THIS^ MONTH
(^1) HAPPY TO CHAT BENCHES... 121
(^2) STORY OF SONGS: 99 RED
BALLOONS... 122
(^3) HOW TO DRAW A PORTRAIT... 123
(^4) BOARD GAME OF THE MONTH:
THROW THROW BURRITO... 124
(^5) IDENTIFIER: PENCILS... 125
Make us giggle with a
caption for this beluga
whale, blowing a bubble
ring. Each month we pick
our favourite and send a
lovely book to the winner.
Post your best efforts
at facebook.com/
thesimplethingsmag
PHOTOGRAPHY: HIROYA MINAKUCHI/NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY; SHUTTERSTOCK
CAPTION
COMPETITION
Like ma ny good idea s, it ’s a simple one. A llison Owen-Jones ca me up w it h t he
‘Happy to Chat’ benches after watching an older man in her home town of
Cardiff sit alone, unapproached, on a city bench. She created laminated signs to
ha ng on benches, encourag ing t hem to become places for conversat ion. A not her
sign of a good idea: it’s easily replicated. The idea has been taken around the
world and used by Avon and Somerset Police and Gwent Police, as well as
popping up in Manchester, Liverpool and Chester – even making it to Kiev, and
likely (especially if you copy the idea yourself ) to a bench near you soon.
OVER TO YOU...
HAPPY TO CHAT BENCH
MIS C E L L A N Y
prickle of
hedgehogs
A
A CLEVER THING
- COLLECTIVE NOUNS •
y( p y y py y ) y
A curious combination of the practical and the playful
Illustration: KAVEL RAFFERTY Compiled by: FRANCES AMBLERDON’T
MISS
THISMONTH
(^1) HAPPYTOCHATBENCHES... 121
(^2) STORYOFSONGS: 99 RED
BALLOONS... 122
(^3) HOWTODRAWA PORTRAIT... 123
(^4) BOARDGAMEOFTHEMONTH:
THROWTHROWBURRITO... 124
(^5) IDENTIFIER:PENCILS... 125
Make us giggle with a
caption for this beluga
whale, blowing a bubble
ring. Each month we pick
our favourite and send a
lovely book to the winner.
Post your best efforts
at facebook.com/
thesimplethingsmag
PHOTOGRAPHY: HIROYA MINAKUCHI/NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY; SHUTTERSTOCK
CAPTION
COMPETITION
Like ma ny good idea s,it ’sa simpleone.A llisonOwen-Jonesca meupw it ht he
‘Happy to Chat’ benchesafterwatchinganoldermaninherhometownof
Cardiff sit alone, unapproached,ona citybench.Shecreatedlaminatedsignsto
ha ng on benches, encourag ingt hemtobecomeplacesforconversat ion.A not her
sign of a good idea:it’seasilyreplicated.Theideahasbeentakenaroundthe
worldandusedbyAvonandSomersetPoliceandGwentPolice,aswellas
poppingupinManchester,LiverpoolandChester– evenmakingit toKiev,and
likely(especiallyif youcopytheideayourself )toa benchnearyousoon.
OVER TO YOU...
HAPPYTOCHATBENCH
MIS C E L L A N Y
prickle of
hedgehogs
A
A CLEVER THING
- COLLECTIVE NOUNS •
y( p y y py y ) y
A curiouscombinationofthepracticalandthe playful
Illustration:KAVEL RAFFERTYCompiledby: FRANCES AMBLERDON’T
MISS