The Pride of Manchester

I didn't use to mind a pint of 'The Cream of Manchester' but I understand it never tasted the same after they moved production out of the city....

This is largely a record of events over a weekend, and will be a wall of text. I have done a small summary for those with less free time :)

TLDR:

Insta friends on march day

I had a really good time, lots of walking, and a few hours of intense dancing meant my feet hurt for days afterwards - bit too busy though. Sparkle was a better size, but good to experience, and I'm sure will be back next year. 

Met some Insta people who it seems are quite likely to become good friends with. Already booking future events where we can meet.

Was great to see the massive level of support, there were so many very spectators along the route ! 

---

An Insta friend (Hannah) who I had not met in person messaged me the previous Sunday asking if I was going to Manchester pride - as she knew I was fairly active around these parts. 

I was keen to meet up with them, they seemed like a really nice - so on the spur of the moment I booked a room for Friday, and got a ticket for the Gay Village, and put a leave request in with my work, and ordered some dresses ..... 

Later in the week another Insta friend (Romile) asked if I was going, so I ended up with two meetups planned for the pride weekend.

Friday

I was out at Chams the night before, and as a result I wasn't able to pack everything in advance, as the makeup was needed for that.

I did at least pick out some outfits on the Wednesday night. So as normal I was running around like a headless chicken trying to get ready and pack.

I go for hard mode adventuring these days, no man mode fall back, go out dressed, come back dressed.

Hannah was going up for the full weekend, Thursday to Sunday, Romile was only coming for the Saturday late morning to late afternoon.

My plan was to get to Manchester before lunch on the Friday to perhaps have it with Hannah, but someone had broken down in the fast lane of the M62 which put me behind schedule, my friend had already eaten by the time I arrived and was shopping with their mum, so I went and found somewhere to eat by myself.

I also had a bit of a panic while driving, I suddenly realised I may not have packed my foundation or lipstick. 

Found a nice plant based restaurant in the northern quarter - Purezza, was really nice inside, I had courgetti spaghetti with pesto 

and a Lychee Zen Zero mocktail. It was so nice I gifted them my jacket as a tip  - I remembered and came back for it later :)

They were very friendly, they had a special pride bottomless brunch on they were keen to tell me about, pride flags in the windows etc.

I had a quick rummage in the car before I went for food, and confirmed I couldn't see the foundation, so I headed to the Arndale centre to try and buy some.

I looked in a few expensive places with makeup counters, but as usual they didn't seem to have many people on to come and help.

Ended up in Superdrug , where I found a lovely young lady who was brilliant, and helped match up some L'Oreal foundation for me, cheap too !

Randomly picked a lipstick up too.  

Then messaged to my friend to see where they had got to, and turns out they were not far away. We decided to go to canal street for a look around, and on the way back

I realised I wasn't overheating badly - and then remembered the jacket, so we took a detour to retrieve that :)

I showed her around canal street, we took some selfies outside the New Union pub (has angel wings mural) and got a beer in there. Got chatting to really friendly gay guys for a bit in there.

Then we decided to go get a picture next to the Alan Turing sculpture in Sackville gardens, but it was fenced off because they were setting it up for the evening - so we did the Vimto sculpture instead.

At that point my hotel was available to check in (3pm)  , so she offered to come back to the car park and help me take my bags. It's 10 minute walk, I like that one because it's only a few turns off the main road, so easy to get in/out without doing the city centre.

On arrival, we were offered free gin !! I thought it was flat bubbly at first. Once I had my room key card, they also gave me a brown paper bag with 2 more cans of G&T, crisps, water and chocolate bars !

We went to the room, and used the facilities, then headed back to canal street.

Had a few more drinks there, then headed to meet her mum for some food as it was getting past 6pm, and really needed some food before having much more to drink.

