FastFreddy2

And you're HOW old? I'm embarrassed to say, I've seen the real thing too. Was a four wheeled cart pulled by a horse, and the ol' fella with the horse had a very very loud bell he would ring as he walked up the hill. It was a very long time ago.

Yep, same here ...... I could bear being called Count Freddy.

Saw these amongst the regular spam sales blurbs I get from ALDO. Not my colour (anything as long as its black), but warmer weather might arrive, and these look very élégante. Thought they might be worth a mention, because they come in a larger size, though it doesn't seem that way if a search is done on the specific shoe size? [Duff search engine on their web site?] Won't be around for long!! From here >> Clicky << - Heel Height: 13 cm. - Platform Height: 1 cm. (So 5 inch heels). And come up in a size UK 9½. @heelman500 Also, saw these on an auction site ...... Nine West, (usually generous in sizing) come in size 9 ..... These look very similar to the shoes that were in your avatar. [That now doesn't show anything?]

If I could be awake from 5am every day (and stay awake) I'd be a millionaire by now. If I'm up at 5am which I sometimes need to be, I need a nap around 10.30am or I go into zombie mode. My body wants a 30 hour day. I think nothing of being awake for a day and a half, and it's not so unusual for me to skip a nights sleep altogether. My preferred sleeping period is 4am until 10am. Dunno why, but I sleep soundly if I sleep then. I'm at my most energetic about 10pm to 3am. I must have some vampire in me? I just couldn't do a job that had me out and about at 6am. Not unless I'd slept most of the previous day, and started my day at 10pm the night before? Then, a 6am start would seem like the afternoon shift for most folk. I've never been any different. Might have been working shifts at Vauxhall (three months on the trot usually) and then 3 straight years at BAe. Really suited me.

Can't remember if I was wearing them or Mrs Freddy was (for photo's to put in the auction), but she said at the time; "Shame they are the wrong size." I don't think they went for big money either.

I couldn't possibly say ...... So much that was around then, isn't any longer, including the subject of the show. "Rag and bone man", what the heck is that? A youth in a TV comedy sketch recently asked "What's a CD?" .... Without sitting down with pen, paper and some history books, it really is hard to know who would have been around for what. Usually the way to tell, is if you know about it, chances are you were there. Given Dad's Army (1968-1977) is still on TV most weeks, I can genuinely understand how you might also know about Steptoe and Son, without having watched it originally on a live broadcast.

That thread would be very long ...... (and very boring ). The renovation/remodel was supposed to take 3 months, 6 tops. So far we are 28 months in. Honestly, you wouldn't believe a house could be built so badly....... When I do an update on the DIY thread, you'll get some (photographic) evidence of what I mean. As for heeling while DIY'ing ...... I did for a period while doing some work that would have had me on my toes for hours. Generally, I don't, for safety reasons. But I think I was painting, which I don't like to do on a ladder, as it's too easy (for me) to spill paint going up and down the steps. I find it easier standing on a stool. One step up, one down, nothing to tip paint tins on either journey. Mrs Freddy thought I'd found a way to entertain myself, but it was easier in a heel. (And cheaper than buying a higher stool. ) The one I use is so old, it's almost a family heirloom.

Sooooooo showing your age!

He who dares, wins eats!

I can paint a room in 3 or 4 days, top to bottom. But I'm not doing "DIY". I'm repairing/remodelling the house. Watch for the DIY thread, I'm going to be doing a 'project' there, very very soon. Working until 11pm? Part-timer. 2am would be a half decent stretch ..... In the past I've spent days rubbing down and filling holes making them look flat, before even touching them with paint. By the time I'm finished, almost everything in the house will have changed. Completely new heating system, but for one or two pipe runs. (All new rads, replacement boiler, despite the one we have only being 3 years old). New bathroom, new downstairs cloakroom suite. Kitchen in a different part of the house, and completely new kitchen. Relocated airing cupboard. Completely replaced/re-engineered lagging system in the loft, much of it boarded for storage. All of the downstairs windows replaced, with French doors installed where a single door used to be. 6 trees removed from the garden. 2 tonnes of wood taken down that formed a Pergola, and then cut it up into 2ft pieces. 3 x 3ft sunken piles Kangoled up that supported the structure. Double dug the garden to get out all the vegetables that had been planted, and then sieved out all the mulch that had been put in, as it wasn't suitable for growing grass on ...... Etc. Etc.

A single benefit of living in a building site, is that there's a lot of stuff parked in boxes. And some rooms, just don't get used. I don't think Mrs Freddy has been into the garage since we moved here. The living room (lounge) get a visit once in a blue moon, and then only to look outside if a lift is expected. What is going to be the new kitchen, has a fridge in it at the moment. If it wasn't for that, it would be another room that didn't get used. Hiding places .... I've got some so good, even I can't remember where they are!

'Virtual' heels?

