Listened to an amazing documentary on Radio 4 about the MOBO awards and how the woman behind it ran the whole thing from her bedroom at one point!
I seem to remember Paddy wondering about racial issues of such an award and I think programme addresses this by putting it into context and showing history of award.

Kanya King, founder of the Music of Black Origin Awards in 1996, tells the story of her original vision and her struggle to bring the project to fruition.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/musicfeature/pip/834sf/

Just some further thoughts on my dialogue with Blighty -
A few years back I joined the WI as the very idea amused me. I thought it would be an interesting contrast to some of the feminist organisations with which I've had involvement. And also I knew that they were more than 'Jam and Jerusalem', long before 'Calendar Girls'

The various WI campaigns get addressed in 'The Archers' sometimes and as part of a feminist organisation I had once addressed a meeting of the WI on one of their campaign issues. I knew that the Wi were actually quite radical, but what I found at ground level in a particular branch was a sweet coziness and fellowship. They were lovely to me but I was very different in views and lifestyle - As said to Blighty being an unmarried lefty, living in an ex-council house did make me different. I'm sure there may be others who fit that description who are the lifeblood of their branch, but in the branch I joined I was definitely an object of curiosity.

I also realise you can't judge books by covers and I'm sure that there were many things about these women I would never have guessed, but there was a certain collective social 'front' that was different from that of many other areas of my life.

I'm siure if I put my mind to it I could write a spanking story on this subject, but perhaps Timsuzi should try his hand at it as it would lend itself to a Female/female approach...

(*names changed to protect the innocent)

I once had relationship with John James. John James worked for firm and filled post that had once been filled by John Jones. John James (my then other-half) also moved into road where John Jones lived. I kept hearing about John Jones and people often thought he was my other half.
Years later I was at a social event and for first time actually met him! When asked if we knew each other I said 'No, but we've shared several rumours'
Like John James, John Jones is a lovely man and eminently fanciable, but I never got to do more than play board games with him - And he still has my 'Scruples' game!

Just got an ad for 'spanking personals'. Now I'm happily committed (To my Cariad - not an institution!) but I was curious... And when I looked, there was nothing there! Can't really see the point of Google manufacturing ads that may interest us when the product doesn't actually exist.

Apparently there are moves to get an English National Anthem:

http://www.anthem4england.co.uk/

It was discussed on PM on R4 by that nice Eddie Mair and is subject of blog:
On this St George's Day, we're toying with an item for the programme tonight about whether England needs an anthem of its own - as opposed to God Save The Queen which is the UK anthem. We'll try to post some tunes here later.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2007/04/english_national_anthem.shtml

Hope you all had nice Saint's Day...

Suzee
xxxx

I 'googled' and first non-commercial entry was my blog!

Good old wiki! I found this there:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle_%28spanking%29

A spanking paddle is a usually wooden instrument with a long, flat face and narrow neck, so called because it is roughly shaped like the homonymous piece of sports equipment, but existing in more varied sizes and dimensions, used to administer a spanking to the buttocks; it would be too hard and heavy to use safely on the back.

As there is quite a market for paddles in regions where paddlings are still (or again) administered in hazing or education and in family households, as well as in erotic spanking, there are companies which cater for one or more of these markets, often in combination with other items (disciplinarian or not), for fraternity/sorority, home, and erotic use, but most of the terms and names these use are rather arbitrary. There are also various roadside and resort novelty shops that sell paddles (small and large); these are often decorated with humorous motifs and instructions such as "Board of Education," "Heat for the Seat," "How to Paddle Your Wife," and "Frontier Tail-blazer."

Thanks to Timsuzi for questions.

How much interest did you get from it? How did you sort out the wheat from the chaff? And how scary is it to meet when you only know them from cyber? Were you worried that you could get stuck in a situation that it was hard to withdraw from?

I wasn't looking to meet with ad so no problems. My 'safe' cyber flirtation with my Cariad however, grew and I knew I just had to meet him. We'd exchanged so many emails and had been chatting on phone for a while that it felt very safe. When we split up, however, I advertised looking for possible encounters as a single woman and that was very frustrating...
This is what I wrote about it:

There are a lot of disenchanted men out there who are finding it difficult to find women who regularly moan at BSC and I understand that non-professional parties are rather under-subscribed by women. I’m not having a moan, but just want to say that women have to make a considerable effort as well.

