FastFreddy2

The lovely Kelly, in high black stiletto courts.

At around 11.30pm tonight, I thought I could hear someone trying to break in downstairs ....... We have had gale force winds here in the UK today, accompanied by torrential rain. Horrible day, though the temperature is mild compared to what is expected for late December. The air pressure outside, is making the seals on the double glazing vibrate as air is pushed past them. The low sound they are making, is a bit spooky. As Mrs Freddy readied for bed, she had a look outside into the dark wet night. The solution to the 'break-in' sounds were revealed. The two 6ft fence panels closest to the house had been blown over, torn away from the house by the gusting wind. I have pulled them close to the house, hopefully away from the wind. I've also parked a number of bricks around the edges of the panels, to help prevent them being lifted. With more of this weather due later in the week, it'll be a little while before I attempt a repair. Looks like the middle support post (of the two panels) has snapped. I am worried about the roof tiles. Bad enough to lose some while windy, disastrous to lose them while suffering monsoon grade rain too.

She's about 30 years old and likes older men? I suppose you mean shoes? A pair of Saint Laurent ankle boots would be great! But at £600 a pop, an unlikely surprise.

Getting into the cinema in heels isn't that difficult, and certainly watching the film isn't a problem. It's leaving the auditorium that's the stressful/risky bit. That and getting through the exit. Arriving and mooching around, there's usually plenty of people about providing cover and noise. On leaving, there's significantly fewer people around, and those that are about are at a high level of awareness. (Just spent 90 minutes watching a film?) So it's getting out, and possibly using the toilet while on the way out, that raises my heart rate.

Thicker heels are the current trend, which I don't mind for myself, as there's less chance of the heels going down cracked pavement. A thinner heel is more attractive though..... I'm hoping to get out over the weekend. Maybe I'll see some high heeled boots while I'm out and about?

Talking to a good friend the other day, I was rather shocked to find he is anti-gay, citing the practice as "unnatural". I countered with some comments, but he said the argument was going nowhere and he had other things to be getting on with, and left. I'm completely indifferent really, and fortunately haven't had much exposure to anyone who feels strongly either way - until a couple of days ago. Alarmingly, he is someone I have been tempted to share my heeling interest with that I won't be tempted to do, after all. It wouldn't be much of a jump required to make 2+2 = 5. And I have few enough friends already, to cause an un-mendable rift with him and his whole family. Really don't understand his attitude.

I've seen a fair number of knee high boots about recently, but very few with a heel. Seems very few women over 35 want to wear a heel these days, and maybe any woman over 25? Might be different in a nightclub where a high heeled boot might be part of the usual clubbing uniform, but I'm no longer privy to such places. Maybe I need to shop at a better class of retailer.

I have to say, I'm not so keen on lending anything I'm fond of, and would be very reluctant to loan my shoes. My walking friend, who used to live in high heels (why we remain friends after 20+ years possibly) lent her work friend some heels. The were a shiny silver coated leather stiletto, for the most part unworn. They were loaned, and returned like they had been used to walk 15 miles across country. I would have flipped. No mention of their condition by the loanee, save a "thanks". My comments are not completely guiltless though. A friend who has been a friend for a very long time, lent me a set square perhaps 30 years ago. I still have it. In fact he saw it the other day, with me using it. I offered it back (not for the first time mind), but as with his previous replies, he declined. Not least because he replaced it many years ago. I don't feel any better for confessing though.

Did you get the boots?

Still waiting for a picture?

Got the second job but .... Having done all the prep work, leaving only the easier simple finish coat painting to do, another two fellas came in and did that easy bit. Only left me with more 'grief' jobs, so I left. Got a third job a couple of weeks ago though, which is keeping me busy. Resized a door, which wasn't part of my painting duties. Did a better job of cutting the door square, than the chippie did, but then I could take my time.[Clamped a guide to the bottom of the door, which given the curved line left by the chippie, he hadn't.] Also worked out why an extractor cover wouldn't close, which the electrician (and owner) couldn't, though it was obvious why? [One corner of the module was pulled away from 'square' because they had used countersunk screws instead of mush(room) heads.] Looks like the unit might be duff anyway, as unless the humidity control is switched off completely, the minimum setting of 40% keeps the fan going forever. This despite there being no water vapour in the room at all, just warm dry air. The Freddy's house refurb is on hold again, much to the disappointment of Mrs Freddy. I finish on this 3rd job, second week in January, if not before. Quite looking forward to doing some in my own home, which is a feeling I haven't had for some time. I'm wondering if I should start painting as a business....

