A shoe in

I left work at a surprisingly early hour on Saturday and found myself somehow, miraculously, at the shoe store I tend to frequent. Actually, to be honest, it was no miracle, but design – my friendly shoe-store man had managed to recreate a pair of fabulous tie-up sandals that I had brought back from one of my trips many years ago and had them all ready for me to try on and take home. They were originally white and silver. The new version is a gorgeous brilliant red, with the same silver inserts in the cut-out flower on the front. And the tie-thongs are soft and supple, ideal for wrapping around ankles that do get rather swollen and achy by the end of a long day.

But after I was done with the business at hand – or under foot, as the case may be – I paid the bill and walked out. Nothing special or noteworthy in itself, but a matter of much concern to those who know me well, or claim to, at least. I did not look at any of the other sole seductions on display; in fact, I was not in the least bit tempted to do so, which worries everyone who knew I was going to a shoe store, especially Father and my best-bud, Nina.

That, at this particular stage in my life, is not at all surprising. After all, for the past month or so I have stayed firmly off my high heels, staring wistfully at the three-inch sharp spikes that populate my shoe cupboard but staunchly avoiding even trying them on for that feeling of being in a beautiful world of higher (sic) thought. So all the sparkling stilettos and perilous platforms are neatly bagged in plastic or felt, to be purred over another day, when the world has stopped its spinning and the vertigo that has plagued me is far over and done with. For now, I stay with the more down to earth styles that are, admittedly, more comfortable on a long day and far more practical even from the vantage position of the back seat of an air-conditioned car.

And then, the day that I feel like I am firmly grounded and at peace with my sense of balance, I will find myself back in my favourite shoe store, trying on all the highest heels that they have in my size and, I hope, taking a few home with me to play with.