3inch Stilleto Shoes

I am trying to scan in my Cross Stitch Magazines and send the hard copies to a charity.  My wonderful computer doesn't like my new wireless printer and I don't think the printer is very keen on the computer!!!  Between the two of them it is taking forever to scan in these mags, I am so thankful that I am able to download uptodated copies of them now.
The rain has stopped for a while and the sunshine has been most welcome.  I am reviewing my records for my research as I have received a letter from Mrs M to say that they only have the information that I have.  They also contacted South Africa and .......... nowhere.  MrM is in hospital very ill so I am pleased she told me about that, as I can add him to my prayer list.  I want him better so that we can meet under happy circumstances!

Memories:

When I was fourteen, Ena & Ron rented a room in a house near to us, Mrs Sedgwick was a SAHM

and her husband played the cello in the orchestra attached to the Alexandra Theatre in town

They managed to get the rooms as they were a 'professional' couple, another word for 'no children'!  They managed to chug along together for some months and then Ena fell pregnant!  Mrs S was very good and said they could stay but would need to start to look for another place. 

I think V was about 12months old when they eventually moved to a nice place in Shirley.  It needed a lot of work doing to it and when they moved in they had no furniture as such and we used to sit on deckchairs and little wooden stools (a cracket) eating our meals off the top of a packing case – with a tablecloth on of course!!

Anyway, Mrs S and I got to chatting whenever I visited – I used to take V out in her pram for a walk on Sunday afternoons – Mrs S stitched and eventually gave me a load of embroidery silks as they were jumbled up and she didn't have the time to sort them.

 

More importantly, and the reason for this post, she gave me a pair of neutral suede (not black as in photo) shoes. Round toes admittedly but little 'louis' heels – sort of mini stilettos, only one and half inches high.  Sooooo grown up.  I loved them. 

Showed them to Mam, who recognised the quality and admired them. 

Showed them to Dad who said 'You're not wearing them!'

Broke my heart …........... so I learnt to be deceitful to my Dad – betcha he knew all along but … - I only wore them when he wasn't around to see them!!

When I was 15 I applied at the local Woolworth's store for a Saturday job – not old enough.  Tried again when I was 15½  - not old enough. 
Tried again when I was nearly 16 – two weeks before Christmas – got the job!!!

Only 13s 4d per day (sorry that's about 52½p in today's money).  I bought my Mam some Chocolates with my first wages and often bought tiny bunches of violets (which used to be around in season) for her but I saved like mad. 

Next door to the Saracen's Head (timbered building at end of shops) in Shirley was a shoe shop – not pricey ….ok…… cheap -  but in the window was a pair of white 3inch stilettos!!! 

 I adored them, watched them as I saved, only white plastic but soooooo. 

Then came the day I bought them 39/11 or £1 19s 11d – 1 old penny short of £2.  I kept them a secret from my parents for weeks, then one day Dad caught me in the hallway taking them off – I used to take them off and leave them on the stairs while I went in to say goodnight to Mam & Dad.

'What have you got on your feet?' he bellowed at me.  'SHOES' I bellowed back, 'and there's nothing you can do because I bought them with my own money!' 
ooohhh! What a put down! 

Oooh! What power! 

What a tart!!!

He shut up and I never had a problem with my footwear after that!!!

I lived in stilletos for many years, whether they were platforms, wedgies or whatever, high heels were me!!  I still have a pair of red ones - only two inch stilettos admittedly but they do have pointed toes.