Ever since I can remember, even from early childhood, I have always been transvestite. I am most definitely heterosexual, but the desire to wear women?s clothes has always been there. I am not into exotica, I merely want to look and feel like a normal woman and to be accepted as such by others when I am dressed.

For many years I was a closet tranny, never venturing out of the door or dressing in front of my family, but when I got to my middle forties I decided to pluck up courage and go out at night when my family were away. I had secretly been buying clothes for a long time, but if I was to start going out, I had to try to do it properly. I already had a nice black skirt from C&A, A-line as was the fashion in the early eighties, and knee length. I bought a matching blouse from Paige's and a black velvet jacket from Marks and Spencer. I've still got a very old wig which my wife had left to be thrown out.

I needed to get something to walk in as the only shoes I had were from the sixties or a pair of very high and strappy stilettos which were too awkward to walk in for any distance. I did the rounds and finished up with a pair of 3 inch stilettos from the Clock House at C&A. Just an ordinary little black court shoe - I'm a size six and a half.

I already had some good underwear, a few accessories and some makeup items. I just bought a a nice new pair of black tights and I was ready to go!

I spent the afternoon getting ready - having a bath, shaving my legs and body, etc, then it was time to get dressed. I took my time with my makeup (which I'm still not very good at) but at last I felt finished. I was very nervous, but my mind was made up. I went downstairs, poured a martini and waited until the lights had gone off in all the surrounding houses. I live in a small village on an even smaller estate, where everyone knows everyone else. It would be disastrous to be found out as I'm sure all closet trannies feel.

At last the coast seemed clear. I gingerly opened the front door and ventured out onto the step. I live in a large circle at the end of a cul-de-sac and had previously decided to go for a walk round the block, which is about half a mile.

The three inch stilettos were really comfortable and I had no trouble walking in them. After all these years they are still my favourite shoes. I have had the tips renewed several times.

I enjoyed feeling the air around my legs and the movement of my skirt. It was lovely.

I made it safely back home, poured another martini and sat down to savour what I had just done. I had done what I had wanted to do for decades - I had been out as a woman.

I've been out many times since - over a hundred, but nearly always on my little late night walk round the block. A few times I've got a little more adventurous and taken the longer walk down to the main road and the bus stop.

Eventually I wanted more. I wanted to be seen, but not found out. I chose a rainy night and went out a little earlier than usual. The rain was useful as I could use my umbrella to hide behind. Still just on my little walk round the block. When I was nearly back home a neighbour drove past in her car. She had seen a woman walking up the road with an umbrella and shoulder bag. Still in the three inch stilettos. Diane had seen me and never gave it another thought. I felt great!

Shortly afterwards I went out in my pale blue flowered sundress under a different black jacket with a 'Classic Woman' label inside. Even the label makes me feel good! My dress has a wide mid-length skirt and before I went out I wasn't too happy with the way it was hanging so I put on an extra petticoat. That made me feel a lot happier.

By that time we had had new and much stronger street lighting put in our road. Nevertheless my confidence was growing and I set off without worrying. I had only gone about thirty yards when I became aware of a young neighbour walking along on the other side of the street. He was looking at me. I just carried on. Stuart must have thought I was worth looking at. I was pleased I'd put on that extra petticoat! Naturally, I was wearing the three inch stilettos again. He probably heard me coming before he saw me!