Midsummer: Day 4

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

Bailey’s Wood Summer Solstice Walk and Talk

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

Midsummer Poetry in the Park

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

Midsummer Tea Break!

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

Events in June 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

Events in May 2023

Booth Hall Before the Hospital
Wednesday 10th May
7.00-8.30pm
Friends of Bailey's Wood
I'm giving a local history talk on the history of Booth Hall (the hall, not the hospital), Blackley
Booking Link

Virtual Writing Retreat
Sunday 21st May
10.30–5.00pm
Hannah's Bookshelf
I'm hosting a online writing retreat for creative writers with writing exercises and structured writing sessions
Members Event

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

Beltane: Day 5

Another day of our sickness-restricted Beltane. We're back in Manchester now, and we managed to make it out and into nature. At least we got to see a few trees this year!

‘Rogationtide and Pentecost’

The next seasonal chapter of Ronald Hutton's The Stations of the Sun was 'Rogationtide and Pentecost'.

Bailey’s Wood Beltane Litter-Pick

It might not have been the Beltane festivities we had planned, but we were out for the Friends of Bailey's Wood Beltane litter-pick today, so I spent the morning surrounded by hawthorn and birdsong.

Events in April 2023

Easter Poetry and Storytelling
Friday 7th April
2.00-4.00pm
Castlerea House
I'm running a seasonal poetry and storytelling workshop session for residents at Castlerea care home
Private Event

The Medieval Blackley Deer Park and its Afterlife
Wednesday 12th April
7.00-8.30pm
Friends of Bailey's Wood
I'm giving a local history talk on the history of the medieval deer park at Blackley, including its demise and afterlife
Booking Link

Virtual Writing Retreat
Sunday 16th April
10.30–5.00pm
Hannah's Bookshelf
I'm hosting a online writing retreat for creative writers with writing exercises and structured writing sessions
Members Event

Beltane Poetry and Storytelling
Friday 28th April
2.00-4.00pm
Castlerea House
I'm running a seasonal poetry and storytelling workshop session for residents at Castlerea care home
Private Event

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

Spring Equinox: Day 5

Although we had our Ostara Dinner yesterday, it was actually the Spring Equinox today, so there was a little bit more celebrating for us. It was a bit of a muted holiday for us this year (for some personal reasons), but there were a few more seasonal things to enjoy.

‘Holy Week’

I read the next chapter of Ronald Hutton's The Stations of the Sun today: 'Holy Week'.

Bailey’s Wood Spring Equinox Walk

And this evening I led a Spring Equinox Walk in the Woods for Friends of Bailey's Wood. It was a little bit wet and muddy, but we spotted a few signs that the seasons are changing.

Events in March 2023

Bailey's Wood Spring Equinox Walk and Talk
Wednesday 15th March
11.00–12.30pm
Friends of Bailey's Wood
I'll be leading a gentle, social walk in the woods with a Spring Equinox theme
Booking Link

Spring Equinox Poetry in the Park
Friday 17th March
2.00–5.00pm
Castlerea House
I'm running a seasonal poetry and storytelling workshop session in the park for residents at Castlerea care home
Private Event

Spring Equinox Walk in the Woods
Monday 20th March
5.30–6.30pm
Friends of Bailey's Wood
I'll be leading a sociable walk in the woods to enjoy the changing seasons
Booking Link

Virtual Writing Retreat
Sunday 26th March
10.30–5.00pm
Hannah's Bookshelf
I'm hosting a online writing retreat for creative writers with writing exercises and structured writing sessions
Members Event

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

Imbolc: Day 2

It's the second day of our second year of celebrating Imbolc, so here's what we got up to on Saturday...

Bailey’s Wood Imbolc Litter-Pick

The Friends of Bailey's Wood litter-pick is a monthly event, so I can't pretend this was a specifically seasonal thing. But... the woods were very wintery, and there were hardly any signs of spring just yet, so it definitely felt very Imbolc-y!

Imbolc Chocolate

I got a little Imbolc present for me and Rob... Ginger and Lime chocolate (with snowdrops!) for him and Toasted Tea Cake chocolate for me, from Kernow Chocolate.

Imbolc Candle

We lit our Imbolc candle from Chalice Creations tonight. Myrrh, Roman Chamomile and Basil to scent our festive week.

Vivaldi's Four Seasons by Candlelight

I didn't expect Vivaldi's Four Seasons by Candlelight to become one of our annual traditions! We enjoyed a beautiful performance by The Piccadilly Sinfonietta tonight at St Ann's Church.

Countdown to Christmas: Day 23

It's my penultimate post! Wow... did not expect it to take so long to publish these! But here's what I got up to on Christmas Eve Eve!

Advent Tea

My penultimate advent calendar tea from Bird and Blend Tea was Mascarpone and Sour Cherry!

Ninja Book Box Week 4

My final Ninja Book Box advent parcels brought Syd Moore's The Twelve Strange Days of Christmas, a little book charm/decoration and a recipe for Gingerbread Latte Fudge!

‘Misrule’

The penultimate Christmas chapter in Ronald Hutton's Stations of the Sun was 'Misrule'.

Bailey’s Wood Winter Solstice Walk

To celebrate the season, I led a Winter Solstice walk for Friends of Bailey's Wood today. It was raining quite heavily, but we still got chance to enjoy some holly, ivy and silver birches, plus some midwinter folklore and stories.

Events in December 2022

Medieval Blackley Deer Park and its Aftermath
Friday 9th December
7.00-8.30pm
Castleton Literary and Scientific Society
I'll be giving a local history talk on the medieval deer park at Blackley, North Manchester, and its post-medieval history
Members and Non-Members Welcome - Information Link

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

Winter Solstice Walk
Friday 23rd December
2.30-3.30pm
Friends of Bailey's Wood
I'll be leading a woodland walk in Bailey's Wood, North Manchester, to celebrate the Winter Solstice and share stories of the changing seasons
Booking Link

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

31 Days of Halloween: Day 29

On to Saturday now, and another busy day with several costume changes!

Today's Tea

Saturday's tea was the final vial from my Rosie Lea Tea gift set... Wolfsbane! It's green sencha with sea buckthorn and cornflower petals. Wow, I've had more sea buckthorn than I was expecting this Halloween!

Today's Story

Saturday's classic tale of horror was 'The Damned' by Algernon Blackwood.

‘The Modern Hallowe’en’

I read another chapter from Ronald Hutton's The Stations of the Sun on Saturday... 'The Modern Halloween'.

Litter-Pick in the Woods

It was the monthly Friends of Bailey's Wood litter-pick on Saturday morning, and in honour of the spooky season, fancy dress was encouraged. Am I fleeing the Castle of Otranto? or am I on a community litter-pick? It's hard to tell!

Hannah’s Bookshelf Halloween Special

Saturday was also the day of my Hannah's Bookshelf Halloween Special on North Manchester FM, featuring the shortlisted (and winning) entries for this year's 3 Minute Scares competition. And, as is tradition, I presented the show in fancy dress!

Dinner with my Mother-in-Law

And it was Halloween Dinner (potato pie), dessert (pumpkin pie), and a film (The Lost Boys pie) at my mother-in-law's on Saturday night.