Searching for Normality

The KHT's trainers were falling apart, so I gave her advance warning that we needed to go shopping.
"But I don't want trainers!" said she who has lived her life in trainers, "I want 'normal' shoes'!"
"What are 'normal' shoes?" I enquired
"You know, shoes that are...'normal'!"
"You have some shoes" I replied, "But you are in desperate need of trainers!"
"Yes, but I want normal shoes" was her reply
"Google and find me some pictures of normal shoes. Then I will know exactly what you want." I suggested.
So she did. She googled 'normal shoes' and Google rewarded her with trainers. I gave up a silent prayer to St. Google. As Google had disappointed her in her hour of need, she drew me a comic strip to illustrate our shopping trip, so that I wouldn't get it wrong, as parents so often do.

Firstly, we must buy the right footwear. Now she has trainers for indoor sport, life has got more complicated!

Please do not ask me what is in this picture, apart from trainers, because I have no idea!

Update - I asked and the KHT advised me that this was an illustration of trainers with velcro and trainers with laces  - not trainers with laces and bread rolls, as I had mistakenly thought...









She totally understands that you can have different styles of footwear for different occasions, even if her footwear of choice has always been trainers, or possibly wellies. Wellies are for wet weather...whereas smart shoes are for somewhere posh.









Slippers are for insulating your feet against a raging fire. The mystery is, how do the flowers on the mantlepiece survive when situated that close to such an inferno.  At least she has got the message about not wearing slippers outdoors, unlike DH, who is prone to fly out the back door without changing his footwear, especially when chasing off an intruding cat or if some other emergency has arisen. Maybe if I bought him slipper socks he might get the idea. But, somehow I do not think that DH is a slipper sock sort of man...









Casualty and Holby City are current obsessions, so we have to fit them in. I am not sure if the telly is going on or off...
















Then we have some guerilla carwashing, just to get wellies back in the script again...
The KHT does like her wellies and currently owns three pairs.












Finally, a decision is made to go shopping...















Entering the shoe shop

Update - the KHT advises me that this is actually the closet in our hallway, aka the shoe cupboard.











I thought this was the Shoe shop, but apparently, it is another picture of inside our Narnia-like shoe cupboard.  I hasten to add that this piece of furniture is approx. 1 metre high with just four shelves, but in the KHT's mind, it is obviously much larger. Either that or she has shrunk, significantly!








The KHT likes a good walk, so new trainers are essential.  However, you get one shot at buying her a pair of shoes. Normally she will try on one pair before her toleration levels are exhausted and she loses the ability to discern if they fit or not. Hence it is important that whatever she tries on first is likely to fit.  Fortunately, shoe shop assistants are very good at picking up what is required.  The KHT also has orthotic inserts, as she is inclined to walks on the inside of her foot, and requires footwear with a good structure.  The assistant brings down three pairs. Unusually, the KHT insists on trying them all on. A decision is made for a robust pair, perfect for the intended purpose.

Having solved the trainer issue, I invite her to go and look around the shop as her feet have now grown sufficiently for her to wear ladies shoes. She comes back with a pair of leather flowery shoes.  Whilst the assistant is in the stockroom she whispers
"In my book, it says that some people with disabilities need special footwear. Do I need 'special footwear"?
"No, you are fine with normal footwear."
"Phew!"
The shoes fit, are purchased and popped in a bag.  Now we have dealt with the essentials we can enjoy shopping.

We wander around a few shops and then I ask The KHT if she would like to go to the cinema. She looks at me suspiciously, the way teens do.
"What would we go and see?"
"There is a Nick Park film on."
Instant transformation as her face lights up.
"Early Man!" she replies, "That is a great film.
We head off to M&S for the customary pizza, before heading down to the delights of Vue Cinema.

Even the adverts are fascinating!

I had no idea what Early Man was going to be about, but I guessed my daughter would be a fan. I have to say we both thoroughly enjoyed the film. Sometimes when we go to see a film of her choice, after about an hour I am longing for the end and liberation from torment. However, this film was a delight, even though it was about football. Interestingly, it did feature footwear. Watch the film to find out how.

Goal!!!!!

Afterwards, we had the essential photo opportunity with the display.  Here the KHT has joined the football team.


















When we returned she showed her father a clean pair of heels, two pairs of clean heels to be precise.  Just don't tell the KHT that they both look like trainers...