Bondage Forums

http://bondage.com/topic_id/158852/p/2/forums/topic.html#3690224

Personally?
I highly, highly recommend joining servicesubs.tribe.net, which is a bunch of us service subs getting together to exchange suggestions, experiences and things to check out. The woman who runs the forum is incredible, and probably one of the most qualified service submissives I know.
But I'll also quote a list posted by the mod of things to check pout, which you (and others!) may find useful-

A Servant's Resource Guide
By Mackensie
June, 2005

On Etiquette and Protocol:

> Emily Post's Etiquette (16th edition). This has been modified to include modern etiquette situations such as cell phones and email. If possible, read the 1st edition as well, it can add value, particularly if in service to someone with older values. However, if you can just get one, get the newest.
> Emily Post's Entertaining. If you will be managing parties or social get-togethers, this is a must. It is also quite useful for those doing table service or helping set up table.
>The Rituals of Dinner, by Margaret Visser. This is a treatise on the reasons behind everything that has to do with eating and/or drinking. The author explores dinner protocols in cultures across the world, sharing a wealth of knowledge on the origins of why we eat the way we do, and the protocols associated with these occasions.

On Service

>Butlers and Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals, by Steven M. Ferry. This is a modern-day how-to book for service professionals who wish to butle, or manage households. Practical, and passionate about service par excellence, this book is absolutely filled with useful information, writings and practical checklists.
> A Butler's Life, Scenes from the Other Side of the Silver Salver, by Christopher Allen. These are the memoirs from a butler in today's age; quite useful reading for those interested in any style of formal service. It is interspersed with many useful tips and tricks.
> The Art of the Table, by Suzanne von Drachenfels. This book contains the essentials on table service, caring for dinnerware and tons of historical information on china, formal dining, coffee, tea and wine. A truly comprehensive guide.

On Personal Growth:

> The Body Image Workbook by Thomas Cash. Every submissive or slave should know their own worth. This or many other books on raising self-esteem are invaluable to those of us who might have issues in this arena.
> One to One: Self Understanding through Journal Writing by Christina Baldwin. The path of a submissive or slave is an intensely personal one. Journaling is a great way to explore and touch all the parts of you that are changing and growing, and to communicate to your trainer/dominant/owner. This or other books on the topic are good ways to help those of us with little experience in journaling.
> Reading People: How to Understand People and Predict Their Behavior by Mark Mazzaralla and Jo-Ellan Dimitrius. This is great if you really want to be able to fully understand the person you are serving, or the own energy and clues you put off. For those whose owners demand the utmost of anticipatory and proactive, rather than reactive, service.
> Time Management from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern. Time management skills are an absolute must for someone in service. Your time is a valuable asset to your owner and you must be able to maximize it's effectiveness, as well as find time for personal growth and relaxation time essential to keeping you balanced and happy.
> Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern. This is a predecessor to the author's Time Management book. Organizing your own belongings and space saves time for you, but you should also be able to organize the space of the person you are serving should they request it of you. Cleaning and tidying up is wonderful, but fixing the space so it stays less cluttered is invaluable.
> he Fine Arts of Relaxation, Concentration and Meditation, by Joel and Michelle Levy. All of these are essential skills to be present, aware and able to focus on the work at hand.

Dominance and Submission:

> Miss Abernathy's Concise Slave Training Manual by Christina Abernathy. This is an excellent, quick read on the concepts of consensual, erotic slavery and ideas on how to build such a relationship.
> Training with Miss Abernathy. This is a workbook for erotic slaves and their owners. There are lots of exercises, suggested activities and readings. This is where a good amount of these readings came from.
> Slavecraft, Roadmaps for Erotic Servitude, by Guy Baldwin. Philosophical and intense, Slavecraft dares to delve beneath the surface of D/s relationships and gives us an intimate and revealing view from a rare perspective- that of a slave. The authors examine the psychology and spirituality behind the Master/ slave dynamic, and the result is a book that is resourceful, thought provoking and sexually charged. Beautifully written and intriguing, Slavecraft is sure to leave an impact.

