Glad the fun is getting more local

You know, ever since I first exited my cocoon some three years ago and heard my heels clicking across the real world, I’ve been wanting to meet as many girls like me as I can and make new friends. Thanks originally to Angels I managed to meet people from all over the UK and in my first year of leaving my own home dressed I went to such far-flung places as Salisbury, Manchester, Leeds, Portsmouth, Brighton and Milton Keynes. But a night out in, say, Nottingham, Manchester or Leeds costs £150-£200 when you take train fares and hotel rooms into account. That’s crazy and has always left me longing for something similar in London. However, apart from poor-quality clubs like Way Out or Trannyshack, or going out with the Boudettes (which will also set you back a lot), there really isn’t a T scene here in London. In many ways that reflects the fact that you don’t need one, that you can go anywhere and do anything that anyone else does, without fear. But it’s made it very hard to meet others like me. Things may be changing now as I consider my next London lunch. There are two dozen fairly local girls I can email now to see if they want to join me, and I’ve managed to make contact with the Brick Lane Set, as you know, and now a new group, TG London, who like to visit museums. TG London’s events have so far kept clashing with other stuff I’m doing but I will get out with them soon.

So, late afternoon Wednesday of last week, I met up again with the fabulous Pippa and her fabulous-for-other-reasons friend Amanda for a spot of shopping in Covent Garden. Now Amanda is a normal girl about town, whereas Pippa likes to stand out. This was, I believe, Pippa's first ever proper shopping excursion, which is a special moment in the life of any TGirl. Well done, babe. It was fun to be with you and share your excitement.

Pippa and Amanda negotiating the cobbles in Covent Garden. Pippa's photo.

Anyway, the cobbles of the square in Covent Garden were not what a girl in five inch heels needs so we took Pippa to the Globe for a drink and were joined by my old pal Kimberley, who is looking really beautiful these days. So after Pippa went off to glam up even further for Trannyshack, Kim and I went for dinner, and afterwards dropped in on Joanne working hard behind the bar at the Cambridge. I had a serious work project the next day so there was no prospect of a return to Trannyshack. Just as well, as the North African guy (see previous post) had made a particular request that he come home with me after my next visit! I’m playing hard to get.

And then on Friday I went back to Brick Lane and was delighted to meet up with my pal Angela visiting from the Isle of Wight, Irene and Rachel again, and meet Joanne Tran and Rebecca George for the first time, both of whom I’d heard much about. Here we all are in Verge.

Verge Bar 22/3/13. l-r: Rebecca, Rachel, Irene, me, Angela, Joanne. Rebecca's photo.

And then we eschewed the Mexican and chewed the curry at City Spice where Rachel blagged three free bottles of wine from our favourite tout. To be honest, the chicken goa which I had with coconut rice was beautiful and in a street where many of the Indian restaurants are much of a muchness, this is not a bad place at all, despite the dubious practice of touting for trade. Here we all are:

Stuffing ourselves at City Spice. Rebecca's photo.

It was too cold for the usual photo outside and we all wended our ways. But I was glad to have had two opportunities to get away from the desk last week and to meet local girls. Rebecca in particular lives quite close to me so it would be nice to meet up with her again soon. At last, a local TGirl after three years of hunting! To be honest, my local LGBT group are nice boys, but I’m the only TGirl among the gay chaps and so it’s not so great for me.

It was perishing cold and, even with my longest skirt, heaviest boots and all sorts of warm underthings (which are not for discussion), I was frozen waiting for trains and buses home. Which is why I decided not to go to the Magic Theatre on Saturday. Such a shame, but it’s a two and a half hour journey home from there by night buses, and I ain’t doing that in sub-zero temperatures in a party outfit! A pity as I wanted to say hi to many girls there: Helen Essex and Ria Lacey especially, and have fun with Angela and Irene again. Oh well, there’ll be other opportunites. And at least and at last I now know local girls I can go out with regularly and get to sleep in my own bed afterwards and not fork out a fortune. Those Notts and Lancs girls are fabulous, but this local social stuff is beginning to work for me, especially as my lifelong friends are also more than happy to come out with me as Sue.

Forthcoming highlights: shopping with ‘real’ girls; being religious and trans (heavy); weekend lunch with the ladies; preps for Sparkle and Erotica; more artworks; new London venues blog. Let’s face it, this blog is surely better than your super soaraway Sun, or the Daily Mail.

Sue x