I'm moving with the scary times (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

I'm moving with the scary times

8:43am Tuesday 9th December 2008 in Columnists By Debbie Lindley

Now I'm older, I can honestly say that I look forward to Halloween more than when I was little.

It could just be the fact that I didn't take part much in those days - not my parents' fault, I just couldn't see the point of knocking on doors in the dark when a lot of the time they never got answered and when I could have been staring at my latest cute poster in the warmth of my bedroom.

That, of course, was when people had prepared something to greet you with.

Admit it - at least once in the past you've forgotten to get some treats in for Trick Or Treat night and you had to pretend you were out rather than admit you had a brain like a sieve?

Don't you feel like a numpty when you have to turn the lights off, put the volume down on the telly and miss one of the best Corrie nights on record as you hide behind the sofa?

This year, myself and Megan set off in fancy dress (me as the Grim Reaper, her as a mermaid! ) and, despite the rain, we both spent a very pleasant hour walking up and down the village to friends' houses.

Over the years we've perfected our calling techniques. She goes for the homes where her friends live and I go for the homes I've been desperate to look round for the last 12 months but have never had the invitation.

We don't generally take anything to trick friends with and, this year, with Meg's hollowed out pumpkin strapped to her pushchair, we certainly had our hands full.

Hasn't trick or treating changed? From the few times I went when younger, I seem to remember returning home with a carrier bag filled with 2p pieces, penny sweets and - if I'd been very lucky - a tangerine. This year Megan returned home with the bounty, the penny sweets were in bags of ten, more 10ps than 2ps and the fruit was demonstrably absent.

The money thing in particular has left me thinking; the country is in the middle of a financial crisis, unemployment has hit a record high and if things don't get better soon we won't be pleading with Gordon Brown to help us out, we'll be moving in with him to save on the bills. So why did we bring back a bumper load of coins?

I'd like to think it was because we have generous neighours who appreciate others making an effort to keep a tradition alive but, on closer inspection of our bounty, it all made perfect sense. Our coins were chocolate!

Megan obviously wasn't bothered and I thought it was hilarious; hubby wasn't too impressed, though. Mainly because he'd leapt on the internet to locate a Chip And Pin machine for next year. Some traditions I guess just don't lend themselves to modernisation.