Last Week Part 1 - Sunday 3rd - Wednesday 6th April
As I write this, Caroline remains off work, and will be for a fortnight or so, allowing meds to work. I’m concerned, but she asked me to continue with what I wanted to do, getting out etc. rather than staying in that week - and what wonderful weather we had!
After being out on Saturday 2nd April 2011, Sunday 3rd was much quieter indoors! Monday 4th was spent doing various calls and requests.
On Tuesday 5th I went to another Depression Alliance Royston group meeting, and then had a few hours in town for lunch. Went back to the Old Crown that we'd had a bad experience with some time ago - but all new staff, menu and management made it work well! Then, after lunch, a couple of the BABUS committee, Godfrey and Colin, came over to form an afternoon Working Group Meeting, discussing a dispute over one of our telephone numbers. (thanks for the chocolates Colin!) These things will not be expanding eastwards - the visit to Royston was to save me trying to make it from Royston to Bedford in 90 minutes (bit tight!) so they offered to come to me, for a one-off meeting! So, that was a busy day, even if I didn’t make it out of the town!
On Wednesday 6th, I had plans to do some sampling, and a little bit of shopping! Took the Wednesday-only 11.15 from Royston Stagecoach Service 139 (due for withdrawal a week later) as far as Great Shelford. As I’ve said before, the middle journey is usually just me, or one other person. However, I can presume the 26 broke down, because the 139 ended up picking up two passengers for Melbourn at the Bus Station, as well as me at the Priory Memorial Gardens. So, 139 to Great Shelford - a back end shot as the bus goes down the back road!
Now at this point, I’d told C I was out on the bus, but intended the rest to be a pleasant surprise. You’ll see why soon! Went around to the shelter opposite the Post Office for a citi7 towards Cambridge, but as far as Addenbrookes Hospital… sorry for the sun glare!
Several pics around the Bus Station, then went to the main entrance for the “Busway” single decks on the A to Trumpington Park & Ride… now, the answer to the question is most certainly no (I’ve given up Busway related blogging for now!)
The idea for getting off at Addenbrookes was to get the Whippet (Mon-Sat)/Freedom Travel (Sat half service) 114 to the City Centre via Mowbray Road, Coleridge Road, Brooks Road, Sainsbury’s, Coldhams Lane, Beehive Centre, The Grafton to Cambridge City Centre. I’ve done this route before, and I commented then about the variety of shopping opportunities on route! However, now the route is due for being ceased, along with all other Cambs CC local subsidised bus routes, when the contract ends - 2012 or 2013 I think, confirmation awaited. Anyway, the route is mostly low floor, but does have the odd journey from visiting older guests! Here, former Go-Ahead London Trident/Plaxton double decker is seen dropping off at the hospital, and this was my bus to town for a change! When this bus was acquired by Whippet in 2009, the bus carried X605 EJK in error initially, until it was changed to the correct X605 EGK.
Tickets are not intended to be a regular feature of this blog, but I had not seen a blue ticket roll (front side - backs are plain white) like this, in use with Whippet. Asking around and it’s apparently been like this back to at least last May 2010!
After arriving in town, lunch and then off to Heffer’s bookstore near Kings Parade (part of the Blackwell group). Took a trip on the free city circle bus, which is also due for withdrawal after operating for the last time on Saturday 16th April. The usual bus and driver are seen here.
From there, back through the market where I started on an unusually “girly” shop - for a change! After my ears healed back up again some time ago, decided to stop at Claire’s in Market Street, but this time going for something totally different. This time, decided to go for the “dolphin” studs… looking a little different as a result!
Now, as regular readers of my blog will be well aware, my chest has came and went frequently over the last few years. Since transitioning almost seven years ago (actually, three days short of seven years!) I’ve done various things with it. Most recently there has been no need for complete breast forms, but it does leave me looking a little flat-chested. So, I decided to pop into M&S for my first bra fitting. As well as in for that, took a look at a few other clothes too, but I was in for something to cover, and make the most of, what little I had. If you've not seen me lately, I still have a tall body, wide back - but still very little breast-wise. They’d never really taken off, unlike the rest of my body. I’d been thinking about further steps, such as surgery, for a long time. I did want to give a chance to see what I could do with the little that I had. I approached, slightly nervously, and her name was Maggie. Now, I’d never met this woman before, but despite everything, she took time to go through everything with me, despite it being ages since I’d actually had one. We talked about what I was looking for, what I thought, and she was very polite and ever so helpful. I think she brought over about 15 different bras in total, and some of these ended up working (despite being different sizes) when things like extenders were brought into play. However, I was more than happy with an £18 multi-way, push-up, lightly padded, one other and a few other bits and pieces. It’s the first time that I’ve had something like that without needing to add something to pad it out, naturally. This is mostly why I lost interest, and self-confidence with it. Decided to leave this on under my top, and walked out the store feeling quite different! (I got the last one in the size 40B in store - I’ve got a 44 inch back, so the other was 44B, but the 40B was adding four inches via the extending section, as it’s not done in a 44B). Wow factor? Self confidence for £18? Last piece of the jigsaw? However you wanted to describe it, I left there very happy!
