Day 108 - Love & Hate

I wondered around the wholesaler again this morning, this time besides shopping, taking in the people that were also there doing the same things. Wondering what they do for a living, wondering where their businesses are and most of all wondering why everyone I saw this morning had tattoos. From the lady at reception to the checkout people, to the customers, everyone was inked somewhere.

I might be a bit old, I accept that, but I do struggle to understand the need to get stamped. I am told by those who are that it is an addiction. That one almost always leads to another. I still don't get it. What makes a chinless wonder from Stoke want tribal patterns over his shoulders and down his arms to his wrist. There is every possibility that this bloke has never spent a day with a tribe of any description. That the closest he got to a tribe was while watching national geographic. There is every possibility that those Chinese letters inscripted on his thigh are not actually the names of his favourite football players but actually a variety of insults aimed at the the hapless inkee. (is inkee a word?) 

As I am old I also accept that maybe I am also old fashioned but a prospective employee sat in front of me with Love and Hate written across his knuckles and a dotted line with the words 'cut here' inscribed around his neck, well, there is a strong possibility that he would not be employed.

There is also a strong possibility that the all smiling and singing dolphin frolicking in the surf tattooed across the tummy of a pretty girl...will look like a beached overweight whale after kids and junk food have all worked their magic. Just saying. Tattoos. For average Joe, with no lifelong allegiance to any gang, club or battalion, I don't get it.

Anyway, that's my ramble for the day. I had the joy of taking my youngest with me this morning and so to annoy everyone at the store I gave him his own trolley to drive. The trip was remarkably peaceful for me as he wondered about doing his own thing. As tough as a 6 year old thinks he is he did come and find me every few minutes just in case...but to not have the whining was a pleasure. The pub's trade remains brisk. Starting to see familiar faces, people coming back for a second helping which is great to see. The brewery owners were in on Sunday afternoon and very happy with the trade levels. So pretty much its all good right now.

The Royal Oak at night.

Until tomorrow.