Busy busy most of the week, not unpleasantly busy though, some interesting things to do, well for the first half. But that meant late nights and long hours and that lowered my ability to resist junky food and booze. I had a fat week

But the weekends here and after last week’s reduced girl time, I was determined to make up for it. Up a bit late on Saturday morning, Dragon Age (my new game) and wine the night before the cause so its like lunchtime before I’m ready to go out. I drowned a spider who had got into my bath, felt bad about it, aren’t I supposed to be a sensitive vegetarian?

Outfit was nothing fancy, black sweater, black skirt, black leather jacket, all easy to coordinate and to break it up grey leggings. Well I’ve seen the sort of combo a fair bit recently and its plain and practical. Boots where the new biker style ones, barely any heel, so should be comfy. No time for a proper photo, its off to the train. Oh its blowy out and rain is forecast, pop a hat on to keep the hair under control.

Right, lets pop to Camden, had a couple of items to get for the Corset and Diamonds outfit next week, a fresh pair of seamed stockings (these are one use items with me) and a pair of short black satin gloves. I did have a pair of these, at one time, but one had gone missing, such is the way with me and gloves.

Train to Camden, oh one of those new ones. Lunch? Er not hungry yet, lets start looking for those gloves. Spot something worth photographing though, but am a little slow to get the camera out before it disappeared .It was a Bentley sports car, finished entirely  in mirror chrome, now that’s some one who wanted to be seen flaunting their wealth..

Satin gloves proved hard to find, loads of places (I went everywhere I could think off) had long opera gloves, but only the good hosiery place near the Electric Ballroom had the short ones, phew. They had the right stockings too, it’s a great little shop.

Right that’s Camden done, lunch? Ok, head towards town looking at various places before ending up in a place called The Blues Kitchen. Think its new, sure there used to be a pretty grubby pub here before. Its serving brunch, I order Eggs Royal with a glass of Chardonnay from the very cute and smiley young waitress. I have to force my self not to look down her top when she bends over to speak to me. Food and wine comes quickly, but erm are you sure this is Chardonnay, it tastes erm a bit odd, but drink it anyway. Eggs are nice, sauce could of done with being hotter though, don;t think american sequeezy mustard is the normal condiment to have with this dish, but I think it worked. OK bite to eat and good service, not exactly cheap though.

Starting to rain now, glad I have the hat. Go find a  bus to take me to Oxford Street. Find one going to Regents street, near enough. Its pouring down by the time I get to the West End. Out bus and over into the shops. Its Oasis, not one of my usual places, but there Christmas season stuff looks nice, fancy a particular black off the shoulder top with sort of metal stud like things on the front. It takes forever for me to find it in the shop and, ouch, £65, yeah that’s why I don’t shop in Oasis very often. Maybe wait till the sales.

Dash into Topshop a few doors down after.

Mission to the West End was really for tights, specifically the Aristoc Wet Look tights I’d read about on the web, and figured the department stores down here sould have them if any one does and if I can’ find Aristoc ones, surely there would be something similar. I fancied wet look tights, as I tend to find wet look leggings don’t seem to stay up on me, have to keep pulling them up, perhaps tights would fit better? Anyway, Top Shop doesn’t have anything similar, but it always worth a look around girl central. Seams sequins are huge this Christmas season (Christmas is a sub season of the Autumn/Winter fashion season that usually runs November and December and consists of party clothes in the fashion biz). Sequin jackets, top, dresses, leggings, yes, but hotpants…? Can’t see them flying of the shelves.

Oxford street is its usual Christmas madhouse (and its only November). So that’s this fancy new criss/cross over pedestrian crossing, seems to help the people congestion around Oxford Circus a bit, but that probably due to the fact they removed the barriers. Can’t see why it cost millions though.

Start going through the department stores, no wet look in BHS, but there’s some ankle highs I was after. Reckon I got sir’ed by the girl on the till:(  Can’t find the tights I want in John Lewis, House of Fraser, Selfridges, M&S (black silk PJ’s, hrmmm maybe) or Debenhams (which is packed) Would you like a free 10 minute makeover Madam? asked a woman in House of Fraser nice offer, but I had to turn it down, well I suspected the free makeover doesn’t include beard shadow cover.

Shopping can be frustrating some times, the crowds and the rain doesn’t help either. Try to attract the attention of a sales person on the MAC concession in Selfridges, but its just so busy, I can’t help. I was looking for a replacement cremestick lip liner in a dark red, I used my old one up, but the way MAC seems to work is if you can’t get a sales person, you can’t get a product as its all in draws and stuff. Try the Clinque and Benefit concessions (which are no where near as busy) but neither of them have a dark enough red. No one wants to spray me with smellies either.

Felt a bit down by now, but carried on to Marble Arch, just for a peak in New Look and Primark. Both are heaving, there’s not a lot in Primark I fancy, but there are some nice boots in New Look, alas, not in my size though.

Right what to do? Can’t find these tights, but still need that lip liner (for CnD again), go to the MAC standalone in Carnaby, its always quieter? Well tis cold and its damp, but I suppose it’s in the direction of home. Stop in Zara on the way back, as I spot a lace top I like the look of in the window. Zara have two guys handing out long plastic bags to people with brollies on the door. That’s clever, let us bag up our brollies so they don’t drip in the store. Can’t find the top I spotted in the window in Zara, par for course, it’s a hard shop to find anything in, the layout is so random. But I spot a nice top, just a simple long sleeve poloneck, in a few colours, but its just long enough for me to wear as a dress I reckon. Size, er they have medium and Xtra large, well it’s a stretchy material, so I reckon even fat girl here can get into the medium. Buy one, oh go on its only a tenner and they have them in red. Trying it on later (sans makeup), yes it does fit and its just long enough to cover the bits, tis rather figure hugging though, have to wear control pants under it to keep the lumps and bumps from being seen.

On to Carnaby, extremely camp young man in MAC who address me as Darhling (I suspect that’s how he refers to everybody :))  helps me find a lip liner, its not quite as dark as I wanted, but it will do. Pick up some Studio Tech NW20 foundation as well, I need to go back to winter colours. The MAC girls in the shop have heavy back shadow on their eyelids with a splash of bright copper, its looks great, might have to try that look sometime.

Have a little trawl of the shops in the area, including Nikita Sabier. One or two nice corsets, esp a military styled one,  but I just don’t need another corset right now, and since I bought the PC last week I should be careful with  high ticket items.

Walk through Soho to Shaftsbury avenue, its late now, wet and dark, need to get home. Fortunately the right bus turns up in one minute and there’s a seat for me too but then it spends the next 10 minutes stuck in traffic and even when it does move its slow going. Driver, bless is heart decides to terminate the route very early and chucks everyone out on Rosebury avenue, into the cold and rain, oh what a lovely man.

Walk up to Islington, hungry now, I’ve got some food at home, that £10 M&S deal, but I don’t fancy that, what do I fancy, curry, that’s what I fancy. Dash through the rain up Chapel Market to the cheap all you can eat Indian veggie place, they seat me right at the back and one of the guys Sir’s me as he opens my beer But the food is warm and comforting, limit my self to 2 plates worth. Other guy serving is friendlier and wishes me a very Apu’ish “Come again” as I leave.

