Instructions Not Included

Yesterday, I 'thrilled' you all with the rather overly long story of my day out in Blackpool. However, there was a little side story that a missed out of that account. So I thought that I would share that with you all today.

So, something that tends to happen at competitions, is that various vendors will come to try and sell you their wares. In the past, I've tried not go and look at them, because they'll make me want to spend money that I really don't have. However, this time, you had to walk past the stalls in order to get to practice space, and to the toilets, so of course I ended up having a look. 

The stall I come to is a discount dancewear retailer. And they're having a clearance sale. This is really dangerous. I checked out the costumes, and there were several that I liked, and technically could afford, but I decided not to try anything on, because then I would be sure to buy something. But then I saw a pair of wider fitting shoes, on sale. Since I'd actually been thinking of getting a new pair of shoes, as the ones that I've been using are getting a bit worn out on the sides. 

So I'm talking with the woman running the stall, and I'm umming and ahhing a bit over whether to buy them, mostly because I'm generally really tight when it comes to my money. I hate spending money, because, well then I haven't got it to fall back on. Then she suggests that I ask my mum for the money (a suggestion that never sits well with me when people say it), because "exercise will stop you from getting diabetes in the future".

Well, ok then!

I didn't really know how to react. I wanted to just laugh in her face - I wasn't sure whether to be narked off or not. 

"Well, actually, I have Type 1 Diabetes, so...."

Watching her try to dig herself out of this hole she'd created was, shall we say, interesting? I didn't try to embarrass her, but she couldn't stop apologising. Ouch, it was rather painful to watch. It was clearly one of those moments where trying to advocate would be lost, because she just wouldn't stop apologising, and I couldn't get a word in edgeways. So I just told her it was all ok, and did she take card?

She did take card.

I think that human beings universally like to talk about the weather - it's a very 'safe' topic. It can also be a very boring topic as well. However, it is warm, and I know many people (including myself) have pointed this one out recently. It is true though. 

Warm weather is pretty much the only non-black tie reason that I will break out skirts and dresses. I don't own many, because I hate my legs. Nothing shorter than just above the knee either, because nobody needs to see that!

Skirts and dresses however, tend to mean no trainers. No shoes that, however comfy they might be, are ugly as sin. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I hate shoes. I hate shopping for shoes, I hate pretty much everything about them. This is mainly because I have ridiculously wide, fat feet. I can never find any shoes to fit properly. So if I find a pair of shoes that work, I generally buy them in bulk. Problem is though, that I never have any nice ones to wear with dresses. I only really wear flats, unless I'm wearing a really smart dress. 

Flip flops? Wore my only pair into work this evening (where I am writing this as a show goes on upstairs!) , and I now have scraped up and blistered feet. Luckily I thought this might happen, and put my only pair of ballet pumps left that aren't rubbing me either, in my bag. Yet these are still rubbing me, because once my feet are blistered, that's it for the day.

As best I understand it, blisters, and shoes that rub the hell out of you aren't the best of ideas. Yet I can't find a solution to this problem. I don't want to wear my big, ugly, boiling hot winter shoes. It's warm, I'm warm, and I want something light and pretty that isn't going to cause me tremendous pain.

Is this so much to ask, really?

For a woman who claims to not care about shoes, I do seem to post about them a hell of a lot! But here's a little story. Once upon a time (yesterday), it was raining, and muddy and just a bit miserable. I wore my wellies...

Then I realised the wonder that is Compeed Blister Plasters:

And the blisters were protected and started to heal. I decided to ignore the 'consult your doctor if diabetic before use', because I really doubt he'd be too impressed if I called up about that. And despite the fact these plasters are unbelievably expensive, they make the totally nasty pain feel better. Which is good, and makes me happy.

And they (me, my plasters, and both my feet) lived happily ever after. The end!