Conkers

Bramleygal · Post by **Bramleygal** » Mon 13 Sep, 2010 10:49 pm

Do kids still play conkers? Ah, the days before video games when we made our own entertainment.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Mon 13 Sep, 2010 10:59 pm

I would guess they do but no doubt Health & Safety rules may stop them playing in school grounds. One thing I have noticed for some years now are kids throwing sticks to knock conkers down (as I used to do) but they try to get them when they are too undeveloped so there will be no real conker inside (I guess they have no patience to wait or think they must get them before others do!).

Uno Hoo · Post by **Uno Hoo** » Mon 13 Sep, 2010 11:05 pm

Bramleygal wrote: Do kids still play conkers? Ah, the days before video games when we made our own entertainment. Not to the same extent.I was never much good at conkers. It was said that baking and/or pickling them in vinegar hardened them up to become "conkering heroes", but when I tried baking them they seemed to disintegrate even quicker.

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 13 Sep, 2010 11:08 pm

Bramleygal wrote: Do kids still play conkers? Ah, the days before video games when we made our own entertainment. Only if provided with statutory PPE you know, hard hat, shatter-proof full face mask, padded safety gloves and of course, biodegradable string! (let's not forget the warning signs - 'caution - may contain nuts')

weenie · Post by **weenie** » Mon 13 Sep, 2010 11:12 pm

My boys love conkers, - work this one out, in my childrens school they have a conker tree, they are not allowed to touch it, but they have conker matches in school? There is a great place down Clarendon Road - we use to call it Conker heaven!.

Bramleygal · Post by **Bramleygal** » Mon 13 Sep, 2010 11:44 pm

Chameleon: Love your sense of humor. I laughed out loud!

zip55 · Post by **zip55** » Tue 14 Sep, 2010 1:52 am

Elmete Ave or Walk I think had some good conker trees back in the late sixties

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Tue 14 Sep, 2010 1:57 am

Bramleygal wrote: Do kids still play conkers? Ah, the days before video games when we made our own entertainment. There's probably a conker playing game on video!

tinks · Post by **tinks** » Tue 14 Sep, 2010 3:32 pm

My son (aged 11) loves conkers, its almost an autumn ritual for him and his grandad to collect and string them all up(conkers that is!)My son also places a semi circle of them around his bedroom door..to keep spiders out!

Lilysmum · Post by **Lilysmum** » Tue 14 Sep, 2010 5:23 pm

tinks wrote: My son (aged 11) loves conkers, its almost an autumn ritual for him and his grandad to collect and string them all up(conkers that is!)My son also places a semi circle of them around his bedroom door..to keep spiders out! I read somewhere last year that conkers keep spiders away and as we are all terrified of them decided anything was worth a try to prevent pandemonium breaking out whenever we have a "tarantula incident" So we have bowls of conkers dotted about the house and it did seem to work.............until the last few weeks when we have had some whoppers to contend with.Perhaps they have lost their powers and need replacing with a fresh batch.