OK I have gone on about this too many times in my life, but from time to time I need to revisit the thought to make sense of things, and even re-evaluate the validity of the whole belief, and tonight is one of those times. When you find yourself laying on the floor of a dark room, on the rug, with headphones on, playing a very select playlist, its time to see what the hell is going on in your head.
So, butterflies. Many years ago I referred to the butterfly effect, but in my own way. Not the generic well known way. Here are my thoughts on it. And so profound was the belief in the feeling, I even had it tattooed. One of my first pieces, and one I still hold dear to this day.
From time to time in life you have a moment, a point in time where things change. For a short spell of time everything else takes second place, thoughts go on hold, and life stops. For that moment, for however long it is, the most important thing of the moment is right there. Times like this you need to stop, take stock, and appreciate it. Like a butterfly in a garden, fluttering from plant to plant. Once in a while it settles for a rest. As you sit in the garden and watch this natural beauty dancing around, if you sit still enough, it will settle on you. As it touches your skin, you freeze. Motionless you look on and appreciate how delicate it is, how fragile this and the rest of life is, and how quickly it can pass. No matter how long the event really lasts, the second it is over it feels like it was just the blink of an eye. Always to be remembered, a moment in your life that truly matters.
However this precious moment can be ruined in a heartbeat by the wrong action. The most simple of wrong moves can upset the balance, and take the whole moment away. Some who experience these moments try and capture them forever, but this is just a false hope. Touch a butterfly, try and capture it, or hold on longer that time allows and the balance it ruined. The life drains from the butterfly, and what was there for a second will never return.
The only way to really embrace a butterfly moment is to just let it happen. Hold your breath, look on in wonder, and enjoy what is happening. What will happen will happen, and when its over, let it go. Hold dear the moments that you had, and don't try to make it something it is not.
Life seems to throw quite a few of those at me, or at least my mind interprets it that way. I am yet to squash one, but struggle desperately to try and read the pattern and interpretations of them. Long after the butterfly has flown, the moment finally makes sense and I can get a read on it and appreciate it.
Sometimes things in life are just as they seem, as described, as advertised, as per the label. However to hope that there is more inside, shaking the now empty packet hoping more will fall from it, just a fools game. Blimey how many more metaphors can I use before just saying it like it is.
But back to the butterfly effect.
The simplicity of it is the beauty of it. Spend your whole life rushing around, never paying attention to your surroundings, and you will miss SO much in life. However take life at a slower pace, look around from time to time, soak up what is all around you, and take stock of the beauty that surrounds you each day. From time to time you will notice moments worth treasuring. Like a butterfly landing on your hand. Sit still, look on, and realise how blessed you are to have been touched by a thing of beauty. When it is rested, and has taken from the moment what it needs, it flies away leaving you with something profound, and a moment of time you will never be able to re-live, but will never forget.
That paragraph above is the one I have been sitting here for 20 mins trying to squeeze out of myself, and sums up my thoughts right now. Now if only I can just sit still long enough and not make the wrong move, all will be well, and I will remember this moment for the rest of my living years.
I love butterfly moments.... But they can really mess with my head.
Thanks for reading, and for a select few, thank you even more for being a butterfly, and touching me profoundly.
Without a doubt the most powerful drug know to humans it the mind. Yes Obviously the mind is affected by drugs, but the urges, sensations it creates all on its own are so damn powerful. Taking a perfectly good day into the pits, or a terrible day into the skies in a flash. Some might say the heart plays a part in that, and maybe in a metaphorical way it can, in the same way we suffer heartbreak etc. But the truth is it is our thoughts and feelings which truly control our mood and state of mind.
Many years ago, before a night out, feeling down, a friend took a whole cocktail of drugs which would have most completely off their face, and high into the heavens. But seemingly over-riding the effects of the drugs, his mind kept him low as can be. Thought process and ability to function however was as affected as you would expect. Nothing but his own thought process was going to free him from this spiral.
