CAROL'S DIARY

2008

This Diary Is Now Closed

November

10th: I was really pleased when last week I was asked for permission for relevant pages of the website to be translated to Hebrew; which I was pleased to give. 

Now! something strange is happening on this website, although I say strange it is strange in a good way.  Usually I average around 1000 hits a month to this site, the strange thing is that during the last 3 days I have received somewhere in the region of just over 2500 hits.  I always accept I get more hits when someone adds a new link to these web pages, however, this is major new hits and I would really appreciate it if someone who has recently found my website; if they could let me know how they found me.  To all you lovely people who have recently visited here, I hope it has been of some help to you, or you just found it good to visit.

Oct 31st:

Last weekend Oct 24-26th I visited with Gillian our youngest daughter and her husband in Warminster. Thankfully the weather kept fine Friday and Saturday when we did some retail therapy in Bath, my first visit to this lovely city.  However, on the the Sunday the weather changed and it rained whilst we were visiting Stonehenge and Salisbury.

I'm looking forward to providing a workshop on Transgender Issues; for the 'Yorkshire Forum on Ageing' at their conference at the Early Music Centre in York on November 4th.

                               Rainy day at Stonehenge

A few pictures from my recent holiday in Altinkum Turkey Sept-Oct

             relaxing at hotel                                                                               visiting the Temple of Apollo

           Didim Beach Hotel                                                                                    hotel's private beach

          Temple of Apollo                                               my favourite watering hole Marina Beach Bar

August

30th: Well! I've just had a wonderful 3 days around my 60th birthday (28th) On Wednesday night my friends Helen & Joan came over to my place and we went for a meal at a nearby pub and back to my place for a few drinks.  I received many lovely cards and presents and along with my daughters we went for lunch at Cafe Rouge on Ecclesall Rd in Sheffield.  It was a lovely lunch where I tried Wild Boar sausages for the first time and I must say they are very delicious.  Yesterday I went to the transport interchange and got my senior citizen travel pass, probably will be making most of this especially with petrol being the price it is.  Last night a meal had been arranged by my eldest daughter and my friend JIll (I had no knowledge where I was going when I first left home) it was at one of my favourite restaurants in Sheffield, Antibo.  It was a lovely evening with my two daughters, along with Gillian, Jill Memmott and Jan Driffill, we later went to the Forum bar and I reckon it was well turned midnight when we left.  Just a big thank you to my daughters and Gillian, and all my friends for everything these last few days

27th: I'm finding it hard to believe that this is my last day as a fifty something (yes! I know it is hard to believe I am 60 tomorrow)  This last decade has been amazing, early fifties stopped living a lie (started transition) went back into education, did my degree at Sheffield University while transitioning and getting divorced.  One of the greatest things was that I had the suppport of my two wonderful daughters and Gillian my ex were still very much a part of my life.

I had my surgery on 01-02-2005 which was recorded for the 'Sex Change' series shown on the Discovery Health Channel and the follow-up programme I did for them one year later. A surprising time when I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, I thought they had got the wrong person, I'm so happy to still be a Trustee of Age Concern Rotherham eight years on.  So! happy and pleased to have been able to meet and work with others involved in LGB&T issues all around the country.  To see the press release where the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission praised my equality and diversity work in Yorkshire and Humberside. 

In my other life I had never travelled abroad, therefore, this is something else as Carol I have discovered, my first trip was to Paris on Friday Sept 13th 2002 for the weekend, arrived home on the 16th, then flew to Prague on the 17th to have my rhinoplasty in a clinic there.  Since those first journeys I have visited other cities like, Amsterdam, Venice and Lisbon and countries on holiday which include, Malta, Sicily, Ibiza, Tenerife, Portugal, Corfu, Tunisia and Turkey a couple of times and I shall be there again in a few weeks time. 

