Sunday

An ordinary weekend!

Sorry to report but I have nothing much to tell you about this past weekend really.  I have however, found Pywacket and he is back safe and sound with me.  He has defo been hanging out with Savannah for the past couple of weeks, if only owls could talk!  I would love to find out about her and her family.  She is still being very mysterious but friendly at the same time.

I haven't been back to her house either so need to work on getting invited over for tea or something, just so I can snoop around a bit! 

Still no snow here, Gran says she has her own inbuilt weather system (whatever that means) and, she thinks we will have snow by morning.  Aunt Maud has been practicing spells with Gran and seems to be getting better at it.  If only she had been on speaking terms with Gran in our old house, we might not have had to leave the way we did.  I did have quite a few friends in that town, on the other hand if we hadn't have left I wouldn't have met Thorn, Savannah and of course Roman so cant really grumble.

Anyway I am starting to waffle so will leave you now.

Friday

Christmas Lights and Magic

I went to watch our local Christmas Lights get turned on last night.  I knew it was going to be freezing so I asked Gran to hook me up with a warmth spell to keep me warm.  She said she couldn't keep all of me warm but knew a spell to keep in my gloves and that would keep them toasty at least.

She mixed lots of herbs together and kind of smashed them down, next she got her Book of Shadows out and found the right spell.  She said some words, which to me sounded like Latin!  The herbs sort of glowed for a bit and then went dark again.  She put the herbs into 2 little fabric pockets and told me to put them inside my gloves. 

I walked into the village with Roman, Thorn and Savannah with my nice toasty gloves in check.  I didn't tell them what was inside, not because they wouldn't understand, more because I knew they would try and take them off me lol.

The lights were meant to go on at 7pm but we were still standing there looking at the sky at 7.30pm.  Kids all around moaning they were cold.  One kid was screaming so much I nearly offered him my gloves but not quite!  Then all the lights came on and it was all worth the cold.  Lovely twinkling white and coloured lights in the trees and shop windows.  We even had a Merry Christmas Hazy Meadows sign all lit up.   It made everything feel really christmasy.  We ate roasted chestnuts (yuk) and had hot chocolate from one of the many stands there.

All in all it was a great night, one thing that was bothering me was a strange blond haired girl of about our age.  Everywhere we went she seemed to be in the crowd watching me.  She seemed to have loads of friends with her but she wasn't talking to any of them and really didn't seem to want to be with them.  One time I caught her staring and gave her a shy smile but she seemed really embarrassed and disappeared into the crowds of people after that.  Weird girl!

The good thing was my hands were really warm all evening and this morning when I went for a walk in the woods (again looking for Pywacket) when I put my hands in the gloves they were still warm.

Tuesday

The Ravencroft Family

OK, So after my little fright at Savannah's house the other day I decided to ask around.  I knew Gran had some background info on Savannah's family coz I remember her telling me something about them a while ago.  So I made an excuse to go round Gran's for tea and pick her brain about my new mysterious friend.

Gran seemed really happy to see me, which made me feel guilty what with having an ulterior motive and all!  She made me a fabulous tea and we ate loads of cakes.  On the subject of cakes I am sure she uses some kind of magic in her ingredients, she makes the most yummy chocolate cupcakes with little bits of glitter on the top.  Anyway I am getting off track.

After tea I got straight to the point and asked her outright everything she knew about the Ravencroft family.  Gran told me Savannah's family go way back to the witch trials or something.  Savannah's great great great (you get the idea) grandmother was burnt at the stake during the trials.  Only difference with this trial was she really was a witch!  She had been caught helping a local child in the village she lived in.  The child was born really sickly but as she grew she was getting weaker and weaker.   I suppose in this day and age the child would have been diagnosed with Asthma but in those days no one knew what was wrong with the child.  Savannah's grandmother was only trying to help her apparently, she mixed alot of herbs together from her garden and made a kind of paste with them, she then spread them on the child's chest.   Unfortunately a few weeks later the child died of an Asthma attack in the night and the villagers decided it was Sarah Ravencroft's "magical potion" that had caused her untimely death.  She was outed as a witch and that was that.

