By 3xL. Photos by Mark Bennett and others.
Arrival, dinner and Torture Garden Party!
Arrived here in London yesterday around noon. Went directly to the Skin Two Expo at Barbian Center to helped the
NoPainNoGain friends setting up their both. After some hours of work we arrived at the City Hotel.
No rest for the wicked! 2 hour later I was having dinner with
Mark Bennett, proof. photographer and some other fetish people. Afterwards we took off to the Skin Two Cocktail Party at the bar called "Play". It was a small location, but it fittet the amount of people there was there. Talked to old friends and had some drinks.
It was just over 10pm when Mark and I arrived at the Torture Garden Rubber Ball Special. The venue was huge! 4-5 seprate halls with differnts music and a play lounge in the basement. Really great shows and preformances! Went home a 4am.
Skin Two Expo and Rubber Ball!
I woke up at little past 9am, looks like a heavily hangover red eyed monster... Takes a shower and have breakfast with Ken and
MissFuzzyBunny. The hotel restaurant is filled with tattooed people. Makes the three of us look surprisingly normal, compared to the heavily pierced tattooed people at the other tables. There has to be a Tattoo Convention near by.
I got to meet up with
Valentina for lunch and go to the Skin Two Expo. Valentina got a really cool flat near Nothing Hill Gate, where she hangs out with her photographer friend. We end up at a pub having traditional pub grub and some pints.
It's around 5pm when we arrive at the Skin Two Expo. The expo has pulled a large number of guests this year. Many are browsing around for the latest new latex design or a great bargain. But people don't just come here to shop, there is also much networking going on. Photographers, vendors, illustrators, fetish webmasters and loads of models in fetish attires mingle and exchange information.
Whoa! Time is running fast... It's time for the Skin Two Rubber Ball!
Skin Two Rubber Ball 2005!
THE KING IS BACK! I arrive at the new venue around midnight, dressed as the Elvis himself! White latex jumpsuit with a mashing cape and belt, all decorated with eagles, stars and color swirls. It's a custom design made by Laura from
Vex Clothing.
This years Rubber Ball venue consist of a series of teamed rooms; The Lady Luck Lounge offered burlesque acts and a live band playing cool jazz from the 40/50's. The victorian Dungeon was filled with play equipment, shows and even had a string quartet!
In the Dance/fashion area where you could dance and look at latest fetish fashion from
Fierce Couture,
TOMTO,
Skin Two Clothing,
Dark Garden,
Libidex and
Honour.
In the Rubber Ball Room, you could enjoy performances and installations set in a large cage, from kinky strip to suspension shows. The '60s and '70s Room featured funky music, free candyfloss and PVC dressed babes doing the "Carwash" - with water/soap and all!
A large chill out area offered lots of seating and chat friendly music levels. In the chill area was a photo studio where you could get your picture taken and get prints delivered to your door for 5 pounds.
I had a great time, drinking, dancing and chatting. The place was close full and there was loads of fantastic costumes/dresses to look at. One eye candy after the other. It's clear that everybody took their part in making this a special event to remember. Elvis left the building around 5am.
Skin Two Expo and Club RUB Finale!
Sunday. Day 2 at the Skin Two Expo and the Club RUB Finale party at the "Sahara Nights". I get out of bed pretty late and spent some hours updating my website. So I shortly visit the Expo before they close.
After getting dressed, I take the Underground to Kings Cross station and the night club "Sahara Nights". The party is well on it's way when I arrive. The bar is packed, people is already playing,dancing and having a great time. "Sahara Nights" is not a large club, but tonight there is plenty of space to move about and it seems like most intimae party of the whole weekend.
I stay for a few hours and leaves the party around 1:30am after a few goodbyes and many "See you again next year!".
