FastFreddy2

That is sooooooo asking for the wrong sort of answer.

I would imagine, a cull of inactive members now would reduce the declared 600+ down to about 10? Disappointing.

No new applications to join for over 4 months? Bit sad. At least people used to get as far as opening the door before leaving.....

Left the query, and not been back since?

I have wanted to spend a silly amount of money on a pair of boots for a couple of months now. Initially pencilled in a Christmas present, it was more a 'mid-life-crisis' amount of money. It's that or get a motor bike, which has the potential to be seriously less healthy. If I'm honest, my thinking is if I do that, it should curb my interest in owning so many more less expensive styles. It sort of sits on hh4evr1 remark that it's better to own one good pair than lots of cheaper ones? Certainly makes sense as I only wear about 4 styles. The rest are just eye candy! The decision process went something like........ Over £500 and I'd never be able to look at myself in the mirror, nor maybe anyone else come to think of it. [it's a ridiculous amount of money for a pair of shoes!] Then anything less than say £250, is practically high street pricing. [LK Bennet, Russell and Bromley, Kurt Geiger all have shops with shoes/boots for this sort of money.] So probably over £300 and under £500. I found a potential boot, by Azzedine Alaïa on sale for £425 at Net-a-Porter. Quite stylised, so not likely to be copied. High heel with slim hidden platform, so probably comfortable. Sizing maybe an issue. Italian sizing [usually slim] might be okay, but I'd want to try the largest size first. But .... "Out of stock". I've been watching the site every day for what must be a couple of weeks. Think it was last Friday, stock popped up in the EU41 size. I was too busy Saturday and Sunday to sit down and order, so had a look Monday morning, already having decided I would buy. To my dismay [and maybe relief] both the 41 and 40 1/2 had gone! Not sure why, maybe an earlier error being remedied. Maybe someone else unsure of their foot size ordered both? The site provides free returns, so why not? I had considered doing the same thing myself. The answer will be if one size reappears. Thing is, I'm not sure I could make the "I'm buying" decision again on a £400 pair of boots?" ......

I'd suggest a gel pad, but you're smart enough to have thought of that already..... It may be, you have a condition that we believe Mrs Freddy suffers from. Feels almost like there's a piece of bone inside your foot that doesn't belong? There is another condition I read about some time ago, might also be pertinent, but I can't find a suitable link. ** It's when a nerve gets damaged in the same area, and denser tissue grows around the damage to protect it. Thing is, in high heels, that denser tissue feels like a stone in your shoe. Painful! And there doesn't seem to be a cure, like surgery, due to the prospect of worse nerve damage. With no remedy, herself finds better quality shoes are the answer. That means shoes with firm/thick padding in the footbed area built into the shoe by the manufacturer. Her favourites, practically to the exception of all others, is Carvela. This is from the same brand group as KG [Kurt Geiger]. No links as the KG website doesn't like them. Prices from around £150 at season start, to perhaps £40 during sales up to a year later. Mindful those boots were something of a bargain, I'd be inclined to invest in a gel pad, or gel pads. Hopefully you'll be buying more heels with a high arch, and will need gels again. ** P.S. Morton's Neuroma. Hopefully the link will work. Previous 3 attempts failed. .....

Goodo. I'd suggest looking back in time..... Had a lot of stresses over the past few months? Maybe getting you to take your eye off the 'me' ball? Certainly the case in my life. Makes justifying, or even planning some pleasure time, pretty difficult. I used to say to couples struggling to keep themselves on an even keel, that they each needed some 'me' time, and possibly one afternoon, or one day a month should be a minimum. That's families with 3 or 4 children included. My feeling is, we all need some 'unstress' time, a reward for the other 29 days if you will. Even now I can [still] hold the attention of 3 children long enough to allow their parents some [probably much needed] time off. It isn't that hard for a short period. [ie a day.] Surely, if parents prefer their day off together, someone like me [but not me...] could fill in for a while? What I'm suggesting is, 'personal interests' aside, I believe we all of us need some pleasure space. A good friends wife sees that as a newspaper and a glass of red wine. She loves to read, and enjoys [literally] a glass of wine. Mrs Freddy prefers visiting close family [daughter, grandson]. Me ...... shopping for, looking at, wearing, heels/taking photo's etc. There's no point in having a life, if you can't do some living, after all? As for 'acceptance', I think you'll need a workaround for that. It probably is just too much .... As a reminder, I still wouldn't wear heels [yet] at a family get-together. Too many problems for Mrs Freddy. Luckily that while I still get out a bit, my indulgence in public is kept away from my family. [Though my mother not only knows, but spent last Sunday with me in heels at Brent Cross on a day out for her 83rd birthday.] I don't know what the solution will be for you ..... But you are right to recognise, time waits for no man.... I'm nearly always up for a meet ..... Wanna join me on one of my Thursday evening jaunts around the West End? hh4evr1 went there and found the place so entertaining, he bought some Louboutins! Probably not going to happen with any visit I might make, nor with anyone I might be with ..... ["You're NEVER going to spend that much money on shoes, SURELY?" would be heard through the store. ] Maybe think to plan a threesome with the other fella who shares your name? .....

