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Hi girls
I am planning a trip to a new location, for some quality Laura time, because Brighton has become fearfully expensive, post-lockdown.
Last year, I was able to get a central hotel room for £100-140, which, for 1 night, was expensive compared to other places, but worth it for the experience of Brighton en femme.
This year, the cheapest I can find is £250-300, and it's really hard to find somewhere central - everyone seems to be having a staycation this year, unsurprisingly.
So I settled on Bournemouth as a new location, and, the more I think about it, the more it seems a good idea.
Brighton is a very special and safe place for CDs, and all LGBTQ people.
Bournemouth is a much more conservative seaside town, yet seems to have plenty of drag shows. This year, there's an explosion of shows, thanks mainly to RuPaul's Drag Race - the UK ladies are performing at practically every resort in England.
Is this the year that CDing goes viral?
I am going to play my little part, and get out there, talk to people and DO nice things for them, and do whatever I can to elevate the position of CDing in the eyes of people I meet.
It's a bit scary - I have no idea how people will react during the day, but I have booked a drag show in the evening, which is something to look forward to - not the show itself, as I still find drag performers rather disgusting in terms of subject matter, and more focused on the outfits and presentation than actual content - but the ambience, and the total acceptance of the audience of guys wearing dresses is priceless.
As with my previous trips, I will follow this post with write ups of my experiences, and hope these serve as encouragement to those who wish to go out into the big, wide world.
I'll refrain from using the term "CD in public", as that has connotations that don't sit comfortably with me - like it's something naughty or erotic.
It's neither - it's claiming space and freedom that rightfully belongs to us.
Although that sounds altogether too heroic and declamatory for what is, after all, just a day by the seaside.
Currently planning my outfits, having booked hotel and show - and identified some lovely looking vegetarian eateries.
I will definitely be doing some shopping in the morning - that's the scariest part!
Part I to follow - next Saturday!!!!
I am sooo excited 😍😍😍😍😍
Love Laura
Good on your Laura, that really is very inspiring!! I don’t know that I am brave enough to venture out en femme just yet let alone doing what you mentioned above. I think that’s incredible. Good luck and have lots of fun.
I think you are so brave - paying those prices!! I am sure you will find Bournemouth as good as Brighton. I have been to Brighton a few times and the only thing I am not keen on are the crowds. Towns don't have to be openly LBGTQ to be friendly as I have found. You will probably seamlessly blend in and I do hope you don't get crushed in the crowds, covered in candy floss or attacked by gulls.
I look forward to your updates and piccies. Enjoy.
Hi Laura
Bournemouth has a good TG community with lots of TG friendly venues and lots of lovely sea side walks to enjoy as does Weymouth.
Further west in Exeter and Weston are other nice resorts where you can enjoy some fem time, as well as lots of fabulous national trust properties for days out with lovely gardens and tea rooms .... perfect for a single girl in the area.
Enjoy and be proud of who and what you are and you will be fine. Being an ambassador for our community is a great thing to do.
Hugs
Dawn x
Hi Angela - true, while Bournemouth is cheaper to stay in than Brighton, it's a far cry from last year's prices.
Mind you, I capitalised on the previous lockdown by booking early, and got Saturdays in June, July and August for £105 total.
I know nothing about the LGBTQ scene there, but have a ticket for a show at Rubyz, which looks interesting and includes a meet and greet with the performers, which will be fun - I have only ever had lovely comments from queens off stage... onstage is a different matter, when I become a natural target and source of jokes and roastings - which is something I expect and find both funny and complimentary in a twisted way!
I've been to the town many times as a convenient day trip for the kids, but never as Laura.
Thanks for the encouragement - I will seek out LGBTQ meeting places during the day.
It always pays to make friends when out en femme!
Love Laura
Thanks for the words of encouragement, Dawn!
As in my reply to Angela, I will look for LGBTQ places and make a few friends, if possible
As always, I will dress for the occasions, and present myself as beautifully as I can manage, given the raw material!
