With New Year out of the way, next up was my birthday. I had planned a quiet week, but as usual, it was anything but. After the excitement of the weekend before, I was still on a high. I wore a huge grin for at least four days afterwards. It's something I will never forget.

Monday came round. I had a lunch date with a good friends mum. I've known them for 16 years and although they were close to my exes family, I'm count myself lucky that I'm still friends with them. We'd been trying to make a lunch date since the new year, but I didn't have any time off planned until the last week. We pinned down a date, time and place, so all we had to do was wait. The purpose of this lunch date was one of information - mine to impart.

My friends mum wanted to meet me 2.0/3.0 and to ask me some questions about me 2.0/3.0. I was looking forward to it. It was a chance for me to walk into my local town in daylight and to have coffee in my local town in daylight. All things to tick off of my list. I walked in and ordered my drink and at down to wait. I didn't have to wait long thought. My friends mum arrived soon after me and we started to chat.

Over the course of a couple of hours, we covered a lot of ground. It was nice to chat and explain why I'd made my decision and to answer her questions. We agreed that we must do it again sometime and I fully intend to make sure that happens. It was validation for me that I've made the right decision and it was nice to know that I have support from all sides.

Over the next few days, it was a case of lunch here and a drink there. My birthday (the Thursday)  was a quiet affair overall. A spot of breakfast, a bit of lunch and a quiet drink in the evening.  The Friday, however, as a different kettle of fish. The day I got my ears pierced. The start of the physical changes to be made. I know it's only a small change, but it is a big step for me.

It was a chance to be me 3.0 for the day. he first day of me 3.0. My own hair, very little makeup and non gender specific clothing. I met my friend on the bus and into the local city we went. After spending a bit of money on some 'essentials', we popped in to the hairdressers she had recently gone into, to ask their opinion on my current style. After about 20 minutes, I was booked in for the next day, to start the classic bob. No point in procrastinating and putting it off. I just had to go for it.

Next, it was time for my moment of pain. My friend was getting her nose pierced at the same time. She went first. As this was a proper piercing place, the holes were made with proper needles. Lets just say, she had tears running down her cheeks after her piercing. I was up next. To say I was frightened/nervous was an understatement. So, after drawing a dot on each ear, I was (sort of) ready.

I was told to breathe in and on the breath out, the needle was pushed through my ear. One down, one to go. Breathe in, and on the breath out, the second hole was made. It hurt, I won't lie. However, it was worth it. The pain and the four month wait until I can finally wear whatever earrings I want. The thought of buying more jewellery. Yippee!

We both needed a little drink after that, so a pub was found. By this time, we were shopped out and we bid farewell to the city. I now had to revert to me 1.0 for my pub birthday party that evening. The last as me 1.0. We popped back to my flat whilst I changed back and off we went.

I had to be up early the next morning for my hair appointment. Bit of makeup, some appropriate clothing and off I went. I got the bus into the city and walked down to the salon. This was a new experience for me. Offered a drink, had my hair washed beforehand and a complete transformation. About an hour later, the start of my transformation was complete. The basis for a Classic Bob. I have to go back at the end of March to hopefully finish the bob, but so far, it looks really good. I'm pleased with it!

I felt fabulous walking back trough the city. Bouncy hair (all my own), cut into a style at last. Another thing I have to get used to, though. Instead of £9 for a hair cut, this cost a bit more. It also meant that I had to buy a hair dryer and the appropriate brushes to keep it looking like a bob. Unfortunately, I had a work do that evening, so once I got home, I had to redo my hair in a more me 1.0 style.

It was a good end to the week. hair cut, ears pierced and the start of many changes to come. There is still much to tell from the past few weeks. A girly chat, comedy gold and lots of much needed info.

I know I said I'd wait a few days before putting up the second part of the New years blog, but life gets in the way. Sorry - my bad! Three weeks later isn't too bad I suppose, better than three months.......!

