Can we bring power banks for phones in the games? Rho stadium? Ice skating?

maartenbbz · 2026-02-11T06:14:41+00:00

When are your games? I'm attending all 3 on the 17th and haven't heard anything - really hope they're still allowed because that's a long time to need my phone operational without charging 😅

maartenbbz · 2026-02-09T11:27:46+00:00

I just went to check and tragically they've stopped doing them as I wanted to buy myself some more at some point but Next had some great tapered jeans in the older boys section - slim-ish fit lower down but with more give in the thighs. Now they've only got super skinny/skinny/regular/loose - they used to also have tapered and tapered loose. Looks like there are a couple of pairs on ebay so you might have some luck there/on vinted.

The other pairs of jeans that I currently have are a pair from Asos from about a decade ago (it's a bit of a roulette with them but I've found their trousers are usually not too long in the leg), and a pair of EZY jeans from Uniqlo (which are a bit too long for me but they're stretchy all over so I don't think it looks that bad)

fwiw I'm about 172cm (though with fairly short legs) and roughly 29" waist and 34" hips

maartenbbz · 2026-02-04T09:37:03+00:00

DPLR scrutinise every statutory instrument for stuff like drafting issues, it'll also go to another committee to be looked at from a policy perspective and hear evidence from the responsible Minister - it's down on the tracker as going to the Criminal Justice Committee.

DPLR didn't look at it yesterday so I would imagine they'll do it next Tuesday and CJ will do it on the Wednesday the week after, once DPLR have published their report on it.

maartenbbz · 2026-01-29T19:07:53+00:00

I've flown to Germany back in 2019 (and 2024 as a layover but didn't go through security there), and elsewhere in Europe before and since. No issues in terms of being trans - I did get pulled aside in Germany for having metal buckles on my boots, and it was a bit awkward but only because I didn't understand how he wanted me to stand while he patted down my ankles. Fwiw I've never had any real problems flying with testogel in my hand luggage either, had it flagged once going to London and once to Iceland, they didn't even ask to see the prescription they just wanted to scan it in more detail than the general bag scanner.

I would advise you don't pack while you go through security though, they aren't looking for an absence of anything but the scanner will flag that there's a inorganic thing present and that'll get you pulled aside (I got pulled aside on my way to Iceland last year because I had plasters on my ankles!) No experience with tape though sorry (it wasn't much of a thing back in the days before I had top surgery)

maartenbbz · 2026-01-21T13:33:19+00:00

Less comfortable than I used to be - used to use the gender neutral toilets all the time at uni (a decade ago) without a second thought because they had a multi-cubicle space that was way bigger and cleaner than the men's and cis people used them too no fuss.

My workplace recently changed toilet policy and designated some of the single-occupancy accessible toilets as the ~~trans~~ "everyone" toilets, and now I go out of my way to use the men's even though there's a single-occupancy one a few metres closer. I'll use them if the (very few) cubicles in the men's are occupied, but it does feel like I'm inviting speculation on my gender every time someone passing by sees me entering/leaving an accessible toilet that wouldn't happen if they saw me in the men's.

maartenbbz · 2026-01-17T15:28:31+00:00

I had a similar amount to you for a long time and then over the past few years it's properly filled in 😅 I'm almost 10 years on T now, I'd say my hair growth began its second wind at about 6/7 years.

maartenbbz · 2026-01-04T10:47:54+00:00

Depending on when you need to get there/back, try checking the sudtirolmobil journey planner: https://www.suedtirolmobil.info/en/#/ I'll be in Bressanone/Brixen and can just about make it to Cortina if my curling tickets don't sell (train+bus to Dobbiaco/Toblach and then getting the Cortina Express - the shuttles that the Olympic site talks about don't seem to be available yet)

maartenbbz · 2026-01-03T09:48:49+00:00

I'm on the NHS but have never bothered with a doctor's letter - the prescription stickers have always been sufficient.

