Mick Weder

Interesting is the cultural acceptance.
I think I may have made mention to this here previously, but it states in the Anti Discrimination Act here in Australia that a person can not be unfairly treated because of race, religion, nor because of their cultural origin.
It doesn't say specifically anything in relation to tattoos although with HR it seems cultural related tattoos they don't fuck with because of bordering the discrimination card with cultural origin.
Now, I work for a Govt body, in Corporate Services, at a management level dealing directly with Directorates from every stream. I rock Exec meetings in short sleeves and jeans most days and don't have a problem. A. Because I'm full time and there's fuck all they can do about it and B. Well, I just don't give a shit. My work, as in my job speaks for itself.
But, in saying this, I know there's people who loathe my appearance and would have me stitched up in a heart beat.
This is why I've made it very clear that my tattoos signify my cultural origin (I'm Anglo Saxon) and symbolises my religious beliefs.
Haha! Who are they or anybody else to say that my symbolism isn't just as significant to my culture than say s person from Polynesian decent?they know Id take them on all the way if they tried to HR me out of my job if it wasn't performance based.
I keep a running log on all my KPI's and initiatives and written feedback in my personal files also....just in case.
We are discriminated against, but we become very resilient in the way we overcome mainstream prejudice.
Fuck mainstream and their rules and expectations.
I do know though my chances for further promotion has come to a halt. That's ok with me though, I ain't in it for the prestige, I'm in it to supplement our life style.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Interesting is the cultural acceptance.
I think I may have made mention to this here previously, but it states in the Anti Discrimination Act here in Australia that a person can not be unfairly treated because of race, religion, nor because of their cultural origin.
It doesn't say specifically anything in relation to tattoos although with HR it seems cultural related tattoos they don't fuck with because of bordering the discrimination card with cultural origin.
Now, I work for a Govt body, in Corporate Services, at a management level dealing directly with Directorates from every stream. I rock Exec meetings in short sleeves and jeans most days and don't have a problem. A. Because I'm full time and there's fuck all they can do about it and B. Well, I just don't give a shit. My work, as in my job speaks for itself.
But, in saying this, I know there's people who loathe my appearance and would have me stitched up in a heart beat.
This is why I've made it very clear that my tattoos signify my cultural origin (I'm Anglo Saxon) and symbolises my religious beliefs.
Haha! Who are they or anybody else to say that my symbolism isn't just as significant to my culture than say s person from Polynesian decent?they know Id take them on all the way if they tried to HR me out of my job if it wasn't performance based.
I keep a running log on all my KPI's and initiatives and written feedback in my personal files also....just in case.
We are discriminated against, but we become very resilient in the way we overcome mainstream prejudice.
Fuck mainstream and their rules and expectations.
I do know though my chances for further promotion has come to a halt. That's ok with me though, I ain't in it for the prestige, I'm in it to supplement our life style.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Tops, and I'm digging that snake @Mark Bee. Sweeeet!
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

It comes down to how YOU communicate your expertise. Your in the prime position to help educate.
The average collector/ enthusiast without any understanding or artistic knowledge needs to seek their ideas from somewhere.,.dont they? Do you just expect them to come in with a blank idea and you magically come up with the same interpretation, or expect to only tattoo what you want to put on their skin. That comes with time and trust.
It's like an old time piece of flash, it's been duplicated a million times. Isn't that plagiarism to a degree? A panther is a panther is a panther.
I understand to a point what your saying, a custom one of a kind piece, well maybe, but pieces say things to people and can capture exactly what that means to that individual as well, so it could mean more than just wanting a copy cap design.
It's like my smoking wizard with the starburst from the pipe as the background. I had wanted a wizard for 20 years, but no wizard captured that exact pictorial message, until I came across this wizard on the net. I took that picture in to my tattooer and said...man, after all these years I found the one. I can understand if you need to change it, but it's emulates something quite specific. His response, and knowing me for years was...man, your right, it captures you perfectly, I couldn't make it any better. We slightly changed some aspects like hat band & colour, but why try and reinvent the wheel on this occasion? It was perfect. Is this wrong? Fuck you to anybody who thinks it is, this is one piece out of my entire suit that had already been captured, it speaks volumes, it's my favourite tattoo next after my back tattoo.
There's also been times I've taken an exact design in and said ...man, something like this...and from there we come up with a complete new transition, sn even better custom piece.
Maybe next time someone comes in with an exact picture and turning them away (only to have it tattooed by someone else without any education) you can say...man, that's a great design, I can see why you chose this. What's it's meaning to you?...dig a little, become a consultant, tap into that individual a little and say, ya know man?...leave it with me, I reckon I can come up with something even better for YOU without doing s copy.
That person may just walk out of there with a little bit more knowledge than they did prior to them entering, and maybe you EARN a loyal and devoted customer for years to come.
I'm no tattooer, I'm also no artist, but I've learned a lot from my tattooer over the years because he actually took the time to help me understand. This is the 1 reason that he has been responsible for my entire suit, and the rework of everything he didn't originally do.
I'm just offering a different perspective on this subject, not having a dig. We all help educate each other, because my tattooer had mentioned to me the same, that over the years has learned to appreciate where his clients come from also.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

