Accident Waiting To Happen

By Jan True on Jul 11, 08 09:15 AM

Praia da Agua.jpg

AS an avid shoe lover, I'm always really sad when a pair has to be thrown out because they have broken or become too tatty to wear. But what I hate even more is when a pair you haven't had for long are damaged on a normal day out.

It took place some years ago when I was on holiday in Praia da Agua in the Algarve, Portugal.
I do take flat shoes on holiday because I do a lot of walking, but I also take several of the high-heeled variety for my nights out. I'm not one of those people who need to know everything about a place before I get there. As long as the hotel/apartment looks nice, the location is lively but not manic and it sunshines, I'm happy.
This particular resort ticked all the right boxes except for one thing. Our apartment was up a steep hill. It very soon got christened Heartache Hill for obvious reasons as we had to make the trek up and down on average four times a day!.
This one night we were heading off at about 7pm down to the front where there was a row of nice bars and places to eat. I got ready and finished my outfit off with a snazzy pair of perspex mules complete with multi-coloured jewels across the toe. They really looked the part even though I do say it myself.
Anyway, off I trotted down Heartache Hill but I didn't get very far. The steepness of the incline meant that the front of my right shoe went forward while the back with heel stayed put. I felt the crack ripple through the sole of my foot and my beloved shoes split in two!
I was able to hobble back to the room and swap them for another pair but that was one of the saddest days in my shoe history.
Just in case you were wondering, I do still have them. When we got home my husband did a Mr Fixit on them with superglue but I've never been brave enough to wear them, since.

NB: I was interested to read the story doing the rounds this week, about party girl Sophie King, who was awarded £7,000 compensation after she broken her ankle, when the heel on her new pair of Dolcis shoes, snapped.
I've no doubt Sophie has suffered terribly from her accident and deserves every penny. It just makes me wonder if I should have taken that route all those years ago after my Portugal experience?