More new shoes

Whilst I was preparing my last blog entry (my first outing in the real world), a parcel arrived with my new shoes from Next. I've been waiting for these to arrive for the best part of 6 weeks - worth the wait don't you think!

Don't try adjusting your screen, they really are those colours - red toes fading to dark grey at the heel.

I've already paraded them around the house, much to the dismay of Mrs Kate who has insisted I didn't walk around in the kitchen in case I put a mark in the lino.

These heels are not as big as the courts I bought from New Look, being much shorter by a whole 1/4 inch! Can't wait to test-drive them!

Another first - let out in public

Met the real public! - went to the Trafford Centre dressed as conservative as I possibly could, although wearing my 'faithful' heels I was probably topping 6ft!

And what brought on this moment of madness? - well, as rock climbers often say - 'because it's there'! Or to put it rather geeky :-

• Opportunity - kids back at school; Mrs Kate available for support and all round goodwill; not being at work;
• Need - to visit the MAC counter for some decent foundation since the Boots own brand just wasn't cutting it on some occasions (colour was OK, but it's a bit 'watery');
• Passability - erm... reasonable in my own mind, but let's not fool ourselves, accept I will be 'read';
• Nerves - should be able to keep them in check... it's all in the mind... it's all in the mind... it's all in the mind (isn't it?).

The tension started to rise as we approached the Centre, particularly as I changed into a lane which another driver wanted to occupy - but clearly he was the one on a mission and after all I was just playing my part in being girly (sorry to all RGs; no slight intended!). After we parked, I went to get my shoes from the carboot; only to be stared at by a girl driving past in a 4x4 - had she read me? ... no, it was simply my skirt had slipped whilst driving and as I bent over the open boot, I was flashing my knickers to everyone (don't you just hate that when it happens!).

So stage 1 over with; stage 2 - getting into the Centre and choose a nice restaurant to have lunch. Our favourite had since been replaced by an 'Ego' restaurant; Mediterranean style with a nice reasonably priced menu. The restaurant is one of those quite open continental sort; I decided to sit with my back to any potential audience, but I had to contend with the occasional furtive glance from the 4 or 5 waiters who clearly were acting a little like they'd never seen a tranny before - although despite this, they were courteous and attentive, one even asking 'what can I get you, Ladies' (quite right too!).

After the waiters lost interest, I began to settle into my surroundings - even looking around to see what was going on. Being it was mid-week and during the school term, it was fairly quiet. Except for the new mothers union sitting about 20 yards away; about 6-8 mothers and their first born all having lunch together interspersed with synchronised 'bring the baby out of the pram' sessions every 15 minutes whether baby was interested or not.

We left the restaurant and crossed the entrance hall and ascended the stairs; this was a little tricky in heels as the marble floor and steps were quite slippy. But I managed to maintain my dignity and we entered into the Great Hall where lots of people were sitting at the various cafes. A number noticed me; only a few stared as they walked towards and past us; I didn't see anyone give us a second glance. As long as I was able to walk on and beyond them I was quite happy; if we stopped, that's when I felt I was starting to draw unwarranted attention. From the Great Hall, we went to Selfridges; our mission to see the nice girls at the MAC counter for a suitable foundation with good coverage.

'Emily' the assistant at MAC was brilliant. She removed the foundation I was hiding behind and applied the one we selected between us. This stuff was very good - it had to be at just short of £20 a bottle, and complete with the powder, not much change from £40 - but it was worth it!. We looked at a few of the other dozen or so makeup counters; Mrs Kate even had her eyes made-up; .... and her hair straightened by a very determined product demonstrator. Though the hair straightener did a miraculous job, the miraculous price of £90 dissuaded Mrs Kate from purchasing one ... for the time being anyway!

They say 'time flies when you're having fun', rather surprisingly, we spent about an hour around the makeup counters. From here we looked at the rather pricey handbags and then upstairs and out into the main 1st floor shopping area. From here we mostly window shopped; tried to find Boots (and failed miserably!); saw some nice party dresses in 'Quiz',though the sizes were a bit small - even for Mrs Kate. We asked the sales assistant if they stocked larger sizes - apparently they can go right upto size 18 (wow! - not!) but only really get those sizes in stock towards Christmas. So another trip to be planned later in the year?

