Here I set all decked out in my formal wear (such as it is) and ready for Burns Night dinner and since I have a few minutes before I catch a cab I thought Id, run this by you all.

I've been shining my own shoes since my days in the army cadets and I have been spit shining them in all that time. In all that time I only met one person who was able to get a better shine than I (equal I have seen, but better, just one). He told me that one reason I was unable to get a better shine was that it was my practice to have a cup of tea (I take it clear) while polishing my boots. Something about the tannins perhaps. It has always made me wonder whether that is true or any other small detail which can help provide the best shine.

I should state that I use Kiwi polish and no other, a proper shoe polish cloth and my own saliva and breath. The breath adds minute amounts of moisture to the shoe and polish as it is coming to a finish. I wrap the cloth around my index finger, dip it in the polish and draw small circles with the finger on the shoe, spitting and breathing as needed until I get a good shine. I do not burn the polish as some say should be done. I aways found it messy and the people I knew who did do it didn't get as good a shine as I did.

Does anybody have any pearls of wisdom about shoe shining and tea drinking or anything else which would be enlightening?