As time goes back (for an hour)

Today the clocks went back an hour, reminding us that Winter is approaching, and for some perhaps the formal start of 'tranny season' - not that it's made any difference to us. The fab four have been out together when we can (Lisa, Diana, Mrs Kate and myself), but mostly it's been the die-hards Diana and myself when either of the other two couldn't make a Wednesday; although I had to miss one due to official 'Bob' duties. Missing that outing to Canal St. ended a Wednesday record that remained unbroken since March; Diana is the winner, I don't think she's missed a single Wednesday since the last time the clocks changed. Relevance of the picture? - this time last year, the view from my closet.

Saturdays have also been entertaining; especially for Diana who last week misplaced a couple of hours due to an excessive fondness for white wine (good on ya' girl!). The same evening was largely forgettable for Mrs Kate who unwittingly went floor-surfing in Naps - without the aid of any excessive fondness for white wine. When asked how she managed to fall over, she was at a loss for words - through the week her bruised knees have passed through all manner of different colours (sorry, my love).

Yesterday we went Teelas (Transpose), to look for a couple of party frocks in the Sale; and we weren't disappointed - picked up a couple skirts, a couple of dresses, some figure-shaping items and a TLC kit for my poor wig which seems to be suffering the frizzies at the moment. Mrs Kate was a little more reserved - bright red arm-length gloves and a little makeup.

The spray-on conditioner sorted my favourite wig just fine; I've been washing the wig and following the instructions carefully, but it's while I'm wearing it that the ends get all twisted and knotted. This stuff seems to have made quite an improvement; only Wednesdays outing will prove otherwise - which this week will (as likely) follow a Halloween theme; I have an outfit in mind .... assuming I'm brave enough (or should that be 'daft enough') to wear it!

Busy Saturday

The title mostly reflects that we've recently added Saturday evening to our visits to Canal St; mostly so Mrs Kate can avoid feeling as guilty for being out to the wee hours on a 'school night'. Not that it really matters much to her; it's poor old Kate that has to bring the bacon home.

The previous Saturday, Diana joined us. We tried to book a table in Velvet, but that's proving difficult due to a recent surge in popularity - I think a subtle mention it got on 'Corrie' has given it a boost (Shaun played by Anthony Cotton managed to slip it into a conversation). So alternatively, we booked a table in Taurus; which is still pretty reasonable but lacks a little of the atmosphere that Velvet has.

Anyway, despite the weather being quite poor (windy and lots of heavy rain), we ventured out, agreeing to meet Diana at AXM. But we found AXM to be not only closed, but well and trully boarded up. So where would we find Diana? - as the weather was quite foul, we made our way poste-haste to Taurus where we planned to call Diana to find where she might be sheltering; as we passed View, she ran out after us. Apparently, the doormen at View had 'looked after' Di - indeed this proved invaluable later as they gave us the VIP treatment and let us in ahead of the poor folk stood outside in the rain.

But despite this special treatment, View was quite busy so we decided to move onto Naps. Naps was not without it's share of problems for the evening; they were late opening the upper dance floor due to mopping up the rain water that had leaked in from the roof. But once sorted, we stayed until the wee hours as we danced to our favourite music.

When it was pumpkin time (actually, it was well beyond midnight!), we rescued our coats from the cloakroom behind the bar; as I was putting mine on, someone groped my bum.... now I'm not particularly used to this but I certainly decided not to react to the attention I got, but I carefully noted the group most likely to be involved ... I'm going back next week to check (honest!).

The following week
Much of the same except Mrs Kate and I were alone; both Di and Lisa couldn't make it. From Taurus (yes!, Velvet was still as popular as ever!) we went onto Naps where the music selected for the evening was even better than before and proved to be more popular with Mrs Kate. We managed to make it as far as about 1:30am (relatively early!) before we decided to retire; I think we were both a little under the weather.

No one groped my bum on the way out (I don't know whether I should feel disappointed!) but a couple of girls sat on the couch near the entrance did indicate their disappointment as we were leaving so early!

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!