trust is on the

When asked about the impact the Trust can have on younger people, Adam said: “The National Trust

brink of what could be a complete rebrand. Featuring

provides a safe, structured and diverse environment

phrases such as ‘that’s HAWKward’ and ‘we’ve got

for volunteers to grow and learn in. With each Trust

weed’ it’s easy to imagine what your granny would

property being slightly different, each location can

make of the advert popping up between Emmerdale

provide a unique experience – from coast to woodland,

and Corrie. It is worth noting however, that this video

to large houses and monuments.

did go viral amongst younger generations. After

“Young people have an opportunity to try a large

refuting ownership of the video, the Trust paid thanks

selection of work from the range of jobs that we

to the creator via their official Twitter: “we didn't

offer. I work as a Parkland Ranger, but there are also

make this ad, but it made us :) !".

house curators, education officers, events planning

As a twenty-something recent graduate, I have worked with the National Trust on and off for around nine months and it is the best thing I’ve ever done.

and landscaping opportunities available – there is something for everyone.” If I could give one piece of advice, it would be

After endless retail jobs and sick of the sight of

to try just one day as a volunteer at your local Trust.

the Indeed website, I thought a trip into the great

Adam’s words sum it up best: “I would say to anyone

outdoors would do me good.

who isn't sure what direction to take in life; find your

Hailing from London, Adam Maher is probably the

local National Trust property and volunteer in a

last thing you’d think of when you imagine a ranger at

variety of positions, meet people and learn. And if

the National Trust and, after copious amounts of tea

you feel it’s not for you, then you have lost nothing but

and conversation, he got me on board as a volunteer.

have gained some great friends and memories.”

FOOD

Edible Treasures The autumnal season has so many aspects that it should be proud of. From the striking colour palette that takes over any landscape to the cool crisp air that makes you feel snug in your coat. One of the most underrated and forgotten aspects is the natural greengrocer that is right on our doorsteps. Who doesn’t love free fruit? Get some inspiration from our recipes and put your edible treasures to use.

WORDS BY VICTORIA SMITH / IMAGES BY JOSHUA KROHN

O many, September has always seemed like the least

perfectly formed fruits and vegetables, you get much more

appealing month. As a child or teenager, memories

satisfaction from finding them yourself and feeling like

of back to school anxiety spring to mind, and now as a

you deserve the goodness that comes out of them. Plus, it

working adult, we say goodbye to outdoor drinks after

makes for a fun afternoon; taking a pocket full of plastic

work and any other social activity that involves leaving

bags on a balmy, late summer’s day, wandering through

the warmth of our homes. But it’s about time we gave

woodland in parks that you would never have discovered.

September a break from its stereotypical negativity. Let’s

And of course, when you get hungry, lunch is free.

find a thicker jacket, some sturdier boots and embrace the weather that we secretly yearned for throughout summer. What September has always been proud to boast is

As you can imagine, there are some dangers with eating fruits and vegetables straight from the earth. Who knows what’s come into contact with your tasty organic treats? Or

the wealth of wild fruits that are perfectly ripened and

who’s to say it’s even edible? To avoid any nasties always

ready to be picked. Throughout the summer months,

do your research or go with an expert if you’re unsure.

the hedgerows and trees have been doing their thing to

Also try to pick from the highest point possible and always

produce some of the best fruit and vegetables around,

remember to thoroughly wash your goods.

and what’s even better is that they are free. With the parks and grassy areas free of muddy little

While it is obviously much easier to forage in the countryside where hedgerows run for miles and there are

critters (children), the late summer/early autumn months

acres of fields lined with trees, there are places to forage

such as September and October are a particularly good

in the cities too – you just have to look a bit harder. In

time to forage. Expect to find plenty of mushrooms

London why not try Springfield Park, Hampstead Heath,

(pick with caution), blackberries, sloes, hazelnuts, apples,

Victoria Park and even Walthamstow Marshes. For other

elderberries – the list is endless. While it’s easier to push

foraging spots in a city near you, contact your local

a shopping trolley around a supermarket and throw in

council or simply search online.

Blackberry Cheesecake with home made compote

A sweet and easy treat to be proud of, and if you look past the sugar and cream cheese, there's actually one of your five a day in there.

Serves Eight

1 bowl of blackberries 15 digestive biscuits 100g butter 2 tablespoons caster sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla essence 4 tablespoons plain flour 500g cream cheese 3 eggs 75ml double cream 196g caster sugar (f0r cheesecake filling) 2 tablespoons caster sugar (for compote)

Preheat the oven to 130. Grease and line your tin with baking parchment. To make the base, place your digestive biscuits into two polythene bags and beat with a wooden rolling pin until they resemble a small crumb texture (or if you're fancy, use your GBBO style mixer).

