Am I just getting old and grumpy?

brundles · 31-10-2011, 18:37

I've never been a particularly big fan of the day of the year we teach children to take sweets from strangers, cause havoc if not suitably bribed and just generally ignore the rules but this year there seem to be even more kids and parents (half of them not looking much older than kids themselves!

) than ever before.

Or am I just old and grumpy and should put up with all sorts of random bangings on the door for the next few hours?

Just curious as to other peoples views of Halloween...

heero_yuy · 31-10-2011, 18:43

Lights down, curtains closed and ignore the front door.

Hurrumph, hurrumph!

As for "Carol singers" don't get me started. Ring the bell, knock the door, if you answer a desultry attempt at "God rest ye merry gentlemen" and the hand stuck out for the expected quid.

The beggers have totally destroyed the old customs and "Trick or treat" is something from America that has been perverted over here.

swoop101 · 31-10-2011, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by brundles

am I just old and grumpy

Yes

Kingofthedead4 · 31-10-2011, 18:46

I love Halloween, Seeing all the little ones dressed up and as long as they are accompanied by an adult or older child then I don't see a problem.

Sirius · 31-10-2011, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by swoop101

Yes

Seconded, Nothing better than scaring the hell out of any kids who knock at my front door

heero_yuy · 31-10-2011, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

Seconded, Nothing better than scaring the hell out of any kids knock at my front door

Nothing like practising your

impersonations.

danielf · 31-10-2011, 18:56

Things have quieted down considerably here after I started opening the door with a bloody apron and a chainsaw in my hand...

**Hugh** · 31-10-2011, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Lights down, curtains closed and ignore the front door.

Hurrumph, hurrumph!

As for "Carol singers" don't get me started. Ring the bell, knock the door, if you answer a desultry attempt at "God rest ye merry gentlemen" and the hand stuck out for the expected quid.

The beggers have totally destroyed the old customs and "Trick or treat" is something from America that has been perverted over here.

Yes.

---------- Post added at 19:01 ---------- Previous post was at 19:00 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Things have quieted down considerably here after I started opening the door with a bloody apron and a chainsaw in my hand...

But enough about your dating technique......

v0id · 31-10-2011, 19:15

We stick one of those "No Trick or Treating Here" signs in the door window every year.
It seems to do the 'trick'

**Maggy J** · 31-10-2011, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by brundles

I've never been a particularly big fan of the day of the year we teach children to take sweets from strangers, cause havoc if not suitably bribed and just generally ignore the rules but this year there seem to be even more kids and parents (half of them not looking much older than kids themselves!

) than ever before.

Or am I just old and grumpy and should put up with all sorts of random bangings on the door for the next few hours?

Just curious as to other peoples views of Halloween...

No,you are just annoyed at the false,economic led introduction of a US festival designed to make everyone part with cash before Christmas that until 20 years ago no one in this country bothered to even note.

joglynne · 31-10-2011, 19:42

We love the local children coming for their Treats all dressed up and excited to be out after dark and over the years we have never had reason to regret opening our doors to them all. I even decorate our out side lights to look like Pumpkin Heads.

So Far tonight we have had more than a dozen groups appear with 50+ children all clutching their booty and not one of them failed to say thank you.

We rarely have any children visit without a parent lurking in the background, normally also dressed up and happy to sneak a Gobstopper out of our Treats basket.

As for the Bah Humbugs, and we do have a few, all they have to do is close their curtains and switch off their Porch lights and they don't get bothered.

Oh and you don't have to be old to be grumpy, some people just seem to be born that way.

Taf · 31-10-2011, 19:54

I have noticed over the past few years that the little tikes are ALWAYS accompanied by very overweight adult women.

Maybe they eat all the treats?

Or is "The Blob" the standard costume?

Halcyon · 31-10-2011, 19:54

I've already had my garden wall knocked down tonight by some kids so they can all go do one for what I care.

LondonRoad · 31-10-2011, 19:57

I Love it. It's a long time until Spring so any bit of fun helps.

The rain came on tonight so it's a bit quieter than usual. We went through over 80 bags last year so we might even have a few left over. Luckily I've got a sweet tooth.

My children don't like monkey nuts but luckily I do :-)

Halloween, what's not to like.... apart from the corny jokes ;-)

brundles · 31-10-2011, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Lights down, curtains closed and ignore the front door.

Hurrumph, hurrumph!

As for "Carol singers" don't get me started. Ring the bell, knock the door, if you answer a desultry attempt at "God rest ye merry gentlemen" and the hand stuck out for the expected quid.

The beggers have totally destroyed the old customs and "Trick or treat" is something from America that has been perverted over here.

You're doing well to at least get a Christmas carol - round here the best they manage is usually Jingle Bells

Quote:

Originally Posted by v0id

We stick one of those "No Trick or Treating Here" signs in the door window every year.
It seems to do the 'trick'

Did that complete with a nice comical witch on a pumpkin - and still had several knocks at the door... In one case the "adult" did apologise saying they couldn't read

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

No,you are just annoyed at the false,economic led introduction of a US festival designed to make everyone part with cash before Christmas that until 20 years ago no one in this country bothered to even note.

To be fair I don't mind the social/economic side in terms of events but it's more the descending like vultures attitude where the door goes 5 times in as many minutes after you've walked through it!

Yes I am a bit grumpy at the moment although may struggle to argue I'm old at 33 despite the trauma of hitting 30

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joglynne

We love the local children coming for their Treats all dressed up and excited to be out after dark and over the years we have never had reason to regret opening our doors to them all. I even decorate our out side lights to look like Pumpkin Heads.

So Far tonight we have had more than a dozen groups appear with 50+ children all clutching their booty and not one of them failed to say thank you.

We rarely have any children visit without a parent lurking in the background, normally also dressed up and happy to sneak a Gobstopper out of our Treats basket.

As for the Bah Humbugs, and we do have a few, all they have to do is close their curtains and switch off their Porch lights and they don't get bothered.

Oh and you don't have to be old to be grumpy, some people just seem to be born that way.

That actually sounds a lovely way of doing it and the sort of organisation I'd be happy to stock up on treats for - maybe I need to move house!