My long weekend in France

Paula G · Post by **Paula G** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:27 pm

This may be the longest post ever, I just need to tell you all about the great time I've just had.

Last Friday I set off on a journey, in order to deliver some furniture to a friend’s sister I had to take my van from London to St Etienne in France, a journey of around 1,300 miles, a journey I was to take on my own. I had loaded up on Thursday so set off bright and early, well early anyway on Friday morning, I left more or less in drab, but with skinny jeans and sweat shirt with Converse’ on my feet. So it was after landing in France that I pulled over, popped on a bra (etc) and did my makeup and put on the wig, a change to some lighter weight footwear and Paula was back. I had a lot of miles (or should that be kilometres) to cover so the day was spent mostly on the motorways, I had to stop to pay tolls and fill up with diesel, I like to think that no one batted an eye lid even though I was made up more heavily than most women would have been to drive a van. I took a lot of personal pleasure from my pink polished finger nails and dainty ladies watch. About 6 in the evening I booked into a nice little Hotel near Langres and Dijon.

I decided to dress up a bit for dinner and added the bling I had with me to the LBD some very sheer black stockings and some classic court shoes I had only bought a few days before. The restaurant was at a different part of the village so I had a little walk each way. It was an excellent meal and the staff were all very friendly and made time to help me just as much, or more than any other customers. I think that any attention I attracted was positive as I was so much more dressed up than any other customers. This was a great night for me good food nice friendly environment and dressed up, what more could a girl ask for – well maybe some congenial company but you can’t have it all. I more or less floated back to the Hotel after dinner.

Next morning there were a few of us having breakfast, I’m afraid that I did attract a bit of attention, but I trust that it was that with my 3 inch heel knee boots on I am over 6 foot, taller than most French men never mind the women. I had to clean off the makeup and change back into drab before making my delivery on Saturday afternoon, but organised myself so a quick change back was made before booking into that night’s Hotel. This was a slightly cheaper Hotel, still clean and comfortable, but no restaurant. I had a walk around town and decided that the best bet to eat looked like the town Casino, well maybe I just thought that this could be an excuse to glam it up a bit again. When I got back to the Hotel I was for the only time on the trip “Monsieured” every other occasion I was always addressed as “Madam”, although this was from behind it did rankle!

Well I had with me a pair of black culottes, which are quite dressy, with a nice satin black shirt blouse some nice sheer tights and my court shoes I thought made a pretty good fairly suitable outfit. At the Casino I was by no means overdressed, however since I hadn’t booked the restaurant I could not eat there. The third restaurant I tried I finally managed to get a table, but then only since I was on my own, they put an extra small table right by the bar so I was very visible, and was perhaps a little over dressed compared to most of their customers, but by no means all. Again an excellent meal in a very French environment, no one does dinning like the French.

So Saturday night I went to bed as Paula, Sunday morning I got up as Paula and this was the first day I have had when I could stay as Paula all day. So what did I do but make my major fashion faux pas. Maybe I was still a little annoyed about being Monsieured the night before, so out came the Daisy Dukes, pink metallic animal print tights and knee boots! In retrospect maybe not such a good look for a lady of my mature years. Still I enjoyed wearing them and that’s really the point. It did dawn on me that in that town I had been in three different outfits and all three were very fem and all included trousers of one sort or another! Sunday was a good day, I was on the home leg of the journey but had planned a fairly leisurely drive back on a different route towards northern France before coming home on Monday. Plans changed when I realised I had left my phone charger and adapter (different sockets in France & UK) at Friday night's Hotel. So I had a drive across country, and very pretty country it is too, to the previous hotel, how was I going to explain what I wanted with my very poor, and basic French? would they remember me? Yeh sure, how many British transvestites driving an old Ford Transit called Gloria stop in a village in Burgundy? I arrived mid afternoon was greeted as Madam, was given very friendly attention, eventually we did find my stuff, but I had to remind then when I had stayed, and which room, when there are only about 30 in the whole hotel. As well as relief that I could safely use my phone now, I also got a real buzz out of the treatment I was receiving everywhere I went. That night I stayed at a Camponile (chain of up market motels) changed and had a decent dinner, looked after by very friendly staff, I have been to France many many times before but have never noticed them being so friendly in the past, either they are responding to me differently or I am being more sensitive. Either way I put the difference down to my comfort with my presentation.

Monday was my home day I had plenty of time to meander back before catching my ferry, so took my time getting dressed, long dress trousers over fishnet tights, black sating blouse, wide belt to show off my waist with a grey tailored jacket and my black court shoes. With my “gold” chains, ear rings and bracelet I felt and looked very classy, I was welcomed at breakfast by staff and other customers, sat down and had a slow enjoyable breakfast, after all I had plenty of time hadn’t I?

