Getting The Needle

Getting the Needle...

I have a tattoo on my lower back which is my only one. I was desperate to get a tattoo from my early teens but luckily I was persuaded  *read 'forced'* by my sensible parents to wait until adulthood before finally getting inked. Otherwise I suspect I'd now be saving up for removal of a yin-yang symbol and an acid house smiley! None of my family members have tattoos and my parents were always adamant I couldn't do this "whilst you're living under my [their] roof" until I was at least 18 and made it known they wouldn't be thrilled after this point either.

At the reasonably sensible age of 22 (hmmm) I took a design I'd liked for a long time into the tattoo parlour in Soho and after badgering them with health & safety questions about autoclaves and so on, I was tattooed by a lovely lady with amazing flower vines covering both her legs. During my twenties I loved my tattoo and relished any opportunity to display it. It was even worth the embarrassment of purchasing Preparation H** from my sexy local pharmacist for its aftercare, whilst loudly proclaiming "it's for my new tattoo". I didn't anticipate buying that again but alas, along came children (but that's another post altogether).

Rapidly approaching the slightly more mature age of 32, it's not that I don't like it anymore and I haven't considered getting it removed, it's just that I don't have the figure I once did (Ladies & Gents roll up, roll up for THE understatement of the year) and consequently no longer wear long slung jeans and waist-revealing/backless tops so it spends all year under layer upon layer of baggy clothing. To be honest I forget it's there, except when I accidentally catch sight of it in the mirror. I just wonder whether if given the option to have it magically disappear with no painful laser treatment and no expense whether I'd say "Yes" and I suspect I probably would. I guess those seriously dedicated to their body art have words for people like me who have had a single tattoo in the name of fashion, answers on a postcard please...

I have to confess when I was deciding on its placement I was, what tattoo enthusiasts would probably call, a coward. As I deliberately chose a place on my body where it could easily been concealed when it suited me. This was primarily due to the fact that I worked in Financial Markets where I felt judgements would be instantly made. I know that nobody wants to be branded (pardon the pun) according to the ink in their skin but people regularly use looks (including clothing, hair, make up, etc.) as instant cues to form first impressions, regardless of whether or not you think this is how it should work. 

Despite the fact tattoos are relatively mainstream nowadays, I believe some prejudice around "the tattooed" still exists and unless you REALLY don't give two hoots what others think, then I imagine you may agree with my "can I cover it up?' logic. I'm aware of the argument that people who would judge you on first impressions wouldn't be worth knowing anyway and I agree, to a point, but there are lots of times in my life when I only had a single chance to create a professional initial impression and this was important to me. Many people claim that the tattooed don't judge the non-tattooed for their abstinence so why is it ok in reverse? I'm not advocating that it is ok, I'm simply saying that whether we like it or not people make snap judgements every day based on appearances of others and having a tattoo assists people in pigeonholing you.

I have also contemplated whether becoming a parent and setting myself up for having to answer my children's, perfectly reasonable, questions about what I have on my back, what it's made from, etc. has altered my opinion. Again, I think I would say that it had. I feel slightly embarrassed at the prospect of having to answer such questions and explain my choices when deep down I know that I would try to dissuade my own children from having tattoos in their teens/early twenties in case it was a passing phase they later regretted. I don't think you can ever be 100% certain a tattoo wont fall out of your favour. There's a family story about an uncle twice removed (or similarly close relation!) who was married to Betty but had a large tattoo on his chest proclaiming his love for "Elizabeth". Betty then had to rest her head on Elizabeth every night for their entire married life! I have also encountered people (sly code for ex-boyfriend at Uni) who had brands tattooed on their person that have since gone into liquidation. 

So I'm interested to know what your stance is on tattoos, either for yourself or your children when they're older? With a fifth of all Brits now sporting some ink, do you think the trend is likely to continue into the next generation or has it become so popular as to render it uncool? I have to confess I now know more people with tattoos than without them.  

**Preparation H is hemorrhoid cream **

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Legacy of life what's yours ? (Letter to sixteen year old self)

Life's too short to moan isn't it?

Blink and you will miss the wonderful world that is around your life is for living after all its not a rehearsal and your life is like the London 2012 is a legacy for all. So it might be raining , the bankers have all our money you've burnt your toast again. So stop feeling like the superb film that is 'Wonderful life ' and how the world would cope without you are just get on with living!.


Like the Olympians that have thrilled us with their humbling humanity who just get on with their lives.

You might not be everyone cup of tea so what  if you could go back in time what would you write to your sixteen year old self . What would be your legacy of life?

Well this is my sons letter to his sixteen year old self . You know the drill the sort of letter you would write to your sixteen year old self. He is only thirteen and his letter is very in depth and very humbling. Its something that we as adults could learn from. To often we are cliched about teenager, how they are too angst and likening them to Kevin and Perry. And when we try to talk to them a tumbled weed bounces through the room.

Its frightening to see my son feels at times how I felt at his age and still feel at times. So its time to give him a positive legacy for the challenges of life that he will face. All he needs to know is that he will not be alone when he does so.


So I from now on put my confident boots on and leave my "worry boots" behind.

Spring is a little confused

Source: picmonkey.com via Claire on Pinterest

The weather , that great British topic theres's not a day when we don't talk about the weather in some form or other! This time last year it was baking hot and the BBQ adverts on television were more tangible! But now as I watch the same BBQ advert and then turn to my window , I find I am faced with a blanket of snow.

I do love snow but when it's meant to snow...

In Winter snow is somewhat mystical at Christmas .

Snow in March is completely bonkers.

Taken with my husbands Nikon Ds3100 with a 50 -200mm lens.

Bouldering Into a Natural Childhood.

We have always gone out of our way as parents to provide J with different adventures we have been to some far flung places but you can still have adventures at home and it doesn't have to cost you any money. ( most of the time)


And how would have thought in the middle of the urban jungle that is New York would you have thought you could have gone bouldering.

The National Trust has a list of things to do before you are 11 3/4


1. Climb a tree

2. Roll down a really big hill

3. Camp out in the wild

4. Build a den 

5. Skim a stone

6. Run around in the rain

7. Fly a kite

8. Catch a fish with a net

9. Eat an apple straight from a tree

10. Play conkers

11. Throw some snow 

12. Hunt for treasure on the beach

13. Make a mud pie

14. Dam a stream

15. Go sledging

16. Bury someone in the sand

17. Set up a snail race

18. Balance on a fallen tree

19. Swing on a rope swing

20. Make a mud slide

21. Eat blackberries growing in the wild

22. Take a look inside a tree

23. Visit an island

24. Feel like you're flying in the wind

25. Make a grass trumpet

26. Hunt for fossils and bones

27. Watch the sun wake up

28. Climb a huge hill

29. Get behind a waterfall

30. Feed a bird from your hand

31. Hunt for bugs

32. Find some frogspawn

33. Catch a butterfly in a net

34. Track wild animals

35. Discover what's in a pond

36. Call an owl

37. Check out the crazy creatures in a rock pool

38. Bring up a butterfly

39. Catch a crab

40. Go on a nature walk at night

41. Plant it, grow it, eat it

42. Go wild swimming

43. Go rafting

44. Light a fire without matches

45. Find your way with a map and compass

46. Try bouldering

47. Cook on a campfire

48. Try abseiling

49. Find a geocache

50. Canoe down a river 

The simplest of things ...

Quite simply coming out of school one day I reflected what a super day I had, had .

When one of the children turned to me and said " Are your mummy and daddy picking you up "

Awwh , just awwh


I love the thinking of children and how considerate they can be ...

Any troubles in my head just simply floated away ....