Shattered now after a busy day. Dragged Dave off to the market in the park for breakfast but irritatingly, most of the stalls were still setting up or having trouble with their card machines or something. So settled for vegan hot dogs which we've had before, so not all that exciting.
And sadly after months of inactivity, I intercepted a call from the downstairs landlord at the flat with reports of a leak - he wasn't yet sure if it was his flat so could I check with my tenants. And of course it was our flat - from talking to the tenants and looking at their pics, it looked like the toilet ballcock had failed. Plumber couldn't get there till tomorrow, but in the end the tenants managed to fix what had come loose. Will still get plumber to check it.
Got the bus to Ilford to check out the old lady shoe shops there but didn't find anything - although picked up some light Skechers trainers in TKMaxx. A trek across town after to the old lady shoe shop in Finchley where I'd successfully found boots last winter. And managed to find a pair of sandals and some silver Ecco lace-ups.
Relieved after all the leak angst and trekking across town I had a cup of tea and a halloumi sandwich in a cafe before bussing and tubing home. Checked in to our Ryanair flights - and purchases the priority with 2 bags for me. Thought I had done that when I booked, but obviously not. Dave will have to wait in the non-priority queue.
3 good things
1. The flat leak was easy to sort - let's hope it didn't do too much damage downstairs and in the café.
2. Independent shops - the Finchley old lady shoe shop is a glorious remnant from the past: walls lined with shoe boxes and the only real display in the windows. And the assistant went off in search of other options once she'd worked out what I liked. Real service.
3. German shoe brands catering for wide feet.
Love your expression .’old lady shoes’. You mean Hotter? 🤣🤣. Eco of course too…..I had a b&b guy who always wore Hotter shoes & swore by them. I always used to say to him ‘over my dead body’ now I have two pairs of Hotter shoes!
Very nice look down that train track,…..
@happypat - ha ha there actually isn't a Hotter near me. The shops in Ilford are Pavers and Shuropody. But the one in Finchley is an independent stocking Ecco, Josef Siebel, Ara and things of that ilk.
@happypat I bought a pair of hotter boots last year online, I'd never heard of them so was blissfully unaware of their label.. Telling my partner about them and how comfortable when they arrived, he then took the mick out of me. I don't care, they are like wearing slippers!!
@blightygal totally with you. In fact as my feet are so wide, I've never been able to wear stylish shoes! Luckily when that mattered to me, DMs and clumpy bovver boots were all the rage!
I love all those brands. Nothing like having comfy feet! Hope you weren't waiting too long for the train. Striking drivers and all that! Where are you off to with the glorious Ryan Air?
The man in the shot add a great dimension to the shot. Nicely done! (I also have tough shoe searches, but my feet are narrow. I covet so many shoes I can’t keep on my feet!)
@blightygal You’re right they are & not all of them look like granny shoes…..you have to be selective! My husband bought a pair of Gortex Hotter walking shoes in Edinburgh & he says they are the most comfortable shoes he ever wore. We used to have a shop not far away but it’s closed down sadly! Glad you have discovered them too!
Great capture, I can feel the anticipation. Yes I agree about German shoes and wide feet. I finally managed to buy a pair of comfortable trainers this year in Germany. I can wear them all day and they still don't hurt!
Very nice look down that train track,…..
I’m way past the age where I would choose style over comfort!