The month that was ......March

After the madness that was February, with phones ringing off the hook and not being able to keep up with demand, it was time to call in the reinforcements. The quiet times of 2009 seemed to have past and there was a number of events coming up in March that had potential to do good things. So with that in mind, one of my friends Kelli, came on-board to man the phones and help with the rebuilding process.

March started with the end of the AC/DC tour as they hit Adelaide and Perth. Adelaide was in the middle of festival season plus the Clipsal 500 was on. Perth had a number of large conferences that thankfully I knew about in advance. Melbourne had the Grand Prix ... but while busy, it failed to deliver the demand that it did a few years ago.

Like Sydney in February, the main demand in March was for Canberra. There were a number of weeks when parliament was sitting but one of the major reasons the city was so popular was because of the Masterpieces From Paris art exhibition. Due to this exhibition, all the hotels were full every weekend which is very unusual for Canberra. Then, there was the planned visit of US President Barack Obama ... but thankfully they was postponed.

Canberra has never had as big a month as they did in March ... so much so that our joke in the office was that "Canberra is the new Sydney".

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WWII piece ~ 2nd Sitting

This is the next sitting on the WWII arm and chest piece.
(These are not healed pictures, I will update with healed pictures at the next sitting)

Synopsis:

In the glowering twilight, Edinburgh Castle slumbers, resting, waiting for nightfall and for the footlights that will transform it into a dazzling stage set for the world's most spectacular show. Down Castlehill, along the Lawnmarket, around the cathedral church of St Giles, through the closes of the Royal Mile and the narrow streets whose setts ring with history, people gather in the dusk of a late summer evening.

Turning their faces to the great castle rock, where ancient clans first settled the area, which was to 

become the capital of Scotland and where now stands Edinburgh's mighty fortress, they join a crowd that will soon be an audience, rapt with enthusiasm for the unique spectacle that is the Edinburgh Tattoo.

Climbing the final rise towards the Esplanade, walking companionably together, eight and ten abreast, 

eager old hands who come every year but never lose the thrill of a Tattoo ahead, and new folk, many on 

holiday from other proud nations a world away, who are about to witness the show they will never 

forget...Settling into their high seats, the fresh clear air exhilarating, the sky about the Castle deepening 

first to heather-colours of lilac and purple before darkness slips down and the floodlit castle draws all eyes.

The commentator - the Voice of the Castle - brings the audience together, cheering individually for 

their countries but united in an international fraternity.French shake hands with English, Japanese nod smilingly to Swedish neighbours, native Scots welcome Italians. The Tattoo is family now.

A hush falls and darkness deepens, the great oak gates of the Castle sweep open and the swell of the pipes and drums cracks through the night sky. As the massed bands march out in their hundreds across the drawbridge, flanked by effigies of William Wallace and Robert The Bruce, emotions run high: this matchless spectacle unfailingly enthrals, symbolising the Scotland that everyone holds dear in their heart.

The tunes are echoes of a glorious and often tragic past, of freedom and glory and of suffering and loss ... 'The Garb of Old Gaul' and The Skye Boat Song' and the rousing quick marches, 'Dumbarton's 

Drums' and 'All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border'.

Every Edinburgh Tattoo begins with this vivid and intensely emotional display, and may it always be so. 

For these are Scotland's finest fighting men (pipers and drummers are soldiers first, musicians second) playing the stirring tunes that over centuries have given courage and inspiration on battlefields in every corner of the globe. Lest we forget, we have our pipes and drums.

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AMERICAN PSYCHO FINISHED

This is the Patrick Bateman tattoo on nathan
that I started a while back, finally finished.

I will post a final picture as soon as it is healed

Charitable Objectives

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is the Army in Scotland's contribution to Edinburgh's International Festivals.

Each year, the Tattoo, should it generate any excess earnings, distributes a substantial proportion of its surplus funds to charitable arts and service benevolent organisations.

