31 Days of Halloween: Day 25

Today was a very big day, with three separate (and very different) events on the cards. We also did some festive stuff at home afterwards, as we moved into the final week of celebrating.

Crumpsall Park Halloween Story Walk

I led another Halloween Story Walk this morning, this time for Friends of Crumpsall Park. This was such a fun event to do - loved working with the kids to come up with a spooky story about the park. The Crumpsall kids did come to a different conclusion than the Blackley kids on Monday though... they decided I must be the werewolf! One of the kids drew a picture of me as a witch, being transformed into a werewolf by a tornado and it's my absolute favourite thing.

Castlerea Halloween Film Afternoon

We had our annual Halloween Film Afternoon at Castlerea Care Home this afternoon. This year we watched Frankenstein Created Woman, with spooky movie snacks of course. I also did my traditional dramatic reading of 'The Raven' for the housemates (with audience participation)!

Green Quarter Weird History Walk

I led a Halloween weird history walk for GRUB MCR tonight, taking walkers from Angel Meadow to Red Bank and telling tales of bodysnatching, swimming baths, ragged schools and railways along the way.

Samhain Candle

We lit our Samhain candle from Chalice Creations tonight. Rose, sandalwood and orange to scent the season.

Pumpkin Lantern

Rob carved our pumpkin lantern tonight! And what a fine lantern he is too!

Little Gem Squash

Another lovely recipe for our Groobarbs Autumn Squash Box... South African Style Baked Little Gem Squash!

31 Halloween Films: Saw

Tonight's film from our Halloween list was the one we were sort of thinking would come up last Saturday! But it was so good to watch Saw again after seeing Saw X!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 24

It's the one day this week when I don't have a Halloween event to do, so it's just a fairly standard day at work for me. Okay, it was a little bit festive!

Halloween Soreen

Lunchtime Halloween malt loaf, because nothing says lunch better than a vampiric cyclops cherry!

Spaghetti Squash Pasta Bake

More squash antics with our Autumn Squash Box from Groobarbs! Tonight's tea was Spaghetti Squash 'Pasta' Bake. First time we've had spaghetti squash as a pasta substitute!

31 Halloween Films: Ginger Snaps

The random number generator has decreed that tonight we're watching Ginger Snaps tonight!

My Year in Books 2023: October

Okay, so it's a very short post today. 31 Days of Halloween doesn't always leave much time for reading. That said, I did read one book, and it was a very good one!

In case you're curious, here are the rest of my reviews for the year so far: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September

Ghostwritten by Ronald Malfi (2022)

There was a lot going on this month, so I knew I wouldn’t get chance to do a lot of reading. But I was keen that any reading I did was right for the season. And I think I made a very good choice! I got Ghostwritten in one of my Abominable Books boxes, and it’s been sitting on my to-read pile since then, just waiting for the right time! It’s a collection of four (almost) standalone novellas, each focused on a book or story that is cursed in some way: an unpublished manuscript, an old book that needs to be delivered to a new owner, a book created by a lonely child, and a choose-your-own-adventure game. I knew that the subject matter would be to my taste, but I was really taken with Malfi’s writing. Although the novellas differ a little in terms of their tone, there’s a distinct style and voice that I found really enjoyable. I was completely immersed in each one, and so I couldn’t pick a favourite (though some of the descriptions of places in The Dark Brothers’ Last Ride were just perfect). I say these are ‘almost’ standalone, as they are set in the same ‘universe’. There’s a very subtle overarching narrative that links them, and I really enjoyed the light touch Malfi uses to create this. There are tiny hints to another story that isn’t told in any of the novellas that was beautifully intriguing and sinister. Overall, this is perfect Halloween reading!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 23

A really nice day today, as it was the start of my big week of events and activities. There's a lot coming up this week, so it was lovely to kick things off with such a successful event.

Bailey’s Wood Halloween Story Walk

Really loved leading the Halloween Story Walk for Friends of Bailey's Wood today! It was AMAZING to see kids of all ages (plus some adults and a very excited dog) enjoying the woods, exercising their legs and their imaginations, and (most importantly) hunting for werewolves. We never did catch one though...

Halloween Donut

After such a full-on Halloween event this afternoon, I treated myself to a Halloween donut afterwards. And yes, it was a Krispy Kreme.