As anyone who read the last few blogs will know, I have been on a bit of a whirlwind tour of my mind recently, dropping to basement level a few days ago, without warning, or indication that anything was wrong, my mind just bombed. Being quite familiar with lows like this, I prepared for the worst, and got myself ready for a long low period. Yet for some reason (part of which I understand) I bounced back, stronger and harder than I ever recall. By the next morning I was back to my old self +10% more. Strange for me.
For a long time now it has been clear to me that I am influenced by those around me, affected by their moods and state of mind. Am I a mood leech or something, or do I just get affected by trying to make others feel better at my own expense. Draining myself of mental energy for the sake of others? Strange, but I really don't know.
I had lunch with a good friend yesterday, speaking of lots of subjects including one very prominent at the moment to me. Speaking about it, I made perfect sense of the two conflicting sides of me which battle it out, trying to justify my behaviour towards certain others, and make sure that things are not totally one sided. But the truth is, its natural in today's life to give and not take, or vice versa. Sadly my tiny mind struggles with this concept at times, and for that, I pay the price.
Sometimes I wonder if I carry out apparently selfless acts for moral gratitude, from no other than myself. Like an arsonist who likes to watch their fire burn, gloat in the control of the situation and feed from its energy, I wonder if I am the same. Do I get some form of satisfaction from 'helping' others, or am I just getting close gloat on their misfortunes. Only to be drawn in, and feeling obligated to help. The two sides of my mind once again in conflict.
As ever, songs play a huge part in driving my moods, and there are certainly a few in my playlists recently provoking emotions for sure. But how.... Well simple.. My mind. Like I say, the most powerful drug known to humans. Taking the words of others used as lyrics for a song. Translating them in a way where they fit to my state of mind, thoughts or emotions, and turning them into powerful musical messages to myself. Stirring my emotions, and putting my mind into places of happiness and sadness. Sometimes in just minutes. The drive to work can be torture, the wrong song at the wrong time and its all over for me, the day ruined in a flash. Or on the flip side the day is made in a second.
I have but a few influences on my mind recently, but powerful ones none the less. Conflicting, complex and confusing as hell, but the main thing is, im on a high, and I intend on staying here.
At times like this, my blog plays a key role, so my apologies for any weird ramblings like this that might appear over the coming days or weeks. But just know that getting it off my chest really halps with things, just like it did the other day. That simple Boom! entry changed a lot for me. So if you have things on your mind, trying to figure them out, get them onto paper or a screen. Better still if you can find anyone to listen, talk. Verbalising things can sometimes make so much sense. At times as I am saying something, I am understanding it at the same time.
The mind eh!
PS, I bought a new 'REAL' keyboard as I have a lot of writing planned over the coming weeks, so I am a happy man right now, loving typing once again.
Have a great day, and don't let that mind of yours mess about with you.
Simple question I was asked the other day, and one that has always sat well with me. Not normal, a phrase I often use to describe myself, and one which usually goes unchallenged. Except for yesterday of course. So I was told to put some thought to my statement, and here it is.
Normality to most is in fact routine. Not a set of values we use to assess others, but a set of rules which we follow in our day to day life. Habits, behaviours, and moral beliefs. For example, if you see two people kissing, do you look away a little embarrassed by being a witness to their actions, or do you look on and think 'how sweet'? Already we have a baseline for what I mean. A simple act of care and affection like a kiss can divide the masses, and provoke us to determine if its right or wrong, normal or not normal.
Others have a slightly more open minded to what normal is, and while accepting the everyday decisions and actions of individuals around them, tolerating difference in opinions of what is OK to do on a day to day basis. Choosing only to judge normal and not normal on much more powerful and thought provoking matters. Violence, sex offences, and 'extreme' views on religion and power.
So why do I use the phrase 'not normal' so freely? Well, over the years, as the blog no doubt shows, I have slowly but surely got to know myself, and my mind quite well. Seeming to be a little different to most people I know, in my opinion at least. Yes we are all pieces in the giant game of chess that life is. But what piece we believe ourselves to be determines who we are. For me, a mere pawn is where I see myself. The first to feel the force of the opposition, tiny in comparison to other pieces, and sometimes a little powerless. But when it comes to the crunch, this little pawn can be mighty and topple even the greatest.
OK, quite a strange analogy I know, and maybe not my best to date, but its a start.