I soooooooooo wanted to respond off topic, so I wrote >> this << It's a primer to enthuse change (to anyone) not anything more.

I've enjoyed the feel of wearing heels since before I was 8. [Exact dates, difficult at my age. ] Later, when I went from boy to man, I realised I really enjoyed both wearing heels, and seeing them worn. Since I'm not stunningly attractive, I've always thought clothes and personality were as least as important as basic looks. And looks (for me) didn't need to go much further than 'clean and tidy'. For a girlfriend, tidy with a bit of makeup maybe perfume, always a plus. My then girlfriend bought me some high heeled shoes somewhere around 1984 I think. After that, I bought myself a couple of pairs too, and the two of us went out with me in heels to [mostly] fetish clubs. We did go to some mainstream clubs, but Boy George was regularly on TV/in the music charts/on the front cover of most womens magazines, so the androgynous look was not so unusual. Wearing high heels was very natural for me. I don't mean I'd gotten plenty of practice, but I put them on and walked 'gracefully' like you might expect a girl to. I could [can] straighten my legs while wearing them, and to a degree, sway my hips in higher heels. [Just like girls do.] Jump forward 25+ years. It had been some time since I had worn heels. I still had my older shoes boxed and stored at home, but they never saw daylight. My feet had grown [as had my weight] so they weren't that comfortable anyway. [They were all a small 7 except the silly high ones which were a 7 1/2.] One drunken New Years Eve, I'd gotten in my head I wanted to wear heels. When we got home (me somewhat the worse for wear still) I put on a pair of Mrs Freddy's size 6 reject ankle boots, and went out walking. I had to be a bit careful as there were other revellers out, and I was walking around the streets I lived close to. I got home just before daybreak, and quite sober. I hadn't realised, but the shoes had cut my skin and I still bear the scar from that night. Within weeks I'd bought some new heels, and wore them at home and out late at night. They were both stunning to look at, very tight stretchy OTK boots that were quite cheap, but were just wonderful to wear. I bought several pairs, and wore out the first pair in about 6 weeks. They were never meant to be used as hiking boots around poorly maintained pavement. I was lucky in that within two months I'd found HHplace and went to the World Heel Meet [WHM] in London. I walked in broad daylight, from a car park close by, to the venue in 4 1/2" heels. When I walked back, I stood around and next to a family group, and no one spotted my heels. A few weeks later, I went to a shopping Mall in some 4" rubber wedge heels. I was very self aware, and spent a lot of time looking for those who might be looking at me. I got 'noticed' by one or two women, but no finger pointing and no loud ridicule. The rubber heels were very quiet, and drew no attention. I returned to the Mall regularly, always in heels. More recently my love of heels has waned. I've had personal health pressures, a newly acquired home to deal with so poorly built it needs knocking down and rebuilding..... Too many funerals in the last two years...... My taste in heels has matured a little too. At the time of the WHM it was stiletto heels or nothing. I now wear block heels during the day as they are much less likely to draw attention while out. If it's dark out, I'll be in high-ish stiletto's, most with fairly thin heels. Despite the real threat of them going into cracked pavements. I've been out locally in heels at night with varying success. Noise from heels being the main point of interest to those I'd sooner weren't noticing. [i have a particularly quiet time and place in mind.] More often than not I'm wearing heels in noisy/busy venues were people are usually too wrapped up in themselves to notice my footwear. Sometimes I'll walk where it's not busy or noisy at all, and I just carry on as before. My venues are selected. I have, despite my reduced interest, a continuing pledge to myself that I'll wear heels every and any time I can. I've probably lost 30+ years of heel wearing, and do not want that number to increase. Health and opportunity will make my heel wearing career short enough. In the past, when I was an active member of HHplace, I spent a lot of time enthusing fellow heel wearers to try to wear heels out when they could. I often tried to get groups together to walk out in heels, usually in darkness, though