The littlest spooky affair

As explained previously whenever something happens over a few says there is a week long delay in the publication of a post about on here and that's why this week we're looking at last weekends fun.

Never has that one word seemed more apt given that we'd missed what would of been last years Littles Halloween Party thanks to you know what and for some people actually it was the first time they'd seen each other for near enough eighteen long months.

Even though I had been able to get to littles camp in July and had by the skin our our teeth's made February 2020's I'd not seen the totally awesome Sammy and partner for that long.

For me it was an early start as I had to meet with the organizer who themselves was going to busy so I had to be up on time with my stuff including contribution to the evenings buffet for a taxi which both arrived a few minutes early and was much cheaper than expected to the best railway station in the Northwest Midlands.

I arrived at GHS Central and after just missing each other for a moment made my way towards Miss Green in the pouring rain (that thankfully cleared up later on) to meet with Andi for a lift in her car to the venue.

In time everybody started to arrive so we had a bite to eat, beefburgers with onions much appreciated given I'd last eaten at five in the morning.

As we entered the afternoon our first scheduled event, the Treasure Hunt took place outside where we had to find some eighteen packets of Jaffa Cakes of different flavours well hidden.

I managed to find three which wasn't bad going.

Then it was time to start making our Lanterns from Pumpkins, to save carriage Miss Green had picked one up for me so across a couple of tables and armed with cutting plus scooping devices we worked on them. I kept to plastic tools as I need adult supervision!

Here are a few in various stages of completion.

By this point tealights had been inserted ready for being placed on a wall.

Sandwiched, good pun eh?, between the first half of the evening buffet comprising of things bought by all of us and the second which had deserts, we went outside to see the bonfire lit roaring away.

Then it was the turn of Miss Green and Andi to light up a most amazing set of fireworks although one catherine wheel didn't want to behave firing up ones tail with excitement as an array of different colours and shapes emerged before ones eyes.

By then it was time for the second half of the buffet as I went for a cake and pink blancmange before the great 1971 Year of Decimalization quiz in which I did get 19 points which wasn't too bad given I missed a chunk of grown up programming back then.

We then chatted to Ghoulish background music from three cds - forget playlists! - until about 1 where I took up cat position opposite the coal fire. 

Needless to say we all got up later although naturally I was up first quietly changing the outer fur and washing the paws in time for a smoked bacon sandwich at half past nine before we got read to go up the road to a pub for a meal.

Obviously some restrictions still apply so naturally we entered with face masks until we arrived at our table to place orders with myself having a Turkey Roast with Sticky Treacle pudding with cream.

Naturally this was punctuated with much talk but a common theme was just how long we'd missed being together where upon a most unexpected and highly generous act of one in paying the entire bill lead to the conversion of a contribution to the drinks bill being converted to a tip for the staff for excellent food and service.

Return as people departed was complicated by a combination of engineering works around the Trent Valley and storms with heavy rain leading to cancellation of services so my part way rail replacement bus turned out to a coach all the way to the rail station and other had to pick a totally different route!

I arrived although some people waiting for taxis were not following the proper rules about who gets picked up next snatching cabs as they arrived which delayed me a bit.

The weekend showed very much what we needed and had missed this eighteen months.

Thanks to everyone not least Miss Green for assistance at the station and sorting the messy transport out ad Andi.