FastFreddy2

I've quoted Confucius before; "A journey of 1,000 miles, starts with a single step." My first 'outing' shoes were rubber heeled wedge ankle boots. No audible clip-clop or heel tapping of any sort. I'd practised a good bit, so not too much hip swaying ..... We went to a fairly crowded place too. I didn't stand out, no reason for anyone to have any special interest. Mrs Freddy forgot I had them on. [i didn't, but enjoyed every second.] I must dig out a picture..... I've met shyguy out while wearing some wedge boots with modest [quiet] heels. It was surprising how 'passable' they were, even though I'd had them pointed out to me. Food for thought? i know sandals are your thing, but steps are steps. .....

Nice shoe. Good news too, you're moving forward with your own shoe 'wardrobe'. P.S. I think shyguy might have/wear something similar? .....

As pretty much expected..... What happens when you publish your life? Be that on Facebook or Google+ or anywhere else, don't you loose the right to privacy? Ask a politician of someone else who is a member of a public body when newspapers publish photo's or lurid details about one of them. Become a public figure, and you loose your automatic right to anonymity. I'd be surprised if publishing details about yourself on the internet, [ie "welcome to this - my life"], wouldn't open up doors to the same problem? That aside, I did think you were being brave posting a picture of yourself. Never occurred to me, it might be unintended.

I've just seen one of the pictures Wave [Austria] has uploaded, him in court shoes - and knee socks. I haven't seen this since I was at school, and the girls there too young to be wearing tights ..... That said, I notice Madonna has in one of her video's, worn knee high hose with shoes? Okay, I'm not at the cutting face of fashion, but even if I were, I'd still think "that doesn't work". Typical wearer of knee high hose in the UK, would be an older lady wearing trousers, or more usually she would be wearing a long skirt. I have very much in mind, my elderly [83 year old] mother when I make this comment. Maybe fashion is moving on [backward] and I just don't get it? To me, socks are for trousers worn by men, and children in short trousers or dresses. I've seen very little to indicate this isn't the case from my limited exposure to younger people here in the UK and abroad [Europe]. About every 6 years or so, a style of Winter over-knee sock becomes slightly popular, but seldom mainstream. Oh, and I've just realised; the national dress of Scotland includes knee high socks. But the daggers tucked in them, seem to make them much less feminine. ....

Yep, I may do that. I'm not looking to do this for much longer though. I've got some more boots to go that might wait until Autumn, and some shoes that I don't expect to get much money for. As before, I'm loathe to give stuff away that I've paid fairly serious money for, and just about all the boots that are too small for me have gone. I like to think I'm getting a bit better at creating ads for what I'm selling, and responses are getting more and more favourable. To the point where I may have started at least two relationships with people who have bought off me. Men that is, having bought womens shoes. One fella in particular, would be of interest to us all. There's maybe a third fella, but he's the one I said I'm not sure if I will ask. More updates when they happen. .....

Ok, thanks. Not great news, but at least there's some semblance of reality about the figures. I bet if you culled all those that hadn't logged in for a year, that number would likely halve. I know for fact, some members don't bother to log on, they just 'look in' to see what's going on. Bit naughty really, because if EVERYONE stopped contributing, there'd be nothing to 'pop-in' and read ..... .....

I see your social skills have not improved any? [still as abrasive as ever.] No-one here is being critical of anyone, and CERTAINLY isn't "slagging" anyone off? The concept made, is that to a point, [in time] there were regular attempts at joining the site. This seems to have had an abrupt stop? Older members have wondered off, some [thankfully] popping back from time to time. But new members are going to be the better opportunity for more posts, and more varied content. It looks like, there had been no new attempts at joining since September 2011. Odd given previously there had been regular new members just about every week? So, 6 months+ without a single new membership application seemed unlikely? Hence the comments. As for the workload here, if there's too much for those that run this site already, might it be time to pass some of it on? Though it's not like this site seems to need much work moderating it? And the bit that does need doing from time to time, seems to get done quickly by shyguy. Google is the best web site promoter. Getting hits from searches with pertinent content on this site. I think I do my bit..... .....

Yeah, that's what it says in my manual too. Buy just because it's in writing, it doesn't make it true..... I'm not one of the; "if you've done nothing wrong, you've nothing to worry about" brigade. I've first hand experience of how innocuous remarks can be revisited with a different spin. There's certainly no benefit to anyone from revealing my toilet habits to the world, and I think the world would probably agree.

No response about Forums, from the one chap I've asked. But I have been paid for that last pair of Mrs Freddy's shoes.

