blonde poker forum

February 2010 I was standing at the bus stop on the strand having lost all my money in the Empire, I was broke; I didn't have enough money in my pocket to get myself a drink from the 24 hour Spar shop. 
A beggar walked past and asked me if I could spare some change. I couldn't even reply! spare some change? how was I to tell this man that I didn't have enough change to get myself water from the shop. I got onto the bus  and realized that my bus pass had expired, I flashed it at the driver and held my breathe, luckily for me it was a busy night and he didn’t realize.  On the long journey home to crystal palace I started thinking about my life, I started day dreaming and nearly missed my stop.  I arrived home made myself some breakfast ate and went straight to sleep.  I slept for two days, I was depressed I felt down. 
"When a man is at his lowest his brain is not rational, I started thinking of all sorts of negative things, all sorts of things that I would never have thought if I hadn’t have gone to the Empire 2 days prior"

That's when I remembered DTD I felt a good vibe when I was in Nottingham and London had nothing more from me I was 53 years old and I had nothing, my record business had gone down and left me poking around for scraps.  I wasn’t ready to give up.  I sold some of my old stuff and got some money together.

It was a Thursday, early 2010 I caught the train to Nottingham and called my friend I had a suitcase and £200 in my pocket, my friend met me at the station and we caught the bus to his house. I told him I was moving to Notts and needed somewhere to stay until I could find a place. He said I could stay at his for a couple of weeks. When I told him I was moving to Nottingham to play poker he thought I was crazy.

We got to his house at around 6 I dropped my stuff off and asked how I could get to DTD he called one of his mates who dropped me off.  I remember walking through the doors of DTD that day knowing this was my last Shot, this was it! It was make or break! I’d never left London in my life, my family thought I was crazy, if I failed I would be ridiculed by friends and family, I couldn’t afford to lose this was it…

Next post will be how I became Rastafish

I'll answer any questions anyone has honestly as possible for the next hour

Hi,

My timing might be perfect.  I Don't know you and have never been to DTD but clearly there is a lot of love for you on this site, why do you think that is ? What have you done to deserve all this admiration? 

 I think i have read that you aged 50+ as i am, do you think we can compete with all the youngsters in this game and if so what you think is our biggest edge ;)

Regards



Steve

Incred Rastafish!! Can't wait till next read!

How long have you lived in England for?
How many years did you live in Jamaica for?
Is most of your family in England or Jamaica now?
Why did you leave Jamaica?
Will you stay in England for the rest of your life do you think?

Winning all ins

douche

See, everybody loves you :)

If you met the man, you'd definitely understand Steve. He's an absolute living legend

my question is, Do you think you can keep winning at poker purely playiing live tournies

I think it's because I'm straight forward and tell the truth, but with humor.  
Do I deserve admiration: I don't call it admiration I call it mutual respect.  and respect is earned and my respect has been earned through my consistency and humor
Our biggest edge is experience, you can not buy experience it's gained through years...
And we can compete with the youngsters because we were young once. The difference between us and the youngsters we have been young but they haven't been old, we always have the edge...

Much Love Brother

Really looking forward to hearing your story.

Are you going to come to prague with the boys in December?!

Who was the man before Rastafish the poker god?

whats ur standard subway/nandos order

Favorite food?

what has been your biggest extravagance?

Yes I do, because I play with a particular mental philosophy. I don't think and play like most poker players and am very spontaneous player, I'll even go as far to say I play with vibes and not my cards  

Haven't thought about it yet, but I will let you know

I'm posting the beginnings to my story on this diary

Thanks for the reply,

I have seen the clip of quad j beating qq and qq, but does any one else have links to others clips from our hero doing the bizo.

OK! It's Andy by the way in case you didn't know mate

Subway order - Brown bread, vegetable patty, red onions, corn, extra cucumber, small amount of ketchup and cheese
Nandos - Half chicken well done, sweet potato mash, chips and Beer

Favorite food - Fried yellow tail snapper

Biggest extravagance - My leather sofas

Love this

lots

Reserve 10%

Are you interested in playing the £2/5 game tonight at DDT?

No Alex, it's too big for me brother, I'll play 50/1 haha

Contrary to popular believe I wasn’t always Rastafish.

The Birth:
Britain had just come out of war, labor requirements were high and Winston Churchill called upon the English speaking colonies to help rebuild Britain.
My parents Migrated to London from Jamaica and were part of many who travelled on the Empire Windrush  in 1948 , my father was a skilled carpenter and my mother was a nurse and also looked after us. I was born on 2nd July 1956 and christened Colburn Tomlin.  I grew up in south London in the late 50’s early 60’s.

My Mother:
My mother managed the house with an iron fist, we all had chores that had to be completed in a standard set by my mother and she had high standards.  She would always ask “have you cleaned your room Colburn, not like you clean but how I showed you to clean” my mother was meticulous and a master of detail, if our room wasn’t cleaned to the exact standard that my mother wanted, we’d be disciplined, we all had to wake up at a certain time, eat at a certain time and sleep at a certain time. Like I said my mother had a fist of iron and imposed a regimental way of living like most Caribbean families did in those days  and it’s  something that will stay with me for the rest of my life

Being different:
Growing up in 60’s London was a world away from what it is today. We had one TV channel, no telephones and the radio was our main form of entertainment. The streets were moderately safe and communities were real communities that looked out for one another.  I didn’t know I was different until someone at school called me a “Black bastard” and told me go back to my country, I went home and asked my mother what he meant because this was my country I didn’t know anywhere else.  My mother told me I wasn’t different but was black, she told me that our family were not fully English and had come from Jamaica and told me don’t worry about what people say just remember your lesson.  I was curious I wanted everything about it, I wanted to know what Jamaica was like, what the people were like and everything about my culture.  

