Comfy? Now…

Who am I? A wanderer in the outer darkness, beyond the grace of God, seeking, unearthing your deepest desires and feasting upon your most intimate dreams.

So, am I new to these distinctive pleasures? No, I have distant memories of family unease (“Do you have to keep torturing your action-men?”) ("No, L--- doesn't want to play 'Houdini' with you" ). Things just went downhill from there.

I am a Safe(ish), Sane and Consensual sexual sadist. I don't crave a human puppy, relying on me for every decision and creative thought. These unearthly pleasures are the richer for collaborative involvement.

I prefer the use of a lab rat/Igor (f=Inga?) willing to bring her own contributions to these already groaning tables.

Medical science now states that Aristotle's classic five senses were hopelessly vague and that now at least 21 senses are recognised. I hang my experimentations and misdeeds upon this structure, searching for the extremes of pleasure and pain, noting the highs and lows of human sensations, emotions, exploring timings, cadence and intensities. At the last count 59 separate forms of sensation, and their myriad combinations, have been identified and, with good friends, are wallowed in. This Underground Stream continues to flow - research shall continue, applying diligence and furrowed brow, assembling a rich palette with which to craft the outcomes desired. I can dip in and out of the vanilla but I prefer the rarer, intense flavours that can return to me vividly on the faintest of reminders – as Proust on dipping his madeleines.

My Other Loves: The well written sojourn into the mindset of others – Huysmans, D'Aurevilly, Angela Carter, Mikhail Bulgakov, Thomas Harris, Umberto Eco and so many others.

I can often be found haunting the Tates or skulking around a gallery or two in Manchester.

Rather fond of interesting, challenging cinema and theatre. Base and dishonourable also: Coppola's father told him, “steal from the best”. So, my cohorts, are you up for an 8-course dinner with Hannibal (guéridon service, a wheelchair and duct tape)? A weekend in Guantanamo courtesy of “V” (for Vendetta)? - just love wetrooms . Or to boogie on down with the Ipcress File?

Musical tastes range from the Nephs, Sisters and Tom Lehrer to Bowlly, Bach and Bartok; Arcade Fire, Goldfrapp and Third Realm to Tangerine Dream and Inkubus Sukkubus.

To replenish my jaded and depleted blood with oxygen, I'll step out with a pack on my back to the wilder parts of these verdant Isles. Or oft the road will take me to the European plains and hills or even the Middle and Far Easts on occasion.

Enough, already? The picture has been painted.

"Folly and error, avarice and vice, Employ our souls and waste our bodies' force. As mangy beggars incubate their lice, We nourish our innocuous remorse." - "Our sins are stubborn, craven our repentance. For our weak vows, we ask excessive prices. Trusting our tears will wash away the sentence, We sneak off where the muddy road entices." ***** Charles Baudelaire