Dancing Walking and Other Stuff

Getting in at the last minute so I don’t have a break in the monthly archives – shallow really. But at least I overcame the summer-time Traditional Trannie Torpor (or TTT if you prefer TLAs). But I’ve also had enough of computer hardware issues with a brand new laptop (my daughter’s) and need a break before I snap.

But onto more wholesome topics like what I’ve been doing all bank holiday weekend.

At the last minute (you know me too well) I arranged with Vanessa to see her on Friday, but before I set off I found a beauty salon locally that would give me a chest wax. Being my first time going in male mode to a beauty salon (in any mode, actually) I was tres nervous, OK justa little bit. But needn’t have worried. Kim who did my treatment was young and completely unfazed by my reasons for wanting to defuzz.

It went like this…

Kim: Any particular reason for wanting a chest wax?

Me: Well, it can look a bit odd when wearing a low cut top.

Kim: Oh, you going to a fancy dress party?

Me: No.

Kim: Oh, right.

Me: No, I go out quite regularly with friends, we’re trannies.

Kim: Where do you go?…

… and so on and so on. At £16.00 it’s so much easier and more permanent, relatively-speaking, than shaving. Only thing is, I found it it took until yesterday for the redness to disappear, so if you’re thinking of doing it too go 2 days before going out.

From the salon I went straight to Vanessa’s. And couldn’t you just tell it was a bank holiday. There was a plague of caravans on the road, but it didn’t take too much longer than normal to get to Kettering.

Vanessa looked her usual elegant self dressed in white blouse, cardigan and fawn-coloured suede skirt, with a lovely silver necklace. I’ve always envied her style.

Not sure if I’ve already mentioned it, but Vanessa had been accepted into the navy for the position of lieutenant-commander at JAG, Judicial Advocate General’s office, where subject to completing a 2 year training course, she will be acting as liason between the americans and british naval fleets, with some duties in Europe.

However, this was dependant on her getting her SRS operation at Charing X before going back for further training in October. Both the navy and her GP explained the position to Charing X, but they weren’t in the slightest bit interested.

In the end Vanessa wrote to the admiralty interview board to ask them to accept her on the second part of her training in October without her having had the operation. Well, she got a reply on Wednesday, the gist of which is that because of her unique situation the matter had been discussed at the highest level, and due to her exemplary performance on the first part of her training (the only one to get a commendation) they had decided she could go on to part 2 of the training in October out in Newport Rhode Island. Whoa, cause for celebration I’d say. Good job the navy, at least, were prepared to treat her in a fair and even-manner manner. Of course, Charing X GIC performed in a way that didn’t surprise me one little bit – nuff said.

After having had a chat and a cuppa we decided on a pizza and a night  out at Pink Punters, although it wasn’t a regular BNO night. Vanessa went off to get the pizza, I redid my toenails and was ready within the hour – amazing for me, but I had done most of the necessary defuzzing before setting off for Kettering.

Consequently, we got to Pink Punters quite early for us, 10.10pm. No point in getting there before 10pm these days as the early, reduced rate entrance fee no longer applies – it’s £7.00 to get in whatever time you turn up.

But the place was virtually empty – I saw two other trannies all night, one of whom informed us Sunday night would be the busiest. Oh well, we had a good chin wag before setting off home about 1.20am.

Saturday we just chilled out, watched the Belgium GP qulifying rounds had lunch and did a bit of Internet surfing. I set off home about 5pm and cooked dinner for me and the missus. The girls had gone to the Leeds Festival.

Sunday, we took off over to Derbyshire and did a short walk from Castleton to Mam Tor and back. I improvised when we missed our turning for Blue John Cavern and we ended up climbing a gully to get to the cavern before finding the National Trust route to Mam Tor. And what a boring route it was, all paving slabs and steps – I can climb a staircase at home if I wanted to do that, humph.

After arriving at Mam Tor we walked a short distance along the ridge, but it was one long convoy of bank holiday trippers, so we turned back and descended by a more interesting route, and got a fantastic view of four sheep traversing what appeared to be a vertical cliff. They got stuck and attempted to go back, but couldn’t. I was half expecting one of them to fall but amazingly they all survived. Later I looked back and they were still following what must have been a very small ledge along the cliff face. I’ve never seen such intrepid sheep before – a lot braver than I am!

[Gets on hobby horse]
Talking of holiday trippers let me make one distinction. We were wearing proper walking gear suitable for the conditions, but we even saw a guy wearing a pair of Jesus sandals. It may only be Derbyshire, but the High Peak can still be a dangerous place and to go in sneakers and such like is fool-hardy, even though probably borne out of ignorance.
[Gets off hobby horse]

We ended the the trip in a tearoom where the front of house guy was condescending and the tea and coffee wishy-washy-weak, although not overpriced, unlike the cream-tea. Suggest you try the tearooms opposite the village carpark instead.

Today, the intention was to catch-up on project work, but what was going to be a half-hour job sorting out my daughter’s new laptop ended up consuming most of the day, with irrate calls to Dell who were less than helpful. Having had a total of 8 Dell laptops over the years, and very reliable they’ve been, if that’s what their customer support is like I may very well go elsewhere for my next purchase.

Anyhoos, that’s why I’m writing this – to cool down.

Time for another cuppa…