Right back to the bus stop, its still raining. Bus doesn’t terminate early this time and home we are. Its getting on for 8 before I get home and I still had places to go. Change into a more clubby outfit, cannot find the top I wanted to wear so outfit is made up on the spot, keeping to the black and grey theme, it’s a black vest, a grey off the shoulder top I really should have ironed, a tight wet look shirt, grey opaque tights and black mid calf boots with a 3″ or so heel, and the same leather jacket I was wearing before. Think it looked OK. Reason for the change, well Bedsitland was on again tonight, that synthpop night I went to in Camden months ago. The night had relocated in the passing months to one of my favourite bars, the Lexington on Pentonville road, but other commitments had stopped me attending. But tonight I was free, so Bedsitland it was. Cept it was cold and raining and dark, did I want to go out again? Yeah, I suppose so.

By the time I’d selected my outfit, touched up my makeup and did the usual faffing around it was time to go, no time for a photo again Rain had got worse as I tottered over to the bus stop.

By the time I’d got to Angel the rain was coming down in buckets and there was a 10 minute walk from here to the bar. Walk under the covered bit towards the tube station, even with the brolly it was bad out there. Spot a GG walking towards the station as well, she was young, tall and blonde, and wearing the tightest, tinniest little black dress, black tights, black leather jacket and heels like she was born to, 5 star gorgeous. When I spot a woman like that half of me want to meet her and the other half wants to be her, sigh. But shouldn’t stare at young women on the street, it creeps them out. She goes into the tube station and I have to carry on down the street anyway.

Rain gets worse, by the time I’m on Pentonville road it’s a cloud burst and the water is running of the pavement the brolly keeps the worst of it from my head, but my tights are soaked, this wasn’t the night for a mini skirt, no option for it, have to run. In the rain, in heels. Its not elegant or demure, but sod it I’m getting soaked here. Cars passing must have had a laugh.

Make it to the bar, legs are soaked through, but the rest is dry enough, I was carrying my bag with its precious cargo (my camera, which is, Oh yeah, rain proof) up high under the brolly. Pay my fiver and go up stairs to the music venue bit.  I’ve been in the main several times but its my first time up stairs. Not a huge venue, but there’s a stage and a dance floor, a bar, some seats, a DJ booth etc, what more do you need. Its not that full either, but more and more people are coming in from the rain.

Nice glass of red to warm me up first I think. Oh shit, she’s on the bar… You see I went in the Lexington in boy mode on Friday evening on the way home from work, for a quiet pint and chapter or two of my book, and the same barmaid was serving then. She smiley, but doesn’t appear to remember me, phew.

Get my wine and find a seat, just sip it and bop along a little to the music and drying out before the band comes on. The headline (and in fact only) band of the night was “A Terrible Splendor”, nope as usual I’ve never heard of them, but I had a good feeling. Warm up a bit, deposit my very damp brolly in the cloak room and get ready for the music. Band comes on a little late, 10:20 or something, which well these sort of events aren’t on a strict time table. They are a boy and girl, he sings, so does she a bit, and plays the keyboards. They are pretentious fey aesthetes, but in a nice way, in the right way, the look and act goes with the heavily 80’s influenced synth music and the whole style. The throwing rose petals into the crowd and doing announcements in English and German all added to the image. Yeah, I enjoyed that

Shot a lot of pics, but try not to get in the way. End up shooting full manual, even the ISO, so I could get the light, stage lighting was a little dark, but I didn’t want to flash them. I mean use the flash on them.

At the end of the set they give a bow and are presented with a bunch of Roses, sweet. The girl from the band takes a couple of the red roses from the bunch and throws them into the crowd, one lands very near me (hey I had my hands full with the camera) and since no one else claimed, it, I picked it up. My first rose It didn’t survive the trip home in my handbag very well though.

Right that’s the band over and done with, though I like the Lexington there was only one band, which is a pity, the Camden nights had 3 bands on. Warm now, still had my jacket on you see. Get a bottle of cider from the bar, the girl working there seems to be run of her feet, the place has really filled up. What I expected to do now was just have a cool drink and head home, but as I sip my pear cider (though a straw, natch) something that didn’t happen last time, did, the dance floor fills up. Well, er, do I have to leave? Not really, let’s have a boogie Plonk my jacket in the cloakroom and take to the floor in my own, “original” style and it all, as Justine says, gets a little messy A few faves come on, especially enjoy a remixed we Fade to Grey and Ladytron’s Playgirl.

Even manage to chat a little, a girl who’s a friend of the band asks me what I think of them, two very camp guys say hi, air kiss and want to know if I’m on Facebook, and there’s a girl called Nicky I’d seen at Festival of Sins I said hello to. For me, that’s socialising I was clocked, but gender bending/androgyny is a part of the sythpop aesthetic I suppose, so in a way, I fitted in, even though I was probably  the only tranny in the room.

By one I’m pooped, even with a Vodka Redbull to try and keep me going, heels didn’t help though. But all the dancing dried me off :)  One of the better nights out that, nice bohemian crowd, LGBT friendly, dressy up to, guys in suits and complex hair and not one but two Bettie pages strutting there stuff on the dance floor and music I can dance to or just enjoy. Suppose I am old enough to remember a lot of it from the first time round though. Note to self, attend Bedsitland more often. I keep saying this about certain nights out, but I really want to do this one again. But not the next one, it clashes with the Festival of Sins in December

Pick up stuff from cloakroom and head home. Oh thank goodness its stopped raining, totter down Chapel market (again) towards Angel and the night bus, stopping at a Kebab shop for chips on the way.

Night bus takes a while to turn up, but it gets there in the end and we are home, tired, feet sore and ears ringing, but happy.

Lie most on Sunday morning. Get up eventually, weather is miserable, not sure I want to go out. Drag a razor across my face, few cuts, but that Tea Tree face wash I got after the laser treatment works well as a shaving foam. Faff around looking for something to wear, play with that red dress/top I go the day before with some wet look leggings I wore the week before and some lace up ankle boots. Think I really do need some new really OTT black killer heel ankle boots, those ones aren’t quite right. Take a photo or two of this outfit, well its been a while since I did a really posed shot like this.

But that outfit isn’t really daytime, swap the top for a long reddish orange sweater dress I’d forgot I’d bought, look for some plain leggings to go with it, can’t find them, but there’s some old black jeans, they’ll do. Pair the jeans with some low heal calf length boots, and swap the hair for the shorter one and I think we have a basic daytime outfit, add black coat and hat cause it is the middle of November..

What with the late start and the photo’s its gone two by now. So what to do today, well it looks like the rain has stopped and there’s a little sun, so go out, yeah I suppose, but where, shoe shopping for those boots? I must stop shopping, I have to much stuff as it is, so what else, well the drawing club is on again, its moved to Sunday, could be a more cultural (and cheaper) way to spend the afternoon, yeah, maybe, pack my drawing pad and pencil in my bag just in case.

