by Indy Lawyer
Cures for everything from nettle stings to burst knicker elastics
I TREASURED that toaty wee uniform, the yellow tie with silver trefoil badge conferred upon me as I became a Brownie at the age of 7. Its pockets would store a pencil, a notebook, a handy piece of string to conquer all life’s emergencies and a handbook of omnipotent motoes and cures for everything from nettle stings to burst knicker elastics and the means by which to divert angry bulls when traversing unknown fields in foreign territory. By God, Lara Croft would have nothing on me. Character building, being a Brownie, learning strategies and plans to ensure fulfilment in later adult life of course.
So. Here we are. 48 years later. There have been badges, hospital corners, challenges and, always, knots. Reef knots particularly, invariably a handy one. And hitch knots, alpine knots, loop knots, fisherman’s knots, helpful, knacky things, knots. You can never predict when your knot tying knowledge may be required. Knots get you out of tight spots.