Wednesday last week and I was suffering death by PowerPoint at a Business Intelligence (oxymoron) software vendor’s nondescript office, deep in the Thames Valley blandsville for most of the day. Only conciliation was their food was pretty good. Escaped mid afternoon, slightly mindfucked from the cooperate BS, get train back to Paddington and wander down towards Oxford street, well it’s on the way home (sort of, ish) and get some girly shoes in Barratts to restore the mental equilibrium. Actually don’t get shoes, get Ugg (well Barratts version of them) boots, been thinking about getting some for a while, they look warm and comfy and a third of the UK female population under 30 seems to be wearing them at the moment (and there was this thread on Roses).

Saturday, usual routine for girly day, up early, clean up, dress up, make up, wear the new boots with fairly opaque 40 denier tights, a rather too short denim mini and a cream polo neck. Infact 2 polo necks, the top one was rather thin and slightly see through, so felt I needed a bit more on. Brave for daytime? Well I hoped the tartyness of the mini would be counteracted by the passion killer opaques and UGG’s, anyway it’s a look I’ve seen quite a few GG wearing recently so hope it will blend. It’s a bit chilly, so put on leather jacket also and this cute little scarf and gloves. Pack a hat just in case too, grab camera, only two bars left of power, well that will be enough won’t it (famous last words) and it’s off to the tube station. Plan for the day was a trip to the Metro Ski and Snowboard show and then perhaps a little shopping in Kensington. Went to the show last year (albeit in boy mode), it was OK, nothing that special, but head is still in the mountains a bit (it’s snowing in Austria already!) so it would suffice as a bit of a snow fix. Plus going there in Helena mode could make it a bit more fun.

Get off the tube at Earls Court, decide to walk it to Olympia, life’s to short to wait for the District line, the walk isn’t far, and I’m wearing these comfy boots. Gosh, trannying in sensible footwear, what is the world coming to, actually need to concentrate a bit on adding a bit more fem into the walk though, in heals this comes more naturally. Bit chilly on the legs though. Know the way to Olympia from Earl’s Court, but for some reason decide to try another route as it looked more “interesting”. Well it was, my sense of direction in male mode is of course totally perfect and I never need to ask for directions but have a bit of a blonde moment, got a bit lost and ended up at West Ken tube station instead. Well I least I knew the route from there.

Finally get to the show, it’s not to crowded yet, but it is still fairly early (10:30 ish). Wander round, initially a bit apprehensive, this show used to be the Daily Mail Ski show, and well, I’ve found skiers often to be of the Daily Mail reader variety, not exactly a TG’s best friend. Boarders tend to be a less conservative but are usually younger, more laddish and the testosterone flows a bit more, so again, not an entirely a tranny friendly bunch. Ok I’m stereotyping the whole skier/boarder thing here far to much :( they are not all like that, but was still a bit nervous. But on the whole nobody seemed to mind, perhaps there was the odd muttering behind my back, but no one treated me badly. I think some of the people working the stands where a little unsure (my SEP field must be in effect too) and I didn’t get totally bombarded with leaflets and flyers like you usually do at a show like this (did get a nice big carrier bag and some free food samples though), but if I engaged they seemed perfectly fine. I felt a bit silly looking a men’s snowboards while wearing a skirt though. Watched the Quarter pipe and the Rail jam, fairly impressive, (what do you mean fairly, you can get down a wide flat table without falling off 50% of the time) but I think a lot of the riders where really only just starting to warm up, tried to get some pictures, but none came out, need a bit more practice with the sport mode on the camera. But then the camera started flashing a red battery warning and turned its self off after talking a few pics, damm I should of charged it (note to self, charge the Tranny cam on Friday nights!). With low battery like this I’ve found if you give it a while to rest you can often coax a couple more pictures out of it, but a big photo spread was out of the question. Felt a bit,I dunno, of a loss without having a camera ready, still you lot can be thankful for small mercies, you’ve been saved from the otherwise inevitable boring architecture pics and the look I’m on a bus shot Just you wait till next week though Bah hah hah haa.

 Only purchase is a copy of latest issue of Whitelines, as I said, it felt awkward looking at boy boarding gear while dressed and well I have all the kit I need anyway, but there was this last year’s Burton Custom at quite a reduction on one stall, but decided against, it was still a lot of cash, it might be a bit to advanced for me and well getting it home might be difficult. End the trip to the show with some Raclette for lunch, quite nice, but the spuds where a bit on the tough side. Show food quality has improved in quality enormously over the last few years, all you used to get is a choice between a burger, a hot dog or a ham sandwich all of dubious quality.

What next, day was still young, head east back towards the more rarefied Kensignton and the posh shops or west towards slight more er “earthy” Hammersmith. Oh Hammersmith it is, they have a Primark Find black velvet jacket in Primark, I did want one of these, can’t remember exactly why though, it will come to me, then some silvery stretchy skinny jeans, wasn’t 100% sure about these, but trying them on later at home and Ohhh nice, clubby not shopping, various ideas about what to wear with them came forth. That what I like about cheap clothes, you can afford to take the odd risk and experiment. Also get a cream sweater,they are warm and cosy and cute and and and … I have way too many of these already Pick up some cheap gloves while I’m at it. Always loosing gloves, so having spares is handy. A group of lads where in the ladies section of Primark, trying on clothes, nobody else seemed to notice (nobody seems to notice me either, everyone appears to be very is nonchalant), they didn’t “look” TG, I suspect they where going to drag it up for a Halloween fancy dress party (perhaps everyone assumed thats what I was up to also) for a laugh and where just looking get the stuff, perhaps I should of gone over and offered my services as a fashion consultant Few more shops, nice tan leather jacket in Krisp, with a furry collar, it was a bit Spitfire pilot, but it cost too much. I have way to many clothes already anyway and not enough opportunities to wear them, pointless consumerism :( Wander around a few more shops though, TK Maxx just confuses me and I can never find anything there, try the other little Broadway mall outside the tube station, little outlet shop and there’s a green denim jacket, furry collar again, £5, Ok just one more, but that’s the last jacket for you missy! (this pay cycle) Shopaholics anonymous anybody? Coffee break in Starbucks, Mocha with whipped cream and mini donuts, the chocolate topped cream filled donut is to die for, but all those calories :( Actually during the week, work was offering free health checks, my blood pressure, resting heart rate, body fat % all in the green, but weight a bit low, they recommended I start lifting some weights. Yeah right, like that’s going to happen, but donuts aren’t exactly the best way to gain weight either. Does carrying big shopping bags around count as a workout? Guy sitting a few seats away seems to stare at me for the whole time I’m there, ignore. Loose a glove (what did I say), so spares come in handy earlier than expected.

