While I have been out in the day it usually is to somewhere like a quiet beauty spot or beach, places where there are likely to be few people. Having the opportunity to spend some extended time dressed last week I was determined to go out somewhere more public and in daylight.
I'd taken walks in the evenings along a seafront promenade when there are just a few folks around so I opted to go there in the daytime as it would be far busier and a test for my confidence.
Parking up the sign said, "Pay and Display", the nearest meter being just the other side of the road. So this chicken crossed the road to pay only to find it was seasonal and I didn't need to. I should add that the wind was blowing hard and my wig was trying to whip the skin off my face so turning to face into the wind I regained some control, looked to see if it was safe to cross back and what was there, a police car of course, which just sailed on by.
As I crossed back the wind took my glasses off and sent them tumbling down the road with me scurrying after them but having to leave them as a car was coming the other way which meant I got to the pavement just as a young GG appeared, as if on cue, to empathise with me over their loss and to then read me and give a slight smile. The glasses survived and were retrieved.
So I made it onto the promenade, sat and eat my sandwich, fed the gulls and then strolled for a while in the sunshine all the while hoping it was only my glasses that got blown off and not my wig. As it's said so often here, small steps.
I went out to other locations several more times during the following days. I know I got read some of the time. Other times folks are just too busy to take much notice of the others around them and I just got on with my stroll.
I still feel more comfortable having the cover of darkness to help with anonymity but I'll try to move those boundaries the next opportunity Helen gets for some extended time dressed.