Trick or treating?

[Mikey]

Come on then what's your opinion.

I've always been prepared for trick or treaters and had a selection of treats from green coloured welsh cakes to eye ball pop sticks to the occasional chocolate coated sprout!!

As a teenager we used to do the annoying knock and run or bobby knocking as some may know it on a few local teachers......!

However my daughter prefers to wait and see if there's any sweeties to be had!!

This year we've decided to do a leaflet to warn our neighbours that there will be some ghouls calling on them this year and what sort of time they will be out!.

How would you react to receiving such a leaflet?

[alldigging]

I did think the free paper should have a page in it to cut out and put in the window
"yes trick or treat" or 'no thanks'

[veggiechicken]

I count myself lucky to live in a child-free area at Halloween
Think Ad's suggestion of "No thanks now push orf" is a good one as some people just don't want to be bothered. I'm a real party-pooper when it comes to doorknocking

[Mikey]

I can understand your point alldigging and it would certainly stop people hiding in their house not answering the door. In truth I feel far less awkward having trick or treaters at my door than I do opening the door at Chri....as to a load of carol singers, those lot really freak we out.

What am I supposed to do stand there and listen or go and grab some change to get rid of them?!!!

[veggiechicken]

Its another opprtunity for the "No thanks now push orf" notice in your window

[Mikey]

Bah humbug....

[veggiechicken]

You know me so well Mikey

[chris]

I grew up abroad - where the majority of the community were American - I love Halloween ! Americans really go to town with it... over here though, not so much - there's a few kids around us now, so I'll be prepared - just hope they don't wake my youngest one up as she's such a light sleeper. mine are a bit young yet, but when they are old enough I'll take them trick or treating - mainly to the people I know on the estate, and out of courtesy I'll let them know and ask if that's ok before hand. (We have a lot of older folk around us so wouldn't want to bother them).

I may get a water pistol ready this year I remember going around with one before when I was a kid, and shooting a bloke who answered the door who said "I'll take a trick then" (kinda puzzled me). I squirted him a few times on the chest, he looked down and before I could blink pulled out a double barreled super soaker - almost blew me off his porch

[Bill HH]

When i was a child we didnt have trick or treating, it came over from America, I wish it had stayed there. I refused to let my children do it, I think it is akin to demanding money or goods with menaces and can be quite intimidating for old people. Further more now we seem to have a competition for the best dressed child, which involves buying masks clothes etc as if Christmas is'nt commercial enough. This just puts a heavier burden onto struggling young parents. Ok I am a miserable old man.

[veggiechicken]

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

[rustylady]

I'm a humbug too. I don't so much mind the little ones dressing up and going to neighbours, but the gangs of teenagers with flour and eggs are a menace.

[Mikey]

Ok I am a miserable old man.

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.

[Sheneval]

Always have apple dooking and small or sometimes large bags of goodies plus a few bob for my grandkids plus some for any of their friends who call - the young kids around here don't go out on their own the way we did - their mothers are always with them and they generally know who to go to and who to avoid

A lot different from the old days when we knocked every door and generally got nothing but abuse

[WPG]

I've got a pile of sweets ready by the door, and like to make a fuss of any halloween callers. I guess I look at it from the childrens point of view - it's only one night a year and they get all dressed up, all excited, and then find people closing the door in their faces. It must be disheartening.

I do wish there was a better way of 'advertising' if you want callers or not though, for example a pumpkin on the front step or something else to show you're open to trick or treaters. It'd save the kids and the houseowners a lot of bother.

In the meantime, my own kids are eyeing the pile of sweets and hoping we don't get too many callers..........

[Mikey]

I'm a humbug too. I don't so much mind the little ones dressing up and going to neighbours, but the gangs of teenagers with flour and eggs are a menace.

Perhaps its where I live, but I've never had any aggressive teenagers call at the door. You get the chancers who make no effort but they get short change from me. I tell them to go and get dressed up and come back.

One year I had someone knock about 4 days before the day to be told he was going to be away on halloween. I said don't they have houses where you are going?