Lotte's Main Highlights: Key Moments from Recent Weeks

Hey, hope you all had a good Christmas. belated Happy New Year wishes for 2026.”

Since the Christmas break, I’ve found it unexpectedly challenging to fall back into the rhythm of blogging. This is probably my fifth or sixth attempt to get going again. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to blog and have plenty of ideas, but for some reason, I’ve struggled to regain my momentum. To ease myself back in, I thought a recap of some of Lotte’s key moments over the past few weeks, a look back at highlights from 2025, and a glimpse into what I envision for 2026 might be a good place to start.

A QUIET CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

It was a quiet Christmas, and honestly, that’s exactly how I like it. My daughter decided to work on both Christmas and Boxing Day, so we pushed back the present opening and our Christmas dinner to the 27th. My wife and I stuck to our tradition with a Christmas morning walk, and I remember the rest of the day being spent napping on the living room couch after another episode of gender dysphoria.

When we finally had our belated Christmas dinner on the 27th, it was lovely. We skipped the full turkey and opted for pre-cooked turkey slices instead. The usual side dishes made their appearance, roast potatoes, mash, Brussels sprouts, seasonal vegetables, and, of course, pigs in blankets.

As for presents, there was nothing girly for me from either my wife or daughter, but I did treat myself to a couple of perfumes, which I wrapped up and opened on the day. To be fair, though, they did chip in for a twin pack of sports vests I’d asked for. If you remember from a previous post, they’re more like bras than vests, but I’m delighted to have a few extras since one just wasn’t really enough.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day came and went, and they were pretty much a repeat of Christmas Day, mostly spent asleep again, thanks to more gender dysphoria episodes. I do remember being woken up just after midnight as New Year’s Day arrived, courtesy of a neighbour and their nearly two-hour-long firework display!

Imagine how many lovely dresses you could buy with the money wasted on two hours of fireworks!

REFERRAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

At the beginning of the month, I received an email confirming the receipt of my self-referral to Transcend. The email informed me that I’ve now been added to their triage list and that, following the outcome of the triage, they would notify both me and my GP regarding whether my referral has been accepted or rejected. I can only assume that their assessment will be based on the information I provided in my self-referral application.

I self-referred because I’m exploring the possibility of gender-affirming hormone therapy to help manage the episodes of gender dysphoria.

PINK JUMPER COMFORT

Only eight days into 2026, and I’d already made a few clothing purchases I probably shouldn’t have. I couldn’t shake the image of a pink jumper from a recent dream, and despite my best efforts to resist, I ended up buying not one, but three pink jumpers.

Jumper 1

PEACOCKS

Pale Pink Knit Jumper

 

Jumper 2

PEACOCKS

Pink Lash Knit Jumper

 

 Jumper 3

PEACOCKS

Pink Christmas Reindeer Family Jumper

The first jumper looked great on screen, but when I tried it on, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. It wasn’t anything special. Perhaps with a little more weight loss, it might become more flattering, only time will tell.

I picked up the second jumper because I absolutely love its colour and the textured lash knit. I think it will pair perfectly with black leggings and knee-high boots for a chic, cosy look.

As for the third jumper, I’d had my eye on it just before Christmas as a potential outfit for the festive period.. I really liked it, and when I saw it on sale, I decided to grab it for next Christmas. Hopefully, it will fit better by then, too!

SOME MORE PERFUMES

I have my sister to thank (or blame) for the latest additions to my perfume collection. During Saturday morning breakfast a couple of weeks ago, she casually mentioned that Lidl had some perfumes that were dupes for well-known designer fragrances. After enjoying our poached eggs on toast and a cup of coffee, we decided to head over to the nearby Lidl and check out their perfume aisle.

There were several Suddenly Fragrances on display, along with tester bottles, but it was my sister who pointed out two in particular: 'Lovely', said to be similar to DIOR J'adore, and 'Madame Glamour', believed to resemble Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. She sprayed both testers onto her wrists, and after smelling them, I liked them too. At less than £5 a bottle, I was tempted to grab them, but I managed to resist. My sister picked up the 'Madame Glamour', and as she paid, the woman serving her commented on how nice the fragrances were, mentioning that she owned several herself but particularly loved the one my sister had just bought.

I did well holding back... but as you can probably guess, the next day I was back and bought both perfumes for my collection. This time, I had my wife with me, and I let her sample them too. She preferred the 'Lovely' fragrance, so I ended up buying it for her.

I think there were at least two or three other fragrances available, so I’m thinking I might pick those up next few months.

NAIL POLISH IN PUBLIC UPDATE

It’s been well over three weeks since I had my nails done with black gloss gel polish, and in that time I’ve been in plenty of public places, cafés, restaurants, pubs, shops, on public transport, and even at the gym. People have certainly noticed, but so far there hasn’t been a single negative reaction.

I’ve actually received a couple of compliments. One came from a saleswoman in a furniture shop, who told me she liked my nails and joked that they were far better than her own. The second was from a young man behind the bar in a restaurant. As I was settling the bill, he simply said, “I like your nails,” to which I replied with a grateful “thanks.”

It was also my first couple of weeks back at work after the Christmas break, and my first two full weeks wearing black nail polish in the workplace. It proved largely uneventful, with nobody batting an eyelid.

