Spring is Going to be a Little Late this Year

Well, that's a statement that's going to cause little or no surprise to anyone living in the UK. Spring 2013 started on the 1st March or the 20th March (Spring Equinox) depending on your opinions/beliefs. However, writing this in the last days of March it's hard to remember what spring is actually like.



It's a Cold Spring

According to the meteorologists a strong high pressure system to the north of the country is bringing cold Arctic air down across the country and preventing warmer air coming up from the south. Thankfully here in the SE of England we've been spared the awful weather that has hit so many northern parts. For a time last weekend it seemed that we were going to have our share of snow too, but by Monday that threat had passed. But the cold winds persist and this ensures a high wind-chill factor which makes it feel as if temperatures are permanently sub-zero. On higher ground you can still see the remains of snow drifts that fell nearly three weeks ago.

Mother nature seems to be reacting badly to all this with spring bulbs far from their best and indeed many still not in bloom. What's more there is hardly any sign of leaves starting to appear on the trees. I've been comparing photos taken a year ago with the current levels of vegetation and I would estimate that spring this year is running about 10 days behind last year.

So, how does this affect your average trans woman? I suppose that depends on how much cold weather you can endure because it's all too easy to prefer the warmth of your home to the chill winds of outdoors. As a dual role (or part time) trans woman, it's all too easy to get out of the habit of going out at this time of the year. So therefore I try to make a deliberate attempt to go out one day a week as Susan, regardless of whether I need to or not. But it's not always easy.

Last week I didn't really want to go out on the day I'd picked. I was tired from the day before and I had more than plenty to get on with in the warm surroundings of home. This coupled with the fact that I couldn't actually think of anywhere to go made it rather difficult. However, in the end I settled on a brief shopping trip to Redhill in Surrey. It's not a big shopping centre but it does have a medium sized Marks & Spencer and a range of other shops. I've been there many times before in male mode and it's a place that's always struck me as a bit on the "tough" side, so I felt a little wary.

But it was ok, even if I wasn't there too long. I picked up a few pairs of knickers in M&S (a girl can never have too many) and then had a general wander around. I think I was aware of one "reading" but didn't feel threatened at all. Then it was back home to the warm and all those jobs I should have been doing.

Today was my day this week for going out and once more it was very cold and I couldn't think of where to go. I know I must be in need of some warm weather, just like all of us. Yesterday brought us quite a lot of sunshine although it was still cold. This morning as I opened the curtains in my nightie (strange place to have curtains) the sunshine flooded in and I could feel the warmth all around me. Then I realised the heat was coming from the radiator in front of my legs. Back to reality............

The problem of where to go was partially solved when someone pushed a booklet through my door extolling the virtues of our local countryside and inviting me to explore it. I've always felt that I know my local countryside very well but this booklet had a few surprises. One of them was the "Toad Rock", near Tunbridge Wells in Kent. This is an outcrop of sandstone that has been weathered over the centuries into a form which looks like a giant toad sitting on a rock.



Me and "Mr Toad"

So, that was one place to go and another destination came from the local television news which featured a new modern sculpture that had been unveiled in Mayfield parish church, not far from Tunbridge Wells. So, that would do as another place to visit.

The Toad rock is located on the common at Rusthall, just west of Tunbridge Wells. I've long lost count of the number of times I've driven past the village and not knowing this feature was there. In fact, it took me a few goes before I found the right place. But having done so I went to see it and of course get some photos.

Whether or not it does look like a toad is something you'll have to decide for yourselves, but regardless of that it is a strange looking formation and no doubt this has encouraged people to attribute the likeness to it.



Winter, err, Spring on Ashdown Forest

I had been tempted to call in at Tunbridge Well's retail park whilst in the area, but it does have a fearful reputation for traffic jams and being the last day before Easter I thought better of it and so headed south towards Mayfield. Being an old village it has something of a parking problem with many of the roads badly clogged with parked cars. Thankfully I found a free car park (yes! - free) with some spaces. The sculpture in the church was very modern but somehow seems to fit in. For those interested there is a short local news item here.






From here I made my way home via one of my old favourites, Ashdown Forest. On a "spring" day like this there wasn't a great deal of attraction in the place. I got the impression that the gorse was far from being in the sort of bloom you'd expect by now. And of course it was very cold up there. Still, I managed a few photos, followed by an ice cream from the seller who seems to be there regardless of how cold it is. That still went down well with some chocolate I'd picked up in Mayfield. Not exactly a healthy nutritious meal, but it did me the power of good.

Regardless of the cold it was an enjoyable if brief day out. I'm finding it important to get out on a regular basis, if only to maintain my confidence levels. The last year has seen me making a lot of progress, thanks in so many ways to help from others. It would be awful after all that to let it slip away by default. With the Easter break upon us and with family commitments the next week or so may be difficult. But in two weeks I've got a long week away with friends and then I'll have all the Susan time I wish.

Thank you for reading this.

Susan XXX

An Interesting Day Out

As I mentioned in my previous post a painful knee was one factor the prevented me from getting out for a few weeks. But by mid-March I'd had enough and decided I was getting out for the day, come what may. Having decided that the Thursday of the week was the day to go out, what did come on the Monday was a very heavy fall of snow which caused disruption all over the South-East. But, I was determined about this and I told myself that I was going to get dressed and made up on Thursday morning, regardless of whether I could get out of the front door or not. As it turned out, Thursday was the best day of the entire week, so my luck was in.

Where to go?

There is a view that's been expressed in TG circles that it is a good idea when going out to have an aim or objective in mind. This helps to focus the mind and perhaps overcome those nerves that can plague us. It's something I always try to do but on this occasion I just couldn't come up with any idea of what I wanted to do. The weather forecast seem to indicate that it would be warmer in the West, but only just. But it was enough to give me a direction.

Eventually I decided to head for Midhurst in West Sussex, have a wander around the shops and then head into the countryside. As it was, whilst putting my makeup on I realised that I was starting to run low on foundation so, I would head for Boots in Midhurst and buy a replacement. That's rather a long way to go for something I could obtain almost anywhere but at least the day was beginning to take on some direction.

The main route into central West Sussex is via the A272. That might just sound like another UK route number but in these parts it is rather notorious. A glance at a map will show that it stretches from a junction with the A267 in East Sussex to a similar one with the A30 in Hampshire. So it could be said to connect two un-regarded road junctions in the middle of nowhere some 70 miles apart (as the crow flies). In some places the road is made up of good straight former turnpike roads, but in other places it is no more that a series of signposts through small villages and towns. There was a story going around in the 1980s that in the event of the UK getting involved in a continental war the road would be closed to normal traffic and used to move the military to the channel ports. The mind boggles at how the road would have coped with that sort of traffic!

