It was Thursday, ten to one in the afternoon. Nearly time for my lunch break. I had £15 and didn't get paid until the following Wednesday. But, the boy got paid Friday. I had enough for a piercing. Tragus maybe. That was about £15. Conch would be more than that though. Wonder how much rook would be? One o'clock came and I left my desk and began wandering into the town centre. Stood waiting to cross the road, in a world of needles, barbells and BCR's I vaguely heard my name. And then again. I turned around to see a colleague. I apologise and explain that I was miles away, and start ranting about piercings. He looks at my ears, full of jewellery, and at me, a little bemused, and wishes me luck.
At A Glance Author toobie Contact toobie@bme.anon IAM toobie When A week ago Studio Paradise 2 Location Halifax
I walk over to Paradise 2 and it is quite busy, a group of three girls walk out, with a woman who is obviously someone's mother, and a belly button piercing is paid for and aftercare advise given. I ask to look at the price list for piercings and it is handed over. Someone has added "left testicle to right ear piercing - £50" on the bottom, which makes me giggle. Looking down the list I realise that I cannot afford to get my conch done, just as I thought, but tragus/anti-tragus is £15. But ... hang on... rook is £15 too. Hmmm. I ask how much a daith piercing would be, and get told £15.
Decision time. The two girls who were at the counter when I walked in, talking to the receptionist, who is also the apprentice there give their thoughts on what I should get as I stand there trying to decide, as I want all three piercings. After much Uumming and Ahing between the four of us we decide that I should get my rook. I am pleased with this.
The piercer (I do not know his name) came out and the receptionist checks that he can do my rook. He says he can but I will have to wait, as he is "lasering" at the moment. I check how long he will be, I have to be back at work in 45 minutes. He tells me he will be about 10 to 15 minutes. That's fine.
I wander round the shop for a while looking at the flash and out of the windows at the people going about their lunch hour. A woman comes out of the back with a raw-looking arm and a blistered tattoo. I make a comment about how painful it looks, and realise how lucky I am to still love my two weeny tats. She pays and the piercer calls me through.
After I have been in and out of the studio so much, getting my scaffolding checked and changes as I sit down he asks me how it is. I tell him it is fine, and not even a little sore, even though I sleep on it. He tells me he likes the pink barbell I got from them and how much healthier it looks now it has a shorter bar in. While this conversation is going on I am watching him get out the sterile needle, still in its packet, the BCR from the just finished autoclave, all the while changing his gloves almost constantly.
He puts the clamps on my ear, then takes them off again. Then puts them back on and dots my ear. The clamps are removed again and I am told to check in the mirror. It is an awkward place, he tells me, it is pretty much going to have to go there. But that is fine by me. I love the place he dotted. So I get back in the chair, and the clamps go back on. I sit there, not thinking about the piercing its self but whether or not I will hear the legendary 'pop' as the needle goes through. I am not sure if I did or not. It felt like the needle went through the first part, then the rest. Kinda a 'pop' I guess.
The needle went thought and the receiving tube cut. The BCR slid in – I always find getting the jewellery in is the most uncomfortable part – and the ball went on quickly. He obviously knew what he was doing!
There! It was done! I got up to look in the mirror, and was delighted! It was the cutest piercing I have!
I paid, thanked the staff and showed it off to the two girls who had helped me decide to get it done. We chatted for a while about what other things we wanted doing (and would never get done!) and I headed off back to work.
It is now three days since I got it done, and it is an absolute dream. I am sticking with my LITHA method (Leave It The Hell Alone) and still take my Zinc, Vit C and Multi-vits that I take religiously to help all my piercings stay happy!