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.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 22

Quite a busy day of Halloween things today, so this post is going to be a bit longer than the last couple!

Halloween Gin

I met up with a friend this evening for a couple of Halloween-appropriate gins from Wicked Wolf. Nice gin, nice company and a nice view!

Film Night

Next up, me Rob met up with a friend (virtually) for an online film night. We watched Bingo Hell (Gigi Saul Guerrero), which I really enjoyed even if the others didn't.

Cocktails

I'm cheating a bit with counting this one, as I get a Muddlebox cocktail subscription box every month, but I'm still going to count it! This month's cocktail was Sex in the Jungle, and between the colour and the Halloween straws, I've decided this fits the season.

The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue

And then it was a late night film for me and Rob... The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue (aka Let Sleeping Corpses Lie). Come for the zombies, stay for the incredible opening montage of 70s Manchester!

Ten Tales

The second series of Ten Tales, my series of seasonal (and local) ghost stories started tonight on North Manchester FM. The first tale in this series is called 'Redeem Thy Misspent Time', and it's set in Blackley.

Today's Story

Today's story was 'Back from the Grave' by Robert Silverberg. This one actually references one of the earlier stories in the book (Poe's 'Premature Burial') but gives an even more unsettling take on the idea.

Today's Tea

Today it was time for the poshest tea on my Halloween list... Toffee Apple Tea from Fortnum & Mason. Exciting!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 21

And another kind of quiet day on the Halloween front, with just another daily story and tea. I'm building up to much more at the weekend though!

Today's Story

Today's story was 'Evening Primrose' by John Collier. It reminded me a little of the Twilight Zone episode with the department store mannequins. Loved this one!

Today's Tea

Today's tea was Moonrise from Broom Apothecary. I found this one when we were staying in Bakewell last month - it's a camomile, rose petal, verbena and linden blossom herbal brew. And gosh, that's a relaxing cup of tea. I don't normally enjoy camomile tea but this one was absolutely lovely.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 20

Another day of Halloween in a very busy week (which is why I'm posting this one a bit late). Just a story and a tea for me today.

Today's Story

Today's story was 'The Veld' by Ray Bradbury. I think this might be one of my favourites so far. It looks like it's a story about out-of-control tech, but the horror turns out to a wee bit more domestic.

Today's Tea

Today's was Pumpkin Spice Chai Black Tea from Twinings. Time to get out the big cup... And just to say that if the retro packaging is making you worry I was drinking out-of-date tea, fear not! This is an import, so the packaging and design are different!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 19

I'm going to be posting this one a little late, as I've had a lot on this week and have fallen behind with my Halloween posts. Fortunately, I haven't fallen behind with my celebrations, so I've still got things to share!

Those Conspiracy Guys at Chapeltown Picture House

On Tuesday night, we were at Chapeltown Picture House to see a live show by Those Conspiracy Guys. Lot of laughs. Quite a bit of weirdness.

Today's Story

Tuesday's story was 'Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper' by Robert Bloch, which is kind of a joke at the expense of obsessive Ripper fans until the end, when it gets a little silly.

Today's Tea

Today's tea was Jack's Brew from Rosie Lea Tea, which promised to be toffee, pumpkin and liquorice flavour. And it was indeed toffee, pumpkin and liquorice flavour, and very nice it was too.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 18

Another day of Halloween, but another quiet one. Things are going to get busier later in the week, but today I'm content with my daily horror story and another Halloween-themed tea.

Today's Story

Today's story was 'The Words of Guru' by C.M. Kornbluth. This was another new one for me. It's very short but packs a lot into the space (quite a bit through implication and suggestion). It definitely leaves you with questions.

Today's Tea

Today's tea was Fairies Chapel from The Tea Crew, a green rooibos (don't think I've had one of those before) with fruit and berries. The lemon and raspberry give this one a nice sharpness and pleasantly light flavour. (And if you don't think fairies are very Halloween-y, you're reading the wrong fairy stories.)

Ten Tales returns to North Manchester FM!

I am delighted to announce that Ten Tales: Ghost Stories for North Manchester is returning to North Manchester FM for a second series this winter. Every Friday at 10pm, I'll be sharing a brand new and original piece of fiction, written by yours truly exclusively for North Manchester FM.

The nights are drawing in, and there's a bit of a chill in the air (or at least, you can imagine there is). It's the perfect time of year for old-school ghost stories on the wireless. Ten Tales belongs to the classic tradition of spooky seasonal stories... but with a uniquely North Manchester flavour. From Crosslee to Crumpsall, Hollinwood to Harpurhey, these stories draw on settings and history from around the local area, but with my own off-beat take on them. And they're (almost) all cosy tales for those darker nights.

Essentially... imagine if M.R. James had visited Dam Head estate instead of the British Library...

Ten Tales: Ghost Stories for North Manchester returns on Friday 22nd October at 10pm. The first story is entitled Redeem Thy Misspent Time. It's set in Blackley Village, where the church bells have started ringing again...

Episode List

Redeem Thy Misspent Time (Fri 22nd Oct)
Nocturne (Fri 29th Oct)
The Third Uncle George (Fri 5th Nov)
The Ice Palace (Fri 12th Nov)
Bradshaw's Vinegar (Fri 19th Nov)
Wireless (Fri 26th Nov)
Peril in Darkingford (Fri 3rd Dec)
Cream Crackers (Fri 10th Dec)
Nut-Nan in the Hazel (Fri 17th Dec)
One Hundred and Thirty Aged Men Sat Down to an Excellent Dinner (Fri 24th Dec)

You can listen to Ten Tales: Ghost Stories for North Manchester every Friday at 10pm on 106.6FM (if you're in the North Manchester area) or online (if you're further afield). Episodes will also be available on the station's 'Listen Again' service for a limited time after broadcast.

Draw the curtains, make some cocoa, try to ignore that rapping, tapping at your chamber door, and tune in the wireless for a brand new story every Friday night... only on North Manchester FM 106.6.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 17

A bit of a quieter Halloween day for me after yesterday's fun. I just stuck to my daily story and tea today.

Today's Story

Today's story was 'A Little Place off the Edgware Road' by Graham Greene. I've read this one before but forgot how much I liked it. The story is creepy, but it's the amazing setting that wins it for me. Brilliant.

Today's Tea

Today's tea was Mary Shelley from The Literary Tea Company, which promised to be an aromatic violet black tea (and I LOVE violet flavour). I wish I give you an idea of how good this smells. It's SO violety. I love it!