Meet Debbie. She's big. She's buxom. And she's handy with a whip. Better known as Mistress Debbledee by her bondage and discipline, sadism and masochism (BDSM) pals, she is the highest profile dominatrix in Adelaide, if not the country.

Debbie is one of a growing number of "lifestylers", as they call themselves, who is ready to stand up and tell people what they're about. Call it the next "out and proud" group. She's happy to talk about how she lives her life. In fact, after living as a 24/7 dominatrix for about 20 years, it Is completely normal to her. To us 'vanillas', as we are known, the BDSM realm has always been a world of sex that hurts. Most would remember the gimp in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. But, Debbie reveals, it's not about questionably human, leather-clad men tied up in a basement, or sex. In fact, sex is not practised within the BDSM parameters.

"It is my chosen way of life. I guess some people enjoy being punks or goths and look every part of what they are into, whereas I will dress as any average person, unless I am going to a special function," explains Debbie, who is pictured here in one of her party outfits. "It really is just about being me and what I am comfortable with; to be who I want to be and not hide behind any walls during the day or night." In sharp contrast to the celluloid portrayal of the BDSM world, Debbie lives in a quaint cottage within the city square mile. To meet her in the street you will find her intelligent and witty with an infectious, bubbly

 You've heard about it. But did you know there's a strong following right here in Adelaide? We step behind the curtain of secrecy and discover the city's BDSM scene photography dave solm




personality. But behind closed doors she is Mistress Debbledee and lives her life as a dominatrix all day, every day. Walking through her home, it's the usual set- up - living area, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms - except for the spare bedroom, which rather than being used as a home office or sewing room, is a dungeon. "My dungeon is a large bedroom in size, so it's not as large as some other dungeons around," explains Debbie. "What I have equipment-wise is a Saint Andrew's Cross (to tie people to), a bench and a Large framework with a swing, which is also for suspension, stocks, medical play equipment and a massage table for when I want a massage. I have about 40 different floggers (like cat-o'-nine-tails] and whips (single straps] of dif- ferent thicknesses and styles, which are for different kinds of sensations on the body. I also have different types and sizes of cuffs for wrists and ankles, a rope for suspension and rope bondage and more. Eighty per cent of those are made of leather and the rest are mostly PVC. I guess most other people would have a range of different toys and equipment, like myself, it just depends on the space available." So, where did this all start? "My first boyfriend liked
being spanked while we had sex,"' says Debbie and it
just stuck from there." That was more than 20 years
ago. Through her childbearing years this mother of
four found it somewhat difficult to continue life-
style. "I had to take a few steps back as the kids were
growing up but dabbled a little to keep in form."
Her day-to-day lifestyle is to have he- submissive (sub), who lives with her, sleeping beside make her breakfast. If her sub isn't at home make her own and then carry out her normalhold duties: the housework, washing and "Or I may summon another sub over for a - do house duties for me and maybe give me foot rub. As a reward for serving his Mistress Mistress, have a little play session. Debbie has had three personal subs andmany others. Only one has been female: she met someone special, so I released her to and get married. I started to train another but he was not exactly what I was looking for, so I passed him on to a friend whom he was better suited to (with his     Next