barefoot bearded geek

We have been warned

2011-05-19T15:37:00.003Z

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

2011-03-07T16:48:00.000Z

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

I remember the amazement when I first ran barefoot, but I do normally wear running shoes. But after watching this I think perhaps I should look a little more into the barefooted possibilities of running.

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

2011-02-07T16:57:00.000Z

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

Some good evidence to run barefoot :)

Barefooting down a Korean mountain

2008-08-04T05:12:00.002Z

Yesterday I hiked up Baegundae mountain just north of Seoul, South Korea. I went up in my hiking boots (only their second time on a real mountain). Walking up we passed a couple walking down barefoot, carrying their shoes. I was a bit jealous.

The whole ascent was breathtaking and the views at the top were superb. We had a snack of kimbap (rice rolls, like sushi) on the summit rock and I decided to take of my shoes.

We then climbed down the mountain taking a different route to the way up. I was thinking I'd have to re-shoe myself when I got to the first stream. But instead Suyeon decided to take her shoes off as well. So there we both were hiking down this mountain barefoot. Awesome!

Today my feet feel quite different. Not in pain as such, but certainly they feel alive.

Barefoot on the BBC

2008-06-27T15:03:00.003Z

I've now barefooted myself on the the BBC Hampshire website, being interviewed by the lovely Indy Almroth-Wright who was brave enough to go for a barefoot wonder with me during the interview. Check out the article here:
Nick Bailey - BBC Barefoot Interview

Asking Out Barefoot

2008-02-08T04:23:00.000Z

It was not by concious act that I happened to be barefoot when I asked my girlfriend out, thought I was quite pleased to find that it was the case. I was (and still am) quite bearded. Thus, remaining a geek, I can report that the barefoot bearded geek, while not 24/7 any more, is still alive and kicking (and successful in the very thing that many said would be impossible).

Go eccentricity!

More Glass No Cut

2008-02-06T17:26:00.000Z

Yesterday I noticed some discomfort in my right big toe. On investigation that evening I noticed a small piece of glass lodged in the center. Extraction with my leatherman knife proved painless and revealed that the glass had penetrated but not made a cut.

Skin 1, glass nill.

[I'm still barefooting on the odd days, but not full time anymore. Now just barefooting for fun.]
barefoot

Winter Beard 2008

2008-01-08T17:54:00.000Z

Bearded Again

beard

United Airlines

2007-09-18T01:55:00.000Z

I had no problems flying barefoot on a United flight from Washington Dulles to Heathrow. All the staff were friendly. And on the flight out, while I didn't board barefoot, I did potter round in the flight and had a chat with one of the stewards about a CNN documentary about living barefoot. He was all "but what about all the germs", and I'm like "it's my United flight of whatever".

United, United Airlines, flying barefoot

Luna Lovegood Barefoot

2007-08-03T12:27:00.000Z

I recently watched the latest Harry Potter film - the Order of the Pheonix - and very much enjoyed it. I gave a little gasp of joy when I saw that Luna was out in the woods barefoot - good for her :)

luna lovegood, harry potter, barefoot

Joss Stone for Diana

2007-07-01T18:02:00.000Z

I just enjoyed watching Joss Stone's performance for the Princess Diana memorial concert in Wembley stadium. I quite like her music, but mostly I enjoyed her being barefoot on stage. Well done Joss :)

Joss Stone, Diana, Wembley Stadium

Nice Barefoot Encounter

2007-05-25T17:10:00.003Z

There I was this afternoon walking to the student services building on Highfield campus past the library where lots of students were lounging around on the grass outside. Three girls got up in front of me and started walking ahead. I heard one exclaim that she'd forgotten to put her shoes one. As I walked past I mentioned that she'd be just fine without them. As they noticed that I was not wearing shoes either I heard their exclamation, then the girl without shoes called her thanks to me saying that she'd just made a barefoot friend.

I just love how differences break down barriers with strangers.

University of Southampton, barefoot, library

Cold Feet

2007-05-15T10:15:00.000Z

So it's been a tad chilly this May after a stunningly warm April and over the weekend I was wearing shoes for a but of extra warmth. Then last night in bed I had my traditional cold feet. Shoes simply don't work for insulation.

Flip Flops

2007-04-21T08:38:00.000Z

Can anyone tell me why it is that men with out shoes on is weird and strange but men with flip flops on is quite acceptable? It just looks girly, get them off and take the ground like a man.

flip flops

Barefoot Again/Still

2007-04-02T16:09:00.000Z

To all my friends and family who lament at my lack of shoes I'm sad to say that the winter (if you could call it such) never really managed to flip me back to the world of shoes. So with the warm weather back and more reliable I'm again enjoying the feeling of the ground benieth my feet rathen than insulated by my shoes.

Gardening, however, has been a shod exercise of late as I've been weilding a lovely new heavy and quite sharp garden fork - I accidentally placed it on my big toe which hurt and thus I thought shoes would be more sensible. accident prone as I am.

Barefoot Doctor Who

2007-03-31T20:08:00.001Z

I've just very much enjoyed the start of the of the new Doctor Who series on BBC this evening. The new assistant Martha Jones is rather lovely and I do like David Tennant as the doctor. But what really tickled me pink was seeing the Doctor barefoot! Is my influence spreading that quickly?

doctor who

Barefoot At Jongleurs, Camden Town

2007-03-20T18:44:00.000Z

Friday 16th March

Were you at Jongleurs in Camden Town last Friday? Well I am that very barefoot Nick. If you weren't then here's the story.

