For the first time ever, Funiculosus – my friend and rope master – stayed the night. We were both excited, although he seemed to be more nervous than I was. He usually seems so confident and bubbly, so it feels a bit odd when he admits to nerves. I guess that’s just being human – and honest.

When he arrived we hugged, fussed the dog, and we set out for the first item on the night’s agenda: fish and chips! We took the dog with us, which pleased her immensely.

Fish and chips was his treat; we walked to a nearby park and sat on the bench and ate them while we chattered. He is a real chunterer and I love it – he has a beautiful tone to his voice that I find reassuring. There is something delightfully childlike about him. From a distance you’d think he was an oversized teenager rather than a man approaching sixty – he has that kind of dense athletic frame. If you heard him without seeing him you’d think the same. His face carries the marks of age, but his eyes and mouth crack with laughter, but he can pull such faces – his mean-warrior-face makes me giggle and tingle all at the same time.

We gave the dog a chip each, but she wouldn’t eat them! She actually refused food! All the shit that she does eat (literally and figurativley) you’d have thought he’d have inhaled a couple of chips! She enjoyed a bit of fish and batter though.

After the tea and a walk, we had a drink and then the rope play began.

It had been five weeks since we had last experienced the intimacy of rope. I dropped into subspace like a pebble in black water. The scent and touch of the rope and the touch and scent of him were intoxicating.

As he lovingly tied the familiar chest harness, I swayed with the endorphins of the zone. I stumbled and staggered as my mind went on its journey and he made me sit down on the edge of the bed. I basically collapsed.

Once on the bed, he tied my legs. I was secure.

Then he held me. I do not know how long for.

We were both in our corresponding spaces. Him in his DomSpace, and me in my warm subspace. Fitting together like tow pieces of jigsaw or dovetail joint.

We only did the one tie that night. One was enough to reaffirm our deep bond. Bondage is an important aspect of our relationship – it is how we met, and it has an important stabilising effect on our nervous systems – but now it is a facet of a three-dimensional friendship.

Afterwards, we came downstairs and ate the pinacolada icecream I had made earlier in the week (one pineapple, a pot and a half of think coconut cream, and a mug of Bacardi). Don’t eat my icecream and drive!

I put the film on – Return of the Jedi – and we drank champagne! We’re not rich, but sometimes he gets given it at work.

We said the lines of the film as they were spoken and giggled like kids. Especially the foreign languages – he always tells me that the Ewoks have Nepalise mixed in their language. The dog jumped up and jumped down and jumped up and jumped down: she was a little too warm to settle and cuddle.

After the film, we had a Bacardi and coke and watched a couple of episodes of the Golden Girls. We both laughed at that. We both have dear memories of watching them with our mums. Funny how some television programmes become family traditions without anyone ever deciding they should.

And then to bed. He said that he snored. I didn’t hear him … however I woke myself up with my own snoring!