Halloween at the Magic Theatre

I’d heard much about this occasional event, Magic Theatre, at the Rivoli Ballroom in South East London and thought it worth going to see what it was all about. The Halloween ball is said to be the biggest event of the year so it seemed like it would afford the best taste of the experience.

I met up with three friends, Joanne, Tiff and Mrs Tiff for a bite to eat, at the Victoria pub in Peckham, where the Halloween theme was being taken seriously. We arrived fairly early at the Rivoli Ballroom. I must look up the history of this venue as it is located in the most unlikely part of London, a quiet suburb, not really anywhere. Why it was built there of all places merits investigation (in a nerdy moment sometime). We were wise to get drinks and a table immediately at one of the bars as it became clearer later in the evening that Rivoli bar queuing may well become an Olympic endurance sport. I heard a rumour that there were 700 people there. Although a Halloween themed ball, it was clear that any reasonable – and preferably flamboyant – outfit was acceptable. The very few people who turned up in jeans stood out badly. Everybody is there largely to check out each other’s efforts in the costume department. Now, I thought that my black satin and net dress with long spiderweb gloves and tights was suitably exotic, but I was pretty underdressed compared to most! I think the devilish Klingons win my prize for best outfit, but there were some gorgeous Frankenstein’s brides, a very sexy black cat, Darth Vader, and plenty of devils who were certainly hot! The place is obviously a magnet for T-girls – honestly, those trannies get everywhere!

It was nice to see other friends there, notably Irene, Stella and Mrs Stella, and also to have a brief word with the lovely Jodie Lynn who helped me with ideas on makeup and clothes in my very early days as a T-girl when I was visiting her Boudoir dressing service.

A live band, burlesque acts, dance music and an after party at the bar down the road made for a fabulous evening. The ladies’ powder room is attractive (but negotiating the loo with all that gear on is an undertaking!) and the cloakroom is efficient enough. I’d had to work during the day (unexpectedly) which meant that I couldn’t keep going as long as the others, which is annoying. 

All in all, an event well worth attending. Next time, though, I shall have to wear something seriously flamboyant! This is just too ordinary!

 Sue x

A fun weekend in London

A friend of mine, Tina, came to stay to do a bit of sightseeing in London. So we went off to Westminster, where there are some sights to see, and saw them. More importantly (and you can see where my priorities always are!) we had a cappuccino at Vergnano’s on the South Bank, where the coffee is always perfect, a drink before lunch at Chandos pub off Trafalgar Square and lunch itself in Bistro One in Frith St where the quality/price ratio is the best anywhere. I can’t do anything unless my stomach is full!

We went home to change into posh frocks for the evening, a good plan in the end as I haven’t worn my best dress for a year and it was great to have an opportunity to do so. Tina loved the view from Waterloo Bridge by night, which is spectacular as you can see Westminster one way and the City and Docklands on the other with the South Bank close by. We met Helena and found a decent pub, Nell of Old Drury opposite the Theatre Royal, and were joined there by Joanne. I’d booked Sarastro’s, a very quirky, fun but good quality restaurant, and managed to get us a balcony table. Had a fantastic dinner (I recommend the duck confit; the lamb Anatolian – i.e. lamb shank - seems to be their signature dish and that’s very good, too). The gypsy band played that evening (some nights they have opera, others jazz) and the girls seemed to enjoy it very much.

Sarastro's restaurant. L to R: Tina, Helena, Joanne and me

Afterwards Joanne took us to the Cambridge pub, which was quite full, and we stood at a table chatting to some young, pretty, female Austrian students. I rather wish I was young, pretty and female (I’d be happy to be Austrian too if that was a condition). Oh well! I try to live that dream in as much as I can.

That was Friday. On Sunday a friend, Grace, came over to dress. It was her first time out and she was inevitably nervous (I can’t say I’m free of nerves myself) but we went to catch the tube by quiet back streets, hardly meeting anyone so she could get used to being out as a woman bit by bit. The first tube train was quiet, the second gradually filled up, and I thought that was a good build up. We had time for a coffee (I really do recommend Vergnano’s, this one in the Charing Cross Road!)