It was Ben and Rachael's birthday this last weekend and as a treat some free tickets to Jongleurs were secured for free, so a night out in London was organised. Ben, Luke and I caught the train up from Southampton in the afternoon and we all convened at the End of the World pub in Camden Town (thought I stopped off at China Town to pick up some wok lids).

We then pottered along to a Miso Soup bar and enjoyed a very lovely noodle meal (though unfortunately no miso soup). Afterwards we then went along to the comedy club, and I was pleased that they let me in without shoes on. Unfortunetly the table thay gave us was right benieth the microphone.

When the compare started he did a very funny introduction which involved picking out some likely candidates for picking on by the upcoming comedians. First there was this guy Bob, who was a little posh. This provided some amusement, but then he looked over, spotted me and found out I was a research student - a great compromise for a start. Then he noticed that I wasn't wearing any shoes, and that was it. What better a comedy subject than a barefoot student. Comedy gold.

So throughout the night I was used as the butt of many jokes. It was truly brilliant, I loved it. I was continually thankful that I am able to laugh at myself and that I wasn't one of those Americans who seem to have had the sarcasm gene removed. After the acts ended I had a number of people come up to me and say hello (the night had been dedicated to me) and get their picture taken with me. All very good fun, and all in a very nice spirit.

This is perhaps the most enjoyable thing about being barefoot, being already different from the crowd it seems to take away some of the unease or fear that people have about talking to strangers. Just brilliant.

jongleurs, comedy club, barefoot, camden town

Running Barefoot Across London

2007-03-20T16:28:00.000Z

After my night of comedy last Friday I had a little adventure running through the streets of London. I guess I stayed a tad late in the comedy club and it was 11:30 when I made to leave. I had a little walk through Camden Town to the train station and then got onto the Northern line heading south towards Waterloo. Annoyingly I picked up the wrong branch of the Northern (I'm sure it was not totally clear, but the slight inepriation might have had a little to do with it).

I'd heard rumours that the underground stopped at about half twelve but didn't really want to check my phone to see what the time was. I checked the underground map and noted that the Jubilee line connects London Bridge to Waterloo so I got of there and nipped down the escalators to the platform just as a train left. Unfortunately, to my horror, the announcement then came on the tannoy informing us that that was the last westbound train. Mistake!

So I ran back up the escalators - I love running up escalators in bare feet, especially the really long ones leaping up two steps at a time, quite an skill - picked up my bearings outside and then headed for Waterloo running along Southwark Street and then Stamford Street. The distance was about one and a half miles and I reached the station with 15 minutes before the train left (I had only sketchy info regarding the time of the last train back to Southampton being at about 1 am).

This was definitely a good example of the beer scooter as my friend calls it - that uncanny knack to get home when slightly under the influence. I was well surprised to find that it still worked with out shoes on, and what's more my feet survived intact. Though the heals were a little sore the following day, and my calves ached the day after that, but otherwise unscathed. Result.

Walking With My Feet

2007-03-14T02:34:00.000Z

On the way home from town this afternoon I came across a father and son walking home from school. He was of the age where you walk about 5 meters behind your dad, just experimenting with being a little independent. He was also on a secret mission to shoot lots of things as he went, so as I passed home I was shot and a gruesome death followed.

As I walked on he exclaimed to me about my shoelessness with the rather lovely phrase "your walking with your feet". We chatted a little about this and he told me he thought it was disgusting, but then went on to recall that he did it when he goes on holiday in India.

A lovely little chap. The sort you really pray won't get screwed up and turned into a chav.

Barefoot in the Nation's Capital

2007-03-09T18:13:00.000Z

My feet own Washington DC. I've come to DC for the Planetary Defence Conference to present my research. While at the conference I've been shod in some rather uncomfortable smart shoes. But come home time I've been loosing the feet prisons and getting some fresh air round my toes. And boy has the air been fresh!

On Tuesday I walked from the GW University in Foggy Bottom to Chinatown. It was a long way and I survived unscathed despite crossing a glass strewn carpark. The temperature significantly dropped that evening and on Wednesday it snowed all day. Sad to say when I went out that evening I did wear my sandals.

But yesrterday I decided to explore Gorgetown with the prospect of finding some shops. And find them I did. On the way there I was able to experiment with snow footing for the first time. Bloody cold! But a few steps afterwards the snow had falled off and my feet regained conciousness. One guy walked past and enquired how long it had taken me to get used to barefoot in the cold. I said I'd only been going 6 months, though this was my first time in the snow.

Then I went into the Patagonia shop and was met with much interest, love and respect for being a little odd. All that I'd heard about Patagoina was right, they rock! Just as I was leaving two guys walked in leotards and definitely trumped my oddity. I then got sent out of the small mall next door for this No Shirt No Shoes No Service bollocks. I then met some homeless guys who offered me their shoes, a guy from a Pensilvania commune that I'd met in Chinatown on Sunday and a nice guy who offered to pray for me (though I was able to reassure him I was already a brother in Christ).

Much coolness. So I'm out again today to enjoy the warm sunshine and let my feet do the walking.

My feet after an evening walking Washington DC in the snow

Washington DC, Snow, Walking Barefoot

Barefooted Retreat

2007-02-26T12:09:00.000Z

I've spent a glorious barefoot weekend visiting friends and making a pilgrimage to Worth Abbey for a weekend retreat.