Gran also told me the family are very mysterious (so its not just me who thinks that) and they tend to keep themselves to themselves.  I already knew about the story of Savannah's twin brother and the wild animal attack.  Gran said at the time it was very sad and everyone had a different opinion on what had happened.


I am determined to find out more about my new friend.  Sometimes she seems really happy and content, then she gets this look on her face like she is thinking about something really unpleasant and she seems to drift off into another world. 

Savannah Ravencroft I am gonna find out what makes you sad, I also need to get Pywacket back as he seems to really like her too.

Saturday

Savannah's Place

I went to Savannah's house today, she invited me the other day when I bumped into her in the village. She said Pywacket still keeps coming into the woods to listen to her sing. I hope he doesn't decide to live with her and not me, owls are fickle animals at the best of times.
Anyway, back to the house (god I sound like that bloke off Big Brother now!) so I arrived at her front door and half expected some butler to open it, the size of this place is amazing. I think she even has tennis courts at the back.
Savannah opened the door and as I walked in I saw the white spiral staircase, just like you see in the old fashioned movies. Savannah asked me if I wanted a guided tour and I jumped at the chance. (Must remember never to invite her to the caravan)
We started in the library, yes I did say that. There was wall to wall books, mostly old ones from what I could see. I think most of them are spell books. The walls of the library were red and it looked really oldy worldy. There was even an old fireplace in the corner of the room.
The kitchen is really nice but a little old fashioned. Savannah said her mum really likes old authentic country style kitchens. There have this huge oven thing along one wall. Savannah said its called an aga or something. The lounge was nice with a bay window facing the back of the house and the garden, it had a little window seat you can sit on.
Then Savannah showed me upstairs and I couldn't believe how many rooms there are up there. Savannah said most of the rooms are off limits and her mum and dad keep them locked! Then as usual with anything I get involved in it started to get a bit spooky and weird. Savannah said she needed to loo and went off down some corridor, I wasn't really paying attention.
Anyway I decided to put her to the test and check if the rooms were indeed locked. And yep they were. I got to the last door in the corridor and found there was a little stairwell going up another flight of stairs. Must be an attic. I decided to go up and see what was up there. (They don't call me nosey for nothing you know) The stairwell itself was really dark and when I got halfway up I could hear this really weird noise. It was like scratching on floorboards. Then there was this whining animal like noise. As I went further up the stairs the noise stopped but I could still hear the scratching on the floor. Then it all went very quiet. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I started to back down the stairs slowly.
Suddenly I hit something behind me, I turned and it was Savannah, I could just make her out in the stairwell and she didn't look very happy, she had gone very pale and was frowning. She said we weren't allowed up into the attic EVER. She half dragged me back to the corridor and quickly made an excuse that she was really busy and she would come see me real soon.
I couldn't get out of there quick enough to be honest and practically ran back to the caravan. Now I really want to know what the hell was in the attic?

Thursday

Good spell gone bad!

Gran showed me this really cool spell last week, it was very involved and had loads of ingredients to remember.  I wrote down what I had to do and what ingredients I needed. (must ask Gran how do I get a book of shadows)

The spell she showed me was how to pick up an object and move it to another place.  Gran used her wand made out of holly.  She said this weird chant thing and these really cool green and purple sparks came out the end of the wand.  Gran pointed the wand at the vase on the shelf, and then the vase started to rise in the air.  She pointed the wand at the table and the vase moved over to it. 

While she showed me, I got this really cool idea in my head.  I could tidy my room by using this spell without lifting a finger!

