(Like this, in brackets, "oh by the way, did you know you had a dangling…

Irony is tricky on the web 'cause tone of voice doesn't carry well in text.
Irony apparently directed…

Damian – delete it if you wish. I thought you might have appreciated it, given your acutely honed sense of irony.

At least you once admitted to being "one of the new breed of state school kids who were never taught grammar"

And Brent: read…

IIRC in French the two uses have different sets of…

If the partners had been male, you would have written "His and his partner", the ridiculousness of which might have rung a few bells in the cranium.

..and the masculine equivalent would be "Him and his partner": no less incorrect, but certainly fewer bells.

Your on your own now, Damian

Looks like you're better off without him, Damian :-).

I wish to be relieved of the heavy responsibility of acting as your grammar mentor/coach.

My first reaction was "Christ, what a tosser!" but that's an incomplete sentence, isn't it? Must try harder. (Ops, there I go again.)

I wish to be relieved of the heavy responsibility of acting as your grammar mentor/coach.

If I were to ever employ a grammar mentor, I'd probably go with one who was less condescending, and perhaps emailed me directly (through the feedback button) rather than deciding it was appropriate/amusing or what-have-you…

I wish to be relieved of the heavy responsibility of acting as your grammar mentor/coach.

We struggled (fairly successfully, I thought) with the possessive gerund by applying the "Lop off the last bit ©" test.

Example:
The tax incentive program has resulted in South Carolina’s currently having seventy…

Dyan's excellent summary does miss one key fact: Canadian and US Thanksgivings are on different dates, so if you play your cards rights you get to do it all twice.

That's true, Canada's Thanksgiving is in October, USA's in November... this is because colder climate+earlier harvest.

There's a small mound of goat skulls at the bottom of my garden that would beg to differ.

So you're saying you're a socialist?

anyone should be welcome if they don't have another place to go

However, if your friend's joker uncle informs you that he got Fosters to go with Thanksgiving dinner especially for you, on no account should you assume this is one of his pranks and respond accordingly.

Uh, or so…

but the tradition does dictate that it should also include some sharing of resources, some recognition of people in the community who might need help.

And, at least from the little I've seen of it, that anyone should be welcome if they don't have another place to go. Which is…

There is a complete absence of any religious significance, no gifts are exchanged but the tradition does dictate that it should also include some sharing of resources

Sounds like Matariki to me. Blimey, it is Matariki.

I'm with you Giovanni. It can also be a nice way to meet the neighbours or like Jackie create a little community spirit.

Heartily agreed, people like Jackie and Giovanni with friendly open attitudes towards others in the community make those communities better places to live.

(Also, I say adopt…

Well they also bought us the motorcar, and hip-hop (and jazz and blues and rock and roll I believe), and space travel.

There's no space travel in NZ. And, the USSR was first one that one anyway.

Nah, it was just a…

Come on now. All God-fearing folk know that satanism and socialism are the same thing.

There's a small mound of goat skulls at the bottom of my garden that would beg to differ.

i don't mind kids having fun, but can't they find a kiwi way to do it instead of this wholesale adoption of americana?

I can hear my dad's voice here. "Bloody American traditions." Well they also bought us the motorcar, and hip-hop (and jazz and blues and rock and roll…

Alternatively: how about spending ten dollars in sweets and five seconds each with your kids' neighbours per year, you tight-arse philistines?

Every year I buy lollies. Every year I put a broom or witch or candles at the door or some hastily got together signs of Halloween-ness. And every year…

Halloween isn't Satanic. It's socialist — like Chirstmas — as it enourages children to become dependent on begging for their processed sugar, as opposed to getting a badly paid job and earning it.

Come on now. All God-fearing folk know that satanism and socialism are the same thing.

Although, that…

Anyway, a new policy statement: Halloween isn't Satanic.

Our 16 year old (had a halloween party and) redefined the conventions by dressing as a angel.

Yes, I can see it now:

Me cruising down the suburban streets in my 10-seater mini-van at 3 kmph, pulling up alongside groups of young children, calling out "Hey kid – do you want some lollies?

Well, I was thinking you might transport your own & your friends' kids, but hey,…

Yes, I can see it now:

And the rest of us would see it on the news the next night. Anyway, a new policy statement: Halloween isn't Satanic. It's socialist — like Chirstmas — as it enourages children to become dependent on begging for their processed sugar, as opposed to…

What I suggest is, next year you hire a mini bus or three, & transport a shit load of kids from all over the region...

