Hallowe'en

There are two longstanding traditions in the village at Hollowe'en, one of which, 'guising', we had never come across before. The 'guisers' who arrive at the front door are dressed from head to foot in dark clothing, with a mask to cover their faces. Invited in, they simply stand, silent. The game is to guess who they are - and very difficult it is, even though they may be people we see every day. Their reward is a dram and a bite to eat.

For some of the more adventurous members of the village, practical jokes are the order of the night, usually carried out after the pub has closed. 'For Sale' signs appear outside properties; gates move; messages are sprayed in large letters onto the ends of the big, plastic-covered bales of silage; a rowing boat moves into a garden pond - and, this year, a car is wrapped in cling film. To add to this, the American tradition of Trick-or-Treat has arrived here, but the village is so scattered the children have to be ferried around in their parents' cars.

At least, last night, the night was clear and dry, with an almost full moon.