This last year has been amazing , having been asked to run more workshops, my appearance Women's Voice on Press TV the Iranian 24hr English News Channel, also the ultimate accolade (locally) was to be asked to do an interview on BBC Radio Sheffield.  I had a wonderful time meeting and being interviewed by Rony Robinson, being looked after so well by Rav and Kate and later meeting Rony again on an outside broadcast and having a wonderful discussion with him.  Most of all I have been so touched by the all the wonderful friends I have made during my transitional journey, one from those early days was Jill Memmott, who brought me home from Leicester after my surgery in the comfort of her BMW and made sure I was behaving myself during those early recuperation weeks, also many thanks to Jan my dear friend of over 40 years for always being there.  Finally, to say a big thank-you to Gillian and my daughters as I look forward to the next decade with my family and dear friends.

26th: I've just spent the bank holiday weekend at Manchester Pride and I had a wonderful time seeing old friends and making new ones, once again I was in the Parade with the Royal College of Nursing.   Anyway other than that I had a great time enjoying Boy George's set on Friday night, Saturday nights entertainment was good but I'm not a Sophie Ellis Bextor fan.  Had a good time Sunday afternoon in the Women's Space and later Bjorn Again were brilliant in the main arena, the Abba music really got the crowd going and the night was headlined by Roisin Murphy.

17th: I attended Doncaster Pride today, it was really nice to catch up with friends from Rotherham LGBT who were there with a stall in the marketplace.   I must say well done to Doncaster Pride organisers for putting on an excellent afternoons entertainment and having a Walk Of Unity.

7th: Last month on the 8th as mentioned   in my entry for that day, I attended the NHS Pacesetters event in Leeds   where Sheffield NHS were one of three regions to receive an award for their work, which I was partly involved with.   As mentioned there was a group photo and I have just received a copy, along with another one of me chatting to a vicar about working with adolescents who identify as either lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

4th: Yesterday I had really enjoyable time at Leeds Pride, well done to the orgainsers as I believe this is only the third

This also made for an enjoyable time after we had finished with the stall   we enjoyed the party atmosphere   and a   few drinks outside in the area around the Viaduct.   Read article and view a slide show video of Leeds Pride   (courtesy of Yorkshire Evening News) here

July

21st: On Saturday   (19th) I went to see the China   Now event in All Saints Square Rotherham   and I was so pleased that the weather was kind for them. The dragon dancing was excellent and all the children taking part were brilliant. Managed a chat with Gareth Evans   and catch up with Rony from BBC Radio Sheffield. I bumped into Ray Hearne later and he encouraged me to add my latest news about Don Valley & Myrtle Springs to the ongoing saga on the Radio Sheffield website. Anyway it was just lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves in All Saints Square   on Saturday   afternoon.

I met another old friend   whilst   strolling round the   town, I hadn't seen him for sometime but we always manage to catch up on gossip when we do meet up.   He remarked he had seen me on television the previous night, I knew the Sex Change   Uncut series was being repeated yet again.   He had told me a few years ago that he was a friend of Caroline Cossey (Tula) and knew her well at the time she had her surgery and had   always kept in touch with her over the years, he was hoping to see her when she was over in the UK in the near future.

19th: The following is from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) website:

Clarification on Medical Necessity for Sex Reassignment Surgery

  In response to questions about medical necessity of transgender treatments and sex reassignment surgery, particularly in the U.S.A., where insurance exclusions often prevent access to health care for transgender people, the WPATH Board of Directors has issued a clarification statement which is now available on the Resources page of the WPATH web site.   Questions about this statement may be directed to the WPATH office, or to Mr. Jamison Green, Chair of the Public Policy, Advocacy & Liaison Committee of the Board. A parallel statement for international use (without the U.S. insurance focus, and reflecting   ICD-10, to which the U.S.A. is not a signatory) is also under development.read here

17th: Just listened to the 'Between Ourselves' programme on listen again on Radio 4 online.   I thought it was a really honest and understanding interview with the two spouses and the contrast of one being the wife of a MtF the other being the husband of a FtM.

It brought back to me in how proud I was of my ex Gillian when she was interviewed for the Sex Change series (we were divorced by then) she was also proud of me, that I was just being me at last. We obviously did not stay together like the couples seem to be doing in this programme and I wish them all the best for the future, however, I do still have a very dear close friend, more like sisters.

