Ok, this write-up is late … very late. But there are reasons
for that.
In June I decided to take a proper two-week summer holiday,
the first in some years, in fact. Part of that was a trip to Manchester to meet
up with a few TGirls of my acquaintance. Manchester does seem to have the best
T scene overall in Britain, focused on Canal Street and the Gay Village.
I booked into the Atrium apartments near Canal Street and
was delighted to be given this massive flat, a penthouse, that would happily
have slept four people. I didn’t ask for it, it’s just that business must have
been slow that week. So it was good to entertain friends there.
First a trip to town to get supplies. Nobody much seemed to
notice the TGirl about town. They’re probably all too busy with their own
affairs. Or maybe I’m passing OK these days. A bit of both, probably.
Then I smartened up in my smart apartment and invited KD,
Kate and Suki over for a drink before we went to Canal Street. Dinner in
Velvet, which I haven’t eaten in before but which does a very good menu. Said
hi to Priya (of the TGirl bar), who was also eating there. We headed to the
Molly House for a while which, as I’ve said before, is probably the best
establishment in the Gay Village. And then off to Napoleon’s for a bit of a
dance. There was, just for once, one admirer there who had some conversation
and a reasonable dress sense, which made a pleasant change! So that was an
enjoyable day.
Relaxed dinner in Velvet, Manchester. KD's photo. |
The next day my face wasn’t at all well and I mainly rested
until the afternoon when I once more met KD and her wife, whom I hadn’t seen
for quite a while, which is a pity since we get along very well. I often find
supportive wives of TGirls particularly good company and whilst it is true that
most don’t understand why TGirls are who they are and do what they do (as if we
TGirls know!), and almost invariably wish that their husband wasn’t trans, I do
think they enjoy the company and the fun, especially as most of us act way
younger than our years. Anyway, enough musing. We met up with Diana, whom I
hadn’t seen in ages and it was great to catch up with her at last. (Sadly,
Diana seems to have deleted her blog.) We went to the Richmond Tea Rooms for a
late tea (or early pudding course, if you like). This place is pretty unique,
half Victorian tea room, half gin palace, very eccentric but with excellent
food and tea. We had a meal in Taurus but the previous late night was still
taking it’s toll and, sadly, I decided to go to bed at a sensible hour. Hey, my
luxury apartment needed full use, and I intended to get my money’s worth!
More casual tonight: with KD in Manchester. KD's photo. |
KD’s written about these two days, too: http://kaydenisepublicblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/wasted-time-and-quality-too.html
So as a couple of days to catch up with friends, this trip
was worth doing. The weather was beautiful, too, so sitting out on Canal Street
with a cool drink, having a chat, was very agreeable. Obviously, I was back in
July for Sparkle but I don’t know when I will next be back in Manchester and
its T scene. It’s a long way from home so inevitably I can't visit that often.
Many thanks to KD and MR, Kate and Suki, Diana and the other girls and boys we met and chatted with for making it such an agreeable two days.
Many thanks to KD and MR, Kate and Suki, Diana and the other girls and boys we met and chatted with for making it such an agreeable two days.
Sue x