A weighty issue or How I turned my life around.

Disclaimer: 

This is my story and how it worked for me.

If YOU are in doubt, 

PLEASE visit your Doctor before embarking on any eating/exercise plan

This was me in 2012...

No wonder I look so frightened!

But like most "overweight" people, I denied the fact...

Until I saw this picture.

I might have been smiling but I was NOT happy.

"Inside every fat person, is a thin one trying to get out"?

RUBBISH.

The fat person has eaten the thin one.

And our modern lifestyle is to blame.

No time to cook(properly) or to exercise.
In my case, specifically the latter.

And one of the biggest culprits?

Empty carbs.
Sandwiches were my default food choice

I had a good laugh when people queued for hours

 to get a burger at Burger franchise when it recently opened in Johannesburg.

Rubbish on a bun, but the lemmings queued...and were eventually rewarded,

with cholesterol under tomato and lettuce...and cheese and bacon!

So what got me from fat and lazy to fit and "fabulous"?

Bloody hard work.

Why did I do it?

After my annual medical in November 2013, some unwanted anomalies showed up.

Specifically with sugar levels that made both my wife (a Dr), my mom-in-law ( also a Dr.)

and my physician concerned.

Over the years I have lost and gained weight 

due to my "all-or-nothing" type diet/exercise regimes.

However, now that I am 61, with less years ahead of me than behind,
any changes need to be permanent.

So how did I do it?

I decided that I had to commit totally or not at all.

I know that past experience has taught me that 21 days is required

 to set a habit, good or bad.

If you slip on any day, you go back to Day 1.

Not unlike any 12-step program.

And eating, especially bad eating habits are an addiction.

My biggest problem was and still is chocolate.

I had been "clean" for 17 years and then in 2007 went off to work overseas 

where I "fell of the chocolate wagon."

It took me almost 2 years to get back to being clean...

 In December, 2013,I approached a nutritionist for a proper eating plan.

One that would allow me to "cheat" if necessary, 

but at the same time it would give me measurable goals.

I used Jade Campbell from Nutritional Solutions

www.nutritionalsolutions.co.za  

We had met on a TV shoot that features weight loss and diabetes.

Coincidence?

I think not!

The eating plan was relatively simple:

No sugar. This was a problem for me as I like sugar on my cereal.

But I learned that many cereals contain sugar, so no extra is required.

 No carbs at night. This can also be difficult...especially if you like potatoes,
however smaller portions can accommodate that craving.

Cut out most red meat. Try Venison or Ostrich 

Lots of vegetables...ALL COLOURS

Lots of fish and chicken.

And I had to keep a logbook of what I ate.

The truth can hurt...

The first 21 days are always the worst as your mind and body adjusts.

But persevere...the results are REALLY worth it.
A tip: Use your side plate for your main meal and you dinner plate for salad and veg.

My commitment was first tested when I was on a week long TV shoot.

 Eating catered meals on set and guest house food...

and the result?

NO weight gain AND I lost some body fat...so it can be done.
I was able to run most of the week and that helped!
It did mean eating carefully as there was red meat with every meal.
I limited my red meat portions to small quantities.
There was chicken on offer as well as pasta,
which allowed me some choice

Another test came in June, 2014 when my wife and I went on an 11 day cruise.

Traditionally people gain at least 4kg on a cruise of this length.

I intended to maintain the weight I was when I got on board ship
And I did! I trained every day
and came back at the same weight I was on departure.

This is me on 28/03/2014

Changing your eating habits might not give you the weight loss that you require.

But add in exercise, and that changes.

I KNOW that men and women lose weight at different rates.

In my case running has always helped.

As not everyone likes to run,any form of cardio exercise can benefit

I started slowly...a few km's of running and walking at a time.

I am now running in excess of 5km a day, with a longer run midweek (10km+)
On the weekend, I try to do 15-20km.

Gym has become a friend.

I do at least three sessions a week.
I tend to use the machines as I am not looking to build muscle.