14th: Today I visited the Vivienne Westwood exhibition at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield.   I went with my dear friend Jill, her daughter Katy and two of Jill's friends   whom I have met once previously.   I must say it was well worth the admission price to see this exhibition of nearly 40 years of her work and I never realised how much had been done in collaboration with Malcolm Mclaren. [On tour internationally since 2004, this is the only chance to see the V&A’s blockbuster exhibition in the UK before it closes]

Yesterday (Sunday)   I went over to Manchester for the lesbian diners group, it was lovely to see old friends and make new ones.   I haven't been to Taurus for many months and I knew I was welcome back as I walked   down Canal St and one of the owners who was   serving at tables on the street saw me and shouted,'f*****g hell!!! where have you been you miserable c**t...great to see you..you're looking well girl' that is just his nature.   One really lovely   surprise was that friends of mine Di and Carol whom I haven't seen for around 18 months were there and we had a great time catching up.

11th: Yesterday I had my second involvement of the week with   the NHS Pacesetters team and the   people from Sheffield PCT with whom I have been working with around health inequalities for trans people.   This was an evaluation meeting, therefore, the evaluation was being done by an outside team and I must say everything went very well and hopefully I shall be involved with their   work again at a later date.   On Wednesday (9th)   I was in Leeds again at Yorkshire MESMAC for a meeting of the Regional LGBT Workers/Groups Forum.  

I've bought my weekend   ticket for Manchester Pride, booked a hotel room for 3 days over the bank holiday weekend and I've received an invite to join the RCN North West team on their float in the pride parade, this will be 3 years running that I have done this with them.   On Sunday I am really   looking forward to going over to Taurus Restaurant in Canal St Manchester for the lesbian diners group, I haven't been there   for over a year, so I am looking forward to seeing friends old and new.

8th: I attended the first of two NHS Pacesetters events today.   Todays event was Many People, One Focus Pacesetters Programme Launch Event in Leeds.   I was invited along with some of the team from the Sheffield Centre for HIV & Sexual Health and Sheffield PCT   whom I was involved with when they orgainised the two Health Inequalities conference in June, I delivered a Keynote speech at one and ran two workshops at the other.   The group apart from myself   were all part of Sheffield NHS and the good news was, that Sheffield   NHS were one of the three   NHS regions to be awarded Recognition Awards and it was lovely to be included for the group   photo with the award.   I shall be going along with the team to the second event at St Marys conference centre in Sheffield on Thursday.

5th: It is London Pride today, I've not been able to get there today, but at least they have had better weather than last year, when It rained quite a lot.   I did London Pride last year with the older LGBT network and this morning I received a photo from last year, which Age Concern Camden have asked if they can use it in their annual   review, of course I agreed.

4th: It is so nice to have such a lovely sunny day, which seem a rarity these days in the UK, it would be really nice to have a longer spell of sunny warmer weather.   I've just read that Thomas Beattie the American trans man has given birth to a girl.   I just hope that Thomas & Nancy and their daughter are now left alone to get on with their lives, although the cynical me thinks there will be lots more   publicity and this may be for financial reasons, we all do what we feel is right to get by.   Another milestone birthday in the family, my eldest daughter is   thirty on the 7th and a few of us are going out for meal this evening.   The next milestone birthday is mine at the end of August, how old? let me just say the Government sent me a letter saying that my state pension is payable from Sept 1st, yes 60!!!!   I know it is hard to believe, age is only number and I   feel at least 10 years younger.

I have just created a podcast site with podbeam.com and I have added my interview   with Rony Robinson at BBC Radio Sheffield on June 13th on there;   my podcast.       There is also a   link on my homepage.

