tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47410803033956510952024-03-17T23:10:33.010+00:00She-WolfReviews, articles and musings from a pop culture scholar.
Female werewolves, speculative fiction, creative writing, medieval culture... and anywhere else my mind takes me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger990125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-51544843034718171212024-03-17T23:09:00.001+00:002024-03-17T23:09:55.022+00:00Spring Equinox: Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTTMrwS5zAwx9ZSNJuLQleEpWLa6xg4JBfxvEDrrAF6xOTlHPEeXN70KNZxM3XTbgRVHvc82CbHZjuEPGPhRXW3OzVN_P-fkkHFJGrXK4HES-kVB6QFBIFbPCJ_1wON5IcIeOgbQ_BgFNiCEy-e366xBOwLmb2XDFce8s7v8mGtWi89DLPXu3lwXVXyA/s2071/Vernal%20Equinox%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="2071" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTTMrwS5zAwx9ZSNJuLQleEpWLa6xg4JBfxvEDrrAF6xOTlHPEeXN70KNZxM3XTbgRVHvc82CbHZjuEPGPhRXW3OzVN_P-fkkHFJGrXK4HES-kVB6QFBIFbPCJ_1wON5IcIeOgbQ_BgFNiCEy-e366xBOwLmb2XDFce8s7v8mGtWi89DLPXu3lwXVXyA/w640-h416/Vernal%20Equinox%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Our second day of celebrating the Spring Equinox, and this one was a pretty important one. It was our tenth wedding anniversary! <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Spring Cupcakes</h3><br />
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I made some spring-themed cupcakes for a meeting I was running at work today. They were flavoured with white chocolate and Parma Violets, and decorated with daisies. And yes, the Parma Violets were leftover trick-or-treat sweets from last Halloween. I'm continuing my plan to use them all to decorate seasonal cakes before Halloween comes around again.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Wedding Cake Tea</h3><br />
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As it was our anniversary, my tea break drink of choice was Wedding Cake by <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a>.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Wedding Anniversary Dinner </h3><br />
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We went out for dinner at <a href="https://cromapizza.co.uk/restaurants/prestwich/" target="_blank">Croma</a> in Prestwich with our parents tonight to celebrate our anniversary. I took the personalized topper from our wedding cake as a little reminder of our day all those years ago.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Wedding Anniversary Gifts</h3><br />
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It was our tin anniversary, so we both got each other tin gifts. Unsurprisingly, we both went with Cornish tin (as it's also ten years since our first lovely holiday to Lizard). As we were both thinking about Cornwall, I also got Rob a surprise delivery of his favourite pasties from <a href="https://www.annspasties.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ann's Pasties</a> (they're not on the picture as they were in the freezer by the time I got home).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-89033162565562747502024-03-17T20:17:00.000+00:002024-03-17T20:17:19.076+00:00Spring Equinox: Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_CWmfzbNxBtGTcmGw3fjTV6XXTicVzBsT0BVXVRv-6lzqydcfIoBXdYVOjXXqCpIKMexeVd6mGNRvai7rlbpSm3b7s61Iz-7yfFSi57g_JsSMXi1wcKZPd2OqkG0c7YJkiu-m35vwGWRD-hscQbEBYjb7a_OauVBlLo82aE6fpF9m5vzTIGZ5qUYSK0/s2071/Vernal%20Equinox%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2071" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_CWmfzbNxBtGTcmGw3fjTV6XXTicVzBsT0BVXVRv-6lzqydcfIoBXdYVOjXXqCpIKMexeVd6mGNRvai7rlbpSm3b7s61Iz-7yfFSi57g_JsSMXi1wcKZPd2OqkG0c7YJkiu-m35vwGWRD-hscQbEBYjb7a_OauVBlLo82aE6fpF9m5vzTIGZ5qUYSK0/w640-h414/Vernal%20Equinox%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It's time to celebrate the start of spring! We've got a week of Spring Equinox-y fun planned before the big day next week, and (fingers crossed!) we're not hampered by horrible colds like we were at Imbolc.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Blossom Watch </h3><br />
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Apparently blossom season has started quite early this year, as a result of a generally mild winter and a comparatively warm February. It's still pretty to see though. This pink cherry blossom is in the garden at the <a href="https://www.pankhurstmuseum.com/" target="_blank">Pankhurst Centre</a> (where I work).<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Spring Tea Break </h3><br />
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We were both at work all day today, so we didn't have any proper celebrations planned together. I made sure I had a spring-themed tea break though, with Candy Floss at the Fair tea (from <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a>) and a mini egg cookie.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Dim Sum</h3><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFSw17t8MFO4w6-KeEAFM1YeLLHNsltN6F8t2QF1d2r3vx8icdKvJzKSMCVpuT1cOC_WQWYSjeSDhxirL0FgeAfrscUXsxWCBDtmz0fzXYgnWY58BHK71KSPvQsZlbegIyZnHcVIkT1jne6wP1W3RBO9fcyTHM_bNrLmKj66AVviUkRpm77Z8UZtR4pA/s4000/dim%20sum%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFSw17t8MFO4w6-KeEAFM1YeLLHNsltN6F8t2QF1d2r3vx8icdKvJzKSMCVpuT1cOC_WQWYSjeSDhxirL0FgeAfrscUXsxWCBDtmz0fzXYgnWY58BHK71KSPvQsZlbegIyZnHcVIkT1jne6wP1W3RBO9fcyTHM_bNrLmKj66AVviUkRpm77Z8UZtR4pA/w640-h480/dim%20sum%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I'm a bit in love with dim sum, and now I'm a bit in love with <a href="https://www.dingdongdimsum.com/" target="_blank">Ding Dong Dim Sum</a>, who do a fantastic vegan selection. It's all colourful enough to sort of look like it's spring-themed, but the custard buns definitely look just right for the season!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-80180526021513723612024-03-10T16:18:00.000+00:002024-03-10T16:18:28.151+00:00Events in March 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA21n9ooD5No5t6sZYGD_VsCJsaCWwFpuaUuZlGjtO6cui_30IRaiVfi2nLPHonylR8fTQi5vMJQMUMoPtFtTuT_CE2kHW0PMUr37CJ_EIDioD-9I1gFSIuIFXyk99rMU0ZdoPAsBrQdGMdFKdaZjkuWcr1oDHzBTN5w3h9IkxFuU-92WschHktY6t8O0/s1080/Mar%20Events%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA21n9ooD5No5t6sZYGD_VsCJsaCWwFpuaUuZlGjtO6cui_30IRaiVfi2nLPHonylR8fTQi5vMJQMUMoPtFtTuT_CE2kHW0PMUr37CJ_EIDioD-9I1gFSIuIFXyk99rMU0ZdoPAsBrQdGMdFKdaZjkuWcr1oDHzBTN5w3h9IkxFuU-92WschHktY6t8O0/w640-h640/Mar%20Events%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<b>Virtual Writing Retreat</b><br />
Sunday 10th March<br />
10.30–5.00pm<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a><br />
<i>I'm hosting an online writing retreat for creative writers with writing exercises and structured writing sessions</i><br />
Members Event<br /><br />
<b>Spring Equinox Walk in the Park</b><br />
Saturday 16th March<br />
11.00–12noon<br />
<a href="https://friendsofcrumpsallpark.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Friends of Crumpsall Park</a><br />
<i>I'll be leading a sociable walk in the park to enjoy nature and the changing seasons</i><br />
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spring-equinox-walk-in-the-park-tickets-842739856597" target="_blank">Booking Link</a><br /><br />
<b>Hannah's Bookshelf Spring Equinox Special</b><br />
Saturday 16th March<br />
2.00–4.00pm<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a> / <a href="https://northmanchester.fm" target="_blank">North Manchester FM</a><br />
<i>I'm hosting a special seasonal edition of my regular radio show on North Manchester FM, including Spring Equinox-themed flash fiction</i><br />
<a href="https://hannahkate.net/spring-equinox-stories-wanted-for-hannahs-bookshelf-on-north-manchester-fm/" target="_blank">Submission Link</a><br /><br />
<b>Spring Equinox Walk in the Woods</b><br />
Monday 18th March<br />
5.30–6.30pm<br />
<a href="https://friendsofbaileyswood.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Friends of Bailey's Wood</a><br />
<i>I'll be leading a sociable walk in the woods to enjoy the changing seasons</i><br />
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spring-equinox-walk-in-the-woods-tickets-797895716567" target="_blank">Booking Link</a><br /><br />
<b>Bailey's Wood Spring Equinox Walk and Talk</b><br />
Wednesday 20th March<br />
11.00–12.30pm<br />
<a href="https://friendsofbaileyswood.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Friends of Bailey's Wood</a><br />
<i>I'll be leading a gentle, social walk in the woods with a Spring Equinox theme</i><br />
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walk-and-talk-in-the-woods-tickets-797796740527" target="_blank">Booking Link</a><br /><br />
<b>Spring Equinox Poetry in the Park</b><br />
Wednesday 20th March<br />
1.00–4.00pm<br />
<a href="http://www.hopestreetthinking.co.uk/" target="_blank">Castlerea House</a><br />
<i>I'm running a seasonal poetry and storytelling workshop session in the park for residents at Castlerea care home</i><br />
Private Event<br /><br />
<b>Hannah's Bookshelf Live Poetry Special</b><br />
Saturday 23rd March<br />
2.00–4.00pm<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a> / <a href="https://northmanchester.fm" target="_blank">North Manchester FM</a><br />
<i>I'm hosting my annual live poetry radio show on North Manchester FM, with performances from 12 poets</i><br />
<a href="https://hannahkate.net/performers-wanted-for-live-poetry-special-2024/" target="_blank">Submission Link</a><br /><br />
<b>Easter Stories</b><br />
Wednesday 27th March<br />
2.00-4.00pm<br />
<a href="http://www.hopestreetthinking.co.uk/" target="_blank">Castlerea House</a><br />
<i>I'm running a seasonal poetry and storytelling workshop session for residents at Castlerea care home</i><br />
Private Event<br /><br />
Interested in booking me for an event? <a href="https://hannahkatefreelance.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to find out more. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-43764670554354343162024-03-06T21:58:00.000+00:002024-03-06T21:58:03.865+00:00Performers Wanted for Live Poetry Special 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiyc0j9o0FMo0HQlvw_2lWu9g1cqsh-IsB9mxhE_2M6SVS-Qbc1m5wjn5PC2T0GAAcSVyGGkgpJbzHKQIjE7buE1_mTxtvygGdSpmaF1L93GNGxqOjJeyBQ8n1-ZGGdDe4hBnLox7BFtpnhFWrCOGeQhpK4QpDFQ9H0bZ2UZzTGafmZwuunwsCoMAVwY/s940/Live%20Poetry%20Special%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiyc0j9o0FMo0HQlvw_2lWu9g1cqsh-IsB9mxhE_2M6SVS-Qbc1m5wjn5PC2T0GAAcSVyGGkgpJbzHKQIjE7buE1_mTxtvygGdSpmaF1L93GNGxqOjJeyBQ8n1-ZGGdDe4hBnLox7BFtpnhFWrCOGeQhpK4QpDFQ9H0bZ2UZzTGafmZwuunwsCoMAVwY/w640-h536/Live%20Poetry%20Special%202024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Want to perform your poetry on the radio?</h3><br /><h4 style="text-align: center;">
The annual Hannah's Bookshelf Live Poetry Special is back!</h4><br />
On Saturday 23rd March, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank"><b>Hannah’s Bookshelf</b></a> on <a href="https://northmanchester.fm" target="_blank"><b>North Manchester FM</b></a> will be broadcasting its annual Live Poetry Special. And once again, I’d like to invite poets and spoken word performers to get involved and perform their work on the show.<br /><br />