Off to the Cambridge for the official Angels Sunday Lunch. Joanne was working behind the bar. Ange met us there and we had a drink downstairs before venturing up the dining room. The food is good there and the portions are gigantic. The shoulder of lamb that Grace had looked especially filling. My roast duck wasn’t bad. Joanne knocked off at 3 for an hour so we just sat chatting while she ate, then we went for a stroll through Chinatown and Covent Garden. The thing about central London is that most people are concerned with their own business and are not interested in a group of T-girls wandering about, which is one of the many reasons why I love living here. Grace and I had a drink whilst waiting for the tube to empty a bit before venturing home.

I feel privileged to have been asked by another girl to accompany her on her first trip out into the world. Especially when she is such pleasant company. Grace has written at length about this day in her own blog and her assessment of her feelings are something that all T-girls should read, especially those about to venture out for the first time. [Link: Grace: Stepping out the door]

All in all a very nice weekend.

Sue x

 

Hell Bunny dress

Sometime one promises oneself something and it takes for ever to get round to it. But this time I've fufilled a promise, which was to buy a Hell Bunny dress, a style which I love. I suppose it's not happened yet as I've had no reason to buy. But now I've got tickets to the Magic Theatre hallowe'en ball I've had the perfect excuse. I spotted this beautiful item at Camden Lock and I knew I had to have it. It fits perfectly. Mmmm!!! Now for some spider web tights and gloves.

Sue x

That ache

It is often hard to describe feelings and emotions, but I shall try to explain what goes through my head and heart when I see an attractive woman.

The male inclination in me wants to talk to her, maybe ask her out, wonder what she's like to hold, kiss, make love to ... So far, so typically male. But the female side of me is also working furiously and wants to know where she got her clothes, is her makeup working, whether she'd make a good friend ... And then there's the transgender wonderings: what is it like to be her? how I could become like her?

The feelings don't compete, but in a way compliment each other. Yet the ache that these feelings cause, particularly the strong ache that makes me wish to be accepted as a woman like her, can be truly terrible, distressing my mind and searing my chest.

Being transgendered is very bittersweet.

Sue x

So little time!

I haven't posted for nearly two weeks. Have I nothing to say?

Er, no. Rather the opposite. It's just that time seems to be at a premium for everything these days. There's so much that I'd like to do, yet time is something that has to be parcelled out carefully. I've no idea what the solution is, unless it involves higher dimensions, or dumping some interests. Bah!

Sue x

London Angels Sunday lunch

At last, after several weeks without a chance to go out, I managed to have a good day in London with girlfriends

I got up early for a Sunday to put my face on as Lizzie was coming over to get ready as she is not ‘out’ in her lodgings and needed somewhere to get dressed. I was impressed with the speed at which she got ready - it takes me ages! - so we were able to get out earlier than planned. We took the tube to Leicester Square where we had cappuccinos in Vergnano’s in the Charing Cross Road. It's my favourite café simply because of the quality of the coffee. We then went to the Cambridge pub on Cambridge Circus (where the Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue cross). My friend Joanne was behind the bar.

The girls gathered one by one and we moved upstairs to the dining room. The food was good and the plates piled high – I had Sunday roast and veg with enormous quantities of chicken. I also had a warm chocolate brownie and ice cream, which was delicious. We drank merlot and pinot grigio blush, both acceptable. It's a pity that Joanne was working till 3 and so couldn't eat with us.

  

[Left to right: Petra, Helena, Tanya, me, Joanne, Ange, Lizzie]

After lunch we went shopping in Covent Garden and stopped for a cup of tea at La Roche Café in St Martin's Lane. Lizzie, Tanya and I then went for a stroll in St James’s Park which was beautiful in the early autumn sunshine. I'd not met Tanya before today but found her very pleasant company and her dress from Karen Millen was gorgeous. Tanya went for her train and Lizzie and I went to the Chandos pub for a short while to wait for the tube to empty a little before returning to my home. 

