My new tattoo

Six years ago I got a tattoo of a butterfly on my right shoulder. It was done at a studio called Sims Tattoos in Croydon by an artist called Carrie. I got that tattoo to represent rebirth and renewal. Since then I've wanted another tattoo but I just haven't found the right reason or time to get one done. For the last couple of years I thought about getting a salmon tat on my arm but just didn't ever get round to pursuing it further.

Earlier this month I was in Hitchin photographing the churchyard, see below:

While I was there I noticed a new tattoo studio called Churchyard Tattoos I had a look at their work and read up on some reviews and thought I'd go in and see them. The staff were really friendly even though I felt a bit of a middle aged woman compared to the lad who chatted to me. He said Tom could do my tattoo and we looked at different images of salmon and Japanese themes so Tom the artist could get an idea of what I wanted. Later I emailed Tom explaining why I wanted the tattoo as well as explaining that I'm partially sighted so I didn't want anything to fussy or complicated. I needed a nice colourful image.

I wanted the salmon for some obvious reasons, that it was my maiden name but also because salmon represent determination, over coming obstacles and wisdom. I liked the Japanese theme even though its more traditional to have a Koi with the Japanese waves and cherry blossom. The cherry blossoms represent new beginnings, love and happiness.

Tom sent me a photo of the design he had done which was ace so I went in to get it done. They estimated that it would take 4 hours maybe 5! Gulp.

I actually had had enough of the pain and was feeling quite light headed after 3 hours so Tom persuaded me to come back in 2 weeks to have it finished. I went back on Thursday and it took an and a half to complete it. Here's a photo of it the morning after which Jase took for me.

The colours are fab and will actually get brighter after it has healed properly. I'll post another photo in 6 weeks time when it will be looking its best!

Catch up and photos of the garden

Garden 26 Aug 2012, a set on Flickr.

I'm still enjoying my time off work recovering form my eye surgery. I seem to be controlling the pain and light sensitivity with my eye drops ok so hopefully will be able to get back to doing some work in September.

I'm going to add a couple of entries in a moment on here about my nieces and also about my new tattoo.

With it being the bank holiday weekend we are forecast heavy rain tomorrow so I went out this morning and mowed the lawn and tidied up the garden a bit then took some photos which you can look at if you click on any of the pictures or the link above.

As well as gardening this weekend I've been cooking. A curry yesterday, trout with almonds today and roast chicken stuffed with apple tomorrow. No puddings though next weekend I may make a crumble for a treat :-)

Bulrushes and finches

Bulrushes and finches, a set on Flickr.

I've had a lovely day today including coffee with friends at lunch time, gardening and a lovely walk to Homebase. On my walk I came across some bulrushes, I'm not sure how I missed them last week when I walked down the same path. I'm glad I noticed them today.

When I was little and bulrushes weren't rare and protected I used to pick a couple each year and keep them in a bucket of water in the garden. Our neighbour had tamed a wild owl so he'd sit on his arm and the owl was fascinated by the bucket of bulrushes. So when ever I see bulrushes I always think of that owl.

I didn't see any owls but I saw some lovely gold finches which I tried to photograph but it was very hard to focus on them!

Summer update

Apologies again for not blogging as much as I used to. This summer has proved to be another difficult one. After being told I didn't need eye surgery in my left eye again, relief, my consultant offered to operate on my right eye. I had the same problem in both eyes the result of which was similar to having a cataract  The operations results have been great, I can see more clearly now, colour is much more vibrant and close to my vision seems a lot better after both operations, this year and last. It was never going to make my vision any better but get my vision back to what it was 10 years ago.

So since both ops I can now read news paper print again with out struggling and paint my finger nails, not sure about toe nails that might be a leap too far :-)

There is a draw back though and that is the uveitis I've developed in both eyes and the cystoid macular oedema I had in my left eye. I'm taking anti inflammatory eye drops in one eye and steroids in the other. The uveitis causes pain, redness and light sensitivity but I'm back to see my consultant on Wednesday.

Reading and definitely computer work makes the pain in my eye worse so I've been getting very bored whilst I wait for it to get better. I've tried to do things to keep me occupied like watching the Olympics and going for walks and I'm hoping that this won't go on for much longer!

hile I'm not able to write much I'll continue posting links to my photos on Flickrr here.