Ended up at Pizza Express, had a nice margarita in there.  Then we went back to her hotel so she could do a quick change, then randomly we decided to go visit a filming location for 'Life on Mars' scene where Sam Tyler get's run over. It was a bit of a trek, but it was fun. Then we went back to my hotel so I could change, then back to canal street.

I certainly got a lot of steps in that day !

I had noticed a massive queue inside the Gay Village cordon while we walked past it to get to my hotel, and I had joked I hope that's not for the arm bands - spoiler , it was :(

We got a drink when entering the village and I corned a random reveller to see where the arm bands were, and he pointed me where I had hoped he would not. We only spent about 20 mins queuing, it was really long, snaking back and forth, but moving quickly, and we were at least two of the sensible few who had brought a refreshing beverage to queue with :)

It was absolutely rammed outside on the street itself but it wasn't too bad in the clubs.

We did a number of different ones, due to some miscommunication with a really cute bar man, I ended up with a G&T in one hand and a pint of summer fruits cider in another, which made dancing harder :)

We moved next door, and then I spotted some friends that I have hung around Manchester and LFF and Nottingham before dancing on the stage - I didn't know they were also coming. 

So we met up with them and did a couple of other bars.

It was getting on for 11pm by this point, Hannah had come with her mum, and she had promised them not to be out too late as she was worried about walking back to her hotel which was about 10mins away towards the other railway station.

I felt a bit responsible for her, so I confirmed my other friends plans, and decided to walk her back to her hotel. She was very thankful - there was no trouble, she would have been fine but I would have worried. Of course I am totally invincible after a few beers, so I had no worries about walking back myself ..... 

I came back, but found a lot of places now had really long queues, and they were also charging entry. So I picked the one I thought was most likely they would end up in. There was a nice guy in the queue

who was worried that I was on my own, and offered to let me stay with his group of friends while I waited, but I really just needed to sit down, so I went and found a barstool to rest on.

I had done so much walking and dancing that night my feet were pretty bad - I even had trainers on !

Anyway they didn't turn up, so I decided to go get some sausage and chips and go to bed. I didn't want to be too hungover for watching the pride march, and I had a really good night by this point already, so though might as well get some sleep.

I think it was only about 1am before I had got all my makeup off and finished my chips.

---

Saturday 

I got woken up by police sirens at 5am, so didn't' have the best sleep, but still managed to get up at around 8am. Had a shower and a shave and did some 'it will do' makeup - in the process finding the foundation I thought I had left at home.

So I've not even unwrapped the new one yet .. doh 

Breakfast selfie

Did breakfast which was a bit awkward as he couldn't find me by surname on the list , then he double checked my first name in less than discrete volumes - not on purpose he was a nice friendly guy, he just wasn't thinking. 

I book under my real name to avoid payment issues.

Also there were no beans !! 

But I will let them off all this for the free gin, which I still haven't drunk and are in my fridge.

I had to check out by 12am, and my other friends train was due in just before 11, so I checked out at 10:30ish, and took my bags back to the car, which wasn't far from the Piccadilly railway station.

Managed to meet up with my friend outside there. You couldn't miss her, big dress, petticoats, blond wig and purple beard. She is certainly a challenge to those that fear the middle ground of gender identity.

She was also lovely - I knew she would be, we had talked a lot on Insta.

We headed back to canal street and once again I did my best tour guide impersonation, we got some nice selfies, aided by random members of the public. Then we headed out of the other side to find a good place on the pride march route to observe. Ended up opposite the Subway shop on Portland Street. Had a really good chat about where we both were and our circumstances.

We took advantage of the closed road to do some pictures, and some of the friends from last night who I had lost saw me and came over to say hi, which was nice. 

Hannah met up with us there too.

I had bought a trans flag the day before from a vendor for a million pounds, so I put that around me like a cape and fastened it with a hair clip which sort of worked.

I also had bought a trans belt from Etsy which I put on.

Got talking to a lady who had brought her kids to watch it, she was dressed up for it, it was a 'Peace' theme, she was really lovely.