The weekend begun at about 2pm on the platform of Southampton Central where I removed my sandals and packed them deep into my rucksack hoping not to remove them again. I boarded the 2:20 train to London (which I just managed to catch despite the horrors of the Southampton bus network trying to thwart me) and got out my MacBook and began working on my conference poster for next week. My battery lasted exactly the whole journey with the 8 minute warning just as we pulled into Victoria.

It was then 5 pm as I strolled barefoot through the station, making an oddly loud noise on the cool paving slabs. It was rush hour and the number of people all around was quite uplifting in an odd sort of way. In fact in exactly the opposite way to the crowds in West Quay. People here seem to flow better, knowing where they are going and actually using their brains (is that to harsh on the general Southampton populace?).

I picked up some supplies in a local supermarket and then caught the underground to South Kensington to take a look in the V&A Museum at the advice of my good friend Hannah Hawksley. It's free and open late on Fridays - bonus - and had a very interesting display of Chinese artefacts, some of which show the most stunningly intricate craft work. The V&A seemed to be barefoot friendly :)

I then took the tube right across central London to Stratford where a friend from my teaching trip in China, Chin Hwa, now lives and works. Chin had made a grand dinner with black bean tofu and a peanut veggie dish which was all very tasty. Another of my good friends from Hong Kong, Queenie, joined. It was simply lovely to catch up as it had been two years since we'd seen each other (actually in Hong Kong). I was also able to fix the odd light bulb and door handle crisis.

Queenie and I then took the tube back and I got off at Victoria. I must say that the underground was also very barefoot friendly. My Prague metro experience was good and London was as good - very little rubbish on the floor to worry about and nice long escalators to run up :)

My train got into Worth Station at about 1 and from there, after a brief key loss panic, I made my way to the abbey. Thankfully the majority of the road surfaces were in good repair, and only the last stretch really hurt. The warm-ish rain helped stave off the cold. When I reached the abbey I found I'd miss heard the accommodation key code and so settled down to sleep on the floor of the main abbey, which is really beautiful at night with only the alter floodlit.

The rest of the weekend retreat was simply beautiful. The monks were as loving as ever and gave good direction for my thoughts and prayers. I made one exploration down to the quite garden through quite a muddy field which was very pleasing. I also managed to finally find time to quieten my inner monologue and actually contemplate things. I also strengthened some good friendships and thoroughly enjoyed the company. I also encouraged a friend who had got her shoes soaked to take off her socks as well and go barefooted - and she loved it, which was quite exciting for me too :)

So a very blessed weekend sharing with old and new friends and with the Lord. Good. Very good.

Worth Abbey, The Monastery, pilgrimage

A Barefoot Meeting in the Stag's Head

2007-02-08T22:06:00.000Z

How completely wonderful. I've just spent a lovely hour in the Stag's Head (a rare event for me) talking to not one but two other local barefooters!! I went from work to celebrate a friends birthday with a pint in the bar and it turned out to be karioke night. The first guy was fairly crap, but the second was pretty good - singing Meat Loaf. As we were half watching I noticed two girls also barefoot, very wierd I tought. I was going to go up and say hello untill my nexdoor housemate Ben pointed out their two rather large boyfriends. They would surly have 'had me'. So I didn't say anything.

But low and behold the Meat Loaf singer was also not wearing shoes. Mysteriouser and mysteriouser. A little later he walked past and I said hello. We introduced each ourselves and found out that he was a real barefooter. Furthermore I noticed an IXTHUS arm band and enquired about his church activities - turns out he's the ABC barefooter that I'd heard roumers of. He's a true hard core barefooter, has been for 5 years and actually realised he didn't like wearing shoes back in college.

All very exciting. And then he goes and introduces me to his friend who's been barefoot a year while still at college!

So we chatted and I asked him many things about his feet - even had a prod - as he's the first barefooter I've actually met in person. I'm afrid it's given new encouragement to me going barefoot for longer. I know some of you were thinking / hoping that I'd give it up come winter, but I'm afrid you might be dissapointed. Barefooting is great, its too fun not to do, and when I don't (as I have been wareing sandles of late) I miss the interesting feeling and textures of the ground.

I now can't wait for my first proper off-road wilderness barefoot walk.

Stags Head, Southampton University, barefoot

Made it - Nice

2007-02-04T22:54:00.000Z

Well I made it round to the shops today enjoying the beautiful winter sun warming the pavement and my feet. The temperature was simply lovely, cool and refreshing and felt really good to give my feet a good airing. I was quite surprised at how easy it was to walk around shoeless and by how comfortable the ground was to walk on. So despite it being winter, barefooting is still good.

Interestingly last night I had my first barefoot dream where I met a nice old lady who'd been barefoot all her life and seemed most excited to meet me also shoeless.

Out to the Shops

2007-02-04T13:38:00.000Z

It's Sunday today. the sky is blue and the sun shining. My hillwalk yesterday was from Whitchurch and was also gloriously sunny though I was shod in my walking boots. Now, with such a sunny day I'm going to see if I can walk to the shops barefoot without getting too cold.
It feels like my original barefoot adventures in the summer when I first started. Will I be able to make it all the way to Waitrose? Now the challenge is the cold. There's a slight northerly building and the water butt outside has ice on it. This could be a challenge...