Dreads:
I was teenager I was learning about my families culture, I had excepted I was different and I was getting in touch with my roots. It was the 70’s people were dressing different and talking different, the swinging 60’s were over and cultures in London were ethnically diffusing, mixed race couples started to be excepted in popular society and Reggae music was getting more popular.  Johnny Nash was asking to be held tight and Bob Marley and the Wailers were calling for a Soul Revolution. I wanted an identity and felt connected to Rastafari I grew my dreads became an orthodox Rastafarian.

The 70’s
London in the 70’s was exciting, it was cool it was a great time to be alive, music was changing the way we lived our lives, black white brown we all found something in common with music. 150,000 people celebrated the Notting Hill carnival and the Afro-Caribbean community was growing 1st generation British Jamaicans were connecting with each and sharing stories of areas that they moved to.  Communities were widening Brixton was the epicenter of black Britain.

I’ll go into greater later on in my diary but this is a personal outline…
TBC

Do you think there's a reason all your success is at DTD rather than in other places like Vegas or GUKPT / UKIPT stops?

Let me think... There is a slight difference, no difference with the cards but the ambiance, surroundings and what you feel you know, it's always easier at home

For example - It's easier to sleep in your own bed!!

Dusk till Dawn is home, but that doesn't mean I won't be able to transfer the results to all of these tournaments.  I haven't played many by the way I've only played a few of these tournaments and will be playing much more in the future to hopefully fulfill my expectations..

Hopefully Tikay will sponsor me this weekend and we'll travel with the Sky tour :-)

If Rastafish goes I'm coming as well. Couldn't possibly miss that.

... we can compete with the youngsters because we were young once. The difference between us and the youngsters we have been young but they haven't been old, we always have the edge...

Much Love Brother

^^^^ briliant, loving reading this story.

Respect

Hi

Would love to hear about your son Gavin too, and his professional football career.

How closely you follow him, do you get to watch matches?

Does he take an interest in your poker, or play poker?


Peace.

I take interest in every game that he has and he takes full interest in evey game I play, he's playing in Rotherham this weekend, he doesn't play poker.

Peace brother

When did you first start p laying poker ?
Where did you play ?
What level of buy ins ?
Do you watch poker videos / training videos ?

I first started
I first started playing poker on 3/12/2007
At Rileys in Battersea attached is my first membership card
I watch most major poker finals, haven't watched any training videos yet

Love that!

Never met but will read with interest. glgl

Reads like an 'I have a place to live and ingredients for breakfast' brag post

Wishing you well dude, onwards and onwards.

lol thetank - post more!

will be most popular diary on blonde imho!

So excited by this!

Mega. Absolute hero Colburn.   Ahrt

Thank you brother! which Will are you?

Love you so much fish! Gonna be an incred journey.

Nik <3

Thank brother, hope to see you soon

I feel sorry for all the other diarists on hear as Rasta has now arrived!

Good luck dude will very much enjoy reading your stories!

Not the handsome ginger one that looks like shaggy from Scoobie Doo. Often found in DTD playing one
comp or another under the Alias Hans William.

Looking forward to this ......love the rastafish!.......good start

Fasta Rasta.


Please...

Never knew Gavin was Rasta's son. Ty tighty

I have a few mates who are Torquay fans and I went to see them play when Gavin was on loan there. I'll be honest and can't remember if he was any good, but my mates were not happy when the loan period was over.

Realy enjoying this thread. mp!

Great read so far! Also like your choice in names as I share the same as your sons. Only played with you once at DTD although I do remember it well. I call a small raise in the big blind with 88 and the floo comes 558, I think I'm good and repop you all in and you were sat with 55!!

The noise and atmosphere was excellent with you at the table! It made my experience all the better, bar loosing a large pot to the fish!

I cant help but read all the fishes posts in his heavy accent just for extra awesomeness :)

Nearly as good as your multitude of amazing t-shirts. You must have rail upon rail of them. De Fish on Blonde Yesssssssss (Ali Ayub style)

Hi Rasta,

I'm Ralph, slightly older than you, grew up in London so I hear you when you talk about the 60's and 70's, but lived here in Nottingham for the last twenty+ years and we've shared a few tables over the last year or so which was always a pleasure as you never killed me nor I you.

Did you grow up around Brixton?

Did you ever spend any time at the Basing St. recording studio in Notting Hill?

Rasta, have you ever killed Kenny in a south park episode?

Haha yeah I got a few... Had to get rid of a few due to the expanding waistline but got plenty still :)

It was me who you saw by cashpoint just now brother! I slowed down to check it was you.

I can lend you £10 if you are having some trouble :D

I wanted to ask you what inspired you to write this diary / to join facebook/blonde etc?

Hope is for churches, Mr T!

I look forward very much to seeing you on Saturday.

We'll have a TV Crew there, too, so if you are up for it, we'll do an interview with you.

We might just ask if you want to do a spot of commentary for the Live Stream, though it depends when - or if - you bust out. I have already engaged the services of a splendid young man, who almost sees you as his nemesis, to assist me with Live Stream Commentary, but it may be rather jolly to give you a stint, too. 

Really enjoyed your stories from back in the day, when you lived in London.

Life was very different then, as you said. I somehow imagined you may have lived in West London, perhaps Notting Hill, Shepherds Bush. That was my patch. Karabiner, who is much older than both you & I, frequented those parts too.

Strict parenting, too, I loved that bit. As kids, we did not much enjoy it, but it was THE GREATEST thing ever for our future lives, & it gave us our values, our strength, our character. My "bedtime" (do kids still have a "bedtime"?) was 7pm in the week, & 7.30pm at weekends, right up until I was 13 or 14. And 7pm meant EXACTLY 7pm, not a second later.

