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HIGH spirits: Liz Watts.
Liz makes it fright night every night
Gemma Rathbone31/10/2007
HALLOWEEN may only come once a year for most of us, but one Stockport home celebrates the occasion 365 days a year.
Liz Watt’s Heaton Mersey house is permanently decked out with all manner of decorations - including an original Victorian cast iron coffin.
As organiser of the Stockport Gothic Meetup, 50-year-old Liz, also known as Dark Angel, leads the way when it comes to bats and bones, masks and mannequins.
Her Hawthorn Terrace home features everything from skeletons to costumes to headstones, making every day spookily spectacular.
"Every day is Halloween here!" she said. "Decorations stay around all year.
"I tend to forget what it looks like to strangers - until I see the expression on the meter reader’s face as he enters!
"It’s all light-hearted, great fun.
"In fact you could say it is to Halloween what Santa’s grotto is to Christmas."
Liz bought the coffin, complete with silk lining and pillow, for £300 from house clearance centre The Hole In The Wall in Hazel Grove.
Fellow Gothic Meetup member Anthony Boardman had spotted the artefact and knew it would be going to a good home with Liz.
"I had been searching the internet, second hand shops and flea markets for over two years," Liz said.
"We made a bit of a day of going to pick it up.
"It was in the window so we gave passers by a fright by sitting in it and then getting up.
"People were dropping their shopping!
"We then had to carry it down the A6 to the van and drivers were stopping and beeping.
"I have a few mannequins as well. One I rescued from a shop that was closing down.
"She was in several pieces and as I got on the bus I hoped the driver wasn’t going to make me pay a second fare for her!"
The Stockport Gothic Meetup has members ranging in age from 18 to 62, who meet on a regular basis to discuss everything from art and music to architecture and history.
It was believed to have been set up as long as 15 years ago, but the original organisers are unknown.
They have regular nights out, walks and activities, for more details visit http://goth.meetup.com/813.
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26/11/2007 at 21:00