Epilogue

In a strange sort of scary way, I enjoyed it. Did folk give me any hassle? - no, generally folk were either not interested or never seemed to notice, although I got a few stares from a group of Asian males that was a bit un-nerving. But rather curiously it was a group of Muslim women each wearing a habib that appeared to give me a wide-berth whilst I was queuing in the Body Shop to pay for a makeup brush.

Despite those minor negatives, I would do it all again. As likely with my first visit to Canal St, I'll soon find myself asking whats the issue?

A strange day

Today was rather strange, despite the nice sunny weather for a change - perhaps that in itself was part of the strangeness.

Since son and ayre was out working for the day, it was an opportunity to be Kate for a bit. I had threatened to show Mrs Kate my maids outfit (every tranny should have one, it's the law!) so today was just that opportunity whilst I hoovered around the house.... at least it gave Mrs Kate a laugh!

But you can't seriously wear that for long, so after doing my 'chores' I changed into a white patterned summer skirt and black top. When I returned from my quick-change, Mrs Kate was tidying in the kitchen and was playing a bit of George Michael whilst dancing about (as she often does). Perhaps it was the sunshine, the peace and quiet except for the birds chirping in the garden or the break from a stressful week at work, I just can't explain... as I cuddled Mrs Kate I burst into tears.

I wasn't sad, I was happy and feeling that inner calm we all get when we become ourselves.

Related tip: Never watch an episode of 'Ghost Whisperer' whilst wearing makeup!

New shoes

This is what my new shoes from New Look are like; fairly basic, simple patent courts with a 4 inch heel. A bargain at £15 (normally £20). They were very tight to go on, but once on very comfortable.

These are my first very high-heels, having had my trusty training heels for about 12 months. I must admit, they were strange at first but I soon got used to balancing and walking in them. Mrs Kate even bet me I wouldn't last the night in them - but I did!

And no pain next day.... except for the feeling of muscle strain in my leg-calves and the balls of my feet - but that minor discomfort was worth it! ..... Mrs Kate now owes me on the bet.... what can a girl get with that payout.... hmmmmm.... I wonder if they do these in red....

To be (short skirt), or not to be

.... that is the question.

Mrs Kate posted in her blog that she felt rather drab when we went to Teelas; I tried to achieve the smart-but-casual look only to completely fail and end up feeling a bit frumpy; reader, I'm sorry to report that my ever wavering middle-aged spread was... erm... well.... 'spreading'. That nice new linen blouse I bought from New Look wasn't very flattering, most certainly one or two buttons were a little stressed to say the least! But this lead to a challenge by Mrs Kate, to dress a little more daring when we planned to be out to Manchester Concorde on Wednesday.

So with the challenge well and truly accepted, I spent Tuesday evening going through my limited but growing wardrobe collection - I did try the couple of mini-skirts that appear in my Sparkle pics, but as Kay says in reference to 'feline' pelmets, this girl wasn't going to have her knickers on show to everyone. So there was no option but to take advantage of a brief shopping opportunity on Wednesday, and do a minor raid at TK-Max, M&S, BHS, Debenhams... and the list could go on but I had a meeting to go to.... a girl still has to work to afford these little luxuries!

In the 30 minutes I had to shop (that just isn't long enough is it!"), I found a couple of nice skirts in TK-Max, one that really caught my attention was a mix of animal and foliage print in browns and greens, with the length just right (not too short and not too long!). Together with my zebra-print top, flowery-type fishnet tights and my new shoes from New Look finished off the outfit just purrrfectly! Picture appears here courtesy of Mrs Kate who is becoming quite proficient in omitting folks heads!

So we went to Manchester Concorde, met up with Karen and Diana; and a fine time listening to Marianne and others play for us before we went to Naps for a bit of a boogie. Of course Mrs Kate still managed to upstage us all by squeezing her curvy figure into a lovely tiger print dress she found in Peacocks and dancing us all to exhaustion.

And another fine evening that words can't really begin to describe, good company, good conversation.... thank you girls!

Trying again

The new epilator has been silently smirking at me all week; it thinks it's beaten me. So I tried a new trick; using an ice pack to numb the area a little before applying it at high speed - I figured if you get it to pull the hairs out quicker it doesn't hurt as much ... does it?

The ice helped a little but the score is still Epilator 2, Kate 0 and it still sits there, smirking at me.

On the home shopping front Mrs Kate has encouraged me to order a nice pair of shoes and a black dress I saw online from Next; can't wait until they arrive ... dress is expected in about 2 weeks, the shoes in 5-6 weeks!