June

28th: Here we are and nearly half the year has gone by and when will a decent summer spell start?   It is a week now since my daughter got married and all I've done is relax, apart from a meeting on Wednesday at the offices of Yorkshire MESMAC in Leeds with the organising committee for Leeds Pride which is on August 3rd, I'm helping out with a stall for Leeds LGB&T Mental Health Partnership.   My eldest daughter and her partner are enjoying themselves at Glastonbury despite the weather, I had lunch with her on Tuesday and she asked my why don't I go with them next year (something I have wanted to do) so there is a distinct possibility of this happening, although I would have loved to have been there this year now that Neil Diamond is also headlining.   I have been watching the television coverage and enjoyed listening to KT Tunstall, Candi Staton, The Feeling and The Fratellis so far, although I was not that impressed with Jimmy Cliff.

There is now a link on my homepage for the 45 minute   video of my interview on the debate programme   Women's Voice, which was first shown May 12th on Press TV the Iranian 24hr English News Channel.

23rd: What a wonderful perfect day it was last Friday (20th) for my youngest daughters wedding.   Everything went smoothly from start to finish and the bonus of a lovely sunny day just made it such a perfect day.   Another good thing that also happened was to see my niece (my brother's daughter) for the first time in around 8 years.   When she got married I had been living as Carol for about a year and I wasn't invited to the wedding, however, she told me that she had no part in that decision and she had been looking for me as she had been told I would be watching her arrive for the ceremony, but I hid away well.   It turns out she has been following my life since I published the website and had seen my first programme on Discovery Health Channel, we had some big hugs and   a   quick catch up on what has been happening, also   she has promised to send me pictures of her children.   I still protect the privacy of my girls so I have just put photos here of the wedding car and my outfit.

On the 19th I ran 2 health inequalities for trans people workshops at the All Things Equal conference in Sheffield.   I attended all day 9-5; there were excellent keynote speakers like; Dr Julie Fish, Derek Bodell and Will Forde-Young and my workshops seem to be well received and we came out with some relevants points to take forward with NHS Pacesetters.   We have   received feedback for the TimeforT conference and the final evaluation summary can be seen here .

14th: The TimeforT conference on the 12th was really well received and I had many positive responses from different people, especially the lovely lady I met from West Yorkshire who told me about one of her grandchildren. I really hope I have helped with the information I gave her, I think I must have because she gave me a great big hug before she left.   That gesture makes everything I do feel so worthwhile.   What a lovely time I had at Radio Sheffield as Rony's guest on Friday, the interview went so well, the time just flew by and   what a lovely man   Rony is;   also   thank-you to Rav and Kate for looking after me so well.

10th: Well! the first conference workshops are out of the way, last Friday at the Norcroft Centre Bradford University.   They went well although the attendance could have been better, but saying that,   the whole conference figures were lower than expected.   However, my workshops were well received by those attending according to the feedback I got from those attending.   As ever I made some good contacts, so all in all it was a good day.   I'm speaking at the TimeforT health inequalities for trans people conference in Sheffield on the 12th, then the following day Friday the 13th I am a guest on Rony's Forum   (talking about my life) 2-3pm; it can be heard live   online here

  Rony Robinsons South Yorkshire People

Every weekday Rony speaks with a local personality

1st: Today is one of those special dates we tend to remember as significant ones during the transition.   It is seven years ago today that I changed my name by deed poll, legally became Carol, I remember getting all the many copies   from my solicitor to send to organisations etc notifying them of my change of name.   I had a really great time in York last weekend on my daughter's Hen Party, her wedding is closing on us rapidly.   This is also a busy month conference wise; June 6th I'm doing a Transgender &   Criminal Justice workshop at Bradford University; June 12th I'm one of the keynote speakers and workshop facilitator at   TimeforT, a regional   health inequalities conference in Sheffield; June 19th I'm running a Trans Health Inequalities workshop at the Allthingsequal, a   national LGBT conference in Sheffield.   On June 13th   I shall also be a guest on Rony Robinson's programme (Rony's Forum) at BBC Radio Sheffield 2-3pm.

