Ghoulish weekend for Littles

Last weekend I was away for a few days with friends for our annual Halloween get together which for a couple of us had a complication as a power line failure near London had put trains and drivers in the wrong spot.
For me things started the day earlier when I set out by bus and train to meet with Auntie Andi as we were stopping over with a n other where we had chops, kidney and vegetables for tea followed by a spooky decorated Donut.

There were plenty of decorations around the house and garden, spotting them  did prove to be quite useful for Saturday as after listening to some music and chatting, I slept by the fire.
Saturday morning was a bit busy as Miss Green and Samantha R went out for walk and  to pick up the order for pies and other things from the excellent local butcher but got drenched as it was raining hard. Anyway I didn't feel like changing out my pleated green skirt for something more waterproof.

I opted to stay indoors as we tried to work out when (and If) there was going to be a lull for the treasure hunt as well as the bonfire.
Gradually people started to arrive so the four soon grew catching up with events since the last time we'd meet and it was time for Miss Green and Andi to cook the beef burgers and onions as we were starting to feel a bit hungry.
We had three new people who soon fitted in well.
The treasure hunt based on the 1971 movie of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory was able to done outside as we roamed the garden hunting for clues of which I did manage to find one before it was craft time.

To save on carriage I arranged to have a pumpkin bought for me and so we went outside to carve the pumpkins with knives and spoons to remove the gunk from the middle ready to add the tea light later on.
That's mine  with the rotten teeth!

We returned indoors for the decorating the ginger bread persons with icing and a children's tv theme centred music quiz which was enjoyed.
If the details or hazy on that it's cos I was out of spoons at the time and also needed to rest me paws as they were swollen from carving.

Slotted between the savories and the desert portions of the buffet tea provided by various persons Miss Green and auntie Andi lit the bonfire.

This was followed by the fireworks and at least this time the rocket sticks stayed where they should as we ooh and Ar'd to the colourful explosions and we waved sparklers around.

After the deserts, we listened to some music including children's tv themes from the past until it was time for bed.

Sunday morning I woke up at half-seven which late for me but earlier than most so after getting changed and having a wash so discretely I stepped around one person who remains unaware I passed them I rounded up stray glasses and washed them up.

Andi and Miss Green cooked Bacon  butties (Bacon between two slices of bread) which helped keep me ticking over until after a few people left the remainder of us went out for a meal at a local public house by a canal of which most of us walked by the canal too.
I was on catisfactory turkey roast and still orange with ice which was delicious and everyone agreed the food was marvellous.

Slowly the group left and Daisy, Suzy and I were taken to the nearby rail station by Andi to make our ways back so as I was a bit early I went via Stone for a change getting in time for a meal at home.

Thanks to everyone who came, bought food, helped out  and contributed to a great weekend.

A Ghoulish Affair

This weekend last I was away for what is a highlight in littles life, parties, and in particular the Halloween one staged by a friend here in the Midlands which for me meant a short train journey after a bus ride and meeting with them as they dealt with some other business in town before picking me up.
Although compared with certain other events I attend this was comparatively short in terms of days away, obviously bringing things to literally add to the party soon takes up space so I needed a full complement of tote bags and case.
Having arrived back, the first task was to get the fire light and a brew on because three more people were staying overnight on the Friday after finding a good spot tm to put my stuff as with fourteen of us being here for Saturday and Sunday space in the front room in particular would be at a premium.
Some things I brought for Saturday's buffet  were taken out and the Pumpkin the host had brought for me saving trying to carry that on the train was paid for.
As well by prior arrangement I'd be sleeping in their so it made sense to put what I needed at hand but not in other folks way.
I sorted out my advance Christmas card pile for folk and got out my Hello Kitty white and pink plushie.
It wasn't long before the first two guests arrived which as our host was otherwise  detained I let in and by the time the last one of the day had made it it was time to get some food going.
We had a big pork chop with well cooked rind, roast potatoes from the garden which I washed for the host and Andi helped with vegetables.
The remainder of the evening was taken up with much conversation punctuated with bangs from a local firework display.
Come Saturday morning I was up fairly early in a grey jumper and wine coloured pleated skirt ready to take my pills and fix a spot of breakfast after rounding up stray cups and glasses.
 As people were coming later on, I had a few things to do of which one was to help out - it's 2018 and I'm expected to do something(!) - and that involved converting Gingerbread persons into Gingerbread Girls by decorating them.

I used eatable cake icing to add eyes, tops and skirts for them 

I made a number of variations on a theme which included one as a girl soccer player.
By about 13:00 hours most people had arrived so our Host and Andi set on making Burger with fried onion and to which another and brought salad together with sauces to add to suit your own taste.
By about 14:25 the last four guest had arrived in time for theirs.
Soon it was time for Fred and Florence's Exceeding Good Food Hunt which was a kind of treasure hunt out of doors where you had to find one item for which there was a prize which then lead to clue for the next and so on until we got to the last one where everyone had something - for me it was a caramel filled chocolate bar.

The next event was also out of doors, namely Pumpkin Carving to which several people had brought various tools to get into the pumpkin with and most of us remembered first time to save the top we'd cut out ready for the tea light to be fitted.

Finished mine looked a bit like this.
We went indoors to clean up and otherwise get ourselves ready for the cold buffet that included Pizza, pork pies (drools), salad and a home made trifle with cream.

By just after 19:00 it was time to put on warmer attire as it was time for our bonfire to be lit a safe distance from us which was a good idea as it turned a bit breezy. I had my Puma trackpants on.
It roared loudly with much crackling as people held sparklers waving them about.
Then we started our firework display oohing and aahing to the vibrant colours and sounds.

The display ended with two fireworks dedicated to members of our group who'd passed away.
After a short break it was time for the music quiz which had food connections where a tune was played and you had to guess the answer. Sammy won a cabbage for it!
The was much lively conversation until just before one in the morning when I got to bed.
I was as ever the first up and dressed this time in a green jumper - our host likes green apparently - ready to take my tablets and have a cup of tea as gradually everyone got up and about.
We had a bacon sandwich  to keep us going before we went to a gastro-pub within walking distance for a meal together before we all set off as some people had three hours or more to travel and it is a nice way to end a weekend together.
I had a turkey roast with trimmings and sticky toffee treacle with cream which arrived very efficiently given it was really busy with diners plus regular drink trade.
Upon arrival back at our hosts venue, everyone said their goodbyes before we meet again next year and Andi kindly took myself and another to the local rail station to make our ways home which for me included a taxi straight home as Sunday buses are infrequent and in any event don't run to our estate on that day.
I'd like to thank our host for a well put together party with fun events, everyone who helped out in various ways and for just being a gas to spend time with.

The Ghouling years

Just a matter of few days before I'm off for a ghoulish time so I'm working presently on packing my case, double checking as you do that everything you need is in there plus other things like money.
It's interesting to reflect on how it has been in the last three and a bit decades the way we mark this time of the year has changed because over here in the UK Halloween as such wasn't marked but people did hold All Hallows Day parties with guising and toffee apples.
The more recent custom of Trick and Treat isn't native to the UK but an import from the States a good number hold the children's tv program  Blue Peter responsible for doing a feature on in the early eighties that then spread like topsy.
Into that the participates created outfits to which people rewarded with candy and it wasn't long before as in the States commercial outfits became widely available even if face paint and the like obviously was hand applied.
In this country it cuts into the Guy Fawkes season where we mark the foiled attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament with effigies, bonfires and fireworks in 1605.
For that ear muffs may help as some fireworks are really loud!