London bound

I'd moved my latest check-up appointment with Dr Curtis for a few reasons, one being that my blood test results weren't all back yet (I had lots of numbers apart from the all important testosterone count). In the end I still didn't have the full set of results but everything was booked anyway.

To make a day of it Lucy came down as well to enjoy the delights of London which included fab, sunny weather, lots of shops, the relative peace of Hyde Park, the nutter who called us "Faggots" (more of this in a seperate post), tame squirrel, ice cream and lots of walking (all not necessarily in that order).

On the whole I lost the use of my camera that day as Lucy took over and got some pretty impressive shots.









The weather was amazing, lovely and sunny and warm (well hot really) and while not too bad on the tube I don't think it would have been that pleasant crammed into busy trains in rush hour (we avoided this).

Basically didn't do a huge amount before my appointment (wasn't really enough time and we did get delayed coming down as well due to a "fatality on the line") but had a nice meander around the shops (few of them), didn't buy anything as we were both skint. Still nice to look and see things to buy later!

Appointment went well (more of this seperately) and the break gave me a chance to change out of the nice shoes I came down wearing into trainers that were a little more comfortable and practical for doing lots more walking!

Had a wander across Hyde park and stopped to have a yummy ice cream as well as when we spotted a really tame squirrel that actually stayed still long enough for some decent pics:














Had a quick look in the Science Museum and also Natural History as well - nice that it's free to get into these and therefore a way to pass some time without feeling you've got to see every single thing there because you paid for it. Both were quite at that time of day (late afternoon).

Both of us were quite tired (heat, all the walking) so headed back to the tube so we could get back to Euston for the train home. Setting off from South Kensington at 17:30 and taking the Circle Line to Euston Square meant that we arrived around about 18:15 which was a little more than I thought, clearly a good idea to leave lots of time for even a simple journey.

Our train out was delayed (due to the continuing disruption from the "fatality on the line" from earlier) but only for about 30mins. The rush when a platform is announced, particularly when the train has been delayed, is quite amazing to watch or be involved in - I'm sure they would get some interesting video from ceiling-mounted cameras! Was a mad rush from everyone to get to their seats - ours being right at the front of the train and, by that point, most people had either gone to the carriages they were in or really couldn't take the pace!

So a tiring day out, but a good one. Was nice to have my best friend their and we got to have a chat, and have a fun day.

I had to continue my journey up to Manchester and on to Chorley alone and it gave me time to reflect a little. These kind of days out seem to be all about anticipation and then are frantic themselves and it's only when things are over that you realise that you had a good time and how nice it was to be with your best friend. Doesn't really matter what we'd done I know I would have still felt the same way at the end of the day. Best friends are just fab, thanks Lucy x

Bakewell Tart?

I'm really behind on all the blog posts so I'm going to try and rapidly catch up with what's been happening over the last few weeks and then stay on top of the updates so that I can write a little more coherently and actually say something relatively interesting than forgetting all the things that I've been doing/thinking!


Anyway, closely on the heels of the day out at Tatton Park was another in the Derbyshire countryside for the Easter Monday bank holiday including having a quick wander around Bakewell as well as queuing to get in, park, and then to get chips (you wouldn't believe the number of people wanting to get food, the place was packed, all places had huge lines of hungry people waiting outside!).

Saw a few other attractions while there and the weather was really nice and sunny and warm. Probably shouldn't have left the trip to Poole's Cavern until the end of the day as it was *really* cold in there!



This is Lucy's new friend at one of the attractions we went to (can't quite remember where this was). I have no idea why Lucy wanted to pose with the plastic penguin or why she apparently wanted to take it home! I'm just thankful that she didn't try!














Equally I have no idea of the significance of the picture on the wall or why on earth we both have photos next to it, I guess it's just something that has to be done on a day out in the sun (that rhymes :D ).




The caves were quite nice but it's really difficult to get decent pictures in the gloom unless you have a proper flash and a fair bit of patience. I think this one is the best I could manage and ultimately it's not very interesting - I think Tatton Park or similar with nice bright colours and sunshine is better for getting good pics :D


Anyway, it was a fantastic day out and really must do more things like this and learn how to take better photos as well!

