I bit the bullet, Despite my earlier experience with my Doctor 30 years previously, I went to see my GP. They say as you get older Policemen seem to get younger.

The same applies to Doctors …… Dishy ! !

My current Doctor was very understanding. He sent me to see a Councillor and a local Psychiatrist who to my relief assured me that I ‘was not barking’.

I started to live as Debbie practically all the time save for work. For the first time in my life I felt right. This was really me.

I now knew that I had made the right decision. I am indeed Transsexual. My Doctor referred me to London’s Charring Cross Hospital. I had to become Debbie 24/7. I told my employers fearing the worst. Within 48 hours I was working as Debbie and fully accepted by my colleagues, The company were marvellous and very supporting.

I changed my name by Deed Poll. All my documentation was changed.

Perhaps the hardest part of all this was telling my Family. My daughter was fantastic and readily accepted me. My two sons were fine about it. The eldest took the attitude ‘what ever makes you happy ….. DAD’. One day I hope he will call me Debbie, the main thing is that he accepts me.

Mum? Well she tried so hard to come to terms with having a Daughter, although she admitted that she would never understand me. (Since when have Mothers ever understood their kids?). She was always quick to pinch my perfume and lippy though!

Sadly my Mother passed away in 2006. I miss her a great deal. Over the four and a half years since  becoming Debbie she did come to accept me as a daughter. I never did tell her that I had had surgery,

I have a younger brother, he had difficulty in accepting me for a long time. It was only during my Mothers illness that he started to refer to me as his 'Sister'.

Mums funeral was the first time that most my extended family had met 'Debbie'. I tried to ensure that most were aware before the day so that there were no surprises. Everyone was great despite the sad occasion.

My Mum       .

 My two Sons my Daughter and Me  September 2006

I started to live full time at the end of January 2002 and had my Gender Reassignment Surgery at the end of March 2005. During this time I lived 24/7 as a woman (and have ever since). As time went on I have become more and more confident. I am sure that this confidence is an essential part of the transition process.

As with the children at school, most people tend to sense that you are nervous, and pick up on it. If you are confident in what you are and who you are they tend to just accept you.  The exception being the 'Ferrell youngsters' who hang around the streets these days. They are quick to spot anyone who they can persecute. No matter what the reason, Age, Disability, Race..........or Gender.

I think that there should be more effort in schools to teach about minorities in the community and hopefully to encourage acceptance. There was a television documentary shown on BBC3 in March 2007 which I think was an excellent program and should be shown in all secondary schools.

 'Lucy- Teen Transsexual'

Lucy Parker is a typical teenage girl, obsessed with clothes, boys, make up and shopping. But there's one thing that sets her apart from the others - Lucy was born as Richard and she is a transsexual. At just 17, she's determined to surgically transform her body from male to female. What makes Lucy's story unique is that she is the youngest transsexual in Britain to attempt to document on camera the psychological and emotional journey to rid herself the male body she was born with.

Lucy being of a similar age to many of the youngsters who 'Hang out on the streets'  would I am sure have something in common.

In February 2003 I moved home. This was good in as much as I moved into my new home as Debbie. None of my neighbours has ever known me as anything else. While my previous neighbours were good to me, they always saw me as the guy who dressed as a woman.

February 2004 I was made redundant from my job. I was out of work for 18 months.

March 2005 I had my surgery. Being off work was an advantage as I had time to recover from the operation.

I found new work in August of that year and at the time of writing am still working in my new job. I applied for the job as Debbie and did not tell the company that I was a transsexual and they never asked. I have been accepted as one of the girls in the office. If anyone knows or suspects about me they have kept it to themselves. that is all I can really expect. The only near thing I had was in the first week when I was asked for my birth certificate by the company for pension purposes. I told the company that I had mislaid it during my house move and offered my passport instead. Thankfully this was accepted.

I have now finished my treatment at Charring Cross Hospital. I have to take hormones daily for the rest of my life but that is a small price to pay for the happiness and feeling of wellbeing that I now have.

There are still a few things that I would like to do, a boob job etc, but that will come in time.

I would very much like to have a partner to share my life with and who knows one day I may be able to marry again  If I can find the right ...........................Millionaire!

Debbie is now a reality. I am now content, I am no longer torn between being two different people.

I am now the girl I have always felt that I was.