Wednesday 5 September 2012

Manchester Pride 2012 (8)

August 27th Monday

Bank holiday Monday, the last day of Pride and it had been an amazing couple of weeks for me. Kate, Gabi and Kitty had departed and that left Diana and myself. I had a horrible feeling that I would hit an intense low. We had one day left and that would be highly charged and emotional.
The weather didn't look like it would be to good.

We had a trip into the city centre, but Diana suggested that we go out to Pendle where in 1612 , 12 people were charged with murder by use of witchcraft. 10 were found guilty and hanged. One died in prison and the other was found not guilty.
We could have picked a better day, but Diana knew I really wanted to go so of we went.
   
The area of Pendle looked very bleak and some of the roads went down to a single track.
Diana had to be careful driving, avoiding other cars and sheep darting across thIe road.

In one village we passed through they were having  a scarecrow festival. With scarecrows everywhere.
We stopped of at the Pendle Witch pub in Saden for a couple of photos.


The weather was getting worse so we decided to get back to Manchester.

                                        A shop in the Arndale we wandered into for a look

Back in The Village we had a not very nice fried chicken and chips. We also took a visit to the Manchester Concord stand before they packed up.
  
We then went to the Richmond Tea Rooms and the Sanctuary Bar before the Candlelight Vigil started in Sackville Gardens.
Before the Vigil I asked Diana to get a couple of photos of me with the Beacon of Hope and The Tree of Life for this blog.
                                                             The Beacon of Hope


The Tree of Life had barriers round it for protection from the festivities. To me The Tree of life is the most beautiful tree I've ever seen. It grows in the middle of a big city. Survives and thrives. A real symbol of hope and love.  Both are there as symbols of the destruction HIV Aids has wrecked across the world, but also the hope and work  towards an end to that destruction.
The Candlelight Vigil is to remember those who have passed on. Before the actual Vigil there were some emotional stories. Calls to practise safe sex, some, calls for more help in the fight against AIDS and more help for those diagnosed. Actually a host of conditions were mentioned that people need help with . I could air my own views how some of the most vunerable people in society are treated and then the pure greed further up the scale, but I won't here.
 
There were songs and one that really affected myself and Diana was when Alison Moyet came on and sang.
We got to the point where we all lit our candles and held a minute's silence. It was a beautiful sight I will never forget. Tears flowed, myself included. At the end there were sandboxs where our candles were laid.
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Leaving the Gardens Diana and myself knew we had exprienced something amazing, emotional and quite beautiful.  Like a lot of people  we had tears and held each other.

After the Vigil we went for a drink at Naps, and then took it with us for a walk up Canal Street as far as Taurus.
We finished our drink and went back to my hotel room so Diana could fix her make up.
Before Diana left I gave her a rose quartz crystal as memento of the night and told her she was like a sister to me.
When she left I burst into tears again. Pride was over. I had exprienced the most beautiful emotional time of my life. Below is a photo of me, to say the least looking very rough. It was taken just after Diana left.


Manchester Pride 2012 , an event that took me on an amazing, beautiful, unforgettable ride. Thank you to those I  met and all those who worked so hard to bring it all together and put on a fantastic event that words cannot describe.

August 28th Tuesday

I got up showered and packed. I managed  to get everything into my bags. I then checked out and went to the train station via Canal Street. Back outside in bob mode for the first time in  nearly 2 weeks felt very weird.
The Village was open again and very quiet.


I'd had an amazing time, but an intense low was descending on me. If I can do this again, I will, but the aftermath is tough.
If my friends, Diana, Kate, Kitty and not forgetting Gabi, read this. THANK YOU.  I wish I  could put across the absolutely wonderful time I had. All I can say is you are all the best friends a girl could hope for and you made this time out really special for me.
As i write this I feel the tears again.
I'll finish this with a notice I saw outside Via that says it all.
 

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Manchester Pride 2012 (7)

August 26th Sunday

Sunday was a bit quieter in The Village. Breakfast in the Olive Deli. Unfortunately the Retro was to busy, Diana and myself when to look at the stalls in The Village.  I had bought a sort of bangle/ wristband that I really liked a  few days before.



