The message
from "Soup" contains these words:

I didn't say ban Holly I just said be careful of it.
Holly may well be "easy" to look after but the person who had this
house before us was an old widower who had no interest in his garden,
talking to the other next door neighbour she said the hedge was
planted by the original tenants wife to spite the local children
(grown up with children of there own now)
Must admit to being biased as having two kids of my own I was
continually scared of them falling/being pushed into this 'hedge' and
scratching
themselves or poking eyes out, and the leaves didn't seem to biodegrade
when off the parent plant, just lay wherever they had been blown 'jagging'
the unwary.
Had lots of scrapes/cuts/bruises as a child seemed to hurt myself
a million ways, wouldn't ban these things just because they might
be dangerous, however I see no percentage in deliberately courting danger,
by planting one of these things.
NOTE this minor rant isn't against Holly per se but putting in plants with
no regard for what they will grow into or how they will grow if untended.

When I was at boarding school aged about nine, there was a holly hedge
just under our dormitory window.

It was de rigeur (from time to time) to leap out of the window dressed
only in pyjamas and land in the hedge on one's back.

The first time I did it I was surprised to find how little the prickles
penetrated. And, before someone chips in with the observation that the
higher leaves of holly don't have so many prickles, the hedge grew on a
bank and the dormitory was on a first floor mezzanine level, so it was
just as prickly on top as low down.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Nick Maclaren wrote:

In article ,
Soup wrote:

I didn't say ban Holly I just said be careful of it.
Holly may well be "easy" to look after but the person who had this
house before us was an old widower who had no interest in his garden,
talking to the other next door neighbour she said the hedge was
planted by the original tenants wife to spite the local children
(grown up with children of there own now)
Must admit to being biased as having two kids of my own I was
continually scared of them falling/being pushed into this 'hedge' and
scratching
themselves or poking eyes out, and the leaves didn't seem to biodegrade
when off the parent plant, just lay wherever they had been blown 'jagging'
the unwary.
Had lots of scrapes/cuts/bruises as a child seemed to hurt myself
a million ways, wouldn't ban these things just because they might
be dangerous, however I see no percentage in deliberately courting danger,
by planting one of these things.
NOTE this minor rant isn't against Holly per se but putting in plants with
no regard for what they will grow into or how they will grow if untended.

Holly is actually LESS likely to take eyes out than apparently 'safer'
plants. The reason is that it is the dead or sharp twigs that are
the danger and not prickles. Children should be encouraged to fall
into nettlebeds and holly hedges, regularly, to teach them that not
everything is cuddly. Don't let them learn on pyracantha or many
berberis, or they might well lose an eye.

Chillis are also good for teaching children not to eat unidentified
berries. Every garden should have a pot of those nice, brightly
coloured things to attract determinedly disobedient toddlers into
a safe and effective learning experience :-)
But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

guide to a well behaved parrot
Guide to companion parrot behaviour
My Parrot My Friend.

Nick Maclaren wrote:

In article ,
Soup wrote:

I didn't say ban Holly I just said be careful of it.
Holly may well be "easy" to look after but the person who had this
house before us was an old widower who had no interest in his garden,
talking to the other next door neighbour she said the hedge was
planted by the original tenants wife to spite the local children
(grown up with children of there own now)
Must admit to being biased as having two kids of my own I was
continually scared of them falling/being pushed into this 'hedge' and
scratching
themselves or poking eyes out, and the leaves didn't seem to biodegrade
when off the parent plant, just lay wherever they had been blown 'jagging'
the unwary.
Had lots of scrapes/cuts/bruises as a child seemed to hurt myself
a million ways, wouldn't ban these things just because they might
be dangerous, however I see no percentage in deliberately courting danger,
by planting one of these things.
NOTE this minor rant isn't against Holly per se but putting in plants with
no regard for what they will grow into or how they will grow if untended.

Holly is actually LESS likely to take eyes out than apparently 'safer'
plants. The reason is that it is the dead or sharp twigs that are
the danger and not prickles. Children should be encouraged to fall
into nettlebeds and holly hedges, regularly, to teach them that not
everything is cuddly. Don't let them learn on pyracantha or many
berberis, or they might well lose an eye.

