Caty Ryan attended her first Transformal back in 2017 (and as explained herein, last “TF”) This is her story of the event. It is held every May in the Blue Mountains about 2 hours west of Sydney Australia.  Transformal is the Australian version of events such as “Southern Comfort” and “Fantasia Fair” in the USA, or “Sparkle” in the UK.

For many a long year, especially since Caty acquired her “Scarlett O Caty” replica Civil War ballgown, she has dreamt of making it to a Transformal and indulging in all the wonderful activities that have become so well know at this event. Number one priority, was to be photographed wearing this on the Carrington Hotel stairs, leading up to the first floor.

There was also the fervent desire to “make up” for the time some 20 years ago when Caty was able to (briefly) attend Fantasia Fair, one of the USA’s premier Trans events. It was in Provincetown out on Cape Cod about 3 hours out of Boston. After being made up to look fabulous by Jim Bridges, one the US’s most famous trans make up artists, I only lasted the few first hours when what I thought at the time was a very serious health problem, came up on me and I fled that event back to my hotel in Boston like a scalded cat.

Booking the flights, Carrington Hotel room, and a rental car was the easy part, having “the chat” about my crossdressing and desire to attend TF with my beloved was much harder. For although she knows about Caty, she also very firmly does not “want” to know. So from her viewpoint it was “just go, but I don’t want anything to do with it”. She carried that through to not answering any text msgs at all during my stay in Katoomba, which by itself was very disconcerting!

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I’ve had a chronic and at times, very painful lower back ailment and of course it had to flare a long time before TF and gave me untold grief during the event. More on that later. Thursday, 18 May, dawned and here follows the first piece of advice to any TF newbie traveling from a long way away, especially if you are in your “mature years” like me and travel to your airport is a two hour cross city drive, like mine is. Get to Katoomba a day before TF starts. If I had tried to get there on the Friday in time for the start of all the fun, it just would not have happened.

I had a shocking run to Melbourne airport and barely made my flight to Sydney. Once in Sydney and into my rental car, even though I’d printed off all my directions before I left, I got hopelessly lost on the Sydney freeway (sic) system and it took well over three hours to get up to Katoomba. I used to drive in Sydney as part of my job, but the last time was 15 years ago. Net result, I get into the Carrington very tired and with a very sore back!

But I’d set up an appointment with a local Katoomba chiropractor for the Friday morning and by midday Friday Caty’s all fixed for what she hoped was going to be a very rewarding and fun TF. Of course the first thing anyone would ask is “what brings you to Katoomba”, so in emails beforehand, I discreetly let it be known why I was there. So as well as asking me if I had the right frock for the Formal, the parting shot from the chiro was, “just be careful in those high heels, wont you”. At that stage little did I know the future implications of that remark!

Come cocktail party time and Caty’s done her best with make up and hair and thinks she looks quite good in one of her 3 piece, “Mother of the Bride” outfits. Met and chatted with lots of new TGR friends at the cocktail party and when it was time to leave, I made my way to the “(in)famous” Carrington staircase up to my first floor room.

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Half way up the stairs, my right heel slips off one of the stairs and “bang” the back pain comes back with a vengeance. From past bitter travel experience, I do carry some heavy duty painkillers for such occurrences, but of course next day, I’m not much use to anyone! Especially when the painkillers wear off the next day. Thus, instead of joining in all the interesting Saturday day events, including volunteering for a bra fitting, the wonderful Carrington reception staff found me a chiropractor who was open on Saturday. So, she who does not own a smart phone to find one herself, is into the car for yet another one hour drive!

Of course by this stage, I’ve got the false nails firmly glued on and I’m wearing my blue “two day” wristband. I’d also left what I thought were some “unisex undies” on. But when the chiro pulled down my jeans at the back to adjust me, his exact words were “Oh Boy the undies”. Hey, at least I’d taken my breast forms off. Plan “A” was to have them attached all weekend!!

But after he’d finished and I got myself back to the Carrington all was well. I showered and put fresh lingerie on, well in time for the wonderful make up genius that is Michelle Rieusset to turn me into “Scarlett”. Sadly, she ran a touch late and I did miss out on some of the “pre Formal” activities. But made up and dressed in my Scarlett O’Caty gown with the “obligatory” curly red hair wig, and with breast forms adhered again, I felt wonderful, especially the way my full skirts and underskirt rustled as I made my way from my room to the ballroom. And yes, down those pesky stairs I (very carefully) went!