Wander towards town, ah there’s a bus to Old Street, jump on, guess I’m going to the Drawing club. Not really had lunch, didn’t even have much breakfast (its was a Chocolate soufflé, well, its all I could find in the fridge that would work and it was < 300 calories), off the bus, find somewhere for a bite before the drawing club, hrmm, I was running late as it was, nah, so just grab a cheese roll in a shop near the bus stop.

Roll isn’t filling enough, so get a piece of focaccia bread at a fancy Hoxton Deli, fills me up. Hrmm, carb overload. Get to the Joiners Arms around 3:20, not to late, but not to early.

They recognise me from the last time and, I guess, know my name from the photo’s I popped on Facebook. Play my monies, get a drawing board, a biscuit and glass of red and find a spot. Think is busier than last time, even this early. Get a chair on the opposite side to last time, not sure if this was a good idea, get some glare off a light near the model. The model, is a bloke again, more heavily built than last time with good muscle definition. He does tend to look around the room though and in a couple of poses he’s directly in front of  me which slightly less comfortable (yes he’s naked). The 5 minute poses are hard, try to dash something off, but its not great and usually I can only do a small part of the body, like the head etc, feel a little more relaxed doing the longer 15 & 20 ones.

Place gets busier, they move things around a little to accommodate everyone. There’s live music for a bit to, a girl plays er a sort of round thing? I can’t really describe it, its sort of percussive and IMHO a bit to noodly. I kind of preferred the Aretha Franklin and Dolly Parton they had playing on record (well iPod probably) in between live sessions.

Grab a 2nd glass of wine in the break, Oh no cake, guy who made them tells me they didn’t rise this morning, pity.

2nd model is a girl, Sophia I think, which is a nice change. She was young, very pretty and smooth skinned, slim but with feminine curves, but little muscle tone, so its more concentrating on the lines and curves with her, a different drawing experience to trying to capture the man’s musculature. Again the really short poses are frustrating and I prefer the longer ones.

The organiser, er , should get his name, asks if I have my camera and could take some pics, as it happened I did and obliged.

Again I didn’t take pics of the model on purpose, they where there to be drawn, not photographed.

Drawing take so much concentration, I don’t really feel the time pass, but I do feel the warmth, they have the heating on for the models benefit, so in my sweater and jeans I’m a touch overdressed. The 2nd model finishes up around 6:30 and so I reckon its time to go, another good afternoon, not sure my drawing has improved though.

Busses look scarce, but I’m in the comfy boots this time, so wander back to Old Street, stopping for cash at the machine. No buses around here either, but its not too cold, so I just end up walking back to Islington, to the little Sainsbury’s to pick up some more wine and a few bits and pieces. Remember the Salad cream I forgot to buy on Saturday. Guy on the checkout might of said Sir to me, quietly, its not been a good weekend for passing

Bus home from there, sort pics out, eat dinner, watch Top Gear, bath, bed.

Next week its Corset and Diamonds as I said so expect far to many photos

OMG to busy to do a proper update cause I er normally write them at work when I should be working, sorry.

Potted version of this weekend…

Work, bah, nasty  little man who was obviously a traffic warden or a guard at a concentration camp in a former life causes merry hell with my work on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday Work from home, do a a little but mostly get ready for a night out with the Angels. Think I like my outfit, grey sweater dress, wet look leggings and new grey ankle boots look good, it deserves a photo. Cept camera remote won’t work  And I actually think that dress is a little more brown than grey in good light. Take timer shot instead.

Its Friday the 13th isn’t it. My PC dies too  sob its got half my life on it, it won’t stay on for more than 30 seconds, fuck, theres the last 10 years of my life in that box. And  OMFG trouble comes in threes, the camera remote, the PC and What next?

The plan, after much kitten herding was going to meet the Angels at 8pm for a meal then a club in Kensignton, but Carissa says shes’s bored on Facebook so I go and meet her at 7 (I was ready early anyway, cause I wasn’t able to take a photo). Its a wild and wet night, but the tube gets me there on time, but I wish the man almost leaning (actually nearly sitting) on my legs respected personal space a bit more.

We meet up and head to the nearest place for a drink and a chat, which turns out to be the pub almost opposite Gloucester road tube, its packed, but we sort of steal a place near the table where they store the condiments and cutlery and broken chairs and have a chat over a glass of wine, trying to not get in the way of the bar staff. 

8, back to the tube station, (am almost run over by BMW driver crossing the road) to meet Petra (who isn’t Olga anymore, must get that right), Louise is going to meet us at the restaurant, and Jess is in a Taxi running late (which is normal for Jess) so the 3 of us head towards Med Kitchen. My wet look leggings wont stay up and I have to keep adjusting them all night.

Jess and Lou meet us at the restaurant, we talk, we eat, we drink wine   Its an OK mid range chain restaurant, not bad food (though the starter selection was a bit weak) and reasonably priced. Fries could of done with being hotter though.

After dinner we head across the road to Opal, an upmarket club/bar thingy where Monica, the girl who runs Corset and Diamonds promotes a night. She’s’ not there but we are on the guest list and are waved in. Down the stairs and its sort of like the Bat cave meets a Lounge bar, quite groovy really. We chat for a bit, dance a little and there’s another glass of wine  Monica turns up, but the club, er I dunno, its not happening, maybe it kicks off later (and it was 11 already)  its rather quiet and a bit dead  But the company was nice, lovely to see you all again.

Loose my lens cap for the camera  that must be bad luck item 3. Leave around midnight to make sure I get the last tube. Its hard work not to fall asleep on the train, OMG how much wine have I drunk. It was hard staying awake sitting down, the 15 minute walk up hill afterwards was just painful, just trying and put one foot in front of the other took all I had. Home, just wipe most of the makeup off and crash.

It wasn’t that late, my ankle boots weren’t agony (unusual for new ones with a 4″ heel) and I didn’t drink that much but it seemed to take it all out of me.

Saturday and its wet and wild. Good news, found the lens cap. Bad news, PC is still dead  To be honest its 5 years old and has been on its last legs for a while, it has issues and struggled with a lot of modern software, esp photo tools and games, it was even below minimum spec for some, though it is 5 years old, thats like 90 in PC years. But its sort of has sentimental value, I won it in a computer graphics competition ( I came 2nd) . So what to do, new one? or replace component, it could just be the PSU that’s gone, but it could be the mother board, and that would mean new board, new CPU, new ram, new cooler etc. Think about it.

Now am I going to get this stuff. Weather is awful rain and wind, I have serious nerd shopping to do and I still feel quite delicate. Sod it, Tottenhamcourt road and boy mode 

I’ve been told the difference between TS and TV is choice, TS don’t have a choice, whereas TV can choose not to present as female. This is true, but on the flip side, if I present as Helena, I have to do the whole thing, wig, shave from hell, heavy makeup, wig, padding, breastforms and feminine clothing, I can’t just slob it as I wouldn’t appear female. But TS on the other hand after surgery, hair removal, hormones, own hair or fancy hair system  etc do have a choice of sorts, they can’t not present, but they can present as a slobby female, no makeup, no wig, baggy clothes etc. I don’t have that option, its full on or nothing. So when I can;t mange full on, I pretty much have to do male

<<Note the rest of the blog is sad geeky PC stuff, if you are looking for Tranny time, best come back next week>>>

First stop camera shop where I got the remote, and Oh its just a flat battery, £2.59 and I have a new little battery and a fully working remote. Good. Now its just the PC.

