FastFreddy2

Loving the 4" hiking boots! [bit of a contradiction though 'hiking boots with 4" heels?' ] I'm sure with the jeans rolled down to their regular position, your heels would be as good as invisible. Quite sturdy, too, so no slipping or sliding mishaps. On a general style note [and this is a social comment, not a critical revue.] With your winter coat, and roadworks in the background, you could be anywhere in the UK. If I remember, you are actually in NZ? When I first looked at the pictures, I had to have a really good look to make sure it wasn't somewhere in the home counties I should recognise.... Back to the shoes and outfits .... That first piccy with the 3" Oxfords is difficult to read unfortunately. It really does look you have regular shoes on, which I guess means the outfit works?

Not paid yet, but came back for the shoes. [Obviously, someone with good taste. ]

I'm not sure if >> this << is a perfect match, but the UK price makes disappointing reading. The "Rezound" now with a promotional price of US$99 vs what seems to be the UK offering at well over UK£300. [x4 the cost.] As far as I can tell, only realistically priced if taken with a 2 year phone contract..... Specification reads well. Could be an ideal camera/phone for my needs. "Beats", and the WiFi helping to keep me amused while I rub down plasterwork and paint. Good choice. ....

Nokia 710 with Window O/S is looking promising at £140, for a new phone. Panasonic TA2 pocket camcorder at £80 was looking good, though the 5 mega-pixel stills from it, got a bad revue. The search goes on....

While in H.o.F. Reading today, saw a newer style of Biba jeans. Same material and colour [hopefully same great fit], but this time with straight leg. Long legged as before, and priced at £69. Had a quick look on their web site, and no link at this time. Didn't have enough cash on me to buy today, so maybe later in the week?

The stories then .... Many years ago, my interest in wearing womens shoes was largely ignored. Until one day, when my then girlfriend brought home from London, a pair of VERY high heeled shoes. More recently and while married to a woman who wasn't that keen to see me wear them, standing in these had been accepted as my motivation for doing the ironing. But not for some time.... Almost a lifetime after first being given them, my heavier body has spread my feet, and these no long fit. Since I am revising my shoe collection, it seemed proper to offer these too. I listed them at £10, not really expecting much interest. Within hours I had an offer of £50, with immediate payment. As I write, they are close to their new owner at a location, 'somewhere' in Canada. I had a similar pair bought more recently, [WHM2008] but not so comfortable to wear at my current weight. They were offered initially for slightly more money than the previous £10 listing, as they were pretty much unused. Again an almost [but not quite] immediate sale. Again they have been sent overseas. I believe these are likely worn by men, though I could be wrong. [All contact has been with men.] As I've mentioned, I've also listed some of Mrs Freddy's shoes. Had an interesting enquiry about ..... Some foot furniture. Didn't want the shoes, but wanted something else. After a days to-ing and fro-ing, the foot furniture was sold. [shoes are still for sale. though.] Again, buyer was another man. This is getting to be quite an experience. A bit time consuming, but interesting.

Been an interesting week here at Freddy shoe sales. Sold two pairs, both with a story attached. [As always. ] And sold a pair of Mrs Freddy's tonight too. Hopefully I'll have time to write up the detail soon, while it's all still fresh in my head?

Reading visit tomorrow. Natural disaster the only thing can stop me. [i probably shouldn't be making that sort of remark ...... ]

