So I made my appointment for the end of January; and then promptly started to worry. Hold on, I thought to myself, there are so many better looking girls, what if I look like a sack of spuds in a frock, and eeek I’ve just realised there will be a ‘normal’ bloke there to take the photos! Well there was no way that I could cancel, not now so I just tried not to worry, and hoped for the best.

This would also be the first time that I had visited the new Boudoir, so I had to make sure that I found the new location, as those of you who might have read any of my previous drivel, err I mean reports, know my sense of direction is tenuous to say the least!

The first thing that I had to do was send a 50% deposit to Jodie so I wrote the cheque and a covering letter (well several to form these things called words and sentences), popped it in the post and started to make myself look pretty. About a week before I was due to go I sent Jodie an email just to check that the cheque had arrived safely. I was horrified to find out that it hadn’t!! My first thought was Jodie’s going to think that I never sent it, and my second was where the heck has it gone. My third was what am I going to have for supper (hey! I was hungry!), and my fourth was I better get Jodie the deposit!

Well apart from the fact that I hadn’t any cheques left, I didn’t want to post another one off and risk losing that as well, so I decided to draw the money out from one of those marvellous magical holes in the wall, and physically take the money to Jodie. Not only would it ensure that she got the money, but it would also act as a dry run for me to find the place. A quick sideline here, Jodie received lots of post from other people, and this sort of thing seems to happen to me a lot, so don’t let this put you off posting anything to the Boudoir or anywhere else! I would hate to be responsible for the collapse of the postal service.

By the time that I had got the money it was only a few days to go before the actual photo shoot, so I put the whole amount in a nice envelope (I hate using nasty envelopes although I’m sure there must be a market for them) and started to make my way across London. Getting there was actually incredibly easy. Much easier than I thought it would be. In fact so easy that instead of getting there at about midday as I had told Jodie I would be I was there at about 10.15 in the morning! I always make allowances or things like volcanic eruptions or alien invasions that might delay my journey. Of course these things never happen and I invariably end up being far too early. Of course now that I have said this I will probably be really late for my next event.

Anyway I dropped off the money which gave me a chance to see the new Boudoir, and wow! I thought that the old Boudoir was wonderful but the new location is just amazing. Bags more room. Lots of places to sit and eat or have a chat, and the photo shoot area is now there as opposed to having to go elsewhere. The new Boudoir really is an incredible place, and anyone considering using a dressing service really must pay it a visit.

Well this fleeting visit calmed me down a little bit. Jodie and Sean were as lovely as ever, and the whole place looked so great that I began to get really excited about having a shoot, and seeing them again. However there was still Jodie’s Dad to meet!

So the fateful day came, and I was up bright and early. I took a shower and headed out the door. Getting to my tube station was no problem. Because the time I was setting out was towards the end of the rush hour I decided to walk to my tube station. This took 50 minutes, but still left loads of time. At about this time I got a text from Jodie just checking my shoes size. You see this girl just makes sure every little detail is covered .So anyway I got to my platform and waited; and waited; and waited. It would be this one-day that the trains were delayed, (well we all know this happens all the time, particularly on the underground but you know what I mean!) So after panicking a little, swapping trains, and managing to catch the correct one at a different station I still managed to get to the Boudoir 3 days early!! Well okay that’s a slight exaggeration, but I still had to walk around a little before I could bring myself to ring the Boudoir’s doorbell.

Well I got there and Jodie was working her magic on another girl (called Angela I think) who was going on a shopping trip. Sean very kindly made me a cup of tea, and after relaxing for a bit he then showed me the selection of clothes and stunning shoes that were available. We had a chat about what might suite me and what looks I wanted to go for, which was enormous fun, and then he began with doing the foundation work (and I don’t mean he put scaffold up around me!). Whilst this was all beginning to happen Tracy arrived to take Angela out on her shopping trip. It was lovely to see her again. She is a genetic girl who is part of the Boudoir team and a truly very nice person. I was rather touched that she remembered me, and I really started to enjoy myself.

After Sean had done a really good job on my ugly mug Jodie got to work, and used all her skills to really excel herself this time. I was so thrilled with the look of the makeup and the three wigs that she thought might suit me.

There were 3 wigs. One which was a dark brown with red highlights; funk and fun, and I fell in love with it at once. A short bob which was a guess a strawberry blonde. I really liked this one alot. I think it suited me, and made me look a little younger! Finally there was a long black wig which was very classy and glamourous, and really went with the dress that I wore. It was a good job that we got to use all 3 because I never would have been able to choose just one!

As for the clothes we decided on two casual looks and two glamourous looks. For the first there was a really great Madonna top which Sean suggested would go really well with a short denim skirt and I chose a beautiful pair of stretch boots to go with this. Again these were actually Jodie's , and I am now searching for a pair to get myself as I loved them so much. The second look was a silky blue blouse and grey skirt. You might call this everyday, but I liked it alot and think that the hair went really well with it too. Then there were two glam looks. Firstly a wonderful, wonderful dress with a slit down the side to show a bit of leg. Again this something that I could easily see myself wearing again. Sexy but classy, and topped off by Jodie with a matching flower in my hair! The last one was another little black dress, a little shorted with a little flower, which Jodie beautifully matched by a great hairstyle that again I loved!!

So the photo shoot started. I cannot truly express in the written word just how an amazing experience it was. It was such fun!!! Jodie and her dad were so very careful to pay attention to every little detail, even if it was a single hair out of place, and I am not exaggerating! Jodie even let me wear some of her personal jewellery (unfortunately she remembered and I had to give it back to her at the end!), and it was obvious that their concerns were two fold; to make sure that the very best photos were taken and that I enjoyed the whole experience. Well they succeeded beyond my wildest expectations!! As you can see if you visit my gallery I think the results were pretty good.

The whole day was so marvellous. I looked in the mirror and saw me, not this ugly bloke that I normally see, but this woman whom I recognised as me. I am not expressing this very well, but the experience really acted as a big confidence booster, and with Jodie’s advice on a certain subject, which I won’t go into here, I can really see myself moving forward in 2005.

Three days later I went to collect the photos (although they will happily post them to you if you want), and was just blown away by what I saw. I’m not saying that I am drop dead gorgeous, but thanks to Jodie, Sean and Mike they have made me both look and feel, at least I think, like a young vibrant woman. To them they have my eternal gratitude, and look forward to 2005 with anticipation.