Greenfield Reservoir, Saddleworth — Right Sandal

The sandal were the unusual thing about this one. April. Still cold in the mornings up on the moors — there'd been frost the week before. A sandal in those conditions is not what you expect to find, and I noted it carefully.

Right sandal. Leather upper, flat sole. Brown. Women's, I think — size five or six at a guess, narrow fitting. In reasonable condition considering. It were on the grass bank above the path, which is why I almost missed it. I'd have walked straight past if I hadn't been looking carefully, which is the argument for always looking carefully.

I sat with it for a good twenty minutes. The reservoir were very still that morning — you could see the hills reflected. I had a flask of tea and some cheese and pickle sandwiches, which I ate on a flat rock a few yards back from the shoe. Crackin' spot. Twelve photographs. Not all of them came out.

I've thought about what a sandal is doing up there in April a few times since. I haven't come to any conclusions. That's fine.