Conkers - !

[pawl]

I have never heard such a thing - since when did conkers ward off spiders?

Sounds like something from the back of a Dark Ages alamanac.

Hit the spider with a conker,it will not bother you again

 

[Globalti]

There's something satisfying about breaking open that spiny green fruit and revealing the beautiful brown, patterned seed inside, nestling perfectly in its womb-like shell. I never fail to marvel that Nature can be bothered to create millions of thngs, every one unique and so beautiful in the hope that just a few might land in exactly the right spot and germinate. It's always disappointing when you find that they've dried up and gone dull.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

As a kid I thought they were beautiful - such a rich brown colour, smooth, like polished wood. I spent more time just looking at them than playing conkers. They gave me the same kind of sense of the wonder of nature as did those helicopter seeds that spin their way gently to earth. On the bike, though, I'll quite often attempt to do that rear wheel tiddly winks thing. Catch it just right and it will ping off quite some distance. A very childish satisfaction indeed.

 

[srw]

Playing congers at school now banned under elf and safety unless wearing coglles,helmet and armoured gloves.

I think you've made that up - or read it in the Daily Mail, which amounts to the same thing. Playing conkers is getting rarer because Horse Chestnuts are increasingly being infected by a bacterial disease which is killing them off.

 

[PK99]

Local name where I grew up, Preston, was "cheggies", any other local names?

 

[Venod]

When I was a youngster (a long time ago) it was rare to see conkers lying on the ground they would be eagerly collected, now they don't have the attraction of yesteryear.

 

[Accy cyclist]

They've been on some roads around here since August, when they fell due to heavy wind and rain in that wonderful summer we've just had. Like others say, you should avoid them as they wont crack when you ride over them, they'll bring you off if big enough. There's also been quite a few acorns falling as well. Now they will crush and it's a bit of fun riding over them.

 

[Accy cyclist]

There's something satisfying about breaking open that spiny green fruit

Fruit?! So you can have them as part of your five day then?

 

[Dave7]

OK, lets get to the serious stuff.

If a three'zy beats a ten'zy does it become a four'zy or a thirteen'zy ?


I've had some arguments over this in my time.

A thirteenzy......defo.

 

[swee'pea99]

When I was a youngster (a long time ago) it was rare to see conkers lying on the ground they would be eagerly collected, now they don't have the attraction of yesteryear.

'tis true. *sigh* They litter the ground. In my day they barely got a chance to reach it.

 

[pawl]

I think you've made that up - or read it in the Daily Mail, which amounts to the same thing. Playing conkers is getting rarer because Horse Chestnuts are increasingly being infected by a bacterial disease which is killing them off.

What you mean the bit about making it into a computer game.
Well where would you thread the string.
Ok I did make it up Some schools did actually ban it unless safety glasses are warn.
Don't know about the bacterial disease.In my neck of the woods there seems to be a plentiful supply.

 

[machew]

Playing congers at school now banned under elf and safety unless wearing coglles,helmet and armoured gloves.
Perhaps some enterprising person could invent a computer game for cookers.Not sure where you wood thread the shoe lace.

Myth: Kids must wear goggles to play conkers
http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/september.htm

 

[cardiac case]

What you mean the bit about making it into a computer game.
Well where would you thread the string.
Ok I did make it up Some schools did actually ban it unless safety glasses are warn.
Don't know about the bacterial disease.In my neck of the woods there seems to be a plentiful supply.

I can just hear them say, "Mines an iPhone seven'zy", as it dangles by the ear piece wire.

 

[night cycler]

I usually pick them up. As a kld I gained a lot of pleasure from throwing large sticks up at them on the trees in a field. It was more fun than playing conkers.

A couple of year ago I planted those that I had found on the paths & roads near home. A few of them germinated, and I grew them on potting them in to larger pots as the plant size increased. When large enough I passed them on to this bloke I know who plants them in a wooded area. It`s like putting something back, and nice for future generations.

 

[pawl]

I can just hear them say, "Mines an iPhone seven'zy", as it dangles by the ear piece wire.

Hey if it catches on.Might set myself up in the I pad screen repair business.