I had better stop now. Your "early days" stories have made me reminisce.

Keep it coming Big Man.

PS - Thank you for the PM. I'm thoroughly overwhelmed with PM's right now, but I'll reply soonest. I'm really glad we worked out a way of getting the Diary started, & I hope you understand the very awkward spot I was in. Unfortunately, not everyone did, judging by some of the incoming. :(

Who's he play for??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Tomlin

Spot the clue

(http://www.southendunited.co.uk/cms_images/news/tomlin4x3signs0152-206161.jpg)

google is your friend!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Tomlin

Wow, Dad stamps his stock well!

Lovely photo.

Rasta

Your speechplay

How much is it merely you are just having a good time at the table, love the game etc

and how much is it genuinely designed to get under the skin of certain opponents, a deliberate tactic?

no...nope...go on give us a clue :D :D

thank you!!

Rasta, who would you say are the tournament players at DDT that you respect the most in terms of their play?  Are there any players who you 'fear' or players you'd rather weren't on your table?

Cant believe how much I havein common with the legend; took up the game around the same time, moved from the south (born of london parents) to the midlands, in business, footballing son (too young to be at Gavins level), reg at dtd but not much elsewhere, winner of two deepstacks, hit near bottom and bounced back, just need to develop some of that legendary speech play...

I wanna know this too.

I was on a table with you 18 months ago and honestly thought you were a complete prick the way you carried on when some poor guy was trying think on the river. Totally classless. Not played with you since. Do you still do all that stuff?

 ;popcorn;

hi rasta
lovely to read your story so far enjoyed it keep going i hope to meet again on poker maybe heads up that will be interesting spectaters get earphones out hahaha gl m8 we have similar story my son play footy too and i never missed his game he hasnt made it yet hopefully will  gl m8 see u soon

Superb writing, looking forward to some more stories!

What are your feelings about several players using a picture of you as their avatar on Pokerstars?

I grew up in Lewisham and hung around Brixton and the south. 
Basing street? not that I remember.

Hope you enjoy the diary Ralph

More to Come

Much Love brother

Not yet! but if I catch him on my table he's dead! Metaphorically speaking

That was you? I could of done with a tenner to buy a bottle of water! haha

errrm what really inspired me to want to do this, I know my life is mystically guided, I feel the need to tell my story because I think it's different from what people are used to.  Also I want people to know that no matter how much you are down and how low you get there is always a way out.

See you there brother

Thank for very much for your reply. We're coming from the same era so I understand your discipline. Hope to see you soon and all the best brother

My speech-play and my play are all interlinked.  sometimes it's not designed for anything other then to have a good time. Most of the time people start on me that's when I go into a different gear.

It's not designed to offend anyone and sometimes I just get excited because of the love of the game.. It's such a game.

Poker has everything in real life. People laugh when they win and cry when they lose.. I always love the game and always will to me it's not about winning or losing it's about making the right decisions for the right reasons at the right time, because you can't win them all..

I respect all players at DTD because if you're brave enough to put your money down and sit on the table I have a lot of respect for you.

I don't fear anyone at the table

Respect well done and i'm so happy you won the tournament for more reasons then one. I'm glad regs are winnings the big ones at DTD so people that come in know that we regs put up a challenge.
 

It's a game and never personal.

Turk I have enough Love for you brother and enough respect.  you're also a great player I hope we meet soon.

Unlucky the other day it would have been a great final table with you on it,

Much Love brother

eerrrmmm. I don't mind. but if I catch them on the table I kill dem... Hypothetically speaking hahaha

Mis-read from Rasta there

Rasta, do you believe in fate/destiny?

Medium Weak.

Yes I definitely do.  In life you have certain decisions if you make the right decisions the right roads open for you, when you make bad decisions bad roads open for you.  I believe in fate destiny and Karma

Medium weak come see me brother I can make you reasonably strong!   

How much money, to the nearest hundred thousand, do you think you have won off the DTD regs in props by hitting an inconceivable amount of Kings on the river.

KING....   KING.... KING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



 

About £1000 from the top of my head! But this is not enough

Loving forward to playing props with you brother! hahahaha

Enjoying this fella, but can ya hurry up and get too 300 posts so we can all get rich... Ta  ;kev;

Rastafish, are you currently married/in a relationship? Who would be your ideal dream woman?

Been mine for past two months. Make that eight.

at the current rate hopefully that won't be too long

Respect to you brother

I'm currently in a relationship but not married.  My dream woman is someone that can make me happy

Loving this

not posted and not played for a month due to work commitments and Junior Football, last time was on the great mans table and i took his stack, was an honour to play with someone who never took it bad and he has time for everyone which is a great attribute, loving his forthcoming life story, Respect also MR T

What's your favourite dunker ?(biscuit dunked in tea)

you write damn well sir! lot of natural talent there, flows like a river (spelling and grammer are just the polish tbh). Post more please.

question for you, you tilt players a fair bit with your brash style at times, whats the most tilted you have ever seen an opponent?

Who would you say you have the most history with on the poker tables?

Good read Rasta.

I'm referring to your diary ofc, not your skills at the poker table ;)

Finding it a very interesting read, thanks for sharing Rasta ;)

It's got to be rich tea! Shortcake too!!

I knocked out a pro in the 770 not sure of her name and she refused to shake my hand.  She went all in with 9's on a 10 jack 4 board and I had queens, went off in a puff and kicked open the door to go outside!

eerrrmmm in a funny way when we do lock up it's Frankie, last time we played he flat called with AQ and the board came A47 the guy first to act bet half pot, I flat and Frankie went all in, the bettor folded and I called with A4 (two pair) the turn and river didn;t improve his hand and I knocked him out.  Frankie commented why do we always end up on the same table this is a set up!!