In wanting to get the Camden visit written up, I almost forgot to mention the Milton Keynes gig. Mrs Freddy had (some more) time off, with this break following the May Bank Holiday. With poor weather reported, and her getting increasingly bored watching me with a paint brush [or camera] in hand, we went for lunch out, with some window shopping either side of that. Every time I go there, I remember too late, at the previous visit I promised myself I wouldn't return. Must have made that promise maybe 4 times - so far. The shops and Mall are fine, but finding parking at reasonable cost from 9am-6pm gets more difficult every time I go there. Even parking a half a mile away [okay, 400 yards] costs, thankfully a very reasonable 30p an hour. Parking closer, I think £1-20 an hour. Not bank breaking, but this is still in the open air, with other vehicles parked close to your own. Anyway, after a successful visit to TK Maxx at Bletchley where a new suitcase was purchased for herself, we took the scenic route towards the shops. [scenic route means; took wrong turn on roundabout, and got lost. ] Visited all the big stores. Walked what seemed like miles. Had a nice luncheon in Pret [Crayfish and rocket sarnie of course], with a particularly strong cup of coffee. Went into Jessops looking at an Olympus Touch, twice. [Had to wait for battery to be charged.] Got impressed with camera, less so with red [pink] colour. Finally ended up in John Lewis, having talked myself into buying a Sony Bloggie at a greatly reduced price, without having first checked out it suitability. [Taking pictures bit, worked fine. Turns out it doesn't like connecting to PC's though.] To this point, my 4 inch heels had either been invisible to all, or viewers discretion outperformed my eyesight...... At the J.L. Collection point, I was helped by a young fella, while Mrs F continued to remark her feet were getting sore, and she was getting bored/hungry, but mostly hungry. Another customer was already there when we arrived, and waiting for someone to bring his purchase from deep inside the store, or possibly the next town. [He was still waiting when we left.] Possibly he wasn't listening, when they told him there's be a delay of 30 minutes after he made the purchase? I did listen, so we had a walk around before attempting to collect the camera....... So this fella is there .... Older man, beard, bit of a belly. Got dressed in the dark ..... But him with mostly nothing to do. He decides my boots are REAL interesting, and almost can't take his eyes off them. EVERY time I looked, he was staring at my feet. In the end, I stuck one foot out so he could get the full profile, and just waited for him to look at them. He did of course. I ignored him looking by pretending to watch the TV playing to one side of us. My camera turned up, and we left. For about 10 seconds after, I was frustrated [and glad] that I hadn't challenged him. Mrs F would have been unhappy, I might have been shown a yellow card by JL .... Plus it would have made me no better than him. [ie. Rude.] Walking out into the cool evening air, helped me forget him. Shame he was there, he put a crimp in an otherwise uneventful day. Apart from getting lost, once [or twice]. [Note to self, "Must find loose/lost page 32 of AA Road Atlas".] .....

Yeeeessssssss!!! Sent you a message on 30th April, little after 10am. There are currently listings for UK size 6, 7 and 8. ....

I will check my message Outbox, but I'm reasonably sure I included you with a link. I don't want to publish my account here, so I'm trying to be discreet. No site reference. No user name. No item specific information. If I missed you, I'll send a message in the next couple of minutes.

More added, including some of Mrs Freddy's shoes. Many of hers listed, have been worn once. Sad. Today I've mostly added only one picture, in the hope I'll add more tomorrow when I have time. Currently over 20 pairs listed (I think), with another 5 or 6 pairs to go on at 99p, which are free to list anyway. I reminded herself I've sold 30 pairs, and disposed of several other pairs. The ones on sale now will take the final number from us both to well past 50 pairs. With almost no difference to the amount of space available in what is effectively, the shoe room. If I can and will [will = expect = hope] to wear them, they stay. Anything else, goes. I may soon have few enough to risk counting them. ....

Very true. I'd like to own a pair of >> these << though. Sadly, no size 8.

