Hoping adults not as daft as they used to be

The ideas they used to put into children's heads.

I remember being told some silly things when I was small, and one scared the pants of me.

I still think about the warnings which came via parents, grans and even teachers.

They included a caution about not pulling a face or sulking because it would stick in the wind, not killing earth worms because it would rain and advice to eat up bread crusts to make your hair curl.

But the piece de resistance for me was not to swallow any pips or a tree will grow inside you.

That really frightened me -- and to this day I still avoid fruit with pips in.

Have you any such bygone tales of terror which we can share?