Chillis are also good for teaching children not to eat unidentified
berries. Every garden should have a pot of those nice, brightly
coloured things to attract determinedly disobedient toddlers into
a safe and effective learning experience :-)
But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

guide to a well behaved parrot
Guide to companion parrot behaviour
My Parrot My Friend.

Nick Maclaren wrote:

In article ,
Soup wrote:

I didn't say ban Holly I just said be careful of it.
Holly may well be "easy" to look after but the person who had this
house before us was an old widower who had no interest in his garden,
talking to the other next door neighbour she said the hedge was
planted by the original tenants wife to spite the local children
(grown up with children of there own now)
Must admit to being biased as having two kids of my own I was
continually scared of them falling/being pushed into this 'hedge' and
scratching
themselves or poking eyes out, and the leaves didn't seem to biodegrade
when off the parent plant, just lay wherever they had been blown 'jagging'
the unwary.
Had lots of scrapes/cuts/bruises as a child seemed to hurt myself
a million ways, wouldn't ban these things just because they might
be dangerous, however I see no percentage in deliberately courting danger,
by planting one of these things.
NOTE this minor rant isn't against Holly per se but putting in plants with
no regard for what they will grow into or how they will grow if untended.

Holly is actually LESS likely to take eyes out than apparently 'safer'
plants. The reason is that it is the dead or sharp twigs that are
the danger and not prickles. Children should be encouraged to fall
into nettlebeds and holly hedges, regularly, to teach them that not
everything is cuddly. Don't let them learn on pyracantha or many
berberis, or they might well lose an eye.

Chillis are also good for teaching children not to eat unidentified
berries. Every garden should have a pot of those nice, brightly
coloured things to attract determinedly disobedient toddlers into
a safe and effective learning experience :-)
But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

guide to a well behaved parrot
Guide to companion parrot behaviour
My Parrot My Friend.

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 18:05:02 GMT, older molly
wrote:


But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

Don't fool yourself

"Two men and a 12-year-old boy made a 999 call from a mobile phone
when they found themselves in dangerous conditions in severe gale
force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends."

and
"A SCARBOROUGH school was a "scene of devastation" after
vandals smashed windows in eight classrooms and set fire to a storage
shed.
About 100 pupils had to be sent home from Hinderwell yesterday and it
took a team of cleaners and teachers most of the day to clear up the
shards of glass scattered in classrooms and hall.
It is the latest in a string of attacks at the school and headteacher
Philip Snowdon said it was one of the most devastating.
Today Mr Snowdon said that security camera footage from CCTV cameras
had identified two Hinderwell School pupils and two older boys as the
culprits."

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 18:05:02 GMT, older molly
wrote:


But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

Don't fool yourself

"Two men and a 12-year-old boy made a 999 call from a mobile phone
when they found themselves in dangerous conditions in severe gale
force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends."

and
"A SCARBOROUGH school was a "scene of devastation" after
vandals smashed windows in eight classrooms and set fire to a storage
shed.
About 100 pupils had to be sent home from Hinderwell yesterday and it
took a team of cleaners and teachers most of the day to clear up the
shards of glass scattered in classrooms and hall.
It is the latest in a string of attacks at the school and headteacher
Philip Snowdon said it was one of the most devastating.
Today Mr Snowdon said that security camera footage from CCTV cameras
had identified two Hinderwell School pupils and two older boys as the
culprits."

In article ,
martin wrote:

"Two men and a 12-year-old boy made a 999 call from a mobile phone
when they found themselves in dangerous conditions in severe gale
force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends."

I am trying to imagine what circumstances would create safe conditions
in force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 18:05:02 GMT, older molly
wrote:


But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

Don't fool yourself

"Two men and a 12-year-old boy made a 999 call from a mobile phone
when they found themselves in dangerous conditions in severe gale
force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends."

and
"A SCARBOROUGH school was a "scene of devastation" after
vandals smashed windows in eight classrooms and set fire to a storage
shed.
About 100 pupils had to be sent home from Hinderwell yesterday and it
took a team of cleaners and teachers most of the day to clear up the
shards of glass scattered in classrooms and hall.
It is the latest in a string of attacks at the school and headteacher
Philip Snowdon said it was one of the most devastating.
Today Mr Snowdon said that security camera footage from CCTV cameras
had identified two Hinderwell School pupils and two older boys as the
culprits."

