What’s left of my foot. (With apologies to Christy Brown)
I can now officially say I have been in business for myself as a wine merchant, for over one month. Although that’s such a small period of time for any business, I would like to pass on some nuggets of information I’ve learned so far.
I had thought that opening a wine shop in the teeth of a recession would mean my real worries would be overheads and insane professional fees (and insane professionals) but no. It’s my poor achin’ legs and feet! Don’t get me wrong, overheads costs and insane professionals and their fees have all taken their toll on my previously unfurrowed brow but what keeps me awake at night, mainly with cramps, is the oul’ calves and feet. In my previous life I might have walked forty minutes to the office, another thirty ambling at lunchtime and again forty coming home. Now I spend most of my day on my feet, talking to customers and walking around the shop showing them the finest wines available to humanity. This is over an eight hour day. Not the less than two hours spent casually strolling which once passed for exercise.
I’ve tried runners, I tried Sketchers and Doc Marten’s. I’ve tried soft soles, hard soles and I would have worn sandals if there weren’t obvious Health & Safety concerns over my exposed blue throbbing feet. I’ve tried boots that were previously more comfortable than a T.D.’s lifestyle and shoes more supportive than an amateur boxer’s mother. None helped. The stylish pointy Italian shoes were no worse nor no better than the barge shaped Hush Puppies. There would be nothing for it but to persevere and build up calves that would do a senior county hurler proud. My daughter, who works in the hotel industry, tells me that my legs and feet will adjust after two or three weeks but then again she comes from a long line of liars.
It does mean that I’ve shelved my plans to visit the gym in the mornings as all this footwork has the added benefit of weight loss. Slowly but surely the pounds I put on while getting the shop together are falling off again. Result! Of course my increased consumption of wine (research don’t ya know) might take the gloss off that but, on balance, I’m a happy wine merchant as I hobble home in the evening.