Last events of the year

So this weekend was likely the last opportunities for mingling with fellow trans people until the new year. Unless I happen to go to the local LGBT bar for new years eve, but that is far from decided.

I had two outings, Nottingham Invasion on the Friday, then a trip out to Lincoln with Ann on the Sunday.

Invasion

I was meant to have the Friday off, but there is considerable pressure to get year end activities finished
early so nobody has to work over the festive period, so I ended up working for nearly the whole day.

I did still manage to find time to do my nails and have a shower and shave - I waited until the afternoon so it would really be 3 days (had to wait due to the laser). 

With Joanna being at a loose end, I offered to take her along, she had mostly never been available to come along for previous ones. 

It was likely we would venture outside of the 'New Foresters' pub to try a few other places, so I was dressed in a sensible warm blue Next jumper dress that has had a few outings this month, paired with knee high boots to keep the pins warm.

Got down to Joanna's in good time - I took the petroleum powered car for ease.  We headed into Nottingham, parked at the Victoria Centre as normal. I hadn't eaten so I grabbed a cheeky Mc Plant before we cut through the shopping centre to the pub. 

There were quite a few girls there, it can sometimes be quite a small affair, but was well attended. Spoke to Rachel for a bit, and a lady I have not spoked to called 'Joanne' - just to confuse matters. Danielle turned up a bit later on - was nice to talk to her. Joanna seemed to be getting on well with Rachel which was nice to see, she lives in Nottingham but not sure where.

There was a few girls who I knew from LFF who were there, but I didn't really get chance to speak with them. But I see them every month at LFF so will have plenty of other opportunities. 

We did the 'Lord Roberts' which I had been in before at least once - it had some nice beers, will have to ensure we do that again if I am ever staying over to enable drinking. Then we headed to the 'Hockley Arts Club' but it was closed due to a private party. So we went to the 'Six Barrel Drafthouse', had one in there, and then back to the Foresters. 

There was a drag act on there, but think was wrapping up, and was pretty tired, so decided to head off at that point - it was after midnight. Dropped Joanna off, and headed home. Was eating cold pizza in the kitchen at 2am :) 

All in all a nice night - not anything exciting, just a steady one, and nice to meet up with Joanna and Danielle, and introduce Joanna to her local friendly bar - although there wasn't much there for a more refined beer connoisseur :)

Lincoln

Was Ann's last opportunity for freedom this year on the Sunday, so she invited me along to see the bright lights of Lincoln. I've had a few people tell me it was a nice place to visit, and had been on my list for some time, so was nice to finally get to do so.

It was going to be a cold day, so I put on an fairly warm jumper dress, and my big coat and knee highs again.  I also took gloves and a beanie just in case.

Wife wanted her car for church in the morning, so was burning electrons to get there, stopped off at Markham Moor Starbucks on the way there. Paid my 40p to get over the toll bridge on the A57, and got to the car park about 11am.

Met Ann, and we headed up 'Steep hill' which did little to get me warm, but did live up to it's name.

There was a Santa fun run going on near the cathedral, but seemed to be coming to an end, and we could still get through to have a look around. Headed to the café first for a scone and a tea. Then we looked around for a bit, and took advantage of having a camerawoman to get some nice shots for Insta.

Then we headed on out to the castle, but it seemed a little expensive, so we didn't bother with it. Instead we went to a nearby museum, which was free - the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. It had some interesting stuff, and it was warm inside, which was nice :)

Next we headed back down the hill, perusing a few shops here and there on the way down. Then we did the shopping centre, miraculously not managing to buy anything ! 

Then was lunch time so we headed for a Tudor inn that was built on a bridge over the river 'Stokes'.
Had a light lunch in there, I think I had Ham Brie and Cranbury sandwich - it was lovely.

Then some more time around the shops in the lower part, ending up near the Brayford pool, where we had a final coffee and cake of the day at the Costa in the cinema foyer. 

It was past 4 now, dark, wet and the shops were mostly shut, so we decided to call it day and headed
home.  I had to stop off at Markham Moor on the way back, the chargers at Mc Donalds were both in use, so I diverted to the Inn on the other side of the roundabout -  which was available, and did a top up there.

The range estimator is way off in the winter, so I made sure to get at least 20 miles more than I needed. I was driving at 65 most of the way back and only had 10 miles left when I got home, so had eaten into the contingency as expected. Not sure it would have made it at the speed limit.

Didn't sleep too well last night, too much caffeine after midday :) - but it was a fun day. Definitely want to go back in warmer weather.