31 Days of Halloween: Day 27

Another very late blog post, but I'm determined to catch up! We're into the big weekend now, so there's a lot to cram into these posts! I'm up to Thursday now.

Today's Tea

Thursday's Halloween tea was Mystischer Hexen Tee from Sonnentor. It's got Hanfblätter, Zitronenverbene, Krauseminze, Ringelblumen, Spitzwegerich, Rosenblüten und Zitronenmelisse!

Today's Story

Thursday's classic tale of horror was 'In the Penal Colony' by Franz Kafka.

‘Samhain’

I returned to Ronald Hutton's The Stations of the Sun on Thursday, to read about this season's festivities. I started off with (obviously) the chapter titled 'Samhain'.

Tonight's Halloween Look

Thursday's Halloween look was a wee bit more colourful and a wee bit less creepy than the previous ones!

Ghost Story Read-Along Live

I did my final Facebook Live video for my Ghost Story Readalong on Thursday. The readalong was a lot of fun (for me, at least). I'm really glad I chose Ghost Story to reread, as I'd forgotten how many things I like about. And I think the fact that I talked non-stop about it for nearly FOUR HOURS this month proves that!

Halloween Earrings

Thursday's Halloween earrings were my pink planchettes!

The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue

I had such a lovely evening on Thursday, out for a screening of The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue (possibly my favourite zombie film ever) at Chapeltown Picture House.

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Cat Cavendish)

The final Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press was on Thursday, and it was Catherine Cavendish reading an excerpt of her new novel Dark Observation. I've had a lot of fun watching these and discovering new writers to read!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 26

I'm catching up (slowly)! I really was incredibly busy during October - and not just with Halloween stuff - so it's been quite hard to keep on top of these posts. I'm getting there though.

Today's Tea

Wednesday's tea was Witches Brew from Midnight Imperium! It's got apple, hibiscus, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, stevia and cornflower petals. Have to admit, I'm finding the teas with stevia in them a wee bit too sweet for my tastes. I think I'd prefer the spices on their own.

Today's Story

Wednesday's classic tale of horror was 'A Ghost' by Guy de Maupassant.

Silverweed Road

This week's tram reading was Silverweed Road by Simon Crook... there's a new horror behind every door!

Pumpkin Carving at Crumpsall Park

I had a great time at Wednesday's pumpkin carving with the park ranger in Crumpsall Park. Lots of creative, messy fun... and the squirrels ate like kings afterwards!

Crumpsall Park Story Walk

And then after the pumpkin carving I led the Friends of Crumpsall Park Halloween Story Walk in the park yesterday. It was a lot of fun, and the kids had some great creative ideas!

Let the Right One In

We were at the Royal Exchange on Wednesday evening to see the stage adaptation of Let the Right One In!

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Shane Hawk)

Wednesday's penultimate Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press was Shane Hawk reading from 'Imitate', which is featured in the new collection, First People's Shared Stories.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 25

Another late post... it really has been a very busy month. At this rate, I'm still going to be posting these into November! I'll keep cracking on though!

Today's Tea

Tuesday's tea was Eye of Newt from Monster Mash Teas. It's a strawberry green tea!

Today's Story

Tuesday's classic tale of horror was 'Sir Edmund Orme' by Henry James.

Bailey’s Wood Story Walk

I had a great time on Tuesday leading the Friends of Bailey's Wood Halloween Story Walk. Such creative ideas from all the participants... who knew mushrooms would help us search for a centaur?

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Jonathan Janz)

Tuesday's Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press was Jonathan Janz reading his short story, 'Room for the Night', which features in their new anthology, Close to Midnight. I think this one might have been my favourite!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 24

I have fallen so far behind with these posts! Oops. Let's see if I can't get them all finished by the end of Halloween, eh? I can but try.

Today's Tea

Monday's tea was Witch Forest from Hebridean Tea Store. It's green honeybush, apple, elderberries, raspberry leaves, strawberries and blackcurrants!

Today's Story

Monday's classic tale of horror was 'Rappaccini's Daughter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Pumpkin and Red Pepper Soup

Our primary pumpkin was so big, I managed to get a second soup out of it. This one's Pumpkin and Red Pepper. (We still have secondary and tertiary pumpkins to deal with, of course.)

Vampire Bath Bomb

Halloween bath bomb from Bomb Cosmetics!

Spooky Pasta

A present from my mum. She knows I love a good creepypasta.

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Anastasia Garcia)

Monday's Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press was Anastasia Garcia, reading her story 'Dark Skies', which features in their Weird Horror Short Stories anthology.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 23

Somehow, I've managed to fall an entire week behind with these posts. I'm also playing catch-up with my Halloween teas and stories, though not with all the other festive stuff I've been doing (and there's been a lot, which might account for why I'm behind with my blog posts!). I will do my best to catch up, but given that it's actually Halloween tomorrow, that might be a tall order.

Today's Tea

Sunday's tea was Black Magic from Artisan Tea. It's a black tea blend with cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, green cardamom, cloves and black pepper (though it's nowhere near as fiery as you might expect).

Today's Story

I've fallen totally behind with my Halloween story-a-day reading but trying to catch up now with the story that should've been last Sunday's classic tale of horror... 'The Open Window' by Saki. Ahhh... I forgot how much I love this one!

Romancing the Gothic Lecture

I attended a really enjoyable and fascinating Romancing the Gothic talk by Dan O'Brien on undertakers in 18th-century satire last Sunday. It was perfect for the season, but also very helpful for my current research.

Halloween Gifts

I got my mum some Samhain soap from The Scottish Soap Witch (black cherry and frankincense), but I forgot to give it to her when we had dinner last Saturday. She popped in on Sunday to get it... and give me a lovely little Halloween cushion she made for me!

Samhain Candle

It was time to light our Samhain candle from Chalice Creations on Sunday night. It's rose, sandalwood and orange, and it's hopefully going to see us through to the big day.

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Ramsey Campbell)

Last Sunday's Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press was Ramsey Campbell, reading an excerpt from his latest novel Fellstones.