I have no idea who this is but the whole photo just does it for me. The sexy peek over the pillow, wrist strap watch and the half sleeve tattoo there. Someone said it sort of looks like Gerard Butler which it does in a way, but I'm not sure it is.

Anyway, it's the tattoo that has my attention. I admit it, I'm a fan of ink. After seven tattoos of my own I can't not be really.

I think there's something very beautiful and individual about tattoos. Don't get me wrong, I HATE generic flash tat's (those are the same pictures you find in every tattoo parlour the planet over), if you're going to put needle to skin in my opinion you need to think about it. Decide what you want, whether you can live with the design for the rest of your life. Because these babies don't come off!

Most of my tat's are custom designs, most of them I drew myself. I'm lucky that I'm an artistic sort, I can 'see' what I want and get it down on paper. Yeah, I'm lazy these days, I use a graphics tablet and photoshop then print the designs out to trundle on down to get them done.

All my tattoo's mean something. My first one was a star and moon design on my left shoulderblade. I had skin cancer when I was a teenager and I wanted something prominent to display and take attention away from the scars on my back (when I was younger aka skinnier, I liked wearing halter neck tops so they could be see a lot) that one's since been redone (it faded badly) with a banner across it and my daughter's name in elvish script.

On my foot I have a small filigree design, I had it done the day my little girl cut her first tooth. It hurt, believe me, if you're thinking about a tat, do NOT get one on your foot first!! I have a high pain threshold, especially for tattoo's. My last one I sat so still my tattoo artist thought I'd gone to sleep!! We got finished in half the time he quoted originally. But anyway, feet. Feet HURT! I was calling him names several times (don't worry about this, they're used to it ;) I think it's part of the training to get used to being called names!)

Anyway, I digress. I have tat's, I like tat's but I'm particular. Tattoo's are personal, they're an expression of self for me. If you ever see my tattoo's you're highly honoured as I rarely display them (I actually worked one place for two years before anyone realised I had them).

I like to see tattoo's on a guy but not flash, perhaps a nice custom design. Something that's personal, something that thought has been put into. They're art, an expression of the individual's nature / personality and the artist's skill. I'm one of those people who are in awe of a good tattoo artist, someone that can take a picture and ink it onto skin. Whilst someone's flinching and calling them names, to me that's skill. Sure I can draw (rarely do but I can) but that's on a flat piece of paper that doesn't squeak at me, I can move it around, turn it upside down if I want, tape it to a window to use it as a lightbox (yes, I do look weird doing this. My family are used to it, they know I'm mad) and I can rub things out when I go wrong. A tattoist can't. To me, enough said.

As I said before, I don't like flash. I like custom designs. On a guy, I like to see arm sleeves like this half sleeve on Mr. Come to bed there. Tattoo's like that are another distinct choice to me. They're beautiful and say something about the man.

LOL I've waffled again, so if you're still with me, well done. So, what are your opinions on tattoo's. Love 'em or loathe 'em? Why? What does it, or doesn't do it for you?