>28 days later...

I've found a loving home for our orphaned Tesco bike. :-)

A friends 18 yo daughter has moved to darkest Yorkshire to work in a Racing Stables, and was in need of transport. I do have the new pedals set aside for the eventual demise of the factory fitted units. ;-)

Necessity is the mother of invention.

I have a large plaster on the index finger of my left hand.

Yes, I cut it - quite deeply - doing something inadvisable with a chunk of sharp metal... :-(

I'm a great believer in letting cuts and grazes 'breath', and not trapping dirt etc with a plaster. In this case I've put one on due to its location. And the location is the problem. The plaster is the cloth type that has a super sticky back, but the outer face is silky smooth and very slick. Why doesn't a manufacturer do 'finger' plasters with added gripper 'dots'??

Could even get the JCB/DeWalt type toolmakers to sponsor 'Workmen' ones, like they do with their clothing ranges....

It's Raining.

It's raining hard today.. And I'm the only person I know who's happy about it. :-)

(Yes, I know I'm odd. )

I finally got to get my new TNF Hedgehogs properly wet, no more of the walking around on dew laden grass to test them... Today was the real deal, full on Manchester industrial rain; perfect conditions for testing the GoreTex lining and I'm sad to say that they leaked. :-(

Ok, only a little bit of H2O had entered, and I HAD walked through a few puddles that would have drowned lesser shoes, so I shouldn't be too depressed by this one, tiny, little let down.

As 'Trainers' / 'Approach Shoes' or what ever you wish to class them as, they do a very admirable job. They are supremely comfy ( see previous posts ) and on country walks have grip and stability matching any low-cut boot I've had - just how long the spiky Vibram sole will stand up to tarmac abrasion can only be a test of time. The Hedgehogs have been worn to the pub and the office without issue and have been hiked a few miles around the Cheshire countryside and not felt under prepared.

The GoreTex lining goes all round the foot even on the gusseted tongue - enclosing up to the ankle. So to have a damp right sock (little toe area) after today's paddling was a bit of a surprise. But, as a sociable alternative to my lightweight hiking boots they are a massive winner and as I doubt they'll ever get a bigger soaking than today, I have every intent on using them 'till they fall apart.

I'm beginning to wonder what the rest of the TNF range has to offer, for when my HiTec boots kick the bucket... 4 months old and looking very rough! Then again, as Winter blows in I'll prob go with a leather boot. I'll let you know if I go for light modern technical or heavy old traditional. ;-)

TTFN.

Big, big thanks must go out to FitnessFootware for their prompt service

& to TNF for making another great product. :-)

Bling!

Driving past that horrendous eyesore of a hotel in Manchester - If you've been there you'll know which one - I spotted this delightful eccofriendly runabout:

Yep, it's a completely 'gold' chromed Cadillac Escalade. It's the Conservative Party Conference this week. So.... I wonder which MP got it on expenses?

WRONG on so many levels!

Walk a mile...

Oddly I've never had shoes of the 'net before..

I've been too picky over what shoes feel like when on to take the plunge and get something on 'spec'. And to be honest I'd not have tried these TNF Hedgehogs on in a shop as they 'look' like the inner lining just doesn't have enough support ( I'm used to HiTec with their very contoured in-sole ), and has blobs and strips of Gel in odd potentially uncomfy places. But, after walking the dog around the meadow ( He's a Collie so walking is an understatement), I was very pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail that had gone into the shape of the anti-bacterial in-sole, And yes it isn't the convoluted shape of a HiTec, but it does provide great comfort and support where needed.

The Vibram outer sole is so spiky, with high levels of grip, they should call them GTX XCR 'Porcupine' instead of Hedgehog.. I wonder how long until I've worn the prickles to stumps. :-(

Next to try them cross country at the (wet) weekend. :-)

Fast delivery.

Wowser!

That was quick delivery. Less than 48hrs to get a box onto my desk.

I'm used to this speed of service from CRC, so it's good to see that www.fitnessfootwear.com are as good. :-)

Now to try them on.....

Enterprise Architecture

EA is what I do to earn a crust... To some people it's the spawn of the Devil, to others it's the only true way. I'm with the latter. ;-)

Have a read of this:

http://theenterprisingarchitect.blogspot.com/

Jon was my boss for a few weeks and he's very Evangelical about it - in a believable non-QVC style.

He's also on Twitter.