Overall, the gel polish held up well. There were a few small chips, which I touched up with black nail polish, and as my nails have been growing longer, I’ve been keeping them tidy with my glass nail file.

A week ago Saturday I returned to the beauty salon to have them redone. It was a different nail technician this time, the daughter of the woman who did them previously, and she did a fabulous job. I think they may even look slightly better than last time, so I’m absolutely delighted. I still love how the glossy finish catches the light.

Owning the look hasn’t always been easy. There are times when I have to consciously remind myself to maintain that air of confidence in public. You might be surprised to hear this, but I’m actually quite shy, at least until you get to know me. I know, black glossy nails definitely draw attention, and there have been moments when I've questioned my choice. But honestly? I love them too much now to ever go back to plain nails.

HAIR UPDATE

What can I say about my hair other than it's growing longer day by day.  I suppose I could say it's at the awkward stage now but I'm managing to keep it looking okay by applying a little hair food each day and then styling it whilst wet.  When it dries I brush my hand through my hair to give it some volume whilst keeping it looking tidy.  The top is long enough to put it into a ponytail or bun if I wish and at the back I'm able to get my hair into a little ponytail.

My plan is to consult with a hairstylist, share the image below, and discuss how we can work together to achieve this look as my hair continues to grow. I'm hoping that, with her expertise, we can create a plan to gradually shape and style my hair, ultimately reaching this desired result in the future.

HEALTH AND FITNESS UPDATE

2025 wasn't a bad year, running-wise. Once I got back into the groove in May, I managed to rack up quite a bit of mileage. I was on track to hit my 1000km target for the year, but I ended up falling short due to a couple of setbacks. I had to take a week off to let my tattoo heal, which cost me 30km in December. Then, in November, I only managed one run during the week leading up to my Bridal Makeover and Photo-shoot, which meant I lost another 20km that month.

All things considered, though, I’m pretty pleased with my monthly totals from May through December:

Jan 45 km
Feb 0 km 
Mar 0 km 
Apr 0 km 
May 49 km
Jun 127 km
Jul 126 km
Aug 135 km
Sep 135 km
Oct 135 km 
Nov 105 km
Dec 110 km

Total 967 km

For 2026, I’ve set myself a goal of 1440km for the year, which works out to about 120km per month.

As for my weight, when I started running again in May 2025, I weighed 112kg. By the end of the year, I was down to 94.5kg, which means I lost 17.5kg (38lbs). While I had hoped for a bit more progress, I’m still happy with the results.

This year, I’m aiming to lose at least another 10kg by staying consistent with my exercise routine and continuing to eat healthily. 

LOOKING BACK OVER 2025

Looking back on 2025, it’s incredible to see how far I've come. It feels as though that year, for the first time, I really allowed myself to spread my wings, to take small but meaningful steps toward embracing who I truly am. Each milestone, no matter how big or small, has been an important part of my journey, helping me feel more connected to my true self and easing the weight of my gender dysphoria.

One of the most defining moments of the year was my first-ever makeover and photo-shoot. I had always imagined what it would feel like to fully embrace my femininity, but stepping into that moment was something else entirely. The experience wasn’t just about looking a certain way, it was about feeling seen, feeling right in my own skin. And the photos that came from that day serve as a reminder of how far I've come and how much more I have to give.

Then came my bridal makeover and photo-shoot, an experience that felt incredibly special. It wasn’t just about the beautiful dress or the makeup (though those were definitely highlights!). It was about realising a dream, to look and feel completely feminine, to embrace my true self and feel truly special, even if just for a few hours.

2025 was also the year I finally took the plunge into permanent self-expression with a feminine tattoo. It wasn’t just ink on skin; it was a statement to myself, a reminder that I can create beauty and art that aligns with who I truly am. It was about marking my body in a way that feels authentic to me, and each glance at the tattoo brings me a sense of pride and confidence.

On top of all that, I treated myself to more ear piercings, nipple piercings and my first experience at a beauty salon, where I had my nails done with gel polish. These may seem like small steps, but to me, they’re part of a larger picture, little things that help me feel more connected to my femininity and give me the confidence to keep moving forward. It's about finding joy in the details, in the rituals, and in the care I give myself.

Looking back, it’s clear that 2025 has been a year of growth, of expression, and of reclaiming what’s always been mine. I’ve learned that gender dysphoria doesn't have to define me, that there are steps, both big and small, that can help me feel more aligned with who I am.

WHAT'S AHEAD FOR 2026

As I step into 2026, I’m filled with hope and excitement for what lies ahead. I’ve only just begun to spread my wings, and I can’t wait to see how much further I can grow, express myself, and live authentically in the year to come.

I’m not sure 2026 will be as eventful or exciting as 2025 has been, and maybe that’s not such a bad thing. After all, it’s often in the quieter moments that we find space for reflection and deeper growth. Still, there are a few things on the horizon that I’m really looking forward to.

I’ve applied to study a makeup course one evening a week starting in September, something I’ve always wanted to explore more deeply. There’s also the possibility of counselling for my gender dysphoria, and perhaps even starting gender-affirming hormone therapy, both of which I hope will help me move closer to a sense of inner peace and harmony. The road ahead may be quieter, but it's filled with potential, and I’m ready to embrace whatever comes next.

Thanks for reading

Lotte x