On contemplating one's slippers

I think one of my favourite presents this year was this pair of slippers from my Mum.  They come from a cottage industry in Snowdonia.  Hand-crocheted and every pair unique, she had them made in TARDIS blue as the 'main' colour as it were.  They are lined with Snowdonian sheep wool and have non-slippery suede leather soles.   My mum is a firm advocate (I always want to say avocado!) of handmade presents like this from small sellers and they are so comfortable, my feet feel like they are receiving a hug when I put them on.

It's funny because as a child, I wanted nothing on my feet. I would wander around in bare feet and in our non-centrally heated house, would nestle close to the expensive fan heater with my feet pressed against it, but I refused to put socks and slippers on.

Now, I cannot live without my slippers, summer of winter.  They have to be proper boot style or proper shoe- preferably sheepskin.  My slippers are my workhorses and I will use each pair for years.

Up until this Christmas, I was using my old sheepskin slippers. I have a lot of affection for them.  CBC was taking part in the Somerset Sportif, some 100mile cycle ride.  We stayed near Wookey Hole. I had made my own plans for that day.  I made my way to Cheddar Gorge where I had the most wonderful experience potholing in the secret caves there. Except perhaps partially for canoeing, it's the one outdoor pursuit that I have no fear of. I delight in crawling through tight spaces in the dark, not knowing what is coming next. In fact, I think that's what I like about it. As someone who has a great fear of heights and fast activities (though I have made myself do them) I love the slow pace of it.  It was a very muddy experience despite the boiler suits we wore and I was rather wet and stained with the clay of the caves. As I finished in the caves and went to climb Jacob's Ladder and visit all the other experiences, it started raining. I was drenched to the core of me.   Feeling rather woebegone, I entered into one of the Cheddar gorge shops and it was destiny that I found the only pair of size 8 sheepskin slippers and they were on sale. Solid heeled booties, they have served me since that time. It's a shame that they still have strong heels but they have massive holes in the toes- I'm not sure if I couldn't get them sewn up or not, but I have staunchly worn them since them.

Before that, my previous pair, bought in Hereford when I was there for the weekend singing in the cathedral for the services (I used to sing with a deputising cathedral choir), they too lasted half a decade- from Steadman and Simpson, they were knee high! But this better not become my history of slippers or I shall lose you.

I shall end with saying,it's funny something I shunned for so many years should be something that I treasure and use for years-even though in all other aspects of my wardrobe, I will buy many duplicates, too many really (let's use the example of brooches), my slippers are my long term friends.

As I move from brown sheepskin to Joseph's technicolour dream slippers, long may they adorn my feet!

I know it's a bit of random topic to blog on but it's my blog so thus, bizarre witterings are a matter of course.

What's your slipper story?

xxx