Shoes

Like is a strong word; I buy shoes when the old ones give up. That works out at about two pairs a year, usually white trainers, because they go with everything. My sister owns so many pairs that the shoe rack has spilled over into the hallway. I have bought shoes online, exactly once, and it taught me a lesson. The photos showed a smart pair of leather loafers; what arrived was a size too small and smelled strongly of glue. Returning them meant so much hassle that I gave them to my cousin instead. Since then I only buy shoes I can try on. As a kid I lived in plastic sandals, the kind with a strap at the back that every Vietnamese child had. My mother bought them a size up at the start of each school year, so for the first three months I walked like a duck. Would I splash out? Up to a point. I'd pay more for running shoes, since my knees would thank me, but I can't see myself queuing overnight for limited-edition sneakers.