My keys

What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

A simple thing

But I have my keys

Close by..

If I lose them I panic

I’m stuck without them

Don’t know where

There’s any spare!

Sometimes they go

Where? I don’t know..

Under the clock?

My mind mocks me?

Why can’t I see?

So I keep them safe

Those special

Keys to my heart.

My keys

What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

I can do without my phone, but I need to get into my house, my car, my shed, my garden gate.

I’ve only ever been locked out a couple of times, the first when I was a child, in that case it was my mum that had slammed the front door shut (it had a yale lock), only to remember she had left the keys inside. I was fairly small and a bit of an athlete so I ended up climbing in through the downstairs toilet window. I managed to let us all in.

The other time I was sharing a house, I left my keys somewhere else and only realised when I was outside the front door. That ended with me sitting on the front doorstep for a couple of hours.

Now I’ve told you I’ve probably jinxed myself to do it again. Luckily I have the number of a locksmith on my phone (which I don’t always keep with me!)

It depends

What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

Not this!

Yet again I have to be equivocal about this question. I mean I’m not deliberately being ambiguous, but there could be many answers depending on the person, their age, sex, health and the place they are at.

1. Fresh water /food

If you are alone and outside away from people, for instance on a walk it’s a good idea to take supplies. I imagine I won’t be far from transport, but what happens if you get lost?

2. Spare clothes/groundsheet

If you are out and about and lost you might not be able to find shelter if the weather deteriorates or it gets dark. You might have to stay put, so having extra clothes and something to make into a shelter could save you from exposure. We went camping one Easter and I had to wear two pairs of trousers and three jumpers because of the cold!

3. A map

Learn to read maps, if your phone goes flat and you can’t charge it how do you find your location?

4. Medication?

Even if you don’t expect to be out all day and night it’s better to be prepared. The older you are the more likely you are to need medicine. Don’t ignore it, and if necessary take out travel insurance.

5. Car keys?

Yes if I take the car with me, and house keys.

6. Medical alert.

If you take some medications then you need to take warning notifications with you. Similarly if you are allergic to food colourings, bee and wasp stings, or antibiotics it’s worth letting people know!

7. A sketchpad and something to draw with.

I’m an artist, what did you expect me to say?