Until a couple of years ago, I'd been to two Halloween parties in nearly 40 years.

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One was a dress-up birthday for a friend born on October 31, who has family in Texas and is big into celebrating USA-style.

The other was when I was about six, held in the garage of my childhood home. I distinctly remember bobbing for apples and eating Halloween-themed food, but my mum can't remember this at all, so it's possible it didn't even happen.

Anyway, for most of my life, October 31 has passed without much ado.

But then I had kids of my own, and it bec

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