Another weeknd over ...

Well it's nearing bed-time on Sunday evening and once again it's the end of another weekend :-( Where do the weekends go these days? Seems the older I get the faster they disappear!

Spent last weekend finishing off the decorating in my littlest bedroom, gonna be turning it into a place where I can do my photography and leave it set-up if I want to. Got the painting finished, border up and this weekend coming it will be spent laying floor tiles and putting together the furniture which is due to arrive on Friday morning. It's looking pretty good so far so will be glad to see it finished and tidy for the first time in ages.

As my daughter is going to be studying Art for the next two years at college and has already accumulated a whole pile of journals we need plenty of space!

Still got to finish off processing the images from this years Kent County Show, it's a lot easier taking photos than it is processing them afterwards, I usually have to spend time straightening them up and improving the contrast and sharpening, any images looks better for some titivating!

Beloved Max

Here's the finished tattoo of my dog Max - done by Ben Shaw of Medway Tattoo. The photo has been taken by me from an angle but think it shows what a wonderful job Ben made of it - as usual!

It's itching still at the moment but is healing well considering it is just over a week old now. Most of the design is done with shading and I love the writing, I said I wanted something decorative and he's done just that.

All in all I am well pleased with it.

Next Tattoo Due...

Well, my last tattoo before the summer really kicks in, is booked for a week today. Having a portrait of my beloved Max put on my lower left forearm with his name positioned underneath. Am well looking forward to it but wonder how I will manage to last from then until Xmas without getting another tattoo! Have promised myself to get my nephew George’s one done over the Xmas break so it will be something to look forward to and I would rather not get any whilst the sun is shining (that’s assuming we get any sun this summer!) as they’ll need to be kept covered to stop them burning. Will post a photo of the new tattoo when it’s done so you can have a look at it, as usual its being done at Medway Tattoo by Ben Shaw. The previous two done about 5 weeks ago are both healing very nicely, the hand one still needs the odd moment of TLC but then again at my age the skin on my hands is quite thin compared to my younger days. All in all I am more than happy with the whole effect on my arms so far and the one of Max will just round things off nicely – for now…

George Sampson Wins!

What can I say about little George Sampson? I admire his determination to overcome defeat by coming back this year to the Britain's Got Talent contest after narrowly losing out last year on getting into the semi-finals. His dance routine to Singing In The Rain held me captivated, it is a classic song and dance routine after all made great by Gene Kelly and George’s take on it to the new, funky, remixed sound track was nothing short of spell-binding. The fact that he came off stage completely soaked to the skin showed how far he was prepared to go to wow the judges and audience and he did both with aplomb. So there I was then sitting on the edge of my seat come Saturday evening cheering him on and afterwards, rushing to the phone to register my vote. I was on tenterhooks waiting for the final announcement and was pleased beyond words when he won. As much as there were several talented finalists on stage that evening I truly felt that to win would make the most difference to this young lad’s life and that his sheer determination and conviction to come back and compete again this year should be rewarded. Let’s hope that winning this competition is the first step on the road to fulfilling his dreams and ambitions. I for one will be counting the days until the Royal Variety Show is aired on TV and waiting with barely concealed anticipation of what wonderful dance routine he has in store for us on that prestigious evening.

New Tattoos

Here's my hand tattoo, all done about a week ago, its an Elvis logo standing for Taking Care of Business in a Flash. It hurt quite a bit getting it done and it dries really quickly which means having to keep lathering it with cream all day but it's doing OK so far, a bit on the itchy side when it dries out but that's to be expected. As usual it was done by Ben Shaw at Medway Tattoo and Body Piercing and I got a fairy done at the same time, a double whammy if you like...

The fairy is located on my right arm just above my elbow and below my tribal wolf. I think she's just gorgeous and the detail is wonderful, Ben truly is a gifted artist.

