Magazines are my new quiet companions. I didn’t really appreciate magazines before I became sick. There seemed little time to read them and mostly I would just read the headlines and quickly scan the pics whilst gulping down tea and call that relaxing. Tick, done!

Now I savour them. I read just one article at a time, every word. And then I just stop, stare out of the window and actually finish my tea. One magazine lasts me a long time now and I return to its pages again and again. I favour the printed ones over the e-versions, particularly those printed on matt paper. There is something about the material artefactness of paper and ink that appeals to me separately from the layout, images and information. Magazines seem to enhance the experience of reading for pleasure.

I especially like the ones that have only one or two projects inside. Too many patterns or tutorials just overwhelm me. Quilting magazines require a lie down afterwards. A single project, seems doable and I recently made the Rosemary and Olive Oil Gardeners Scrub from the PIP Australian Permaculture magazine.

I was a little doubtful about the scrub. You make it from salt, rosemary, lemon juice and zest and olive oil. It felt like it was cauterising my hands with acid when I was making it, every little cut and nick stung. But then, as a finished unguent, it is surprising mild and effective…magic. It took all of five minutes to make it as we had all the ingredients in the cupboard or the garden. Thrilled by such wizardry, I felt ready to finally get my Kimchi going with a recipe in Slow Living and may even make the extra strong shopping bags from pillow cases featured in an old issue of New Zealand crafty journal Extra Curricula.

I also got read my latest article on Gotland sheep in the fleshly version of Spin Off. It finally reached our fair shores packed with excitement.

How do magazines fit in with your life? Do you have any favourites to recommend?