But of course if you want to go west without the delights of the M25 or the Folkestone - Honiton Trunk Road (known around here as the A27) and you're not in too much of a hurry then it is not a bad option. And it does have the advantage of connecting a number of large size towns, as well as the City of Winchester. It was my choice on this occasion, helped by the fact that it passes through the ancient streets of Midhurst. (Try and imagine a fleet of tank transports making their way through here.)

The drive to Midhurst wasn't too bad on this day and a pleasant surprise awaited in the car park when I discovered that the first two hours were free. It's only a year since I was last here and I don't recall free parking then. So, perhaps this is indeed a very rare case of public parking charges actually being reduced! Having sampled this delight I set off for the shops and it was now that something odd and unwelcome happened.

My confidence and spirits had been high all day but now I felt my nervousness increasing and my self confidence plummeting. Quite why this was happening is hard to understand, but other trans women in my position agree that it is not unusual. The only thing you can do in these circumstances is to face it down and just get on with it. To make matters worse, as I arrived at Boots a large crocodile of school children arrived from the opposite direction, under the supervision of teachers, and stopped for an impromptu local history lesson outside the shop.

Groups of children are something that we tend to be wary of, mainly because of there lack of inhibition in the presence of something out of the ordinary. But given such a large group, even under supervision, I was dreading that some of them might pick me out and come out with unwanted comments. Consequently I was relieved to get inside the shop. I soon found he item I was after and as a bonus I also obtained a new eyebrow pencil I had been unable to obtain elsewhere. But when I went to pay I was a bundle of nerves and at one point found it difficult to get the money out of my purse.



Sunshine in Midhurst

The most annoying aspect of this "nervous attack" was the fact that it was entirely self-induced. There had been nobody causing me any problems - even the school crocodile outside Boots had appeared to ignore me. In such situations I find it's just best to push on and hope that my confidence returns. So I left Boots (crocodile still outside) and wandered up the high street taking in a few shops including the usual charity outlets and a general clothes shop which must one of the most over stocked and untidiest one I've ever been in.

Heading back down the high street I stopped at a coffee shop for a much needed latte. By this time my nerves were easing but still not as I would wish. But I wanted a drink and at times like this I find that determination often overcomes nerves. Once again I was treated well and I enjoyed my coffee indulging bin a spot of people-watching through the coffee shop window.

Afterwards I carried on back down the high street towards the car park with my confidence gradually restoring itself. The weather was still quite sunny so I took a little while to wander across the causeway towards Cowdray House ruins, and get a few photos.



At The Gate

From Midhurst I made my way to Didling and to pay another visit to the ancient little church there. I've been here a lot over the years and it is a location I enjoy visiting and spending some time at. The peace of the place has to be experienced and it always does me a power of good.

From here I enjoyed a steady drive through the countryside before starting to head back home. I called in at Uppark which is a National Trust property. I have been here before many years ago and it is somewhere I'd like to visit once more. But on the day of my visit it was still closed for the winter although I was able to enjoy a walk in the grounds.

My last stop before leaving the area was one which was to provide the only sour point of the day. The Weald and Downland Open Air Museum houses an impressive collection of old buildings and artefacts on a large site near Chichester. I've been here on previous occasions many years ago but never as Susan. I wasn't intending to visit today, but I knew the book and gift shop can be accessed without entering the museum and so I decided to stop there for a while and have a browse.

I'd been there for about five minutes and had worked my way from the books to the rest of the varied gifts on display. I hadn't found anything that I really wanted but decided to give the books another go before I left. Whilst browsing (and out of view of the sales counter) I heard one of the women there exclaim "it was a bloke!". Now, I might have misheard her, or she may well have been talking about something else altogether. But somehow my instincts told me that they were referring to me.

As it was I was on the point of leave and decided on the spur of the moment not to delay my departure. Later on, looking back, I wished that I had bought something, just so I could have given her the opportunity to look me in the eye, and perhaps prove that I am indeed a human being, after all. The description of me as a "bloke" is on reflection rather laughable. Even when I'm not Susan I'm hardly what today passes as a bloke. I don't go around with large groups of men, with a can of larger in one hand and a half eaten kebab in the other. And I don't dribble on for hours about football.

This is a place I've enjoyed many visits to in the past and their work is something I strongly support and feel that they do a terrific job. Their website is friendly and makes a point of welcoming all potential visitors, regardless of personal circumstances. It's just a shame I was made to feel less than welcome the first time I went there as Susan.

But I was determined I wasn't going to let this incident ruin my day and so I set off for home taking a route along the uplands of the South Downs. As I indicated earlier in this part of the county there was still evidence of the heavy snow that had fallen earlier - even to the point that once or twice I wondered if it was a good idea to be on a particular road.

There remained one last stop on the way home and that was at Sullington. I've written in the past about a previous visit here in an attempt to try and solve the mystery of why the name "Chantry" appears in so many local place names. Since my previous visit I've received information for other sources that there was indeed a Chantry Chapel in the parish church in the middle ages. So I went for another look, this time armed with the new information.

But this is really a subject deserving a blog entry of its own and therefore one that I will do another time. But for this day it had been, in spites of its ups and downs an interesting one and hopefully one that I'd learnt a bit from.

Thank you for reading this

Susan XXX

New Year Outings

After my visit to Somerset at the beginning of December, there followed a period when I didn't get out at all. The onset of colder days, poorer weather and of course the family demands of the festive season all combined to reduce the opportunities available. In addition to this, one aspect of my TG social life firmly ran into a brick wall. I don't intend to write about this at the present time, but it did have a definite effect on my attitude to the social side of being a trans woman.

Before I knew where I was, it was the end of January 2013 and I realised that I hadn't stepped out of the house as Susan for over six weeks. So, it was time to do something about it.



Windswept in Rochester

Return to Rochester

In August 2012 I had passed through Rochester whilst in that part of Kent and had hoped to stop and visit the cathedral. However, being the height of the summer (and with weather to match) parking proved to be impossible. So now, in mid-winter I decided to try again.  This time  I was in luck, at least as far as parking was concerned as the number of tourists was what you'd expect in mid-winter. The trouble was the weather matched the time of year too.

