31 Days of Halloween: Day 11

Today I went on a road trip! What better way to celebrate Halloween than to go to the seaside!

A Trip to Blackpool

I went on a day trip to Blackpool today with the residents of Castlerea House care home, with a tram ride out to Fleetwood for chips. It was a bit bracing.

Halloween Headband

Got myself a new headband in Blackpool!

Blackcurrant and Liquorice Ice Cream

You can't go to the seaside without having an ice cream, can you? Blackcurrant and liquorice ice cream to be precise (it was the most Halloween-y flavour I could find).

Autumn Squash Box

We've decided to treat ourselves to the most autumnal thing we could find... an Autumn Squash Box from Groobarbs! It's got Crown Prince, Uchiki Kuri, Patty Pan, Harlequin, Little Gem and the most ENORMOUS Spaghetti Squash!

31 Halloween Films: The Wolf-Man

We watched another one from our list tonight... The Wolf Man.

Lammas: Day 1

It's beginning to look a lot like Breadmas! And that means it's time for us to start our Lammastide celebrations this year! We've got a whole week of things planned to celebrate the first harvests, and today's the first day.

Bury Market

We celebrated the start of the grain harvest with our traditional trip to (World Famous) Bury Market with my mother-in-law. I bought quite a lot of bread, radishes and sticky toffee cheddar. 'Tis the season.

Breadmas Calendar Day 1

Why yes, yes I have made myself a Breadmas Calendar for Lammas this year. And behind Bread Wrapper No. 1 tonight... it's a Nudger (from Bury Market)!

Castlerea Lammas Stories

I celebrated Lammastide the Castlerea Care Home way this afternoon. Seasonal poetry (corn rigs an' barley rigs), lots of reminiscing about summer and a very raucous singalong of what is now our anthem, '(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden' by Lynn Anderson.

Events in July 2023

Virtual Writing Retreat
Sunday 9th July
10.30–5.00pm
Hannah's Bookshelf
I'm hosting an online writing retreat for creative writers with writing exercises and structured writing sessions
Members Event

Summer Holidays in Blackley's Past
Wednesday 12th July
7.00-8.30pm
Friends of Bailey's Wood
I'm giving a local history talk on the history of summer holidays, with a focus on Blackley and North Manchester
Booking Link

Suffrage Sonnets
Sunday 16th July
11.30-12.15pm, 2.15-3.00pm
The Pankhurst Centre
I'm running a creative writing workshop as part of the Emmeline's Birthday Party event at the Pankhurst Centre
Booking Link

Park Write - Nature Writing
Saturday 22nd July
2.00-5.00pm
Friends of Crumpsall Park
I'm hosting a nature-themed creative writing workshop in Crumpsall Park, using the park as inspiration for creativity
Booking Link

Lammas Stories
Wednesday 26th July
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.

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 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 2

It's the second day of this year's Spring Equinox celebrations. And the first day that we've done anything together. It was our wedding anniversary on Wednesday, and we weren't able to celebrate (for personal reasons), so we deferred things till tonight.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs

I surprised my brother with a Reese's peanut butter creme egg this afternoon. 'Tis the season...

Poetry in the Park

I had a wonderful afternoon with Castlerea House care home, celebrating the upcoming Spring Equinox in Crumpsall Park with poetry, cakes, fresh air and flowers. Bet you can't guess what poem I ended with...

Ostara Candle

We lit our Ostara candle from Chalice Creations tonight. Lime, bergamot, coconut and grapefruit to last us through till the Spring Equinox.

Wedding Anniversary Gifts

It was our 9th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. 9 is the willow or pottery anniversary, so we've been nauseatingly cute about the theme.

Wedding Anniversary Cocktails

We celebrated our wedding anniversary with this month's Muddlebox cocktail... and it was a Gold Digger!

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 1

The Wheel of the Year has turned full circle since we first started celebrating all the seasons. And that means it's time to celebrate Imbolc, and the last gasps of winter. We've got a week of celebrations planned again, including some of the traditions we started last year. Here's what we got up to on Friday...

Winter Cooking

I always try to make sure we don't waste the last few bits from our Groobarbs veg boxes before the next delivery, but I think I surpassed myself this time (if I do say so myself)... Leftover Veg Soup (with spring greens and red chilli), Cherry and Almond Banana Bread, and a sparkly Imbolc-themed Carrot Cake.

Imbolc Poetry at Castlerea

Today I ran an Imbolc-themed poetry and storytelling session at Castlerea care home. We talked about winter and shared our thoughts on the season. Plus we had poetry by Shakespeare and Shelley, music by Vivaldi and The Bangles, myths of Persephone, Blue Corn Maiden, Jack Frost and the Holly and Oak Kings!

Imbolc Gin Liqueur

I met up with a friend tonight for the traditional Imbolc libation of sparkly light-up sugar plum gin and iced gems!

Imbolc Lights

As is tradition (i.e. it's the second year we've done it), we're keeping some of our Christmas lights up till Imbolc... including the absolutely awesome pine forest snowstorm that Rob got us this year!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 24

And finally! I've reached the last day of our Countdown to Christmas! (Admittedly, it's taken me a while to post this, but I've got there in the end!) I'm going to end this post just at the point we headed off for Christmas Dinner with the family, as these blogs were more about how we celebrated the midwinter season, rather than Christmas Dinner and presents. So here's the last bit of build-up...

Advent Tea

The final day of my Bird and Blend Tea calendar was Mojitea!

Advent Calendar

Each year, I make Rob an advent calendar filled with little envelopes to read each day. Usually, these envelopes contain a story, but this year they were clues for him to solve. After he'd decoded the message, it led him to a cupboard upstairs - the final door of the advent calendar, behind which there was a special nativity scene waiting for him!

‘The Reinvention of Christmas’

The final Christmas chapter of Ronald Hutton's Stations of the Sun was 'The Reinvention of Christmas'.

Hannah’s Bookshelf Christmas Special

My Hannah's Bookshelf Christmas Special aired today on North Manchester FM. As is tradition, I talked about a selection of newly published festive books on the show.

Castlerea Christmas Eve Session

Also tradition, I went in to Castlerea Care Home for a Christmas Eve celebration today. I read 'A Visit from St Nicholas' to the residents, and we had a bit of Gingerbread Latte flavoured Irish Cream and some mince pies. One of the residents also produced a big box of Quality Street for us to share!

Yule Candle

And finally... we lit our Yule candle from Chalice Creations today. It was scented with frankincense, orange, cinnamon and cedarwood!

And so, the countdown was over, 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.