As part of an accelerating spiral of liberating madness which has so far this year seen me:

– have an affair with a considerably younger woman;
– end my marriage;
– resign from my job;
– buy a black and gold patterned duvet cover;
– decide to move to another city;
– dabble in internet dating; and
– acquire a Canadian-built long-travel hardtail frame

I have decided to act on the nagging feeling that I should have a tattoo.

This will take the form of a bleeding heart, with small scrolly-thing reading "Dust", based as closely as possible on the tiny Jo Burt sticker of the same nature that I had on my suspension fork lowers in 2003 and will be located on my drive-side calf. So far so good.

I appreciate that this is a simple design job, but I do want decent colour work. Anyone recommend anywhere particularly in the environs of London?

Thanks all

Jon 😀

I cannot wait to hit my early 30s

Quite. I'm pacing myself. 🙂

My lord you are going to be a bit rock and roll for B****** S*****.

😉

I take the view that they did not insist on checking me for tattoos when they interviewed me, so they cannot be that interested in the matter. 😉

It's been a hell of a year.

EDIT: …so far…

(btw I've got a job coming up that needs some DPM. Do you have any left over?)

Sorry dd, it was all utterly ruined. 🙂

I'm serious about a recommendation please-please-pretty-please. Idon't want to be in TATTOO FAIL territory come Monday morning.

Sorry, can't help with the tattoo rec. There is surely an Inkletrackworld somewhere no?

Be prepared to be treated like a Reebok bike rider would be treated here though 🙂

ask Jo first – you don't want him demanding the image back in a fit of 'it's my copyright, you know!' 😉

From your description I can highly recommend Strangey @ Nutz Tattoo, specialises in 50's retro style / high colour stuff.

They're in ware, so bit of a journey out, but doable. Its the only place I'd go.

How about something more practical?
OS map on your stomach, gear tables on your forearm.
A nice list of miles to km conversions would be handy.

isnt there "London Ink" somewhere….
dunno why we had to know your life history tho ? has this got something to do with your tattoo?
i want a tattoo but sum people say im too old for one ? never knew there was an age limit ? lol. i dont even look my age anyhow…wtf has age gotta do with it….

London Ink was a fictional studio set up for a TV series. A friend of mine (Tony the Butcher) got his Angel of Meat half sleeve from Louis Malloy as part of Series 2.

Phil Kyle (one of the other artists on London Ink) has a studio in Brighton (Magnum Opus). I think Dan Gold also has a studio in London.

Big Dummy – call Evil in the Needle and see if Inma still works there. I know she works at Magnum Opus in Brighton Thursday and Friday, but not sure if she still works in London anymore. Inma's work is pretty amazing (take a look at her My Space galleries).

LOL at BigDummy. 😀

I can empathise having been through some of these things myself. In fact I asked the very same (tattoo) question on here a while back.

But, I am a typical woman, and I do change my mind. In the end I decided money would be better spent on bike bits, killer heels, luxury lingerie, botox etc. 🙄

Of course being a lady I would never divulge my, er, eventual indulgence. 😉

Good luck with your decision though!

My lord you are going to be a bit rock and roll for B****** S*****.

Your bro told me you were considering Brizzle. Had no idea you'd decided to see it through.

Good choice that man.

When I was a trainee, one of the corporate partners resigned suddenly at Christmas and left the firm immediately. He was next seen by one of his previous assistants at the airport on the way to the fooball European Champs, bare chested and draped in a Union Flag entirely (and I'm including head and face) covered in tattoos.

Heed this as a warning. 😀

Was this him?

The very same. Where'd you get that from? And do I know you?

Oh, and I saw him riding a bike about 6 months ago – thought he had mud on his face until I got up close.

the Family Business is where you want to be. Mo copoletta is The best in London, if not the UK, and he also brings in some amazing guest artists from around the world from month to month. I have a couple of friends in Newcastle who only use him, traveling to london regularly

BD- does this mean you are moving to Bristol?
Gosh.
I guess I owe you a drink or two.
Just say when,

Moses

OMITN:
Really! Gift from the internet. No, don't think so. EDIT – It was from here.

BD:
I'll stop derailing your thread now.

Try the Viper Studio in Chigwell, E18. Ask for Chris, he's really good.

Really! Gift from the internet. No, don't think so.

Had a scary moment just then that you might be someone from my past come to track me down….

Can you let me have the full link?

He would always ensure that he held onto his shirt sleeves, even if, say, scratching his head. No wonder..! When he had hair, after a haircut my fellow trainee who shared his room realised that she could see a swastika on the top of it. Which alarmed her as she's Asian….

BD – this is a double warning…!

BS – cool – know a few people there – seems like a good place to work from what I can tell.

Forget the heart logo. Just get this done. It's only a matter of time before you join 😉

Cheers all, I'll have a look at those guys.

Moses – I'll be shifting down in September I think, be good to catch up.

Clubber – where do I apply?

🙂

BD – for you we'll offer an invite 😉 YGM

EDIT – no Y Don't HM as you haven't got an email in your profile – drop me one….

Was that tattoo'd bloke really a corporate partner at a law firm?

Yeah, pretty sure – my wife used to work for a different law firm and told me the story about him…

http://www.frithstreettattoo.co.uk

Right. I've an appointment at The Family Business for Friday, thanks all.

Clubber- you have mail.

Cheers

Jon 🙂

Big Dummy – any pics of the finished article?

Not yet actually, no. I should sort that situation out. 🙂