When you think of all the things in today's society of 'health and safety' and the 'nanny state' that we are prevented from participating in, playing conkers is the first thing that comes to mind, it makes some of the things we are still allowed to do, astounding.  Fireworks.  I can't believe that the public are still allowed to buy them.  The annoyance of them going off 1 week either side of Bonfire Night aside, how many more accidents have to happen?  Is it a case of it being ok because you have to be over 18 to purchase them.  Oh yes, us adults, we are born with an instinctive ability to know how to safely handle fireworks.  A vivid memory of some friends in their early twenties over from Greece, participating in the festivities, thinking the way to handle a rocket, was to hold it, light it, then wait.  I kid you not!  Rugby.  Why is this sport still allowed in schools.  I know one can argue that it is a controlled sport but so is cage fighting and boxing and we wouldn't be particularly happy about those being introduced into the national curriculum.  And to those who say that children playing rough sports is character building, I'm quite happy with childrens characters already, thank you very much.