Pour yourself a drink, make yourself comfortable, this is a long one

Monday, start of a new week, and nothing planned for 5 whole days. It’s been all go recently, and last week was great. I went shopping on Monday to get some bits and pieces for the Trannyweb bash on the Wednesday. Got everything I needed and on my way back to the car I passed my favourite clothes shop in town, which sells really pretty, girly stuff and is very hard to walk past. I have to be careful in this town because everyone knows everyone else and they all love to gossip so usually I just slow down when I’m passing this shop and have a good ogle through the window. But this time there was a lovely shawl that caught my eye – black with different coloured flowers, just the sort of thing that would have gone perfectly with the strappy dress I thought I might wear on Wednesday. So I went in intending to buy it, but as I’d made it through the door I thought I must at least have a good look round. They had more lovely shawls inside which meant I was going to have to decide between them, oh dear, not one of my strong points. But then I saw a dress and a shawl together, on a stand. It was perfect, pink and flowery and very, very girly. It looked about my size too so I checked the ticket, medium, and just about affordable considering I’m living off savings at the moment. But when you see a dress like that money ceases to be an issue and I had to have it, and the shawl too. Got it home and it fitted really well, so that was it – my outfit was sorted with 2 days to go. This must be a first.

Met up with some of the girls on Wednesday afternoon at the hotel. We thought we were getting a makeover but it turned out to be just a demonstration and we ended up having to do our own. We were all disappointed but I felt sorry for the girls who had never been out before and who had even less experience than I did at doing their make up. As it turned out everyone looked fine, and I was proud to be out with a group of such good-looking girls. It was also very special to be out on an official Trannyweb get-together; this site means so much to me now and it was lovely to meet some more TW girls, even Katie was there. After meeting in the hotel bar we spent a couple of hours at Velvet where the food was great. We went round a few bars and ended up in Napoleon’s, which is where all the T-girls seem to end up. Another first here – an admirer actually bought me a drink. I told him he wasn’t going to get anywhere but gave him a snog and that seemed to do the trick. Foolishly he let me order the drinks so I asked for a triple vodka, and the same for Pippa. He said to get him whatever I was having, I got him a single. The barman actually asked me what a triple vodka was. Only slightly dumbfounded at his question I explained and then had to convince him that yes please I really did want 3 vodkas in the same glass, and my girlfriend did too. I know, I’m just greedy but I was making up for lost time. Back at the hotel we had more drinks and met more girls and finally went to bed about 3am, or maybe 4am, well it was a little blurry by then. I posted a new album with pics from the night – hope you like the dress!

So Thursday was a day of recovery though I did manage to get some jobs done as I had Sarah Ann coming to visit on the Friday. She arrived around 5pm, we had a cup of tea and a good natter then put some slap on, got dressed and I cooked us a hearty dinner. That girl can eat, and I knew it, but fortunately so can I. After promising ourselves that we would be good girls, as we were out again on the Saturday, we drank too much and stayed up late, of course. But it was fun, and we put the tranny world to rights.

I was looking forward to Saturday, I mean really - we were going shopping in Manchester. Apart from a quick trip to Doreen’s in East London (tranny-friendly) this was a first for me. There’s something I hate about shopping in drab, everyone seems to look at you questioningly – what’s that bloke doing looking through those girly clothes, is it for himself…? etc. So I always feel slightly self-conscious. Whatever I’m doing I feel better when I’m dressed and I knew this was going to be good. What’s more I was determined to try stuff on, and make sure it fitted and looked right before I bought it.

My expectations were exceeded. Perhaps obviously, it felt more natural to rummage through ladies’ clothes whilst actually wearing ladies’ clothes. Manchester, as always on a Saturday, was packed and we were surrounded by young girls rummaging alongside us. It wouldn’t be far from the truth to say that no-one took a blind bit of notice. Some girls gave me a double-take, but just carried on rummaging, apparently not in the least bothered. I was buying clothes for myself, this time there was no question, and so were they, no problem. It was nice to mingle.

It took a while for 2 discerning shoppers like us to actually find anything we liked but the little black dress in Topshop seemed to have my name on it. It was short, daring but not cheap; I had to try it to be sure. There was no queue for the changing rooms and no-one on guard, though I was prepared to ask politely if it was ok to try this on, so off I went. A shop assistant came racing after me, "Hang on I just need to give you this ticket": 1 GARMENT… I smiled sweetly, "Thank-you", she smiled back, "Ok dear". I was in. A gold star to Topshop for not being anti-tranny. The dress was really nice but just too revealing. I’d just saved myself 50 quid; if I’d been in drab I would have made an impulse decision, grabbed it, felt very awkward paying for it, and hurried out of the shop.

We had a bite to eat and chatted with a very friendly woman with 5 kids. Clearly, our gender was not an issue to her; she never even mentioned it and why should she? That was the overriding feeling of the day. You can walk around the streets in broad daylight wearing a skirt and a top and no-one is bothered. People are becoming educated to this; society is changing faster than some of us girls realise, it’s happening right here, right now and the best thing we can do to encourage it is get out there and be seen. We have nothing to hide. For the record, I think we had 2 comments all day, "Hello girls" sort of thing, light-hearted, not malicious and not in the least upsetting. Out of several thousand people that’s not a bad statistic. No-one gave us a nasty, or even a funny look.

Over lunch we agreed that the fashions at the moment were rather dull, though it didn’t really matter if we didn’t get to buy much, I was just enjoying the experience. It was about to get even better.

