New Job, New Shoes!

Clothes ironed? Check.

Lunch made? Check.

New shoes polished? Check.

Glass of wine for my nerves? Double check! 

I started my new job this week, and sitting there, going through my pre-work checks made me feel like it was the first day of school.  Minus the wine of course.  I didn’t drink wine before my first day at school...vodka was my weapon of choice in those days (sighs wistfully). 

Waking up on the morning of my first day was exciting.  I have never been this organised.  At Bra Towers I would just throw on a leggings and top combo, or my jeans and Ugg boots, jump in the car bleary eyed, and make the long slow journey to work.  An hour’s commute was the norm, and so I’d leave it until the very last moment to get up, ensuring that I stopped off at Nero’s for a caffeine hit on the way.  At my new job, I only have a ten minute commute, meaning I have time to watch a bit of Daybreak, have a cup of tea and wake up gently.  It’s a novel concept for me!  I was also kind of excited about the more business-like dress code at my new job.  Being in front of customers all day means I have to at least try and look professional, whereas with next to no contact with customers in my previous job, it was über casual.  It’s been so long since I’ve had to look smart, most of my work trousers are the ones I had from when I was three stone heavier, so I have invested in some nice work clothes.  I also fell in love with some black patent court shoes from Next which were a steal at £28.00. 

I put a lot of thought into the heel height.  This is an important issue for me.  I’m a walking (or falling) disaster on heels, particularly if they’re stilettos.  It must be something about the way I clomp about in shoes, but I cannot seem to stay steady on them.  I’m nervous in heels, and in fact the only time I’m able to master them is after a bottle of White Zinfandel, a few Malibu and Diet Cokes and at least one Jaegerbomb, which results in me throwing caution to the wind!  Sober and I’m a liability.  I was therefore delighted to find shoes with a small two and a half inch pyramid heel, (much better for stability) and at a price that I thought was more than reasonable....I was not however quite so delighted after around three hours wear, when the blister’s that had formed on my little toes had grown so large, they’d actually developed their own personalities.  What made it worse is that these blisters hadn’t turned into nice skin welts.  They were pious little nagging bastards, who wanted to make me hobble around for the rest of the day.  I have learned my lesson though...no matter how un-sexy they are, or how much it offends me that you generally only see them on women over the age of fifty – pop socks are a must if I want to continue wearing these shoes!

I opted for flats today (my second day) to give my poor tootsies chance to recover.  I can’t help but feel this was a wise move, because the last thing my colleagues want to hear is me whinging about my sore feet, and I think customers would think I was mental if I “Ooh” “Aaghed” my way across the showroom, (did I mention I’ve moved from bras to cars?  Bit of a leap product wise...I’ve gone from cup sizes to engine sizes in one easy move), and my new colleagues actually applauded me on my sensible shoe decision!  I’m going to be wearing a skirt tomorrow, so unfortunately I’ll have to brave the heels again, but I’m sure with a little wearing, and some perseverance on my part, they’ll soon be the comfiest shoes I own (??!).  In the meantime, while I settle in, I’ll just have to make a small tweak to my pre-work checks...

Clothes ironed? Check.

Lunch made? Check.

New shoes polished? Check.

Blister plasters packed? Triple check!