It started out as catch phrase between friends that soon became permanent.
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A group of guys who grew up together in Cessnock would always hear their mate Ben Sylvester say as a teenager that he had been “having fun since ’91”.
Over a few drinks, there was mention of getting the phrase tattooed on themselves.
In the midst of teenage spontaneity they decided to do it – less than a week later they sourced quotes from local tattoo artists.
At 19 years old, they were put off by the $180 price tag that would come with getting it done professionally, so approached a friend about getting it done privately at his house.
“It’s going to be on us forever… so let’s get it done in a garage,” Jake Fletcher joked.
“It was more funny than anything,” Chris Woods said.
Five of the boys got the ink four years ago in the friend’s garage, another two were completed in Bali and from there it just grew.
Now, there are 10 young men that the group knows of who have the tattoo brandished upon themselves.
“The novelty of it was good,” Jesse Sams said.
“And the fact that we all had it done,” Chris Hugo added.
A few other friends born in 1990 and 1992 couldn’t be part of the fun, with one mate born in 1990 joking about doing it anyway and telling people he didn’t have any fun for the first year of his life.
Despite some of the group moving away from Cessnock, the guys remain good mates and will never forget the great moments they shared.
“It still remains a subtle reminder of the times we had,” Jesse said, “the carefree days when none of us had any responsibility.”
And even though the tattoos have begun to fade, the memories of what they represent will last a lifetime.
The Hunter loves tattoos and it is time the clear skins stepped aside, we want to see a bit of tattoo pride.
Show us your tatts! Send in photographs of your tattoos, we want to know why you got them. Some tattoos tell a story and some are just the remnants of a good time, either way, we want to see them.
Post them to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook with the #HunterInk
Or email your photographs to jessica.brown@fairfaxmedia.com.au and we will add your story to our Hunter Ink gallery.
