My foot's hurting like a b*stard today!

The sodding thing!  I want to screw it off and leave it somewhere out of my sight.  I knew it was going to misbehave this morning as soon as I got out of bed.  I got the grumps as a result, but felt better once the painkillers had kicked in.  I have no idea what's aggravated the pain today - sometimes it doesn't need a reason; it seems to have a mind of it's own.

It would be the day when I want to wear something different for work too. We're have a leaving 'do' for our lovely boss who's moving jobs and we're convening straight after work.  I had  my heart set on wearing a dress, just a simple thing from Next, with my black jacket.  I don't wear dresses very often, but I'm heartily sick of trousers therefore today I just wanted to look a bit different.  I don't have any shoes that are suitable to wear with the dress - all my shoes are trainers.  But, I do have a gorgeous pair of black suede knee boots
like these......

.....it's a good job they are wide enough to take the ankle support.  No one can see it either, so I look as normal as the next person.  Until I start to waddle!

Baby Boomer - that's me. Is it you too?

Today I discovered this wonderful website called BoomerCafe.com which is chockablock with interesting features, stories and comments about the Baby Boomer generation.

I'm submitting a narrative for their "What's Your Story?" and I'm living in hopes it will be published.  They just want approx 300 words and mine ended up at 388.  They need two photo's as well, so now I'm scrabbling round trying to find some  of the correct size.  And flattering enough. This could take some time.

In the meantime, I was rather taken with their feature on growing old gracefully.  It has a picture of George Clooney as its header.  He's enough to draw me in anywhere!   However, it's countered by an absolutely dreadful picture of Jodie Marsh heading the piece about wearing too much make up.

Here it is in its entirety....................

Navigate to ... Boomer Lifestyle Travel & Leisure Health & Fitness Money & Work Retirement Books

Want To Age Gracefully? Avoid These 7 Things

• CAFE 
• JANUARY 25, 2014 
• HEALTH & FITNESS 
• 2 REPLIES

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Aging gracefully and slowly is partly influenced by our genes. But we have a direct influence on the process by the environment we create in our lives. Aging gracefully is partly in our control.

George Clooney, now in his early 50s and a baby boomer.

The lucky ones – people like actor George Clooney – seem to be getting better and better with each passing year, like a fine wine while some are just learning by trial and error.

The graceful agers aren’t aging better, they’re just aging smarter — and the secret isn’t necessarily in what they’re doing. It’s in what they aren’t doing. As life expectancy continues to increase across the globe, there’s no time like now to look and feel better.

Lucky for you we’ve rounded up some of the things the graceful agers are avoiding. And, feel free to share your graceful aging tips with us in comments!

1. Wearing too much makeup.

As you age, you might be tempted to overdo the makeup to emulate a more youthful appearance. But there’s nothing attractive about cakey foundation or spidery lashes. Makeup should only enhance your natural beauty not mask it. Mireille Guiliano, the author of “French Women Don’t Get Facelifts” stresses the importance of keeping your makeup clean and natural. “Stop trying to dress like your daughter or younger self … go lighter on the makeup.”

2. Consuming too much salt.

High blood pressure is one of many conditions whose likelihood increases with age. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans over 60 have high blood pressure according to the NIH. A high sodium diet is a trigger. And since aging gracefully isn’t just about your outside, we want to keep our insides healthy as well.

3. Negativity.

“I stay away from negative people, places and things. I always look positive, and am thankful for what I have,” centenarian Daisy McFadden told Forbes. But don’t just take Daisy’s word for it. Numerous studies have shown that positive people are less prone to mental decline and lead happier lives.

4. Watching too much TV.

Getting a little too comfortable on the couch is unhealthy at any age, but particularly as you get older. Not only will valuable time slip right through your fingers and before your eyes, but you may be shortening your life. An Australian study found that for every hour of TV watched after age 25, people lose 22 minutes from their life expectancy. If that wasn’t bad enough, watching TV makes you vulnerable to several other aging pitfalls like a sedentary lifestyle and social isolation.

5. Excessive sun exposure.

To some extent there’s no avoiding the lines and wrinkles that accompany aging. But if you’re getting too many rays without protection, you may be severely damaging your skin. Studies have shown applying sunscreen can protect your skin from wrinkles, sun spots, and loss of firmness or elasticity.

