Hair bands

 

Hair Update

Well it's not magically grown a lot since last week, but I have started experimenting with hair bands, and also trying a centre parting too.  

Ann found me a selection of them on Amazon which I bought, all metal ones with different profiles. I've worn one out on my run this morning, it worked well, stopped it all flopping in my eyes.

Also bought some hair spray, which seems to work great in keeping the centre parting too. A lot less messy than wax or gel and it doesn't look oily or wet either. I've never really had long hair before, so it's all new to me.

I will need to look at dying it, it seems like more grey is showing the way I am wearing it now.  I shall investigate options, watch this space !

Monday

Took the Morris for a spin out to the local Sainsburys (in man mode) , and filled her up with some petroleum on the way back.

Had never driven it at night before, the headlights seemed to be pointing where they should, it was good to get it out !

Thursday - Chameleons 

It had been a while since I had done full makeup, and my left eyeliner wing did not go well at all, I
think I wiped it off and re-applied at least three times. 

I had chosen my outfit the previous night to speed things up, which was my Popsy dress - a firm favourite as it does well at hiding my tummy - I am feeling fat again. I paired it with my popsy chocolate tights, which are fabulous, I might order some more, and my flat black sensible boots. 

I was still ready fairly quickly, and didn't spare the horses on the way down, so I arrived pretty early. 

Ann was also there early too as she had been shopping at the outlet before coming, was good to see her again, it had been quite a while since had met in person.  

It was a very good night, well attended, my friend Danielle who I often see at LFF and Invasion turned up too, with a broken wrist though. I think she had come the previous week, but I had skipped that one due to covid. 

There was a new person who seemed very friendly, seems like she enjoyed herself and is likely to come back. 

I ate lots of biscuits which had been kindly purchased by Ann, but I had been pretty good that day with a slim fast for lunch, so hopefully didn't do too much damage. 

Did some photo's at the end for a few people, Lynn included, and managed to get a selfie of us both,

I gave Joanna a lift back on the way home, didn't end up needing to charge so it was a fairly quick journey, although I did stop at Woodhall has I was sure the car was making a weird noise - but nothing seemed awry. 

The Weekend

Friday I could have gone to Birmingham, but I was really tired still from Chams, so I decided it was too much. 

I've not done a lot over the weekend, a but of adulting and messed with my cameras. I want to do more video's for Insta / Youtube, but haven't had much practise. I think I will do a driving one first, in the Morris Minor, in my 50's ish polka dot dress.  

I've been a bit naughty and bought two more wigs, but they are the same as some I already have. I got a brand new version of the platinum blonde with blue highlights, and a slightly used version of my go-to brown one off ebay. It was a bargain, so hoping it is OK when it arrives.  Even with my own hair becoming an option, I still think I will want to wear them for going out.

Walked to Aldi yesterday, partly for exercise, partly for some variety on food, our local Asda doesn't really have much of a selection. I got some venison burgers to try. 

I went for a run this morning, my ankles were not that happy, but it was good to get out. 6.6km in total, but I maybe only ran 3km of that.

Ribbon Cutting

Hair update 

2/3rds of my ears are now covered. It's getting in my eyes a fair bit, and windy day's aren't too fun. 

I need to get something to keep it under control I think.

Thursday 

It was a bit of a busy day. My car MOT had meant to be on Friday, but they called it move it to the
Thursday due to the MOT tester being unavailable that day - this was the one already re-arranged due to snow.

I also had laser session around lunch time, and then Trans-Wakefield in the evening. 

The garage gave me an automatic Juke , which was horrible to drive, really hard to pull out of junctions fast compared to the leaf.

The laser went well, but again was very painful. I asked for a quote to get my torso done, and received a fairly cheap price £450 !

But it turned out she had got it wrong, as she sent me an SMS later apologising, it was actually £750 - which was more in line with what I was expecting.

So I start that next month. It will take my session time from 15 mins to an hour, so will be more difficult to fit around work.

Trans-Wakefield, I was going in man mode due to the laser, but I had a good time. Phoebe who had come for her first time a few weeks ago had returned, and I roped her and another regular into forming a quiz team. We did poorly, but had fun doing so.

I indulged in cheesy chips, and a Guinness to pre-celebrate St Patricks day :) 

It was a bit quiet a few missing, but still enjoyable. I felt comfy in man mode, which hasn't always been the case. 

It was mentioned that the LGBT community centre/café was having it's official opening on Saturday morning, and we were invited to attend to show our support.

Friday

This was my scheduled day off, and normally would have been an adventure day, followed by Nottingham Invasion in the evening, but with the laser being moved to this week I couldn't do either.

So instead I decided to make a concerted effort to replace the leaf springs in the Morris minor. I was successful  - managed one side, and started on the other, but managed to break 3 nails in the process. 