I’ll be inviting poets into the <b>North Manchester FM</b> studio to perform their work live on the show from the studio in Harpurhey! Whether you’re a veteran performer or new to reading your work, I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line via <a href="https://hannahkate.net/contact/" target="_blank">my website</a>, <a href="https://www.twitter.com/HannahKateish" target="_blank">tweet me</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">message me on Facebook</a> if you’d like to perform or would like more information about how to take part. Slots are limited, and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Performance slots are 6 minutes long.<br /><br />
The <b>Hannah’s Bookshelf Live Poetry Special</b> will be going out on <b>North Manchester FM</b> on Saturday 23rd March at 2-4pm. It will be broadcast on 106.6FM (in the North Manchester area) and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">online</a> (for the rest of the world). Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-2162687261063421842024-02-12T11:34:00.000+00:002024-02-12T11:34:37.570+00:00Spring Equinox Stories Wanted for Hannah’s Bookshelf on North Manchester FM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s0LWhlqLw8804Ycfc91Z0kxpjLbseVuGqC0kj6K0uUodGbAJbk85Y8bsi7lcBwecX2OIilHY-9dbz0kw3V_c4jv7KTJPtKn4WVSFHnqZbOiKy7D1VmcibM-JhmG-aDRiPCCpNYMWwSpsJwfjPZPPO3nLlYdypGgEcUVRaDDr_hIFvkWVqnYrfOR12fo/s940/Spring%20Equinox%20Special%20FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s0LWhlqLw8804Ycfc91Z0kxpjLbseVuGqC0kj6K0uUodGbAJbk85Y8bsi7lcBwecX2OIilHY-9dbz0kw3V_c4jv7KTJPtKn4WVSFHnqZbOiKy7D1VmcibM-JhmG-aDRiPCCpNYMWwSpsJwfjPZPPO3nLlYdypGgEcUVRaDDr_hIFvkWVqnYrfOR12fo/w640-h536/Spring%20Equinox%20Special%20FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Submit your seasonal flash fiction to be played on Hannah’s Bookshelf this March!</h3><br />
Can you tell a seasonal story in just 3 minutes? Want to have your work played on the radio? This month, I’m looking for seasonal (Spring) flash fiction from around the world for inclusion on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank"><b>Hannah’s Bookshelf</b></a>, the weekly literature show on <a href="https://northmanchester.fm" target="_blank"><b>North Manchester FM</b></a>.<br /><br />
On Saturday 16th March, I’ll be hosting the first <b>Hannah’s Bookshelf Spring Equinox Special</b>, and as part of my seasonal special, I’ll be playing a selection of my favourite 3-minute stories on the show (broadcast on FM and on digital). Want to be part of it? Submit a recording of your seasonally inflected story (maximum 3 minutes) by <b>midnight on Monday 11th March</b>.<br /><br />
All genres welcome – be they cosy, romantic, scary or sad. The only rules are that stories must be your own original work, have some connection to the season, and be in English (the language of the broadcast). And please ease off the swears – stories have to be radio friendly! All you need is a microphone and a story – once you’re ready to submit your story, click on the <b>‘Start Recording’</b> button <a href="https://hannahkate.net/spring-equinox-stories-wanted-for-hannahs-bookshelf-on-north-manchester-fm/" target="_blank">on my website</a> to record your story and submit it. Remember to enter your name and email address when submitting your story.<br /><br />
If you aren’t able to submit via a recording and would like another method of taking part, please message <a href="https://hannahkate.net/contact/" target="_blank">via my website</a> for more information.<br /><br />
Please share this call with anyone who you think might be interested – I’d like to cast the net as wide as possible. My favourite seasonal stories will be broadcast on the <b>Hannah’s Bookshelf Spring Equinox Special</b> at 2pm on Saturday 16th March, on <a href="https://northmanchester.fm/listen" target="_blank">digital radio</a> and 106.6FM.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-18808353262102175002024-02-05T03:13:00.000+00:002024-02-05T03:13:11.654+00:00Imbolc: Day 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJjkN3275osSZAmLd0y000Re1VNB24xbom67UMRAOim_BL4Eq-jUcDfw2wf1wzvFWjO3pzIu9QLBTbDxIGV6WiekkAjbs-lzr-xK6rnRFqGU796acKBsBhzpHGZLEDZce_X9lxLVpeUD5vkTue7Z3Tccg0PYuVfo9U1rEK8M_ECMqmG8qz5h1phyphenhyphenUGL8/s2061/Imbolc%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2061" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJjkN3275osSZAmLd0y000Re1VNB24xbom67UMRAOim_BL4Eq-jUcDfw2wf1wzvFWjO3pzIu9QLBTbDxIGV6WiekkAjbs-lzr-xK6rnRFqGU796acKBsBhzpHGZLEDZce_X9lxLVpeUD5vkTue7Z3Tccg0PYuVfo9U1rEK8M_ECMqmG8qz5h1phyphenhyphenUGL8/w640-h426/Imbolc%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It's Groundhog Day! And the final day of our (slightly muted) Imbolc celebrations this year.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Imbolc Dinner </h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXlhpto2Z0lVUXeRYPmj09PKOfGbHYuSTeSJIQFFsnZWAKZ4pwQ4XeUio8AWlaE3kbMtD8ImMiW_naX0Vb80kdckH_gqtVLpSGkBhKOLuwdHW28EcIq5nHpzB-IkcuzUrI7nhtNXZRrH8VYaKqh3QLFR4Frh05Yu8XtVB-OhTHB_Tmps1lQQFKpEOY2c/s4000/imbolc%20dinner%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXlhpto2Z0lVUXeRYPmj09PKOfGbHYuSTeSJIQFFsnZWAKZ4pwQ4XeUio8AWlaE3kbMtD8ImMiW_naX0Vb80kdckH_gqtVLpSGkBhKOLuwdHW28EcIq5nHpzB-IkcuzUrI7nhtNXZRrH8VYaKqh3QLFR4Frh05Yu8XtVB-OhTHB_Tmps1lQQFKpEOY2c/w640-h480/imbolc%20dinner%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDAY5Q40OVc9MLuey_iXb0L3POsRzZESG1gCoklmnNWJP9NNp24-MFapn54RhYQqOgLMFUNjFxF0JlgEeKo7Pm_saInF132xECAANqQTenCL3PP66-LpAng6KJaDcJxN-bMtIbSY9zYK7rH2Tq4SKZwqTEwRMlklI-y_XjyyZ621Ixea6sx8epm2xkuQ/s4000/imbolc%20dinner%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDAY5Q40OVc9MLuey_iXb0L3POsRzZESG1gCoklmnNWJP9NNp24-MFapn54RhYQqOgLMFUNjFxF0JlgEeKo7Pm_saInF132xECAANqQTenCL3PP66-LpAng6KJaDcJxN-bMtIbSY9zYK7rH2Tq4SKZwqTEwRMlklI-y_XjyyZ621Ixea6sx8epm2xkuQ/w640-h480/imbolc%20dinner%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We had our traditional Imbolc dinner tonight... vegetarian meatloaf with spring onion mash, followed by winterberry crumble.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Imbolc Gifts </h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTF-BOh2DaQdw7sQwgy0iNC9bhLW229kHIiClnVMvjNV9ea0W97935qxiqcsAmGH5Cxa7TTHUFIrgnlNSn9PQ9ePs2kka00WulgocPYKu-YBQuCp2bdNAlcytlkXp_o8NAhFgo5FMZx3mWT8KhRnIbQ18LEG3DrsDpdWT5QVUcrCTVd9-yH7YEQ4F8fc/s3824/imbolc%20gifts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2896" data-original-width="3824" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTF-BOh2DaQdw7sQwgy0iNC9bhLW229kHIiClnVMvjNV9ea0W97935qxiqcsAmGH5Cxa7TTHUFIrgnlNSn9PQ9ePs2kka00WulgocPYKu-YBQuCp2bdNAlcytlkXp_o8NAhFgo5FMZx3mWT8KhRnIbQ18LEG3DrsDpdWT5QVUcrCTVd9-yH7YEQ4F8fc/w640-h484/imbolc%20gifts.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
After dinner, we swapped our traditional Imbolc gifts. We'll save these whiskies up throughout the year, and then enjoy them in December.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Groundhog Day</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQbXbIoi0WVmqgF9-gw02Pu_yZVt9JQWMZQBD-O6F3Mjn190AZg1omY3yqI2qVMVH9_1OF8NzSUsv3_egbhuu8v-fdPIZFw0gRRCaBcF5R2Xj8X_pjxwb1id6x57ADf2kwsdoElJ81ZUClaMr9p_06WU7IRtzjRX6SF9F6-s2bQoYMfNtgE7801en-xs/s1080/Groundhog%20Day.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQbXbIoi0WVmqgF9-gw02Pu_yZVt9JQWMZQBD-O6F3Mjn190AZg1omY3yqI2qVMVH9_1OF8NzSUsv3_egbhuu8v-fdPIZFw0gRRCaBcF5R2Xj8X_pjxwb1id6x57ADf2kwsdoElJ81ZUClaMr9p_06WU7IRtzjRX6SF9F6-s2bQoYMfNtgE7801en-xs/w640-h640/Groundhog%20Day.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Time for the seasonal film of choice. It is Groundhog Day after all.<br /><br />
And so the wheel of the year turns... we'll be celebrating again (fingers crossed) at the Spring Equinox.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-28908992244984740822024-02-05T02:21:00.001+00:002024-02-05T02:21:37.822+00:00Imbolc: Day 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPQJf5qq_05QKetkn2DFZnqh9lmQM1Pe3vs-etOt32tIPThN5ss4bm7Z2KiLY3uAO8uId5dB_eFjNpxuo_ZONJOIn1TTNyzHhkEKDLLvXmvUFYbyKNr0poqMjwuTeqv3SA7afhq1Q1rlp_j6uL6noLFkH7jEG67_NaHYqrrBToL104CaKJQx84rlAdj4/s2061/Imbolc%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2061" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPQJf5qq_05QKetkn2DFZnqh9lmQM1Pe3vs-etOt32tIPThN5ss4bm7Z2KiLY3uAO8uId5dB_eFjNpxuo_ZONJOIn1TTNyzHhkEKDLLvXmvUFYbyKNr0poqMjwuTeqv3SA7afhq1Q1rlp_j6uL6noLFkH7jEG67_NaHYqrrBToL104CaKJQx84rlAdj4/w640-h424/Imbolc%206.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I was in London for a training session today, and while it was a very enjoyable and interesting session, it wasn't really very seasonal. I did make sure Rob and I had a seasonal treat afterwards though!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Imbolc Bun</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNmMXc_kW5dCMvxOPHLIMFoqTkzkEJ5yrg885RQeXaCgtpcKCzOvgwivekvrbILwlSOmqhfZlgUsZvVUGylqcOLrU-Jv05ijJwQiplPnregFSZ3LRIzfztei11pTaFYILiQrZBfpQaVC7G_HorBgtZcd_OIADUis-nzJX6Od-BRu_QIaiUNSjC8jyd00/s4000/raspberry%20bun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNmMXc_kW5dCMvxOPHLIMFoqTkzkEJ5yrg885RQeXaCgtpcKCzOvgwivekvrbILwlSOmqhfZlgUsZvVUGylqcOLrU-Jv05ijJwQiplPnregFSZ3LRIzfztei11pTaFYILiQrZBfpQaVC7G_HorBgtZcd_OIADUis-nzJX6Od-BRu_QIaiUNSjC8jyd00/w640-h480/raspberry%20bun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This isn't technically marketed as an Imbolc treat, but whatever. Raspberry choux bun with added white chocolate winter people (from a reduced-to-clear Christmas selection box... 'tis the season).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-80913682555683726512024-02-05T01:56:00.000+00:002024-02-05T01:56:17.009+00:00Imbolc: Day 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnx2N9Tp4g-EnvWWRMh8aFAsGhHYHM6riFNfGgvowDGZAYNwT-se10ElnzOQnIHgBwevGJ7WCzmiK0ubXfVEJkbpdGFT75Ur3hqhvrAYQTTmMu2UUSPHqmhvnXBYPb-yJu9W5-XQp_Gh4ugbBY1C5nsuBrxl9OzgS4iOakQn1qF8RzxH6WskxHziWpNPs/s2063/Imbolc%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="2063" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnx2N9Tp4g-EnvWWRMh8aFAsGhHYHM6riFNfGgvowDGZAYNwT-se10ElnzOQnIHgBwevGJ7WCzmiK0ubXfVEJkbpdGFT75Ur3hqhvrAYQTTmMu2UUSPHqmhvnXBYPb-yJu9W5-XQp_Gh4ugbBY1C5nsuBrxl9OzgS4iOakQn1qF8RzxH6WskxHziWpNPs/w640-h426/Imbolc%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I think I've just accepted that I'm not going to recovered enough from the horror-cold for big celebrations (and poor Rob certainly isn't), so I guess this Imbolc is all about the little things. I can deal with that - the little things are meant to be the ones that matter anyway.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Castlerea Imbolc Stories</h3><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6I9GisarRMJMTVcod1QwUT-8IA1Pf64iy0MSr6OpZZk4gJQ-UQLAtI7xTXp7gtaRjOGSslKT9hBCtMPnzHEqkB5ufYwcU2HqjRwQRmRh8mlU0OAeqtzEsp9iMS81Xq557KhCa_od-8cj95uaSlZp2eRvNYQUQCIcX_jm5zXBd-OXW6WUuTBFEL7hSBUU/s4000/castlerea%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6I9GisarRMJMTVcod1QwUT-8IA1Pf64iy0MSr6OpZZk4gJQ-UQLAtI7xTXp7gtaRjOGSslKT9hBCtMPnzHEqkB5ufYwcU2HqjRwQRmRh8mlU0OAeqtzEsp9iMS81Xq557KhCa_od-8cj95uaSlZp2eRvNYQUQCIcX_jm5zXBd-OXW6WUuTBFEL7hSBUU/w640-h480/castlerea%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I was at <a href="http://www.hopestreetthinking.co.uk/" target="_blank">Castlerea Care Home</a> for a seasonal storytelling session with the residents this afternoon. We had some Imbolc-themed poetry, a lot of conversation, a bit of music, and snowballs, iced gems and cream soda! After the session finished, the staff and residents surprised me with a packet of sunflower seeds, so that I've got a project for when winter turns into spring.