We chatted for a bit, then watched the march come past and enjoying the atmosphere - Romile was getting a lot of nice shouted comments, and hive fives from the people marching past about her outfit and look, must have been in double digits at least.

I think she was getting a bit embarrassed by the attention. There was lots of whooping, and cheering and clapping. I wasn't that keen to be really close, more of a 2nd row person. 

There were a LOT of groups, it got to the 100th group and I was getting a bit tired and my legs were not happy at all.

By the 200th group I was in real pain. I'm not sure how many there were in the end, as hannah was also feeling it, we must have been stood for 2.5 hours by this point, and she 

decided to call it day and go meet her mum for a coffee, and I decided to tag along. Said out goodbyes to Romille who wanted to stay longer, then we had to cross over through a march group

to get to the Arndale centre. It was at an angle so in effect i did join the march for several meters at least :)

I had a nice sarnie and coffee in the Arndale Centre Pret and said my goodbyes to Hannah, then headed home. Stopped off at a McDonalds on the way back to use the loos and charge my car.

Was so tired, really wanted to get home and rest. I think was just after 5pm I was home. Reverted back to male mode when I got it, was too hot. 

But I put a thin dress back on a bit later after having a soak in the bath to ease my legs - I don't normally like presenting as male and wearing one, but it was a lot more comfy and easier than putting male jeans on.

Infiltration successful

 -- Fantasy --

Mission Report 25/08/2022 - Infiltration successful 

After many fruitless months of attending the head branch of the trans-mafia in the trans capital of the UK 'Nottingham' my perseverance has finally paid off.

Hardly any mention of refrigerated condiments - (I have since deduced this is a mind game designed to weed out the unworthy) - their evil plan to take over the world was revealed to me. 

They are still careful to disguise the plan, in case they are being bugged. They do so in a very simple but cunning way - by discussing the plan as if it were being used against the trans community, for example :

Minority groups influencing other minority groups to despise and attack other minority groups - in this case religious organisations influencing radical feminists against trans folk.

But clearly all that needs to be done is to swap the order of the parties in said plan to reveal the true meaning of the discussion ! 

Agent J was not there this time, I understand she is attempting to gain influence in a multinational corporation selling overpriced goods to poor people, and is going up the ladder to do this.

However a new contender for the role of chief political officer seemed to take up where she has left off, I do not recall her designation, I will attempt to befriend her more at a later date.

The standard bribe of Jaffa cakes may work, although I seem to end up eating far too many, and central command is getting funny about my expense claims.

One new recruit turned up, and was immediately offered the favoured mind control drug of choice 'tea'.

An old hand also arrived late, she purported to have experience with munitions ! - I will watch this one closely.

Central will be most pleased with my progress, perhaps they will consider keeping my wife and children captive for longer, they had been threatening to return them, and with electricity prices as they are, it's better for me that they remain captive.

[n.b. My wife claims to read this blog, this is purely a test of this :) ]

-- Truth --

Went to Chams on Thursday night, it was nice , 9 people including me, tried the charger at the hall. Needed to faff adding yet another app, and then register and add credit card to said app. But it's done for next time.

I learnt more about politics, and also that I had probably been waving the wrong end of my credit card at many things for many months .... 

Joanna was not there, and missed, and I know she also missed being there. But there is always next time.

I wore too much eyeshadow, but it was fun putting it on.

The new 'New Foresters'

 

Decided to go to the Nottingham Invasion again, as I had the Friday off, and could get ready a bit early. I needed to get my hair cut in the morning, and had a bit of a smooch around Wakefield in man mode for that.

I am attempting to grow it on the top, to perhaps end up with a bit of a swept over undercut look, which might work OK in both modes. He sort of put me off the undercut though, he left it long on top with no 2 on the sides, but it sort of blends in. Will see how it grows.

