Part 5: Night Walk And Tube Day

We’re back and it is part five of the London- Scotland Tour!

So last post I revisit Camden and went to the Versailles gig as female as well as having to catch a cab (Uber) sober as female and I did all this on my own but it didn’t end there when I got in.

When I got in I was thinking about bed, I stripped off and took all my makeup off but when it came to getting into bed I couldn’t, it just seemed a waste after the gig to go bed and is something I don’t like doing, I could have gone back to Camden but I wasn’t in the mood for clubbing so I decided to go and see London at night instead. So I set out on a long walk which would cover around 2.5 miles which was set to Waterloo Bridge.

Light pollution

When I got to Waterloo Bridge I had to take a couple of pictures as I was amazed how much light pollution that London gives off because as the sky was just lit up. Then it was about getting to Westminster Bridge via Queens Walk which is a path next to the River Themes. That was a good walk and goes past Jubilee Gardens, the London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure, The London Dungeon and the Sealife London Aquarium. I didn’t realise how big the London Eye is till I was next to it.

Next was the trip to Buckingham palace which the route I took would be though Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, where I would see the traffic lights that have LGBT/gender symbols for green which also featured on The Grand Tour (Amazon’s Top Gear with the same presenters) anyway I couldn’t get a good picture so I moved up The Mall road which lead to Buckingham Palace which did take me by surprise. It shocked me because it was dark and lifeless nothing went past me or did I see anyone. I thought with it being a massive place for tourism people would be there, even when I got to the palace nothing. I had a quick look at the palace and thought stuff it lets go back to the hotel, it was then when I looked at my maps it would be an hours walk away then I ordered an Uber taxi which I had to wait about 5 minutes for but it was so worth it. I got to the hotel and went to sleep ready for my big day of touring the city.

I would of liked to go into London as female as I did plan to do it but I got hit with an issue and that was my neck, it was sore and full of spots which I didn't think I moisturised it well with 2 days of shaving and heavy makeup, so it was sore and screwed so I had no option but to go out as male. I was gutted but to be fair I already did more than enough to boost my confidence. The picture is my neck just less than 12 hours after I shaved.

Monday 30^th January was the full day where I wanted to see London where I wouldn’t have to panic about getting to see the places, Harrods was first on my list to visit first, I thought what a place to go to! High end designer clothes, high end technology and furniture… okays I wasn’t that interested in furniture. I was walking around passing through the makeup as I really didn’t need makeup as much as it killed me as I had one place I wanted to visit for that, but I went straight to clothes and I thought what the hell, I was so disappointed that it was pretty much stuff I see at a Selfridges and the higher end House Of Frasers. The really top stuff I didn’t like £2.000 for a coat and it was horrid. Stella McCarthy, Alexander McQueen‎ etc some of the stuff I saw just made ask why would people want to wear this and think it’s good? That was the same opinion many others had around me as well.  

£68.000 Sony TV

I had a quick walk around even to the Electronic Department where there is a Currys PC World and was amazed by the sizes of TV’s that they had. I was amazed with the 100” Sony TV they had… Many people will know that I don’t really Like Sony mainly for PlayStation but that story for another post. I think the best part about Harrods was the technology as it had loads to offer but I was short on time and left disappointing and wanting to comfort eat on a KFC which I hunted down and had to catch a bus.

After food it was to Piccadilly Circus which was a tube ride… Yes! The screens that look so good in the movies and adverts it was a place on my “To See List” only then to get there and the screens was covered up, it turns out they’re making one screen that covers it all rather than it being separate screens. Small fact for you, this makes it the first time since The Blitz in the second world war the Piccadilly lights/screens have been turned off.

Could find my picture of it so one, this pics is off BBC

I decided to then go back to Trafalgar Square as I wanted to get a picture of the Transgender Symbol, I know there are other symbols which others might say I should have taken pictures of but that isn’t what I’m about. I got the picture I wanted after a few tries then I remembered I needed something and that was a cheap backpack. I spent loads of time going in shops as I didn’t want to spend loads on a backpack for something to pretty much hold my coats. After going in a few TK Maxx stores I moved onto Oxford Street.

Trafalgar Square

Oxford Street has always been a place I’ve wanted to go but as time moved on I only had a couple of places to visit which was Debenhams and Selfridges. I heard a Kat Von D stall was in one of them which I went to look for. I managed to find it in Debenhams which was great, the girl that served me was awesome gave me great tips and was willing to have a little chat with me. I bought a couple of things from there which was the Interstellar eye shadow pallet and the Lock-It foundation, unfortunately it wouldn’t be used whist I was in London. After moving on I did find a Primark which I decided on buying a crappy £8 bag so I could store my coats while I was going from London.

Unfortunately, by the time I got to where I wanted to go, loads of places like the Tower Of London was shutting and the same with London Zoo when I checked online so it was on to walking across the Tower Bridge, and looking around there. I decided that I would get a picture of the tower then I walked past HMS Belfast where I saw a picture opportunity to get both the Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast as a picture.