In total about an hour, which I like to do in the early morning.
The gym training will now focus on core to help with the running.


I have also added super circuit, only the upper body machines,
and tummy exercises  three times a week
as I build towards my Kilimanjaro Challenge in October 2014.


On 10/10/2014,
I successfully stood at the top of Kilimanjaro for the second time.
A year ago, I would not have believed this to be possible.
I have already been asked if I will return for a third time...
Anything is POSSIBLE!

I am currently on a maintenance eating plan that allows me extra portions.

But I am sticking to the original plan...with some tweaks.

More importantly, it is NOT about deprivation...that leads to binge eating.

If I want a slice of cheesecake, I will indulge.

There is a trade off...I might give up a carb or two.

It is all about moderation...in all things
Your body will tell you if it needs a rest day. LISTEN!
Limit the rest days...otherwise old habits emerge very quickly!

The image on the left was taken in December 2013,
the picture on the right is from October 2014!
I have been on several trips during the course of 2014,
and on each occasion have come home without gaining any weight.
I do try to train while I am away,
and I now packing my running kit first.


The weight loss has also improved my self confidence.
And has a result I have returned to doing stand-up comedy,
in front of a paying audience and not as a TV warm up artist.


So from fat to fab?

My wife thinks so...and so does my daughter.

And their opinions count!

I cannot wait to see the look on my physician's face at our next appointment

This is for the rest of my life

For those who like stats, here are mine:

 Start weight: 97,5kg. Current weight: 79,6kg. ( I would like to get to 77kg) 
This "goal post" has been moved, by me, more than once. 

Original Body fat: 30.4%, currently: 14%. (would like this to be closer to 10%)

More importantly I have dropped from a size 42 to a 32! (HAPPY)
Blood glucose, cholesterol and Blood pressure are all now in the "excellent" category!
YOU CAN DO IT...IF YOU WANT TO!


"Travel & Things" was a contender in this competition.

         

www.sablogawards.com

All images are the copyright property of  and may not be used without permission

Follow me on Twitter: @davidbatzofin
Visit my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/david.batzofin
Travel & Things has it's own Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/travelandthings

Mission impossible. Damned if you do...

On Sunday, 30/03/2014

a hippo had to be killed at Heia Safari Ranch.

This lead to a vitriolic, uninformed Facebook postings,

started by this individual...

Andrew Dott

wrote on 31 March:

"I am not one for playing on Facebook but I have to share this with the world as I am pissed off about it. 
Last night Gaby from Heia Safari Lodge, had a Hippo shot in her Heritage dam,
 in order to make the water safe for a pending swimming event she has planned. 
This in a dam surrounded by game reserves and which provides the most natural habitat for Hippo, albeit a few kms from Johannesburg". 

He continued:
"She cites that they are a danger to her staff and guests, whereas it is all to do with making money on the swim. 
The Heia Circus is a joke and must be boycotted at all costs. 
Would the swimmers be happy to know that in order to partake in the event, Hippo had to be shot"??????
Swim events held earlier in the year went off without a hitch.
This particular event was cancelled due to flood debris
 and an influx of Hyacinth that made Lake Heritage unsafe for the swimmers. 
The event mentioned would have been held on Sunday MORNING,
the hippo was killed on Sunday AFTERNOON!
His "minions" then jumped on the bandwagon...
 They used the FB platform to publicly berate Gaby and by extension Heia.
I will not quote them here as some have already apologized for writing without knowing the truth
HOWEVER, what Andrew "forgot" this incident...
Both hippo were owned by the same person!
Why not pick on the actual owner of the Hippo?


Image from the online newspaper article

The hippo was roaming the farm for over a year and it was affecting their business negatively

06 December 2012 | Chemélle Barnard    

"We waited until the very last minute before the animal which had been roaming on our farm for the past year, was shot," says David Bain from the Brookwood Trout Farm in Muldersdrift after his brother Ken Bain shot a straying hippo on Wednesday 28 November.

