Otautahi Tatu

Otautahi is Maori for Christchurch, and it's extremely appropriate to title this latest blog 'Otautahi Tatu' as the subject matter is tattoo's...and this studio in Christchurch, New Zealand was where I had a special tattoo inked in to mark a particular memorable phase of my life.

As I said in my last blog, 'Wrapped Up In Time', I tend to mark the era's in my life in a different way to my niece ~ I don't keep possessions ~ I get tattoo's instead!

This all started back in my early thirties...

Tattoo#1 ~ Celtic Cross
Location:Dublin, Ireland 
I had finally severed all ties with an old girlfriend after an extremely turbulent relationship, and to complete this closure I wanted something symbolic to mark the occassion. I had gone through hell, and the stress and strain was at times unbearable. But finally all emotional, financial and legal ties had reached a happy conclusion (for me, anyway!), and I could finally move on with my life.
But to celebrate this landmark event I wanted something to show for it...and a tattoo was the perfect solution. On the spur of the moment whilst holidaying with friends in Ireland, I decided to get 'inked' at a studio in Dublin, and I felt a Celtic Cross was appropriate due to my love of the Irish, and the fact that my great 'paddy' friends had helped me through this difficult phase of my life.
I remember the tattooist made me laugh when he asked me,
"is this your first time?" When I nodded yes, he quickly quipped,
"yeah, me too!"

Tattoo#2 ~ Chinese Symbol (Brave)
Location:Galway, Ireland 
I now had the bug as like some people say...getting tattoo's can be very addictive.
Plus I couldn't just have the one could I?...as it would look rather isolated.
My second tattoo was about a year later, again in Ireland, but this time in Galway.
I usually stay with friends whilst in Ireland, but on this occassion I found myself on my own for a few days so I visited the gorgeous Galway on the West Coast.
I remembered a tattooist down a particular street from an earlier visit, so rather instinctively I gravitated there immediately. I've always loved the chinese style of writing and design, so I chose the symbol for 'brave' for it's special meaning to me personally.
During my traumatic time as spoken earlier, there was a specific album by the rock band Marillion called 'Brave' which helped me identify some of the problems I was going through, and deal with some of the issues. The lyrics were especially poignant as they told the story of a would-be suicide girl, and how she got to be where she was, and although the subject matter may seem rather depressing, the album actually finished on an upbeat note with the beautiful track 'Made Again'.

Tattoo#3 ~ Maori Swirl (Phoenix Rising)
Location:Winton (Bournemouth), UK 
A few years later whilst I was living and working in Bournemouth, I had a health scare.
I completely 'lost' a day via a blackout...and I assure you that it wasn't alcohol induced! Lol.
After attending Poole General Hospital, I was ordered off work for two weeks and told to rest as I had suffered some form of severely delayed concussion from an earlier accidental blow to the head, which had left me with a hairline fracture to the skull.
During this enforced exile from work, I visited a tattooist in nearby Winton and chose a maori swirl design for my next tattoo, which I felt resembled a phoenix rising from the flames to mark my own resurgence.
I must also say that the tattooist responsible was the most gorgeous girl in Bournemouth, so it was worth getting a tattoo just to be in her company for a few hours! Lol.

Tattoos#4 & #5 ~ New Zealand (both islands)
Location:Christchurch, New Zealand
As previously described on numerous occassions it had always been a dream of mine to visit New Zealand.
So when I finally realised this dream it only seemed right to mark the occassion accordingly.
I called into a local studio whilst I was staying in Christchurch (Otautahi Tatu) and simply asked their advice. I informed them that I wanted something by way of a tribute to New Zealand, and something with a sense of tradition.
They recommended a map of the islands, with the outlines filled in with Maori swirls ~ similar to the picture attached to this blog.
I was extremely pleased with the result, and I even received a seal of approval a few weeks later from a Maori guy when I was up in Paihia on the North Island...he also said that I needed to work on my tan if I wanted to look really authentic! Lol.

Although I don't intend to have any further tattoo's, I shall never say never!
I don't get them done just for the sake of it ~ they are all personal and significant to me, and they are all located on my upper arms so as not to show them off.
I did seriously think about getting a sixth and final tattoo inked in, but I've decided to wait until I can mark another historic or life changing event in my life. Maybe when I'm united with the love of my love, or maybe once I've finally paid off all my debts, or maybe even I'll delay it until my 50th birthday when I hope to re-visit my spiritual home...New Zealand.
Time will tell, I guess?

Ramblin' Steve