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-55203029011708198022024-02-05T01:30:00.000+00:002024-02-05T01:30:37.687+00:00Imbolc: Day 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2XqZxeqbVvYNiU5h_lzfXma_pQeQ8HXeBtMZHBMJUuj7xENGne7b7wswQEBr5SSDBLxkNsQGYhNcplcyWCL-eVQR_9BBHjoNZEZ_fvxAIH9WsfXmnTJ34_UQdFogwkXfePiPEwAKbfuepDp7UlWb-4tVKeM3SqPbWjDm0I6wZUJaOsPME4BGxYpYREg/s2057/Imbolc%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2057" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2XqZxeqbVvYNiU5h_lzfXma_pQeQ8HXeBtMZHBMJUuj7xENGne7b7wswQEBr5SSDBLxkNsQGYhNcplcyWCL-eVQR_9BBHjoNZEZ_fvxAIH9WsfXmnTJ34_UQdFogwkXfePiPEwAKbfuepDp7UlWb-4tVKeM3SqPbWjDm0I6wZUJaOsPME4BGxYpYREg/w640-h426/Imbolc%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Another quiet day of recovering from the horror-cold. I was at work all day, so no time or energy for big celebrations. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Imbolc Tea Break</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXru7UqYNauDdxdGGrN6bCjmMgoIYkC_9V7JoPCYQiwkB82_-Ru3YnJr2WUlmc8QBD-p2voqXYagg1S63n8NPNJonDDYOfS9xHwLkMxWMhvtKXiTiBebNV3C9TcpjrucrnAdm8PgP1jb3LJzRQcUowzCmOOuNvlW-OtZR-9Bf-M7HfKYqg5sEjeSwMMdw/s4000/cinnamon%20bun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXru7UqYNauDdxdGGrN6bCjmMgoIYkC_9V7JoPCYQiwkB82_-Ru3YnJr2WUlmc8QBD-p2voqXYagg1S63n8NPNJonDDYOfS9xHwLkMxWMhvtKXiTiBebNV3C9TcpjrucrnAdm8PgP1jb3LJzRQcUowzCmOOuNvlW-OtZR-9Bf-M7HfKYqg5sEjeSwMMdw/w640-h480/cinnamon%20bun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Even though I couldn't manage any big celebrations, I still had a bit of a (sort of) seasonal tea break at work by treating myself to a cinnamon bun.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-76979924774072456792024-02-04T20:47:00.000+00:002024-02-04T20:47:07.483+00:00Imbolc: Day 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZZe9NslqhsauliovhUf9q5JrcN1RenxiIBxYxPUF3zBPiARFf0V1P1l_U-5ZOwOSBmuAREwppfiHNDewCFN4gXOOS8HAnIVnDQVEVMOvUkrbiZhyphenhyphenESy3ZGhK8tJXuovEA6SYonU5Hbg2zPvvJQQpFD32yZhXVzJwQclsvPdiD0AmjtBDW3vGzhyFNc0/s2065/Imbolc%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="2065" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZZe9NslqhsauliovhUf9q5JrcN1RenxiIBxYxPUF3zBPiARFf0V1P1l_U-5ZOwOSBmuAREwppfiHNDewCFN4gXOOS8HAnIVnDQVEVMOvUkrbiZhyphenhyphenESy3ZGhK8tJXuovEA6SYonU5Hbg2zPvvJQQpFD32yZhXVzJwQclsvPdiD0AmjtBDW3vGzhyFNc0/w640-h426/Imbolc%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Another quiet Imbolc day, as I've still not shifted this cold properly. I'm a bit too tired to do a lot of celebrating, sadly.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Library and Lunch</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKS7ge5s92DUg3_uIcMe0f6iHh9o5_d2afjmaVPeNpJCJczNGxlnRfzze7TYGRtZNQ5M91Nyuone2B4Wnub99dmnCASjAnoK7o74LEGrx4T5f4wHmcX7JbtAQ-l98MVb6YfytjeOUMWdcljd1SA8nf5I0wLgwbP7jdFCF5Sb7hIIaW2e9s-IVOr0N4Ts/s4000/library%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKS7ge5s92DUg3_uIcMe0f6iHh9o5_d2afjmaVPeNpJCJczNGxlnRfzze7TYGRtZNQ5M91Nyuone2B4Wnub99dmnCASjAnoK7o74LEGrx4T5f4wHmcX7JbtAQ-l98MVb6YfytjeOUMWdcljd1SA8nf5I0wLgwbP7jdFCF5Sb7hIIaW2e9s-IVOr0N4Ts/w640-h480/library%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8l4LxjtGjd-045UFwwrLbSYXRhZImnRVPbNdaSqPzzuoO8DWsg3TB6fTCTi6sNSmymaVUWUjLxwTgBJf5gFpw7KKmqPXJJWheU57Goa9etz1h9O-ykdWOgtYSjJaLF7kZweOhSRM4Wg0TKIQsqpMGbdA6sPIT6ijIffcoHFKWNUg03Ie1lfGEFotI2s/s2944/library%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="2944" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8l4LxjtGjd-045UFwwrLbSYXRhZImnRVPbNdaSqPzzuoO8DWsg3TB6fTCTi6sNSmymaVUWUjLxwTgBJf5gFpw7KKmqPXJJWheU57Goa9etz1h9O-ykdWOgtYSjJaLF7kZweOhSRM4Wg0TKIQsqpMGbdA6sPIT6ijIffcoHFKWNUg03Ie1lfGEFotI2s/w640-h480/library%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYa6yqKHTuCEaUF7b6SIycRnqwu4TmTJuJ9LI56ot5Yg2v3kwH_zgcjOVC0LrgBYY5J_SIJaQXnbJHC90fnQr48q8yb1xdtYWhSSmhO9Jh-wsahWuN9bY3xaOqzv15eD8UIPesYYu2X6tM60monQge3pAXFebWhLK5yLkVU-Bj3tF3WCaLBkb5WRi4VXw/s4000/library%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYa6yqKHTuCEaUF7b6SIycRnqwu4TmTJuJ9LI56ot5Yg2v3kwH_zgcjOVC0LrgBYY5J_SIJaQXnbJHC90fnQr48q8yb1xdtYWhSSmhO9Jh-wsahWuN9bY3xaOqzv15eD8UIPesYYu2X6tM60monQge3pAXFebWhLK5yLkVU-Bj3tF3WCaLBkb5WRi4VXw/w640-h480/library%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I met up with a friend today for a trip to Beswick Library (which I combined with some recording for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a>). After we'd checked out some books, we went for lunch at <a href="https://elnecot.com/" target="_blank">Elnecot</a>. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-85652996704155990652024-02-04T14:35:00.000+00:002024-02-04T14:35:49.082+00:00Imbolc: Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtXOe9WbWLobh5o7Pr_uzuv9lXCn1rNhSNUL5YzjjDFzUjquVF8Pcaor4cqJVXnTqSIDuOQXxAp1Zc8flfm84WJWHjaoqWh7Lm33fhAd5oWlD0tUl2q7H7XeuacCk0wksnOsAebaUDUeoXPR3HtNGk_1ufn3maM8as6Nlwg8hO2QplFXtIijBk75Bb_Q/s2067/Imbolc%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="2067" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtXOe9WbWLobh5o7Pr_uzuv9lXCn1rNhSNUL5YzjjDFzUjquVF8Pcaor4cqJVXnTqSIDuOQXxAp1Zc8flfm84WJWHjaoqWh7Lm33fhAd5oWlD0tUl2q7H7XeuacCk0wksnOsAebaUDUeoXPR3HtNGk_1ufn3maM8as6Nlwg8hO2QplFXtIijBk75Bb_Q/w640-h422/Imbolc%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Another day of our slightly muted Imbolc celebrations. My temperature's down again (hooray!), but Rob's still really ill. Fingers crossed we kick this into touch soon. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Bailey’s Wood Imbolc Walk</h3><br />
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I ran a seasonal walk for <a href="https://friendsofbaileyswood.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Friends of Bailey's Wood</a> today, sharing Imbolc stories and folklore. We had a <i>huge</i> turnout, and everyone was really up for hearing me talk about Jack Frost, the Green Man, winter lights and weather-forecasting badgers. I read a bit from Lia Leendertz's <i>Almanac</i> as well, when we paused at the site of an old hay meadow - 'The Painful Plough' seemed fitting for the location!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-34266338264181758852024-02-03T22:14:00.005+00:002024-02-03T22:14:56.174+00:00Events in February 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5wvH4WSYY2fstR9ZwMmJ_CqJkiu_D45JNLjV2c81KnmGVhPDlCEh_WBEFE50UEz0TYczAEd5Yi3XIjpMaGXlIqaqWOOGhbp-sgfIvn3rqpTDCfnR_4fomnVnCpDfuvnakCzykTkOuITG49pNpMHupq_jPI-IZBH6WjzwGD0RhFG_YTvUniZw3ZvpU7c/s1080/feb%20events%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5wvH4WSYY2fstR9ZwMmJ_CqJkiu_D45JNLjV2c81KnmGVhPDlCEh_WBEFE50UEz0TYczAEd5Yi3XIjpMaGXlIqaqWOOGhbp-sgfIvn3rqpTDCfnR_4fomnVnCpDfuvnakCzykTkOuITG49pNpMHupq_jPI-IZBH6WjzwGD0RhFG_YTvUniZw3ZvpU7c/w640-h640/feb%20events%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<b>A Ghastly Find at Cheetham</b><br />
Saturday 17th February<br />
10.00-11.00am and 7.00-8.00pm<br />
<a href="https://romancingthegothic.com/" target="_blank">Romancing the Gothic</a><br />
<i>I'll be giving a talk on bodysnatching, the history of anatomy, museums and the Manchester Mummy</i> <br />
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/a-ghastly-find-at-cheetham-3034879?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp" target="_blank">Booking Link</a><br /><br />
<b>Virtual Writing Retreat</b><br />
Sunday 18th February<br />
10.30–5.00pm<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a><br />
<i>I'm hosting an online writing retreat for creative writers with writing exercises and structured writing sessions</i><br />
Members Event<br /><br />
Interested in booking me for an event? <a href="https://hannahkatefreelance.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to find out more. <br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-48245802815911760562024-02-03T21:31:00.000+00:002024-02-03T21:31:35.658+00:00Imbolc: Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEjtt7KxWmyAzpxCApS9efKYYfoHPC6G11eIv8T8F5ku7vv4CR94WaCYeg3wOUaDrBQvYqV222g8J8IGsJzBmCDF_Mkhr8JHhCWTT5HOCittQM-C_wXMk6Qck0kNHznyYqfKh7Qi86wKiFGT_ZFEXBLpxUPDcI-t4CNhnODn3WdtRWefeE9LfRShYPUk/s2063/Imbolc%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2063" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEjtt7KxWmyAzpxCApS9efKYYfoHPC6G11eIv8T8F5ku7vv4CR94WaCYeg3wOUaDrBQvYqV222g8J8IGsJzBmCDF_Mkhr8JHhCWTT5HOCittQM-C_wXMk6Qck0kNHznyYqfKh7Qi86wKiFGT_ZFEXBLpxUPDcI-t4CNhnODn3WdtRWefeE9LfRShYPUk/w640-h426/Imbolc%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It's Imbolc! But, sadly, a bit of a quiet one for us this year, as we've both come down with horrible colds that have completely derailed our plans for the season. I'm gutted, because I really love Imbolc, and we had to cancel a few of our seasonal celebrations last year for various reasons. Here's hoping this isn't a sign of things to come this year. Sigh. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Imbolc Litter-Pick </h3><br />
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It was the monthly <a href="https://friendsofbaileyswood.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Friends of Bailey's Wood</a> litter-pick today. Rob wasn't well enough to make it, but I limped on and enjoyed finding some seasonal things in the woods. I'm glad I did, because I found some Scarlet Elf Cups! First time I've ever seen these mushrooms in real life!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Hannah’s Bookshelf Imbolc Special</h3><br />
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This afternoon was the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a> Imbolc Special on <a href="https://northmanchester.fm" target="_blank">North Manchester FM</a>. I shared some seasonal stories and folklore, and then we had some original seasonal flash fiction submitted by four writers. I also contributed a story this time - 'Two Player Mode', a light-hearted take on the Imbolc season. And there were Imbolc cakes too, which I shared with the volunteers at the community centre where the NMFM studio is based.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-60323087572316824232024-02-03T19:37:00.005+00:002024-02-03T19:37:52.701+00:00My Year in Books 2024: JanuaryA new year and a new set of book review posts. I read quite a bit in December, but actually I've been struggling a bit with reading for fun again. I've got plenty of books on my to-read pile, but I've been find it hard to find the time and the concentration for reading them all. I'm hoping this will get better as the year goes on though. <br /><br />
