(Outing 3): And to round it all off...

...was the trip to a restaurant.

Tina and Julie seem to be regulars at a Soho eatery called Balans. There are two on Old Compton Street, one a cafe style the other a 'proper' restaurant and that was the one where we were heading.

The second time out on the street seemed slightly less intimidating although a little voice in my head was still hoping it wasn't too far as we were actually on the pavement and consciously avoiding people's gazes was getting a bit tiring. It wasn't as it turned out and in we went. Balans seemed fairly busy, lots of couples at tables around the entrance and again another slightly self-conscious moment as we stood there waiting to be seated. Would my knobbly knees protruding from underneath a shortish skirt put the discerning diner off their starters? I felt a slight urge to shuffle in a nervous sort of fashion but luckily the staff were pretty quick to spot us and we were led through the admiring diners (cough! cough!) to a table for four in the rear dining area. With the extra space available Tina suggested that it might be interesting to both sit with our backs to the wall so we could see what's going on in the restaurant and on the street outside, which seemed a good idea but thinking back on it must have looked a bit odd... certainly not the usual set up. Blending in again.

Of course that's when I realised I was in a spot of bother as the old contact lenses I was wearing meant I was suddenly very long-sighted and had no chance of reading the menu (or the prices). In a slightly embarrassing display of public helplessness I had to ask Tina to tell me what was on the menu and as I had no chance of remembering what she was telling me I plumped for the first item on the menu - also on the assumption that it was one of the cheaper options as well, if I'm being honest. However any notion of thrift was blown out of the water as we went for a large glass of the house red each so maybe I shouldn't have bothered.

Did I detect a slight hint of disdain on the waiter's face when taking the order? I'm not sure really - it might well have been his natural expression and certainly none of the other diners seemed to be remotely phased by us (well me really. I took it as read that Tina would be totally at home whereas I assumed that I just looked like an obvious newbie). In fact looking around everyone seemed far too preoccupied with their own friends to be noticing me, something I mentioned to Tina and which strangely slightly deflated me. After all you expect you're going to bring the walls down about your head by going out wearing a dress and what happens.... Totally ignored ;-)

Food eaten, wine drunk off we went back to Lolas at Muse for the rest of the evenings entertainment - which was a very good drag act - and then back upstairs where we messed around with a few photos, including the detail bellow.

So, what had I learned on my first proper excursion out in a skirt. Pretty basic stuff really

a. It's quite a nervy thing to do but it's not terrifying
b. I find that I have conversations with people far quicker than when I'm in drab. Women seem quite friendly too, probably because I'm not perceived as being a 'threat' in any way
c. It's actually quite nice wearing a skirt - at least like the one I was wearing. Breezy.
d. No-one seemed inclined to beat the bejabbers out of me, which was nice...
e. I did miss having pockets when dressed. I'm cack-handed and handbags throw me. 
f. Good shoes that fit and that preferably stay on your feet are essential
g. errrr..... I think that's about it really. Other than that it's quite exciting and I'd like to do it again...

Mission accomplished. Take a bow!