The big thing for me is my interest in others. Constantly seeking to help somehow, involved on a much deeper level than most care to be in other peoples lives. An over-thinker, taking far too much time to try and understand something or someone, while sometimes missing the entire point. A knowledge sponge, constantly on the search for something new, something different, a new experience.
So back to the question, what is normal? Well in short, every person around you while sharing certain moral values, will have a different of what normal is. Tattoos, another amazing example of how easily we judge and decide if someone is normal or not. Colouring your skin in, with needles and inks, well its not natural, no of course its not. But by today's standards, given its popularity, its pretty normal now.
Ultimately it is all about opinions, beliefs, and values. Once you have your own baselines for those three categories, you are a little closer to being able to give your definition of YOUR normality.
As for if I am really normal or not, well that's for you and you only to decide if I conform. If a complex minded, considerate, over baring, sharp tongued, tattooed man who bares open his soul to the internet is 'normal' to you... Then I take it all back, I am 100% boring and normal.
If my blogs confuse you, tattoos disgust you, or personality irritates you, then I am in a sense happy, to be individual and different in your eyes. Either way, I don't mind how people see me, judge me, or what they say about me. I am happy with who I am. It took years to perfect this careful balance of considerate arsehole, so I'm not changing, not for anyone.
Have you ever had one of those moments, be it a penny dropping or a bulldozer smashing through the walls of your mind. Suddenly something changes or just makes sense, and boom! It's done.
Just had one of those right this very second. Like a plane hitting an air pocket and dropping a thousand feet in a few seconds.
A void appears, consuming you, taking your thoughts both rational and fictional, and tearing them into tiny pieces. Uncertainty looms, confusion arrives, and your mind works overtime to try and regain control.
Mental and emotional free fall sets in, and you are along for the ride. Simple thoughts now become complex and confusing, the most mundane task seems like a chore. How could this all happen so fast?
Sometimes references in life can trigger you to draw parallels to your own business, be they fictional, or factual. First hand or a tale told by another, they are all relevant when your mind makes that connection.
Helpless, the fall is over, you have survived it, but are lost, in a strange place, no idea where you are, where to go to seek out the normality you crave so badly now. Searching the deepest corners of your mind, trying to find the reference you need to make sense of it all, and to get back to your crazy life you call reality.
Strength, lacking in it, you dig deep, a smile, a thought, just something to give you the strength you need right now, right this second to take control again, become the master of your own destiny once more, and shake free from the reigns which have guided you to this place.
Rise.... From the ground, collecting yourself, gathering your thoughts, drawing up your battle plan to once again be that person.
Welcome to the inner workings of my mind. Another epic mistake, a misunderstanding or simply over reaching? The question need not be answered, but the lesson must be learned.
Its not often that I can say this, but at this moment in time I actually feel really good. Mentally and physically. Usually when my mind is good my body is goofing around or vice versa, but I'm pleased to report that with one small exception, all is well!
So whats changed. I know, it must be that new year thing that happened a couple of weeks ago. The giant reset button in the sky that wipes away all our woes and worries of the year gone by and starts us off with a clean slate..... Errm no! Got it, new years resolutions, they are the key to success in life. Say something daft while drunk and on your knees on NYE and of course the stars align and life becomes super sweet.......Nope!
Its simple really, a lot of my troubles of years gone by are just that, left in years gone by. Of course I miss having mum around, and a small part of me misses the responsibility I finally found in caring for her. Purpose in life is important, and gives you a bit of drive to do at least something on a regular basis. Then there is routine. As boring as they seem, they are key in some peoples lives, and help us stay on track for what we want. Talking this morning I was asked what I was up to today, and I replied joking that it was the same as previous. But honestly, that's not a bad thing, to me at least.
So that is actually the answer to the above question of what changed. Routine... I found mine again. For me life is like a perpetual motion machine, and as long as the motion and activity remains regular, the machine never stops. In fact sometimes its so in sync that it will pick up momentum and I will soon be flying along. That's where I love being.