not always so. It's my belief that we all do stuff that is 'normal' for us. I've managed to see wearing girls shoes as normal, or more accurately, "usual". I possibly haven't changed the attitude of a single other person [ie woman] about it, though I've now several people I meet who don't bat an eye when they see me wearing heels, I'm hoping to increase the number as time goes on. There has never been a time in my life I've felt compelled to do something, and not done it. True, there haven't been many of these, but I don't feel frustrated at not being able to do something I want to do. [Living to be 200 years old is likely going to defeat me though. ] For this reason, I've never understood why anyone else would be any different? I'm not being hard arsed about this, I just think our lives are too short to not indulge a core interest. Only yesterday, I was talking to Mrs Freddy about Mr Freddy's funeral arrangements, and what shoes I'm going to wearing in my box. Apparently I've got to sort that one out myself, but it is on the agenda to do. With few exceptions, the "life's too short not to" motivation doesn't appear to have an effect on men who are interested in wearing heels. [Maybe not until their later 'mid life crisis' perhaps?] I'd have to say I've always felt this pressure, since my first 'near miss' in a car accident..... Certainly for me, the thought of being too old or sick to change how I live my life is a constant pressure to live the life I want, rather than lead the life I'd like to have. [The optional parts obviously. Few of us could afford to live on a cruiser sailing around the Mediterranean for most of the year.] I'm evangelising about the benefits of wearing heels obviously, while [still] being fit enough to do it I suppose, and using some of the detail of my own personal journey to illustrate it. So far, even when I've been clearly spotted wearing heels, there's been very very very little adverse reaction. This won't be the case for everyone in every situation, but it would seem the first hurdle [of several] to wearing heels out, is ourselves. Building our lifestyle to accept that wearing heels in public, is normal [usual], is probably the biggest hurdle. This will be because we are are all more comfortable doing things we are familiar with, being places we are familiar with, so less comfortable doing anything for the first time. Or uncomfortable until the change becomes the regular/normal thing to be doing. Has the opportunity to wear heels out lessened the excitement/pleasure of wearing them for me? Possibly a tad, but I still feel wearing heels out is a pleasure I don't want to lose. I just love wearing a heeled shoe. Lastly, I'd say it's got to be easier having a partner who can be supportive in an outdoor adventure, by encouraging or better yet, by taking part. But taking part is a big ask of most women, it's an act of bravery difficult for some men. Good luck to you all. Anyway, the pep talk is over. Reason for edit: Grammar. ....

I think in Olde English parlance, that remark would be known as wisdom. My problem is, I still struggle to wear shoes outside that aren't cheap. So I've got loads of cheaper shoes ...... ....

Not quite sandal boots, but definitely an open toe boot >> River Island << for circa £100. Check out the 360' degree view. Stunning heel.

Or not ...... Seems she works until 8.30pm weekdays, so I'll try to meet her next Thursday instead. Late night shopping in Oxford Street, so I can keep myself busy until she's finished. ....

I have priced up a new camera phone, but not acquired it yet, so no new street pictures. This is a pity, because over the last two weeks, I have missed getting photographs of some quite stunning women in high heels. While it might seem that I could be taking these photo's for less than savoury reasons, I actually take photo's of attractive people, or attractive clothing combo's as much for the topical fashion statement as anything. By way of illustrating this, when I used to spend a lot more time in Camden [when it was easier to park there], I often took photo's of people while walking around. I don't think a single photo of girls with heels? Mostly of goth's or punks if I remember. I still have every photo, and it wasn't unknown for me to ask first about a picture either. Today, I'm in a different age group and younger/trendy people might [understandably] be a bit more suspicious these days. No longer am I the dashing 25 year old that used to sweep women off their feet with a single smile.