I have a couple of 'outs' to parking charges in Camden. One is to park in Morrisons, and enjoy 2 hours free parking. The other is to take someone with me, who currently has a recognised walking impediment, that provides certification for free parking. As this was going to be a full visit, I took the second option. As before, we arrived later than planned. The weather had held up, and while it was cool and overcast, it was dry and not too windy. We needed to wear outdoor jackets, but we kept warm too by walking. We found a parking spot where I've parked a number of times before. It's in a parallel road to the High Street, but just far enough from the market for other visitors to be unaware of its availability. Consequently, there are usually spaces to be had until the charges cease at 6pm. We left the warmth of the car and made straight to >> SELECT << which is a retail group tilted toward the not overly well off girls fashion market for [say] 18 to 24 year olds. This shop has provided me with a couple of surprises, including boots with 5" heels [no platforms] and just about the most wearable stiletto courts with 4½" heels I've owned for a long time. They look and feel stunning, and came in at £12. Sadly, inside the shop there was no temptation, so we went Northward across the busy junction toward the market. The junction is just outside Camden Town tube station, and co-incides with the link I posted before. Along the West side of the road [lefthand side if you looked at the Google link] there are quite a few shops with shoes for sale. Very few selling shoes only, though they are there, but many clothes shops with a range of shoes too. Our first visit was to one of the two London based ALDO Outlet stores. [The other is in Wood Green, and I have mentioned that store a couple of times before.] The place was very crowded. This might otherwise afford the opportunity for some voyeurism, but shoppers where too busy to stop and show off their personal selections. I didn't see a single style I wanted to try, so we left. At this time we were perhaps 20 minutes into our day, and this is often as long as I need. But today we carried on Northward toward the market proper. Here are some pictures I took on the day, to you an impression of what we had to contend with on the pavements: Crowd 1 Crowd 2 Crowd 3 Crowd 4 Crowd 5 Crowd 6 Crowd 7 I tried hard to avoid every shoe shop, and only succumbed a couple of times. I was more than aware this wasn't my day, but an our day. With something like every 5th shop having shoes in, it was quite a struggle...... For the most part they are 'boutique' shops outside of a retail chain. If I'm honest, not the sort of place I might normally buy from, unless they were close enough for speedy returns or well known enough to me personally, that I could buy with confidence. As any traveller gets closer to the market end, the smells of spicy cooking food start to draw a hunger, even if there wasn't one. This is a view of the Camden Lock, just as we approached the market, which is on the far side of the canal: Camden Lock East side. Once we leave the roadside pavement, we are into the cobbled territory. Some photo's; including one or two 'arty' ones in keeping with the feel of the area: Cobbles 1 Cobbles 2 Cobbles 3 Cobbles 4 So no wonder, that at such an exotic place, I'm having to wear >> these << sturdy boots. Once inside the market area, I was shocked at how much of the retail space was set to food stalls. In this particular area, more than half the Traders were selling food, and was the location of the Dutch crepes I'd mentioned earlier. As we were both there for the browsing, we moved onward. We must have spent the better part of 40 to 50 minutes walking around. Highlight of the initial walk was spotting >> these << very attractive heels on a foreign visitor. I realised some of the old [original] market space had been turned from temporary stalls, into newly developed boutique style roofed premises. Many of these having little more than say 30 to 40 square feet of floorspace, though there were a reasonable amount with larger spaces for retailing too. What also surprised me, was the lack of diversity. I saw no fetish cloth stores (and I was looking), and almost no interesting shoe stalls. The exception was being run by a fellow with bright yellow hair of about 40, who scared the bejesus out of me. I'm not usually the timid sort, but walking into his 'store' would have meant practically rubbing shoulders with him, and possibly turning my back to him. Not going to happen ...... We walked further, and found one of the newly developed areas held a subterranean surprise that I'd never seen before >> Lower shopping/eating area << And did not visit this time. The bronze effect horses and four wheeled conveyancing, being an icon style left in several places. I assume the place was once a