I was just looking at my calendar and realised that it is still about six weeks to Halloween. Christmas is even further away. So why are are the shops stuffed to the gills with Halloween stuff? It used to be a pleasant little affair, a slightly spooky evening, perhaps a lantern made out of turnip if my dad could be bothered, maybe a bit of apple bobbing - now it's this huge full blown thing that involves costumes, pumkins, trick or treat, parties, and god knows what. I do go along with it to some degree but wonder why it has to be such a commercial event - so much merchandise! And don't get me started on Christmas. My local co-op actually has Cadbury's christmas selection boxes in. It's September for Christ's sake! Bah humbug.