When my mind is occupied, busy and challenged, I'm at my best. My thought process goes into overdrive, my creativity increases, and my want to get things done grows exponentially. All of a sudden for example, I have the desire to write, lots and lots. Get a couple of my blogs back up and running, and get back to that happy sharing place that I thrive. The one thing missing from this equation is a little button covered device which once empowered me to write big long blogs on the spot, in the moment. My Blackberry!
A year ago, 75% of all my blogs came from my Blackberry's whichever I was using that day. The speed at which I can rattle off a stream of thoughts was incredible, and as much as I love Swiftkey on my Android phones, and tablets, I just cant seem to get my flow. Same with modern keyboards, who decided that all new keyboards should be wafer thin with flat lifeless keys on them. The same way my aunt once commented that she could not use a standard PC keyboard and far preferred her typewriter, I am caught in the same bind, but a generation later. Flat keyboards are indeed sexy to look at, and for general use are fine. But for really hammering out a long blog, I find them useless. Each to their own of course, and I'm sure similar comparisons exist throughout the world of input options.
Anyway, I digress, this is about me me meeeeeeee, not keyboard and devices of days gone by. Although I should point out that I am currently using a REAL keyboard, a good old fashioned noisy DELL standard keyboard. Hardcore Old School !!
So back to me... The other part of the feel good factor is physical. Getting the get up and go to get back in shape again, buff for summer, pleasing on the eye for the ladies and all that lol. Seriously though, for me its more health than vanity, but cannot deny that I love seeing the definition start to show again, and the shirts pull tight in all the right places, for all the right reasons. Sadly with that comes the desire for more tattoos, which obviously isn't a bad thing, but it can get expensive to have good quality ink on large areas **and flex **
Over the last couple of weeks I have returned to normal dog walking routines. Avoiding my must reach #10MilesADay goal, and just doing what I can, when I can. At the moment that's about 6-8 miles a day, and slowly increasing as my body adjusts. Unlike previous times I'm not rushing in and setting myself stupid goals. This time its all about steady lifestyle changes, and getting into the groove. Along with the daily walks, there is adjusted food intake, but still plentiful, and two short training sessions a day. Once in the morning with some simple physical activities likes press ups, dips and sit ups. And a PM routine on the multi gym hitting back, chest, and arms.. Glamour, glamour!
All in all its feeling good, core tightened, body got that lovely ache to it constantly, and both sitting and standing taller and stronger.
Enough about physical training though, that's what the other blog is for, right!
I guess I just wanted to make this entry for my own sake really. Looking back over years gone by there have been some super low emotional times around this time of year for me, so I'm doing my best to break the loop, and stay on track for my own good. Early every year has historically been bad with the whole Xmas and Birthday dramas, sadness about my daughter, and in more recent years now with Feb being my aunt and mums birthdays, and with my aunt actually passing on my mums birthday, its still a bit of a weird time for me. But, that said, no sadness, just happiness and celebration these days, even managing to get a little bit excited about my own birthday, only took a few decades to care about it haha.
So here's to positivity, being who you are, showing your true colours, and being that little bit selfish and self centred. After all, if you are not firing on all cylinders, what use are you to anyone else, right?
Thank you to little Miss Sweetie Drawers for the inspiration for this entry lol.
How many times have you ended a sentence with that line. Be it a rant, an explanation, or just a simple on line statement. It comes out so easy, looking for confirmation that we are in some way right, or at least being clear about what we are trying to convey.
But the truth is, a lot of the time we have just wasted our breath, or at the very least were not understood at all. "You know what I mean" has become the new "How are you?". An open and usually empty comment made during human contact. No harm done there eh?
Well, that depends really, on what we hoped to achieve from the exchange. If its a simple moan, who cares, you will have forgotten about it in no time at all. You probably owe the poor soul who listened to you a hug or something for enduring you. On the other hand, from time to time we all actually reach out, in hope of being understood, word for word, thought for thought. Sometimes its important to us that someone really does know what we mean. For sanity sake, our subconsciousness hunts for those physical and verbal cues which give confirmation we have made contact.
