Snowman Theft!

[candidrachel]

Oh dear, dear dear..... apparently she used pound coins for eyes and teaspoons for arms pmsl!

BBC News - Woman dials 999 to report snowman theft in Kent

[Biomech]

Just came across this horrendous story as well:
Now elf' n' safety ban secret Santa: Gifts left on trees are litter hazard says council | Mail Online

"Someone" has been running around the woods the past 2 years hanging "over 600" presents from trees for "anyone who wants to collect them". I think this has to be my xmas story of the year so far. But! In true idiotic fashion, they are trying to prosecute him/her for fly-tipping because some of the wrappers got wet and fell on the floor!

The toys don't look particularly cheap, so even if they only cost £5 each that's £3,000 and time that someone has generously given away - and this is the thanks they get.

[candidrachel]

Yeah I know! What kill joys! I think that's a cute story but as usual they have bring "health and safety" into everything. Such a nanny state we're becoming. Did you read the "removing conkers off trees" story?? Well, in Nottingham the council requested that a certain said tree had to have all the conkers removed via somebody standing on a ladder just in case a conker fell on a passerby. Give me a break!

[OsmosisStudios]

I'm sorry, I cant stop laughing:

It ain't a nice road but you don't expect someone to nick your snowman.

[candidrachel]

I've got this image in my head with someone running down the street with a snowman under their arm. Teenagers I expect.

[douglas]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

Yeah I know! What kill joys! I think that's a cute story but as usual they have bring "health and safety" into everything. Such a nanny state we're becoming. Did you read the "removing conkers off trees" story?? Well, in Nottingham the council requested that a certain said tree had to have all the conkers removed via somebody standing on a ladder just in case a conker fell on a passerby. Give me a break!

I wonder what is happening to common sense...what stupidity, BUT I suppose the council are afraid that some smart lawyer may cost them a fortune if some poor individual gets hit by a conker!!!!
When I was a kid playing conkers bits flew around everywhere.

[Mike367]

Sorry, I don't speak English, only American. What are conkers? I'm guessing pine cones, but would like a native speaker to define the term.

[faeriegodess612]

Yay for Google. Explanation of a conker, and the game associated with it. Cuz I was curious too, but I think that the previous post sounded like someone has a superiority complex. Just saying, thats the way I perceived it.

Conkers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Henry Wilt]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

Oh dear, dear dear..... apparently she used pound coins for eyes and teaspoons for arms pmsl!

BBC News - Woman dials 999 to report snowman theft in Kent

You've just got to love it, I bet she gets a ransom note in the morning. "Pay up or he gets the hair drier treatment!"

Originally Posted by Biomech

Just came across this horrendous story as well:
Now elf' n' safety ban secret Santa: Gifts left on trees are litter hazard says council | Mail Online

"Someone" has been running around the woods the past 2 years hanging "over 600" presents from trees for "anyone who wants to collect them". I think this has to be my xmas story of the year so far. But! In true idiotic fashion, they are trying to prosecute him/her for fly-tipping because some of the wrappers got wet and fell on the floor!

The toys don't look particularly cheap, so even if they only cost £5 each that's £3,000 and time that someone has generously given away - and this is the thanks they get.

One of the reasons I am so glad I no longer live in the UK, bureaucracy gone mad!

Originally Posted by candidrachel

Yeah I know! What kill joys! I think that's a cute story but as usual they have bring "health and safety" into everything. Such a nanny state we're becoming. Did you read the "removing conkers off trees" story?? Well, in Nottingham the council requested that a certain said tree had to have all the conkers removed via somebody standing on a ladder just in case a conker fell on a passerby. Give me a break!

This made me laugh, I don't know what they would do out here in Asia.
It reminds me of my first "date" with my wife to be. There were 4 of us and we had just sat down outside the bar on the beach waiting to order drinks and I heard this incredibly loud thump. I looked over to see my friend looking extremely pale and shocked. When he gathered his senses he pointed down at the ground right next to him where a very large coconut had embedded itself in the sand. It had only missed him by a matter of inches and would no doubt have caused severe damage if not been fatal had it hit him.
Needless to say, I am always very wary when sitting near coconut trees these days. But I honestly don't think a conker would worry me too much, I had enough of cuts and bruises on my hands from "missed" shots when playing with them when we were kids.

[Henry Wilt]

Originally Posted by Mike367

Sorry, I don't speak English, only American. What are conkers? I'm guessing pine cones, but would like a native speaker to define the term.

Sorry, I forgot to answer this in my other post. It's a horse-chestnut and kids in the UK drill a whole through it and put a piece of string through the hole and tie a knot in the end. It is then dangled on the string by one person while the opponent uses there conker to try and smash it, taking turns of course. (If you were a cheat you could try tricks like soaking your conker in vinegar or something beforehand to try and make it harder, not that I would ever have done anything like that ) The winning conker then becomes a one-er on it's first victory then a two-er on the second victory, three-er and so on until it is beaten.
As I intimated in the previous post, it can be quite painful if your opponent misses the conker and gets your hand.