Monday 21 October 2013

Not A Conker To Be Found

We took Archie  to Temple Newsam for his walk yesterday. I wanted to go somewhere with lots of trees so that I could look for conkers. I'm not sure if they're called conkers around the world, anyway, what I mean are the shiny, dark brown nuts of the Horse Chestnut tree. I need conkers.


I didn't manage to find one, single conker. There were plenty of acorns and helecopter seeds from the Sycamore. I need conkers. I've heard that scattering a few conkers near doors and on window ledges deter spiders from entering the house. How true it is I'm not sure, but anything's worth a try. I'm finding huge spiders in the house at the moment, sheltering from the colder weather, no doubt. I even had a cheeky thing climbing the stairs at the side of me yesterday, and another walking the wall next to where I was sat. It's no good, I need conkers.


I'm loving all the changing colours at the moment so our walk wasn't without its plus points, but I need conkers.

40 comments:

  1. No conkers here in N Yorkshire either. Lots of acorns though

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    1. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. I won't bother looking in North Yorkshire then. I saw loads of acorns yesterday, the squirrels will be happy.

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  2. I've just read CJ's Above The River blog post 'Someone stop me' where she mentions an abundance of conkers! Flighty xx

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    1. I've read CJ's post, I think she's got my share there.

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  3. Hope that you find some conkers soon Jo and that they keep the spiders away!

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    1. I don't know how successful it will be, but it's worth a try.

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  4. I think you may be too late now to find any.
    Handy hint: Take your glasses off, don't look down and don't go into any corners or under the bed!
    Love from Mum
    xx :)

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    1. Oh no! I may have to wait until next year to find out if it works. Thanks for the handy hint, I don't intend to go looking for them.

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  5. I've not heard that before. Hope you manage to find some soon.
    Our house seems to be a haven for spiders too - I'm chief spider catcher in this household, Violet and her dad are a bit scaredy-pants where spiders are concerned. x

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    1. I'm taking Archie for walks to places I haven't been before, just to try and find some conkers. None of us like spiders but we volunteer Mick as chief spider catcher.

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  6. Lots of conkers at our local park, Imogen has collected quite a few :) xx

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    1. It's a shame I don't live anywhere near your local park. Where's a Horse Chestnut tree when you need one?

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  7. Really interested in your bit of folklore, Jo - I have seen several huge spiders indoors (and put them outside, pronto) and my son says there are loads on the balcony although I haven't spotted those (yet!). Quite by chance I found loads of conkers on a walk through Regent's Park last week and picked them up to show the children I work with. They're on the kitchen window sill and I haven't seen any spiders in there recently!

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    1. I don't know how true it is, but it's definitely worth a go. Sounds like you're already putting it in to practice. There always seems to be something behind these old wives tales, whether they're true or not

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  8. hi jo
    i collect many conkers.(Kastanien) I hope you find some conkers soon.
    wish you a beautiful week,
    regina

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    1. I hope I manage to find some conkers soon otherwise I'm going to be overrun with spiders. Fingers crossed.

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  9. I'm not sure I've ever seen a conker in real life, so you're not alone in your conker-free state. :)

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    1. We have a game here where you drill a hole through the conker and thread string through it, then you hold it aloft whilst your opponent trys to hit it and break it from the string. It was a playground game when I was young, and kids still play it today.

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    2. It's always good to go out for a walk and enjoy the colours of Autumn. After you mentioned about conkers deterring those creepy spiders coming into the house I went out and got some as there are several trees near our house. However, they're sitting on the kitchen window ledge as I didn't know what do next. It sounds as if that's a good place and I'll go and get some more and put them near the doors too and then we'll see what happens!!

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    3. I wonder if they'll keep the spiders away, you'll have to let us know. I've seen many Horse Chestnut trees on days out but can't find a single one when I want some conkers, typical.

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  10. I know what conkers are Jo, and we usually see plenty in autumn, but it's spring here now and I don't think I would be allowed to send you any. Don't you like spiders? Autumn is when spiders come indoors along with mice. Except for the large spiders (huntsman over here), I,m not too bad with them, but I do detest mice, which when you live in a rural are in abundance at times. If you look on the web, you may find some other sort of deterrent.
    Good luck and take care.

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    1. I really don't like spiders, I'd be no good in Australia. We've only ever had one mouse in the house and that was quickly caught. I have to say that I prefer mice to spiders, though I don't want either in the house.

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  11. We go walking in our local park every morning and haven't come across any conkers yet. I hope you find some soon to keep the cheeky spiders at bay!

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    1. I walk Archie all over the place, yet I still haven't come across any conkers. I don't think I can be looking in the right places.

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    2. Hi Jo

      I have an abundance of conkers if you get really desperate. I drive through the vale of bevoir and there are lots of horse chestnuts and they have already started dropping their bounty. As promised there are pics of Buster now on my blog..

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    3. I'm hoping that we get some dry weather at the weekend so that we can go a bit further afield with Archie, I might find some then. I shall be popping over to your blog to see Buster.

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  12. There's a few round here..... but fewer than normal. I hope that you manage to find a source before the spiders take over completely!!! Jx

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    1. So do I, I'm still on the lookout, and the spiders are still bidding for a takeover.

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    1. Thank you. After my photography session which I blogged about earlier, I had a go on manual in Temple Newsam. I think it's come out ok'ish.

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  14. I have not spotted any yet. I love conkers they always remind me of conker picking when the girls were little. One daughter is now 25, I still pick a conker of two just for the feel good factor

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    1. I don't know if I'm early, but I thought I was late, perhaps not. I'm still looking out for them. My kids were never interested in conkers, a sign of the times I suppose.

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  15. We have had the very same dilemma here. I think we missed them all, as I've seen nothing but empty conker shells on the ground. They must come earlier than I thought. I've also heard that they deter spiders, which is an excellent reason for wanting to collect a few! x

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    1. I didn't think they were ready much earlier than this, perhaps I'm mistaken. I'm still looking out for them on my walks.

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  16. HI Jo, I havent found many conkers this year either. The kids must be snapping them up because I have found loads of empty shells but no sign of them. Someone told me you can buy something to squirt around your windows/doors to stop spiders coming in that is based on a chemical found in conkers. I dont like to tempt fate but we havent had many this year, unless Tony has seen them before me and discreetly got rid of them.

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    1. I didn't know about that, something to look in to. I've had loads of spiders in the house this year, they're huge too. I'm afraid I've passed my phobia on to the kids too as they won't go near them either.

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  17. I've found a few but then I have some big horse chestnut trees nearby. Acorns are everywhere though, there has been a huge amount this year.

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    1. I've noticed huge amounts of acorns too. If only conkers were in such plentiful supply.

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  18. I have noticed a lack of conkers this year but the acorns are bigger. So this year we are lacking bowls of conkers around the place!

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    1. I've seen vast amounts of acorns, still no conkers though. I fear I've missed the boat now.

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