Hello. When it comes to titles and introductions, I have as much creativity as a flea. So please bear with me
At A Glance Author Cali IAM MissAmbrose When It just happened Artist Tim Studio The Tattoo Man Location Wiltshire I have been tattooing my body for over four years now, two weeks after my eighteenth birthday was my first one - my rather ridiculous 'rap name' when I wanted be a female Eminem (I was very immature back then). This experience ties in with how much I've changed over the past four years for the positive, and what it represents: my love of horses
Anything equine runs in the blood - my greatest role model ever, my mum, has had over forty years experience with horses. Due to circumstance, she lost contact with horses, and due to upbringing, I lost contact with them too
However, all this was redeemed when last year, Mum bought a lovely brown horse, Marco. However Marco was too much hard work, so he was rehomed, and Mum got Spot, a Criollo stroke Appaloosa. I fell in love with him soon after, and I see him most days for cuddles, grooming, feeding and helping out at the farm, which I love. I am now a staid and responsible person, who has a great love of horses
When I was 18, I was an immature and reckless. I used to get tattoos of things that reminded me of unpleasant things, as a mark of that time. I didn't realise what I was doing at the time. In short - I was too immature to make such a decision. I may have been legitimate at eighteen to have them done, but emotionally I wasn't able to deal with it. There are only a few terrible ones that I openly regret, and most of them have been covered up - another part was my old artist was unable to draw. The rest will be dealt with, once we see the end of the blasted recession
Aged 20, I grew up. A hard lesson to learn, but a lesson well learned. Now my tattoos are a signal of positivity and individuality, the person that I am now
Which includes today's experience. There is another horse at the yard who I've fallen in love with, a male skewbald named Finn. A lovely boy. To represent how much I'm into horses now, a wonderful new corner of my life. I decided to get a very Finn-like copy (but not an exactly copy, as he's not my horse) done on my upper arm, crossing over the shoulder, as if he's stood on two feet
It is a secret horse, because at the moment I'm living with my Christian grandparents who don't approve of tattoos. They are great people, who I love a lot, and not the sort to push their beliefs on everyone; I just didn't feel they needed to know. I wouldn't end up in trouble or anything, but it's an occasion where it's best to leave sleeping dogs to lie
So off I went, just saying I was popping out. Tim has done a new chestpiece for me, as well as a cover up of some crappy tattoo on my upper arm, and he knows what he's doing. He's a young whippersnapper at 19, but very talented and experienced and great with putting people at ease. He's very friendly and also has a sense of humour, which is brilliant. The company The Tattoo Man have franchised to where I'm trying to move to, Southampton (Hampshire), so I know where I'll be going in the future....
I hopped into the chair and he drew it all up. It was a bit onto my shoulder, so we moved it down so it would be as close to a pink unicorn as possible (as I want both upper arms and my lower legs sleeved eventually) and I okayed it. Done in brown and white, with a bridle and a black tail, the design is lovely, just like all horses are to me
We chatted about the usual stuff and the procedure was well under way. The tattoo in on my upper arm, and the head on my shoulder. The shoulder grated a bit, but the rest was bearable and I was chatting eagerly away through the whole thing. Three quarters of an hour later, I now am proud to say I have a very beautiful horse on my arm - as close as I can get to getting a real one at the moment *giggle*
Taking the dressing off came a bit late, in the bathroom of a lovely bistro me and my family attended today. The tattoo was covered in tissue. I wet it, and peeled it off gently, trying to be gentle. Luckily it didn't bleed or cause any major problems, and I soon got it all off. It hadn't bled much, luckily I'm not a big bleeder
And there you have it. A mark of something more wonderful than any party, something more loving than your average person, something that makes me feel better than any irresponsibility. Yet another mark of love, security and sanity, as well as inner peace and a fulfillment that only stroking Spot can achieve - the inspiration to have my own horse one day
I still have many tattoos planned, of horses and other things. But I will share that with you another day. If anyone is in the Wiltshire area, I recommend The Tattoo Man to anyone, they're brilliant. Tim is very gentle and you won't feel like you're getting your bones drilled
I haven't thought of a name for him yet, mind. How about Finlay? What do you think? ;)