When I was a kid Halloween was a low key precursor to the main event of Bonfire night. I seem to recall the odd attempt at apple bobbing and trying to make a lantern out of a turnip but these days it seems to have taken on a life of its own. The switch to pumpkins makes a load of sense, they are far easier to carve and you can get quite creative and along with pumpkins we have imported the other American tradition of going trick or treating. In the several years we have been with Maddie we have collected copious amounts of sweets but no one has once asked for a trick which is probably just as well because I’m not sure that had been thought through. Halloween parties are also big news with Maddie going to two this year (Stella and Lish) and as you can see costumes are being taken seriously – this was Maddies Zombie outfit complete with professional makeup, I’m not sure which is scarier, the makeup or the way that Maddie owns the whole zombie role with the walk and look. Going to be a tough act to follow next year.