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.

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 February 2023

Here are the events I'm doing in February this year...

The Manchester Mummy
Tuesday 7th February
2.00-3.30pm
Failsworth Townswomen's Guild
I'm giving a local history talk on Hannah Beswick, also known as the Manchester Mummy
Members Event

Booth Hall Before the Hospital
Wednesday 22nd February
1.00-3.00pm
College of the Third Age
I'm giving a local history talk on Booth Hall (the hall, not the hospital) in Blackley, covering its construction and some of the various people who owned it through to when it was demolished in the early twentieth century to make way for the children's hospital
Members and Non-Members Event (£2.50 per session donation) - More Information

Virtual Writing Retreat
Sunday 26th February
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.

Countdown to Christmas: Day 4

Another Christmas Countdown blog post from me. It's not the longest post I've done, but that's because I was gearing up for a big week of work before our big December holiday!

Advent Tea

Today's advent tea from my Bird and Blend Tea calendar was Snowball Hot Cocoa!

Christmas Earrings

Today's Christmas earrings were these cheeky-looking Santas!

Litter-Pick in the Park

We were at the monthly Friends of Crumpsall Park litter-pick today. Not festive in itself, but it did give us the opportunity to enjoy a lot of seasonal greenery that definitely had a strong Christmas vibe.

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 2

It's the second day of Halloween for me. It's been a bit of a tiring day, but I still managed to get some seasonal stuff in.

Today's Tea

Tonight's tea was one of four included in a rather stylish Halloween gift set from Rosie Lea Tea. I chose Phoenix Tears today. It's a sweet caramel flavoured rooibos tea.

Today's Story

Tonight's classic tale of horror is 'An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce.

Litter-Pick in Crumpsall Park

This morning we were at the monthly Friends of Crumpsall Park litter-pick. It wasn't technically a Halloween event, but I made sure I found as much seasonal stuff as possible while were out.

Ghost Files

We recovered from a bit of tiring morning with a facon and egg roll and catching up on the latest episode of Ghost Files on Watcher.

October Readalong

This afternoon I started reading Ghost Story by Peter Straub and getting things ready for my October Readalong. We're starting off with the prologue this week.