I hope to do one for tonight but tomorrow is doubtful as I'm going to see my daughter and may not have time. Just thought I'd better warn y'all.

Bettina Rheims best photograph of a transgender sex worker from the 1980s in Paris. Quite an interesting piece especially as it suggests that most of them are now probably dead, presumably from horrible diseases. It struck a chord with me because I transitioned about the same time. Things are so different now.

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/dec/03/bettina-...

Oh, and it happens to be my birthday, today.

Angharad

A document from the UK government about the law as it stands for transgender customers and the requirements of the law to businesses providing services to them such as shops or banks. It's written in very simple language and shows that discrimination direct or otherwise is illegal against a person with a protected characteristic of gender reassignment, viz moi. (And there's me thinking I was just an ordinary woman these days - another illusion shattered).

Fraid so. As we draw near to the next completed century with Bike ie 2800, I feel a need to ask the readership if they'd like me to continue writing regular episodes as usual, or not. This is assuming Auntie Erin is happy for me to fill up her servers as before. Remember, Bike is only available at BC - that's Big Closet not British Cycling, so take advantage of its exclusivity, get involved and write a comment (but keep them clean).

In other words, let me know what you think, assuming you can after reading Bike.

Angharad.

Got sidetracked with other things, hopefully will try harder tomorrow.

Angharad

The number of children gender identity problems referred to the Tavistock Clinic in London is increasing. Interestingly, more girls than boys. It's also thought the wider availability of information and the effect of celebrity changers might be responsible for this phenomenon.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/05/children-seek...

I found this on the Guardian website which I must have missed earlier, might have been on holiday. If the conclusions are correct, then it's a frightening prospect especially for transgender people from black or other ethnic minorities. I have blogged about it before but it's still happening and needs to be brought to public awareness. Thanks to the Guardian for that.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/11/lgbt-murders-...

Holiday Blog.

Sorry haven’t had time to write Bike tonight I’m a little tired after traipsing round sand dunes in pursuit of our avian friends. Yesterday we visited a nature reserve near Torrevieja and saw a flock of stone curlews, amongst other things. Crested larks, bath white butterflies, flamingoes and Isabelline wheatears made up some of the rest of my haul of observed species.

Sleeping, it wasn't. I saw the 'blood' moon and the eclipse, sadly I couldn't photograph the red colour, which was actually more a brown colour.

Well done, Lizzie, what an achievement. So she gets to wear the rainbow jersey for the next year.

In a small matter at Twickenham, Wales beat England 28-25 in the Rugby World Cup, though both sides accumulated more injuries.

Angharad

I've been having problems with my internet for ages and in despair decided to go to a new provider. My phone has apparently gone over but my broadband hasn't. It would appear that my old provider has stopped my internet access so I'm having to make do with my mobile device which is slower and sometimes unreliable. Hopefully this will all be sorted out next week some time, so if I seem to be noticeable by my absence you know why.

Angharad and >^^< x2.

I was nearly terminated while out on a bike ride today, a car came up to a T-junction which I was cycling across and therefore had right of way, when he just carried on obviously not seeing me despite me wearing an orange, back and white jacket. The only reason I'm able to write this is because I took avoiding action, half expecting it to happen. I'm getting tired of having to think for all the morons driving round in lethal weapons that cars are and I feel the law ought to be changed to reflect the fact that most car-bike collisions are the fault of the driver.

Rebecca Root's new comedy series in which she plays a transgender character starts on BBC2 in the autumn. Article from the Guardian here.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/22/rebecca-root-...

Only just got back from my leaving do - scampi n chips and a game of skittles - we do things in such high style in darkest Dorset. Actually my house looks like a florist's shop but the scents are delightful and my colleagues gave me a nice contribution towards the microscope I want to buy to dissect owl pellets.

I'm now semi-retired so will only be working about ten days a week, though this week I'm on holiday - well having a new central heating boiler fitted and someone coming to give me a quote for new external doors and having the car checked out, oh and the dentist tomorrow afternoon - apart from that, I'm not doing anything except perhaps sleeping.