So last night after Aunt Maud had moaned, and moaned some more about the state of my bedroom area of the caravan I thought I would give the spell a try.  Great idea I know but, slight problem was I couldn't read my own writing and got some of the ingredients totally wrong.  I think I also got the chant wrong.  When I had finished the chant I got my make shift wand (don't ask me where I got it from!).  I pointed to some clothes on my floor and was planning to move into the cupboard when there was this almighty bang and loads of smoke in the air.  Next thing I know my hair is standing on end and my face is covered in black soot!  Aunt Maud came in and started laughing.  I told her what I had done and she said she had heard somewhere there was a rule and  that you cant do spells for your own personal gain and it served me right!

Well I don't think I like that rule.

Tuesday

Mystery

I told Gran about Savannah today, she said she knows her family well! Apparently they are witches just like me but tend to keep themselves to themselves. I will get Savannah out of her shell lol.

Gran said Savannah has 3 sisters, Ruby who is 16, Neve is 20 and Morgana who is 4, she also has a twin brother called Sebastian. Gran said there are rumours that her brother is really strange and nobody sees him anymore. There was a terrible accident about 3 years ago. The rumour is a wild animal attacked Sebastian and he is so disfigured he wont leave the house!

Savannah's family go way back in history according to Gran and they are very powerful witches. Maybe Savannah will teach me some magic too.

Gran told me where they live and I am gonna go invite Savannah to tea tomorrow, I think she will be a really good friend to have.

Saturday

Savannah

Well what can I say, Gran's little make a wish spell really did work! Let me start from the beginning.
Roman and I went to the woods (yes again) yesterday. I was starting to get annoyed about where Pywacket has been going. He kept coming back and had obviously been fed coz he didn't want feeding when he returned. Anyway we needed the excuse to search for those footprints again.
As we went deeper into the woods we started to hear that singing again, this time we decided we weren't gonna leave til we found out who it belonged to. We went deeper and deeper and I started to wonder if we shouldn't be leaving breadcrumbs behind us to guide us back!
I was just about to tell Roman we should head back when he saw her, this red haired girl sitting on the floor singing, and there sitting on a log beside her was Pywacket. If its possible for owls to look sheepish he defo did! The girl looked up as we came into view but she didn't seem worried, in fact she smiled at us.
She was quite beautiful with long ringlet red hair. She wasn't dressed like a normal girl though, she wore this strange emerald green velvet cape, a bit like red riding hood lol, She had huge green eyes to match too.
"Hi", she said. We both said hello. "Are you the one who sings"?, I said stupidly. "Oh have you heard me"?, she replied. I then told her we had heard her singing for a while now but every time we have looked for the voice we could never find it! "I do tend to come deep into the woods to sing", she said. She seemed to want to say more but closed her mouth. "Well I think you have a lovely voice, you shouldn't hide it away out here", I told her. I stuck out my hand and said, "Prudence Brimstone, nice to meet you". She seemed a little taken back but shook my hand and told me her name was Savannah. "This is Roman", I said pointing at him, "and the mad looking owl keeping you company over there is Pywacket" Savannah laughed and told me Pywacket had been coming to listen to her sing for a while now. I gave Pywacket my most withering look.
I asked her if she came to the woods alone, she thought about this question and then slowly nodded. (Not sure what that's all about.) I then noticed the things around her. I recognised the book on the floor as being a Book of Shadows like the one Gran showed me. She also had some candles in a circle around her. I wasn't sure whether to ask her the W question but she beat me to it. "I know what you are thinking". she said, "and yes I am a practising witch". "Something in common, I said. Savannah looked me up and down and nodded.
"Don't your family wonder where you go all the time"?, asked Roman. Savannah said rather sadly that her family knew where she was. Must admit she is a bit odd, she doesn't seem to want to answer many questions about herself. Strange thing is even though she seems a bit secretive I already like her. Looks like Pywacket does too.
I saw the time and said we needed to get home. Savannah said she was heading off soon too. "Hope to see you again soon", I said. "Oh we definitely will meet again", Savannah replied. We gave a little wave and headed back to civilisation again.
So Grans spell does work, I will have to tell her about this when I next see her.

