Conkers for Kelli

a tutorial

(I've been longing to do one of these, they seem to be

obligatory on blogs)

This seven fingered leaf is scarred by a leaf miner moth

and many of our trees are threatened

by a condition known as bleeding canker,

(what a difference an 'a' makes)

but for the moment they are still producing the iconic

conker crop, so beloved of children.

The spiny husk splits into three sections

when it falls from the tree,

revealing one large shiny brown conker,

(the seed of the Horse Chestnut tree)

or sometimes, two,

often resulting in one flat sided conker,

commonly called a cheese cutter in these parts.

This invaluable book,

Something to Do

300 games, hobbies and pastimes for all the year round

tells you how to make furniture from conkers,

and most importantly,

how to play conkers.

More of which,

here.

As you see, conkers come into the October chapter

because everything used to arrive more slowly in the olden days

but before September closes,

here is what Something to Do

recommended:

celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of autumn,(there is information about saint's days), bowl your hoop with a stick, collect fungi - older children only, care for your sports equipment, collect stamps, make an Indian head-dress, decorate polythene pots, make wax pictures, a parachute man, orange balls (for Christmas), paper butterflies, doll's house furniture out of cork, musical instruments, toffee apples, plant conkers and acorns, dry flowers for Christmas bunches, try invisible writing, play battleships, have a scavenger hunt, make up a cardboard code game,

play a card game called donkey and

make a magic cotton reel.

First published in 1966,

the book is described as every mother's vade mecum

(literally go with me)

or a reference book that you carry with you at all times

and it answers the question 'What can I do?'

with numerous suggestions for things children can do at home,

indoors and outside, 'without spending much money or being a terrible nuisance'.

Each month has a separate chapter so that games and ideas will fit with the proper season.

So no time to lose then.

Pack away that Playstation,

turn the TV to the wall,

put the computer to sleep.

I can hardly wait to share October with you.