Having parked the car and paid for a ticket I was just making my way towards the town centre when the heavens opened. So it was back to the car to change into my boots. Quite how these were going to help may not be immediately clear, but one thing you discover quickly when going out in a dress or a skirt is how much you are aware of rain on your legs.

So now booted, I headed off towards the town centre again and the historic cathedral. The first port of call was the cathedral refectory for a much needed coffee. Then it was on into the cathedral proper. Rochester is one of those places that has resisted imposing entrance fees. Of course those fees are there to help towards the upkeep of these ancient buildings and I often wonder if free admission encourages greater generosity when it comes to making a voluntary donation.



Down in the Crypt

The cathedral itself dates from the 7th century although the current building was started in the late 11th. The overall impression I got was how small it is in comparison with other medieval cathedrals I've been to. This is not in any way to detract from Rochester. It's size and proportions give it a warm feeling that is perhaps absent in larger buildings.

I enjoyed my visit and was treated well at all times. After leaving a had a short stroll along the high street before heading back to the car. My next stop was an out of town shopping centre at Sittingbourne, where I wanted to visit BHS & M&S. I didn't get what I wanted at M&S but the visit to BHS was successful. Afterwards I had a steady drive back across Kent in what had turned out to be a rare sunny day and for me the prefect first outing of the year.

Down to the Seaside

A week after my trip to Rochester I was out again. I try to get at least one femme day out each week, although circumstances (and weather) don't always make it possible. As is often the case at this time of the year I initially found it difficult to come up with a destination, which is a pity as I think on these occasions it's always a good idea to have a plan for the day when you leave the house. Another problem I had to contend with was a bad pain in my left knee which had started the night before. It was an old injury that had cropped up and if I'd had any sense I would have cancelled my day out. But I wasn't going to let that happen.

So eventually I decided on Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. Shoreham is an ancient settlement at the mouth of the River Adur on the English Channel coast of West Sussex. The original settlement can be traced back to pre-roman times although the name is of Old English origins and the current layout and situation owe much to the Normans. The mouth of the River Adur has altered much over the centuries, largely due to Long Shore Drift.

This has resulted in a huge shingle bank about four miles in length just off the shore. The river now flows out through the haven created by this beach and enters the sea through a modern channel about mid-way along the beach. The eastern arm of this haven is a heavily industrialised port whilst the western arm is quieter and leads up river. One result of this geography is that the river as gradually silted up over the years which has resulted in the town being moved about one mile nearer to the sea. These two settlements became known as Old & New Shoreham, although nowadays they form one large town.

The two Shorehams  each have their own ancient parish churches although both are very old and one of the reasons for my trip was to visit them. But the town has some modern attractions too and one of these is one of the largest branches of Marks and Spencer in the area at a retail park on the edge of the town. So I could hardly visit the area without taking in a bit of shopping there. There were plenty of fabulous items in store but in the end all I bought was a pair of knickers (vital, but nice all the same).



New Shoreham Church

Then it was on into the town proper and after parking I made my way to the New Shoreham parish church. I'd just about reached it when I realised that my camera had been left in the car, so back I had to go. That sorted out, I returned to the church for a look around. The church you can see today is in fact the remaining half of what was originally a much larger building. The church used to have a large nave at the west end, but this fell into disuse in medieval times leaving the east end as the parish church. Why such a huge building was provided for a relatively small community is not clear, but some think the original intention was to establish a priory on the site. But this never happened.

Sadly for the modern casual visitor very little of the church is accessible as most of it is closed off behind railings and a gate. If you really wanted access to the whole building then there was a phone number to call, but otherwise you are restricted to a small area near to the entrance. No doubt this is a sign of the times we live in.



The Entrance to Shoreham Harbour

After the church  I had a wander through the town down to the waterfront, where I enjoyed just sitting in the sunshine for while. On the way back I took in a second-hand bookshop as well as some charity shops. Then it was back to the car and on to Old Shoreham. The church is located in what is now a quiet residential part of the town and thankfully there was full access to the building.

It's a smaller and indeed darker place but as is always the case there is an overwhelming sense of history in the stones, Parish churches may not have the splendour and size of a cathedral. but I always feel myself thinking about the countless generations that have used the building and stood in the same place as me.

The final port of call (terrible pun) was the entrance to Shoreham Harbour on Shoreham Beach. As I mentioned earlier, the harbour is formed from a huge shingle beach which has been cut in two by the river/harbour entrance. The western arm of this beach is called Shoreham Beach and is the site of a large residential area. Most of the housing is relatively recent and if you went back 100 years the place would have been very wild and undeveloped. Facing the sea on this western arm is Shoreham Fort, which dates from the period of concern about the French in the 1850's. Today the seaward defence wall remains and the site has an enthusiastic group of volunteers who care for it.

So, that was about it for my day out. All that remained was a steady drive back home. By this time my knee was really painful and was soon to result in a visit to the doctor. The worse part was that along with some pretty dodgy weather, it would keep me from going out for a few weeks.

More to come later, but thank you for reading this.

Susan XXX

Christmas Shopping in Somerset

 

Heading Down

At the end of my holiday in Cornwall with Lucy and Mandy (please see my earlier blogs) we talked about when we would see each other next. It's a matter of regret that we live so far apart and meetings have to be planned and organised. I suggested that a trip to Somerset for some "Christmas Shopping" would be a good idea and tentatively arranged it for the beginning of December.

So, the last day of November found me heading West once more for a long weekend with Lucy and Mandy. As it happened, the day of my arrival coincided with an important appointment in Taunton for Lucy and the awkward matter of getting her car to the garage to get the clutch fixed. How she got it there without a clutch is worthy of a blog entry of its own and I'm sure she has described the episode fully elsewhere.

The journey down to Taunton was an easy one and I arrived almost at the same time as Lucy and Mandy returned, with the car and a working clutch. After greetings, we were soon heading off into the town centre as I'd promised to take Mandy around the shops in order to get her Christmas presents for Lucy. During this time, Lucy was obliged to remain in her favourite coffee establishment chatting to a friend. The shopping trip was successful and after collecting Lucy we headed back home.

By this point it was time for me to book into my hotel and to be honest I was approaching it with a degree of apprehension. Although I've stayed in hotels before and come and gone in my female identity, this was to be the first time I'd actually booked in as a woman. It was all the more nerve tingling as I'd stayed in the same hotel a few months before, but then I'd booked in as a man, (even though I'd spent most of the time there coming and going as a woman).