I ended up just trimming them all, but I have a few weeks before I will be going out so they will look OK by then I expect.

Saturday

I got up early to ensure I could get to Wakefield for 10am to be at the ribbon cutting ceremony. 6 or 7 of us from the group turned up. We got one free coffee, which was quite strong, they had teamed up with a company to get a proper machine. 

At 10:30 we were ushered outside to see the group leader Christine and the centre manager cut the ribbon together - both did a short speech. 

They took a group photo afterwards with everyone who wanted to be in it, I think I was the only one to abstain.

Went back in and had another coffee, and spent until midday chatting to the others. Sam who had visited with Trans-Leeds one time was there, had a nice chat with them. 

Had a nice chat with Christine on leaving, she seemed pleased we had shown up to support the event.

My wife was nipping out to McDonalds for lunch, so I drove back home to get my McPlant. I was on a bit of a caffeine high from the proper coffee, so I took advantage of this to finish off the other leaf spring on the Morris in the afternoon.

Sunday 

Today I've got a slow cooker chicken casserole on the go, and been for a run. I did forget to wear sun cream on my face, but it wasn't too sunny, so hope I didn't do any damage. 

Post LFF Covid

 So it seems I likely got infected with the covid the previous weekend. This was rather unfortunate as I had laser scheduled for Tuesday, and a nice visit to Chameleons planned for Thursday - although I would have been looking a bit non-binary due to not being able to shave.

My dress while working

It also decided to snow heavily on Thursday, meaning my MOT for Friday was cancelled. Both things have been re-scheduled for next week, but it will have a follow on impact of preventing me glamming up for the Nottingham Invasion on the coming Friday. Or adventures out during that day too.

I did manage to dress a bit during the week - well, I knew I was dressed but my work didn't as I put a male jumper over the top to hide the female clothes. It did feel nice to be dressed though. I might do it more often. The benefit of working from home, I only have what the camera can see to worry about. 

There was some positives though, I finally got around to organising a trip to Pink Punters in Milton Keynes for the 2nd Friday in April. Got a hotel sorted for that, and it's on one of my free Fridays so no holiday booking required. Really looking forward to that. It could be a busy month, LFF, PP, Invasion, and also possibly the 1st Whitby Goth Fest of the year too !

I also spied some Green Ginger Wine in Asda, which sounded intriguing so I got a bottle of that. A bit like ginger sherry I suppose, I quite liked. 

Did go out for a long walk yesterday, and a shorter one to Aldi this afternoon - I am going to attempt to go for at least a short walk every day going forward. 

  

Rapturous Lasagne

I've completely forgotten what I did at the start of the week, so can't have been too exciting.

So let us skip ahead to Thursday :

Trans-Wakefield, AGM - 'Our House' LGBT+ Centre

Apparently we hadn't had one for several years, due to covid and other matters. We needed to get one
done so that we could make things more official, and start applying for the funding that is available to our group.

This was a very quick process, with the chair resigning, being nominated and accepting within the space of a few moments. The the other officers were suggested and seconded and such. 

We also had to anonymously provide our real names (bits of paper in an envelope) so we could record who had been there and voted and such. 

There was a document with the aims and rules of the organisation that also had to be agreed. 

There was only one position that I could have perhaps gone for, which was to help liaise with the other Wakefield organisations over our pride involvement. I got some looks from people which suggested that may have hoped I would have gone for it, but I don't consider myself a brilliant people person. It went unfilled for the moment.

This all only took less than 30 mins or so, and we progressed into the usual chatting after this. I had a nice hot chocolate, and a can of Pepsi max , which was a bad idea as I didn't sleep too well.

Got chatting to a slightly older trans woman who I had only seen briefly at a couple of other meetings. She was really nice, and it turned out she was also an LFF attendee, so I would perhaps see her the following day at that.

There was also a new person from over my way, who had come out of the house for the first time, she seemed really nice too - I walked her back to her car as they were parked very near me. I think she will be back. I've forgotten her name already, so will have to hope she signed onto the group discord server.

It was a very pleasant evening, perhaps one of the best so far for me. They have tended to be less fulfilling, but a lot more convenient to get to. 

Leeds First Friday - Daytime fun

I'm feeling in a verbose mood, so grab your milk and settle on the story rug for a needlessly long
account of a day and a bit:

I got ready at a fairly relaxed speed, because I wasn't actually due to meet anyone until the afternoon really. Which was fortunate as the mail man turned up with four new dresses for me from Everything5Pounds.com !  Once again I had painted nails, but no makeup or wig so had to hide behind the door a bit. He's never phased.

I put on my evening eye makeup, as I have a habit of losing motivation, and lacking time between the day and evening events, so better I get it done in the morning.

Tried all the dresses on, only one was a bit of a disappointment, a bit big - but the one I ended up wearing on the night was gorgeous. A sort of patterned velvet, with pearl details. 