Hoping to get a memorial portrait of my beloved dog Max on my left forearm before the summer really kicks in although it's pretty hot and sunny outside now. I'm trying to keep out of the sun having caught the fairy last weekend whilst out snapping at the local Sweeps Festival. Not the best thing to do with a new tattoo!

Third Tattoo Healed

Here's an updated photo of the third tattoo more or less all healed now, it has been mighty itchy let me tell you, never suffered with the others like this one but then there's tons more detail, according to Ben, my tattooist, it's par for the course, the skin gets really disturbed by the tattooing and so the itchiness is the result. I am so pleased with it though, my daughter thought it was cool and is pleased that it's for her. My next two are booked in for three weeks time and I can't wait! Will post photos of those once they've been done, one is gonna be on my hand this time, a first for me so fingers crossed it's not too painful ;-) The other is a fairy for my right arm, just above the elbow area. She represents my wish to sometimes be able to fly away from my life when it gets too much, the image I have chosen is also really lovely 'cos she's a brunette, a rarity when it comes to looks at fairy images. Mind the final tatt will be a black and grey anyway but it's the thought that counts!

Here's the third tattoo

Here is it, the third tattoo, done on Wednesday 19th at approx. 10am. Isn't it gorgeous? It took about 2hrs to do and I just love it!

The redness is already beginning to subside and it'll lighten up once it's healed.

It represents my daughter, her middle name is rose, the happy/sad masks are for the times being a parent makes me laught/cry and the sun and moon are because she's my whole world.

Enjoy...

Third Tattoo Imminent

The third tattoo is almost here, it's booked for this coming Wednesday morning at 10am and I can't wait! Dying to see it all done and see what my daughter thinks of it as its a tribute to her. It's likely to take the longest time I have ever sat for so far, the others have been tiny half hour jobs but this one is gonna be about 2hrs so fingers crossed I make it... Still it is only a short spell in a lifetime and I want it soooo much that I'll just have to grin and bear it ;-)

Got some other ideas planned and will book in to get a fairy one in May, over the first bank holiday weekend. Hoping that the picture I have is not too detailed to be done the size I've printed it at but will have to see what Ben says about it. I'm sure he'll be able to sort it if it needs redrawing at all.

Anyhow will post a photo of the new tattoo when its done for all to see.

Visiting George

Here are a couple of photos from our visit to see George. The left hand one is me holding my new little Nephew and the second one is a family group, from the left, Julia, Margaret, Darren, Jo and Allan and of course hidden away in the pram is George ;-)

We had a smashing time there, got lots of cuddles with George and photos galore. He's a right little smasher and it was good to have seen him now while he still looks like a newborn - they don't stay like that for long.

New Nephew

Here's the first piccies of my gorgeous nephew who arrived a month early on the 27th Jan 08, just two days before my b'day! He weighed in at 5lb 7.5oz and made his appearance just before 2am.

His proud Mom & Dad are Jo and my brother Darren - well done guys ;-)

We are all waiting to go up and see him now that he's home from hospital, he's tiny but doing real well.

Desperate for Ink!

Hi peeps,

This tattoo lark is well addictive, my paw prints done at Xmas are pretty much healed now, next week will be 6 weeks I think and apart from adding a touch of cream every now and then to stop it feeling dry it's fine. So am now gagging to get the third tatt done, one to represent my relationship with my daughter and having had a sneaky peak at what my tattoo guy has sketched out for me (based on my good mate Amber's drawings) it looks awesome and I can't wait ;-) Going to hopefully book it in tomorrow for Easter and then get the ankle ones done before our summer holiday so they are ready to show off if we are lucky enough to get weather for wearing shorts this year. Also toying with a possible back piece as I bought my first tattoo magazine at the weekend and was amazed at some of the tatts in there. I loved my dog Max, a sheltie, and have a wonderful photo of him so will ask Ben if it would be possible to use it for a tattoo. Not going to do anything about that one till next year maybe, it'll need thinking about as I have also looked at Native American images for inspiration as I am unsure as to what I would like.