Tonight it's the local Horticultural Society's last event of the year: a decorated pumpkin competition in the Uplyme village hall. My entry's all ready: I am calling him a punkin. 
I snaffled a bargain pumpkin at Somerfields in Bridport last weekend - only £1, and just added two old safety pins, cocktail sticks, pine twigs and a few rosehips from the garden for the studs. I'm hoping to recoup the cost by winning a prize - but we shall see what competition I have.
Despite trying pumpkin cooked many ways, I have decided it's just yucky vegetable cotton wool, so after the 31st, this fellow will go on the compost heap to scare the cows. However, I have discovered that you can make the seeds into a delicious snack - something to do when you are using the oven anyway or it would be rather wasteful!
Slip them out of the pulp into a sieve, and wash well. Shake as dry as poss. (not very), stir in a tsp. or so of vegetable or olive oil, and tip into a roasting tin or tray. Roast for about 30 minutes in a medium oven, shaking occasionally. Once they start going pale brown, remove and sprinkle with a pinch or two of salt. Lovely crunchy nibbles!
