I thought I would share a couple of “reviews” that I have received following the Judicial Punishment, Session last week when I was assisted by Mistress Vanessa.
The first one is written by the miscreant that was the subject of the Judicial Punishment, there are a few mistakes in it which he will pay for shortly, and the second is by one of the witness’s s, which is I believe more factual.
I have also included some photos, taken before and during the event, more will appear in the gallery’s at a later date, so I do hope you enjoy this, I have to say Mistress Vanessa and myself did enjoy the session.
Mistress Linda
My Judicial Punishment this week.
I think I should explain how this came about, before I tell you about the actual punishment.
Mistress Linda had asked me to carry out some work for her in the New Warehouse Dungeon, which I started and was nearly finished, when Mistress Linda informed me that she wanted it all completed on a certain date, so that she could invite Mistress Vanessa to view the finished Dungeon.
That was fine, well I have to admit I did not quite finish the work on time, but I thought I could get away with it, it was after all only minor details that needed finishing.
Well on the day when Mistress Linda brought Mistress Vanessa to see the finished work, I opened the door for the Mistress’s to inspect the new dungeon, Mistress Linda was so proud, she asked Mistress Vanessa to close her eyes before walking in, because she wanted to show off the new lighting, well when Mistress Linda switched the red lights on nothing happened, she was not happy, I explained that there was a little fault that needed fixing, so Mistress Linda tried all the other lights and they were fine, they were both pleased with the results, apart from the Red Lights.
Mistress Linda then proceeded to show Mistress Vanessa around, and unfortunately the floor paint in one of the corners was not quite dry and when Mistress Vanessa noticed some dust on the floor she happened to touch the wet paint, well that was it, Mistress Linda lost her temper with me, I was slapped, but that was not the end of the matter, she stormed out with Mistress Vanessa so that she could get cleaned up.
I was then summoned into her room and Mistress Linda and Mistress Vanessa were both waiting, Mistress Linda told me in no uncertain terms how ashamed she was with me, and that I would be getting punished very severely for letting her down.
Mistress Linda told me that all had to be fixed that day, and punishment would follow when it suited both herself and Mistress Vanessa, and it would be a Public Judicial Caning, which would be delivered by herself and Mistress Vanessa, it would be a total of 200 strokes, there would be no mercy, no safe word, it would be delivered with full force.
It was explained to Mistress Vanessa that the reason it would be 200 strokes, was due to the fact that I had previously committed a similar offence and I received 150 strokes, from Mistress Linda, this time it would be an even more severe punishment delivered even harder.
The day of punishment came around very quickly, Mistress Linda had arranged for five of her regular slaves to witness the delivery of the punishment.
I was brought into the punishment room, secured to the punishment bench very quickly, with back and thigh protection put in place, then the punishment began.
Mistress Linda and Mistress Vanessa took it in turn to deliver the strokes, there was little gap between strokes and they alternated from side to side throughout the delivery, Mistress Linda was quite correct when she said it would be delivered with full force, and with Mistress Vanessa involved there was no let up in severity, in fact it seemed to get harder and harder as the strokes went on.
I was soon crying out with the pain due to the severity of it, but it made no difference the punishment continued, I could feel the blood flowing down my legs, they seemed to be trying to deliver the strokes harder than each other.
The count of 100 soon came around, my mind was not not thinking about that I was thinking will I get through this, I was really regretting the mistakes I had made, and I was suffering for them, I knew that I deserved it.
I did not think the caning could get any harder, but it did, Mistress Linda & Mistress Vanessa started to use the Singapore Cane, that is very painful. I was being caned from both sides, with the hardest cane possible, the pain was unbearable, I was crying, the tears and the blood were flowing, but the punishment continued, I knew I had to take it all, I had no escape, I knew the number of strokes would be increased if I dared to complain, so in the end once 200 came around, I knew it would be over.
Well the punishment was over but the pain is not!!!
Slave D
A JUDICIAL CANING AT THE CHAPEL OF CORRECTION
Friday, 5th September 2014. A solitary chime from the nearby church clock proclaimed the hour of 1p.m, the appointed time for the Judicial Caning that was due to be administered that day. An expectant hush fell immediately on the select group that had been invited to witness the punishment, and they then heard the click of heels on the wooden floor as Lady Linda and Mistress Vanessa brought the prisoner along the corridor. As they came into the room, the expressions on the faces of the witnesses turned to awe and, in some cases, fear at the thought of what was about to happen.
