Fringe achieved, international travel enabled

Thursday 23rd of Jan - Chameleons :  

Spoke a lady who I assumed was there for the 1st time, and was perhaps only just coming out. But it turned out she had been over a decade ago, and despite having her surgery had been living in ambiguous mode for a few years now.  I am not sure if she will return, hopefully she does.

Saturday 25th of Jan - Wakefield :

I decided to get on with sorting my passport out, as I felt I had lost a bit of momentum with my legal transition. I didn't like my drivers license photo that I did in a booth at the Co-up up the road, so I went into Wakefield to a 'Max Spielmann' I had been recommended before. 

It was all over in an instant, and he didn't take the million shots I would normally do, before choosing the best - but it looked better than my driving license one.

I had also wanted to book a hair appointment, so I was brave an went into 'Scott Banks' which looked quite posh.  The lady was very nice, and got me booked in for the following Friday, which was one of my days off.   

I went to the Black Rock for a refreshing beverage to celebrate my successes. It was rather full, and mostly of the older generations, but I didn't get any bother from anyone. Although one chap was definitely keeping an eye on me. 

 

26th of Jan  - Swimming Bramley baths  :  

I equalled my PB of 42 lengths , Only Mars bars in the vending machine !

31st of Jan - Wakefield Hair Appointment :

I arrived , they offered to take my coat, and asked what I wanted to drink !  I am not used to this, it was nice.

I was introduced to Lucy and ushered upstairs.  

She sat me down, brushed my hair a bit, and we discussed the plan, I had wanted a fringe - it is meant to be a good trans option, to hide the vast expanse of my forehead, which I have a bit of a thing about.

We agreed she could take a bit off the ends to tidy them up a bit, and it was determined that with a centre parting, I would need about 1 inch off one side, and 2 off the other ! 

After that we went to the washing station, where I was treated to a weird massage by the chair as she washed and treated my hair.  Back to the other chair, and then had the blow dry.

At this point she double checked I really really wanted a fringe, and she did a rough cut to take off most of it.   Then spent a good while refining it. 

It was all done in an hour, a nice and relaxing experience.  I must admit I wasn't 100% sure I had done the right thing with it, it just didn't look like me in the mirror. But I have grown to like it a lot. 

I wear it a lot with a pony tail for work, and really only wear it as per the photo when I go out. 

I do have to spray and blow dry my fringe for a few minutes each morning, but that has been a lot more simple that many of the YouTube videos seemed to make it out to be. So hasn't really added a great deal to my getting ready time.

Was advised that 8 weeks would be a good interval to aim for with the next cut, so I have booked one for the end of March.

Comments on social media seem to indicate that I look nice :)

4th of Feb - My passport arrived !! : 

It was very quick - I got the supporting docs back the next day too, I was amazed

Friday the 7th of Feb : LFF 

I had avocado and feta on toast for lunch with Benni, before heading to Pints and Straws for the afternoon bar crawl.  

It was a lovely afternoon,  met some newbies who really seemed to enjoy it too.  There were quite a lot of us, which was a bit unexpected.

We ate at the Botanist , there were 5 of us there.  I had a hanging kebab, which was delicious. 

After this we headed to the main meeting bar, the 'Bridge End Social' , where we caught up with people for an hour or so, then onwards to a cocktail event in Farands.

I had a Black Velvet, which was Guinness and champagne based, it was OK, not too overpowering. Then I decided to have a Zombie - they didn't do flaming zombies there (my favourite drink at the sadly recently closed Shed bar).  So I took it upon myself to recreate one, by fishing out a t-light from a table decoration, much to the alarm of my friends - Nobody died, or had their fringe burned off.

We ended up in the 'end bar' :)   -  didn't do much dancing, the friend I was sharing with wasn't feeling that great, and we were in one quite a walk away, so ended up going home about 1:30am ish. 

Ended up watching an episode of LoveJoy while eating a pot noodle when we got back - very rock and roll :)

Saturday the 8th of Feb : 

I didn't sleep too bad, but my digestive system was not happy with the cocktails, or cheese, or hanging kebab, beer, or all of the above.

We didn't manage breakfast, but I did try a pasty from the pound bakery.  I only managed half.  

Spent the afternoon with Alice and Rebecca, we did the armouries which was OK, then tried to get a table in a pub - this was problematic as all the  pubs were rammed. We assumed it was football related, but it continued to be extremely busy well beyond the match time, and hardly any football clothing spotted.

We had to walk a fair way out of town to find a pub to eat in during the evening. We managed to find a table at the 'Midnight Bell'.  I had a pheasant starter, followed by a chicken and chorizo cassoulet . It was lovely.

After this we went to 'The Hop' at the Granary Wharf, and had a relaxing few hours.  I was pretty tired so we ended up going home before kicking out time.  It was a bit of a trek to the Vicar lane Travelodge.

Sunday : 

Breakfast at the Travelodge was achieved, it wasn't too bad, only scrambled eggs, but nice sausage !

I got home before lunch, which I didn't have. I ended up having a nap in the afternoon.  I got an email from a YouTube subscriber who had offered me a free gearbox, and I followed up to see if he would mind if I picked it up that evening - he agreed.

Went to swimming, only managed 32 lengths, but I was trying to swim harder, and I think I got a good workout.  They had restocked the vending machine !!! so I could have a twirl.

After saying goodbye to my friends, and expressing a hope that I wouldn't get murdered, I travelled north to meet the guy who has messaged me.

He turned out to be really nice, and even insisted on carrying it out to my car. It was a bit dirty, but seems to turn, so hopeful it can be used.

I returned home pretty late and hungry, with the swimming, and missing lunch. 

It was a very busy weekend !