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"

It comes down to how YOU communicate your expertise. Your in the prime position to help educate.
The average collector/ enthusiast without any understanding or artistic knowledge needs to seek their ideas from somewhere.,.dont they? Do you just expect them to come in with a blank idea and you magically come up with the same interpretation, or expect to only tattoo what you want to put on their skin. That comes with time and trust.
It's like an old time piece of flash, it's been duplicated a million times. Isn't that plagiarism to a degree? A panther is a panther is a panther.
I understand to a point what your saying, a custom one of a kind piece, well maybe, but pieces say things to people and can capture exactly what that means to that individual as well, so it could mean more than just wanting a copy cap design.
It's like my smoking wizard with the starburst from the pipe as the background. I had wanted a wizard for 20 years, but no wizard captured that exact pictorial message, until I came across this wizard on the net. I took that picture in to my tattooer and said...man, after all these years I found the one. I can understand if you need to change it, but it's emulates something quite specific. His response, and knowing me for years was...man, your right, it captures you perfectly, I couldn't make it any better. We slightly changed some aspects like hat band & colour, but why try and reinvent the wheel on this occasion? It was perfect. Is this wrong? Fuck you to anybody who thinks it is, this is one piece out of my entire suit that had already been captured, it speaks volumes, it's my favourite tattoo next after my back tattoo.
There's also been times I've taken an exact design in and said ...man, something like this...and from there we come up with a complete new transition, sn even better custom piece.
Maybe next time someone comes in with an exact picture and turning them away (only to have it tattooed by someone else without any education) you can say...man, that's a great design, I can see why you chose this. What's it's meaning to you?...dig a little, become a consultant, tap into that individual a little and say, ya know man?...leave it with me, I reckon I can come up with something even better for YOU without doing s copy.
That person may just walk out of there with a little bit more knowledge than they did prior to them entering, and maybe you EARN a loyal and devoted customer for years to come.
I'm no tattooer, I'm also no artist, but I've learned a lot from my tattooer over the years because he actually took the time to help me understand. This is the 1 reason that he has been responsible for my entire suit, and the rework of everything he didn't originally do.
I'm just offering a different perspective on this subject, not having a dig. We all help educate each other, because my tattooer had mentioned to me the same, that over the years has learned to appreciate where his clients come from also.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

It comes down to how YOU communicate your expertise. Your in the prime position to help educate.
The average collector/ enthusiast without any understanding or artistic knowledge needs to seek their ideas from somewhere.,.dont they? Do you just expect them to come in with a blank idea and you magically come up with the same interpretation, or expect to only tattoo what you want to put on their skin. That comes with time and trust.
It's like an old time piece of flash, it's been duplicated a million times. Isn't that plagiarism to a degree? A panther is a panther is a panther.
I understand to a point what your saying, a custom one of a kind piece, well maybe, but pieces say things to people and can capture exactly what that means to that individual as well, so it could mean more than just wanting a copy cap design.
It's like my smoking wizard with the starburst from the pipe as the background. I had wanted a wizard for 20 years, but no wizard captured that exact pictorial message, until I came across this wizard on the net. I took that picture in to my tattooer and said...man, after all these years I found the one. I can understand if you need to change it, but it's emulates something quite specific. His response, and knowing me for years was...man, your right, it captures you perfectly, I couldn't make it any better. We slightly changed some aspects like hat band & colour, but why try and reinvent the wheel on this occasion? It was perfect. Is this wrong? Fuck you to anybody who thinks it is, this is one piece out of my entire suit that had already been captured, it speaks volumes, it's my favourite tattoo next after my back tattoo.
There's also been times I've taken an exact design in and said ...man, something like this...and from there we come up with a complete new transition, sn even better custom piece.
Maybe next time someone comes in with an exact picture and turning them away (only to have it tattooed by someone else without any education) you can say...man, that's a great design, I can see why you chose this. What's it's meaning to you?...dig a little, become a consultant, tap into that individual a little and say, ya know man?...leave it with me, I reckon I can come up with something even better for YOU without doing s copy.
That person may just walk out of there with a little bit more knowledge than they did prior to them entering, and maybe you EARN a loyal and devoted customer for years to come.
I'm no tattooer, I'm also no artist, but I've learned a lot from my tattooer over the years because he actually took the time to help me understand. This is the 1 reason that he has been responsible for my entire suit, and the rework of everything he didn't originally do.
I'm just offering a different perspective on this subject, not having a dig. We all help educate each other, because my tattooer had mentioned to me the same, that over the years has learned to appreciate where his clients come from also.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

