Family friendly is not just for my benefit (well, actually, it mostly is) — what can I say I’m a scaredy cat with a very active imagination that can genuinely only tolerate family friendly films at Halloween.
Even as a child my mind couldn’t cope with eerie music, horrors and sometimes some tame shows such as Murder She Wrote (RIP Angela Lansbury) —I couldn’t even get past the intro of Jaws, as the music was petrifying and I could always vividly visualise in my minds eye the description from friends of various films that they had seen — to the point where I couldn’t bear the dark or to wonder to certain places in our family home alone.
So, it’ll come as no surprise that I can’t watch any film above a certain rating — generally. However, I do love Halloween (the PG version) and the family films available to watch (luckily I have children who tend to tell me if I can or can’t take certain programmes, films or YouTube videos).
Around Halloween you naturally get the trick-or-treat callers, although now that my kids are older they don’t do that anymore, and the courtesy around where we live is that if you don’t have a pumpkin out — you don’t call.
What I do like is settling down as a family to a particular film (Hubie Halloween this year on October 31st) and having a TV dinner whilst we enjoy a moment together of movies and what I sometimes call, forced family fun (I say that with a smile, as it’s lovingly said).
It’s the time being together that I treasure the most. Even throughout the half term this week (for those in England) I plan my work around what we would like to do which can mean early starts or later evenings — all because I value the time that one day in the not too distant future won’t be the same as the children want to spend their time doing something with friends or significant others.
You might be surprised to learn that I have been to a fright night (at Thorpe Park) in my more youthful and younger days, and aptly terrified I pretty much screamed my way round (as my husband can confirm).
It’s this warped sense of logic that I have that means I’m lured in by a murder drama or a real life crime documentary — I can’t explain why — maybe it’s intrigue or shock — who knows, but what I do know is that this year we have planned films to digest around Halloween.
Very much an American concept that we’ve adopted here in the UK, Halloween is a fun evening and not just for the thrill seekers — it doesn’t have to be scary and for us in our household it’s an excuse to be together enjoying the autumnal cosiness and to do something topical whether that be pumpkin picking, themed movie nights or parties.
It’s about connection through a shared experience that enables us as a collective and community to take part in a celebration and to be with other like-minded people .
Like many traditions it can become woven into our very fabric and is a way to bring people closer together — opening up discussions, conversations and healthy and respectful debate.
Connection and forming closer bonds with those that you love and forming trustworthy relationships within the workplace is what builds our affinity to another and a sense of belonging to a shared interest, meaning, objective, goal and understanding.
After all, when we understand, we have better knowledge and learning to see things from another’s perspective — to almost step into their shoes and to see things through their lens.
You see, it’s the people that really matter in life and business as it’s these very people that lift us up when we’re down, celebrate our wins, offer us support when times are tough and lend us an ear when we need a sounding board or advice.
Life is full of clusters of moments that make precious and life affirming memories to consolidate, cement and formulate our thoughts, feelings, opinions and help us to decide what’s next for us as people and in business — so, whether you’re enjoying Halloween this October 2022 or if you’re not even entertaining the idea, remember that the real message here is the significant people in our life that give us meaning and what we share and discover with them.
Happy Halloween 2022
My Recommended Books to Read Right Now
Now..
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë — a bargain on Amazon at £2.99 currently and a hailed classic, which I haven’t read before now and can’t quite fathom out why — when I saw that it was listed as a gothic read I thought how topical and if not now — when !?!
The other reason I was tempted by this gem of a book was also because of the film Emily that is out in cinema’s now (I have a Cineworld card — the best card ever with discounts as well as the bonus of seeing as many films as you like within any given month).
The film is said to be an imagined adaption of what her life would have been like, which being female and wanting to write something that wouldn’t have been viewed by favourable means at the time, due to her gender, makes this read all the more important and necessary.
