Friday 14th August -

It was the night before the very first Norwich Body Art Festival and I had the pre-show party to attend with all the other tattoo artists and stall holders attending the next day. Flamingo Amy curled and set my hair in a 30's style and then my trusty sidekick, the Lady C, and I headed to the secret venue...

...well, the function room at Delaney's pub anyway. After checking our names off from the guest list and getting a couple of drinks we realised it was much too hot for our outfits and made make shift fans from flyers and spent the majority of the evening checkibng out the crowd and saying 'bloody hell it's hot in here!'. Lol from Hair From Hell was sitting with Kirsteen from Boobie Trap Corsets, the Outline Crew were propping up the bar and Mick from Styx was unrecognisable with his new hair cut. DJ78 was playing retro tunes which seemed to go down very well with some guests as they jived around the dance fllor, just as Jess (below) from White Rabbit studio came over, introduced herself and her apprentice and asked to share our table. Of course we said yes.

Jess, originally from Texas, didn't know anybody at the do and we all started chatting quickly about tattoos, blokes, Norwich, the festival and blue nipples (don't ask). She offered us both great deals on some new ink over the weekend and we both began contemplating taking out tattoo loans to pay for them. After a few drinks, laughs and embarrasing statements (her apprentice Jan asked if we were in Suffolk and how far we were from Ipswich, provoking glares from any locals in earshot) they headed to their accomadation while Lady C and I went for a quick last beverage in The Playhouse - beer garden = lower temperatures. After a decidedly grim house double (should always stick to Bombay Sapphire) we went homewards - I had an early start in the morning!