Nice plunge. And there was me thinking you were on a tight budget! Well done. Now where's that little 'green-eyed' emoticon when you need it? ....

Weeeeeeell...... I'm in trouble for not contacting her, it seems. Looks like we might be meeting up tomorrow. I'll know for sure in the morning. ....

Could be ........ [This is going to be difficult to explain without pictures.] The length of the curve/rise? Imagine a piece of string cut 12 inches long. Arrange the string so it has 3 inches along a flat, a 45 degree rise of 6 inches, and a further 3 inches flat and parallel with the first 3 inches of string. ...............___ ............./ .........../ ......../ ___/ And produce a shape like this. It's supposed to represent the shape of the shoe, and where your foot sits. Drawing the shape with straight lines means that for a given length and heel height, the shape can only take one form. [The shape I've shown here.] But the shape doesn't have straight lines for the most part, it's a single continuous curve, but for the footbed. [Though I have 3+ pairs of boots with footbeds that curve slightly upward, making the shoe feel even higher.] So lets now make the upward [rise] portion curved, and the heel area curved. It's possible to slightly alter the shape of the whole curve and keep the final position [aka height] at the back of the heel the same by slightly compressing the length of the shoe. The string stays the same overall length, but with the curve being now compressed, the arch feels higher? ..........___ ......../ ....../ .....| ___| This diagram works better with curves, because the 'compression' is more subtle, though maybe our feet will not understand the subtle so well. I think I've worked out how one version/style [like your new boots] of a given shoe size is hard to wear [stand in] and a similar looking style might be much easier to wear [stand in]. Also, that the position of the shoe heel tip to the bottom of the foot heel, can determine whether the shoes are easier to walk in, or more likely to affect the owners walking style. [Affect their gait.] I've two pairs of almost identical shoes that I've shown here before, that look similar, but are completely different to wear and walk in. If I can, I'll try to demonstrate further, by possibly adding a new thread an an appropriate place. But I hope the notion of rise compression as a concept can be understood? .....

>> Picture of the boots << I wore. I'd hoped to add it to the original post [for continuity] but failed to get the picture done in 24 hours. The boots would have cost either £10 or £15 and I have 2 pairs. They don't look anything special but are surprisingly comfortable and easy to wear. And a lot quieter now they have a softer heel tip on them. Unfortunately the PU is a little shiny. Otherwise they would be completely unnoticeable with longer jeans or trousers because of the flat/round toe area. Exactly right. While we sat together, she made comment on the girls with heels so high, the girls couldn't walk naturally in them. [Which is not so unusual if you're not used to wearing higher heels?] She herself was wearing flat leather boots, a good indicator or taste [leather over plastic] but not so promising with style. [No heel at all.] Seems she's eager to please, but as we are aware, these things need to be taken slowly. ....

Why the sore foot? Too high? Pinching? They look GRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!!!! Definitely street wear.

Hmmm. A bit contradictory and I've tried to remedy that with the addition above. Full story ..... Years ago [nearly 30] the 6 people in my immediate social group [which included 2 men and me] all knew about my heel wearing, and the circumstances of it. Several more women knew, but no other men [that I can remember.] Almost without exception [because there was this one night], the only circumstance I wore heels was out to clubs, and with my live in girlfriend. Who, incidentally, went to London and came back with my first pair of stupidly high heels. [bless her.] Of the group, one fella married an American and left the country. The other fella 'disappeared' after a breakdown. One girl I haven't seen for 30 years, and the other two girls (which includes my ex) I see once every 5 or 7 years. And not usually to talk to. I do have two [male] friends I've met more recently who know about my interest in heels. Both were disappointed when I told them, with both expecting 'my interest' to be much more sordid. [Rubber fetish maybe?] One of them mostly lives abroad, and the other is the guy I met up with on Saturday. The men I'm close to, perhaps 3 who I might speak with on a day-to-day or week-on-week basis, do not know about my heel wearing. Given how unconventional my life is, I wouldn't expect anyone that knows me to be too surprised about my heel wearing. Whether they'd ignore it, or spend hours 'taking the micky', I wouldn't be able to say. My money wouldn't be on the 'ignoring' though ..... Hope that clears that up. @Ludovic. Made that call yet bud? .....