Whether you know it or not, we all seek some kind of connection. Not the general friendships and relationships that we thrive, but the deeper kind of connection. Not all sloppy and messy, but the sort that keeps us sane. It can be with anyone, a complete stranger, or someone you have known for years, and trust implicitly. Either way, whoever the person is, you need to be able to just unload on them. Let it all out, take a deep breath and say everything. Not be interrupted in your flow. And at the end of it, KNOW that if you were to say "you know what I mean", their response will be unfaltering when they say,"yes, I really do".
The problem with this of course is self esteem and pride. Because to be able to just let loose with emotions and thoughts, first you have to drop your guard and let that person close enough to hear as your mind whispers is deepest thoughts to you. In today's society we are all suckers for reputation, and think that its what people think about us that counts. Well, that's kinda true, but at the end of the day, anyone close enough to truly matter can see right through it all. What really matters is who we actually are. How we interact with others, and how true to our inner feelings our outer persona really is.
Year on year, famous, rich, happy people shock us. Dying from a cry for help suicide, coming out with shocking revelations about their private lives or childhoods. People who for the cameras look fine and dandy, but when it comes to it are miserable as sin. Fame and fortune, global stardom does not equate to a happy life. Quite the opposite in fact in some cases. Happiness is found within a circle of trust. Not quite like a Meet the Parents kinda way, but being able to allow a friend to comb through the memories in the back of our mind. To make sense of the things that bother us after many years, and most of all, not judge us.
Do you have a muse? A confidant? We all need one at some point in our lives. For me I would say I have had a few over the years. I guess in a way I'm blessed to communicate in such a way, that people understand what I am trying to get at. Also being able to speak with the confidence that whatever I am saying, I am not ashamed or embarrassed by it, and certainly don't regret it. For others, I know this is not so easy. Having been that person for many over the years, I never grow tired of spending time with someone until the doors are wide open and words are flowing freely.
Whatever our personality, however we cope with emotions and feelings, from time to time we all spill over and need to make sure that the sensitive overspill (not sure that's a very nice mental picture) ends up somewhere safe.
I know I do, and I look forwards to my next session, whenever that is, of speaking freely, and having a good old clean out.
As some of you may recall, a few years back I lost my mum to cancer after a long battle. In the wake of that, I started writing another blog called The Diaries of a Cancer Carer. The aim of this blog was mixed. Self help for myself, as an outlet of all the emotions and experiences , but also some kind of reference to others going through the same.
A short while into the writing, I kind of lost my way for a bit, so the writing ground to a halt. But recently I have been inspired to maybe give it another shot. I did buy a nice shiny new PC while back so I could carry on writing another old project, but I don't seem to have found my way back to it yet. Who knows, maybe this is what I need.
One thing I DO need is a proper keyboard. The one on the Dell, this one on my Chromebook, and the one on the laptop just are not up to the job of a proper keyboard pounding session.
SO...... Shall I knuckle down and get back on with it?
For years now I have been perceived in many different ways, from warm and caring, to cold and callous. I see myself somewhere in the middle, while I care about things that are important to me, I am somehow able to override or switch off from other emotions.
It seems the closer something or someone is to me, the more I am able to ignore or at least mask my feelings about it.
Over the years friends and family have become ill or died suddenly, yet I recall only ever crying once. When Adam died. The first person I had ever spent a lot of time with, dying. It was a bit of a shock to the system, but passed quickly. Previously to that my aunt had passed after a short illness, and while I was openly saddened by it, I somehow felt peace from knowing she wasn't hurting anymore.
But as the years have gone by, I recall crying very little, even about some rather traumatic times I have experienced. Is it normal not to cry, is it strong or weak to cry? Everyone has a different answer.
Personally I have no shame or fear of the emotion, and from past recollections, I remember feeling relieved and exhausted by the experience, but at the same time satisfied. So not being able to have a release when going through a tough time can really suck at times.
I have noticed over the past few years that I get choked up quite easily now, emotional stories, tear jerking films, or even moments which get the heart racing and adrenaline pumping around the body, the throat tightens, the eyes water, but it's far from crying.
Over a space of 4-5 years I have lost a lot of people very close and dear to me. When family you have known your whole life slowly slip away from you, you expect the mind and body to need a release, turn a page, start fresh, cleanse the soul and all that. But for some reason, for me, nothing! All just matter of fact, all just par for the course.
