(no subject)

There are few things in life as immediately unforgiving, and as relentlessly vindictive as a new pair of shoes. Especially when they are pressed into more or less immediate service.

Since my last pair of boots disintegrated at GD, I have been reduced to wearing an old pair of desert boots which are now beginning to wear out - they're OK if it's dry, but in the wet... I do of course have my pair of cowboy ankle boots which are in full working order, and they glare at me balefully in all their toe crushing glory. These days, though, I find that I prefer to wear shoes with room for toes rather than having to cram toes in.

And so yesterday I purchased a new pair of Chelsea boots. The size 10s were very tight; exceptionally so, in fact so I bought the size 11s (which the assistant broadcast around the shop: Here are the SIZE ELEVENS, SIR. Why she thought this was remarkable or funny beats me. I am not a small bloke.

Anyway, these seemed fine and did so this morning, too. Right now, though, at the end of the day, my instep is a little raw and I think I should soak then old plates in salty water to toughen them up a bit. Maybe tomorrow I shall go back to the desert boots and try the new ones again on Friday.

Be nice to the boots and they will be nice back.

I hope.

(no subject)

There are few things in life as immediately unforgiving, and as relentlessly vindictive as a new pair of shoes. Especially when they are pressed into more or less immediate service.

Since my last pair of boots disintegrated at GD, I have been reduced to wearing an old pair of desert boots which are now beginning to wear out - they're OK if it's dry, but in the wet... I do of course have my pair of cowboy ankle boots which are in full working order, and they glare at me balefully in all their toe crushing glory. These days, though, I find that I prefer to wear shoes with room for toes rather than having to cram toes in.

And so yesterday I purchased a new pair of Chelsea boots. The size 10s were very tight; exceptionally so, in fact so I bought the size 11s (which the assistant broadcast around the shop: Here are the SIZE ELEVENS, SIR. Why she thought this was remarkable or funny beats me. I am not a small bloke.

Anyway, these seemed fine and did so this morning, too. Right now, though, at the end of the day, my instep is a little raw and I think I should soak then old plates in salty water to toughen them up a bit. Maybe tomorrow I shall go back to the desert boots and try the new ones again on Friday.

Be nice to the boots and they will be nice back.

I hope.