horse and cattle market? No surprises if it were, given the proximity to a railway [often placed next to major roadways], and the remaining road route Northward through Camden of course. Eventually we popped out of the original market, crossing the road toward the market held under a large shed that had burned a few years ago. The area had been refurbished to look exactly as it used to, old and dirty. Some might call it 'shabby chic'? To me it still looks old, dirty, and belonging to a pre-war time that most Europeans have since removed. What didn't help my impression of the place, was a 20 something year old Asian looking fella, giggling to his stall-holder mate about my footwear. Mindful my earlier statements about the cosmopolitan history of the place, this 'amusement' from a stall holder was fairly unwelcome. I might expect such a response from one of the local juveniles to me, with no concept or understanding of the diversity in taste possible by folk, but from a stall holder in Camden? At this time, I'd pretty much given up expecting much more from the day. I was starting to get tempted toward a hot drink, but the two of us opted to wait until the end of our walk and the Costa Coffee shop 50 yards from our parked car. It was a shame it wasn't warmer, with someone else driving, and a cold beer on hand..... The Lock from the West bank >> Camden Lock West side << You can just make out the lock under the bridge. So feeling a little frustrated, I took the picture of the lock, and decided we ought to go homeward. Just as we were leaving the market, a couple walked into the market with her wearing, what no-one I know would describe as 'shopping shoes'. Instantly my day started to look up. Well, I spent the better part of 10 minutes trying to get a photo, and gave up. My 'escort' [who expects but doesn't enjoy such behaviour] let her displeasure be known, and I conceiving the futility of my situation, we left. We crossed the bridge back over the canal again, on our return journey. I stopped on the bridge, looking for both an 'arty' canal view, and a further crowd picture to include here [which I got]. While stopped, the couple who must have followed us out of the market minutes later, both stopped too and stood next to us! I'd got my camera phone setup to take pictures too...... [Even I've got to get lucky sometime.] This is the highly edited outcome >> Camden shopping shoes << ....... After taking the photographs, it would be true to say my humour returned to its normal place. We carried on walking South toward the parked car, stopping only once to visit a shop I knew kept Pleaser or Ellie style shoes. Sadly, only disappointment to report again. The shop was half the size it used to be, with possibly half the original stock it had two years ago, the only stock on the shelves. Nothing to try on, and nearly as many sales staff as customers, who were fussing around trying to make a sale. [if I want help, I'll ask.] A shop I spent half an hour in 2 years ago, got just 2 [uncomfortable] minutes this visit.... So we walked back to a place I'd mentioned in Part I, close to the Electric Ballroom, called Market Hall? Foolishly [i can say in hindsight], I decided we should walk in. Biggest mistake of the day ...... Not only were there few customers in there, [so no 'cover' for the noise of my boots] but stallholders were looking to pounce on the few customers who ventured in. I guess a few noticed my footwear.... The back of the place was practically empty, and had a nice shiny floor. On one spot, so shiny I nearly ended up on my backside when my heel slipped from under me. Fortunately I managed to recover the slide, and stay on my feet. But I'd done it right under the nose of a stall holder, who was startled enough to ask if I was okay? "Yes thanks" came my reply, but I was shaken. We walked back past the stall holders in the entrance alley, 'running the gauntlet' again, with me trying to hold my head high. We got to Costa a little past 6pm. We sat at the front of the shop where we have in the past, to try to enjoy the look of the many varied personalities that might pass the shop. However, Camden managed to thwart that by having some roadworks right outside the shop. Our view was of some shuttering.... Didn't stop us enjoying the warmth, a well earned sit down, and some delicious hot chocolate. We got back to the car, and journeyed home. Talking on the way back, I mentioned more than once how commercial the place had become. Many many stalls selling identical clothing. Much of this limited to a narrow range of styles too. Even the shoe shops all seemed to be using the same source for their stock. Yes I am being cynical, but does being cynical automatically mean I'm wrong? One thing is for sure, my subsequent vists are likely to be the 30 minute ventures while I'm en-route somewhere more interesting. .....

