For the record

Trainers getting rough again, just about six months after I bought them in September last year (see reference 1). On this occasion it was the netting on the top of the shoe which went first, the sort of netting which I remember, on another occasion, destroying with some cigar ash while sitting outside the Bedford in Balham one sunny summer's afternoon. Reference 2 would suggest that the place has moved on since I used to know it.

Ordered some more trainers from Cotswolds on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday afternoon I was advised,by both text and email, that they would be delivered between 1416 and 1516 on the Monday. We were impressed by the precision with which their computer computed the delivery time and in the event they turned up about 1430. Packaging unchanged from last time.

Impressed also that the price still holds at £80 and pleased to be able to get the same model and colour as last time. Some brands do keep their popular numbers going, whatever Houellebecq might have written on the subject in 'La carte et le territoire'.

The only change I have noticed is that on this occasion and on the last, the new trainers need breaking in when it had been an unusual but welcome feature that you could buy and go. Either my feet or their manufacturing standards are slipping. But I fully expect the new trainers to be fine in a few days, in less than a week.

Reference 1: http://psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/trainers.html.

Reference 2: http://www.thebedford.co.uk/.