I was also very grateful for my “sore back Plan B” (aka a pair of flat shoes).

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I very much enjoyed everything to do with the Formal and surprised myself by staying up for about two hours past my normal bedtime!!

And I got all the photos I wanted too! Thanks Marian and Michelle!

I’ve praised the Carrington reception staff above, but one of the housekeepers called me “Sir” and I think a barman called me, “mate”. Couple this with on Friday afternoon, “Bill” says to his wife “Mary”, “they are having Formal Ball tomorrow night” and maybe I and quite a few others staying in the hotel didn’t look as convincing as we thought.

But in that environment, who cares??

Come Sunday morning and it was time to get back into male mode and depart. All things femme went back into the suitcase and it was into the rental car for the “right way” to drive back to Sydney for a two night stay at Darling Harbour. Might be the “right way” in terms of time and distance travelled, but unlike here in Victoria, I found out the hard way there are no big “off freeway” service station between Katoomba and Sydney on the M7/M5. Net result is I clean forgot to refuel the car and the car rental mob got me for $120.00 fuel charge.

To this we can add the airline hitting me for another pile of $$, as I wanted to change my flight to get home earlier, for another back treatment.

So in summary, my back is never going to be any better and of course if I tried it all again, to quote the great English “bard” Arfur Daley, “Er indoors will go spare” (US trans: will be very, very annoyed). So that’s why, sadly, I’m never coming “back” to Transformal!

Happy dressing everyone.

Caty

PS I “did” Transformal just in time. For reasons best known to the organizers, 2018 was the last one.

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Caty Ryan

"Mature aged" crossdresser living in Victoria, Australia Love all things feminine especially classy lingerie and formal gowns. Have a long standing passion for period wear and own twp lovely replica period gowns, a 1700's and one American Civil war replica. Love to chat via e.mail with anyone with similar interests
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Gianna Bonita
Member
Gianna Bonita
4 years ago

Gorgeous gown Caty and you look lovely in it.
I’m thinking of going to TransAction in October.
What about you?

Sandy Chase
Lady
Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Gianna Bonita

Ladies, I’m very naive and very uninformed of these many conferences and/or meetings you all speak about. Can someone or anyone enlighten me as to which or all Sandy should consider? I obviously have never been to one and the one I see talked about is Keystone. Can someone help a poor little sister? Thank you all. Sandy.

Amy Myers
Baroness
Noble Member
4 years ago

Beautiful gown, and look. Oh Dear, I know well what pain a back can cause! Though it sounded like a wonderful event.
Amy

Naomi Duncanson
Lady
Member
4 years ago

Hi Caty
Glad you got there and fulfilled a life ambition despite all the problems . A girl in our club went to the replacement gig in Melbourne Oct 2019 and managed to twist her ankle in unfamiliar heals on the first day but still had fun
I did hear that the gig is returning to the Carrington this year and if that does happen I am determined to go and stand on that beautiful staircase in a lovely gown like yours
Think I’ll practice in those heals beforehand !
Hope your back is ok now
Cheers Naomi d

Gillian Brown
Gillian Brown
4 years ago

An entertaining article on the trials & tribulations of womanhood, especially the wardrobe malfunction of a broken heel! Another Arfur quote: “What’s French for en-suite facilities?”
Gilly

Christine V
Christine V
4 years ago

I’d love to try on that gown!

skippy1965 Cynthia
Ambassador
Trusted Member
4 years ago

Caty -thanks for sharing the story of your adventure! I’ve been to six “conferences “ so far (two more coming up this year) and each experience was better than the previous ones. Totally agree that getting to a venue the day before an event formally starts is a great idea as it gives you the chance to get acclimated and settled into your room without feeling “rushed”. I’m fortunate to NOT have any serious health issues and after the first conference I had gained the confidence to make my travels in full Cyn mode which made it even more enjoyable.… Read more »

Sandy Chase
Lady
Member
4 years ago

Cat you do look gorgeous in that dream of a gown! I only wish I could look into that closet of yours. You didn’t tell me about your back problems I guess that’s why you said you don’t leave Australia anymore. Sandy.

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