Thursday

Oh no, not again!

Only a short blog tonight as not much to report.
Me, Roman and Thorn decided to go into the woods to make sure there was no signs of the Werewolf resurfacing and, I wanted to find out where Pywacket was. That owl keeps going missing this week, no idea where he goes but he comes back really late at night and I keep thinking the Werewolf has eaten him or something!
Anyway, we had to go into the wood pretty early as it is getting dark really early now the clocks have gone back. So we were walking around calling Pywackets name like lunatics when suddenly we all heard that weird singing again. The difference this time was it was much closer than usual. Every other time I have heard the singing I haven't been able to find out who the lovely voice belongs to. Unfortunately for us we still didn't find out who it belongs to but, we did find some footprints that look suspiciously like Werewolf tracks! We followed them for a while but, realised we were heading further and further into the woods. I really hope we are wrong and there is just a really big dog out there or something. We decided not to go any further as it was getting dark and Aunt Maud would kill me if I was late for dinner.
On a plus note Thorn appears to be getting used to the weirdness that's my life and he and Roman are still getting on ok. Oh and Pywacket came back at midnight! Dirty stop out.

Tuesday

An Education into The Essex Witch Trials and Matthew Hopkins

Today during home school with Aunt Maud I learnt about The Essex Witch Trials and some bloke called Matthew Hopkins, otherwise known as The Witch Finder General or, as I like to call him The Twat.
I thought it was that interesting I would tell you guys what I found out. This bloke Matthew Hopkins in my opinion really didn't like women very much. He came from Manningtree in Essex. No one really knows when he was born, (which I think is really weird) but people think it was sometime in 1619. Like me he didn't go to school, but trust me that is where the similarity ends!
The Witch Trials began in 1644 when twatty Hopkins said he had overheard 7 or 8 sect witches talking about sacrifice and the devil. He said later that when they found out he had overheard them talking they threatened to kill him. (Yeah mate course they did). Anyway he interrogated a woman called Elizabeth Clarke and basically tortured her, stripped her naked and searched her for witch marks. He said she had 3 nipples! What an idiot! Apparently this proved she was a witch and that demons feed off the 3 nipples. He kept on with the torture and starving her for 3 nights, until she could take no more and was ready to confess anything just to be free of the pain. I wish I had been around then, I would have given that muppet something to worry about I can tell you!
So Elizabeth confessed to being a witch and accused 4 other women under pressure too. I get the impression the town were quite happy with this freaks interrogation techniques and he became quite popular!
This idiot even got commission from parliament. Elizabeth and about 29 other women were taken to Chelmsford in Essex and hanged for Witchcraft. He became very rich very quickly, the greedier he got the more people he accused of witchcraft to keep the money rolling in.
Hopkins used to pick on the poor and old people of towns, ones who didn't have any fight in them. Torture was illegal in England at that time but Hopkins thought he was clever and disguised torture by saying he was interrogating them instead.
One way of torture was him picking a woman he wanted to accuse of witchcraft and shoving her in a cell on her own, no clothes, food or water. If that didn't get a confession he would sometimes use "The Swimming Technique", this involved throwing a woman into water and seeing if she floated or sunk, if she floated she was a witch.
Well that's all I can tell you so far, but Aunt Maud did say I will be learning more about The Essex Witchtrials soon. Cant wait. I am going to dream about that Hopkins prat tonight and make sure I am torturing him!

Sunday

Catch up with Gran

Just got back from seeing Gran (god it feels really weird calling her Gran and not Agatha).  Aunt Maud said I could go round for lunch!

At first it was a bit awkward, I didn't know what to say to her but, as time went by I got more used to seeing her as my Gran and not the woman who had shown me the fairies that time in the woods.  Gran talked about my mum and dad alot and she also showed me some pictures she had of them together and some of mum growing up.  It was funny to see mum and Aunt Maud at my age and Gran says I look just like mum.