That said, I did read two amazing books in January!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett (2023) </h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHzQt4Xeqqw-si1HyEuoyrfwllUHyrAmK4Ev_7Lam2VYjPxjJvpIYZjtRDW51p8akkgyrt-11mdD5iIzX7y4Pf0QjMDMk_2iw3dXFuuCzHYbK8dU2pR_k37JvcsZtNbm9WYR1qjGnfDHZfpyEwKZdlgST_9EeEJwZ6gXo-A0SfbCyh3xLFtc53LUg_LA/s1500/january%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="975" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHzQt4Xeqqw-si1HyEuoyrfwllUHyrAmK4Ev_7Lam2VYjPxjJvpIYZjtRDW51p8akkgyrt-11mdD5iIzX7y4Pf0QjMDMk_2iw3dXFuuCzHYbK8dU2pR_k37JvcsZtNbm9WYR1qjGnfDHZfpyEwKZdlgST_9EeEJwZ6gXo-A0SfbCyh3xLFtc53LUg_LA/s320/january%201.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>I’ve absolutely loved all of Janice Hallett’s books, so I was definitely looking forward to this one. I got this one out of the library on a recent visit, and as I had a day off I decided to read it all in one go. Like Hallett’s other books, this one has a quirky narrative format and tricksy storytelling style. It’s not quite as tricksy as <i>The Appeal</i> and <i>The Twyford Code</i>, and so it’s slightly easier to work out what you’re looking for and where the clues are in this one. The story is about a true crime writer, Amanda Bailey, who is tasked by her publisher with looking into the case of the Alperton Angels, a cult who committed mass suicide seventeen years ago. The so-called Alperton Angels had planned to sacrifice a baby prior to their deaths, but this plan was thwarted and the baby – along with its teenaged parents – were removed from the scene. No one knows what happened to the baby afterwards, but now that it will be reaching eighteen years of age, Amanda thinks this might be the angle she needs for her book. Unfortunately, an old colleague/rival, Oliver Menzies, is also writing a book on the case, so Amanda has to try and stay one step ahead of him. Of course, this being a book by Janice Hallett, things aren’t quite what they seem. I really enjoyed this one, though it didn’t quite beat <i>The Twyford Code</i> for me. Very engrossing story though!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Five Minds by Guy Morpuss (2021)</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyGbUk-A1X_-W91DlfUoPz2suMbFyaetwmREvgCdY9Tg8y7HvdCQ3WaeN2Jihhe4aCOxpnVnMJCGAaLrAl_AVD_MR06pz0f99oZTiB6hjijFyXUv18FrN3K0Vw6VDDs1SWq1Qa7K3Z8rQklV_Ln-rtu7gRGSY7IrkVb9fKsSriIJTyhSigt5OC-LGM9A/s1500/january%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="975" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyGbUk-A1X_-W91DlfUoPz2suMbFyaetwmREvgCdY9Tg8y7HvdCQ3WaeN2Jihhe4aCOxpnVnMJCGAaLrAl_AVD_MR06pz0f99oZTiB6hjijFyXUv18FrN3K0Vw6VDDs1SWq1Qa7K3Z8rQklV_Ln-rtu7gRGSY7IrkVb9fKsSriIJTyhSigt5OC-LGM9A/s320/january%202.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>I read Morpuss’s second novel <i>Black Lake Manor</i> at the end of 2022/beginning of 2023, and really enjoyed it. I don’t know why it took me so long to read his debut novel, but I’m glad I have done now. The story is set in the near future when an undefined totalitarian regime has stepped in to control overpopulation and depletion of resources. Human beings now have a choice of how to live: be a worker (live your life as normal, but work for it), be an android (have your consciousness downloaded into an artificial body with a lifespan of 80 years), be a hedonist (enjoy your life without having to work, but only with a lifespan of 42 years), or join a commune (five minds inhabiting one body, enjoying 5 lifespans). This is the story of a commune made up of Alex, Kate, Mike, Sierra and Ben, who are each conscious for 4 hours a day, controlling the body that they all share. So far, so <i>Black Mirror</i>. But <i>Five Minds</i> is actually so much more intriguing (and the mind-bendy sci-fi context is very light-touch). It’s a mystery novel told through multiple narrators who can never co-exist or communicate with one another. Someone is trying to kill off members of the commune, and it’s possible one of the members is a traitor – but how can they ever work out the truth, if they each only get four hours at a time? This is such a good book – highly recommended.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-66671015337995037502024-01-20T03:01:00.005+00:002024-01-20T03:01:50.339+00:00Review: Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World – The Musical (Kenny Wax Family Entertainment and MAST Mayflower Studios)<b>Thursday 7 December 2023</b><br />
<b>The Lowry, Salford</b><br /><br />
On Thursday 7th December, I was at <a href="https://thelowry.com/" target="_blank">The Lowry</a> for the press night of <i><a href="https://fantasticallygreatwomenthemusical.com/" target="_blank">Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World</a></i>, a musical based on the picture book by Kate Pankhurst. The radio version of this review will be going out on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a> on <a href="https://northmanchester.fm" target="_blank">North Manchester FM</a> on Saturday 20th January, but here’s the blog version…<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB061p4Qfucmoi61rafJduUXFfy5b6UO21DRPU4wRTEj4tdScZeqH5yIfRiQaWqZsvbv3GJQqytS1iY3EzRnudesLMgu6G7mixlTNuueLEj09PgLLcNKQbG3rg1rcXVJDM8Ly4t_NljhsQsD_mPqTxuO6ClCTF5laSIi2oDhamWDwImtk2pVSGk6MMw5g/s400/FGW23121_SALFORD_400x300pxls_V23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB061p4Qfucmoi61rafJduUXFfy5b6UO21DRPU4wRTEj4tdScZeqH5yIfRiQaWqZsvbv3GJQqytS1iY3EzRnudesLMgu6G7mixlTNuueLEj09PgLLcNKQbG3rg1rcXVJDM8Ly4t_NljhsQsD_mPqTxuO6ClCTF5laSIi2oDhamWDwImtk2pVSGk6MMw5g/w400-h300/FGW23121_SALFORD_400x300pxls_V23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<i>Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World</i> has been adapted from the picture book of the same name by Kate Pankhurst, with the stage adaptation by Chris Bush, music by Miranda Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo, and lyrics by Chris Bush and Miranda Cooper. It’s a one-act show, with four of the cast taking on multiple roles.<br /><br />
The framing narrative introduces us to Jade (Georgia Grant-Anderson), a young girl who wanders away from a school trip to a museum and finds herself in the ‘Gallery of Greats’, a section of the museum that’s off-limits to visitors. Actually, it’s not strictly true to say Jade wanders off – she’s actually left behind by her teachers and classmates, kicking off the show’s underlying storyline about self-discovery and self-worth.<br /><br />
As she wonders why no one ever pays her any attention, Jade is interrupted by the arrival of the first ‘Fantastically Great Women’: Amelia Earhart (Leah Vassell), Gertrude Ederle (Chlöe Hart) and Sacagawea (Elena Breschi), who perform an energetic number about finding where you want to go in life (the theme being the reason for the particular grouping of these three women). After this, Jade is immersed fully in the ‘Gallery of Greats’, meeting a parade of figures from history, including Frida Kahlo, Emmeline Pankhurst, Marie Curie, Jane Austen, Mary Anning, Mary Seacole and Rosa Parks, all played by Vassell, Hart, Breschi and Jennifer Caldwell. <br /><br />
The overall design of the show captures something of the picture book quality of its source. Joanna Scotcher’s costume and set design are bold and colourful, often using a single colour for a character. Outfits also make clear visual reference to the lives and careers of the women: Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel, is wearing a bathing suit, for instance, and Frida Kahlo is wearing a flower crown similar to those depicted in her self-portraits. Props are big and eye-catching, with an almost cartoonish quality to them that makes them more like symbols than real objects.<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx5CduASubWu6SZooB6BjU_DAPnXJcoMV5ApM26rfD5w8BSfB7SVQ-JlP-Mjz208Q1u9ap9lcCxt4U4qdeZx08UzHetmYEtkBDJ6J8NBmeOBlyp0REHCg_KhHUMg6QB2kNbqoag355YRDKKH8cUQivzm0RTiP6w7oF8iPwOnDpCjwJfIJiQ3JQoLVtoE/s3500/Elena%20Breschi,%20credit%20Pamela%20Raith%20Photography%20(09).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2148" data-original-width="3500" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx5CduASubWu6SZooB6BjU_DAPnXJcoMV5ApM26rfD5w8BSfB7SVQ-JlP-Mjz208Q1u9ap9lcCxt4U4qdeZx08UzHetmYEtkBDJ6J8NBmeOBlyp0REHCg_KhHUMg6QB2kNbqoag355YRDKKH8cUQivzm0RTiP6w7oF8iPwOnDpCjwJfIJiQ3JQoLVtoE/w640-h392/Elena%20Breschi,%20credit%20Pamela%20Raith%20Photography%20(09).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elena Breschi, photo credit Pamela Raith Photography</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
But it’s not just about the visuals here. The performance style is similarly bold and colourful, with energetic – almost frenetic – dance routines (choreographed by Danielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe) that see the performers climbing, jumping and moving the set around, disappearing through doors and reemerging as different characters. <br /><br />
In the middle of this is Jade, who is dressed in a notably grey school uniform. Jade typically begins each new number as a static observer, sometimes at the sidelines, sometimes caught up in the middle of the whirlwind. She often looks confused by the appearance of a new group of ‘Greats’, asking questions or ducking to get out of the way of whatever high-energy ensemble has burst from the doors. Without fail, though, she gets drawn into the performance, joining in the dance and taking inspiration from the words of the song and the careers of the women.<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrp90JG2ZmrOztb6LjVuFyVIpPYl5jgsaLmssUzDwUO510b0MrwJMJ_GwkZ7AsUyR4hp23lG_is0K5oFrQEv2Op5n4LvDwklhfCjXDCNgmYP_rrtw0xgwr8BV0okhxRWgccJty78NWYPVwS3-FfZeWF33JjBpUtTAS6L704mHgkElvJIEPoUsLghKr-s/s3500/Georgia%20Grant-Anderson,%20credit%20Pamlea%20Raith%20Photography%20(08).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2359" data-original-width="3500" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrp90JG2ZmrOztb6LjVuFyVIpPYl5jgsaLmssUzDwUO510b0MrwJMJ_GwkZ7AsUyR4hp23lG_is0K5oFrQEv2Op5n4LvDwklhfCjXDCNgmYP_rrtw0xgwr8BV0okhxRWgccJty78NWYPVwS3-FfZeWF33JjBpUtTAS6L704mHgkElvJIEPoUsLghKr-s/w640-h432/Georgia%20Grant-Anderson,%20credit%20Pamlea%20Raith%20Photography%20(08).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgia Grant-Anderson, photo credit Pamela Raith Photography</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
It feels as though Jade is imagined as an avatar for the audience (or, at least, for its younger members). She speaks of feeling overlooked and ignored, and of wanting to find her own path in life. Although there are some specific details about her home life given, her story is generic enough for the audience to identify with her situation. So, when the ‘Great Women’ speak to Jade, giving her lessons on how to find her path in life, they are also speaking to the audience, offering inspirational stories to younger viewers (girls, of course, but there’s no reason why boys shouldn’t take inspiration from the stories as well) who might be having the same self-doubts as Jade. <br /><br />
The message of the show is really not subtle, but then again that should be pretty clear from the title! However, just because the message is transparent doesn’t mean that the overall show lacks depth or subtlety.<br /><br />
As someone who is considerably older than the target audience for Pankhurst’s book, but someone with a background in both academic research and public engagement, I was very curious to see just how ‘deep’ the historical content of the show would go. And, I have to say, I was very impressed. <br /><br />
The songs that introduce these figures from history are all – as you might imagine – the length of a standard musical number. And that’s not a lot of time to cover, not only the salient facts of a woman’s career, but also the context in which she lived and the impact her work had on subsequent generations (how she ‘Changed the World’). And yet, that is exactly what the songs manage to do, and all in a format and language that will be accessible to school-age children.<br /><br />
