Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[redsimon]

1% unless you're including the One Drop in your schedule

[celtic]

❤️ Mantis

Good to see the diary back up and running, I enjoy all the daily stuff you do. I'm sure others do too.

[booder]

1% please.

[hhyftrftdr]

All this book talk has reminded me of that book you sang the praises of (at least I think it was you) a while back, something to do with Vegas and the guy behind Wynn hotel. What was it called? Got a couple of holidays coming up in May and I like to take a book away with me. Contrary to what you might think, we can read in Yorkshire. Some of us anyway

Oh and put me down for 1% if its available this summer, please. No Vegas for me this summer unless I can somehow win a package next door, so might as well punt some cash away on people going invest in a solid opportunity.

[Skippy]

All this book talk has reminded me of that book you sang the praises of (at least I think it was you) a while back, something to do with Vegas and the guy behind Wynn hotel. What was it called? Got a couple of holidays coming up in May and I like to take a book away with me. Contrary to what you might think, we can read in Yorkshire. Some of us anyway

Oh and put me down for 1% if its available this summer, please. No Vegas for me this summer unless I can somehow win a package next door, so might as well punt some cash away on people going invest in a solid opportunity.

It was this :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Running-Scared-Treacherous-Times-Casino/dp/1568581904/

Running Scared: The Life and Treacherous Times of Las Vegas Casino King Steve Wynn

I read it on the recommendation of Tikay. It's pretty good- you feel like it was trying to be a hatchet job but it never quite managed to get the blade in far enough. TL;DR; - Steve Wynn started his Casino empire with Mob help (like every other casino in Vegas), Wynn casinos are full of wrong 'uns, and sometimes the wrong 'uns are using the casino to launder money (like every other casino on earth) and he told a pack of lies to get permission to have dolphins in one of his casinos (like everyone else does on every planning application ever). I ended up liking him quite a lot by the end of the book.

[GreekStein]

Over the years we coulda had a few good episodes of 'Blonde Poker on Jeremy Kyle'

[tikay]

Well there's a lovely surprise, a post or two, & the old Diary is hustling & bustling like a good 'un. Looks like we have a staking thread imminent, too, happy days.

All I have to do now is try & keep it going, amongst my other time demands. We shall see.

As always, I'll try & reply to all posts that warrant a reply.

Best get started, & I'll try & do so in time order. 

[tikay]

Are we ripping new arseholes this year?

Mr MANTIS, good to see you, & even gooder that you chose my dormant Diary to celebrate your return after 2 months inexcusably AWOL.

Last year you really livened up my staking exercise with all manner of stuff, including, if you recall, Mr Mean & the Superman shirt, & dear beloved Brad. How is Brad, still the best in the business, golf retailing version? How is your little Golf Shop coming along? Are sales catching up with Brad's sales yet?

Most of us are never quite sure how to take you at times, but when it was all over, you wrote this, which I actually really appreciated.....

Hey mate, now that staking is over just wanted to say I really enjoyed following your progress, reports, photos and having some Blonde banter. Losing less than last year was an unexpected bonus as well! Enjoy the rest of your trip xx

I was thinking about that earlier this week, as it happens, as I'm almost at the point of booking this year's trip, & whether I'll be brave enough to do another staking thing. I suppose if I do, the worst that can happen is nobody buys any action, so it won't kill me.  

Not sure about ripping new arseholes, but I definitely plan to be Brad, wearing a cowboy hat, Wrangler jeans, killing rabbits for dinner, & shouting hot dawwwwggg every time I win a pot.

I'm afraid I have some very unfortunate news regarding Brad the Cowboy, very tragic, very alarming, very upsetting. I am sorry to report that Brad gained a high profile promotion with the company and is now a prestigious regional manager. By all accounts he is currently hot-dawging his way around several US states in a new pair of rattlesnake boots and a cowboy hat two sizes bigger than before. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!

