halloween

actually, i am thinking really that it was the weekend of the tooth, but that makes more of a negative title! the weekend had some pros and cons! pros were i had a v long shift on fri, but it was one of those that you really feel you make a difference, so all though had its really diff, rough moments, it has lifted me up again on the benefits of doing what i do!

Sat we had an eventful day planned. SB to astronomy, and then meeting up with the manor borns for rspb, then something halloweeny. didn’t quite happen like that! SB wanted to buy bits of costume, so whilst i was still dozing, she and chris blew the astronomy to shop! [shades of the future??]. i got up and BB and i harvested the pumpkins, played with monsterrabs and the carved the pumpkins. i say ‘we’ carved, but actually i was doing as ordered, as BB doesn’t like getting her hands dirty i then made the cupful of flesh [i didn't bother to scrape much] into pumpkin scones, which were rather yummity. we read a book together, played with dinosaurs and settled to snuggle when SB and chris returned. by then, i had had texts from marcus saying michelle was still in bed v unwell, and since bb was being fragile – not ill, but prone to wailing and being tired and awkward – thought it better to call off, rather than have michelle struggle round with migraine whilst bb shrieked – not a good combo! shame tho, as had been *really* looking forward to a nice rspb walk to blow away cobwebs and shuffle through leaves!

so i did all the carving pumpkins etc again with SB! i had got a craft for them to do as well if they wanted, but no, they were happy playing their own games, and i got to enjoy hearing shrieks of laughter! tho BB did need a snooze mid afternoon – fairly unheard of! came for a cuddle and dropped off!

We were, as custom dictates, late setting off tricking and treating. i have read loads elsewhere of a not quite comfortable relationship with halloween here in the uk, and until 2 years ago would have entirely agreed. however, our village seems to do halloween extraordinarily well! there are some houses that have really great fun with displays, some excellent pumpkin carvers and also just lots of sweetie stops and lots of smiles. there are loads of parents taking children round, meeting, chatting, admiring costumes. all the kids are polite, saying thanks for sweets, happy halloween, remarking on decorations, and sb was being lovely to all the little children handing out the sweets. it just seems to be a v relaxed laid back, gentle thing here. and the no pumpkin/halloween dec = no calling is v well followed. also no tricks. i no longer have the heart to disapprove of the americanism!

SO we initially had 2 devils – the girls always choose their costumes. SB had – as usually- gone to the max! so she had a lovely felt wrap cloak, that looked a bit saxon, especially with her black and red striped leggings! red t and made up face. BB just had horns and trident [although she owns red clothes, they weren't the ones she wanted to wear], never put on the cloak after it was made, 5 paces later lost the horns and 1 street later lost the trident… we had fun, but bb flagging seriously early and chris peeled off and took her home – where she happily handed out treats when our pumpkins lit. SB had enough when her basket full!! so we returned and had tea infront of Dr who [and his daughter]

early bed as family music day the next day [i am going to pause blogging as trying to have nights nearish midnight rather than way after