When I first started going out with Christine, and Nigel was very young, probably around 10,12 or so, he took me to the cricket pitch back of the house in Farmer Close.  There was a shortcut over the garden fence.  The land back there was overgrown and pretty messy.  Suddenly after 20 yards or so, out of the blue, he said to me, "You ain't afraid of snakes are you?"   Oh dear, indeed, I am totally and absolutely terrified of snakes.  I yelled that I was in imminent danger of dying. But instead of beating the bush  in front of us - like any good soldier would - to clear the route of millions of death dealing Adders (he assured me the place swarmed with ‘em), he left me standing in knee-high grass to make my own way, scared completely out of my wits.

Of course, he thought it was all "jolly good fun", and this "big city" boy was eventually received with great humour back at the house.  But I think he manufactured a Test, to see if I was brave enough to continue going out with his sister.  

I did not pass, as my scream was an octave too high for Nigel.   Err..... there were no Adders either.