The deed is done

 Deed Poll

Last pic of me before I signed

The deed poll was indeed kindly done by Lynn and Ann at Chams on the 23rd of May. Monday was a bank holiday, so it was Tuesday before I notified work.

I sent an email to my boss first, indicating that I would be talking to HR. He rang my back pretty quickly after getting the email, but unfortunately due to issues with Teams not playing call notification through the speaker, I missed it. I sent him a message, but it was then a good few hours before he tried again. 

That stressed me out a little.  But when I did finally get to speak with him it went well.

I explained I would likely agree a date with HR to do a switchover, as all the IT systems would need updating at the same time - perhaps on a day off.  

He asked if it was OK to keep using my old name and pronouns until this had happened - partly in case anything we sent each other needed to be forwarded to anyone else who was not in the know yet.  It seemed sensible to do this, so had no issue. 

I emailed HR after this, slightly amending the wording of the email I had sent my boss. She replied saying that she didn't see any issue in principle, but asked my permission to talk with IT first, then we could have a call about it.

She sent me an invite for the next day, so I didn't have long to wait.  IT had advised it was better for it all to happen on a working day, so that if I had issues logging into anything, someone would be on hand to fix it.  Fridays are better as 1/2 the company is off depending on what cycle they are on.  

So it ended up being set for the 14th of June :)

The HR lady was lovely, and admitted that I would be the 1st to do this, but she didn't want me to feel like a guinea pig.  I did offer to send her some material that could perhaps prove useful if anyone needed any assistance with getting their heads around this.  She mentioned that the standard policy's included the protections that I already knew I had, which was good, and seemed to be really on my side, which was fab :) . I felt quite emotional afterwards, in a good way !

Adventures 

I did Blackpool with four friends last weekend. It was really good, got some nice photos and 3D footage.

We were staying at the Garnet hotel, a first for me - it was really good, the breakfast was excellent. Although my veggie friend didn't like the meat free sausages, and after trying one I could see why.

I picked up Bennie from Wakefield before heading over the Pennines, we arrived around lunch time. 

As I was trying to get the new chargers working two other friends pulled into the same car park. There was also a weird guy who started talking to us - then I recognised his voice , it was another of us in drab. I had never seen her in guy more before :)

We ate at the station café for lunch, it's not actually in the station , it's just near it. We just did some shopping in the afternoon. Had a meal at Peek-a-booze late afternoon. 

In the evening we largely did the normal venues, Ma-Kellys, Galleon , Garlands and finishing at the Flying handbag

We went up the tower on the Saturday morning. Randomly I got a photo with a Dalek in a washing
machine shop on the way there ! 

I saw my friend Bella on the Saturday evening in the DragonFly for a short while, I had some bits that she bought in Whitby a while ago, and had somehow got left in my car.  But she didn't seem to want to stay out with us.

Saturday we did LuLu's , a cocktail place, Galleon, Garlands again perhaps, and then the Flying Handbag. 

There was a free photo session in Lulu's with a while couch, and proper lighting, not had the photo's
back yet. 

I avoided getting too tipsy, cheesy chips were consumed at the Flying handbag at the end of both nights.

This Weekend

Saturday I was meant to go to York pride, but the friend who I was going with had issues, so I didn't bother in the end.  I did go to the camping shop and get a mattress , a folding chair and table , and some other bits. I also put up the tent Ann had gifted me - this is in preparation for the morris minor meeting later this month.

Today I have been for a run in the morning, and then spent a good few hours tinkering on the car. She is largely ready, I got the electric windscreen pump working. It doesn't look very in keeping, but it works so much better than the original manual pump - and the useless modern lookalike replacement I bought. 

Only 4 days at work this week, then LFF !!!!!  I am very much looking forward to it :)