My granddaughter, aged 7, has a new witch costume, complete with hat, a black and orange wig - a la Morticia Adams - and a false witch's nose. She also has a black, rubber rat to drape round her neck and the pumpkin we grew will be hollowed out, carved and containing a tea-light. She will be going round our road with 3 of her friends and her mummy. She will knock on the doors of people we know and will, no doubt, be rewarded with a few sweets.
I always keep a bag of sweets for the kids and we usually get about half a dozen knocks at the door. This year, though, I will be flying back from Malta on Hallowe'en (broomstick is primed and ready to go) so I won't be there to join in the fun.
It's harmless and it's exciting for the little ones. The look on their faces when you pretend to be frightened to death, by a glowing, 4 year old skeleton or something unidentifiable that looks like ET, is worth an extra scrub with the toothbrush at bed time. Bring it on, I say.
