Feeling 'firsty'

Last Wednesday I achieved another first without initially realising it; I just had to have an outing to the Village before I suffocated and as it turned out I was out in the Village with no real plans, and I was Betty no mates. It's a strange feeling, to go out for an evening in the Village without any plans to be with someone or any prior arrangements to meet with any of the 'gang'; I guess the latter were all partied-out from a mass visit to Pink Punters over the previous weekend.

But I occupied myself by initially calling into Taurus to book next months Angels meal, and then to Velvet next door to have something eat and to book the Angels Christmas meal. Service was as always, brilliant and I was really amazed at how my meal arrived within 5 minutes of ordering. Afterwards I dropped by in Concorde and spent some time talking to Tamsin who had only just come out to her partner in the previous couple of weeks (good luck girl!). Astrid and and Mrs Astrid were there too having just returned from the continent, Marrianne, Leanne and a couple of others... but a definite shortage of the usual suspects. But no evening in the Village is complete without a visit to Naps (where else!) where I danced quite happily on my own for a little over an hour before I decided I better walk back to the car whilst I could still feel my feet.

Just had to get petrol.
Having that 'first' reminded me of the last big 'first' I had when Karen came to visit in September. I was on my way to pick her up from the train station when I realised I needed to get petrol for my car - either that or suffer the excruciating embarrassment of running out of petrol. All the possible options flashed through my mind including going back home to disguise myself as 'Bob' - no time to do that as Karens train was due in 5 minutes. So I took the bit between my teeth and called in to my regular petrol station to fill up.

I'd done the fill-the-car-up 'first' before, but that was at a petrol station some where in the middle of Manchester where I supposed they probably got a lot of girls calling in. But this time, it was right on the door-step, the one I use quite regularly. And it wasn't at the best of times; despite it being mid-morning and between rush-hours, it was busy with Highways workers getting sandwiches, mums on the way to the shops, and some oyke who was just simply hanging around by the door. But despite all this, I felt quite calm. I knew going to pay would be the difficult bit. I was still calm even when I walked past the oyke and the Highways workers, they never gave me a second look; no smirk, no pointing fingers, it was brilliant... they hadn't read me.

I thought I was really handling this bit very well, it was only when I tried to get my credit card out of my purse when I realised how my hands were shaking (doh! - don't let me down now!). But the guy behind the till was lovely; of course he read me - I guess I'm passable at a distance but not up close. But despite this he still addressed me with 'do you have a Nectar card, love?'.... 'No, just the receipt will be fine' I said in my softest girly voice (which I amazed even myself here as it's not something I've ever practiced - though can do a reasonable Julian Clary!). And then it was back to the car, even holding the door for another lady; no startled looks, no stares... just passing as another women - simply brilliant!