To think this is bloody cheeky (Facebook and Halloween related)

[CatThiefKeith]

Someone on our village FB page has posted this today:

I'm planning a Halloween party for my two year old and his two year old friends this year. We will be out and about trick or treating.... Can I just ask that only electric candles are used in your pumpkins please. You can buy these cheaply enough online and in Pound shops. Claudia Winkleman's daughter was badly hurt last year when her fancy dress costume caught light after the dress touched the candle in a pumpkin on a neighbours doorstep. Also, please remember that many children suffer with food allergies, so please, be careful when purchasing sweets and ensure that they don't contain nuts or dairy.

AIBU to think that you can't go round demanding an entire village uses electric candles and telling them what sweets they can and can't buy? My fingers are itching but dh has decreed I am not allowed to get into any more rows on that particular page!

That is all!

I would be putting on the most pyro-tastic Hallowe'en display I could.

Hahaha oh dear

She has linked to some articles about CW's daughters accident. I really really want to post and suggest that instead of dictating to everyone what they can and can't do, perhaps she should just ensure that the children are wearing costumes that meet nightwear safety standards instead of toy safety standards, which is what CW has been campaigning for!

Create a new fb profile just to get stuck in. That is so entitled!

It is up to them to make sure their little darlings don't go close enough to the candles to get set alight! Plus it's up to them to check the sweets received are suitable and remove any unsuitable ones.

I suppose in the interests of maintaining harmonious village life in Midsomer you can't hit reply and tell her she's being a fanny?

That's pretty strange. Surely if your child has allergies, you just do your own little celebration at home, or trick or treat your parent's house or something? Just be sensible with candles and children like you would at any other time. Basically, just use common sense at all times.

I think the mistake was phrasing it as a personal request - however a reminder about the candles might not be a bad idea.

The sweet thing's bollocks though!

Or that to avoid calamity (of burning or allergy) the kids can do apple bobbing, or a conker fight a good english tradition .... probably fraught with trauma and risk of drowning though ;-)

I'm sympathetic on the candle issue if the pumpkins are on the ground outside (although many people put them inside in their window I think) - because that will be safer for all children who may visit your house trick or treating.

As for the food issue, I'd ask her if chocolate covered brussel sprouts are OK.

Two year olds don't need to be trick or treating though - surely they have no idea what is going on and should be in bed anyway.

I avoid my village FB page - it is full of lunacy.

Ridiculous - how about people supervise their own children

I agree the candle thing is fair enough but badly worded. The sweets thing is proper rude though.

You know, the suggestion of electric candles isn't totally off the wall, and could have been phrased in such a way that would make people consider it. But the allergy stuff? Bonkers! And I say that as the parent of a child with food allergies. (I go with her and either stop her taking things I know she can't have or swap things afterwards).

Last year she was just turned 3 (so not at a particularly rational age!), really ill (we didn't realise quite how ill she was at the time), and despite being very grumpy and tired, she just got on with it and had no problem with me swapping things and stopping her from taking other things. You can't dictate an entire village's halloween.

Or boring pa comments about how 'brave' they are to take such little ones trick or treating tound strangers

You need to suggest that magazine pictures of pumpkins are put up so nobody trips up over real pumpkins, and put out a bowl of brussel sprouts instead of sweets because sweets are bad for the teeth

I don't really think the candle thing is fair enough.

in fact, sprouts could represent a choking risk, so put out curly kale instead.

I knew this would be you Keith

She really is good entertainment value.

Next she'll putting the kibosh on the annual virgin sacrifice.

Mind you, I'm assuming it's your NDN, it could actually be another nutty neighbour

The candle thing is actually a valid point, and had it been worded as a suggestion, rather than a demand, I would quite possibly have done so.

Now however I am considering setting fire to my own front door when I see them coming!

Ask her if she can recommend any retailers where the electric candles will a) be cheap and b) won't have been assembled by 3rd-world children in a poorly-maintained workshop.

As for the non-dairy, non-nut sweets..... well I'm vegan so pro the removal of dairy, but I draw the line at nuts. And what about egg? And gelatine? Many sweets have animal bits in them so should we make sure all the sweets are vegan for her precious and his friends, just in case they're veggie?

I've always assumed that you keep your kids close to home if they have allergies for just this reason.

My oh my, that is seriously quite embarrassing! they are two ffs, not like you are going to let them go near any candles are you!

Has no one else said anything? you have to reply, just have to!!

YANBU, CTK !

As others have said, the messages re candles and allergies are both relevant but the parents have to take primary responsibility for keeping their children safe. I'm sure you've got half a dozen witty responses you're itching to put on FB, but if you manage to contain yourself why not put a big sign on your front gate on Halloween May contain NUTS (and candles) ?