Spring Equinox: Day 1

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.

Blossom Watch

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 Pankhurst Centre (where I work).

Spring Tea Break

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 Bird and Blend) and a mini egg cookie.

Dim Sum

I'm a bit in love with dim sum, and now I'm a bit in love with Ding Dong Dim Sum, 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!

Events in March 2024

Virtual Writing Retreat
Sunday 10th March
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

Spring Equinox Walk in the Park
Saturday 16th March
11.00–12noon
Friends of Crumpsall Park
I'll be leading a sociable walk in the park to enjoy nature and the changing seasons
Booking Link

Hannah's Bookshelf Spring Equinox Special
Saturday 16th March
2.00–4.00pm
Hannah's Bookshelf / North Manchester FM
I'm hosting a special seasonal edition of my regular radio show on North Manchester FM, including Spring Equinox-themed flash fiction
Submission Link

Spring Equinox Walk in the Woods
Monday 18th 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

Bailey's Wood Spring Equinox Walk and Talk
Wednesday 20th 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
Wednesday 20th March
1.00–4.00pm
Castlerea House
I'm running a seasonal poetry and storytelling workshop session in the park for residents at Castlerea care home
Private Event

Hannah's Bookshelf Live Poetry Special
Saturday 23rd March
2.00–4.00pm
Hannah's Bookshelf / North Manchester FM
I'm hosting my annual live poetry radio show on North Manchester FM, with performances from 12 poets
Submission Link

Easter Stories
Wednesday 27th March
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 7

The final day of our Spring Equinox celebrations was more of a whimper than a bang. Rob was ill and I was busy, so there wasn't really any festivities to be had. Hopefully, we'll feel more festive come Beltane.

‘The Easter Holidays’

I did finish the final seasonal(ish) chapter of Ronald Hutton's The Stations of the Sun today: 'The Easter Holidays'.

And so the wheel of the year turns. We'll be celebrating again at Beltane.

Spring Equinox: Day 6

It's the penultimate day of our Spring Equinox celebrations. I had a really long day at work today, so there wasn't a huge amount of celebrating. I did a couple of things to mark the season though.

‘An Egg at Easter’

I read the next chapter of Ronald Hutton's The Stations of the Sun: 'An Egg at Easter'.

Crosslee Litter-Pick (with Daffodils)

And I was out for a litter-pick with the school council of Crosslee Primary School in Blackley, who made sure the occasion was daffodil-tastic.

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.

Spring Equinox: Day 4

Another day of celebrating the Spring Equinox for us, and today was our big day, as it's Ostara Dinner! We did a few other seasonal things first though.

‘The Origins of Easter’

I've returned to Ronald Hutton's The Stations of the Sun this season. There aren't any chapters specifically on the Spring Equinox, so I've been reading the Easter chapters (as it's the closest seasonal holiday), starting with 'The Origins of Easter'.

Ostara Earrings

It was the first outing for these Spring Equinox (sort of) earrings. Rob bought them for me in Aberystwyth last November when we were there for the Abertoir Festival!

Blossom Watch

It looks like it's time for #BlossomWatch! I love the #BlossomWatch hashtag (started by the National Trust), and I spent last spring posting pictures of every bit of blossom I saw. And I think I'll probably do it again this year.

A Trip to Heaton Park

This afternoon, we had a walk around the body of water in Manchester that I am most territorial about. This is my lake. (It's in Heaton Park, but it's very much off the beaten track!)

Ice Cream!

I had my first cornet of the year!

Ostara Dinner

We had our Spring Equinox (Ostara) Dinner tonight, and Rob made the traditional meal of Spring Vegetable Paella with Asparagus.

Ostara Gifts

And we swapped our traditional Spring Equinox cards and gifts tonight as well. We'll add these whiskies to our sets that we'll have in December.

Spring Equinox: Day 3

Another day of celebrating the season for us. It was a bit of a quiet day, as I was out for a big chunk of it. But I think we've managed a bit of equinox-y fun.

Daffodils

I was at a community fun day in Boggart Hole Clough for a big part of the day, but I did take a couple of minutes out for a bit of daffodil spotting!

Rites of Spring

Rob found us a few spring-themed horror films to watch this weekend. We started with Rites of Spring tonight. (Side note: I get that in a folk horror film, you're going to see people sacrificed to ensure the harvest. But the dude in this film sacrifices people for an early harvest. That's just greedy. You wait till Lammas for your cornflakes, mate, like everyone else.)

The Reaping

Our second spring-themed film tonight was The Reaping.

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!

Spring Equinox: Day 1

It's the first day of our Spring Equinox celebrations. It's been a bit of a sad and difficult week for me so far, and so the celebrations have started in a slightly muted way. I did wear my spring hare earrings (plus a couple of daffodil studs), and I treated myself to some seasonal cake. The celebrations will start in earnest tomorrow, I think.

Chocolate Nest Cakes

I know you might think these are Easter cakes, but I've decided that chocolate nest cakes are actually intended for the Spring Equinox.

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.

Vernal Equinox: Day 7

The big day is here! It's the Vernal Equinox, and officially the beginning of spring! (And so that means it's the final day of our first proper Ostara celebration.)

Spring Forest Bathing

I went for a Spring Forest Bathing session with Natalie Rossiter Wellbeing this morning. I had some quiet time with the blackthorn blossom, tasted silver birch sap and saw my first bumblebees and bunny rabbits of the year. We ended the session with tea made from foraged nettles, blackberry leaves and silver birch tips.

Ostara Earrings

My final pair of Ostara earrings this year... more funky chickens!

Marzipan Eggs

A special little Ostara treat for me and Rob... Niederegger marzipan eggs! (Ignore that the box says Frohe Ostern, I reckon they're obviously made for the Vernal Equinox.)

Ostara Dinner

To round off our Vernal Equinox celebrations, Rob served the (now) traditional Ostara Dinner of spring vegetable paella.

Ostara Gifts

And finally, we swapped our (now) traditional Ostara gifts tonight, adding to our seasonal whisky tasting sets that we'll be enjoying at Christmas.

And so the wheel of the year turns... We'll be celebrating again at Beltane.