However, there were no problems and the young man on reception was very nice, even calling me Susan. After the day's exertions it was great to relax for a while. I took the opportunity to repair my makeup and change into a dress for the evening before heading back to Lucy and Mandy's for an evening meal.

A Trip to the Seaside

Les Trois Dames en Rouge

We'd discussed at length how to spend the weekend and it had been agreed that the Sunday would be spent shopping in Taunton. So for the Saturday we'd settled on a trip to the seaside and had decided to visit Weymouth. The day dawned bright, but very cold with a heavy frost. As I stood in the hotel car park scraping the car windows, it occurred to me that this was another first for me as a woman - although one I would rather have done without.

By the time we headed into Dorset a fairly heavy and patchy fog had descended, but fortunately it didn't affect the coast. The weather in Weymouth was bright sunshine, although on the chilly side. We spent most of the morning touring the town centre, as well as taking in a coffee stop. The town was one of the venues for 2012 Olympic Games, staging the sailing events for both the Main and Paralympic Games. It was rather a shame, therefore, that we felt an air of the town centre being a little run-down. This is something that affects so many British coastal resorts these days so it can only be hoped that the town will gain some long-term benefits from the events of the summer.

Observing the Scene

Following lunch in the town we headed for the sea front to take in the sea air and enjoy the December sunshine. We had quite a stroll, taking in the main promenade and then out to the pier and harbour. Of course most of the paraphernalia of the Olympics had gone by this time. In fact all we saw was a rather sad and dilapidated piece of sand sculpture that was in the final stages of falling apart.

Soon it was time to head back to the car park, but not before a brief walk out to Radipole Lake, which is an extensive local nature reserve. Lucy decided that she wanted a photo of herself with the local aquatic bird life.

Then it was back to Taunton, via a Dorchester supermarket to pick up supplies. Once back in Taunton we enjoyed a fish and chip meal from the local chippy and as ever it was delicious.

Sunday in the Town Centre



Christmas in Taunton

We'd always planned that the Sunday would be close to home with a shopping trip to Taunton town centre. As is the usual practice, we walked into town along the side of the River Tone. Over the course of a very wet 2012 this river had seen an awful lot of water pass through it and only a week before my visit it had been seriously high. By now it had dropped to a safer level although by no means back to normal. In quite a few places there were signs of the debris that had been washed down in the most recent heavy rains.

The shopping in the town was as enjoyable as ever although we all agreed that it was far busier than normal for a Sunday. But given that Christmas was only three weeks away it wasn't really surprising. I picked up a lovely houndstooth pencil skirt in Debenhams and at a reduced price too. I was also after a particular dress from Bonmarche which I wanted for a forthcoming Christmas party. They had the dress, but in dark maroon instead of the black that I wanted, so I decided to wait and try again nearer to home.



Look - No Water!

We had a lovely lunch lunch in The Coal Orchard, one of the towns pubs where we received a friendly service. Heading back home, we went via Vivary Park, the town's main park which had just reopened after the latest bout of flooding. The flooding on this occasion had been so bad that the BBC had been using a photo of the flooded park gates as a backdrop to their apocalyptic weather bulletins. Thankfully by now the waters had receded and we were able to enjoy this lovely park once more.

After our stroll in the park we headed back home where we enjoyed a nice Sunday roast, courtesy of Lucy's dad. Then, sadly it was time once again to say goodbye to my lovely hosts for the last time in 2012. The year had been a very significant one for me in my progress as a woman and this had been very much down to the help and encouragement of these two lovely friends.

Heading Home

The journey home on the Monday was uneventful and I made good time. So I decided to stop at Basingstoke and see if their branch of Bonmarche had the dress I wanted. Although I drive past the town often when heading to and from the West Country, it must be nearly 30 years since I'd actually been into the town centre. Even if things hadn't changed over the years it was going to be pointless relying on my memory to find my way to a suitable car park. So I was at the mercy of the local road signs and after what seemed like a lot of roundabouts I ended up in a car park, although I had no idea how close to the shops it was, let alone Bonmarche.

So, I was very surprised to find it was not only the main shopper's car park, but Bonmarche was one of the first shops I saw when I emerged into the daylight. There, though, my luck ran out. Once again they had the dress, but not in the black as I wanted. Once again I decided to try elsewhere. For 11.00 am on a Monday I found the town centre very busy. But of course it was the Christmas rush still having its effect. By then I felt I'd had my ration of shopping for a while and decided to head on home.

For the record I tried again near to home but again couldn't get the black dress, so I ended up with the dark maroon dress that I could have got in Taunton. To make matters worse the party I had bought it for turned out to be a very unfortunate episode and consequently it was only worn for a short period. It's still in the wardrobe awaiting a suitable occasion.


So, that was my Christmas Shopping Weekend in Somerset, and a very enjoyable time I had, thanks to my hosts.

Thank you for reading this.

Susan XXX

What's Been Happening?

Oh dear, things have got a bit behind lately. After writing up my blog for the Cornish holiday I concentrated on completing the "Leaving the Closet Behind" series, and with my speed of output that took until January of this year. Since then things have been in the doldrums in several ways and so I've let the blog keeping slip. So it's time to give a brief overview of what I've been up to.

So, what has been happening?

Winchester and Portsmouth with Amanda

A couple of weeks after coming back from Cornwall I received a message from Amanda Parnell asking me if I'd like to meet up in Winchester. Naturally I said yes and we agreed to meet outside Winchester Cathedral on Saturday morning. Unfortunately the cathedral was closed to visitors that morning so we had to change our plans for the day.




The Round Table in The Great Hall, Winchester

Amanda had a parcel to post so we wandered through the shops to the post office and then visited the castle great hall and attached museum. The most striking feature of the Great Hall is of course the Round Table. Once reputed to be "The" round table of King Arthur, it has in fact been dated to the 13th century with the decoration having been added in Tudor times. Whatever its pedigree, it is a most impressive piece of furniture. The museum houses a collection of documents, photographs and maps charting the city's history.

Following our visit to the castle Amanda suggested driving to Portsmouth to visit that city's cathedral. This is a different one from the usual English Gothic buildings that feature in our photographs. In fact I'd say it is one of the most unusual Anglican Cathedrals I've yet visited. The diocese of Portsmouth was created in 1927 and rather than build a new cathedral from scratch, it was decided to adapt and extend an existing church whose origins can be traced back to the 12th century. Like so many such projects in recent years, the work was suspended in 1940 on account of the war and didn't restart until 1990 with consecration taking place the following year.




