Out on the Town.

The last time I drank in town, almost 20 years ago was so awful, and it would on the odd occasion ended in a fight somewhere, so you can see why I have never ventured to pubs in Basingstoke as me, and why I have always, over the past 18 years gone to LGBT venues. It is also the same reason why I hate going into town shopping.

Obviously it helped last night by being surrounded by 7 guys who I trust ;-) and before anyone says anything, I was on a Stag Doo. If you know me or have been following my blog posts, you would know that I ride motorbikes, the Stag is one of the young chaps that I have the privilege to know. Being 20 years older than most of them, with these guys, even the old ones. So from the bottom of my heart, I have to say that they are the most respectful, piss taking ( in a fun way ) bunch of people I know. I do trust them with my life, if you have been on ride outs you would know that sometimes it can be a little hairy. The stag was the 2nd RideOut Group member, I told about me, over coffee in Starbucks last year, he was amazing, he listened and asked questions, and for me that was so amazing and heart warming. I don't think anyone will truly understand how that feels unless your trans yourself. I don't class group members who knew long ago in that listing ;-) 

The stag and the other RideOut members, have been so accepting and I'm really not sure if they know just how much that means. So to be invited to the Wedding Reception, which is later this week, and then to be invited out on the Stag Doo, for me, both are an amazing, major milestone in my transition, and I really do not have the intellect to put that into words, but put it this way, my eyes are leaking again as I typed this paragraph, trying to find a way to describe how it makes me feel.

I wasn't as shy as I usually am around people who have't seen me with my face on, and tbh I really didn't care about my voice. I did get chatting with a couple of people in the smoking area at The White Hart, which was so cool. I am under no illusions with myself when it comes to "passing" in public, ( oh how we all hate that term "passing") and I got a lot of lovely smiles from people, and I know I had a few "omg" looks from young guys, but that didn't even bother me, again maybe that was because I was surrounded by some hefty chaps. LOL

One lady came up to me in The WH, omg she must have been wasted lol, gave me a few really big bear hugs, pecks on the cheek and said she loved me, found me very pretty and just kept waiving at me. I felt a little intimidated by that but she was sweet, and alcohol consumption aside, I think her heart was in the right place.

As it was a Stag Doo, I originally was just going to dress down, work trainers and the only pair of jeans that I have kept back for those odd occasions when I go out to do a quote, and I'm not in work clothes and I can't be bothered to sort myself out or explain about me, but when I heard that we would be going to town, well hey, those that know me well, know I'll make a hug effort.

The evening was packed with fun from Karaoke ( not me, thank god, last time I tried that at CandyGirls we all failed miserably - eek ), Thai food, a few games of pool, which I used to be really good at, I know that was back in 1991-92 when I was the captain of the Hare & Hounds B team, but blimey I couldn't play like I used to, didn't help that the table was more pissed than I was, and back then I wasn't wearing 4" high heeled boots, or found that the cue was trying to have a relationship with my boobs!!! I was a bit conscious about the skirt on the dress I was wearing, but I wasn't worried about the guys looking at my arse, although a few comments would have been fun! Even so I need to get out and play more pool.

We ended up in town, and went to the Tea bar, where we caught the end of a Jazz Band. That was good, I'm not really into Jazz but the atmosphere was amazing. I have a friend who wants to get me out into town, and I know that the Basingstoke LGBT community meet there, so I am determined to get the soon, just not this week as its on the same day of the wedding. 

We then went to Plush in town. That was packed, the music wasn't that bad and it might be a good place to go with some girl-friends in the near future, if it wasn't for the fact that I had walked to the White Heart, been literally on my feet all night, with the exception of sitting down to a Thai Green Chicken Curry, and the lift into town, I would have got on that dance floor with some of the guys, which might not have been a good idea anyways LOL.

The evening ended around 1am and a couple of us actually walked home, whilst the others got a taxi or a lift. Jasper was pleased to see me at 2:30am but of course the clocks went forward so it only took us 30 minutes to walk back... or did it!!??!! 

Fortunately being a sensible woman, I took some ballerinas with me, which I wore for the walk home. Upon looking at my boots this morning, I found that the wearing of the ballerinas was a very wise decision, as I broke part of the heel last night. I did think they were a bit uncomfortable on the walk to Plush. On the plus side, I have had them for nearly 18 years, they have done so many miles and I am surprised that they haven't failed before now. But I shall defiantly get them fixed as I love them so much.

In in all, I had the most amazing time last night, I hope that the Stag, will have fond memories of last night, that will last him a life time, and I am so honoured to have been a part of that. xXx