The Cowherds Inn

2007-01-29T17:54:00.000Z

I went here on Friday night and I'm sad to say they were not barefoot friendly at all. While being fairly polite about asking me to put my shoes on, they still came out with the typical crap excuse of "there's glass on the floor".

No there isn't! Sure people are likely to break drop glasses every so often in a drunken haze but I can't believe that this would not be cleaned up.

I tried explaining that I'm quite aware of the risk seeing as how I walk outside without shoes on (and have found myself walking over glass) but they wouldn't let me so I had to put my SPD shoes back on :(

A first for my barefoot experience.

barefoot, Cowherds

Barefoot Fun in Church

2007-01-29T01:01:00.000Z

Tonight in church painting worship was made available for all. Despite my typical uncomfortable feeling about doing something out of the ordinary I went up, painted my feet and made two lovely footprints on the canvas.

Highfield Church

Ash - Walking Barefoot

2007-01-24T16:14:00.000Z

I've just come across a song by Irish rock band Ash which talks of walking barefoot all summer - just like me :)

ash, walking barefoot

Sneeked in a New Year Footing

2007-01-02T00:30:00.000Z

Here's an idea for next year - a barefoot Hogmanay.

I have to say that despite no longer being a full barefooter I did happen to sneak one in this evening on my way home from my New Year trip to Wales. I'd been for a walk through some serious bogs and had pretty wet feet (my Burghaus shoes are nearly at their end). So as I drove home to Cheltenham I gradually removed my shoes and socks at opportune moments enabling my feet to gradually dry out. I also prefer barefoot driving as you can fully enjoy the warm air on the feet setting.

One the M5 just outside Tewkesbury the call of nature became more of a shout and so I pulled in to the services. 'course without my shoes and socks on what was I to do? Put my wet shoes back on? No! So I nipped in through the cold carpark shoeless. It felt great. Cold, but somewhat liberating.

Happy New Year people!

barefoot, Hogmanay, Wales,

Barefoot Christmas

2006-12-26T01:57:00.000Z

Made it, Christmas day barefoot. Church was lovely without shoes on this morning - lots of fun conversations, and the rest of the day was spent in my lovely warm family home so my feet were most useful acting as a cooling system.

Shod at Last

2006-12-20T11:34:00.000Z

Dear people, it saddens me to tell you that for the past two days I have walked into work in sandals. No socks mind, but sandals none the less. Winter has finally got it's act together and arrived (just under a week early).

For a special treat on my Birthday I popped on a pair of socks (which subsequently made my feet get really cold as they got a bit damp meaning I had to take them off again!). This had the annoying disadvantage of not being able to go outside so easily. And when I went for a quick cycle in my SPD shoes I found I couldn't take them off as I had socks on underneath that can't take the outside world like my soles can. Hmm... barefoot is a massive advantage sometimes.

All is not lost however as I'll still be taking my sandals off in the day and walking round the Uni campus free and footloose, if slightly chilly.

cold feet

Winter? Piff!

2006-12-13T01:45:00.000Z

It is quite definitely mid December, and while it is technically not winter yet (begins on the 21st), it is getting colder at last. This week I put my scarf on for the first time - a joy I've looked forward to ever since I discovered scarfs. But still no shoes - how rare.

Honestly, today was actually nice to be out without shoes on. I walked a number of places and, though felt the cold, did not get cold feet. I was also walking round in a t-shirt and jerkin, so it wasn't a blizzard out there. But I was still surprised and excited. I should make my 25th birthday shoeless!!

barefoot

Still Doin' It

2006-12-04T17:56:00.000Z

Quite what's going on, be it global warming or an automotive response, but I'm still barefoot and it's now December the 4th!!

What is going on? Back in October I had a really cold day and though my barefoot days were numbered. But then it got a bit mild and the threat eased. November came and still no shoes. But December? Surly not. Yet here I am.

The mornings can sometimes be a little chilly, and wet pavement is a little uncomfortable, but otherwise the days are fine. Granted, my walk into work is only 7 minutes, which does helps, but on Saturday I walked all round Portswood for about 3 hours and was fine (it also breifly thundered and poured down which was nice to walk through).

Will I make my Birthday (17th? - walk barefoot into my 25th year), or Christmas? Exciting...

December, walk to work, barefoot, pavement

Cold Feet but the Leaves are a Blowing

2006-11-22T12:33:00.000Z

Despite this coldness and the uncomfortable nature of walking to work these autumnal days there is one large bonus - the leaves on the ground. I do at least feel that I've made it to where I wanted (but didn't expect) with autumn fully set in an piles of leaves on the ground to be kicked carefree into the air as I walk. So if I did have to return to the shod world I will feel content that I made it thus far.

But it would be simply splendid to make Christmas...

barefoot, autumn leaves

Cold Feet

2006-11-22T00:29:00.000Z

Today was hard. Not only have I been feeling down a little since the weekend (friendship issues) but today I discovered a major blunder and have some things tomorrow that are nagging at me (on top of the general fear that November is passing all too rapidly and I really need to get some research work completed).

So added to that was the cold uncomfortable walk to work, a walk to the pub for lunch and the walk home all on uncomfortably cold and wet ground. I was less than happy.

Will this be the last week I make barefoot?

cold feet

Singing in the Rain

2006-11-17T15:25:00.000Z

Ha ha! Suck you shoe people!