Ken Bain, who shot the animal on the last day that his permit was valid, was away in Mozambique when the NEWS attempted to make contact with him for comment.

However his brother, David, who is the co-owner of the farm, agreed to speak to the NEWS.

According to David the hippo was roaming the farm for over a year and it was affecting their business negatively.

"For about a year now we have had no campers staying over on the farm due to the roaming hippo. We also had to cancel evening trips because of the hippo being active during the evening," says David.

David says Alex Richter did put lucerne out but had not been doing so for the past three months before the animal was killed.

In the previous article, published in the 7 December issue of the NEWS, Richter said that he had all his catching equipment in a shed on the farm and was ready to fence in a feeding area for the hippo with electric fencing

However, David said that the process had not made much progress as only the poles for the fence were planted six months ago.

When asked about another hippo roaming the area David said he had not seen the hippo but heard that there was one roaming near Kloofzicht Lodge, another neighbouring farm.

The NEWS contacted the Kloofzicht Lodge were an unknown employee confirmed that there had been a hippo on their farm too, however she could not recall when. Their operations manager was unavailable for comment at the time.

David also told the NEWS that Richter knew about the issued permit and after three months he still failed to do anything.

Residents in the Krugersdorp area had much to say regarding the issue.

Jeffery Bullet commented on looklocal by saying, "Let me tell you something about this so called owner of the hippo, he has no control over his animals this is not the first time he has lost an animal in the area. He has lost a baboon that ran around and bit 3 people before it was finally shot, he has lost a buffalo that hassled the neighbours for months and now a hippo. According to nature conservation that hippo stopped belonging to Richter the minute the permit was issued”.

“The permit holder then became the rightful owner of the hippo. The whole article above is a bunch of lies , everybody was given a chance to do something about the hippo, freeme was asked to help and they didn’t nature conservation was asked and they didn’t, the SPCA was asked and they quoted R30000-00 to have it removed (Why didn't Richter pay them to move it)." (sic)
To read the comments posted regarding this:
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/krugersdorp/krugersdorp-news-crime?oid=6608939&sn=Detail&pid=489864&Straying-hippo-was-bad-for-business

And he also "forgot" to mention this...

 

Farm Worker killed by elephant

Date:04 March 2013

A Hoedspruit farm worker was killed by an elephant bull in the York Region of the Balule Private Nature Reserve (PNR) last Sunday.

Mr Andy Dott, Chairman of Balule PNR, confirmed the incident. According to Dott, Mr William Bango (47) and another employee of Mr Steve Hearne, a private landowner in York Region, were working on a borehole when the elephant charged them. Apparently the two men ran away in different directions, but the elephant continued to charge Bango. The as yet unidentified bull trampled and tusked William and also tossed him quite a distance through the air. Dott said that although paramedics were called out, Bango died on the scene. “This bull will have to be put down, but we are still trying to identify him. We have had other eyewitness reports of a bull getting too aggressive towards vehicles in the area,” said Andy. “Bango’s family has been informed of his death and Balule PNR will be making a donation to assist the family to help.” Hoedspruit SAPS confirmed the death and said that a post mortem would be conducted this week.

— LiN News/Kruger2Canyon

My question to Andrew Dott:

I noticed that you "made a donation" to help the family...

Have you paid them any compensation for the loss of earnings of Mr. Bango?

David Batzofin:

While the Andrew Dott's of the world jump up and down, here is the other side of the story. As an aside @AndrewDott, why did you not make this much noise when a Hippo was recently shot on a nearby trout farm? Do dead trout not get you the publicity that you seem to be seeking? 

 Bianca Rogers:

This was addressed to Andrew Dott:

I find it very sad to see you posting about a subject where you do not have all the facts. Let me clarify a few points. The hippo have been a problem not only at Heia but n the Muldersdrift area for many years. 

