Safewords are so often casually tossed at newcomers to BDSM as the be all and end all of safety, yet so rarely actually discussed in great detail. What exactly makes a scene safer for having a safeword? Can slaves who have given up all rights to make their own decisions still have a safeword? What is a safeword? What do you do when it is used? How do you use it? How do you safeword in cyber? So many questions, so many possibilities and all revolving on some of the most important foundations of BDSM... trust and safety.

Allen TG writes: Torture Garden, the worlds largest fetish body art club, launches its weekly Sunday Fetish Bazaar at the Purple Turtle in Camden on the 11th of August.

My partner and I are thinking of going to a club. It will be our first time and so we were wondering if any body could give us some tips. What are we expected to wear? Whats the age range? We are not exactely pensioners but we are not twenty one either. Can we sit back and take in the sights or will we be expected to join in? HELP!!!

London Based BDSM flogging workshop - 17th August, at the Hogs Head, 1pm till 3.30. For more info please look at www.londonbasedbdsm.com/flogging_workshop.htm. All monies raised go to the London Communities.

Absolution last Friday was my first visit to a fetish night. We would have been previously (last year), but the events ended just when we found out about them.

Friday was possibly the last ever Torture Garden event at Mass, with the venue's future as a nightclub looking uncertain after it was sold last week. TG have already confirmed a return to the Colosseum next month, so there's no need to panic... but for those of us with tickets to Friday's party, the news gave us one more reason to party just a little bit harder.

Goddess is a club run for women by women. It is situated in Walthamstow, London - an easy enough place to find. It was a bit disconcerting to park in a side road noting a car with part of the front removed which did leave one wondering whether the car would still be intact - but that comes from living out in the counties for to long. Parking was very easy.

We are soon starting up our Fantasy Land - which comprises a number of still and movie film photographic studios within bedroom sets, fetish room sets and dungeons together with large conventional photo studios. The studios will be permanently occupied by dozens of stunning models - 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

We have just heard that the KLYMAX club in Southsea, Hants has just lost its venue. Being very new to the fetish scene we had just planned our first visit for the August event. If any members ascertain the location for the new venue or have any suggestions of an altenative club in the Hampshire area could they please please post a message here or e mail us at sylmar@btopenworld.com.

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