Given you are usually always 3,000+ miles away, a bit more notice might have had me join you for a coffee. I know, a bit 'out there' ..... But I really do enjoy meeting people with common interests, face to face.

I can think of a couple more. I had a look around Picasa the other evening when uploading my Camden piccies. I was experiencing some problems getting the pictures uploaded to the right album, and did some on-line searches for help. Seems Google is trying [Like Microsoft] to rule the world, taking on Facebook with Google+. I already get freaked out with You Tube and email being linked. I don't [officially] do Facebook, as I don't feel the need to share my toilet habits with the world...... We have a family friend, with a 22 year old daughter with a 'thing' for heels. I have the occasional glance over Mrs Freddy's shoulder to look at the latest additions to her collection, but that's about as useful as Facebook gets for me. The family friend though, shares everything about herself to her friends. Everything. And likes to spend time in front of a camera. She's pretty, but then most 22 years are these days.... With Google keeping our emails, our picture albums, and details of linked family history [Google+] they effectively monitor our lives..... ....

I'll see your Town Shoes, and raise you a >> Lipsy <<

And don't be shy if you see something you like.

Spain, as in Spain the country attached to Europe? If so, whereabouts [roughly?]

So ....... I was completely unaware there is a style of camcorder called the pocket camcorder, that also does good quality photo's? I bought one from a major store while out yesterday, called a Sony Bloggie. As it turns out, it may have to be returned as the unit doesn't like downloading to a PC [the reviews claim.] It likes uploading to Facebook and You Tube [no desire to do either], but I do need to store images on my PC for further use. As it won't do this, or won't do it without some image quality problems, it may have to go back unopened. Sony Bloggie Sport [latest version - I have a previous model.] What the reviews did do, is open my eyes to the style of unit. There are a number of comparable systems for less, and more money. None of them perfect, but there is a range marketed by Vivitar [sold by Argos predominantly], that start at around £30. Yes, that's thirty pounds! Vivitar DVR610HD [sold by Argos and ASDA] The other genre, is the "tough" digital compact camera, usually offered to holiday-makers or sporty types needing water/dust/impact resistance while out and about in challenging circumstances. On a beach being the more common expectation. These are typically sealed units with no opportunity for externally protruding lens systems, so come with low magnification ranges as the lens has to work internally. Photo rather than video based, these are potentially ideal. Olympus Tough 320 [literally.] The most exotic one I tried was a bank breaking £325. Very clever camera, one that I liked a lot because of its performance [image quality] and ease of setting up. Sony DSC TX2 I also spent perhaps 20 minutes testing a number of camera phones in an Orange [network] shop that had a fair range of charged and working systems available for customers to 'play' with. Prices of camera phones tested ranged from £80 to over £200. Two units stood out: Sony Xperia Ray. Great camera. No idea what the phone bit worked like. £180. Nokia C3 Touch. Good camera. Compact, not so good for web applications but easy to keep in a pocket - and discrete. £120. Plenty of research required for one or more purchasing decisions. .....

Got another free 'auction style listing' weekend. Will be putting up perhaps 10 pairs of my own, including previously unsold styles at lower prices, plus some not seen before. Plus I hope to get a rake of Mrs Freddies used/new styles up for sale. [EU39/UK6 so no use to anyone here.] No photo's done of the smaller size shoes, so I'll be busy taking 'snaps' over the next couple of days between building duties. Not quite gotten to the 'giveaway' stage with my own shoes yet, though some will be starting at 99p. ....

Spent some time looking for camera phones and cameras today. In fact I bought a camcorder that takes 12mb stills which was an impulse buy ..... It may have to go back, as reviews suggest images can't be downloaded to a PC very easily. Just spent the two hours I was going to use on the Camden Part II write up, reading specs and reviews on circa 30 cameras. Seems there are two genres of camera I hadn't considered for this task, either one potentially better solutions than my original camera phone idea. More detail later.

Another pair were sold tonight, so some good news. But it looks like there's a few pairs [maybe 4] that will have to be reduced in price so they are practically given away. Unless I hold onto them until Autumn when folk start buying boots again. Still, some progress made! Taken 2 weeks, but another 2 pairs sold..

