The Eleventh Story

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 20:15:08 GMT

Good evening. The dark evenings are well and truly upon us. Shadows hold sway along the paths and lawns of the academy's grounds. What better time than this to curl up on a comfortable chair and join us for another tale from my collection. This week's tale differs in as much as it is taken from the Archives. The Archives have earned their reputation (not to mention their capital letter) by virtue of being the record of the investigations that we at the Academy have been asked to undertake on behalf of various governments, police forces and a surprisingly large number of monarchs. Although, Crepuscular Academy is not terribly well known by the general population it has a certain reputation in certain quarters. Now and again the dusty old telephone that sits beneath a glass dome in the main staff room will ring and Professor Murray (for it is he that is responsible for answering the device) will listen for a few moments before jumping up and shouting, "We've got one." He claims this response is in tribute to a film that he insists I would enjoy. I have my doubts. However, we are here to help. So, if you come across something strange in your neighbourhood, please feel free to call...Crepuscular Academy!

The Tenth Story

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 22:04:00 GMT

Well, here we are again. The staff and students have returned from (what may appear to some of you) the long summer holiday. I can assure you that, whilst we are keen for our students to enjoy their time with us, studying at Crepuscular Academy can be taxing on the mind, body and, indeed, the spirit. As such our extra long break away from the old place is entirely necessary.

But back we are, and to start off the new school year I have decided to embrace the imminent season and tell a tale that deals with witchcraft and such shenanigans.

With kindest regards,

Dr James Archipelago Longshadow

The Ninth Story

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 22:52:23 GMT

The summer of 1914 was a particularly balmy one here at Crepuscular Academy. It so happened that Mrs Elizabeth Frazer, the renowned temporal architect (and former pupil of the Academy) was visiting. I believe she was on a lecturing tour and had dropped by the old place about which she had the fondest of memories. Indeed her affection for dear old C.A. was such that she designed and constructed us our very fine summer house, capturing within its crystal walls a splendidly beautiful midsummer night. It is from that self same summer house that I present this latest tale. A word of warning: it is not a story for the faint of heart.

The Eighth Story

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 06:28:53 GMT

My Miscellany of the Uncanny returns, following an impromptu (but necessary) expedition to the Antarctic.

My eighth tale considers the risk of souvenir hunting when on holiday.

The Seventh Story

Mon, 29 May 2023 02:37:29 GMT

I find that when I read a good book I become immersed in its world. My surroundings slip away and just for a short time my reality is changed. If written well, characters who are after all no more than words on a page, can become as real as the people around us. It makes one wonder about the nature of what is real. If I remember a character from a book with affection is that memory not as real and valid as the affectionate memory of a friend whom I have not spoken to in many years. Enough of my waffling! The students and teachers are back and life at Crepuscular Academy has returned to normal (or at least a close approximation of such) and my Friday evening group has gathered to share in another story from Dr Longshadow's miscellany of the uncanny.

The Sixth Story

Sat, 20 May 2023 23:55:46 GMT

Welcome once again to Crepuscular Academy. I am Dr James Archipelago Longshadow, and it is my privilege to be the headmaster of this esteemed establishment. It is still the half term holiday here and as such all the pupils have gone home and the staff have been sent away for much earned rest. I myself spent a few days in contemplation on a beach of my acquaintance, however I am never truly at ease when I am away from this place. After all it has been my home, man and boy, for longer than I know…or truly understand. And so I have returned to enjoy a period of peace and relative quiet. I say relative quiet because on occasion this week I have become aware of footsteps coming from the rooms at the top of the school. These rooms are unused, and indeed off limits to the pupils. This phenomenon will, I fear, require some investigation. However, I am not afraid to admit that I am loathe to climb the stairs on my own. I shall wait. Normally, I would be entertaining the pupils with a tale at this time. If you don’t mind indulging me I shall share this weeks tale with you. Perhaps, I shall feel less alone...if I am alone.

