大象传媒

A Sole Passion

"In April of 2000 I met the love of my life. Little did I know that the person I had fallen for had a dark secret: her foot fetish.

I have four pairs of shoes: a black pair, a brown pair and two pairs of trainers. All my shoes are comfortable and practical.

I can't put a number on the pairs of shoes Joanne has, but there are loads. All colours and all shapes, some practical and some painful.

My question, or my quest, is to find out why? Why so many? Why have shoes that are the same colour? Why go through so much pain? Why? Why? Why?

Names like Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo are mentioned in conversation like close relatives. All thanks to bloody Sex and the City. She tells me, "It's a woman thing, babe."
I say, "It's an expensive thing, babe."

I never get my own way and she ends up getting the shoes. Is it love? Or is it easier just to say yes so I can get out of the shop and home before kick off?

Once home the show begins and questions like "What do you think?" and "Don't they look lush?". To which I reply "yes, lovely" even if they look crap.

Recently, I have noticed that I've started to like the smell of leather in the shoe shops."

Please tell us about yourself.
I'm 24 years old and I'm presently working for the Prince's Trust Cymru. I'm engaged to Joanne and we are hoping to move in together soon.

What's your story about?
My girlfriend's shoes. It's a personal joke between my girlfriend and I.

What did you find most rewarding about the workshop?
Everything was great. What a great experience. I would love to do it again.

Your comments

"Good job, Joanne! Keep celebrating~posting a blog here is reason enough. Maybe even a pair for each reply after yours! lol Richard~your last comment about the smell of leather~it is addicting. Keep sniffing and you'll convert!" Nancy from Phoenix, AZ, Jun 2009.

"We think he's bloody marvellous as he is our son and brother. We however do not have an obsession with shoes, just furniture and food. We love you Rich XxX" Yvonne and Lyndsey, May 2008.

"Someone I just "met" on my blog steered me to this page, and I laughed and enjoyed every second of it! Being the only female in a household of 3 men (heck, even our dog is male!), it's always been somewhat of a covert operation to add to my shoe stock (though my favs have been Danskos, which are probably more comfortable and less dangerous to wear ;-)). I am also a computer teacher, and will share this page with my Flash and Directing for Film students. Congratulations to the two of you on your engagement! Richard, I hope you keep sharing your stories. I can "hear" the twinkle in your eyes." Laurie Bartels from just north of New York City. Feb 2008.

"HAHAHAHAH!!!!... This story definitely made me laugh. It definitely reminded me of my roommate. I could garuantee you that she has approximately more than a 100 pairs of shoes. It's funny because I personally own four pairs of shoes." Theresia El-akkari, from Chatham, ON. Canada, Sept 2007.

"As the proud owner of 29 pairs of shoes (in my defense 11 of those pairs are flip flops) I found this story hysterical." Jenn Kranenburg, Chatham Canada, Sept 2007.

"Funny, witty, thoroughly enjoyed it! Made my hubby watch... maybe he will understand why five pairs aren't enough, and that three colours in the same style are a must have sometimes. So it's a worldwide phenomenon. Someday, men will understand ... " Sharon Hutchinson, Vineland, USA, Sept 2007.

"Hi, I'm Richard's partner - Joanne, and I'd just like to say how proud I am of him, his story was well thought out and 'directed', and that to celebrate I bought a new pair of shoes!" Joanne Lancaster, Rhymney, Gwent, Wales, Sept 2007.