Summer has finally arrived. We are on our 3rd or 4th day of warmth. The Sun is out and temperatures are soaring. I should be thinking; where am I going out in heels? Of course the cruel hand of fate has dealt me a stiff back from painting a ceiling the other day. [spent so much time with my neck bent upwards, I thought it was going to break!] Seems I strained some muscles in my back, holding the roller against the ceiling for so long, without working my way into it. [No previous practice at all.] I can barely move without a stoop, and now appear to be much older than my years. [i hope.] ...

34,434,118 views. Obviously, I'm not the only Kylie fan out there. I have some screen grabs to edit, but the heels don't disappoint. The thing I'm really impressed with, is when Kylie walks to and from Mr Cruz, she struts effortlessly in those heels! Perfect, perfect woman.

No-one in the UK would wear socks with flip flops, [no more than they would have a bath with their socks on]. Wearing socks with flip-flops would be something so unusual, people would [literally] stare ...... With the young and trendy who I already mentioned wouldn't wear socks with any casual shoes, one of them wearing socks with flip-flops would be considered a serious style faux-pas. Older folk, might just think the wearer was a bit 'soft' of mind. Until about 7/8 years ago, you might never see an umbrella held up by an adult when the Sun shone. Never. A baby might have a small one covering it while it was in a push-chair [aka pusher], to protect it from the heat, but that would be it. Chinese visitors, [students], Indo-Chinese and African immigrants have changed that. Now, not so unusual to see women in particular, walking about with a lightweight brolly hiding their skin from the sunshine. I can understand that. We are not used to it, but it would have been like that in the UK before Coco Chanel made sun tans popular. [A hundred years ago, poor people here had tans, rich folk had enough money to stay away from the Sun and keep a pale complexion.] Ms Chanel is responsible for a lot of skin cancer, be it inadvertently. Times might change a little, and lonterm skin care might increase the popularity of untanned skin once again, amongst the indigenous population here. But socks in casual shoes? Please, no? .....

As all you heel wearing mean should know, our inspiration, our mascot, is Kylie Minogue. As a 5ft svelt lady of beauty, she is never photographed without heels on. While browsing for something else, I came across a video she appeared in (I think a year ago). I like it a lot. Watch it, and I'm sure you'll understand why. It's NOT office safe. First play brings an advert. Turn off the sound, and just watch if you have to. I like the song, but like the images around 2 minutes 40 the best. I hope you enjoy it too: >> << ....

blige, some of them are a bit 'out there', aren't they? That said, the style on the lowest level with the orange ankle strap look comfy.

This issue has been a long standing problem for me. I like my boots to be fairly tight. If my feet move around, I feel unstable in heels. I prefer tight hose [support stocking tight] and usually get away with wearing two pairs of opaque footsies. I also like thin socks with little or no seams, though I struggle to find them. I'm lucky in that I don't suffer much foot discomfort, even when I've got broken skin. [story is posted elsewhere.] Thin skin coloured hose looks good with sandals [and court shoes], but I have always associated older [women] folk wearing socks with sandals. A memory from my almost forgotten childhood perhaps? My tastes aren't everyone's, so I'd only go so far as to suggest a change. I'm never being mean when I try to guide others to the 'righteous' path, and am always respectful of the choices people have made. All that aside, you can certainly 'walk the walk', and in respectably high heels too. I'm sure we could all learn a thing or two from your experiences. ....

Look better? [Not sure myself.] Certainly shows off the height of the heel better. Don't know why, but it seems to? ....

I'm going to give it a go tonight. Going to have a walk around the block in some stupidly high heels, given where I'm going to go. [On tarmac'd pavement.]

I think I have at least one person who ought to know about the forums, so I've finally asked someone. [Awaiting answer.] There's a second, but I'm still not sure if I should ask. Neither based in the UK. ......

The better decision was going heels. I don't know if the Council have started switching off the street lighting late at night over your way? They've started doing it over here, from about midnight I think. With a single exception [that didn't go overly well] , I haven't walked out in streets local to where I'm living for some time [18 months+], so this new darkness is a bit tempting. I certainly haven't been out in thin heeled shoes, and without street lighting, I have the potential to wear what I like out. And unlike some other towns in the county, pathways here are kept in very good condition. Midnight walking not for everyone of course. Helps if you have waking tendencies normally associated with vampires. ....

What? You travelled 3,000+ miles to Shoe City, and no pictures? Go sit at the back of the room fella. With the Euro taking a dive, and the Spanish economy on the rocks, what a great time to have bought too! I've often considered travelling to Italy again, with the specific aim of visiting Milan to shoe shop. Madrid is closer. Maybe ..... .....

