First, thank you to those of you who commented following my last story (Evasion in the Woods). Jason asked several questions and quite rightly raised safety issues, but as other readers have commented children often appear to have nine lives and don't always see dangers as we adults do (guess we would all have sat round playing tiddly winks if we had!). Regarding the use of gags, I think we none of us really appreciated the risks (we didn't have the benefit of forums like this one, either) and I see from a re-read of the archives that it is a regularly recurring matter.

Regarding the elbow tie, both James and I were able to touch our elbows together behind our backs without any assistance and even now, 35 years later I can still almost do so! I was subjected to this treatment on several occasions and although ones shoulders would ache a little after half an hour or so I never really experienced any ill effect. In mitigation, we had both at various times boasted about our "gymnastic" abilities so only had ourselves to blame. I don't recall anyone else being tied quite as strictly, although a looser elbow tie was often used as it prevented the captive from "stepping through" his bound hands and thus being able to get to work with his teeth. Once again, others have written in this forum of similar ties being used on them.

I don't recall anyone ever "chickening out" after a game started or after being captured. We all new what was involved in the games and I guess accepted it on that basis. It was of course a small, close knit community where we all "played" together, swam together and attended the same (only) school. While there were always comings and goings, there was always a solid core of youngsters and I believe we not only had close friendship within our circle but also trusted one another.

Speaking personally, I was in fact a fairly timid boy and although I had been tied up on a couple of occasions before my arrival in Cyprus I was very nervous about the whole enterprise. I can wholeheartedly sympathise with Jason when he says, "...he wouldn't want to have found out first hand (but would have loved to have found out first hand)". I think he has eloquently summed up my own feelings, despite my regular involvement. When I first joined in I was extremely nervous (as was James) but it is difficult to assess particularly after this length of time where my nerves came from. They never entirely left me despite my realising that I actually enjoyed (in the widest sense) being tied up or indeed tying someone else, and perhaps this is what is so stimulating.

I do have a couple more tales from the same period and if any one wants to hear them just let me know.

Richard
UK

(I and others let him know, and Richard did continue, much to my delight - JM) :-)