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Today I got back home, and it I saw Ally for the first time in two weeks, my God she’s lost a lot of weight!

This evening things didn’t go too well, Ally indicated how she was irritated to hear about Michelle’s exploits during the last week.  I tried to explain that when she asked what was going on, then she would hear about Michelle as I was enjoying myself as Michelle.

Today was a long day, most of it spent wandering the streets of Sydney looking for “new toys”.

This evening though was set to be more fun, a couple of friends invited Michelle out for a meal, yes that’s right, invited Michelle. Well who am I to get in the way, of course I would go.

The evening went quite well, and we started by getting something to eat in the Green Chillies Thai Restaurant very nice meal, and if you want to surprise the staff, order your meal in Thai, especially if you have a thick Anglo-Australian accent.

Later we went to a small pub down Oxford Street, which was known as a gay bar, and we played pool in the back. It was really nice, as most left us alone, and those who didn’t paid compliments. Isn’t it strange how in a “normal persons'” bar “normal people” are not friendly, they are often obnoxious and rude, and yet in a gay bar (I do hate that term, but I don’t know of a replacement, “alternative lifestyle bar” just doesn’t cut it), everyone is friendly, no matter how “normal” or not you are or appear to be.

The interesting issue of the evening was the use of the Ladies rest room, two young girls, obviously physically older than their real ages, commented in loud voices, “nice to see so many *FEMALES* around here”, multiple times. I ignored them as they were obviously oblivious to the type of bar they were in, and the fact that many of the gay couples of both genders frequented that particular restroom throughout the night.

The interesting thought it left me with, is that even though I am officially a pre-op transgendered person, and therefore legally entitled to use the Ladies restrooms, externally people cannot tell the difference between a cross-dresser/transvestite and a pre or post op transgendered person when they still have some male definition in either face, hands or other parts of the body.

The day was uneventful, and Michelle was not seen as most of it was spent driving.

This morning I awoke, later than usual, and so happy nothing could upset me.  I went to the plenaries and
had a silly and permanently affixed grin on my face, so much so that some of the girls in the organising team commented that I was looking like I was the happiest person on the planet.  You know what… I was, I am, and I know now that as Michelle I will always be.

The conference closed without me winning anything, so the new me is the same as the old me in that respect, I never win anything. 😉

Tuesday morning started with me very upset. I phoned Ally and had a chat, she suggested it might be the change in medication and that I should make a point of seeing the doctor as soon as I got back home. I agreed, but was a little more skeptical as I knew the events of the previous day.

The day was uneventful, and at around 15:35 I decided to go shopping for the evening in Pacific Fair. Still down, I was not really in the mood for shopping but was determined that I was going to get something for the evening so that I could enjoy myself. It worked, I came away with a very soft and fluffy Pink top, some extras if needed and a new bra (one that will hide what is growing and stop the discomfort when running).

Having arrived back at the hotel at about 17:00 I recruited the help of Tanya and Sue to get ready. Sue had already told me that she has been a professional makeup artist and offered to help me with the make up. I had a hard job getting ready as I was still not happy, but I did and when Sue was finished I looked in the mirror and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I almost didn’t recognise myself, no longer was I a man in womans clothes but a confident young(ish) woman. I felt ready to take on the world.

The evening started with drinks by the pool where I was greeted by friends who commented about the outfit and the make up. I was accosted by a few people who wanted nothing but to ask lots of questions and talk to me. It seems that my decision to be conservative on the first night may have not been the best way to go as going the whole hog seemed to encourage many to come and talk to me or to offer complements.

The pre drinks finished as we all migrated to the ballroom for the Gala Dinner.

I won’t go into the details of the dinner or what was said or who said it, but everyone watching me there has to agree I was the happiest girl on the planet, thanks to those around our table, particularly as a certain young(ish) man was quite insistent that I sit next to him for the dinner.

After the evening’s entertainment “Tripod” had finished, some of the delegates got creative with the glow sticks that were given out at the beginning of the evening. For example Tanya put them in her hair as a new style. Other delegates used them as necklaces, or bangles (as I did), and one young man decided to create little chains and put them around his wrists, ankles and neck as shackles. I couldn’t resist and the result was that I paraded him around the ballroom in his shackles with more chains attached as a leash, whilst offering him as a slave for the day. I didn’t get any takers, but I did get a lot of laughs and the number of people wanting to take photos was phenomenal. My favourite photos were taken slightly later in the bar with Tanya and are here and here, the scary (in a very good way) thing is looking at the photos afterwards I actually think I look more like my sisters that I do the old me.

All in all, that night, I couldn’t be a happier person ever (well with the possible exception of when I married Ally and when Aaron was born).