The mischievously misleading title might suggest a podiatrist’s handbook but this is more than cautionary advice from a professional.
While there are brief mentions of the value of Birkenstocks, importance of abandoning glamour and high heels and the benefits of taking good care of feet, the book is an entertaining guide to facing the latter decades of life. It focuses on Rosalie’s own life, now numbering seventy years, so will interest women more than men.
Having touched on the foot with its 100 tendons and ligaments, 26 bones and 33 joints, a chapter is given to her own history of shoes, including second hand ones as the youngest child. Good quality well fitted shoes are a wise investment and this extends to the avoidance of pointed toes, later.
The book has small sections – not chapters – dealing with various topics, rather like thinking out loud and converting that to the written version. Exercise is briefly mentioned as are balance, eating out and the problem of receding gums. Most ladies of Rosalie’s age dine each night on cheese and wine for supper. They retire to bed tired and content!
Almost everyone at an advanced age discovers memory to be an elusive part of everyday social and home life. However, there are strategies which she relates that help to dismiss anxiety and frustration. Creative thinking certainly helps this stage, which aids in disguising any failing.
The later phase in life can gift more time. The pace slows and the ability to do different things is very appealing. Gatherings and clubs are a means of being both stimulating and a social pleasure. There are numerous book clubs, movie groups – even investment ones designed to be a learning experience and perhaps lucrative. At one stage, Rosalie and some friends formed an Art appreciation group, visiting galleries and, if possible, purchasing a work. Alas, no Fred Williams or Sydney Nolan was ever unearthed!
Look After Your Feet is not all gentle mirth or promotion of the pleasures of advancing years. Serious subjects are given her characteristic honest and straightforward approach. The tragedy of her husband Ian’s dementia is very moving but wisely suggests strategies that can ease the pain for the family.
Aches and all the other blights of old age come to the fore as well as the loss of friends after long battles with cancer, shedding a light on the unavoidable side of life which must end for us all – death, which many dare not mention.
Voracious readers, such as the attendees at Writers’ festivals, are often closet authors. They long to be published, encouraged by family and friends. Rosalie, in the final chapters gives down -to- earth and amusing advice on the possibilities of becoming a famous author. She has written six novels and only one has been relatively successful, with a movie made with a big name of the screen, Kate Winslet.
Her latest offering is from a ‘Baby Boomer’ but is certain to entertain younger women too and assure them that every stage in life is there to be savoured, with friends, enthusiasm and humour.
Look After Your Feet
[2026]
by Rosalie Ham
Allen and Unwin
ISBN: 978 1 7614 7364 7
$34,99; 240pp