The charities the Tattoo supports include those helping service people with disabilities, stress, sickness, unemployment, homelessness, infirmity and poverty.

Some of the charities who benefit from the Edinburgh Tattoo's annual activities include the Army Benevolent Fund, Seafarers UK, the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Edinburgh International Festival.

Pictured: HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne

is the Patron of The Edinburgh Tattoo.

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The Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2008

IT is the largest gathering of military musicians in the UK are set to perform at the 2008 showpiece armed service event, the 59th Edinburgh Military Tattoo, staged against the matchless backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The production will feature a range of superb international performers with the centrepiece of the evening once again expected to be the spine-tingling sights and sounds of the world famous massed Pipes and Drums, one of the finest display anyone can witness anywhere in the world.

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The Edinburgh Military Tattoo Returns to Beat the Drum Down Under

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the most celebrated entertainment events in the world is returning to Sydney, Australia, February 3-7.

This is the second visit to Australia since 2005, which marks the 60th anniversary celebrations titled “The Edinburgh Military Tattoo - Celebrating 60 Years of Valour, Mateship and Glory.

The Tattoo, which will be staged in Sydney Football Stadium against a remarkable million dollar replica of Edinburgh Castle, will be even bigger than last time with an extra “theatrical flourish” developed under the Tattoo’s new Chief Executive and Producer, Major Euan Louden, CBE.

In the course of the week, Sydney-siders will have a chance to win a trip to Scotland to the home of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo; check out their Scottish Ancestry with free online searches ancestralscotland.

“As others See Us” for free at the Gateway Complex on Circular Quay; enjoy a traditional pub-gig with Scottish music and entertainment at the Lord Blair (aka Nelson) bar on The Rocks as well as joining a ceilidh on the Rocks and getting along to the Aussie Stadium to see the Tattoo event for themselves.

Watch-out for a kilt-clad street team who will be distributing leaflets around Sydney to entice visitors to come to Scotland in 2010. The team will also be distributing 1000s of free books across the city as part of an official Book Crossing. The book in question is “As Others See Us” - essentially the book of the exhibition - which features prominent Scots and their reflections on the life and works of Robert Burns.

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Sammi's neck

Picture 1 is the tattoo finished, picture 2 is the tattoo healed

Picture 1

Picture 2

Arm Piece In Progress

This is a piece I started a little while back
It is being done in small sessions,

In this picture, the face is healed and the hair has only just been done.

I will keep putting up updated photos as it is being completed.

This is one of my favourite pieces Im doing at the moment.
The grey lines in the background are a bed of roses around her to finish off the piece.

Susie's Pink Bow

A bit of a change from all the black and grey work,
a pretty pink bow

Tattoo Fact File

The first Edinburgh Tattoo took place in 1950. There were eight items in the programme.

More than 12 million people have attended the Tattoo. The annual audience is around 217,000.

Around 100 million people see the Tattoo each year on international television.

Approximately 70 per cent of each audience is from outwith Scotland. Half of these are from overseas.

Each year 100,000 people visit the Tattoo's new attraction at the top of the Royal Mile. The Spirt of the Tattoo - the compelling story of Edinburgh's Military Tattoo, featuring an interactive exhibition, movie theatre and gift shop.

The first commercial twelve inch stereo LP record of the Tattoo was released in 1961.

2009 marked the Tattoo’s eleventh successive sell-out season, generating some £6.2 million in box office receipts.

Around 35 miles of cabling (the distance from Edinburgh to Glasgow) is required.

The event was first seen in colour on TV in 1968.

From 1950 to 1991, there were four producers - Lt Col George Malcolm of Poltalloch, Brigadier MacLean, Brigadier Sanderson and Lt Col Dow.

Major Michael Parker then took over as producer for the 1992, 1993 and 1994 Tattoos. He was succeeded by Brigadier Melville Jameson in 1995, who in turn was followed by Major General Euan Loudon in March 2007.

