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

31 Days of Halloween: Day 1

It's here! The most wonderful time of the year! Our Year of Celebrating the Seasons has reached Halloween! Like last year, I'm going to be celebrating 31 Days of Halloween throughout October. I set the bar pretty high in 2021 (I mean, I walked across hot coals last October, so there's no beating that), but I've got a lot of stuff planned for this Halloween as well. I've got 31 Halloween teas ready to enjoy, and I've picked a book of short stories to read as well. My box of Halloween earrings is out of the wardrobe and ready for action now as well.

So here's how I celebrated my first day of Halloween this year...

Today's Tea

My first Halloween tea of the year! I'm starting off with Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice from Mystic Brew Teas. Looking at the ingredients, the 'everything nice' is not an overstatement. It's got everything from white pepper to rosehip in it! But mostly it tastes of pumpkin, ginger and cinnamon.

Today's Story

Last October, I read a story-a-day from a book that turned out to have less than 31 stories in it. This year, I'm reading a story-a-day from a book with way more than 31, the Classic Tales of Horror anthology from Canterbury Classics. (I had to work out which stories to skip this month, and I'm afraid the Edgar Allan Poe ones have been ditched - I read a lot of Poe last Halloween.) Today's classic tale of horror (the first of the season!) was 'The Devil and Tom Walker' by Washington Irving.

Halloween Earrings

My first pair of Halloween earrings of the year... pumpkin candies!

Fun Day in Boggart Hole Clough

I had a great time today at a fun day to raise money for Rodney House Specialist Support School at the Lakeside Cafe in Boggart Hole Clough. I even won a prize on the tombola. Woohoo! It's not just the boggart that makes this a Halloween event though. I opted for a seasonal design from the face-painter, and a member of the Lakeside CIC community group regifted her tombola prize to me... a pair of skull shot glasses!

(Virgin) Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini from Glen Affric Brewery to celebrate the start of the month. (But I've got a litter-pick first thing tomorrow so it's mocktail, not cocktail.)