Year: 2019

Just for fun

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Hi, The other day the Every Lovely Mrs J sent me a link around How to be an Ally to Trans People (link here if you’re curious), bless her. We had a bit of a chat – and a few laughs about the training we’d had over the years – some good, some great, some that *ahem* might need a spot of improvement. Now, occasionally I get to do a bit of Q&A around what it can mean to be Trans*. Through Chameleons, I’ve had just under a dozen or so training opportunities with various organisations in and around Nottingham. Now, not only does this get me out a bit (which is cool in my book), but it brings funds […]

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Starting: Coming Out

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Hi, Not so long ago, someone asked about ideas or help around coming out. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to do it, but it’s something that comes up in the Chameleons email and other places too. So, here are a few thoughts on the subject. Aims: Do you know what you want to get out of coming out? If you are coming out to a partner, how long have you kept this from them? Is all of this new to you too? Try to be realistic and think of what you’d both be happy with: after all, there are two of you in this relationship. If it’s not to a partner, what does the other person get […]

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Pink and blue

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Hi, It’s the start of half term. The last small break before the great length that is the summer holidays. I think both Little Miss and Wee Man will be glad of the break. One is working through exams, the other has finished her SATs. Testing, testing, one two three. Around we go and testing, there’s a word to conjure with. Earlier this week I caught a video from a training event at work. The presenter – a trans person – was going through the terminology on their slide deck. We run through trans-woman, trans-man, and along the wordage. We get to the cloud of terms where I’d probably sit: gender variant, cross-dresser. I hear on the audio track “…these […]

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No shortcuts

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Hi, A long time ago, in a bedroom somewhere far, far away, a wee boy and his dad read a story about a wizard. The books had become very popular and films followed. Rather good films, IMHO, but that’s by the by. In one of the stories, there’s a mirror that – supposedly – shows the viewer what they desire most. Well, words to that effect. I wouldn’t want to draw young fans in and then for their parent to explain why there’s a person who looks like a bloke but says he’s transgender. Mind you, some of them may find that word – and that world – all on their own. 🙂 So this week it came to be […]

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A spell of calm

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Hi, Last night was Chameleons, so off I popped to see friends and be a little fancier in look than my usual bloke attire. Fancy shirts help, but there are days when only a cute dress will do. Going back a few weeks, I had promised the group a cream tea, so I arrived with plenty of scones, jam, and – mais oui – clotted cream. We did, of course, have the two most pressing political discussions facing the UK right now: 1. Cream then jam or jam then cream? 2. Do you say scon or skown? Polite banter ensued around this bit of silliness, which is just how we like it. There was a slight surplus of goods due […]

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It wasn’t okay back then either

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Hi, It’s another long weekend in the UK. Yay for another bank holiday! Things to be cheerful for eh? The Ever Lovely Mrs J has recently sprung (Translation Spock? Exchanged currency for an item or service, Captain) for a family license for Spotify. Oh, other streaming services are also available 🙂 This is mainly as both Wee Man and Little Miss are of an age where music is a large part of their lives, although while young Master Jones may have pinned his colours to the tribe of metal, Miss Jones remains decidedly undecided. As I was driving home I happened upon Gary Numan track – My Name is Ruin, if you’re curious – and has the last bars of […]

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