6. Stress.

Life will always have its stresses, from family to work to finances. It’s unavoidable and can cause a barrage of health problems like sleeplessness, depression, and heart disease. Some studies suggest stress can make you appear up to 10 years older. But people aging gracefully have learned to manage their stress. Whether it’s meditation, exercise, or just taking a couple minutes for yourself everyday to unplug from technology and walk away from your desk, it’s highly beneficial for your insides and outsides to learn to tame your stress.

7. Overindulging.

Sure you should live a little and enjoy the occasional indulgence. But moderation is key in aging gracefully. For some people smoking cigarettes regularly turns skin leathery.  Whatever your vice may be, whether it’s alcohol, fatty foods, sweets, or even soda, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Eating a high fat diet, consuming excess sugar, and not getting enough exercise are all culprits. A poor diet can also increase free radicals in your body, which can damage your DNA and age you.

[Source: HuffPost50.]

My domestic day

I get Tuesdays off work which is great.  Normally I like to get out and about with my camera and do a bit of gentle walking.  My foot is really quite comfortable in my hiking boots because there's plenty of support.

Today however, has been proper dismal with husband's mood to match.  I've switched off from him muttering and grumbling to himself as he frustratedly bangs the keyboard of our desk PC housed in one of the bedrooms.  I suspect there's a spreadsheet involved, so that is definitely my cue to bugger off out.

I went for a self indulgent facial with the intention of calling at Morrison's on the way back for cake ingredients.  While the facial was wonderful and I was all relaxed and away with the fairies, my hair having being tied up in a headband, was sticking up uncontrollably at bizarre angles. I hunted frantically in my bag for a hairbrush but it was at home in my work bag.  I ran my fingers through it hoping to restore some law and order but I still looked like a scarecrow.  Hoping not to bump into anyone I knew in the supermarket I hastily shopped for my cake stuff and went home.  Husband in slightly better mood when I arrived, so clearly the spreadsheet behaved itself.

Anyway, here's the recipe.  It's been done and now out of the oven, smelling absolutely gorgeous! I have The National Trust to thank for this.

Lyveden Courgette, Lime and Ginger Cake

• Serves:8
• Preparation time:30 minutes
• Cooking time:50 minutes

Try this recipe yourself

Ingredients

• 12oz Self Raising Flour
• 2 Tsp ginger
• 9oz Caster Sugar
• 3 Eggs
• 6 Tbsp Sunflower Oil
• Zest of 1 ½ limes (finely grated)
• Juice of 1 lime
• 9oz Courgettes (coarsely grated)
• 2 Tsp baking powder

Topping
• 14oz Icing Sugar (sifted)
• 3 Tbsp Lime juice
• Rind of ½ lime (finely grated)

Method

To make a 9” cake (serves 12 to 14)

Preheat oven to Gas Mark 4, 180C. Grease a 9” cake tin. Dust with flour and tap out the excess. Line the base with greaseproof paper.

Sift the flour, baking powder and ginger into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar with a wooden spoon. Put the eggs, oil, lime zest and juice into a separate bowl and pour over the flour mixture. Stir until well blended. Add to this the grated courgettes, taking care not to over mix. Spoon the mixture into the cake tin and level the surface.

Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a warm skewer inserted comes out of the cake clean. Transfer the tin to a wire rack to cool slightly. Turn out the cake onto the wire rack and leave to cool completely.

For the topping, combine the icing sugar with the lime juice and zest. Spread over the top of the cake allowing it to drizzle down the sides.

Heard on the London Underground...............

I got this from a friend in an email today. I've cried with laughing at it, so I figured it was rude not to share it. Here you are, I hope you enjoy as much as I did.................. 


HEARD ON THE LONDON UNDERGROUND

A list of actual announcements that London Tube train drivers have made to their passengers... 

 1) 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I do apologize for the delay to your service. I know you're all dying to get home, unless, of course, you happen to be married to my ex-wife, in which case you'll want to cross over to the Westbound and go in the opposite direction.' 

 2) 'Your delay this evening is caused by the line controller suffering from E & B syndrome: not knowing his elbow from his backside. I'll let you know any further information as soon as I'm given any.' 

 3) 'Do you want the good news first or the bad news? The good news is that last Friday was my birthday and I hit the town and had a great time. The bad news is that there is a points failure somewhere between Mile End and East Ham, which means we probably won't reach our destination.' 

 4) 'Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the delay, but there is a security alert at Victoria station and we are therefore stuck here for the foreseeable future, so let's take our minds off it and pass some time together. All together now.... 'Ten green bottles, hanging on a wall.....'.' 