In article ,
martin wrote:

"Two men and a 12-year-old boy made a 999 call from a mobile phone
when they found themselves in dangerous conditions in severe gale
force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends."

I am trying to imagine what circumstances would create safe conditions
in force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 18:05:02 GMT, older molly
wrote:


But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

Don't fool yourself

"Two men and a 12-year-old boy made a 999 call from a mobile phone
when they found themselves in dangerous conditions in severe gale
force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends."

and
"A SCARBOROUGH school was a "scene of devastation" after
vandals smashed windows in eight classrooms and set fire to a storage
shed.
About 100 pupils had to be sent home from Hinderwell yesterday and it
took a team of cleaners and teachers most of the day to clear up the
shards of glass scattered in classrooms and hall.
It is the latest in a string of attacks at the school and headteacher
Philip Snowdon said it was one of the most devastating.
Today Mr Snowdon said that security camera footage from CCTV cameras
had identified two Hinderwell School pupils and two older boys as the
culprits."

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 18:05:02 GMT, older molly
wrote:


But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

Don't fool yourself

"Two men and a 12-year-old boy made a 999 call from a mobile phone
when they found themselves in dangerous conditions in severe gale
force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends."

and
"A SCARBOROUGH school was a "scene of devastation" after
vandals smashed windows in eight classrooms and set fire to a storage
shed.
About 100 pupils had to be sent home from Hinderwell yesterday and it
took a team of cleaners and teachers most of the day to clear up the
shards of glass scattered in classrooms and hall.
It is the latest in a string of attacks at the school and headteacher
Philip Snowdon said it was one of the most devastating.
Today Mr Snowdon said that security camera footage from CCTV cameras
had identified two Hinderwell School pupils and two older boys as the
culprits."

In article ,
martin wrote:

"Two men and a 12-year-old boy made a 999 call from a mobile phone
when they found themselves in dangerous conditions in severe gale
force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends."

I am trying to imagine what circumstances would create safe conditions
in force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article ,
martin wrote:

"Two men and a 12-year-old boy made a 999 call from a mobile phone
when they found themselves in dangerous conditions in severe gale
force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends."

I am trying to imagine what circumstances would create safe conditions
in force nine winds a quarter of a mile off Whitby's pier ends.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

The message
from older molly contains these words:
Nick Maclaren wrote:

Holly is actually LESS likely to take eyes out than apparently 'safer'
plants. The reason is that it is the dead or sharp twigs that are
the danger and not prickles. Children should be encouraged to fall
into nettlebeds and holly hedges, regularly, to teach them that not
everything is cuddly. Don't let them learn on pyracantha or many
berberis, or they might well lose an eye.

Chillis are also good for teaching children not to eat unidentified
berries. Every garden should have a pot of those nice, brightly
coloured things to attract determinedly disobedient toddlers into
a safe and effective learning experience :-)

But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

Crossposted to The Shed as Gooeybait......

........though I know what you mean.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

The message
from older molly contains these words:
Nick Maclaren wrote:

Holly is actually LESS likely to take eyes out than apparently 'safer'
plants. The reason is that it is the dead or sharp twigs that are
the danger and not prickles. Children should be encouraged to fall
into nettlebeds and holly hedges, regularly, to teach them that not
everything is cuddly. Don't let them learn on pyracantha or many
berberis, or they might well lose an eye.

Chillis are also good for teaching children not to eat unidentified
berries. Every garden should have a pot of those nice, brightly
coloured things to attract determinedly disobedient toddlers into
a safe and effective learning experience :-)

But you don't understand. Today's children are not tough and hardy as
we were. They are delicate things to be mollycoddled, and pampered, not
allowed to climb trees or play near dangerous holly, or collect nasty
dangerous conkers or walk to school in all weathers like we did.Poor
little sods, they are missing a lot of fun.

Crossposted to The Shed as Gooeybait......

........though I know what you mean.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/