From the Archive – Jan 2011.
I finished my last blog admitting I felt as though I was walking on air; well, his week I have been talking on Air!
A huge heel-felt thank you to Jason Mohammed and his team at BBC Radio Wales for sole-y supporting my unshodden journey. I had half been expecting the security at BBC Wales to be the first recipient of my Hard Sole Award for not let me over the thresh-hold with bare feet. To the contrary, they were all absolutely fabulous.
John, the Security guy on the desk, didn’t even raise an eyebrow, not even when two other visitors felt it necessary to point out the fact that I was barefooted, as though I didn’t know. John was cool and simply side-stepped the whole issue by asking after Yogi (after seeing her on the CCTV) and share stories about his dippy Doberman and feisty terrier. He also shared his love for a rather unconventional garden sculpture and even went onto the internet to show me the website.
So there I was behind the desk at BBC Wales looking at Zombie Garden sculptures with the security guy and without shoes and socks. Surreal moment No. 12. (at least).
The phone-in team were intrigued and asked all sorts of questions as waited to go into the studio and then, live on air, Jason shared my whole unshodden status with the listeners. I have to hand it to him, he is one cool cookie; he simply said, “Lynne, all the interaction we have had via emails you have always signed off with ‘Boots on….’, ironically you arrive here at the studio with your boots off and your feet out! What’s it all about?”
So I explained; a whole unexpected, unrehearsed, unconventional, unshodden confession, LIVE. It was bloody great.
Great and humbling; people are being so supportive and just so genuinely ‘interested’. A fellow guest on the Phone-In Panel, the Deputy Chairman of Glamorgan Cricket Club, was suited, booted and not only impressed with my unshodden status but also complimentary about my feet! Another first. So, it transpires, not only do I have the face for radio but also the feet …
Despite the compliments, I have been ‘mostly shod’ for a couple of days as I have been making the most of the non-extreme weather and catching up with work on-site and in my own garden but I will be launching Marie Curie’s Swimathon event at Cardiff with Duncan Goodhew on Wednesday 26th, so have the perfect excuse to get my feet out again; ironically I obviously won’t be the only bare footer poolside.
I’m looking forward to it; it’s for a great cause and I first met Duncan, who is lovely, a couple of years ago but I must admit I am whiter than Casper the Ghost and not at all thrilled with the idea of baring so much more than my feet! Unshodden is one thing, undressed is quite another …
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