Midsummer: Day 7

It's the big day! And gosh... what a week it's been. I feel like we've definitely made up for missing out on Beltane this year, and we've given the summer season a very grand welcome this time. Today was quite a busy one, building up to our Midsummer Dinner.

New Midsummer Earrings

These ones seemed particularly appropriate given the weather today!

Bailey’s Wood Midsummer Litter-Pick

We were back in the woods this morning for the Friends of Bailey's Wood Midsummer litter-pick. There were a few spots of rain, but otherwise a lovely summer's morning to be out in the woods!

Hannah’s Bookshelf Midsummer Special

This afternoon saw the first ever Hannah's Bookshelf Midsummer Special (a special seasonal edition of my weekly literature show on North Manchester FM). I had a lot of fun presenting this show, which featured a selection of seasonal short stories from some amazing writers.

Midsummer Tea Break!

My final Midsummer tea for this year! And today I'm drinking Deckchair Dreaming from Bird and Blend Tea.

Midsummer Dinner

Tonight Rob prepared the traditional Midsummer Dinner of Gratinated Cabbage and Roast Shallots.

Midsummer Gifts

We swapped our traditional Midsummer gifts tonight... more whiskies to add to the sets we'll be enjoying in December.

Jaws

We watched the traditional film (as of this year) of the season while we had our Midsummer Dinner... Jaws! An out-of-town policeman tries to investigate the death of a young girl in the face of stonewalling from potential witnesses, the indifference of the partying locals, and the intervention of the extravagantly dressed and charismatic leader of the island... WAIT A MINUTE!

And so the wheel of the year turns. We'll be celebrating again at Lammas.

Midsummer: Day 6

It's Midsummer Eve! Our penultimate day of seasonal celebrations! It was another busy day at work, so only a few little seasonal things today. We'll make up for it tomorrow though, as that's the big day.

New Midsummer Earrings

New earrings today! A pair of ice cream cornets!

Midsummer Tea Break!

Today I was drinking Pink Grapefruit from Bird and Blend Tea (in a brief pause between rain showers).

Darkness in the Fields: Midsummer

Another very enjoyable evening of Darkness in the Fields: Midsummer, with a talk on Thomas Hardy and the Folk Horror Tradition by Robert Edgar and Alan G. Smith, followed by an interview with Francine Toon. Thanks again to Alex Davis for organising and hosting.

Midsummer: Day 5

Another day of celebrating Midsummer for us! Well, sort of, as we were both at work today, so there wasn't a lot of celebrating. I did have a couple of nice seasonal things today though.

Darkness in the Fields: Midsummer

I really enjoyed tonight's Darkness in the Fields: Midsummer folk horror events - fascinating interviews with Kerry Hadley-Pryce and Mark Jenkin. Can't wait to see what tomorrow evening brings! Thanks to Alex Davis, Kelly White and Darrell Buxton for hosting and interviewing.

Midsummer Lemon Cake

Cake seems to be a bit of a theme this Midsummer. But I couldn't resist this lemon cake from the Spar shop today!

Midsummer: Day 4

Another day of Midsummer celebrations! And it's the Summer Solstice today!

Bailey’s Wood Summer Solstice Walk and Talk

I had a wonderful time leading the Friends of Baileys Wood Summer Solstice-themed Walk and Talk session today. It was lovely to just wander through the woods, soaking up the greenery and sharing stories.

Midsummer Poetry in the Park

I took some of the housemates from Castlerea Care Home to Crumpsall Park for a Midsummer Poetry in the Park workshop this afternoon, featuring summer cakes, lots of seasonal poetry and a sensory walk round the park (using a guide from GM Walking to help us).

Midsummer Tea Break!

Today I was drinking Cococabana Coola from Bird and Blend Tea.

Midsummer: Day 3

It's the third day of our Midsummer celebrations, and it seems that cake continues to be an important theme!

Midsummer Tea Break!

Today I was drinking Peach Soda from Bird and Blend Tea.

New Midsummer Earrings

I got some new Midsummer earrings today, and photographed them just before the Summer Solstice Walk in Woods this evening.

Bailey’s Wood Summer Solstice Walk in the Woods

It was lovely to be out this evening, leading the Friends of Bailey's Wood Summer Solstice Walk in the Woods, enjoying the changing seasons in the woods and sharing stories and folklore. We were a bit worried about this evening's Summer Solstice Walk in the Woods when we saw the rain this morning, but it turned out to be a pleasantly sunny evening. And we had a little taste of summer before we started out!

Midsummer Candle

We lit our Midsummer (Litha) candle from Chalice Creations tonight. Jasmine, rose, lavender, ylang-ylang, geranium, helichrysum and melissa lemon to scent the season.

Midsummer: Day 2

Day 2 of our Midsummer celebrations! Today was mostly a work day (for both of us), so there were no big events. However, there was quite a bit of cake!

New Midsummer Earrings

I wore my new Midsummer strawberry earrings today. Well, not quite new, as these were a gift from a friend on Boxing Day! But I've been saving them for the appropriate season.

Midsummer Tea Break!

Today I was drinking Strawberry Lemonade from Bird and Blend Tea.

Summer Cupcakes

I was at a work meeting this evening, and while it wasn't specifically a Midsummer thing, the cakes we had were distinctly summer-themed! I'm definitely counting this as a Midsummer treat!

Midsummer: Day 1

It's the first day of our Midsummer celebrations! After a muted Spring Equinox and a Beltane curtailed by illness, we're really looking forward to at least some festivities this season. Fingers crossed we're not completely cursed! Today was all about our now traditional Midsummer picnic at a stone circle, though we stayed a little closer to home than last year.

Cheetham Close Stone Circle

This afternoon, we went hunting for a (sort of) stone circle in (almost) Greater Manchester. Cheetham Close is a megalithic site on the moors above Egerton in Bolton. It's the site of an early Bronze Age stone circle that was destroyed by a farmer with a sledgehammer in the 1870s. There are still remains that can be spotted, if you know where to look.

Midsummer Tea

We took a moment to take in the atmosphere of the season and the setting at Cheetham Close. There's only one tea that's perfect for drinking in the remains of a stone circle above Lancashire... Fairies Chapel from The Tea Crew!

Events in June 2023

Virtual Writing Retreat
Sunday 11th June
10.30–5.00pm
Hannah's Bookshelf
I'm hosting a online writing retreat for creative writers with writing exercises and structured writing sessions
Members Event

Booth Hall Before the Hospital
Monday 12th June
7.30-9.00pm
Cheetham and Crumpsall Heritage Society
I'm giving a local history talk on the history of Booth Hall (the hall, not the hospital), Blackley
Members and Non-Members Event (£3.00 per session)

Summer Solstice Walk in the Woods
Tuesday 20th June
6.30–7.30pm
Friends of Bailey's Wood
I'll be leading a sociable walk in the woods to enjoy the changing seasons
Booking Link

Bailey's Wood Summer Solstice Walk and Talk
Wednesday 21st June
11.00–12.30pm
Friends of Bailey's Wood
I'll be leading a gentle, social walk in the woods with a Summer Solstice theme
Booking Link

Summer Solstice Poetry in the Park
Wednesday 21st June
2.00–5.00pm
Castlerea House
I'm running a seasonal poetry and storytelling workshop session in the park for residents at Castlerea care home
Private Event

Interested in booking me for an event? Click here to find out more.