The most attractive photo ever taken of my feet. Seriously.
I don’t have great feet.
Hmmm…let me go back a step.
I don’t have any fashion sense. My lack of it has been known to make my poor mother weep. My sister Cynthia, on the other hand, is stylish enough to grace the cover of magazines. And as anyone who has a sister knows, they’re incredibly loving (if we’re lucky) and usually brutally honest. When she was fifteen (I was eighteen), my darling sister looked at my feet and exclaimed…”Gross! You have hobbit feet!” Tragically, she was right. They’re wide, flat and fat. I spent years squishing them into shoes that didn’t fit.
Fast forward to my forties, and I found myself with foot and knee problems. After a stern warning from my friend Lisa (“Celia, you don’t want to be having ankle surgery at seventy!”), I trotted off to see a podiatrist. And so it was that I found myself sitting in the waiting room at the Institute of Sport in Homebush…
It was an hilarious experience.
I was in the waiting room, sitting between an Olympic hurdler and Australian football legend Willie Mason, feeling just a teensy bit out of place. It was worth it though, because we now have the best podiatrist in the world. If you’re in Sydney and you need to see one, we can’t recommend Richard Windybank highly enough. He’s one of the nicest people ever. More to the point, he’s extremely good at his job, and he won’t rip you off. The orthotic supports he made for Small Man and me weren’t cheap, but they’ve lasted for years and years (thankfully Small Man’s feet stopped growing when he was fourteen).
. . . . .
So…now I’m fifty. And I’ve been back to see Richard, because I’ve buggered my right foot. As you might recall, I’ve spent a lot of time walking around Sydney in the past month. It was late autumn and quite cold, so I pulled out my winter boots, only to find that the soles had worn through completely. So I dug up an old pair of boots, squished my orthotics into those, then squished my feet in. And walked, and walked, and walked.
Now I have bursitis in my foot, plus a possible (but very unlikely) stress fracture. It’s ok really, it will heal, and I’m not in much pain. Given that I was a doofus, I think I actually got off lightly. And it’s probably a good thing, because it’s refocused my attention again on the importance of decent footwear.
If you have hobbit feet, even though my beloved cackling sister insists that hobbits don’t wear shoes, you might find the Naot and Ziera brands comfortable. The Naot Allegro range has a really wide footbed, with a removable cork innersole that leaves a deep enough depression to fit my orthotic insert into…
I buy my shoes online from the lovely folks at Naot of Kew in Melbourne. The sizing is blessedly consistent, which means I can order the same size and know that they will fit me every time. They’re not the prettiest footwear, but as I said, I really don’t have enough fashion sense to be troubled by it…
My latest discovery, on the advice of a podiatrist friend over drinks in Marty’s bar, is the Ziera brand. Formerly Kumfs, this NZ company changed its dowdy name but kept its comfortable shoe range. They have an amazing returns policy – if the shoes aren’t comfortable, you have 30 days to return them for an exchange or refund, even if they’ve been worn. These boots (Savvy) look a bit like school shoes, but they’re incredibly soft, fit my orthotics and don’t cause me pain…
Better still, they were heavily marked down at the Ziera clearance store in the nearby Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre.
So that’s where I’m at. Richard is making me new orthotics, I’m icing my foot (with ice, not icing sugar), and washing down Voltaren with sidecar cocktails (which I believe is contraindicated). But I now have proper hobbit shoes, so I’m completely happy.
If you have any hobbit footwear advice, I’d be most grateful for it! Thanks! ♥
PS. No affiliation whatsoever with the Sydney Sports Medicine Centre, Naot, Ziera, or Tolkein.
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
My poor feet have suffered from twearing teetering heels and pointed toes in my teenage years. Ziera have come to my aid with their orthotic shoes and I also have Rocport and Propet walking shoes. I look like an old lady in them but the comfort at last is worth it!
Thank you! I’ll check out Rockport and Propet as well. Comfort is everything, I think, when it comes to shoes!
I had bursitis in my right foot for 8 months last year. I was not happy. I couldn’t walk far at all. I tried all kinds of things recommended by a podiatrist and nothing made any difference, then one day it just got better for no apparent reason. I have wide feet and my toes are straight across, not tapered at all, meaning I have to wear very round toed shoes. I gave up wearing heels many years ago and only wear comfortable shoes.
Good luck with your bursitis. I feel your pain.
Thanks Deb. It’s not too bad, but it aches at the end of each day. Such is life, I guess. Hope it doesn’t take eight months to resolve though! :)
We have big foot issues here my wide fitting and hubs flat foot mixed with a turned ankle means all the boys are in heavy duty orthotics. We have found athletes foot and particularly ASICS brand are good for orthotics and they will even trim your inner sole to fit the orthotic. I also find that while I have preference for bare feet at home my feet and back are much better in a shoes with a bit of a sole as opposed to a flat ballet shoe.