On 2 occasions they ended up in 2 smaller dams at Heia and we were successful and managed to capture them and they were taken back to the reserve at Aloe ridge. This was a costly exercise. Yet we did it. They keep returning due to fences not being maintained by Aloe Ridge. We have been fixing the reserve fences (which are not ours) but have been unsuccessful of maintaining such a large area. Last year upon their return we had a boma built and spent 6 months and thousands on lucern trying to capture them, but due to the fact that they are in a big dam it was not possible. They have chased our staff members and almost killed them. On numerous occasions our guests have been threatened . The next swim event is only in October, so no, the hippo was not shot because of an imminent swim event. The hippo was shot because staff and guests are in danger on a daily basis and we are no longer willing to live with this risk of putting human lives at stake. The other way to avoid the danger would be to close Heia and then 100 people would be without jobs. I understand your anger, I too hate seeing animals being killed , everyone who knows my mom and myself know that we would do anything to help any animal in need. I have hand reared and tried to save a variety of species from a bat, owl, eland, impala, warthog, zebra, and even a hippo whose mother had been killed by a rhino. You were aware that a permit was issued as it was announced at the auction where you were present. The auctioneers announced that anyone was welcome to approach us to discuss and find alternatives.
Why did you not come and see us like the auctioneers suggested and said to us, 
is there an alternative or can I perhaps help, you judge and point fingers, yet you did nothing either. 

So therefore Andrew Dott with all due respect I hereby invite you to Heia for a coffee to discuss the above in detail if you so chose. 
If not I am sorry you are angry and do hope you find peace by knowing that killing the hippo broke our hearts too but human lives in this world unfortunately come first. 
Please stop insulting my mother and family on FB.

 

Nicolene Schulte

 Also read Bianca's status: as you are aware my mom and myself are also very conscientious conservationists. I would like to point out that the liquidator of Aloe Ridge came out the day before the auction to assess the situation with regard the hippo and gave us the green light- not because of a swimming event, but due to the threat to humans. The hippo was shot because it has randomly posed a threat for years already and we have had enough of this unknown. We are a hotel and conference centre, it has been called Heia Safari Ranch for 43 years and we have never been a “game reserve”. We have animals that pose no danger to humans roaming on the property. We are not a lodge like others where lion and hippo etc roam around. As for your comment on safety, a few staff have been chased by the hippo and could have been injured or killed.

 Heia has always been a venue with zebra and giraffe etc but never a “game reserve”. The tourism grading council graded us as a lodge . What we chose to do at our venue is our business, we have always been seen as a place where guests can come and stay and spend time and the lake was built by my grandfather for fishing etc and not for accommodating dangerous wild animals.

 At the time when my late grandfather completed the dam, he ensured that the Hippo pool at Aloe Ridge was always safely fenced and secured to ensure that the hippo remained in the hippo pool. Unfortunately since his murder, Aloe Ridge were not capable of maintaining their fences. We were never the owners of the hippo. Since the auction, no transfer of land ownership has been confirmed. We have lived with the hippo for a long time and no longer chose to do so. I don’t know what the hyacinth has to do with anything but we have removed and maintained the hyacinth for years. The only reason that there are so many at the moment is due to the extreme floods that occurred in march in the catchment area feeding water into lake heritage and with that additional hyacinth have come from upstream which is beyond our control. Regarding Heia Safari Ranch being a circus, you can say that on some days it is like a circus here, but a fun and happy circus shared by all. We yet again invite you to come to Heia Safari Ranch and meet with us to get a clear picture of the situation that has led to all the above.

This is the official press release put on on behalf of Heia Safari Ranch
This was posted on the News24 website(amongst others) and
the quality of the comments left by the readers defies description.
I am not going to comment on those,
except to mention one "reader" who turned it into a racial issue...go figure! 

