29/11/2021
* Wow I'm sorry this is much longer than I anticipated, but its very important so please do give it a read
I've been reluctant whether or not to post this... but now I guess its time...
I lived at this Springhill address from 1995 until last year, it was my childhood home.
My mother also loved Halloween. Every year I'd yell "I'm nae dein this next year, I'm done!" And she'd yell back "aye yi are dein it, shut up!"
August/September would come around and we'd be scouting all the Halloween stuff in the shops, and lord behold, I'd be putting things on the door on October 1st. Me that was never doing it again huh. She knew I couldn't not.
Our first "big" year around 4 years ago, I had roped two of my pals in to being "human props" for me. They were of course, Ghost Face and Michael Myers. My mother stood at the top of the stairs crying in hysterics, as she watched from the window; my 2 props chasing trick or treaters up the street with fake knives. I was laughing too, but she was laughing so hard it only made you laugh more.
My Michael Myers prop decided that in 2019, he wanted to challenge himself to get more frights. He became Pennywise - and for those of you who came along that year, you will remember the sheer terror he caused just by moving half an inch forward at the perfect time. My mother yet again had the time of her life watching the fear run from our street... Halloween wasn't just my thing anymore, it had become hers too and she had looked forward to it as much as other folks would look forward to Christmas. It was now our thing, and we were the scariest house around.
Last year we thought covid would stop the fun, but you all proved us wrong. The scarecrow hunt Aberdeen was created, and with that, so many houses participated. We knew if we took a backseat we'd lose this "spooky" reputation we'd built over the years. Yes, it wasn't as busy as usual. However we still had alot of trick or treaters. And most importantly, Pennywise make his return along with Michael Myers. This was the year the parents were terrified too, running from the front gate as Pennywise made his move. One particular family we spoke of later, was the parents running past their child, and running so intensely that they even ran past their parked car a few doors down! Kodak moments that we all shared when the night was over, the reactions kept us laughing for hours.
This year, we were unfortunately struck with torrential weather. This was the year I'd purchased an 8ft tall inflatable arch (something I'd always wanted to do), and I'd managed to recruit 5 human props. Yes that's right, 5!! And not including myself as frozen to death Elsa. Could you imagine the fear!? This was the end, this was the year I'd decided would be the finale. I love Halloween, but let's end on a high.
With the weather being so bad, the arch was constantly being blown down. The majority of the props could not travel to perform their roles, so, we only had Michael Myers. But he was more than happy to answer the door and scare that way. Our full line-up was meant to be Michael Myers, Pennywise, Freddy Kruger, Annabelle and Ghost Face. My mother and I had been so excited and couldn't wait for the screams! So many plans. But alas.
I myself, almost went home at 5pm, thinking there's no point, nobody will come, it's crazy outside. And yet again you all proved me wrong! With over £70 worth of sweets, 60 bags of crisps, and a small amount of reserves, we were completely wiped out by 7pm! We had queues of trick or treaters from the neighbouring hedge, right up to the door! It was incredible, blew me away!
But one thing wasn't the same. My mother this year was ill, and so ill she missed the entire night by being in her bed. She came downstairs around 8pm, and we were telling her stories of what she'd missed. She was gutted, she was looking forward to it and she had spent alot of money to help make things spookier.
"Next year" she said. "No ma, I'm done, there's no way I can top 5 human props or get them back next year" I told her. "Aye yi will, shut up, we'll dae alot better, folk will come back". She was one adamant woman that's for sure, despite my groaning about decorating and taking it all back down myself. We even had someone (I shan't name you to save the embarrassment) volunteer themselves as Beetlejuice for next year. This person I never thought would ever consider it, as they'd laughed it off previous years when asked. Let's just say, I was almost convinced to give it one last go. Just one. But time will tell.
Unfortunately, my mother did not recover from her sickness, and on the 6th of November, she passed away suddenly but peacefully. I have no other words to add to that, I've just been broken since. My father passed away 3 years ago next week, and we figure my mother deep down passed of a broken heart, she wasn't coping too well without him, not that any of us were.
As I said, I no longer live at Springhill. It was hard for me to stay there after my father passed, and now that my mother is with him... the house feels bittersweet, empty and cold. I can't bare the thought of being amongst a lifetime of memories that will only cause pain.
We aren't completely set on the house arrangements, but even if we were, I couldn't do another Halloween. Not now, not without my mum. My confidant, my biggest fan of fear, my only reason to carry on with Spooky Springhill.
So now is the time to bid you farewell. As difficult as it is, it would be more difficult to carry on. Sincerely, from the very bottom of my heart (and my mums), we thank you all so so so much for supporting us, continuing to come by every year, and for being crazy enough to enjoy it as much as we did. You have no idea how happy it made us doing all of this, and you have no idea how heartbreaking it is to lose my mum, and have our combined passion also come to an end as a result of that. I look back at the memories with laughter, and a soft tear thinking of how my mum would laugh.
One final moment I would like to share with you all. I logged on to my Spooky Springhill notifications, and my mum was the last interaction spamming all the pictures of this year she missed. The final hours of her life, and her final time being on Facebook. It broke me to see this, and as sad as I am, I am also comforted that she was thinking about me and our Spooky Springhill chaos 💔 maybe one day we'll make a comeback in her honour, maybe at a different location, who knows. But for now thank you, goodbye, and Creep It Real. Much love and tears, Charlene xo