Right, onto business. Part Two of the new years blog (checks last post to see where I got up to - memory like a sieve sometimes!). There have been lots of opportunities to be myself recently. Lots of either evenings or days out, lots of changes in myself to contribute towards the ultimate outcome. Changes that needed to happen otherwise my favourite pastime of procrastination would takeover.

January 2016 has been a pivotal month for me 1.0. My last birthday as my birth incarnation  - I'm not using the word gender yet as I feel it's too early to use that in regard to the changes that are going to happen. The last hurrah as the old me. The transformation of me 1.0 and me 2.0 into me 3.0. Get the idea? After January, things would never be the same again. How could they be?

Because of this, me 2.0 wasn't really around for the bulk of January. That was a deliberate act on my part, due to the changes that would be happening. Most of my birthday week (I'd taken the week off of work) was spent as me 1.0, although me 2.0 was about for some of it. It was a busy week for us both in lots of ways. Lots of visiting, lunching, alcoholing, spending.........but very rewarding.

So, where did I fit into all of this? The plan was to be in the background for all of January, but, as we all know, life doesn't work that way. After new year, was the amazing show that is Rocky Horror. Me 1.0 had noticed that it was showing again in the local city around the middle of last year. So I thought long and hard about going (all of about 2 seconds) and after asking a few other people if they wanted to go, booked 10 tickets. All I had to do now was decide what I was going to wear.

I decided to go as the Usherette from the beginning of the stage show. I already had a Beehive wig (a bit of fun I purchased last year) so all I needed was a dress. Thank you eBay! You've come to my rescue yet again. Outfit sorted, I was all ready. The day came and.......I was pretty underwhelmed. Last time I went, being me 2.0 was all new and exciting. However, as I am me 2.0 more and more often, it was a bit of an anti climax.

Last time it took me 3 hours to get ready, this time, only 90 minutes. The makeup was easier as I have had plenty of practice now, I was already defuzzed from New Year and I wasn't using the enormous amount of engineering  I had last time. Don't get me wrong, I still had a fabulous time. The show was fantastic, the cast amazing and I had a good group of people around me. (Not all of them know about me 2.0). It's just the thrill of dressing up wasn't there.  I suppose last time it was all new and it was the start of the journey. Now I've made the decision, it's just the 'norm'.

Lets roll on a few weeks. The weekend before my birthday. An impromptu dinner party with a couple of good friends. They live about an hour away from me, so I stayed overnight. I glammed up, as I fancied a good dress up for the first time in a few weeks. Red lippy on, black heels on, I was ready to go. So, over I drove. The friend  whose house I was staying at also has an alter ego. We have helped each other grow in confidence and will continue to do so. The third member of our party is someone who is going through opposite process to the one I will be undergoing - female to male.

We had a few drinks at the house and then we decided to go to a local, country pub. I was a bit apprehensive. A country pub, two alter egos and a transgender man (A Jeremy Kyle episode?). However, I had no reason to be. The landlord knew of my friends alter ego and it was quite relaxed. So back we went. Dinner was cooked, more drink was drunk and the rest I'm afraid I cannot divulge. The intimate fantasy that was enacted happened and I thoroughly enjoyed every last second of it. I won't forget it in a hurry!

I left the next day with a huge grin on my face and a happy heart. It probably won't ever happen again - I'm a realist, but it was a huge tick off of my list. I wasn't expecting it to happen which made it even more enjoyable. It really bought out my feminine side it all felt right. It felt normal. How it should be.

I've a lot  more to tell, so I will leave it at this tonight, but I will post again before the end of the week - I promise! My birthday week, more people knowing, a dose of realism and the start of the physical changes are all to be explored.........

Happy new year to you all! I know it is February, but sometimes life gets in the way. Now, finally, the proper update.  I've been on a bit of a break from the blog - not for any particular reason or any comment made, but just to let things settle for a while and calm down a bit, given the circumstances. This does mean however, that there is a lot to tell. In that respect, I am going to split it into two separate posts so I don't send you to sleep!