It comes down to how YOU communicate your expertise. Your in the prime position to help educate.
The average collector/ enthusiast without any understanding or artistic knowledge needs to seek their ideas from somewhere.,.dont they? Do you just expect them to come in with a blank idea and you magically come up with the same interpretation, or expect to only tattoo what you want to put on their skin. That comes with time and trust.
It's like an old time piece of flash, it's been duplicated a million times. Isn't that plagiarism to a degree? A panther is a panther is a panther.
I understand to a point what your saying, a custom one of a kind piece, well maybe, but pieces say things to people and can capture exactly what that means to that individual as well, so it could mean more than just wanting a copy cap design.
It's like my smoking wizard with the starburst from the pipe as the background. I had wanted a wizard for 20 years, but no wizard captured that exact pictorial message, until I came across this wizard on the net. I took that picture in to my tattooer and said...man, after all these years I found the one. I can understand if you need to change it, but it's emulates something quite specific. His response, and knowing me for years was...man, your right, it captures you perfectly, I couldn't make it any better. We slightly changed some aspects like hat band & colour, but why try and reinvent the wheel on this occasion? It was perfect. Is this wrong? Fuck you to anybody who thinks it is, this is one piece out of my entire suit that had already been captured, it speaks volumes, it's my favourite tattoo next after my back tattoo.
There's also been times I've taken an exact design in and said ...man, something like this...and from there we come up with a complete new transition, sn even better custom piece.
Maybe next time someone comes in with an exact picture and turning them away (only to have it tattooed by someone else without any education) you can say...man, that's a great design, I can see why you chose this. What's it's meaning to you?...dig a little, become a consultant, tap into that individual a little and say, ya know man?...leave it with me, I reckon I can come up with something even better for YOU without doing s copy.
That person may just walk out of there with a little bit more knowledge than they did prior to them entering, and maybe you EARN a loyal and devoted customer for years to come.
I'm no tattooer, I'm also no artist, but I've learned a lot from my tattooer over the years because he actually took the time to help me understand. This is the 1 reason that he has been responsible for my entire suit, and the rework of everything he didn't originally do.
I'm just offering a different perspective on this subject, not having a dig. We all help educate each other, because my tattooer had mentioned to me the same, that over the years has learned to appreciate where his clients come from also.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

It comes down to how YOU communicate your expertise. Your in the prime position to help educate.
The average collector/ enthusiast without any understanding or artistic knowledge needs to seek their ideas from somewhere.,.dont they? Do you just expect them to come in with a blank idea and you magically come up with the same interpretation, or expect to only tattoo what you want to put on their skin. That comes with time and trust.
It's like an old time piece of flash, it's been duplicated a million times. Isn't that plagiarism to a degree? A panther is a panther is a panther.
I understand to a point what your saying, a custom one of a kind piece, well maybe, but pieces say things to people and can capture exactly what that means to that individual as well, so it could mean more than just wanting a copy cap design.
It's like my smoking wizard with the starburst from the pipe as the background. I had wanted a wizard for 20 years, but no wizard captured that exact pictorial message, until I came across this wizard on the net. I took that picture in to my tattooer and said...man, after all these years I found the one. I can understand if you need to change it, but it's emulates something quite specific. His response, and knowing me for years was...man, your right, it captures you perfectly, I couldn't make it any better. We slightly changed some aspects like hat band & colour, but why try and reinvent the wheel on this occasion? It was perfect. Is this wrong? Fuck you to anybody who thinks it is, this is one piece out of my entire suit that had already been captured, it speaks volumes, it's my favourite tattoo next after my back tattoo.
There's also been times I've taken an exact design in and said ...man, something like this...and from there we come up with a complete new transition, sn even better custom piece.
Maybe next time someone comes in with an exact picture and turning them away (only to have it tattooed by someone else without any education) you can say...man, that's a great design, I can see why you chose this. What's it's meaning to you?...dig a little, become a consultant, tap into that individual a little and say, ya know man?...leave it with me, I reckon I can come up with something even better for YOU without doing s copy.
That person may just walk out of there with a little bit more knowledge than they did prior to them entering, and maybe you EARN a loyal and devoted customer for years to come.
I'm no tattooer, I'm also no artist, but I've learned a lot from my tattooer over the years because he actually took the time to help me understand. This is the 1 reason that he has been responsible for my entire suit, and the rework of everything he didn't originally do.
I'm just offering a different perspective on this subject, not having a dig. We all help educate each other, because my tattooer had mentioned to me the same, that over the years has learned to appreciate where his clients come from also.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

