Ghosts & Fireworks - Graeme Urwin

It is such fun seeing my daughter and her friends get so excited by such things as Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night.

Come last Friday the 31st of October, Charlotte (Chalk), Annie (Zebbie), Bethany (Bat) and Ellen (Melon) all excelled themselves with great costumes.

My wife Alyson takes the girls out trick or treating, and true to form it was a miserable drizzly night.

Chalk was a Scary Witch - Zebbie a Skeleton - Bat a Zombie Bride - Melon a Ghost. Alyson went as she was (sorry, couldn’t resist!).

Off they went, and when they returned at about 7 pm, I was home from work. Listening to 4 excited girls talking all at once about what they had been up to is a skill I am developing, and the highlights seemed to have been, in no particular order:

• They had scared their old headmistress and others
• Lots of sweets and coins collected
• They had met some boys from their school who tried to outscare them (I think it was a draw).

A few minutes later the doorbell rang and it was these same boys saying 'Trick or Treat'. Of course we were well prepared with cakes and stuff and they were only too pleased to come in and get dry. Suffice it to say that the dynamics were then somewhat different, as the girls were checking their hair, and the boys were finding ways of showing off.

The boys left, and the girls then said they wanted to watch a scary movie. Alyson had bought a fairly scary DVD suitable for their age (we thought), and so at about 8 pm we all sat down to watch it. It was hilarious to see the girls wanting to watch but at the same time wanting to hide behind the sofa. Er, which included me as well :~

By 10 pm they were shattered!

Chalk was also looking forward to the fireworks on the 5th November. It was on again at Cragside, the National Trust place just around the corner from us. The setting over the lake is superb, and the fireworks are reflected
in the water which adds to the whole thing.

Hot dogs were eaten, sparklers sparkled, and everyone had a good time. The highlight for Chalk was seeing her 'boyfriend' Cameron there.

Honestly, it is so cute. Chalk's whole demeanor changed, and when I offered to go over and invite him to our group she proceeded to beat me up saying 'don’t you dare!'

Heyho…