Still plenty of time, so I can do Kensington as well, run for a bus back east but a couple of things fall out of my carrier bag as I do so, but a passer buy gathers them up for me and hands them back (just a couple of packets of crisps, there was promotion going on in Primark you see..) and the bus driver lets me get on. Thank you.

Starts to rain a bit, don’t notice at first as its quite light and I don’t really feel it through the wig, but pop hat on as I think it will look at bit more normal.

Still look around the shops even though have to many clothes, poster in H&M says Storm modelling agency is scouting in the store today, but no one approaches me, sigh, my dreams of a career as an international supermodel dashed at the first hurdle Did need some things from Boots though, the girls on the makeup counters are all very eager to help, asking if I want to try stuff and its Madam’s all the way (not Miss though, well you can’t have everything ), but fight the temptation and just get shampoo and other bits I actually need.

Whole Foods Market, heard a little about this place and I needed some stuff for tea, so worth a look. Impressed, me likes, drop plans to stop at Sainsbury’s and get it all here. Good wine, lovely bread that’s still warm from the oven and a tub of healthy (ish) stuff from the huge salad bar, and lots of free samples They have a nice looking food hall bit upstairs too that’s a big step up from the usual mall fast food places. Doing lunch here sometime is a definite. When are they opening an Islington Branch?

A bit tired now been out for hours, shopping was heavy and I’ve spent too much, but also feel quite content in a weird way to, almost forgot I was “dressed” at all, even in that mini, it was just me, normal person going about their normal business on a Saturday afternoon, acceptance from both the public and from inside. That was a good feeling.

Decided to head home, couldn’t carry anymore anyway, and oh well just one more shop, PC world, still a nerd regardless of gender presentation Really must get Half Life Orange Box and The Witcher looks interesting (18 rated, oh sex and violence in a CRPG ;)), but will have to wait for another day.

Bus home as usual, down Shaftsbury Avenue overhear a German? tourist commenting that Captain Jean-Luc Picard is playing Macbeth. Bus driver decided to stop early, before my usual stop, they always claim this stopping short of the end of route is part of the time table, but I’m not 100% convinced. Oh well, have to walk the rest of the way home, go through the local park, coax another picture out of the camera and wander home, happily kicking though the fallen leaves.

Saturday, up before the larks, grab my stuff and am out the flat while it’s still dark. World record for a change? not exactly, was in Bob mode and the stuff was just my snowboard and associated kit. Off to Milton Keynes to hit the snowdome before it gets to busy. It’s getting colder and a young (at heart) man/woman/whatever thoughts have turned towards high mountains and fresh pistes, so wanted to get some practice in. Didn’t have to bad a time, MK was a bit of a mess as usual, due mostly I think to lack of personnel on duty, but the snow was good and the slopes and lifts where mostly open and not too packed. Had a bit of a progressive session really, practiced riding switch for about an hour, can get down the slope backwards now, though it’s a bit raged and slow, hit this little kicker between the slopes a few times, couldn’t get much speed up before it, but with a little pop off the top I could get a good couple of whole inches worth of air well at least I didn’t slam on the landings and it helps build the confidence. For the last couple of runs a tried to hit a table they had out. This thing was sort of like a metal decorating table, about 3 meters long, nearly a metre wide and 50cm off the deck with a snow ramp up to it and a drop off on the end. First run, very cautious approach, but made up and across and nailed the landing, WOOT! Ok it’s not exactly going to impress the freestyle massive who do street rails and put down cab 5’s for laughs, but for me, it was a result. So for the last run of the day, do it all, hit the kicker and then rode around to the table, bit faster this time, but didn’t get the angle right, and slid off the side about halfway along, and down we go. My hip hit the edge of the table whilst falling and I landed in a heap by the lift. Adrenaline and my impact shorts (I don’t go boarding without the full robocop kit) took the sting out, but I was going to ache next day. Called it quits after that, but walking back in I see Rossignol are running board demos, well one more run wouldn’t hurt. Did one very careful run (didn’t have much time left and confidence and arse had just taken a hit) on a board called an “Alias”, hrm, not bad, slightly stiffer than my Wallpaper I think, apparently is a bit more advanced. To be honest I couldn’t really tell and the binding angles where all wrong for me anyway for. The binding where pretty poor actually, they where a complete pain to release, whereas I can get out of my Rome ones in 2 seconds flat. I’m not sold on a new board just yet. Knackered now, after some food and liquid muscle relaxant (2 pints worth) I headed back to the station with only a short detour around the shops. Well you have to don’t you Head is still on the slopes though, every time I walk out of there, even though I’m usually exhausted, I want a couple of kilometres worth of piste right then, the 130 metres or so of snow in MK just isn’t enough.

Back home and it’s a soak in the tub with a glass of wine before getting girly. Dress in black jeans, black boots, black top, black leather jacket, black eyeliner, black, lots of black with just a little studded bling for effect. A bit butch, a bit andro, a bit rock’n'roll perhaps? But a practical and not particularly attention seeking outfit for wandering around north London on a cold October night.

Tis dark now, Bus it down to Angel, in fact have to run for the bus, boots have 7cm heels, but they are thick heels and the toes are square, so it’s easier than I thought it would be. Having a pair of boots you can run in if necessary on a dark night isn’t a bad thing. Get to Angel before the shops shut, had seen this great outfit in the window of Benetton earlier in the week, had the boots, the shorts, the belt and blouse, just needed the jacket. And they have one, little tight even though its size 46, so it’s out with the plastic. Not cheap but well, have to step up from Primark every now and then for something nice. Get a snowboard mag in Borders, girls ride too you know and then dinner. Wanted to go to Wagamama’s, haven’t been to one them for ages, and never as Helena, but there’s a bit of a queue (people filling up before the sport starts?) mull over going to Yo instead, but no, been there, done that, queue up for Wags instead. Its only 5 minute wait in the end and they find me a seat by the window. If you haven’t been to one of these before, a lot of the seating is communal, so you can get plonked down next to a stranger when it’s busy, but well, I can’t live under a rock. Read mag while they get my noodles, Yaki Udon, only takes a few minutes for them to come and very nice they are to.

