Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Halloween in the USA - Part VII

A look at some fantastic Halloween decorations from the USA.


Halloween decorations at Home Depot
A range of haunted inflatables at Home Depot

Emily was recently in the US and while there spotted some awesome Halloween decorations.


Haunted Halloween Computers at Target
Haunted computers at Target

Unfortunately there wasn't enough room in her luggage to bring any back.


Halloween decorations at Target
Scary inflatables at Target

Halloween decorations at Walmart
Halloween inflatables at Walmart

Halloween decorations at Home Depot
Haunted inflatables at Home Depot

Halloween decorations at Home Depot
A haunted pirate ship at Home Depot

Halloween decorations at Home Depot
Skellington Pumpkin at Home Depot

Halloween decorations at Home Depot
A headless horseman at Home Depot

Haunted Computer at Target
The brilliant Haunted Computer at Target







Check out my blog post about Halloween-themed minigolf courses and events to see what's been happening in the scary world of minigolf.

Our friends Tom and Robin at A Couple of Putts also created the hashtag #Puttober to share all things Halloweeney at miniature golf courses.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Crazy Golf and Putting at Bexhill-on-Sea

A look at a pair of lost minigolf courses in Bexhill-on-Sea.


Crazy Golf and Putting at Bexhill-on-Sea

Back in July 2007 we visited Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex and played the Crazy Golf course there.


Crazy Golf and Putting at Bexhill-on-Sea

We didn't have time for a game on the grass Putting Green there.


Crazy Golf and Putting at Bexhill-on-Sea

Sadly both layouts are now lost courses.

Crazy Golf and Putting at Bexhill-on-Sea

The World's Smallest Escape Room

A look at the World's Smallest Escape Room.


The World's Smallest Escape Room
Escape the Van!

We had a look at the World's Smallest Escape Room when it parked up at the Halloween Spooktacular event in Bramhall, Stockport on Saturday.


The World's Smallest Escape Room

The World's Smallest Escape Room
There's one way in

The World's Smallest Escape Room
Can you find the way out?

Check out the Escape the Van website to find out more.


The World's Smallest Escape Room

Emily is a fan of escape rooms and has done a few with her sister Jo. I am yet to enjoy the experience of being locked up in a room with a time limit to escape.

Although we both did play at the marvellous Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in Wales back in 2009. That was the last of the Cyberdromes. Sadly it closed in 2010.

The SEGA Bus

Hopping aboard the SEGA Mega Drive Mini Bus in Manchester.


Last week I heard that the SEGA Bus was hitting the road again!


The SEGA Game Bus
The SEGA Game Bus on Market Street in Manchester

My brothers and I went on one (a lot) when it stopped off at Barry Island Holiday Camp in the early 90s.


It was such a fun thing to do and I remember we played challenge games of Sonic the Hedgehog for prizes as well as receiving goody bags for visiting. Once we left the bus we immediately joined the queue to get on board for another game of Sonic on the Mega Drive.

The SEGA Game Bus
The 2019 SEGA Game Bus

The version of the double decker bus that called in to Manchester on it's week-long tour housed a number of the new SEGA Mega Drive Mini consoles and allowed players to have a go on the system's 42 games. I played Road Rash II, Darius and Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition.

The SEGA Game Bus
Playing Darius on the SEGA Mega Drive Mini

I hope it isn't another 28 years before I go on another SEGA Bus. The year 2047 is AGES away.

The SEGA Game Bus

New minigolf course at Alton Water

A new miniature golf course is opening soon at Alton Water in Suffolk.


A new miniature golf course is opening at Alton Water in Suffolk

The team at UrbanCrazy are putting the finishing touches to a new minigolf course at Alton Water in Suffolk.


Each hole will have an information board with details of Alton Water and Anglian Water.


You can see some photos of the course on the Alton Water Facebook Page.

Check out the Alton Water website for more about the reservoir and water park.

We're looking forward to playing the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. It's not too far from Ipswich so will be good to visit while in town to see family and friends.

Alton Water is one of seven Water Parks operated by Anglian Water. Rutland Water also has a minigolf course. We played there in 2015.

Minigolf course at Rutland Water
Playing the minigolf course at Rutland Water

Monday, October 28, 2019

Halloween in the City monster at Screamfields in Manchester

A look at the Halloween in the City monster at Spinningfields in Manchester.