On the subject of Freddy time ....... (Quietly) assembling plastic racking (£30 from B+Q) at 2am for Mrs Freddy's shoes. Bed for just after 5am. Up and about for 'around' 10am, having woken at 9 but struggled to come to ...... My shoes have a complete 5 shelf rack, and about 3 x 50 litre plastic storage bins. Mrs Freddy's have been parked on the floor since we moved in two years ago. With a move designed to help tidy the place up, I've treated her, to her own rack. And from that will come a fair volume of shoes 'to go'. Many unworn, though the worst offender (£150 pair of OTK boots - never worn) has already been sold. For about £35 if I remember. Shame the 'to go' group will all be a UK6, as she's some very nice shoes.

My second pair of heels I ever owned, had 6 inch heels (third and fourth third pair both had 5½" heels, as mentioned elsewhere). During the early days of our relationship, it wouldn't have been unusual for me to wear the 6 inch heels while doing my ironing. Me, ironing, heels, pretty much ensured I could give up ironing because Mrs Freddy always worried about her mum knocking at the door. [Lived next door at the time.] Being in a steady relationship, helped me put on weight. Feet spread, the shoes stopped being wearable. BUT I could still get them on. I just couldn't stand in them for long, and I'd seldom been able to walk in them properly. Tiny little steps, with legs held as straight as I could get them. I'd read about men and women wearing heels for extended periods, which included sleeping in them. [sometimes without a choice.] I decided to give it go, a couple/three times to see if I could too. The benefits were there if I could keep them on. Despite my serious attempts, I found it impossible. Maybe a better fitting shoe, or an open sandal would be better as my feet would not get so warm ..... Not that I could use any of the 4 pairs of uber high shoes I used own for a fourth try, as they all went last year. Shame I had to let 3 pairs of shoes go, I'd owned for nearly 30 years, but it was pointless keeping them. Always hidden (stored away), and my feet a half a size too large now with no prospect of them shrinking. Sadly.

Would you not take your dog out in the dark at night? Seems obvious to me, but I don't have children watching me, nor own a dog. Maybe the 6.30 start avoids the children? The venture sounds like a complete success! Better than you could possibly have imagined. You'll know just how well it went if your neighbour is waiting for you tomorrow. If he has his dog, and looking for another chat, everything went good. If he's there with a camera and a group of others, it didn't go so good. I'm expecting him to be out somewhere hoping to bump into you for another pleasant chat. After all, anyone up and out at 6.30am on a Bank Holiday weekend, NEEDS A GOOD TALKING TO!

Does my find win a prize?

A hard one to answer ...... I have about 5 styles I would be loathe to be without. I guess the acid test would be .... Boat is sinking, or wake to find the house on fire, what pair should I save with only hands for the one pair? A style called Saint from KG. I have a brand new pair bought from HoF Bluewater for about £30 at least 4 years ago. Bought an identical 'worn once' pair from an auction site 3 years ago. The used ones, despite being stored in the open, still have foot odour -not mine- coming from inside. So like the new ones, remain unworn by me. They are wonderful to put on. Have an almond shaped toe, with a very slight upward tilt in the toebox, making the ball of the foot seem to sit inside a cup? With elasticated gussets, they are a slip on slip off shoe boot with a moderately high stiletto heel. Will add a picture tomorrow.

Tried sleeping in something very very similar. The (flawed) thinking behind the idea, was that it would give me 6 hours of 'easy' muscle/ligament training in wearing a higher heel ....... Of around 3 times I tried, I think the best I managed was about 2 hours before cramp woke me. And I don't mean tingle, or itch grade cramp either. I mean full blown I'm-gonna-break-your-toes-off cramp. Oh yes ......

I have a very long lens somewhere. I'll get a picture alright, but I might be taking it from the next town ....

Ahhhh! These would have fitted: Not street wear though.

Another reason for the influx of hardened criminals. Sooooooo easy here. Rich rewards for crime. And get caught here, soft punishment, and often, no punishment. Watched a TV program couple of days ago, called Fake Britain. Woman caught being the receiving person for 120 stolen passports [street value circa £5,000 each]. Nothing. Person caught running from a drug manufacturing house in the same street (blues and twos had panicked him). Nothing. You couldn't make it up!

Just to be awkward ....... To wear, especially for any length of time .... almond toe. To look at, on me or someone else .... pointed. Two horse race, bets on both.

We are our own worst enemy. Can't extradite terrorists because they might not get an absolutely fair trial ...... A trial in Jordan would still be fairer than the trial system he would implement here, given the opportunity. In fact using the system he would have here, as an outspoken radical critic to the ruling government regime, he would have been hung (strangled) at the end of a JCB jib 8 years ago. Same is true of convicted/suspected multiple murderers and rapists. Can't send them back to their own countries, because they might be imprisoned, or executed? Surely, that's what they deserve? Living here shouldn't give them a pardon. Especially when it seems to only give them free license to carry on their criminal activity here? >> Clicky << ......

The pendulum had to swing eventually, from 6 inch heels and 2 inch platforms, to something else? Summer might allow these casual styles, but our weather will stop them taking hold. (He says with his fingers crossed.) I've also noticed, platforms are becoming less popular. More and more 'single sole' styles are about. I noticed an article recently, with pictures from a celebrity bash. Of about 12 photo's, only 2 had women with platforms. All the slightly older celeb's had classic stiletto's.

Another 'space' design, apparently from Alexander McQueen....