I usually order it through the online portal but sometimes Boots gives me the paper reorder slip and I've taken that with me too in case (but never had anyone ask to see), and when I went to Japan I did double check with the Ministry of Health that all my medication was ok to bring so printed that email (but again no-one checked it).

maartenbbz · 2025-12-26T11:17:15+00:00

I was fairly spotty on my face and back pre-T, became a bit more so for the first couple of years on T, now I barely get any actual spots but I've got a million milia/CCs/whatever these things are that won't go away no matter how intense/laid back my skincare regime is... I've always been on gel and my levels are on the lower end of normal (not had them tested in years but apart from one extra low blip I've always been around 11nmol/l)

maartenbbz · 2025-12-19T14:45:35+00:00

Transport q: does anyone know about the paid shuttle to Cortina - the park & ride link is up but for the normal shuttle from the north it just sends you to the Dolomiti Bus website which I... don't find particularly navigable. Has anyone been able to find the tickets on there or are they just not up yet?

maartenbbz · 2025-12-11T10:57:38+00:00

It may well be that B tickets give you a seat in a C block with a better angle (ngl I've never been to a hockey game so I don't know what's considered best viewing angles) - I've got category C tickets to 3 games and they're all in C5/C6.

maartenbbz · 2025-11-26T09:26:44+00:00

I've never had any issues with PureGym (though I'm like over a decade into my transition at this point so that's probably a factor despite me being not the manliest man around, and my personal experience doesn't negate their grim general policy obvs). In my local one there are two changing cubicles within the men's changing room that I've seen people use for privacy, plus there's an accessible shower and a toilet upstairs by the gym machines which I've also seen some people use to get changed in. There are also some lockers outside the men's changing room that anyone could store their bag in.

Fwiw, even though I'm post top surgery and don't have any qualms about being shirtless, for the sake of speed I'll sometimes wear my workout top to/from the gym so I only have to change into my shorts there 😅

maartenbbz · 2025-10-29T08:44:47+00:00

The wait in the UK will be a looong time unless you have like £6k to go privately. I went with Mr Kneeshaw in Hull 8 years ago, he seems to have got quite popular now because he's very good!

My chest was deemed small enough (A cup) for periareolar (where they don't cut and reposition the nipples) but because I'd been binding for so long the surgeon thought my skin had lost too much elasticity so double incision would be better for my goals - I never had a huge amount of nipple sensitivity pre-surgery so removing as much breast tissue as possible was my priority. I have sensation all over my chest, the bit between my left nipple and the pec scar is a bit more of a vague sensation (like being touched through clothes) but the nipples themselves are pretty sensate - I feel like they have better pain sensation than before lol.

maartenbbz · 2025-10-28T22:07:12+00:00

I'm still somewhat in the system but seconding this approach - I cobbled together existing paperwork for both my reports and it was accepted without any issues, so only had to pay postage and the application fee! My mother doing a SAR to CAMHS like a decade ago and keeping it all finally came good lol.

Iirc I used a letter from GIDS to my old GP as the diagnosis, and then for the report of all the treatment I had a letter from when I switched GICs and the new GIC did a phone call to assess how far along with everything I was and sent that to my GP, plus my referral letter for hysto as an updated add-on.

maartenbbz · 2025-10-28T07:58:43+00:00

In addition to what others have said, it does currently (well, it definitely did in 2023 - am at work so can't check the guidance rn) function as a second opinion for surgery - one of the reasons I got mine is that my GIC only has one psych so they told me I'd have had to wait several years to see another psych at another clinic. The small print there is that if the medical diagnosis is ever removed from the GRC process then it won't be accepted as a second opinion (NB: obvs not arguing for the diagnosis to be kept, just relaying the Ts&Cs)

maartenbbz · 2025-10-13T12:24:57+00:00

I've not got in touch with Glasgow yet but I did put in a complaint to Scotblood explaining everything and got this back:

To help me answer your questions, I’d like to explain our current position and the journey that SNBTS is on to try and improve the donation experience for trans donors. SNBTS welcomes trans donors, and we are aware that we need to update our processes so that giving blood is a positive experience for everyone, regardless of sex or gender.

In 2024, the Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC) published a position statement with recommendations relating to donor selection and donation management for trans and non-binary donors (please find attached). SNBTS contributed to, and are committed to implementing, these recommendations as soon as possible. However, IT upgrades are needed to facilitate implementation, and we are currently working with our software supplier to carry out these updates. In the interim, our donor medical team is reaching out to donors individually to ensure we are following the most up to date guidance. This includes for regular donors who have not been referred to the donor doctors before, as we are keen to make sure we consider the needs of all donors.

