Dark nights

I have decided to continue to write since the house is quiet.



The clocks went back an hour (Spring forward/Fall back is the only way lots of folk remember which way even though we don't call autumn Fall) on Saturday night right in the middle of our Halloween party. All Hallow's Eve (or Halloween) comes the day before the holy (hallowed) day called All Saints' Day.



We have always scraped out turnip (snanny) lanterns in the North of England but now Halloween has followed in American footsteps and really started on the 'Trick or Treat' celebrations; D3 loves Halloween so we do the whole whammy! tombstones, pumpkins, decorations all over the house, streamers, cauldons bubbling and witches, skeletons, spiders etc everywhere. The party was on a villains' theme so who came? Bonnie and Clyde, Cruella Devill (twice), skeletons, monsters, Lucifer, The Worst Witch, The Evil Queen came bearing a red apple for Snow White (she avoided all the mirrors), Beetle Juice (with hair!!!!!) Poisoned Ivy, a man in black.... I loved the games even if I didn't recognise/know the baddie from Corrie.



We had a more subdued dinner party on the actual night but had lots of trick or treaters knocking at the front door; our family always had to present a poem, tale or joke (as well as dressing up and carrying their hollowed-out lanterns....)these days Halloweeners just stand and look at you, apparently thinking an outfit is enough.



The Ladies ate at Bellingham cafe (good basic, cheap food) then walked to Hareshaw Linn; eeh! we had so much fun over Poohsticks- and so many bridges to check out the progress of one's chosen 'stick' sailing down the burn.



Before leaving we called at the wonderful bakers and bought sly cake, pasties and pies, aniseed balls and winter warmers- purely in the interests of supporting rural economy! But we came back in the dark; I love autumn and winter BUT I hate dark nights; roll on December 21/22nd and the Solstice when the sun will start to come back to us.



A. announced last night in the middle of the dinner party that it is 55 days to Christmas!