So great has my concern grown at times about this, I have actually sought counselling in the past, to talk through my feelings and see if there is either a trigger I'm missing, or a blockage in my mind stopping me letting go. Something from my past which makes me fear crying, but there isn't.
My only thought on the matter is that I have had a bit of a tough life in younger years, learned to be a bit of a loner due to things which have happened, and somehow shut down the part that shows weakness and sorrow. I can express it verbally, I can rationalise death so clearly, but just can't rally up the physical emotion.
It's a strange feeling, a horrible feeling, emotional constipation to be blunt. While I know there are people who think they are weak or silly to cry, people who mock crying, I can only envy those people who can actually tap in, and let go.
I have never grieved, rarely expressed emotion over any kind of break ups or partings of friends, and look on helplessly as others around me express their emotion on a common subject.
This isn't a strength, I know that for sure. And while it makes me a strong character, someone who can be relied on at a time of distress or upset, it is a weakness in the same breath. As you look to me to help you cope, as I hold you your hand and tell you it will be ok and to let it all out. Deep inside I envy you and wish we could swap for just one minute, and you could help me dig deep within my soul and open it up.
Not sure where this blog has come from, guess it's like the lava of a volcano bubbling away under the surface. It may never erupt, it may never be seen, but somewhere in the depths of me it a boiling pot of emotions.....
An epic adventure like that could only mean one thing (for me anyway), another roadtrip to collect another epic ink from the amazing Craig Foster.
Following the trip to Carrollton, GA (USA) earlier in the year, and hearing Craig would be just over the water in The Netherlands, it was a no brainer, and the planning for the trip begun. In fact the planning begun before Craig had even confirmed he had a slot free for me, but be prepared and all that.
About a week ago Craig confirmed that the wonderful Veerle London of Kingdom Tattoos in Alkmaar who was playing host to Craig for his trip, had agreed to let him open up on the Sunday (usually closed) and for him to do my tattoo for me. I can't thank the guys enough for making this happen.
So, after lots of planning, we decided on the 3.40am ferry to Calais from Dover. Getting up that early feels so wrong, and knowing you will be up for a long time to come yet boggles the mind, but it had to be done. Just after 1.30am we left my house on a miserable morning, and headed for the port. My companions on the trip were my as ever wonderful girlfriend Chantal, and a great friend of mine, and tattoo lover, Jason. The first leg of the trip was horrible and slow, but we made it in time, just about.
The weapon of choice for the trip.
Health and what? Smoking in the booth.
Made it with minutes to spare.
Waiting to board.
Park up tight now.
Once on board, and finally starting to wake up, we had a short walk around before stumbling across the food court. Serving hot food from 2am, well thats just dandy now. As we approached it was clear breakfast was being served, so it would be rude not to. Now being used to rip off prices on most transport systems, I was shocked when I was told that a 7 piece breakfast could be had for £7 and a 10 piece for £10. Aiming for a 10 piece I got picking, but gave up at 7 with a full plate. We all ate well, but here was mine. Delicious too I must say, well done P&O Ferries
One of the best full English breakfasts I have had in a long while.
Tummy full, and boat docking, it was time to get going. Our route would take us through France, into Belgium, and then onto The Netherlands, past Amsterdam and finally onto Alkmaar. Starting out in the dark, and Chantal's first time driving a RHD on the right side of the road, we slowly built up our pace. As we crossed into Belgium the sun started to rise, and the day was really starting, finally something to see.
Obligatory sunrise shots.
With full daylight reading roadsigns became easier, and seeing the sights became more pleasurable. One thing these countries have really embraced is wind turbines. Personally I love them, they can make a dull landscape come to life, are an amazing feat of technology, and after all, are green. Sadly all this excitement caused one of us to need a little nap... Jason !
On went the journey, and on marched my enjoyment of the scenery, and the taking of pictures. Bridges were the next thing to catch my attention, and some very artistic ones at that. Trying to snap shots from a moving car on a mobile phone, as it bumps and bounces over the roads is a challenge, but I managed here and there to get a few nice shots.