The first overseas regiment to participate was the Band of the Royal Netherlands Grenadiers. The year was 1952, and there were also performers from Canada and France.

The first lone piper was Pipe Major George Stoddart. He played in every performance for the first eleven years. His son, Major Gavin Stoddart, followed his father as lone piper at the Tattoo and became Director of Army Bagpipe Music for 12 years.

Hollywood movie producer Mike Todd, the fourth husband of film star Elizabeth Taylor, made a documentary programme on the Tattoo in 1950.

Not a single performance of the Tattoo has ever been cancelled.

The Tattoo is set up and run for charitable purposes. Over the years, it has gifted some £5 million to service and civilian organisations.

At the last official independent count, visitors to the Tattoo contributed an estimated £88 million to the Scottish economy.

The Tattoo has always been staged at Edinburgh Castle. Rehearsals take place at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh.

Over 40 countries have been represented at the Tattoo.

The word ‘tattoo’ comes from the closing-time cry in the inns in the Low Countries during the 17th and 18th centuries - ‘Doe den tap toe’ (‘Turn off the taps’).

The event takes place annually throughout August, as part of the wider Edinburgh Festival.For Edinburgh Military Tattoo tickets, sports tickets, opera-ballet tickets, concert tickets, theatre tickets and exclusive event tickets in the UK and worldwide. Premier Events pledges to provide the cheapest event tickets on the net.we ensure their safe and prompt delivery to our customer.Buy Edinburgh Military Tattoo tickets 2010 with full trust!

Pencils and Paper

These are old drawings I had on my computer,
they were done with pencils,
each picture is no bigger than A6

Coming up roses

Photographs of roses - taken for reference purposes,
theyre so pretty

Scotland’s Culture Minister to bid farewell to Tattoo performers bound for Australia

At 9.15am on Wednesday, January 13 at Crown Square within Edinburgh Castle, Scotland’s Culture Minister, Fiona Hyslop MSP will personally offer performers from the Tattoo’s Scottish contingent bound for Australia her best wishes as they put the finishing touches to their preparations for the Edinburgh Tattoo’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations Down Under at Sydney’s Football Stadium from 3-7 February 2010.

Around 30 musicians from the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland together with Tattoo Chief Executive and Producer, Major General Euan Loudon, will be in attendance that morning. Culture Minister, Fiona Hyslop MSP said: “An iconic event like Edinburgh’s Military Tattoo helps put Scotland on the map and I’ve no doubt its presence in Australia will act as a superb advertisement for our country. The ambassadorial role performed by this cherished national institution supports the strengthening of links between our two nations”

Tattoo Producer, Major General Loudon, remarked: “This is one of the largest contingents of British Military musicians from Scotland and the UK ever to leave these shores. It provides an excellent opportunity to fly the flag Down Under, and, I hope, in the process, makes the necessary connection with the Australian people.” The Culture Minister is expected to hand the musicians a special Scottish gift on Wednesday which will be shipped Down Under for presentation to her Australian counterpart.

This is only the third time in the Tattoo’s history that the world-class event will be staged away from its home at Edinburgh Castle. In 2000, Wellington’s Westpac Trust Stadium in New Zealand enjoyed this honour, while Sydney hosted the Tattoo’s outstandingly successful ‘A Salute to Australia’ in 2005. The largest gathering of pipes & drums and military bands ever to perform overseas will be among the 350-strong British-based performers taking their unique brand of entertainment to the southern hemisphere. 

The event takes place annually throughout August, as part of the wider Edinburgh Festival.For Edinburgh 

Military Tattoo tickets, sports tickets, opera-ballet tickets, concert tickets, theatre tickets and exclusive event tickets in the UK and worldwide. Premier Events pledges to provide the cheapest event tickets on the net.No commission, transaction charges or hidden booking fees. Buy Edinburgh Military Tattoo tickets with full trust!