I find ASICS a bit narrow, and the podiatrist put me onto Brooks runners. So far, they’ve been ok. I pad around the house in a slipper these days – the hard wooden floors are hard on my feet!
I’m pleased you’ve attended to your foot issues. I’ve had them from time to time, mainly through bad luck stepping on something barefoot or the wrong way. Sometimes referred instability makes its way down to my right foot from my dodgy hip if I wear shoes that don’t support good posture.
I love shoes of all kinds but have had in recent years to give the fancy fashion variety a miss.
I don’t have hobbit feet but I do have no fashion sense. I need the attention of talented sales ladies to coordinate a proper outfit. Otherwise I wear the same work clothes or jeans.
I suggested arnica & aspirin cream made by the Nambucca Heads Guardian pharmacist to blogger Kate, a quilter with arthritis issues. I no longer have a spare jar but she has shared details here of how to obtain it via mail order.
https://talltalesfromchiconia.wordpress.com/tag/aspirin-arnica-cream/.
The G.O. and I use it for all our aches and pains!
Thanks lovely, I’ve just ordered some! x
My feet are less hobbit-like than shaped like bricks. *Totally* rectangular. Like you, I spend quality time and large amounts of money with the podiatrist and specialist shoe stores. In addition to Naot (a bit too narrow for my feet) and Ziera (my current favourite) there’s also the Revere brand (http://revereshoes.com.au), also available online, which are also super comfortable and designed to have the footbed removed and replaced with an orthotic. They’re not desperately stylish for the most part, but then they’re not quite as expensive as the other two, either. And until my chronic plantar fasciitis in both feet clears up as it does occasionally, I’ll be slathering the A&A cream over my feet each evening in addition to anointing my sore hands. Yes, it’s *that* good.
Thank you for the recommendation! And the link to the FB page – I just noticed they have a half price coupon valid there until end July, so I’ve ordered two jars! How much do you find you go through? Thanks for the link to Revere Shoes as well!
I put it on my hands a couple of times a day. First thing, to loosen them up, and then again about 2pm. And on my feet at the end of the day, when they’re sore – it’s making them noticeably softer as an added benefit. I also notice the Husband has been sneaking some for his shoulder… I haven’t yet finished the jar that Ella Dee sent me, but the level has dropped quite fast!
I feel your pain, sister. I have Barney Rubble feet, more square than long. I thought I was doomed to a life of boy’s shoes size 6.5 wide. Then I discovered SAS shoes here in the states. And now I have a pair of super wide actual girl shoes. So happy!
http://www.sasshoes.com/ecom/productpage/c5c49d3c-be98-4a28-9bc7-8c49cf4a3221?category=c1340751-4d86-4e4a-8f8b-52679021ca8e
And your sandals are the bomb. Just love! Hugs, Maz
Maz, you need to meet my friend Maureen who left a comment below that she had Fred Flinstone feet! You two would make a pair! :D I’m glad you’ve found nice shoes to wear! xxx
And your Naot’s are rad. Just saying.
Nice click…. ♥
I love wearing Clarks, not the most prettiest one’s, but the most comfortable. Naot’s are great too.
Cornelia, Clarks over here only make school shoes! I grew up wearing those! :)
I love the Hobbit shoes, I had a pair of those too because I too have, mmmm, not lovely feet. I wore those strappy shoes until they fell apart – which unfortunately they did, the stitching came undone and they weren’t waterproof, but I could walk very happily in them. I’ve now found a brand which I think is Queensland designed – Frankie4 – they come with a variety of inner soles. The lace up ones allow me to put my orthotic in them and I can go on adventures far and wide everyday – they just won’t be appropriate if my Prince comes along and whisks me off to the ball – but these days I’ll settle for happy feet and send the Prince on his way:)
Jan, Frankie4 sounds really interesting, thank you! I’ll have to see if I can find some to try on. They look a bit narrow though?
No, they’re not narrow – my feet are 7.5 D fitting. I bought another pair of the lace ups yesterday. The slip on shoes with the bows are a little more dressy and strictly for tootling only – and I love them. But the lace ups are for getting amongst it; good shove off down the slope and away I can go, so to speak, I can’t walk all day in the slip on shoes because they don’t support my foot so well and by the end of a day my feet will hurt.
Celia I too have hobbit feet and have been wearing ziera shoes for a few years now as they fit my orthotics. I also wear Birkenstoks in summer and choose from the papillio range as they have a deeper foot bed which is good for people with foot problems.