Collected the repaired/renovated/upgraded wheels. The rear one has a problem, and I eventually posted it back to the fella who did the work, trying to save myself another 110 mile round trip via car. He says there's nothing wrong with it, but ...... Listen especially between 9 and 12 seconds. Forget the clack of the pawls. Look at the vibration, and listen for background clonk on every revolution. Mrs Freddy can hear it (in the flesh). The wheel builder can't...... I have to visit after all.

I bought a brand new version of the 'other' bike for £800 delivered. Slightly large for me, but riser bars should help with that. The original sticker price was £1599, so quite a good reduction I thought? Plus I get the full warranty included. All I need now, is some dry weather. It's an all-weather bike, but it doesn't (yet) have an all-weather owner.

Well, the film "White House Down" came and went. But managed to get to the last showing of "Gravity" in 3D at the local cinema. Wore heels, but not stiletto's. Was (as usual) very wet, and fairly cold outside too, so wore some boots made of PU. Our particular theatre wasn't very busy, nor was the venue when we left. I always feel I should have been more adventurous after a visit there, but I'm not good at tempting fate. It usually responds well to the challenge. The first time I go in a thin heel, we'll be sitting next to some neighbours.

More accurately; Excessive Compulsive Collectors. A programme that includes a woman who has amassed a collection of circa 2,000 pairs of shoes. [uK] Channel 5, Wednesday 18th December at 8pm. Probably on Demand 5 if you miss it. (I will.) Thanks for the heads up.

The search for a replacement high heeled stiletto court continues ..... This looks the part but ...... Suede! ..... and the price tag. I've seen them close up though. Absolutely stunning heel. Perfect shape!

I don't know him so I shouldn't criticise, but doesn't sound an 'endearing' fellow ......

Seems like something has happened,and something serious/major? I hadn't thought of someone else being involved. Perhaps a husband? There's obviously some more to this .......

Possibly, she didn't want to hurt your feelings? I have an ex-girlfriend who feels the same way. She wants (all) her memories of me to be as the macho-man she had her relationship with. Your sister feeling this way is pretty bad news, in that we all hope we can count on our family for a little support, if not out-and-out encouragement. While talking to a fellow on another forum, he mentioned to me, that homosexuality seems to be significantly more acceptable than cross-dressing. Or to be more specific, homosexuality in both sexes is significantly more acceptable than men wearing womens attire. 'Peculiar' since homosexuality used to be a criminal offence (and still is in many countries), but men wearing a heel was once a fashionable sign of wealth? I suppose I perceive the crossing or the blurring of normal (defined) sexuality as a sliding scale with "macho-man" at one end, with man-in-heels right next to him, and homosexual transvestite (T/S candidate) at the other end. Obviously others (your sister, my ex-girlfriend) would have us much further up that sliding scale than I would place us. So, while doing something you like may be perfectly legal, it doesn't mean it comes without prejudice of course. Just because men can sleep with men legally now, doesn't mean everyone fully accepts it. Hoteliers, are still being prosecuted for discrimination in 2012/2013. People still find a man wearing a heel, either shocking or amusing. Only last night while walking around Westfield White City, I overhead (I think) a girl working on what could be a cosmetics counter in The Village, tell her colleague to "look at that bloke mumble mumble" as I walked past. I walked a few more paces and turned, to find the talker looking in my direction, but not her colleague. They must see 1000 people an hour walk past them. I saw a Nicki Minaj look-a-like, (convinced me), and another black girl wearing grey high heeled OTK (thigh) boots. [shopping?] Two tall white girls who could have been fashion models ..... All worthy of a comment, but me? Some folk need to get a life, or some experience of one.

