Of ships and shoes and sealing wax...

I know this post sounds strange, but what the hell. I had a bad day yesterday so I am entitled to write about things which are not likely to interest you one bit.
I admit it- I detest a pair of unpolished leather shoes. I remember polishing my leather shoes every single morning before going to school. It was ritual. I picked up the fine art of shining shoes from my Dad who had this neat kit for shoe polish and brushes and flannel. I hope to inherit it :)
I'd like to think that I set a good example at home- but the sad truth is, none of my siblings had a fondness for polished leather shoes. They'd go to school every day with (gasp!) dull shoes. Or worse, dull shoes with smudges. I did take it upon me to instruct them and tutored them many a time, but to no avail.Before long, I noticed that before a wedding or party, seven (if you include mine, eight) pairs of shoes would be lined up in my room. And I'd shine them all- black, brown, neutral, till you could see your reflection in them.
I still love leather- leather shoes, leather bags...
If I lose my job, I'm not too worried. I know I'd make a decent living shining shoes at the railway station. And I'd be the first woman to do so :)

Thinking back to my school days, besides the fact that my shoes were always polished, I was Head Girl. One of my lesser known responsibilities was Stair Duty. I'd stand at the top of the staircase and watch students filing past after assembly. My job was to ensure that they kept to the right side of the stairs- which, in case you didn't know, is the left. Always the left. If all schools made it a point to check this, there'd be fewer people who insist on coming down the wrong side of the staircase and disrupting the orderly flow of people.

If only people would keep to the left and have shiny shoes, the world would be a much better place...