Alister, I found my nuts!!

These beauties great examples of the chestnuts we used to use when we were kids in Germany. At that time we use to call them "Konkers" and it was a game a lot of the kids used to play at a time long, long, long ago - even before PacMan! I'm talking about a long time ago!!



What we would do is "season" our nuts for a couple of days by letting them harden in the sun undisturbed. This was harder than it sounds because guys are always trying to make sure their nuts are in the most advantageous position. Then, there would be a special process, done in secret when no one was looking. Some guys would soak their nuts in vinegar for a couple of days. The outside of them would get all wrinkly but when they dried, they would be good and hard. Others would put them in the oven at a low heat for a few minutes. Too long and they would crack with a sound like your mother slapping you on the ear. Oh, wait a minute - that wasn't the nuts cracking....

The next step was all important. you made a small hole in the top of the nut and another in the bottom. Really sharp kitchen knives were the best to make the hole with although I am told there was some danger with this approach. Who knew? Then you used your mother's knitting needle and carefully pushed the needle from the top hole to the bottom hole. Sometimes you heard that cracking sound again if your mother was in swinging range. Once you had the hole through your nuts, you used a different, smaller knitting needle to push a string through the hole. Knitting needles are best because you can bend them with just a little bit of muscle power and if they slip, they only go into your knee about 1/2 inch or so. Not bad cause it heals up really quickly. If you were successful fishing the knitting needle through, you had a nice tight hole in your nuts. This is important to the game of Konkers! Tie a good, big tight knot at the end of the string and you are ready to do battle.

The object of the game is to break the other kids' nuts. How much fun is that, I ask you? You hold your nuts at arm's length with the string hanging down about 12 inches - just long enough so that it misses your eye by 1/16" in battle. Your worthy opponent uses his best nuts and swings them at yours with a force designed to crack your nuts in a "one-er". Your opponent misses and it is your turn to crack his nuts. Strength, precision, nut-conditioning - this game has it all!



This next picture is of smaller nuts. I am not sure if these ever grow into really good nuts or not. They are pretty small. Mind you, I took this picture on a really cold morning and everyone knows what happens to your nuts in the cold.


- Derek

Location:Innsbruck, Austria