My favourite frightening Youtube channels

Halloween #Blogtober 22. This post is going to be short and sweet because all of these kind of do the same thing.  You may have noticed that I like podcasts, and well, these are the videos I *wish* were podcasts. Kind of like the No Sleep Podcast, these channels read stories in sets. I think the stories mostly come from Reddit and 4chan. There is some imagery which compliments the stories but is not needed, so I like to put them on and let them trundle away while I clean or do whatever chores I need to do. Life would be so much better if I could play them as podcasts and lock my phone screen  or reply to texts without pausing them. You listening, Youtube gods?

1. Gloomy House
2. Lazy Masquerade
3. Be. Busta
4. Unit #552
5. Darkness Prevails
6. Insomniak
7. Joey’s Nightmares
8. Mr. Nightmare
9. Southern Cannibal
10. Corpse Husband

Be careful – they can be addictive!

Halloween on a budget – at Aldi.

Halloween #Blogtober post 17. At this point in the month I’m scrabbling in the pockets of last years winter coats for bus fare, and lunch is a cuppa soup, tin of kidney beans and frozen Yorkshire pudding, or some other bizarre concoction of food that’s lived in the kitchen cupboard for years. With that in mind, Aldi are *bringin’* it this Halloween with a bunch of stuff that’s not going to break the bank. Can you believe number 8 is less than £8?!

// 1. Children’s Pumpkin Costume // 2. Halloween Zooey Bottles // 3. Wooden Plaque Hanging Decoration // 4. Halloween Ceramic Mugs x2 // 5. Ladies Halloween Ghost T-Shirt // 6. Spooky bunting hanging decoration // 7. Ladies’ Skeleton Halloween Dress // 8. Ghost Boppers //

From Pinterest: Alternative Pumpkin ideas

Halloween #Blogtober 14 (a catch up!). So even though I have my posts all chosen, life does sometimes get in the way – work has been super hectic, the last 3 working days I’ve been knuckling down in a room without any human interaction. But we’re going to catch up today and get back on track!

Today, we’re talking alternative Pumpkins or their uses. I found all of these on Pinterest, it’s a Halloween goldmine.

1. Mom On The Side shares her best pumpkin carving tipsSo this is obviously the most stereotypical use for a pumpkin – carving it! I only carved my first pumpkin two years ago, I went for a scary pumpkin face in case you were wondering. Last year I went for 3 bats, but they looked more like 3 seaguls. Mom on the side has some really handy tips for all you carvers, like what to look for when buying a pumpkin, the best way to actually carve, and how to preserve it when you’ve finished.

2. Unoriginal Mom’s Glitter Monogrammed Pumpkin

Not very spooky, I think maybe more suited for Thanksgiving… BUT look how beautiful! And you could always forego the letter in favor of a glittery witches hat, or a glitter bat… glitter Frankenstein if you are artistically gifted, you get the picture. I just love glitter.

3. One Little Project: Yarn Pumpkins using balloons

Look how CUTE! If I was to make these they would be the sort of thing I would use as a centerpiece, dotted around a drinks table, hanging from the ceiling (think bobbing apples), or decorating the way up the stairs at a party. Now, I won’t be doing any of those things because I am way, far, too lazy. But it’s still super cute.

4. I can teach my child: Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups

These may well be a bit difficult to make because the pumpkin sweets are American, but you can always make the dirt! Be inspired – chuck some of those giant delicious strawberry sweets on there! Or some jelly spiders for a creepier crawlier take on it!

5. House Beautiful: Pumpkin Ice Bucket

Practical and keeping in the theme of your Halloween party! Use as an ice bucket for drinks, or just an ice bucket for people to help themselves to cubes. Also could work as somewhere to put wrapped sweets or chocolate. If that doesn’t do it for you, check out the pumpkin candle idea, genius.

“The story goes…” Weird tales from Wales

Haloween #blogtober day 10. I always find folklore, myths, and legends quite creepy. I’m sure not everyone feels the same way, but these are some of my favourite tales from Wales – that send a shiver down my spine!

‘Salem’

The story goes…. Salem is a painting by English artist Sydney Curnow Vosper showing Siân Owen in traditional Welsh dress attending chapel on a Sunday (Capel Salem in Cefncymerau, Llanbedr, North Wales. One interpretation of the piece claims that it’s a commentary on the sin of vanity, with the Siân Owen arriving late (a few minutes before 10 according to the clock on the wall), to ensure her arrival was noted. Another observation is the ghostly face which appaears on the right side of the shawl (by admission of the artist). Many believe this to be the devil sneaking into church. The original is displayed at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Liverpool.

Gelert

The story goes… Gelert was a hunting dog, the favourite pet of Prince Llewelyn. On one occasion, the Prince sets off on a hunting trip with his wife, leaving their infant son in the care of a nurse and servant. Given that all is well, the nurse and servent decided to go for a walk in the mountains – leaving the baby at home, alone.

The Prince quickly notices that Gelert is not with the pack, and so returns home. As they arrive, Gelert appears from their lodge and bounds toward his master, blood dripping off his face and his tail wagging. The Prince finds the child’s cradle overturned, and no sign of his son. The floor and bedclothes are blood stained.

Prince Llewelyn immediately avenges his son’s death, bringing his sword down on the dog. Gelert wimpers, and his cry is met by that of the baby, hidden behind the overturned cradle. The Prince investigates, and finds his son unharmed with the bloodied body of a huge wolf next to him.

It’s said that Llewelyn never spoke again. Gelert is honoured in the name of the village Beddgelert (Gelert’s Grave) in North Wales.