Desktop PC’s seems a rare thing these days, its all laptops and I don’t want one of those, I like I big tower case with room for expansion and change. Plus I’ve always found laptops to be unreliable, slow (esp the hard disks), have no expansion/replacement capability and the quicker ones run very very hot. Of the desktop or tower PC’s I can find are ultra basic models, there was just one high end model, a HP with I7 and bluray , but that was thirteen hundred quid and I wasn’t sure about the graphics card it had was good enough.

Well that was the case in most of the shops anyway. But then there was YoYo tech, just off Tottencourt Road They mostly sell PC components, but do sell a some ready built systems as well, or well according to the website build them to order. But these where high end “enthusiast” PC’s with top components and flashy lights. One of these? well they get good reviews and where in budget, but er dunno. Anyway I had to move some money from savings anyway to buy one.  I really wanted a PC now, and if they had to build one it would take 10 days  So what was the other option, get a new PSU and hope it fixed the old thing or just get new comments, build a new PC and plug the old ones hard drive into (but I’m rubbish with hardware and would totally fail at a DIY job). Decisions, Decisions.

It took a while to find an open bank where I could rearrange the funds, and via a detour to Forbidden Planet for a new book, ever longer to find a nice pub to have lunch in. Every pub seemed to packed with people watching Rugby, bah. Eventually find one where there still a spot to sit and read and had nice food though. But even that one had Rugby on as well, some people ask me to swap tables so they could get a better view of the TV (television) , I oblige, no worries, I’m not interested in men fighting over an oddly shaped ball, but then they buy me a pint as compensation for moving, which was er nice, guess rugby fans aren’t quite as mean as football fans.

Right, er slightly loosed up by a few pints I made a decision, I head back to Yoyo tech, if they have any machine in stock I’ll buy it. Do they? er yes, any of those machines over there they have running demo’s. Ok I’ll have that one. Its big and its black with blue lights, its called a Water Dragon cause its water cooled. Yep Water cooled, with an over clocked quad core Athlon processor, 4gb Ram, 750gb disc (yey plenty of room for photo’s) good graphics card, a bluray drive and it glows blue.  This beats many of the servers I use at work, hell it beats the spec of some of the Big Iron Unix boxes and mainframes I’ve used in my time, I have the POWER! They have to burn some driver disks for me (Dell this ain’t) and box the thing up, takes a while, then I struggle the thing into a taxi (it weighs a ton) to get home.

Home, boxes runs all right, ADSL modem won’t talk to it, wrong drivers for Windows 7, But work gave me a router, use that? try to, it won’t connect, talk to man from Mumbai whose name almost certainly isn’t John Wilson on the phone for ages trying to fix it. He can’t, but after a read of help files and some experiments I get it working on my own. Yey we have Wifi in the flat  This is good for the new PC, but does also mean I can use the work PC on with it as well without disconnecting my PC and use my it with my Ipod Touch. In fact I can now use the the Ipod on the Loo or in the Kitchen or even in Bed to surf and check my mail. Dam that’s good, surfing the web under the duvet, why didn’t a get a wireless router years ago

New PC is on the net , but its virgin, none of my files are on it, hundreds of photo’s and files are sill on the old PC, years worth of content creation I want to keep and would be heart broken to loose. Remove the hard drive and a DVD rewriter from the old one (well new PC only has one optical driver and I like at least two) and try to fit them to the new one. And can’t. Old PC is IDE and new PC is all SATA. Bugger. Little research, and it looks like I can get an enclosure for the old hard drive and connect it to the new one via USB for not to much. More shopping to do, install and play Dragon Age for the rest of the evening instead, max detail and no slow down, the old PC struggled on medium detail in the fight scenes. Then I realise I’ve lost my new book

Sunday, have work to do, I’m on call, but manage a quick trip to town for a IDE to USB enclosure and a Veggie Sunday lunch at a nice pub near Euston I’d found the day before.  Popped back into YoYo tech as well to retrieve my book, I’d dropped in it the excitement of buying a new PC.

Back home, old drive in the enclosure, and plug it in, fingers crossed. Works perfectly, to my surprise, all old photo’s etc copied over to the new machine no trouble. Right we are back, oh I do need the photo software though, NIkon and Phase one stuff goes on no trouble and F*&^@%*K me NX2 is fast on the Water Dragon, its gone from pain to pleasure. But Photo paint won’t work. My trusty old copy of Corel Photo paint 8, which I’ve used for graphics and photo editing for the last 10 years (its Windows 95 vintage software) and can use in my sleep doesn’t like Windows 7, it crashes bugger I need new image editing software (I can’t let you all see me real face can I) I’m trying trial version of Paint shop pro and Photoshop elements, but I dunno, they still don’t seem to match Photo paint in some ways, but I can’t really afford a full copy of photoshop now either. A consequence of all this is those pics I just posted where virgin, no photo editing at all, yikes thats what I actually look like.

So that’s it, back to cooking on gas on the new PC (well 90% there), works a bit of a pain though and I have to do some on call stuff. And I miss Helena time, the weekends not the same without her day and gosh there’s some lovely stuff in the shops at the moment.

This week, busy, busy busy, but actually have a few proper techy problems to solve, not politics and procedure for a change, working on those is actually enjoyable.

Coming weekend has to be all girl though, I’m getting the little twinges, boy/girl balance is out of wack.

Living for the weekend as usual, though I suppose the week wasn’t to bad, actual had some coding problems to solve. Put off doing paper work till next week.

So Saturday, usual stuff, cept er where’s my usual hair gone, is this one the usual one or the older one  not sure, er what’s in this bag, oh that hair, the longer blonde hot hair one I got ealier this year, well try it, hrmm still not so sure about this one, it just sits to high on my head, it looks like I should be in a Tefal commercial (I’m going back a few years here), not a feminine look.

Oh that and boobs. Since I’ve been gaining weight (sob) I’ve sort of got my moobs back, so I did a little experiment with one of the stick on bras to pull the flab together to make a sort of faux cleavage. Doesn’t give me much and it’s a little lop sided try to enhance with a little makeup shading. Wear normal bra and forms over the top. In the mirror, with a low cut vest the result is er OK ish, you have to look at the right angle. This will take some more practice.

Boobs don’t show up much in the photo, but OMG the forehead, I could rent it out as a billboard. Pack up and out the house by 11ish. Have a plan for the day, first a little shopping in Holloway, a had a dress and some paper to buy, then there’s this Drawing club I saw on Facebook (life drawing in a pub in Shoreditch, hence the paper) and then the Gypsy Hotel in the evening.

Right over to Holloway then, sun’s out but its got rather chilly, have added a and a little tan leatherish blouson to the outfit and popped a hat on to keep me warm (and the hat hides the huge expanse of forehead). Close up the shirt too. Have some new boots on, they have a mid hieght block heel and are leather, might need a little breaking in, but so far, so good.