The songs cover aspects of discrimination – sexism, as you might imagine, but also racism and classism – as well as introducing some of the more personal challenges the individual women faced. Frida Kahlo, for instance, introduces her song by explaining the physical disabilities she had as a result of childhood polio and the bus accident that left her seriously injured as a young woman. She speaks of how this prevented her from following her original ambitions, and how she turned to painting during her recovery. It’s heavy stuff, and it’s hard not to feel some of the pain in Breschi’s powerful performance, which is at turns uplifting and defiant.<br /><br />
But I really have to say something about Emmeline Pankhurst – surely the most memorable appearance in the show.<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKJezUA0eiyXA2v9S4OSIbgfFM5N9d3tDQO6gh9E2KZjWwow760-tai529oEgYaHoyoPbp3rFfH2bzcO06FZBSzDCh7D6-1m163c2jja3JUXGwfZ8Kynglig7Qqqw4jI0GPxZRSS1Eevv26dTqL54QOvP8UpZRzHNiyaVD8SbfB_-VnhQKzP64X_lcTM/s3500/Jennifer%20Caldwell,%20credit%20Pamela%20Raith%20Photography%20(07).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="3500" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKJezUA0eiyXA2v9S4OSIbgfFM5N9d3tDQO6gh9E2KZjWwow760-tai529oEgYaHoyoPbp3rFfH2bzcO06FZBSzDCh7D6-1m163c2jja3JUXGwfZ8Kynglig7Qqqw4jI0GPxZRSS1Eevv26dTqL54QOvP8UpZRzHNiyaVD8SbfB_-VnhQKzP64X_lcTM/w640-h448/Jennifer%20Caldwell,%20credit%20Pamela%20Raith%20Photography%20(07).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer Caldwell, photo credit Pamela Raith Photography</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
Emmeline Pankhurst (Jennifer Caldwell) is played here as a military general. Taking inspiration from the phrase ‘soldiers in petticoats’, which appears in the ‘Sister Suffragette’ song in <i>Mary Poppins</i> and is repeated in <i>Fantastically Great Women</i>, the show ditches the petticoats and just has its suffragettes appear as soldiers, in purple combat trousers, military jackets and fringed epaulettes. Caldwell’s Emmeline (with, perhaps, a deeper Lancashire accent than the historic Emmeline would have had, though its nice to have a nod to her northern roots) captures the militancy of the suffragette movement, as well as the imposing, formidable reputation of its founder. Her performance is way more confrontational than any of the others in the show, with Caldwell taking a handheld mic from her pocket and rapping at one point, but it’s hard to argue with what she’s saying. By the end of the song, the audience is fired up and ready to follow her, shouting ‘Deeds Not Words’ whenever she gestures. It’s a stylization, but a really original one that evokes, rather than straightforwardly depicts, the unnerving force behind the WSPU and the suffragette cause.<br /><br />
Two other quite different highlights for me were the song ‘Mary, Mary and Marie’, which imagines Mary Anning (Hart), Mary Seacole (Vassell) and Marie Curie (Breschi) as a trio of superheroes, led by the mysterious Agent Fifi (aka WWII secret agent and spy-trainer Marie Christine Chilver, played by Caldwell). ‘Zany’ is probably the vibe here, with physical comedy and silly costumes giving way to some more down-to-earth commentary on the obstacles faced by the women during their lifetimes. It’s very good fun, and I loved the inclusion of Agent Fifi, probably one of the show’s lesser-known historical figures (and, to be honest, still appropriately enigmatic by the end of the show!). <br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNExyCbBlZgvdbEeFx7slyr6npAzpEaXuGnjU7z28NEJyb3m64cLOAY5kazg8BdFTgBaS7zrfchvhaTibS1_BgZFOINvUTIeSZtTByoHwQ3ZZrdBFH73mDGc_8KivKhNOQTeaiQVh1wLJSwDSsJTL19XVQ71nxQ-fxj7lhiKUZzERv4SMCcvqMq9QHXM/s3500/Leah%20Vassell,%20Georgia%20Grant-Anderson,%20credit%20Pamela%20Raith%20Photography%20(12).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2214" data-original-width="3500" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNExyCbBlZgvdbEeFx7slyr6npAzpEaXuGnjU7z28NEJyb3m64cLOAY5kazg8BdFTgBaS7zrfchvhaTibS1_BgZFOINvUTIeSZtTByoHwQ3ZZrdBFH73mDGc_8KivKhNOQTeaiQVh1wLJSwDSsJTL19XVQ71nxQ-fxj7lhiKUZzERv4SMCcvqMq9QHXM/w640-h404/Leah%20Vassell,%20Georgia%20Grant-Anderson,%20credit%20Pamela%20Raith%20Photography%20(12).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leah Vassell, Georgia Grant-Anderson, photo credit Pamela Raith Photography</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
Towards the end of the show, we have the most moving and reflective number, which serves as a reminder that, while some battles can be won, others tragically can’t. Jade meets Rosa Parks (Vassell) who is dressed in less stylized clothing and is seated on a bench. They speak about structural inequalities, particularly relating to racial inequalities and discrimination, and then Parks introduces another young girl. It is Anne Frank, played by Millie Kiss (who has not appeared as any of the other ‘Great Women’). The song that follows, ‘World of Colour’, is sung by Parks to her two young companions, and it successfully negotiates trauma and resilience with a tone that is both poignant and beautiful.<br /><br />
Overall, <i>Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World</i> is a very fun show that will certainly capture the imagination, if not inspire, audience members of all ages. Younger viewers will enjoy seeing the historical figures they’ve encountered in school lessons or Kate Pankhurst’s original book brought to life on stage with vivid colours and vibrant performances. But older viewers will also find a lot to enjoy, and I suspect there were quite a few people planning to Google ‘Agent Fifi’ after the show I saw.<br /><br />
But, most importantly for a musical, the songs are catchy, the dances and costumes memorable, and the finale infectiously upbeat. It’s a very fun night out – for all ages. This one is a strong recommendation from me.<br /><br />
<i>Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World</i> was on at The Lowry on 5th December-7th January, as part of a national tour. For upcoming tour dates and more information about the show, please visit <a href="https://fantasticallygreatwomenthemusical.com/" target="_blank">the show's website</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-23349680698321409962024-01-10T15:32:00.000+00:002024-01-10T15:32:34.988+00:00Imbolc Stories Wanted for Hannah’s Bookshelf on North Manchester FM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WSZlasdEClkYm_CpcHPebHx7QiG8pIfLQR7Jl2g-0DRsXOIObtL_We9jwQpr3HtC3YB1wlNAIxarT8EQtmlDdYY_G-YDEyigJZvVpf51OGahnoZv8IsJ7268c_M0vs8vOk0RL2tdD4HdZiMLLwdZASjC59Dxnffj_QSJQC3i6r6aW5qKpAwttBHoGk0/s940/Imbolc%20Special%20FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WSZlasdEClkYm_CpcHPebHx7QiG8pIfLQR7Jl2g-0DRsXOIObtL_We9jwQpr3HtC3YB1wlNAIxarT8EQtmlDdYY_G-YDEyigJZvVpf51OGahnoZv8IsJ7268c_M0vs8vOk0RL2tdD4HdZiMLLwdZASjC59Dxnffj_QSJQC3i6r6aW5qKpAwttBHoGk0/w640-h536/Imbolc%20Special%20FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Submit your seasonal flash fiction to be played on Hannah’s Bookshelf this January!</h3><br />
Can you tell a seasonal story in just 3 minutes? Want to have your work played on the radio? This month, I’m looking for seasonal (winter, Imbolc, Candlemas, Groundhog Day) flash fiction from around the world for inclusion on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank"><b>Hannah’s Bookshelf</b></a>, the weekly literature show on <a href="https://northmanchester.fm" target="_blank"><b>North Manchester FM</b></a>.<br /><br />
On Saturday 27th January, I’ll be hosting the first <b>Hannah’s Bookshelf Imbolc Special</b>, and as part of my seasonal special, I’ll be playing a selection of my favourite 3-minute stories on the show (broadcast on FM and on digital). Want to be part of it? Submit a recording of your seasonally inflected story (maximum 3 minutes) by <b>midnight on Monday 22nd January</b>.<br /><br />
All genres welcome – be they cosy, romantic, scary or sad. The only rules are that stories must be your own original work, have some connection to the season, and be in English (the language of the broadcast). And please ease off the swears – stories have to be radio friendly! All you need is a microphone and a story – once you’re ready to submit your story, click on the ‘Start Recording’ button <b><span><a href="https://hannahkate.net/imbolc-stories-wanted-for-hannahs-bookshelf-on-north-manchester-fm/" target="_blank">on my website</a></span></b> to record your story and submit it. Remember to enter your name and email address when submitting your story.<br /><br />
If you aren’t able to submit via a recording and would like another method of taking part, please message <a href="https://hannahkate.net/contact/" target="_blank">via my website</a> for more information.<br /><br />
Please share this call with anyone who you think might be interested – I’d like to cast the net as wide as possible. My favourite seasonal stories will be broadcast on the <b>Hannah’s Bookshelf Imbolc Special</b> at 2pm on Saturday 27th January, on <a href="https://northmanchester.fm/listen" target="_blank">digital radio</a> and 106.6FM.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-40789875180559663662024-01-08T14:27:00.001+00:002024-01-25T15:44:44.101+00:00Events in January 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXxrMtl5swHz5uSyJrPlbjg0QoDPIR2lciQbilT1F6JNsKmI-s7tp1H1FDL4U4qowpM54-k4tTQTFKVOvUa7BDc2vpbcnpzHh8xLGKVJOSYQgzxnvudAeezoui5aJiDJeNXor3vMA5vpAoEAHjGr78XyeNBE2agdH1KNbZ9pqsgykrKPX91Vg1AJG3wU/s1080/Jan%20Events%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXxrMtl5swHz5uSyJrPlbjg0QoDPIR2lciQbilT1F6JNsKmI-s7tp1H1FDL4U4qowpM54-k4tTQTFKVOvUa7BDc2vpbcnpzHh8xLGKVJOSYQgzxnvudAeezoui5aJiDJeNXor3vMA5vpAoEAHjGr78XyeNBE2agdH1KNbZ9pqsgykrKPX91Vg1AJG3wU/w640-h640/Jan%20Events%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqA7yvDK4aUq3AmAw_cf2RO56hGGWJfXLP6ivlMVZfvdd1f92YlRRPRjfkOP3e6UH4hKOI8jSXaJzorPSicRGchcZUspCDCeEPkGchkWyp8hmg3ljjNwq1IpNImGvJvBGiPsMnGLJlbxxAMyx-MdDqha49ZqvRcMmPpOFructbaMZnk0ATigp1m1CA6k/s1080/Jan%20Events%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqA7yvDK4aUq3AmAw_cf2RO56hGGWJfXLP6ivlMVZfvdd1f92YlRRPRjfkOP3e6UH4hKOI8jSXaJzorPSicRGchcZUspCDCeEPkGchkWyp8hmg3ljjNwq1IpNImGvJvBGiPsMnGLJlbxxAMyx-MdDqha49ZqvRcMmPpOFructbaMZnk0ATigp1m1CA6k/w640-h640/Jan%20Events%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<b>Virtual Writing Retreat</b><br />
Sunday 21st January<br />
10.30–5.00pm<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a><br />
<i>I'm hosting an online writing retreat for creative writers with writing exercises and structured writing sessions</i><br />
Members Event<br /><br />
<b>Hannah's Bookshelf Imbolc Special</b><br />
Saturday 27th January<br />
2.00–4.00pm<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a> / <a href="https://northmanchester.fm" target="_blank">North Manchester FM</a><br />
<i>I'm hosting a special seasonal edition of my regular radio show on North Manchester FM, including Imbolc-themed flash fiction </i><br />
<a href="https://hannahkate.net/imbolc-stories-wanted-for-hannahs-bookshelf-on-north-manchester-fm/" target="_blank">Submission Link</a><br /><br />
<b>Imbolc Walk in the Woods</b><br />
Sunday 28th January<br />
11.30–12.30pm<br />
<a href="https://friendsofbaileyswood.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Friends of Bailey's Wood</a><br />
<i>I'll be leading a sociable walk in the woods to enjoy the changing seasons</i><br />
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/imbolc-walk-in-the-woods-tickets-797870932437">Booking Link</a><br /><br />
<b>Imbolc Stories</b><br />
Wednesday 31st January<br />
2.00-4.00pm<br />
<a href="http://www.hopestreetthinking.co.uk/" target="_blank">Castlerea House</a><br />
