Bernice Harrison on alternatives to movies and the mall
Bonkers for conkers
• Get a bag and go chestnut hunting. It's one of the great joys of autumn. Better still, bring a couple of bags, because once you find an obliging horse-chestnut tree you'll soon have handfuls of rich mahogany-coloured conkers.
• Collecting them is a good outdoor game for even the smallest children. At this time of the year they've even burst out of their spiky covering, which makes it all the easier.
• Horse chestnuts are everywhere - in forests such as Lough Key, in Co Roscommon, and Djouce Woods, in Co Wicklow, and in most public parks. The yield from the trees in the Phoenix Park has thrilled generations of Dublin kids. If you live in a long-established suburb, chances are there's a horse chestnut close by.
Don'tBring the conkers home and forget about them. Finding a plastic bag behind the sofa full of conkers covered in green mould was one of the least pleasant discoveries in this year's spring clean.
How to play conkers
Put a hole in the conker (a knitting needle is best), thread a piece of string or a shoelace through it, then tie a knot in the bottom, to stop it falling off. Two people play, and the aim is to bash your opponent's conker with yours. The one that remains intact wins. Soaking the conker in vinegar, or baking it before threading, might make it stronger.
Feeling lucky?
Enter next weekend's Irish Conker Championship, at the village green in Freshford, Co Kilkenny. www.irishconkerchampionship.com.