 5) 'We are now travelling through Baker Street ... As you can see, Baker Street is closed. It would have been nice if they had actually told me, so I could tell you earlier, but no, they don't think about things like that'. 

 6) 'Beggars are operating on this train. Please do NOT encourage these professional beggars. If you have any spare change, please give it to a registered charity. Failing that, give it to me.' 

 7) During an extremely hot rush hour on the Central Line, the driver announced in a West Indian drawl: 'Step right this way for the sauna, ladies and gentleman... unfortunately, towels are not provided.' 

 8) 'Let the passengers off the train FIRST!' (Pause ) 'Oh go on then, stuff yourselves in like sardines, see if I care - I'm going home....' 

 9) 'Please allow the doors to close. Try not to confuse this with 'Please hold the doors open.' The two are distinct and separate instructions.' 

 10) 'Please note that the beeping noise coming from the doors means that the doors are about to close. It does not mean throw yourself or your bags into the doors.' 

 11) 'We can't move off because some idiot has their hand stuck in the door.' 

 12) 'To the gentleman wearing the long grey coat trying to get on the second carriage -- what part of 'stand clear of the doors' don't you understand?' 

 13) 'Please move all baggage away from the doors.' (Pause..) 'Please move ALL belongings away from the doors.' (Pause...) 'This is a personal message to the man in the brown suit wearing glasses at the rear of the train: Put the pie down, four-eyes, and move your bloody golf clubs away from the door before I come down there and shove them up your ar*e sideways!' 

 14) 'May I remind all passengers that there is strictly no smoking allowed on any part of the Underground. However, if you are smoking a joint, it's only fair that you pass it round the rest of the carriage.' 

__._,_.___

With regard to No 14, I've heard that can be a good painkiller.  Not that I'd know.  Should I add it to a list of alternative therapies?  I'm just asking! :-D

The pain - to drug or not to drug? That is the question!

In view of the fact that me and my foot are currently getting nowhere with the NHS, I've had to resort to painkillers. 

Over time my GP has prescribed a range of them from simple paracetamol, through to codeine, ibuprofen, and Tramadol.  None of which work very successfully.  I had to stop the ibuprofen as it gave me stomach acid, and the Tramadol just made me feel nauseous.  Codeine for some reason has no effect whatsoever. 

However, I thought I'd found a breakthrough with the paracetamol when one morning while in a hurry to get to work, I inadvertently took two with my coffee instead of water.  I spent all that day being relatively pain free and was overjoyed to think that at last I'd found some temporary relief.

Subsequent doses produced the same level of relief so I thought I was on to a winner, until I did some research.  The long term implications of paracetamol and caffeine look dismal.  I already have CKD3 (chronic kidney disease level 3 which is fairly low level), so I really should be treating any drug I take with extreme caution.  The implications for the liver are even worse.  I've linked HERE to an article in The Daily Mail so you can read for yourselves what happens.  I have to say it makes alarming reading for anyone who has to take pankillers regularly.

I can't possibly spend the rest of my life swallowing pills on a daily basis, and reading that article has highlighted how much of a stink I now need to kick up with the NHS over the lack of treatment of my foot.  Seemingly it's the root cause of a lot of things, beginning with balance problems, the stress it's causing my hip, and before long it will impact my lower back and my knees.  Before the last two things happen I HAVE to get my foot sorted out.

For weeks now I've been having acupuncture in an attempt to control the hip pain.  This is £30 an hour, and as the weeks wear on the cost is eating into my small income; and it's debatable whether it's doing much.  The day of the treatment sees me very comfortable, and with a slight spring in my step waddle, but the following days feel as if I'm back to square one.  I'm sure this is not the fault of the acupuncturist. I think it's because my problems are complex and need trial and error sessions before we hit on the right path.

In the meantime, I met with a friend today who is a sports masseur.  She gave me a thorough going over and suggested that when I have  my hospital appointment next month I explain to the consultant that my Tensor Fasciae Latae (yeah I know, here's a link!) seem to be affected.  We talked at length abut the impact one affected area has on another, and it seems I am lucky that my knees aren't affected already.

So, on this informative note dear readers (I'm assuming you read this far!) I'm off to find you some Simon's Cat on You Tube to release a few endorphins with a good chuckle!

Who can resist baby laughter?

I can't, for one!

Get this little guy, sharing a joyous moment with his dad.  I defy you NOT to laugh along with him.

A good laugh releases those all important endorphins which help us to ignore pain.  I found this article that explains more.........