What next, Cinema or go and see the Elephant Shelf as they where playing the Salisbury in Green lanes that night hrmmm. Decide on the Shelf, I had shopping, could use the loo and the cinema would be there tomorrow, so walk home, freshen up and go back out to Haringey. Wandering back though Islington, it’s busy but every one seems to be in a pub or trying to get in one to watch the Rugby. Don’t see the attraction in men chasing oddly shaped balls is personally. Then this gorgeous Samba girl and some drummers come dancing down the street…

Not something you expect to see on a cold October night in Islington, but I’m glad I didn’t miss it. I think what they where doing is promoting a new Brazilian themed club/bar thingy that opened nearby, it’s a bit off the main street, so I guess they need to try an attract the punters. Other odd sight, outside the local gay bar, The Green (London’s premier straight friendly middle class gay bar as it rather jokily describes itself) there’s a woman, red 50’s style satin dress, little hat, gloves I think, almost certainly TG, but then she turns around, that’s definitely something different, she’s got full beard Should of got a picture. Get pastry at local bakery and cash from the machine and its home again. Band wasn’t going to start till 10, so coffee, bio break and touch up makeup before heading out again. Tube to Manor house, find out the last tube back west was 12:15 and walk up towards the Salisbury.

Shelf where late staring due to the rugby (we lost apparently). Met Laura who was down to play with the Shelf for a number or two, and she introduced me to Christine and her partner (me names, arrgg!). Actually I’d met Chris before at the Kings Head a couple of weeks ago briefly, she was one of those who names I couldn’t remember. She had being doing a photo shoot for Repartee with Laura that afternoon (like I did in April) She had got the shoot through a charity Ebay auction Repartee had donated to help fund Sparkle. She looked great too and they where a lovely couple, nice to see a TG success. Chatted to them in the bar and then we moved to the back room where the band was setting up. Oh a sofa where we could watch from, far more civilised than the Kings Head

While setting up Laura broke a string on her guitar so had to pop home for spares, Christine and her partner had to leave early as they had to get back Home. Spoke to Penny from Roses to a bit about the the Rivoli Ballroom. I’m hoping to get there next month in an outfit befitting the setting, if I can get transport and accommodation worked out. Band started and Laura returned with two more guitars just in case. Watched the bands first few numbers, they where on form as usual, but it was getting late and had to say my goodbyes before Laura did her turn. Perhpas I should of got up and danced and interacted a bit more, but I was really tired by then. Dashed back to Manor House to get the train before they stopped for the night. I suppose I could of stayed later and either walked home or found a mini cab, but both felt risky. But my walk back to the tube wasn’t exactly uneventful, see below.

After the tube take a short detour past the Emirates stadium on the way home. At night it sort of reminds me of the big flying saucer from Close Encounters (OK it’s not a great resemblance, but humour me), so stop and take a few photo’s there. Get a better picture of me by putting the camera on middle a large concrete letter A (There are these big letters spelling out the club’s name) by the bridge and setting the timer. Ah, so ball sports do have some use after all One other bloke is hanging around the area, but he appears have a camera to, and a tripod, so night photography of the football ground seems to be a popular hobby.

Home. Exhausted. Sleep.

Reactions, few but varied. Wandering around the snowdome mall looking for somewhere I fancied for lunch, bloke in the Wetherspoons place comments on how big my golf bag is. Sigh, decided not to eat there (it’s crap anyway). In girl mode Benetton, Wagamma’s, Borders, Euphorium bakery, the staff and crowd at the Salisbury and Tube staff are all totally cool and most folks on the street just ignore me, rugby seems to distracting a lot of them, but walking out of the N1 centre, youngish girl with a groups of friends says to her mates “that girl looks like a man”, well I suppose she just took me for a blokey woman, not a feminine guy, so can’t be to bad. Give young homeless guy some change when getting cash, “Thanks sweatheart, nice belt”. Complements are easier to get if you bribe people. Bloke in the Salisbury “Stop looking so fucking cool and get up and dance” while the band was playing, sorry hun, I was knackered and staying on that sofa.

That was all OK, but walking back towards the tube from the Salisbury slightly scarier. You see down Green Lanes there are a lot of these odd little social clubs, outside one, see two blokes, they look a bit pissed. Head down, walk quickly past, one says something in an Eastern European language and reaches out and touches my arm before I can react. Keeping walking, V fast now, don’t look back, don’t comment, get out of there, he or his mate calls out after me in English “Hey Girl, Hey Girl” , but thankfully they don’t follow. I wasn’t exactly sure of their intentions but didn’t want to stay and find out, was glad I was in the sensible boots. I don’t think they clocked me as TG (it was quite dark), could have been worse if they did, men can be shit sometimes . I know single girl, dark streets and slightly rough areas, but it is a main road, still people about at midnight and had street lights, so well I dunno.

Sunday, did laundry and only just had enough energy to do that. Was stiff and had the odd ache from the boarding. Did try a few game demo’s though, Call of Duty 4 looks pretty good, play is very chaotic, not bad in all but not on my purchase now list. Hellgate London has a lot of buzz, but the demo wasn’t totally convincing, a little grey and simplistic, but there does look like there could be a lot more there, a might get. Cliché London accents grated a bit though. Unreal Tournament 3, the biggy, was a big UT2003/4 player and modder in the day (and did original UT a fair bit to), so was looking forward to this, Pretty good, will probably get, but really my machine is getting to long in the tooth for the latest games, so in low detail mode I have to use it doesn’t really sparkle visually and the game play appears to be just a slight evolution of the play from the older instalments.

Monday, halfway to the train station I realised I had left the key to my office draws at home (I normally detach my work keys from my key ring and attach a sparkly key fob instead when in girl mode), walked back and got the key, went to the tube station now as I was late, then found I had left my Oyster card in my handbag, sigh. When I eventually got on the train, halfway to Watford I noticed I still had nail varnish on, oh well, risk it, was too late to turn home now. My head is half in girly mode, the other half in the mountains, neither part want to go to work. It’s going to be one of those weeks.

So I’ve been out in daytime, to normal places in normal clothes, on multiple occasions, used public transport late at night, been to a support group and a PFC fund raiser, attended big TG gatherings and participated in online discussions, demonstrated I have interests beyond TG scene, had grief and threats from random strangers while out and a bit of emotional turmoil thrown in. So I’m a serious transgendered person with real issues aren’t I? Nah I’m just another vain and vapid tranny, so let’s play

Was on call this weekend, so that limits things. Plus what with the new camera a couple of weeks ago, and the fact Muppet features here lost there phone on Thursday and had to buy a new one (pay as you go, so had to change number too, so to anyone who had my phone number, you don’t anymore), funds where a bit short, so no big shopping spree’s, so what’s left. Well I have this new camera, loads of clothes I haven’t even worn yet, some not really suitable for going out in anyway and a day to myself, so, why not, photo shoot time, Weeeeee ;). If I have to be TG then I’m going to try and enjoy it Apparently there was some “important” sport or something like that on Saturday that other people where watching, but men chasing balls doesn’t interest me.