I will be watching Bournemouth for general attitude and friendliness - and rating!
I also hear that Portsmouth and Bristol have lively scenes - and further south in Devon, Exeter and Torbay.
All are on my "hit" list 😁😍😍
Love Laura
Thank you, Lisa
I don't really see these excursions as holidays, more explorations of the feminine side - journeys of understanding of the reasons why I do this, and discovery of what people really think about us vs what our imagination and social history tells us.
So far, Brighton has destroyed most myths, so now I hope to find out how far this goes.
Will I be accosted by dancing girls in the street?
Will expensive boutique shops encourage me to try on beautiful dresses?
Will random strangers shout obscenities or tell me nice things?
I need to know!
Love Laura
Nothing wrong with lurking in the woods, Steph - I'm sure we've all done it - I know I have... what?
I recall a long-haired, 18 year old version of myself struggling out of a tracksuit in the woods, to reveal a beautiful blue dress.
I then walked a long way in it, only to hide behind trees if I thought I heard someone coming.
And later, 3 years ago, funally walking with my head held high through local woods and trees, saying "Hi" to the 2 people I did meet (and getting lovely smiles).
It's a dream away.
If you want the dream enough, then live it.
If what you already have is enough, then you are blessed.
Love Laura
Thanks, Sandra
It's probably the opposite of bravery - I am so worried about viewing myself as a disappointment that this is my motivation.
I only realised this 3 years ago, when I made my first tentative steps outside as Laura.
I chickened out of following up on this initially, and realised that I constantly viewed myself as disappointing, due to so many childhood hangovers that I won't bore you with.
This was a game changer.
I still do stupid things, but that doesn't make me stupid.
Simple, I know, but when you live in that space and don't see it, it's a revelation.
So it doesn't take bravery, it simply takes willing - and good planning.
If going out is something you really, really want to do, what's stopping you?
Name them.
How can you mitigate those things?
Or just enjoy CDing at home - it's lovely!
Love Laura
Erudite, hopefully - verbose, certainly!
Now modelling dresses in a street in Glasgow.
There's bravery, right there. I must admit that the former city of culture is not on my list - mainly because it's a bit further than a couple of hours drive for me, but also because Glasgow contours up images (probably unfair ones) of an admirable people who have their own ways of looking at life, for which they are prepared to fight first and ask questions later...
The dancing girls reference is to my last month's Brighton adventure, when that actually happened.
In my opinion, ladies should dance with CDs on a regular basis.
Love Laura
Hi Laura, good luck, I hope you have a lovely time. I'm looking for places to go for a girly mini break and was considering Brighton after school holidays now. I would love to hear how you get on in Bournemouth.
I'm planning mini breaks in Manchester, Stratford, Leeds and York for now as seaside resorts will be too busy.
Can't wait to get out again.
Hugs
Have a lovely time on your holiday 🙂
Hi Laura
Very sorry to hear that Bright on has priced itself out of your femme experience visits. All the more so as my needing to get mores firmly back in the closet for the time being meant that we never got to meet on one of your Brighton visits.
I hope you manage to increasingly enjoy your femme experience excursions wherever they end up being.
Rachel
Hi Rachel
It's probably a good thing - every time I think about going somewhere else, I feel drawn back to Brighton like some kind of spiritual magnet!
We'll definitely meet there, if it's meant, but for now I am recalling the purpose of my first trip to Brighton - to explore the feminine side and figure out where I want to go with this.
Enjoying the journey is paramount - it's better to travel than to arrive, so finally I get to explore somewhere else!
I know that Brighton will continue to exert a pull on me - I have some lovely friends there now, including our lovely HildaRuth, so, in my best Arnie accent, "I'll be back!!".
Love Laura
Hi Fiona
I hear good things about Manchester - it's at the far edge of my list, in terms of distance.
Please write about any excursions you make to those cities!
Love Laura
