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Hi, Rusty!
Goodness, can you really buy hatpins on ebay?
I would have thought that they went out with the ark!
However......I am not going to purchase a hatpin for the sole purpose of possibly being close enough to a terrorist to stick a pin in him!
I should think I would have been slashed by his knife, before my pin prick achieved anything!
Now....I am changing the subject from self- defence!
Mel B - aka Melanie Brown - was "Scary Spice" in the Spice Girls pop group!
As opposed to Mel C - aka Melanie Chisholm - who was also in the group, and known as "Sporty Spice".
I liked the Spice Girls!
Speaking of ventriloquists........do you remember Peter Brough and Archie Andrews?
Why ever have a "ventriloquist" act on the radio?!
I always wondered about that!

Good morning, Elle!
A bit wet here!
Ah, yes.
Mel B was a Spice Girl.
I remember now.
The British Talent judges are better, I think.
I remember Peter Brough on the wireless, yes.
There were some good programmes then.
"My" plane has landed at Glasgow a few minutes ago.

You certainly can buy hatpins on eBay, elle, they are collecetd and there are some beautiful antique ones around. I have one of my grandmother's with a beautiful opal at the end. However, I will not be attempting to stick it in anyone! Even if one could, I should think the only target which would be effective would be the eye. As if.

A pepper spray would be much better, were they not illegal.

Good morning , Rusty!
You were certainly up and about early, Rusty!
I am glad that your son and his wife are back home safe and sound!
Fell dreich here!
It was somewhat miserable out - a strong wind and heavy rain.
Definitely a wellies and raincoat day!
But I couldn't find my waterproof (over) trousers.....goodness knows where I last put them!
I shall have to hunt......
I think it's a day for watching the tennis....reading my book......and beginning this day of decadence with a coffee, an apple and the crosswords!
How about you?
How shall you spend your day?



Hello, Ros!
Buying hat pins is definitely not on my agenda - but, as you say, some sort of spray sounds a good option as a defence tool?
I wonder just what would be considered legal?
Presumably something that one might naturally have about one's person?
Maybe a hairspray?
Not that I use one...but it sounds a viable proposition.

Hello, Elle!
Very rainy here.
Yes, my son and wife are home.
They made good time from Glasgow.
When you find your waterproofs you could visit the hat pin shop?
And lots of pepper sprays on eBay.
I have finished my puzzle but the setter and me are on different wavelengths today.
One is to do with a Cockney and I am lost with it, although I am fairly sure I have the right answer.
The other one he may alluding to an Americanism but I am not at all sure!
I am going out for a wander later.
I like walking in the rain.
"Just Walking in the Rain" was a popular song many years ago.
I forget who sung it, though.

Real pepper sprays themselves are not legal in the UK, rusty. The police have them but they are classed as offensive weapons. The advertised products produce a nasty smell and a dye. Some cover the face with a red gel, the colour can't be washed off for a while.

Hello, Rosalind!
I just saw lots of different ones on eBay.
I did not know they were illegal.
Maybe Elle should stick to hat pins!

Hi, Rusty!
Now I was simply reporting what I had read on the News yesterday ...not planning an aggressive campaign (with a hat pin) single -handed!
I think you are only allowed to use (in your defence) something that you would be carrying with you under normal circumstances.
For example, out on the street, you could hit an assailant with your umbrella...but not with a fireside poker! ( it being infeasible for you to carry a poker about with you! )
Or you could use a hairspray (which you could perhaps justifiably have in your bag) for instance , but not a pepper spray because that is illegal in the UK.
(But I think we should change the subject before Norah thinks we are promoting violence!)
I have only done a part of today's 15 x15 so far - it is much harder than yesterday's ?
But the clue to which you allude is
21a: "ayah" = Indian governness (def)
"ayah" sounds like " 'iyah " A Cockney saying "Hiyah"!
( Shame on you, Mr R!
A cockneyism and a homophone in the same clue!)
"Just walking in the Rain" was sung by Johnny "Cry" Ray?
Mind you, it wouldn't be "walking" in the rain here........it would be "plodging" through a deluge!

Hello, Elle!
I just have my keys and wallet with me when I am out so they would be little help if I was attacked!
I went for "ayah" rather than "amah", but I do not understand "hiyah" or "iyah"?
Am I thick or what is going on?
You know, Elle, if I had to guess who sung "Walking in the Rain", I'd have gone for Pat Boone!
But I'd say you are correct with Johnny Ray!
That's a blast from the past!

Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear!
Just briefly pursuing this question of defence again....(Sorry, Norah! although this is a good point to know)....... a police woman friend of mine once told me that one of the best forms of defence if attacked "close to" is a bunch of keys (most folk carry one or two or more keys)
Apparently, you go for the eyes.........
So you see , Rusty, you could , if necessary, "defend" yourself with a "natural" weapon?
"Hiyah " is used - perhaps more up North - as a contraction of "How are you?" (meaning "Hello; Good day)
Although if you try Googling it, you will get all sorts of strange explanations!
A Cockney would simply drop the "h" giving " 'iyah" which is pronounced like "ayah"
Is that any better?