Another ‘health’ item added to my diet
Fortunately I live in a flat so generally can avoid the horrible little trick or treaters and, worse, their parents. This Halloween money-making scam for the supermarkets, imported in its present form from the USA, is gradually usurping the traditional UK event on 5th November, leaving that to the big boys competing to see who can spend the most money to make the largest explosion.
Short story or poem?
However, this year I cannot ignore Halloween completely as this is the theme given for our short story/poem task in our local writers’ club ‘Writing on the Wharfe‘, to be read at the meeting on 29 October. You’d think it would be easy but I’m struggling, not having the recently discovered short-story-a-day talent of Jenny Malloney or the poetic talent of one of my longest standing ‘followed’, another Jenny – the optimistic pessimist. I wonder if I’ll manage a haiku. If I do manage something I guess it will make next week’s post here.
One good thing about Halloween is that pumpkins abound. Having been advised by my good internet friend Eddy Winko to eat pumpkin seeds, following my most recent post, a good source has suddenly appeared at a price much lower than the exhorbitant health food shop offerings. I’ve acquired pumpkin seed oil for salads but the seeds will readily replace the sunflower seeds I would usually put in the bread I bake.
Grumpytyke 
October 25, 2016 at 12:12 pm
I must admit to being equally unimpressed with Halloween. Was in the US South last week marveling at the bizarre juxtaposition of a deeply religious community, that was among those that sought to have Harry Potter banned in schools, spend a whole month celebrating the Macabre!
Of course the wonderful Mr Gaiman has a better plan for Halloween than Dracula and Elsa-from-Frozen (?!) begging for sweets:
http://www.allhallowsread.com/
Rich
October 25, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Thanks for the link Rich. Mr Gaiman indeed has a better idea – really enjoyed the video. As a young teenager I scared myself almost to death reading the novels of Dennis Wheatley, still the scariest reads I’ve ever come across.
October 23, 2016 at 6:23 pm
I was telling one of my English students about bonfire night and how, in my childhood, we used to go around the neighbourhood asking people if they had anything to burn. This would then be taken to the ‘rec’ and we would pile it up over time culminating in bonfire night. Rivalry between competing neighbourhoods was common and we would often try and burn down other bonfires ahead of time, especially on ‘mischief night’, the trick without the treat. No sweets, no costumes, just good fun without parents!
A few tips on the oil, keep out of direct sunlight, in fact the darker the storage area the better and summer salads should be kept indoors. Don’t try and wash stains out of clothes, just put them out in the sun and the UV will get rid of the stain. The traditional Austrian salad dressing is made with apple cider vinegar and pumpkin oil.
I will send you a message on Facebook regards a supplier of oil in Austria.
October 24, 2016 at 7:35 am
Thanks Eddy. Good advice; now I know why the bottle I bought is of dark brown glass. I’ll reply to the FB msg later.
October 24, 2016 at 7:42 am
Ah – mischief night. As far as it still exists it seems now to be an excuse for truly ‘antisocial behaviour’, even criminal behaviour, rather than the harmless mischief we got up to. It’s still worth finding a bonfire for the baked potatoes, parkin and plot toffee. We have one in the village.