Friday night I tried to improvise up a little studio in my kitchen. I had recently rediscovered an old folding bed I had forgotten about, during a clear out With the mattress removed, I could stand it on its end against a wall and covered it with a sheet to create a neutral background to shoot against. Camera went on the ironing board opposite and a mirror behind it so I could check my pose and see what was on screen. Crude but surprisingly effective. After this I put out the outfits, I had 6 planned, 6 in a whole day, easy…

Saturday, up fairly early and took a deep breath and stepped on the scales, I had been good (mostly) recently, so was pleasantly surprised when one pair of scales said 10 stone 6, but the other said 10 8, so lets take an average and call it 10 stone 7 pounds. That’s actually put my BMI a smidgen below 20, so that’s as low as I want it to go, still a bit wobbly in places though, I really should try and get some muscle tone, Gym?

Get ready at a fairly leisurely pace, I had all day…. An extensive defuzz was in order as what as was planning to wear wasn’t exactly modest. Hrm still a bit of graze on my leg after the fall a couple of weeks ago, cover it up as best I could with concealer, put fake tan and bronzer on the legs to, as these where going to be fairly visible. For a change I used double sided tape to hold the boobs on, using some pads bought for far too much from that shop in Euston many moons ago. This isn’t something I do often, as the tape isn’t that secure even for small forms, but as I wasn’t going out today and a couple of the outfits didn’t suit a bra I decided to risk it. There are better adhesives for forms around, I’ll have to try them one day.

First outfit, Perhaps I took it a bit to leisurely, as it was gone 11 before I started shooting. This was my fetish prince charming outfit, a sort of T girl playing the Panto principle boy in PVC to an Adam Ant sound track. Different.

As a variation, sunglasses and my airsoft G36 for “Stand and Deliver” and changed the jeans for a tiny little skirt that matched the jacket and fence net tights (which are really hard to put on) for “Puss in Boots”, more Adam Ant references.

They have recently changed the law on airsoft weapons, as I far as I can tell, you can no longer buy one unless you are registered skirmish player as they are “replica” weapons. I saw a TV documentary once that showed some metal blank firing replicas could be converted to fire live ammo, so I understand the crackdown, but airsoft’s are nothing like them, they’re plastic and use an electric motor to propel little pellets, it would be easier to convert a vacuum cleaner to fire live ammo than an airsoft gun So anyway, no new artillery for me unless I take up airsoft skirmishing.

Outfit details, No Quarter Jacket and Missile Missy Mini by Lip Service, both got from Black Rose in Camden, synthetic leather jeans from Select, Blouse from a Gothic Lolita place in Camden (again), boots from Priceless shoes, ordnance from Wolf Airsoft. That skirt (9”!) was especially dangerous, lots of confidence plus fairly substantial (and clean) underwear is required, ‘cause you’re going to be flashing it This was a very fun outfit (if a little too tight for comfort), but not something I could really wear out, the only place it could work would be a fetish club, hrmm, never been to one of those ….. Evil voices are talking to me again.

Lunch, then outfit 2. I was wandering though Primark a few weeks ago looking for city shorts, as I’d recently seen a few GG wearing them and looking fantastic. Found a pair in pinstripe and remembered I already had a suit jacket (girl’s one) that would match, and a suitable blouse too and this outfit came to be. First time I tried the shorts on a button came off. Personally I blame Primark’s shoddy quality, not my fat arse for this Closer inspection showed they where actually size 10, the hanger said size 12, D’oh! Padawan mistake, when shopping in Primark, always check the label in the clothes (and inspect for damage) before buying, the hangers can lie. Sewed button back on and the shorts fitted nicely, so size 10 was probably a good thing. A pair of shinny sheer tan tights and a pair of black courts finished of my “Corporate Whore” outfit

I set the camera on a chair to get shots at a lower angle, to really emphasise the legs and try and give a sort of “dominant” look to the pics to match the severity of the outfit. Again this wasn’t a real “outside” outfit, perhaps I could pair those shorts with leggings and a more casual top for a fashionable look. But that evil voice wants me to walk though Finsbury Circus in the city on a Friday lunch time in it, or worse a city bar in evening, full of pissed up braying traders, just to get people to stare, yikes!

Outfit 3, was just a simple variation on the 2nd, loose the jacket, swap the shorts for a little tartan skirt and put on some long white socks and business woman becomes school girl. Again the skirt was from Primark, bought ages ago. I’m really really cheap when it comes to clothes A total cliché outfit, but come on you have to dress as a school girl (or a Nurse or French maid) at some point, it’s the rules

To try and differentiate from the last set, I put the camera much higher, to be slightly more “submissive”? and to make me look a bit shorter. Lollipop was a freebie I got at Brighton Pride, the drink the new half sugar pomegranate Bacardi Breezer, which I though was fitting for a underage drinker I don’t mind alcopops as I do have a bit of a sweet tooth, but am finding them just too easy to drink, you just, practically inhale and they’re gone, which makes getting pissed far too quick. I’m starting to prefer more complex, harder to drink drinks, I must be getter old. Again this wasn’t a going out outfit, oh well perhaps at Halloween (OK I did that last year ;)) or are those school disco clubs still running?

Outfit 4, the clubby one, redid eye makeup and lips to something stronger and changed into this outfit as I recharged the camera and downloaded the pics of the last 3 outfits.

Image titles and descriptions all from Goldfrapp’s lyrics, I’m a fan. Sequin dress from Select, capri’s and legwarmers from Primark (where else), jacket from Atlantic, shoes from Barratts. Actually the jacket was just to cover up my blokey shoulders and the capri’s just went with it. This is actually a going out outfit, definitely want to go clubbing in it, I reckon the white bits will glow in UV and the sequin dress will be dazzling under the strobes and lasers (it liked the camera’s flash), I could practically blind someone with this ensemble Though I’m not sure about the shoes, they don’t fit so well, and I’m not that stable in stilettos at the best of times, so trying to dance with a few drinks inside might be er a bit wobbly, so may need something else, but anyway, expect to see it in some form at the WOC, or perhaps Pink Punters (haven’t been there yet…) some time in the future.

And oh bugger is that the time! It was now about 5 and the light was starting to go and there where 2 outfits left, so decide to cut one of them, the black and pink basque and stockings (no I’m not kidding) will just have to wait until another day. So the last outfit of the day was going to be Supergirl A superhero doesn’t need a bra (and one would show under the top), so went with just the tape and tight top to hold the forms. Also this superheroine needed a great mi drift, as I mentioned earlier, weight was right down, so could just about get away with showing my mid section (breath in), but a fair amount of makeup was required to hide a few blemishes and imperfections and to match the darker skin tone on my face. While doing this I realised the extra heavy club eye makeup from the last outfit was all wrong for this one, so that had to come off and be replaced by something a little more subtle. Got the shots in with the last of the light.

