blonde poker forum

Firstly let me apologise for the hippy/emoness of this thread.

This thread is inspired by a few things.

My dad's car down broke down a few years ago and before he even had the chance to make any calls to sort the problem out, someone who happened to be a mechanic going home pulled over, spent 45 minutes fixing my dads car and refused when my dad tried to pay him. He insisted that my dad could repay him by helping someone else. I thought that was pretty cool.

I have also done some travelling and realised how lucky most of us all are. Seeing how some people struggle is truly humbling.

I've done some things in the last 18 months that I'm proud of but certainly want to do a lot more. I know some people have their own problems and if so then maybe this thread can help too.

People can criticise Blonde all they want but it's a great community with 99% good people and I'm sure some people will get involved.

Basically I propose that people give some time and effort wherever or whenever they can to do something to help a good cause, be that a person, animal or otherwise and then post in the thread about what they've done etc. It's easy to throw money at something but doing something personal is awesome.

I really hope that some of the poker players who like myself spend most of their time chasing $$ (and not paying tax!) can take part in something different and get something from it. Imo the great thing about doing something 'selfless' is that it's very hard for it to truly be 'selfless' because you feel great having done it and there's nothing wrong with that.

I encourage people to post what they've done. Whether it's something spur of the moment or something that's been considered. A one off act or a regular activity, post. Whether it's something you're thinking of doing or whether it's something you've been doing for a while I'd love to hear it.

Today I went with my girlfriend and bought a few boxes of milk cartons for a few kids who's families struggle to buy it for them.

Then we went and gave some food and treats to some street dogs.

It cost me not much at all and didn't take much time either but felt great.

I do this every four weeks. My local blood donation centre is one of the few that are also set up for platelet donations. Takes about 90 minutes.

There is a chance I will need corneal transplants at some point in the future so thought that 'paying it forward' was the least I can do.

picture removed by request of poster

PLEASE...........advance warning required if posting photos of injections , eyes or blood being pumped from bodies.

Thank you.

Oops, sorry Boo.

agreed. You need to go and do another good dead to make up for the people you have now just inflicted that on.

A few month's ago a blind man was in the same shop as me. He was clattering around with his stick and really struggling so i offered to help. Anyway he was in completely the wrong shop, the shop he was looking for was long gone. He did know most of the old established shops on the high street.

I decided to spend the next 20 or so minutes walking around with him telling him which shop was which and what they sold. Was completely free, made me feel great and I am hopefully that it gave him great pleasure as well.

Good stuff!

Hairy arm too! Are you Greek?

Following the BKK bombing, the Thai blood banks were absolutely flooded with people in the next days.

You big wuss!

Good stuff man.

Things like that are great.

How come some of those "street-dogs" are wearing collars?

I've put collars on some street dogs before.

It's simply to make it less likely that they get mistreated by people. Not that they have owners.

Great thread
<3 Cos

I had high hopes for it that are disappointingly significantly lessened after only a couple of posts despite 160 views.

Was hoping at least a few people would be expressing their intent to do something but maybe my impatience with everything has again kicked in too soon!

Ha , that i am Sir.  Great thread by the way.

Ha, if I ever feel self conscious about the body rug then sitting in a PLO cash game at the Vic always helps. The demographic of many regs means I look like I shower with Immac in comparison....

Now you know how we felt when you told us on your diary that something good had happened and you were going to tell us about it "tomorrow".

 ;applause;


I put the toilet seat down after I used the bathroom earlier.

It's so easy to do stuff like this, to 'Pay it Forward' as it were.
I wrote this three years ago elsewhere...

Sunday morning I wake earlier than is needed and decide to pull my jeans on and go in search of orange juice and a newspaper. I've taken to staying in the travelodge at Donnington Services when I play at DTD. It's significantly cheaper than the Nottingham rooms and has significantly better views (seriously - the rooms mostly look out over the rolling countryside). So, I'm in M&S paying for my OJ and a youngish lad carrying a petrol can is in conversation with one of the staff about getting a taxi or some other way to get back to his car which is on the A42 where he ran out of petrol.
I have nothing better to do at that time so I offer him a lift and refuse his proffered 'tenner for petrol' on the basis that I'd prefer the karmic rewards.

