Categories: scming
Tags: housing
Date: 23 October 2005 22:59:06
Today is Sunday October 23 2005. There are still 8 days until Halloween but the trick-or-treaters seem to be oblivious to this.
Having had a hard day gutting my flat (and what a semi-successful day it was too ;)) I decided that I'd have a treat of Chinese for supper. Fine. Fair enough. Popped out to get it and while I was waiting two brats in their early teenage years entered the shop. They trick-or-treated the guy behind the counter who gave them some sweets, then they turned to me. WTF do you think I carry round in my pockets for treats? I'm not at home or work. I quizzed them about the date ("We're going away" - Youth detention centre by any chance?) and in the end they gave me a bit of hassle but after being nagged by the guy behind the counter, they went.
As I left the shop I discovered the two I'd seen were part of a group of 6 or so and I'd guess that the oldest was 16/17. Okay, so I assumed that they were up to no good, but they did scare me. Once again they gave me a little hassle as I crossed the road to the block of flats and, in fact, beat me to the door. Deciding that I couldn't trust them as far as I could throw them, I was NOT going to let them in. Deciding the back door was the way to go, I heard them buzzing the other residents. Some daft twat let them in.
By this point, I'd decided that there was no point going in the back door as I'd find them in the corridor so I gave up and went back to wait in (another) takeaway. Eventually I saw them leave and head on up the road, but they still bothered me so I waited until I thought they couldn't see me any more. Speaking to the guy in the takeaway, who was really nice about me wanting to hide in his shop (especially seeing as I'd bought my supper from one of his rivals), he said they freaked him out too. He also confirmed my fears that they didn't come from my neighbourhood but from the lovely crime hotspot at the top of the hill.
I'm really not looking forward to that aspect of Halloween. If the local brats are that crap at telling the date, does this mean it's going to go on until bonfire night? I can tolerate the fireworks, as long as they aren't fired in my direction, and there are strange customs that I really do enjoy watching, but this isn't one of highlights of autumn.
Last year it wasn't so bad (despite still living on my own)... I may have been more aware of the risks in the area I lived and the spiking affect that this time of year has on the crime figures in most areas but... Last year I lived in an inaccessible flat. You had to go through the heavy metal gate with razor wire on the top, wait in the dark yard (which looked more like a graveyard than a former garage), through a temperamental door then up to my flat. Unless you knew how to get there, you wouldn't find it. Nobody bothered me this time last year. If only I had that level of security now...
Oh well. Only 8 days till Halloween and 13 until bonfire night, and I'm not here for two or three of them. I hate kids! (Well, except the obvious exceptions known through the wibsite)