Countdown to Christmas: Day 15

Our Cornish pre-Christmas holiday continues...

Lizard

Another day in our lovely little isolated cottage at The Lizard.

Christmas Earrings

And another new pair of Christmas earrings! A little pair of Christmas puddings from BadcatdesignByZoe!

Ann’s Pasties

When in Cornwall... Ann's Pasties are the best pasties.

Mince Pie Flapjack

Lovely mince pie flapjack that we bought from Flapjackery in St Ives yesterday.

Cinnamon Roasted Squash

I attempted a festive dinner tonight. Cinnamon Roasted Crown Prince Squash (with a squash from our most recent Groobarbs delivery) with mash and sprouts. I'm not sure I was a fan, but Rob seemed to really like it!

The Other Mrs Walker

The next book I read on holiday was The Other Mrs Walker by Mary Paulson-Ellis, one of the library books I borrowed in December. And I had a cup or two of Whisktea from Bird and Blend while I was reading it.

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 15 in my Bird and Blend tea calendar... Jammy Dodgers!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 15 in my Avon jewellery calendar... a silver loveheart pendant!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 13

We're on holiday! Woohoo!

Lizard

Another day in our lovely remote little cottage at The Lizard!

Pumpkin and Red Pepper Soup

I made Pumpkin and Red Pepper Soup today. Most of the ingredients were from our most recent Groobarbs delivery, but would you believe that the mini ghost pumpkin was from our Halloween pumpkin picking at Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm? It lasted perfectly and tasted amazing.

Cherry and Ginger Banana Bread

I've done some baking! I made Cherry and Ginger Banana Bread this afternoon, and enjoyed a slice of it with a cup of Bird and Blend's Mascarpone and Sour Cherry tea.

Chocolate Pots

Chocolate Pots are a holiday go-to for me (though it's another no-bake dessert). 150g of melted chocolate mixed with 150ml double cream, and then anything festive I can fling at them! Top tip: make them the night before so they have plenty of time to chill in the fridge.

Daisy Darker

The next book I'm reading on holiday is Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney. I bought it for my mum for Christmas last year, and she lent it to me in January after she'd read it. I've been saving it since then, because I really wanted to read it while we were in Cornwall. And I'm having Rose Conjou tea from Tugboat in Truro while I read it.

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 13 in my Bird and Blend Tea calendar... Christmas Cake!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 13 in my Avon jewellery calendar... a star pendant!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 25

Today was a very big day, with three separate (and very different) events on the cards. We also did some festive stuff at home afterwards, as we moved into the final week of celebrating.

Crumpsall Park Halloween Story Walk

I led another Halloween Story Walk this morning, this time for Friends of Crumpsall Park. This was such a fun event to do - loved working with the kids to come up with a spooky story about the park. The Crumpsall kids did come to a different conclusion than the Blackley kids on Monday though... they decided I must be the werewolf! One of the kids drew a picture of me as a witch, being transformed into a werewolf by a tornado and it's my absolute favourite thing.

Castlerea Halloween Film Afternoon

We had our annual Halloween Film Afternoon at Castlerea Care Home this afternoon. This year we watched Frankenstein Created Woman, with spooky movie snacks of course. I also did my traditional dramatic reading of 'The Raven' for the housemates (with audience participation)!

Green Quarter Weird History Walk

I led a Halloween weird history walk for GRUB MCR tonight, taking walkers from Angel Meadow to Red Bank and telling tales of bodysnatching, swimming baths, ragged schools and railways along the way.

Samhain Candle

We lit our Samhain candle from Chalice Creations tonight. Rose, sandalwood and orange to scent the season.

Pumpkin Lantern

Rob carved our pumpkin lantern tonight! And what a fine lantern he is too!

Little Gem Squash

Another lovely recipe for our Groobarbs Autumn Squash Box... South African Style Baked Little Gem Squash!

31 Halloween Films: Saw

Tonight's film from our Halloween list was the one we were sort of thinking would come up last Saturday! But it was so good to watch Saw again after seeing Saw X!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 24

It's the one day this week when I don't have a Halloween event to do, so it's just a fairly standard day at work for me. Okay, it was a little bit festive!

Halloween Soreen

Lunchtime Halloween malt loaf, because nothing says lunch better than a vampiric cyclops cherry!

Spaghetti Squash Pasta Bake

More squash antics with our Autumn Squash Box from Groobarbs! Tonight's tea was Spaghetti Squash 'Pasta' Bake. First time we've had spaghetti squash as a pasta substitute!

31 Halloween Films: Ginger Snaps

The random number generator has decreed that tonight we're watching Ginger Snaps tonight!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 20

Another busy day with work and radio show stuff, but still time for a bit of festive fun in the evening!

Uncle Joe’s Caramelised Toffee Apples

What mad alchemy is this? (Also, can you get non-caramelised toffee apples??)

Roasted Patty Pan Squash

Our October Squash Odyssey (with our Groobarbs Autumn Squash Box) continues... tonight's tea was Roasted Patty Pan Squash with Carrots and Shallots served with stuffed mushrooms.

31 Halloween Films: Sleepy Hollow

The random number generator has spoken again... He's got a horse, but he hasn't got a head!

31 Halloween Films: Halloween

I mean, it was obviously going to happen at some point.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 18

Busy but nice day today, with some proper seasonal fun. It was autumnal, but lightly spooky, so all-in-all a good October day!

Bailey’s Wood Ghost Stories Walk and Talk

I led a Walk and Talk session for Friends of Bailey's Wood today, with a ghost stories theme. I loved our ghostly walk in the woods, and sharing a few little tales: 'The Grey Lady of Booth Hall', 'The Boggart of Boggart Hole Clough', 'The Lost Knight', and 'The Devil Came to Dam Head'! They're all 100% true as well (maybe). And what better way to finish off a spooky walk and talk in the woods than with a hot Vimto and a Halloween cupcake?

Halloween Fondant Fancies

Exceedingly good (part 2).

Veg Box

It's here! The first pumpkin of the year! And it's teamed up with a kohlrabi! (We also got leeks, carrots, peppers and potatoes, apples, pears and raspberries in our Groobarbs box this time!)

31 Halloween Films: One Cut of the Dead

Tonight we watched One Cut of the Dead. Pom!

Crown Prince Risotto

More fun from our Autumn Squash Box tonight... an excellent Crown Prince Squash Risotto (veg and recipe from Groobarbs, cooking by Rob)!