After loading up the van, checking out, I cleaned all the windows, checked the oil and water, all OK got in sat down in the drivers seat, put on the seat belt, turned the key and nothing happened! What a time for a flat battery, one of the staff had some jump leads in her car, but they were just not heavy duty enough. They phoned for a recovery for me, and fed me extra coffee while I waited. The mechanic turned up and again could not get me going, so I was recovered to the local Ford main dealer. The dealer diagnosed a dead battery and fitted a new one, for once I had got all my vehicle paperwork with me so I managed to communicate, all through this experience I was addressed as Madam and treated as a lady should be within that sort of environment. My bill is even made out to Mme Paula G****. After all this I was a lot poorer, and a lot more rushed so decided that I would have to bash back up to Calais by motorway, just stopped quickly to pick up some nice cheap wine and Cognac. Gloria made good time on the motorway, not as fast as a car but better than a truck, I only stopped for a quick fill up, both Gloria and me, and looked set to make Calais in nice time, that was before I was stopped by the Police, looking for smugglers. I suppose that a lone smartly dressed female in an old and by now dirty van is unusual, but they checked all my papers, all my bags, even behind the panels in the back of the van. They were very polite, very friendly, but also quite insistent, interestingly they did ask if I was on my own – yes – was all the luggage mine – yes – and then they went through the luggage, which contained clothing obviously for both genders. I was released with thanks, although several other (mostly British) vehicles were being detained. Now all I could do was dash straight to the Ferry Port I managed to just make my latest check in time, and then passport control, arghhh I was still dressed and made up, my passport is not only male but the photo shows me with a beard! The French control greeted me with the usual “Bonjour Madam” looked at my passport, didn’t bat an eyelid handed it back and wished me a good journey. British passport control, “Hello” looked at the photo, and asked me to remove my sunglasses, MY SUNGLASSES, that was all, perfectly happy, perfectly polite, perfectly friendly, what have I been worrying about for so long.

I resisted the temptations of the cosmetics in the on board shop, and had a pretty uneventful crossing apart from staff I did have one short conversation with another lone female traveller, who treated me as a total equal. Back in Blighty I got stopped again by customs, but was quickly released, it is only an hour and half from Dover to home, it was a really flat feeling having to take off all my girl stuff, and but on the drab. It was like a sad farewell, but also good to be home and back with my family.

Some of the high points I will treasure, not having to take my nail varnish off after a few hours, a whole day as Paula, being called Madam, seated and treated as a lady at the restaurants, oh yes, and I was being paid to do it, now I want to do it all again!

I have put up a few pictures here http://cid-b78ac089d6a8c007.photos.live ... rch%202011

Post by **DonnaT** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:54 pm

Nice trip, mostly.

Too bad about the battery, and the change in travel route, which might have been a blessing in disguise, considering the battery dying.

Debra Russell · Post by **Debra Russell** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:06 pm

Wonderful trip Paula, the pics were really nice, glad you had a really femm time wish I were there ! You look really good, hope you enjoyed your trip.

Debra

Leeza · Post by **Leeza** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:29 pm

Sounds like a lovely trip overall. Glad you enjoyed it.

Leeza

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 3:44 pm

Fantastic Paula, I am just the slightest bit jealous of you but also proud of you. Way to go sister

Paula G · Post by **Paula G** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 4:54 pm

Thanks ladies, it was an all round great trip, and a wonderful experience. One small post script, it now turns out that I didn't need a new battery, went to use the Gloria this afternoon and she had a flat battery again, this means that there is an electricity leak somewhere, so the old battery was OK, now it will be difficult to complain

Davita · Post by **Davita** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:17 pm

Way kewl, Paula. Glad it was a good trip. Shoot the battery wasn't even a blip on the radar of happiness if you ask me. So here's the question. What would you have done if you were pulled aside for not matching your passport picture? I have thought about that or simply not matching my driver's license. The answer? You do what ever they ask of you and you do it with a pleasant smile.

Now that you have gone through the process once and it was so anticlimactic, now it will be a surprise instead of a worry. Again, glad it all went well for the most part.

Post by **DonnaT** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:23 pm

Make sure the battery cables are clean and tight. Tracking down a short can be difficult. Another option is the alternator not charging the battery.

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:43 am

Glad you had fun Paula

Joan · Post by **Joan** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:44 pm

That was a truly splendid trip & CD experience Paula.

Joan

Paula G · Post by **Paula G** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 3:54 am

Thank you ladies for all your kind comments. This was certainly an wonderfull experience, the memory of which I shall treasure, as for Gloria's troubles it now seems that the problem was with the rectifier in teh alternator rather than teh battery at all, I shall be in contact with teh garage to see if I can get some money back, but for obvious reasons this will be difficult. As for it spoiling the trip, no, not at all. In some ways the manner that everyone responded to me on that last day, the recovery man, the guys at the dealers, the Police and Customs somehow made the whole experience much more real. I suppose up till then I had been in control of who I allowed myself to be seen by. This put me in a real situation where I had to interact with others, not necesarily of my choice, to resolve situations as any "normal" woman would.

I have now let the Genie out of the bag and want more of this sort of experience, those who follow my posts will know that the SS Paula has just struck an iceberg, so I'm not at all sure when or if I shall be able to do anything like this again, all the more reason for me to treasure the experience.

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:55 am

Yes the genie can be very stubborn about not going back into the bottle....

Erica S · Post by **Erica S** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:36 am

Paula,

I am glad your trip was positive for you. it looks like you had fun. I hope you can continue to be Paula in the future.

Hugs,

Erica

Kyra · Post by **Kyra** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:53 am

Paula, whether it be once a month, once a year, or once in a lifetime...our experiences are what truly matter. The fact that you made the trip is absolutely wonderful!
I liked your photos as well. You seem very comfortable in them.

I can't wait to hear about your next excursion.
Hugs,
Kyra

Wendae · Post by **Wendae** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:59 am

Sounds like you had a great time. It's quite a compliment to your attention to detail and presentation that allowed you to pass so well.Looking at your photos I can see why. Also I compliment the authorities on them not hasseling you.