This should really be a number of different entries, but a lot has been happening and I need to get most of it written down quickly, or I'll end up using all the unwritten posts as excuses for not updating here. So, here goes:
Recent Events
- have actually been pretty awesome. About a year ago, we started discussing with a friend the possibility of doing a bit of rope suspension with him. It's been a project that we've returned to on and off ever since, and the date for the attempt was set for the end of July. So for the past few months we've been assembling kit, learning a lot more about rope, physics and anatomy, and doing test runs.
This leads to the second awesome thing, in that this has spurred us on to getting all types of toys for future play and projects.
And thirdly, we've spent quite a lot of time with other kinky people, chatting about things, having civilised tea parties and playing with rope. More thoughts on this ahead...
The Tax on Kink
But first, a word about buying kit. Calling it a 'tax' is a little disingenuous I suppose, but it's really frustrating when an item for kink use always, always costs more as the same item sold for an everyday purpose. Compare, for example, a 'bedroom' riding crop which is usually around £15, and Amazon's selection for £5.50 (listed on the 'Also bought' for that is a 10m length of 9mm cotton rope - bravo, budget kinkster!)
Kadi has been tirelessly researching different rope sources, and ordering lots of samples. We've discussed the difference between between cored and uncored rope, the various breakloads of natural versus synthetic ropes (no, really, there is a google doc dedicated to this stuff now that she updates), and whether it is easier to pay lots for kink-specific rope from Twisted Monk (that stuff is gorgeous but we really don't have the budget right now)or Jade Rope (who are happy to send short sample lengths - and if you follow that up with an order then they will will knock what you already paid for the samples off the price. We've ordered quite a few 1m lengths just to test strengths and the feel of different materials).
Last week, though, we made a wondrous discovery. While I quite like our rope bag with it's assortment of different types of rope, I wanted a single rope that we could standardise on for floorwork (I have plans involving aesthetically pleasing photography, and that's tricky if none of your ropes match). We hunted for something reasonably priced, and Kadi, genius that she is, discovered sash cord. No, really.
Sash cord - 6mm braided jute. Now, it sheds fluff like there's no tomorrow, and it's unsuitable for people with asthma or grass allergies, and oh boy is it rough - which suits me just fine actually - but it's £3.50 for a 10m length. I love this stuff to bits :)
Which ties in to my next topic...
We need more rope model variety
- which is not to say that I don't appreciate the usual rope bottom. Small, athletic women who are pretty damn strong and able to hold quite uncomfortable poses are awesome. But I was flicking through the various books we have which purport to give advice on rope bondage (and there will be rants about that another day) and it did get a bit monotonous. I mean, I am fine with people writing (roughly) "I'm a guy, and I tie up women with this body type because it's what I'm into. You may find my stuff helpful, or be able to adapt it to your circumstances". That's cool, though a bit depressing to find everywhere. I am less happy with people writing, "I have taken every care to use gender neutral language except where it would make sentences overly cumbersome" and then not doing so (again, this rant is coming). I get really frustrated when people assume that the only possible rope bottom is small and athletic.
Of the people that I have been doing rope work with, we have two early-transition trans people (with all the body issues that entails), two people with physical disabilities who use wheelchairs, and at least two cases of IBS. These are not horrific barriers to rope work. They make things interesting, they need consideration and the adaptation of particular techniques to find workarounds, and it is incredibly rare to find any information or pictures that deal with this. Come on, people! It can't be that small women are the only people who want to be tied up!
One of the people I've worked with has a huge amount of experience with ropework (he is the person who first taught me) - and he was taught that working safely with someone with physical disabilities was impossible. Well, we've already disproved that. I have plans to do more with this...it may well lead to a lot more weekends spent tying people up for research purposes...
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