<i>I'm running a seasonal poetry and storytelling workshop session for residents at Castlerea care home</i><br />
Private Event<br /><br />
Interested in booking me for an event? <a href="https://hannahkatefreelance.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to find out more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-56283803755637262362023-12-31T17:30:00.001+00:002024-01-21T17:24:16.142+00:00Countdown to Christmas: Day 24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNo1Ayql4UoOFPM0XWmDIO-_LsPMYnovVkbvxF3BkdULvcmESBexxNVrmChasS3YU9Qnfl19mKH3iR4gO4ey4gZfY2-Hmt7Qtyhm9514XJAqJBk52eOd_wk5KlR6LjK7NYjyuLh_V808gMIfGMdkNsko9RLp8jRqel7k_a5JhLqYWeirssen5WTkc/s1959/Christmas%2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1959" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNo1Ayql4UoOFPM0XWmDIO-_LsPMYnovVkbvxF3BkdULvcmESBexxNVrmChasS3YU9Qnfl19mKH3iR4gO4ey4gZfY2-Hmt7Qtyhm9514XJAqJBk52eOd_wk5KlR6LjK7NYjyuLh_V808gMIfGMdkNsko9RLp8jRqel7k_a5JhLqYWeirssen5WTkc/w640-h470/Christmas%2024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Christmas Eve was an insanely busy day, not helped by the fact that I didn't get any sleep last night. But it was all very good festive stuff, and I had an amazing time. (I just wish I hadn't been so tired that I went out in odd shoes at one point, and then broke my glasses in the evening!)<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Operation Turkey</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cWxN5t1stHJFuBG0gfJgGK0ObgJ28DqLBoL5V90j5Zd0B5s42NMp_GFjqkxlOv9YOu2Ysp_cwnSjW7mhLnpOt-uddq9MP2tuIhhKOJF5QT40CLlIobWFgH0PR932o1qb0thbcaIvlSMBvbKGwsS_FYvP8qCxJbQ17YEQOgw-i56MWdy-5JSuiS4TXBA/s4000/operation%20turkey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cWxN5t1stHJFuBG0gfJgGK0ObgJ28DqLBoL5V90j5Zd0B5s42NMp_GFjqkxlOv9YOu2Ysp_cwnSjW7mhLnpOt-uddq9MP2tuIhhKOJF5QT40CLlIobWFgH0PR932o1qb0thbcaIvlSMBvbKGwsS_FYvP8qCxJbQ17YEQOgw-i56MWdy-5JSuiS4TXBA/w640-h480/operation%20turkey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
First thing in the morning, I headed over to Bury for what me and my mother-in-law were calling Operation Turkey (i.e. I took her to the local farm shop to pick up the turkey she'd ordered). This was an odd mission for a vegetarian to undertake, but she did give me a cup of tea and some homemade mince pies afterwards. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Castlerea Christmas Party</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuN2Q9OL1CUUIvidvAigtQ7UtGKjwYLXBe1nceVBgtGHhJvtBI_zZXPpUkAXMTOgohGvIIuaOcQq3F9DaGWcKtU-YhpSUQhlP5-CUqY5vbk8jN_B_W7mNkP5_p_5a01xS7Xk44VsZDjG8FBodFn-02Vbr7KIMnRlZwTOTOoFa1TDIudHlIVAGtHHU8B-Y/s4000/castlerea%20christmas%20eve.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuN2Q9OL1CUUIvidvAigtQ7UtGKjwYLXBe1nceVBgtGHhJvtBI_zZXPpUkAXMTOgohGvIIuaOcQq3F9DaGWcKtU-YhpSUQhlP5-CUqY5vbk8jN_B_W7mNkP5_p_5a01xS7Xk44VsZDjG8FBodFn-02Vbr7KIMnRlZwTOTOoFa1TDIudHlIVAGtHHU8B-Y/w640-h480/castlerea%20christmas%20eve.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Next stop, <a href="http://www.hopestreetthinking.co.uk/" target="_blank">Castlerea Care Home</a> for the Christmas Eve party. I took a bottle of Salted Caramel Bailey's and some mince pies, read 'A Visit from St Nicholas' (aka ''Twas the Night Before Christmas'), and then handed out presents for the residents and staff. They had a Christmas quiz after that, but I couldn't stay because I had to fly off to my next thing.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Drink With a Friend</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8LMwGgU_0oyCPZfOEV_Ht5Xn7lT6u2GcXkitdo3ii9W5QCfae4DMgGj8LDa6LoM84VLS3geUBM5dFzqp57GKxc0Biy82LVKEkKjG5sNjdMnXWZscUQP8DaEmHIsYEVNBzcRWtpWpZwF-VA1MLF5XWtbhyphenhyphenXRlrFWwqT_-K2-MairEWLIIqjh3GXhnyeE/s3648/me%20and%20poppy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8LMwGgU_0oyCPZfOEV_Ht5Xn7lT6u2GcXkitdo3ii9W5QCfae4DMgGj8LDa6LoM84VLS3geUBM5dFzqp57GKxc0Biy82LVKEkKjG5sNjdMnXWZscUQP8DaEmHIsYEVNBzcRWtpWpZwF-VA1MLF5XWtbhyphenhyphenXRlrFWwqT_-K2-MairEWLIIqjh3GXhnyeE/w640-h480/me%20and%20poppy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Me and my friend Poppy met up in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Close-Neighbours-Residents-Association-100064571174579/?paipv=0&eav=AfYjRT4bXtYkWlsTPy544g14IQx17FCIVvkpHPzKrmhI3wKCmrUOrv13G2A8Yqtu1Wg&_rdr" target="_blank">Bowker Bank Woods</a> for a festive drink and a chat this afternoon. And yes... yes I did make more mulled apple juice for the occasion.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Walk in the Woods</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo6NZxmIoJWQrCyofkvP78UiXmXf7RuIFt6jTn5385H0aBnsC4138uudOaxt00FcJWqkWhSow4QxNoWresHnsUgGn32MlUI4N3bjkWOSLsCOHO5ffLhjDgKV2FDYALz4d2p8sZg-pAdYaLHRF8i6kiKngXz_CMYLjLzJWXtepVybtuNR6q4bl957VRWI/s4000/blackley%20forest%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo6NZxmIoJWQrCyofkvP78UiXmXf7RuIFt6jTn5385H0aBnsC4138uudOaxt00FcJWqkWhSow4QxNoWresHnsUgGn32MlUI4N3bjkWOSLsCOHO5ffLhjDgKV2FDYALz4d2p8sZg-pAdYaLHRF8i6kiKngXz_CMYLjLzJWXtepVybtuNR6q4bl957VRWI/w640-h480/blackley%20forest%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPqtZ5GQOySYB_0HmEGdWaQCv8yLuzqSLRuNs3RoMAe3UCM3DAN4_BL_LwRJTVreFDZ22wIVhBW5XMpyuh_c5_6EezUHXrqMhMOzkzdN0WhPQrPUWnvz9GDVyCYFeAhl4x_6tl28x42sbJy0nhjeRfkiKxCo-VfsOl6tI8vi3dESNzw-clXYvif6lLOY/s4000/blackley%20forest%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPqtZ5GQOySYB_0HmEGdWaQCv8yLuzqSLRuNs3RoMAe3UCM3DAN4_BL_LwRJTVreFDZ22wIVhBW5XMpyuh_c5_6EezUHXrqMhMOzkzdN0WhPQrPUWnvz9GDVyCYFeAhl4x_6tl28x42sbJy0nhjeRfkiKxCo-VfsOl6tI8vi3dESNzw-clXYvif6lLOY/w640-h480/blackley%20forest%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOUqoR-_JdMHLJlOu_KG4Pkw_PfV5UmNyFPTwGZLHuNln27HDs97a3xE57ldFVBBItP1t82GCMeK1R3EfboHV90XHY6xZKRB9oVPBSaStbz7vWA0zV5kMwr6V6gjA1Wq0W1pWpi4lu3lcJ9mV4yBL3mpfjjCGXin9k5hVgkUJ7QVbLKCzkygXqnPJcyY/s2944/blackley%20forest%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="2944" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOUqoR-_JdMHLJlOu_KG4Pkw_PfV5UmNyFPTwGZLHuNln27HDs97a3xE57ldFVBBItP1t82GCMeK1R3EfboHV90XHY6xZKRB9oVPBSaStbz7vWA0zV5kMwr6V6gjA1Wq0W1pWpi4lu3lcJ9mV4yBL3mpfjjCGXin9k5hVgkUJ7QVbLKCzkygXqnPJcyY/w640-h480/blackley%20forest%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I had an amazing twilight walk to my parents' house through <a href="https://www.blackleyforest.com/" target="_blank">Blackley Forest</a> this evening, with <i>The Nutcracker Suite</i> in my ears and a rucksack full of presents on my back. Admittedly, all I'd had so far today was mince pies, a little bit of Bailey's and some mulled apple juice (on around 2 hours sleep), but it was a perfect walk all the same.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Salted Caramel Lebkuchen Tea</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA9co8uXTVk1JjxGrfS88jZE2FZlUodJgXp_5E51BUamLoXUXKxhu6TRCvqVdXiUlE2Lkf8zTkBo4x3f80KUYRC5Z1UdpBS7Q-w-DgNqdbOjLiGgLrWqlQogTKgofnjaSStiaKj6d1nTq1GS22a9Ku5QfO_d841lgZ_XfaUBufooNYB4r_En7F70O5gQ/s4000/salted%20caramel%20lebkuchen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA9co8uXTVk1JjxGrfS88jZE2FZlUodJgXp_5E51BUamLoXUXKxhu6TRCvqVdXiUlE2Lkf8zTkBo4x3f80KUYRC5Z1UdpBS7Q-w-DgNqdbOjLiGgLrWqlQogTKgofnjaSStiaKj6d1nTq1GS22a9Ku5QfO_d841lgZ_XfaUBufooNYB4r_En7F70O5gQ/w640-h480/salted%20caramel%20lebkuchen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
At my parents' house and enjoying a little bit of calm before the rest of my family arrive, with some <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a> Salted Caramel Lebkuchen tea.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Tea </h3><br />
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Behind the final door in my <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a> tea calendar... Peppermint Hot Cocoa!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Jewellery</h3><br />
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And behind the penultimate door in my <a href="https://www.shopwithmyrep.co.uk/avon/hannahkate?attach=16509336" target="_blank">Avon</a> jewellery calendar (because it's got a renegade Door No. 25 for tomorrow)... a candy cane pendant!<br /><br />
And so, the countdown is over and I'm ready for Christmas with my family, and so that's where I'm ending this blog. The wheel of the year will turn again after New Year, when we'll be getting ready to celebrate Imbolc.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-40207805795458924282023-12-31T16:30:00.001+00:002024-01-21T16:21:59.956+00:00Countdown to Christmas: Day 23<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhxy8kgXVCS0nXDKRcgXlMwmMAtTEZ5NrYr_jRoVUkSnQvor0umnix7Q86u7Cm_Vs90w6Hf62PXqxg22EMVC9VasCv6KIheGkzQiYdV2wJpg6JqoOho4G0BPuym1M6uPwTpQe6QZQgYGsaPoKEyKizZHC9mT6KXatxi5wS-4hucG6hiUaZF-FuDJJ/s1963/Christmas%2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1963" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhxy8kgXVCS0nXDKRcgXlMwmMAtTEZ5NrYr_jRoVUkSnQvor0umnix7Q86u7Cm_Vs90w6Hf62PXqxg22EMVC9VasCv6KIheGkzQiYdV2wJpg6JqoOho4G0BPuym1M6uPwTpQe6QZQgYGsaPoKEyKizZHC9mT6KXatxi5wS-4hucG6hiUaZF-FuDJJ/w640-h468/Christmas%2023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Today was a <i>very</i> busy day. Lots to do before tomorrow (which is going to be even busier) and then Christmas Day (also Rob's birthday). <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Rainbow </h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTGob5gY-b0ur1qRskqNydV3s-v7TpgGBxX4gowQljsjQMGkLDB5mHvB1CdI17LgpmhB5Oe01I7uDZHIqkF7RDvW2Em8JnEpxpDfGPOpzLiKnVL3W8tHqTSfZgcMdpnDXbSnSKcbkKQkipLga-xTDRVcZW_848oLthybb0booVRkNNV0iW3dtuqrWl1A/s1638/manchester%20fort%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1638" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTGob5gY-b0ur1qRskqNydV3s-v7TpgGBxX4gowQljsjQMGkLDB5mHvB1CdI17LgpmhB5Oe01I7uDZHIqkF7RDvW2Em8JnEpxpDfGPOpzLiKnVL3W8tHqTSfZgcMdpnDXbSnSKcbkKQkipLga-xTDRVcZW_848oLthybb0booVRkNNV0iW3dtuqrWl1A/w640-h496/manchester%20fort%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZnsYxpOiA6BsLBzo39Onr2cRut_rPzUqDpTfSm1vo0GmzEcrYaC4fO8n8CaVaySBGVoQAP0ggm6t7dkhXO9la343b2FDbmhobU0jH6jUdPWkDcLyE37m_zJ8PUtydzKlvUNj6ppq98q3d60nrLgHv9XfixCsZWwdb1OUI4EYlm598eRGcl8RSQbC0qk/s3299/manchester%20fort%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2507" data-original-width="3299" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZnsYxpOiA6BsLBzo39Onr2cRut_rPzUqDpTfSm1vo0GmzEcrYaC4fO8n8CaVaySBGVoQAP0ggm6t7dkhXO9la343b2FDbmhobU0jH6jUdPWkDcLyE37m_zJ8PUtydzKlvUNj6ppq98q3d60nrLgHv9XfixCsZWwdb1OUI4EYlm598eRGcl8RSQbC0qk/w640-h486/manchester%20fort%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I spent a big chunk of this afternoon shopping in Cheetham Hill. It was pretty hectic at Manchester Fort today, but literally everyone stopped in their tracks when an already impressive sunset gave way to the most incredible rainbow I've ever seen. It was so vivid, you could make out every single colour, and it was massive as well. I celebrated afterwards with a vegan Turkey & Trimmings Toastie and a Hazelnut Mocha at Costa (because I am a sucker for a festive menu).<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Hannah’s Bookshelf Christmas Special</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibp-SY-5f6CDgNUQ9wVYngdzZWt7TwZ8lavaHHA1II2m4D4fY7jCNkV3uTiqnK7G9nRFnPKCxMn0M9Do6TFljCYlAt2k7U-Pum7JkxyMYpO2LGHYzmkeIyZa4fGGCai08mWuo6LEGiBktGBlhKtZ7fRBTsXFqgfD38LPk9RYBCBYDotkMqBFmXLUf4MRM/s1080/Christmas%20Special.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibp-SY-5f6CDgNUQ9wVYngdzZWt7TwZ8lavaHHA1II2m4D4fY7jCNkV3uTiqnK7G9nRFnPKCxMn0M9Do6TFljCYlAt2k7U-Pum7JkxyMYpO2LGHYzmkeIyZa4fGGCai08mWuo6LEGiBktGBlhKtZ7fRBTsXFqgfD38LPk9RYBCBYDotkMqBFmXLUf4MRM/w640-h640/Christmas%20Special.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This afternoon was the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBookshelf" target="_blank">Hannah's Bookshelf</a> Christmas Special on <a href="https://northmanchester.fm" target="_blank">North Manchester FM</a>, when I talked about a selection of festive books that were published this year.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Pie </h3><br />
