Suffer the little trick or treaters

A few doors down, across the street one lone plastic pumpkin stood guard. This afternoon, I sat and carved a jack-o-lantern while Lexie watched, and 'helped'. I lit a candle inside, and put him outside our door as it started to get dark. Then I saw two young boys--maybe 5 or 6 running around in the street with some sort of costume on. One of them came over and paid me a huge complement. He informed me that they had been patrolling the street for pumpkins, and mine was the only 'proper pumpkin' he'd seen yet. They'd seen the plastic one, but that one didn't count, I guess. I felt a strange sense of accomplishment, as I realized I'd done the children of Newnham proud. Later, I saw 2 more 'proper pumpkins'. After seeing that we were ready with halloween treats, the little boy then told me that they were waiting for their friends before they started making their rounds. I had dressed Lexie up in a fairy costume, and she stood at the door, yelling after them to come get special treats. But alas, the festive mood was not to last, or well, I guess in a way it was, if you consider the festival, and keep reading. I left the door a little ajar, with some treats next to it, so that Lexie could give them out when the kids came. LIke an idiot, I thought it would be a great plan for her to be entertained and help me out. Then, I went to the kitchen (which is in view of the front door) to feed Arthur. Then came the first knock, and Lexie went to the door, candy in hand. From the kitchen, I then saw her run quickly and silently into the living room, and assumed she'd been overcome with shyness, so I came to the door to her rescue. Then the howls began, like someone being stung by a bee, and I soon realized that she had been stricken dumb ( at first) with terror. There at the door, were 3 small trick or treaters, who almost had me spooked! One was draped in black, and I couldn't even see their eyes.

Yes, Hardwick Street is not for the faint hearted on Halloween night. A ghost mask that looks like "The Scream' by Munch seems to have been a popular choice this year! There was one group of kids who, when I opened the door, commenced singing, "We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, etc...and a Happy Halloween". "That's a new one", I said. By the end of the night, we must have had at least 60 and easily more...I finally had to put up a sign saying "All out of sweets, sorry". Candy is an American word....

I'm not sure where I put my smile

I'm not sure where I put my smile
Originally uploaded by yankeegal.

Swinging in the Park

Awwwthur

Awwwthur
Originally uploaded by yankeegal.

Like my hairdo?

Waddusay?

My daughter is turning into a real native. I've overheard her saying "well done", time to "tidy up", and even "have a go" (as opposed to have a turn). Here are some other interesting UK/US word usage differences:

(The following is taken from an online "English" to "American" dictionary). QUITE adv. 1. QUITE may be used in much the same manner as an American would expect. However, the English also use QUITE to mean utterly, absolutely, or completely. When an American says "It's quite dark," he means that it is almost, but not completely, dark. For this purpose, an Englishman would say "It's RATHER dark, isn't it?" (pronounced "izzen tit"). If it were QUITE dark, an American would say "It's pitch black,".

The word "just' is another one which is used differently here. Americans often tend to use the word 'just' to mean "merely". Here however, if you ask someone if they got to the store before it closed, they might say "Only just", meaning that they got there just before closing time. Here's another usage: Let's say you're in that store before it closed at the ungodly hour of 5pm, and you can't find the particular item you are 'after' (to use another Britishism). You ask an employee where to find it, and if it happens to be right under your nose, they might point and say "just there". Watch this space for more fun with words in the future....

Baseball baby

DSCN0746
Originally uploaded by yankeegal.

Train them up in the way
they should go....

Andrew

Andrew
Originally uploaded by yankeegal.

Life is eternal; and love is immortal;
and death is only a horizon;
and a horizon is nothing
save the limit of our sight.