Melt your butter in a microwavable dish and mix together with the digestive crumbs.

Place the mixture into your baking tin and press down with the back of a spoon to even out the base. Leave in the fridge to cool.

For the cheesecake filling, whisk together the eggs and double cream.

In a separate bowl, mix together your cream cheese and vanilla essence.

Add half of your egg mixture to the bowl of vanilla cream cheese and beat until they are fully combined. To this, add the sugar and flour along with the other half of the egg mixture and beat until smooth.

Remove your crumb-lined baking tin from the fridge and pour your mixture over, ensuring you cover evenly.

Place the cheesecake in the centre of the oven until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lightly golden on top - this usually takes around 40 mins but can vary

10 - When this is ready, take out of the oven to cool and place a good handful of blackberries around the edge of the cheesecake. 11 - For the compote, place the remainder of the your freshly picked fruits into a pan with the sugar and add a tablespoon of water. Bring to a simmer over a low heat until the berries soften. 12 - Beat the rest of the mixture until it is as smooth as possible (or again, use your fancy blender if y0u have one). You can either leave the compote with bits for extra texture or pour through a sieve for a smoother finish. Allow to cool for 20 mins then serve on top of your cheesecake.

P" atience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet" Jean-Jacques Rousseau

I" don't know what reception i'm at, but for god's sake give me a gin and tonic" Denis Thatcher

Sloe Gin (optional) sugar syrup Perfect for an upcoming party, or great for a cheap yet thoughtful, home made Christmas gift.

450g sloes 1 litre gin (whichever brand you can afford) 225g caster sugar

Using a clean needle, prick the skin of your sloes as many times as possible for maximum juice seepage. If you wish to save time then you can pop a polythene bag full of the berries into the freezer

Optional Syrup - 1 cup water - 1 cup sugar

overnight instead. 2-

When your sloes are prepared (either frozen or pricked), add them to an empty gin bottle - or you can buy a fancy bottle from a homewear store if it's a gift - and fill it halfway.

Fill the rest of the bottle with gin and store in a cool, dark place.

Shake your bottle up on alternative days for a week. After this, just once a week Your gin will be ready to drink after two m0nths, but for best results leave for three.

For an optional extra - add one cup of water and one cup of sugar into a pan and bring to the boil. Allow to simmer for three minutes or until the sugar dissolves.

Remove from the heat and once cooled, pour into your bottle.

Mushrooms on Toast with rocket & STILTON

A perfectly simple recipe for a quick lunch or a light dinner. Vegetarian friendly and packed with plenty of flavour.

Serves Two

Preheat the grill. Wash your freshly picked mushrooms in a

6-10 medium sized mushrooms halved or quartered 1 hearty handful of Stilton cheese 2 large cloves of crushed garlic 100ml thick cream 1 unsliced fresh brown loaf 2 handfuls of rocket 2 pinches of salt and pepper

bowl with plenty of water. Adding the butter and garlic, pan fry your mushrooms, tossing until they soften. 2-

Add the cream, two table spoons at a time, boiling on a low heat until it begins to thicken.

While your creamy mushroom concoction is under way, cut four thick slices of your loaf. Place them under the grill for two minutes on each side (if they fit in your toaster they're too small). Split the mushrooms equally, pouring over your freshly toasted bread.

Crumble the desired amount of Stilton onto each plate and place under the grill for a further thirty seconds to melt the cheese.

Season with salt and pepper and add a handful of rocket to the plate for garnish.

The Deadly Ones With so many species of mushrooms to be found, it is important that you know how to identify the good ones from the bad. Or better still; get a foraging pro to show you. These are the top five mushrooms to definitely stay away from.

Death Cap – Whitish stalk around 15cm long, sac and

darker than stem, 4-8cm wide, gills can be pale

round bulb at the base, cap is 6-15cm wide and green or

yellow or rusty brown, similar smell to a radish.

yellow in colour, crowded gills underneath cap, though

Fool's Webcap – Tawny brown/burnt orange in colour,

they do not reach the stem. Smells like a rose petal.

stalk can be bowed and paler than cap, 5-10cm tall, cap

Destroying Angel – White stalk and gills, 7-20cm tall,

curves upwards, 4-7cm in width, slightly scaly. Young

exposed sac, pure white cap or white at the edges and

specimens contain a web between the cap and the stem.

yellow/pink/brownish in the centre, 5-12cm wide.

