Comments on: Love Conkers All

By: MichelleFrost

MichelleFrost — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:00:12 +0000

I’m from Rhodesia. We started a new year in January. To me the thrill of a new year comes from fresh mown grass… just as Christmas eve makes me years for soft warm rain.

Oh and new book smells. Is there any better smell in the world than a brand new never-read book?

By: Christine Pennock

Christine Pennock — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:37:41 +0000

I think it’s mad that you can’t like more that one thing,places etc. Why is this need to like only one? Having never been to LA or New York I couldn’t say which I’d prefere only that I’d vist the Guggenheim museum in LA and the MOMA and the National Photo Gallery in New York. They both got their own merits.

As for conkers I’d better not metion there is a chestnut tree in one of our neighbour’s garden! There again there’s no conkers on it this year as there’s been no candles. Anyway does Health & Safety still allow the playing of conkers surely it is classed as dangerous as you might get hurt by a conker!!!

By: Amanda C Cox

Amanda C Cox — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:41:24 +0000

I love London in the Autumn. The colours of the trees in Hyde Park, the reflections in the canal in Little Venice, the warm afternoons melting goldenly into the early evenings, and best of all, its not so hot that the whole of Soho smells like warm piss!

By: haymee

haymee — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:48:05 +0000

Oh no Stephen, it’s not just you

By: R J Moody

R J Moody — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:23:39 +0000

Having grown up next door to two giant chestnut trees that were invariably filled each fall with a bounty of prize conkers, I must say that I want to put on my coat right now and run outdoors to begin the gathering. The white eyed shiny brown treasures hiding in their spiny green cloaks from those of us with throwing sticks who would seek to knock them from their branches before there time. Those of us who knew that a conker who let’s go it’s branch voluntarily is already days past it’s prime, and would be a sorry combatant on the mean street below. Ah, memories as crisp as autumn leaves.

…and at the end of the day the best of the best are drilled and strung together. We receive our annual warning that “only the other kind that are edible. Those ones are poisonous,” which just adds to their appeal.

I visited the “gathering spot” just weeks ago, only to find that the trees had been replaced by sod, and the smell of baked goods and butterscotch that once wafted down the porch steps of our dear old Lithuanian neighbor was forever gone as well. Dissipated like the foggy breath of a child throwing sticks on a cold September morning 40 years ago.

…I could however still hear the sounds of chestnuts bouncing on the walk and well aimed sticks tearing through the branches above.

Thank you Stephen, for however brief, a trip back to Verde Street.

By: lynnduffy

lynnduffy — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:00:24 +0000

My favourite example of someone refusing to make a false choice such as you describe is when Bart Simpson asks Homer “Do you wear boxers or shorts?” “No” replies Homer.

By: haroldbeaumont

haroldbeaumont — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:17:25 +0000

Those loutish trees have begun carelessly littering leaves all over the dutifully manicured lawns on our street.

Loyal officers of the lawn will soon strap on rattling gas-powered leaf blowers and blast them away from unhealthily short and regularly poisoned patches of pale grass.

Not us. We share our front yard with a wise old Sycamore and he may do what he likes.

By: arisztidoltz

arisztidoltz — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:28:25 +0000

Have fun filming Bones! Cheers!

By: Rachel_Stone

Rachel_Stone — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:26:19 +0000

Stephen – if you ever happen to read this, I just want you to know that I’ve just looked at my bookshelf and found no fewer than seven books with quotes from you on the back (and that’s only one small bookshelf!)
Also, I just want you to know that I have long ago lost count of the number of times I have produced random pieces of information that nobody else knows and then, in the stunned silence that follows, have said “I know that from QI…” I have learned more from QI and the Book of General Ignorance than from my twelve years at school put together! So I guess what I’m trying to say is thanks!

By: rpotter

rpotter — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:14:41 +0000

two small whinges: Firstly where on the website is a link to the two paintings referred to in Trefussis 2? and secondly, episode 3 is advertised on the website but not yet on Itunes (not in Australia anyway) rather frustrating as Im really enjoying it!

COMMENT FROM PRODUCER: Thank you for bring the URLS to my attention. You can view them here: http://www.stephenfry.com/painting1 and http://www.stephenfry.com/painting2 Also, I can assure you that the 3rd episode is available in the Australian iTunes Store. It’s the second thing I check, as I’m also Australian.