I was contemplating going to Nottingham early and having a look around, but it would have meant either changing for the evening, or going in something that was OK for both. Decided just to go for the evening in the end.

The dress I chose was nice, but has some weird elastic that sort of seemed to want to expose me ! 

Managed to get the chargers working in the car park, the Victoria Centre North one - there was a review that said you could only pay with RFID, but I installed the app for the company and was able to start a charge via that once I had faffed about adding a credit card to it.

The meeting pub 'The New Foresters' has recently changed hands, and there was some concern it would lose it's LGBT+ status, but it seems to be even better than it was before.

They have a great neon sign in the beer garden for a start !  Couldn't get full advantage of it, as there were a group of fairly drunk people sat in front of it, but there will be more opportunities.

It was a fairly good turnout, and met up with a few people I knew, and also had some conversations with some that were new to me. Got a nice FB message from one who added me the next day. Sold some of them on the idea of LFF, so perhaps will see them there too.

I had tried to get one of the twitch streamers I follow to attend, but she bailed, but think she's going to LFF next time.

The people who normally end up with the role of herding us around Nottingham didn't seem to be there that night, so we spent all of it in the pub. But it was still a really nice night. They had a singer on too who seemed pretty good. Better than the Karaoke they used to have on. 

I left about midnight, it's over an hour to get home from there, so it's best to set off before getting too tired.

Catching up with Wakefield

I have missed load of Trans-Wakefield recently, and was feeling a bit guilty. So with pride being on on Sunday the 14th, I thought I could not only go on my first pride march, but also catch up with the Wakefield gang.

I had hoped that they would be marching, and in my head I had imagined meeting them in the pre-march formation, but it turns out that they were mainly at the pub. So I was just in the tail end with a group of random people - some of whom had chosen to make it a more difficult experience by doing it on roller blades.  I think it was only 0.6km in the end, but there were lots of supporters all along the way, and it was a fun experience. 

I wasn't wearing the best shoes, I was running late so grabbed some sandals, but I hadn't worn them before and turns out they don't fit that great. Also it appears from later conversations one of the Chams group had worn the exact same pair to Darlington pride the day before :) - Amazon's finest fashion.

We finished at the pride venue which was a big fenced off carpark, with a main stage, lots of loo's and inadequate number of alcohol vendors  - at least for everyone else, as I was driving. But this worked for me in the end, as I had figured that they would likely want beer, so it might be a good place to find them, and it worked !!

There were only a few there, as the Trans group is based at a pub, which it turned out had it's own stage and acts away from the main pride venue. So we watched the dignitaries open the event, and then went to the other venue via Greggs.

It was very hot day, and sitting out in the sun was not fun even with an expensive trans coloured hand fan I bought. Also the other venue also had beer queues to rival the march itself.  But I mingled with other members of the group for a bit, treated myself to a couple of shandy's, and left later on in the afternoon. I did say to them that I would be along to the next meetup which was on Thursday night , the 18th.

Thursday was a bit of a sh*t show with work, so I nearly didn't make it, even the car was against me, it wouldn't detect my key - but I got there in the end, 10 mins late, but they hadn't started anything.

There has been quizzes, killer pool, darts etc on these nights, but it seems only the quiz was going that night.

It was fun, did manage to play pool for a bit, and won despite potting all my balls, half of his and numerous whites. He was a bit tipsy though .....

I did also finally get chance to have a word with the leader - she normally takes people to one side on their first visit, but there were two of us on my first, and it just never happened. Turns out she was conscious of this and had been meaning to on my next visit. 

She is a slightly older trans lady, with a great deal of experience with assisting with the medical side of things. Her main aim was to find out where I was now, what my plans were and what she could do (if anything) to assist, and to ensure I knew that the group was there for me as a whole if I needed anything. It was really nice - I sort of already knew this, but nice to be told :)

It was nice to catch up with everyone else too, a very pleasant evening.  I expect I will be back again in a couple of weeks.

