I was round at my sister's for Hallowe'en yesterday. There were, I think, two groups of kids trick-or-treating[1], or three if you include my niece and nephew[2]. My sister now has all these sweets and apples that she's no idea what to do with.
Last year there were loads. I think (it was difficult to tell over the sound of my nephew not putting on his costume) that the
News Quiz said the whole affair seemed to have fallen out of favour[3].
There were rather more people at the opening of the
Highland Science Festival this afternoon. I have now been to the World's Smallest Lecture: two minutes each on quantum and relativity, in a tiny shed with room for one audience member, the lecturer, and a clipboard. Apparently this is a genuine world record attempt.
[1]Even my Mum's given up trying to get the modern generation to call it "guising".
[2] 8-year-old niece was dressed, very appropriately, as a devil. 2-year-old nephew had a matching costume but refused to put it on. He eventually was persuaded to put on his Bob the Builder hat and carry his Handy Manny toolbox. And his trident. (My own costume, which I didn't think was bad for something thrown together at the last minute, was my interview suit over my S-shield T-shirt, with a cardboard Daily Planet press pass clipped to the pocket. I already had the geeky glasses.)
[3]Jeremy Hardy: "My daughter always told me never to give sweets to strange children."
