Self Portrait in Hallowe'en Window

You can just make me out reflected in the window of the fancy dress shop, with trees and sky behind me. We'll put out a candle and have sweets for the many young children in this neighbourhood, but I still rather disapprove of the Americanisation and commercialisation of Hallowe'en.

My childhood Hallowe'ens were spent watching Carry on Screaming (in the days when we had 3 channels and you only saw a film when it was broadcast, nothing 'on demand' in those days). We were petrified by it and slightly thrilled by the saucy innuendos which became more and more obvious as we got older. No 'trick or treat'ing then unless we saw it in American films.

Of course there is an old Scottish tradition of children in disguise coming round on Hallowe'en and performing poetry or songs in return for sweets or money, and an even older tradition of households giving cakes to those who would pray for the souls of the dead.

Maybe tonight I'll ask some of the children on my doorstep to perform a song or poem for their sweets... and see how that goes.... :-)