Calling any parents/experienced siblings etc...

[gothams3rdrobin]

Before I forget again - does anyone have any suggestions for indoor activities I can organise for Halloween? We're gonna be away in the wilds of Hampshire this year, and I'd like to do something a little special.

We already have mixes for halloween cakes and chocolate apples (didn't feel like trying to do toffee apples...) and Ghostbusters on DVD, but I'm wondering what else we could do.

I dunno what it's like elsewhere in the UK, but here in Cardiff it's been my experience that Halloween is a night when you need to pretty much stay inside your own house and ignore any knocks on the door - which is a shame for those kids whose parents actually go to the effort of arranging trick or treat expeditions. Even the bus ride home in the evening can be hell, as the drivers have to be vigilant of those little *censored* who hang around on street corners throwing eggs and flour at the passing vehicles.

The one time I spent Halloween in the US absolutely blew me away, as we walked Rowan up and down the street collecting sweets and admiring all the crazy house decorations - which were on the same level as some of us decorate our houses at Christmas! I wish we felt safe enough to do that around here.

In other news, I stayed home yesterday 'cause I still felt rough, and went to go see the doctor. Nothing more than a cold virus, as I guessed, but you can't exactly call in sick without going to the GP - even if they had noticed me sniffing and croaking all day tuesday. This turned out to be serendipitous (what a cool word!) as, just as I was about to go collect Rowan from school, I got a visit from the firm doing the rennovations on our council estate. They're starting work on my kitchen and bathroom next monday! This means taking the week off - though I already had friday booked off as there's a teacher-traininig day at Rowan's school that day. So I now have one more shift to go after this one, then I have two straight weeks off work! *relief*

The only hassle is that they want me to clear all the appliances out of my kitchen by monday morning - which means my living room will be a mess and I'll only be able to eat food I can store at room temperature and can be toasted or nuked from my dining table.

Hope Mam's got room in her freezer....

Comments

[fair-witness.livejournal.com]

Are the indoor activities for kids, or kids and adults?

[vespurrs.livejournal.com]

*points up*

What she said. Cos I think that it would be fun to play hide and go seek in a darkened house, but then Rowan is Tegan and Baden's age and I'm wondering how that would work out with little ones.

I suppose you could do an indoor trick-or-treat, hiding small treats at various places in the house and letting the kids search for them - sort of like a Halloween Easter egg hunt?

*still thinking*

[gothams3rdrobin.livejournal.com]

well, I'm not sure a treasure hunt would be a good idea - we're gonna be staying into a just-moved-into apartment and there'll probably still be boxes everywhere. Ideal situation for hiding things, but not when you're dealing with someone who's not quite five - right? ;-)

[thaya-rayal.livejournal.com]

I could empty the hall closet and stick him in there??? :-p

[gothams3rdrobin.livejournal.com]

*giggles*

[gothams3rdrobin.livejournal.com]

It's gonna be indoors, I expect. I honestly have no idea what we're going to be doing at my friend's new place.

[gothams3rdrobin.livejournal.com]

And probably gonna be one kid and three adults ;-)

[fair-witness.livejournal.com]

My first thought is that you could try Googling around for some ghost stories suitable for kids, or hitting the local library for same. Having scary stories read to you is a great Halloween activity, assuming you can find something that won't freak out the kids so badly they have nightmares.

I also found this list of Halloween party ideas:

http://familyinternet.about.com/od/halloween/a/halloweenparty.htm

[thaya-rayal.livejournal.com]

There is a park and a play area near by if the weather is fine, and Caleb is thinking about taking Rowan to football one night, and theres Bowling and Cinema if we can affod it. Failing that I suggest we leave my big kid and your little kid to play together and we can watch a DVD! :-)

[gothams3rdrobin.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me! Let me know if there's any films you want me to bring.

Also, I have a canadian tv series I am dying to show you. A sitcom based around a Shakesphere company. I'll need my laptop to show it to you though, as it's all on computer video files since I can't get it off Amazon Canada with my crappy bank card *sighs*

[thaya-rayal.livejournal.com]

Um... your assumeing I'll have everything ready for you by then!!!
I'm in mid panic at the moment as I have no sofa, curtains, mattress, my kitchen is NOT how I want it, I don't even know if the cupboard arrangements are going to work!!! Aaaagh!!!!!

I only got the lampshades yesterday, looked at curtains and decided I can make them cheeper. The mattress will hopefully arrive Monday or Tuesday and as for the sofa... we have had to go for the flat pack option, it's leatherett and Caleb get's the joy of assembeling that tonight.

AND I HAVEN NOT MOVED IN YET!!!

Oh and I have 3, count them, 3 weekends free untill xmas!!!

Robin!!! I NEED A HUG!!! (sniff) And a Tardis if anyone has a spare one...

[gothams3rdrobin.livejournal.com]

*hugs you close*

How many times do I have to tell you I don't give a damn what state the place is in - you've seen my places at their worst too! If there's any way I can help without being a pain in the arse then I'll be happy to.

If it makes you feel any better? The workmen are coming on monday and they're gonna throw my place into chaos too - what do you think my odds are of straightening it all up next weekend, as well as babysit mam post-operation? ;-)