Y Ddraig Goch

By poodychampa on deviantart

The story goes… According to the Mabinogion (a book of Welsh myths and legends) an invading white and local red dragon become locked in a fight,with the emanating cries terrorising the land and people in earshot. The dragons were both captured when the brother of the king dug a hole and filled in with mead, and the dragons drank and fell asleep. Both dragons were wrapped in cloth and held within Dinas Emrys in Snowdonia.

The story continues in Historia Brittonum. The dragons were undisturbed until the King of Briton decided to build a castle at the site. No matter what progress was made during the day, overnight they would return to find everything demolished. The king decided to seek out a child and sacrifice him. The child instead tells the King that the dragons hidden within the mountains are the reason the castle won’t stand.

The king investigated, and came across the two dragons. The awoke and continued their fight, and soon the white dragon fled. The red dragon remained, victorious!

The Cursed Wall

The story goes… 800 years ago, there was a fully functioning Abbey in Margam. When Henry VII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries this site was one that was seized. One disgruntled monk declared to the new owner “if this wall should fall, everything in the vicinity will fall with it”. This particular wall is no longer part of the Margam park estate, but rather sits within the ground of the Port Talbot Steel Works plant. It’s surrounded by a protective barrier – just to protect the heritage, of course…

The Swansea Devil

The story goes… Back in the 19th Centrury, the church of St. Mary was having some work done – and a few architects were battling it out for the job. One was enraged when his plans were rejected, so o much so that he bought the lands opposite, demolished the cottages which sat on it and built a structure to house a wooden carving of “Old Nick” the devil. The idea being that the church would forever be held within an evil gaze.

He declared that “My devil will be able to leer and laugh, for at some time in the future he will see St. Mary’s burn to the ground.” Which happened to come true during the WWII Blitz… and yet the devil remained standing. The church was rebuilt following the original plans, and the devil’s lair was demolished.

Old Nick disappeared for years, until a historian launched a campaign to locate him which he did, in a garage in Gloucester. The devil was soon returned to his rightful spot, which is now within the Quadrant shopping centre, still gazing over St. Mary’s Church. If you haven’t noticed him, the next time you’re entering the Quadrant from the Entrance by St. Mary’s church, and Primark and New Look… Glance up at the second floor windows.

 

What’s your favourite scary movie?

Halloween #blogtober day 9. Continuing the Halloween theme (GOD I love Halloween) – today we’re talking scary films! I’ve had a fair few frightful film fests in my time and I’ve noticed that films of that genre usually get a bad rating, with the review reasoning “BUT I DON’T LIKE BEING SCARED”… So I’ve learned to ignore the reviews and make up my own mind. The following films are best watched in the dark… Alone.

1. The Blair Witch Project

My ultimate favourite scary film! I’m sure you’ve heard of this or one or the two follow up films. If you haven’t – student filmmakers go on a mission into the woods to find the Blair Witch, and only their footage was found. Generally it’s one of those you either love it or you hate films. If you haven’t seen it or hated it, watch it again but make sure you have no distractions. I’m talking phone off, lights off, no snacks. Just watch. It still terrifies me to this day.

2. Maniac
The picture here is of the remake starring Elijah Wood (who, by the by, is a perfect creep) but you could watch either this or the original – they are both spectacular. Creepy and gory. You learn the ins and outs of the owner of a mannequin shop, and learn the extreme lengths he will go to to perfect his creations. Probably best not to watch this while eating dinner.

3. House of the Devil
One of those films that is fairly modern (2009) but set and filmed like it’s the 80’s. It’s done very well. nothing cheesy or too dated about it. Typical scary story – a girl takes a babysitting job and all hell ensues!  It’s full to the brim with suspense, and has a teeny tiny cast (my favourite films all do). Definitely worth a watch.

4. Coraline

A children’s film it is not, as much as it claims to be. Coraline was originally a book by Neil Gaiman, which is pretty high on my to read list. If you like alternate universes, subtle nods at parental abandonment, maiming children, and, well, buttons then this is the film for you! It’s quite long and it’s fun.

5. The Silence of the Lambs
How many times can I say “I love this film, no really, it’s my favourite” during this list? I went to watch a screening of this film in the basement of Cardiff Castle once and the atmos was phenomenal. A classic – most people have seen and loved this film by now. Cannibalism, cross dressing, and psychoanalysis. What more could you want?

6. Evil Dead

The picture here is another one that shows the remake, but again the original is perfect too! A cabin in the woods, a creepy book, the occult… This is one that’s more gogogo than edge of your seat suspense, and has got a great dark humour to it. Excellent film, force people to watch it.

7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
An absolute classic. Out of the usual scary film list (Halloween, Scream et al) this is always going to come out on top for me. Rather than playing on the fear of strange happenings in familiar surroundings it focuses on strange things happenings when you’re already disoriented and have lost your bearings. Plus there’s lots of dismemberment with chainsaws.

8. The Craft
What’s a halloween film playlist without witches? When I was in school I was really into the idea of Wicca and spells and crystals and getting one over on the popular kids and the power of nature… I have (kind of) grown out of that idea but this film ticks all of those boxes. Also, recommended for masses of 90’s outfit inspo.

9. The Wicker Man

This is the 1973 version…. not, I repeat, NOT  the Nicholas Cage version. Set on the Scottish island of Summerisle, this tells the story of a Policeman who visits to investigate the disappearance of a child. It’s small town mentality as you’ve never seen it before…. Don’t keep the wicker man waiting.

10. Hocus Pocus
Okay so I had to throw in a not-so-scary classic. Hocus Pocus is probably in my top 5 films ever. The witches are raised from the dead and start hunting children… That probably made it sound a lot scarier than it actually is. Lots of suspense – it’s brilliantly done for a  kids film. I’ll be watching it every day in the build up to Halloween!

I’m always on the lookout for decent scary films, so please feel free to suggest your favourites!