No, not caligae, but modern boots. Walking boots to be precise. What has this to do with wargaming? you ask. Well, I suppose the link is a little tenuous, but please bear with me.
For a number of years I had a slight problem with my left achilles tendon - it was very sore, particularly in the winter - to the extent that I more or less had to hop down the stairs in the morning, though it would ease off after a while, so that by the time I left for work, it was back to 'normal'. Anyway, a couple of years ago, it flared up badly, and I couldn't walk anywhere without pain, and certainly not in boots. I'm not a huge fan of walking for a hobby - unless it's connected with Roman archaeology (and that's the link with wargaming!). So I had about 18 months of not really being able to undertake decent walks - I could visit dry, fairly smooth, places (like excavated Roman forts), where walking about in trainers was comfortable. Several visits to the doctor, and lots of exercises, didn't help at all, in fact they seemed to make it all worse. Eventually, I was referred to the hospital, and saw a physiotherapist there. Clever lass. She did lots of measuring and poking and prodding, decided what the basic problem was, prescribed, and made some 'orthotic devices' to help take the pressure off. Six weeks of twice weekly torture sessions, and I could walk, mostly pain-free, and some of the time the swelling on the tendon was barely noticeable, and I could even trot/jog for short distances (like to get to the pedestrian crossing before the lights changed against me). Six months more of torture, and a lot of exercises, and I was more or less 'mended', though it was still slightly painful most mornings. Walking was no problem, and I could run fast enough to give my rugby-mad 14-year-old a challenge. Five months on from that (and lots more exercises), and it's a rare morning when I wake in any pain.
An old back problem has also gone away, as a sort of side effect of the treatment - for years I've had a periodically painful sacro-iliac joint. So that's a definite bonus.
So, I decided that it was time to have a go at 'fell walking' again - largely in the hopes that I can go and visit some of the more inaccessible sites again. My old walking boots though, just aren't/weren't going to suit me - they seem to put pressure on the wrong places, and I didn't dare try a walk in them.
So, a few days ago, after much time spent wondering if it was a good idea, I went up to Ambleside and, after trying on a zillion different pairs of boots, found a pair that seemed comfortable. I've been wearing them around the house for a few days, just to make sure they're really okay, and, apart from getting rather warm feet, and standing on one or two other people's feet without my noticing (at least until they scream!), they are really comfortable. So, I'm hoping that I shall be able to start tramping around the countryside in search of Romans again. I feel like going to see if I can find some more lengths of Roman road. I just want some better weather now!