Thursday: Hardly slept, woke up at ten to three and couldn't get back to sleep until just before five. Donna picked me up from my home and drove me to Sittingbourne Job Centre. Once we got there I noticed the fat lady bouncer from the Tap was working as a floor worker (I've always wondered what they do during the week). They got me to fill in a form before I went up to the interview, apparently the job was with an agency, which took the pressure of me a little, Donna helped me fill it in, the only awkward bit came (and I've never come across this question in any other application form) when I was asked if I had any scars or tattoos and I had to admit that I'm covered with them which led to Donna talking about her husbands tattoos. I went up to the interview and discovered that the job wasn't through an agency it was working AT an agency they just got me to fill in the form because it's basically what I'll be doing for people who call up and want to register, it seemed to go well, Donna helped when I froze up, I got asked to visit next week to see if the job really suited me. Donna drove me to the place and then to the train station to see how far I'd have to walk (not to far) then we talked about going one afternoon next week and she drove me home. Found the new issue of Terrorizer and a David Cross album waiting for me. Downloaded the leaked Machine Head album before I left to go to the Job Centre, forgot my appointment card so I got hassled by one of the floor walkers, had to wait twenty minutes for Fiona to come out of the staff room, told her the good news, signed on then went back to the bus station. On the way home I saw this fat woman get on with big hoop earrings that had "Bitch" in gold plated letters across the middle of each. Whenever I see those girls' shirts that say slut on them I always think how great it would be to have a men's jacket that said "RAPIST" where it would normally say "DUFFER".
Friday: Woke up at four am and couldn't get back to sleep, but this morning it was out of excitement rather than anxiety. Days when I get tattoos are now what Christmas used to be like for me, only instead of sneaking downstairs to see if my presents were still there I make sure no one broke in during the night and stole my wallet (I'm paranoid like that). Before I left the CDs I ordered from No Idea finally came through the post (when I went for international surface mail I didn't realise they'd be sending it by ship and it would take two bastard months to get here). Got to the Pentagon and went straight to the caf on the second level and ordered a coffee, then went into Sounds Perfect and chatted with Manny and Rory, took a look upstairs and saw that they'd closed off the part where the couch, drums, amplifiers, guitars and basses used to be, came down stairs and said to Manny "you have a lot less stuff." Started walking up to the tattooist, saw Steve the bouncer walking the opposite direction on the other side of the street, if I'm not mistaken he clocked me and pretended he didn't see me, and there was me thinking about taking a different way because I was worried that I'd run right into Steve and he'd put me on the spot about why I hadn't been to the Manor, there's a lot of things I took from that confidence building course I took last year but one thing that's stopped me from pussying out of doing things is "feel the fear, do it anyway." I was the first person there so I managed to get pretty much straight in. This was one of the few tattoos I didn't really have to explain, before Dom shaved my chest she asked "this is The Break Ins artwork isn't it?" Getting a tattoo on my chest bone was a bit uncomfortable but it wasn't as bad as when I had stuff done on my wrists or shin, I started to see translucent swirling objects when she started on the shading, which were kind of pleasant in a way, one of the other tattooist came in and said I looked far too comfortable, at that point I could barely move my neck. About an hour in this dumpy grey little woman came in, the receptionist came over to Dom and said "you're probably going to say no to this" "face, neck or hands?" "No, there a woman here from a TV studio (which one I can't remember) who does that program 'Wife Swap' they've got this woman who wants to be a tattooist" "Fuck off, no wait, that'd be funny, we could get her in and just go 'that's shit, what the fuck were you thinking?' she told the receptionist to go back and tell her that they wouldn't get anyone from a good studio. She finished twenty minutes early and knocked twenty quid off the agreed price (only had to pay 120). Went into the Tap for a piss, said hello to Chris then went back to Sounds Perfect to show off my new ink, ran into Natalie then went food shopping and went back home. Took this picture
Dad finally got round to putting up a new book shelf in my room. Stayed in, watch My Name Is Earl and read the new issue of Terrorizer.
Saturday: Got a bit more sleep, now I have to deal with Clingfilm surgical taped to my chest for the next few nights. Spent the day watching episodes of Metalocalypse on you tube. Decided to get the bus from my own road instead of venturing into the wild territory that is Darnley Road, I did encounter a big group of Chavs after I left the house but they let me be, I think it's because they know I live there and I'm the interloper when I walk down the hill to Darnley. Waited fifteen minutes in the cold thinking "if this bus doesn't show up I'm so fucked," mercifully it came. There where a family of pikeys sitting at the back drinking, the youngest announced he needed a piss and walked up the stairs but thankfully his stop came up before he had the chance. Got to the Tap, Missy gave me a complimentary Tap N Tin badge after I paid to get in, ran straight into Ollie and Pete, saw they put a DJ booth adjacent to the stairs and took away all the seats (I really hope this doesn't happen every week). Went up to the bar to get a drink, while I was waiting Tyn made the DJ turn the music down so he could announce the bands were about to start in the Pool Room.
Seven Year Kismet: They've gotten rid of their keyboard player and have gotten less shit as a result. Mills came up behind me while they where playing.