May

14th: The recording I did in March for the debate programme 'Women's Voice' on Press TV       was shown on Monday, it also should have been shown again this afternoon, however, it wasn't and the producer is going to let me know why and when it will be shown again.   It can only be viewed online (unless you have a roaming satellite dish) I'm also hoping they put it in their online archive http://www.presstv.co.uk/archive/   so it can accessed for viewing at any time.   Although I looked a little nervous at first, I am quite happy with the outcome and I thought Dr Ceri Parsons and myself handled the programme well. Well! my youngest daughter's wedding is getting closer (June 20th) I am really looking forward to this day and also   to her hen party on May 24th.

I have been reading the   articles about;   [the Task Force,Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Chair,   being Dr. Kenneth Zucker, from Toronto's infamous Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH, formerly the Clarke Institute). Dr. Zucker is infamous for utilizing reparative therapy to Ccure gender-variant children. Named to his work group, we find Zuckers mentor, Dr. Ray Blanchard, Head of Clinical Sexology Services at CAMH and creator of the theory of autogynephilia, categorized as a paraphilia and defined as   man paraphilic tendency to be sexually aroused by the thought or image of himself as a woman]

As Donna Rose remarks, it is like letting the lunatics run the asylum.   I've also signed the petition   objecting to these committee members

April

18th: Last night I attended the Learner Celebration Event at the Cutlers Hall in Sheffield.   It was my first time in this grand building with its   wonderful internal decor.   The event was a celebration of learning which had been organised by the Academy for Community Leadership where I have recently completed a course.  

The event was spread over 5 hours 4-9pm and around 20 speakers were given 5 minutes each to either speak about their experience of learning or a presentation which reflected the same, one guy even did it as a clown.   I had a wonderful time and it was really lovely to make new friends and have the reaction from several people that they found my speech 'You Are Never Too Old To Learn'   inspiring. (read short version which will be in a book about the event; here )   My new   consultancy & training   website ENGAGE WITH went online this week.

March

30th: I received some news on Friday which really cheered me up, I had an email from the Tutor that I had passed my ILM Level 5 Award in 'Understanding Social Enterprise'.   It is more pleasing because I was the only one on the course who was not there as a paid manager or involved in finance of an organisation, I'm a volunteer Trustee & Director of my local Age Concern.   It did cheer me up because my arthritis has decided to really let me know these last few days how painful it can be at its worse.   So! it   was good that I have had a   chance to rest up, I was in Leeds on Wednesday for the Leeds LGB&T Mental Health Partnership meeting, we meet every 3 months and I also had a meeting along with Claire Eastwood at Calderdale PCT cancelled on Thursday, so that worked out well seeing as I was really struggling.

The article about the Oregon trans man being pregnant has been big news here in the UK, I guess it will have been all over the world.   All I have to say on the subject is; that I wish Thomas and Nancy all the best for the future and that they just be left to get on with their lives   after their daughter is born.   Another article I was interested in reading was the Q&A with Norman Spack, for the reason that I know a family from the UK   who have been forced to seek puberty blocking   treatment for their daughter (MtF) from Dr Spack at the Boston Children's Hospital.

23rd: Firstly I apologise to anyone who regularly looks in to see what is happening in my life.   My first bit of brilliant news is that my youngest daughter is getting married in June, her contract at the   school where she teaches finishes in July and she wants to be with her partner, who is in the Army.   I really enjoyed the C4 progrqamme about Jan Hamilton the former paratrooper, I thought she came out of the programmme with dignity, I know what it is like to expose your life in the media.

Well! I'm fine despite keep picking all these bugs that seem to doing the rounds. Here are a few things I have been doing this last month;   more training for my local police, (19th)   attended an EHRC   conference on setting up a regional forum (18th), I attended the launch in London   of IDAHO 2008 (13th),   LGBT workers meeting in Huddersfield (12th), Rotherham Women's Equality Conference (5th) Sheffield University Alumni Event (4th).

I have also finished my ILM Level 5 award course in Understanding Social Enterprise, I am waiting to hear the result of my final assignment, my Tutor did say that the draft   for the assignment would pass, so fingers crossed.