***************************

Why Laughter May Be the Best Pain Medicine

Laughter with friends releases endorphins, the brain's "feel-good" chemicals

Sep 14, 2011 |By Jennifer Welsh and LiveScience

 
 Image: Dreamstime

 

Laughing with friends releases feel-good brain chemicals, which also relieve pain, new research indicates.

Until now, scientists haven't proven that like exercise and other activities, laughing causes a release of so-called endorphins.

"Very little research has been done into why we laugh and what role it plays in society," study researcher Robin Dunbar, of the University of Oxford, said in a statement. "We think that it is the bonding effects of the endorphin rush that explain why laughter plays such an important role in our social lives."

Chuckle it up
Dunbar and colleagues thought our guffaws might turn on the brain's endorphins, a long debated, but unproven idea. These pain-relieving chemicals are created in response to exercise, excitement, pain, spicy food, love and sexual orgasm, among other things.

In addition to giving us a "buzz," these endorphins raise our ability to ignore pain. So the researchers used the endorphins' pain relief to determine if laughter causes an endorphin release. They first tested participants for their pain threshold, then exposed them to either a control or a laugh-inducing test, and then tested pain levels again.

The tests included humorous videos (clips of the TV shows "Mr. Bean" and "Friends") and a live comedy show during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Because laughter is such a social activity (it's 30 times more likely to happen in a social context than when alone), the participants were tested both in groups and alone.

The lab-based pain tests included wrapping a participant's arm in a frozen wine-cooling sleeve or a blood-pressure cuff. The pain tests were administered until the patient said they couldn't take it anymore. At the live shows, the researchers tested pain by having participants squat against a wall until they collapsed.

Why laughter releases endorphins
Across all tests, the participants' ability to tolerate pain jumped after laughing. On average, watching about 15 minutes of comedy in a group increased pain threshold by 10 percent. Participants tested alone showed slightly smaller increases in their pain threshold.

"When laughter is elicited, pain thresholds are significantly increased, whereas when subjects watched something that does not naturally elicit laughter, pain thresholds do not change (and are often lower)," the authors write in the paper. "These results can best be explained by the action of endorphins released by laughter."

The researchers believe that the long series of exhalations that accompany true laughter cause physical exhaustion of the abdominal muscles and, in turn, trigger endorphin release. (Endorphin release is usually caused by physical activity, like exercise, or touch, like massage.)

 The study was published  (Sept. 13) in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

© 2011 TechMediaNetwork.com. All rights reserved.

Followers and Lurkers

I hope you're all having a great weekend!  Mine's going petty well so far and will be topped off nicely with a meal out with cousins this evening.

Anyway, very chuffed with my blog stats.  In less than a week I've got two followers, but have also noticed several 'lurkers' which is lovely.  It seems the blog is getting noticed across in the States too.  I have a Clustrmaps at the bottom of the blog so I can see where my readers are from and it looks like they are coast to coast.  That's so exciting for me and I thought I'd share that with you.

I'd love some comments on my posts, even if you're only stopping by to say hello.  Pretty please?

Right then - about my foot!

Right then folks, up to now I've not said much about what ails my foot.  I've hinted at the pain levels so I figure because a lot of this blog will be dedicated to the sodding thing, I best get on and tell you all about it.

First of all, the main reason for starting this blog is because I know damn well there has to be other people out there with the same or similar problem.  If I can get plenty of followers, someone amongst them will be able to relate or empathise.  Maybe we can help each other because it's good to feel you aren't alone with your problem.

My foot started being painful about 6 years ago.  It began with a dull ache underneath which the podiatrist told me was Plantar Fasciitis; a common problem and easily managed.  I was given insoles, and even after months of wear none provided any relief.   They were all too hard, or filled my shoes too much making them tight and uncomfortable.  Sadly they are now in a neat, but unused pile in my wardrobe.

Eventually I found some in Boots similar to THESE . The ones shown here are full insoles and mine were half ones but they are from the same range.  The level of comfort they brought was far greater than any from the podiatrist, and I think it's because they were made from really firm foam, and not hard plastic.  You see, I have a fallen arch too, resulting in my foot being completely flat.  In turn this makes it extra wide.  The orthotics from the podiatrist seemed to be in just a standard width fitting and eventually chafed like hell, making sore spots that bled.  On top of the foot pain, I didn't need bloody chafing.  Or to coin a delightful northern expression - chuffing chafing!  Therein lies a whole new blog post on a completely different form of chafing ;-)  There I go, digressing again!