False Morel – Reddish-brown in colour, stalk can be

Deadly Webcap – Tawny brown/orange in colour,

5-25cm, cap has brain-like resemblance with wrinkles,

stalk can be bowed, 5-10cm tall, cap usually

7-15cm wide. Bottom of the cap is attached to the stem.

Deathcap

Destroying Angel

Deadly webcap

Fools webcap

False Morel

Home remedy Did you know... the elderberries that are perfectly ripened and ready to pick during the month of September could save you a small fortune throughout the winter months? Elderberries are a natural remedy to cure the common cold and flu virus, so with plenty on your doorstep, it would be foolish to spend money on pre made herbal remedies from a pharmacy.

Cough Syrup Your elderberries can be used in a number of

3 cups of water 2/3 dried elderberries 1 tablespoon cinnamon 2 tablespoons dried ginger root 0.5 tablespoon powdered clove 1 cup honey

forms but the most simple and effective would be as a herbal tea or to make them into a syrup. First you need to dry out your elderberries. Make sure they are thoroughly washed with cold water and remove the stems. Place a single layer of berries onto a baking

tray and pop into a pre-heated oven at 115c for approximately ten minutes. When they're ready they should resemble raisins but keep an eye on the batch to ensure you don't overcook them. Put your dried elderberries into a tea strainer and place in boiling water for 8-10 minutes. You can keep the remainder of the berries in a sealed jar in a cool, dry place.

Add the water, berries and spices to a pan and bring to the boil

Place a lid on the pan and let it simmer for 45 mins

Take off the heat and allow to cool for half an hour

Pour the mixture through a sieve and discard the leftover berries

Add the cup of honey to the liquid and stir well. Allow to cool before use.

Community gardens aren't all mud and trowels

growing up community gardens

Is your windowsill box not curbing your need for a bit of greenery? We bet you didn’t know that hiding in many of London’s most urban locations are little patches of land where you can go and get your green fingers well and truly muddy.

horticultural, each has its own identity shaped by the community that has created it and each is also vital to the area it serves. Inner city gardens are a place where you can go and get your hands dirty with a bit of gardening (it doesn’t matter if you’re a pro or a first timer), grow your own produce, learn a craft whilst socialising and enjoying the outdoors

F you go down to the woods today you’re in for

with other, like minded people. In cities such as

a big surprise. Well, not quite the woods. Urban

London or Birmingham where the price of central

community gardens are on the up and up throughout

accommodation is soaring and personal green space is

the UK. City dwellers, tired of their concrete cages,

at an absolute minimum, community gardens provide

are heading out into disused spaces and turning

an outlet for cash-strapped, green-fingered tenants who

them into something truly wonderful. The idea

otherwise wouldn’t have a garden to call their own.

behind community gardens is pretty simple; bringing

Here’s a list of just a few in London to check out:

a community together to cultivate and care for an

Calthorpe Project in Camden, King Henry’s Walk

unloved area.

Garden in Islington, Hoxton Community Garden in

The gardens themselves range from decorative spaces to recreational areas, from agricultural to

Hackney, Meanwhile Wildlife Garden in Kensington and Chelsea. For the full list visit: farmgarden.org.uk

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Top 5 travel guides Guided by Cereal Cereal’s ‘Guided’ series offer beautiful, calming imagery and recommendations for 13 different cities across the globe. Their bespoke collection of reviews covers the usual cafés and hotels, as well as bakeries, galleries and bookshops. If you want to organise an alternative but nonetheless beautiful city break then take a look; all the city guides are available online at guidedbycereal.com Lonely Planet Boasting the most varied range of guides available, Lonely Planet has several categories to choose; from road trip guides and must-see selections, to shoestring budgets and ‘haunted tours’. Their focus is on educating explorers on the need-to-know info for little-known areas of the world. If you’re going abroad any time soon then see what their guides can offer – chances are you’ll learn something new. shop.lonelyplanet.com Urban Travel Blog Publishing a mix of city guides and travel stories, UTB paints a detailed picture of cities across the world. Read up on the typical tourist spots, hidden nightlife and eco-travel alongside insightful photo essays and hilarious anecdotes. With a dedicated ‘wildweekends abroad’ section, look no further for insider knowledge and local hangouts. urbantravelblog.com/city-guides

