Retrospect - Leaving the Closet Behind -4

It's been a while since my last instalment in this series so I thought it was about time I returned to it. In the meantime I've been away on holiday in Cornwall with my good friends Lucy and Mandy and this has been the subject of three blog postings.

A Day Out in Bosham and Arundel with Jane

After our day out at Winkworth in November, Jane and I agreed that we must have another one again soon and preferably before Christmas. However, domestic pressures for both of us meant that it was February before we could arrange a date.  After some discussion we decide to meet at Bosham, which is an ancient village within Chichester Harbour in West Sussex.

Bosham has a number of historical claims to fame and is actually depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry. These days is is a lovely waterside village which is joy to wander around at leisure. I've done this so many times in male mode, but this would be my first time there as Susan.



Together with Jane in Bosham

Jane and I met up as agreed in the car park and from here made our way into the village. Our first stop was the village's church which has origins going back to Saxon times. I've been into this this church many time before but I don't recall ever seeing it quite so busy with other tourists. But we enjoyed our visit and then headed out towards the waterside where we started a long walk around the harbour.
This actually dries out at low tide and is used as a temporary car park. However, woe betide any motorist who forgets the incoming tide and although I've never seen it myself, there have been many cases of waterlogged cars.


There's also a public footpath across the harbour which must be very rare indeed. As it was dry we took advantage of the chance to cross the harbour on foot. However, having done so we returned via the longer but landward route.

But this was February and by now both of us were feeling the cold. Although I had made sure of wearing plenty of layers and a nice warm coat, I'd opted for light nylons and my legs were beginning to complain. So we decided to leave Bosham and head inland and East to Arundel.



Swanbourne Lake, Arundel

One of Jane's favourite places is Swanbourne Lake, which is located in Arundel Castle Park and is open to the public without charge. As well as a delightful lake and walks, there is also a tea room. We parked in the riverside car park and made our way along to the lake. Once there, of course, the photos started - well, what else are two women going to do in such lovely surroundings.

Sadly though, we hadn't been there long when the rain started and as we were some way from our cars we had no option but to head back to the car park. By the time we had, the rain had really set in and we felt we had no real option but to call and end to our day out. We said our goodbyes and headed off home.

On the way I stopped at Wiggonholt church which is located near Pulborough by the Pulborough Brooks on the River Arun. The weather was slightly better here and I felt I needed a bit more Susan time. Wiggonholt is one of those Sussex villages where the settlement has long disappeared leaving just the church and perhaps a farm or two. There are quite a few such places and it's one of my personal delights to discover and explore such places.


Wiggonholt Church

The church itself dates from the 12th century and is largely unaltered. Unusually, although by no means unique, it doesn't have any particular dedication, although it might have had once and knowledge of it has been lost over time. I managed to spend a while enjoying the quiet solitude of the interior before making sure of some photos of myself outside. Then, with the daylight fast disappearing it was finally time to call it a day and head home.
 



Return to the Snowdrops



Lamberhurst Snowdrops

In a previous blog I related how I made a visit to Lamberhurst in Kent in late January to see the display of snowdrops in the churchyard. I'd usually expected to see them at their best in late February but as the displays nearer home seemed to be earlier this year, I brought forward my visit. However, it was far too early and I had been disappointed. So, having resolved to return in late February and just two days after my day out with Jane, it was into my best country girl outfit and off to Lamberhurst.

This time I was to be anything but disappointed. The display was, as ever, a delight. We are so fortunate to be able to enjoy these "early bird" flowers which are usually the first thing to come into bloom as we emerge from the deepest part of our winter. Quite why Lamberhurst Churchyard should have such a rich carpet is not something I've been able to find out. But at the end of the day I'm just glad they are there and that this year I was able to enjoy them in my chosen gender.



A Big First on a Sunny Day

It had been a busy week for me with Jane on the Saturday and my snowdrop expedition on the Monday. Now it was Thursday and time for a Femesque Cheese and Wine Party. This was the first one of the new year and I had determined that the day was going to be a special one. Some months before a good friend had suggested to me that a good way of breaking the ice as far as shopping as a woman was concerned was to wander into a branch of Marks and Spencer and buy something. M&S have a reputation within the UK TG community of being very  trans friendly. So in some respects it is considered by more experienced girls to be "easy". However, for a newbie like me it felt like like a mountain to climb.

I found that M&S had an out of town store at Sandhurst, not too far from Femesque. Like many such stores, it is a joint venture with Tesco and boasts quite a large car park. Having found a space and parked my car, and assured a little European gentleman that I didn't want my car washed, I made my way to the cash machines. These were very busy and I had to queue for a while. Doing so in such mixed company when you're already very nervous is not something I'd have wished for. But on the other hand these things have to be done if you're going to be out in the big wide world and having done so without problems I found it gave me quite a lift.

So, on into M&S and shopping for the first time as a woman. When you've been used to buying female clothing whilst in male mode shopping as a woman comes as a very pleasant surprise. What you get is an overriding feeling of actually belonging,. You become totally engrossed in checking out clothes and seeing what's available. Holding up a dress against yourself in front of a mirror is one such treat. I wonder how many of us would dare do that when dressed as a man?

The only problem for me this day was that there wasn't anything in particular that I wanted. This didn't stop me having a good look around, but I desperately wanted to make as purchase as Susan. Of course you can never have too many slips, or at least that's what I believe. So I found a nice little medium length full slip in my size and went to buy it. That was easy enough of course with the sales lady being very nice, as you would expect.



Me and the Duke

Mission Accomplished! I'd been shopping as Susan and enjoyed every second of it. But I needed something for lunch so I headed for the food hall and bought a sandwich. On the way back through the store I was approached by an earnest young lady who called me "Madam" and asked if I could help her with a survey. Instinctively I turned her down with a smile and a shake of the head.  Later on I regretted not speaking to her as it would have been an interesting experience. However, I'd been called "Madam" for the first time in my life and that was priceless!

All this took place on a very sunny and indeed warm February day and was characteristic of the strange weather patterns we've experienced in 2012. I had some time to kill before I had to be at Femesque and so after having a drive around I stopped in Aldershot alongside a massive statue of the Duke of Wellington and together we posed for some photos in the gorgeous winter sunshine. This statue had originally been located in central London but had been to this location in 1885.

Soon it was on to Femsque for another pleasant evening, but for me the day would remain unmatched by the fact that I'd taken another step out of the closet. There was still some way to go but I knew I was moving in the direction I wanted. There's more to come soon........

Thank you for reading this

Susan XXX