Month: June 2020

It is over a year now since I started this blog. When I started writing my little snippits I didn’t know how it would go, or if it was worth it, or what on earth I would write about. My initial idea was that I would be able to use shoes to show people what I do, where I go, and to help show the positive side to the industry I work in.

I have always felt that I haven’t written much about shoes, I have loads about food, but not so much about shoes. This is the time for the shoe blog.

Writing this blog in particular has been an excuse for me to get all my shoes out of the cupboard and out from under the bed……it was all a bit of a shock for my husband, but it shouldn’t have been, he knows what he married, and I have a lot less pairs than I used to have. Granted, I have more expensive shoes than before (bargains obviously) but you only get one pair of feet, and buy cheap buy twice. I can say that with confidence, as I have bought a great many pair of shoes.

To me, shoes tell a story – the shoes you choose to wear for the day be able say where you are going, therefore by the end of the day they would have a story about where you have been. This may not be very interesting every day, but what about the evenings, the special occasions and the holidays?

I have a few pairs of shoes which are very dear to me (judge me, call me shallow, I am fine with that). The first pair that springs to mind are my Dan Post cowboy boots. These boots represent so much to me. I was awarded a travel scholarship by HCC in 2012 – travel to look at something within the red meat industry, and I chose to look at grading of lambs, in America. There are a couple of reasons these boots are special:

When I was awarded the scholarship, I went to tell my boyfriend – and realised that I really did like him because the thought of travelling to America for a couple of weeks without him, wasn’t something I wanted to do. He came with me and it was our first proper travel together, and it went well – two years later we got married!

On this trip, we met so many lovely people who gave up their time, one of these people was Randy Hammerstrom who worked for the USDA, was also a cowboy, and he took us out on farm and abattoir visits in Colorado and Wyoming. This was an awesome trip by the way! Randy was recently married and had a young son, and had a reasonable understanding of a woman’s love of shoes, or of the ‘happy wife happy life’ statement, so took me shoe shopping!

The boots I bought, are, to date to the most expensive shoes I have ever bought, they are made out of leather, sole and all, Dan Post boots – I have worn them less than a handful of times since returning but they still have a very special place in my heart. Maybe it isn’t the boots, but what they represent to me in memories, and a very special time in my life. I mean, shopping for cowboy boots, with a real life cowboy?!!

Following the superb trip we had to America, we have been fortunate enough to have a fair few good holidays together. What better souvenir than footwear?? I ‘collect’ Havaiana flip flops from different destinations, then when I wear them at home, I think ah – these were from California, or Hawaii where we spent some of our honeymoon. I just smile instantly as they all give such happy memories. I also find them very comfortable for a flip flop.

Speaking of honeymoon, my wedding shoes – also a pricey item but what is the point of getting all the details as you want them, and then not getting shoes you like. Loved my wedding shoes, and unlike the dress you can wear the shoes again – and I have done, which is why they aren’t as ivory as they were originally. I spent some time deciding on the shoes – quite possibly more time than I took choosing a dress (shoes always fit), and eventually decided upon a pair of silk and lace peep toes with additional flowers from Harriet Wilde. They are well worn now, and still have the dent of the lucky coin in the footbed. They were good shoes, they danced a lot that night (although didn’t improve my dance skills) and I kept them on all day – they were stylish and comfortable, so glad I had them for the most special day of my life.

These special shoes follow on to another happy day of celebrating when I got be a bridesmaid for my little sister (who married younger than me despite me being nearly 6 years older, yes, she is much more grown up than me). What a fantastic day she has married a fabulous young man and they make a brilliant couple, they now have 2 sons and that wedding day was a real start to it all for them – such a happy day, so proud of my little sister.