True to a point @BrianH. Most cider is targeted towards the trend drinkers today, but cider has been around for as long as beer has, and there's some real good ones out there that are more like a "brew".
The Monteiths is a N Zed cider and fits this description. Not too sweet, not too dry but with that real brew palate happening. They also do apricot & pear blends, and a Summer Berry. What makes these trendy alternatives different to most exotic tasting ciders is that Monteiths actually use Berry & Apricot wine for the flavouring, not preservatives for the flavour.
The Kiwis really do their shit well.
Then you have like your Westons Old Rosie's cider. It's flat with floaties. Packs a punch with a high % and is bitter on the taste. That's an acquired drink. Definitely not for the easy drinker.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Good times. Enjoy.
Hope you have your post therapy on ice Miss.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

True to a point @BrianH. Most cider is targeted towards the trend drinkers today, but cider has been around for as long as beer has, and there's some real good ones out there that are more like a "brew".
The Monteiths is a N Zed cider and fits this description. Not too sweet, not too dry but with that real brew palate happening. They also do apricot & pear blends, and a Summer Berry. What makes these trendy alternatives different to most exotic tasting ciders is that Monteiths actually use Berry & Apricot wine for the flavouring, not preservatives for the flavour.
The Kiwis really do their shit well.
Then you have like your Westons Old Rosie's cider. It's flat with floaties. Packs a punch with a high % and is bitter on the taste. That's an acquired drink. Definitely not for the easy drinker.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

3 very excellent choices



"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

True to a point @BrianH. Most cider is targeted towards the trend drinkers today, but cider has been around for as long as beer has, and there's some real good ones out there that are more like a "brew".
The Monteiths is a N Zed cider and fits this description. Not too sweet, not too dry but with that real brew palate happening. They also do apricot & pear blends, and a Summer Berry. What makes these trendy alternatives different to most exotic tasting ciders is that Monteiths actually use Berry & Apricot wine for the flavouring, not preservatives for the flavour.
The Kiwis really do their shit well.
Then you have like your Westons Old Rosie's cider. It's flat with floaties. Packs a punch with a high % and is bitter on the taste. That's an acquired drink. Definitely not for the easy drinker.
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Its Friday arvo here. Just finished work for the week. Bon Scott's AC/DC is cranking the tunes, cold beer on tap, & Sunday sees a heap of us riding out to talk to a pub owner to use their venue after an annual motorcycle run coming up in December.
Aussie rock n roll, beers, motorcycles, country pubs, good brothers.
Life is fuckin grouse!
"Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Well done...I think? Next thing now is to go for your restricted motorcycle license. Ya don't get many chances at being shit at riding...but you got an awesome country to ride!

Haha. Nice try @daveborjes. No way in hell would I post a photo of that horrid tattoo.
It may have a fond memory but by Christ I shudder every time I see it. Good thing it's in the dirt half the time.

Little bit of knee action

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"

Little bit of knee action

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"

Cold ciders. Now ya talking my friend
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"

I wish that was true. When a phrase like that gets started, some people jump on the bandwagon to use it because it sounds clever, and they will repeat it because they think it imbues them with a perception that they are in-the-know or part of the in crowd. It's the same with any bullying, stereotyping, derogatory name-calling that can be done right on the edge of general acceptability without raising enough ire that people will challenge them. It's enough to make better people feel uncomfortable hearing its use, but not enough to say something because the response is generally, "I'm just making a joke, I don't really mean that, don't be so sensitive." Then you come off as the jerk for calling them out.
Before, I didn't care for the term and didn't use it, but now I hate it. It was used on me "jokingly" by a very close family member to break the ice when another close family member saw the bottom of my back piece sticking out from under my shirt for the first time. While I appreciated an ice breaker because I was nervous about how my tattoo would be perceived, the tramp stamp comment really hurt and it still does thinking about it. It demeaned all the pain I've been through, and now it might possibly be the way that other family member remembers seeing it for the first time. I had a short conversation with the first family member, and if I hear it again, there will be a much more heated discussion.

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"