Portsmouth Cathedral in the Sunshine

With much of the extension carried out in the Byzantine style, the building is a curious mixture of differing architectural styles. But like so many compromises, it seems to work well. Contained with the cathedral is the burial place of one of the members of the crew of the "Mary Rose". There is also a memorial to Admiral Bertram Ramsay, who was the mastermind of the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 but sadly lost his life just before the end of the war.

After our tour of the cathedral we escaped a sudden downpour by heading to a local teashop. Afterwards with the return of some sunshine, Amanda shot a video for another of her mystery cities contests that she posts on her Flickr pages. All in all it was another great day and as ever Amanda was perfect company for a day out.

New Booties for Moi



Autumn Sunshine in Hampshire

Earlier in the summer I'd made a first visit to Tall girls in Alton, Hampshire. I'd been very pleased with my purchases and with the winter stocks now in I decided to make a return visit to buy some boots for the winter.

As before, I stopped on the way in Alton town centre for a spot of shopping. Unlike my previous visit it wasn't a hot sunny day, but it was still pleasant to wander around the shops and take in a coffee.

The visit to Tall Girls was fairly brief but very successful. I quickly found a pair of knee boots that fitted perfectly and also a nice pair of ankle boots. Once again I was delighted with the friendly service at Tall Girls and wouldn't hesitate in recommending them to anyone with a need for larger sizes.

With time to spare I stopped on the way home to take a few photos in the autumn sunshine.

Michelham Priory and Beachy Head



New Booties at Michelham Priory

Michelham Priory is an old Tudor manor house in East Sussex, built on the site of an old Augustine priory. It's somewhere I'd planned to visit for some time and keen to try out my new boots I decided it was time to go there. There's not a lot to add really other than to say I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and the new boots worked a treat.

I was blessed with some lovely late autumn sunshine so I spent a while wandering around the extensive grounds, as well as having a nice coffee in the cafeteria. The only down side to the visit was the fact that the gift shop wasn't open. A shame really but then there's always possibility of another visit at a later date.

After leaving Michelham Priory I took full advantage of the good weather and headed down to Beachy Head on the East Sussex coast. I had long been trying to get a photo of myself with the nearby lighthouse as a backdrop. Unfortunately the weather always seemed to be against me.


Beachy Head - and New Boots

This day however it was on my side and I finally got the shot I was after. It was taken by the side of the approach track to the old lighthouse at Belle Tout. This was the original Lighthouse at Beachy Head but being on top of the cliffs it was often obscured by fog. So in 1902 is was discontinued and replaced by the structure in this photo.

After the photos I spent some time wandering around the area and taking in some rare sunshine.


After this day my next outing would be a trip to Somerset to visit Lucy and Mandy for some "Christmas Shopping". Well, that was the excuse - if an excuse were needed.

More to come, but thank you for reading this.

Susan XXX

So, What Was That All About?

So, what was that all about? That's a question I find myself asking from time to time in respect of my transgendered life. I'm referring in particular to those times when I experience what I usually refer to as a "crash". It seems to me that most trans women have gone through this sort of event to varying degrees and it can manifest itself in different ways. For me, it comes as a feeling of being totally disconnected from my trans self and leaves me with a strong desire to get as far away from the whole business as possible. Thankfully, (for me anyway) it usually only lasts for a matter of days before things are back to their usual state.

The latest episode started a few days ago when I woke up on Monday morning with a terrible sense that something was badly wrong. To be honest, the signs were starting to appear on Sunday evening but I had put it down to a general sense of weariness at the end of the day. However, by the following day it was bad and I was left wishing the whole trans thing would just go away and leave me alone. The nearest thing I can compare it with is probably depression, although in a very narrow sense. The rest of my life was just fine and I was able to get on quite happily with everything else, apart from wanting to be a woman.

Gradually things have returned to normal although it's only today (Friday) that I've been able to sit down and actually write about it. But the mystery remains, and that is just what does cause it - hence the title of this blog. Sometimes I am aware of an event that I am sure was the cause. Such events can include the come-down after spending a period of time as Susan or perhaps as simple as just the wrong thing said to me. The strange thing is that there is no guarantee that I will react in the same in an identical set of circumstances. So at the end of the day I lump them all together and put it down to the fact that I lead something of a dual life.

After all my transgendered status can be fairly accurately described as dual-role. But that leaves the small matter of what to do about it. As far as I can see I have three choices, all of them carrying plus and minus points.

 

1. Give it up.

This is a simple solution. Stop cross dressing or indeed any kind of transgendered activity. I would close down any online activities as Susan, say goodbye to everyone I’ve met as a result of being female and dispose of all my clothes and anything else connected with it. I could then put it all behind me and regard it as a period of my life that was interesting.

Yeah, right……..that’s going to work, isn’t it? I’ve had these feelings since the age of about 14 and there not about to go away. Most trans women will tell you that it is not possible in away way to rid yourself of the need to be female. Indeed, the general consensus is that the older you get the stronger the feeling. And that has certainly been my experience. What’s more, I suspect that the emotional effect on me would be far worse if I tried to suppress my feelings than any temporary “crash”. So as far as I’m concerned giving it up is a complete non-starter.

 

2. Go full-time.

This is something that most trans women think about; indeed, for some of us it can be a matter of pre-occupation and is something that I’ve given a lot of thought to. Although the idea of living full time as a woman, (even without medical intervention) has its attractions, I do have deep concerns about the overall effect it would have on my life. The great unknown for many of us is how our friends and family would take the news of our transition.

For myself I have a fairly small circle of both friends and family but they are very important to me. My best guess is that I could well end up losing most, if not all of my friends if I became Susan full time. It could be said if that is the case then they are not worth having as friends, but I don’t regard it as that simple. In spite of my strong female feelings, I still have a need for my male side and those friendships are an integral part of it.

Allied with this is the likelihood of making friends amongst other trans women or even female at birth (FAB) women. I have been very lucky to have made a few very good friends in the TG community over the last few years. But quite honestly I’ve generally found it very difficult to do so and other friends in the community have had similar experiences. By its very nature ours is a fairly closeted community and so the actual numbers living out in the everyday world is limited. There are plenty of course in and around the “TG scene” in clubs and other dedicated groups. But considering that I live in the most populated port of England I have found it very difficult to find and make friends with other trans women who are actually living their lives as women, even on a part-time basis.

