Sweet sorrow

You can tell it's Halloween when you arrive in someone's kitchen and an orange squid walks by, looking for a second slice of pizza...

The Boy was invited to his friend's annual Halloween event - eats, followed by mad marauding around the neighbourhood.  A dozen boys charged from lighted porch to lighted porch, banging on doors and demanding candy with...well, quite good manners, actually.  Doorsteps visited included that of one local House of Legend (the owners run vending machines and are famous for handing out full-size candy bars).

After an hour of serious sprinting about, all twelve boys were all listing with the weight of candy in their pumpkin baskets / tote bags / pillowcases.  They were offered a choice of doing a couple more streets, or repairing indoors for trading time.  Thankfully they opted for the latter and frenzied bidding on Snickers, KitKats and gobstoppers ensued.

The delights of trick-or-treating (the Girl is out with one of her own friends, on a similar mission) come as an especially good distraction this year.  After three weeks of fun times, my parents have headed home today (they should be airborne as I write) - the house feels rather quiet and empty without them.