HoF finally got me at the end of phone last night. Had a nice chat with the Oxford Street Deputy Store Manager. As predicted, as nice as the chap was, he's not in a position to change anything. He fully agreed the in-store returns procedure was significantly more difficult than every other store, and he agreed it was significantly easier to buy than to return. BUT, other than push my complaint upward as a recommendation, there's nothing else he could do for me. I pointed out to him I had written perhaps 18 emails to various [4 individuals I know of] which had taken some considerable time, and I had sat waiting for a call for 2 hours too. All to get the result I had expected "I can't do anything about it". He also recognised the returns procedure was likely a turn off for customers too. And agreed my point, it's in his interest to get more sales, not put people off. I mentioned HoF sell Phase Eight clothing, as do John Lewis. Why would I buy-to-try (at home) from HoF when returning to John Lewis is so much easier, if I need to make a return? (Plus J.L. do 90 day returns!) I've been promised an update if there is one, but HoF is no longer the icon (to me) it used to be.

Tried to visit the West End (London) last Saturday. Was madness! Couldn't get parked anywhere near the shops, and roads to/from busy busy busy. Christmas must be on the way? Am going up to Oxford Street tonight to have a look around. We have lost our British Summer Time clock adjustment, so it's all but dark at 5pm, and definitely dark by 6. As I'll be getting parked around 6.30pm, it'll be dark/dark so I'll be out in a higher heel. One protected so if it goes down a crack in the pavement, damage should be minimal. Westfield White City is on my avoid list at the moment. While they fancy £2-50 an hour parking is okay, I don't. Better than the West End sure, but it isn't the West End. They had made a discounted parking deal of £5 week days and £8 weekends for all day, and I have taken advantage of the £5 deal a couple of times. As it's close to Christmas, the same deal is now £6 and £9 respectively. I doubt they'll be seeing much of me there. Lakeside, or better still Bluewater, still free parking anytime and for as long as you like. Sales usually start Christmas week.

Received an email last night saying my phone number don't work. I missed a call at 7.46pm, as the caller put the phone down as I picked it up. Seems this was the deputy store manager ringing. I'd written back to mention the 2 hour slot booked today (Thursday), and maybe let the phone ring a little longer..... So I've sat down doing not much else and waited for a phone call, from 10am to 12 noon as proposed. No call. My email count now up to 16 or so, with 2 hours completely wasted. If there was ever any chance or a goodwill gesture to make me feel better about the whole thing (not my reason for complaining), we must be up at the "free week's holiday" level by now? Seriously, I'm surprised HoF are getting it so wrong!

Have heard back from HoF, after prompting them with a further email. Apparently, a manager at the store has made some attempt to get in touch via telephone. No evidence of it here, so .... ? My email count is up to about 14 so far. Think I'm wasting my time, but who knows. I've said I will wait by the telephone tomorrow, and have given them a 2 hour slot to ring. Not sure why anyone wants to talk to me? They've said they're sorry for the inconvenience, and the trouble I've had getting a suitable response from their complaints department. I've made it plain, all I want from the situation, is an easier in-store returns procedure. It's either changing (unlikely) or it isn't (very likely). Can't I be given this news via email? Especially since it's a route that works. [unlike the telephone calls they allege to have tried. ] More soon.

Heard back from the £1600 bike sellers. They'd downgraded their minimum price from £1500, to £1350. Given a second, nearly identical bike to theirs has appeared on an auction site for £850, I also downgraded my offer too. For those with poor math skills, there's a £500 difference between their minimum price, and the second bike offered for sale. Waaaay too much for any realistic chance of a compromise, so I've suggested they get £500's worth of use out of their bike, before trying to sell it on (at a price the market would see favourably). I am still thinking about the 'other' £850 bike. It's not on an auction site, and it's sitting about 120 miles away.

10 days ago I took my bike wheels with rusty spokes to a specialist to have them all replaced with black stainless spokes. A mix up with pricing (by specialist) means I'm getting re-spoked wheels at a stunningly cheap price. Sort of. He doesn't like the hubs I supplied (though used for less than 100 miles) so I've sprung for new hubs at £35. The bargain wheels are not so bargain priced now, but will still be cheaper than other hand built wheels. The price will be about the same as a new machine built wheel, but handbuilt ones are generally considered to be stronger. I hope to get them back on Saturday. Getting a bit fed up seeing my bike sitting on the saddle and bars, looking like a dead bug.