Here's to new friends

Red Kite

Ann one of my insta friends who I had met in real life at Ripley was coming up for the August Leeds First Friday. We had initially agreed to meetup on the Friday for a day shopping before social event, but it turned out she was staying at a hotel near me on the Thursday night, so she asked if I wanted to also pop across and have a meal.

Was a bit of a rush to get there, I finished work a bit early (they don't mind as long as we make it up) , and despite being stuck behind a tractor for ages, still managed to get there for 6ish as agreed.

Met Ann at her hotel, and we proceeded to walk across the car park to the restaurant next door. Did feel a little on edge as it was rammed outside, and they were all men, but we got in OK, and Ann asked for a more out of the way table which also helped.

We did a lot of talking, she has led a pretty interesting life, jetting off all over the place, so there weren't any awkward silences. 

I had Seabass followed by Eton Mess, I was on soft drinks due to driving.

All in all it was a lovely evening, we didn't leave until nearly 11 when it was kicking out time. We agreed a target time to meet up in the morning for the shopping.

Corn Exchange

The following day was my "every 2nd friday off" , so got up and got ready, but also had to pack for LFF as I was staying overnight at the Travelodge. Getting ready seemed to take forever but I managed to get into Leeds and parked for before 11am.

My hotel wouldn't be ready until 3pm, so met Ann at hers - she was staying at the Marriot which is the LFF meeting point. We did some shopping, then paused for lunch. I suggested the LGBT Cafe "Flamingos" which is in the Central Arcade.

I wasn't feeling that great for some reason, my digestive system has never been the best, and I felt a bit hot too. I wanted to wear a plain dress with some patterned tights I had bought ages ago. Anyway still managed to have a nice toasted teacake. 

We continued on our shopping spree, did the Corn Exchange, the markets, then John Lewis. Stumbled across a massive pride flag painted on the pavement outside there, so had to get a photo of that.

Pride Flag

Then we did Seasalt as we had somehow missed that, and headed back so I could check into my hotel. I changed outfit at the hotel, as I thought perhaps the tights and dress combo were too warm.

We met up a little later for an evening meal at the Marriot - I had a curry it was lovely, I felt more like eating by this point. 

Then I headed back to my hotel to change once again into my gold sequin dress, and also change to my "going out" wig - the platinum blonde with blue highlights. 

In the Marriot

We met up at the Marriot bar at 7:30ish. I spoke to a few people I already knew in there, and we eventually left around 9:30pm then went over to the Smokestack - plays Soul, Motown, Jazz , you can still have a conversation in there if you try.

I was telling Ann that I needed one of the chasers to attempt to pull me to satisfy my LFF checklist of achievements, and the infamous short possibly arabinan looking guy did try - he danced provocatively in my direction and I ignored him :) 

One of the older ladies who seems to enjoy canoodling with fellow trans people seemed to get the wrong impression about the two of us, and thought we are a couple which was quite amusing. I do wonder if that will be spread as gossip around the people I know. I look forward to finding out later :)

Drunken Selfies

We stayed in there while kicking out time, although Ann decided to go to the New Penny after we split up - I would have gone with her earlier if I had known she was up for that. I got to bed at 3:45am ish. 

Managed to get up at 8ish for breakfast - hadn't slept a great deal the room was warn, no aircon. Had an English breakfast , packed everything away , checkout out, and put everything in the car.

Met up with Ann for a little while to look around a few more shops before she left.  She was really happy, and kept thanking me for hanging out with her, it was really nice - I felt much the same, definitely a bond formed.

I hope to carry on meeting up with her, although she doesn't have the freedom I have, so will perhaps not be that often.

The morning after

After she left I wandered up to the city museum, bumped into another girl who I had chatted with the previous night who was also very nice, looked around some LGBT stalls , then headed to the art gallery. Had a quick mooch around there, then set off for home, got back in time for lunch.