Tatton Park

Since I'm now trying to sort my money out and steer clear of places like the Trafford Centre to avoid running up even move credit card debt Lucy and I decided to do something 'free' or at least 'cheap' on Sunday. We were going to have a wander round some of the local Chorley scenary but Tatton Park seemed like a better location given the fab weather.

It was a *really* good day out. Got to have a nice lunch (love lemon shortbread ... though should have maybe avoided that to stick to my diet!), had a good chat about all sorts of stuff and also had a wonderful wander (excuse the alliteration) around the gardens and took a very large number of photos, alot of which seemed to come out *really* well.

[ I'm wondering if I should do a photography course so that I can get more repeatable and conciously good photos rather than relying on luck and a camera to fo the work ]

I've uploaded a selection of the photos to Picassa (as well as them being on Facebook as well) and will add the full images (the ones about are scaled to only 720x480) once I've had a proper sort through them.

Definitely looking forward to another photographic trip or anything that just involves getting out in the sun and fresh air - it's a really nice way to spend the time and certainly better on the bank balance than the more shop-centric activites!

What a difference a day makes ...

... or maybe a few days, and a fantastic weekend. Another appropriate aphorism would be "it is always darkest before the dawn". Essentially last week was horrible, not a pleasant time at all, but thankfully, things did get much better and the last few days have been amazing.

Last week was bad for several reasons; lack of access to my son, feeling down that I couldn't see my family, severe lack of money (my credit card debts having finally caught up with me), extra cost for my car repairs (every day seemed to bring more things that required fixing), and just generally lack of confidence and happiness in my life.

I guess the first thing to change was that my parents offered to help with covering the cost of the car repairs. That meant so much and was obviously a great load off my mind. While I don't use my car alot I do need it every now and then and there is no way I could afford to get another one and really didn't want to given that there was nothing really wrong with this one; everything that it needed was servicing/wear and tear, no actual faults.

Lucy had also said she was going to come up for the weekend to cheer me up and that was definitely something good to look forward to! So as the end of the week approached I was feeling a little more positive.

Then B phoned on Saturday morning saying my son wanted to come over in the afternoon and play a computer game I'd just got for him! It was actually my son that I spoke to (really hard to understand on the phone, bless him) which was fab! It was so good to see him and be able to spend some time with him and just be a parent.

Ironically, when he noticed the stars I'd put on the ceiling (more about that another time) and that Lucy was coming over (he's not met her but is nevertheless excited at meeting anyone new) he then wanted to stay over! After all the troubles of him being concerned about sleeping over places he seemed to be actively asking to do that! Kids!

Anyway, after that, Lucy, wine, trip to Tatton Park (again, more on that later), lots of chatting and just having my BFF (Best Friend Forever in case anyone is unclear on the acronym) I feel better and ready to face the week even if the good mood doesn't last that long!

The weekend

Well, better late than never. It's taken me a while to get round to writing about the weekend and I've also got other things queuing up in my head that I want to get written down as well so I'll make this quick!

The weekend was FAB!

That covers it I guess ... okay, maybe a bit more detail:

I drove down to Lucy's on Friday evening, got stuck in lots of traffic but had a great time singing along to the selection of music I'd copied onto CD (I never have any decent things to listen to in the car so made an effort this time). Did get a few funny looks but frankly I prefer to be happily singing/wiggling along to music that sitting stony-faced and seething about the queue!

Had tea at Lucy's (was so nice that her Mum thought of feeding us - always made to feel welcome there) and then into Brum and the usual getting ready to go out routine which I'm actually not that slow at now!

The start of the evening was in one of the apartments that you can rent - think someone said for £70/night - and they are fantastic; two bedrooms, bathroom, lounge/dining room, basically the same as my flat! Anyway, one of Lucy's friends had put on a huge amount of food and drink for everyone which was pretty impressive when you consider that at least 25 people turned up!

[ As an aside, it just goes to show you how many trans people there are if that many turn up for one persons party ]

It was around midnight when we finally moved out of the apartment and onto a bar somewhere. I think by that point I was nicely merry and chatty and really haven't got much of a clue where I was going (not having been out in Brum - well the gay village bit - before). Think we went to the Loft and then on somewhere else.

I talked to lots of people and had a fantastic time. I even recall talking to a girl who was stood, looking rather depressed, waiting for her friend to finish some in-depth heart-to-heart with what seemed to be his current or maybe former partner. Anyway the poor girl looked so down-hearted that I bought her a drink. Turns out her boyfriend didn't want to come out so she was stranded waiting for her friend. I'm sure there are ways to 'pull' a girl in this situation but I have no idea what they are and I'm too nice anyway (this is not necassarily a good thing from my point of view!).

