Spooktacular Weekend

Welcome mortals...

It's my favourite time of the year, the colours are beautiful, the weather isn't cold enough to trigger my Raynaud's (more than usual anyway) and it's the season of all things spooky.

Like last year, I was scaring the pants off of grown men as a scare actor. Whereas I felt out of my depth last year being a lurking entity in the corner of the eye, this year I did baulk at the concept of the Fae Queen. This year I had lines. 

Well. As hoc lines. I kinda winged it each tour depending on whether there were children (teens, this was a mature event), and it not, randomly selected someone to pick on. Still, I was absolutely convinced I wasn't scary enough, even with the claws, the skull face and the click click click of bones against antler (foam clay, but let's not spoil the illusion!)

My first inkling that I was scary was when I spooked hubby in the dress rehearsal. I was practicing my last jump scare, neatly tucking myself behind a pillar and pouncing out with a hiss when I received "bloody hell, I knew you were gonna do that but I still jumped".

Won't lie, it was the bit of courage I needed! There were many jumps, I had joked during rehearsals I had the best scares and I do think I did, mostly because I was the only "supernatural" element and barely looked human in the dull green lights. 

Still, I am rambling. I will comment on my favourite scene and scare and move on:

We had one tour where a lady needed to use the bathroom right at the start. I could vaguely hear an extra tale being made so the lady could be "comfortable". After 15/20 minutes I was summoned and roared my way into the room, getting my first good jump scare. I then called them into the adjacent room, to hold court and allow me to choose my tribute. As they filed into the room, I hoovered behind the door, muttering and hissing and reaching out with my claws (which did gain a few jumps on most of the tours). The guide pleaded that I spare them and I declined, agreeing to let them into the bakehouse to choose their tribute.

This was my favourite part. As they re-entered with instructions to stare hard at me and maintain eye contact, I hissed and darted like a wild animal before screaming and snatching a guest, dragging them screaming into the dark gloom outside...

Of course it was a stooge. But no one knew and it spooked folk. A high pitched, half giggled remark on that tour I mentioned?

"Thank god I went for a pee already".

Do you want to know what else is frightening? I've gone and bit the bullet and made a sewing channel on YouTube - this creation is my second video!

Now back to regular programming - Missy has enjoyed a weekend of lie ins and slow mornings in bed. She has also enjoyed the mild weather brought in by Storm Ashley, long may it continue!

Our weekend plans went a bit askew owing to Banchory Village Hospital (the insane asylum) becoming more and more of a building site, and planned tea and cake in Dobbies was cancelled as it was just too busy for these tired ghosties, but we still managed some nice walks and lots of time cuddled up on the sofa.

The month is not yet over, we have plans for Halloween night, but I will share the details when I get there! Until then, rest up and enjoy the season!

A Frighteningly Quick Visit

It's been a bit of a whirlwind week, so I shan't keep you all long. I had my Manchester based sister visiting with my niece and nephew, Felix and Inkling and it was a blast.

Pumpkin picking, winning best disco dancer at a Halloween roller disco, and a whole ton of spooky arts and crafts, it passed by too quickly.

And the busyness continues as I am scared acting again for Halloween this weekend. The costume is nearly done, but a massive shout out to my visitors for helping make so many tiny bird skulls and bones.

To be fair, before anyone feels bad at child labour, I was tasked to make a labcoat for a frog.... (You can read about his creation here)

All will be revealed soon!

Need more Missy? Here she is helping with a very quick craft I put together! 

Felix has clearly inherited the family magpie gene and found this devastatingly beautiful fabric. And I know theyre gonna be an artist, because what was the request to be made with it?

A housecoat. And it's absolutely stunning! A future fashion designer, I think!

Getting Spooky

Well, the Halloween decorations are up and we are somehow already halfway through the month! It's been a grind since the last update - in part due to a very hectic work schedule on my part prior to my annual leave last week, and also due to the fact that hubby handed in his notice. Was there a new job, nope, but I was absolutely burned out keeping in top of my own work and every other aspect of the house and our lives and couldn't cope any longer. Something has to give, and that was the cause of hubby's listlessness, his utter apathy about life and, for the first time in his life (lucky for some) anxiety, which was work.

As I have told many, he was sold a unicorn and was handed a mule with an ice cream cone strapped to it's head. Which really, is a slur on the mule. Less said the better.

I'm quite glad that hubby talked me out of cancelling our short break at Alton Towers. With some significant maintenance due on the house, I was in a panic about finances, but just before we left we got the good news that he'd been accepted for a manager role in a store I know will suit him well. Whilst we definitely have to be careful, I was able to go away and enjoy my time being spun about on roller coasters. My sister even joined us for a day, which makes it all the more worthwhile a trip.

Missy wasn't left out. We tried her with a new dog boarder and, after being sent photos of her doing her Goldilocks impression and stealing the other dogs bed and then the humans space on the sofa, I knew she'd be fine. 

We received glowing reports upon pick up - the terms "calm", "wee angel", and "just so chill" we're all said and she's been invited back. So alls well there!

Now we are peak spooky season, I'm pleased to announce that we have also signed up as scary actors again for a haunted tour at a historical house. Good times!

Will there be lots of last minute crafting? Absolutely. What am I doing? Making a dark Fae outfit with an emphasis on the dark, evil creature of the woods kinda Fae. There will be antlers and a dark shroud and some very long, very sharp claws for stealing children.

That's all for now, we're all still beat from the vacation, but are definitely in a better place than this time last week!