How long before you're busto?

How long is a piece of string!!!?

genius

Douche question from mtt destroyer

Thank you for your support. The indifferent inspire me in fact they make me stronger!!! I welcome all questions and embrace them!

I just image rasta shouting and laughing when ever I read this thread

<3 rasta

Great screen name choice though. Super original.

Here's a little heads-up on the Basing Street recording studio to jog your memory if you have time to listen to it, well it is for the first ten minutes or so.

A little disappointing that Bob hardly gets a mention.


www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b012l1yn/Making_Tracks_19_07_2011/

Is there any chance we can get our hands on your recording material?

Double the size from the middle to the end ;)

have actually been checking this thread like 3 times a day waiting for the next installment! great read!

I'm sure Rasta doesn't want a diary full of fanboy worshippers and no balance, afterall, he thrives on it at the tables ;).  I'll modify my question to get a more interesting answer for the diary and i'm actually genuinely intrigued despite the way I asked the question before.

Do you think you could ever go busto again and what are you doing differently this time than before (apart from binking dtd majors)?  Was it poker that made you broke before?




Tight4better, did you really just try to belittle me by taking the mick out of a screen name :D?  You're still in your teens, yeah?

JERRY ! JERRY !

I like the fact it's in CAPITALS

Never played with you before but you've had me in stitches every time I've watched you on the DTD live streams. Very much looking forward to reading this one.

Would be great to hear you on the SPT commentary later too, get involved...

Spooner

WTF HOW CAN U TELL HOW OLD I AM BY D WAY I TYP?

Seriously though, manner up.

Everyone can go bust, it just depends on how you manage your money, but being bust is an occupational hazard.  I haven't put all my eggs in one basket this time!

I learned how to be outfished on my first trip to DTD in 2010 when your 72o call spanked my aces into 'CHIPS PLEASE' territory (flop 772..? I mean really??)

Teaachhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh meeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

Anyway, caught you yakking on the SPT live stream tonight so thought I'd pop by and say GO AWAY FISH!! YOU RUINED MY LIFE :)

So, I'll be off to stock up on popcorn now so mind you don't post anything interesting til I get back...

xx

It was 1971 I was fast becoming a man, the 60’s were well and truly over and Reggae was getting more and more popular amount the young black people in Briton. 

The Moonshot youth Club was the place to be on Friday evenings.  We all went and connected with other young West Indian teenagers.  It was at this youth club where I was first introduced to MC’ing. Jah Shaka was one of the top UK Reggae sound men and inspired the Reggae movement in the UK.  I remember it like yesterday, the music the sound the emotion that you’d feel when you heard the music playing from outside.  You just wanted to be part of it part of the music part of the crowd.. I was called over to the decks by Jah Shaka, he said come on Colburn let’s see what you got, this was the first time I picked up the mic this was the the first time I’d been before a crowd like this for anything, we all knew each other but I wasn’t a face I was just part of the crowd.  The anxiety the shear panic I felt when lifting the mic propelled me, I just started talking and rhymes came out like they had a life of their own

”Open up your heart and let the right love in, leave iniquity and leave out sin, life your life in love and do it through discipline and if you do the right thing Zion you will be going… “

I stopped and all of a sudden everyone started clapping and wanting more, I felt that I had found myself, I’d found what I do best I was entertaining people and making them smile

Just wanted to say enjoyed being at your table yesterday , very entertaining!

In the super50, i didnt have too many chips to tangle much thats why i was nitty as lost a big pot before you came. FWIW i was the one who you opened 1500 @ 300/600 and i shove 9k KJdd into Giant(opposite you) 88

How did you get on?

keep it coming. It's great stuff.

Incred post
Funny coincidence, I went to a reggae club last night in Newcastle, had a couple of MC's rotating on mic
had such a good feel to it, people in the smoking area trying to attract more people in to experience the reggae. such good vibes

Looking forward to the next posts

Yeah, I bet there were good vibes in the reggae smoking area

On Twitter there is a competition to guess the newest member of pokerstars teamonline....someone has made a guess of Rastafish! Is there any truth in this?

Haven't met you yet Rasta but was on a table near you in a deepstack pre Vegas and the entertainment value of your table antics was brilliant...love people with such passion for the game!

Matt

Have you ever been to Passing Clouds? It's just a bit further north in Dalston. It's usually hosted by a guy called Kofi who's band is Afrospot All-stars...

wheres this??

Great story so far fish. Keep it coming. Played with you a couple of times at dtd. Always entertaining. Aspades
Question - Chaka Demus & pliers or Aswad??
Aki.

Check your PM's please Mr Bling.

I found myself on my own with no phone on a night out in Notts last year after an all day session, was reggae night in Bodega. Absolutely loved it lol

The Head of Steam, quite near the Train Station
http://www.theheadofsteam.co.uk/newcastle-outlets-the-head-of-steam/

World Headquarters also has a reggae night occasionally, one of my favourite clubs in the Toon

Sat with Colburn yesterday and will again today at Luton. Character and a Gentleman.

On final of £500 GUKPT side unless another Colburn Tomlin doing the rounds lol

Am watching the main event stream and can here the Fish in the side event :)

Sounds like he's crushing it.

he's out

Sigh.. any Luton gold quotes to share?

fyp

Nice tap in

all I can manage these days

Diary lost steam quicker than I expected :(

what happened to Tikays and Reds. You are a one man army Alex, posting regular, running books, winning comps and travel updates :)

easy when you run like goulder

i certainly would not back Bolt in a running race with Alex :)

I'm here. Been away for a while, but here again!!

