About Sophie

Trials & tribulations of my increasingly full-time girl-mode.

sophie @ baskerville.net

Don’t Stop Me Now

Seven weeks of full-time girl-mode and it’s going great. How I feel is simple…

I’m burnin’ through the sky, yeah
Two hundred degrees, that’s why they call me [Sister] Fahrenheit
I’m travellin’ at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic woman of you

After Queen, “Don’t Stop Me Now”

It has been a very busy few weeks, that’s for sure. The novelty of actually enjoying life and feeling happy hasn’t worn off, far from it.

Party Like It’s 2025…

Towards the end of October, a weekend out in Manchester with a couple of much younger colleagues was great, despite them being lightweights who had to sleep all Saturday, and Sunday morning, after a mere 8 hours or so of partying Friday night. Kids today, eh?

Meanwhile on Saturday morning I was writing articles and documents, and on Sunday morning I visited the Imperial War Museum North for the first time in many years.

Imperial War Museum North

Poppies cascading
Harrier Jump Jet
Part of the World Trade Centre Twin Towers
Truly an eerie feeling standing next to this artefact
Fully British Atom Bomb, 400kt or 20 Hiroshimas
Harsh reality. But this is only 0.4Mt. Manchester was on the Soviet target list as scheduled for 2 x 1Mt devices…
Looks like something from the 1950/1960s but in fact a 1982 Trabant
Actually the 2025 latest russian model looks much the same, but not as luxurious
Imperial War Museum North

Co-op Live: Duran Duran

Halloween brought Duran Duran playing at Co-op Live in Manchester, a special Halloween performance.  Certainly an experience, and a good few complements from complete strangers for my outfit.

Hungry Like The Wolf?

A very impressive stage production, a great crowd, and many had dressed up for the occasion. Many ghouls, skeletons, vicars, nuns, a few Cardinals, and, I believe, at least 2 Popes.

Reviewers seem to be of the opinion that is was their best live performance ever. I won’t disagree with that. Sadly most of the professional photographers grabbed a few shots then headed off (presumably to other events the same night in Manchester – busy place as ever) – missing some of the most amazing outfits & performances, including firebreathing and what I can only describe as a hat with three large birds attached (see my photos below).

Halloween Outfit
Spooky White Nails  with skulls (I made these)
Spooky Black Nails with skulls (these too!)
It’s a strong look
Set reminiscent of Spın̈al Tap’s Stonehenge
“New Moon on Monday”….
…the irony being all the artwork shows a full moon not a new moon!
This is indeed planet Earth
Stage set pareidolia!
“Where did you get that hat, where did you get that hat”…
…because I need one too!
Duran Duran at Co-op Live, Manchester 2025-10-31

Where do I go from here?

Still no real clear idea. Right now, I’m happy and the prospect of returning to boy-mode is honestly quite unappealing. And for the next month at least is not even under consideration. After that… well, who knows. I’m still determined not to worry about it. The journey itself is enjoyable, even if the destination (and indeed the exact route) remain unknown.

Sophie Baskerville (signature)

Sophie Baskerville

, , , , ,
, , , , , , , , ,

Leave a comment