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We were able to do one of our Christmas traditions that we had to miss last year... Christmas Pie! It's Christmas, but in a pie. I was so tired from all the preparations that I couldn't be bothered cutting pastry leaves for the top, so I just stuck some holly leaves on there (we didn't eat them though). We watched <i>It's a Wonderful Life</i> and then had salted caramel chocolate tarts for pudding.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Tea </h3><br />
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Behind Door No. 23 in my <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a> tea calendar... Mince Pie!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Jewellery</h3><br />
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And behind Door No. 23 in my <a href="https://www.shopwithmyrep.co.uk/avon/hannahkate?attach=16509336" target="_blank">Avon</a> jewellery calendar... silver bow earrings! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-41036235798138774782023-12-31T16:00:00.001+00:002024-01-21T15:19:27.721+00:00Countdown to Christmas: Day 22<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_RG_3hM6TkfwkNmHC_QYNbvH19LN_TMUH2__tzdPyLEMx5ubNvsQM6h2Dr360AiiW5xgVV-f_ozelfL_rEutwnovb3GOTaKzSjQzpxwc1bD9DiSo-9pmqedLhv4ACFgxHoYsuY25bBd4gIMLekxhLC0AvcslBGwgiwSxOBwT03RWjYAM9zTI1Dat/s1961/Christmas%2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="1961" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_RG_3hM6TkfwkNmHC_QYNbvH19LN_TMUH2__tzdPyLEMx5ubNvsQM6h2Dr360AiiW5xgVV-f_ozelfL_rEutwnovb3GOTaKzSjQzpxwc1bD9DiSo-9pmqedLhv4ACFgxHoYsuY25bBd4gIMLekxhLC0AvcslBGwgiwSxOBwT03RWjYAM9zTI1Dat/w640-h468/Christmas%2022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Back in Manchester after a wonderful pre-Christmas holiday! Lots to do over the next couple of days though. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
More Mulling!</h3><br />
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Time to mull some more apple juice. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Bailey’s Wood Winter Solstice Walk </h3><br />
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I led a Winter Solstice Walk in the Woods for the <a href="https://friendsofbaileyswood.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Friends of Bailey's Wood</a> today. We talked about seasonal folklore and I, as always, shared tales of Captain Christmas. We also saw some amazing mushrooms and stopped for some mulled apple juice under the silver birch trees. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Mulled Apple Juice </h3><br />
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There was still some mulled apple juice left after the walk, so me and Rob had it with a mince pie!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Yule Candle</h3><br />
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We lit our Yule candle from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chalicecreations/about/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">Chalice Creations</a> tonight. Frankincense, cinnamon, orange and cedarwood to put us in a very festive mood.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Tea </h3><br />
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Behind Door No. 22 in my <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a> tea calendar... Salted Caramel Lebkuchen!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Jewellery</h3><br />
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And behind Door No. 22 in my <a href="https://www.shopwithmyrep.co.uk/avon/hannahkate?attach=16509336" target="_blank">Avon</a> jewellery calendar... a gold Christmas tree pendant!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-85773456650231191342023-12-31T15:30:00.001+00:002024-01-21T14:36:06.727+00:00Countdown to Christmas: Day 21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0w8sIPYhdp2oIrMuj8RSEjgHVzCX2vyeccMMLS1xfQngfzS54O16Kd1y0GqTWB4j-Cl8cvBkPbJHSMjZ4xU0A5tP1oSyWPF5pZ3thGy1oI1gK-h5s0Ig54Z611LeBk4a0U9c4AdzFRTB1xewNacfXz5BRCuvUZVXULXjopmCysFHmbbEM2tUWAm5/s1957/Christmas%2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1957" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0w8sIPYhdp2oIrMuj8RSEjgHVzCX2vyeccMMLS1xfQngfzS54O16Kd1y0GqTWB4j-Cl8cvBkPbJHSMjZ4xU0A5tP1oSyWPF5pZ3thGy1oI1gK-h5s0Ig54Z611LeBk4a0U9c4AdzFRTB1xewNacfXz5BRCuvUZVXULXjopmCysFHmbbEM2tUWAm5/w640-h472/Christmas%2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Our holiday is sadly coming to an end, so we left Lizard this morning to head back north again. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
A Trip to Truro </h3><br />
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Before we left Cornwall completely, we stopped off in Truro for a bit of Christmas shopping. I also popped into <a href="https://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/" target="_blank">Truro Cathedral</a> to see the Christmas tree, and we had lunch and a mince pie at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Coffee-Traders-100052407085273/" target="_blank">Coffee Traders</a>.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate</h3><br />
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I still can't resist a festive menu, so when we went for a coffee before starting the drive back to Manchester, I had a Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate instead.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Donut</h3><br />
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Stopped for a break on the long drive back and I thought I'd have a festive donut. It's not quite as pretty as I thought it was when I bought it.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Tea</h3><br />
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Behind Door No. 21 in my <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a> tea calendar... Welsh Cake Cwtch!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Jewellery</h3><br />
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And behind Door No. 21 in my <a href="https://www.shopwithmyrep.co.uk/avon/hannahkate?attach=16509336" target="_blank">Avon</a> jewellery calendar... a snowflake pendant!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-21179528399802740922023-12-31T15:00:00.001+00:002024-01-21T13:28:10.794+00:00Countdown to Christmas: Day 20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oKV241Y6WJq293q9fho_-4bw1hu2p01rY_uE9GDkcgStFhFPxpuVAQTC4mLiACer2RHg3xefSJywMTBSGkp2FYJaswYshiAmMbdZj5G8tUKer5VhwnE-jA_LbzjJxfHsuJM1WeERRDoY-R6RVQY3bPBC2C7yrvqkuE2FDdjUc106ofAc3M_FxdGX/s1959/Christmas%2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1959" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oKV241Y6WJq293q9fho_-4bw1hu2p01rY_uE9GDkcgStFhFPxpuVAQTC4mLiACer2RHg3xefSJywMTBSGkp2FYJaswYshiAmMbdZj5G8tUKer5VhwnE-jA_LbzjJxfHsuJM1WeERRDoY-R6RVQY3bPBC2C7yrvqkuE2FDdjUc106ofAc3M_FxdGX/w640-h470/Christmas%2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It's the final day of our stay in Lizard. Tomorrow, we'll be heading back to Manchester. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Lizard </h3><br />
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Last day of our stay in our little cottage by the cliff edge. We're not sad though - mostly because next year's stay is already booked!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Raspberry Millionaires Flapjack </h3><br />
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Raspberry Millionaires Flapjack from <a href="https://www.flapjackery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Flapjackery</a> in St Ives.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Biscuits </h3><br />
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Every year when we come to Cornwall, my mother-in-law gives me a festive baking kit to make. This year, it was Christmas shortbread biscuits. We didn't have anything to pipe the icing on, but I don't think I did such a bad job with a teaspoon.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Mulled Apple Juice with Rum</h3><br />
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Yet another batch of mulled apple juice! Once again, I used our spice blend from <a href="https://www.spicychameleon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Spicy Chameleon</a>, but this time I added an extra ingredient as well.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Tea </h3><br />
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Behind Door No. 20 in my <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a> tea calendar... Let's Be Having Brew!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Jewellery</h3><br />
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And behind Door No. 20 in my <a href="https://www.shopwithmyrep.co.uk/avon/hannahkate?attach=16509336" target="_blank">Avon</a> jewellery calendar... silver moon earrings!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-72692185536619235782023-12-31T14:30:00.001+00:002024-01-21T12:34:58.857+00:00Countdown to Christmas: Day 19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrdSlm0z4ppgCXH6ZxGYE78WtyHg2TienVgyjMzJPA9sRavC42CtRJP_k3TqyI6CoyFImN3VJAYifZzfqVVlvoj7dob1OxAjnmMsOYhnzbuMxnv_nIQk7hpGsIZntnbcM3BT1x6D5PGcWozHp6GXdWebW87ov2WZEgjhTMthRQs1Bjz1LSaMKyVPW/s1957/Christmas%2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1957" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrdSlm0z4ppgCXH6ZxGYE78WtyHg2TienVgyjMzJPA9sRavC42CtRJP_k3TqyI6CoyFImN3VJAYifZzfqVVlvoj7dob1OxAjnmMsOYhnzbuMxnv_nIQk7hpGsIZntnbcM3BT1x6D5PGcWozHp6GXdWebW87ov2WZEgjhTMthRQs1Bjz1LSaMKyVPW/w640-h472/Christmas%2019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Still on holiday in our little cottage at The Lizard!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Twilight Walk</h3><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMXLG-jFVn4mu8mn5zZ28KRCoxTsG0PB0JVtyE-AdrTXVx_frUz40r3BrALz4qG4ECrVhv86mVnpl5uZ6sR0czcR1Ri98PhJcy1zB1RJY5xNDsQOHb5QARGsZlRHhgBah254OK65_LBToV0ngFXqsvPtG_eqQuHYzXyx2Pp6KoYaX7hoMyMY6UhnuEG0/s4000/twilight%20walk%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMXLG-jFVn4mu8mn5zZ28KRCoxTsG0PB0JVtyE-AdrTXVx_frUz40r3BrALz4qG4ECrVhv86mVnpl5uZ6sR0czcR1Ri98PhJcy1zB1RJY5xNDsQOHb5QARGsZlRHhgBah254OK65_LBToV0ngFXqsvPtG_eqQuHYzXyx2Pp6KoYaX7hoMyMY6UhnuEG0/w640-h480/twilight%20walk%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPWXwZA9PEmtI5QXtozM10j4-ZMGMYG7bUbjwidc6rQml5M_DHsxgqRitpRvqfu5yMEIgF5JBbkf4Y6r_Gb-0guHEjyMN8aP9zmvNoSA2iu33mvLwUN63T5FFd7j5dMzChnCpylobv-wLq733PNNPVv3xeFvD7thqiIemjALJj7QdA7IRCAA86l5raOQ/s4000/twilight%20walk%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPWXwZA9PEmtI5QXtozM10j4-ZMGMYG7bUbjwidc6rQml5M_DHsxgqRitpRvqfu5yMEIgF5JBbkf4Y6r_Gb-0guHEjyMN8aP9zmvNoSA2iu33mvLwUN63T5FFd7j5dMzChnCpylobv-wLq733PNNPVv3xeFvD7thqiIemjALJj7QdA7IRCAA86l5raOQ/w640-h480/twilight%20walk%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This evening, we went for a twilight walk to the cliff edge near the cottage. There's some really dramatic rocks there that looked amazing in the evening light (though it got very dark very quickly so we had to be careful).<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Rudolph Millionaires Flapjack </h3><br />