Aswad! I knew them from when they were making music with the island record company

Replied

I'm a steam train just refilling my cargo

Next part of my diary will be up tomorrow late! Much Love!

In early 1990's I saw a band in Barbados called Splashband led by a guy called Biggie Irie. To this day a memorable live music experience. Heard of them?

Im a big fan song is quite apt also. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMvCgwcQHdQ

Just drove to Sheffield and had this tune blasting in my head the whole way there and back. Hooks.

Winning never came easy, I was in a foreign town and out of my comfort zone, I knew very few people and I wasn’t winning.  Night after night I would get rivered, I would make bad calls and when I was right, they would get there on the turn or the river.  The stress of staying failing got me thinking about my decision to move.

People that don’t gamble wouldn’t understand the stress of trying to stay afloat, trying to pay the bills with the spoils of gambling.  I mean how are you going to explain to someone that you can’t afford buy a Mc Donald’s meal but can somehow sit on a table with £100.  They just don’t understand.

Borrowing is a big part of a gamblers life. Any gambler that says he never borrowed must have been born a millionaire. Because I wasn’t winning I started borrowing from a few people on the regular.  Now having debts at home and also having debts in the club that you play in isn’t a good thing, the pressure of the game when you don’t have a bankroll but have this love and belief in the game is hard to describe.  It makes all your decisions harder and it turns normal situations into massively awkward ones.

Gambling is such an egotistical profession; even losing gamblers think they have a chance.  The euphoria of that one win makes you forget all the times you lost all the times that your opponent got their, all the times that you had to ask for money not knowing when you could pay it back.  Gambling when you’re losing is like hitting your head a against a brick wall and expecting the brick wall to fall, not your head to get bruised. 
But the Euphoria??? There’s nothing that comes close, hitting that case card on the river, making the right call even though it meant your tournament life, there’s nothing like being right, there’s nothing that comes close, Poker can make and break men with the flip of a card…

Now going back to borrowing, there were few people in the club that were always good to me and I’ll always be grateful, some of whom didn’t realize the situation that I was in.

I’ve made some great friends through poker, people that I would never have spoken to or had anything in common with if I wasn’t a poker player.  I think that’s part of the draw with poker.  The social aspect, I’ve always a character, no matter what I’ve done or where I’ve been I’ve always made friends and had people around me, poker is no exception and I feel truly blessed and humbled in knowing that some of my best friends are poker players.   

So it was a mixture of the people that I met and the relationships I built that helped me stick to my decision to stay in Nottingham..

This post is so true. I love life being a roller coaster.

This weekend was a little whirlwind, I made a bad a bad move, I raised pre flop with AQ the flop 57Q the geezer bets I raise he goes all in I call he's got pocket 7's and I'm dead, we all make mistakes.. I did kill dem in the Super 50.  Chopped it three ways I was chip leader I had 902000 closest geezer had 500k club was closing so we dealt, so made my money back

Off to Blackpool this weekend to play the £1000 GUKPT

Anyone want to come along give me a call or mail on FB.

I'm also going to be selling 30% of myself in the main at 1.3 if anyone wants any action get in touch...

Here's my hendonmob

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=161375

Great post mate.

How did you feel on the whole about borrowing money? Was it from people you'd recently met or older friends? Do you think you'd be as successful had you not borrowed at all?

Dear Mr Rastafish,

1. Who is your favourite DDT dealer and why?

2. In my experience, typical players assess the dealer on his/her abilities to give them good cards and their opponents slightly worse cards. The proper assessment of course is how well the dealer does their job properly: distributing cards, accuracy, efficiency, speed, how often they make errors, their demeanour/attitude, refraining from extraneous conversation with players, refraining from strategy discussion, neutrality, confidence, service, focus, ability to control players courteously, handling of awkward/irregular poker table situations etc. My second question is thus. Ignoring the 'gives me good cards' factor, what does The Fish look for in a dealer in a professional sense that makes the dealer in The Fish's wise mind a good dealer?

3. Any comments on DDT dealers/floorpersons in general also welcome. Any things you think could be improved upon?

4. What nicknames do you have for each dealer?

5. Do you think you will ever get into playing other poker variants such Omaha, Stud or Draw and their High/Low or Lowball counterparts? What experience, if any, do you have with other variants and betting structures (fixed limit, pot limit, spread limit) alternative to no limit?

Sincerely yours,
Giraffe Neck.

PS

Sorry about flipping over your mucked hand that time in that cash game, it was truly involuntary, I have no interest in your hand as a dealer unless you turn it over to lay claim to a pot! Please don't Kill me!

Well done yesterday Mr Ocean

£150 at DTD

1    Colburn Tomlin    £5,221.50

yeah hang on a bit, we could be on for a diary update ;)

Just found this.... Love da fish  :-*

Hello Giraffe Neck

Who's my favorite dealer...? it's definitely not you... They're all good for apart from an exceptional few, which you're part of. 

What makes a dealer a good dealer? Their demeanor, I usually get a feeling from different people, sometimes I good feelings sometimes negative feelings and neutral feelings from other dealers.  Sometimes I'm wrong sometimes I'm right, but sometimes I'm wrong.  It also helps if they're professional, respectful and know what they're doing.

I have too many nicknames for dealers haha

Other variants? Well I'm doing well at Holdem and in my experience when you're doing well at something you should stick to it.. Also if I'm learning how to play other variants I'm paying for the pleasure.

I know you didn't mean it man.. It was a spontaneous move you made, now you should have more compassion when players make mistakes, because you're a stickler for the rules.  No I don't know whether to call you Giraffe neck or Stickler.

