Walking Trippy

Now to one of my favourite indoor game. Maybe its a favourite because I invented it with my dear lamented brother Eustace.
The game is for two persons. Each walks towards one another at a reasonable strolling pace and in a direction so that you would pass each other quite closely. The aim is to trip the other person up as you pass. No use of the hand or arm is allowed and one mustn't break one's step. It's a terrific game requiring large amounts of ankle and foot dexterity alongside feline-like balance.
You gain 1 point if you make your opponent stumble and 2 points for a fall.
Simply pick yourself up and turn around to play again.
Additional fun can be had by scattering objects around the floor that may hurt if fallen upon.

strange games. no:8...category: games for a rainy day

Surface Dives

I first played surface dives at Basil deMontegue's party in Mayfair last summer. It's a game of never-ending delight and always elicits jollity.
Place an open magazine (the Tatler works well) upright on the floor. Competitors then take turns to balance on one leg and pick the magazine up using only their teeth. No other limb must touch the floor or the magazine.
For the more macho party members, especially those full of braggadocio, try the game using a telephone directory.

Addendum (22/8/06) My brother Eustace reminds me of the Surface Dives variation he played in his youth. Instead of a magazine an empty cereal box is used. Players take turns to 'dive' and if they fail they drop out of the game. If successful then a strip is torn off the box and discarded. The game continues (the box becoming smaller and smaller) with the last person to successfully dive being declared the winner.


strange games. no:6 ...category : childrens parties

Hands on knees

This game is utterly foolish but can lead to shouts of laughter. Youngsters especially love it. Everyone sits in a circle on chairs, their hands palm down on their knees. The competitor in the middle of the circle must try to slap one of the hands of the sitters. If he attempts a strike they can quickly remove their hands to the side thereby avoiding the slap on the back of the hand. But, they must return their hands to their knees once the danger has passed. The competitor changes places with the 'slapped' once succesful. The pleasure in this game is not knowing where the 'slapper' will strike next. Guaranteed squeals of delight.
Play at adult parties - but try using some sort of stick as a beating device


strange games no: 5 ... category: childrens parties

Hunt the Feather

If you don't playthis game on a regular basis - well, you must be barmy. Six or more partygoers sit down around a sheet. They each hold the edges to make the sheet taught. A light feather is paced in the middle. One person remains standing outside the group and his aim is to run around the outside and try and grab the feather.The sitters blow the feather to keep it away from the hunter. If he grabs it then he changes place with the nearest sitter. Hours and hours of fun.
Remember that if you are a heavy smoker you may find this game stressful.

strange games no:4 ...category: childrens parties

Lemon Golf

One of my absolutely favourite party games - Lemon Golf. This fantastic game is played with walking sticks and lemons. Simply chalk a course on the floor with circles for holes- or use cardboard cut out circles and see how many shots it takes you to get round. Even the most experienced golfer (say Ralph Guldahl ) will struggle with this game. Novices have just as much chance of winning. Guaranteed hilarity. Obviously all golfing variations are possible - except you are using lemons.
At the end of the game use the lemons to make a smashing Gin and Tonic for the adults. For the kids - well, you could always play Who Can Eat a Whole Lemon?

strange games no:3 ...category: childrens parties

Counting Out Rhymes: No 1

Like you, probably, I love listening to counting out rhymes. The audacious use of cadence, rhyme and onomatopoeia. Obviously 'Eeny Meeny' is both tame and demode. But, here is a modern one I have collected that I quite like. It's use, like most counting rhymes is to designate the person who is eliminated from being 'it'. Continue chanting until only one is left: "It". If only adult choices could be made in an analogous way.

Ip : dip : doo : dah : cat : got : the : flu : dah
dog : got : the : chicken : pox
out : goes : you

Quite acceptable, but see how it suffers compared to one from my own childhood.

Eena : deena : dine-a : dust
Cat'll-a : weena : wine-a : wust
Spin : spon : must : be : done
twiddlum : twadlum : twenty-one
O : U : T : spells : out


strange games no: 2 ...category : chants

Hat Dance

A perennial party favourite. Easy to play but it always has everyone howling with lupine -like-laughter. Especially the onlookers.Two people wear dunces hats. Each tries to knock off the other persons hat first. Simple. For adults, create extra spice with the addition of a stick each.

strange games no: 1 ...category : childrens parties