The usual warnings first — yes while being in England I could improve my English a little bit, but it’s still not what I would like it to be.

Anyway, the last seven days being with my kind hosts end even better friends Karen and Samantha were really a very nice experience for me. From Tuesday evening on was the girl I think I was supposed to be all my life. I was shown how to do my makeup, I was told about all the issues with being transgendered and yet I had the best time of my life.

Sorry I didn’t write about Sunday, when we went to Whipsnade for a nice day out in the biggest zoo I’ve ever seen so far. It is that big, you have to take your car in for managing to visit all exhibition areas and animals. It was really nice there. Free roaming Kangaroos and other uhm, rather Rabbit-like animals as well as the wide if not huge enclosures for Rhinos, Elephants ( they even had two really cute baby elephants ), Lions, Deers and all the other wildlife being shown there. Anyway, enough of that shameless advertising for that beautiful place.

The day before we were out getting a wig for me, as a few weeks ago my was unfortunately cut rather short, so was standing out quite a bit between English women, which usually were their hair longer, at lest to their shoulders. The wig we’ve seen on the net they didn’t had but the rather clueless but still very kind and helpful salesgirl convinced me to try a stylish long haired wig. I fall in love with it. I definitely now looked like the youthful girl I hope to be someday. Not really being cheap, I was having second thoughts about getting out my credit card. I don’t really know why, but after being asked what I thought about my appearance in that moment, I answered honestly… and Karen and Samantha paid for it, despite my protesting. I feel so deeply in debt. All I can say, never will forget what my friends did for me.
But back to Whipsnade — I was walking and driving with Sam and Karen around, sometimes a sudden breeze blew the hair into my face ( let me tell you, being out at windy conditions wearing a long wig is definitely not the best idea, well next time, own hair put up into a ponytail with a scrunchy ) . Yet, I really liked the feeling of long hair on my neck.

Having gained some confidence from the last days, I felt at ease and calm, I was being me in all aspects. Far too early we were heading back home. Well, even as Samantha was keeping up pretty good, we didn’t want to overdo it as her operation was only a couple of weeks ago and healing will still take some time.

Being back at my hosts house I got the nicest compliment I had. Karen must have taken a photo of me, yet only a girl was to be seen, Talking about the day, she said, not once people were looking twice trying to find out whether I was the girl I appeared to be or rather a bloke dressed as girl.

There it was — the last evening with two women I got to know as my very best friends. Sam had to go to bed early as she started work the next day. She came down to say Good Bye and hugged my tightly…

I suddenly felt a lump in my throat and tears were welling up. I hardly managed to hold them down. Only the prospect of another morning with Karen visiting Bletchley Park let me cope with that.

That night I couldn’t sleep for some time, and thought about the last days, my life and me. I might have been unsure about who I was, but now I was like someone found out who I really am. I’m a young woman ( even as I sometimes don’t look it ) and I’m here to stay.

So the inevitable Monday morning was shining brightly through the bedroom window when I woke up. Breakfast consisted of cereals and milk and getting ready afterwards it was time for Saphira’s last adventure in England. Bletchley Park, here we come! ( Sorry folks, I might be a girl, former boy, but I’m still a geek at my heart )

Well, I don’t want to tell you too much, but Bletchley Park is really worth a visit. One can still feel the atmosphere of secrecy there. It’s almost eerie seeing the little room in one of the huts where Alan Turing created Colossus and The Bombe. If you want to know more, read chapter 32 of Karen Page’s ‘A new style of education’ or even better, visit that famous place yourself.

As sad as it is, even the best times have to end someday, so mine did too. Getting a tight hug from Karen at the airport was even worse then the night before. I really had to fight my tears. But somehow I managed another time.

Anyway, I don’t want to write about such sad things, so I finish telling you, I had the best time in my life.

I found some great friends, who will be forever being in my heart.

Saphira Leonie Gardner