It's been pouring down all day here in Southampton (making me slightly nervous about my walk tomorrow) and I've been loving it. There are all these people out there trying despirately to avoid all the puddle and streams byt perfomring some ritual rain dance in the hope of keeping their feet dry. But they should know it's pointless, whenever you walk about in rain, shoes allways get wet. This is the natural law. Umbrellas are designed not to shelter your feet.

So go barefoot. You can splash freely thought the deepest leaf covered puddles safe in the knowledge that you can't get any wetter than you are already and that feet dry in minutes compared to the days of airing that shoes take.

So I'm really looking forward to my walk home. Yes, it is a tad chilly, but they soon warm up when indoors and you also get this rush of blood to the feet - instant central heating.

Go on, loose the shoes. I dare you.

barefoot, bare+feet, rain, puddles, rainstorm

Piece of Glass: 0, My Bare Feet: 1

2006-11-15T13:26:00.000Z

Ha! I laugh in the face of glass.

On Monday for the first time in my barefoot history (4 months and a week) I got a piece of glass in my foot. One of the questions I get asked most is "don't you find that you get cut on glass all the time?" to which I answer no. They also like to ask if I frequently step in dog poo, to which I also answer no - this question is a tad strange, as it seems to suggest the assumption that not having shoes on makes one more likely to step in poo! Quite why this should be is a mystery to me. When shod I perhaps accidentally step in poo once a year, and I'm not expecting that rate to increase now I'm barefoot.

Anyway, back to the glass:

I'm not sure when I picked it up, but when I went to Chaplaincy for lunch I noticed a small pain in my heal, very localized as if I'd just stepped on a stone. I checked my soles and found nothing stuck on the bottom so continued, occasionally feeling this small pain.

Back at my desk I had a proper look and noticed a small fisher right where the pain sensations were coming from (my nerve endings are still top notch which is nice to see). But I left it there deciding to investigate with my Leatherman later, as walking still wasn't a problem.

Later at home I got out my Leatherman blade and started a Time Team style excavation of my heal to find out what was there. I dug away at the toughened skin either side of the fisher to reveal it's lurking contents - something darkish which hurt when prodded. I called in my housemate Adele with her tweasers to extract the forigen body - a small, millimeter square shard of glass burried a mm into my heal. Out it came and the problem was solved, no more pain and no blood as it had not penegtrated my well worn heal - nice.

So that means that the soles of my feet are at least 2 mm thick and can easily ward of glass - brilliant :)

Feet rock!

barefoot, barefeet, glass, Leatherman

New Barefoot First

2006-11-13T16:03:00.000Z

It looks like today I've got something embedded in my sole for the first time in over 4 months. I noticed a slight sharp pain in my heel but couldn't feel anything sticking out so ignored it. However I've just sat down in my office to have a proper inspection and I've found a small something embedded in the heel exactly where the pain said it was (I love nerves). So I'll have to have a look when I get home and set my Leatherman on the job :D

barefoot

Shod for a Day

2006-11-08T13:19:00.000Z

For the first time in many many weeks I've placed my amazing little feet into a sheath of dead animal and refined oil called shoes. The thing is I'm at a conference type thing today (right now in fact) and giving a presentation barefoot would probably not be a great thing, mainly because it would distract the audience from what I'm actually presenting about.

Oh well, may the barefoot revolution continue, slowly, but continue nonetheless.

barefoot,
shoes

'Twas a Chilly Morn

2006-11-01T10:29:00.000Z

Despite the glorious sunshine that I awoke to, the walk to work this morning was a tad on the chilly side. This was mostly due to wearing only a t-shirt, but slightly compounded by the shoesless nature of my walk.

How long am I going to last? I'm allready a month further than I expected, and tomorrow completes my fourth consecutive month barefoot. But will I reach December? Will I make it to my birthday on the 17th of December? Will I be able to walk barefoot to Church on Christmas Day? I doubt it, but the challenge is set and I push forward the boundaries of my barefoot existance and defeat the propaganda by Nike etc. that I need shoes.

Understanding the ISVR Police

2006-10-24T12:18:00.000Z

I've had a number of people complain about my lack of shoes in my research building. The complaints come from the other departments that occupy the building as they don't know who I am and so just see some weirdo walking around without shoes and socks on while my department understands me as being a barefoot geek. This has been going on for some weeks and I've recently been found by the local health and safety wardens who have alerted me to the complaints and said I should not be doing it.

Their reasons go along the lines of 'what if someone leaves a drawing pin on the floor' or 'the floor in the toilet is dirty you can't possibly walk in there'. I said I'd put some slippers on which they seemed to accept. However, what I later realized is that theses folks who are complaining don't realize I'm barefoot all the time. They think I come to work, remove my footwear and start wondering the halls. This explains their worry that i might step on something as they don't realize I have to navigate the gauntlet of the outside just to get to work, so floors indoor are no real challenge to me.

As for using the toilet. Yes the floor is covered in nast, but that's life (or more accurately the poor toilet habits of many shod men). I take special care, unlike outside, to not enjoy any puddles I find in the toilet. And the next time I get told off I'll just ask them if they use the toilet door handle when leaving the facilities - as there is probably more germs on that one item than the whole of the floor (which is cleaned daily). By the way, I avoid using toilet door handles where ever possible.

ISVR Police

2006-10-11T13:50:00.000Z

I just got caught again for barefooting upstairs on the ISVR floor and told off. A different guy this time at least.

