Midsummer: Day 8

It's the penultimate day of our Midsummer celebrations, and we had a lot planned for the day (not least our Midsummer Dinner, following our new traditions that we've invented this year). Tomorrow will be a quieter end to the seasonal celebrations, as we'll both be back at work the following day.

Bailey’s Wood Litter-Pick

Not specifically Midsummer-themed this time, but today was the monthly Friends of Bailey's Wood litter-pick so we got to spend the morning in the summery woods.

Allotments Celebration Day

I had a lovely afternoon at the Crumpsall and Cheetham Model Allotments, celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. I had a nice bit of carrot cake with a friend, learnt to write my name in Japanese, and then made an origami chopsticks holder. The stars of the show were definitely the early medieval reenactors, Óðr Hird and Storrada Hird, with battle scenes and village settlement!

Midsummer Tea

Today's Midsummer tea (another of the Whittard selection box) was Jasmine.

Midsummer Dinner

In the evening, Rob made us the (now) traditional Midsummer Dinner of gratinated cabbage, roast shallots and new potatoes.

Blod Mead

And we accompanied our dinner with an exceptionally (dangerously) moreish Midsummer tipple... Blod Mead from Lindisfarne Mead. Oh my god this is a nice drink.

Midsummer Gifts

We swapped our traditional Midsummer gifts tonight... more seasonal-themed whiskies to add to the tasting sets we'll have at Christmas.

Midsummer: Day 7

It's the seventh day of our Midsummer celebrations. Normally this would be the last day, but since we've decided to extend things over the weekend, we've got two more days to go!

Poetry Session

I did a Midsummer poetry session at Castlerea House care home today. We shared our favourite things about summer, and I read poetry by William Blake, Emily Brontë, and others. I also gave a brief performance as Titania before we ate fairy cakes and talked about Glastonbury. Seasonal snacks and flowers were, of course, obligatory.

Midsummer Tea

Today's Midsummer tea was Piccadilly Blend (from Whittard).

Midsummer: Day 6

Another day of celebrating the summer season! Today was a day of Midsummer-themed snacks and nice things with family members - and that's no bad thing at all.

Afternoon Tea at Heaton Park

Me and my mum went out for a nice spot of afternoon tea at the Hidden Gem Coffee Shop at Heaton Park Garden Centre today. Lovely carrot cake!

Midsummer Earrings

Since I was going out for tea, I wore possibly my weirdest Midsummer earrings today... a pair of cucumber slices! (Sadly, I didn't have cucumber sandwiches to go with them. Just cheese.)

Midsummer Tea

Today's Midsummer tea (from the Whittard selection box) was Earl Grey.

Midsummer Myst

My brother came round tonight for our weekly Myst replay session (we're up to Revelation now). Tonight had a Midsummer flavour, though , as we had Pimm's and Pina Colada-style fruit and nut mix!