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What an extraordinary coincidence, jigjag! I found out about Tetbury Street when I was helping someone with their family history. I discovered at least one of the Cook family had lived in Balls Road, where I used to wait for the bus (no 6 I think; blue, anyway) to go to school. The road now has a much more genteel name!

I have now done two family histories that took me back to Birkenhead. The other family lived for a brief time just a stone's throw from where I was born, at Rock Ferry. Small old world. He was a ship's broker at the time of the American Civil War, and went bust. A really bad time for Liverpool and the area beyond which depended on cotton imports.

Good evening, Rusty!
We are finally home again for the night!
We have been out to collect the dog from the groomers......
We collected her at 4 o'clock, but the traffic was so bad that we have only just arrived home.
We passed a number of children and youths on our way...suitably clad as ghosts and ghoulies.....obviously heading out to "trick or treat" .
Personally, I think this is a barbaric custom...I think inherited from America? - whereby young people are seemingly taught to go 'begging with menaces'!
I would never let my children do this, nor do my grandchildren take part either.
I think effectively threatening/ bullying folk into giving sweets or money is disgraceful!
Do you get "trick or treating" up your way?
I wonder why the children cannot just go round and show off their costumes , rather than this ghastly "trick or treating" scenario?
Surely it is encouraging all the wrong instincts?
Sorry for the rant,,,,I will get down from my soap box!
Yes, Chris is a great friend as well as being our mechanic.
He owns his own garage, and we are indeed fortunate as he is very reliable and helpful.
Now. the crossword.....
I have quite a few clues that I couldn't do today.....mostly in the bottom left hand corner.
I don't think the setter and I were on the same wavelength!
Or I was being particularly dim!

Hello Rosalind

Another coincidence - my better half does family history too! A very time-consuming hobby but she loves it. She is also, with others, writing a book about the history of Ellesmere Port.

Hello, Elle!
Yes, there is "trick or treating" here, but I am not sure how it works!
Years ago, up here, it was called "guising", before the trick or treating crossed the Atlantic.
I don't see anything desperate for you in the South West corner, Elle?
I liked 24d a lot! And 27a is a good one.

Hello Elle

I agree with your views about trick or treat - definitely American. Some people I know in Liverpool told me it gets very nasty where they live - if you dont give the "children" enough money etc, you get your car covered in tomatoes or eggs.

Round here it is very gentle. Children are supervised by parents. We let our children do it when they were young as all their friends were doing it. Now that they are grown up, we just have lots of sweets to hand out. I dont look forward to it. The local custom seems to be that if you put a pumpkin out, you welcome callers. if you dont, you are by-passed.

It was fun when I was young. No trick or treating. We stayed at home and played "duck apple" and "bob apple", and had a toffee apple. All simple stuff. I bet Rosalind did the same.

Here's the "guising", Elle!
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/guising

Hello, Jigjag!
I remember "dooking for apples"!
Not sure if it still goes on?

Hi, Rusty!
I really abhor the current custom of trick or treating.....
We had nothing like that when I was young - not up north anyway.
We had Hallowe'en parties, but just for family and friends.
We would dress up in our costumes - we kids were often ghosts wrapped in a old sheet! - and would bob for apples in an old tin bath!
"Guising" is a new word for me!
I couldn't do either of those clues that you said you liked, Rusty!
For 24d, I have ?H??
and for 27a, which interlocks with 24d, I have Y?N???
The remaining one that I cannot do is 23d: E?A?L
I coped well with "Eggheads" though, tonight, which has boosted my morale a little bit!




Hello, Jigjag!
Yes, I knew an elderly couple who had paint poured down their drive, all because they were too afraid to open their front door to trick or treaters, late at night!
And others who have had their car scratched, or, as you say "decorated"!
I've tried offering sweets...but have actually on occasions been asked for money instead.....!
The pumpkin outside the house is a great idea......but isn't in operation here.
I think Chris once said that they have that up his way?
Yes, when young, we had parties for family and friends and dressed up, and played bobbing for apples!
All good clean fun...and no "threatening" involved.

Yes, we have a pumpkin out. Only two lots so far, all very polite.

When I was younger it was always "penny for the guy" at this time of year - that seems to have vanished!

Hello, Elle!
We called it "dooking" for apples!
"Guising" is maybe a Scots word.
I have not looked in Chambers
24 is a fine clue!
Whee(zing)!
A statesman is a Yankee!
Eek! and nay reversed.
23, I needed Chambers to get the answer.
It is e-tail, on-line retailing.
Tail being dog.
I liked today's puzzle by the late setter.