My little golf venue is performing well. When I took over in 2013 EBITDA was sitting at £56k. Three years later it is £1.1m. A decent profit growth by any reckoning you would think. Unfortunately the opportunities to hunt for 'big game' in full camouflage gear are somewhat limited in Surrey, so the American board remain largely unimpressed. I sent them a picture of me with my recently awarded TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence but they were infinitely more excited about the photo of Brad with his foot on the carcass of a dead moose he had recently dispatched. At the end of last year, right around the time Brad was being awarded his big promotion, amidst much cigar smoking and back slapping no doubt, the Texans sent me a Christmas present. A pair of cowboy boots. Hot Dawg! Am I supposed to wear them while mincing around Waitrose? God knows!

Hope we do Vegas again this year so please put me down for 5% of any arse-hole ripping package pls xx

Well that post certainly livened things up, good work Mr MANTIS.

Was thrilled to hear of Brad's well-deserved promotion, please pass on my congrats to him.

Fair play to you, too, for improving your EBITDA so convincingly, they are pretty tidy numbers for a Golf Kiosk.

And a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor? Wowzer, that's like a Cycling Proficiency Certificate, not easy to get.

Keep posting please,  we do enjoy hearing about Brad.

5%? Well thank you very much. I'll start a little list shortly, & you will be first on it. I'm going to call you "Brad" on the list, if I may, to inspire me.

[tikay]

Saw Mantis' post last night, as I knew it would kick things off in here again.

Like most of the diaries, I always read, but don't often have anything to contribute, unfortunately.

I'd go steady talking about Hartlepool like that, especially if you're working in the vicinity of Jeff Stelling

You better be going to Vegas, as I've just bought shares in the GN starbucks!

Fingers crossed, we'll hook up in Starby's @ Golden Nugget. I've not had a latte since Jan 16th, but boy oh boy, when the Vegas trip starts, I'll make up for it.  

How are you bearing up, anyway? Still coping, & doing the gym?

Mr Stelling was in the SB&G Offices the week before last.

He & a bunch of others, including a collection of lads from our Office did a charity walk thing, "Men United", for prostate cancer I think, Jeff was walking 10 marathons in 10 days, & our crew joined him for one of them.

He's MUCH shorter than I realised.

I'm there for just under a month, so hopefully we'll get to hammer them together. I'm an espresso man at home, and probably get through 5/6 a day. They're <1cal, so I can afford a few.

All good here, and other than the week I was away fro Cheltenham, I've been at least 3x every week, and will hopefully be breaking the 2 stone off barrier in the next few weeks. Sounds better than it is, as I'd manage to stick 2 stone on my already bloated frame, last year.

He's superb, and essential saturday afternoon viewing after racing. Not sure I could drive 10 marathons nowadays, nevermind walk them

I'm getting shorter with age, and probably will be around his height by 50!

Stay strong with the diet, you'll be thankful when you get to Vegas.

I've not quite decided my dates yet, as it's complicated by work & other stuff, but for sure, my current diet - now 2st 4lbs loss since Jan 16th - will continue 100% full on until the very day I head off to Vegas. Then it'll be a latte for the drive to Gatters, & a full English at the Airport. oioi.   

My Vegas dates are a headache which I'm trying to figure out.

I like to be there most of June, usually last day of May or 1st - 2nd of June. Gill will be joining me for 10 days, 5th to 15th June incl, & she can't move those dates. I'll only play 2 or 3 MTT's in that 10 day period, as we want to do another West Coast adventure, so that'll be a couple of days.

The complication is work - the Sky Poker "Host Team" will be required much later this year, as The Main does not start until 9th July, far later than usual, so the Team Dates will be 5th to 18th July, or thereabouts.

So I either go early, & return home late June, & then go out again (assuming they want me there) or just have a long time, 6 weeks or so, in Vegas.

6 weeks seems rather long to be away, so I'm having a major dither right now. 

[tikay]

Two really good books have read of late.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eibar-Brave-Extraordinary-Ligas-Smallest/dp/1785310364/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51JDwKW1aiL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR102%2C160_&refRID=0T4ZPB095VAN2S2GF8GA

and particularly this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Journeyman-odyssey-through-leagues-football/dp/1849548544/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1460116910&sr=1-1&keywords=ben+smith+journeyman

Fascinating insight into a true "journeyman" the parts discussing Steve Evans "methods" at Crawley are must read as is the book.

