CONKERS

Well, after such a short summer, well weather wise, Autumn is just around the corner, already the leaves are turning colour, the swallows are congregating ready for off, the nights are getting cooler and damper, and the ripening of the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) or conkers as we all know them as are now ready for battle.
But whether to bake them, or soak them in vinegar to make them stronger and capable of winning time after time was always a dilemna. I much preferred to find the biggest and heaviest to do battle with.
Thank goodness the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and PSF (The Play Safety Forum) have now seen the error of their original idea to ban such games.
I don't know of any one who didn't play conkers at some time or other, and apart from a few sore knuckles and string burns, I don't know of any serious injuries either. Long may we play these childhood games, it's part of our history and who we are.