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Rudolph Millionaires Flapjack from <a href="https://www.flapjackery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Flapjackery</a> in St Ives!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Pudding (Stage 2)</h3><br />
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So we steamed the Christmas pudding for 8 hours today and had a bit of a surprise when it was done. Turns out, although I have a number of skills, judging how much baking powder to add to plain flour when we don't have any self-raising is <i>not</i> one of them. We have a very puffy pudding.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Tullibardine Whisky </h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUF7GN9JW3bU4IaOoN7CqRK77wB_MesZMUveNXmgaKXI_YMIpxBQO0fQR-ViHjHLHafGSyltSyDSl-LuwBiiyZyI7DzXkeNysLaeWORC0khkq9js0IIlKoHoXWaIan9uHVnIUAYNDCud3bQ-CaGV3svODypdmXjfltU2jRB5wRU2y34Hm2eFSJpbq3t5I/s4000/tullibardine%20whisky.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUF7GN9JW3bU4IaOoN7CqRK77wB_MesZMUveNXmgaKXI_YMIpxBQO0fQR-ViHjHLHafGSyltSyDSl-LuwBiiyZyI7DzXkeNysLaeWORC0khkq9js0IIlKoHoXWaIan9uHVnIUAYNDCud3bQ-CaGV3svODypdmXjfltU2jRB5wRU2y34Hm2eFSJpbq3t5I/w640-h480/tullibardine%20whisky.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
More nice whisky tonight. We had a <a href="https://www.tullibardine.com/" target="_blank">Tullibardine</a> tasting set, which was another present from my little brother's recent trip to Scotland.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Escape from the Museum </h3><br />
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And another escape room game tonight. This time, we escaped from a museum.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Christmas Appeal </h3><br />
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After another successful escape, I settled down to read <i>The Christmas Appeal</i> by Janice Hallett, accompanied by Candy Cane tea from <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a>.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Tea</h3><br />
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Behind Door No. 19 in my <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a> tea calendar... Champagne Supernova (their Manchester blend)!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Jewellery</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyOoB4SPX24ZrOUvSMtz_J6ewv31nbAL8TKkw4H9txexjw5MHaYKNYffy5lZsuINyyV7E1a-58RrXwEheWyGDhJE-wpH409ubSm1KQWHS1BvLPuUmJXTDpay8IZf2K3rK8ERhaTChqinYNW8fw9CCAqUZjBcjJWDnhVo_dkiYxoN9wq_YuCqNin546ew/s4000/avon%2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyOoB4SPX24ZrOUvSMtz_J6ewv31nbAL8TKkw4H9txexjw5MHaYKNYffy5lZsuINyyV7E1a-58RrXwEheWyGDhJE-wpH409ubSm1KQWHS1BvLPuUmJXTDpay8IZf2K3rK8ERhaTChqinYNW8fw9CCAqUZjBcjJWDnhVo_dkiYxoN9wq_YuCqNin546ew/s320/avon%2019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And behind Door No. 19 in my <a href="https://www.shopwithmyrep.co.uk/avon/hannahkate?attach=16509336" target="_blank">Avon</a> jewellery calendar... silver loveheart earrings!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-5078122639303938892023-12-31T14:00:00.001+00:002024-01-21T11:34:42.949+00:00Countdown to Christmas: Day 18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVK-EbGb52KdZF3l9k9T7tPIjOk6J-cJhrfg2GvgVu31ljaUrHcaGvVuQcMmh2VSrXspBCNh3Nz1jO0fFdeoMIrnQb1LRB_1VxX1uKxY1ecpBp7-2oN7xKCrH7LqzYySvLwX2-xtAP9jaD0A_R5l3ST9pM02wxPqHP7cPb7xGWm9sVUIqSgzBh4uo/s1959/Christmas%2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="1959" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVK-EbGb52KdZF3l9k9T7tPIjOk6J-cJhrfg2GvgVu31ljaUrHcaGvVuQcMmh2VSrXspBCNh3Nz1jO0fFdeoMIrnQb1LRB_1VxX1uKxY1ecpBp7-2oN7xKCrH7LqzYySvLwX2-xtAP9jaD0A_R5l3ST9pM02wxPqHP7cPb7xGWm9sVUIqSgzBh4uo/w640-h468/Christmas%2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Another day on our Cornish holiday!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Coastal Walk</h3><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlvJPmdSekHk6LxeSLRc0aboaEoXDQuBw2O232szrFkWysd-vjc8on6Cl5laMawdsXxiVuqaN1YxBaIhL9pZ6ur71q7JyL0UVu-ufFNQdl3fW2W7KkyrVEa3vJaEDCQ1U2tgfrh9ExYkV_awlLdTprZmRTw_XFd31cXcz_IWxNqCa2yJquNu58Fjwtck/s2277/coastal%20path%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1716" data-original-width="2277" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlvJPmdSekHk6LxeSLRc0aboaEoXDQuBw2O232szrFkWysd-vjc8on6Cl5laMawdsXxiVuqaN1YxBaIhL9pZ6ur71q7JyL0UVu-ufFNQdl3fW2W7KkyrVEa3vJaEDCQ1U2tgfrh9ExYkV_awlLdTprZmRTw_XFd31cXcz_IWxNqCa2yJquNu58Fjwtck/w640-h482/coastal%20path%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBzjB1iVGM0BYiE_585JYuEbfAw7KgRXMVN-sfDastJb0kcqADRV9mYp71zdRLsUGANvVwpAh1zK84-lhO6psSORpT7SsB0b2Ov18nlHKCbkE30CYgPvqQPXrtsXaatwWQxe_mwZDd7w00ZtbmES7BZ4V65365ikBhYGWLE3hzujN7XPUrKi11mZQcSs/s4000/coastal%20path%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBzjB1iVGM0BYiE_585JYuEbfAw7KgRXMVN-sfDastJb0kcqADRV9mYp71zdRLsUGANvVwpAh1zK84-lhO6psSORpT7SsB0b2Ov18nlHKCbkE30CYgPvqQPXrtsXaatwWQxe_mwZDd7w00ZtbmES7BZ4V65365ikBhYGWLE3hzujN7XPUrKi11mZQcSs/w640-h480/coastal%20path%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We went for a lovely walk along the coastal path today, into Lizard village and back again, saying hi to the cows near our cottage.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Ann’s Pasties </h3><br />
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And at the end of the path... <a href="https://www.annspasties.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ann's Pasties</a>!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Serpentine Necklace</h3><br />
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Also at the end of the path... Rob surprised me with a gorgeous serpentine necklace from <a href="https://www.serpentineworks.co.uk/" target="_blank">J.A.R. Hill Serpentine Works</a> in Lizard. It's made with serpentine stone quarried locally from the Lizard peninsula, and I love it.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Earrings </h3><br />
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Another new pair of Christmas earrings! Today I was wearing candy canes from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/keeksandt/?etsrc=sdt" target="_blank">Keeks and T</a>.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Pudding (Stage 1)</h3><br />
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Time to start one of our favourite traditions... making the Christmas pudding. Today we mixed the ingredients and made a wish as we stirred. Tomorrow we'll steam it.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Tea </h3><br />
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Behind Door No. 18 in my <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a> tea calendar... Gingerbread Chai!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Jewellery</h3><br />
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And behind Door No. 18 in my <a href="https://www.shopwithmyrep.co.uk/avon/hannahkate?attach=16509336" target="_blank">Avon</a> jewellery calendar... a little crystal pendant!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741080303395651095.post-70336640954938982922023-12-27T20:57:00.003+00:002023-12-27T20:57:23.892+00:00Countdown to Christmas: Day 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapSUJHvUZ0_oKt5Yu6i7NLQmVomshWA_WnbS5VJGyPJs7nhVpsGQLFSqTaWg9YKQZNcP3vmcy6CCfFE_iBUkKVromixrpsL5ucJ51IlL5j0F0Av13fPpXEzGyP4x5xfzRQ97q03CHT3id4yUAuYZdWPBwRJaekJtrv99p1NoHTF9VwGSyNmQnZP7t/s1961/Christmas%2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="1961" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapSUJHvUZ0_oKt5Yu6i7NLQmVomshWA_WnbS5VJGyPJs7nhVpsGQLFSqTaWg9YKQZNcP3vmcy6CCfFE_iBUkKVromixrpsL5ucJ51IlL5j0F0Av13fPpXEzGyP4x5xfzRQ97q03CHT3id4yUAuYZdWPBwRJaekJtrv99p1NoHTF9VwGSyNmQnZP7t/w640-h470/Christmas%2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Still on our pre-Christmas holiday! <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Lizard </h3><br />
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Another day in our little cottage at The Lizard.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Mulled Apple Juice </h3><br />
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I was mulling again today! This time, it was apple juice made with the mulling spice blend we got from <a href="https://www.spicychameleon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Spicy Chameleon</a> last month. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Abominable Books </h3><br />
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I'm always so behind with opening my <a href="https://abominablebookclub.cratejoy.com/" target="_blank">Abominable Book Club</a> boxes, aren't I? Today, I opened my November box. I got <i>Schrader's Chord</i> by Scott Leeds, <i>You'd Look Better as a Ghost</i> by Joanna Wallace, some chocolates, bookmarks and a magnet, plus a mystery second-hand book (which was right up my street... I know this cos I already borrowed it from the library and read it last month... haha!)<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Playa del Mar Cocktails </h3><br />
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I made Playa del Mar cocktails tonight. I mean, we are right next to a beach and the sea (admittedly, the sea is pretty wild and the beach is at the bottom of a cliff).<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Tiramisu </h3><br />
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I made another of my holiday go-to desserts (and yes, it's another no-bake one)... tiramisu. It's Rob's favourite!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Wolfburn Whisky</h3><br />
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We enjoyed a <a href="https://wolfburn.com/" target="_blank">Wolfburn</a> whisky tasting set this evening, a present from my little brother from last time he visited the distillery.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Tea </h3><br />
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Behind Door No. 17 in my <a href="https://www.birdandblendtea.com/" target="_blank">Bird and Blend</a> tea calendar... Candy Cane!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">
Advent Jewellery</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGhAo_1KwlaAh75VEendkYTpcq2-q2nHmpmg-aRJoSlb2dBeq-IfwzNIK4JUUtliklNY7lYuklgFvn9vpSegmn253q6qdR-4QYhKBx0uiqDCDqErGXRcVAS-73245xrIl4j8-k2ugYKDaz2tMHi1IyVuW_qH2WES78FCCws4ah_uMQLb4ehcERIfA070/s4000/avon%2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGhAo_1KwlaAh75VEendkYTpcq2-q2nHmpmg-aRJoSlb2dBeq-IfwzNIK4JUUtliklNY7lYuklgFvn9vpSegmn253q6qdR-4QYhKBx0uiqDCDqErGXRcVAS-73245xrIl4j8-k2ugYKDaz2tMHi1IyVuW_qH2WES78FCCws4ah_uMQLb4ehcERIfA070/w640-h480/avon%2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And behind Door No. 17 in my <a href="https://www.shopwithmyrep.co.uk/avon/hannahkate?attach=16509336" target="_blank">Avon</a> jewellery calendar... a silver triangle pendant!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0