blonde poker

We are just finishing the re-fit of my pub, I've renamed it "The Nuthall", and the opening night is this Saturday August 11th 2007, I'm gonna have a little party, most of the DTD guys will be there, so please feel free to come along for a couple of beers. Its on Nottingham road, just off J26 of the M1, and was previously called "The Browtowe". The common view is that I've made a bit of cock up with the pub, as I am currently over £300,000 in the hole after the re-fit, but it looks good, and I can really see the potential! (to eventually scrape to break even).

 
Sometimes you don't want to look at the financials, cause you know they are goona ruin your day. Today was one of those days, to take a good honest view (and its soooooooooooooooooooo sik). Since the casinos seem to be convinced that they can get a further adjourment to the case (meaning financial consequences again), I have to give them credit for this and believe this is a real possibility, they are far more experienced that me in these matters.

In terms of another adjournment, my lawyers say "it just will not happen -  no chance", the Gambling Commission say "its possible", but I can just smell something and I don't like it. I'm a "the glass is half full - not empty" type of guy, so when I smell something nasty, its not paranania, its cause there is a problem and I "should" (haha) have some sort of back up plan to tackle it.

Any rational half decent (even average) businessmen in my position should be able to answer simple questions like

 - what of we get adjourned for another 6 months?

- what of we get declinced?

This makes me sit back in my chair and wonder why I do not have answers to any of these 2 questions. The only answer is that I am not a businessmen, I am a gambler, and so far, the risks I have taken in life, have gone my way. I remember how naive I was when I set sf group up, me and a fax machine (doubled up as a phone) and £5k. I had a really tight prudent business plan (keeping overheads small) but after 1 week, I had committed to £15k of advertising and marketing and taking on a secretary - the budget was out the window.

I can give 100's of examples of "crazy pays" over my business career, but this DTD one is different - I am not in control and thats why its biting me in the ass soooooooooooooooooooo bad.

My normal answer to "what if this happens etc" has always been "I'll just work harder" or "I won't let it happen", but with DTD, the destiny lies outside of my control and always has been, like being all-in pre flop with Ah-Kh v Ac-2d, you should win all things being equal and fair, but you feel when the flop comes  down Jc-3c-5c....................its not looking so good anymore lol

I was so damn sure we would get this licence, I always have been. Lets face it, I did not spend all this money for a 50 : 50 shot, I don't mind flipping a coin for £100 after a few beers with a "halmless chubby bloke", but not for these stakes, I respect money, especially what it can do to help people, have I made a gross mis-calculation of risk here and will this be my first setback? I guess we find out in 9 weeks.......

Just a few musings and disjointed comments lol

 
The main focus at the moment is ensuring we are fully prepared for the Magistrates Hearing on the 24th September. Looking at our evidence, I just cannot see how any rational court would rule in favour of the Casino's, and even if "demand" is in doubt, the court can still grant the license "at their discretion".

One thing is really bugging me.......the "word on the street" from the Casinos (and in particular one) is that they "have a million and one ways of delaying the DTD case".........I just cant see how this could be done, but this information is from a pretty reliable source. I find it a little bit strange that one Casino company is blatently telling its customers that they will do "anything they can to delay DTD long enough that Rob Yong won't be able to afford to open it", fair enough, say it to eachother, but do they really think their customers are impressed by this sort of thing? I keep going over and over everything in my head.....have I missed anything?, what can they do to delay us further?, why are they so confident?, I just cannot answer these questions....

The Gambling Commission have been great through this tough time, giving us impartial advice and always being at the end of the phone. I really think that if DTD is successful at the hearing, the fact that we have developed such a good relationship with The Gambling Commission, will ensure being "compliant" with all their rules and regulations should be a smooth process.

The club is basically complete now. Removable items such as tills, poker tables etc are being kept in storage, the last thing we need is a break-in to the premises before we even get open, there will be some pretty valuable fixtures and fittings in the club. When I need to cheer myself up, I just have a walk round the place.

I have received lots of "good luck" messages from the poker community, Marcel Luske has even sent me an 8ft painting courriered over from Las Vegas, which I have promissed him we will put in the VIP bar (and its not of himself lol). I will always remember who my friends and supporters have been through this difficult episode, and of course, I will never forget those who have not been as supportive or chose not to back me (lol).

There are 1000's of poker players accross Europe, but there is a hardcore of us that have travelled around the circuit and spent hours at the bar together, or playing "one card NL hold'em" till the really hours of the morning. We all know eachother, share plenty of bantor, even sometimes try and win eachothers money (and then just lend it back)........its a cool bunch of people and we all help each other out. I just hope that I get to see all these people at DTD some day, that would be great, our own poker club, with great comps, and plenty of winding eachother up. For this harcore of people, poker is not just about winning, its our social life, sharing bad beats, busting each other with J3 off and having people to turn to when we are running bad, I hope that DTD is successful in opening to provide the ideal environment of this "poker life" to continue.

I remember in Barcelona last year, I forgot my money, and Mickey Wernick said to me "how much do you need, Rob?" I replied "30,000 euros should see me through", to which Mickey prompty counted out sixty 500 euro notes, handed them over to me casually, and then went off to play a cash game. No mention of when or how I should repay him, what a top bloke. DTD is for the "Mickey Wernicks" of the world to come and have a drink, play some cards, and mix with like minded people.

I know I have not posted much over the last few months, but what is there to say? -  the Club is built, we are ready, we just need the green light.