Reasonable Doubt: Something's different. Tyn doesn't sing as much as he used to, after working with that guy from Stampin' Ground they've gone Deathcore all of a sudden. Mills pointed out that their bass player/backing vocalist actually does better vocals than Tyn, and this is his last gig before he leaves. Tyn mentioned that they are going to make a video soon for Scuzz (I so have to see that shit, whatever it's going to be you know that's going to be hilarious). For the last song they got the bass player to take centre stage and got everyone near the front to come on stage and head bang.
Spent the rest of the night hanging around with Mills and Ollie, had to leave after midnight as I had to change the dressing on my tattoo and get something to eat. Ran into Rory from Sounds Perfect who made me show his girlfriend my Dukes Of Nothing sleeve as he insisted he wanted to get it. Went to the kebab, got chips and had to then avoid a myriad of pikeys on my way to the taxi rank (mental note, don't leave the Tap so early on a Saturday night again).
Friday: Woke up at four am and couldn't get back to sleep, but this morning it was out of excitement rather than anxiety. Days when I get tattoos are now what Christmas used to be like for me, only instead of sneaking downstairs to see if my presents were still there I make sure no one broke in during the night and stole my wallet (I'm paranoid like that). Before I left the CDs I ordered from No Idea finally came through the post (when I went for international surface mail I didn't realise they'd be sending it by ship and it would take two bastard months to get here). Got to the Pentagon and went straight to the caf on the second level and ordered a coffee, then went into Sounds Perfect and chatted with Manny and Rory, took a look upstairs and saw that they'd closed off the part where the couch, drums, amplifiers, guitars and basses used to be, came down stairs and said to Manny "you have a lot less stuff." Started walking up to the tattooist, saw Steve the bouncer walking the opposite direction on the other side of the street, if I'm not mistaken he clocked me and pretended he didn't see me, and there was me thinking about taking a different way because I was worried that I'd run right into Steve and he'd put me on the spot about why I hadn't been to the Manor, there's a lot of things I took from that confidence building course I took last year but one thing that's stopped me from pussying out of doing things is "feel the fear, do it anyway." I was the first person there so I managed to get pretty much straight in. This was one of the few tattoos I didn't really have to explain, before Dom shaved my chest she asked "this is The Break Ins artwork isn't it?" Getting a tattoo on my chest bone was a bit uncomfortable but it wasn't as bad as when I had stuff done on my wrists or shin, I started to see translucent swirling objects when she started on the shading, which were kind of pleasant in a way, one of the other tattooist came in and said I looked far too comfortable, at that point I could barely move my neck. About an hour in this dumpy grey little woman came in, the receptionist came over to Dom and said "you're probably going to say no to this" "face, neck or hands?" "No, there a woman here from a TV studio (which one I can't remember) who does that program 'Wife Swap' they've got this woman who wants to be a tattooist" "Fuck off, no wait, that'd be funny, we could get her in and just go 'that's shit, what the fuck were you thinking?' she told the receptionist to go back and tell her that they wouldn't get anyone from a good studio. She finished twenty minutes early and knocked twenty quid off the agreed price (only had to pay 120). Went into the Tap for a piss, said hello to Chris then went back to Sounds Perfect to show off my new ink, ran into Natalie then went food shopping and went back home. Took this picture
Dad finally got round to putting up a new book shelf in my room. Stayed in, watch My Name Is Earl and read the new issue of Terrorizer.
Saturday: Got a bit more sleep, now I have to deal with Clingfilm surgical taped to my chest for the next few nights. Spent the day watching episodes of Metalocalypse on you tube. Decided to get the bus from my own road instead of venturing into the wild territory that is Darnley Road, I did encounter a big group of Chavs after I left the house but they let me be, I think it's because they know I live there and I'm the interloper when I walk down the hill to Darnley. Waited fifteen minutes in the cold thinking "if this bus doesn't show up I'm so fucked," mercifully it came. There where a family of pikeys sitting at the back drinking, the youngest announced he needed a piss and walked up the stairs but thankfully his stop came up before he had the chance. Got to the Tap, Missy gave me a complimentary Tap N Tin badge after I paid to get in, ran straight into Ollie and Pete, saw they put a DJ booth adjacent to the stairs and took away all the seats (I really hope this doesn't happen every week). Went up to the bar to get a drink, while I was waiting Tyn made the DJ turn the music down so he could announce the bands were about to start in the Pool Room.
Seven Year Kismet: They've gotten rid of their keyboard player and have gotten less shit as a result. Mills came up behind me while they where playing.
Reasonable Doubt: Something's different. Tyn doesn't sing as much as he used to, after working with that guy from Stampin' Ground they've gone Deathcore all of a sudden. Mills pointed out that their bass player/backing vocalist actually does better vocals than Tyn, and this is his last gig before he leaves. Tyn mentioned that they are going to make a video soon for Scuzz (I so have to see that shit, whatever it's going to be you know that's going to be hilarious). For the last song they got the bass player to take centre stage and got everyone near the front to come on stage and head bang.
Spent the rest of the night hanging around with Mills and Ollie, had to leave after midnight as I had to change the dressing on my tattoo and get something to eat. Ran into Rory from Sounds Perfect who made me show his girlfriend my Dukes Of Nothing sleeve as he insisted he wanted to get it. Went to the kebab, got chips and had to then avoid a myriad of pikeys on my way to the taxi rank (mental note, don't leave the Tap so early on a Saturday night again).