R2OK!

Minx · Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:30 am Post subject: Hallowe'en

As I went to the shops late afternoon yesterday, for a tin of sweets to hand out under the usual Hallowe'en onslaught, I noticed the house next door but one had a notice pinned to the door: "No Trick or Treating Here - Thank You." Hmm - dangerous, I thought.

By 6.15 I'd answered the door at least 15 times to trick or treaters, several of them in their mid-teens and the streets were still teeming as far as the eye could see with kids and parents. Despairing of getting our evening meal in peace, (and already three quarters of the way through the tin) we went out to a restaurant. I debated whether to turn all the lights off in order to deter people from taking it out on the doorbell, but as we always leave a light on, hopefully to deter burglars, I didn't.

On my early morning walk today, I noticed that in fact several houses had subscribed to the "no trick or treater" signs, and a couple even had notices on doors saying "sorry - we've run out of sweets". Although the streets were littered with empty sweet packets, none of these houses seem to have suffered in any way.

We on the other hand, had our driveway littered with half chewed sweets and an egg thrown against the front of the house.

Next year, and from now on, I shall be pinning a notice to the door and hopefully head off this legitimised 'demanding sweets with menaces' ritual. Why should you have to apologise, make excuses, go out, pretend you're not in or relax your usual security precautions for this silly imported US custom?

And now, rant over, I'll polish off that remaining quarter tin of sweets... Wink

_________________
Minx

To err is human, to forgive - canine.

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I agree, Halloween is something I always avoid. Luckily I live in a remote area and don't get bothered by the local brats.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Me too - they never bother me - I've convinced most of them that I'm a Jehovahs Witness and if that doesn't work I try to sell the life insurance - works every time Smile

_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Me too - they never bother me - I've convinced most of them that I'm a Jehovahs Witness and if that doesn't work I try to sell the life insurance - works every time Smile

_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

Especially if you say it twice!

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Yes sorry - I've got problems with my mouse tonight - lucky I've got five cats sitting on the sofa with me so I reckon the problem will get sorted out Smile

_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

xanadu · Joined: 17 Oct 2013 Posts: 70

Where we live, trick or treating is done by appointment and prior arrangements. Parents ask if they can come to our house, they provide the sweets, which we then hand over to the children when they arrive at the agreed time. I usually dress as a witch- green face paint, pointy hat, broomstick, the works. It's fun. Being a gated community we don't get unwanted or unwelcome visitors.

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

xanadu · Joined: 17 Oct 2013 Posts: 70

Last time I was driven through MK, my driver joked that the roads in and out should be bricked up, well, I assumed he was joking.

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

xanadu · Joined: 17 Oct 2013 Posts: 70

Well not really, we were on our way to an area called, I think it was Pennyland or something like that. I remember saying blimey, Poundland is bad enough, how bad must Pennyland be? His response was the joke about bricking it up. I think he was just annoyed about the roundabout that seemed like every exit was for Bletchley.

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Helen, you were right! Well done.

Cool

xanadu · Joined: 17 Oct 2013 Posts: 70

Yes. Well done.

Good to know the pm system works. Is it secure though?

Top tip. I've just installed bbm on my iphone, it's very handy.