Brisbane Tattoo Artist Blogs // Tattoos, boundaries, Resident Evil, Music, Life & oversharing

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. I just wanted to catch up a bit, get a bit off my chest, as well share some updates on life & tattooing as of late.

I don't know how many (or if any) can relate to this, but I'm definitely dancing on the edge of burnout at the moment

To reflect on that, I know that I find it difficult at times to snap out of a scarcity mindset, to then be able to take a step back and put things into a non-bias perspective. I can definitely be guilty of acting on impulse and excitement without properly assessing my situation first, in fear I'll lose what's in front of me.

From there the scarcity mindset usually takes shape of FOMO (*Fear Of Missing Out), which usually leaves my energy and peace vulnerable & up for negotiation. I've vaguely eluded on here before about recovering from certain life altering events,  reaffirming that I've learnt from ways I was responsible around these said life altering events and how I've become stronger from the adversity.

I'd be an idiot to truly believe I'm impenetrable to bad decision making just because I've gone through bad things in the recent past. If anything, if I genuinely believed that, I'd be way more susceptible to bad decision making because of this entitled, blind arrogance. Which would again, leave me with a further fractured & scarred sense of worth and value of peace within my life

I need to constantly recognise that my value and peace are worth protecting. I am now nearly forty years old, and over the last year especially, I've had to draw boundaries with people who are taking every opportunity to not consider my worth or value as they see me through opportunist eyes, that once I communicate anything, despite how reasonable or fair, any space I need for self preservation, they launch into how they are victimised by my lack of empathy, compassion or care

For anyone not familiar with the band, Architects, I've always held their lyrics from the song, 'Red Eyes', which are 'if you reject the ones you love, you'll find yourself cold & broken'. I've held onto them as inspiration to be patient, understanding, accepting and there for the people in my life, so I can feel rich in family and friends

I'm finally secure enough to take stock in that I make the right decisions for the ones who are worth it, while I can be short sighted if certain people in my life become parasitic , I still try to look past, forgive, provide clarity, even at the cost of my own peace and energy.

If anyone else can relate to this, by now, nearly being at the age of forty, my tolerance for bullshit is thankfully, disappearing. I don't want to be fooled by my own impulses or the impulses of others anymore, at all, even slightly. The people in my life that are considered valuable to my core, that I will be there for, value & fight for, won't blindside me with gaslighting toxic situations in the hopes they can coerce what they need from me

I needed to get this off my chest because it feels like every time I let my guard down, I find I've allowed a parasitic connection that will only hurt me in the long run.

I want to thank through these words, my support network for echoing my value, offering insight (although at times, very biased insight). Whether or not my support networks influence may at times operate at an uncomfortable bias, it's always out of pure care and consideration, not out of opportunist impulse.

To everyone I've recently & not so recently drawn boundaries between, some have offered patience and understanding, or at the very least the space after a bad reaction to offer acceptance and any necessary apologies, as I can only hope in similar situations I can incur the same at the very least.

I've noticed over the past decade since I've become an avid therapy enthusiast & regular attender of, the truly toxic spirits that I've drawn healthy boundaries between, use that as an opportunity to lash out, speak aggressively & defensively, then usually denounce accountability and turn the situation into that of confrontation until they can have their way again.

While life changes constantly for us all, I can understand those who are worth it as they are going through it. I cannot however, accept behaviour from 'friends' & family that is of consequence to my value. What the actual FUCK is wrong with some people, that all I do is help, financially and spiritually, the moment I can't drop everything for them they lash out at me in an instant as I become their villain, all because of their own actions and my own self preservation.

If you are going to constantly ask someone for money, don't call them 'selfish' because they say no once after several very recent 'yes's. If someone tries to meet you in the middle & compromise, understand your short game if your response to that is to feel insulted. If you are the victim in the universe's tragedy every month, be grateful for those who there to help, and think about when you ever gave them the same respect.

Lastly, If I'm ever sharing my life with you and response is to say I 'need to stop working so much' or anything similar, it's not helpful feedback especially in this economy, in fact it's real ignorant and deflating. Catch me never being keen to hear that from anyone ever.

Thank you for anyone still here reading on 😅 I definitely need to get those words out of me, thank you for still being here, I appreciate it 🙏🏻

I wanna talk now about the highlights of 2026 so far as I just posted (at the time of writing this) on my insta a few photos of my favourite highlights of the year so far.

SPOILER ALERT for Resident Evil 9; skip ahead to the next highlighted paragraph to avoid-

The first photo in this carousel is that of which was taken of my favourite day of the year so far. I fucking LOVE Resident Evil, so when a new mainline (or any new drop for that matter) of that franchise hits shelves, I make room for it in my life, get it & then complete upon release. It's my main toxic trait.

On this day of this carousels first snap (when it was taken), I had the game pre-ordered, I had worked like an absolute DOG in the leadup to and took a full week off of work to play. It's so surreal isn't it, entering these days of excitement you've been anticipating for so long.