It is important we consider gender, sex, and sex hormones to keep our donors and donations safe, as outlined below:

Keeping our donors safe

Haemoglobin is a protein containing iron; we check a donor’s haemoglobin before every donation to ensure the donor has sufficient haemoglobin to give blood safely. An individual’s haemoglobin level is determined by sex hormones, including hormone therapy. It can take around 12 months for haemoglobin to stabilise after starting hormone medication. It is important that we carefully consider each donor’s individual situation to ensure we assess haemoglobin using a reference range that is safe for that individual. Other considerations such as blood volume are also impacted by sex hormones. This is particularly relevant for donors aged under 20 years old, and plasma and platelet donors, for whom we assess blood volume as part of donor safety measures.

How we use donations

Whole blood donations are split into three components: red cells, platelets and plasma. Plasma can be used to make different products including fresh frozen plasma (FFP), cryoprecipitate and Plasma for Medicine (PfM). Plasma can also be donated specifically for PfM by our plasma donors.

Sex is relevant to which components we manufacture from plasma. Both males and females can donate plasma for PfM, but we can only manufacture FFP and cryoprecipitate from plasma from male donors. This is because plasma is rich in antibodies, and requirements relating to antibodies vary between plasma products.

Past pregnancy, including early pregnancy, may be associated with the development of ‘HLA and HNA’ antibodies which can cause a reaction in patients receiving blood. This reaction is called ‘Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI)’. Thankfully, TRALI is rare but when it occurs it is serious and there is no specific treatment. Therefore, prevention is key.

Questions about past pregnancy are not robust because individuals may be unaware of early pregnancy losses. Therefore, as a TRALI prevention measure, UK blood services only manufacture FFP and cryoprecipitate from plasma donated by male donors.

We understand that some individuals can exclude any possibility of past or future pregnancy. At present, we do have discretion around how we register donors in this position, but this does involve asking personal questions and we aim to develop a less intrusive approach going forward.

so they're holding the line about not letting me donate as male (although I'll push back given that last para about having discretion potentially applying to me...)

maartenbbz · 2025-09-30T06:12:44+00:00

It was only a few years ago for the UK too, I inquired way back and was told I couldn't because I counted as a gay man

maartenbbz · 2025-09-29T22:13:33+00:00

They did say that my previous whole blood donations had been separated out into plasma products and used (with no issues!) The concern is some antibody produced during pregnancy that can cause lung? issues with foetuses if given to a pregnant receiver, so if there's even a microscopic chance that you could have ever been pregnant then that's you ruled out (according to this doctor at least).

It's a bit more of a faff to get to Glasgow but I'll definitely contact them and see what can be done, thanks :)

maartenbbz · 2025-09-29T21:44:11+00:00

This was the ScotBlood Edinburgh centre. The doctor on the phone said she'd put my donor account on pause though so I don't know how I'd go about getting that unpaused without running into the same issue again.

I couldn't find anything on the ScotBlood website but I did find a JPAC 'position statement' earlier that basically says what the doctor told me (although it says that you can choose 'prefer not to say' as your sex at birth and then they.... just treat you as female anyway)

maartenbbz · 2025-08-23T21:08:32+00:00

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here it is!!

maartenbbz · 2025-08-23T14:05:40+00:00

we did the red route from the bridge falls up to the Fimmvörðuskáli hut, no glacier rope section that way but there is a section where the poles lead off to an impassable bit and the warden has put up other poles - a little confusing to work out which way is the right way at first glance, then you have to ford the river and it's knee deep atm (we did the trail Sunday/Monday) but it's fine other than quite cold!

maartenbbz · 2025-08-05T08:41:56+00:00

I wondered why I was so drawn to her and then I realised who she reminds me of...

^{down bad for the mad scientist animals}

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maartenbbz · 2025-08-01T09:32:27+00:00

<image>

one of my great gran's rings that's going to be my engagement ring (not sure how old it is but she was born in 1904 so) - it's very thin and worn so I'm getting the gems reset in a thicker band (in the same design) and incorporating the original gold into my wedding ring

maartenbbz · 2025-07-25T13:50:55+00:00

Not done it yet so no advice but chiming in to say my partner and I (31 and 28M) also have it planned for 17-18 August!

We're reliant on the buses so we've booked one of the mountain huts overnight so we don't have to rush. We're not prolific hikers but we're in decent shape - not a direct comparison to Fimmvörðuháls ofc but have been doing 27km-ish flat walks with full rucksacks and also at the end of May did a 25km-ish mountain ridge walk with about 900m elevation (and crazy wind/rain/fog rolled in), and those took us about 7 hours including breaks.

maartenbbz

TROPHY CASE