#tattoo

67 AND LUVIN’ IT

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

Being 67 years old is amazing. I’m speaking with 7 days (1 week) of experience.

The prelude to being 67 years old started 2 days before my birthday when my childhood and schoolmate friend, Charles “Bijou” Rozario sent me birthday wishes with beautiful blessings. Charles himself, has a story to tell. Me telling his story will not do enough justice to it. He has to tell it himself.

This followed an awesome fellowship of a pre-birthday lunch. A phone call led to showing up 45 minutes later to pick me up. Patrick & Hazel Archibald – some of the dearest people to my wife – Jeannie, and I. Lunch was simple, yet delicious, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable. Hazel’s father joined us for lunch. The impromptu-ness made it all the more a nice time to remember.

With Charles being the first to send me birthday greetings, I have received countless birthday greetings either in person or through the many communication avenues, mainly social media. I have read all the wonderful messages from all you wonderful people – what a way for me to give thanks for the 67 years of living experience and to usher in my 68th year.

I don’t know where to begin with thanking all you wonderful people – social media can be a boon as well as a bane. A boon where everyone connects with me and sends greetings. A bane when it becomes quite tricky in trying to trace back all those who sent birthday greetings for me to thank each and everyone of them personally. Haha. The many groups’ and threads’ feeds seem to get entangled with each other and with other posts’ feeds that I may miss out on thanking some people.

Thank you, each and everyone, family and friends; for the wonderful birthday wishes and messages. These wishes and messages have given an extra oomph to the beginning of my 68th year of life.

On my birthday itself, Leslie Quak, my classmate from school and close friend, treated me for lunch at a restaurant called CapoDelCarne in USJ Heights – a quiet place, where we could talk at a leisurely volumed voice. The meal was good – we both had pasta, Leslie’s a different variant from mine. It was nice to be in the present.

Lunch with school classmate and close friend, Leslie Quak.

Lunch on July 10th – birthday.

Jeannie and I made it a point to go for mass in the evening at St. Thomas More Church. There, we were met by Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Perera, regulars of evening mass at this parish. They acquired a copy of my book, SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT. We also met my cousins, Dato’ Ronald Gomes and his wife, Datin Debbie Gomes, and; Christopher Nalliah and his wife, Evalina Nalliah.

The cousins and wives and us adjourned to Big Daddy’s for dinner. Big Daddy’s is a little restaurant & pub in Taipan, USJ. Serving mainly western cuisine; many of their patrons were there for the pub. It had a nice atmosphere.

Clockwise: Jeannie, Datin Debbie Gomes, Dato’ Ronald Gomes, Christopher & Evalina Nalliah, and self.

The food was decently good. After dinner, we had what is known locally as “the cake cutting ceremony”. Candles were lit, all 67 of them, or at least it looked like there were 67 (when lit – had to qualify myself).

Cut the cake. The cake was cutted.😉

I cutted what looked like a fruit – inspired cake. Lots of fruit decorated the top of the cake. The cake was good. The cake should have been bigger to accommodate more candles.😁🤣

What a day July 10th was, and the days leading up to it. The highlight of the day was when I received a telephone call from my mum and dad with a help of their caregiver, to wish me for my birthday. Mum who is 88 years young and dad who is 93 years spritely, chatted with me for a while. This telephone call was a gift from my parents – a gift that a value cannot be placed. Grateful!

Stronger Than The Storm – designed by me – a new edition marking the next 66 years.

I had to make a statement for the next 66 years – I got tattooed with a tattoo (Stronger Than The Storm) which was partly designed by me. It means that I am the first one with this design. Soon was the tattooist. As usual, he did a great job.

“Stronger Than The Storm” – Looks really great.

OK. My report card for the first week of me being 67 years, going on 68 is done. In an article to come, I will discuss of what it feels like to be 67 years old. I am already quite qualified, and now, having just completed the first week of my 68th year. I have to admit, it is not like what I had envisioned, so you have hope, too.

I am not too sure whether it is age or whether it is because I am a writer, I tend to look at things differently. One thing is for sure.. call it stubboness…I refuse to give up my rights to think. A vast number of people today are giving away their rights without even as much of a flinch. It’s probably because…er…they don’t think.

One more thing…The next book title… coming.

JUDITH, MY TUDOR FRIEND AND NEIGHBOUR

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

Tudor is England, a little enclave in Subang Jaya. It is a little (yes, little; as it is made up of just over 190 houses) in this private section of Subang Jaya. For those of you who have immediately pulled out the map of Subang Jaya, and / or England trying to verify and find the “England” (not English😉😁- you will know by the way they speak. “Like that one oso got mah / meh / lah!) of Subang Jaya; or if Subang Jaya is in England; first of all you are a bit (maybe a lot more) out of date. Today, nobody makes use of maps. It is A.I., ChatGTB (or is it ChatTBC or ChatGBT), CoPilot or Google. No need smart one, oso can. The Queen’s (now the King’s, though not as popular) English has been run over by the English of people in the street, Malaysia. Haha.