Hen night shoes – yes, I have bought new shoes especially for hen nights – it is all about the detail! My little sisters hen do in Chester, theme spots and dots – so I bought spotty shoes to go with my spotty dress. Funny story from the hen weekend. I had been responsible for giving the directions – and I had a phone call from one car to ask if there was a key for the house. I was a little puzzled by this as we were staying in a hotel. Wps, I had sent the postcode for the activity we were doing the following day, which had taken the one car to a house, where they were in the garden with a couple of beers waiting for others to arrive. Fortunately the owners of the house were out, and didn’t return before the girls left – I can only apologise! From that weekend on I was known as the postcode Queen.

A friend had a hen do in Pembrokeshire, for which I shopped on the way in Carmarthen and bought a dress and two pairs of shoes – that was a panic shop but every item has been worth buying in the end had a fantastic VIP night out and got to meet alot of her friends too – loved it!

I like a heel – I am on the shorter end of the scale, and a little stocky so a heel really helps with clothes and outfits. I have a couple of Ted Baker peep toes as go to shoes for occasions, one black and one nude. I only recently acquired a nude pair as previously I felt it was a lack of effort to just wear a nude shoe, but I had to give in and not worry about it any longer.

I love my Tommy Hilfiger red wedges, we were off to Ibiza for 5 nights, flying from Manchester, and stopped at Cheshire Oaks outlet on the way, I had a weak moment buying these but wore them on two brilliant nights out. First night out was the BBC Radio Children of the 80’s opening party night and the second was to see David Guetta – very different to our usual holidays but brilliant fun! Really got down with the kids :-).

As I get older, I tolerate a day long wear of a heel less, even more so in the summer, so I invested in a pair of black galaxy Birkenstock, fantastic – they really are comfortable and that pair in particular have proven to be very hardy. They have had a couple of nights out in Builth during the Royal Welsh show week, and came up as good as new – that is impressive.

Brands – now I don’t consider myself somebody who insists on a brand, but at the same time I do associate some brands with quality, and Fairfax and Favour come into this category – I was hesitant at the beginning, but tried some on, so comfy – and leather. Leather is a sustainable material, it is brilliant for shoes (or handbags, or jackets) and if I can buy leather, then I do. I have a long pair (they do a sporting fit for strong calves like mine) and a chelsea boot. Smart, comfy, and easy to clean.

Shop local – I don’t know if it is a good thing or not that a local boutique (Duet and Lan Lloft, Lampeter) but it is very handy as they are a stockist for Tamaris – a go to brand for comfort, especially good for work footwear and supporting our local high streets is even more important than ever if we wish to keep them. They also had some fabulous trainers by Maruti this year – my lockdown daps! Since I started writing this post, I bought a new pair of shoes – you know, for lockdown. A lovely pair of Tamaris tan sandals from Lan Lloft all ready to go when we finally get the go ahead to go out out again!

Outdoor selection

Another go to shoe, throughout my life, has been the wellington boot. I grew up on a sheep farm, and I now work in the meat industry, although not on a farm, I still get to go to farms (currently at home hoping Covid-19 will clear so we can go again some time – I miss sheep and I miss farmers too).

I like the Dunlop, I see the Chameaus of the world, but to me they just don’t represent sheep farming in Wales, so I am brand loyal to Dunlop! I have branched out to some Redback boots which I really like, very comfy instead of wellies and cooler in the summer.

Trainers – I have had a few pairs over the years, I am not a runner or anything but I have challenged myself to some things like the Cardiff Half Marathon – which I did once, and it is an experience I do not wish to repeat. I myself find it hard to believe that trainers have been my shoe of choice over lockdown. I have worn them properly as well, you know, to exercise in! I have walked, cycled had a dip or two in the river and recently started with an online community called @cattlestrength which is home workouts, HIIT (high intensity interval training) sessions and my poor trainers are becoming well worn…who would have imagined that?!

I am sure there are people out there with a much better shoe collection than I have, I would love to see them! I enjoy shoes, looking at them as much as wearing them.

Thank you for reading my shoe blog, I hope you enjoyed it, that it allowed you to escape for a few minutes maybe. I hope you are keeping keeping safe and well during this strange time, and as my Dad would say….”Take care out there”.

PS – please share you shoe photos – I would love to meet your favourites!😘