Later after lunch Gran took me into her attic and showed me her Book of Shadows.  Its a black leather book with a weird symbol on the front.  She writes down all the spells she has done that have been successful, she said she will be handing it down to me when the time comes (whatever that means). 

Gran also showed me another spell, it was really cool and pretty.  She calls it the Calling Star Spell.  We held hands and all Gran did was say, "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight
                                                  Take flight, make light, come call on us tonight"

Suddenly these tiny little twinkling stars started to come through the open window and twinkle above our heads.  Gran told me to close my eyes and make a wish.  As I did one by one the stars went out like little lights.  Then they were gone.  It was lovely and I really enjoyed my time with Gran.

Just before I left Gran asked me what I wished for, "ah that would be telling", I said smiling.  Between you and me I wished for some girlfriends, boys are ok but I need someone to confide in.  Ah well we will see how effective the spell is wont we?

Friday

Remember Remember the 5th of November!

We had a massive Firework Party tonight. I think Aunt Maud and Gran felt sorry for me, what with all the stuff I have been dealing with lately. The fireworks were like none I have ever seen before. I think Gran somehow made them a little bit more special if you catch my drift! The colours and flashes were so bright and beautiful it took my breath away.
Even Thorn came back! To be honest after what he saw on Halloween I really thought I had seen the last of him. He even had a normal convo with Roman that didn't involve them shouting at one another or rolling around on the floor.
The weird thing is after everything that happened Roman doesn't seem to have been affected by any of it! Its as if it is perfectly normal to see a Werewolf in your local woods. Thorn on the otherhand is constantly asking me questions. "Have you seen one before Pru"?, and "are all your family totally mad"? I think I have alot of explaining to do with him soon. But for tonight I was just glad to watch the fireworks and be a "normal girl, even if it was only for one night"!
I had quite a good chat with Aunt Maud before the party tonight too. I asked her how she had known about the Protection Spell to keep us safe when the Werewolf was in the woods with Gran. She told me she had been working with Gran in secret for a while trying to learn "The Craft". Her and Gran had both decided I should be allowed to develop as a witch if I chose to, even though my mum didn't want that. They said it was my decision to make.
Well all I can say is, "bring on the magic"

Wednesday

New member to our little family

Well I cant say I have recovered from the ordeal on Halloween yet, but am defo getting there. They don't call me a Brimstone for nothing you know!
So you left me on my bed after finding out the lady who had helped me with my summoning a fairy spell was actually my Grandmother! We stayed up most of the night talking, all three of us. I found out Agatha (must start calling her Gran) was the one who Aunt Maud was shouting down the phone too all those times too.
I had alot of questions but didn't know where to begin so I started off with asking why Aunt Maud was my guardian and not Gran? They explained to me that my parents had put in their Will that should they both die I was to stay with Aunt Maud because she would be a better role model for me! I asked what that meant as how can you get a better role model than a Granny? Aunt Maud said my mum was adamant she didn't want me learning magic or "The Craft" as she put it. She wanted me to grow up "as normal as possible". Not too sure living with a fake fortune teller on the edge of a wood in a caravan classes as normal but what the hell!
Apparently Aunt Maud and Gran were in regular contact about me right up til Aunt Maud and myself got ran out of the town we lived in before Hazy Meadows. Aunt Maud was doing her usual fake fortune telling and, the people of the town decided they didn't want a "Psychic" living in their idealistic little town and, made our lives hell til we decided to get out of there! After that Aunt Maud and Gran lost touch.
Gran finally caught up with us about a year ago (but i didn't know). Gran had even found Aunt Maud's mobile number and they were having heated conversations about when was a good time to introduce Gran to me! Aunt Maud had gone along with my mums wishes until I started to show my own interest in Magic. Fake fortune telling cant really be classed as Magic now can it? The funny thing is I have been tuning into Aunt Maud when she has been doing her "readings" for years and she believes its all her!