The Poolie Bunker

... person in the Universe never to have owned a pair or wanted to .....?























...my new Doc Martens dealer boots are exceedingly comfy

I own 4 pair, all 1953 original plimmys, can't beat them.

£6 a pair, legends!

Y'know they don't count....tsk, tsk

Did you never play five-a-side or anything? I dont see how its possible to manager without any pairs

Do any other oldies remember the first appearance of trainers in the shops? We thought "What the fook are those things, sports shoes??? Never!"

Must have been late sixties.

...remember when 'plimsolls' were only called that by posh kids and social climbers? ..... everyone else called them sandshoes....







'plimsolls'?..... the very thought

Ive only got over 20 pairs adidas trainers......

... what exactly do you train for in trainers?

I remember 'baseball boots' being the transition between plimsoles and trainers - these were ankle boots with canvas uppers and rubber soles.
I love wearing trainers as they are so comfortable, for work I wear black trainers (Reebok Classics) as they are passable as shoes, even on the occasions I have to wear a suit.

Come, come, let's not kid ourselves, trainers are worn because the insidious fashion industry decrees it...it's a bit like art students all dressing to be different but all dressing in the same uniform .... to be different.

Well you'll be delighted to know then that Converse baseball (basketball?) boots are now considered the dogs bollocks. They cost a hell of a sight more than six quid mind

I had a pair of Baseball boots in the early fifties, Not as posh as those on show though.
They were brown and had rubber circular patches where the ankles were. they looked good (for the time) but wore out very quickly. Like a lot of things produced at that time (me included).
It was either basey's or sandies (sandshoes).

To be fair bb mine weren't as smart as those in the picture either and also had the circular rubber bit on the ankle, they also wore out quickly.

Ah yes! but how did you wear?

About as well as the boots I'd say, although in my heart & mind I'm still in my 20's.

Ah yes! Like me, Its called a second childhood. I am delighted with it.

As I was saying to one of my neighbours the other day,"Now that they no longer trust me with a £10 note, they don't send me to the shops so often.

Yes, it does have its advantages - I like to remind people that I can take early retirement in 18 months time, they then say 'I suppose you'll carry on working though' I then laugh uncontrollably.

I retired early. Not sure it was a smart move.
Once I had a job that occupied me for about 9 hours.
Now I stay at home and put in more hours than a junk yard dog.

Yes that's a concern but at the moment it's probably a better option than work. My old man was always looking forward to retiring, when he did, he went out and got another job straight away. When I asked him why he said that work's different if you don't have to do it & it got him out of the house & the chores you hint at. I guess I'll just have to see what happens at the time - maybe we could start a plimsole, baseball / basketball boot and trainers museum.

we all wore baseys but they only ever lasted one summer
i have a pair of green flash some where that i must have had twenty years
but remember when we all graduated to the famous "DESERT BOOTS" a lot of famous people wore them

err LEO SAYER ......

I had a pair of Desert Boots, only because I spent 9 months in Oman, they came with the uniform.

I wear cheap converse knock-offs....

I know I said that I put in more hours than a junk yard dog, but to be fair I have to admit that I don't get kicked as much.
As to starting a museum with my cast off footwear - I think not. Any profits made would be spent on air fresheners.

To be serious for a moment, I enjoyed almost all of my working life so I don't see why I should not enjoy not working. And I am, even after three years. Lovin it. Hell! I've earned it.

Good for you - I hope I feel the same when it's my turn. I've enjoyed a lot of my working life but recent changes (I work in local authority - social work, but the same goes for the health authorities) have been to ration services for the most genuine needy. Nearly all the people I work with are good people and good company, I suppose it is this that I will miss the most.

Chip, you're the Imelda Marcos of trainers.

no pooliegirl is asking us to build an extension to house them

And I thought that I had too many pairs at about 7

Snowy - how do you get through life without trainers? Do you do any sort of physical exercise at all? jogging, golf, going to the gym? What abut if you go to the town for some shopping? Do you wear shoes with your Pools top for example?

I bought a pair of Etnies, smashing black ones with white laces.

My mates all laughed at them.

They're not laughing now. I killed them all with a pick axe handle and moved to China.

Trainers are about 6 quid for a pair of quality name brand here but as yet I haven't dipped. I saw a nice brown suede pair of Adidas the other day with 'Fuc king Swift' embroidered on them but they didn't have them in my size.

I have a very simple footwear strategy: open-toed sandals from May to October (without the traditional English socks) and boots the other months. Works every time.

i bought some trainers a long time back "PATRICK" one brown pair one navy they looked like leather shoes and the best i have ever had not seen them since

It's a fact I haven't had socks or proper shoes on since March!! Jesus boots every day for me.

SO YOUR RASH WILL BE WELL HEALED NOW THEN?

Percolating nicely thanks very much.

Met a septic last night who was on about his 'oozing' from poison ivy caught on a golf course......

Jonny, I wear boots.......... the bigger and blacker the better... physical exercise?, gyms...? that's for people who do no real work and drink bottled water ..... I only wear shoes for weddings and funerals and have never worn a Pools shirt ever. How do I get through life without wearing a pair of white trainers? .........very easily thank you.