Life as a Rubberist.

I have not had anything exceptional to report recently. I have been out and about in my usual gear, with more or fewer rubber layers on as opportunity dictated. There has been some nice warm weather and I have been able to sweat a good deal, which has been good and stimulating training, very enjoyable too.

I am hoping to get my sleepsack chlorinated so that i can get in and out of it more easily,and then to start sleeping training. It is large enough for me to zip up the opening so that I am completely enclosed - there are zips inside as well as out - but sleeping needs air. A small opening is not safe, and having the head out misses a lot of the point. Sleeping in a gasmask has the problem of apnoea: one does not breathe deeply enough and suddently wakes to gulp in a big breath. There are devices to give a positive air pressure in a breathing tube, which is complicated. So that is all experiments to come.

I did say that I would describe what it was like to wear multi-layer heavy-weight rubber. So let me start by telling you how I get geared up in my full outfit. It is all black latex, so I shall not repeat that all the time. I use warm water with some soap to lubricate the gear as I put iton.

First there are pants, with a sheath and a tube for urination. Carefully tensioned bands stop this from sliding off. Then there is a heavyweight suit with feet and hood, but no gloves. The front zip comes right up to the chin. I cover the sop slider carefully with strips of black adhesive tape. A stretch open-faced hood follows, fitting neatly round the face. The arms of shades slide between the two hoods, leaving nothing but nose and mouth visible, the minimum which is socially acceptable. A full-face hood which I wear clubbing would not I am sorry to say do in public.

Next is a pair of long thin gloves. These are then sealed by the arms of another heavyweight suit, without feet or hood. Socks seal the feet. A wide two-buckled bondage belt secures the waist. That is the basic outfit. At first it feels very restrictive, but before long as the rubber warms and the body sweats it all adjusts to give a feeling in every part of being held firmly in tight rubber.

Next I add rubber boots. I have removed with some difficulty the linings from these. These need some talcum to get on - water and soap leads to squelching. Then my SBR mack, fastened right up, with the collar up. The collar is secured by a latex buckled collar on top. Finally a pair of long heavy gauntlets.

In this gear i can walk a long way unless it is a hot day, when a few hundred yards needs a rest. On a sunny day I can feel the sun striking through all the rubber, which is a good sensation.

I am ready to go into pubs and enjoy the attention and curiosity I get. As I have said, teenagers tend to laugh and take the mickey, but also to be curious, especially pairs of girls. Older people do not see me, or affect not to. People want to photograph me, which I enjoy.

I can wear this gear all day, have slept in it the following night, and worn it most of the next day, as I have reported in earlier posts. Thatleaves me understandably exhausted.

So there I am, a rubberist tough enough to wear rubber and tougher still to enjoy it!

Blackie.