Pumkins and candy

The Auburn business association puts on a Trick and Treat each year for kids. Hundreds turn out for free lollies and the chance to check out eveyone elses costumes. Dressing up is BIG! I attach some samples. Boris did really well - in the end he was a cross between Jason (from the horror movie 'Halloween') and a vampire. He had a super large knife which had blood in it (it sort of swishes around inside a plastic covering - very effective).

I quite likes the concept of a black Batman - he and 'The Joker' were very popular photo-wise. I can't tell you how many tonnes of lollies were given out that night but I can see now how they can sell $2 billion worth of candy at halloween

Everyone got right into the sprit of the thing - there were bands and dancing and one shop had converted itself into a haunted house complete with students dressed up, clanking chains, jumping out at kids, and generally being goulish.

The next night was the pumpkin carve. It is a tradition of the architecture school to run a pumpkin carving competition, and it is a fantastic exercise. They carve all afternoon then once it gets dark they put small tea lights inside them and hang them all around the architecture building courtyard (the same building where Rod works). It is very hard to take photos, but here are some - the carving was very clever and I can see that most students have years of practice behind them.

Over 2000 people come to look at the pumpkins over the period of the evening and there are prizes for the best carve (there are different categories) I can't show you the winning ones as the batteries on the camera gave up before Rod got round to photographing them, but hopefully these photos give you a taste.

Love Jacqueline