Urban Walkabout If you’re looking to really get under the skin of a city then consider a read through Urban Walkabout. Breaking major cities down into easily absorbed sections, the blog picks apart places to see fashion and art, eat and drink, and hidden delights to seek out and enjoy. Have a read through the ‘Interests’ section to tailor a trip to your own personal tastes. urbanwalkabout.com/london/interests/

Image Source - Paul Tridon

Bohemian Trails If you’re looking to do something different in a city you think you already know quite well, take a look at the travel page on Bohemian Trails. The blog takes you off the beaten path to explore the underground cultures that make up a city or town. If you’re looking to discover a few hidden gems without breaking the bank then take a read. bohemiantrails.com/category/travel/

STOCKHOLM AN IDIOT’S GUIDE

WORDS / IMAGES BY JOSEPH WHITEHOUSE

FEATURE

This is a short and by no means comprehensive ‘guide’ to Stockholm. Perhaps not so much a guide but more the story of three guys, in Stockholm, in January, with about £200 between them for three days.

E arrived in Stockholm late on a Friday evening; cold, weary and in need of a decent night of sleep. We were all however

perplexed when we eventually arrived at our hostel (thank god for smartphones), only to find people asleep in our beds. Knackered and somehow convinced that it was the hostel that had done us over and not the guys drooling into our sheets, we ran through our options: The first thing that crossed all of our minds was to find a 24 hour bar of some kind, it’s a capital city right? We’d find one easy enough. The alternative? Sleep in the hallway. It didn’t seem the kind of joint where this would be looked down on and, lets face it, who was going to tell us otherwise? As we mulled over the options a Slovakian guy stuck his head out of one of the rooms and asked if we’d like a beer, which of course, we did. After recounting our sorry sleepless tale to him he suggested maybe just asking the guys why they were in our beds. Simple right? Being the lovely chap he was he offered to do it for us and, sure enough, the guys inhabiting our now very warm (and damp) beds had tried their luck on an empty room. Ten out of ten for effort but god knows why we didn’t just do that in the first place. Fear of confrontation? Over-tiredness? Perhaps just a human instinct that knows it’s not cool to wake a guy when he’s spark out. Whatever the answer, we got our beds and I don’t think a word was said between us until the next morning. The hostel was perfect. Vagrant squatters aside, three fairly penniless guys, could not have asked for more. After the debacle of the previous evening we were up and ready to go by 9.30, full of ignorant excitement, to face the Scandinavian winter head on. Who in their right mind visits anywhere north of Manchester in the winter? The cold hit us the moment we walked out of the door, but still we headed towards the city centre, souls full of adventure. As we delved amongst the numerous cobbled back-streets and alleyways of the thirteenth-century old town, Gamla Stan, the astounding beauty of the city became apparent. Stockholm is one of the only cities in the world with an aesthetics committee on the planning board, meaning that anything that is erected in the city, from dustbin to apartment block, has to go through them first. Un-spoilt by brutal concrete façades, broken windows and concrete towers, it is simply a canvas, which the artist has adorned with some of the most stunning pieces of architecture I have ever seen. We walked on in awe, snacking on some of the best cinnamon rolls I have ever tasted, truly bewitched by a city that none of us had ever seen alike. After stopping in every other shop and peering through the window of countless cafés, we found ourselves in the quaintest of parks, overlooking the whole of the city. After a brief moment spent in bewilderment of the

Ready to go after a decent night's sleep in the hostel

FEATURE view, we headed off in search of cheap alcohol. We spent hours rootling through every convenience store in Stockholm in the hope of finding any form of alcohol above 2.8%. Could we find any? Of course not. And so in our blind, dependent haze we settled for an achingly weak, and expensive Czech lager and took up station on a bench next to the river. Three bottles of beer each, a river and a majestic view of industrial Stockholm – even the biting cold added to the moment. I’m sure Stockholm is incredible in the summer, but at that moment in January, it was perfect. The evening took a different path. Even months later, not a single one of us can remember what any of the pubs, bars or clubs that we went to were called, in fact if you’d have asked me my name at any point past 22:30, I’d have drawn a blank. As we found out earlier in the day, beer in Stockholm is expensive. If you find anywhere selling a pint for less than a fiver, for the love