Johannesburg - The killing of a hippo at Lake Heritage on Heia Safari Ranch in Muldersdrift was a last resort as the hippos in the area had become a threat to human life, general manager Gaby Burgmer said on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately the hippos in the area have posed a threat to both our guests and our staff for the past year. We have had instances where our staff have been chased by hippos," Burgmer said in a statement.

"Killing the hippo broke our hearts but human lives had to come first."

She said based on professional expert opinion the hippo could endanger lives so the ranch took the "extremely difficult decision" because it was not a risk they were prepared to take.

Burgmer said the ranch tried everything possible to save the hippo, but had no choice but to cull the animal. She said that on two different occasions hippos had made their way to a smaller dam at the ranch.

They were captured by professional game capturers and relocated back to Aloe Ridge.

Game translocater Koos Dippenaar said the problem was not unique to the ranch, but there had been problems over the last couple of years in the Muldersdrift area.

Hippos were first introduced in the area in the early 1980s and they predominantly bred male calves so there was an overpopulation of bulls in the area, he said.

He said because Muldersdrift was predominantly farmland and not bushveld the area was too small for the hippos and they were becoming problematic and immune to electric fencing.

"We have tried on numerous occasions to confine them or to dart them, but this has not proved successful. Relocation is also often not an option as they are so difficult to catch when in a river or large dam," he said in a statement.

"Last year we were faced with the same problem at two other estates in the area. Culling an animal is always our very last resort but in a lot of instances we have been left with no choice."

Dippenaar said they tried to lure the hippo out of the lake to relocate them but this was unsuccessful.

Burgmer said the decision to shoot the hippo was not taken lightly or suddenly.

"We have literally agonised over it for a whole year trying different solutions in partnership with Dippenaar," she said.

"Due to the size of the dam, all attempts to capture or relocate this hippo have been futile."

- SAPA

I would like to compare the current "outcry" about the Hippo 

with this incident that occurred at the same property.

 

A couple of years ago, I got a call from Gaby that the resident female giraffe was about to give birth.

I grabbed my camera gear and headed out as fast as I could...

Unfortunately the labour did not turn out as expected.

I spent the whole afternoon with Lady and at last her waters broke.

I got into a position to capture the new arrival as he(or she) came into the world...but that was not to be!

The length of the labour as well as the fact that only the legs were protruding led us to believe that Lady was in trouble and that this birth,if it happened was going to be very difficult.

She was taking a lot of strain and a call to the local vet was met with the suggestion to
 "put her down if the labour continued in this fashion"
But Gaby refused to believe that this was the only option

The following morning, her prayers were answered when a giraffe darting expert contacted Gaby

 and offed to help remove the calf and to save the mother.

 As time was of the essence, there was not much talking and as soon as the dart gun was loaded we took off to make sure that Lady was helped as quickly as possible

Lady was darted and the stillborn calf was removed.
It turned out to be a breach birth, and nothing could have been done to save the calf.
The vet worked with the utmost care and speed and would not even stay to have breakfast
(A six hour round trip for him and his team)

Eighteen months later,without any help, Lady gave birth to a healthy young girl.

Aptly named Little Lady she continues to grow and thrive at Heia.
If this does not prove that Gaby cares about the animals at Heia, then nothing else will...

People might respond that I am biased considering my history with Heia and the family.
However, I would like to assure readers that given my interest in wildlife and conservation, I would have been the FIRST to sound the alarm had I believed that this incident could have been avoided
I have taken time to respond to the original outcry as I was out of town and unable to access the Internet.
I have not edited any of the Facebook postings, aside from spelling corrections, and where necessary, I have referenced the source of the articles quoted.
The images used are from the property

Unless stated, all images are the copyright property of  and may not be used without permission

Viva Democracy...all 20 years!

Twenty years of democracy…

How the decades have flown.

By David Batzofin

“Has it REALLY been twenty years? SERIOUS”? I hear you ask. And the answer is a resounding “YES”.

I could unpack the past two decades in the context of the rest of Africa however, I believe that we in South Africa are unique.