As for family it has been clear to me from the experiences of others that it is very difficult to predict what the reaction would be. My best guess is that there would be some who would accept it without any problem, whilst there would be some who would be horrified. But what would concern me the most is the potential for it to cause rifts within the family. To me that would be totally unacceptable.

So taking all of this into account I don’t feel that transition to full time is an option for me at present. Of course situations and feelings don’t stay the same and at the back of my mind I harbour a hope that one day I will if and when the circumstances are right for me.

 

3. Stay the same

Or in other words carry on part time as at present and deal with the “crashes” as and when they happen. This might sound like the path of least resistance and that is probably very true. But life is one long experience and we build upon those experiences. Ten years ago my dressing and experiences of being a woman were very sparse. But in that time I’ve built up those experiences and hopefully learnt a lot. I’m now doing things that I would never have dreamt of even a few years ago.

 

So to conclude, I’ll carry on as I am and just deal with what arises, distressing as it can be. Those of you who have been here will know how I feel. For those of you who haven’t had this experience I can only hope and wish that it stays that way.

 

Thank you for reading this.

Susan

Retrospect - Leaving the Closet Behind -8

Jubilee Art in Eastbourne

As anyone in the UK will be aware, 2012 marked the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen and of course many events were organised around the country to mark this occasion. One that caught my eye early on was organised by the local BBC Television channel in the South East of England. They invited viewers to submit photographs that had personal significance. These would then be used by a local artist to create a mosaic portrait of the Queen. In the event over 5000 photos were sent in and this was enough to create two mosaics. One of them was of the Queen at the time of her coronation and the other present-day.

For more information have a look at this link: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17516843


At the end of May 2012 the mosaics were on display at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne and I decided to not only visit but to do so in my female persona. The gallery is located in a quite part of Eastbourne on the western side of the town. It is close to Queens Park where the annual eve of Wimbledon tennis event takes place. In fact on the day of my visit contractors were working behind the gallery erecting the stands for the upcoming tournament.

The gallery is fairly modern and I soon found the exhibit in a dedicated room on the ground floor. The mosaic itself covered one entire wall of the room and I did find it very impressive. At a distance you were presented with two portraits but close up it was a myriad of individual photos. If you follow the BBC link above will eventually be taken to a website where you can view the mosaic online and be able to zoom in on the individual photos.

There was one disappointment for me during my visit and the was my selection of outfit. Visiting an art gallery I decided on a very casual outfit which was light brown leggings, a matching floral top and a cardigan. However, looking at the photos I took in the gallery it was evident that there were a number of female visitors who were far better dressed than me. A salutary lesson perhaps for those who advocate "dressing down" in order to blend in when out in public.

Having completed my viewing I spent some time touring the rest of the gallery. The exhibits covered a wide range of types from some very modern stuff through to very traditional. Personally I enjoyed the experience and it bore out what other trans women have said in the art galleries are a lovely place to spend a few hours as your female self.

A Stroll on the Pier

So, having completed my visit I had to decide what to do next. The gallery is about 0.5 miles from the shops in the town centre and I found the temptation too much to resist. Like so many places Eastbourne is somewhere I've been visiting for years, but I'd never been in the shops as Susan and so this seemed a good time to start. It didn't take long to walk there and I was soon immersing myself in my favourite places, including Marks & Spencer for a coffee.

On my way back to the car I detoured via the seafront and went for a walk on the pier. Although we were only a few weeks short of midsummer, it wasn't really the weather for such an activity but I had my raincoat with me in case. After that it was back along the prom to my car. A great day and at the end I felt proud of what I'd done.

Winchester - Cathedral City

Anyone who's followed my adventures here or on Flickr will know that I have a love of old church buildings, be they large or small. This day was one where I would take in visits to a couple at either end of the scale.

Winchester is an ancient site in English terms, being at one time the capital and its cathedral dates back to the 7th century. It's always been a favourite of mine and as a cathedral to visit for the first time as Susan, it was high on my list. So feeling much more confident about being out in public I decided the time had come. For reasons I can't remember I made my visit on a Saturday. This is unusual for me as I prefer weekdays. It might have been due to upcoming poor weather and I was trying to fit it in.

Winchester Cathedral

Whatever the case, Saturday 9th June found me in this great city tentatively making my way to the cathedral. There's not a lot to add other than to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The staff on reception were very pleasant, although I had to decline their request for gift aid. For those of you outside of the UK this is a facility whereby income tax payers can sign a declaration of the fact and this allows the organisation to claim back the tax element of your admission fee (about 20% I think). The problem for me was that it's a legal document and you have to use your real name. I'm afraid I wasn't about to do that. But to make up for it I did buy a guide book.

After my extensive tour I went to the cathedral refectory for a coffee and then headed to the high street. As I said before it was a Saturday and therefore busy with lots of shoppers. I must confess I felt rather uneasy about this and it was yet another first for me. But it all went off OK and it was amusing to observe the legions of bored husbands/partners hanging around the stores waiting for their respective other halves to finish their shopping. I wasn't bored at all!



Sunshine in Sullington

Soon it was time to leave the city and head back home. On the way I stopped at Alton to do some shopping in Sainsbury's. I made good time and found myself back in Sussex quite early, so I decided to make another church visit. In a previous blog I referred to visiting Chantry Post on the South Downs above Storrington in West Sussex. The name "Chantry" at this location has always intrigued me as the term is an ecclesiastical one dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is not only used for the location on the downs but also in many other places in the locality. Not having been able to find any explanation for it I wondered if a visit to the local churches might help.

One of these is Sullington which is in a tiny village under the downs near Storrington. In fact it is no longer a village as such but a collection of farm buildings, a manor house and the 11th century church. By the time I arrived the weather had really picked up and it had turned into a lovely summer afternoon. The church was interesting but didn't help me at all with the question I wanted answered. In fact a few months afterwards I visited the local museum and no-one there had any idea either.

But whatever the case it was a lovely end to a great day. I'd visited two very different types of church building, been shopping in a very busy city centre on a Saturday afternoon and visited a supermarket too. I couldn't have imagined doing any of this a year before.

Interesting Times in East Kent

The year 2012 was a watershed one in the field of television broadcasting in the UK. It was during this year that the last of the terrestrial analogue transmitters would be closed down and all of of broadcast services in future would be exclusively digital. Although to the vast majority of the population this was a fairly meaningless event, the significance was brought home to me a retired television engineer. He pointed out that it would be the end of a technical system that had served us so well since the 1930s. So as a little tribute to those scientists and engineers who developed it in those far-off days, I decided to post something about it on my Flickr account. Of course I would need a suitable photo to go with it. The most striking thing I felt would be me with the mast of a television transmitting station.