I revisited my GP on several occasions until I finally got him to agree to a hospital referral.  Various appointments at orthopaedics over the last 3 years have still not resolved anything.  They suggested to me that steroid injections may bring some relief but of course they couldn't guarantee the success.  I was happy to try and had two injections last year.  Nothing worked.  Not even for a day!

My walking oddly because of my foot always hurting has brought about another painful problem.  My right hip.  So left foot, right hip both painful.  Result?   You got it - the Penguin's Waddle!

This is where the grumpiness sets in.  An occasional pain, like a toothache or a headache doesn't have a massive impact.  Years of constant pain does so I can now forgive anyone for being a grump as a result of pain.  So, on bad days, which I seem to have a lot of at the moment, walking any distance is not only desperately uncomfortable, but can actually stop me in my tracks due to either the foot or the hip having a spasm.   When it passes, I can carry on for a few hundred yards until it happens again.  I hide it quite well I think.  Most people who know me are aware of this rolling gait, but I don't always say WHY I need to stop walking.  I'll use a multitude of reasons for stopping, such as pausing to look at a notice for example; or looking for the singing bird in the trees, a shop window maybe, and I'm ALWAYS glad to see a friend coming towards me to stop briefly for a chat.  I ABSOLUTELY hate moaning about the pain.  I feel that once I unleashed it, I'd never stop!  And everyone hates a moaner don't they?  Come on, be honest, you do don't you?  You'll say otherwise I know you will, because I do it too, but you hate it all the same.

Anyway, moaning doesn't make the pain go away.  Swearing does a bit, but generally dwelling on it makes it worse, so the best thing for me is to quit the expletives, shut up and find a distraction. Carol E Wyer is a brilliant novelist for 'ladies of a certain age' and has provided me with the welcome distractions I need, plus laughter which is so therapeutic.   Her books are enormous fun, together with stuff I can relate to.  Maybe you can too.  Oh, and I also read erotic filth.  That's also a great distraction. And fun.

I have a hospital appointment for a second opinion due next month.  I daren't even allow myself to be even cautiously optimistic until after I've seen this new consultant, but I'm willing to give him a try as he's an actual foot specialist where the other chap I saw is a general orthopaedic consultant.  If the problem with my foot is properly treatable, and I could walk more normally surely will take some of the stress from my hip.

In the meantime, I'm off to have a distracting read..............................

See you soon xxxx

Grumpydrawers husband

I'm not intending to say much about Mr Grumpydrawers who, from now on will be referred to as K.  He'll feature from time to time if only as a further reason for me to moan, grumble, and generally go-off-on-one!

He's a great bloke with a rather distorted sense of humour, and quite honestly does make me laugh out loud from time to time.  Like when he presented me with THIS.....................

Yes, I forgave him!

Am I REALLy a grumpy old bag?

The answer to that is a definite yes.  Well sometimes.  Not all the time.  I'd even stretch that to ....hmmm, maybe 30% yes, leaving a jolly 70% of non-grumpiness. 

That's not to say I'm not in pain all the time because I am.  The grumpiness percentage hinges on what level of pain I'm in.

Unless I'm asleep. 

Which I do a lot. 

It's almost a hobby, me having a nap. 

It's the first thing I do after my evening meal. 

I enthrone myself in my favourite armchair, a modern soft leather recliner which at the touch of a button on the side, throws me backwards and lifts my legs and feet.  The moment it settles into it's maximum recline, my breathing becomes steadier, my aches subside and my eyelids droop, then close as I give in to temporary unconsciousness. 

Twenty minutes is all it takes to recharge my batteries.  In that respect I'm quicker to recharge than my mobile!

Even as a kid, after school I needed a power nap before I could face homework or indeed anything else later in the day.  I've never  been sure why my mind and body need to 'shut up the shop' for a  quick snooze, but I've hurtled through life with this need and I can't see it changing now.

At work, it's been a bit of an embarrassment.  I know a lot of people who have to fight sleepiness in work meetings and presentations.  It happens, but it's a bit bloody much for it to set in when when my boss paused for a few seconds while dictating.  As he resumed, his voice jolted me out of my reverie, resulting in my pencil skidding up the paper and shooting off the end of the notebook.  I can tell you I was pretty mortified at that one!  It manifests as a buzzing fuzziness in my head when my brain is not concentrating or has nothing to do, nothing to think about, nothing to be responsible for.  It thinks it's under stimulated if it's not activated, so seemingly in a fit of pique decides to chuck it's toys out of the pram and flounce off in a huff! 