Checked football fixtures, they are playing away and its late afternoon anyway, so should be OK around Holloway, but dunno feel a little conspicuous, look away when I see lads walking down the street.

Walking towards Holloway road my hands feel cold, rest is fine, just the hands, note to self, buy gloves, but there’s that nice little coffee shop/deli place. Order a cappuccino to take away and try the little cheese samples they had counter while waiting. Coffee is to warm my hands as much as anything

First shop was to be the art/stationary shop, for the heavy cartridge paper (didn’t have any A4 at home), but it didn’t open till 12. Well I’ll come back. Next stop then, Vivien of Holloway, they are open, and its rather busy.

There’s another Corset and Diamonds night coming up at the end of November and the theme is Film Noir, so 40-50’s American look it is, so Vivien of Holloway’s 40-50s retro styled outfits where just the ticket. I’d had my eye on a black satin number for while and this seemed the ideal opportunity to get it. The dress, as well as being on theme should be practical for me, its got sleeves to cover my shoulders and is not cut that low at the front or back (but I think it might show a little, this was part of the reason I did they cleavage experiment today) and as the woman in the shop told me, needs height to wear properly and I’ve got plenty of that Good news, they have plenty in stock, and eyeball sizeometer reckons its between the size 14 and the 16. But urm, the dress doesn’t have a back zip (it’s a side one), that means it goes over the head, and with the amount of makeup I’m wearing, that will just make a mess. The sales girl is actually relieved when I mention this after she asked if I want to try them on and I declined.

Have to wait a bit for another sales person (said it was busy), she must be the senior one, slightly older but very trim, with a severe black bob, American I think. She measures the dresses, 14 is 30″ waist, 16 is 32″ and me, I’m 31″ (sob and I’m wearing a tight belt too), decide to go with the 16, to be safe and put my card in the machine. Of course the staff read me, but are still very polite and helpful, though I think they sort of assumed I didn’t know that much about feminine clothing

Trying it on at home later (sans slap) I find it does fit, but it is rather difficult to get in and do up the zip. This is not cause I’m too fat, honest, its cause the dress is tailored to fit a GG (and it’s a non stretch material) and the fitted waist lies approx 2-3 inches above my own natural one, so I’m zipping it up over my chest not waist. Oh well, but I can get into it and its not uncomfortable, upper chest and shoulders are fine (and its not really low cut enough to require cleavage anyway). Skirt turns out to be a bit of a Sarong style, with a split, so I can show a bit of stocking’ed leg with right pose Will where it with my What Katie Did undies, seemed stockings, black courts and short black gloves (did have a little discussion on accessories in the shop). Cept one of my short black satin gloves has gone missing me and gloves. Another trip to Camden is required I think.

Right back to shopping, Boots for shaving foam (nice aloe vera girly stuff), a replacement eyelash curler (my old one rusted!) and oh what’s this in my wallet, a £5 off voucher for No. 7 that’s about to run out, well better use it then, force myself to get some eye shadow :) 

Priceless, one of the few branches that didn’t close down, has some killer ankle boots, they are total rock chick, black leather, studs, small platform and a massive spike heal. And £5 off. Ermm, do I want them, yes, ish, they look gorgeous, but also total agony, literally killer ankle boots. There’s no size 9 on display and a little voice is telling me no, don’t even ask if they have them, you have far too many pairs of boots anyway. Dam you sensible voice. ( googling later I find they do actually come in a 9…)

Little wander around a few more shops, That odd department store (XX Tall Tights, hrmmm), New Look, MK one (another shop I thought had closed down), Shoe Zone (oh more nice ankle boots) and finally Peacocks.

Pick up some gloves, sensible cream one, not so sensible white lace ones (which would have been nicer in black) and just have a glance at the shoes. Just a glance though, they don’t do size 9’s not really worth it. But then there’s those, another pair of ankle boots, grey synthetic leather, laces, straps, buckles, zips, long slightly chunky heel, sort of fantasy combat boots but with a 4″ heel,sexy …. :)  Well I think they are sexy. Sort of thing Motoko Kusnagi would wear. But they only go up to 8 don’t they. Won’t fit will they. Can’t hurt to try though….

OFMG they fit, snug on the feet but little loose around my dainty (yes they are) ankles, but that’s the style I guess, right having them. Oh they come in black too, black or grey, hrmmm, grey, I like grey, its… ambiguous. And oh wow those too, sort of shinny black mock snakeskin, platform and a lethal heel, and they are in 8 to, well if the grey pair fit, these will. Er no they won’t can get my feet in them, but they pinch my toes and are quite uncomfortable. Uncomfortable after 30 seconds = want to hack my feet off with a rusty penknife after 30 minutes. Oh well, grey ones fit and I’ve spend a lot already anyway. Perhaps sensible voice knew about these boots and just wanted me to wait

It’s warm in the shop (its warm in all the shops) so its nice to get back in the cool Autumn air. So what next, well its lunch time, but I still have to get that paper. There’s not a lot I fancy around here on Seven Sisters Road to eat (KFC, Mac D, Subway…) would rather get back to Angel for food, and there’s an Art shop down there, too but don’t fancy walking all the way (new boots are starting to be felt) lets see what the buses do.

Busses hadn’t arrived by the time I’d got back to the art shop on Holloway road.  Find a nice pad of heavy A4 paper (A4 cause that fits in my handbag, it’s a big bag) a propelling pencil but can’t find B leads. Have to ask the shop man for them. “Anything else sir” he says after getting the leads (2nd set, he brought HB the first time). Sir, oh well. He said it quietly, not emphasised, so it was probably just an automatic response to what he saw:( Got a Madam and a Miss earlier from people giving away leaflets on the street, so I’m ahead, I guess.

There’s the bus. Ride the bus halfway into Islington before getting off and looking for somewhere nice to eat. Is it me or are less bars doing food on a Saturday lunchtime? But what’s with the craft sales and stuff in the bars, Wax Jambu has vintage clothes, Keston Lodge has Crafts and Jewellery (and smells a little odd). Well I suppose they are just trying something different.

End up in The Bull (that is just doing food and drink, no crafts) with a glass of Rosé, A falafel wrap and my current book. Book is good, stay for a second glass of wine.

Pop across the road to pick up a few things in Sainsbury’s before bussing it back home. Phase 1 is complete

Back home, check mail, usual stuff and get ready for Phase 2. Got a little shinny with all the dashing around so pat on the blot and redo lips, most of my lippy must of ended up on the falafel. Boobs, hrm not much there is there, it might of slipped a bit, re apply the stick on bra, pulling a bigger handful of flab together. To much flab in fact, the clasp on the bra snaps Oh well, it was only a couple of quid from Primark. Will have to find a replacement (a stronger replacement) before I try that again.

Time has got on, its well gone 3 before I get out again and the Drawing club has already started. It’s going to be a bus ride, but have to walk to the stop first. Right foot is hurting a bit.

Bus turns up after a few minutes and I there a seat on the top deck. Check boot and feet. The thick tights where footless, so I had some ankle highs on underneath, but it looks like there’s a huge hole in the right one now and its rubbing on my foot causing the irritation Spin the ankle high around so the holes at the top, that should help.