It didn’t end there though, a guy came next to me with his camera and saw a picture opportunity like I did. Photography was a hobby for him and nothing more and came up from Southampton just to get picture at night with the cloud in view. For him it wasn’t working and for me also but I just wanted a clear picture with the ship and bridge.  Which I got!

I spent about 30 mins with him listening to his stories but it got too cold, and my phone battery was less than 20% by this time so it was time to retire back to my hotel. By the time I got back I decided to take one last trip to Islington pretty much as a mental thank you for getting me to go to London, for O2 Venue to host Versailles. I went to bed early knowing I would be up early and with all the travelling I did I was soon fast asleep.

That’s it for this part thanks for reading, the next part will be not just about leaving London but a small event that happened on the way home which could have resulted in a massive accident and possible me and others injured or dead. Find out soon

Sarah

xxx

Hey all!

I hope everyone is doing great and is also having a great Bank Holiday weekend. Mine has been great! My favorite football team Wigan Athletic has been promoted back to the Championship and even if they lose their last game of the season and Burton Albion win their last game Wigan's goal difference is too much by around 20/21 goals so it means Wigan are unofficially champions!

Last week


Last week I was off work on holiday and it turned out to be a massive week for me as on my first day off it was my works outing. I know I've been out before and it was to the same place as we went for Christmas which was a Restaurant called 'Fat Olive'

This is the outfit I wore, I took this picture just before I posted this as I didn't have time to take one then.

Red Jacket - New Look

Boots - River Island

Tights - Primark 

Dress/belt - Closet London

I kind of felt it was a bit different this time as I was more independent when it came to talking to people and also it was the first time from the start I was ordering drinks as well as it was me being out while it was still daylight, It was funny as the bar staff which was great and soon I didn't have to speak as they knew I was ordering a double vodka and cola. A few days later I was back in helping out for a few hours as it was a massive promotion change which meant changing the posters round for most of the store. My shift was a 6pm - 9pm. Again I went in as female and yes I've already been to work as female but this time it was when we was open to the public so it gave the public a chance to see me and if they wanted they could also interact with me, so I decided as I was only in work to do the promotional side to wear my own clothes and just get on with it. Luckily during the shift when we was open no customers approached me, I did have a couple who was always looking at me but I just got on with my job. It's wasn't my fault they fought I looked great and had the best boots in the world... So I keep telling myself that to keep me focused on what I was doing rather than worrying what they was actually thinking about.

Even now I'm thankful that I work with some of the best people in the world, they're very accepting, loving, kind and just pure awesome. My biggest issue is with myself as I could bring thank you cards and chocolate in which I will probably do again at some point I will always feel in debt to them for all the support I've had. I feel this with my friends but I spend so much time with these guys and we all gel so well.

1st May 2016 we had a big meeting and one of those where you discuss the plans for the next 12 months like any other business etc, and where recognition is given to all the people for their hard work over the year but this had a twist and it got all of us by surprise. We all knew my name as male would pop up as part of the team but my manager also added me as female so "Nick/Sarah". I've done two small shifts and have been to both works outings as female. Even though it was funny seeing both my male and female names on the screen it also hit home and I feel just part of the team as female. I decided to give a small speech which basically was me saying thank you for their support as without it there would be no way I would be as confident. I'm not going to lie I was about to break into tears while saying my little speech but one thing I'm not great at it's crying. I would like to thank my friends and my Dad because you guys also help me.

Sarah Meets

This year has been amazing already for myself and this blog and now I'm happy to announce a new project. For around a week on my Facebook I've been teasing a new thing that I will be doing on here. Its called Sarah Meets. 

Sarah Meets is where I will be talking to other transgender people, I'm new to the trans community and being trans on a whole so I want to learn about what I can expect when it comes to hormones and other things that I will face in my journey transitioning to female. I want to share their stories of what they went through and my aim is for this to help others and for people that aren't transgender to see what we go through everyday. I aim to talk to people from different parts of the world so we can learn about their culture and how being trans affects them.

Everything will be written as I'm not that confident to talk to a camera and record the other person and I love writing. I have a few people up to now that have said that they want to participate so it will be interesting to hear their say and I can't wait to start talking to them and doing this. I have no week set when I will post this but I will keep you all informed. I'm planning on seeing if I can get some known trans people from the community as it can add other things but on the whole its about every person and their journey to being who they are.

There has been trans people in the paper and on media and I would like to see how it has affected them or if it has changed anything in their life. People have transitioned in their job and stayed with the same employer so I would like to know what they went through and share it for others that are in the same position, every body's journey is/will be different but at least with this depending on the person any their stories they could be good and bad. I know I've been inspired by some peoples stories I've read and would love to share them but coming from them not just through papers.


So please stay tuned more information will come shorty. :)