[Part 1 of 2] . Background: I've been visiting Camden Sunday market for well over 30 years. Back then a girlfriends girlfriend, used to hire a stall at the [temporary] market end on Sundays. She would buy old clothes from charity shops and jumble sales in the week, and make a living by selling them on the Sunday. She'd pay for the pitch on the day, on a first-come-get-better-pitch basis. The market was set up on derelict land next to a railway. There were shops along the high street, but the main interest was the part-time market held on the weekend. The young and trendy [me ] would visit, looking at the interesting Goth clothes, and marvel at the makeup worn by other [often international] visitors. It was THE place to shop for Goth clothes and vintage styles. There were one or two shops that sold rubber gear, and 'special interest' footwear. No guesses for why I liked the place. The market was great for start-up ventures in the clothing design and retail business. Over a short and inexpensive period, you could float an idea, and if it sold, you had a winner. If it didn't, you thought again. It was a great place to get new styles, that were originals at sensible money. * Thirty years later ..... the fella who used to rent out the stalls is now a millionaire. The place is highly commercialised, and probably pulls in half of Camden Councils tax revenues. It's drab, but it's not poor. More on that later. Why go? Camden for me, has in the past been somewhere I might expect to see anything. In the days when I used to go to "do's" dressed as a girl, I might buy some of my femme stuff there. In fact I can now distinctly remember buying two pieces there. One a size 8 red leather mini skirt. I tried it on in the shop before spending the £30 ..... Was there with my [hairdresser] live-in girlfriend, and no-one batted an eye. Very cosmopolitan then? That would have been circa 1985/6. [boy George era.] The second piece bought around the same time, was some clothing that I can only describe as a 'costume' bodice, made for me in a style sold by a designer* operating from inside the Electric Ballroom. [A dance hall rented out to nouveau designers on Sundays.] 2012. The place is very commercial. 15-20% of some areas are food outlets, often of an international flavour. Vietnamese 'street' food, Caribbean, and Indian style meals are popular. This time around I saw something described as Dutch (something) I nearly succumbed to; spoon sized crepe/pancake mix cooked in almond shaped hollows. 6 or 8 of these to a portion, with runny Nutella drizzled over them served in a paper cone. Eaten with a toothepick I think. Yum! There is a core retail street built around a through road. Shops either side, with what was, a large temporary market at one end. There has always been two other markets there. A street market, and a covered one inside an old shed. The old shed got badly burned up a number of years ago [5?] and maybe made world news. The older temporary market has been developed, as Camden Council can't charge rates [local occupation tax] on temporary stalls. It can on anything with a fixed roof. The burned up shed has been refurbished, and may have coincided with the development of the old temporary market, into permanent shops. The place seems to get larger everytime I visit. Years ago, there was plenty of free parking, usually less than 5 minutes away from the shopping areas. Now, parking fees everywhere, and surprisingly expensive. £4 an hour is common. You are encouraged then, to travel in on public transport. On the day: We were going to make a day of it if the weather held up. I had a builder around in the morning. He was originally visiting on Saturday, but a late change of plan meant he came around to my home/building site, close to 11am on Sunday instead. He left at almost 2pm. Well, there's plenty for him to look at and discuss. We arrived around 3.30pm. Sounds late, but to make even that time, I went without breakfast and lunch. The place was extremely busy, especially given the unseasonably cool weather. We made to the two shops I travel there to visit, even if I'm only there for thirty minutes. [Passing though on my way to some other place.] That is the SELECT girls clothing store, where I've had some good finds with their shoes and boots. The other is the ALDO Outlet store. There are quite close together, so a visit to both can be concluded in 15 minutes. Or about £1.20 in parking speak. At this position, we are at one end of the part of the High Street that might be considered the 'market'. The next kilometre Northwards, is the interesting bit for Sunday shoppers, and visiting tourists. We walked up towards the lock, past that and under the railways line, into the developed old market, returning on the other side of the road via the redeveloped old shed back down toward ALDO. By this time it was close to 6pm, so we sat in Costa, and had a large glass of hot chocolate before starting the 50 minute car journey home. Here is a Google link: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=NW1+7PJ&hl=en&ll=51.539009,-0.142694&spn=0.006313,0.015664&sll=51.539011,-0.142695&sspn=0.000398,0.000979&t=h&hnear=London+NW1+7PJ,+United+Kingdom&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.53912,-0.142783&panoid=zHRo6dxkWGtl0_4g_LDR9Q&cbp=12,352.36,,0,-0.99 Move the Yellow Man on the left hand side of the map, and drop him right next to the Underground icon marked Camden Town. If this view is orientated correctly, Barclays and Footlocker will be on your left. The Underground and two red public phone boxes on your right. Just past the Underground on the right, you'll see a place label for Electric Ballroom, mentioned earlier. A little further up the road on the left past Superdrug and Holland & Barrett, is a little entrance headed Market Hall. Please remember this, as it gets mentioned in Part 2 of 2. If you are inclined to, it's possible to use Google Maps Streetview to move your journey along the street. There is an open air street market on the right. The old shed area is also on the right past the canal bridge. The old market is on the left past the overhead railway bridge, and is mostly hidden by a high wall. There are some shops on the right hand side of the road, opposite. One of them used to be a leather clothing shop, where I know you could buy leather skirts. Also along there, is a couple of shoe shops. The right hand one, is where Mrs Freddy spent £150 on some OTK boots [on a whim] because they had fur around the tops of them. Owned them perhaps 7 or 8 years, never been worn! Summary: You have some personal history of association with Camden, and an indicator of the changes through the last 30 years. Also, time of arrival and route taken, with landmarks laid out. An indicator to look and feel of the venue. Part 2 brings you ...... Detail of the experience, and pictures taken on the day. ......

Photo's edited and uploaded. Nearly 2 a.m. so time to call it a day. Will try to get write up done tomorrow night. Looks like I might be going to Reading this week. Any takers? .....