Off the bus at Old Street, it’s a still a walk from here, but the London Transport website said that was the fastest way. Girl stops me by a bus stop, she needs to directions to a certain Art Gallery, but I don’t know it, sorry.

Think I make a wrong turn off Old Street and take a slightly longer route than necessary, doh. By the time I’m back on the right track my foot is really hurting. Stop for a sec and insert a wad of tissue inside the ankle high to cushion it. Helps a little and I manage to get to Hackney Road. Not exactly sure where the place is, it’s a pub called the Joiners arms, I don’t know it. But its not far and there’s a handy sign outside saying “The Drawing Club”

There’s a bell to ring to get in and the windows are covered, good idea really, you don’t really want just anybody walking in, as, well, when you walk in you see is this completely naked man lying on a sofa in the middle of the room. Life drawing, drawing naked people if you didn’t know already, the naked guy is the life model and there’s a cluster of people around him with drawing boards, paper and pencils. There are other pubs and bars in this area that also offer naked people too, but they are mostly naked women, there’s no paper and pencils and you have to put a pound in a pint glass first (It was my brothers stag do, honest). Nope this was definitely drawing, pay my £5 and pick up a drawing board, I’m offered paper and pencils, but I have my own.

Find a chair towards one side, I don’t have a great view, but there’s enough to see and draw and actually the sofa in front of me hides his dangly bits for which I am actually quite grateful. Not really my favourite part of the human body.

Bit of history, I’ve been creating images since I could hold a crayon, early years was crayon and felt tip, art at Grammar School, came top in my form, but gave it up to do Chemistry O level (bad mistake), got back into pencils and ink at uni illustrating the Sci Fi Society’s fanzine, fan art and 50 odd pages of Manga during my Otaku phase in my 20’s, game based computer graphics and animation in my 30’s and finally painting my own face and photography over the last few years. So that’s a lot of images. But actually I’ve never tried life drawing so when this opportunity came up it was too good to miss. I knew the models would be naked, but well its still a bit of a shock, male nudity isn’t really my thing. But keep calm, we are all grown ups here, and its art, just get on with it. And after a bit it was just art, he wasn’t a naked man anymore, he’s was just light and shade, lines and form and I just get scribbling.

He poses for 20 minutes at a time, which was just enough for me to sketch all of him. I’m rusty, my drawing isn’t anywhere near as good as it was when I was in my 20’s, but a little comes back. Get a glass of wine and a cookie after the 2nd pose and have a look at the place. Cookie is erm, different.

It is in a Gay pub, the big rainbow flag and the collection jar for stonewall on the bar sort of give it away and quite a few of the attendees, certainly the models, the guy running it and the barman also ping the Gaydar heavily, but its not exclusively gay male, women are make up more than 50% of the turn out, its more of a cross section of arty Shoreditch/Hoxton types, I’m probably the oldest and least hip person there, but no one makes an issue. Plus I guess I’m the only TG person too (though one guy’s denim playsuit is rather feminine) but hey, LGBT and all that. What is slightly surprising is the turn out, there’s 20 odd people, which is about right for the space, no that isn’t what was surprising, its the fact the Facebook page had over 100 “confirmed” attendees and similar amount of maybes. Actually it’s not really surprising, its very easy to click on a radio button on Facebook, much harder to actually turn up at an event.

Another surprise, some people where actually smoking, what smoking inside a pub! Actually I was a bit shocked, but I suppose this counts as a private club or party so people can get away with it and not that many people where lighting up anyway. Also it was quite quiet, not many people where talking, none of the usual pub/bar hubbub, people where mostly too busy drawing.

During a break a couple of people take pictures of the scene (not the model, he’s just there to be drawn), so I get my cam out and get a few mood pics as well. On to the 2nd glass of wine now, and a slice of the Beetroot and Dark Chocolate cake, which didn’t really taste much of beetroot, mostly chocolate but had an interesting texture, I liked it :)   The cakes and biscuits where home made, think the barman made them and there was tea and coffee too if you didn’t want to drink booze.

They bring out another model for the next session, another guy, the facebook page said they where going to have one male and one female (equality and balance, good) but either she was a no show or was on during the first hour (it started at 3 and I didn’t get there till 4) . He did a few quick poses, 5 minutes a time, then some longer ones. Felt a little rushed during the shorter poses, but during the longer ones, it was quite relaxing in a way, you do have to concentrate quite hard, but with the wine and cake, the hushed conversation and the music and it was rather peaceful. Music, ah yes, they did have a couple of people, one with a guitar and the other on percussion, to give us some live music for a while, but I sort of preferred the CD’s they had on, old (60’s) Blues, Soul and RnB, it worked very well, set a nice mood.

Anyway, here are a few of my sketches, not great, esp that one on the right, it has some very odd proportions.

At about 6pm people where starting to leave and I think I’d done enough drawing for the day (as I said, it was both relaxing but still required quite a lot of concentration) so I decided to go as well. The group said they would meet about every 2 weeks, can’t say I’ll be at every one, but I do intend to return.

Outside, had been sitting for a couple of hours, so feet where OK inside, but now, nooooo I really didn’t want to walk much, owwww. There’s a bus stop and a bus, where does go, Waterloo, that will do, I can get a bus home from there.

Ride the buses home, taking a few snaps along the way, well I like the city at night, the pics aren’t exactly stunning architecture images but I was sort of going for freekly reflections and short depths of field, I quite like them

Back to my neighbourhood, have food in the fridge, but don’t fancy it, pop into the takeaway for veggie fried rice on the way home instead. What did I say about moobs and wieght gain and stuff

Home and OMFG that’s a blister and a half, it must be like 5cm long, ouch, no wonder it hurt. How did it get so bad? Boots felt comfortable, guess it must of been friction and the thin ankle highs. Must wear proper socks or thick tights with these boots in future.

So on to the Gypsy Hotel? nope, no way, it’s half an hours walk, a late night on my feet and another half hour home, I can’t manage that, not with my foot like this, the Gypsy hotel eludes me again Stay in with my feet up, fire on, an indulge in my book the food more wine, before falling asleep with my makeup still on.

Hobble about a bit on Sunday, trying to find a place for lunch and a place for dinner next week.

Work is teh suck, manger wants me to get something new organised which is going to require multiple team to buy in and loads of paperwork and process, whereas he just seems to be fixing stuff and write new code, roles have got reversed a bit here. I hate trying to be people person, just doesn’t work, doesn’t help that I have slightly less authority and pull in the org structure than the cleaners have. That and the boss just went on holiday for 2 weeks, again. Still managed to get him to sign my holiday form so I could have Friday off.

So Friday, big girly day hitting the town and then the night spots, er no. Lie in, laundry, the wandering around the shops looking at snowboards, all in Ian mode thought about going snowboarding until I realised it was half term, so I just looked at kit instead, still thinking about the park board. Suppose I could of gone to London Freeze like last year, but there big comp was on Saturday and I had plans for Saturday.

