April 2005
01/04/05 - Had booked up, months ago, for the Angels' "Sparkle" fundraising dinner at the Embassy Club, organised by Della Delight.
Vanessa was picking me up, going back to her place and having a leisurely time on Saturday getting ready before driving down to the restaurant/club in Mayfair.
Of course, since when does anything go smoothly? And this was no exception. Vanessa was using a courtesy car as hers was in a garage for some very serious work that needed doing to the engine.
Only today, at lunchtime, she gets a call to say the garage can't do the repairs, and because they weren't going to finish the job they wanted the courtesy car back - now!
An hour later, a mechanic knocked on Vanessa's door and collected the car.
Vanessa tried to contact me several times during the course of the afternoon, but I was out. Eventually, on my return I picked up my voicemail and got her messages, only they didn't say what the problem was. In fact, I didn't know there was a problem.
For those of you reading this who think I could drive down to Vanessa's you obviously haven't read my March 2005 entry where I explained I'd just lost my licence. :(
Anyway, Vanessa called a few minutes later and explained the situation. She said she'd tried car hire firms, but the cheapest was £85 - I told her to book the car, I'd pay, and get to my place before 8pm, which was when the children would be home. You know, awkward questions 'n all that - so she did and we left my place with a good quarter of an hour to spare - phew!
True to my lazy self, I couldn't be bothered to change into Rachel once down at Vanessa's, and instead we had a meal and watched Alien Vs Predator.
Now, for those that don't know me, unless I'm going out I really can't be bothered dressing up - definitely an "out" trannie, so to speak.
02/04/05 - The day I'd been waiting for for months. Vanessa has an Avon round so we went collecting in the morning.
After that, I started the transformation process - Vanessa doesn't need to bother now that she's living 24/7 in her preferred gender role.
You know the usual scenario, posh "do" and that sinking felling that there's nothing to wear. So it was I raided Vanessa's wardrobe. Sfter much deliberating and trying on of different outfits I chose a strapless black cotton dress with little handbags all over it - just hope someone got a piccy of me in it at the Embassy Club.
So, now the choice had been made I needed to get rid of all the hair - armpits, arms, legs etc. I can tell you it seemed to take forever.
Having finally denuded myself, I went through the whole cleansing, toning and moisturising ritual - a rare treat I have to say.
Time was moving on, and as usual I was the one that was going to make us late, but I decided not to rush the make-up - this, I felt, was going to be a special evening and I wanted to look my best...
I chose to go for shades of purply/pink eyeshadow, pinkish blusher and a combination of 2 lipsticks, a very dark purple (very goth-looking) with a medium pink one over the top - the colour I felt was fabulous and worked very well with the outfit.
The tights were very sheer, 10 or 15 denier, and of the very lightest tan colour... and to finish off a pair of black suede 2.5" court shoes. Oh, and a long white cardigan to guard against the cold if we had to walk any distance once we'd parked the car.
So we set off about 5.30pm with an hour and a half to do a two hour journey! Nevertheless, with my brilliant navigating we got within a hundred yards of the club and parked outside a police station in Clifford Street, just off Saville Row.
We walked in the doors at five past seven, left our coats with a lovely, blonde, cute girl and joined a group of about thirty other Trannies at the bar.
The first girls we bumped into were Christina, Leanne and Francesca. Again, for those of you who haven't read the rest of my diary, I first met Christina, when we arranged to go to Pink Punters for the Angelic Christmas party
As everyones glass was nearly empty I got the next round in. Now, bearing in mind this is a club where the paparazzi hang around for pics of the rich and famous the drinks weren't too bad, just over a fiver for a large glass of house red. And less than twenty quid for a bottle of same. Think I'll make it my local - cough, splutter, LOL.
After nattering for only a short while the conversation moved on to the picture on the right, which I nicked off the "Sparkle" website, and the fact that Francesca seems to have forgotten where her left hand was - have to admit to never feeling a thing. ;) But amused to see she seemed suitably embarrassed when it was brought up at the Embassy Club. :)
Someone, obviously organised enough to have a camera with them, then took a group picture, which I've yet to see posted on the Internet, of the lot of us.
After that we were shown to our tables. Now, Della, organised girl that she is, had sent us all a table plan, so I knew Vanessa and I were sitting on Della's table, with Della's friend Karen. I also knew a girl by the name of Claudia would be sitting at our table too. I was dying to meet Claudia coz she has a fabulous site at Claudia's Diversity, and a gorgeous looking girl too. Unfortunately, Claudia's wife took ill and Claudia stayed with her.
Then there was Alison who sat opposite me, Karen's partner and Sophie and Sue two real girls who work at the salon Della goes to to have her nails done.
The food was excellent , and not too much of it, and the conversation was very easy. Maybe the chicken wasn't very adventurous, but given the deal Della negotiated it would be churlish to complain, and it was cooked to perfection. Forgive me, but I can't remember what we had for the firast course, but it was soup and had, I think, asparagus in it.
However, when it came to the dessert, nearly everyone on our table left it - some sort of chocolate tart. It just melted in your mouth, but it was so rich none of us could eat more than a couple of mouthfuls.
I spent most of my time talking to Sue (never seen a RG apply lip gloss so often) but definitely not a dumb blonde - studying business administration at one of the London University colleges.
Anyway, at 18 she has no issues with trannies and her and Sue were totally at ease. Guess it's time us trannies started claiming our own ground and stopped worrying about what others maybe thinking - coz they're probably not (climbs down off soapbox).
After the meal Vanessa and I went down stairs into the disco and on the way down there a couple of girls said they'd had comments made to them, but who cares? Whoever made the comments needs to get over their own issues - that's what I say!
Lots of video screens, music not too loud for a disco, lots of young girls in outfits that gave me a few ideas, not that I'd get away with most of them, but I can have my fantasies, can't I?
Of course, for a straight venue it wasn't surprising a number eyes would follow us about, but unfortunately no-one was brave enough to come over and talk to us, so we had a bit of a bop, and then wondered upstairs again.
A little while later Francesca and I went down for another dance - so glad Vanessa put me off wearing a cowl neck top coz it was warm enough in a strapless cotton summer dress.
Well, after a few more glasses of vino and watching the younger ones dancing round the tables in the restaurant, both trannies and straights we decided to make a move.
Perhaps the only slightly disappointing thing was that the paparazzi outside didn't take any pics of Vanessa and I as we left, so it wasn't worth buying the "Sunday Mail" in the morning, or should I say later that morning.
All in all, a fabulous night and can't wait to do it again Della - did you hear me, hon?
Oh, and a big thank you to Alison for saying that having sat opposite me all night she thought I was only 35 - she's in my "friends for life" club!
Vanessa and I got to bed about 4.30am Sunday morning, zzzzz.