The Ink Link: Adele Roberts – of lilies, dragons and dogs

The Ink Link is an ongoing project at CN&CO that showcases the diversity of tattoos. One of the great things about a tattoo is that it goes against the commonly-held viewpoint that “what you see is what you get”. There’s a misguided belief in certain quarters that only “some” people get a tattoo. We are putting paid to that perception through the stories showcased in the Ink Link. If you or anyone you know would like to be featured, please get in contact with us.

Adele Roberts is a group training instructor at the Old Ed’s Virgin Active in Johannesburg. Her partner, Vincent van der Merwe, teaches spinning and is also a personal trainer at the gym. Adele’s tattoos are impressive, covering the left side of her body, including her back, with fish, lilies and all sorts of fabulous designs and colours. It’s like a Where’s Waldo picture that you can just get lost in. 

Adele’s journey with tattoos started while she was living in England. She had a gecko tattoo done on the back of her shoulder.

“I was selling insurance back then and had a client who was a tattoo artist,” she recalls. “At the time, no one would insure tattoo artists because of the risks involved. But I managed to make a plan for him and get his insurance sorted out. We became friends and he designed the gecko specially for me. 

“It was a small tattoo, but a big break away for me from my conservative Afrikaans roots, where tattoos are generally frowned upon. You either had to be a biker or a rebel to get one!”

Many years later, and back in SA, Adele was in Hatfield in Pretoria when she spotted a tattoo parlour called Tony’s. In the window of the shop were two bearded dragons in a box. 

“I was fascinated by these creatures and decided to go in. Turns out Tony had a whole lot more bearded dragons in the shop. He invited me to sit, but I said I had just come in to look at the dragons. I was mesmerised. 

“He said to me, ‘So, are you going to get a tattoo?’ 

“At first I thought he was being a bit cheeky, but then I realised I was ready for another one!”

Tony started by asking Adele’s birth sign, and then started designing. 

“He created a beautiful design of a water bearer, and before I knew it I had a new tattoo on the inside of my leg!”

As Adele was leaving, Tony noticed the gecko on her back.

“We need to do something about that,” he said. “It needs to be covered up. Come in when you’re ready.”

“I thought, ‘yeah right’ – but then I couldn’t stop thinking about it!” 

A short while later, Adele was back in Tony’s chair. It was soon after she met Vincent and she was very much in love.

“I’m not doing anyone’s name,” said Tony.

“That’s good, because if we broke up I would have to find another Vincent to go out with!” she replied. 

(Side note: They didn’t break up and are still together after 16 years.)

Tony designed a beautiful koi fish, which covered the old gecko tattoo.

“Koi fish live in the present – and that’s where we should be,” says Adele. “It’s only your energy in the present moment that steers your life. Not where you’ve been. Not where you’re going. But where you are right now.”

“Remember, this is a story,” said Tony. “It’s going to grow. You never have just one tattoo. And you need to do it right. Don’t get random tattoos. Rather save your money, keep coming back to me and we’ll build your story.”

And that’s exactly what Adele did. 

“Over the years I’ve added to the tattoo – another koi fish and some lilies on my back. Then Tony did my sleeve, which was fascinating as I’d never actually watched any of my tattoos being done. He added a Chinese foo dog as a protection symbol, and a few other really amazing design elements. 

“It’s been a wonderful journey – and I’m not sure it’s over yet!”

*****

Adele and Vincent are both avid users and promoters of the Herbalife range of products, which they say revolutionised their lives.

“It started in lockdown,” says Adele. “The sports facility that we owned and ran in Cullinan at the time went through a serious slump and we ended up having to shut it down.

“A month later, we set up our white-board and started doing some planning. We needed to man up because we didn’t have an income. We decided to start training our clients online. We started making our own videos, which we had never done before. It was tough. But looking back now it was probably the best thing that could have happened to us.”

A friend noticed the couple’s online training videos and invited them to partner with Herbalife. Initially they were reluctant. Adele had been following a purely plant-based diet for a year – “for the animals, for the planet and also for my health!” – and was concerned about the “veganism” of the Herbalife product.

“But on investigation I discovered that the supplements are all vegan friendly, and so we decided to sign up to the Herbalife movement.”

Within a few days, Adele says she noticed changes in her energy levels.

“I didn’t need to drink as much coffee throughout the day, and just felt more energetic,” she says.

The couple continue to drink the shakes every day, together with their vegan diet, and say they’ve never been happier or healthier.