asradin

I've gotten a fair amount of coverage in 3 years, my upper front torso and upper arms, I'm starting my back soon as well. I do worry about running out of space eventually but I'm just enjoying getting them at the moment, and even more so to looking in the mirror at my full body suite, knowing that I've achieved something. I hope I can pace myself so I can be finished by around the time I'm 50 which gives me another 26 years but a part of me knows I'll be finished before then. As long as I enjoy the journey I don't care

Just watched part 3 now and I was completely blown away. It's made me want to get tattooed by him even more than I already did. Such an inspirational artist and person.

I'd advise you to read this thread: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-101/915-tattooers-little-no-tattoos.html

Thanks for sharing that Jaycel. Was an interesting read, although I think the guy who works in Acedemia is very lucky. I also work in Academia and haven't been sheltered from some of the things he has with regards to tattoos. Most of the lecturers I work with know I have my upper arms tattooed but not my entire front torso. I've been asked about them (even whilst I was having an exam for my Masters) and I guess I've always felt I've had to prove myself because of them which is stupid I know. I also agree with Kev, I like having a lot of tattoos that only I get to see on a regular basis. I don't think the stigma of tattoos will ever be completely overcome in the work place, but it makes me a lot happier knowing that some of you on here have positive experiences with visible tattoos at work :)

As much as I'd love to get covered I doubt that I'll really be able to get anything done below my elbows. Although I work in a University, the people I work for tend to be 30 or so years older than me and they still have the view that tattoos are for "less tan reputable" people which means I have to keep myself covered most of the time. Added to that, the "big names" I want to work for all have the old fashioned view and I know that until I'm on an equal level with them (which could take another 30 years) I won't be able to get many if any visible tattoos. I don't mind though, just means I'm saving the easy spots like forearms until last :D

Cool, I'll have a look for them in my post tattoo haze come october. I'm sure a few beers will make the train ride home more interesting as well

I normally get off at totenham court road tube station so it's only a few minutes walk, and if I'm actually ever early I normally sit in soho square to relax and have a drink. Are there any good pubs around Frith Street for a drink? I think after my first session on my back piece I'll need one.

I normally get the train to London before hand, eat something on the train and then run like mad across London because my train always arrives late even if I get the earlier one. During I normally have a sugary drink and try not to laugh or move to much. Afterwards it's back on the train for another 2-3hours whilst I eat a big chocolate bar and then home, shower and more food. The only part of London I know is the route from the tube station to frith street lol :P

Oh I also got this on my foot from Frank Carter two weeks before the hourglass from Stewart. Not that recent I know but the latest ones I got. Next is a back piece from Stewart as well :)

I got this hourglass done by Stewart Robson about a month ago. The black/grey badly done stuff was done by a guy in Manchester but I don't believe in cover ups, but I've learnt me lesson now :P

For me it,s my face, neck and nothing below the elbow at the moment because of the career I want to go into. Also no cock or balls, and I still haven't been convinced to get my nipples coloured in even though the owls wing with a nipple right in the middle of it looks a bit funny at times. Anywhere else if fair game for me at the moment

Loved that episode and can't wait to see the next two. It's so good to be able to watch a program where the show is actually about tattoos and not some sob story. Does anyone know how many episodes in total they are planning on doing?

I didn't think the stomach was too bad, less painful than right next to the nipple after being shaded on your sternum. I'm looking forward to seeing how my back is, and then it's onto the fun of ribs :D

I think the most painful spot for me so far had to be the small amount I got on my ribs and the sternum, although it wasn't that bad, it just took a lot of effort to stay still whilst Stewart was singing the sternum song and I'm trying not to laugh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snlRs-s5z3w

There is a teaser for Grime which is out now. Valerie Vargas linked it on her twitter and the first full length episode for Grime is out on 10th August. Really can't wait :)

Thanks Stewart. I'm doing just that, keeping money aside just incase. Also I have the advantage that because I'm at the University in Manchester I have access to the library which has a huge "special collection" which includes originals and copies of pieces of text dating back to I don't know when. I'm just trawling through the library catalogue at the moment to see if there is anything useful or interesting.

I have some song titles/lyrics from the Vheissu album by Thrice which I love and they fit in nicely on the banners of my tattoos. On an unrealted not I have the 4 element symbols from the 5th Element film. It was my second tattoo and to this day I still chuckle whenever I see it.

Thanks, they look really cool and I'll add them to my reading list along with all the other books in this thread. I think there is an older thread with some other tattoo book suggestions but I don't know how to link it. Also the reference sections of the books I've been reading are gold mines. Although I think finding a copy of an explorer's diary from 1764 might be a bit of a task but it should make for interesting reading :)

I haven't heard about those. Do they have a lot of history in them or are they mainly photos of people's work? Where did you get them from if you don't mind me asking?

Just finished reading These Old Blue Arms, was really interesting and I love all the photos of the early 1900's people with full body suits. Just something about that look really speaks to me. I've also been reading a book which gives brief introductions to the history of tattooing in different nations especially places like Samoa and other Islands. Really interesting and it's cool to see where things first started. Has anyone else read These Old Blue Arms? If so what did you think?

I heard about the museum in Liverpool. I'm planning to go and see it sometime in September when I'm not doing a million and one things at weekends. I did really enjoy the book though and it was insightful. I bought it for a few of my friends and they all agreed as well. Plus I just love the old style that it's written in.

JAllen: That was the first book I read on tattoo history. Really enjoyed it although I didn't agree with his theory that tattooing is esentially a homo erotic experience but it was very interesting.

Blue Monkey: Thanks for the suggestion. I've ordered it and I'm waiting for it to arrive in the next few days.

I've now got a huge wishlist of books that I'll be slowly filling my bookshelf with to go with all the fantasy novels and chemistry text books. Thanks again everyone

Laphroaig is the whisky I drink the most, although I'm partial to any single malt from the Islay region. I just prefer the smokier/peatier taste and texture that you get with them. Having said that one of the best whiskys I've ever tasted was on a trip to a distillery called the Bladnoch Distillery. I think they were one of the smaller distilleries that produced stuff to go into the blended Bell's whisky, but we bought a couple of their single casks. I want to go back there just to get some more, it was the smoothest and possibly most complex whisky I've ever tasted.

The longest session I had was on the outside of my upper right arm. Coloured pretty much the entire outside of it in 6 hours as well as parts of the shoulder. I didn't find it too bad but it was the outside of my arm...