The costume actually came from Argos, and it’s the size small I did see another Supergirl outfit in a different shop that was more like the one Helena Slater wore in the film, but I went with this one because it looked better quality, didn’t have a leotard which wouldn’t of fitted my extra long body anyway and it allowed me to show off the mid section I’ve worked so hard on (I suffer for my art you know). One problem with the outfit where the little cover thingys, these are supposed to be worn over your own boots and held in place with some elastic round the bottom. Thing is they weren’t designed for my size 9’s and 10’s, none of my boots or shoes worked with them, so in the end I just wore them over stocking feet, held in place with Sellotape . Looking at the pics afterwards I see they rolled down a bit This was a fun one, and definitely pushed the boundaries a bit (it’s the first time my midriff has seen daylight in many years), again not one for going out in though, but perhaps for a fancy dress party? But I’m not the party sort. Oh no evil voices are talking to me again, they want me to go to Sainsbury’s in it and push a trolley loaded with crates of beer around on Saturday afternoon…. well I would have to do something about the footwear, could get a pair of red PVC Go Go boots, and cut the gold tops off the covers and tape them to the boots and … NO NO NO evil voices shut up But that would make a hell of a picture

And relax, load up the rest of the pictures into the PC and change into something more “normal”, well Saturday night normal anyway, tight purple polo neck, denim mini and fave brown boots. Stayed bra less, that felt (and looked) rather good, support was an issue, but I wasn’t going out was I…

Pizza (diet over for now), a few more drinks, fiddle with the pictures, and I give in to the evil voice Well I was a bit tipsy by now, so I just popped out the local off licence for some more drinks and the takeaway for some prawn crackers. Got a few looks, but it was fun all the same and the chest stayed in place.

Pictures from the new camera where a bit of a pain. Shot in semi auto mode and saved them in uncompressed RAW mode for maximum quality. Problem one is new camera won’t talk to my PC directly, the old box is really fussy about what USB devices it will talk to (Need a new PC as well, sigh). But the old camera did talk, and it takes the same SD cards, so the old camera with the busted lense has been redeployed as a memory card reader. Actually I’m nearly blew this option, being a geek, what did I do with my broken camera? Take it to bits of course, to see if I could fix it. Some chance, the lense unit appears to be totally sealed, so was just left with some bits. But when I discovered the new camera wouldn’t talk to the PC had to hastily try and reassemble the old one to make it function as a card reader. It didn’t go back together as well as it came apart (oops me bad), but there was enough to work as a reader. Then there is the pictures, to convert the RAW’s to TIFF’s I have to use the Canon supplied software to “develop” them, which is a bit slow (minute or two a pic). But then I find my main graphics package, Corel Photopaint (I don’t actually use Adobe Photoshop) won’t read the TIFF’s it produces (my version is rather old, so the standard might of changed), so have to use Window paint to read the .TIFF and save as a .BMP to load into Photopaint. Quite a pain in the arse for so many pictures, so in future I’ll save RAW mode for special occasions and shoot Jpegs most of the time. Maybe one of these day’s I’ll invest in Photoshop, I’m told the very latest version can read these raw files directly anyway, trouble is Photopaint does almost everything I need and I can use it in my sleep.

Well once they where in Photopaint, I could get a good look at the the images, the pics where nosier than I had hoped, and the detail on the face wasn’t so great. I put this down to two things, one, since I’m using the timer and dashing back to pose I’m not sure I’m getting a good focus on the face and 2, since it’s still just a compact camera, the CCD sensor isn’t that big (dimension wise not mega pixels), hence the noise. From what I read, the image noise is related to the amount of light that the sensor can get, more light, less noise, so better lighting conditions, and a bigger sensor are what you need. Since I was shooting indoors on a cloudy day, even with the flash, the light wasn’t great and as for a bigger sensor, well, my camera has got as big a sensor you are going to get in a compact, to get bigger you need a bigger camera, like an SLR. This appears to be one of the digital SLR’s big advantages over the compact, the big sensor (and the big lense to get the light in to it), the actual single lense reflect bit doesn’t seem to mean much to a digital camera as far as I can tell anyway, as the screen shows you exactly what the sensor sees on any digi camera. But an SLR isn’t exactly handbagable, which was one of my requirements for a tranny cam. Perhaps one of these days, like Photoshop, I’ll get an SLR for proper photo shoots (with a remote shutter, running back to set the timer each time is a pain), and save the compact for opportunistic snaps when out and about.

I did my best, though some of the editing done on Saturday night when I was a bit tired (and tipsy) wasn’t done so well, I may go and revisit some pictures, especially the suit ones. More editing than usual was done I admit, but it was a glam photo shoot, not an absolute record of reality. Had to brighten, noise reduce and sharpen them up quite a bit, and remove a few blemishes. My face often needed some work, the flash really brings out the wrinkles you don’t see so much in natural light, so my vanity forced me to paint them out Still compared to the images of inhuman perfection you see in magazines these days, I reckon I used used a fairly light touch with the digital airbrush (well that’s my excuse). One thing I had to do was tidy up the background, the bed frame and sheet thingy wasn’t actually high enough to cover the wall around the top of my head, so had to extend it digitally and paint over the wall behind, this was pretty tedious to do twenty odd times. Perhaps I can do better with the background, a few bits of wood and nails, some Chroma key green screen fabric (quite cheap on eBay) and staples and I think I could rig up a better back drop quite cheaply, that went to ceiling height. Plus then I could use the graphics package to mask out the green and replace it with any background I like. Hrrrrmmm….

Work though about half the pics before crashing. Its hard work this modelling lark, trust me. Also two pairs of sheer tights where severely injured and a nail broken during the shoot. The nail should grow back but the tights had to be put down to end their suffering.

