Happy Halloween 2022

A stencil for my pumpkin was lovingly printed off by Rebecca while at her parents house, though when it came to taping it on it was a little big. So I attempted to do something that I usually pester Mum to do for me: freehand draw a design onto my pumpkin. The results were dreadful though so I swallowed my pride, gave up my dreams if ever being an artist and went back to the stencil. 

I lost a bit of symmetry on the eyes, the stalk was a bit too thin on one of them so it sagged a smidge, but overall it was a fun look.

Rain kept the treat or treaters at bay so we tucked in to the chocolates I bought while watching Hocus Pocus 2, which was a 'satisfactory sequel'. It honoured the first film admirably and all the returning cast reprised their roles with impressive gusto. Not much to latch onto for newcomers and it was still a lot of screaming at stuff, but for a Disney + original, it surprisingly didn't feel like a cash-grab.

Hocus Pocus

At the tender age of 29, I sat down to watch Hocus Pocus with Rebecca - a film revered by one Mark Stopher and many of my other chums growing up. Is it just nostalgia talking or is this a Halloween gem I have long overlooked? 

Despite a fun set-up and overall A+ production design, the film honestly was just 90 minutes of screaming and running around. As a result, the one quality that shone through was the feeling that everyone was having a gay old time making this picture. Its energy is endearing to a point however, a bit like panto, it can get exhausting after a while.

Halloween Nostalgia

Just me and the cat today. A trip to the supermarket was the only real thing on my agenda and while trawling through the aisles I realized that this year we might legitimately get some trick or treaters. I threw a chocolate bars in my basket, if we don't get anyone knocking then I'm sure we can find a good home for treats like that. I also saw jelly and got nostalgia blasted back into my childhood. That was always the signature sweet thing during my Halloweens growing up so it'll be fun to make it again. 

I've been engaging with a lot of psychological horror games and films recently so I was craving something a little more campy. Enter The Return of the Living Dead, the kind of film I would have fallen in love with 10 years ago, and it turns out that part of me is immortal. Rollicking 80's zombie film, complete with special effects, synth music and brash characters. The sheer volume of on screen zombies at times stole the show and the energy of the piece was a ton of fun. 

Operation Draft Exlusion

My objective: minimize draft from our front door. Operation Draft Exlusion was a go. I yanked off the old brush bar at the bottom of our door and used it as a size reference to trim the new one down to. Once that was installed I put on the new internal letterbox (yes, that also has brushes in it for a double whammy of insulation). At some point I had to then unscrew the brush bar again to gently refit it, to my horror someone shoved a pizza flier through our letterbox as I jumped out of my skin. Once my heart rate stabalized I affixed some sticky mufflers to go around the arch of the door. 

The cost of energy has forced our hand here and I'll be damned if I'm not gonna try and be a little thrifty this Winter.

The Banshees of Inisherin

 
Met up with Mr Chris Pearless for a cup of coffee, hotdog and pint of Bristol beer. Been a little over two years since I saw him properly so there was plenty of catching up to do. We chatted games, plans and jobs. So far he's doing well and is planning on taking some big holiday soon on the other side of the world. I'm just trying to keep my house warm and my cat fed.

Evening time was cinema time and The Banshees of Inisherin was on the Watershed docket - a film about two Irish island-dwellers who have an unsolicited falling out. Right off the bat there was a faitly classical quality to the film, thanks in part to its gorgeous setting, but moreso through its reigned character count and dialoue - it could have almost worked just as well as a play. Past all trademark Martin McDonagh witty one-liners though there was genuine pathos to be found here as the film subtly explores men's mental health when paired with fickle egos. Combine typically Irish topics like music, booze and senseless violence and you've got a rich film to dive into.

Millennial Relief

With two noisy builders round for most of the day, I was on cat-sitting duty. The cat and I played horror games together, brewed coffee and hung out in the garden together (as it was the only place in the house where I could avoid overhearing the builders talk about House of the Dragon spoilers). Our dining room is in the final stages of completion now which is great. Plastering is done, in more rooms than we bargained for too which is fun. Once they're out for good we can start the decorating part.

Usually on Wednesday evenings I try to go to a local board game night, I combed my hair and dressed up nice but it looks like they may have stopped doing the event now. I felt a millennial relief wash over me, but I was also kinda bummed, perhaps it'll come back soon. But for now Rebecca will have to be my board game buddy.

Running Buddies

Totally forgot to mention that Rebecca and I went for a run together yesterday! I keep meaning to get back into the swing of that but recently I kept harming my ankles and work picked up again so I couldn't commit to it fully. Rebecca hadn't tried it in about 6 years so I took it at a very relaxed pace, she was pooped afterwards but I kept telling her it only gets easier - delayed gratification.

For the first time this year I was able to attend our weekly Bake Off viewings, I missed these mostly because Louis and Rachel bring such good weekly bakes. A custard slice was presented by Rachel which I actually couldn't believe how delicious it was - it was difficult not to lose all decorum and eat it hastily. Guess I have to start doing something too now.