Trick or treating?

[Dorothy rouse]

I've got my outfit ready for Thursday, I'll go with grandson, hope to get lots of sweeties and chocs, if I sing also, they're bound to pay me to go away!

Good plan!

[Dorothy rouse]

Just to add, we used swede as well, took forever to hollow it out, and the smell lasted for days!

[veggiechicken]

Mikey, talk me through what your daughter does when she knocks the door 'cos I assume you stay in the background as a minder.

[Mikey]

Random unknown people knocking at the door are just a physical version of telephone "cold callers"

See normally I would totally agree with this comment, I would never normally let my daughter go knocking on a house if I didn't know the owner and advance warn them of her imminent arrival.

However last year we were behind on time and planning and as such the turnout was so poor that we visited a couple of other streets and some houses with owners as yet I hadn't met. Some of those who answered have since become very good friends, to which I would say you never know who you'll meet when you answer your door or what benefits it may bring.

[bearded bloke]

When I was a lad growing up in a small village,every year there would be a group of kids pushing a pram with a guy in it down the middle of the road (with a couple of parents carrying buckets),calling "penny for the guy",anyone wishing to contribute came out to the garden gate & donated whatever it was they could afford (all monies collected went towards the fireworks for the display on the village green),similarly these days the Rotarians have a motorised sledge that drives slowly playing carols,funds gathered go to giving a nice meal to the "old folks",both worthy causes in their own right & neither imported from overseas.
Random unknown people knocking at the door are just a physical version of telephone "cold callers"

[Mikey]

seems a bit extreme to keep visitors at bay BB.

Could you not have just dug a big ditch in the drive and manned it with some victor veterans.

[bearded bloke]

I have a nice long uphill drive & some nice steep uphill steps plus there is a switch on the PIR lighting & door bell transformer


If you gonna "do" Bah Humbug,do it big style

[Bill HH]

Well at least you can see it.

You've got to remember its not about you its about the kids and if they have fun then where's the harm in it. In real terms what does it cost you, I remember one year putting fruit in with the sweets and the children knocking all went for the tangerines.

You can very cheaply kit your child out without having to go and buy stuff from the supermarket, I even grow my own pumpkins now especially for carving.

I am all for kids having fun, I am actualy the biggest kid of the lot, but its the knocking peoples doors and demanding stuff under threat of reprisals. No wonder mugging is on the increase. Its not our tradition its been thrust on us by those who want to sell sweets masks outfits etc. Whats wrong with "a penny for the guy" and good old carol singing? at least with carol singing you get a song out of them.
Americans dont have bonfire night so maybe its their alternative, we seem to be stuck with both now. Before you know it we will be celebrating independance day.

[Sheneval]

How will you get to know them that way...

Mikey - Spot on - when I came home some years back and the local kids, (now fathers with kids of their own), were having a kick about in the street I always used to ask for a kick of their ball and join in for a few minutes - result is I never had any problems with vandalism or any other such nonsense - for a year or two we had neighbours who were from India and the younger boy aged about 8 used to come to my door and say Mrs Shen is Shen coming out to play - it just takes 5 mins of your time occasionally - I am a great believer in what goes round comes round and as you sow so shall you reap

[Mikey]

Personally I wouldn't ever give money, its not in the spirit of the occasion for me.

[Dorothy rouse]

I also grew up in Scotland, until age of 12, and we used to dress up, and round the neighbours, but in return for, a 'treat' , sweeties, nuts, tangerine or similar, we had to ' sing, dance recite a poem, not quite like today.

We usually have a few very local littlies, call round and I have a bowl of sweeties/ chocolate bars ready, bit soft me!

My grandson I know us dressing up and calling at immediate neighbours, taken by his dad.

What I don't like is when older children, who you have never seen before turn up on your doorstep, and expect money!

[Bill HH]

Have a humbug, Bill
I'm going to buy loads of them - we're going to need them soon

Bah

Rather than Scrooge i am more known to my family as victor Melrdrew.

[Mikey]

I thought you wore a white hat if you were a goody........( all my hats are black )

I would say that all depends on how tall and pointy the hat is.

[veggiechicken]

Oh dear - Pretty = good and Ugly = bad. I thought you wore a white hat if you were a goody........( all my hats are black )

[Mikey]

She doesn't want to look ugly VC, all little girls like to look pretty even when they are mean't to look scary...

A few years ago she went to a Halloween party and I won the competition to paint her face. The OH and I had to paint a dolly's face each, these were judged by our daughter and the winner got to paint her face. She went green with wrinkles....