The morning after a very strange Hallowe’en, Ken and Alison have questions.
Unfortunately, nobody else in the village seems to have noticed anything unusual.
A little digging leads them to the legend of Ceridwen – and the unsettling discovery that what they witnessed follows an ancient story rather too closely for comfort.
If something from Welsh mythology really did appear in their village, there is one particularly awkward question left to answer:
Why here? And why now?
Alison and Ken thought they knew what to expect from Hallowe’en: too many plastic skeletons, questionable seasonal merchandise and perhaps a hot toddy at the pub.
They weren’t expecting the woman in red.
Nor the hare she was chasing.
And they certainly weren’t expecting either of them to start changing shape.
What begins as an ordinary Hallowe’en in a quiet Welsh village is about to become something far older, stranger and considerably more complicated.
Doctor, suffragist and formidable organiser, Elsie Inglis refused to accept the limits placed upon women. When Britain rejected her offer of an all-female medical unit during the First World War, she simply took her hospitals elsewhere – and changed thousands of lives.
Maria Dickin saw something others had overlooked: poverty affected animals as well as people. From a Whitechapel basement she built the PDSA, transformed access to veterinary care and created the Dickin Medal for animal bravery.
Ever since the invention of guns, it seems there have been people who were driven to prove they could catch the bullets ejected from the guns, between their teeth. Even today, in our modern world of TV shows, Deep Fake videos and constant warfare, the idea of trying the trick seems madness. Yet for 450 years, that is exactly what has happened, with Magician and Illusionist, one after another seeking to entertain us with what seems like the most dangerous or tricks.
Short Story Sunday presents ‘His Greatest Trick’ by Simon Axford. A celebrated illusionist captivates his audience with a thrilling show leading to a new trick called ‘Into the Abyss.’ However, the performance doesn’t go exactly as planned.
In 1817, a mysterious young woman arrived in a Gloucestershire village speaking an unknown language. Soon, she had convinced polite society that she was Princess Caraboo of Javasu -but behind the elaborate performance was Mary Willcocks, a resourceful woman determined to survive.
Short Story Sunday presents Old Magic by Simon Axford – a story set in the universe of his new novel – ‘I Know How This Goes’
Ellie returns home to find a stranger in her kitchen and a perfectly good cup chipped. Unfortunately for him, Ellie has survived considerably worse things than an unexpected houseguest…
This week’s short story on Sunday tells the tale of a fully trained agricultural contractor, who quickly finds out that the ‘old ways’ can sometimes be the right way too.
A Review of the Premiere of Joe O’Byrne’s new play; “The Haunting of Widow’s Leap Farm. A Tale from Paradise Heights”
Burnley Mechanic’s Theatre 26/07/26 7:30pm.
Take a ride tonight with the Dogz of Paradise Heights
If you love “Mysterious Times”, and would like a signed and framed article, please read below…….
Review of “I’m Frank Morgan: RewiRED” by Joe O’Byrne.
On this 25th of January, 2025, Welcome to Burn’s Night, and a special hello to our friends and family living in Scotland – we hope the Storms currently ravaging the country leave soon and doesn’t do too much damage to your lives.
A review of the play “Strawberry Jack” by Joe O’Byrne. Buxton Pavilion Arts centre, Buxton 22nd June 2025.
STRAWBERRY JACK – By Joe O’Byrne
A Review of the performance at Buxton Opera House, Sunday 9th March 2025.
The chat to the audience throughout the show gives away quite early that the real love affair here is actually between this troupe and the people who have been coming to see them for thirty years…. The audience quite obviously love this singer and his shows and all the people he brings with him.
WHITBY IS A SMALL TOWN NESTLING ATOP THE CLIFFS AND ALONG THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER ESK, NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND.
Kirst D’Raven takes a look at the subject of Urban mythology in the UK. These are some of the stories that get repeated so many […]
Hi, and welcome to a haphazard pot of memories from our road trips, some of which feature in an article, some of which don’t. Also, […]
Everyone who has an interest of any sort in the Paranormal, will have heard the name, Harry Price. Ghost Hunter, Researcher, Author, De-Bunker.
A beautiful church in Leicestershire UK – built in the 1200s and with many interesting stories.
A Metaphorical Stroll along the wall that Emperor Hadrian had built to keep them pesky Scots out!
