Album of the Day: Ananda Shankar- Ananda Shankar
Don’t take drugs.
⭐
Some early morning reading. I’m still ploughing through David Marples’ most excellent Reds and Rams.
I’ve reached the most recent history period. We’re about to go into Lockdown. Don’t even talk about Stoke City at home on the last day of the season at an empty World Famous City Ground.
I’m finding a new interest in recent history. I love all history. ‘O’ Level C, thank you very much. I’ve always been more interested in the past than the future.
But looking back at what took place two or three years ago feels a little odd. Not enough time has passed to allow an objective analysis.
Forest were still shit, btw.
SO much water has gone under Trent Bridge since then. The club is transformed. It’s useful to look at the recent history to explain where we are today.
To Sunny Colch! For a day of more INKING action!
I make this session No. 9. It maybe actually be No. 10. There’s at least two more to come…
Wearing only a black vest perhaps wasn’t the wisest move on one of the coldest days of the year. Mr Tattoo made me feel most comfortable.
Today was all about filling in the dots. We already had the outline for the next phase of the second sleeve after a hefty session before Christmas. Time for some pretty painting.
It became quite a social scene in the upstairs studio. Some of the artists from the sister studio rocked up. We listened to hip hop all morning as the artists worked away with their magic.
I like to think that I can hold my own with the cool tattoo crowd of Sunny Colch. But then my Apple Watch pinged with a notification from Lidl.
Whoops.
My arm was trapped at the time. I’m sure Mr Tattoo saw it. I tried to change the subject with some hip hop head nodding.
Top Gun Maverick was the film of choice for the afternoon session. Most of the heavy inking had been done. I actually fell asleep as the finer details were inked in.
This was the heaviest session I have had so far. My arm took a beating. But it’s a bloody beautiful beating. I’m so lucky to have found an artist locally who specialises so well in what I want.
I had a little time to spare ahead of catching the train back to Weird Wiv. A fresh tattoo and freezing temperatures were no conditions for a bicycle ride back to base.
I didn’t want to spend any money; I wanted to keep warm.
To Firstsite!
It was ACE in there. The gallery space was open until late. I spent half an hour or so enjoying the oil paintings and sculptures from Lucy Hardwood.
I managed to find a particularly warm space in the gallery. I lingered for a while, transfixed by the bright colours.
I boarded the train with a minute to spare. Some brave fella was wearing a T-shirt.
Baked potatoes helped to warm me up in the evening. I deliberately left the new oven door oven after they were cooked. Every heat option needs to be explored.
I listened to the soundtrack for The Harder They Come after watching the film yesterday. It’s spectacular.
A decent day.