Lady Linda announced that the punishment was to be 200 strokes of the cane, each stroke to be given with the utmost severity and with no mercy at all being shown. The pathetic prisoner began to tremble slightly as he was ordered onto the bench and secured with stout straps round the waist and legs. Padding was placed above and below the bottom in case any strokes happened to be too high or low.
‘Is everybody ready?’ asked Lady Linda. Nobody dared to reply. ‘Then let us begin,’ she continued, taking her stance on the left-hand side. She raised the cane high in the air, an almost imperceptible swish followed and then it landed with a loud crack on the bottom of the rueful recipient. A sharp intake of breath could be heard from him as a clear red weal began to appear almost immediately. Another 9 strokes followed, obviously causing extreme pain to the prisoner. Lady Linda stepped aside and Mistress Vanessa took her place. Another 10 strokes followed, each one just as hard, just as accurate and causing just as much pain. None of the witnesses moved a muscle. They were spell-bound and awe-struck by the whole occasion, probably wondering how the prisoner was going to stand the full 200 strokes, and also glad that they were watching and not in his place!
After another 30 strokes the official recorder announced that 50 strokes had been given, and the Mistresses paused to select another cane each from the array of different canes in front of them. The punishment then continued, but now Lady Linda stood on the right-hand side and caned from there, and Mistress Vanessa stood on the left and gave alternate strokes. To the relief of the miserable miscreant, the recorder was soon able to announce that 100 strokes had been given. Canes were then changed again, and this time Lady Linda said that she was going to use her Singapore Cane. After she had checked that the recipient was in a fit state to continue, she took her stance and gave the first stroke with this cane. The reaction was very noticeable. The prisoner gave a loud moan of distress and jerked against the straps, but no mercy was to be shown and the caning continued until it was Mistress Vanessa’s turn again. She had also chosen a heavier cane and the severe strokes were now really taking their toll.
This continued until the recorder announced the 180th stroke. The last 20 were to be given alternately with each Mistress stepping aside after giving a stroke, in order to make way for the other. Another amazing sight, as they laid on the last strokes as hard as they possibly could!
Finally the last stroke was given, the prisoner gave a loud sigh of relief and the straps were undone. At last it was over and he could get up, but only with some difficulty after such an ordeal. Wounds were wiped and he was led away. A salutary lesson for all concerned! It was also clear for all to see that the padding put in place in case of inaccurate strokes had not been needed, and that every one of the 200 strokes had landed precisely on its target. An amazing exhibition of caning from two real experts!
When all was done, the Mistresses chatted to the witnesses about what had happened and asked for their impressions of what they had seen. They were invited to receive some punishment themselves to feel what such a caning was like, and some accepted the invitation. However, all agreed that they would not want to undergo any sort of judicial caning such as they had just witnessed, especially not from two such devilish disciples of discipline!!
Today I was visited by a new person, and all that he needed was to have his hands severely thrashed with very hard tawses! He had visited several mistresses over the years, one of them being the famous Mistress Brenda of Birmingham! And all had given him what he required.
Therefore, not to be outdone, I chose 6 of my tawses and proceeded to give him 6 of the best on his hands, all from different angles, and making sure that they really were six of the very best!
After each implement he was allowed recovery time of one minute. The onslaught continued until I had completed the punishment, which amounted in total to 36 hard strokes on the outstretched hands.
I thoroughly enjoyed giving this punishment, and at the end of the session his hands were bruised and swollen. As he was leaving, he admitted that he had actually taken as many as 42 strokes from one of the other mistresses. This made me determined to beat that should he visit me again!
R’ as I shall refer to him visited me a few days ago as a one-off from what we usually do. He has not visited me as often as he or I would have liked through circumstances beyond his control, but we always felt that we wanted him to take a beating beyond the normal level, this being putting him across my knee and giving him a prolonged spanking in a sensual way with plenty of coaxing to take more. This would go on for some time, stopping for a short time and then starting again to make sure that he was ready for the cane! It always stopped before any lasting marks appeared.
This time, however, he would have three weeks to recover and so I was to cane him very hard, no matter what marks he would have afterwards.
With lots of encouragement between strokes I was able to give him more than three times what he had taken previously!
