Does anyone else have a secret stash? Running away money we call it. Mine is in an old  Bisto Tin. My ma gave it to me before I got married. ‘But a few bob in there whenever you can. You never know the day or the hour you might need to get out Bernie’ she said to me.’And don’t tell him about it’ she said.’Why would I need to run away ma?’ ‘You never know what the future holds Bernie’ she said, ‘there’s many a woman who needed to get out of a bad marriage and couldn’t because her husband held the purse strings. Don’t ever get into that situation’. I knew I’d never need it, but after all these years, I still have my Bisto tin. But as for keeping it a secret, well I can’t hide much from my Jimmy. He came home one night and handed me a hundred euro.

• What’s that for Jimmy?
• Its for you. I got an extra few bob for selling some scrap metal.
• So what will I do with it?
• Do what you like. Buy yourself a new pair of shoes or something.
• Thanks hon.
• …or put it in that aul tin of yours.
• What tin?
• The one in your knicker drawer. Your Bisto tin.
• Oh right, me savings box.
• Your running away money.
• Pardon? That’s me savings for the holidays.
• Really? You never said you were saving for a holiday.
• It was a surprise.
• Some surprise, you’ve had it for the past twenty five years Bernie. Where are we going? The Bahamas? A world cruise?
• There’s not that much in it.
• I don’t imagine there is, sure haven’t you been dipping into it for years for presents and stuff for the kids.
• How long have you known?
• I’ve always known Bernie.
• Why didn’t you say anything?
• Nothing to say Bernie. Sure doesn’t every woman in Dublin have her running away money? Even me ma.
• Lily had a Bisto tin?
• No, she kept hers in an old handbag.
• Did your da know?
• Yeah, I think he put the odd few bob into it as well.
• Was he trying to get her to run away quicker then?
• Now, now, Bernie, I know you don’t get on with me ma but me da loved her, he knew she spent it all on us.
• So are you trying to get rid of me then?
• What do you mean?
• You just gave me a hundred quid towards me running away fund.
• You’re still here after twenty five years Bernie. If you were going anywhere, you’d be long gone by now.
• True.
• Go buy yourself a new pair of shoes, not runners but.
• High heels it is then.

You can hide nothing from that fella…but hey, I forgot to ask him what he was doing in my knicker drawer…hmmmmm  🙂