I have found that only wanting to be intimate with single men has been seen as discriminatory and downright picky by men married to vanilla partners. I absolutely don’t have a problem with men or women getting spanking and/or sex elsewhere – I just don’t want to be the one providing it!

Being a polite sort I have responded to over a hundred and fifty messages, most of whom don’t write back or stop writing with no explanation. The only message that went unanswered by me was from someone who chose to insult me. I have told a reasonable proportion of men that I believe we have little in common, and some men on further reflection have been polite enough to tell me “Thanks, but no, thanks”, which I appreciate. I’ve been told this sudden silence is also typical in vanilla cyber.

I have also provided lots of information to both promote myself as a writer and as a single spankee looking to meet people. I have also placed thoughtful and detailed ads in various places, so respondents should know what to expect – To paraphrase someone else’s witticism (Thanks Daihard!) I don’t want to be trotted around Merthyr or suspended from the Newport Transporter Bridge!

As I’ve said I’m not complaining, but pointing out that meeting people is a challenge for all of us.

At a later date I also wrote:

Had an interesting chat with my male ‘nilla friend G about the challenge of meeting appropriate men. We’d already decided that cyber dating spankers was akin to ‘other’ men. We talked about how some men would ignore everything written and write to women with whom there was no common ground and seemed particularly excited by geographical proximity. He summed it up as:
'Come round for a shag and pick up a loaf on the way - On second thoughts that's too much trouble - Just bring the bread and forget the shag!' Substitute spanking for shag and there you have it! Obviously as one of my best friends is male I’m not exactly anti-male, just a bit bemused and frustrated (emotionally!)

I am delighted to be back with my Cariad. And coincidentally my friend G met a lovely woman and he and N have now been together for three years.

I feel there are an awful lot of time-wasters and fantasists out there. I have no problem with fantasy, but people should be honest about what is fantasy and what is reality.

I do know that there are timewasters of both sexes, but these are my experiences.

I did meet some nice men when cyber-dating, but very few considering the amount who made initial contact. I was always very clear on 'no commitment' and always met as friends for social meeting and made sure someone knew where I was. As I only wanted to meet men who could string words together an exchange of info via emails followed by phone conversations meant that men I met were as expected, but of course no accounting for chemistry. Luckily the commonality explored made it OK to not fancy each other, without too much upset.

This is an ad I wrote when I joined a spanking site and wanted to experiment safely and play with idea.

Naughty Lady/Spanking for Softies: All Talk
Hello!
I'm new to site and looking for some fun exchanges of the cyber kind.
I am a large curvy forty-something female, happily tied and living in Wales.
I'm not looking to meet or confuse r/l with fantasy but I've been fantasising about being spanked for as long as I can remember. I've enjoyed browsing and think chatting would be even more fun. The chat rooms seem fast and confusing. I'm quite bright but a bit slow and can't text so leisurely chats are more my style.
My fantasies are mild, but I'm good on detail. Being put over a man's knee (lover or justifiably irate potential lover preferably) is my favourite scenario. I'm very influenced by 50's movies and imagery. Being bent over a suitable piece of furniture is also very erotic. I'm all for tradition and a hand on my bottom is my favourite idea but I thrill at the thought of hairbrush, slipper or dap. I'm intrigued by American paddles and rattan carpet beaters but can't take wooden spoons seriously. I go weak at the knees with apprehension and uncertainty at the thought of a swishy cane, firm yardstick or whippy plastic ruler... I did say I was a softy...
I like clothing to be there for appropriate rearranging and uncovering... Nudity seems a bit boring. I'm not into humiliation other than actual spanking and appropriate lecture on behaviour and fate.
I would find male spanker correspondents a sexy thrill - Sort of X-rated flirting.
I'm also interested in finding women who understand where I'm coming from and would enjoy similar fantasies or reality on these lines. I've been busy putting these ideas into writing and wonder if there is a market for my particular tastes.
Not sure of netiquette. It would be lovely if people responded here (joined thread?) or sent me messages.
LOL
Suzeemoon

I found it very liberating to 'talk'to others who shared my fascination and were all leading varied lives. Interestingly my Cariad wrote to me because I was new and Welsh, before seeing my ad.
Funny looking back - I guess I'm not quite the softy I was...

