Dreading Halloween...

stir_crazy

aileth wrote: »

Ha-ha I forgot about monkey nuts! It was always them and satsumas that me and my sister used to grumble about getting!!!

I cannot tell you how much I loved monkey nuts as a kid. I could have eaten a whole bagful if my mum had let me.

hamish222

Can't believe the people getting their houses egged. I am Scottish and kids around my way are polite. I make up little bags with chocolate and sweets and each child gets one. A lot of kids don't come to our door (maybe because don't put anything in window. Don't have kids). We are adopting so will hopefully have our own little one next year. When we do will take them out to family and few neighbours that know well. We always went out guising when young and as other Scots have said not tricks here but kids tell a joke or a song or something for their sweets.
I don't make the kids do a party piece, when they come to the door. They always say the little poem The sky is blue the grass is green may we have our Halloween(same as I said 30 years ago).

Tropez

jellyhead wrote: »

I sometimes think the smaller children should be with an adult, but that's just me being overprotective. I also remember scare stories from when I was a child (designed to stop us from trick or treating, I suppose) of strangers putting razor blades, poison, glass etc. into sweets :eek: It probably wasn't true, but still, my kids don't go to houses they don't know.

Unfortunately, these things have actually happened although they are extremely rare and many of the more grizzly tales are embellishments.

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/needles.asp

Mrs_Ryan

My next door neighbour (the wicked witch of the west) gets her house egged every year without fail. And every year without fail they miss and hit our house instead :mad: I usually try to ensure I'm not at home and the 31st is payday so usually I would go out for the day and not get back till late. However I have a medical appointment at 4.30 so I'll be home for about 5.30 - prime time for trick or treaters. Luckily my computer room is at the back of the house so I think I'll barricade myself in until OH gets home

Alpha58

A couple of these in the front garden should help. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M18_Claymore_mine but just make sure the convex side is facing away from you.

Seriously though, the whole thing is creepy and completely un-British (yes, I know that it started in Scotland but it was something very different to what it has become). Yeuch.

con1888

I'm not sure what to do, last year I was quite happy to participate and give out things to the kids, they are quite good around here, however this year i'm feeling pretty afwul atm, have bad pregnancy sickness and tiredness and can't be dealing with it... not so much the kids but I have a German Shepherd who will go mental everytime the door is chapped.... I did think of putting a bowl out saying take one each but I know the first people will likely take the lot

thought of going out for the night but then the dog will be home alone and it will likely stress him out with the door going all night and that's not really fair either...

balletshoes

Alpha58 wrote: »

A couple of these in the front garden should help. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M18_Claymore_mine but just make sure the convex side is facing away from you.

Seriously though, the whole thing is creepy and completely un-British (yes, I know that it started in Scotland but it was something very different to what it has become). Yeuch.

but has it? I totally get why the OP wouldn't want anything to do with Halloween based on whats happened in her area - but its light years away from what goes on in my neighourhood (city suburb ex-council estate).

Spendless

meg72 wrote: »

Sadly I think there may be some basis for the scare stories, years ago I remember one nasty old devil putting chilli powder on lollys,
he bragged that it was his trick.

How did he put chilli powderr on cellophaned lollies and re-wrap them to look as though they hadn't been tampered with? Or was he just claiming this to look 'big' or had a warped sense of humour?

AlexLK

We never get any trick or treat'ers, nor did I ever experience them as a child because I've always lived in houses that are quite secluded (apart from when I was at uni). However, my parents used to throw Halloween parties and I plan to do the same when my son gets a bit older.

paulineb_2

hamish222 wrote: »

Can't believe the people getting their houses egged. I am Scottish and kids around my way are polite. I make up little bags with chocolate and sweets and each child gets one. A lot of kids don't come to our door (maybe because don't put anything in window. Don't have kids). We are adopting so will hopefully have our own little one next year. When we do will take them out to family and few neighbours that know well. We always went out guising when young and as other Scots have said not tricks here but kids tell a joke or a song or something for their sweets.
I don't make the kids do a party piece, when they come to the door. They always say the little poem The sky is blue the grass is green may we have our Halloween(same as I said 30 years ago).

I cant even call it trick or treating, always guising, I loved going out guising when I was younger, usually in some ridiculous costume my mum made me and coming in with a bag full of sweets, crisps, fruit, monkey nuts and the odd copper or two.

If I lived in a nicer area Id make more effort, but sadly I dont. No one has ever done anything negative to me, but I dont like opening my door at the best of times. Actually last year I did open my door and I gave some kids some money, but thats not really like me. Not because Im a big meanie but some of the kids around here, well if you did live here, youd know what they can be like.

There is a halloween party going on in my local community centre, just before one of my fitness classes, so some kids will be able to party safely and dress up.