A Red Letter Day.

So about 2 weeks after my last entry, I received a bulky A4 sized letter with a Southall I knew instantly where it was from. Charing Cross Hospital. I was first of all relieved it had my full name on it, because I've always been a little concerned if it just said Mr J... on it my brother may open such a letter as we have the same initial, or if it just said J with no gender suggesting prefix my mum probably would have opened it, as she usually gets to the post first. There's really no way of explaining away a letter headed West London Mental Health and address from the Gender Identity Clinic other than the truth, and well I don't feel it is quite the right, time although time is ticking. It will probably come shortly after my first appointment no matter what my situation is.

So I opened it and was a little disappointed to find the was no actual appointment just an acknowledgement that they had received the referral letter from my GP along with lots on new patient literature and a questionnaire which I needed to complete and return. It wasn't a long questionnaire just bog standard name, address, NHS number type questions. Oh and of course GENDER, now at this point my brain screamed IT'S A TRAP! But on reflection it was just a generic West London Mental Health not a GIC specific one. I ticked male because well at the moment I am still living as and legally am one. Nor have I change my name yet either.

A week after I returned the questionnaire I got another letter. This time it was my appointment for 8th April 2011 @ 2:15pm with Dr Sheraz Ahmed. At just under 6 months, I was quite surprised as that was at the lower end of how long I'd expected to wait. I'd thought 6-9 months.

So I need to start planning things seriously, I have to be ready for this. I've waited my whole life for this, and have worked hard pushing and chasing to get this far for the last 2 1/2 years. I have to make the most of it. Once Christmas is out of the way if I still haven't got a job I will have to just take anything. I need to be working not just for the money but for the experience. Work of some description is a MUST in order to prove I am living as a woman, they will not look favourably on me if they thing I'm just sat at home all day 'hiding from the world'. I am going down to London in December to visit friends, this will give me a chance to do a dry run of getting to the Charing Cross and work everything else. As I'm sure come the day I will be stressed and nervous, if I know where I'm going it will hopefully make it a little easier at least.