[beverley.rose]

Thanks Chrissie

I am just back from a day in Manchester with Transforum (had a good chat with Jenny-Anne and Elin) where we set the local cops to rights and one or two hospital trusts, then it was on to the *important* part of the night - the all-you-can-eat Chinese where we spent a good three hours talking to each other, swapping stories, swapping contact details and just getting to know each other and being out in a normal situation with friends.

I will say that again in case anyone missed it - being out in a normal situation with friends.

You cannot tell me that that is not important. It builds confidence and self-esteem. There we are, a bunch of T* people in the city centre surrounded by ordinary people and none of us were abused, mistreated, kicked or spat on. A bunch of friends sitting in the middle of a busy restaurant in the middle of a busy city. Some of us pass as women, some of us are women, some of us look like men in a frock and some are in between but once a month we get to be whoever we want to be.

I will be on a high for the next week. The feeling is wonderful....

Beverley