Judith and her husband, Rueben; are our good friends from our Tudor neighbourhood. They live a street (though “road” is more commonly used in these parts) away, about 3 minutes walk away from us. Judith and I have found a sort of new common interest, even Rueben is into it – tattoos.

Some years ago, when my daughter, Laura was in early teenage years, she said she was going to get a tattoo one day. So, as a means to deter her or even delay the idea from her getting one; I said, “If you get a tattoo, so will I”. There I said it, with a hint that it might be one that is the same as what she gets. I was quite sure (not very sure, mind you) that it was sure to put her off the idea of tattoos, or put it on the backburner for a long time to come.

Guess what? “Long time” was so long that it snuck right up on me without me even realising it. Fast forward to October 2023: Out of the blue, Laura said, “Dad, I am getting a tattoo this Saturday”. Remember, I am not one of those normal parents who might have retorted, “Over my dead body, young lady!”. I said, “o.k.. Remember the deal I made with you? If you get a tattoo, so will I. Well, so will I”. There, I said it. That otta (supposed to be, “ought to) give her second thoughts.

My advice to parents who want to play the “I dare you” game”: it ain’t gonna work. Laura said, “Ok”. Now, I was stuck in a bind. I didn’t want to get a tattoo, but I had to. 😂🤣🥲😥😓😭😰

It started with my first tattoo:

My first tattoo

Before the guy even started microscopically hammer-drilling the tattoo in, I asked, “Is it over?”. The rest as they (Who are “they?”) say, is history.

Judith and Rueben both have pretty unique, bold tattoos. Impressive, especially Judith’s latest.

From my first tattoo in October 2023, to the latest – my 7th. While Judith and I were discussing through text just after I showed her via WhatsApp, my 6th tattoo; she said she would also like a copy of my newly published book, SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT.

I personally delivered her copy to her home. Jeannie was with me at that time. They started talking about Jeannie’s JEANNIE’S OWN Batik Capes. It so happened that Jeannie had her latest creation with her. Judith saw. Judith acquired. 😁

I also took the opportunity to show Judith my 7th. and most painful tattoo. I sort of designed the picture for the tattoo a little bit. The picture shows ideas and sparks of joy coming from reading books (perhaps mine?😉), the galaxy and lightning strikes to seize the moment. I may right an essay on my tattoos…will see.

Judith is now amongst the growing number of Tudorians from our Tudor neighbourhood who owns a copy of SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT. Someone today, asked me if there are enough copies of the book to go around. I told her that my publisher is at hand to get more copies out.

Jeannie and I had such fun catching up with Judith, even if it was for a little while. Judith is one of those who is the future of today. Bright. Endless possibilities.

Judith, with her copy of SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT.

Judith and her personalised copy.

Sparks of joy and ideas coming from my book (s) – My 7th tattoo. 😊

One of Jeannie’s, JEANNIE’S OWN latest creations.
Another of Jeannie’s JEANNIE’S OWN latest creations.

A ROSE IS BUT A ROSE, UNLESS IT’S TATTOO-ED

/ Alan Atkinson / 1 Comment

A touch up, a minor one at that; is supposed to be with minor pain. “It is only logical”, as Spock of Star Trek would say. Hah! I think this is an irritating pain.

One thing led to another, and I began looking for another tattoo on the net. I was just going to see what was new, that was all. From one set to another to another, to other sites…the latest…the greatest…2024 small tattoos… for men… finger…arm…shoulder. The internet was flooded with what everyone of them said of the sites they were promoting: theirs was the best.

Then to choose one which has a meaning.. a symbol…, there was an infinite number to choose from. I stayed away from the ones that looked scary. I didn’t want to choose one that if I was to wake up in the middle of the night, would scare me out of my skin.

I chose some designs, finally; after more than an hour of searching. They each had a nice meaning linked to it. My final choice was between a rose and the word “continue”.
I chose to give meaning of my own: Rose is a symbol of life, love and beauty. In any situation, it picks itself up and continues to add value to beauty and its surroundings. The word “continue” means we have to continue to strive for more than the best in all we do.

Like in most times, I always sought the opinions of the ones closest to me. Laura just had her second tattoo done. She said it was between the rose and the wave pictures. The rose ended up as the winner.

Rose

Wave

Before last night, I had no plans of getting another tattoo. I was just going for a touch up to the last tattoo I had done, only.

I got to the Dr Ink Studio a few minutes before my appointment time. I had to go through the usual: one of the employees sprayed a light disinfectant around me. I met Soon, who was his usually very pleasant, polite and courteous self.

Soon showed me to the chair that I would be sitting on , while he did the touch up. I also told him about my choice of the rose.

Should I say, “Ouch” or “Oo-la-la”? My first tattoo touchup.

A touch up, a minor one at that; is supposed to be with minor pain. “It is only logical”, as Spock of Star Trek would say. Hah! I think this is an irritating pain, somehow even more painful than when it was first done.

