Finally plucked up courage

Hi everyone

I've been reading this forum for a few weeks and finding it quite inspirational. I've been enjoying the heatwave of this London summer and started exploring life outside barefoot - first by walking around outside the front gate, then by venturing to post letters at the end of the street, then to the corner shop, then the supermarket, and finally found the courage (okay, that's quite over-dramatic) to get on the train and head into central London on an errand leaving my shoes behind. It felt amazing! This really gets adictive.

Hoping for more adventures throughout the summer.

Pan

 

congrats Pan, an welcome to the forum.

 

i dunno, i mean i want to go barefoot like in stores and shopping and driving but im afraid of them kicken me out ya know but i will someday!!! but im glad you have gotten the courage. lets hope i do someday soon!

 

So what's the worst that could happen? Somebody might tell you you have to have on shoes in the store. Big deal. So you either leave and take your business elsewhere, or put on shoes or flip-flops. But the chances are in most cases, nobody is going to say a word to you.

Just do it.

 

I used to carry flip flops with me in case....

 

Congratulations on your emminently sensible decision !

I know that in some places (particularly The States for some reason) barefooters get a hard time occasionally in stores etc. However after 20 years or so of regular barefooting in the UK generally (and London in particular) I have yet to be even questioned by any member of staff at a store (or anywhere actually) let alone kicked out. At the end of the day they are there to make money. If I was ever told 'you can't come in here barefoot' then I would simply take my business and my money elsewhere. They MUST realise that.

In the UK at least you really don't have anything to 'fear' in choosing to go barefoot apart from the occasional 'double take' looks and the odd comment but they are just funny. For example, the other day as I was getting on a train, a girl informed me that 'You don't have any shoes on.'. Well duh ! I think I probably knew that !


More power to you !

 

He's right...the worst they can do is ask you to leave. Let me give you a tip,though. Have your money in your hand,when you go inside. I've learned that the money they see in your hand distracts their attention from your bare feet

 

That's absolutely right. I have money and shopping list showing most of the time! Helps keep troublemakers on track.

 

i go barefoot anywhere!
most people dont notice too much if you jsut walk around like normal and dont think youl get kicked out!
but then again my skirts are always meg long so epople dont really notice

 

Got even more adventurous today and made the 2 mile walk to the High Street to do some banking and shopping in the nearby mall. Had a latte, read the paper and walked the 2 miles home again. 30-degree heat in London at the moment. Pavement was scorching in parts on the way there - trick is to stick to the side of the street in shade ;-)

Feet felt a bit sore on return - lots of tarmac covered. But the cool marble of the shopping centre is the most amazing feeling. Also fun are the raised bubble tiles on the pavement ramps at zebra crossings. I'm not sure why they have them - possibly so blind people know where the pavement ends and the road starts, or to give extra grip so wheelchairs don't end up in the traffic - whatever reason, they're really nice to stand on and walk accross. Can't remember if they had a similar system in the US, though, so its possible that many have no idea what I'm on about. ;-)

 

Even though I've been barefooting much longer than you here in the states, I, too have gotten more adventurous the past few days. I'm very used to woods, fields, lawns, pavements, and some friendly stores. But I've advanced into several grocery stores which are not known to be very nice about it, and today, after a long day of working (barefoot, as usual) I got my first shot at Walmart and Home Depot. (Huge box stores here in the states---you've probably heard of Walmart, but not sure.) No problems in either case. Just a very few looks from some customers. None of their associates (so called) seemed to notice. Granted, even our small town Walmart employes over 200 people, none of whom know me at present, so I haven't been exposed to all of them. Someone is almost sure to make an issue about it, some time. I'll be ready.

Only been to your country once, and I do know what you are on about with regard to the zebra crossings. Here in the states, so many regional differences by state and even municipality, it's possible what you describe is done somewhere. Not here in Maine, anyway. I am surprised to learn your pavements in London get so hot. This is rarely a problem here, but afterall, Maine is one of the cooler states, but more importantly, my feet are more used to it. Yours should get better at this! I hope you get to try in on one of your famous parks. Kew---Let us know---

 

Check out my novel, "Rarity from the Hollow" at www.fatcatpress.com. It is the naked truth. Robert Eggleton

 

Pavement gets extremely hot in the midwest...I've gotten blisters before from it. Most of august it's almost too hot to walk on.

Oh, and Cool Spruce, I've got a friend who has been kicked out Wal- Mart for being barefoot, though it may just be a local prejudice against barefooting.

 

Hello everybody!
The other day I had my first trip to some stores, barefoot. It felt so good, and I actually think it's funny if people stare at me. now, I'm just going to local stores, but who knows where I'll end up...
Good luck Pan, and you're rigth, it's a bit addictive

 

I wonder how forcibly it was done to your friend. Just a request not to do it, or a forcible eviction---I'm getting on in years, and while that probably doesn't make me "immune" to this stuff, I wonder if it would be different for me.

Not that I want to find out! Much better for all if they don't make an issue of it. I'm prepared for confrontation, but I honestly don't want it!

I'm sticking wiht my notion that being clean and otherwise inoffensive in any way I can, shorts and all, is helpful.

 

Stone Ponies? Robert Eggleton, "Rarity from the Hollow." www.fatcatpress.com