Id ont know if you guys remember last year how disappointed i was about halloween here now that we moved to England. I am not sure the reason but the british bring in the kids by busfulls into military neighborhoods to trick or treat. There were literally thousands of children...we had EIGHT buses on out street alone..so basically after 3 hours of trick or treating 5pm to 8pm is our times here my dd had THREE peiced of candy and those were from our neighbors. I think that this should be stopped..its just not right at all..now this year most of the people have decided to not pass out candy because of this and that means what on earth will the kids do? I feel like they have been robbed of halloween!

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 10:39 am:

Yes, in a way, they HAVE been robbed. Why do they bus kids to the neighborhoods??? I'm really curious about that. I'm sorry it's been spoiled for you, and your DD.

By Tink on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 11:26 am:

I'm so sorry! That royally stinks! Can you take your dd and ds to another neighborhood to trick or treat? Or have a small halloween party with 4 or 5 of her friends where you pass out candy and do silly games? I'm also curious why they bring all the kids to your neighborhoods.

By Mommmie on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 11:53 am:

We get the carloads of people, too, coming into our neighborhood. The adults hold out a plastic sacks, too, to get candy. No one is in costume. It's just a handout, welfare.

Luckily, the neighborhood kids seem to go out earlier than when the imports come. So, you can hand out candy to neighborhood kids from 6:30-7:30 and then the carloads arrive after that and you can just turn the lights out at that point. It takes *so much* candy to deal with everybody.

There is one neighborhood that has just emnbraced the idea and the families sit out in chairs down by the sidewalk with LOTS of candy and people drive from far and wide to trick or treat on their street. It's a street of historic large homes.

By Ladypeacek on Monday, November 1, 2004 - 12:22 am:

We havent figured out quite yet why exactly they are brought in..some think not many british homes trick or treat so they come to miltary neightborhoods and some say cuz we have better candy since we have american candy from base and most of it stuff you cant find in England....either way it stinks for our kids. They were out last night for about 15 minutes before all the candy was gone so they got a few pieces...my ds was happy though..this was his first time. I had intended to do a party and will from here on out but with me being pregnant and tired.....didnt really feel up to it. I do hope that everyone had a wonderful halloween though!

By Kim on Monday, November 1, 2004 - 01:03 am:

:o(


How odd! Sorry your kids didn't get much time in! Maybe they should end that ritual! Hope you had a good Halloween too!

By Dana on Monday, November 1, 2004 - 10:54 am:

Sorry it was such a bummer for the most part. At least your kids found happiness

Why can't the base just ban the buses. I would opt for a base party instead. Can't believe no one has complained about it yet.

By Melanie on Monday, November 1, 2004 - 10:58 am:

Maybe next year you could get together with the neighbors and pick a night that all of you can have trick-or-treat night on your own. That way people can opt out of doing on the night kids are bussed in if they want to, without sacrificing the fun for the kids who live there.

What a bummer for your kids.

By Eve on Monday, November 1, 2004 - 12:06 pm:

I like Melanie's idea of celebrating on a different night. That's crazy with all those kids! I hope you can find another fun way to celebrate.