After what seemed like a short trip, even Chantal commenting that it had gone really quickly, and Jason having no idea how long it had taken due to sleeping, the sign we had all been waiting to see finally appeared. Alkmaar 44km
A short while later, we rolled into the cobbled streets of Alkmaar, and with the guidance of good old Google Maps found our way to the destination of the day, Kingdom Tattoos. Only down side was it was now about 9am on a Sunday morning in a town which barely opens before midday, if at all on a Sunday. Parked and ready to go, we decided for a little walk to familiarise ourselves with the area, and soak up some culture. First up, confirm where we were going later.
Kingdom Tattoos, 27 Dijk, Alkmaar
Now it was time for a little adventure, and a walk around the town. First off I have to say, quite simply beautiful. Full of lovely places to see, buildings old and new, canals, bridges, and of course.... the odd windmill. The next thing we noted was just how many people cycle around. I know its the stereotype of the Netherlands, people ride everywhere, but they really do! Old, young, trendy or plain, everyone zips around on their pushbikes, and very few of them on anything expensive or super high tech. The bike style is very generic and of years gone by. Function over form for a place which embraces the method of transport, and no lycra warriors.
So let me share with you a few of the sights we found on our morning walk. For which the weather was truly beautiful.
Windy Millers house
Look carefully, there is someone standing there
Calmer than the River Thames for sure.
Adventure over, and after a long and somewhat painful search for a public toilet to use, It was almost 1pm and time to hassle Craig to see if he was ready. Speaking of public toilets, they are really not easy to find, but after a long search we (I say we, I mean Chantal) found a shopping centre and there was one to use. The irony was, there was a toilet about 50ft from where we had parked the car, but instead we walked miles in search.
So we grabbed snacks and drinks, and headed back to the shop to wait for Craig, the wait was a short one, and within minutes we were in the warmth of the shop, and being greeted like old friends. The conversation carried on from where it last left off in Carrollton, and the fun began. I say fun as its the only word that describes spending time with Craig Foster. For a recognisable face, in the public eye (maybe not so much in Holland), he is such a grounded and friendly guy, who both me and Chantal enjoy being around. Not sure which is more addictive, his tattoos and art, or his personality. They are both equally as colourful.
Having sent reference pictures to Craig a week before, the basic idea for the tattoo was already out there, so now it was time for the master to get to work drawing another unique piece. With continual conversation throughout, in what seemed like no time Craig was having over his sketched and perfected design, signed and ready to add to my collection. Without having ever mentioned a few aspects of the desired design, I was delighted to see that he had put them in anyway. ESP or what! So here it is, the design.
A cartoon based, ScoobyDoo inspired, Alaskan Malamute by the master of Snactoos
Wasting no time, it was time to get this turned into a work of art, add some colour and go on a journey. On to the chair I hoped, and the fun started.
The bare canvas, complete with the original Gummy Sushi Bear Snactoo
Stencil placed, larger than envisioned, but fitted perfectly, without ever measuring.
Sushi Bear looking a little beaten up from a couple of healing issues (induced by me)
As the machines started buzzing, and the ink splashing, so the conversation started flowing. Obviously Ink Masters Season 5 came straight up, but over the course of the day the conversation would vary wildly, from stories of days gone by, to the future. Always a pleasure speaking to such an open and honest guy. Nice to be on the level with someone, rather that trying to see through a face or an ego. I look forward to the next conversations already.
Work continued, and the piece started to come to life. A few pictures of the journey below.
Craig Foster hard at work.
Still working
Outline done, lets get some colour in this
Colour, greys, and shading going in, someone is concentrating.
Starting to come to life.
Almost there, missing a little character.
And done... Finally all the colour in, and I am delighted!
After 6 or so hours in the presence of a true gentleman, and with Veerle and co back in the shop, it was time for cleaning up, wrapping up and farewells, and all the hugs anyone could want lol. The invite was made to go for dinner afterwards, but with time not on our side we had to sadly decline. Gutted, if we were staying over night it would happily have continued the fun late into the night. Genuinely sorry about that Craig, honest 🙁
Still in shorts, and about 7 degrees outside, I was looking a bit strange, so got my gangsta look on and made our way back to the car.
