Des fantômes et des citrouilles

Bon, nous sommes officiellement l'Halloween. Joyeuse Halloween à tous. Cette photo a été prise par mon père il y a quelques années. Je ne suis pas un fan des décorations gonflables en général, cela dit celle-ci avec les fantômes sortant en hurlant des citrouilles, c'est plutôt bien. En espérant que l'on va passer l'Halloween chez vous aujourd'hui, comme il se doit. Certains pensent que l'Halloween, on pouvait la faire hier. Non mais...

Sinister Servant

I took this picture in a small village pub, where they hold the Scarecrow Festival. It's a really bland looking place inside, but apparently they make a great Sunday roast and they are known to make great parties for Halloween and other holidays. I never managed to convince my wife and child to stop there for a drink. Last time, we bought snacks and went our merry way (on the Scarecrow Trail, but I digress). Well, I took a picture of this sinister man, who looks like he got right off a Gothic novel or a Hammer film. I was blogging recently about human servants of supernatural forces in horror stories, although in this case I don't think he is quite human. He could be a ghoul or a ghost. I saw him, or maybe one of his relatives, in a garden centre back in 2018. Both figures bear an uncanny resemblance. I strongly suspect he/it is a ghoul. When Wolfie was a toddler, he was terrified of this servant. I think he is still scared of him, hence his refusal to stay in the pub any longer than necessary, even though it's children friendly. I want to write a story about this sinister figure one day.

Ghosts In the Pub

For today's countdown to Halloween post, a British classic, inspired by the sight of a Halloween decoration. So I was walking down town a few days ago and I saw this ghost at a pub's entrance. Okay, so it's not a real ghost and the pub is most likely not haunted, but it was cool to see all the same. Maybe it was just a regular punter who had one drink too many ("Kids, that's what alcohol does to you!"). No, but more seriously, I always thought pubs were great settings for ghost stories. Obviously, they were the starting point of many of them, especially after a few pints. But ethylic hallucinations aside, the pub being the place of gathering of locals, as well as a place of discovery for visitors, full of dark corners and centuries old dramas, it's no wonder haunted pubs are still nowadays a source of attraction. I even been in a few. I hope one day to write a scary story set in a pub.

New Ghost In The House

For today's countdown to Halloween post, I wanted to show my readers a new decoration, which I bought last weekend at an artisan market. Cute isn't it? My wife thinks we have a lot of Halloween stuff already, but I regret nothing. I even think I will let this little ghost live permanently on the bookshelves, unlike most of the Halloween decorations I own. It's made of pottery and I wouldn't want it to break you know. No but seriously, I am always on the lookout to get our home haunted, so I gladly get my hands on more ghosts.

L'Halloween macabre sur le Plateau

Mon frère PJ a pris cette photo sur le Plateau Mont-Royal. C'est l'Halloween tôt là-bas et ils ne font pas les choses à moitié. J'adore ces deux figures spectrales, avec la tête de citrouille sur l'une d'elle qui sourit de manière maiveillante. Et puis le haut de forme et l'habit noir, classique. Deux morts vivants démoniaques et macabres. Même de nos jours, laors que l'Halloween est de plus en plus populaire et fêtée en grand en Angleterre, on trouve rarement de pareilles décorations.

New Old Witch

A few days ago, Wolfie and I went down town in one of the local artisan markets they have every other Saturday. Someone was selling home made decorations, many of them autumnal or Halloween themed. I am always on the lookout for new Halloween decorations to spook out the place. My son and I agreed on a witch, because we always need more witches. We bought this one. We haven't decided of a name yet. She doesn't look like the nasty, malevolent crones we have as witches usually. More like a kindly if eccentric grandmother. Anyway, Wolfie and I will decide of a name at some point, any suggestions in the comments welcome.

Canards de bois

J'ai déjà je crois partagé cette photo il y a dix ans, mais je suis retombé dessus hier. Les canards de bois de notre foyer.

