I opened the car door and stepped out into the quiet street. Putting my handbag on my shoulder I closed the car door, took a deep breath and walked the short distance along the pavement and then up the steps to the hotel entrance. I was very aware of the sound of my heels on the hard surface of the pavement and the steps but I couldn’t walk any quieter so I just continued.
Once in the hotel my heel sounds must have alerted the receptionist as he came out of a room and said, “Can I help you darling?” - Darling!
I explained that I had booked a room and he proceeded to book me in and give me some instructions about breakfast in the morning and the time for checking out. He then gave me my key and explained how to find my room. I thanked him and asked if my car was OK on the road outside but he said that I would have to move it. I could park it in Tesco car park around the corner for free or I could park it along the street at another hotel for £20. I already knew this but decided to park it at the nearby hotel and pay the fee - at least the car was close and it would be safe in the car park.
I went and found my room and then it took me two trips to bring my things in from the car. I had to remember I was a weak and feeble woman who could not manhandle lots of things from the car. Also it gave me chance to walk around with good reason.
On the second visit two official looking people were looking at my car. I asked them, in as good a voice as I could manage, if there was a problem and the man said, “Unless you are a resident, Madam, you will have to move your vehicle.”
I said I was just taking my things into the hotel and then it would be moved. They said that that was OK so I carried on and they walked away up the street. “Madam” - I felt really good.
Katie Glover, the web mistress of Trannyweb, had suggested that we should have a meet sometime to put faces to the names. The original dates were not available to me and the venue - London is a little far away for me to travel easily. However, to cut a long, and boring, story short, I eventually was persuaded to attend. Never having done anything like it before it was with some trepidation I prepared to be seen in public, by other girls, for the first time.
First of all the girlie feeling of - what am I going to wear? - should I go and buy some new clothes? - should I arrive dressed?
Well of course I didn’t have a thing to wear so I had to go out and buy some new things. A skirt, jacket and trouser suit, a light summery skirt and top and another top.
My wife knew about the trip but my children didn’t so I had to pack in secret and give some excuse as to why I was going to be away.
The big decision was whether or not I was going to drive all the way to London dressed or not.
Eventually the Saturday arrived and, after I had a shower and shaved my legs and most of my body I decided to wear my padded panties, tights and a bra under my male clothes and get changed on the way. Having made that decision I put my case in the car and set off.
I stopped at the first services, bought some sandwiches and some water and then found a secluded space in the car park - have you ever tried to find a secluded space in a motorway services car park? - and slowly got changed.
It took some time, including putting on my face and doing my nails but I was quite pleased with the result.
Once dressed I closed my case, dumped my male clothes in the boot, had a walk around the car and then carried on with my journey.
On the right is a picture of what I wore. I took this picture at a later date.
Very soon, however, I realised that driving in my jacket was making me too hot. The day was beautiful and warm so there was no need for the jacket. I pulled into the next service area once I had parked, this time in a not secluded area I took off my jacket and put it in my case.
The rest of the journey down was uneventful. I did stop again. Here I made sure that everything I needed was in my handbag and then went and found a picnic table where I ate my sandwiches I had bought earlier and relaxed for a while. No one seemed to give me a second glance as I walked back to my car and continued to London.
I have driven in London many times, perhaps not dressed but many times, and knew roughly where my destination, the Philbeach Hotel, was and had not real problems finding it. Indeed I was lucky as there was a spare parking place just outside so I pulled into this and prepared to enter the hotel.
I took all of my things to my room and then I went and moved my car. Because of the one way system I had to drive down the road away from the hotel and around the block to the other hotel to find out where I could park. I pulled up outside the hotel, got out of the car and went to reception. They told me that it was possible to park at the rear and to come through the back of the hotel to pay.
When I drove into the car park at the rear there were two other people getting out of their cars. I parked mine and followed them into the hotel and waited for them to be seen by reception. I then paid and left by the front door.
It was only as I went down the front steps that I realised I would have to walk back to my hotel, a distance of two hundred yards or so. Well there was nothing for it so I set out.
Almost immediately I realised that I was rushing and slowed down my pace and the length of my stride. I suppose that the people around there are used to seeing people like me walking about because the two or three groups of people I passed in the street didn’t seem to bothered about me as I made my way back to the hotel.
I was so impressed with my walk that I decided to take a walk around the area once I had calmed down and so putting my handbag on my shoulder I set off for a stroll around the area. It was really nice wandering about without anyone pointing or looking too hard at me. I took my time and, apart from once when I had to scurry across a road junction I felt I was doing very well. All in all I was out for about three quarters of an hour.
When I arrived back at my hotel I had a drink in my room and then went and sat in the garden and read a book for about an hour or so.