Try as I might I can't control it when it does this, much to the amusement of colleagues and annoyance of my family.  I can actually fall asleep anywhere, at parties, on buses, trains, and certainly as a passenger in the car.  If I'm the driver it's never a problem which is how I worked out about the under stimulation thing.  I also noticed in work situations that if I was presenting or contributing to a meeting I was perky and alert.  I don't suppose I'll ever get to the bottom of this 'problem' so I'll stick with the conclusion  that under stimulation is the factor.  Heaven help me as I get older - I'll be asleep all day long unless I find myself a whole plethora of stimulating hobbies.  Or a toy-boy.

Anyway, I digress.....

Ministry of Funny Walks, anyone?

Waddling gait
Type: Term
Definitions:
1. rolling gait in which the weight-bearing hip is not stabilized; it bulges outward with each step, while the opposite side of the pelvis drops, resulting in alternating lateral trunk movements; due to gluteus medius muscle weakness, and seen with muscular dystrophies, among other disorders.

*****************

I walk like a penguin.  No kidding - I do!  I seem to roll from side to side, no longer able to walk at a brisk pace.  I lag behind my daughters when we're out, struggling to keep up, and feeling very much the old woman that I'm actually not.  OK, I'm 63 but that's not old in today's terms.  My brain thinks it's still in it's 30's.  Other areas of my anatomy hover psychologically around the 45 mark.  My left foot however, thinks it's 90!

Have you ever watched how other people walk?  Do you consider your own way of walking to be normal?  I used to think I walked normally until about 6 years ago when I became aware of a pain in my left foot.  Now, I've always been quite sensible about my footwear due to being about 5 inches taller than the average woman.  I'm aware that being 5' 10" can be a bit intimidating to some, so killer heels made me look like a control freak.  A Dominatrix according to my gleeful husband, but let's not go there JUST yet! 

So, trainers at weekends, low wedges or lace-ups for work.  A visit to the GP resulted in an appointment with a podiatrist.  "Plantar Fasciitis!" - the podiatrist declared. "Here have some insoles," and handed me two plastic contraptions to put in my shoes.  I persevered with them for months only to find that the pain got worse.  Several return visits to the GP then saw me ricocheting between the podiatrist for different orthotics,  and the physiotherapist for stretching exercises to try and strengthen the muscles.  With determined effort and more perseverance I had the pain to a manageable level.  Maybe I could ditch the trainers and lace ups.  Maybe even try a Zumba class?

Delightedly, I figured it might be time to test myself in a pair of heels.  I had some lovely shoes that were consigned to the back of the wardrobe...... classy black patent courts, kitten heeled sling backs, silver sparkly sandals with crystal butterflies at the ankle, even some cage shoes, but like I wrote earlier - let's not go there JUST yet.  *Grins*.

As it happened, not long after I'd been wondering if I dare try out some 'normal' shoes, a Christmas party opportunity turned up giving me a chance to get dolled up big style!  I'd had a black velvet one-sleeved maxi dress with a long slit up the side that I'd been nurturing for a year or more, so if my foot behaved itself I could wear the sparkly butterfly sandals and my precious dress.  I didn't have a Plan B for this occasion so if the foot was going to be a problem, then sod it, I wasn't bloody well going.

I test drove the sandals.  OK just standing in them wasn't too bad at all.  Spurred on by some cautious confidence, I decided to walk the length of my living room.  That was decidedly trickier.  I felt like a bloke in drag as I tootled along, wincing here and there as little stabs of pain began in my foot.  They subsided after a while and the walking got marginally easier.  I was proper made up at the prospect of not only getting to the party, but going all glammed up as well. 

Cutting a long story short, I really enjoyed the party.  I felt wonderful with my long hair waved and twirled, make up done and dress and sandals comfortable. I met with friends, who passed nice compliments on my dress and glitzy footwear.  But you know how it is with parties, as the evening wears on the room gets warmer and feet begin to swell.  One after the other of us were easing off the tight shoes and consigning them to under the table, me being the first.

Giddily, I left the hotel at the end of the evening with my shoes in my hand as I laughingly made my way in bare feet over the gravel drive to the transport home. Thankfully me and my feet were slightly anaesthetised  by several glasses of wine so where's there's no sense, there's no feeling either!

The following day I soon realised my foot pain had been aggravated by the events of the previous evening.  In fact it took months to settle again during which time my repertoire of swear words increased dramatically, as did my levels of grumpiness.

To be continued :-)