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Well, it is done!

I will do a proper update and tell you all about it as soon as I have a nice pic to illustrate it.

I missed the window of opportunity between getting a tattoo and when it begins to scab and go all crusty for taking photos and the way it looks right now really doesn't do it justice so you are all just gonna have to wait to see it.

When I arrived at the shop I was told that my guy was running "about 20 minutes behind. Why don't you grab something to eat and come back?" This was fine as I hadn't had lunch and was starting to feel more than a little nervous (see previous entry re: fear of pain). I had a (very) light lunch and slowly made my way back to the shop. My girl Bindy had arrived by then, both for support and because she has a morbid fascination with seeing me in pain.

I waited (and waited) and finally my stencil was ready. My drawing was customised so this took a little longer than usual. Finally we began...

Him: I'm just going to do a few small lines first so you can get used to it, because it's a completely different area than your other tattoos.

Me: *very faint whisper* Fine...

About 10 minutes later...

Him: If you can keep this still the whole time you will be one of my best lady sitters.

Me: *feeling much cockier* No problem!

Anyway, I won't take you through the entire three hours, it was all rather monotonous. I got chatting to the guy, who was absolutely wonderful, very gentle and reassuring. We started talking about music which is always a marvellous distraction.

And the pain? Worst ever.

Enough to cure me of my crush on tattoos? Absolutely not.

Would I ever get one anywhere near my ribs again? Fuck no!

When I was done, Bindy told me I was very brave and that she was proud of me, but the biggest compliment came from the guy who said "You did really well".

In summary, not an experience I will repeat in a hurry, but I am so overwhelmed with how it looks that I wouldn't change a minute of it.