We bought a load of make up and had a look at some wigs which were on sale at a hairdresser’s, good quality but another time I felt. The chap there was very friendly though. The dull fashions impression went right out of the shop window when we went into West One. Sarah and Lucy had come home.

This place was wonderful and we were like kids at Christmas. Everything was girly and sexy and I could have bought the whole shop. Instead I just tried half of it on. The 2 shop assistants were really, really lovely, "Of course you can try it on I have absolutely no problem with that at all". Sarah and I each bought the same dress, and she chatted to the girl at the counter while I continued to try things on. I bought 2 dresses and a skirt and wished I was rich, because I could have bought a whole lot more. After paying for my stuff I saw a black shawl on the way out. Both my dresses were strappy and it was just right for both of them and I really wanted to wear one of them that night. My new pink shawl was at home so I had to have this, besides, black is more versatile. "We can’t get rid of you can we", said the girl on the counter, "No, I expect I’ll be back in 5 minutes", said I. They were both so friendly. It might be more than 5 minutes, but I’ll be back there soon.

So, choice of 2 strappy dresses to wear that night, but I needed a strapless bra. I’ve never dared go into Knickerbox in drab (I’m such a coward) so now I was really glad that I was dressed. I found a good style but none in my size, damn. "Can I help you at all?" came the voice from over my shoulder, oh yes I hope so. "I need a strapless bra in a 34C – this sort of thing". "No problem I’ll go and have a look in the back". She came back a minute later, they only had a D-cup in the style I needed to go with the low-cut dresses I’d just bought. "Well it might do actually, but I don’t suppose I can try it on." I really thought this would be out of the question. "Of course you can darling, course you can." Wow, I was amazed. She took me through, gave me some advice about the straps just in case I ever wanted to wear it that way, and showed me the button to press if I needed any help. She was lovely. I had to try one of the dresses on with the bra, just to be sure, so I took a while. The cubicle was like an oven (it had a proper door with a lock) and my make up was melting. I had to ask for a tissue. It was after 5 by the time I’d finished and the shop had actually closed, but all the time the girls remained lovely. I took the bra, and Sarah found some classy looking hold-ups. We were, as they say in Manchester, sorted.

Our feet were killing us, oh my god not half, so we got the tram back to my hotel. It was only one stop away but I had to sit down. A guy asked if he could sit next to me, Sarah apparently had decided to stand so I said yes. He was harmless, but instantly besotted. "I think you’re really gorgeous…" etc. He put his hand on my leg so I removed it. "Sorry I just think you’re really gorgeous". (You have to imagine that in a whiney Manchester accent to get the full effect). Either Sarah’s feet got the better of her or she saw the creepy guy next to me so came and sat down. "That’s my friend", I said, "I feel safe with her because she’s a black belt in Karate". He didn’t touch my leg after that but he did remind me that he thought I was really gorgeous. He followed us off the tram and after a while Sarah told him to go away. He hung back, still following but pretending not to. So we stood at a bus stop, waited for him to go past and lost him. Didn’t want him following us to my hotel, but shortly after Sarah bumped into him as she was getting a taxi to her hotel. She got rid of him again. He was a creep, but he was harmless, and who can blame him for finding us glamorous girls about town, really gorgeous.

Pippa arrived, we got made up and dressed and hit the village, for the second time that week. Saturday night, this was the busiest I’ve ever seen the place. Almost too busy but I really enjoyed myself, and was nowhere near as drunk as the past few times I’ve been there. After a couple of drinks and a good chat on the sofa upstairs at Via Fossa, we passed a hen party in the street and they latched on to us in admiration, which was nice, a chance for a good flirt with some young girls, I wasn’t complaining. So they hung around for quite a while and we went to a couple more bars, but this time avoided Napoleon’s, before calling it a night. I posted some pics of Pippa and me in my Lovely Lucy album, and once again, I hope you like the dress!

Sarah decided to dress for the journey back to my house on Sunday, indeed for her journey back down south after that, so I thought what the hell and dressed too. I didn’t re-do my whole make up but it needed seriously touching up after Pippa had severely smudged it the night before. Not that I’m complaining mind, some things are worth being smudged for.

After dropping off Pippa, Sarah and I stopped for lunch at a motorway service station. Some people looked but didn’t stare, once again, no problem. I went to the ladies, not the same as going somewhere in the Village, there were young children and old ladies in there and everyone was sober, but I swear, no-one noticed me. I guess they just weren’t looking, I mean, I hadn’t even had a shave since the night before!

When we got back home we had some tea and a look at the pics from the night before and Sarah set off for her long journey home. Sarah babe, it was lovely to have you visit me, you’re a true friend, and I look forward to seeing you again in a couple of weeks. We must go shopping again soon too!

I don’t intend to be reckless about going out, but I have to go to places other than tranny-friendly venues. I may never become a woman, I may never be full-time as a woman, that is for the future to decide, but I have to get on with my life as best I can or I shall wither away and die. There may be a nutter waiting for me round the next corner, but he would probably pick on me however I was dressed, and I can not compromise my needs for fear of what might happen. Otherwise I will be dead anyway. To all you girls who have told me that you’d like to go shopping dressed but are not ready for it, I say yes you are, because no-one is bothered by it, it’s no big deal, and it’s a damn sight easier than shopping in drab. If there are people out there who have a problem with the likes of us then they need educating; pretending you don’t exist will not help anyone, you or them. At last in my life I feel like I really exist, and it feels good. Without this I am nothing and no-one; with it I am virtually complete, and very happy.