WE SPENT MUCH OF THE REST OF THE DAY IN SEARCH OF GOOD, AFFORDABLE SWEDISH FOOD, AS WITH BEER; A DIFFICULT TASK of God stay there. Or at least until the point that you are inebriated to such a level that the idea of paying £7 for a stubby bottle of Red Stripe seems like a wonderful plan. Aside from this however, Stockholm has a wealth of really good bars. To the best of my memory the top bar we found was an underground joint down a side street in Sodermalm. With free entry, ample live bands and a great club night afterwards, we were solemnly pleased. The next day dawned and never, ever has my mouth been as dry as that morning. I awoke blinking furiously, and spent the first five minutes attempting to work out where I was. I felt like somebody had taken every substance out of my body and replaced it with beer, wine and gin and whatever else we had been consuming the previous evening. After a five-minute stint at the sink, hastily filling and refilling a pint glass with water, we tried to piece together the night’s events over another breakfast of cinnamon rolls. Very little was gathered other than the fact that we had spent far too much money. That day it seemed that we walked double the distance than we did on the first, in retrospect this is evidently false and was almost definitely due to the broken nature of our legs, backs and minds. Still, walk we did until we found one of the only attractions that we had planned to visit – The Vasa Museum. The concept itself is very interesting; a museum built around a seventeenthcentury warship that was salvaged in the sixties and was almost entirely intact. There I was nearly four hundred years later marvelling at the spectacle, Gustav must have a sly grin up there on his cloud. Jokes and awful historical referencing aside it is an incredible sight, the sheer enormity made the 130 SEK (about 11 of our swiftly depleting English pounds) more than worth it. We spent much of the rest of the day in search of good, affordable Swedish food, as with beer; a difficult task. We eventually stumbled across a small eatery that resembled Jamie Oliver’s kitchen in the

Feature

middle of IKEA (which surprisingly, had its charms). After waiting an eternity we finally got seated and another eternity later received our food, which was basically a glorified English breakfast except for one thing; a baked egg. Never in my life had I even heard of, let alone eaten a baked egg and to be honest it was exactly what I had expected. We continued wandering in much the same fashion as we had the previous day and eventually ended up back at our hostel for a lie down before heading out in search of a slightly more low-key evening than the previous. Some would say we succeeded – a few quiet bars and about five beers. Low-key? Yes. Cheap? No. My round was in the last bar. Three people, three pints, how much? Any takers? No? £38. No joke. Slightly woozy we headed back for an early night, spirits still high but wallets pretty much empty. And so we embarked upon our final day, still dazed from two nights previous, with around £15 left between us. After two nights of drinking and endless wandering, we were truly spent. I remember two things prior to the departure lounge of Skavsta airport. The first, probably the most glorious record store I’ve ever been to – ‘Pet Sounds’. Nestled between Sodermalm and Katarina, it’s a veritable well of records, compact discs and memorabilia, and boasts of some pretty famous visitors. I’m about as musically talented as Ringo Starr but to my two comrades (lets call them Paul & John), it was heaven. The second, and final, memory that I have of Stockholm is of a hot chocolate shop called Chokladkoppenin in the Gamla Stan district. I was incredulous when I found out they served white hot chocolate, and have since come to realise that it isn’t actually that rare, but at the time, I was sold. My wonder soon switched to disappointment when our beverages arrived and mine was about a third of the size of the other two, who opted for a standard milk option. That said, it was incredible and was one of the nicest, warmest cafés I’ve been to. So that was Stockholm, or our Stockholm at least. Aside from a last minute dash at the airport to reach our gate, we enjoyed Sweden’s capital in a unique way. A little word of wisdom however, if you are going for a city break with friends, try and take a little more than £200…

Top 5 on a budget Vasa Museum This maritime museum is home to the 17th century warship that sunk on its maiden voyage in the 1600s. Explore the museum and its collection of artefacts taken from the ship. Price: 130 SEK (approx. £11). Fotografiska One of Stockholm’s leading photography galleries. The space holds four main exhibitions per year, alongside around 20 smaller viewings. Make sure you visit the top floor café to experience some of the best views of the city. Price: 120 SEK (approx £10). The Royal Palace One of the three royal palaces around the Netherlands where visitors are welcomed to wander round and discover the history of the monarchy and council. Price: 100 SEK (approx £8.50). The ABBA Museum Who isn’t slightly interested about the history of one of the world’s most famous pop groups? This specifically dedicated museum allows visitors to explore an interactive display of the life and times of the super four. Price: 195 SEK (approx £16.50).

Image Source - Jakub Kadlec

Moderna Museet Stockholm’s Museum of Modern Art houses a range of unique exhibitions from photography to sculptures. With an in-house cinema and restaurant, you can easily spend a full afternoon at the museum. Price: 120 SEK (approx £10).

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