31 Days of Halloween: Day 8

It's been an incredibly busy week, so today was a game of two halves. A litter-pick in the park in the morning, but then a quiet afternoon making soup and reading a book.

Today's Tea

Tonight's tea was Druids Dream from The Tea Crew. It's an infusion of hibiscus, apple, elderberry, banana, rosehip and strawberry. It's absolutely delicious and looks gorgeous, but it leaves the question: do Druids dream of bananas?

Today's Story

Tonight's classic tale of horror was 'The Vampyre' by John Polidori.

Boggart Hole Clough Litter-Pick

I was out in Boggart Hole Clough (a park that is reputedly haunted by a boggart) this morning for the monthly community litter-pick. It was quiet, but gloriously autumnal. I've taken lots of acorn pictures this year, but seem to have missed the conkers. Went to a big chestnut tree in the Clough today to look for some, and this is literally all the squirrels had left, the greedy little nutkins.

Mystery Allotment Squash Soup

Remember my mystery squash from Tuesday? Well, I cut into it and I really don't think it was a summer squash or a round courgette. I'm pretty sure it was some type of winter squash. Anyway, I made it into a soup with a red chilli (also from the allotments), and whatever it was it tasted great.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 7

I'm a little bit delayed posting this, but it's another day of Halloween! I had some work commitments yesterday that, while nice, were definitely not things I could count as seasonal celebrations (I have to be honest that afternoon tea with the Lord Mayor of Manchester isn't a Halloween event). I've decided that I really can't shoehorn them in, so this post will just include the 100% Halloween stuff.

Today's Tea

Yesterday's tea was Black Forest No. 1 from Tenacious Tea! It's got cocoa nibs and cherry pieces, so as you might have guessed it tastes like a cup of Black Forest gateau!

Today's Story

Yesterday's classic tale of horror was 'The Shunned House' by H.P. Lovecraft.

Halloween Earrings

I wore my bee earrings for afternoon tea with the Lord Mayor (of course), but I changed into something more seasonally appropriate for the evening.

Battle Royale

We spent an awesome evening watching Battle Royale (2000) with friends at Chapeltown Picture House last night. I haven't seen Battle Royale in a good few years, and I'd forgotten just how much fun it is!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 6

Bit of a busy day today. There were a couple of very Halloweeny things, and a few things that were nice but perhaps not 100% Halloween. I'm still going to count them though.

Today's Tea

Tonight's tea was... not strictly speaking Halloween themed. Or is a cowboy a Halloween thing? Anyway, it was The Bandit from Tea and the Gang. It's a chocolate and orange black tea!

Today's Story

Tonight's classic tale of horror was 'The Willows' by Algernon Blackwood.

A Visit to the Avenue Library

I was at the Avenue Library today. I tried to find the most Halloween-appropriate selection of books, but I'm not sure I quite managed it! Close enough though.

Lunch at the Hidden Gem Coffee Shop

I went for lunch with my mum at the Hidden Gem Coffee Shop in Heaton Park today. Again, not the most Halloween-tastic thing ever, but I guess Red Velvet Cake looks a little bit seasonal.

Ghost Story Readalong Live

I did the first Facebook Live for the Ghost Story Readalong tonight. It's didn't go... smoothly. But at least I had fun.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 5

Today was a bit of a marathon work day, so there was no time for anything more than a Halloween tea and a story. Still, at least I managed to fit those little seasonal things in.

Today's Tea

Tonight's tea was Winter Charm from Ahmad Tea. It's apple, cinnamon, cloves and orange zest. Admittedly that means it tastes more Christmassy than Halloweeny. But still.

Today's Story

Tonight's classic tale of horror was 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 4

I'm posting this a little late, as I didn't get chance to finish my post before I went to bed last night. Tuesday and Wednesday were both incredibly busy for me, so there wasn't a lot of festive fun to be honest. Just teas, stories, and a couple of added extras today.

Today's Tea

Tonight's tea was Spicy Apple from Tea People. As well as apple, it's got ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and pepper. But it also has stevia, so it's a VERY sweet spicy apple flavour. Oh, and it's blood red.

Today's Story

Tonight's classic tale of horror was 'The Elixir of Life' by Honoré de Balzac.

Halloween Earrings

Today's earrings were little silver pumpkins!

Seasonal (?) Squash

I had a work meeting on Tuesday afternoon and a colleague brought along a selection of veg from the local allotments. Well impressed with this! I'm excited about my (I think) round courgette/summer squash, even if it's not strictly speaking a Halloween-themed vegetable.

Slade House

This week's tram reading is Slade House by David Mitchell. It seems to match the tram more than the season, but I've been assured this is a suitable Halloween read.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 3

Today was a work day, and a very busy one at that, so there wasn't really any time for festive shenanigans. But I still managed to sneak in a tea and a story, and I was wearing seasonal earrings while I did to keep a little Halloween magic going.

Today's Tea

Tonight's tea was the delightfully named Toe of Frog from the delightfully named Monster Mash Teas. I loved all of their concoctions last year, so I'm excited to try a new selection this year! (Toe of Frog is actually quite a light and gentle vanilla green tea.

Today's Story

Tonight's classic tale of horror was 'Kerfol' by Edith Wharton.

Halloween Earrings

Today's earrings were glittery wicked witch shoes. I also had teeny cauldron, witch's hat and black cat studs in but they're not as easy to photograph!

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.

October Readalong: Ghost Story by Peter Straub

This October, I'm doing a Halloween Readalong of Ghost Story by the late, great Peter Straub. And everyone's welcome to join in! I'll be posting about it on my Hannah Kate Twitter and on Facebook. All you need to join in is a copy of the book and the desire to (re)read it. I'm looking forward to diving in this week, and it'd be great if you'd like to join me.

How to Join In

If you're a Facebook person, join the October Readalong Facebook group, and post your thoughts in the group as we read. I'll be doing a live video chat in the group every Thursday in October at 6.30pm (UK time). If you're a Twitter person, share your thoughts on the hashtag #GhostStoryReadalong.

Readalong Schedule

Week 1: Prologue – Driving South
FB Live: Thursday 6th October, 6.30-7.30pm

Week 2: Part 1 – After Jaffrey’s Party
FB Live: Thursday 13th October, 6.30-7.30pm

Week 3: Part 2 – Dr Rabbitfoot’s Revenge
FB Live: Thursday 20th October, 6.30-7.30pm

Week 4: Part 3 – The Coon Hunt & Epilogue – Moth in a Killing Jar
FB Live: Thursday 27th October, 6.30-7.30pm