Fiona, I can’t wear Birkenstocks! I wish I could! They make my toes cramp!
I also have hobbit feet and I know how you feel. the problem with us Hobbits is that we can only wear very expensive shoes ( tell that to Princess Cynthia who can probably wear cheap stuff and look gorgeous but we ‘hobbits’ know the shoes are cheap and we secretly laugh, we do). I discovered Naots after the fire of 2009 ( I am prone to saying this phrase quite often so please excuse me) when I was cleaned out of shoes. I found a cheap shoe outlet in Darebin, near Melbourne but then the Israeli man stopped bringing them. The rejected styles were cheap then (for Naots) and I could score a pair often for $70.00. I am still wearing them. The other brand for Hobbits are the German Reikers- although the styles can be a little boring. (nothing under $200). I visited a podiatrist once and she recommend Zierra brand, but every time I go to a sale, they are out of my size.
Feet and legs- you must look after them. They are our ‘only carriage’ as Bob Marley once said in ” No Woman No Cry”.
Cynthia really isn’t a princess, she’s completely lovely (I feel a need to defend her). And yes she looks gorgeous, but she never, ever wears cheap shoes! ;-) Thank you for the tip about the Reikers. The Naots are expensive, but so good – they’re currently heavily discounted (but still $200 a pair) at the Naot of Kew online sale. Fra, come to Sydney and we’ll hit the Zierra outlet shop together! :)
I should come up to Sydney, My winter shoes are all rather sad looking. But I do have sensible sandals to wear through Asia- Keans are OK! so long as bits of bunyippy feet don’t hang out the sides.
I know you love Cynthia.
My daughter who has slender feet like her father and slim legs ( I like to call them chook legs because I am so jealous) can wear beautiful boots, and, she has so many!!! Not fair. When it comes to shoes, it’s just not fair.
I loved them dear Celia, I need something like that too :) Thank you, have a nice weekend, and walking :) Love, nia
Thanks lovely Nia! Hope you’re well! x
I think you should be my sister. I have always said I have Fred Flintstone feet. Short and wide. :) I have small feet but they are decidedly not attractive. xx
See, as I was saying to Maz above, you two should get together. She has Barney Rubble feet.. ;-)
Love those red sandals. I have very wide feet and some footwear ‘issews’ so I bought myself the most comfortable pair of boots in the world last year – they are red and wide and, apparently, look like clown boots according to my delightful daughters. They say they love me, but it doesn’t stop them from being cruel.
Didn’t you have those on when we met up? I’m sure I admired them.. :)
Take care of your feet! I knew nothing about these Aussie brands, but just found a UK distributor for Naots!!! Have been wearing a good British made shoe (Hotters) that now also market in the US. Great feel to them from first, but because I have fallen arches, need to supplement with arch support inserts. Will check out those Naots. My feet thank you!
Debi, Naot is an Israeli brand, and they’re really very good. Hope you have some luck with them!
I’m living proof you don’t have to have Hobbit feet to have terrible feet. When I was 13 I was on a medication that caused me to gain a lot of weight quickly, which in turn caused my arches to fall. I wore ‘corrective’ shoes for years but to no avail. I have very slim feet that look okay, but because they are very slim and I have fallen arches and low insteps I have a horrible time buying shoes. I used to love shoes, but now they are just a disappointing challenge. BUT Naot has a couple of shoes that even I can wear!! From the looks of these comments, there are few people out there with ‘normal’ feet!! I often lament, when will the manufacturers wake up to the fact that women want shoes that look nice, but that we can walk in??? Best of luck recovering some comfortable mobility Celia!
Ardys, that’s wonderful! My tiny cousin who lives in Darwin swears by them as well, and she certainly doesn’t have Hobbit feet!
Oh goody, I am not alone in my broad feet. My mom has just had a foot op (after years of wearing hight heels) and the pain she is in breaks my heart. I am grateful I only wore heels for a short period in my life – being nearly 6ft tall does help plus my feet like being flat on the ground and when at home in slippers – summer through winter.
Maybe I have hobbit feet too.
Have a beautiful weekend Celia.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, you’re so elegant, I can’t imagine you having Hobbit feet! I’m glad you’re able to run in your feet, I can’t manage that with mine! :)
Another foot sufferer here! I’m going for the last fitting of a pair of orthopaedic boots next week together with caliper for the left leg. It sucks doesn’t it!
However, your boots are right in fashion. My granddaughter has just graduated with a degree in Fine Art and she and her friends all wear Doc Martins!