In the area I live in the changeover took place in April 2012. However, the last changeovers in the South of England were scehuled to take place in the latter part of June. Of course the presence of analogue transmissions had no bearing on the photos, but I felt it would be nice to do them as near as possible to the shut down date. The other important factor was the ability to get to a place where I was sure of a good view for the photo. After some checking with maps and Google Earth, I decided to go to the station at Dover in East Kent. As well as the photos, it would be a good place for a day out.

On the way there I stopped at an "outlet" park at Ashford. This type of shopping centre appears to be a recent phenomenon in the UK and usually consists of a collection of specialised fashion shops at an out of town location. The idea is that the larger chain stores use them to sell off lines of clothing that aren't moving in their more conventional stores. Or at least that's how it seems to me.




A Special Dress

In this case I had a very special evening coming up and I wanted a new dress for it. I had in mind what I wanted and hoped that I'd be able to find it here. I was after a shift dress in a striking black and white geometric pattern. My first port of call was the Marks and Spencer shop. They had a lot of stock but nothing to meet my needs. Near to M&S was a branch of Roman Originals and inside I found a dress that might be what I wanted. It was a shift with a black and white pattern although not quite the pattern I had in mind. In addition, there wasn't the rear zipper that I usually expect with a shift. But I decided the only way to make up my mind was to try it on.

I hadn't done this before but I didn't hesitate and there were no problems. The best thing is that having got into the dress I knew straight away it was for me. Although it was quite a snug fit the fabric had enough stretch in it to make it oh so comfortable. And of course it had 1/3 off the original price. So, that was it. One transaction with a friendly shop assistant later and it was mine. That left time for a coffee before heading on to my photo op with the television mast.




Goodbye to All That

Dover television transmitting station is actually located midway between Dover and Folkestone and is about one mile inland from the famous white cliffs. Using Google Earth I'd already selected my position, on the outskirts of the village of Church Hougham. This was far away from the mast to get a good shot of it but still giving a clear view across the fields. According to the maps the Channel Tunnel runs right under the village, just before is turns to the South-East to go under the sea. However, all the time I was there I wasn't aware of hearing the trains, nor had I expected to. The tunnels at this point must be many hundreds of feet below ground level.

The photos were taken without difficulty, although to be honest I could have done with the sun being in a slightly different position. I could have returned later but there was still no guarantee it would be right. In the event I was quite happy with the results.

So, having completed the two objectives of the day I spent the rest of it in the Dover area sightseeing and indulging in photography. The next stop was Dover itself or to be more precise just outside of Dover Castle. In July 1909 Louis Bleriot became the first man to fly the English Channel, taking off from Calais in France and landing at Dover some 36 minutes later. The location of this historic spot near Dover Castle is marked by an aeroplane shaped memorial. Many years ago I attempted to find this memorial but failed miserably. So I felt it was time to have another go.



Here's Where He Landed

This time, armed with information from the web, and assisted by some excellent signposting, I found the car park for the memorial easily.However, for some reason once in the car park there were no signs to the actual memorial. So I headed off through the woods and as luck would have it soon came across the memorial. I was a little concerned as on the way into the car park I had passed a huge mass of foreign students and I was keen to get my photos before they covered the sight and ruined my photos. But I needn't have worried as when I returned to the car park they were busy having a picnic lunch.

The rest of the day was spent visiting various locations in the area, including the White Cliffs Visitor Centre on the cliffs above the harbour. Here you can get a terrific view of the docks and watch the cross-channel ferries coming and going. I also visited St Margaret's Bay, which is one of the closest places to France. Whilst there I stopped off at the Dover Patrol Memorial up on the cliffs above the village. There was then a quick visit to Tescos for a snack and some nail polish remover before heading to my last stop of the day. This was at Samphire Hoe Country Park, between Dover and Folkestone, coincidentally about a mile from my first stop at Church Hougham. This is an area of land on the coast which was created by the disposal of much of the spoil created by the Channel Tunnel. Most of it is now a nature reserve and is a fascinating place to visit. At all of these places I took lots of photos and rather than post them all here, many of them are available on my Flickr Photostream.


With the completion of this blog I have brought my story up to date with the start of my regular postings. These started last summer with "A Special Few Days in Somerset" which I published on 10/7/12. Of course the driving idea behind this particular series was my efforts at leaving the closet behind. So have I been successful? Of course there has been progress and a degree of success. But it's a subject that I feel I need to reflect on and discuss more fully in my next blog.


Thank you for reading this


Susan XXX

Retrospect - Leaving the Closet Behind -7

Next Steps

After what I considered to be a successful couple of days out in Taunton with Lucy & Mandy and then with Sonia, I had to decide where to go from there. It was clear to me that although I had spent a day out in a bust town centre, I had been in company all the time and indeed company of the sort that instills confidence. So I knew I had to do it again but this time on my own.

Before that, there was the matter of bluebells..........

Down amongst the Bluebells

One of the chief delights of a British spring, for me anyway are the bluebells that carpet the floors of our woodlands each year from April through into May. The love of this sight goes back to childhood and even after all these years the sight of this annual delight never fails to move me. There are many places around the country where you can see such beauty each year but one of my favourite places is Angmering Park in West Sussex. This is an area of woodland on the south slopes of the downs near Arundel and is crossed by numerous public paths. Much of the woodland has unrestricted public access and is thus ideal for viewing the bluebells in all their splendour.



Down Amongst the Bluebells

I've visited the area before at this time of year and two years ago saw one of my earliest trips out as Susan. Sadly the occasion was ruined by a pair of ill fitting boots that left me with some nasty blisters on my heels. This time though I had learnt my lesson and my boots were up to the job. However, before going for a tramp in the woods I had to take in a bit of shopping first.

As I explained in an earlier blog, in February I had made my first visit to a branch of Marks & Spencer during a trip to Surrey. Now I was to make another trip but this time to their Shoreham branch in West Sussex. I've lost count of the number of times I've been to this one but this would the first time as a woman. Any nervousness I was experiencing was heightened by the fact that is was relatively local and used by many people I know who have no knowledge of Susan

In the event the visit passed off without problems and I wasn't aware of the presence of anyone I actually knew. Looking back now I can't actually recall what is was specifically I was shopping for but I know I didn't actually buy anything. However, as ever it was pleasant just to spend some time just wandering and browsing amongst the clothes on display.



