Conkers

It is certainly autumnal now, damp, misty weather. The Boy has been rummaging about in the garden collecting conkers. They are very plentiful this year, he came into the kitchen with a heap of them. I don't think that they will ever be strung and played with, they are just lovely objects, especially when newly emerging from their casing. I think his pleasure is merely in finding them.

My brother used to play conkers in the '40's and ;59;s, post war Britain not being awash with too many children's toys. I was the feeble little sister who found it a rather brutal game, the conker could give you a nasty knock on the knuckles!

My illustrations of children always seem to have a '40's and '59's vibe; shorts, fall-down socks and scruffy shoes! And the girls in dresses, it was before the jeans era.