ENGLISH MUM: never knowingly undercatered

Well, we had a right laugh tonight. #1 was the scary murderer out of Scream, #2 was a vampire (complete with Day-Glo white face, false pointy teeth, dripping blood and flappy cape), L from next door was the most fabulous Corpse Bride, complete with the most beautiful hand-made ragged dress (all home made) and black-rimmed eyes, and Little C was a wonderful glow in the dark skeleton. We made quite a little trick or treat troupe, I can tell you. Oh, and Bertie was ‘bat dog’ with authentic-looking bat-wings sellotaped to his black doggy coat.

Blimey, though, people do Halloween properly here. C and I drove the kids to the more isolated places (some people do up their houses and only get a couple of visitors so it’s polite to make an effort) and then walked round to the rest. One lady had her entire house decorated, with her porch completely wrapped in cobwebs and a loudhailer spouting spooky music. Another had her hall decorated as a huge spider’s web, complete with giant spider on the ceiling. C and I felt a little outdone and vowed to try harder next year, whilst secretly plotting a commando Christmas display of lights that you’ll be able to see from Mars. Anyhoo, they all got a nice bag-load of booty and we finally made it home for drinks and nibbles whilst watching a fellow neighbour’s highly illegal firework display.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. ‘Aaarrrgghh’, screeched #2, ‘teenagers!’. I opened the door to be confronted by 5 or 6 hoodies who’d made no effort at all at dressing up. The conversation went like this:

Me: ‘What have you come as, then?’
Them: ‘Gangsters’
Me: ‘Hmmm very scary. Lucky for you I’ve got a few lollies left’
The hoodies then grab handfuls of lollies and start walking down the drive.
Me: ‘Em… I think you mean thank you’
Them: ‘Yeah, thanks. We won’t burn your house down then’.

Oh. Well that’s a bonus. Happy Halloween.