On Monday 17th I recorded a television debate programme as part of a series called 'Women's Voice'.     Women's Voice is programme on PressTV the Iranian 24hr English News Channel , it was   recorded at their studios in London.     In previous programmes   they have covered   topics like; Marriage, Divorce and Abortion.   The   programme   I   recorded was on   Transsexuality, part my story and the rest discussion with Dr Ceri Parsons the other panellist and three different faith representatives on the phone, muslim leader, catholic priest and Rev Sharon Ferguson from the LGBT Christian Group. I must say I really enjoyed the experience, I was looked after really well by the producer   Anousheh, the presenter Nabila and it was lovely to picked up and taken back to St Pancras by car.   I shall probably put a link to the programme on my homepage where it can be seen online.

On the 28th of last month, for personal reasons I resigned from my positions   as a Trustee, Regional Representative and Reps co-ordinator of The Gender Trust.   I wish the board and everyone involved with GT   all the best for the future.

February

12th: It has been nice to have a couple of nice relaxing days especially with this unseasonal sunny weather were are experiencing.   I was busy last Thursday (7th) attending two meetings with West Yorkshire Police in Wakefield. In the the morning I was at their Equality and Diversity office discussing about doing a Transgender Masterclass at their training school and in the afternoon I was at their Police Headquarters as part of a LGBT consultation panel.   I really did enjoy this format, questions were written down by the audience, then placed in a box, drawn out randomly and answered individually by the four members of the panel, I really did enjoy being part of this panel with Viviana, Tim and Michael.

On Friday (8th) I attended the funeral of my ex father-in-law, I was only going to attend the church service, however, I also felt I had to attend the crematorium service as well and to be with my daughters at this time with the loss of their lovely grandad.   Gillian (me ex) and her mum insisted that I also went with them to the local public house, where food etc was being laid out for those attending the funeral.   Quite a few of the people there had not seen me since I   transitioned seven years ago, however, they did not recognise me and were asking Gillian who I was.   Then it was just like they were meeting an old friend and asking 'how I was keeping'?       I'm going to London again tomorrow (13th) for the external consultation panel (gender & gender identity) meeting of Nacro and NOMS.

1st: It is sort of a mini birthday for me today, it is 3 years ago today that I had my correction surgery, oh! how time flies by.   I visited two special people for the second time   on Wednesday, they have recently come in to my life through an introduction by mutual friends who asked me to help them. I am now helping them as much as I can, as one of them is transitioning (MtF), they have been on hormones for some time and are shortly going to transition in their workplace.   On Wednesday I also had a meeting with their boss who is fully supportive and the meeting went very well indeed.   I am really looking forward to supporting everyone involved over the coming months. One of the nicest things is; that I am now really close friends with this couple, I know we are going to be great friends forever.

January

11th: As I mentioned last month I believe this is going to a busy year for me.   After the newspaper article went out and the mention that I had been praised by the chair of the Equality & Human Rights Commission   read here I was contacted by the training team   of my area police   service to arrange   a meeting.   I have had a couple of meetings with them now and we still need to have a few more to sort plans out, but hopefully   around March time I shall start doing various training sessions with them on Transgender Issues.   Also I am meeting with the Equalities & Diversity officer again of another Yorkshire police force about doing workshops, I have also been invited to join a LGB&T   consultation panel with them and local groups.   Also after a success as a guest speaker at the Pride in Nacro conference last November, I have been invited to join an external   consultation group made up of people from minority groups, this group is working with Nacro and the Ministry of Justice.   So! it looks like things are really taking off for me this year already.

1st: Here we are the start of a new year and I hope it is a wonderful one for everybody.   To start off this new entry I will share something from one of the last days of 2007.   On Dec 30th   I had a lovely time visiting my friend Jessica     (it is her birthday today) who lives in Cheshire, it was also great to meet the lovely Deena and her daughter Lauren again, Terry & Linda also it was lovely   to meet Dee's friend Kel.   We had a lovely time having Sunday lunch at a   local Inn.   Here are a couple of pictures, one with Jessica and one with Dee stood behind me.