So, how can I top this, before going for the bus home? Well, I was starting to wear out, but there was another reason for this visit. When I went into Cambridge for the bus to St Neots for Bedford on Saturday, I spotted a new hairdresser in Regent Street, Cellys. It’s an international chain who offer cut-price cuts - in multiples of £9 (with some extra finishes at £1 extra, etc.) While my current stylist is moving from Saks Hertford to Royston, I thought - why not give it a go, at that price? So, I did - no appointments, so walked in. Was able to use the time well, to have my hair put back in a centre parting at the same time - the one on my right-side didn’t work so well. Wash, cut, blow-dry, finish - £20 the lot, including some small extras. That’s a third of what I currently pay elsewhere, and everything was clearly priced on the website, and in store. When extras were offered, the pricing was clearly explained, which is always good! Let’s see how long the hair lasts like this!
So, from there, 26 back home to Royston. When I got home, C noticed the hair... then the ears... and then looked down at my chest... :-) All was well in the world! You can see the pics I took here, but as the afternoon was extremely bright, not a lot then!
Journeys for the day…
Stagecoach Volvo B10BLE/Wright 21161 139 Royston, Priory Memorial Gardens - Great Shelford
Stagecoach Trident/Enviro400 19580 citi7 Great Shelford, opp Post Office, Addenbrookes Bus Station
Go-Whippet Trident/President X605 EGK 114 Addenbrookes Bus Station - Cambridge, Emmanuel Street
Stop for lunch then
Stagecoach Optare Solo 47394 City Circle Cambridge, Downing Street at John Lewis - Trinity Street
Walk via Market and shops - various shops etc. before heading for home!
Stagecoach Trident/ALX400 18417 26 Cambridge, Drummer Street - Royston, Rail Station C i.e. Queens Road Post Office
There was no time for #randomcoffeewednesday so it was carried forward to my next planned trip, which was the next day - keep watching here!
After being out on Saturday 2nd April 2011, Sunday 3rd was much quieter indoors! Monday 4th was spent doing various calls and requests.
On Tuesday 5th I went to another Depression Alliance Royston group meeting, and then had a few hours in town for lunch. Went back to the Old Crown that we'd had a bad experience with some time ago - but all new staff, menu and management made it work well! Then, after lunch, a couple of the BABUS committee, Godfrey and Colin, came over to form an afternoon Working Group Meeting, discussing a dispute over one of our telephone numbers. (thanks for the chocolates Colin!) These things will not be expanding eastwards - the visit to Royston was to save me trying to make it from Royston to Bedford in 90 minutes (bit tight!) so they offered to come to me, for a one-off meeting! So, that was a busy day, even if I didn’t make it out of the town!
On Wednesday 6th, I had plans to do some sampling, and a little bit of shopping! Took the Wednesday-only 11.15 from Royston Stagecoach Service 139 (due for withdrawal a week later) as far as Great Shelford. As I’ve said before, the middle journey is usually just me, or one other person. However, I can presume the 26 broke down, because the 139 ended up picking up two passengers for Melbourn at the Bus Station, as well as me at the Priory Memorial Gardens. So, 139 to Great Shelford - a back end shot as the bus goes down the back road!
Now at this point, I’d told C I was out on the bus, but intended the rest to be a pleasant surprise. You’ll see why soon! Went around to the shelter opposite the Post Office for a citi7 towards Cambridge, but as far as Addenbrookes Hospital… sorry for the sun glare!
Several pics around the Bus Station, then went to the main entrance for the “Busway” single decks on the A to Trumpington Park & Ride… now, the answer to the question is most certainly no (I’ve given up Busway related blogging for now!)
