The pain of ‘breaking in’ new footwear was excruciatingly and vividly brought home to me this week when I had to do just that.

Following this experience, I may never buy and wear new shoes again. The excruciating pain as I hobbled through the day, grimacing in such a manner as to make it seem as though I was smiling was enough to convince me that maybe going barefoot is better.

Now, I thought everything would have been fine when I purchased a new pair of boots. I checked to make sure they were the correct size; tried them on; everything. I liked the boots and bought them, never once giving a thought that that they would have been the cause of so much hurt.

After wearing them the first day, which went well at first, the experience spiralled rapidly downwards, as the boots hugged my feet tighter and tighter. There was no respite until I went home later that evening and immediately tossed the boots into a corner.

The next day, I remembered the pain and was tempted not to wear them, but since I consider myself tougher than any old boots, I decided to wear them to work again. Big mistake! By mid-morning, I was seriously considering taking drastic measures. But then, I would have had to go barefoot for the rest of the day – though that was becoming more appealing as the day progressed.

On the surface, I tried to appear as though there was nothing wrong. But a few astute persons asked why I was walking “funny”. Another, mistaking a grimace for a smile, asked why I was smiling to myself, and I decided that it would do me more harm than good to do something to the boots than to people. I loosened them a bit but the relief was short lived.

I don’t understand what happened. My feet did not grow and the boots were the same size that I usually wear; never with any pain.

Never had such an inanimate object inspired so much malevolence in me.

I have a fairly good idea where the boots are now