Also got dragged onto the dance floor by a person who shall remain nameless (but thanks anyway, I would never have got up there otherwise) and I don't think I fell over too much (though did feel a little wobbly) but probably still looked like a complete idiot.

Sadly the evening (well morning really, 4am!) did draw to a close and people wandered off and I found myself in bed (still always vaguely unsure of how exactly I get there but still not had any cause to suspect I had a good time in the process unfortunately!). I had a great time and talked to lots of fab people whose names, and maybe even faces I've forgotten (if you were one of them: sorry and thanks for chatting).

Saturday was spent recovering and shuffling round Brum - tried the slightly grungy, trainers-wearing look and really didn't like it at all! Live and learn. Sunday I was more awake and Lucy and I did some shopping - I bought a few watches and suspect I'm going to go mad for collecting these now as I got some really different looking designs and think they are fab!

Anyway lots of other stuff I could bore everyone with but I'll leave it at that. I was so sorry the weekend had to end because it was so much fun ... oh well, not long to the next one!

The Eagle has Landed

I'm sure there are some bizarre (and also literary) conatations of that phrase, but in this case I'm referring to Lucy, she's back in the UK after flying in from Thailand today! YAY!!!!

Welcome back hunni bunni xxx

And ...

... she's back!

Had a brief IM chat to Lucy this morning! Pretty impressive to be back online so quickly ... though I guess it would be hard to keep me away from the internet after missing so many hours of online time!

She's reasonable comfortable (expecting the numb bum - sorry Lucy had to mention that) and in no real pain which sounds good (well amazing really!). Obviously still tired and didn't seem to the jump at the chance to update her own blog (bah!, no dedication lol) so a few more days before back to full strength and online presence.

Also apparently has to stay in the hospital bed for 5 days before being able to finally get up and move about. I suspect she will be going insane with boredom by then :D

Wish you a speedy recovery hun!

Lucy ...

... has had her op, which went well, and is now sleeping and starting the recovery process. Thanks to Del for letting me know. More updates as I get them.

Good Luck Lucy!

Been so busy this week and totally absorbed in work and other stuff that I've really not had time to think about the days ticking away until Lucy flys out to Thailand, I suspect she has been counting the hours!

Anyway, it's today!

I don't think it's possible to put into words the best wishes, good luck, and other positive things that I'd like to say, so I'll just have to resort to keeping my fingers crossed and thinking as much as I can about Lucy while she is away and looking forward to when she is back :D

So in a rather understated way: Good Luck Lucy, Love ya lots and can't wait till you're back!

Oh and on a practical note, pity Lucy's friend Dell who is flying out with her, he has the inenviable task to keeping a huge list of people up to date with her progress until such time as she's well enough to get online herself (which better be quick 'cos we have a game of chess to finish!).

Blogs everywhere!

Well, I can't believe people actually listen to what I say, it's such a shock! Lucy, who has been mentioned here several times has now, finally, got herself a blog:

Lucy's Blog

Now I should have written about the shopping trip that Lucy and I went on on Sunday but I kind of didn't get round to it ... and now I feel bad because her post was so nice (and written so well) that I wish I could come up with an equally touching entry myself.

Anyway, go and have a read of Lucy's blog, particularly after next weekend when, as she mentions, we're going out in Manchester and will probably be having alot of fun and ... erm, hold on a minute ... NO! Don't read the blog, just in case I do something silly and Lucy posts a picture of me ... OMG, even if I don't do anything silly I don't think I want any pictures of me ... I'll look terrible!

One final word on blogs; I've said before that people I know in real life read this but I just thought I'd say thanks to the friends in particular that *REALLY* pay attention and phone me up if I don't sound happy.

P.S. I'm going to try and keep this blog more up-to-date over the coming weeks and make a concerted effort to try and write shorter and more personal accounts of what is going on because I think there is going to be lots that will be happening to me physically and mentally!

Jealous, attracted, lucky to be friends with ...

... probably all of the above! When you have friends that are totally amazing and look this fabulous:
I'm sure I should be charging Lucy advertising fees or something for all the free publicity!