Knobkerrie.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

It's the long awaited knobkerrie blip.

This is my - now not so - secret weapon, it lives under my bed, a beautifully hand carved piece of wood from deepest Africa, given to me by a great friend who thinks I may need to protect myself.

It fits perfectly in the hand, with a slight widening at the end, so it doesn't slip through the fingers. Balanced, to make it easy to wield , it really is a weapon!
Here it is displayed on my French, hand embroidered, vintage bed cover. A very cherished item.

"And the batteries?" I hear you ask. Well they were brought to mind by Jane W, who thought the knobkerrie may have a different use.

The first Christmas I was on my own I decided to invite a couple of the 'Bitch Pack' to stay.
It was a tricky combination with one who never stopped talking and the other hell bent on drowning her sorrows.

On Christmas day morning we went to visit a much younger friend who had recently had a baby, to exchange gifts.
Now, I am of a generation, social class, or group of women that has never talked much about the graphic details of personal needs, whereas my younger friend is very open about anything and everything.

A short while previously, we had had a conversation about how we addressed those needs, both being partnerless. She admitted to having a selection of interesting toys, and I had to confess to a total lack of them.

Sitting in her living room on that Christmas morning, I saw the gilt in her eye as she passed a beautifully wrapped gift from the pile under the tree to me...
"Thank you very much, I'll keep it for later." I said.
"No, no open it now... "
I just knew what it was going to be, and it was!

I don't often blush, but in front of two of my longest standing friends.... !!!

I've just noticed, and it is a total coincidence, that this is blip number 69.

Have a fun evening, I'm off out for a catch-up drink with Marge, so there will, without doubt, be stories to tell tomorrow.