Tuesday 11 October 2016

Why was Brenda laughing?

Hello. What is so funny about my boots? Can someone tell me why Brenda almost collapsed into fits of laughter when she looked down at my feet? 
I can't see anything wrong with them. Isn't it normal to get as much wear out of something as you can before it becomes useless and has to be chucked? These boots have served me well, I got them from a charity shop  a few years ago, about five I think. For a couple of quid, they looked decent enough to go to town in. Then when they began to show signs of scuffing they were relegated to walks around the village. No one bothers what I look like round here, they are used to me looking a bit odd.

They then became a bit loose on my feet so I thought I'd better just use them for gardening. I tie the laces like that so I can just slip my feet in and out of them without too much bending down. While in the garden I am often popping back into the house for something I have forgotten, so I don't want to be bothering with tying laces every time I wear them.

There isn't much gardening to do at the moment, but these boots are not for chucking just yet. I still have to hang the washing out, or put some waste in the bins, or water the pot plants if it doesn't rain. They will be sitting by my back door for a while yet, there is still a bit more wear left in them. I think they could do with a bit of tarting up, I may paint them lovely colours  ;o)

I'm off to the library van, I haven't seen Stan in weeks, he will be wondering what has happened to me. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon
Toodle pip

27 comments:

  1. A little shoe goo would probably extend their life even more. Not sure all places available, but know Amazon has it. I've not used it, but have read other bloggers who say it has saved their shoes and their children's shoes. Just a thought. Have a lovely day. Ranee (MN) USA

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    1. I was going to suggest the same. No reason to risk a fall/tripping over the unglued soles.

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  2. My gardening shoes are a bit like that, just slip them of when coming indoors. Waste not. want not is my motto.

    Lovely sunshine here at Heathrow.

    Hazel. c uk

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  3. Maybe some glue might be a good idea. I'm frightened you could trip in them. X

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  4. And eventually - in about ten years(!) you could use them for growing flowers next to your summerhouse!

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  5. When you have finished with them, please use them to grow some plants in, they do look lovely, no need to paint them, Love your blog.

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  6. I thought the same as you, Jules - also speaking from experience! I wear (wore?) Crocs in and out of the garden - easy to slip on and off - but because they are so soft and springy they offered me no support when I tripped over a loose paving slab and broke my wrist two weeks ago! So stay safe Ilona.

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  7. I think they're perfectly fine for what you're using them for .... I also would hate to see you trip though so if you have some heavy duty tape perhaps you could tape up the bottom soles to the top.

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  8. I reckon you could spray them with paint and they would make super planters, just as they are!
    J x

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  9. Ilona, how about a bit of 'no more nails' or whatever the pound shop equivalent might be. I bet it would stick them down and give you a safer boot to wear

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  10. We don't want you coming a cropper Ilona, can't you wrap some gaffer tape round them. Failing that when they've really bitten the dust, could you do something arty farty with them to adorn your she'd walls.

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  11. I do agree with others, be careful you don't slip over; however with your ingenuity how about trying to get the soles off and replace with some rubber or suitable material and using the soles for something else - artwork maybe? Amanda

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  12. You often remind me of Ben, a polish man who lived next door to me for 50 years. Sadly he has now died but he didn't throw away anything. His slippers were held together with gaffa tape and his trousers were held up with string. He, like you often ate from the saucepan. The back garden was full of furniture and cookers etc that he might need someday and the garage was so full of useful he left just enough space for his ancient moped. But let me say that he was a lovely man and a good neighbour for all of those years and we miss him.
    The house has nearly finished having a makeover, only taken 2 years with lots of noise and dust but I bet the new people will not be half as lovely as Ben.
    Keep trucking Ilona, I love your life and your blog.
    Briony
    x

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  13. Actually the boots look like they are laughing too! They have character, paint two eyes on them. and you have Bootsie and Snudge!

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  14. My friend's work boots are like yours. In the last few weeks he glued them up - still holding up. My Dad (100) has 2 pairs of slippers - he "mends" them by glueing jeyes cloths onto the soles. They are lethal as they have polished wooden floors. No wonder he says he's unsteady on his feet. If I chucked them away he would sulk for ever. Natalie

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  15. Hahaha. Jozef and I both enjoyed seeing those boots again. You could try clear silicone bath sealant to stick them up.

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  16. I think they would look lovely in your garden with some pansies in the top Iiona :)
    Sue R

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  17. Why don't you fill 'em with soil, Ilona, and plant something in them? I've seen wellies and boots planted up and they can look quirky and pretty at the same time!n (Just noticed that Sue Ransden has suggested the same thing! Great minds, great minds ...)
    Margaret P

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  18. The life those boots have lived would make most people jealous...Me. ;) One way to look at it. Most men believe that duct tape would hold them together for a few more years of working in the garden. Just wrap them babies up and keep going. :)

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  19. I wouldn't wear them. The thing is we never think we are going to fall until suddenly we do, and in those shoes it's a possibility.

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  20. grin...

    oh gosh, I think I can help you "give them a tune up"...

    find some heavy duty glue, there are many on the market (gorilla glue etc), glue all those edges liberally back together, and put something VERY heavy on top for a week, or at least a few days. Even better to leave them where it is warmish while glue is setting.

    you really will get yrs more wear out of them...grin.

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  21. Gran here - My 20+ year old "outdoor" shoes, worn while feeding the chickens and tinkering about, looked exactly like your boots! The soles had left the scene, so to speak. The leather tops were still good, so I could not justify chunking them in the garbage. A couple of rounds of duct tape/gaffa tape (I am in USA), re-introduced the soles to the shoes! All is well now, and I continue to wear them and do not give a hoot if a neighbor or anyone else were to see me wearing them.

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  22. Reminds me a little of my father's lawn cutting shoes :). You could plant flowers in them when you are finished wearing them for good perhaps. Have a nice day, Pam

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  23. They are definitely a fashion statement!!!! SueM

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  24. I used to grow some plants a pair of Jon's old work boots.

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  25. My boots are not quite ready for refurbishment (I bought them in 1979) so I hope they have a little more life left in them yet. But when they begin to give up their sole, I will certainly send them to you. As I'm a Boho chick do you think you could incorporate some lace and sequins (mud proof, obviously) into the designs? Otherwise I shall have to look elsewhere for a grungy, lace and blinged boot restoration. Please do not disappoint me. I am willing to pay a small sum for your input. blessings

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  26. The boots look like they are laughing, Ilona, hehe :) Alex

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