Saturday, yeah those plans, well, just the Magic Theatre really, but doing it a little differently this time, no hotel, going down on the tube/train instead and hoping to get a Taxi back, hoping being the word, would they go that far? But that was the evening, daytime, well I suppose I could of dressed, but apathy meets cowardice and I stay in Ian mode. Did the bathe/shave thing first (Oh been a while since I defuzzed, feel better after) though, first proper tranny grade shade in a while, still required, the only affects of the laser appears to be spots, some quite big and not fully healed up, yuk

Try on the evening outfit early, (I won’t make that mistake again) its that black gothy one I wore for the Festival of Sins a few weeks ago, reusing the same outfit so soon? would be a fashion faux pas if it wasn’t for the fact a the two events don’t appear to share the same crowd (apart from me, can’t anyone else see how similar they are?) Still fits, just, swear the shirt has shrunk a bit in the wash (or I’ve got bigger), couple of slight glitches, the ring and one of the lace gloves I wore last time have gone missing, well the ring never fitted right anyway and I have a backup pair of gloves (bit old and a bit worn, I wear out lace gloves now?)  but thought I’d pop to Dalston to see if I can get replacements, that’s where I got the ring from originally and they have a costume shop for the gloves.

Costume shop is big and very busy but they don’t have the right gloves. Cheap jewellery stall in the shopping centre  doesn’t have the right sort of black/silver ring either. Poo. But Dotty Perkins does have the right sort of ring, fits better than the old one too and Shoe zone have that pair of low heel biker boots I’ve been after in a size 9, get them also.

Decide to try the other costume place in Islington for the gloves and find somewhere for lunch. Other costume shop is rammed, seems people are going mad for Halloween this year, I saw another fancy dress place in Soho with people queuing outside it on Friday. Is it just because it’s on a Saturday this year, or with the general doom and gloom around at the moment people want a night to dress up as someone else and forget their worries? But don’t I do that every weekend? But then again, is Helena really someone else? and is that a cause of the worries? Back to the plot, no gloves there either, will have to make do with the old ones.

While looking around for lunch notice the pubs have security on the door and are serving drink in plastic glasses, must be a match on today But it hasn’t started yet, so I should be able to escape it if I’m quick. Lunch turns out to be a cheese sandwich and a pint in the local Weatherspoons, which is cheap, but has all the atmosphere of a works canteen.

Noodle through the afternoon watching Dollhouse, really getting in to it,  before making up and changing. Makeup goes on OK I guess, heavier than usual, pale face, Loads of black around the eyes, MAC Dark side on the lips and then the outfit, well most of it, gloves, rig, hat and boots go in the rucksack, I’m travelling in flats, save the feet. Lash the cane to the rucksack to. Camera all fully charged, big 24-70mm, grip, bracket, SB900 and TTL cord turns big camera into a full on paparazzi machine gun, its size and weight of a machine gun too, fills the camera bag. So now I’ve got two big bags and still nowhere to put my money, emergency makeup and oyster card, so select a little patent leather (looking) handbag to pop the bits in that. No photo’s this time, this outfit has already had its shoot.

Add the big leather coat and I’m heavily loaded down, will be a bit of a trek. 7:30 lets go, plan was get the tube to Victoria and the Sevenoaks train from there, as it stops at Crofton Park, which, handily enough, is opposite the Rivoli ballroom. Original plan was to do it with Laura Handbag, who’d decided to come this time, but she’d emailed me earlier saying she was going to get a cab all the way, she was going with her partner, but she’d broken her leg recently and really couldn’t manage public transport. Solo mission it is then

Walk to the tube station, quite a few families out trick or treating. Pass one woman in a costume, she gives me that knowing little half smile, I’m clocked, but I guess since its Halloween, it’s OK. Get a couple of these sort of looks on the way, more than usual, I am more overdressed than average I suppose, but I think people where noticing people more today.

It wasn’t cold for October, but there was a little mist in the air, think the weather was getting in on theme. Sitting on the tube is awkward with all this kit and it’s a bit warm, but there’s no delay and we are at Victoria with enough time.

Have to ask someone to move away from the ticket machine, he just stood there faffing around in front of the machine after he bought his ticket. I knew I was on the Sevenoaks train, so what did I do, buy a ticket to Sevenoaks, Doh!, well it should get me to Crofton park, but cost a few quid more. Still its all much cheaper than Hotel + Taxi. Teenage girl notices me at the ticket machine as she passes and exclaims “Oh wow”, been clocked again hadn’t I, but again I guess she was exclaiming at the “bloke” in a elaborate “costume”. I wanted to think not all of it was a costume.

Takes 5 minutes for the platform to be announced, have to hang around, notice quite a few people in costumes coming and going so I guess I wasn’t that out of place. On the train, this is the right train isn’t it, there’s no announcements… Worry a little. Pass Battersea Power station where Freeze was still on, should I of gone there instead? Worry more as the trains seems to just trundle through south London. Worry a lot more after it hadn’t stopped for 10 minutes. But then it does, Denmark Hill, that’s the right first stop, and the little board on the platform says this is stopping at Crofton park, relief.

There’s three women in costume in nearby seats discussing this and that and one is struggling with a false eyelash. I over hear there destination, Crofton Park, oh, same as me, they can’t be going to the Rivoli can they? Turns out they where, saw them inside later, small world and all that.

Across the road (the station is directly opposite the ballroom) and we are at the Rivoli for 8:30, so public transport for the journey there seems to work OK and probably less than a tenner if you buy the right ticket. Queue up (a queue this early?), I wasn’t sure I was on the guest list this time, but Darren, one of the organisers,  pops out of a door and spots me and says I can skip the queue and just go in. Oh, I am on the guest list then

Use the little powder room next to the ladies to change into the full outfit. Boots are very being very awkward, well not the boots exactly, it’s the little gel pads (to try and stave of the inevitable pain) they won’t stay in place when I put the boots on, fiddle a few times before getting then sorted. Gloves and ring on and then tighten up the corset, always do that last, you can’t bend over afterwards. Can’t (won’t) do it up all they way, there’s a couple of inches left, that will do. Ask another girl in the powder room to tie it up for me, she obliges. Actually I think that was Rachel Green, not sure though, she wasn’t wearing a uniform. Hat on, cane out, dump the bags (lets warm up before getting the camera out) and coat in the cloakroom and make my entrance into the ballroom.

Wow busy isn’t it. Was a little worried about the turn out, several friends and acquaintances had said they weren’t coming for various reasons, so was a little afraid this sign of more general apathy or Theatre fatigue, but no, the place appears to be filling up nicely, even this early.

Find a few Roses, Debe, Emma and so and say hi before getting a drink. Bit of a queue for the bar this early, but the wine is still cheap and drinkable.  Chat for a bit, there’s a girl from Southampton who’s at the Rivolli for the first time, can’t remember her name, really sorry Wine disappears quickly.