Back at the car, address punched into the nav, it was home time. Already a long day, there was a long road left ahead, but once again Chantal decided she would be the one driving, and got us underway. Fuelled up and ready to go, we hit the motorways, and before we knew it we were making good ground, oh and Jason... Well he was sleeping, again!
Zzzzzzz
Finally after a few adventures we made it to Calais. Having been due to check in at about 9.45, arriving at just before midnight was probably a little late to catch the ferry we had booked. Facing a £90 charge for booking onto a later ferry, we pulled up at check-in to try our luck. And it was with us! After a comment of 'you're late' the kind man put us on the next ferry for no fee. In fairness after the wait for border control who had...... ONE booth open, it was karma repaying us.
Once on the ferry, we once again sought hot food and comfort, and sat down to 1 x Fish and Chips for me, and a roast chicken dinner each for Chantal and Sleepy , oops Jason. Belly full, and boat underway, sleep was calling. But with every bottle in the food court clanging together for the whole trip, a good sleep was unlikely. Astonishingly for a short while we all dropped off. I could like to say it helped, but it was not long enough to, probably 5-10 mins in reality.
The last leg of the journey once off the ferry started with torrential rain, enough to wake anyone up, well 2 out of 3 at least. Finally arriving home around 2am I think, it brought an end to what I can only describe as an epic adventure, and one I would happily do again if any one of us was set to come away with such satisfaction. Did I mention I love my tattoo?
So I will finish up with a few pictures that didn't fit anywhere else, and some thanks. Thanks to P&O Ferries for great food, good service, and the waiving of the rebooking fee. Thanks to Jason for providing company, conversation, entertainment, and of course being a great friend. Glad you came along for the journey. Thanks to Lou too for the hall pass. Huge thanks to Chantal for putting up with my stupid ideas, doing so much driving on the day, and just being an awesome girlfriend. Thanks to Kingdom Tattoos in Alkmaar for playing host to us on a day which they would usually be closed. Its great to meet people like Veerle, happy , fun and easy going, as well as generous. You can see her own work on Instagram here Craig Fosters work can be found here. And last but by NO means least. A MASSIVE thank you to Craig Foster, the Snactoo master, of Skinwerks Amazing work as ever, so very accommodating, an has a way of just making a day of tattooing something special. Can't wait til our paths cross again, and in the meantime I wish you good fortune and good health.
The walls of the shop
6ft tattoo machine in graffiti. Amazing
My small but growing collection of Skinwerks art.
And........ The finished piece. Both original Craig Foster pieces, and just the start of what is to come.
I like to consider myself fair (other of course don't but hey..) So when something I have been moaning about is resolved, its only fair to say so, and not make it look like the 'target' of the other blog entries is still in my bad books.
So a while back I contacted Bromley asking what the outcome of the PCN appeal was, and received back a very short and somewhat informal reply saying what I read as 'oh drop it will you'.
Needless to say my response was fast and forthcoming, and as a result to tweeting the link to the blog entry, received some attention.
Today I received a very polite and detailed response from Bromley Parking, in which they highlighted the vague response initially given, and this time put a bit more meat on the bones as to why the decision had been made to overturn the PCN. The reason given originally was 'clerical error', however I wanted to know exactly what that meant. To be more precise, the original response to my first appeal pointed out there were signs warning of the CPZ on London Road, on the way into Bromley, where in fact there were not. As this had been stated in the reason to refuse the appeal, it was deemed (and I agree) an incorrect statement, therefore the PCN was cancelled.
SO, I can officially after just under a year, draw a line under the matter. Lessons learned are Bromley has a vaguely signed CPZ, so use a car park at all times, and never assume a single yellow is safe. Also, Bromley appears to have no plans to increase the signage for the said CPZ, so again, use a proper car park to be safe.
I would like to thank Bromley Parking for taking the time to look exhaustively into this matter, and truly appreciate the time being taken to read the blog, consider my point made re the sign location, and get back to me with a polite, detailed response. I would also like to apologise openly for publishing the names of the parking officers and other staff involved in this whole affair without consulting them or seeking their permission. I will of course edit these out.
