31 Days of Halloween: Day 2

It's the second day of our Halloween celebrations for this year!

Harlequin Squash

Spooky season is also squash season. And right on cue, we got a harlequin squash in our Groobarbs veg box today! (Not sure if we'll go as crazy for squashes as we did last year, but you never know.)

The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue

This is absolutely a Halloween tradition for me... it isn't October until I've watched The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue! We went to a screening at Cultplex this evening, as that's the one place you can guarantee will screen this absolute classic every year.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 1

It begins! Once again, we're celebrating Halloween for the entire month of October. I have no idea if we'll be able to top the past couple of years (I mean, will anything top the year I walked on fire?!), but we have a lot of nice things planned for the spooky season. And away we go...

Mummy Cake Pop

Apparently, I'm still not immune to the commercialization of the seasons.

Halloween Chocolates

My mum and dad got us a little Halloween present in September, and we've been saving it for today. Not sure if we'll eat all this chocolate in one day, but I doubt it'll last until the 31st.

3 Minute Scares is back for its ninth nailbiting year!

North Manchester FM’s Halloween creative writing competition is open for submissions for 2024.

Hannah's Bookshelf, the weekly literature show on North Manchester FM, wants your scary stories for Halloween! Once again, I'm asking people throughout Greater Manchester to submit their 3-minute stories for my annual creative writing competition. Writers keen to be crowned Greater Manchester’s Spookiest Wordsmith can submit a recording of their mini-tale via my website, with the best entries being broadcast on the Hannah’s Bookshelf Halloween Special on Saturday 26th October.

I'm delighted to announce that the prize for this year’s best entry is a fabulous Halloween book bundle (with a few little surprises). Entries need to be 3 minutes long, meaning a word count of around 350-400 words. The judges will be looking for style and originality, as well as how scary the story is. The deadline for entries is midnight on Wednesday 16th October.

All you need to enter the competition is a computer with a microphone… and a good story. Entries can be recorded via my website. More information and rules of the competition, including information for people unable to submit a recording, can also be found on my website.

Autumn Equinox: Day 7

Our final day of celebrating the Autumn Equinox. Today was pretty quiet, as I was at work during the day. We did go out in the evening.

Starve Acre

We were at Stockport Plaza tonight for a screening of Starve Acre. Okay, it's not a specifically autumnal film, but we thought a bit of folk horror suited the seasonal celebrations. We very much enjoyed the music the organist played at the intermission, particularly when he ended on the theme to Halloween, before giving a cheery wave and descending beneath the stage.


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

Autumn Equinox: Day 6

It's the penultimate day of us celebrating the beginning of autumn, and oh boy! we've got a lot going on today.

Crumpsall Park Autumn Equinox Walk

This morning, I led a gentle, social walk for Friends of Crumpsall Park to enjoy the changing seasons in the park (especially the trees!).

Hannah’s Bookshelf Autumn Equinox Special

This afternoon was my Hannah's Bookshelf Autumn Equinox Special on North Manchester FM, where I shared some folklore of the season, but also played a selection of original, seasonal flash fiction from some fantastic writers who contibuted to the show. Also... I brought in apple pies for the volunteers at the community centre where the radio station is based.

Cherry Pie

I've had a LOT of apple pie so far this autumn, so I thought I'd mix it up and have cherry.

Bailey’s Wood Autumn Equinox Walk

After the radio show, I led a seasonal walk for Friends of Bailey's Wood, sharing folklore and stories of the season and enjoying the woods getting its autumn clothes on.

Autumn Equinox Dinner

Tonight was our Autumn Equinox Dinner, and Rob made us the traditional meal of meatloaf and root vegetable rice, followed by blackberry crumble (made with blackberries I picked when I went mad for brambling at the end of the summer).

Autumn Equinox Gifts

After dinner, we shared our traditional Autumn Equinox cards and gifts. Two more whiskies to add to the tasting set we'll be enjoying in December.

Dark Night of the Scarecrow

For the past couple of years, we've struggled to find a film that could be our regular seasonal film (we've got one for all the other seasons). But... the quest is over! Our (newly) traditional Autumn Equinox film is Dark Night of the Scarecrow!

Autumn Equinox: Day 5

Another day of celebrating the beginning of autumn!

Pumpkin Cream Iced Oat Shaken Espresso

This was without a doubt the daftest named drink I've ever ordered (and I struggled to keep a straight face while I asked for it), but I just couldn't resist the allure of commercialization. Teamed it with a Maple & Pecan Swirl.

Piano Recital

Rob and I met up in town after work and had a lovely time at a piano recital at Forsyth's Music Shop. The performers were Robson Piano Duo, identical twins who specialize in piano four hands. Okay, it wasn't specifically autumnal, but it was a very nice way to spend the evening.

Apple Pie

Apparently I really can't resist the allure of commercialization.

Berry Sweets

Rob got me a little present today, and very seasonal it is too.

Autumn Equinox: Day 4

The fourth day of our Autumn Equinox celebrations, and it was a quiet one today as we were both at work.

Apple Pies

I brought some apple pies into work today. I meant to take a picture of them before I shared them with my colleagues. Oops.