For some reason the link to my website on friendpages wasn't working and I kept getting their homepage. I tried handle and what I thought was my password to no avail. I asked them to send my password to my email account and was told no such handle!

I know I've written about this before, but it obviously fascinates and excites me as an erotic idea. Most of my spanking stories are 'first time' for one or both parties. I don't have a formula, but I have ideas that excite me personally and as they tend to be fantasy fodder, it is unsurprising that they turn up in my stories. There is also usually a conversion - spanker or spankee drawn in reluctantly, but find it so exciting that you know first time won't be last! I guess there's element of wishful thinking as many of us hope to convert somebody into reciprocal role to complement our desires if we wish to live the fantasy.
I guess this the equivalent of a fantasy about sex with a virgin which will lead to unleashing of suppressed eroticism and passion and a perfection unlikely to be found in real-life first encounters.
My first time with my Cariad is intensely personal and private, and not a bit like my fiction because there was no 'punishment' element to it.

Thought I'd have a little blog about spanking...

Despite a certain self-consciousness and being on the big side, I did wonder if the reality of spanking and caning would match the vague movies in my head.
Viewing the reddening and cane marks is incredibly sexy. I like seeing the result of what is done to me and it is sort of entering 'his' headspace, because it is what he sees.

Since these occasional viewings we've moved on to me sometimes watching the actual action. I have a full-length mirror in the bedroom and moving it and a chair over which I bend has the desired effect. There is also a windowsill at an interesting height for such ministrations as well.

I love seeing and the idea of seeing. I watch what happens to me and I watch what he does and/or watch his face. And I look away to concentrate on just the feeling of the slap, spank or cut of the cane. And then I look once more.

I've not yet used mirrors in my fiction. I shall have to think of suitable scenario...

Further to my dialogue, with friends, this is the 'Suzee feminist manifesto'
http://suzeemoon.blog.co.uk/2007/02/28/reclaiming_the_f_word~1824761

This is what underpins my passion for equality. It was written by someone who was seen as a radical feminist, but this makes a lot of sense to me.

Russ is most famous as a writer of SF, especially as the writer of 'The Female man'. She wrote the following on Bad Faith.

To act in a way that is both sexist and racist; to maintain one's class privilege; it is only necessary to act in the customary, ordinary, usual, even polite manner. Nonetheless I doubt that any of us who does so is totally without the knowledge that something is wrong. To slide into decisions without allowing oneself to realise that one's making any; to feel dimly that one is enjoying advantages without trying to become clearly aware of what those advantages are (and who hasn't got them); to accept mystifications because they're customary and comfortable; cooking one's mental books to congratulate oneself on traditional behaviour as if it were actively moral behaviour; to know that one doesn't know; to prefer not to know; to defend one's status as already knowing with half-sincere, half-selfish passion as "objectivity" - This great, fuzzy area of human ingenuity is what Jean Paul Sartre calls bad faith. When spelled out the techniques used to maintain bad faith look morally atrocious and appallingly silly. That is because they are morally atrocious and appallingly silly. But this only shows when one spells them out, i.e. becomes aware of them. Hence this one effort among many to do just that.

Russ, J (1984) How To Suppress Women's Writing, London: The Women's Press

Having heard this feminist classic on the radio I couldn't resist a re-read. As stated, I was astonished about the female masochism of the erotic kind, but understood the roots and images.
As regular readers will know I am avowedly feminist albeit moderate and the novel although seeming dramatic is I believe a fair representation of the female condition for women of French's generation. I was born in the fifties and in Wales, but I recognised and remembered much she described. I think she also gives a good idea of the things that drove some women to separatism. It's not something I've ever espoused, but I do understand why some women and some blacks chose this path in the seventies. And I can see that the radicals along with the moderates are part of the movement that brings about change.
It saddens me that so many are dismissive of seventies feminism, which, along with other radical movements I believe truly brought about some amazing changes for us all. Unsurprisingly I hate the way stuff around equality and fairness has been hijacked to form excuses and justification for capitalism and galloping consumerism and the sad fact that couples have to work such ridiculous hours to service the mortgage and stop their kids getting mugged for wearing the wrong trainers that were made by child labourers abroad... Whoops! Where did that rant come from?! I love what sixties and seventies idealists visualised and dreamt and worked for, and am saddened by the twisted consumerist culture Western civilisation has become - Perhaps I'll go back to my spanking fantasies...