Much love brother

Borrowing money in just part of Poker culture, if I hadn't borrowed money I would have been successful anyway because it's in my nature.  I mostly borrowed off people I knew

Much love brother

Thank you brother.

Much love to you!

just found this and much love for it

never met the fish personally but based on the amount of people in this thread and the stories i have heard seems like a legend

wp RF

more stories please

Whats your nickname for me Mr Fish? :)

J

K

LMNOP?

How's my credit bro'?

Much Love Brother

Joe 90... you asked me the other day and I've been thinking about it, the best name for you is a bigger Joe 90, if you're old enough to remember....

Haha I like it! Im just about old enough, though it may be from Tightys updates haha

THE FISH ARRIVING IN St.KITTS TODAY YEESSSSSSS!!!!

BahamaMama' all around!

Medium Weak allll weeeeeeek baby

I see Gavin has been knocking a few in recently

Could we please hear the stories about traffic wardens in your area.. You had me in tears (of laughter) yesterday...

Good luck medium weak! Much love brother

Yes Brother proud of my boy!!

Story is too long hehehehe fish can kill you with stories

I'll be playing the £400 at Genting in Sheffield tomorrow, if you're playing come say hello. Gonna kill dem......!!

Please don't kill me Fish!

Making babies…

Sonia B, my first love… It was 1974 and house parties were on the up for young black teenagers.  Word would spread between the young black community in the matter of hours about a house party, which when you think about it was amazing because there were no mobile phones, no twitter and no facebook.

It was a Saturday afternoon and me my friend Derek got news that there was to be a house party in Brockley, so we put on our best clothes, Brute and started making our way to the house party. These times were really different, the regular buses would only go to central points and taxi drivers were reluctant to pick up black youths, so we had no choice but to walk.

We started walking, we got to the house at around midnight, walked in and saw all the regular faces and some new ones, music pumping (remember these days we could only listen to reggae music at house parties and concerts) everyone was young and the energy was electrifying, there was never any violence at these parties and because we were from minority families everyone tended to be nice and respectful to one another.  

Sonia B.  I saw her across the dance floor, she was young and pretty with a body like a coca cola bottle.  I had to talk to her, for all that know me know that it wasn’t difficult to strike up a conversation.  I walked over and introduced myself she was shy but receptive, she liked that I made her laugh and we cracked a few jokes and shared a few moments, we arranged to meet the following week and left.

We met up at the party the next week, we laughed we joked and even shared a kiss, we just clicked it all felt natural, if felt like Sonia was almost related to me. Before our dates I would look forward to seeing her, I’d get butterflies and catch myself looking for the best outfit to wear; I’d had girlfriends before but nothing as special as this. I was in Love.  When we were together it felt like the rest of the world didn’t matter, we were young ambitious and both from immigrant families so we understood each other.  

At that time I was flat sharing in the West end with my friend Derek, it wasn’t long before me and Sonia moved in together.  I remember the day I went over to see Sonia’s parents to ask if they would mind Sonia and me living together, her parents were nice they liked that I came to ask their permission first and that I introduced myself in loyal & respectful manner.  They were reserved about our relationship but I assured them I would take care of her and if there were any issues I would be the man of the house and take care of them.  

We moved in together and I got some work in a restaurant, it wasn’t long before Sonia became pregnant and I faced the prospect of becoming a father.  All sorts of things went through my head, would we be able to afford to raise our baby, would we make good parents.  All thoughts disappeared when I came home to Sonia every night and it was only me Sonia and the bump.  I was excited, I’d talk to the bump and picture what the baby would look like, I’d picture our family on Christmas’s and birthdays sitting around the dinner table, it was a nice thought, I was ready for fatherhood I knew I was, I may have been young but I was responsible.  I knew with Sonia by my side I could take on the world.  

Sonia’s water broke on 20st June 1975 we got a lift to Lewisham hospital and waited, Sonia was in pain and we knew the baby was coming soon, we waited and waited I was in the hospital for 12 hours, one of the midwifes advised me to get some food for myself to keep my energy up,  I walked down the road and got myself a sandwich ate it in the café and walked back to the hospital.

When I got back to the hospital the midwifes took me into the labor room straight away, Sonia had delivered in the 45 minutes that I was out of the hospital, I was introduced to my daughter I looked at her in the eyes, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, I was so happy that my eyes started tearing I couldn’t believe I was a father and that my baby was so perfect.  I looked at Sonia, I was so proud of her, she’d given me this beautiful baby and no matter what I did for her in the future nothing would come close to what she had done for me.  We were a proper family.

Some of my friends had described the feeling of becoming a father to me before, but nothing they said prepared me for the joy that I felt when I became a father, I was so happy that I ran from Lewisham hospital all the way to Beckinham to tell all my family and friends.

Venitia Tomlin was born fit and healthy on 21st June 1975, to a very proud mother Sonia and father Rastafish

:)up

Brilliant story fish, keep them coming.

Thanks brother I am typing myself now so my diction isn't as great as yours and alex's but I'm trying.

Respect brother

So much love for the fish!

pics of babyrasta fish please!

Looks fine to me.

Just as you have a final table jacket now, when you were chasing girls, did you used to have a special outfit for when you wanted an evening to end in a successful way?

Wicked story, really enjoyed reading that.

Great story and your daughter shares the same birthday as my late mum.

It's hard to believe you have a daughter not far off 40. How do you keep so young looking and youthful?

Great story and I don't know why you were worried about writing yourself, you write very well.

Was good fun playing with you in Sheffield last week, the first time I've had the pleasure. The table had been great fun all afternoon and even moreso when you joined, shame that they broke it so early.....