I'm going offline for a bit John, but will take a look at those later & get back to you.

Steve Evans is the strange chap at Leeds United, right?

Pardon me asking, & swerve it if it's delicate, but are you currently doing some scouting for a football club or clubs?

Without giving numbers, how does that work? X per game watched, a commission on any player sales or purchases, freelance with a finders fee? Or is it "advance scouting", you know, sussing out a Team's next opponent?

It does sound all rather interesting. Anyway, if so, hope you are enjoying it.

 

Yep that Steve Evans if you get one get Ben Evans sure you will like that.

The scouting is just part time working for a network, only get paid expenses mainly League 1 and a lot lower the data goes back to head office (grand term not sure there is one) who then sell it to clubs without full-time analysts.

Majority of the time it is "expenses only" which if like me you don't mind scrimping on a few things clears a few quid but nothing like enough to live by.

Anyway it is enjoyable and a small start on a path id like to tread, just mixing it with trying to clear a few quid punting the rest of the time.

Good to see this diary back

I'm fascinated by this "Football Scouting Network" being organised by one company, or organisation, never knew such things even existed.  I guess it's mostly League One & League Two Teams, & maybe Conference, who buy or subscribe?

How do you apply for such a role? Do you have to send a sort of CV, or do a little "know your players/Teams" entry quiz or something? Or is it just word of mouth, or an old boys network thing?

Do you know how much the Clubs pay for a Scouting Report? Or is it a season long fee or similar?

Sorry for so many questions, but it really interests me.

Nice gig, I'd say, as it is a sort of hobby/income combined. 

Life for you has not been easy these last few years, but it sounds like you are on an upswing now. Quite right too.

[KarmaDope]

Depending on the MTTs you wish to play, why not fly out with your lady, do the West Coast and then head over to Vegas afterwards. Pretty sure the WSOP doesn't start properly until 1st June and the first weekend is either Millionaire Maker or Colossus, and Vegas is not fun to be around at those times for non Hold'em players, cash games are horrendous waits and probably minimal mixed games MTTs (but I am on my phone and can't check the schedules)

[tikay]

Are we ripping new arseholes this year?

Mr MANTIS, good to see you, & even gooder that you chose my dormant Diary to celebrate your return after 2 months inexcusably AWOL.

Last year you really livened up my staking exercise with all manner of stuff, including, if you recall, Mr Mean & the Superman shirt, & dear beloved Brad. How is Brad, still the best in the business, golf retailing version? How is your little Golf Shop coming along? Are sales catching up with Brad's sales yet?

Most of us are never quite sure how to take you at times, but when it was all over, you wrote this, which I actually really appreciated.....

Hey mate, now that staking is over just wanted to say I really enjoyed following your progress, reports, photos and having some Blonde banter. Losing less than last year was an unexpected bonus as well! Enjoy the rest of your trip xx

I was thinking about that earlier this week, as it happens, as I'm almost at the point of booking this year's trip, & whether I'll be brave enough to do another staking thing. I suppose if I do, the worst that can happen is nobody buys any action, so it won't kill me.  

Not sure about ripping new arseholes, but I definitely plan to be Brad, wearing a cowboy hat, Wrangler jeans, killing rabbits for dinner, & shouting hot dawwwwggg every time I win a pot.

I'm afraid I have some very unfortunate news regarding Brad the Cowboy, very tragic, very alarming, very upsetting. I am sorry to report that Brad gained a high profile promotion with the company and is now a prestigious regional manager. By all accounts he is currently hot-dawging his way around several US states in a new pair of rattlesnake boots and a cowboy hat two sizes bigger than before. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!

An American psychologist once told me I was 'all Hat and no Cattle'. Sounds like this Brad guy is the complete package though.

Pretty good summation by the trick-cyclist, I'd say.

Brads a genuine boss, & I think I have something of a man-crush for him. Got his picture on my bedroom wall & everything.

[tikay]

I had a meeting in London on Wednesday, at Kings Cross Station of all places, so took the opportunity to pop across to Charing Cross Road & visit Foyles.  

