31 Days of Halloween: Day 29

My Halloween month is about to go up a gear as we approach the big day. I've got a few things planned for this weekend, but Friday was a pretty busy day as well.

Dracula Film Afternoon plus The Raven

Today was the annual Halloween Afternoon at Castlerea House (the care home where I volunteer on Friday afternoons). I kicked things off with the now-traditional dramatic reading of The Raven, complete with audience participation. And then the big event was the film. This year, the residents voted for their favourite Dracula and Bela Lugosi won! I think there might have been something wrong with my popcorn though.

Fancy Dress Cluedo

Every Friday, me, Rob and my mother-in-law play Cluedo together online. In honour of the spooky season, we played this week's game in fancy dress. We each picked our favourite character and dressed up as them for the night. I think we did pretty well too - my mother-in-law knitted a 7' scarf especially for tonight, and I learnt how to tie a cravat! Rob's mask was truly unsettling, though and I don't know if he should wear it again.

Ten Tales

The second series of Ten Tales, my series of seasonal (and local) ghost stories continued tonight on North Manchester FM. The second tale in this series is called 'Nocturne', and it's set in Crumpsall.

Today's Story

Today's story was 'Not After Midnight' by Daphne du Maurier. By far the longest story in the collection, this one builds up slowly with plenty of intrigue and suggestion. Oh, and a slightly obnoxious narrator.

Today's Tea

Today's tea was We Are the Weirdos, Mister from Tenacious Tea, rooibos with orange, ginger and star anise.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 28

And so... it's my last quiet day before the big weekend. And the last day when I won't be wearing at least one costume!

Today's Story

Today's story was 'The Terrapin' by Patricia Highsmith. This is the one story that I've found unpleasant to read, but then I don't cope well with descriptions of cruelty to animals in horror fiction. This one was a bit grim.

Today's Tea

Today's tea was Hubble Bubble from Rosie Lea Tea, a rooibos tea flavoured with caramel and apple. This is a tasty tea, nicely caramelly. It's got a lovely deep red colour to it as well.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 27

Another day in my month of Halloween... and the big day is getting ever closer. Today, as well as my usual story and tea, we were at the theatre!

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Rob and I were at Oldham Coliseum tonight to see The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (by Tilted Wig Productions). We really enjoyed the play. Excellent Halloween fun, and the staging and effects were impressively spectacular!

Today's Story

Today's story was 'The Question' by Stanley Ellin. This is the second Ellin story in the book, and it's an off-beat little piece about an executioner. The 'question' in question is a doozy as well.

Today's Tea

Today's tea was Victorian London Fog from Harney and Sons... one of my favourite names from all the teas this month! It's a rather nice Earl Grey (and I say that as someone who doesn't normally like Earl Grey).

31 Days of Halloween: Day 26

Another quiet day on the Halloween front, with just a story and a tea. I'm pacing myself ahead of the big weekend, of course.

Today's Story

Today's story was 'Robert' by Stanley Ellin (the first of two Ellin stories in the book). A creepy kid, a possibly unhinged teacher, and an ending not dissimilar to Eden Lake (imho). All good stuff.

Today's Tea

Today's tea was Is a Bella's Brew? from Mindful Roots Tea - Assam tea with coconut, apple and strawberry (and to make this work, I'm sort of pretending the Bella in question is Bella Swan). This is such a cute tea. It's sweet and coconutty, but also very definitely... tea.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 25

A quiet day in my Halloween month, so just a story and a tea today, but both very enjoyable!

Today's Story

Today's story was 'Pig' by Roald Dahl, a delightfully unpleasant story that I've read before but was pleased (in a macabre way) to read again.

Today's Tea

Today's tea was Bonfire Toffee from Bird and Blend Tea Co., a smoky black tea with caramel and apple flavours. Now that's a tasty tea! The smokiness isn't overpowering, and the caramel flavour is very pleasant.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 24

More Halloween! Tea, more tea, and a story for me today.

Spooky Afternoon Tea

Rob and I went to Ordsall Hall this afternoon for a Spooky Afternoon Tea.

Today's Story

Today's story was 'The Comforts of Home' by Flannery O'Connor, a misanthropic tale with a dark heart. I'm not quite sure where my sympathies were meant to lie with this one (which is no bad thing at all).

Today's Tea

Today's tea was the amazingly named Succubus Ashes from Monster Mash Teas, an almond and cherry rooibos. Wow... that's a delicious succubus! It's like Bakewell tart in a cup!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 23

And another day of Halloween for me... not quite as busy as yesterday, but I still did a couple of seasonal things.

Whisky Tasting

Rob and I dad a lovely evening yesterday with friends at the first in-person Scotch Malt Whisky Society whisky tasting we've attended since lockdown. (The tasting wasn't Halloween-themed, but I was wearing a Halloween dress so it counts!)

Today's Story

Today's story was 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner. I hadn't read this one before, and I did guess where it was going, but it's satisfyingly unpleasant (some of the language is unpalatable though).

Today's Tea

Today's tea was Stay-Puft Marshmallow Mint from Tenacious Tea. Amazing name, and intriguing appearance (and yes, those are mini-marshmallows). Not going to say this one is one of my favourites, but it's certainly... different.