Diana bought a nice piece of jewellery. I then went and did something probably a bit silly.
I went and got my palm read.
When I went inside the lady, before I even sat down said something that shook me. I paid to get the reading and she did my left hand. She told me I had a long life line and would live to a old age. To be honest it's not something I wanted to hear. I don't really like who I am and know to make the changes I desire  would place me in a bad position. I want to transition, but that is not an option. Really I am a bit sad and pathetic. A lonely crossdresser who can't get his act together. I have a few things against me, but in saying that I hide in the shadows with my fears.
 The reading contained a warning, but was on the whole a good one. It didn't feel good to me. She did say I  have a strong sixth sense. I understood that one.
I know she was holding back. She made a point of telling me a few times while reading my palm, to enjoy myself.
I thanked her and left and told Diana some of what she said.
Diana needed a new chain so we left The Village and went to the Arndale to look for one. We also went to Afflecks Market where I showed Diana the Crystalhenge stall. She took a picture of me under a cow doing the can can.


We went back to The Village to meet up with Kate. When we met Kate she told us about a bucking bronco machine. I'd always wanted to have a go on one. Kate took us to it and it wasn't what I expected.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WYJ81JOQIY&feature=share&list=UL7WYJ81JOQIY

The link shows me giving everyone a laugh I  told Diana that I'd changed into my evil alter ego Tawny. One lady shook my hand and said that I'd been the best all day. It was really funny and I got quite a ribbing about it plus a round of applause.
We did see Gabi again in the Molly House, but she was back in bloke mode. She'd had found her wristband allowed her to travel on the trams in the city centre and made full use of it. Gabi also got to meet Kitty who appeared before Gabi had to go to the airport. 



That evening we went to the Womens Stage in  Sackville Gardens to see Toyah. I had always wanted to see her from since I was a teenager. She still has it and what a voice!!



Next we tried to get to the main stage arena to see Alison Moyet, but the crowds meant the area had to be sealed off.
I felt for Diana because she really wanted to see her. There were some more hiccups but a fantastic night came to an end after me even with now really swollen feet going a bit daft dancing in Naps.  

Manchester Pride 2012 (6)

August 25th   Saturday

Pride was in full swing. Manchester would see a fantastic parade. Kate told us that across from the Olive Deli would be a good spot to watch. First Gabi and myself went into the city centre for a couple of things. She wanted to get a Man Utd banner for a friend at home. United were playing at home and there were lots of their supporters about. At one point she when into a shop that was full of football supporters.  I was amazed she really was brave to do that. She had no problems, but then again she looked good and carried herself as a confident woman.
Back in The Village we met some nice blokes from Glasgow dressed in their kilts.


We then went to meet up with Diana, Kate and Kristina. It was great to see Kristina. I didn't think she would be out.
At out vantage point we waited for the parade and it didn't disappoint. I got lots of pictures below are a few.








 
 
 Manchester University float dedicated to Alan Turing. 2012 marks a 100 years since his birth and Pride this year did various things to remember him.









The giant rainbow flag that marked the end of the parade.

The Salford Ladies United Temperance Society always get a few good natured boos

 
The Main Stage
The parade was fantastic afterwards we had a wander round the market stalls in The Village and then on to Naps for a drink which was one of the quieter bars.


That evening it rained heavily again. We did eventually get to Naps where the Pet Shop Boys tribute, The Pet Shop Bears were playing.
                                                                         All five of us

                                                                  Pet Shop Bears

This was Gabi's last night out  and it would be sad to see her go. We had made a good friend and it was wonderful to see her really enjoying herself.

                                                                 Kate, Gabi and myself  

On the way back to the hotel after we left The Village a bloke came up to Gabi and myself asking for our wristbands because he wanted to get into The Village. I told him we still needed them and that they needed to be cut off and would be void. In the end I had to tell him to get lost in no uncertain terms.
At the hotel I felt sad saying farewell to Gabi, but we would see her again sort of before she went home.