Dunno about others, but visiting book shops is like a special treat to me, I adore being in them. They are a bit olde world, a bit yesterday, as these days so many people either don't bother reading books - need time to watch Jeremy Kyle I suppose - or they have these Kindly things.  

But I more often than not come away empty-handed, or with just one "I suppose this will do" type selection.

I struck gold on Wednesday though, & ended up buying a bagful of new books, so that's me sorted for a month.

And the pick of the bunch?

God bless him, it was Bryson again.

It's not heavy, or deep, but every single page has a few lines which are so funny, & so subtly so, that I go back & re-read them 3 or 4 times.

Honestly, if I could write one tenth as well as he, I'd quit work today & take up writing for a living, I'm insanely jealous. His use of adjectives is the key, he uses such an original & eclectic range of them, but they all seem to hit the spot & jump off the page & we can picture exactly what he means.

The book is just an anecdotal thing, a tour of Great Britain, & it is his second version of the same thing, many years ago he penned Notes from a Small Island, & this is much the same thing. This one goes by the cheezy title of The Road to Little Dribbling, but really, it's not cheezy, & that cover picture has a real meaning. (It is reproduced with the permission of the Skegness Tourist Board of al things).

It begins by challenging the old (& mythical?) assumption that the furthest distance in a straight line in Mainland UK is from Lands End to John O'Groats.

He gets round that by saying it crosses saltwater to do so, (Irish Sea, Bristol Channel etc), & the real longest straight line would be Cape Wrath to Bognor, hence it begins with Bugger Bognor, & he then heads north.

Very highly recommended, please read it if you get the chance. It's not exactly heavy or deep, I'll grant you, but in a stressful world, read that for half an hour before bed every night & you'll sleep happier. You will.

I didn't know about the jolly fisherman until I perused Doobs link, but surprised the rest of the pic isn't copyrighted it some form (it may well be) considering it's Birling Gap

I believe the National Trust own Birling Gap., & Mr Bryson has some history with the NT, down the years. Sort of love/hate, wonderful organisation, but rather over-bearing with rules & regulations.

He often writes of them in less than glowing terms, but I believe he loves the concept.

[tikay]

Number plate coming up for auction next month, DVLA should hold it at the Vic:

Word reaches me that 2 private bids have been submitted already.

[Marky147]

Stay strong with the diet, you'll be thankful when you get to Vegas.

I've not quite decided my dates yet, as it's complicated by work & other stuff, but for sure, my current diet - now 2st 4lbs loss since Jan 16th - will continue 100% full on until the very day I head off to Vegas. Then it'll be a latte for the drive to Gatters, & a full English at the Airport. oioi.   

My Vegas dates are a headache which I'm trying to figure out.

I like to be there most of June, usually last day of May or 1st - 2nd of June. Gill will be joining me for 10 days, 5th to 15th June incl, & she can't move those dates. I'll only play 2 or 3 MTT's in that 10 day period, as we want to do another West Coast adventure, so that'll be a couple of days.

The complication is work - the Sky Poker "Host Team" will be required much later this year, as The Main does not start until 9th July, far later than usual, so the Team Dates will be 5th to 18th July, or thereabouts.

So I either go early, & return home late June, & then go out again (assuming they want me there) or just have a long time, 6 weeks or so, in Vegas.

6 weeks seems rather long to be away, so I'm having a major dither right now. 

I'm not as strict as yourself, but I'm just being a lot more sensible than I am generally and it's much easier if you're not watching every single thing that goes in your mouth.

Like yourself, I'll keep this up until I head out there, and then overdose on red meat & buns for a month. I won't bother with airport breakfast though, and will probably make the old man stop on the way to the airport

I've gone out the last 10 days of June every year, and stay until after July 4th. This year a mate of mine is coming out late for the main, and I managed to blag myself an extra 10 days off work to stay for a rail.

I'd just do the 6 weeks, as it's probably a lot more hassle flying back, and then out again. As ooposed to just staying there for the whole period. It's not like you're on a 6 week stag do, drinking every night etc.