There’s an even bigger queue for the 2nd glass, meet another first timer here and chat a little, until I a pat on my behind, Laura Handbag had arrived and that was her subtle introduction 2nd glass of wine, an my the place is filling up, there’s still a queue to get in, people are dancing already (proper dancing too, they knew what to do) and that queue for the bar is getting longer, its now out onto the dance floor. Time to get the camera out I think

There are loads of pics on my Flickr stream (90 in fact), head over to that to get them all, I’m not going to put them all here. Think perhaps the light was more interesting when I used the flash just on the cord, holding it away, but its just more convenient on the bracket. Kept the ISO to 1000, there isn’t much noise at this level on the D700, unless you have to push the exposure, which I did a few times, so I had to dial in a little noise reduction as well. On reflection usig higher ISO’s and slow shutter speeds to catch ambient light at the Rivloi is useless, as there’s bugger all on the dance floor when they take the lights down anyway, its almost dark.

One girl (GG, didn’t know her) offered to take my pic, I agreed, it was early on and I figured I would just look worse later. She didn’t really know how to use an SLR, and the pic came out a little over exposed, but that just hides the wrinkles.

No more pics of me, guess I wasn’t really feeling photogenic, though a few people did complement me on the outfit.

First photo sessions is a bit of a long one, I think, no watch on. Get quite a few shots, though not all where keepers. Always still a little shy about approaching people, not sure if this offends or not, do people think they are being snubbed by the photographer? Well a tiny few are if they don’t make an effort with the outfit and wear jeans, but is mostly just me being to shy, I don’t want to intrude. If you see me and want a picture, please ask. People skills again isn’t it.

Had enough of the photography for bit, put the camera away, lads working in the cloakroom are cheerful and helpful. Go back out, and oh, the entertainment is starting, oh, do I go back and get my camera? It’s a couple doing a dance Zahra Mansouri and George Tzoulas, oh my they are good, professionals. I think, you know I think I’ve seen the girl before, at an earlier MT, it’s the boots and how she moves in them I recognise, they are PVC thigh boots with a 5″ heel and she seems to barely touch the ground when dancing in them, she makes it look so effortless and I know from experience of  really high heels that it is so not effortless, even walking takes concentration, dancing like, that, phew! Big respect. Right have to get the camera.

Manage to get the cam before they finish and try to get pics. Is the camera fogging up? Pics are all blurry, well its hot in here, but that shouldn’t be a problem, what up? Ah that’s what’s up, the camera has been knocked into manual focus mode, bugger, little switch on the front does that. Switch back to autofocus but only manage to get a shot of their final pose

Oh Damm. I would liked to got more shots. But I find them later on, they are sports and pose for a few pics

Next act is a Burlesque performer, Miss Bijou Noir, more of a twisted burlesque, sort of dental nurse themed, with some er drills and fluids and the like. Unusual performance, but good never the less, works for Halloween.

3rd performer is a singer and ukulele player, Tricity Vogue performing he self styled Cheeky Jazz. We are back up on stage for this one. She had to cajole a few men to join here as banking dancers and air ukulele players. The entertainment at the Magic Theatre is never predictable.

After that, the DJ spins a couple more tunes and then the band comes on. Different band this time, Snakebone But sort of similar sounding to the usual Roadhouse 5, guitar player, drums, organ and two guys on Sax. They know what they are doing, great sound and the floor gets filled. Now is the time to have a little boogie . Tequila (the song not the drink I mean)

Queues for the bar had been building up, I was afraid it was going to get as bad at the Third Magic Theatre, with people queuing across the dance floor and getting unhappy. Was seriously thinking about popping out to the nearest off license. But then they opened the 2nd bar, haven’t seen that one before. Its on the opposite side of the ballroom, arranged and decorated differently, but still rather nice. The bar seems to have real glass too, not just plastic The 2nd bar solved the drink queue, nobody will be grumbling this time.

Go for another little photo session, its getting a little late, bit a warm and tired now, but should be able to manage. Outfit is warm, all the leather, but not a bad as last time and so I don’t really need to hang around outside to cool off, the fans do a good enough job.

Do also have a few little chats, not much though and its hard to talk with music on and I’m as dull as dishwater, best technique I think is to ask about them and let then let them do the talking. Quite a few familiar faces turn up, Laura, Sarah, Emma, Phillippa, Penny, Tanya etc (sorry if I forgot anyone) think I managed to at least say hello. Have to avoid one person though.

The Band plays a second set, and the DJ follows, have another bit of a boogie, mostly alone staring at my feet, seem to have to to keep balanced if I’m moving them around, don’t know why.

And that’s about it really, another good night at the Rivolli and the busiest Magic Theatre since III. This is also the first time I’ve been out on Halloween since I dunno when Get my stuff and its off with the damm boots. Its hard to unlace the left one, the laces are getting stuck in the hooks, I pulled one and it pulled the book a bit out of the leather, dammm, another I couldn’t shift. Mange to get the boots off and change into flats, but I’ve done some damage Think the problem I was dropping onto one knee to take pictures I was putting my weight on the boot as it lay on the floor and that compressed the hooks. Doh! Hopefully I can fix most of them with pliers, but aren’t sure if I can sort the one that pulled out a bit. And I really liked those boots Gloves, ring, hat back in the bag and loose the corset, arrhhhhhh (OK I did that half an hour earlier )

Laura had offered to share her and her partners cab back to Islington, but I have to wait until they are all ready, with a broken leg Leslie can’t move fast. By the time we are at the cab office, there’s a queue and the can controller says it will be 45 minutes wait until one is available. Damm. We should of got out early to beat the rush. Lesie can’t hang around on the street on an October night for three quarters of an hour, Laura tries to persuade the controller into assigning a cab, but she can’t, well if all the cars are out already he can’t just get another one. Guess we have to wait.

But we didn’t have to wait in the cold, turns out there’s a bit of an after party going on in the Mr Lawrence wine bar around the corner didn’t think it would be open this late. We join Frances (from Lola) and another girl I don’t know and grab a little table in the corner of the now very very busy wine bar. I get a round of drinks in, but as I’m having my second or third dainty sip of wine, Laura comes in and says she’s got a cab. Woot. Down the rest of the wine in one, well I ain’t wasting it.
 
Cab ride is OK (not much room in the back), and the night, the dancing, the venue and the state of London drivers after midnight is discussed. though the driver and Leslie both refer to me as male The can takes Laura’s partner home as she is the one who can’t walk well, with Laura and me jumping out a little early to walk to our respective ends of Islington. Left some cash for the cab, wasn’t cheap, but still cheaper than the hotel room. I’m glad they will take people this far, getting home from the Rivoli shouldn’t be a problem in the future. Lovely to see you again Laura, hope you will come to future Magic Theatres.

Get a comment from a passing man as I get out the cab. walk home, via a kebab shop for chips and pitta, well I’d been dancing and lugging the camera around and only had some salad for dinner. Guy in the Kebab shop calls me Sir.  Nope, no passing done today, sometimes it works (a little) and sometimes it just doesn’t. Walk home with my chips. By the time I’m cleaned up and ready for bed its nearly 3, long day, don’t get out of bed again till 10.

Sunday, its raining all day and I don’t feel like going out. Takes most of the day to process the pictures anyway, with a little time for the last episode of Dollhouse. Glad there’s a season 2, when is it out on DVD?

Also a few hairs got ejected, well it was that or the little black bits on my face where fallout from last nights mascara. Yeah think it was hair, so the laser did something. But not a lot, it was a couple of dozen at most.

Next week, have some options on new things, might even be drawing?