Park Dean Camber Sands Holiday

Why can’t they give instructions on appliances in the caravan, like switching on the boiler for hot water, using the microwave, using the gas oven, holding down the knob, as you do. Switching on the fridge, etc… we are not all camping / caravanning experts. Also bring a can opener!

One of my challenges is having fake finger nails, if you have them you know the simplest of tasks like typing is different, hopefully without them pinging off and living with them day-to-day for a week. Usually I wear fake finger nails for a day. A few days in and I am loving having finger nails, I will miss them when they have to come off.

I am just looking around my bedroom, I have make-up, perfume, shoes, clothes everywhere, all female, it's so good, I am a messy cow on holiday!

My plan is to visit various places and take plenty of pictures, I know it's about time!

It has been very good, being able to be Julie or 7 days, able to go when you want, do what you want, dress how you want, downsides? Next week back to being the ugly ducking again. Would I recommend it to others, you would need to be able to pass and communicate with others, sure a few might guess you're not a full woman, but I'm not hurting anyone, so what!

Day 1 Saturday

Hurstmonceux Castle, in the East Sussex countryside, always wanted to visit, it's a fairy tail castle, a proper castle, The oldest brick building of note still standing in the country, Herstmonceux Castle was also once the largest private home in fifteenth century England. Today, the majestic, moated castle is the centrepiece of a beautiful 300 acre estate. 

Beyond formal gardens like the Rose, Elizabethan and Shakespeare, the grounds extend into open areas and woodland that include a children’s play area, a rope maze, and a Georgian-style folly – all ideal for families to explore. They have an event on tomorrow, so the ticket price was £7, and I wasn't able to actually explore any of the rooms.

The coffee (large latte) was £2.99, practically a bowl with a handle, needed to go back to the loo’s again afterwards to spend another penne! Overall, it was nice, I would go again to see the inside.

Day 2 Sunday

Lazy day, plan to go food shopping at Sainsbury’s at New Romney, also see if there are any clothes shops / charity shops, something to do.

Went to Sainsbury’s, no problem shopping, had a basket and went to self scan, scanning went well until I got to the Spring onions, not having my reading glasses on and the barcode is on the other side of the label, so I went through all the menus on the check-out screen and no spring onions, so I thought salad onions! No, the only thing which looked like them were leeks, There was a female customer waiting, she must have though it was amusing watching me, she did say “The barcode is on the other side” I said “Thanks, I haven’t got my reading glasses on” I thanked her again on the way out. 

On the way back I went through Greatstone, I was trying to remember where we stayed, it looks different, and probably the properties were demolished to make new ones, or before they fell down! Last time I stayed here, I must have been about ten! I had my first banana fritter down here, it was so sweet, I'm surprised I didn't get diabetes!

I did wash the car, got the worst bits off, I think it must be the second time I washed it as a woman, remember to do it lady like! (keep your legs together), you don’t know who is watching, I don’t care! Also, I have a new game called, “Which caravan is occupied” with people coming and going, for example there was a noisy couple with very noisy kids, opposite. Thank god it was for two days, the kids must be back a school. Why are caravans white? Is it to hide the seagull shit!

Day 3 Monday

Visited Winchelsea, it's a small village with about 600 people, there is someone famous buried there, Spike Milligan, at St Thomas Church.

British-Irish actor, comedian, writer, musician, poet, and playwright. 

The son of an Irish father and an English mother, Milligan was born in British Colonial India, where he spent his childhood, relocating in 1931 to live and work the majority of his life in the United Kingdom. Disliking his first name, he began to call himself "Spike" after hearing the band Spike Jones and his City Slickers on Radio Luxembourg.

One of my favourite Spike quotes: “I can speak Esperanto like a native.” very funny, he used to laugh at his own jokes, you knew it was funny.

Stopped at a café called Winchelsea Beach Cafe, and order a latte, not bad, I think the girl serving twigged I was a trans, she didn't say anything, she did take a closer look when passing me, I just smiled back. I also ordered a Mayo, Tuna and Cumber sandwich on white to takeaway, I waited for the sandwich and went, later I found out it was brown bread, which was OK.

So you can't go to Camber Sands without going to Camber Sands, sands! A walk on the sandy beach, after you went over the pebbles, need shoes! So it was nice to have sand between your toes and the sea was warm, went for a paddle!, ate my sandwich! (the brown bread) and find a parking space without paying! Watched kite surfing, more like flying a big kite by an adult, they had to have safety helmets on! These are kites without any struts, so you get more chance of being strangled by the ropes, perhaps it to stop the pebbles as you get dragged along the ground.

Day 4 Tuesday

Therapy Tuesday! My shrink has given up! No, I mean shopping therapy! As I am on holiday as a woman, it’s easier to shop, especially for a woman. Went to Sunny Ashford Sainsbury, spent about £60 on clothes, two tops, a bikini, bra and a trouser-dress. I thought it was a dress, but has legs. While I was shopping for the bra, looking for my size, a lady stepped beside me and starting talking about never having her size, I replied with “I know what you mean!” I did manage to find one.

Then I went to Dobbies garden centre, Ashford, had a look around, it always makes me smile this time of year when I see Christmas stuff out. Needed a drink, so I went to the restaurant, ordered a regular Latte, the ladies behind the counter were lovely, treating me as a lady, I could have taken them home! Very flattering, that's the type of people we require. Sat there checking my phone and drinking the coffee.

Decided the time I got back I would be hungry, so Fish and Chips is on the menu, went back via New Romney, had a walk around, looking at charity shops, the old Church, went into Spar stores, grabbed a basket and went shopping, got a few things, again the shop assistant was lovely, treating as a woman. I thanked her as I left.

I drove to Greatstone beach to have my Fish and Chips, I asked for a medium, it did seam bigger, probably explains the price of £10.50, they must have just caught the fish from the fishing boat and dug up the potatoes! LOL

Day 5 Wednesday

I thought I would check out Folkestone, and I need two skirts to go with my new tops, so a bit more therapy is needed! So I went to Folkestone and parking is a nightmare, went to a multi-storey car park and I had no change as I used it up last time, had a chance to use Ringo parking app but no connection to download, so I drove around to find a spot, there are so many restrictions you can’t park! 

I know I can get the skirts in Maidstone, so that plan went to pot. So I headed down ton the harbour to take some pics. Then I decided to go and find a place to eat away from Folkestone, found a garden centre and had a latte and Ham, egg and chips, in total was about £13, the food was not bad, it was packed, lucky to get a table, it was actually quite nice.

Stopped at a few shops on the way back as you do and didn’t find anything that caught my eye, they are getting ready for winter stuff.

Day 6 Thursday

Went to Hythe, the main high street, have a mixture from Art shops to Restaurants, checked out a few Charity shops, nothing took my fancy, I did think about going to St Leonards Crypt, which is full of skulls and bones, but it wasn’t open! So I slowly made my way back, stopped at the Britannia Inn, last time I was there it was busy, (about a year ago) which is a good sign, I went in are ordered a Latte and Beef Burger at the bar, then found a table.

I didn't have to wait long, it was about £14 in total, the coleslaw was homemade, which was very pleasant, wish there was more of it. Over all a nice atmosphere, would go again. Took some more pictures, then hear the news the Queen was unwell, the time I got back the Queen had died. Probably the only monarch I would give time for. R.I P.