Got my rubbers and I'm all ready to go
By Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
Northampton, England
January 5, 2016 10:37am CST
No, don't have a heart attack. I know in the US rubbers are condoms but that's not what I mean. I had a quick stop at the supermarket to pick up some rubber boots for my trip to snowy Bremen this afternoon.
Of course we don't call them rubber boots - we call them 'wellies', short for Wellington boots and named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington - or as he's listed on Wikipedia "Field Marshal His Grace The Duke of Wellington KG GCB GCH PC FRS"
Who? You know. The guy who beat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. That's the one. One of Britain's greatest war heroes and a man who probably deserved to be commemorated with something better than rubber boots, typically worn by farmers, dog walkers and me this evening so that I can put my lovely blue suede boots in my suitcase and protect them.
Thank you to the Duke of Wellington!
15 people like this
15 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
5 Jan 16
From rubbers to a hero in one discussion, what a world!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
5 Jan 16
@Marcyaz I could have said from birth control to hero....
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Jan 16
oh@boibong do envy you youjr blo ue suede boots as Im doomed forev edr to wear orhopedic shoes b oots really wth a brace for my left leg so can walk at all. I had a qu ack for a doctor who misdiagnosed a rp;red tendon for a simple sprained ankles so b y he time I did get to an orthopedic doc tor too l ate to operate so m stjck in these ugly bu t necessary orthopedic ugly shoes l ol lol lol
2 people like this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
5 Jan 16
When I was a teenager my mother was always trying to encourage me into high shoes and (what I called) hooker boots because she had such wide feet that she couldn't wear anything fashionable. She's 5 foot tall. I'm 5 foot 8 with NO balance but great feet. I was having none of it.
@celticeagle (189988)
• Boise, Idaho
6 Jan 16
Wow for wellies it sounds like a nice pair and a Duke.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
6 Jan 16
so is there a reason one is associated with the other?
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
6 Jan 16
Dog walkers? Around here, they wear sneakers or flip flops.
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
6 Jan 16
@boiboing We have hardly any, especially in the last four years.
@vickyrose (2236)
• Cooma, Australia
6 Jan 16
That's new information for me. Duke of Wellington beat the great emperor wearing boots named after him. All the best to your new pair.
1 person likes this
@buttheadface932 (708)
• United States
6 Jan 16
Haha! I guess since your weather is so wet and cool up there, "rubbers" would mean rainboots! Haha!