As you can see from the photos, I managed this and we were both very pleased with this achievement and hope to repeat it again soon!
Yesterday my Daughter Mistress Vanessa brought one of her slaves to my chambers.
She dealt with him in my Red Room and then we both dealt with him in My New Warehouse Dungeon.
When we finished with him, we cast him down into the HELL PIT!!
“Hell hath no fury as 2 Mistresses scorned”.
I have decided to include a few photos taken during this session, so that you could have early preview of My New Dungeon, I do hope you enjoy, and come back again, to see a lot more photos in the gallery pages
Mistress Linda
For the last 4 years Paul has been visiting me regularly, especially on his birthday, which, on this occasion, was last Tuesday. As usual we started off with a prolonged warming-up over my knee and a good hand-spanking followed by paddles, then slippers, and finally several short straps.
This time he wanted to stay for 2 hours so that I could take him to his limit, and then beyond!! He trusted me, so it was understood that the punishment would not cease until I had achieved this. I had no need to restrain him as he would never think of interrupting his beating, so, laid out on the punishment bed, he awaited his fate.
I started with medium to hard straps including ferule and American exercise paddle, then progressed to heavy tawses and riding crops.
When we were well into the punishment, I brought out the “Big Guns”. We had discussed the session previously and established that he wanted to sample the authentic Glasgow Tawses plus the “Berkeley Strap”, a new addition to my collection which I consider to be more severe than my well-known Railway Strap.
Things were now getting very serious, and his bottom was swollen and bright red, so, slowly and surely, I moved on to the next phase. First, the Railway Strap, then 20 with 2 canes and, moving from one side of the bed to the other, I strapped and caned his buttocks evenly.
I then inspected him, and, having made sure that it was safe to continue, I picked up the Glasgow Tawse and gave him 12 strokes from each side. Each stroke made him gasp, but he didn’t move.
Even though his bottom was badly grazed and bruised, I was determined to go all the way, so I picked up the last of my collection – the dreaded new Berkeley Strap! I decided to take my time in giving him his final 20 strokes, which would be given with all my force!! The first made him gasp and twitch, then the second, and so on until he had taken his first 10 strokes from one side. Then I walked round to the other side and began to give him 10 more, but it was touch and go as to whether he would last until the end, so I gave him time to recover between the strokes, and finally I achieved my goal!!
One very sore,marked and swollen bottom! One very proud slave! Plus one very satisfied and happy Mistress!!
Happy Birthday, Paul!!
This is a testimonial from one of my loyal slaves that has returned after a period of absence, which I do hope you enjoy.
Mistress Linda
It had been a little while since my last visit to “The Chapel” and there really is, only so long a slave can go without visiting his Mistress and so an appointment was booked and session attended.
So once more there I stood, a naked slave, all alone in the dungeon, awaiting the arrival and full attention of Mistress Linda. I didn’t have to wait long before the un-mistakable sound of high heels heralded the arrival of my Mistress. The door opened and in walked Mistress Linda, looking as striking as ever, with her platinum blonde hair, contrasting perfectly with the shiny black PVC of her newly purchased skirt. Mistress Linda is very approachable and will consider polite and reasonable pre- session requests and it just so happens that a PVC skirt was an advance request I had made which Mistress Linda had rather generously accommodated.
While still mesmerised with the vision which stood before me, I was ordered to my knees and instructed to commence worship of my Mistresses legs and bottom, as a committed slave I complied immediately working my way up and down two rather perfect stocking clad legs, however Mistress Linda misses nothing and was quick to point out that as her slave I was doing this for her pleasure not mine and as such I should be displaying no signs of enjoyment at all, as she looked down from on high, a degree of stiffness from a certain part of my anatomy, indicated my level of enjoyment was much higher than it should have been. I had been rumbled and knew fine well that serious punishment would follow later, something Mistress Linda was all too keen promise.
