I'm going to see the local osteopath today (whom I like to think of as the twist-and-shout man). Of course, I haven't seen him since I started transitioning, so now I've got to have a conversation with him about his comfort level with trans people - because I need to feel safe before I get my kit off in front of him.

I'm actually pretty nervous about this.

*gives you a reassuring hug*

The twist-and-shout man, lol, that's genius.

Thanks - but I didn't coin it, I'm just exploiting it .

...and you can hug me harder *after* I've been to the osteopath .

Happy cracking and crunching.

He was baffled but affable - he asked me, diffidently "So... is what you said the same as a sex change?" because he'd never heard the phrase "gender transition" before. I explained that it only is if you're a Sun reader .

He also tried some standard-banter-for-middle-aged-women on me, but we could both tell that wasn't working, so he loosened up eventually (As did I, but then that's what I was paying him for).

Sadly, he lost points for asking me the inevitable "...but are you sure?"