I got into Leeds around midday, and sent a message to Alice to ask if she had any lunch plans - she's always there early.  Turns out she had only just had a big breakfast, so I nipped to Flamingo's for a coffee and a bagel. I'm a creature of habit, had the pastrami and Emmental again. 

I had forgotten to bring any perfume - realising on the way in, so I popped into New Look and got a bottle of cheap 'Scarlet Velvet' perfume. It's nothing special, but is a lot smaller than my current, might leave it in my makeup bag.

After this I headed to the pub to find Alice, she was in the 'Head of Steam' with Cindy, having already been in the Weatherspoon's before 12 ! 

Had a nice chat in there for a bit, then we went to the 'Bankers Cat' where Jessica joined us. Alice and
Cindy left after a while to check in. Hannah had arrived and checked in, so we went back to the hotel so I could too, then towards the bus station to meet Hannah's girlfriend who had come by coach. We were a bit early, so we browsed the expensive shops next to John Lewis for a bit.

Jessica and myself went for another drink while Hannah and girlfriend got sorted, it was the 'Bowers Tap' in the freedom quarter - was quite nice. A CD lady who I had met at Nottingham came in and we got talking to her and her wife. We got some gossip on who to avoid, and we talked about Blackpool as a venue. They also recommended a nearby Italian restaurant too. The lasagne was meant to be "Orgasmic". 

Having been told of this Lasagne, and being bereft of orgasms that day, we met up with Hannah and
proceed to the restaurant - it was just past the Bridge Inn, but before the bridge, Viva's I think.

Three out of four of us had the lasagne, but it didn't seem to have the effect as advertised :( - it was really nice though, thin layers. Best I've had for a while for sure.

Then we all headed back to the Travelodge, to get ready for the evening.

Leeds First Friday - Evening fun

I got changed fairly quickly, I did shave again but possibly didn't need to, more out of habit I think.

Didn't need to touch the eye makeup thankfully. Then we met in the foyer and headed to the Viaduct. 

I was meeting an Insta friend Bennie, who had come on her own - I hadn't realised for the first time, but she seemed in need of escorting to the viaduct from the Marriot, so I did nip back out to collect her after a little while. 

We spent a few hours in there, I spoke to the lady I had met the previous night at Wakefield, and to a few other Insta people who I try to catch up with. One who only get's out very infrequently, so was fortunate to see her - I did definitely miss a few though. 

We seemed to collect a young cis woman in there who had been chatting to Jessica for a while, and invited her to join us - but she was getting the last bus so didn't stay with us long.

We tried Fibre, but the upstairs was closed off again - or seemed to be. Really not sure what's going on with it. So we headed to 'The Bridge' as Hannah had expressed an interest in Karaoke. We stayed in there for one while she did 'Shotgun' by George Ezra - I think.  She has a lot of confidence, very envious of this. Don't think she will be giving up the day job though :)  

Then we did 'The End', which was a bit busy and had pants music, but we sat and chatted for a bit. Benni had chosen her shoes badly, and was in real pain by this point, but she just about managed to walk the short distance to the Smokestack. We ended up on the middle floor as the music upstairs wasn't too great this time.  Hannah and girlfriend left early, but I stayed with Benni and Jessica until about 1am. 

We had to take it really slowly getting back to the hotel as Benni's feet were fubar by this point, it wasn't fun for her at all. We walked her back to the Marriot and said our goodbyes. Then we went back to the Travelodge.  

I had mainly been on shandy so wasn't really tipsy at all. 

Saturday

I had not booked breakfast, so after getting up and showering I messaged Hannah and Jessica to see if they wanted to meet up, and told them of a nice café on the other side of the bridge I had been recommended by Alice. Hannah had been up a bit earlier to drop her girlfriend at the coach station. So it was just the three of us going there.  I checked out and put my bags in the car then met them both back at the hotel.

It was a short walk over the bridge and down a cobbled street, really nice place. They were taking table
reservations so was quite popular. We had a pleasant breakfast and conversation,  it wasn't a speedy place so we were there an hour I think. Wasn't that cheap, but tasted very good. 

After this we headed back towards the hotel, and I bid them both farewell - they were going to the train station, and I headed to my car. I got back just before 12.

I remained dressed for the rest of the day, but with the wig off, my hair is actually not looking too bad when I have the makeup on, so doesn't feel like I am a bloke in a dress as much as it did when it was short.

A very nice weekend overall, and great to get to know a few more people, and spend time with Jessica and Hannah too.

Today

Not done a great deal, I booked the Travelodge for the next two months. Signed up with a new social media app 'MeWe' as there is a trans social group on there - recommended by Benni. Seems very friendly, may give me access to some events in Manchester I didn't know about.

I went for a run, did a lot of catchup of comments on Insta, that's about it :)