Had a brilliant night last night. I've been staying at Mum's for a couple of nights, dropping off some boxes and saying my goodbyes. Baby Damian (my nephew) has been here, and my brother Will briefly passed through with his new girlfriend, Louisa.
Last night was a Halloween party up at our local, The Ward Arms. Mum and I dressed up as witches, and Merrick went as a wizard.
There were some fantastic costumes: Nobby (the Landlord) went as Shrek:
Kate (the Landlady) was a pumpkin:
There was a demon barmaid, a witch and her cat, Darth Vader, the Brides of Death:
Plus a very cool zombie, Kenny, who won the fancy-dress comp. He made the peeling skin himself from flour, water, gelatine and a little latex, apparently. Very effective, if a little itchy.
It was a really good night. Nobby is turning the back of the pub into a micro-brewery. He's been brewing for many years - very talented. He's got a new pump label called 'Witches Three,' with a picture of the Guilsborough Witches on the sow. I've dropped off a few books from my collection for safekeeping as Nobby and Kate were interested in the mythology of the village.
There's a few things been written about the witches. I have an 1866 copy of the tract relating to the Witches of Northamptonshire. Quite proud of that one. Another really good source is Witchcraft and Demonianism by C. L'Estrange Ewen, which documents witchcraft trials all across Britain. You can look up surnames in the index and see who was involved. It has some really rare information on the Guilsborough Witches, well worth perusing.
I also lent them Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618 by Barbara Rosen, and The Records of Guilsborough, Nortoft and Hollowell, written by the Renton sisters and re-published for the millennium (available at the village Post Office for about £12). Both of those talk about the witches but mostly just repeat a condensed version of the tracts. It's interesting stuff, and the Renton sisters are partly responsible for a tapestry in the Village Hall of the witches.
There's a few things been written about the witches. I have an 1866 copy of the tract relating to the Witches of Northamptonshire. Quite proud of that one. Another really good source is Witchcraft and Demonianism by C. L'Estrange Ewen, which documents witchcraft trials all across Britain. You can look up surnames in the index and see who was involved. It has some really rare information on the Guilsborough Witches, well worth perusing.
I also lent them Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618 by Barbara Rosen, and The Records of Guilsborough, Nortoft and Hollowell, written by the Renton sisters and re-published for the millennium (available at the village Post Office for about £12). Both of those talk about the witches but mostly just repeat a condensed version of the tracts. It's interesting stuff, and the Renton sisters are partly responsible for a tapestry in the Village Hall of the witches.
Anyway, the beer that came out of that tap was green :) Certainly an interesting brew :oS There were also some highly amusing pub games, including one where contestants had to wrap their partners in bog roll from head-to-toe to look like mummies!
Shall miss the Ward Arms, my friend Jim, and, of course, my family. Ho-hum, s'pose I'd better hurry up and learn how to use Skype ;)
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