Multi-purpose Tool

Retrieving cat toys from under the couch.

I struggled to come to terms with the idea that a walking stick would be helpful.  But now I have one and have been using it for a while, I've found it's got endless purposes.

So far I've used it for:

• extra balance when I have the clumsies
• leaning on when my hips hurt and don't want to hold me up
• pointing at things I want my son to get down from shelves in the supermarket
• threatening my son: "you may be bigger than me, but I'm carrying a big stick"
• my son used it to get a neighbour's toy helicopter from the roof
• as an explanation: when I have the stick no-one looks at me strangely when I ask if there's a lift to use instead of stairs
• to get down a bucket from the top shelf at a shop
• to push the cat out from under my feet when I have my hands full
• my son tells me it will be of great use if I'm ever caught in a street fight
• for a slightly better chance at a seat on public transport
• to intimidate small children (as in the mother of the kids I babysit said: "You behave for Mrs Iris or she's allowed to use her stick." I probably should explain that the kids did know it was a joke.)