I was using the ISVR kitchen (called Franks) where I heat up my pre-cooked lunches. Stupidly though today I was simply boiling water for a Nong Shim instant noodle which I could have done upstairs.

So this guy says "your not allowed to go round without shoes on". I turn round and say "excuse me?" as, not knowing who I was, he didn't say "Oi you without shoes, stop it". So I said that according to health and safety I was fine and so he went to get the ISVR health and safety officer! Busted!

That guy was quite nice, and said laid down the rule said it wasn't allowed in 'our building'. Naturally I enquired as to who's building it was. He said ISVR, and I alerted him to the knowledge that Aerospace is here too. This took the line of questioning to why I was in Franks if I wasn't ISVR ad away from my bare feet (I think he sensed a defeat when I didn't come under his duristriction). I explained th lack of microwave in our facilities due to the shit building design. Thankfully he never noticed that I wasn't actually using the microwave! Phew :)

It looks like I might have to wear my slippers to lunch from now. But otherwise the battle continues.

Just for Future Reference

2006-10-10T23:14:00.000Z

I'm just filling in my application to join the Society for Barefoot Living and it asks for a little introduction to my barefoot living. So I though I better check when it was I started and I've found out that it was at about 6:05 pm on Sunday the 2nd July 2006.

Barefoot Resources

2006-10-10T15:46:00.000Z

I've been wondering the web a little and have finally come accross some resources for barefoot living. I'll give you the link below, but I've not yet had a good look at the site, so I'll save my comments and hopefully route out some nuggest for you.

http://www.barefooters.org/

I got this link from this article written for the The Great Outdoors Magazine.

2006-10-09T15:43:00.000Z

On my way to work this morning I felt a rather new and strange feeling underfoot. The pavement was strangely warm and soft. I looked down to find a patch of freshly laid tarmac. So naturately I went back to put my foot in it. Sadly I didn't leave a proper impression, not that it would have taken a very good one (wrong type of tarmac), but I should have tried.

My tarmacked foot

A Good Day for No Shoes

2006-10-09T15:35:00.000Z

Today is a fine shoeless day. Firefox is telling me that it's about 17 degrees outside, with some gently sunshine warming the ground to a very comfortable temperature.

The University here has spent a great deal of time (and no doubt funds) over the past few years paving the campus with those red bricks rather than tarmac or concrete which was there before. And I must say that this was a great move. Not only do they make much nicer looking pathways, but the are rather lovely underfoot. The bricks seem to capture the sun's energy rather nicely and release it gradually, meaning that they don't heat up too much and maintain a reasonably steady temperature. So today, a lightly fresh brease perfectly complements the underfoot warmth to deliver a most pleasent walking experience.

Autumnal Prospects

2006-10-08T17:08:00.000Z

Autumn is definitly coming now, you can see the sun dropping rappidly in the sky every day. The mornings are getting colder and the weather is generally wetter and more blustery, though as yet no leaves are really turning (except the conker trees).

My feet are just about surviving, last monday was tough going. The wet ground and cold morning was hard on the feet. Walking in the wet seems to be more painful than normal due, I think, to the fact that the wet softens the soles. Thus even rough forms of tarmac are more difficult to walk on.

However there is one thing I'm quite excited about - falling leaves. I always love walking trough the collected piles of falen atumn leaves. The crunchy rustle underfoot and the scuffing swoosh sound that they make on each step as your feet fling them into the air. What fun this will be without shoes on! I can't really imagine, but I hope it will make up for the cold.

Running to Church

2006-10-02T23:24:00.000Z

I was a tad late at getting ready for Church. In fact I was still in the house at 6:30 when the service began. Yeah, I'm not fantastically well organised.

In order to limit my lateness I decided it would be better to run there than walk. So I did. It's 0.6 miles there and I was quite amazed that I made it. The soles of my feet really warmed up on the way and I made it home all right, but today my feet were feeling the pain. The soles felt all delicate and there was little enjoyment of the pavement on the way into work. The cold and wet didn't help either.

Barefoot Gardening

2006-10-02T14:26:00.000Z

I'm sorry this is a little off putting, but here is my foot after a day digging in the garden. I can reccommend barefoot gardening but you definitly have to be careful of stabbing feet with claw shaped rakes or scooping up a toe with your shovel. And digging with spades are really out of the question - finally! a barefoot limitation!

Rainy Weather

2006-10-02T14:19:00.000Z

Hmm, not quite so good today. The temperature has dropped a bit and it's been raining for a couple of days now, and I have to admit that my feet are a little cold, at least when I'm out walking around in the wet.

But indoors is still working for me, and getting inside after walking around outside give a nice warmth rush to the old pegs.

I'm also now in long trousers which is a little anoying without shoes. My legs arn't the longest available due to my somewhat vertically challenged nature, and they don't seem to cater for my height in the fassion industry. They don't cater for my slim physique either for that matter. Which all means that my trousers are scraping along the floor and sucking up puddle water (as I still enjoy the thrill of walking through puddles without shoes on - similar to the joy of wellies in the mud). But this isn't helping with the warmth factor.

How long will I last? Place your bets now...

Cold Feet

2006-10-01T13:10:00.000Z

This is a little worrying, my feet are feeling a touch cold today and I've only been indoors. Firefox is telling me that it's 17 degrees in Southampton, which isn't exactly winter conditions. How am I going to survive this winter? It's going to be cold outside...

