I detest Halloween. I loathe it. As the decorations and ads start to appear in shops and print, a cloud of anger collects in my chest and sits there until it’s all over. Occasionally wisps of it curl out of my mouth or possibly my nose as a snort at my irritation over a person who unwittingly asked me whether I participate in it.

No, I do not.

What Halloween is supposed to be about ... pumpkins. Credit:AP

For me, the way in which Halloween has insidiously infiltrated its way onto the Australian calendar is dismaying. Huge numbers of kids now believe it’s part of the everyday, regular Australian celebrations and participate in trick or treating. Meanwhile I shut my gates, lower the blinds and breathe my way through the whole debacle. Breathing for myself and for the planet as she groans through yet another wave of disposable plastic crap.

Possibly the dental industry was secretly leaping with glee when Halloween began tossing bags of copious lollies (candy? NO!) at children.