The tentacled monster at Spinningfields
The tentacled monster at Spinningfields


One of the monsters on the Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters art trail is at Screamfields, aka Spinningfields.

Halloween in the City monster at Screamfields in Manchester
Some very find gardening

Halloween in the City monster at Screamfields in Manchester
Pest control will need a lot of bug spray to get rid of this monster

'Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters' continues until Halloween night. Visit the Halloween in the City website for more information.

Halloween in the USA - Part VI

A look at some tremendous Halloween decorations from the USA.


Emily was recently in the US and while there spotted some fantastic Halloween decorations.


A skellington pumpkin at Home Depot
A skellington pumpkin!

There are now only 3 days to Halloween!


Unfortunately there wasn't enough room in her luggage to bring any of the great stuff back.

A haunted pirate ship at Home Depot
A haunted pirate ship at Home Depot

Check out my blog post about Halloween-themed minigolf courses and events to see what's happening.

Our friends at A Couple of Putts created the hashtag #Puttober to share all things Halloweeney at miniature golf courses.

Unfortunately there wasn't enough room in her luggage to bring any of the wonderful decorations back to decorate our house with.

Manchester's Halloween in the City

Following the Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters art trail.



We had a brilliant day out in Manchester yesterday and followed the Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters art trail around the city.


Look up! Look out! Beware!

The Mayfield Depot monster

The Royal Exchange monster

A monster on Ducie Street

Halloween in the City is a brilliant way to get people out and about exploring Manchester.


The entrance to the Poisonous Maze!

A grim sign for MCR

'Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters' continues until Halloween night. Visit the Halloween in the City website for more information.




Sunday, October 27, 2019

Back in time

Did you remember to put your clocks back an hour?


Here in Stockport we've gone back in time to the year '019'!?


Funny sign in Bramhall, Stockport
019!?

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Happy National Pumpkin Day!

Happy National Pumpkin Day 2019.

Pumpkins at Pleasureland Southport
Will you be decorating or eating a pumpkin today?

Related blog posts:
- Pumpkins

Friday, October 25, 2019

Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters

Halloween in the City is up and running.


Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters
This Manchester street scene looks a little different to normal

It was very nice to see one of the invading monsters appear above the Treetop Adventure Golf sign at The Printworks in Manchester city centre.


Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters
A brilliant inflatable

There are ten monsters to spot as part of Halloween in the City.


Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters
Some of the monsters I saw on my trip into Manchester

Check out my blog post for a look at Treetop Adventure Golf at The Printworks.


Related blog posts:
Halloween in the City 2019
Treetop Adventure Golf at The Printworks in Manchester

Ghostbusters in Urmston

Seeing Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston, Greater Manchester!


Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston
Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston

Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters were on display at the Eden Square Shopping Centre in Urmston, Greater Manchester today.


I had to go along for a look.



Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston
Uh oh!

What a brilliant way to kick off Halloween celebrations.

Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston
What a sight!

Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston
What a scene!

Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston
What an inflatable!

Ecto-1a in Urmston
What a car!

Ecto-1a in Urmston
Who ya gonna call?

If you've seen - or got - any BIG Halloween inflatables do let me know!

A lost minigolf course in Stafford

Looking for the minigolf course at Wildwood Park in Stafford.


In September 2017 we visited Stafford to look for a miniature golf course at Wildwood Park.


Wildwood Park in Stafford

There was no sign of it.


Wildwood Park in Stafford
A nice bench sign combination

We did however find the Crazy Golf course at the nearby Rowley Park Stadium.

Franky Stine in Bridlington

A Frankenstein's monster obstacle for Puttober.


Crazy Golf at the North Marine Putting Greens in Bridlington
Playing the Franky Stine hole on the Crazy Golf at the North Marine Putting Greens in Bridlington

A Couple of Putt's post for Day 24 of Puttober reminded me of the Franky Stine obstacle we played on the Crazy Golf course at the North Marine Putting Greens in Bridlington.


Crazy Golf at the North Marine Putting Greens in Bridlington
With Franky

That course was the 383rd we've played and 663th visited.


Crazy Golf at the North Marine Putting Greens in Bridlington
Emily playing at North Marine Gardens in Bridlington

While we were in Bridlington back in 2016 we also visited our 666th course at the Treasure Island Adventure Golf course.

It was certainly a unique course and one I got locked up in so I had to play a shot out of a prison cell!