My wife bought a couple of coconuts, recently, and I was reminded of my time in the south Pacific region during the UK nuclear testing programme in the fifties. It might not be obvious to those who have only seen coconuts as they are presented in greengrocers or at fairgrounds (above) - but the rough-skinned item in which the milk is contained is actually cultivated (or grown) inside a smoother outer shell about the same size and shape as a rugby ball - as shown in the picture (below).........
......and, what is especially interesting about them is that some of us on Christmas Island used to paint the name and address of a loved one onto the outer skin, attach a postage stamp, and take the coconut to the British Forces Post Office in the same way one would in order to send a parcel and, in a couple of weeks time, a rather intrigued postman in the UK would deliver it to the aforementioned friend or relative.