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/sport/sporttopstories/9794369.Ex_Dagger_Tomlin_joins_Southend/?ref=rss (http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/sport/sporttopstories/9794369.Ex_Dagger_Tomlin_joins_Southend/?ref=rss) Believe this is son of Fish, correct me if wrong. Presently on fire for Southend.

Christmas time is fast approaching so I thought I’d tell you about my fondest Christmas memory.  Christmas 1964, I was 8 years old and the Beach Boys song  “Christmas day” was playing on the radio reminding us “that Christmas was almost here and it only comes once a year”  I was hyped I couldn’t sleep on Christmas eve, I stayed up waiting to catch a glimpse of Santa.  My parents would tell me every year that if I was good Santa would bring me a big present on Christmas day and this year I had been extra good, I had done all my chores, I’d eaten all my greens and not spoken back to my parents whatsoever, I deserved what every 8 year old wanted for Christmas “A bike”

A few kids on my street already had a bike and I could only dream of getting one myself, I would ask my Father on a daily basis on the lead up to Christmas whether Santa would get me a bike this year, his reply was always *Deep Jamaican accent* “If you’ve been good Santa Clause will know” .. This didn’t answer my question at all, so I’d wait 10 minutes and then ask again, again I’d get the same reply.  

Fighting the urge to sleep when you’re 8 years old was always going to be a losing battle, I awoke on Christmas day and could hear the clitter clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen, my mother was preparing our Christmas dinner, I leapt out of bed and sprinted down the stairs, with every step just avoiding coming tumbling down, I pushed open the living room door and there it was, by Christmas tree it stood a shiny new bike!! I couldn’t believe it! Was I somehow still dreaming and would wake up soon only to find that Santa had found out about the broken dish that I tried my best to hide in the kitchen bin in April. I blinked and then blinked again I was awake and this was real.

My brain didn’t work like a normal 8 year olds, I was soo happy but all I could think about was; how did Santa get something this big down the chimney and how was the bike so clean, if it came down the chimney with Santa and did Santa clause have a go on it before he gave it to me… I turned to my father who was sitting next to the fire with a big smile on his face “Dad did Santa come down the Chimney or threw the front door? Why is the bike so clean? Did he clean it or did you? Did you see him dad? did you see him?” With a big smile my father replied merry Christmas son and pulled me forward and gave me a huge Christmas hug.  I ran into the kitchen to tell my Mum she stood there in her apron listening to me jumping up and down telling her Santa knew I had been good this year and had brought me a bike I was talking at the speed of Rastafish and maybe the volume too.  I ran upstairs to wake my brother and sisters to tell them.

I rode the bike up and down my garden until my Mum called me in for Christmas dinner, we all sat around the table and talked, joked and laughed, Christmas was the only time of year my parents let us talk at the table, let us eat a little extra, drink a little extra, at the dinner table my father laughed louder, he’d tell us stories about his childhood and would listen to each of our stories one by one, my mother would sit there with a smile on her face listening to our stories with a sense of pride on her face, only now that I have my own children do I understand why my parents were so happy and content around the table.  

Growing up I always have fond memories of that particular Christmas and the time we all spent around the dinner table laughing and eating and of course getting that shiny new bike, which meant my good deeds all year round and my behaviour had been rewarded.

Christmas is all about family to me, I’m now fortunate enough to be a granddad and at the dinner table I’m now the one telling the stories.  How things change.

I’d like to wish a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year to all my friends out there....! On Christmas day please spare a thought to people less fortunate then ourselves and if you’re playing the £300 at DTD in Jan and I’m on your table “you’re all deadddd”!!!

Merry Christmas Much Love and Respect - Rastafish

Merry Christmas Mr.Fish.

Thank you brother, Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Merry Christmas Fish!

And A Happy New Year Brother!

And to you brother!

That's a great little story and so nice that you finished it off by thinking of others.

Merry Christmas Rasta and hope you have a prosperous New Year.

Well here I am feeling all sorry for myself having buubled a GPS seat, being chip leader and running QQ into the second in chips KK. Then I read your posts and realise it's just cards and I got there for a fiver. I am in the same age group as you Rasta and much of what you write brings back good memories. Didn't have much but had a lot if you see what I mean. Loving the stories, keep em coming.

Merry Christmas and GL for 2013.

Thank you brother and to you.

Money comes and goes, family is there always! some of the happiest people I know have no money!

Thank you brother and to you! I'm going to post more about Poker and my 20's-30's after the new year, you'll be able to relate to a lot of what I write about.

Much Love Brother

Amazing Post

Merry Christmas to you, hope to be able to actually meet you in 2013

Be careful what you wish for...


Peace & Love Brother - missed you in the Caribbean

Just fantastic too hear you retelling your stories please keep this going in 2013.

Merry Christmas Sir

Great story fish brought back. A lot of my own memories

Happy Xmas and great new year
Hope you don't kill me in 2013
Garry

 Great story fish good luck in 2013 although we all no you dont need luck!

Lucky grandkids to have you as a grandad that would be the nuts!

Do you tell them about when you kill people at the poker table!

Happy Christmas Rastafish!

Let us know how the grand kids react to the Michelle Bennett q5 off suit story!

Merry Christmas fish....

Happy Xmas Rastafish, have a good one and hopefully get to share a table for longer than we did in Sheffield at DTD next year!!

good blog fish, need some more stories bout your big dtd scoops, memorable hands and your most amazing call late on in a big event.

Respect.

I am hoping to pay a visit to DTD and maybe actually get killed by Rastafish but I will settle for just sharing a table for the experience.

(http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-kill-dem-all.png)

well played to your lad today bet that was a nice christmas present for you!

Happy New Year.

Have a great new year!

What's happening brother?