Sunday, stay in slob bob mode for the day with a, girl’s had her fun for now. Start to finish off the pics and make plans for a long lazy day with a little wandering about and play some new game demos, but then work calls. A WTF out of the blue error has broken one of the jobs on a system I don’t really understand, ARSE! Much faffing around, babysitting manual runs, calling colleagues etc and further problems and its 11pm before all is done, and not everything was even fixed, but what wasn’t could wait until Monday. Note to anyone who works in IT operations, doing a full database backup while jobs are running on it is a bad thing OK. So no fun on Sunday, don’t even get to leave the flat, but manage to finish the pics and get them up to Flickr while waiting for jobs to run. Would you believe it, pictures of me in a tiny skirt are “slightly” more popular than the architecture pics from last week Still think those building shots are better though, but I guess that’s not what the people who have me on there contact list are looking for. Plus I’m a vain and vapid attention seeking tranny anyway

Monday, oversleep, try tube instead of walking to the station for speed, tube is 7th circle of hell, miss 2 trains and get to work very late. Still, it’s not all bad, they where handing out free yogurt at the station

Went to visit family on Saturday, see my parents, my sister, one of my brothers, in laws and my new nephew, Marcus. I’m afraid my paternal (maternal?) feelings are very limited, I have to admit I think babies are ugly and at this age all they do is eat, sleep, sh i t and cry, so me being there was really just a face showing exercise, still mother and baby seem to be doing fine and everyone else looks happy. My brother’s cooked for us in the evening and more family talk was made. It’s hard being the only singleton in the room couples discussing children, decorating, Ikea etc going on, I just don’t have anything to contribute, just have to nod politely. My life must seem much simpler than there’s (and a bit of a let down), I live alone, in rented accommodation, no kids, no pets, no car, no real social life, not a lot really. But they don’t know about Helena, that aspect of my life complicates things a bit, but apart from, perhaps, one of my Sisters in law, I don’t think they would be very accepting if I told them about it, so I’ll just remain dull. When it comes to ”acceptance”, I think the further you are separated from some more, the more likely you are to be accepted as T*, simply because you are not “one of them” and are not “letting the side down” or “embarrassing them”, this is probably why going out in diverse anonymous London is so easy, everyone is a stranger.

Play with the new camera, just getting used to it really mostly take pic of pets. Take family photo’s too, but they are not for public consumption.

Family duty done, late train home. Pub lunch on Friday with work colleagues and my brother’s rather good cooking on Saturday, plus a huge amounts of sitting around in trains and cars not burning off the calories has blown the diet

Sunday, I guess I could have dressed, but well I often need a day to recover mentally and physically (and to get all the eyeliner off) afterwards and it was work on Monday, plus I had a load of domestic chores to sort out, so stayed en Bob, skin hasn’t been great recently, so letting it heal up another week before a tranny grade shave should help. Helena time has to happen though, the need builds up, won’t be able to manage it properly till next Saturday, so it’s likely I’ll be wandering around my flat in heels in the mean time. Get chores done quickly, and head out, wanted to pick up a couple of girly things from the shops; somehow this is now slightly more embarrassing in boy mode than as Helena, but not enough to stop me. Take the camera again and start taking far too many pictures while trekking around town.

Took far to many pictures, just of stuff that interested me, no self portraits of course, Bob doesn’t get his picture taken, he is far to hideous. I’ll sort of divide them into a few sets:-

Shapes and Colours
Just interesting shapes and colours

Worms eye views of concrete, glass and steel
I like taking pictures of buildings, sue me.

Mannequins
Saw loads of beautiful/stylish/quirky/individual GGs I would dearly loved to photograph around town, but I reckon they would of run a mile if I pointed my camera at them, so stuck to the plastic kind, as they don’t seem to mind as much.

Others
That don’t fit.

I posted these pictures on my Flickr stream and the reaction to them has been as I expected. Bugger all, there’s tumble weeds blowing down my pages, most haven’t been even been viewed once, this must be the least viewed set of pictures I have ever posted. But it is my stream, I like these pictures and don’t really care if nobody else does. I’ve just noticed how few actually hav any have real people in them,  even though most where taken in an overcrowded city, perhaps after the family visit  I was feeling a bit disconnected for some reason? 

A good tranny pic, especially if it’s showing a bit of leg (and usually indoors for some reason), in prime position at the start of the stream and cross posted on the UK Angels group can get 300 views in it’s first 24 hours and keep getting hits for days after, plus usually garner several comments and favourites. The non Helena pictures usually are lucky if they break double figures on the views, so do I have an idea what the people are looking for, but I do wonder why some of my T-girl pictures are so popular, occasionally some snaps even mange over a thousand views, why? yet some of the T* pictures that seem to me just as good will only get a couple of hundred I usually only post the best one or two out of a batch (and not always, if it’s a bad batch) to one public group (UK Angels) and I’m on a few people’s contact lists, but the numbers don’t add up, there isn’t enough people in these groups, even if they all looked at the pic to get these sorts of numbers, people doing searches for this sort of pic? Multiple viewings? I suspect perhaps either the view counter in Flickr is a bit dodgy or maybe there are some shenanigans going on. Still it’s all just a bit of a game really and it does stroke the ego ? Perhaps I should just create a 2nd account and move the architecture, animal and tourist pictures over to that, my personal collection of “interesting” photos that no one else likes and save the main account for the T-girl pictures to satisfy my all consuming vanity and ego

Helena wants (has to!) to come out and play, and next weekend, she will.
And there will be pictures, the sort people seem to like …

So what was the wild, exciting, original plan for this weekend? how about go shopping in Camden and the West End, see a film, and then go and see Elephant Shelf in the evening. How totally unoriginal, will think of something better to do soon I promise, but well, I sort of needed (well not exactly needed, just really really wanted ) some specific stuff I felt I could best find in my usual haunts, wanted to catch a particular film while it was still on the cinema and had arranged to meet up with someone at the gig, so as needs must. I am getting into a bit of a rut though, so am going to try and shake it up a bit in the next few months. Dressed, face still playing up, it’s not a pretty sight, went all coppery and shimmery eye shadow wise with brown mascara for the first time, some Revlon (there was this £2 off Revlon voucher in Metro on Friday you see) stuff I haven’t used before, quite pleased with the results. Wear black polo neck again, in fact exactly the same one as I wore last week (it had been though the laundry in the mean time I have to add), talk about a rut. Pair it with some high waist shorts, opaque tights, a green jacket and the pull on boots I got last week. At least the outfit was a bit different.

Quite pleased with the result, fashionable I think, cute maybe?, but practical and well covered up. Those shorts did make me worry a bit, they are, well, rather short for daytime (and not Brighton pride) , but I hoped the opaque tights would counter act. While taking the pictures, the clumsy oaf that is me knocks the camera onto the floor. It lands on the lense, knocking it out of skew. Bugger it won’t retract or focus now, I try to straighten it out hoping it was just jammed, but that doesn’t help much, it works a bit, but it can’t fully retract or open the lense, so it can’t focus and just demands to be turned off again, something must be bent inside jamming it. My camera is an ex camera sob. I’ve don’t think I’ve had it 6 months. These things are get obsolete so fast, are too compact and are built from sealed units to be repaired economically, so I’ll have to get a new one. Revert to crummy old 3 mega pixel cheapo Olympus I have as a spare, so I apologise about the quality for the last batch of pics.

