Highs and Lows

I've been out again as anyone who has read the last 3 posts will know. Back home now and will probably hit a horrible low after spending another 8 days out. I had a wonderful time out tempered with a transphobic incident and a not very good visit to another city that left me feeling very disappointed.
Manchester is like a kind of second home to me. In my opinion a city that is the best. It's not perfect, but I love the place.
I managed to go a bit crazy with my credit card. I think my luggage weighed twice what it was when I left home. Round Manchester it was really nice how quite a few people in different shops remembered me and seemed really pleased to see me back again and it wasn't that I really spend a lot in those particular places.
I did go to a nail bar and got my nails done which was a first and a nice experience.
The Manchester Concord support group has moved. I was glad to see that it hasn't moved out of The Village. The new place, upstairs in New York NewYork isn't as good as the Rem.
I met Kate and Mrs K in Velvet along with KD and her sister. Diana turned up a bit later. I was just so happy to be back and out with my friends.                                                                      
On Friday I went for a Chinese meal with Diana and Kate in Chinatown which was lovely..
On Saturday we went for a meal at Villagios to celebrate Bev's birthday. I had met Bev last year at the Angels Christmas meal. A really nice person who it was lovely to meet again. It was great to see , Mandy and Tina again who I hadn't seen in a long time. I also met Tanya and Sophie. There was some concern when Tanya choked on a piece of meat, but she was ok.
Sunday was Doggy Pride in Sackville Gardens or something like that. Diana and myself after some shopping met up with Kate and Kitty or Mrs K. I think Kitty sounds better than Mrs Kate. The name change came about after some discussion which included the tarot cards. I guess some people will think I am probably a bit silly. There was a suggestion I have a stall at the next Sparkle which I thought was funny. Instead of Mystic Meg, I could be Septic Peg.
On Monday I went to the cinema to see Inception which I enjoyed. On the way back I took a wrong turning and ended up confronted with 2 young blokes and what I presumed were their girlfriends. One bloke as I got nearer had a real twisted look on his face.
" You are F#@KING UGLY", he spat out. " Look at you f#@king poof" ,
As I passed his girlfriend tried to kick me. I dodged that and the insults continued. They went their way and I continued on to The Village.
I wonder about people like that. Why so much rage? What is it about themselves they can't deal with. Maybe I am ugly but does it warrant such a reaction and to call me a poof well I am comfortable with my sexuality. My sexuality I think only comes into play when I am attracted to a woman and that's me. Calling me gay is not an insult just a mistake. These days sex is a distant memory for me. Transphobia, homophobia what is it that causes people to react in such a way.
Tuesday I went off to Nottingham and to be honest I wasn't very impressed with the place. There is not  much point in saying any more as it would be unfair to judge a place on one visit.

Liverpool
On Wednesday I went back to Liverpool where I'd had a horrible experience last year.The link below explains what happened.
http://karenmyworld.blogspot.com/2009_04_08_archive.html#5702869184228955402

I was pleasantly surprised and had a good day out. I didn't do much shopping, but did buy a nice skirt in the store where I had a problem before. I texted Diana who had been with me that day last year. She was really happy for me and replied perhaps we had made a difference when we lodged complaints. It would be nice to think so.
I managed to get a picture with the self timer below

It's a nice feeling to be able to put up a picture of me out in a city I have always liked and what happened last year was a sad event I hope is never repeated. I had a really nice day and after Nottingham it gave my confidence a much needed boost.

It came time for me to get back to Manchester. I met up with Kate and after a meal and a chat about what I  had been out to since Sunday. We went for some dancing in Naps. My time out was coming to an end.

Some  real highs and a couple of horrible lows. Leaving is always difficult and I was so glad Kate could make it out. It was wonderful  seeing everyone and I can't thank them enough.

As for the idiots that I came across well I feel sad for them. When you have your health I think you should live to the best of your ability. Things can go wrong very quickly. It's not difficult to try to be a decent person.

I have my problems, but I try and won't stop while I still can.

Look after each other

Karen xxx 

I nearly forgot.

The advert below , I saw in Manchester Piccadilly Station

Far better than those moronic Little Britain adverts by a well known building society.