Hi Rastafish, I just wanted to say I've found this diary really interesting and unique from most normal poker journals. I played on your table a DTD deepstack at the end of last year and can vouch for the fact you bring a lot of personality to the table. I hope your good run continues, and don't change how you are!

Thank you brother, come say hello next time you're at DTD

“If you want to live on you got to live right” Dennis Brown

It was around 11pm, the M1 was foggy but I knew I had to get down to the sky studios in London, I had my music on mellow and driving calmly, I wasn’t in a rush and no desire to get to the hotel at a decent hour, the music was sending me into an almost trance like state.  I’ve been driving on the M1 since the early 80’s and know the road like the back of my hand.  I love driving always have done and I’ve had my fair share of cars, from Ford Capris to BMW’s I’ve owned or driven them all, I’d go as far to say it’s a passion of mine.

Earlier on in the day I’d been getting ready for the Sky Poker cash game, I’d collected my clothes from the dry cleaners, I’d been to the barbers for a shave and hair cut, dropped into Hot and Spicey for some peanut porridge and meditated for a couple of hours, I was feeling refreshed and good.

Back on the M1, I was going past the Colville junction, it was dark and I felt almost cozy in my warm car with my music, my thoughts and the open road, as the road cleared in front of me so that I could see another 100 meters, I saw a car wedged into the center bollards, I was in the 3rd lane I had no time to stop, no time for an emergency brake, I collided with the car at around 60mph BANG!! My car started spinning!! I’m a spiritual man so I started praying, I prayed that all the people around me stayed safe, I prayed that the person in the car would go unharmed, I prayed that my family would live good and healthy lives and thought I did not want to go out like this! I didn’t ask for anything else but when my car finally stopped I realized that I wasn’t hurt.

I’m a spiritual Rastafarian, my first job when I got out of the car was to check on the other car and see if there was anyone in there, I walked over and saw the car was empty I got to the side of the road still in shock and saw the person that I hit standing on the side of the road, I went over to check on him, by this time many cars had stopped and people were surrounding me and asking me if I was okay.  I don’t know whether it was the shock or just pure adrenaline that kept me standing. 

I was alive that’s all that mattered, I called a friend of mine in Nottingham and told her what had happened, she came and picked me up, my car was a complete right off, she wanted to take me to the hospital but I insisted that I’d be okay, just take me to my hotel. 

Life’s funny, in the moment you think it’s over it’s not yourself that you think about, you think about everyone around but yourself.  In the face of death I felt like Zion was calling me, I’d be going to a better place, a place where god roams and there is no war, corruption or greed a place where all men and women are equal and not judged by looks, money or position

I’ve lived for 56 years, during this time I’ve been to many funerals, weddings and christenings, I understand that even when I go life will still carry on for everyone and the only thing that will connect me to this world will be my memory. 
So the question is “How do I want to be remembered?”

A man can have all the money in the world, but when he's gone the only thing that is left is his memory and legacy, so I say to all those people reading this blog, live good, live healthy and live right.
So I’ll leave you with a song by Dennis Brown called Let love in

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5ZQH0p3ZDw

Nice read! Makes you realise how every day should be enjoyed. Glad you re okay.

I love this post :D

Glad you were okay, and the person in the other car.

Glad you're ok Fish.

A very similar thing happened to me a few years ago but luckily I managed to avoid the sideways car.

Definitely one of my scariest motorway experiences and got me thinking about what might have happened had I been going any faster.

Life's definitely there to be lived.

Thank you brother

[/quote]

I love this post :D

Glad you were okay, and the person in the other car.
[/quote]

Glad you enjoyed it, I will update again next week. Much love

I agree, Much love brother

Great ending paragraph there. Awesome write up.

Happy everyone was OK.

[/quote]

Great ending paragraph there. Awesome write up.

Happy everyone was OK.
[/quote]

Thank you Anthony, see you soon brother

Really glad you got through this unscathed and no casualties anywhere.

Apart from any other reason I owe you a losing flip in a tourney sometime :)

Glad you're OK fella.  Does make you rethink things, and those 'bad-beats' don't seem so important either.

some diary this like.

keep it up! :)

where abouts in London were you schooled?

enjoy your weekend at Wembley  Mate

Am watching Rastafish Junior in the Cup Final at Wembley right now - good luck both of you!

You must be incredibly proud, what a thing!

Was thinking the same Tony, must be very proud indeed.

Just stumbled across this diary for the first time and have just finished reading it through from page 1. It's a really great read and hope you keep it up Rasta.

I've seen you when I've played at a few Sky Poker Tour events at DTD but never been unfortunate fortunate enough to have you on my table. I'm sure you already know but Sky have got a £220 6-max 2-day event on 27th + 28th July so hopefully see you there and I'll come and say hello.

And just cos I love to share good music :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOg_8hCC4u4

Sing when you're winning, you only sing when you're winning...

Enjoy the Merlot? I dont think Frankie did. Fun table though, til you hit and ran  ;)

Yea hit and run . Merlot makes u fresking high . Fishhhhh

BUMP!

I spy, with my little eye, a rastacolburn itt! Bringing back the diary, perhaps?

 ;iagree; ;popcorn;

Bump...!!

Heard from very good source that this diary is being resurrected... The source being the man himself... 

GL Look forward to visiting times of old again...

Here's some topics for you..

Poker when you're not winning, do you still 'Love the game'...?
Plans moving forward
Your take on Robs blog about Huds and online cash poker
As a black man who was born and raised in the UK, what did Nelson Mandela mean to you?
What are you getting Amar'e for Christmas  ;)

I'm sure the Blonde community have other topics for you...

stop binking stop blogging?

Probably won't make the next advent calendar either.

BITB

rigged otherwise