Its that time of year when children don scary and garish outfits and engage in practices such a trick or treating under the guise of Halloween.
In my opinion trick or treating amounts to no more than demanding money and gifts with menaces.
To make matters worse this year Halloween happens to fall in the school half term holidays meaning the youngsters have time on their hands to do their worst towards the decent and upstanding people of the district.
Every year I write a blog about Halloween and I am still of the opinion that the practice of trick of treating should be banned.
When I was a youngster the three main events of the year were Christmas, Easter and Guy Fawkes night.
Back then Halloween was merely one evening a year when people frightened themselves with tales of witches and ghouls.
Now it seems the shops have commercialised the event which has helped to boost its popularity amongst the youngsters.
This lunchtime, while on my regular lunchtime walk around Wycombe town centre, I happened to pass through a shop that had an entire aisle devoted to Halloween.
On sale were small witches broomsticks, scary looking masks and even whole outfits for the children to dress up in.
Some of the outfits were as much a ten pounds each. In the current economic climate who has that sort of money going spare?
As with every year I shall take preventative measures to deter children from targeting me.
Leaving a security flood light on stops all but the most determined of rascal from approaching my home.
My trusty camera will be on standby to take pictures for the purpose of evidence if anyone should cause trouble indeed the powerful security light means that I don't need a flash to capture images of any offenders.
Of course any pictures will be taken from an upstairs window so there is possibility of anyone assaulting me.
My letter box will also be sealed to prevent any unpleasant substances from being pushed through.
With the darker evenings at this time of year if there is a knock on the front door rather than answering the door its always a good idea to respond to any visitors by opening an upstairs window.
If there is a knock on the door then I shall initially pretend to be out and will only appear if absolutely necessary.
Do I really have to resort to taking all these measures?
I thought Halloween was supposed to be fun? It seems that fun these days apparently fun means that someone else has to suffer.
Last year I thought my attempts to avoid trouble had been successful however a few days later I spotted the remains of about six eggs that had been thrown at my house unbeknown to me.
Let's hope Halloween passes off peacefully this year but I still think the practice of trick or treating needs to be banned.
What do you think?
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