The Fifth Story

Sat, 06 May 2023 23:12:11 GMT

Welcome once again to our weekly gathering. I thought it would be of some small interest were I to share some information about Crepuscular Academy. As such in this week's recording I make reference to our interesting school grounds, interesting because they refuse to settle into any form of permanence. Whether this is a result of the more esoteric experiments carried out in our physics department or whether it is an attribute inherent in the land upon which the academy is built is open to debate and investigation. Whatever the cause it does mean that the view from my study window is never staid or predictable and it also means that our Geography field trips are thoroughly entertaining. In the staff-room we often run a sweepstakes as to how long the latest excursion will take to get home. I believe the longest a group has been lost is three weeks. Yes, I seem to recall it was form 5R. They came staggering back through the orchard with tales of crossing deserts and ferocious sea journeys. Ah happy days.

If you like our little get-togethers please leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Until next time

Good night

Dr J.A. Archipelago

The Fourth Story

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 22:36:20 GMT

It is always pleasant to see past pupils here at Crepuscular Academy. However, it is not so pleasing to see passed pupils. This week we were somewhat troubled by just such a poor lost soul. Fortunately, the disruption to our studies was relatively short-lived as the redoubtable Professor Merrin took it upon himself to use a slightly disturbing ritual he had picked up in Norway to guide the interloper back onto its rightful plane of existence.

Here then is the latest recording of our regular end of week get together to share a hot chocolate, a biscuit and, I would hope, the most important aspect...a story.

Please feel free to leave a review.

Some of the older pupils have now, in their own words, set me up on Insta...by which I take it they mean that I now have a social media presence.

What a time to be alive!

Until next time.

Dr J.A. Longshadow

The Third Story

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 23:10:17 GMT

This week's tale is one of lonely streets, dark places, monstrous creatures...and hope. I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did here at dear old Crepuscular. Please consider leaving a review by posting on one of the many podcast platforms where we are available or by emailing to crepuscular.ac@gmail.com. All best wishes, Dr J.A. Longshadow

The Second Story: Planchette

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 07:00:17 GMT

Greetings once again from Crepuscular Academy.

As I allude to in this week's recording of this week's tale, it has been quite eventful here at the academy. The inadvertent creation of a functioning time machine by some of our older pupils, whilst being an achievement to be applauded, caused quite a few furrowed brows and moments of consternation.

However, all was well the pupils were returned to us more or less intact, and the timelines remain (so far as we can know) undisturbed. However, should you find yourself experiencing a sense of loss or grief for something or someone that you cannot remember (the Welsh have a beautiful word for this sensation: hiraeth) I can only apologise on behalf of my pupils.

It will pass.

This week's tale serves as a word of caution as to the growing power of technology and how it might be used by...others.

I am reliably informed by my pupils (who are much more adept at this sort of thing than I) that listeners to my ramblings can leave reviews. They have urged me to ask you to take a moment to do so. I suspect their motives are more to do with garnering ammunition with which to rib me than to aid in my development as recording artiste.

I hope you enjoy this week's offering.

Until next time.

Farewell

Dr J.A. Longshadow

P.S. The biscuit of the week this week is the fig roll.

Dr Longshadow's Miscellany of the Uncanny: The First Story.

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 06:34:00 GMT

Greetings, my name is Dr James Archipelago Longshadow and I am the Headmaster of Crepuscular Academy. It is my very great pleasure to present for your entertainment the first of the stories from my rattle-bag of tales. The students here at dear old Crepuscular Academy have rather kindly, given this motley collection of recounts the somewhat grandiose title of Dr Longshadow's Miscellany of the Uncanny. Now, thanks in no small part to part to the efforts of Miss Cooper (the Academy's inestimably courageous secretary) who braved dust, spiders and goodness knows what else that was lurking in the attic rooms, to locate my old wax cylinder recorder, I am able to share these tales with you. Please be advised that Crepuscular Academy caters for slightly older children, as such discretion is advised as the nature of our tales renders them a trifle unsuitable for the younger listener. Should you have a query regarding life here at the Academy please message us at crepuscular.ac@gmail.com, and I shall do my upmost to satisfy your curiosity.