Mending shoes.....baking bread in blackpropaganda

Nov. 23, 2014, 10:28 a.m.
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Public

When I was a boy we would take our shoes to be mended to an old cobbler who had been doing it for years - and I loved the smells which pervaded the shop and the old advertising signs - but at some point he had to give up - both health, and a lack of business. Rubber soles could be fitted at home and heels too if you had a last - we did.
I know there are shoemenders (Timpsons) in some malls and high streets, but these are efficient places where mending is done at once. Also how many people bother to get them mended? It is easier to but another pair and just throw them away.
So, imagine my joy when I found a shoe mender still operating when I had a pair of shoes that only needed re-heeling. His place is bunged with shoes and boots, most of which seemed to have been there for ages - maybe no one came back for them - the old machine for buffing and polishing is still there - the smells are wonderful. Also you have to wait to have the shows finished off - so you join a queue of other people waiting - this is not a time to hurry.

They are shoes are want for dancing - bought in Spain they are light slip ons - and now I should be walking properly with the inserts the heels should not wear down unevenly.

And on dancing - the standard of Strictly this year is quite amazing - you can identify the next couple to go - if the great British public agree with me. How do they get to this standard. I love Pixie Lott a lot,

And will a Brit win the F1 motor racing championship today? The big talking point.
I couldn’t care a F..K. It is the most over hyped, expensive form of activity run by so many dodgy people (almost as bad as international soccer).

Time to enjoy the wonderful autumn sunshine here - and I have just made bread - imagine warm bread with butter and marmalade with coffee - see ya.
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January Child ⋅ November 23, 2014

it,s true.... better to buy cheap fashionable shoes that you change season by season, than have a pair repaired.... the only expensive shoes i own are boots and I keep those maintained...but even ifyou're just getting them reheeled it's harder to find places that do it these days...

Milkwood ⋅ November 23, 2014

I do get shoes mended if I like them a lot and it's some detail on them that just needs replacing, and not the whole shoe wearing down tops, sides, and bottoms. I just take them to these little asian repair places at the malls here. I don't know of any nice place to have them mended. I wish I could have seen and smelled and experienced one of those old fashioned cobbler's shops. They sound amazing!

My grandmother used to always take me to various old mexican ladies' houses to get my clothes mended and taken in when I was in my teens. I remember daybeds with sewing machines next to them, piles of clothing neatly folded on one end of the beds, and kitchens across from these rooms that smelled like fresh spices. These women often sold tamales as well, that they made in their homes, and my grandmother would buy three dozen and put two of the three bundles of them in the freezer.

roseystar ⋅ November 23, 2014

Theres a lovely old cobblers in my home town. He even made tiny leather tooth fairy shoes for my mam when we were little! They "forgot" them one time when collecting the teeth.

Roseyrays ⋅ November 23, 2014

Yes, I get my boots resolved each year. It's around £15 at last count. I also bought a pair of fashion boots for £15 which I so love. Jyst can't throw old faithfull away.
Love fresh bread yum. Not made any fir some time. A job girls thus week then I gyess. I like frankie.