Shoe shops - a comparative study.

Recently we have been to two different shoe shops to buy new footware for our eldest and youngest. Our eldest needed new school shoes for her new school and we happened upon a small independent shoe shop whilst we were on holiday in Frinton on Sea. There was no queue and we were served by a delightful lady with many years experience of fitting childrens shoes. She found some styles that suited our eldest and checked they fit well and would last a good long time. She even advised us on how best to proceed with helping our eldest get help for her slightly flat feet. The lady also advised us to just use normal shoe polish as we have been doing for years and we left happy. Today we went to a Clarks shop in our local shopping center. After battling through the crowds to reach the store we took a ticket from the dispenser to indicate our position in the queue. The number on the ticket seemed ridiculously high compared to the number on the indicator on the wall. We then waited for an eternity and were eventually served by a lady who measured our youngest's feet. She went to get him some shoes, the first attempt didn't fit but, after returning to what must be near the bowels of the earth judging by the time taken, we got a pair that fit. This was a victory in itself as generally they do not have any of the style we like in stock in the size we need. Then after refusing the obligatory offer of an opportunity to purchase special cremes essential for the care of the shoes (quite why they make shoes out of materials that purport to require such cleaners is beyond me, it's like having dry clean only tea towels) we leave with the newly purchased footware.
I think in future it might be more pleasant to drive the two and a half hours to Frinton on Sea just to buy shoes rather than braving the childrens' footware hell that is our local Clarks.

Two and three quarter years.

Well tomorrow is my last day with my current employer. I start my new job on Monday. It's been an interesting time with the merger with another company and then being sold to some venture capitalists. Parts of the job were interesting and parts boring but, as is often the case, it was the people that made the job enjoyable.
So here is a thank you to my colleagues and customers, and here's wishing you all the best for the future.

Letting the sides down.

Last night was our youngest's first night in his cot-bed as a bed and not a cot. He seemed to enjoy it and only woke us up at half six. So not too early, though a lie in would have been nice as our eldest was staying at some friends' house.

More and Less Sick

Well the virus did get me and so after a couple of days of not eating much, (I even had to miss free lunch day at work!) I feel much better. Unfortunately my youngest recovered quicker than us parents and so was a bit bored today but we have survived.

So now I am looking forward to watching Heroes and going to work tomorrow.

Sick

I am working from home today as there is sickness in the house. First my eldest succumbed and now my wife - who will be next...

Fortunately it seems only to last a few hours so hopefully my wife will be recovered soon as toddlers and work are an interesting combination and I am running out of DVDs. Though having said that my youngest and I are next on the virus's hit list.

Visiting

We have had a great day visiting my eldest's godfather and his wife. We met up for a picnic and church service in the park, went to their house for a cup of tea, went for a walk and a talk on Horsenden Hill, played in the play park and returned for crumpets. All in all a very enjoyable day.

Tutor Master Helps You Write Stories

My eldest's godfather is a private tutor and has also written a couple of great books. So if you are looking for a book that would help any children you know write stories then these are the books for you:

Party!!!

It was my youngest's birthday party today. He turned 3 a couple of weeks ago but his party was today. It had a dinosaur theme and was really good fun.

Here are some photos:

Niece's Hair

Me with my niece's hair:

Frinton on Sea

Frinton on Sea is a strange place. It's as if no one lives there. We went on holiday there for a week this summer and had a lovely time. But when we went for walks in the evening everywhere was quiet- most of the houses were in darkness. (Apart from the flat below us - but that is another story). The shops are all small and sell strange stuff - mostly for tourists. We do not know where the locals shopped.

Holiday in Frinton

Moonlit walk: A crab!:
More crabs!:
A boat:
The beach hut:

New Stuff

Exciting things are happening in the normal household. My eldest starts her new school next week, I am starting a new job next month and we will be getting a new car.

We have also just come back from a lovely holiday at Frinton on Sea. We stayed in a flat near the sea, had our own beach hut and spent time on the sand most days - catching crabs, building sand castles and in the case of my youngest jumping in the sea fully clothed.