Puffer

I remember seeing, on BBC breakfast TV, a live item featuring several politicians being interviewed outdoors. A caption came up describing the one then speaking as '[Name]MP, Far Right Conservative'. The director's instruction to the caption writer had been misunderstood; what was meant was 'The man on the far right is "[Name]MP, a Conservative"! An apology was later made, although he might of course have truly been at the far right of his party.

Absolutely! But it could have been worse: 'Aisle of White' anyone?

Yes, an interesting, literate* and well-balanced article, for once. To my mind, however, it illustrated all too well the stupid bigotry and childish criticism levelled against a few well-known people because they were wearing footwear that, by our yardstick at least, was scarcely 'high-heeled'. To make (political) capital out of the sighting of a conservatively-dressed man whose boots had heels perhaps half-an-inch higher than 'regular' men's footwear is just pathetic. [For once, the term 'regular', as used in the US, seems more apt than 'normal' or 'standard' or 'ordinary' as it also rightly conveys the sense of nothing being wrong.] *I will overlook 'memories pail in comparison' at the beginning of the second para!

That they are Labour Party supporters. Fortunately, Eddie's off-beat humour and appearance is unlikely to be much of an encouragement to potential voters.

When navigating the Rubicon (or indeed when wearing high heels): in medio tutissimus ibis and festina lente both provide good advice.

It does appear that dispensing with adverbs in favour of adjectives is common in US speech and writing; I often notice it and am never sure if it is idiom or just plain sloppy. It is not common in the UK, although one might occasionally hear an expression such as 'He got there quick by car'. Reminds me of a holiday in Florida years ago when my first wife was browsing in a clothes shop whilst I waited patiently. An assistant asked me 'Do you like your wife to dress sexy?' - to which I felt obliged to respond 'Well, I much prefer that she uses an adverb'. And my stock answer to the formulaic 'Have a nice day' (an increasingly common farewell, alas, in the UK) is invariably 'Thank you, but I have other plans'. O tempora, o mores!

There was a brief and somewhat trivial 'report' on BBC Breakfast this morning, including an interview with a wild-haired female academic from Aberdeen. Naga Munchetty (hardly the most attractive or stylish presenter) made a point of showing her boring flat lace-up shoes, which were clearly her preferred footwear. A pity that Sally Nugent (who was wearing stiletto sandals earlier in the programme) or Louise Minchin (usually in heels) wasn't commenting on the report; I feel sure they would have spoken in favour of more feminine footwear.

Agreed - and an even bigger disservice by using an adjective when an adverb is required!

No. Nothing heard from Heelfan for several years. I met him once years ago; he had many interesting memories of high-heel sightings and wearing in the 1960s heyday.

The stories by 'Lucy' were actually written by Heelfan (see my post above) and reputed to be 'her' high-heel experiences. Although 'Lucy' was later unmasked, most of the things 'she' wrote about were true and derived from Heelfan's own contemporary experiences. He was at one time a window-dresser at Regent Shoes and wrote truthfully about that business and its customers. Unfortunately, neither the Lucy stories nor Heelfan's own contributions have continued here.

I understand 'CFM' but not 'golly gee willikers'. (Sounds like a medical problem? )

Ha ha! For one minute, Mlroseplant, I thought you had treated us to another view of the fascinating plumbing in your basement. But it's far too clean and tidy for that! WE do use the CFM term in the UK in the sense Cali suggested. But I always think it is derogatory and does shoe lovers no favours; sexy shoes do not automatically imply a desire for or offer of sex. As an aside, the term 'pumps' is not generally applied to footwear in the UK; the usual term for a closed slip-on shoe with a heel is a 'court'. That said, some folks call gym shoes (plimsolls) 'pumps', especially in the north of England, and the term can also be used to describe a light flat shoe for dancing.

I should have said more. My holiday in a Spanish resort was amongst a largely British crowd, nice enough people generally but whose generally skimpy hot-weather clothing (on the beach or in the street) revealed some pretty unpleasant, and sometimes downright ugly, bodies, especially when 'embellished'. I don't 'hate' my countrymen (obese or not) but was certainly not proud of their appearance, and it is a trend which is growing. (The local Spanish people were noticeably smarter and, despite their often shorter and wider stature, not so obviously obese; the Mediterranean diet has its advantages.)

My sentiments precisely. Unfortunately, ugly platform shoes aside, there are signs that the present decade is beginning to compete - so many obese people of both sexes with disfiguring tattoos and piercings and a generally sloppy attitude to what they wear. (I've just returned from a very pleasant holiday in Spain - only marred by much of the 'human scenery' around me.)

Yes, historically the transitive form was considered correct - the institution 'grades' the ability of its students. But no longer the preferred phrasing - and certainly not in the UK. Oh dear! Saying that someone 'graduated the college' is never right in either British or American English; it must be 'graduated from the college' or (per mlroseplant) 'were graduated by the college'. See me in my study after prayers for chastisement, SF.