I have just returned from a delightful couple of days in Perth with a wonderful friend. She flew down from up north and I drove up from down south and we stayed at a beautiful resort, shared some fine wine, extraordinary pizzas, watched a very complicated movie twice (because we didn’t ‘get it’ the first time), and enjoyed chef-styled breakfasts each morning.
It was brilliant! We each had various big-city things we had to do so yesterday we went our different ways for a few hours and I visited my friend, Rose, at Dimario http://dimario.com.au
Dimario is a shop that is close to my heart for many reasons (for example, I love boots). But the main reason is that several years ago, when Anthony wasn’t so ill, we walked in and I fell in love with a pair of boots that were extremely expensive and extremely beautiful. Ants and I had to go back to our hotel room to mull it over and, despite being a rather scroogy careful-with-money person back then, he wanted me to have those boots.
From then on, whenever we went to Perth (which was only once a year), Anthony would actually suggest going to Dimario. Rose and Nikki would welcome us like old friends and Ants would watch as I tried the various boots on, usually convincing me to get the better, more elegant and expensive ones.
Then, one year, it became too hard for him to get out of the car; another year, it became too difficult for me to take him from the hotel to the shop, so I went by myself; another year, he was in a hospital in Perth having his Parkinson’s Disease medications reassessed; another year Ming came with me and cloned Anthony in picking out the best pair of boots; another year we didn’t go to Perth at all as Anthony’s health had deteriorated too much. I guess that was around four years ago and my memory of this phase in our lives blurs a bit around the edges.
To see Rose again yesterday, despite the fact that it’s probably been a couple of years now since I visited her gorgeous shop, was incredible. I was greeted with a hug!
Rose: And how is your beautiful husband?
Me: He’s in a nursing home now but he still remembers you and I need to buy some boots so I can wear them to the nursing home and remind him again.
Rose: I will always look after you; what about these?
Me: Not me – I rather like those….
Rose: And how is your beautiful son?
Me: Still beautiful. What about those embroidered boots?
Rose: They’re on sale – let me see if we have your size.
Rose then told me that Nikki had retired but had a pair of the same boots and I asked her to give Nikki our love. She said she would, then, when the boots were a perfect fit, Rose discounted them even further, I bought them and we had another hug as I left.
After that, I picked my friend up and we went back to the resort. We shared a mutual admiration of our purchases then began (again!) to watch the stupid movie and order pizza.
Today, I dropped my friend at the airport and headed home. We are going to meet like this every few months; it’s a wonderful arrangement and, even though she and I have lost touch on and off over the decades, we are still the same buddies we were as teenagers.
And I can’t wait to show Anthony my new boots tomorrow!
jmgoyder 
Wow – those are quite the boots and to have them linked to your lovely ongoing story with the shop and its owners is perfect. Glad you had a blast with your friend.
It was such a fantastic couple of days!
so beautful dear Julie, đ Thanks and Love, nia
Thank YOU Nia!
What good therapy!
Haha – yes!
Sounds like a superb couple of days, Julie.
You certainly deserve it.
“And those boots are made for walking…..” right into Anthony’s room methinks đ
I have been wearing them ever since!
It’s good to support small shops because they seem to always knock a bit off the price for you and you get better service.
A lot of people run to the big shops because they think they will be cheaper but usually they are not. I prefer the smaller shops.
I recently got a summer pair of Ecco golf shoes which were reduced from 150.00GBP to 80.00GBP because they were the 2014 model. The shop called me to say that the distributor was getting rid of old stock and that they could get me a pair cheaper. You wouldn’t get that service from a big shop.
Now I am the envy of my golfing friends with my new shoes which only cost 80.00GBP. So instead of running to ‘American Golf’ somewhere in East Kilbride they will start going to the shop at Strathclyde Park.
I so agree about supporting small shops. Love the story of your golfing shoes!
Is that the new boots you are wearing in a later blog?
The word ‘bits’ is the Scottish slang word for boots.
As in ‘Where’s ma bits?’
Those are Nancy Sinatra boots for sure… made for walking… but you have to do that sexy walk for Ants…. love the boots….
Unfortunately I am too tomboyish to do the sexy walk LOL!
Yay for you! Little breaks like this are amazing and restorative for our souls!
I’m beginning to realise this now.
I love how you tell stories, weaving the mystical into the ever day and making me feel like I was there! Wish I was!
I wish this too!
Sounds like a very therapeutic trip! Good job!
Great fun!
That seems like exactly what the doctor ordered, quality time with a great friend, some pampering and a pair of gorgeous new boots. I am so happy for you Jules big Hugs đ
It was so great Laurie!
Hooray!!
You needed and deserved that break. So glad you two had fun and those boots are amazing!
I’ve been wearing them nonstop!
You deserve to have had such a splendid couple of days. I loved the story of the boots.
The owner from the shop is Italian and extremely well-groomed and tiny. I love how she never minds me coming into her shop looking a bit like a cowboy!
Beautiful boots! I am glad you got away for a fun weekend with your friend.
The days with my friend were fantastic!
What a lovely tradition. Sounds like you had a great time too
I love the tradition too.
love the boots, and of course the stories that go along with them (and the others)
These experiences are the stuff of life for me now.
(others)
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful. (the boots and the story) xoxo
You are not getting my boots!
hahaha….dang!
yay for your time away and how the universe conspired to bring you and those beautiful books together.
That’s for sure!
I loved the story…and the boots! It’s great you still have your friend from teenage years, sadly I’ve lost touch with all of mine. It’ll be a wonderful trip every few months, and we can admire many more boots đ
I only have a few of these teenage friends but am now thinking of getting in touch with a few more via Facebook.
SO glad you had such a wonderful time!
Thank you!!!
I love boots too Julie and especially love the pair you bought! â¤
Diana xo
My dad always loved this song!
Can’t stop laughing!
Fantastic boots. I hope Anthony appreciates them too.
He approved.
I hope he loves the boots. But mostly, he’ll love that you did this. He wants you to have those boots!!!
He remembers the shop and the women and everything!
đ This is comfort. đ And joy.
I have nominated you for a brand new award Julie. It is called the Real Neat Blog Award!
Naughty!
Oh how I like those boots…………..I love boots but I have short fat legs and usually it is hard for me to find boots that fit
These boots would fit you because they are quite short and you can loosen the width – but you’re not getting them hahaha!
What a wonderful tradition–first with Anthony, now with your friend. And I love your boots!! I’m a push-over for flowers:)
I have been wearing them every day – waterproof so I can go out and feed the peacocks and guinnea fowl without getting my feel wet!
Beautiful! ALL of it. xo
Yup. I feel so lucky.