3 May 1999

It's been an awfully long time since I last looked in here.

That's what I said in my last entry. It's even truer this time.

I also said I wanted to get into a controlled routine of two weekends a year en femme........ Hah!

How about twenty times a year? Well, actually, I think it's probably more than that.

Since my last posting, I've been back to Manchester on one further occasion. Again, I was accompanied by the same tv friend who was with me before. But what made this trip different was that my wife came too.

Which was wonderful. OK, getting told by strange women that you look good is more dangerous with a wife around, but fortunately, the compliments weren't too free this time, and the only time she REALLY baulked was when someone sent me one of those single-roses-wrapped-in-clear-plastic late on in the Hollywood Showbar

And she had a ball herself. I had persuaded her that she might better get into the spirit of the place by dragging up herself, and sure enough, on the Saturday night she ventured forth in my old wig, a lot of makeup, a very lowcut leather top, tight pvc jacket and jeans and, of course, heels to kill with. She really enjoyed it, appreciated the anonymity AND was tickled pink to have passes made at her by some lesbians in the Globe.

Good fun and all as it was, though, at the end of the weekend she felt a bit stressed out all the same. Not surprising really, hanging out with a group where everyone else is driven by an obsessive internal need is hardly likely to be relaxing.

Now, from my wife's point of view, I think Manchester Village is a bit "been there, done that" at this stage. Which is probably as well, because I've since taken my courage in my hands and dived into the Dublin scene, where she won't often be able to accompany me for fear of being recognised.

I guess I always knew I would do it sometime. One thing I've noticed as a tv is that if you try not to be intimidated by a new hurdle, such as meeting people in your home town or even going out on the streets of that town en femme, and manage to be brave and do it, the next time you try it won't be difficult at all - the problems just evaporate.

Finally for now, it seems to me that my ceasing to rely on Manchester as a venue possibly comes just in time to avoid having the memories of some halcyon nights overwritten by later disappointment. I have heard that the Village is becoming increasing popular with unsympathetic straight people who come in to poke fun at us. Worse, and to add insult to injury, I heard in the last week that previously tranny-friendly establishments are giving us the cold shoulder, alack and alas.

Any thoughts? You can always email me.

Gloria