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World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

theguardian.com

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Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#481

Post by bitbasher »

dave333 wrote: post #470

Played conkers as a kid around age 7-9. We had several horse chestnut trees along our road and I would search in amongst the leaves everyday on the way to and from school. Drill a hole in each and thread about 18 inches of string through the hole and tie a knot so the nut cannot fly off when you swing the nut at your opponent's conker. Challenge others in a duel to the death of one or other of the conkers. Draw lots…

As someone that roasts and eats chestnuts, it's kind of odd to play with them. I suppose you ate many and also played, or are they simply not eaten there?

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#482

Post by sickofparadox »

oblio wrote: post #479
foldr wrote: post #469

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Requiring something to be "uniquely British" to count as British cuisine seems like a pretty high bar. Are burgers and apple pie "uniquely American"? Not sure – and who even cares?

> apple pie "uniquely American" My Romanian grandma, born in the 1920s, that never traveled more than 100km from her birthplace and never saw even the Black Sea, would beg to differ :-p

Such is the cultural reach of America's blue jeans and rock 'n roll.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#483

Post by lazide »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #425
zemo wrote: post #419

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> why would Yooden Vranx have "lots of" chestnuts on his spaceship? And why "of course"? hmmm, these might be what they call "jokes"

Absurdist humour, Hitchhiker's is full of it, as is Discworld. Aggressive Britishisms as well (like conkers and tea references), like in the Cornetto trilogy.

This is honestly the first time I’ve seen ‘Aggressive Britishisms’, and I’m still somewhat perplexed at the concept.

Like I get it, theoretically. But…. Hmmm.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#484

Post by HarHarVeryFunny »

Reminds me of trying to cheat myself in 70's by making a lead conker (painted to be right color). It got confiscated at school as being dangerous (lump of lead on a string) before I could even use it.

Conkers is half about cheating anyway - baking it to make it rock hard, or soaking in vinegar to make it rubbery and resilient.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#485

Post by dave333 »

bitbasher wrote: post #481
dave333 wrote: post #470

Played conkers as a kid around age 7-9. We had several horse chestnut trees along our road and I would search in amongst the leaves everyday on the way to and from school. Drill a hole in each and thread about 18 inches of string through the hole and tie a knot so the nut cannot fly off when you swing the nut at your opponent's conker. Challenge others in a duel to the death of one or other of the conkers. Draw lots…

As someone that roasts and eats chestnuts, it's kind of odd to play with them. I suppose you ate many and also played, or are they simply not eaten there?

Horse chestnuts are different and not edible.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#486

Post by mintplant »

bitbasher wrote: post #481
dave333 wrote: post #470

Played conkers as a kid around age 7-9. We had several horse chestnut trees along our road and I would search in amongst the leaves everyday on the way to and from school. Drill a hole in each and thread about 18 inches of string through the hole and tie a knot so the nut cannot fly off when you swing the nut at your opponent's conker. Challenge others in a duel to the death of one or other of the conkers. Draw lots…

As someone that roasts and eats chestnuts, it's kind of odd to play with them. I suppose you ate many and also played, or are they simply not eaten there?

These are horse chestnuts, they're inedible.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#487

Post by lazide »

Loughla wrote: post #459
DoughnutHole wrote: post #408

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly the focus on financial stratification here highlights the differences between what class means in the UK and the US. In the US class distinction is (almost) entirely down to money. If you’re rich you can buy nicer things than someone poorer and so you can be immediately sorted into a higher social class. In the UK just because you’re rich that doesn’t make you upper class. British society is riddled with sub…

Do you know of some examples of dress, language, or social cues? Would it be possible to 'fake it' do you think? I find it fascinating that being viewed as nuveau riche is a bad thing or 'lesser than' old money, when the money all buys the same access and privilege. In the states we have New England waspy types that have families that go back to the mayflower or whatever. But it's pretty easy to ingrain yourself in t…

Nah, they know who you are and aren’t actually confused about it.

They’ll be friendly, may even invite you to things, but they aren’t confused about who is who.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#488

Post by andrewaylett »

bitbasher wrote: post #481
dave333 wrote: post #470

Played conkers as a kid around age 7-9. We had several horse chestnut trees along our road and I would search in amongst the leaves everyday on the way to and from school. Drill a hole in each and thread about 18 inches of string through the hole and tie a knot so the nut cannot fly off when you swing the nut at your opponent's conker. Challenge others in a duel to the death of one or other of the conkers. Draw lots…

As someone that roasts and eats chestnuts, it's kind of odd to play with them. I suppose you ate many and also played, or are they simply not eaten there?

Conkers are horse chestnuts, rather than sweet chestnuts. Similar name, unrelated tree.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#489

Post by HarHarVeryFunny »

bitbasher wrote: post #481
dave333 wrote: post #470

Played conkers as a kid around age 7-9. We had several horse chestnut trees along our road and I would search in amongst the leaves everyday on the way to and from school. Drill a hole in each and thread about 18 inches of string through the hole and tie a knot so the nut cannot fly off when you swing the nut at your opponent's conker. Challenge others in a duel to the death of one or other of the conkers. Draw lots…

As someone that roasts and eats chestnuts, it's kind of odd to play with them. I suppose you ate many and also played, or are they simply not eaten there?

The ones used for conkers are horse chestnuts (typically round in shape), not the same as the ones that are eaten which are spanish chestnuts and normally have flat sides.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#490

Post by [deleted] »

bitbasher wrote: post #481
dave333 wrote: post #470

Played conkers as a kid around age 7-9. We had several horse chestnut trees along our road and I would search in amongst the leaves everyday on the way to and from school. Drill a hole in each and thread about 18 inches of string through the hole and tie a knot so the nut cannot fly off when you swing the nut at your opponent's conker. Challenge others in a duel to the death of one or other of the conkers. Draw lots…

As someone that roasts and eats chestnuts, it's kind of odd to play with them. I suppose you ate many and also played, or are they simply not eaten there?

[deleted]
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