I wanna be a real man
I don't have big feet; it's just that Indonesians have small ones.
That's why I generally buy my footwear in Singapore. The
Nikes there usually have a label which states Made In Indonesia, but that's another story. This time, due to exceptional, extenuating circumstances, I didn't have time for any shopping so folks may soon see me wandering around in bare feet.
What I really want is a pair of comfortable trainers for navigating Jakarta's footpaths and I now know exactly what I want. "
With UK Gear, the army yesterday launched the PT-03, a running shoe that is named after its 'physical training' and proudly bears the insignia of the British army on its tongue." Of course, these fashion accessories are not actually made in the UK, but in Vietnam. However, the army believes that this venture will "
exploit its image and reputation."
As a sartorially elegant gentleman I have at various times sported army surplus gear. I had a Czechoslovakian army greatcoat at the
1970 Isle of Wight Festival; it kept me warm as I slept through
Jimi Hendrix's last live performance. Also in the '70s, my favourite jacket, a perfect fit and bought at a jumble sale, was ex-RAF. One day, travelling along the North Wales coast on a rural train with just 2 or 3 carriages, a bunch of squaddies got on. I was the highest ranking officer on board. My then wife then gave the jacket to boy scouts collecting for another jumble sale. Our divorce followed shortly thereafter.
Here in Indonesia, although the
business tentacles of
the armed forces are widespread, I can't find any reference to clothing lines. They wouldn't fit me anyway.
Of course, real men don't have to enlist. They can play football, but not if you're a Charlton player at present. Too many of our gutsy players have retired hurt or gone elsewhere like Paolo di Canio who, in just one season, endeared himself to the Valley faithful. That he took a 70% pay cut to return to Italy and Lazio, mainly because his family feel more at home there, was sad for we Addicks, but acceptable. That he remains a hero to us can be seen from
this story.
A British player I'd love to see, or read about, in a Charlton strip is the aptly-named Robbie Savage who received, to everyone's surprise, his first ever red card playing for Wales against Northern Ireland. Savage's distress at seeing red, and thereby being barred from next month's World Cup qualifier against England, is apparently so great that he is considering launching a
landmark legal case.
Now, is that the action of a real man?
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