Railway "Action" Figures

 Every Christmas at home, since I am a child, we have the LGB model train at the foot of the Christmas tree. We have been having it for more than thirty years. We also have from early on LGB train figures. This is the very first set we've had: the 5045 one. It consists of a mechanic, a hot dog/burher salesman, a waiter and a signalman (I thinik?). When Iw as a child, the waiter was my favourite figure, for some reason. These people lived many adventures on the railway, fighting villains and spies, going from place to place, they really are adventurers as much as railway or train staff. We still play with them from time to time. Sadly, we lost the waiter and we cannot find him anymore. If I can find an affordable one second hand, I might buy a new waiter one day.

Christmas Daze

Quick blog post to wish you all a merry Christmas! I am celebrating at home with my family, feeling very much like in a daze: I am spending the 25th as I did as a child and a teenager, playing with the model train, reading by the Christmas tree. The whole family is here, this is three generations now that contributed to this Christmas and the village at its base. Grandparents, parents, our children. My feeling is a cocktail of pride and nostalgia.

Christmas in the Jewellery

Is it too early to talk about Christmas? I guess not, although I try to avoid the topic until December, or at least until very late November. Well, it gets hard, as Christmas comes earlier and earlier. So anyway, you may remember that I blogged last year about a jewellery in Marlow that had really nice decorations. They did it again this year, with this big teddy bear and sort of slide of presents. It's very cute. Last time we went into Marlow, I took this picture so I could share it here.

Novembre: trop tôt pour Noël

J'ai lu un débat dans la grosse Presse hier: Pour ou contre: les lumières de Noël dès le 1er novembre. Entre Stéphane Dompierre et Rose-Aimée Automne T. Morin. Je ne connais aucune des deux personnes. Et ce n'est pas une question existentielle pour moi, alors je ne la poserai même pas. Pour moi, ça tombe sous le sens: je suis contre et c'est encore l'automne, alors non, non et non. Je suis donc fermement dans le camp de Dompierre. Néanmoins, faites-moi part de votre opinion sur le sujet dans les commentaires.

Le portico et les chauves-souris

 Photo qui date de l'an dernier, c'est le portico chez mes parents. Comme quoi ils décorent pour l'Halloween eux aussi.

Le clown sinistre

 Je partage une autre photo prise par mon père l'an dernier, celle d'un clown diabolique. Enfin, un clown normal. On voit son visage plus en détails et j'ai remarqué que ses boutons de chemise avaient l'apparence de citrouilles.

Clown diabolique

Photo prise l'an dernier par mon père. Le clown démoniaque est maintenant une figure incontournable de l'Halloween, tant dans ses histoires que dans ses décorations.

Araignée géante

Photo d'une araignée géante (je crois) prise par mon père l'an dernier. Ce n'est pas l'Halloween sans quelques araignées.

Christmas Night Train

 First: Merry Christmas everyone. I am sharing today a picture taken by my brother PJ of the family's Christmas at night, with the train running at night. It's just so magical. I promised Wolfie we will be there next year.

Model Trains And Christmas (a brief history)

This YouTube video is about a year old, but I only found it yesterday. It is about the history of model trains and Christmas. It's a big part of my own family history and our LGB train (sadly LGB isn't mentioned in this video) is by far the greatest Christmas present my brothers and I ever received. We are now three generations of boys in it. I say boys, because when it comes to trains, we never really grew up. (And the outnumbered women in the family never really understood our fascination for it). Be that as it may, I found this video fascinating. Oh, and Lionel is often mentioned. That was my father's favourite brand when he was a kid.

The family's Christmas Tree

 I shared it in a post in French yesterday, but here it is today, night time version. My parents' Christmas tree. With the train and the Christmas village at its foot. The greatest Christmas tree. Wolfie and I really want to go there next year.

L'arbre de Noël, 2024

Mes frères et mes neveux sont chez nos parents (et leurs grand-parents) depuis hier. Le sapin familial est donc monté et je partage une photo ici. Wolfie et moi nous aimerions y être.

Our Christmas Wreath

 It is turning inti a new Christmas tradition in this family: like last year, my wife made a Christmas wreath at a craft workshop. She says she finds it rather average looking, at best, but Wolfie and I are proud of her. My father always put a (huge) wreath on display outside the family home. I thought it would be fitting to have our own. It brings the Christmas spirit outside the house. And it smells nice too, as it's real greenery.