A change from the usual pear shape I suppose

The EU will delay its decision on the length of the Brexit extension until next Monday or Tuesday after France piled pressure on MPs ahead of a vote on Boris Johnson's demand for a pre-Christmas general election.
During a meeting of EU diplomats, the French ambassador stood alone in arguing that it was not the right time to agree a three-month delay, in a move that will be welcomed in Downing Street.
Only after the vote on Monday should the EU decide to "go short, to push for ratification, or long to privilege a general election", the ambassador told the other member states, according to a diplomatic note.

So...
Parliament gets to decide between :

• Boris's election before Christmas
  
• Hard Brexit at Halloween