One last night of it. I park the car halfway through the route so they can use it as a changing room. I don my top hat and cape at the car and jump on a Dott Scooter to get to The Flask. This time I grabbed a pizza and shoved it into my gullet before the scooter, but that’s a break from routine. It has left me feeling sleepy but I’ve got an hour before kickoff in which to metabolise that cheese. Hopefully that’s enough time.
Everyone was out with their children, dressed in scary costumes, carrying buckets to load up with sweeties. Trick or Treat. Every year at Halloween people pretend to be scary things that don’t exist. Ghoulies and Ghosties. I’d like to see little Putins out there. Nineteen year old American Incels. Brexiteers.
It’ll be lively on the streets tonight. No rain until we are done but then the storm is coming. We can have one last energetic push and, for another year it appears we have avoided any complete washouts, plus we haven’t picked up any regular maniacs who try and make themselves part of the narrative. Phew.
Fun. Fun fun fun. Loads of fun. I’m gonna get myself into the right state of mind for it though as I’ve had a very peaceful day mostly in bed finishing my book and occasionally having extended conversations with Boy. I need to get myself into wakeyland.
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ENTER THE CHILDREN
This evening they run the streets of London unchecked. Little howling imps, barely escorted by hard pushed mums and dads still clinging onto the idea that they can relive their first tooth fairy money by having made these hideous creatures.
The first stop in Pond Square they were onto me like children on a man in a tall top hat on Halloween. They barely let me get the story out, and once the chicken was revealed I sicced them on it. “Children, attack that CHICKEN!” “Ok, the rest of you, while they’re busy let’s escape.” I knew the chicken is going to be destroyed at last, this huge ungainly paper maché monstrosity. We talked of setting it on fire tonight. It has been used 3 times, but we won’t be going back to Highgate for at least 2 years now so we are done with it as otherwise Siwan has to store it under her stairs for years unused.
We are done. It has been lovely. I’m knackered. I’m glad I don’t have kids.
AlBarclay 