Morning Foot Cramp

2006-09-29T18:27:00.000Z

This is just one of the strangest things I've come across barefooted, foot cramp. At first I was worried that I'd injured my feet (especially following my two summer marathons) as when I woke in the morning I found I was hobbling for the first few minutes of the day. But when this persisted long after my walks had been and gone I realised it was something else, something much more normal and everyday.

You must know the experience some days when you wake and find that your hands are all scrunched up and completely useless for a while, like it almost hurts to open them out. Well it's exactly the same thing, but as I'm actually using my feet to manipulate things and giving them a load of exercise in the day times (griping curb stones with my toes etc.) I have foot cramp each morning. It's really wonderful as it shows that I'm actually making use of my feel as something more than just stumps for walking on.

Brilliant!

Barefoot Crete

2006-09-22T13:21:00.000Z

I'm barefooting a little round Crete with my Family.

So far I'd give it a rating of 3.5 on the difficulty rating (from 1-5). It's very rocky and stony in a lot of places that make travel somewaht tentative. The major cities are quiet easy, however, with relativly little glass and quite little free. Cirtainly the touristy bits are very well cleaned. What glass there is tends to be very tiny rounded bits rather than the freshly smashed bottles which are much more of a problem.

There is also a lot of sea around (it beaing an island and all), and it's such a joy not to have to worry about putting on shoes after swimming on a beach as the sand wears off in it's own time on the way home. Nice.

Nasty Little Tizard Man

2006-09-04T15:20:00.000Z

I've just been acosted again walking down my corridor at work (Tizard Building, Soton Uni) by this nasty litte man who must be part of the ISVR as he was talking to some other ISVR person. He's got the sort of face that looks as though it's been screwed up through years of complaining and being angry at people.

Again he goes "Excuse me, what are you doing? Your not allowed to be in bare feet at work".

This time, however, I'd done some research with the Uni Health and Safety department and found that there were no restrictions on what should be warn on your feet while at work. There is for working in labs, but not otherwise. So I told him so - "Actually I checked with the Uni H&S and found there is no problem".

"Well" he said, "I'll make it a problem".

What a lovely man.

Slightly Beardless

2006-09-03T04:18:00.000Z

I'm afraid I have some bad news...

While at Greenbelt I was moved to shave my beard off and so now I'm left with just some stubble (the closest I could get with my electric clippers).

It was Monday, the final day of the festival, and I'd been challenged through out about spiritual, and ethical matters. I'd been to good seminars and heard some great music. I'd also spent some quality time with my youth group and SCM group as well as briefly fleetingly meeting many other friends around and about the Cheltenham Racecourse. All in all it had been a packed festival and as ever I was less than willing to leave this community behind.

But something more than this was at work. I was in need of making a break with the state I'd been in for some time. I was quite unaware of this, well, unaware that I was going to deal with anything there and then. But as one of my friends that I'd barely said hello to left to go home early, I was left with a sense of loss and missed oppertunity. But instead of feeling low I felt it was time to sit down and pray.

So I took myself off to the Soul Space which has a fabulous view over the entire race course and pretty much broke into tears as soon as I entered that environment. There were a number of other people there, some quietly praying while others gently weaped. It felt like a place of healing and as I nelt and cried and prayed I did my busniess with God.

I know this may sounds all a little silly to anyone outside of faith, and I'm afraid I can't really explain what was going on - mainly becasue I was unaware of it - but when I left I'd concluded a small section of my life and embarked on a new one.

Hence loosing the beard. Shaving it off was a little outward symbol of this movement from old to new. Nothing dramatic, just a return. Beards can be useful for this.

I'm sure I'll comment further on this event as I understand it more.

Technorati

2006-08-31T23:30:00.000Z

Technorati Profile

Looking Like a Hobbit

2006-08-24T09:19:00.000Z

I've just realised that one of the cool things about not wearing shoes is that it makes you look a little like a hobbit.

I've been watching the LOTR commentaries recently thanks to James' suggestion and they're really excellent (cast commentary for starters). But seeing all these hobbits with their feet running about the landscape of middle earth reminded me of my own journeys barefoot. I'm finally a hobbit!

Me, barefooting round Prague

2006-08-24T02:19:00.000Z

Exactly like it says on the tin.
Posted by Picasa

My Well Worn Feet

2006-08-24T02:11:00.000Z

My feet after an evening walking barefoot round Prague
Posted by Picasa

Barefoot Festival

2006-08-24T00:14:00.000Z

It's nearly time for Greenbelt all over again. I can't quite believe it and I'm certainly not nearly ready to go. But all in good time of course.

I'm currently debating whether to take any shoes or not. I'm definitly going to be barefoot for a good deal of the time (and I'm getting a t-shirt printed for the occasion), but can I risk not having any shoes at all. The weather is definitly a lot more changable now so it could turn very wet and nasty.

Hmm... tempting...

Uncomfortable Shoes

2006-08-17T14:00:00.000Z

At this conference (IAU XXVI) I'm wearing shoes as I think I orght to look smart. Or at least a little smart (actually I'm very smart with my 'births/marriges/deaths' suit working well for me). But the shoes I have (a kind donation from an old housemate Mike) aren't that comfortable. Even when sitting down with my feet on the floor, the sole of my ankle is in a little pain. Silly really.

