Lights for Love

Here's a photo of my daughter Julia putting her star

on the tree at the Lights for Love service. We went along to mark the 20th anniversary of my Mum's death this year (30th November 1987). The service is organised by the Wisdon Hospice, you make a donation in memory of a loved one and as my Mum died of cancer my brother and I thought it would be a good way to remember her. The photo on the right is my brother's star on the tree.

The service was held in Rochester Cathedral and it was a very busy evening, we had to sit on the sidelines for the service which mean't we didn't see much of what was going on, but we all lit candles and then transferred the flame to ones that stay lit in the Cathedral. Our words of remembrance were listed in the book which will be on show until the New Year.

All in all it was a very peaceful evening and I am glad we chose to do something different this year.

Wolfy Tattoo

Yay!!! The wolfy tattoo is finally healed after about 6 weeks, so the information I read about it taking up to 45 days was pretty much on the nose. I bought some of that Aqueous Cream BP from the local chemist and it seems to like that alot, it's non-greasy but stays in the skin well so that it doesn't dry out. Now I can wear sleeves for the first time again in 6 weeks ;-)

The second tattoo is booked and I'm so looking forward to seeing the end result. It should finish off that arm quite nicely and be halfway healed before I go back to work after the Christmas break.

Talking of which I still haven't got around to putting up the decorations yet, think we'll wait until next weekend, we won't have many more days at work/school then and so it should feel more festive.

Second Tattoo Booked

Well there's no going back now, the second tatt is booked for Wed 19th December at 10am, Ben is doing it again as he did such a good job last time and put me at ease, well as much as one can be comfortable whilst being tattooed. Looking forward to getting it done and thus finishing off that arm. Then it will be on the the others given time, want to let these two settle down first I think, have a break from all the caring regime that follows tatts and piercings. Be good to show them off proper over the summer and hopefully as I've booked off almost three weeks over the Xmas break the second one will have settled down by the time I return to work. I'm kind of a work in progress at the moment, sounds weird doesn't it? What I mean is that there are several tattoos I'm thinking of getting and will gradually add them one by one. Patience is not one of my virtues so the process isn't likely to take too long, in fact I had said I would wait 6 months before getting a second one, but about 6 weeks on I'm gagging for more ;-)

Another week in Paradise

Here we are ready for another fun filled week in Paradise! My new career as a planner is slowly getting underway, its mostly piece-meal jobs as the moment due to my lack of knowledge but I am slowly learning and making copious notes along the way ;-) It seems to involve lots of meetings and “tree-hugging” bonding sessions with fellow planners but hey who am I to argue???

Still mulling over the future tattoos, mainly one for my daughter, something to represent our relationship. Its hard to define it into a picture, harder still so that its something I want to wear on my skin for the rest of my natural. Still I’m sure I’ll get there eventually, there’s no immediate rush and I have several other projects to do first which are easier to define.

The tribal wolf is pretty much there in terms of healing, it gets dry fairly quickly if I am wearing sleeves which at work is most of the time. My skin is pretty dry most of the time so am thinking that doesn’t really help, looking forward now to getting the lower arm done, not relishing facing the needles again but needs must as they say and it really is such a small amount of time relative to the enjoyment of seeing your skin adorned in such a way. I have definitely gotten the bug as they say and although I was gonna wait 6 months before doing anything else, above all else I am not known for my patience. Besides it best to try and fit the sessions in to coincide with time off of work so that I can leave it exposed to the air for as long as possible and to give it the TLC it needs in the first few days/weeks. The paw prints are hopefully gonna be booked in for the 18th December and if I can get Ben to do them so much the better, was well impressed with the work he did on my tribal wolf so hoping he’ll be able to do the rest of them. I guess it depends on their leave and what they might specialise in.

Looking forward to the Xmas break but not until I have sorted presents and cards, it's all a bind really when you are busy working. Might have to rely on gift vouchers this year, let people get what they really want. My daughter gets easier as she's happy with money not that it buys much what with her expensive tastes ;-) Once I've got everything done I'll be happy to sit back and enjoy the festivities but until then ...

Second Tattoo

Am considering having this as my second tattoo, to go on my lower right arm starting about half way up and curving up to my elbow (on the inside of my arm). Might treat myself to this at Xmas as then I'll have time to let it heal before I have to return to Paradise. There are others planned of course, whoever said tattoos are addictive was right but at the moment apart from a little Eeyore on my back between my neck and left shoulder I cannot decide what to do with my left arm yet. I am swaying towards a dedication to my daughter but until I am absolutely sure I won't get get anything in haste. Still lurving the wolf on my right top arm, hence the desire to add in the wolf tracks to kinda finish it off. Was a tad concerned about tattooing my lower arm but then I thought hey at my age who cares :-)