I’ve been sort of half-assed looking for new shoes as sandal weather is about to abruptly end. Even though I got a couple pairs of new shoes just before Covid lockdown I keep going back to these trusty old Campers I bought in 2017. To say they were looking the worse for wear would be a serious understatement, but damn they are just so comfortable, so I decided to take them to a shoe repair place down the street from me. What could it hurt?

I expected the guy to tell me the shoes were a lost cause, but he took a long serious look at them, touching the leather, checking the soles and stitching and said that they were worth saving. It would cost 55 euros. At first I balked at this but then he took one shoe, cleaned and polished the toe and said “see? this is how they will look after, only even better because I will condition the leather and give the soles a good cleaning too”. So what the heck. I mean even if they only last another winter or two 55€ is much cheaper than a new pair of shoes (important factor now) and with all the trouble I’m having walking the last thing I want to worry about is also having painful feet.

Yesterday I got a Whatsapp message from him with these two photos saying ” your shoes are ready!” and wow, what a difference. I really should have taken a before pic so you could properly appreciate the magic this guy worked. Seeing them in person they look even better and I am so happy to have my old Campers revived and back home. Looks like I’ll be needing them this weekend.