Some South Woodford scribbles from DD, our resident diarist and observer of all things local. Illustrated by Evelyn Rowland
I thought I might write about feet. I asked David what he thought. “I think the idea’s got legs.” Helpful and encouraging as always. So, best foot forward!
Feet are ‘on trend’ really. By the time you are 50, you are likely to have travelled 75,000 miles on them. Recently, my daughter arrived for a weekend visit. In came her laptop and overnight bag and a big hug. Then she was straight out again: “I need another 2,000 steps to reach today’s target.” On your marks. Get set. Go!
I flagged down Vitaliy from Ukraine as he was belting up Bressey Grove. Oh dear. Had I interrupted a time trial? But no, he was happy to chat. “I began running at 16. Running is a state of mind. It’s meditative. All of us are in such a hurry, rushing about everywhere. I have a young family to support, lots of responsibilities and concerns. I find refreshment and a stream of positive thoughts when I’m out on my feet. It’s not just that: I’m in a sitting job so I need to get moving anyway and watch my weight.” A run begins the moment you forget you’re running.
Bhavesh qualified as a podiatrist 31 years ago. “By accident, really,” he explained. “By default. I call myself a failed medic.” (All this with a beaming smile!) He’s living and working locally. You can find him at the Woodbury Practice. “Everyone seems to know me here. I’m part of the area. You see, caring for people’s feet means you get to know complete families, from all backgrounds and faiths. It’s so good belonging to a community. Some of my most eye-opening experiences have been when helping out at the Redbridge Night Shelter. My son has also qualified. They are proud moments when we are working together.” A pedicure is a little love affair for your feet.
Betty didn’t hesitate: “Oh God,” she said, “Don’t talk to me about feet!” (I took this to mean the opposite). “My feet are absolutely killing me at this moment! I’m on magnetic shoe insoles. Look (she produced one from her left shoe; stunning in blue and green and purple), they’ve got ball bearings in them. They’re supposed to relieve pain and correct alignment.” Max, short for Maxine, was listening close by and joined in: “I once fell off my lovely wedge clogs. I was terrified of them and decided never to wear them again. But foolishly, I did and fell over again in a beautiful park in Spain. That was enough; I threw them away.” There’s one good thing about tight shoes; they make you forget your other troubles.
I encountered John after spotting an advert for East London Reflexology. I tracked him down in his bijou studio in Station Passage, behind the Railway Bell. People seem either to love or to hate having feet treatment. I love it. John told me something of his past career. “I trained as a reflexologist after spending over 30 years in the media industry with its long hours and high-pressure environments. I needed to change direction: I discovered reflexology, and almost immediately knew I had found my future path. Reflexology involves applying gentle pressure to specific points on the feet or hands that correspond to various organs and systems within the body. This promotes relaxation, relieves stress and supports the body’s natural healing process.” The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art (Leonardo da Vinci).
Daniel, in his workshop, just below the station, gave me an impressive welcome: “You came in here about eight years ago about a key.” “Wow! Well, the topic this time is feet. Tell me, is shoe repairing much in demand these days?” “Not as much as it used to be. We live in a throwaway society now. But if customers love a particular pair, they’ll pay to have them repaired.” “What about people with problematic feet? Can you help them?” “Oh yes, I do some orthopaedic stuff. Often, it’s to insert build-ups. All I need is the customer’s measurements. Then I can quickly sort them out.” When the shoe fits, the foot is forgotten.
The staff at Creative Biscuit are into baby footprints. Sophia sat down with me to describe the technique. “It’s really simple. First, we brush the paint onto the baby’s feet.” “Can it be that simple? Do they mind?” “Some are quite chilled and there’s no reaction. Some are chaotic and there’s kicking and screaming. A spot of ‘sensory overload’. But we soon restore calm. The paint washes off easily and the mums and dads are thrilled with the precious footprints we transfer to a pretty plate or perhaps a mug or a flower pot.” There is no foot too small that it cannot leave its imprint on the world.
I was lucky to catch Sara, the principal of Variations Dance Studio. In 1987, she was involved at the start of Redbridge Dance Link promoting dance throughout the borough. She described the ideal foot for ballet-based dancing: a big instep and a high arch. Even showed me a picture. Her enthusiasm was infectious: “There’s a childish side to me, I suppose. Years spent with children of all ages definitely keeps you young! We had a gala recently, with street dances and ballet-based characterisations. In May, there will be free workshops for kids to experiment with in lots of different dance styles.” Dancing is the poetry of the foot (John Dryden).
Katie was in Sainsbury’s with two-year-old Ollie and four-year-old Alice. “Do you remember their very first steps?” I asked.” “Oh yes! For a while, Alice was on her feet but holding on. Then, suddenly, at 14 months she seemed to say, ‘Right, I’m just going to go!’ and she walked the whole length of the sitting room. Ollie started earlier, at 11 months. He had a role model, of course, but anyway, he was more of a kamikaze kid!” Every adventure requires a first step.
To contact DD with your thoughts or feedback, email dd@swvg.co.uk
