Mick Weder

I got a piece of tribal many years ago...stretching from my big toe right along the side of my foot circling below my ankle bone. It's fucked. It fell out post heal, & cause I was 400kilometres away, I had a "mate" "fix" it up. He butchered the fuck out of it. I was blind fuckin drunk too the night I went into the shop and consuming rum while having the tattoo done. All I remember was A. It fuckin hurt. B. She tried to overcharge me to the roof for it & C. I was required to do some fast talking negotiating on the price when the big fucker walked out of the back room saying "have we a problem with the price *unt"! My negotiation skills prevailed that night as I didn't pay the bullshit price she tried on...ha, but that's a story on its own. So, I got a hoe toe...God dam it! I'm in two minds with this one. Either blast over the fucker with a solid black panel then sleeve the rest of the foot with kick arse solid tattoos or laser the fuck out of it. I'm thinking the black panel. Least it's on the side. Anyway, we've all made slight judgement errors over the years, but the moral of what I'm saying here is, even though that tattoo sucks arse, it has a pretty cool story attached to it and makes for a good yarn from time to time when someone quizzes me about this shitty piece. All of a sudden, the focus isn't on the fucked up piece of tribal but the near death experience in the Goldfields late one night with an angry biker run tattoo shop and its enforcer. Good times. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Cold ciders. Now ya talking my friend [emoji106] I'm easily bloody persuaded. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

It cuts deep alright when family feel they can say whatever. It particularly annoys me even more because it just reinforces to me that they still don't get it and never will. I've had very deep conversations with my family about what this journey means to me. You'd think that since my 1st tattoo at 17 years old up to now that my words would actually hold some weight. That the seriousness in my tone and a well thought out response would channel to them a certain kind of meaning. And, in a heartbeat statements like...don't you think enough is enough...your getting more ink?, don't go any further than there...you won't get your face done I hope. Even to the point (I hear) that these are common discussion points between them and the fuckin neighbours! How do I know about that? Because the fuckin neighbours are dumb enough to tell me. Ha, and then they wonder why 90% of the time Micks aloof, doesn't say too much kicking back in the corner being anti social, at times appearing down right rude. Because it just ain't worth the time. @SeeSea. I'm hearing ya here. Family have a way of still making it hurt, even after all these years. Then, I had a "mate" who called me out at work in front of a heap of people when seeing my hands and fingers blazed. ...what are ya doing, there's rules to this you know, you must be breaking every HR rule in the book. This came from a dude who's got tribal sleeves, torso and back. I looked at this dude for a second in disbelief and just said...I don't follow your rules Greg and show me any HR guideline that states anything about tattoos because I haven't come across one. You should really get your facts right before shooting off your mouth. Hence, he's no longer part of my small circle of trust. That one didn't hurt, it made me angry. Ironically, I was watching Bad Ink last night and they were going on about tramp stamps. Made me cringe with embarrassment. No wonder the GP loosely use the term when it's perceived that we do as well. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Greetings from Australia @rhiannon. Great intro. You bet we'd be interested to see your FM themed tattoos. [emoji106] "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Thanks. I'll drink to that [emoji1][emoji481] "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

All that fluid retention @polliwog, especially being on your feet all day. Try some elevation and a cold pack. ...oh, and a cider. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

The only people who come up with terms like "tramp stamp" is the uneducated, mainstream general population who's opinions are held without much regard anyway. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

I'm just glad we grew up with a solid influence. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

I've now just come to the sad realisation that I've wasted all these years, endured all this pain suiting down for nothing!!! I should have just slammed hands, forearms and neck pipe. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Thank you @exume. That made for great reading [emoji106] "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Im with ya on that too. In our house we don't collect ornaments, paintings,books or music. We don't collect ornaments because they're garbage, but books & music solely because of the space when today we don't need to. I ripped my entire music collection to file, sold it, and now only purchase through iTunes. Same with my books, through iBooks. So I have all my work, music and reading material in one central location through my Mac, linked to my phone and Bluetooth my music to my Bose units, again compact but quality sound. I do have one hard copy Tattoo book, Skin Shows and have purchased Hardy's Wear Your Dreams via iBooks. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

That's the right idea. And TBH, reliability isn't really a factor these days. It depends how you go about it. Say for example, my '78 Triumph. At present its with my mechanic. We were having a good look at it when I picked the HD up from coming back off the Dyno. I had some old timers from the Historic MC "tinker" with it, and as much as they know these old girls inside out, I was getting really pissed off because tinkering is just that, not getting to the nuts and bolts of everything. Nothing wrong with that of course, but as mentioned, depends what ya want. With the '78, motors getting a full top end rebuild, 900 kit put in, 2 in 1, on the Dyno, upgrade coils, fuck off the points to electronic ignition, brand new wiring, primary belt drive (which have been available for early model Trumps since the late 70's), all upgrades suspension, bushes, washers, new threads in the base plate, all new modern gaskets, a full overhaul. So we'll have a modernised 78 Triumph running better than new without leaking a drop of oil. What in saying is, all motorcycles can be reliable these days. Some are factory made reliable, others ya might just have to make that way with a few changes, so I'm with you...ride a bike that moves the soul, then work it from there. I like all motorcycles, but would never ride Japanese only because they don't aesthetically please me. Even Harley twin cans are very well made motorcycles, especially the 103's. Yes they're over priced, and yes a spend money on after market performance, but if my aim is to ride to save $$, I wouldn't ride. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

As they say, 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

@Emil. Did you attend the Wizards Den Tattoo Show recently? The event looked cool as fuck. Nice tattoo BTW [emoji106] "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

From people without any tattoos right? "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Spring here. Just got back from an overnighter with the boys in the middle of no where. Found a new road, didn't know about the gravel portion, but it was well worth the effort...we found a new pub, with camping facilities, and they said they'd host bands for us. Planning the next run even before the buzz of this one wears off. And, today was perfect smashing home. 25 degrees, little wind, no cops. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

[emoji106] I wear a neck sock.

Nothing weird about that @CABS, and if it is, well ya ain't alone on that one. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Not at all. It's like anything, when we discover a passion, we become excited, we like to learn as much as we can about a subject we know we'll have a lifetime fascination for, and I respect that also [emoji106] For me but, I've never followed mainstream, even within the sub cultures of my own life. I've never liked the term "allowed" or "you can't". They both defy our individuality. We're all different, but share a common passion with slightly different takes on it, that's what's so fuckin cool about it. It's fuckin cool that I don't really understand your desire to suit out, nor anybody understand mine. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

I reckon! Simple, solid, Love it [emoji106] "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

See the back panels kind of like your rib panels. One nice big feature slamming a panel, then down the track if you wanted to expand, the same on the other panel, then say ya wanted to expand further, a cool theme to tie them both together. I get what some are saying here, I'm with that same concept to back tattoos, for me it's one large theme mapped from the start, but I also get what your saying too. Definitely achievable.

That's the beauty of large scale work, Japanese and American Trad look so sweet side by side. I love that shit. I've mixed styles and just tied everything together with solid Japanese background and I reckon it works fine. A few different opinions here, but all sound advice regardless. It comes down to what ya like and then how it's executed. One thing but, you'll get no grief here for wanting to slam a panther rib town. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Just had my motorcycle down with the mechanic the last two days, ready to pick up in 2 hours. Upgraded the cams to some 57 Andrews and back on the Dyno. Interesting to see the numbers, but even better, I'll be riding the mountains with my bestest, oldest brother today, then a heap of us hanging out at the local pizza joint tonight drinking beers and planning our run for Saturday. Life's fuckin sweet these days, and appreciated [emoji106] "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"