A Year of Living Simply: The joys of a life less complicated (Kate Humble)

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I have a garden and we spent a long time creating a vegetable patch, but I didn’t spend enough time in it. I looked at the resources around me and thought ‘how can I use them better in a way that will make me fully happy’? You can feel a bit disconnected and that we are like flotsam and jetsam being cast around.” Ms Humble is a well-known wildlife (Springwatch) and occasionally farming TV presenter (Lambing Live). She's also done her time as president of the RSPB, the UK's equivalent of the Audubon Society. This means she has gravitas while still being bubbly and enthusiastic, with a delightful girl-next-door aura. She talks well and she writes well. She captures the countryside and her subject matter so that you accompany her on her journeying. Then in 2018, she published another book titled Thinking on My Feet: The small joy of putting one foot in front of another. Rumors, Controversy I’d still like to see any city/suburban working mums with kids under ten who can’t disappear off to the country and home-school them take up any of these ideas (other than an allotment). Now that would be a book worth reading*.

I thought I was going to read about someone sharing her experience of her first year "starting a new simple life", sharing her tips, some kinds of "how-to's".I'd still like to see any city/suburban working mums with kids under ten who can't disappear off to the country and home-school them take up any of these ideas (other than an allotment). Now that would be a book worth reading. Unfortunately, Kate gets carried away and fills her garden, and a newly installed greenhouse, with loads of unusual and exotic fruit and veg, most of which I’d never heard of. Surprisingly, she also employs the help of a gardener. This resulted in alot of hard work and expense and rather missed the point I think.

It also all feels an honest account, when reading the book, which holds a lot of positive, strong values throughout and also just how to ease life a little bit, instead of everything going from 0-100 and missing everything in-between. There seems a lot that society could take from this book and learn from. Kate's book has the warmth and calming effect of a log fire and a glass of wine. Unknit your brow and let go. It's a treat.' - GARETH MALONE So there are some things I’ve absolutely adopted, and some things I want to keep learning and some things that I’m not doing that often, like washing by hand.”What I also absolutely loved were all the passages where she shares the simple things in life that make her happy—a gentle reminder to celebrate even the smallest things!

Before I started listening to this, I vaguely liked Kate Humble, but had no strong feelings either way. However, having got through the story to the end, I find myself deliberately avoiding watching anything on TV with her in it. What I particularly love is her philosophy for happiness, which is the subject of her new book, A Year of Living Simply . The clue is in the title. Remember the basics. Instead of barging through the day on autopilot, really stop to think about the tiniest little things that added a moment of joy. No, of course stopping and smelling the flowers won't cure all our ills and woes. But taking the time to savour the things that bring pleasure, really being in that moment and appreciating it, can r emind you that most days have moments that buoy your mood.' - JO ELVIN, MAIL ON SUNDAY YOU When Kate Humble said that she doesn’t want kids and never even wanted to have children, the public git upset. For this, she has to face lots of criticism. What is Kate Humble’s net worth?One part I especially loved was her describing Lisa’s reasoning for living in Frome using the ‘jambo’ test. I loved that and will put that to use if ever I move. I can see it working for choosing a church and many other things too! You will have to read the book to learn more about that! What superpower do youwish you had?I’d like to be able to teleport myselffrom one place to anotherlike Harry Potter. Overall, an interesting if somewhat hypocritical view of minimalism, self-sufficiency and anti-consumerism. My views differ somewhat considerably but perhaps an interesting read for someone who is starting their own journey. Kate’s book has the warmth and calming effect of a log fire and a glass of wine. Unknit your brow and let go. It’s a treat.’– GARETH MALONE Kate Humble pours her enviable knowledge into attainable goals. It's a winning combination and the prize - a life in balance with nature - is definitely worth claiming.' - LUCY SIEGLE

It was a very lovely read, and though I didn't know who Kate Humble was, I now know that would be more than happy to discover her other books! What I particularly love is her philosophy for happiness, which is the subject of her new book, A Year of Living Simply. The clue is in the title. Remember the basics. Instead of barging through the day on autopilot, really stop to think about the tiniest little things that added a moment of joy. No, of course stopping and smelling the flowers won't cure all our ills and woes. But taking the time to savour the things that bring pleasure, really being in that moment and appreciating it, can remind you that most days have moments that buoy your mood.' - JO ELVIN, MAIL ON SUNDAY YOU Reads like a tv show. Would have worked better as a tv show or if instead of interviewing people we heard their stories first hand as a collection.

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Humble debut as an on-screen character in Spymaker: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming in 1990. Humble began her TV profession as a scientist, later exchanging to showing projects, for example, Top Gear, and Tomorrow’s World.