Halloween Presents

More very cute Halloween presents from my bonkers and lovely mum... a Halloween gonk and an autumnal owl!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 22

After the craziness of Pumpkin Day yesterday, it was a bit of a quiet one today. I was at work, and then we just had a quiet night in with a seasonal film.

Spider Brooches

For half term, we've got a spider brooch activity on at the Pankhurst Centre, making badges inspired by the jewellery of Baroness Hale (specifically the brooch she wore when she ruled that the proroguing of parliament was illegal).

31 Halloween Films: Troll Hunter

Our Sunday night film from the Halloween list was Troll Hunter!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 21

It's Pumpkin Day! And given it's the second year in a row we've observed Pumpkin Day, that must mean it's a genuine tradition! Woohoo! It's also our monthly day off together, so we've got lots of (admittedly heavily pumpkin-based) things planned.

Trick or Treat Sweets

I completely forgot I ordered this bag of Halloween sweets from Candy Stack Creations! It's like a Halloween present from past me!

Crumpsall Breakfast

Since we had the day off together, we went out for a lovely breakfast at the Secret Sandwich and randomly met up with friends, before heading out for the afternoon.

Pumpkin Picking

It's Pumpkin Day! We went to Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm to get a big pumpkin to carve, plus some mini pumpkins (because they're so cute).

Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream

It wouldn't be Pumpkin Day without some pumpkin spice ice cream, would it?

Pumpkin Patch Cake

It's Pumpkin Day!

31 Halloween Films: You’re Next

An afternoon film from our list... what's next? You're Next!

Special Earrings

I changed my earrings before we went out for the evening... bet you can't guess why.

Saw X

We went to see Saw X tonight. I was a bit nervous about what it would be like, after the disappointment of Jigsaw (and I didn't even bother with Spiral). But it was an absolute joy (and I know that's a weird thing to say about a Saw film). There's so much affection for the franchise, the characters and the fans in this film!

31 Halloween Films: Friday the 13th

Back from the pictures and back to our Halloween list... it was Friday the 13th next!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 20

Another busy day with work and radio show stuff, but still time for a bit of festive fun in the evening!

Uncle Joe’s Caramelised Toffee Apples

What mad alchemy is this? (Also, can you get non-caramelised toffee apples??)

Roasted Patty Pan Squash

Our October Squash Odyssey (with our Groobarbs Autumn Squash Box) continues... tonight's tea was Roasted Patty Pan Squash with Carrots and Shallots served with stuffed mushrooms.

31 Halloween Films: Sleepy Hollow

The random number generator has spoken again... He's got a horse, but he hasn't got a head!

31 Halloween Films: Halloween

I mean, it was obviously going to happen at some point.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 19

Just a quiet day at work today, doing usual non-Halloween things (although there was a bit of planning for a big event next week).

Dried Mummy’s Brains

Tea break at work today. (It's Dried Mummy's Brains - actually Egyptian Camomile - from Monster Mash Teas!)

31 Days of Halloween: Day 18

Busy but nice day today, with some proper seasonal fun. It was autumnal, but lightly spooky, so all-in-all a good October day!

Bailey’s Wood Ghost Stories Walk and Talk

I led a Walk and Talk session for Friends of Bailey's Wood today, with a ghost stories theme. I loved our ghostly walk in the woods, and sharing a few little tales: 'The Grey Lady of Booth Hall', 'The Boggart of Boggart Hole Clough', 'The Lost Knight', and 'The Devil Came to Dam Head'! They're all 100% true as well (maybe). And what better way to finish off a spooky walk and talk in the woods than with a hot Vimto and a Halloween cupcake?

Halloween Fondant Fancies

Exceedingly good (part 2).

Veg Box

It's here! The first pumpkin of the year! And it's teamed up with a kohlrabi! (We also got leeks, carrots, peppers and potatoes, apples, pears and raspberries in our Groobarbs box this time!)

31 Halloween Films: One Cut of the Dead

Tonight we watched One Cut of the Dead. Pom!

Crown Prince Risotto

More fun from our Autumn Squash Box tonight... an excellent Crown Prince Squash Risotto (veg and recipe from Groobarbs, cooking by Rob)!