The idea for getting off at Addenbrookes was to get the Whippet (Mon-Sat)/Freedom Travel (Sat half service) 114 to the City Centre via Mowbray Road, Coleridge Road, Brooks Road, Sainsbury’s, Coldhams Lane, Beehive Centre, The Grafton to Cambridge City Centre. I’ve done this route before, and I commented then about the variety of shopping opportunities on route! However, now the route is due for being ceased, along with all other Cambs CC local subsidised bus routes, when the contract ends - 2012 or 2013 I think, confirmation awaited. Anyway, the route is mostly low floor, but does have the odd journey from visiting older guests! Here, former Go-Ahead London Trident/Plaxton double decker is seen dropping off at the hospital, and this was my bus to town for a change! When this bus was acquired by Whippet in 2009, the bus carried X605 EJK in error initially, until it was changed to the correct X605 EGK.
Tickets are not intended to be a regular feature of this blog, but I had not seen a blue ticket roll (front side - backs are plain white) like this, in use with Whippet. Asking around and it’s apparently been like this back to at least last May 2010!
After arriving in town, lunch and then off to Heffer’s bookstore near Kings Parade (part of the Blackwell group). Took a trip on the free city circle bus, which is also due for withdrawal after operating for the last time on Saturday 16th April. The usual bus and driver are seen here.
From there, back through the market where I started on an unusually “girly” shop - for a change! After my ears healed back up again some time ago, decided to stop at Claire’s in Market Street, but this time going for something totally different. This time, decided to go for the “dolphin” studs… looking a little different as a result!
Now, as regular readers of my blog will be well aware, my chest has came and went frequently over the last few years. Since transitioning almost seven years ago (actually, three days short of seven years!) I’ve done various things with it. Most recently there has been no need for complete breast forms, but it does leave me looking a little flat-chested. So, I decided to pop into M&S for my first bra fitting. As well as in for that, took a look at a few other clothes too, but I was in for something to cover, and make the most of, what little I had. If you've not seen me lately, I still have a tall body, wide back - but still very little breast-wise. They’d never really taken off, unlike the rest of my body. I’d been thinking about further steps, such as surgery, for a long time. I did want to give a chance to see what I could do with the little that I had. I approached, slightly nervously, and her name was Maggie. Now, I’d never met this woman before, but despite everything, she took time to go through everything with me, despite it being ages since I’d actually had one. We talked about what I was looking for, what I thought, and she was very polite and ever so helpful. I think she brought over about 15 different bras in total, and some of these ended up working (despite being different sizes) when things like extenders were brought into play. However, I was more than happy with an £18 multi-way, push-up, lightly padded, one other and a few other bits and pieces. It’s the first time that I’ve had something like that without needing to add something to pad it out, naturally. This is mostly why I lost interest, and self-confidence with it. Decided to leave this on under my top, and walked out the store feeling quite different! (I got the last one in the size 40B in store - I’ve got a 44 inch back, so the other was 44B, but the 40B was adding four inches via the extending section, as it’s not done in a 44B). Wow factor? Self confidence for £18? Last piece of the jigsaw? However you wanted to describe it, I left there very happy!
So, how can I top this, before going for the bus home? Well, I was starting to wear out, but there was another reason for this visit. When I went into Cambridge for the bus to St Neots for Bedford on Saturday, I spotted a new hairdresser in Regent Street, Cellys. It’s an international chain who offer cut-price cuts - in multiples of £9 (with some extra finishes at £1 extra, etc.) While my current stylist is moving from Saks Hertford to Royston, I thought - why not give it a go, at that price? So, I did - no appointments, so walked in. Was able to use the time well, to have my hair put back in a centre parting at the same time - the one on my right-side didn’t work so well. Wash, cut, blow-dry, finish - £20 the lot, including some small extras. That’s a third of what I currently pay elsewhere, and everything was clearly priced on the website, and in store. When extras were offered, the pricing was clearly explained, which is always good! Let’s see how long the hair lasts like this!
So, from there, 26 back home to Royston. When I got home, C noticed the hair... then the ears... and then looked down at my chest... :-) All was well in the world! You can see the pics I took here, but as the afternoon was extremely bright, not a lot then!
Journeys for the day…
Stagecoach Volvo B10BLE/Wright 21161 139 Royston, Priory Memorial Gardens - Great Shelford
Stagecoach Trident/Enviro400 19580 citi7 Great Shelford, opp Post Office, Addenbrookes Bus Station
Go-Whippet Trident/President X605 EGK 114 Addenbrookes Bus Station - Cambridge, Emmanuel Street
Stop for lunch then
Stagecoach Optare Solo 47394 City Circle Cambridge, Downing Street at John Lewis - Trinity Street
Walk via Market and shops - various shops etc. before heading for home!
Stagecoach Trident/ALX400 18417 26 Cambridge, Drummer Street - Royston, Rail Station C i.e. Queens Road Post Office
There was no time for #randomcoffeewednesday so it was carried forward to my next planned trip, which was the next day - keep watching here!