Where to begin? The start would be a good place I suppose and probably following on from the last post. Christmas time. A time for family. A time for rejoicing and happiness and......who am I kidding. I hate Christmas. I hate the build up. I hate the commercialism. I hate the faux pretence of loving and sharing. It's always been a bad time of year for me and it was no different on the whole. There were small glimmers of respite amongst all the doom and gloom for which I was very grateful, but it was still very draining and dark times.

Family, in whichever form it my be - either spouse, sibling or parent have all had a major impact on my festive period in the last few years. From the announcement of divorce in 2011, to the events of the latter months of 2015 involving my immediate family all contribute to my disdain for the 'celebration'. Others may say the same about me and they're probably right. I try not to let my mood overtake proceedings, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so. My issue I suppose. I'm just being me either 1.0 or 2.0 and that's the view I take on the season.

Luckily, over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to be myself quite a few times. Firstly at Christmas - Christmas day to be exact. Due to the complications with my family, it wasn't advisable for me to be at the family Christmas. Luckily some very good friends of mine invited me around to theirs for the day. I'd bought a Crimbo jumper especially for the occasion, made myself look presentable and looked forward to the day as best I could.

I was picked up and driven to my friends flat and...........everything felt natural, everything felt calm and I was happy. Plenty of good drink, food, games, merriment and friendship. There was six of us in total, from parents to cousins - who have all met me 2.0 before - and the atmosphere was brilliant. I felt right, I felt good about myself and I was treated as the real me. It ended up with me and my friends cousin teasing each other like siblings in the evening (although other people called it flirting!). It was a good end to the day.

Then, new year was upon us. Another opportunity to be myself again. Another good friend of mine had invited me out with them and their partner to a pub in the local city. We were going to meet up with an ex of theirs (they are still on good terms and they are someone who has been one of my 'Devils Advocate' throughout my decision making. I will never be able to thank them enough for making me think long and hard about my decision and making sure I didn't make the wrong decision).

The plan was to go to the first venue before moving to another venue. Simple. So, I went for a change of look - a bit more vampy. I wanted to make an impression and hopefully I did. We met up on the train and made our way to the venue. After meting up with our 'host', we got our drinks and sat down. I didn't really know anyone other than my friends new beau and their ex, so I started chatting to the new beau. We had a really good conversation and I got to know them better which was very nice to do.

There was a musician playing at the venue - a one man band. They were very, very good. so good in fact (that plus the alcohol!), that we didn't want to leave. I remember my friends beau started a conga, a lovely lady from Finland joined us and I ended up talking to a very friendly couple who had only just moved to the city. Again, I was happy. I was being accepted as me and it felt good. a real confidence booster. Then, as usual, it was at an end. Home time beckoned. Me 1.0 loomed on the horizon.

There were positives over the festive season. I was allowed to blossom and things felt right. With regard to the family situation, things have taken a complete leftfield turn over the past few weeks - more of the unfolding events in the next post. It fills me with some confidence for the future and we will see how it pans out. Small steps....

So, as me 1.0 and me 2.0 are one and the same now, (should I call myself 3.0 now?), the style of the blog may change. A mixture of the two. The real me. This is the start of real change, from physical appearance to certain mental aspects - as much as I can before my first appointment. From how I look after myself, what I eat to what I do as well as how I act, talk and present myself will all be gradually changed. I've already made two small changes. But, I don't want to tell you what, in this post. You'll have to wait for the second part!

These changes have had to wait until now, as I wanted to celebrate my last birthday as me 1.0 It is a poignant moment for me, knowing that this time next year, I will not be the same person. I will be on my way to being who I want to be and who I should be. Life will be different and relationships will be different. Some relationships have already changed and many more will follow. For better or for worse, I honestly cannot tell at present.

There are lots of things spinning around my head at the moment. Lots of things have happened, some of which I cannot divulge in this blog. Lets just say one of my fantasies has been enacted recently and.......(gazes wistfully into the distance).........that was a big turning point. It's not naughty or dirty, just intimate. More updates to come in the second part of the new year post. I'll let you have a few days to digest this one before I put up the next one.

It's getting more interesting and all is moving forward.........xxxx