But the anoying side affect is that it's now got a little uncomfortable to walk even sans shoes - which I take off as soon as the conference ends in the evening. Still, I'm not letting that hinder me and did a good trek to a not so local super market yesterday getting some excelent strange looks.

Stealth Stair Climbing

2006-08-15T14:56:00.000Z

This is one awesome feature of climing stairs in bare feet, especially if they are stone. Normally climbing in shoes results in a continual foot tapping sound as you climb. But in bare feet that sound vanishes and, assuming you keep the knees bent and move subtly, results in a silent assent.

Thus the options for sneeking up on some other unsuspecting climber is opened up. I've had fun trying to go up two floors past someone in the middle without them noticing. Tricky but a good feeling when acchieved.

Decent seems slightly harder to keep quiet as every time you have the weight of your body landing on each step. When I get the technique I'll post it.

More Barefooting Round Prague

2006-08-14T08:52:00.000Z

Last night I went for a massive late night wonder round Prague with a friend I made at the Youth Hostel (I've been staying at the A-Plus Hotel & Hostel - which is a little out of the way but otherwise just excellent [and right on the Red 'C' subway line, so very accessable]) .

We walked for miles (over 3 hours) from 10:30 around the center taking in the sights, back streets, the end of a silent film, the castle, the Jewish quarter, a open air photographic exhibition and more. I was in my shoes for the first part, but they're not exactly comfortable (the only pair I had seeing as how the AirFrance had lost my luggage) so when we reached the castle I decided to de-shoe and return to normality. A relief I can tell you.

This was the first time I've walked around properly at night (I'd briefly walked a little way in Brighton) and I was surprised at my confidence in doing so. It's surprisingly easy to pick out the glass to avoid and the smooth cobbled streets of Prague make it very accessable.

I should also point out that after 10 at night is the time to see Prague's old center. The grockles have all returned to their plush hotels leaving their grockle traps empty and the crouds have dissapated leaving a city quiet and empty for you to explore. The only activity is a few people on evening stroles and the street cleaners (who do an excellent job). The castle was simply dessolate, yet still open to visitors to wander through, amazing!!

Barefooting Round Prague

2006-08-13T18:42:00.000Z

I§m in Prague this week for a conference (IAU). After Airfrance lost my baggage, and only having a clear plastic bag of belonggings I decided to fogo the shoes once more and walked Prague au naturel. It§a a great city for this as the streets are cobbled and smothed by centuries of wear. Glass is a bit of a problem but can be easily avoided. Try it, you might like it!

Blackened Feet

2006-08-11T15:10:00.000Z

After wuite a bit of walking round outside this afternoon I've developed a really healthy patiner on my feet - they are throughily blackened from use. A lovely feeling. I'll have to take a shot and upload.

Health and Safety

2006-08-10T11:38:00.000Z

Some arse in the ISVR department of the building I work in keeps shouting at me saying that I'm not allowed to walk around in bare feet. "It's against health and safety".

Like I actually give a shit?

I do this at my own risk and I'm not about to sue anyone.

Is Summer Over?

2006-08-10T09:35:00.000Z

What's going on. Here I am in barefeet and today it's actually quite, well, cold almost. Surly summer can't have ended so abruptly. It's normally warm till at least the start of the new Uni term in October.

I'll keep up with the lack of shoes for the time being, but I'm slightly concerned that the brittish weather might beat me back to my old shoe-wearing days.

At least I can keep up with my beard and being a geek.
Nick

The Barefoot Bearded Geek

2006-08-08T13:34:00.000Z

That's me in a nutshell. At least for the time being.

I've been barefoot for well over a month now and I've had a beard for much longer (getting on for a year), and as for being a geek - well I'm not sure I ever wasn't.

barefoot bearded geek

We have been warned

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

Barefooting down a Korean mountain

Barefoot on the BBC

Asking Out Barefoot

More Glass No Cut

Winter Beard 2008

United Airlines

Luna Lovegood Barefoot

Joss Stone for Diana

Nice Barefoot Encounter

Cold Feet

Flip Flops

Barefoot Again/Still

Barefoot Doctor Who

Barefoot At Jongleurs, Camden Town

Running Barefoot Across London

Walking With My Feet

Barefoot in the Nation's Capital

Barefooted Retreat

A Barefoot Meeting in the Stag's Head

Made it - Nice

Out to the Shops

The Cowherds Inn

Barefoot Fun in Church

Ash - Walking Barefoot

Sneeked in a New Year Footing

Barefoot Christmas

Shod at Last

Winter? Piff!

Still Doin' It

Cold Feet but the Leaves are a Blowing

Cold Feet

Singing in the Rain

Piece of Glass: 0, My Bare Feet: 1

New Barefoot First

Shod for a Day

'Twas a Chilly Morn

Understanding the ISVR Police

ISVR Police

Other Barefoot Links

Just for Future Reference

Barefoot Resources

A Good Day for No Shoes

Autumnal Prospects

Running to Church

Barefoot Gardening

Rainy Weather

Cold Feet

Morning Foot Cramp

Barefoot Crete

Nasty Little Tizard Man

Slightly Beardless

Technorati

Looking Like a Hobbit

Me, barefooting round Prague

My Well Worn Feet

Barefoot Festival

Uncomfortable Shoes

Stealth Stair Climbing

More Barefooting Round Prague

Barefooting Round Prague

Blackened Feet

Health and Safety

Is Summer Over?

The Barefoot Bearded Geek