(spinning) broken hook on my drop spindle! :(

[sharmelon.livejournal.com]

uuurg. /sad
the hook on my (bottom-whorl) drop spindle broke off, and now i am so uncoordinated. i make the half-hitch, but it just slips off while i'm spinning and my spindle drops to the ground. how can i make sure my half-hitch is secure before i continue spinning?

and also, would it be easier to just turn my spindle around and use it as a top-whorl instead without the hook, or should i continue using it as a bottom-whorl?