Not heard from her again. If I remember, her birthday is this Thursday, 19th January. Looks like I'll have to call her [never a frighteningly successful operation .] Flaky ..... Unreliable .... Just don't come into it. .....

I would think she would have thought he was pulling her leg? She seems very very very well adjusted. He's maybe found himself a very easy going (and intelligent) friend there. Jealous? Moi? It was good, but me, lucky? I wish ..... Had a phone call late this afternoon ...... "Can you give me some technical support"? Seems the 'happy couple' had a bit of a chat, and he'd like to invest in some heels for his friend...... I have cautioned him about this, thinking that maybe he's jumping in a bit soon. [Taking advantage almost, of their willingness to oblige each other in the new bloom of romance? ] Maybe I'm overly concerned he might be pushing a little too enthusiastically for something so early in their relationship? What does The Panel think? I've promised to send him some links to shoes I'd recommend for someone more used to wearing flats. I've also offered to go shoe shopping with them both, if they are interested. [Like I need an excuse? ] Be nice to be out with a group trying on shoes though. More news as it hits the press. .....

It's taken me a little while to 'engineer' it, but me and Mrs Freddy met my mate and his new girlfriend in the West End last night. He and I both knew where he was taking his new friend out, and I expected to be close by with Mrs Freddy. Was nearly a duff night though, as we [the Freddies] set off late having gotten used to Christmas shopping hours, and arrived most places to find doors about to be locked for the night. We did get to walk along Oxford Street though, and visit one or two places of interest. I exchanged a couple of texts with my mate, and nearly joined him at the restaurant he'd chosen to eat at, but herself said in his girlfriends place, she'd 'flip' if disturbed during a romantic night out. So we went off a little further down the road and ordered dinner. A couple more texts and an hour later, they joined us for a drink while we finished our sweet course. Things went surprisingly well, given the opportunity for things to go [badly] wrong. The two girls had never met before, and Mrs Freddy isn't exactly the outgoing type..... My mate and I are both used to talking to the public/customers, which is often people we don't know, so can usually bluster through most situations. Although the restaurant closed early [11pm ] everyone seemed to have had a pleasant time together. I was wearing heels, and the subject was kinda 'forced' by my pal. I knew his girlfriend would have been told. [Why not, it's not like he 'fessed up to wearing them. ] And I'm sure it would have taken up some of the evening debating my style choices..... To be honest, I'd hoped it could be ignored .... not least because I was wearing some inexpensive PU boots from New Look. When discussed, my heels were deemed as 'sensible', and almost a manly Cuban style. [i was wearing the sensible/inexpensive heels because I purposely parked the car nearly a mile away, to walk off our sweet course. If the car was closer, the heels would have been almost an inch higher. Although I've got quite a few pairs, none of them deserve a two mile hike on London pavements.] My mate had me [unsuccessfully] trying to convince his new girlfriend that wearing heels can be comfortable. I said with some honesty, that it was true, but I obviously wasn't convincing enough. While we sat, several girls in very short skirts and heels they couldn't walk in properly, passed the restaurant. The girlfriend pointed out there was no sense in wearing heels you couldn't walk in? I suggested heels that high, aren't usually for walking in. I think she understood. It was all very enjoyable, with no laughs at my expense from anyone, and no shocked looks either. In fact, a pretty regular night out. I'm hoping the long-ish walk after our meal worked off all that sugar in the chocolate sauce I ate with my sweet course. I mentioned while eating it, that on a scale of 1 to 10 on how unhealthy it might be, it would probably be rated as an 11. Was worth all that walking though. .....

Ressssssssult! And a very wearable style, if I may say. ....

And now, not likely to. Larger sizes [7's and 8's] seem to be sold out everywhere. Weird given they don't have a platform, and don't have a very very high stiletto heel ..... But obviously, popular just the same?

I've looked all over, including periodic checks on their web site. Can't find another pair (or even ANY black coloured ones) anywhere I've been. Must have tried at least 7 shops so far ..... .....