Sami,
The turning point for me was deciding to grasp the nettle and go out socially. I knew it was an anniversary party so it meant making an effort but I'd never been out in public before ( My profile page was the first outing and how I looked). In some respects it was like a planned mission , I'd been given a lovely ballgown by my gender counsellor but I had remnants of old makeup from my wife and daughter and I needed a strapless bra and for the dress and some control panties for my tuck . So one rainy Sunday morning I drove to the bigger city only a few miles away and walked into Boots to ask for a skin colour check I got fixed up with the correct foundation and powder and the right mascara and the rest . Then off to BHS to buy a strapless bra and panties and extra stockings .
OK it took me an age to get ready but by the time I stepped ( not too gracefully) into the car I wasn't nervous it just felt right , so this was my turning point , even to meet a room full of CDers and their partners felt fine. I may have not been walking very elegantly in 4" heels I'd never worn before but it didn't matter I guess Teresa came into true being at that point , no going back .
That was just two years ago this week , my new avatar was taken a few weeks ago and I can't believe how comfortable I feel now, just to walk into the hotel and order my pot of tea at the bar and take it to relax in the lounge area , maybe read the local paper and watch the World go by before joining the others in the meeting room .