Yes, we do have similarities to other African Nations, but there are more positives than negatives here “at home”.

That being said, as I write this there is the shadow of load-shedding hanging over my internet connection (If you are reading this, then I was able to finish, and mail before the power vanished)

We have potholes that can swallow cars whole and traffic lights that are more out of order than operational and yes there might be beggars of all colours on every street corner.

Is that the way we are to judge the past two decades?

The negatives are always front of mind, but if we dig into our memory banks we will discover that are a plethora of positives that will bring a smile to our faces.

Like waiting for hours for Nelson Mandela to be released from the Victor Verster Prison. The TV announcer had to ramble on with no archival footage to back up the time on air. A dripping tap became the analogy for “Madiba’s time in prison…and the length of time he took on the day to be released from the system.

His speech on the Grand Parade in Cape Town was a milestone in our history and set the tone for his Presidency over the coming years.

And to be fair to Cape Town they had Table Mountain as the backdrop to that momentous occasion.

We had been warned to stock up with tinned goods as “fire and brimstone” was about to be unleashed on us. It did not happen and in 1994, we all stood in queues while some of our citizens were allowed to vote for the very first time.

Mandela’s release ( aided by the outgoing National Party),allowed us back onto the world stage in many areas previously denied to us.

As the old flag came down we stepped proudly onto that stage with the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as the first democratically elected President of the “New South Africa”

Sport was one of the first barriers to fall. Unfortunately many of our sportsmen and women were past their prime and thus missed out on earning a living from their chosen field.

But we did get to take part in the Olympic Games. And even if there were more managers and delegates than athletes, we watched as some proved their worth.

Yes, there were teething problems as some of our citizens came to terms with the changes that were being brought about.

Not everyone was happy and many of the older folk hung onto the notion of “rather the devil you know”. Humans are not designed for change of any sort, large or small, and there was resistance. But the majority won and most embraced those.

I suppose the old adage ”You can’t please all of the people all of the time” is apt , but to quote Bob Dylan…”The times they are a changing”…and change they did.

The previously disadvantaged were trying to become advantaged and those that had benefitted from the past 48 years of Nationalist rule, were offering apologies left right and centre. Ministers from the old regime emphatically denied that they were involved or that apartheid even existed.

Yet we all soldiered on…bravely looking to a brighter future in the not too distant future.

The modern generation were not prepared to wait another 48 years for change and were trying to right the wrongs as quickly as possible. Not always with success though.

Fast forward to 2010 and the Soccer World Cup. All of us proudly wore Bafana Bafana shirts (There were counterfeits, but they provided work for street vendors)

We did not do well, but that did not stop us “showing the flag”

And now we find ourselves in 2014…20 years into a democracy that still has its ups and downs.

We have been through three Presidents, some good and some not so good.

We have lived through the death of Nelson Mandela and survived, and we are about to face another election.

Will the masses vote for radical change? Will young Julius Malema and his band of merry EFF men be victorious?

Only time and the ballots will tell.

In the meantime, let us be grateful for the Protea cricket team, ongoing soapies on TV, the strange use of the English language, some of the best wines in the world AND the fact that love us or hate us, we are

 PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN.

VIVA US, VIVA.
This article will also appear in the April Skyways magazine.

Powerless in Johannesburg

I am often told that I tend to "tilt-at-windmills",
over issues that I have no control over.
I admit that I used to...
but every now and again I believe that I need to "RANT"...
This is one such occasion...
Recent strikes within the ranks of the Joburg City Power
 led to wide ranging power outages.
The Mayor, Parks Tau...vanished
City Power officials obfuscated...
And 30000 customers were without power.
In our case for 3 days some for as many as 5 or 6.
Businesses lost revenue, food was wasted
and officials could not seem to care less!
And what, I hear you ask, was the cause of these outages?
Unprotected  strike action by some workers over new shifts.
And this was instituted in order to cut down on unnecessary and costly overtime.
According to City Mayor Parks Tau,(once he came out of hiding)
 in one particular case the basic salary was R400000.00 p.a.
However this individual was taking home R1.2m  in overtime.
I would like to know what your job description is to earn that sort of salary!
Consumers were told that although switches had been turned off,
they could not just be switched back on.
There had to be "talks" with the disgruntled unions...
and outside labour was not an option.