This game was a bouquet of gore, several steps in the right direction for the franchise and an absolute love letter to it's fans who showed up to experience this next Chapter.

I loved the dead body disposal section of the hospital, I loved the Fulci influences, the 'dining' room, Leon's call to action, his one liners. The nods to Dawn of the Dead, the new stalker enemy & her lore.

Stepping back into post-nuked Raccoon city is something I've been fantasising about since I first finished Resident Evil 2 when I was 10 years old (nearly 30 years ago). To take path throughout a decimated Raccoon City and absorb what was left of the RPD, was just about as full hearted of an experience I've had in gaming since the release of Resident Evil 2 remake, that of which I of course replayed immediately after completing Requiem, which of course, not only holds up but is ageing like a motherfuckin' fine wine 🤌🏻✨

The rematch with a new Mr X was probably my highlight of Requiem, the whole encounter from start to finish. This entry as a whole is not without it's flaws, but in a far greater scope, it's truly amazing and better than what I could have hoped it to be.

I hate gun-fu usually, but after seeing it's motorcycle riding influence still holding strong into Requiem, it makes me believe maybe I'm wrong, and maybe Gun-fu is cool, and maybe I should watch the John Wick series

Anyhoo 💫 welcome back to those whom scrolled ahead to avoid spoilers-

I included some selfie shots of recent shirts I printed and a lil action snap of how I look while printing and pressing my merch. I'm most stoked on the Fear Before the March of Flames shirt, any kindred screamo scene spirits out there reading, if that band is familiar to you, how amazing is that album, I'm stoked on how the shirt came out.

Just a couple other shots in this carousel of a moment of cocktails with close friends, solo dates to the movies and a post rehearsal selfie from a recent band practice (anyone recognise that Cold Chisel poster?)

I also included a lil video of our recent studio recording session with Producer/homie/Production guide, Kris Unwin (I highly recommend if you're looking for a producer or engineer to collaborate with)

What's funny is a fair few of you thought that was me in the video when I first posted it. So allow me to introduce, Angus, the actual vocal performer in this lil snippet.

Angus came to us when we were still going strong in Chief Irons (my first band, in which were just currently waiting to get some drum tracks back from a session drummer of enormous importance before we proceed any further with), after Chief Irons proved it needed an indefinite hiatus before it could continue, we carried over to a new band which has now become it's final form.

This band is of course, Dog Squad, your newest addition to Metalcore and the Brisbane local scene. Angus is our chief song writer and a talent I can't wait for you all to see. It's all super exciting and we can't wait to share our first single with you, here's hoping it'll be out by the end of May on all Streaming services 😁

Lastly in this carousel is me in my tattoo home I'm lucky to cohabitate with such amazing, talented & caring peers. If you haven't visited us yet to experience the vibe of what it is to be tattooed at Old Soul, you gotta change that asap and book in to see either myself or one of my other talented & amazing colleagues ASAP

-----------

On a personal note to end this; I broke up with my now ex partner in November last year, and I've really come to the conclusion in the passed 48 hours, I'm not ready just yet to be completely monogamous or even interested in any kind of relationship at the moment.

I've gone through some pretty hectic self doubt throughout my last relationship in my value as a partner and I subconsciously needed validation shortly there after, to prove to my inner self I was desirable as a partner and I was ready to love again.

I'm not there yet, my judgement and fortitude really misled my to believe the opposite until recently. In the passed 48 hours, something really clicked and I write these words mainly as an attempt to keep myself accountable, I am capable of feeling security in what are actual red flagged behaviour, like love bombing.

Probably the most stunning & impressive of gals I could have ever even thought would give me the time of day, slid into my DM's almost the day I recently became single. This NEVER happens to me, I am NEVER that guy

That is still echoing through me now, how amazing that made me feel, to be seen by someone so amazing and beautiful without expecting it at all. It's too early now, it was definitely to early then to give her any kind of version of me that would that would have maintained a girl like that's interest, but to this day, it's definitely the most flattered I've felt, maybe ever, which pairs perfect with my imposter syndrome 🙏🏻

I feel I've been chasing that feeling since, prematurely putting myself out there, falling victim to crazy situations, all in a bid to feel that feeling again.

Until I can have the clarity to see through coercive behaviour, until I can feel secure & comfortable sharing my peace, my truth is my career and passions in life are all there is room for, until I'm ready for otherwise and there's no rush for that ✨

I definitely overshared in these blog, but like I've mentioned before, this is all an excersice in cathartic, authentic expression, directed through journal style blogs, where I embrace flow state and let it all out in an altruistic driven means to strengthen my SEO through this website as a whole

While I'm not sure what this all did to my SEO reach, it definitely helped my soul expressing myself & getting these words out of me

Thanks for reading & stopping by ✨