Seen as too ‘savage’ at the point of writing the book, it is described as a wild and passionate story with acts of terrible revenge taken upon former miseries. Perhaps before her time and definitely not recognised for her contribution when she was living— her work is now considered an English masterpiece and rightly so.
and Next..
You’re the Business by Anna Codrea-Rado and recommended by Emma Gannon of The Hyphen, discusses practical and resilient ways and everyday examples to thrive in crafting a successful freelance/solo business owner career.
I’ve been running my own consultancy for over 5 years and am always excited to see what others have learnt and shared about their own experiences because we are all trying to make our way whatever our means of earning a living and when we share how that has come to be — we all rise with the tide and can greatly benefit from the wisdom of others.
Oh and..Read, More More More..
If you’re looking for extra spooky reading recommendations then The Guardian have whisked up X10 ghostly reads and Waterstones have a whole section dedicated to this genre.
My X5 Top Halloween 2022 Film Recommendations to Watch at Home
Mostly Salem themed, as is commonly seen in many of these films, as a nod to its historical significance with The Witch Trials of spring 1692.
Goosebumps 1 & Goosebumps 2, Haunted Halloween are based on the books by R.L.Stine, rated as 6.3 and 5.6 out of 10 on IMDB, these superbly funny and witty PG (parental guidance) films are full of action and comedy for an all round crowd family pleaser where the authors characters come to life to wreak havoc on the lives of the people of Madison, Delaware.
Hocus Pocus 1 & 2 with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica-Parker and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters in Salem, enacting their revenge on the town that had them executed in the 17th century — Compare to the 1993 version if you will ( I know not all sequels are created equally, so judge for yourself) but these two films are perfect for some gentle ghoulish and Halloween fun with a modern twist on the second film that’ll be sure to capture younger audiences with it’s style and way of thinking .
Rated as 6.9 out of 10 on IMDB for its original release and the second with a little bit more of a modest overall rating of 6.1 out of 10.
Hubie Halloween (rated as a 12) with Adam Sandler and Julie Bowen from Modern Family (my official number 5 as the other 2 were sequels to match their number 1 counterparts) this is a bit of light hearted comedy based again in Salem where the lead character, Hubie Dubois, goes from zero (unappreciated and mocked) to hero after saving his much beloved town. This 5.2 out of 10 film is much more than its rating suggests.
Get Out to The Cinema to See..
Ticket to Paradise with Julia Roberts and George Clooney. Yes, it definitely does what it says on the tin and is exactly what you’d be expecting once you’ve viewed the trailer but it’s easy to digest and if you’ve reached brain overload from work, this film is ideal, warm and fuzzy — just what the doctor ordered.
Divorced couple Julia and George can’t bear to be around one another after a not so amicable split but the one thing they do agree on is the love for their daughter and so they unite to put a stop to her wedding out of the blue when she falls in love with a Bali, seaweed business man whilst on her travels after graduating (and fulfilling her parents dreams) and questions whether the prestigious job at one of the top US law firms is what she really wants.
This Week’s Podcast I’ve Listened/Am Listening to..
Diary of a CEO with Richard Osman offers honest insight and opens up about his eating addiction, the impact of people’s comments (even if no malice is meant) and how he describes his childhood trauma as the reason he is able to write best-selling books.
Parenting Hell with Josh Widdecombe and Rob Beckett and the star participant that is the one and only Happy Place founder, Fearne Cotton — Making us all feel a little more relieved about the highs, lows and grey area’s that is parenting with a dash of humour to lift anyone’s spirits.
Halloween Bi-Weekly Random Fun Fact
Halloween originates from an ancient Celtic festival of Samhain where people would light bonfires, wear costumes and ward off ghosts — then in the 8th Century the 1st November became a declared time to honour all saints by Pope Gregory III, which utilised some of the Celtic Samhain traditions and it was decreed that the night before was to be All Hallows Eve which has since been adapted as time has moved on to Halloween which we now celebrate with treats and more.
When We Work Together We Grow Together
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The Copy Shop
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