Like all 'techie' products, price you pay will depend when in the life of the product, you commit to buy. Sometimes waiting too long, meaning you have to go without. ** The announcements I read when you mentioned the phone: zdnet [online magazine] phonearena [.com] Note highlighted remarks regarding GSM network access. These announcements may not have transferred into a buyable product, if take-up was high on the more expensive deals though. Why discount if you don't have to? And looking at the spec of the phone, I couldn't see it being heavily discounted over here. It also looks like while the phone has fast 4G connectivity, the Rezound is not a GSM phone, which is the network protocol used here. ** Although I recently had to splash out on a laptop, I also wanted to upgrade the desktop computer. I noticed Intel socket 1156 four core processors were available for less money than the older socket 775 four cores, and decided I might put together a socket 1156 system. Ha! What did I know? So few socket 1156 boards around ..... The few new ones are high spec gaming boards, and used ones popular because like me, others had noticed the processors were cheap. There would have been a time I could have bought an ASRock board for £32, and could now, have doubled my money selling them on. It's all in the timing. ....

So far ..... I've sold 36 pairs, either shoes or boots. I've also left a small number at the charity shop, as well as disposing a couple of pairs with Mr Recycling Bin. I conservatively estimate 40 pairs removed from the 'collection', with another 15 or so to go. Mostly boots, so I may now have to wait until late Summer/early Autumn, before I consider listing some of them. The slightly less 'street' shoes, maybe won't have to wait. Mrs Freddy has sold 5 [1 pair needing payment still] with 4 other pairs passed on. [Mentioned before.] Apart from one pair of over the knee boots, most of hers are shoes, so they'll go back for re-listing as soon as I get a free one. I don't see how anyone can do this for a living. True my stuff gets 'super-wrapped', which takes [too much] time .... But, most of the shoes, even the new unworn stuff, goes for pennies. Time taken with; photographs, listing, replying to questions, wrapping, posting ..... It almost isn't worth it. I hate waste, so throwing the shoes away was never an option. Charity shops were a possibility, but what shop in what town would be big enough to take 40 pairs of size 7 or size 8 shoes? Plus, I had to get this far [gain the experience] to understand what was worth while, and what not. On the upside ....... A couple of bits I bought from charity shops, trebled in price when I sold them on. As did a skirt I bought in a sale, from one of the large clothing chains. I guess it's a case of knowing what the market wants, and what it will pay for? Well, I'm getting there. But making money selling shoes? Can't see how. ....

Impressed! You for walking it, the shoes for surviving. I like the black patent courts too. More details on those would be welcome. As a constructive tip, sandals [mens or womens] seldom [if ever] look attractive with socks on. I get it might be cold, but socks with sandals...... Might be a Pacific Rim thing? In my old home town, there's a LOT of Chinese students, mostly here from China. It's not at all unusual to see the girls wearing ankle socks with shoes. Might be okay under trousers, but not with the length of leg revealing skirt they usually wear. Us Brit men are famous [or infamous] for wearing socks while out in the sun in sandals. [Other Europeans think we are style-less morons.] Even Mrs Freddy thinks it's bad form for me to consider socks while not covering my legs....... Even if I'm wearing trainers. Young men folk [anyone under 30] won't wear socks in casual shoes as a style statement. Keep the pictures coming though. Background to them, also very welcome. ...

Is this earthquake damage? .....

Sold another pair of my shoes over the weekend, and [when they've been paid for] about 4 pairs of Mrs Freddy's shoes. We're still waiting on payment from the toe-ring guy. Made three mistakes today. 1. First [obvious] one, was trying to make clean [sold] shoes even cleaner. I rubbed so hard I removed some of the shoe finish, and [effectively] created a scuff where there wasn't one before. 2. I should have (with hindsight) scrapped the sale, and offered the marked shoe to another bidder, or relisted them. The mark was practically invisible, and Mrs Freddy couldn't believe I mentioned it to the buyer. The remark was "Why? No-one else would?" 3. I then told the buyer - and foolishly - offered to halve the selling price, effectively giving them the shoe for free. Unsurprisingly, they thanked me for my honestly and gladly took the £10 discount. I should have offered £5 off, max. It really was, a small mark. [Duh.] An expensive lesson, but one I'll remember. Got 3 more pairs of mine going to the PO tomorrow, so another 4 pairs removed from the collection this week. I've still a fair few that didn't sell, maybe 5 pairs, and maybe 3 of those are refusing to budge. It's probably the wrong time of year now, and warm weather finally arrives this week. I still have some other shoes at a 99p starting price to list, so I'm not quite ready to retire from selling just yet. Plus Mrs Freddy has more shoes to sell too. .....