To want to walk barefoot in the summer (including into shops)

[nomorequotes]

I don't understand why in this country it is considered so bad to be barefoot, I have been told I am not allowed to walk into Tescos barefoot, or Waitrose, they claim it is a 'health and safety issue' because something might fall on my feet. Well if that is the case shouldn't they be banning flip-flops too? Flip-flops are pretty dangerous things really, accountable for many broken toes, ankles and feet in the summer. I have a friend who broke his ankle so badly it was like he had been in a car accident and all he had done is twisted wearing flip-flops.

So why the intolerance to bare feet? They have been outside the same as shoes so it can't be a hygiene thing and they are much safer than flip-flops.

I am sick of having to have shoes in the car just so I can walk into shops, it makes no sense to me, if I want to be barefoot I should be allowed to be!

So you haven't bought your second child appropriate footwear for the summer and the first only has it because the nursery donated appropriate shoes.

I'm sorry but I think that's really crap. Fine if you want to make whatever statement you are making with your bare feet (and it is attention seeking as you appear to have no problem wearing shoes in the autumn and winter) but you could make an effort to make sure your children have appropriate footwear.

LittleBear. She says that she hasnt the money.
Which has been niggling at me for days.
I dont normally do this, but I think that she would accept footwear if it was offered to her. I dont have young children anymore, so dont have anything appropriate to pm and send to her. [I dont think that she would have my taste in adult footwear, but op, you are welcome if you do want it]

I worked in Australia with a bloke who reckoned he hadn't put a pair of shoes on in 20 years! He was a dive instructor though.

He was outraged when we did a course and they refused to teach him till he put shoes on.

New Zealand is pretty shoeless too.

I think the UK shoe-only culture is a real shame. It's the most natural thing in the world to wander around in your bare feet.

When I was a child we never wore shoes in the house and rarely socks unless it was really cold. So growing up barefoot was normal for me.

Now I find it less and less acceptable and both DD1 and DD2 hate having their feet out - becomes a problem for some PE lessons etc.

I never knew it was banned. I always wear slippers/crocks in summer.

A lovely person here is sending me some sandals! So I will be at least sandled in shops, probably still barefoot a lot though!

But humans started making some sort of foot-coverings a long, long, looooong time ago. It's hardly some new-fangled h&c-gone-mad nonsense that the UK insists on, is it?

I think lots of people think barefoot in house/garden/beach etc is absolutely fine, it's the notion of going out shopping, on public transport etc that is quite odd.

Barefoot is all well and good, until you get a sliver of dirty glass embeeded in the calloused skin and require surgery.
The lady in question had gone barefoot for ten years (in the UK) but never does nowadays.

I've had an infected foot for the last five years after scratching the side of my toe in the garden. I no longer go barefoot beyond the lawn

I have never been to Australia or New Zealand, but it's my impression that the climate is rather different to the UK - a bit warmer? less rain?

But humans started making some sort of foot-coverings a long, long, looooong time ago.

Yes, and I suspect the first ones to do so were the ones venturing into the cold north. (or drizzly often a bit parky north in the case of the UK).

Never mind shoes, When I go out to walk the dog this morning across some standard UK countryside there will be plenty of sections that are still welly worthy.

Yeuk!

I think walking barefoot in the streets/public places is pretty unhygienic, plus risk of injury. Your own home and garden, or beach -- fine. But not in the city.

I've been barefoot round the house all weekend so far - it's wonderful :)