My teenager spent the school day studying the new trend, Vampires - while his younger sibling at primary was read the ‘magical’ occult classic Harry Potter, by the teacher.

After school, before homework on Hitler and The Occult, I switched on TV for the children and the cartoon chorus rang out: “She’s just an ordinary girl in an extraordinary World, Mona the Vampire.”

Following that came the ‘All New Scooby-Doo’ with ghosts, spells, werewolves and ghouls, so I changed channels and there was ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch.’

The cartoon Network was showing ‘Grim and Evil’ staring the Grim Reaper.

Later; ‘The All New Addam’s Family’ featuring torture implements (for ‘all-new’ read - more gore) and then, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Are you seeing a pattern emerging?

The obligatory adverts interrupt viewing, a dad is having nightmares from playing ‘Resident Evil’ a computer game, with homicidal zombies, very funny!

Have we let our standards drop a tad or has Count Dracula taken over the government, education system and TV networks?

If kids are really lucky, their parents may let them stay up and watch, Freddie Kruger, on Friday 13th., but not mine!

Maybe it’s just me that’s got a problem with this orgy of evil...

I thought, am I being a kill-joy for not appreciating the ‘niceties’ of the occult?

So I looked in the mirror and repeated ‘Candy Man’ three times – ha-ha-ha-ha-ha - and wondered why Vampires are the new trend