LOL!

Yes, I can see it now:

Me cruising down the suburban streets in my 10-seater mini-van at 3 kmph, pulling up alongside groups of young children,…

The latter seemed a bit mean of me, but is that what you're suggesting?

Not so much suggesting as saying out right, I thought :-)
But I would totally get on board the cranberry sauce and deep-fried turkey idea too. Never understood why you can only get turkey at Christmas…

One year I actually saw the mini-van pull up, park on the corner, and all the kids came rolling out while Dad remained in the car listening to talkback.

What I suggest is, next year you hire a mini bus or three, & transport a shit load of kids from all…

What do they give thanks for anyway?

Smallpox.

I was vacillating between giving thanks to the native americans for saving them from starving over the first few winters, or for giving the native americans a range of diseases to suffer from for generations.

The latter seemed a bit mean of…

Smallpox.

Erm, yes, that is a little problematic. I was going with the more recent 'it's cranberry sauce and deep-fried turkey! Fuckin' A!' aspect of the whole celebration...

What do they give thanks for anyway?

Smallpox.

Alternatively: how about spending ten dollars in sweets and five seconds each with your kids' neighbours per year, you tight-arse philistines?

My get-out-of-jail-free card: I live on the second floor at the end of a long, long right-of-way, and our place looks studentish enough that most kids don't bother making…

Alternatively: how about spending ten dollars in sweets and five seconds each with your kids' neighbours per year, you tight-arse philistines?

They're perfectly welcome to come spend 5 seconds with me!

Well, if they're happy to chance the "Beware of the pack of starving rottweiler/pitbull crosses" sign, they are.

(Also, I say adopt Thanksgiving! You get to eat lots of great things, and no one expects gifts or goes door to door.)

What do they give thanks for anyway?

i'm firmly in the bah humbug camp, i'm afraid. standard practice at my house has become to put a hand written sign on the front door that says "no trick or treat sorry! shhhhhh baby sleeping".

SNAP!!

I've been doing that too for the past 3 years. Last year the…

Alternatively: how about spending ten dollars in sweets and five seconds each with your kids' neighbours per year, you tight-arse philistines?

I'm with you Giovanni. It can also be a nice way to meet the neighbours or like Jackie create a little community spirit.

Admittedly some kids just don't get…

WARNING! Wash hands with cold water within five minutes of touching this surface.

I am such a westie. :)

(Also, I say adopt Thanksgiving! You get to eat lots of great things, and no one expects gifts or goes door to door.)

A certain large,…

Parents who don't…

well, that's what i wrote this year. last year i had just managed to…

We had one group of 4 14-15 year girls who between them had managed to muster up a beret, a set of fairy wings and (I think) some bunny ears. I told them to go away

My dad rang this morning and told me how my step-sister went to a…

Next year we padlocked the gate

A "beware oif the dog" sign works well. Last year we bought kilos of fruitbursts... at the end of the evening we had kilos of fruitbursts left.

This year, we had chubba chups. We still do.

Ah well, more for me.

And that there is something beautiful about bonding with young men, in hooded sweatshirts, over a bar of chocolate.

What a fantastic story Jackie – goes to show how a little mutual respect can go such a long way despite ones appearance. I suspect you will never have an issue…

Reminded me of the one about the 2 guys putting the rubbish out in the morning.

Guy 1. Where's ya bin ?

Guy 2. Been on holiday man.

Guy 1. Nah nah, where's ya wheely bin ?

Guy 2. Oh, been in Jail…

The food hall was chaotic, though this conversation with a rather gabby youngling was rather un-nerving:

FAIRY: I'm a fairy.
ME: And a…

We got one visit (stayed at pub to avoid the endless stream). We don't eat sweets so wasn't sure what the other half was going to offer. He came up with oranges.

I LOVE Halloween!

We went trick or treating as kids in the late 80s. Making us the only…

And that there is something beautiful about bonding with young men, in hooded sweatshirts, over a bar of chocolate.

good on ya, Jackie. Nice bit of positive action on yr part.

I could observe the fear and trepidation on the creature assaulting my castle, i was a MOTHER!!!!!!

Should have read "It was a MOTHER!!!!"

Aww, spoilsport Steve.

I was particularly enjoying this ghoulish, Halloween appropriate, nature defied, man-gives-birth-and-terrifies-himself-in-his-foyer story.