Both my wife and I were worried about our Koi.
We had raised them from fingerlings and with a lack of oxygen, they could all die.
Saving them became our top priority...and then we would worry about our food.


So we decided to purchase a generator...
Buying one during an extended power outage is not  ideal.
HOWEVER, we were lucky and found one at the local hardware Hyper.
And it was on special!
It did not come with instructions, but I set about trying to put it together anyway.
I reading the parts manual...all written in Chinese translated into English...
most entertaining, but not in this situation!
Surrounded by cables, tools and jerry cans of petrol and oil. 

Even my cat wanted to get in on the action.
He likes to become the "foreman" when outside work is being undertaken.
Although we had found the generator easily enough,
finding cans to hold the petrol turned out to be quite a mission.
Eventually we were able to find a couple that suited our purpose. 

It also needed oil,
which took forever to get into the crankcase using the tiny funnel supplied 

I contemplate my almost completed task... 

I had put the handles on backward,
hence having to remove and re-do... 

Done...off to its new "home"... 

One last obstacle to overcome... 

The addition of the petrol...
The final step before switch on. 

Just some of the cabling required to keep us(and the Koi) content.
We were also able to get our fridges, computer, TV and some lights working.


And to think that just a few days ago,
I was at Sabi Sabi enjoying the peace and tranquility of a bush break.
Now I am back in Jhb, being woken by the sound of generators...
And there seem to be several in our street.
WE DEMAND OUR POWER BACK!
Just one final thought...
If I was to deduct 3 days off my monthly electricity bill,
how successful do YOU think I would be?
NOT AT ALL?
I thought so...
And they call Johannesburg a "world class African city"...
Not for the faint hearted.

As a direct result of the outage,
we cancelled a planned trip to KZN Midlands.
Airlink would have flown us there...
in style and comfort no doubt!
www.flyairlink.com

Let the buyer beware...how to choose a tattoo artist

"Caveat emptor."

"Let the buyer beware"...all well and good if you are buying goods or services, but tattoos are permanent and short of major laser surgery, they cannot be removed by an order of court or a refund!

Remember that parts of YOUR body are going to be changed forever.So how do you choose a tattoo artist.Well, much like choosing a dive instructor, you must do your homework. It seems that kits can be bought on social network sites...would you trust someone like that?

The adage "Cleanliness is next to godliness" 

should be emblazoned on the wall of every (reputable) tattoo parlour.

Work areas do not need to be sterile, 

but you as the client need to be satisfied that all the equipment is clean 

and that all needles are still in the packaging before the work begins

Ink needs to be freshly prepared...not reused!

Proper branded products should be a requirement.

No products that have been prepared in a back room.

Gloves are a must! If your tattoo artist wants to start work without them,LEAVE.

Not that even the cleaning fluid bottle is covered in plastic

Stencils should only be used once and then disposed of...

Make sure that the position of your tattoo is exactly where YOU want it.

It is not up to the tattoo artist, but you have to live with the final work.

Any good tattoo artist will take the time and trouble to talk to you about your tattoo and why you want it before they put ink on your skin! 

Make sure that the artist(and they are) you are using is properly qualified

 and recommended.

If they have no previous work to show you...LEAVE!

Before you have any ink done be certain of the following:

1] You are happy with your design

2] The position of the tattoo has been chosen correctly.Some areas hurt more than others

3] Make sure that you and the artist have discussed the length of time the piece will take and the cost.

4] You have seen previous work

5] You are happy with the surroundings and the ambiance

6] You REALLY want the tattoo and for all the right reasons.

7] Remember, if in doubt, walk away!