Holidays

 I have been missing multiple Thursday social group meetings due to clashes with my wifes schedule, and thus lack of childcare. Also lately we were on holiday in Scotland for a week. So I haven't really had a great deal to blog about - in terms of recording these events at least.

It's likely I will have to miss the next Chams one too, my wife has other commitments. But no matter there are plenty still to come this year.

The holiday was not just a break from work, and being home, it was a break from my femme self - mainly caused by lack of boot space to take the necessary supplies. Even a few days away for Izzy seems to require an inordinate number of bags !

But I survived, had a back log of Insta content to churn out, could interact with people using that. I think I was craving it more because I didn't have access to dress. Perhaps if I had the stuff, I wouldn't have been so needy of it.  1st world problems I know !  - I appreciate I am incredibly lucky with the freedom I have.

It was a nice holiday, lots of walking, very relaxing, and I even managed to buy a nice rainbow egg cup!

The 1st Saturday back I got dressed and went to Meadowhall :)   - I was tempted by a rainbow ish handbag, designer, silly money. I just thought I would go in and have a look at it, then 5 mins later I'm walking out with it. My wife didn't kill me, but I now can't complain about anything she buys for months - possibly for ever.

But it is lovely .......

On returning I did four photo sets for Insta, with fishnets for #fishnetfridays 

That seemed to fullfill the need :)

  

Pride Barnsley

Main stage - right at the start
before it got crowded

I have never done a Pride before so was keen to give one a go, and I knew the Barnsley one was this weekend. It clearly wasn't going to be the biggest one, and I knew it was fairly static, no marching.  But seemed like it would be similar to Sparkle, set in a big public garden.

It was quite a hot day, and I was still burnt from Sparkle, so lots of sun cream was applied. I also put on one of my longer wigs to cover the neck, and a dress with a fairly small neck aperture, and a hat :)

Trans Barnsley stall

I didn't park too far away, and it was a very short walk to get to the park. Security was quite lax, there seemed to be two 'proper' entrances with door staff, but then a big gap in the fence where anyone could just wander in. I had a quick scan around to see what stalls were there, and soon spied the flags for the Trans Barnsley group.  Went there first, and got talking to the guys on there. Spoke with the leader of the group first, she was really nice, explained how they got the funding , what the group was like etc. I got introduced to their social media expert, so I took the opportunity to get a photo with them - so I could post on Insta and perhaps give them some exposure. She was also very nice.

Jumbo sausage !!!

Sitting in the shade

Also got speaking with a third one who was an older trans woman, talked a little bit about Sparkle, but someone else came along.

After this I sought food, and spied a street food stall that was doing hot dogs, managed to not cover myself in too many onions.

I sat in the shade and ate, but this was really far from the stage with the stalls in between so was not a good spot.

I headed back to see if I could find a shaded spot to watch the stage but all the good ones had gone. I did get a seat but with no view, so I just crowd watched for a while. I was half hoping I might see someone I knew, but didn't. 

Then I went to look for a drink, the pub looked crowded, I was there on my own so driving, so settled for a coffee from a stall instead. 

Stood a bit nearer the stage under a tree and drank that. It was getting quite hot, and had been there a few hours so decided to head off.

I popped into the small art gallery on the way back to the car, I don't think there was anything new in the downstairs bit. There was some architecture upstairs, but when I got up there it seemed to be being used for painting LGBT banners of some sort. 

Went home and did some Insta shots of some new dresses I have not worn out yet, drank a number of cans of summer fruits cider :)

All in all, it was nice, got some more local trans contacts at least, and may well go to that group on Thursday. But would have been better if had friends to go with - so aim is to make some for next years :)

Oh and I did Chams on Thursday, had been a month since I was last there as I couldn't make the last one. It was nice, Maria (I think got her name right) was there, and looking gorgeous, very jealous of her figure and look.

It wasn't that busy, I guess the heat and light nights, and cost of living etc won't be helping.