Hope they get it sorted out for you soon, Pat! And thanks – nice to know I’m not COMPLETELY out of style! :)
Who knew that you had such a following of hobbits! Reading this makes me very grateful that I have normal, healthy feet.
So, while you were sitting in the waiting room, what sort of athlete did you pretend to be (in your head)?
A Greco-Roman wrestler. ;-)
I have good feet in appearance (makes up for the nose) and health except for the Sydney harbour Bridge arches, yep they are really high. At 55 they started to hurt, I thought they might “fall” as I had heard of it. Nope, they just hurt and I’ve never worn high heels. I got custom orthotics and my feet felt 12 again. :)
I’ll check out that Melbourne shop, thanks Celia. Hope your foot heals quickly.
Rose, Pete has high arches too and finds wearing boots really difficult! Hope you find some nice shoes to wear – I think the Naot Australia homepage has a list of stockists, in case you want to try them on first:
http://www.naot.com.au
Celia, you crack me up completely!!!!! I know I should not be laughing, since you are in pain and the post is serious, but the remark by your sister, and your description of sitting at the place next to an Olympian athlete… too too funny!
talk about doofus, we all are in one way or another – I managed to severely hurt my piriformis muscle out of sheer stupidity – I am off running for almost two straight months now and still cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel – it hurts and hurts and hurts, particularly when I’m sitting down.
anyway, I hope your foot heals quickly, and that if you have to ever ice it again, go for sugar. Sparkling sugar! Sparkling like you…
Oh go ahead and laugh darling, I was! It was very funny, there I was in the waiting room thinking…”hang on, how did I end up at the NSW Institute of Sport?”.. ;-)
I’m so sorry to hear you’re still sore. It’s a double whammy isn’t it? The pain is one thing, but the not being able to exercise makes you want to scream!
Bugger! I feel your pain Celia. After plantar fascitis in the right foot followed by a torn archilles in the left, I don’t know what to wear on my long and wide feet. Low impact on one foot, slight heel elevation on the other. Ziera have been good but I find they make the soles of my feet burn. In summer and in the house I wear Birkenstocks with heel wedges stuck into them, but “glamour” is definitely a thing of the past!
I had the plantar thing on both my heels last year, Sandra! Apparently having the sheets tucked in too tightly at the end of the bed was making it worse, as it was forcing me to sleep with my toes pointed, which was cramping my achilles tendon (or something like that). Interesting about the burning soles! But I guess we all have idiosyncratic reactions – I can’t wear Birkenstocks because they make my toes cramp!
Ooh you poor thing :( I think the shoes look pretty funky! After years when I had a “proper” job of wearing high pointy shoes all day and running to and from the tube in them I am now happily wearing frumpy flats and not giving a damn!
I love frumpy flats, and I wish I could not give a damn! But I have to actually put a whole lot of thought into them at the moment – am getting a bit shoe obsessed! :)
When I was at Uni I was suspected of gout five times because my foot would swell up like an extremely painful basketball. By the time results confirmed I didn’t as (sadly?) I didn’t have the lifestyle the symptoms would start to abate. It was only ten years later I finally got an X-ray which showed the little bones in the ball if my toes had been snapped over and over and were now crumbs. Still painful at times when the bits get in joints and no high heels or sports but orthotics mean I can walk comfortably. Great advice is to see a podiatrist early!
Emma!!! That’s a terrible story – I can’t believe they didn’t diagnose it earlier for you! I hope you’re ok now..
I think your shoes look nice. I have a wide foot and not all shoes fit properly. Shoes for me have to be comfortable and practical. I like your sandals!
Manuela, I like my sandals too, thanks! I think they make my feet look girly. It takes quite a bit of work to make any part of me look girly! :D
I love your shoes! Good job………remember you have to stand on your feet so ‘behave yourself’……:)
Good advice, thank you! :)
I hope your foot is better soon. And I LOVE how you washed down your pills with a Sidecar cocktail !! (That’s exactly what I would do!!
Shhh hon, I slipped that in hoping my mother wouldn’t read it.. ;-)
Isn’t it funny how, even though we’re ‘Big Now’ our mother’s still let us know if we do something they don’t approve of! I wish you lived closer – it would such fun to ‘hang out’ with you!! ; o )
Whilst I don’t have hobbit feet (in fact my feet are very narrow), I certainly am of a certain *ahem* age where I too wear only flat shoes and have orthotics. My feet really do look lovely in pretty summer sandals but my heels, arches and ankles don’t thank me at all as the day wears on. I laugh Celia that you were having drinks with a podiatrist friend at Marty’s Bar – what a glamourous if flat footed life you lead!