Fiction:

> The Marketplace Series, by Laura Antoniou. While this may be fiction, there is plenty of wonderful discussion and thoughts on service as a vocation. This is a fictionally created world of an underground organization of consensual slavery with tons of really hot writing, and wonderfully developed characters.
> Any of the Jeeves books by Wodehouse. It is comedy, but will give you a good idea of the required tasks of attending a gentleman as a valet, manservant or butler.
> Any of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy Sayers. As with the Jeeves series, though focuses more on the tradition of the manservant.

On Cleaning:

> Household Hints and Tips, by Cassandra Kent. This is a wonderful reference to help you solve all of the little questions and problems that arise in taking care of someone's house.
> Spring Cleaning, by Jeff Campbell. How to tackle big cleaning projects as opposed to everyday cleaning. Assigned to clean out the backroom that you can't even walk into? This book can help if you feel overwhelmed by a large project.
> Speed Cleaning, by Jeff Campbell. When assigned to clean, we need to be able to do it thoroughly and quickly. There are much more useful ways you could be spending your time in service. This book can help you set up a baseline heavy cleaning and manage maintaining it once that is done.
> Clean House, Clean Planet, by Karen Logan. Great if you or a person in the household you are serving is sensitive to chemicals. It's also better for the environment, and saves money for your owner!

On Cooking:

> Dad's Own Cookbook, by Bob Sloan. This book is for beginners in the kitchen. It includes shopping tips, the right equipment and basic recipes and cooking techniques.
> The Way to Cook, by Julia Childs. This book is an integral tool for one to rise from a culinary neophyte who knows some basic recipes to someone who can prepare gourmet meals. Miss Abernathy suggests reading it cover to cover and doing research on the techniques, equipment and ingredients you are unfamiliar with. I agree!

On Tea, Coffee, Wine and Cocktails:

> The Afternoon Tea Book, by Michael Smith. This is a book on the history and rituals of British tea. The author shows us how to do a full formal British tea with lots of recipes for our own experimentation. It is out of print, but available on Amazon. A bit specialized, but if you need to know it, you better know it!
> The Book of Coffee and Tea, by Joel, David and Karl Schapira. This is the definitive book on coffee, from a multi-generation family of coffee-house owners. As much as you ever need to know on the subject, and they cover tea fairly in-depth as well.
> Mr. Boston Official Bartender's and Party Guide, by Boston. Need I say more? Don't be caught tending bar without it!
> Great Wine Made Simple, by Andrea Immer. This is straight from the master sommelier's mouth. A wonderfully easy to understand and very practical guide to learning wine varietals, pairing and regions.

Movies and Television Series:

Manor House, BBC. This is a reality series, about modern day people attempting to live as servants and family in an Edwardian manor house. Absolutely delightful.

http://www.pbs.org/manorhouse/thepeople/mr_edgar_postthoughts.html

Upstairs, Downstairs, BBC. This is an older television series. A BBC classic.

The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro. Also a merchant-ivory production. This book digs deep into the relationship of a butler and a housekeeper in an Edwardian home, and their work managing the household.

Gosford Park. A delightful murder mystery set in an Edwardian country home. It displays the magnificence of a huge staff and a weekend in the country.

Websites:

http://www.butlersguild.com A practical and very useful site for butlers and those who would manage them. Many useful tips, techniques and articles.

http://www.bootpig.net A former Ms. Olympus Leather, bootblack and service educator.

(thanks, kittygrrl, and McKenzie! That is SUCH a good list!)

I'd add just a couple right now off the top of my head:

Good Girl's Guide to Female Domination: http://www.akashaweb.com/goodgirl.html
There is also a book published with a very similar name, so I don't know if it's the same or not. Akasha could answer this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1890159190/104-1963447-3761534?v=glance&n=283155

http://www.mschristine.com Go to Free Stuff, and the mailing list has been really goooood in the past. It's been in operation for a long time, and I really do need to sign up for the paid membership so I can get to the archives. It's femdom oriented, and there is a lot of info and experience from married couples on there who've been together for a long time. There are also a LOT of fantasy stories written by male subs if that's your thing.

That's all I can think of right now. If you have any resources you'd like to share, please do.
Thanks,
C
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"Service isn't a big thing; it's a thousand little things." --I forgot

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shea