On this sad note I head out into the world, just before 11am. Tube isn’t running, so Silver Link to Camden (yes Camden again). Don’t normally take this, as the service isn’t that frequent and you can’t use Oyster pre pay and so you have to buy a ticket from the ticket office, so there is to much talking to people and standing around to be truly conformable this early. You see it’s still a bit nerve racking going out and so it normally takes me a while to get fully into Helena mode, often more time than it takes to walk to the station. But I do what I have to do, buy a ticket in my best girly voice and wait for the train. Only have to wait 5 minutes, but just standing around on the platform I do gather a few looks.

Camden, first task of the day was to get a new bag, there’s a couple of places that do fake designer bags, and for some reason I really wanted (not exactly sure why) a Chanel one, black with chunky “gold” fittings, I had see a couple like this a few weeks ago here, there was also a nice Mui Mui one to. But the first place didn’t have any bags, I guess perhaps supply is limited and/or trading standard must crack down on this sort of thing every now and then. 2nd place, they do have some, but not exactly the ones I’m looking for, no black and gold. The guy running the stalls sees I’m interested in the Chanel and mentions he has more somewhere else. Slightly nervously I follow, strange men leading me away and all that, but he only goes 5 meters to a different locked up stall and opens it. Yes he does have more Chanel bags, none exactly right, but I comprise on a black and white one. He knocks a fiver off the price (down to £30) and the deal is done. Guess the thing with these is to buy when you see them, cause its likely they won’t be there next week, though that rule seems to apply to a lot of female clothing and accessories, fashion moves so fast.

Yes I know these bags are fake, and are pretty obviously fake to close inspection, the materials and build quality is actually quite shoddy, but I think they are sort of fun, morally/legally, well that’s another question, it does twinge the conscience a bit, but I could never justify spending the cash on a real one, I don’t think else anybody else who’d buy’s one of these fakes would buy a real one either, so it’s not like Chanel are out of pocket. But there is the argument cheap rubbish like is an easy cash in on someone else’s carefully built up image and so damages the brand, but what the hell, destroy fashion Plus badly made not real girl with badly made not real bag works in my twisted viewpoint.

Wandering out of this section of the market, another guy takes my hand, (he did ask politely), rubs it twice and asks if he can show me something. OK that’s to weird. I’m not sure if he wants to read my palm or sell me hand cream or something else (shudder). Politely decline and move on. Head to the tube with a coffee and Toffee Florentine, gorgeous, but it’s really sticky and hard to eat and far too many calories (432, just checked). Decide that will have to do as lunch.

Clean up (sticky toffee ;)) and tube to Marble arch (yeah Oxford street again!), tube is packed with tourists, it’s like rush hour, not exactly comfortable. Next target is a pair of silvery shoes, to go with a very particular outfit I’m putting together, Evans first, but nowt is right, there are some nice ones, but they have an open toe and my toe nails ain’t really pretty enough for display. Move on, just a quick stop in Primark. 1 hour later and I’m out, that wasn’t the plan, but I swear 20minutes was just spent queuing up to pay. It’s a mad house in there, so go slightly mad just to join in but I think that’s Primark’s strategy, things are cheap enough for people just to graze. No shoes (I think a pair of size 9’s I found in there a few weeks ago must have been a one off), but some “chicken fillet” breast enhancers for a fraction of what they are elsewhere, I now have 2 pairs of these, used together they can fill an A cup bra, as I’ve been think of going a bit smaller up top for certain outfits (less attention seeking). Also get makeup, brightly coloured tights (to layer with black ones I think), Cream polo neck sweater dress, black polo with grey stripped sweater combo (hey polo necks are in, I approve, less makeup required for my nasty neck), belt, beret (for a laugh) and some sparkly bangles. There where these other bangles that had a sort of mirror ball effect I really wanted as they where so cute, but they’re too small to fit over my fat hands. Put on other sparkly bangles that do fit as soon as I leave the shop.

Wander though Selfridges for a giggle (nice installations in the window Kevin) and to look at the real bags. They don’t have price tags on, if you have to ask you can’t afford them, but for something that expensive, many are actually rather tacky, but money doesn’t buy you taste. Was self conscious about carrying a fake through there so hide my Chanel in the Primark carrier. Only when I leave did I realised I was still carrying my fake Prada bag (bought months ago) for all the world to see, oops.

More shops, Oh Faith are doing wide fittings now, but it’s too busy, will investigate another day, end up in Barratt’s, see some lovely boots, silver with shinny buckles (definitley in the mood for sparkly now), of course they wouldn’t have then in my size, but ask for the hell of it. Wait a bit, but then, the sales guy returns with a pair of Euro 42’s, and they actually fit! look at the price, ouch, what with needing a new camera and other bits, decide to leave them for another day, but they probably won’t be there when that days comes Get cheapo dark silver courts instead. Barratt’s staff are completely fine, even on a busy busy Saturday afternoon and Miss and Madam all the way (actually I have never had a problem in Barratts, they are always very professional). That’s most of what I needed (wanted), just some skinny black jeans to go, wanted very skinny, very black with no trim, preferably high waist and cheap (tight cow), but there’s nothing perfect, try some on in Bic Boc (I think it was called this) as they are having a sale, not sure about this brand is, but if “Large” is a 12 then they ain’t a UK brand. They have some jeans, the large just fits (sob). but the pocket detailing was wrong, don’t buy.

Get DVD in HMV (Stargate Atlantis again), see a protest going on outside new Playboy shop.

Surely they are a bit late, since Playboy has been going for donkey’s years. Plus the shop seems to be selling mostly Playboy branded women’s clothing and accessories (could playboy branded items be considered ironic in this day and age?), not porn (didn’t go in to make sure, maybe another day). Wonder if it’s actually a publicity stunt.

It’s getting later now and I’ve missed the film showing I wanted to see at Vue, but it’s still on at the Tottenham Court Road Odeon, make it just in time and get a ticket to see “Death Proof”. Need the loo, so quickly dash into the ladies, it’s deserted fortunately, so quick bio break. Normally I really try to avoid using non unisex public loo’s when out and about in regular places (i.e. not TG venues), as well I just can’t go in the gents dressed, but I’m not sure of the moral and legal position of going into the ladies, it just feels sort of wrong in a way and I guess there would be a high chance of a bad reaction from one of patrons. But today, well I had to if I was going to make it through the film.

