MY FIRST TIME

No, shopping silly!
It was 10 October 2009. I had a really good day . It was 4:30 and I decided to go to Milton Keynes Centre for my first shopping trip as Gabby.

First of all I went to Tescos garage to test my resolve. It was funny, as I went to enter the garage shop, a grizzled man with a white beard opened the door wide open for me and with a broad grin on his face he beckoned me in with a sweeping gesture of his arm. Ha! I might have made his day as he obviously thought I was a classy woman all dressed in black with a large mustard coloured handbag.(Well the make up was still very good as I had my MAC make up session the previous day).

I just couldn't help smiling at him because of the thought " If he only knew!" It is a nice feeling ,I must admit , even if it was a grizzled old man who opened the door for me. In the shop I told the assistant the pump number in a very quiet voice and another customer at the counter said " Four" at the same time. She got confused and charged me for his bill. I said " No, pump fifteen"
" You said four!" the assistant said in a rude way. I wonder if she would have been that rude if I had been dressed as a guy. I couldn't be bothered to argue as I was in a great mood and they would all have been startled if I had raised my voice.

So I was Gabby all day long- at the mall I went to the MAC counter at Debenhams and Sophie, who did my make-up, recognised me in the queue. I was given a fee sample of the eye shadow I wanted and the other girl, Gemma recognised me as well.They were both very friendly to me.

I then went for a stroll in the mall. It wasn't very full but nobody twigged I was a tranny which was a huge boost to my confidence. Back I walked to Debenhams as most shops were closing. I tried on several jackets and held up dresses to me to see if they suited me and it was a much nicer shopping experience than shopping in drab, as nobody paid any attention to me.

At one point I put my handbag, scarf and bolero down on the floor so I could try several jackets and a shopper picked up my stuff and was about to hand it to the shop counter. I told her it was mine and smiled and she apologised. She didn't realise I was a tranny either! So next time I want to go shopping I will get dressed as Gabby.

My confidence was sky high because of the public make-up session, the photo shoot and my shopping experience. I even used the ladies loo in Debenhams. I thought it was safer than creating a scene by going like that into the Gents. Now I feel that, as long as I am careful and dress sensibly, I can go to most places as Gabby.

As I was all dressed up and still had my make up on so I went out again. I thought I may as well go to Pink Punters as I love it there and I would know people I could chat with.
If any tranny wants to go shopping but is scared, all I can say is the high you get far more than compensates for the fear before you venture to the shops. Do it!
xx

I didn't bargain for that.

Back in October I had another lovely time as Gabby shopping , only the the second time I went shopping as Gabby. I tried on several jackets at M & S, Debenhams and House of Fraser and boughta few things at Superdrug.

Several people spotted that I was a tranny and they all gave a wry smile which I detected and smiled back. Mostly I was totally accepted as a woman and even when I bargained for a holdall at the open market the two guys there didn't twig I was a guy! They were very polite and courteous. Actually it wasn't so much bargaining, I just said asked if they had the same size bag but cheaper and the owner said 'What if we say you can have it for £12 instead of £14 ?'and gave me a shy smile. Did I detect a gleam in his eye? Maybe, but more probably they had twigged me and were amused and playing along with it.

The young girl at Superdrug only realised I was a tranny when I spoke, then we had a brief chat.
Oh, I also tried on shoes at Evans and New Look.
The shops were quite busy. At Superdrug the guy in front of me dropped his credit card and he walked away quickly so I had to shout at him to a ttract his attention- obviously a man's voice but he was so pleased he hadn't lost his credit cards that he didn't seem to notice.

It was a real buzz again . I love being Gabby in public.
xx

MAC

Alex Kingsley http://www.tvdreams.co.uk/
agreed to undertake a photo shoot with me as the model! I was so excited by the idea I decided to have my make up done professionally. I couldn't get anyone to come to my house at short notice so I reluctantly agreed to go to Debenhams to have it done at the MAC counter.


Sophie did my make up and I was thrilled at the result. Sophie was totally cool about doing it for me and was very friendly and asked lots of questions about my alter ego and my life generally.

I chose a look from a recent Style magazine from The Sunday Times and she loved the fact that it was very different from the usual natural looks she normally undertakes.


I arrived at the MAC counter in drab and was very worried lest friends and neighbours spotted me, especially as my seat was right next to a huge shop window. I got a few surprised stares which quickly turned into gentle smiles which made me feel more at ease.
As Sophie got to work with the foundation I relaxed and started enjoying the experience.

I can totally recommend it. As soon as it was finished I walked around the store and felt on a real high. The shop assistants smiled at me so it was great fun.

CHRISTMAS MEAL AT THE BRIDGE INN, MILTON KEYNES
& BNO at PINK PUNTERS December 2009