She was down for the day from Newcastle. We’re sitting over cocktails, and I said, “so which brand of shoe should I buy?” and she said, “really? You want to do that now?”. I said, “you bet, I don’t see you often enough to find out otherwise!!”.. :)
I have orthotics to remedy a knee problem and finding shoes they fit into is not easy so I feel your pain (sort of). I actually really like those Naot shoes! I will have to look for a UK supplier.
Kim, Naot have a huge range of different styles and lasts with removable foot beds. I had a quick Google – there seem to be a few suppliers in the UK!
Love the literary reference in the title of this post. You are exactly like me Celia. I am a literary geek too. Thank you for adding my June IMK post to the list at the last minute. I hope you get time to have a read too. Best wishes. Emma and baby Alice xx
Thanks Emma! Hope you’re getting some sleep!
It’s not the right season but I think Birkenstocks are the best and most comfortable shoes ever made. As a bonus, my osteopath thinks they’re gold!
I can’t wear them at all! They’re very narrow cut. They also cause my toes to cramp – my podiatrist ground down the lumpy bit under the toes, but that still didn’t help. I had to give them away in the end! :(
I can’t offer you any advice because I’m still one of those crazy people squishing her feet into whatever shoes strike my fancy. Why I’ve even bought shoes in the wrong size if they were cute & on sale (i know, I know but I hate passing up a bargain sometimes.)
Good for you! Glad to know someone can still get away with it! :)
One of my sister-in-laws used to do that. Once she hobbled around Montreal in size 5 boots… ’cause she liked them !! We couldn’t do all we wanted on that day ’cause her feet were killed her!! ; o )
Well I bought a pair of size 5 designer shoes and couldn’t quite get my size 6 feet in them but I felt great donating them to charity…brand new designer shoes that I’d grabbed for $5 – can you imagine?
Seriously, you are not allowed to go shopping with my sister. ;-)
Celia, I so “under stand.” :) I used to buy men’s shoes just so they were wide enough. but my feet still ached. Then I discovered Skechers Go Walk shoes. Although they look a bit like ‘old lady shoes’, my feet are pain free! I don’t care about ‘style’ anymore either — “if the shoe fits…”
Kim, I said to Pete, “these look like old ladies’ shoes!”. He said, “babe, you ARE an old lady”. Always there for me, my Pete.. ;-)
You know, the Italians would pay top dollar for you… prime grape stomping material ;) xoxo
Thanks babe. Good to know.. ;-)
It’s so wise to invest in good footwear! We need our feet to last our lifetime. :-) My poor husband has had problems his whole life and between orthotics and good podiatrist he’s managed to avoid surgeries. I don’t have any problems with my feet, but I’m now in my 60’s, and I’m starting to shy away from the cute little pointy things I could always get away with and to realize that “sensible footwear,” although not always what I want to wear, is better than taking a chance that I’ll initiate problems. I love Pete’s “old lady” comment. Not all truth needs to be stated out loud. LOL!
Deb, my Pete tells it like it is. :) Lucky I know he loves me… hahaha…
You made me laugh out loud! I have big feet, but otherwise luckily relatively easy enough to find shoes. That being said I have my fashionable shoes, workout shoes and shoes meant for walking/comfort. Gotta have great comfort shoes! Your new ones look great!
Hi Celia. I have had orthotics for the last approx 8 years. Have made such a difference to me. I don’t have too much problem fitting into enclosed shoes in the winter up a size from pre orthotic days. In summer it’s more tricky but I find fit flop brand sandals with their dense sole very comfortable without my orthotics. I haven’t had great success with expensive podiatry sandals with the removable footed as my orthotics tend to shift around underfoot too much despite velcro
Loved reading this Celia… feet are funny thing, but so bloody important! Since breaking my foot last year and the surgery that followed, I need ‘sensible’ shoes. But I don’t care. As long as my feet don’t hurt while I walk, nor afterwards. A great post. Love those shoes too!
Oh Celia, don’t get me started on feet — and shoes. My extremely narrow (AAAA or SS) feet have been the bane of my existence! A friend once complimented me on my feet and pointed at that she has “baloney toes” that run in her family. I’d never heard of “baloney toes.” Apparently it means toes that are chubby and of uniform thickness like sausages. Too funny!
I absolutely LOVE the shoes pictured second, with the Naot cork foot bed next to one….the ones with the red straps over them. What? Where? Brand? Style? Your taste is impeccable. My foot/shoe problems are actually back problems – I can’t wear heels and anything aside from Dansko clogs is always questionable. Flat, comfy and room for an insole are all I need.
Katie, they’re the Naots! More info about them here:
http://www.naot.com.au/index.php?id_product=129&controller=product