Death Proof
The dorky review bit: Death Proof announces its self as “The 5th film from Quentin Tarantino” It was part of the Grindhouse double bill with Robert Rodriguez’s “Planet Terror” in the states, but it flopped a bit, so for the UK release they are releasing them separately (well Planet Terror’s release appears to bel a bit tentative). It’s a sort of homage to 70’s low budget horror flicks, and to this end, it’s even got extra grainy and scratched film (post production effect me thinks) and deliberately bad titles and editing, though they sort of leave these effects out towards the end of the film. The 70’s style slightly cold colour stays though (apart from a short bit in B&W) and of course a 70’s sound track, and it suits totally. It does get that 70’s vibe, but then you spot a Ford Focus and other modern cars, the ipod and the mobile phones (actually these feature a bit), deliberate anachronisms that put it back in the present day, sounds odd but it works. Also some of the camera moves ain’t exactly period either. It’s also definitely a Tarantino movie, if you don’t like them, then you won’t like Death Proof, if you do, smile, it’s sort of a combined Chick Flick, Serial Killer and Car Chase movie (in fact Dirty Mary Crazy Larry get name checked, and Vanishing point is a general theme through the 2nd half) combined. Good cast, with a special mention of Kurt Russell, as Stuntman Mike, this must be the best thing he’s done since the nerdcore classics of Escape from New York and Big Trouble in Little China. There’s also the lovely Rose McGowan, sigh. Anyway back to the film, lots of characters just chatting away irrelevantly, big crashes, great legs, V8 muscle cars, blood and gore, and good tunes, well I liked it, definitely my sort of thing, the odd combination of periods and genres with added Tarantino all come together for something quite different and enjoyable. Some have complained the girly chats where too long before the action started and it got dull, but not for me, in fact it appealed to the duality. A film for TG film geeks everywhere.

After the film, it’s a quick stop in the supermarket (again!) and bus home (how original but at least I didn’t take a picture this time). Eat, surf, rest and touch up make up before going out again, touching up makeup becomes a bit more involved as a chunk falls off, so get out later than planned, don’t feel like walking (shopping fatigue) so wait for bus. Wait for quite a bit, another bus drought, but one turns up eventually and I get to the Kings Head (again!) just past 10.

Yes I’m here to see Elephant Self again, but I had sort of organised to meet up with Laura Handbag here. The Shelf are definitely worth a second visit anyway. Laura isn’t there, wave and say hi to Diana and Vicky in the band while they plug stuff in and wait it out with a beer. Don’t have to wait to long, but there is the awkward bit about hanging around alone. Then Laura arrives with friends in tow. Helena “Bloody Useless” Love can’t remember there names, but does remember they all looked amazing. Chat for a little while, Laura been to an exhibition from Holly Woodlawn at the Drill Hall. She was the inspiration for Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild side”, talk about a tranny icon. Feel slightly embarrassed by the fact I didn’t know who she was and the song was actually about a real person.

Music starts and it’s too loud to talk (plus it’s rude to chat away in front of the band playing). The band have their harmonica player back and does add a bit and are on good form, but the pub is even more packed than the previous Friday, that rush hour feeling again, personal space is slightly less than I really like. Chat a bit more to Dianna, Laura and her friends during the interval. I’ve me Laura before (see the The Devil Wears Primark post from the 16th of April) and she is (as far as I know) my nearest TG neighbour, but to be honest, she is 37.53 times (approx) more fabulous than I am and moves in very different circles, so it’s a bit awkward. Try to ask her about cameras, as she is a professional photographer and I need a new one, but the little compacts I’m interested are way below the high end pro kit she uses, so again it’s still awkward. Helena “Lack of social skills” Love is in full effect as usual.

Laura finds a new friend, Martine, a girl wearing a dress only the very young and beautiful could wear (it was totally backless),  I’m sure there had to be something adhesive somewhere to keep it on.

During this time I get jostled (I wasn’t drunk and my heels weren’t that high, honest) a bit and trip over one of the band’s monitors, go flying, and loose boob/bra containment, red face. Found later I’d actually grazed my shin, so no sheer tights for me for a couple of weeks.

Bop along to the music in a corner slightly out of time during the second set, but am starting to flag, been girly for 14 plus hours, say my goodbyes after the band finishes and wander home, stopping for chips on the way.

While I walk, a slightly sleazy guy in a car tries to pick me up; I ignore him and concentrate on my chips. He makes a couple of attempts to engage before driving off. I don’t think he was an “admirer”, the light was fairly poor and he can’t of got a good look at my face, instead I think he must of just seen a tall blonde in short shorts walking alone at night. It was a bit scary, but I’m a big girl and more importantly it was on a busy (even at 1:30am) well lit main street and so I don’t think he would of tried anything more than a chat up, I’m not the sort of girl to get in strange men’s cars any way. Perhaps if I had of looked at or spoken to him, he would of realised I was TG and that might not of gone down so well. Odd thing was he was actually driving a Porsche 911 (in silver), not a cheap car, we get a better class of sleazy guy in Islington don’t you know still it was only a Carrera, if it was a Turbo, perhaps I might of got in

Home, deprincess and flop into bed.

About now in my journal I usually describe what sort of reaction I got when out and about. Well I’m happy to report, I got very little reaction at all. Plenty of people looked, there might have been a few mutterings and whispers, can’t be sure and one guy on Tottenham Court Road pushed past me a bit aggressively, but that might not of been related and just usual London rudeness. Nobody at all felt the need to shout out or make derogatory comments about what I am, which is nice, acceptance levels where high. Miss’s and Madam’s from polite shop assistants, good service and even a complement on my shorts from a GG in the pub ;). On reflection I think the shorts did help a bit, I think, they act as a bit of a distraction from the face, and the high waist helps give me a bit of figure, thus possibly deflecting a few 2nd glances, but they are also quite fashionable and although a bit skimpy, the addition of thick woolly opaque tights managed to move the ensemble into the “not tarty” box which I guess helps for general acceptance.

Sunday, go to get a new camera (en bob), after some research, decide to splash out on a top of the line compact, a Canon G9 powershot, the spec sheet reads better than most entry level SLR’s (12 mega pixel and can shoot in RAW mode, 6x zoom, optical image stabilisation, etc etc etc) and it’s got a really solid, chunky, slightly retro look to it, like it means business. It’s not a cute little thing at all, actually It’s pretty big and heavy for a compact, but still smaller than an SLR and will go in the handbag. Initial experiments are promising, it starts up and takes pictures fast, focus is razor sharp, face detection is neat and it can cope with bad light like no other compact I’ve ever tried. A photo shoot with some of my more outlandish outfits will be should forthcoming in a few weeks Also get those skinny jeans, from Dotty P’s (Philip Green, Boo Hiss), cost a bit more than I wanted, but are exactly right. Well that’s me overspent this month and it’s still 3 weeks till payday!

Probably won’t be much on an entry next week as I have to go and play uncle, but promise to try and do something a bit more original after that.