My first vivid memory of my father was shortly after I was born. I was strapped into my bassinet on the veranda with an unobstructed view of the front lawn. Dad was lying under the tractor doing some repairs. I knew it was him because, even at that age, I recognised his filthy, black gum boots. I think they were the only footwear he owned. Mum always wanted him to wear fancy shoes but he refused, saying they made him look like a “raving poof”. Read the rest of this entry »

I guess it’s a sign of the times but I find it hard to hide my frustration sometimes. When I see a barefoot child walking down the main street of my home town, I feel like vomiting and crying at the same time. Leather shoes made this country great back in the early 50s and now everyone seems to have turned a blind eye to the fact that footwear has fallen out of favour in a really big way. What ever happened to the days when a man could be proud to wear his slip-on loafers out to dinner without fear of retribution? Read the rest of this entry »