On the South Downs at Chantry Post

So, then it was on to the woods and the bluebells. There's not a lot to add here other than to say the flowers were beautiful and that my visit passed off without incident, other than getting a little bit lost at one point. But I soon got back on track.  On the way back to the car I came across a foreign lorry complete with a driver who asked me if I knew where a certain property was. Given my lack of local knowledge and not being able to speak his language, whatever it was, there wasn't much I could so for him.

On my home I stopped off at Chantry Post car park on the South Downs above Storrington in order to enjoy the view and of course take some more photos. The day had gone well and this time my feet were still in working order.

Farnham - Solo Around the Shops

As I stated above, although I had a successful and confidence building day out with Lucy and Mandy in Taunton, I knew that the next step was to do it on my own. The day after my bluebell trip in West Sussex, I had to be in Surrey for an evening event and so I decided on the way there to spend some time in Farnham on a solo shopping trip.

Farnham is a typical bustling commuter belt market town with an average sized shopping centre. It does suffer from something of a traffic problem but at least there is a good sized car park close to the shops. Whenever you're doing something new like this the route from the car park to the shops takes on greater significance than usual. Before setting out I found myself consulting Google Earth and rehearsing my walk from the car park to the shops an Street Level. This might sound rather extreme but perhaps it's an indication  of just how apprehensive it is possible to get in such circumstances.




After Going Solo

In the event, with or without Google Earth, I managed to park the car and find my way to the shops without incident. Very soon all fears had had passed and I started to enjoy being out shopping on my own in my chosen gender. I took in all my favourite high street shops and then found a cafe for a coffee break. As I approached the place (a branch of 'Cafe Rouge') I was hit by a feeling of nervousness and for a moment I thought about turning away. I've had this sort of feeling before and, as in the past I overcame it by a combination of anger at the way I felt and determination to do what I really wanted.

Once inside the staff couldn't have been nicer and I had my much needed refreshment. Afterwards I did some more wandering around the she and finished my trip in Boots where I picked up something for my lunch and some items of makeup that I needed. After that it was to the car with an overwhelming feeling of elation at having carried out my first solo shopping trip as Susan.

A Special Shopping Trip

Something that many of us are aware of is the problem of finding shoes. Of course there care many transgendered women who have no difficulty in finding shoes in there size anywhere on the high street and to those who can I offer my congratulations and deepest envy. My own feet are of a size that are towards the top end of sizes available in men's shoes and so I haven't a hope of walking into a shop and finding anything in my size. In one way this works in my favour as it has probably prevented me from amassing a huge collection of footwear. As a man I could never understand who women needed so many different shoes. Now, as a woman I still don't really understand, all that I know is that I love them and would love to own many different styles.

But on the debit side the reality is that I own few pairs and it is extremely difficult to get anything to fit. Of course if you look online, especially on eBay you'll find many women's shoes in larger sizes but almost without exception the heel sizes start about 5 inches and go much higher. This might be OK for tottering around the dance floor at your favourite clubbing venue, but for those of us who desire to go out into the real world they are useless.

Over the years I've tried a few specialist suppliers with differing results. Up until about 5 years ago there was a company in the UK called "Hayway Shoes". They specialised in all sorts of large sized footwear and most of their products came with a choice of heel size and style. I bought a pair of very strappy sandals from them with a nice 1.5 inch heel. I was delighted with them and I still wear them today for special dressy occasions. However, soon afterwards I went to their website to order some more shoes, only to find they'd closed down. Apparently the lease on their factory had run out and they decided to call it a day. That was a shame as I had got the impression that their was a lot of items I could have bought from them.

Another dealer I have used is "Magnus Shoes", of Northampton. They have a wide range of women's styles up to size 12. Sadly though, almost all of their items are in a C fitting. This isn't much help when your feet are on the wide side. I do have a pair of brown slingbacks from them and they are a delight to wear. But unfortunately several other items I've bought from them have proved to be too narrow to be of any use.

Another possible supplier was Evans, who supply large clothing sizes for women both on the High Street and online. At one time they had started to stock size 11 shoes but unfortunately have over the last year cut back on the range to size 10. This was a pity as during the summer I tried a pair of boots on in one of their shops which was supposed to be size 10, two below my size. They almost fitted me and I felt that I was getting close to the stage where I could buy shoes from them in one of their shops.

This, however, led me to have a look at the large woman clothes market and as a result I found "Tall Girls", who are based at Alton in Hampshire. Although most of their range is up to size 11, there are many in size 12 too. They have a showroom which is for appointments only and so I contacted them to book an appointment. I was a little concerned that there was mention of supplying to the TG community, which is something you often see on such sites. However, whilst making the appointment I did enquire and was assured that they were quite happy to do so. It is a bit of a shame there is no mention on their website as I feel the danger exists that some Trans Women might be put off, which would be to the disadvantage of all concerned.

The showroom is located just outside Alton and as is my usual  habit I arrived in very good time for my 2 pm appointment. The day in question was a Tuesday and one of those rare things in 2012, a fine, warm sunny day. So with time to spare I decided to visit Alton town centre and see if I could repeat my solo trip to Farnham of a couple of weeks previously. As it turns out, every Tuesday a street market is held in the town centre and consequently it was very busy. But it was a joy just to wander around the stalls and shops. I took in a coffee and one of the many such shops in the town and came away from the time there feeling as if I'd built on previous experiences. I was aware of a few possible "reads", but I was also aware that they all came from men of a certain age. Was I being checked out? No, surely not............


Some Very Rare Sunshine

After the shops I spent some time sitting in a lovely little park in the town centre. Being a warm fine day and also being lunch time by now it was quite busy. Just to sit there as me and watch the world go by was sheer bliss. Soon it was time to head on to Tall Girls but I still had time to stop in a nearby village for some photos. One of these is included here.

The appointment was very straightforward and I was made to feel very welcome. The lovely woman who looked after me was so helpful and let me try on as many pairs as I liked. One thing I already knew was that my right foot is significantly smaller than my left and this did cause some problems. Some styles that fitted my left foot were too loose on my right. I've since found ways to alleviate this but at this time it did restrict my choice. Nonetheless I was able to find three pairs that I like and came away one very happy woman. Tall Girls? I can't recommend them highly enough.


More to come.........


Thank you for reading this


Susan XXX