[Corina]

I also was diagnosed with hashimotos 5 years ago. I remember doing a combination of celebrating and commiserating when diagnosed. I also thought, why me, how strange,…and wondered whether hashimotos might have some yet to be discovered link with makeup, in particular lipstick. Apart from some also yet to be discovered genetic link, I though this is also something that most woman and trans women have in common and I’m sure we consume (ingest) a lot of it. I mentioned it to my doctor at the time but as yet to my knowledge there have been no studies on this. Could be a good post grad thesis, I reckon.

[Corina]

Available at dive shops. Oh…and it’s got Tolulene in it so I recommend wearing a suitable gas mask in a ventilated area.

[Corina]

As promised here’s my update. The repair to my breast form has been road tested for 3 months now and is still excellent. Photos attached…I hope. The repair was on the rear of the form and I did use way too much goo, but I believe a more subtle and smooth repair could be made with just a smear to the front of the form and it would work well, if my wetsuit repairs are anything to go by, but I have yet to need to do this. I’m still sleeping in them in a non underwire bra that I have sewn material onto the rear of, so that I can insert them. No problems yet after 4 or more years so I don’t know…….I guess I just don’t sleep on my stomach though so maybe that’s why I’ve never had a problem with ruptures.

[Corina]

Interesting reading. For myself I have only experienced a month by month increase in acceptance since I came out full time a few years ago. Not one negative moment yet. In fact people are actually nicer to me and more welcoming than in my previous incarnation.
I live on the Mornington Peninsular in Victoria, I surf, I definitely don’t “pass” (I hate saying that) but some times I blend in and the day I stopped letting fear dictate my life too much was a game changer for me. A little fear is healthy I think and safe, but not too much. So I say to anyone that’s anxious about getting out and about… I reckon get out there and test the water, you’ll probably find it’s rather lovely and rather tolerant and wished like I did that you should have done it sooner.
In relation to far right crew, I don’t like them, they scare me a bit, but I read a tweet the other day from a First Nations man that said
that he’s not worried about some alt right man with an Ozzie flag, but more the police that beat his people or the nurse/doctor that refuses to see his mother. That put it into perspective for me.

[Corina]

After many many years of wear as well as sleeping in a pair of gold seal breast forms they developed a hole. Actually I think the hole was already in the form as each form has a tiny circular bit of plastic covering what I suppose is the fill up hole when it is made. I notice that both pairs of my gold seal forms have these little patches. Anyway one of the patches must have come off and it has revealed a slit from which silicon can ooze out. Last night I used a product called AQUASEAL which is a wetsuit repair product in a tube. You can usually find it in diving shops for around $15. I have used it on my wetsuits for years. It is clear and flexible when dry and adheres to rubber as well. I smeared a small amount on and set the form repair level whilst drying and this morning the repair looks very good indeed. I will posts updates here after it has been road tested for a while.

[Corina]

Just as a matter of interest, I consider myself a transgender woman (changed all my docs etc etc) and present as a woman 24/7. I actually prefer unisex toilets as (in my mind) I feel safer from angry people that may be watching me visit the toilet (go figure ) . My CIS female wife however can’t stand unisex toilets and she says there is sometimes (usually depending on where they are) a lot more piss sprayed everywhere in them than in female toilets. I have to agree however I still continue to use them if given the choice, just for my own feeling of safety. Also as a bonus they often have a fantastic full length mirror in them which always comes in handy. So I know I’m ready for them and the more the merrier for me. But I notice that in some locations now a row of Unisex toilets are all that is offered and I know that some CIS woman aren’t that happy about that just because of the user cleanliness factor.

[Corina]

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2015/s4430919.htm

heres the link to just the 20 min segment. I think you can watch this from overseas unlike iview.

[Corina]

Now both available on SBS ON DEMAND.

[Corina]

When I was passing thru Sydney last year I visited David Jones in the city in girl mode, where Susie from intimate apparel was so unbelievably nice to me. She was one of the older women there and she went completely out of her way to help me with a fitting for a pair of amoena swim forms and a bra to support them. She managed to do all this while I was completely dressed, it was quite amazing. She complimented me on my clothing and presentation and also the bra I was currently wearing but also set me in the right direction by telling me that when swimming I don’t need as much projection as I currently had and so she set me up with a lower profile form and bra than what I was currently wearing and this turned out to be perfect for my ameona tankini which I purchased also at DJs on the same day. I am very happy with her advice and feel as though my swim outfit is fantastic. I have noticed that on previous occasions when visiting lingerie stores that older women bra fitters if they have the right attitude can be real experts in their field. They can just look at you and know exactly what will work for you. When we parted, which was quite difficult to do because she just wanted to keep talking she said what a pleasure it was to meet me. It was amazing. It was real old school service, just how it always used to be and how it should be but often isn’t. So refreshing. I can unequivocally recommend her for a fitting.

[Corina]

It’s a lot of words I know but I’m either “slipping into something more comfortable” or in “girl mode”. Not the best description, I agree. Other than that I’m in my “Man Rags”. And I just love that description even if they are quite respectable man rags.

[Corina]

I don’t think a crossdresser using a disabled toilet for a couple of minutes when there is no unisex toilet available, is really in anyway similar to an ablebodied person parking in a disabled parking bay, which I never have done. However unless a unisex toilet is available then I will continue to use a disabled toilet if it is available and I will still LOVE it.
Incidently for anyone travelling to Coffs Harbour there is a nice unisex toilet in Harbour Drive up the escalator in Coffs Central Shopping Mall.

[Corina]

I do feel uncomfortable using the ladies. I do like unisex gender neutral toilets. But I must say I absolutely LOVE the disabled toilets. I don’t have a problem with the name.. So much room, private, and some even have a full length mirror such as at the art gallery of NSW. Yes and a unisex toilet app would be loved also.

[Corina]

Very interesting Martina and thanks for those links Linda, I’ll have to get a copy of that book. Please post if anyone knows of any other interesting books on the subject.