Would our love last as long as my tattoo?

Saturday 29th September 2007

Alan Jenkins was so convinced he and girlfriend Lisa were for keeps, he had her face tattooed on her back. But would he live to regret it?

I turned up the volume on Grandstand. Upstairs I could hear the hairdryer going and the clatter of high heels. My partner Lisa Crooks, 36, was getting ready for a night out. Again.
'See ya,' she said five minutes later.
And in a waft of Gucci Envy perfume she was out the door without so much as a kiss goodbye.
'Looks like it's just you and me tonight,' I said to our mongrel Nipper.

Lisa and I had been together for 18 years so it wasn't like I was expecting us to be all over each other like randy teenagers. But a kiss and a cuddle every now and again would be nice.
It wasn't very likely, though, with her spending every night in a club.

And even when she was in, all we did was bicker. What to watch on telly, what to have for dinner, who should take Nipper for a walk… Anything kicked off another slanging match. Times had definitely changed.

From the moment I met Lisa in the Somerset Arms pub in Port Talbot in June 1989, I would have done anything for her. In fact, if you saw me in Pick Me Up a couple of years ago, you'll know that's no exaggeration.

In September 2003, to celebrate 15 years together I had her face tattooed on my back, along with the faces of our daughters Jade, 16, and Daniella, 10.
'You're doing what?' Lisa had laughed when I told her.
She tried to talk me out of it but my mind was made up.
'What better way of showing that our love is forever,' I said.

So she gave in and I posed for tattoo artist Chris Govier in his parlour Dragon Ink, in Swansea. It was agony. Like broken glass being dragged over every inch of my back. But that was just me – I'd do anything for my girls. After 20 hours, £870, and a lot of wincing I had a tribute to my happy family on my back for all the world to see.

And boy did they want to see. The papers found out and once the pictures appeared in the South Wales Post people would stop me on the street.
'Let's have a look,' they'd say, and I'd happily pull up my t-shirt.
Daniella and Jade loved the attention.
'We're like celebs,' Jade giggled.

But Lisa wasn't so keen on the attention.
'Stop grumbling,' I told her. 'Not many men would show this much commitment,'
And now, in January 2007, three and a half years later I realised that the only time I ever saw Lisa's smile was when I looked over my shoulder at the bathroom mirror.

I decided to get to the bottom of it.
'Is everything alright sweetheart?' I asked Lisa the next night at dinner.
'Hmm?' she said looking at the clock. 'I have to go Kaspars is coming to pick me up.'

Kaspars Gavers was Lisa's workmate at the L&A Leisure Centre in Port Talbot. He was 25, Latvian and even I could see he was a good looking lad.
'Is something going on with you two?' I asked Lisa.
Just then a car horn tooted outside. Kaspars.
'Don't be silly,' Lisa said. But she wouldn't look me in the eye, and instead grabbed her handbag and went for the front door.

My blood was boiling. If Lisa wouldn't give me a straight answer I'd have to ask the man himself. Slamming my fork down I followed her outside. Lisa turned round startled as I thumped on Kaspars's window and he wound it down.
'Are you seeing my missus?' I said, giving him a steely glare.
'So what if I am?' he replied, before speeding off, my Lisa at his side.

I spent the next five hours pacing up and down the living room. All I could think of was Lisa with Kaspars, holding hands, kissing, falling into bed. I felt sad, angry and betrayed. My head just couldn't take it in. Was Kaspars sleeping with Lisa or was he just winding me up? I had to know.

Lisa slunk back just after midnight.
'Well?' I said.
She sank on to the settee and covered her face with her hands. When she moved them away she was crying.
'It's true,' she said. 'I didn't plan it but me and Kaspars are in love.'
Pow. Sex was one thing. But love? What a blow. I saw red.
'Common tart,' I spat before slamming the door and marching up to bed.

I tossed and turned that night. I'd given Lisa 18 years of my life. We had two beautiful daughters. I'd even had her piggin' face tattooed onto my back. And how had she repaid me? By running off with a Latvian toyboy.

But then the anger fizzled out and what was left was sadness. We had a great life, two beautiful kids. My tattoo had been meant to show all that. A lasting tribute to our lives. Only it seemed Lisa didn't see our relationship as permanent as I did.

I avoided Lisa for three days but then she walked into the kitchen while I was making a cuppa.
'This is silly,' I said reaching for another mug. 'I forgive you for cheating. I just want to be friends again.'
Pathetic maybe. But I'm a soppy bloke through and through and couldn't bare the atmosphere any longer. She gave me a hug and we had a bit of a cry.
'I'm so sorry,' she said. 'You're my best mate and I didn't want to hurt you.'

Funnily enough when we told the kids we were separating they saw it coming.
'You were rowing all the time,' Daniella said. 'It was rubbish.'
That was five months ago and Lisa and I still live together – me on the settee and her in the bed. Though Kaspars is definitely banned from the house. A man can only take so much.

And as for my tattoo of Lisa? It's not going anywhere. I've decided to keep it even if I do meet someone else. They will just have to understand that even after everything that had happened, Lisa will always have a piece of my heart. And my back.

Lisa Crooks said: 'Me and Alan were together for 18 years and I will always be very fond of him. I never wanted him to get my face tattooed on his back but he wouldn't be told. I didn't plan to fall in love with Kaspars, but it just happened.'

Read other stories of lost love and betrayal exclusively from Pick Me Up:

My boyfriend had an affair with a schoolboy

Punch-up at the altar

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