I was glad to be able to give Lizzie an opportunity to dress and come out with the girls and I hope I'll be seeing more of her. I have to say for my part, after pretty much six weeks with little femme time, I was delighted to be out and about again. It felt so right, and despite earlier apprehension for many reasons, I almost immediately became very contented and relaxed. I can see another full shopping day is needed very soon - and a notification of another Debenhams sale has just dropped through my letterbox!

Sue x

[Update 16/8/20: Surnames have been removed from this post as some girls would prefer greater anonymity now that they have transitioned.]

My first job!

I've been thinking carefully about getting a part-time job where I will be taken on as a woman. And whilst musing on this matter what should crop up but vacancies for barmaids, hostesses and walkabouts at Erotica 2011 at London's Olympia Exhibition Centre.

OK, so it's not quite along the lines I was considering but it'll be a laugh to work at this event as it strikes me as being a terribly British showcase of adult lifestyle products. Putting concepts like "British" and "adult lifestyle" together rather appeals to my love of incongruity! In fact, I feel working there may be like being an extra on the Benny Hill Show! And who could resist that?

Well, I certainly intend to enjoy my time encouraging visitors to attend the trans bar and make them more aware of trans life. And as my friends Stella, Chrystal and Holly have also been taken on, it'll be a happy, friendly event. I like those!

Sue x

Honorary Babe

For the last few weeks I've been invited to join a group of four attractive women at my local pub for the quiz night. They only know me in my male role as yet. However, last time I joined them we splashed out on a couple of bottles of rosé wine, our team did well and we were happy and pleased at the end of the evening. So they declared me an "honorary babe"!

Now, if I was a man I'd be embarrassed or irritated at the remark. In fact, I am totally delighted. It's a bit like being awarded an honorary degree!

Maybe it won't be long before they accept me as Sue, as much a babe as any cute natal girl.

Sue x

A day out at last

I haven't been out doing my usual kind of shopping and socialising for three weeks, mainly because of work, and I was getting a bit desperate. Fortunately I managed to meet up with my friend Joanne for a relaxed lunch at Boulevard in Wellington St, Covent Garden.

Mixed salad starter, tasty cold trout fillet and perfect potato salad, followed by a very smooth chocolate tart. The white rioja was quite lemony and went very well with the fish. The service was friendly and good and the bill came out at what I call mid-price (about £30). Recommended.

London was relatively quiet - maybe people are leaving their return from holiday till the last minute. We parted company after a bit of browsing in shops and I strolled slowly to the National Gallery which I haven't visited for a while, and never before in girl mode. There's something about 15th century Italian painting that's very calming - everything seems so still, even the scenes of tragedy.

I went home reasonably early and was pleasantly surprised by a man at my local station who asked me, "Do you have a cigarette, love?" I don't smoke so couldn't oblige (just as well as he was pretty scruffy) and that was the end of our conversation, but it seemed somewhat affirming.

Back to work tomorrow, my last full-time week, which I'm glad of. But it was good to get out and about at last.

Sue x

I love a good wedding

I'm still on a high from last week's wedding which was probably the most enjoyable I've ever attended.

Yes, the setting was fabulous and there were lots of people I know there and there was cake and champagne and happy emotion. And that was all lovely.

But maybe what makes weddings really special is that everyone has scrubbed up well and are all wearing their best clothes. That's uncommon these days, which is something of a pity. There's a lot to be said for comfy leggings and loose tops, but an occasion calls for something altogether more attractive. Wedding guests' lovely dresses and their smart shoes are a joy to see, and a bride in her beautiful gown and perfect hair and flawless makeup on the happiest day of her life is something really special.

Am I superficial? Well, maybe. But all I know is, I love a good wedding.


Sue x