Once Mistress Linda was satisfied that her shapely bottom had been worshipped to a suitably high standard, I was ordered to my feet and introduced to the humbler. Although I have served Mistress Linda many times, I had always managed to avoid this particular device, however before every session I do rather foolishly boast that I am up for anything and Mistress needs very little persuasion to un-leash her imaginative streak, so it was on with the humbler and to further enhance Mistress Linda’s amusement a nice pair of nipple clamps were attached for good measure. Struggling as I was to stand up straight, I found myself being positioned in such a way as to allow my hands to be hoisted above my head, this as Mistress Linda pointed out would help me to stand up straight. With my hands firmly above my head a further rope was added to the nipple clamps and the humbler, these ropes were also then pulled nice and tight. I was now suffering discomfort on multiple fronts. If I moved forward the tension on my nipples would ease but the pain in my now fully stretched balls would increase, as I moved back the pressure on my balls relaxed but my nipples which were by now, a little tender were subjected to a little more pressure. I quickly reasoned that standing still was the best plan and hopefully I wouldn’t be in this awkward position for too much longer.
I was wrong, it quickly became clear I had been secured in this position for a dam good flogging. Mistress Linda carefully selected a range of floggers which she could use on my back and then proceeded to use each one in batches of 10, ensuring my back received an even coverage. Given the way in which I had been secured there was little point in trying to move out of the way of each expertly placed stroke, this only intensified the pain in my balls and nipples. After each of the selected floggers had been used I was released from my rather un-comfortable position. As I stood there recovering from my intensive flogging, Mistress Linda told me the next part of my punishment would be taking place on the bed, I did think this would be more comfortable than what I had just endured but I was wrong again.
Before being allowed to lay on the bed my arms were secured behind my back in a strong leather straight jacket, I was then allowed to lay on the bed while Mistress Linda secured my ankles and wrists firmly to each corner, there was no escape from this. Then came the fun part, or at least fun for Mistress Linda, it was on with the electrics and it wasn’t long before strong pulses of electricity were charging through my cock and balls. However Mistress Linda didn’t consider this quite enough, so it was out with the cattle prod, I haven’t quite got the hang of this device yet but feel sure with a little more training I soon will. As mistress intensified the electrics and the pain grew I looked for something to take my mind off the pain, I didn’t have to look too far, as not only is Mistress Linda hugely accomplished in her field but she is also very attractive and the perfect distraction for any amount of pain. After my cock and balls had received a thorough frying, I was released but by now, quite exhausted and in need of light refreshment.
Luckily for me light refreshment wasn’t too far away, with my head secured in the toilet box, I was most privileged to receive some of Mistress Linda’s golden champagne straight from the source, now suitably refreshed we moved over to the whipping bench or rather I was ordered over the whipping bench.
Once over the bench I was treated to a very firm paddling from various implements, I would say how many but am afraid to say I lost count, however I can say my bottom was glowing by the time Mistress Linda had finished and maybe the reason I forgot was the fact that just when I thought I had received my punishment, Mistress Linda reminded me that I was now warmed up enough to receive 100 with the cane. I am not sure where the figure of 100 came from but there was little chance of me leaving the Chapel with anything less, after all the punishment had been earned fair and square with an earlier un-authorised erection.
Before being released from the bench I was instructed to spread my legs, which could only mean one thing, it was strap-on time, I was warned I was now to receive a good fucking from my Mistress and as Mistress Linda is a lady of her word, I can only describe what followed as a well executed and thorough deep pounding. It’s fair to say that by the time Mistress Linda withdrew I had been properly “fucked”.
Our time together was now drawing to a close but I still had the much anticipated 100 strokes of the cane to endure, so it was back over to the bed, flat on my stomach, ready to take each one of the 100. This is arguably Mistress Linda’s forte and she is more than happy to deal with the novice or the hardened slave who claims he can withstand a more brutal caning, I rather smugly and foolishly put myself in the latter category and as such would be afforded no leniency, all 100 strokes would be given full force (just the way I like it). As Mistress Linda completed the first batch of 10, she asked if I was feeling them, I had to confess that I was, well that’s ok she said because you only have another 90 to go. Under many circumstances this would seem a tall order but I regard it as such an honour to be in the company of a Mistress who is so skilled with the cane that I was as ever determined to enjoy each one of the remaining 90 strokes and for an added degree of interest, Mistress Linda promised there would be one last task for me, assuming I reached the full 100. Well with such an incentive the next 80 strokes passed in a breeze. As we hit the last 10 Mistress Linda really upped the tempo and I must confess these did sting quite a lot but none the less I had taken the full 100 and if I am honest enjoyed the lot, so as Mistress Linda set down her cane, I couldn’t resist but ask for another 5 of her very best, this she delivered with glee.