Before Soon started on the new tattoo; I asked him multiple x multiple (instead of using the word “many” – being American) questions like how much pain will I really be going through since that the thumb area was a sensitive area with constant movement. I was expecting him to say, “It isn’t going to be very painful”. However, he said it was going to be slightly more painful that the tattoo done on my arm. My questions were based more on my concerns of taking care of the tattoo just after its done for the next few days. He allayed all my concerns.

I said, “Let’s do it!”

Then, I realised it was shaving cream, which had disinfectant properties, too. Here, Soon shaves off whatever hair(s) I may have in that area.
At first, I thought this was a disinfectant, applied.

Whatever residue balanced, is wiped clean.

Steady as it goes: the exact placement where I want it to be and where it will look at its best all the time.
The stencil-ed picture is transferred on. The stencil is then removed before the procedure starts.

The ink.
The outline already looks good.

The saline is supposed to lighten the colour of the ink a bit (I think) to create hues of colour(in this case, black).

The procedure: Microscopic injecting of the ink.
One painful leaf almost done. The rest of the picture to go.

Done. The masterpiece.

I was impressed with the professionalism that Soon displayed in carrying out this task. All you gals n guys wanting to get tattoos done, should see Soon.

Should you get a tattoo or tattoos done? If you are thinking about it, now is a good time as ever.

A rose is but a rose… unless it’s tattoo-ed. Then, it is a rose, tattoo-ed. It reminds you that life is about love, and love is about life.

NOTES:
The ink is injected INTO the skin. Artists create your tattoo by injecting ink into your skin using an electrically powered tattoo machine. This machine looks and sounds like a dental drill, with a needle that moves up and down to puncture the skin between 50 and 3,000 times per minute.

Any More Bright Ideas?

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

The Sequel to “Keeping A Promise” http://leatherpotato.com/2023/10/25/keeping-a-promise/

Laura did it. She finally did. I made a pact that I would get one done if and when she got one done. And she finally did, a couple of days ago. So, now it was my turn. I wasn’t too thrilled about it.

I guess what kept me from getting one in my younger days (just so that you know, I am still young. Old is when you pass 120) is, I never saw the want or need to get one, let alone, use my whole body as a canvas for this “art”. Another major factor was that I was a regular platelets and blood donor until I reached the age of 60 years.

In the parlour. The modern description is now known as “studio”.

What once was the future, is now the present.

So, here I am, waiting to begin this new experience.

Yeah, I could have backed out. No pressure. Heck! That’s not me.

I decided on a picture of a lightbulb with the word “IDEA” on it to constantly remind me that all things are possible. From a thought, an idea emerges. It’s inspiration!😁

Soon, the tattooist, soon (pun not intended) came back with three sizes of the picture for me to choose from. I chose the smallest (yes, because there is less area to cover which translate into less pain) as it fitted nicely just above my wrist.

Marked for perfect placing with red dots, the picture was then transferred from the stencil (more like a decal) on to my hand.

I looked at the transferred picture on my hand and thought to myself that this was going to take longer than I expected. Couldn’t I have chosen a simpler picture? Perhaps an even smaller one? Looks like now was not the time to consider having two minds about going ahead with it.

Soon shaved off whatever hairs (if any) that I may have had on my wrist. Then he applied a thin gel (possible an antiseptic).

He was then, ready to proceed with what he called the artwork. He said the whole procedure would take 40 minutes. So, ya, let’s do it.

Then, he started. Who are the “they” who said it was not painful. It was a whole lot painful. Maybe, my wrist is a sensitive area to pain. I think I am sensitive to pain all over. 😅

My version of pain, taking it with a smile.

I started looking at my watch ever so often, to check how much longer of this 40 minute procedure was left. Oh! A minute has passed with 39 minutes to go. Before long, I was checking the time again. I tried to catch up on the latest news postings on the net, using my phone. However, there didn’t seem to be enough news that I was interested in, to fill the time.

I started video-ing the procedure. And, by jove; the time flew by quite quickly.

It was finished. That wasn’t too bad. In fact, not a prob. The work was really nice. I liked it. The yellow shine will show more prominently once the redness of my skin fades away, and the light (pun not intended) 😉scabs come off, with new skin to replace it.

Soon, the tattooist, is a pro; that is for sure. He explained the whole process, from getting the stencil done, to the choosing the right size, to making the transfer permanently. He then, explained what I was to expect immediately (within hours) after this, how to take care of it and keep it clean and dry over the next few days, and the other do’s and don’ts. He gave a sachet of Fougera Vitamin A + D ointment to apply in case of dry skin irritation. I was very impressed with him. He gave top notch service from the very moment I entered the studio, right up to the time I was leaving.

I am not sure why his contact that Laura forwarded me is “Soon – Rabbit Tattoo”. This studio, “Dr.Ink Tattoo Studio” is located in SS15, Subang Jaya. If any of you readers is in the market for a tattoo with first class treatment and from what I saw, a large, very well equipped tattoo studio; this could be the place for your next tattoo or if you are like me; your first tattoo.

What is my next idea? Check it out in my next article.

#bucket list