Transphobia

I spent a wonderful 5 days out in Manchester travelling on the train through to Blackpool and Liverpool. Sadly in Liverpool in the Debenhams store, the security must have considered me as some sort of risk or perhaps I was about to break some law being dressed as I was (see photo taken a little later).
What happened? I wanted to try a dress on and went over towards the queue for the fitting rooms to ask an assistant if it would be ok. I always ask and would never dream of just walking in to the fitting rooms without asking. The shop assistants when I have been out shopping in Manchester and Blackpool have always been sensitive to my needs and other customers when I've needed to try clothes on.
I never got to speak to an assistant within 30 seconds of joining the queue a security guard came and announced 'YOU HAVE BEEN SPOTTED BY THE CONTROL ROOM' and proceeded to tell me I would have to use the changing rooms on another floor. He did say the Men's.
Other people were now looking at me and I just felt sick. I went back to my friends and put the dress back. I told them what had happened and they were horrified.
We left, on the way out I asked the security if this was standard policy to treat trans gendered people like this. He just said that the control room had spotted us and was told to tell me that I would have to use the men's changing room.
It seems to me that I was doing something wrong because of my appearance and that the security considered me a threat that the shop assistants would not be able to deal with in the women's department. I only wanted to ask about a dress and possibly try it on.
I've sent an email to the company about this it'll be interesting to see if I get a reply.
Sadly I don't know if I will bother to go back to Liverpool. Liverpool 1 is intimidating with the amount of security swarming round the place very visibly. It should have made us feel safer, but to be honest and I think my friends would agree we felt we were being constantly watched and not really welcome.
I really hope I get a positive reply. Liverpool is a city I have many fond memories of and it is a place I really wanted to get out in. In it's defence it was ladies day at Aintree which tends to bring out a lot of drunks and idiots so I am told, but really that is no excuse for why I was treated like that.
On a positive note in the MAC shop I got some good advice on my foundation now that they don't stock the full coverage and a sample of the Studio Fix liquid to try.
Cafe Rouge, I think it was where we had breakfast treated us really well. Even using the ladies in Lime Street Station I had to pass a police officer and had no problems.
The incident did give me a knock as it did my friend Diana who is from Liverpool.
Our faith was restored the next day when we were out shopping in Manchester. We could not have been treated better.
In conclusion I sincerely hope this is not normal practise in Liverpool 1

Saturday (More shoppimg then Liverpool)

I got to my bed just before 4am. I think I managed to get about 4 hours sleep.
Lisa and myself were going shopping in the city centre. Diana was meeting Sandi, who I had met at a Manchester Concord meeting. We decided that it wouldn't be a good idea for all four of us to go into the city centre as we might attract to much attention as a group, but we would meet up for a meal later.
Lisa and myself went off down King St where I bought a nice top in Monsoon. I love that shop they really do have beautiful clothes. Later on I bought a black jacket and skirt in Next.
It's great being able to try clothes on so you know they fit. The assistants were so helpful and really nice in both shops.
I also needed a new handbag and I bought a lovely Jane Norman one in Frasers.
The shops were really busy with lots of blokes out with their wives shopping looking glum in the womens departments. Lisa made a comment about how many of these blokes are secretly trannies and would love to be out shopping like us. I had to smile and thought probably a few.
We decided to get something to eat. We couldn't get in touch with Diana and Sandi so we went to a cafe bar near the Arndale.
Canal St and the village is great for us tgirls. A safe environment, but it is great to have and a meal and a drink elsewhere.
It came time for us to get back to the hotel and get changed for the next part of this fantastic weekend, Liverpool.
Diana ran us though to Liverpool for the April Ashley talk at St George's Hall. An absolutely beautiful venue.
April Ashley was the first person to transition from this country. She had the operation in Casablanca about 50 years ago. From what I understand it was a very dangerous procedure more so than today. I know any operation where they have to put you under carries a risk, but it has greatly improved these days. I don't know much about Gender Reassignment Surgery, but from what I understand it can cause problems even today, depending how it's done.
April is now in her seventies and looks fantastic. I get the feeimg she would be the centre of attention anywhere. She seems to have that aura some people have.
I really enjoyed the talk even though the sound system was terrible.
After the talk Diana and Lisa went to get a photograph signed by April. I met a lass of the Angels Forum Alina and her husband.
One black spot a genetic woman who was a bit drunk asked me if I was a man and kept asking in front of a few other women. It wasn't a nice situation to be in and shook me a bit.
We went for a meal at an Indian with 3 other girls, Pippa, Sarah and Lynette. Everything got a bit surreal when we finished the meal. Two nuns who were at the April Ashley talk came into the restaurant. I think Sarah was giving them a lift in her car. Now I not religious as I've stated in a previous post, but one of the nuns blessed us and to be honest it was a quite beautiful moment.
It came time to leave so we headed back to the car. On the way a thought struck me. I had came into Liverpool in K mode and was leaving the same way, another first.
When we got back to Manchester we went to Napoleons and I was really glad to see the 2 Kates' were there. I was really hoping I would see them. They are a lovely couple.
I talked to Mrs Kate about my late wife briefly. She said something about I'll meet someone, but to be honest I'm not really looking.It's years since I was with anyone. The last lass I was with, the relationship didn't last long. I'm content with life now. My life has changed. I've done things I never thought I would. The trans aspect has allowed me to live again and enjoy life.
When I see the two Kates out together I have an inkling of what they have from what I had with Mrs Karen and it's quite beautiful.
It came time to leave and when I was collecting my coat I noticed a genetic girl was watching me and then she winked. It was tempting to go over and speak but I think she was with a bloke so I think it was better that I didn't.
Outside we all hugged and that was the end of another amazing time with my friends.
I really wish I could do this more.
Can't wait till next time.
Love
Karen xxx