Meryl Blundell

Change is afoot

Something is being played out, changes are happening.

The phrase was first mentioned in the 13th Century. Jumping down the rabbit hole of history (via the internet, during lockdown) Meryl did a search for the type of footwear worn during Medieval times. Enter the Poulaine or Crakow - the long pointy toed shoe of varying lengths which was in fashion across Europe for around 150 years. Some were so long and impossible to walk in they had strings attached to the toe of the shoe to assist with walking. The length of the shoe became such an issue a law was passed restricting the length of the tip. Nobility were permitted a maximum length of 61cm (this was a status symbol as they didn’t need practical footwear), the middle class was about half that length, the shortest being 5cm for Commoners (who needed shoes that were practical to work in).

Clergymen declared Poulaines were responsible for the Black Plague due to God’s displeasure of the worship for the shoes.

What started with a saying that resonated with 2021, Meryl was lifted from her own ‘lockdown’ thoughts into a Medieval history which surprised and entertained her.

‘I complained because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet’. Anon

 - The Lotus rises up out of the mud. There is always hope.

 - Good Luck. That’s a good thing, right?