So the big question is was I entrusted with the one last task which Mistress Linda promised, well that would be telling and I think some things are best left in The Chapel, I suggest the easiest way to find out is to challenge yourself to 100 of Mistress Linda’s hardest strokes. I am now looking forward to my next 100 from this ever so demanding Mistress.
Derek stood with trepidation as he awaited the result of his application for the position of personal secretary to the Head of Department, Ms Wallace. It was between himself and just one other applicant. Derek desperately needed this job as he had quite a lot of debt building up, especially mortgage repayments, and this position offered a good salary, so he felt he had to make a big impression!
Meanwhile Ms Wallace (myself)was preparing for the final interview. I knew how desperate Derek was, and would use this to my advantage!! As I walked into the room, he was there, perspiration on his brow, a hopeless weak male just ripe for my amusement!! Then I began my game. “So Derek, what can you offer if you are lucky enough to attain this position?”
Then he began his speech. “I will give my complete dedication to all your needs, Ms Wallace, and my undivided attention at all times. I will be loyal etc, etc …” He finished by relating all his financial woes should he not get the position!!!
A smile crossed my lips as I thought to myself that he had played right into my hands. “I am not interested in your financial status” I interrupted, “Only in what you can do for me!!” “Of course, of course”, Derek stuttered. “First of all, I think you should drop to your knees and show me how devoted you will be”, I ordered him.
Down he went and started to kiss my shoes and feet! Oh yes, this was more fun than I had expected! I then told him to strip naked and lie prostrate beneath my feet. He did so and closed his eyes, awaiting what was to come. I walked around him a few times, telling him everything I expected of him should he be the lucky one. I had actually already made up my mind that he would get the job, but wanted to amuse myself and see how far he could be humiliated.
I stood astride his face and told him to open his eyes. I teased him and asked him if he had a problem, and Yes!, Derek was noticeably aroused. I admonished him and dug each heel in turn into his nipples. My, how he writhed and groaned! Then I made him get up onto his knees and beg me to choose him. He tried so hard, words and promises tumbling out of his mouth, but I told this poor excuse for a man that if he could take the punishment that I was going to give him for getting aroused, without uttering a sound, then he would be successful. I sat on the chair and motioned him to come over my knee. Once he was in place, I held him down with a firm arm around the waist. I informed him that all members of my office staff were dealt with in the same way and that this would apply to him too, should he make any mistakes or displease me in any way.
Would Derek be able to keep quiet? I was prepared to find out! I am well-known for having a very hard hand and being able to give a prolonged spanking, and this was exactly what I gave him!
Did he pass the test, you are asking yourselves? Well, Derek will start work here tomorrow at 9.00 sharp, so I am sure that I’ll amuse myself with him again, and again…! His bottom was certainly red, sore,marked and bruised after his first test! It’s fascinating how a woman’s hand can do so much damage to a bare bottom.
On Thursday 22nd May at 1p.m, Mr. Allenby, a new patient, attended the Chapel Clinic. He was seen by Sister Linda and Nurse Kendra.
After his initial medical assessment, he was taken into the treatment room and told to undress to just his shirt and underpants. Mr. Allenby was very nervous but we did our best to put him at ease. He was also quite embarrassed when his underpants were lowered, but was assured that he was in safe hands and that we had seen it all many times before!!!
The problem that he was having was that, whilst he could maintain an erection, he was unable to ejaculate, either by masturbation or sexual intercourse. This had been going on for about 5 to 6 months and his doctor had referred him to our clinic which specialises in dealing with such problems.
We had to do various tests to try and reach a solution. First of all we had the patient bending over in different positions to enable us to check if the testicles were dropping correctly. One side seemed to be pulled up into the body, but with manipulation we managed to loosen and lower it. Whilst carrying out the in-depth genital examination, we noticed that the penis had a slight bulge at the base! We discussed this with Mr. Allenby and he confirmed that he did have some pain down there. After Nurse Kendra had applied the pin-wheel over his scrotum, a slight numbness was found in certain areas. We finally decided to sterilise the Sounds, and while we were waiting for this, he was stripped completely, swabbed and made ready. The procedure was to ascertain whether there was a blockage in the penis itself which didn’t cause any problem when urinating but could be the cause of the failure to ejaculate.
