A call to arms...

Not long now until I finally get to spend the last of the birthday money and the upper half of my left arm is destined never to look the same again.

The whole decision process over getting a tattoo has been a strange and drawn out one. People who I expected to be supportive have been full of warnings and deterrents, whereas people I thought might object appear to be quite open to the idea. Of course it's my decision at the end of the day, irrespective of what anyone else might think.

I've wrestled with the idea for as long as I can remember but the dilemma has always been the same as most other people - what could I have that is going to be original? I finally decided on something late last year and after some extensive searching on the net, I've not seen the same design anywhere else and Stewart (the tattoo artist) didn't appear to have seen the idea before either. It's taken longer to arrange than I had imagined, but he has a great reputation and I haven't seen any of his work yet that I didn't like so I'm confident it will be well worth the wait.

Aside from Stewart, I've been succesful in keeping it to myself so far although almost everyone seems convinced that it will be something to to with the Wychwood Hobgoblin despite my assurance that it isn't. The only other idea I've considered since was some kind of Native American tribal symbol; possibly something like this. What other tribe could it be than Shawnee?

Anyway, by Thursday night everyone will know and if tattoos really are as addictive as everybody says, then the other ideas may get a look in yet...