I carried out the procedure while Nurse Kendra monitored his heart and blood pressure. Four Sounds in all were inserted and seemed to go easily straight into the bladder with just a little resistance. When this had been carried out, we had to see if it had solved Mr. Allenby’s problem. His penis was massaged gently with baby oil and, Lo and Behold!, he managed to ejaculate quite copiously!
Nurse Kendra then took a sample which was to be sent away for testing. The patient was cleaned up and then dressed himself, and, I have to say, Mr. Allenby left the clinic a very relaxed and happy man!!
He would, of course, have to visit us again, just to make sure that there was no re-occurrence of the problem!
Mr. Robertson had been a patient of Nurse Sally for quite some time with problems in his genital area. Having given him exercises to do at home, and clenching exercises whilst Nurse was performing rectal examinations, she found it was not working as she had expected, so she asked myself, Sister Linda, to attend the next 4 appointments. I did so, thinking that my stricter regime might have a more positive result.
Once in the Medical Room, he was told to undress completely and bend over the examination table, legs spread and bottom exposed. While I thrust first one finger up his rectum, Nurse Sally tried to make him relax and hold on to her as I proceeded with two fingers and so on. She put the thermometer in his rectum but complained that he was still too tight and that she couldn’t insert as she had hoped. He was made to ejaculate and sent home with yet more exercises and the threat of a doctor being present at his next visit.
Three days ago he made his latest visit and was quite anxious as all three of us entered the Medical Room – Nurse Sally, Sister Linda (myself) and our resident doctor Miss Charlotte Hun. Immediately he was told to undress and climb onto the examination couch. He was breathing quite rapidly at this point, and Nurse Sally tried to calm him down. Meanwhile, we discussed his problems and how best to remedy them.
The Doctor felt that he was not helping himself by being lax with his home exercises and thought that a more positive attitude was needed. So, with Nurse Sally holding him firmly to stop him squirming, Dr. Hun and I proceeded to stretch his anus gradually by inserting various sizes of thermometer inside him. All three of us then examined his genitalia carefully, he was made to ejaculate, and the sample was to be sent away.
Mr. Robertson left with a flea in his ear, and was told in no uncertain terms that if he didn’t keep up with his clenching exercises, he would be in for a more rigorous examination next time!
This slave never learns, no matter how many times he has visited me!
He arrived at my chambers a few weeks ago in a state of high sexual arousal – something I will not tolerate whatsoever!!
I made him strip off completely there and then. Standing naked before me, I could see just how excited he was, so I ordered him very quickly onto his hands and knees and proceeded to tie a small leather strap around the base of his balls – very tightly! I tied a rope from this to a hook in the ceiling. Hoisting him up in this way made his cock and balls easily accessible when they were up in the air, and ready to be scratched and whipped!
After lots of noise, begging and pleading, I eventually let him slump to the floor and left the pathetic creature while I decided what to do next in a bid to stop this disgusting habit. After a few minutes I went back in and pretended to amuse myself by tieing him spreadeagled to the punishment bed. He was then gagged, as I knew he would soon make a lot of noise. Poor maggot really didn’t know what to do! Then, with a latex glove and baby oil, I rubbed and stroked his wizened cock, and, as if by magic, it stood to attention! No self-control at all!
I quickly attached my electrics to his cock and balls, put a cum-stopper down the opening in his penis and attached a connecting wire to the electric box. Very slowly I increased the intensity and pulse, making him twitch, writhe and fight against his restraints. On and on I went until he grew weary and had tears in his eyes.
I turned everything off, released him and fastened him to my mini-stocks (see photo). In this position his bottom was very vulnerable. I left the room to go to the kitchen where I peeled a fresh ginger root and moulded it into the shape I needed.
Back in the room again, I spread his bottom cheeks and pushed the peeled, shaped ginger into his anus. I left him like this for a while and waited for it to take effect. Sitting in front of him, I watched his face, and slowly he reddened and grimaced! Yes, it was working! I must admit I found this so funny and laughed out loud at him. The more intense it became, the more hilarious it was!
Finally, I had had enough. I was tired of it all and retrieved the anal bung and released him, telling him to get dressed and leave. What a sight he looked when he was ready to go! He was in a lot of discomfort, face red and sweaty, and unable to walk normally! That will teach him to visit me in such a disgusting state!!