That was the morning of one of my finest days in poker...

Latterly I have more time since I am retired and do a few little volunteer things. Minibus driving for a local school and I'm just waiting for Shaw Trust to complete their paperwork so I can help out here...

http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/shops-enterprises/social-enterprises/st-enterprises-north-east/

Excellent David.

Restored my faith!

I do stuff but i'd feel really odd sharing it. Kinda prefer to just do it quietly if that makes sense.

Yeah that totally makes sense though you've nearly started telling us now so would be cool to hear it.

This thread is definitely not all about me, you or anyone else saying what we do to get praise for it. It's just to encourage people doing some good things.

I believe everyone can be a better person. This thread is about that.

Particularly poker players. We live a fairly self indulgent life. You already do stuff which is great but therefore fall into the category so much of people I'm trying to muster into thinking 'yeah i dont do anything, I have the time/resources to be able to'

That said I'm not just targeting poker players.

Hi Cos

i do a few things but i am not that comfortable talking about them. Don't feel the need to let other people know.

I am only speaking for myself, but that might be a reason why you haven't had a flood of responses. some threads are also slow-burners.

nice thread though, every response (until this one!) has been worthwhile

I like the opportunistic good deeds, like the guy who fixed Pappa Cos's car.

We've all needed that little bit of help from time to time.

Hi Tighty,

I agree your thinking on this is probably shared by several people. I definitely debated posting it for similar reasons so I totally get it but at the same time, I think if shared in the right way - just simply statement of what you do etc then it's fine. People don't want to feel they are bragging when it comes to this sort of stuff and that's not how I intend the thread to be either. I did pretty much nothing when I was in the UK fwiw and now almost see it as a duty to help people less fortunate.

I think most people don't do enough and having others sharing their stories might encourage people to do some similar things.

Hopefully you change your mind and share but if not I respect that too.

If I can suggest a slight change of tack (a derail, if you will...)...

If you're not comfortable posting about good deeds you did, how about a tip on how to find areas where you can give, things that have the biggest impact, etc etc...

 :)up ;iagree;

I'm going to distribute some clothes, toys and hygiene products at the main station here in Prague on Friday as people stop and change before (likely) travelling on to Germany.

I'm currently making some little leaflets of basic German phrases which will help them on the off chance the German that greets them can't understand what they mean in English. Some little pictures and English, German and (maybe if I can find a speaker...) Arabic.

We're also hoping to change the 'prevailing' attitude of Czechs outside of Prague about foreigners so will possibly also travel to the border with them if I can find a Czech speaker to come with me (as mine won't get the baby washed!)

Brilliant thread.

Was in a pre-pay multi-storey car park a few weeks ago walking towards the pay station. Guy pulled up next to me on his way out and asked if I wanted his ticket as it still had 3 hours on it. Did make me smile.

I agree with the points made by tightly this was the first place I've ever mentioned the blind man story but when I saw the thread I thought of that and thought I would post it.

Also the more it pops up the more I try and go out and help a little.

One thing I've always wanted to do is open a "pay it forward" restaurant/takeaway

In my home town we have quiet a few homeless people I always thought it would be a good idea to have 15 minutes after closing time to give food to the homeless, also people during the day can "pay it forward" and donate meals throughout the day.

Obviously these people don't have to be homeless they could just be hungry etc but always thought it would help places reduce waste and help others.

one thing i've been doing quite a lot lately is letting people with one or two items in front of me in the queue at supermarket checkouts.

i'm yet to understand a single response (must take more lessons!) but i guess it basically doesn't happen here in general because lots of curious looks followed by smiles as they realise I'm forever going to repeat 'please, sir/madam' and wave an arm if they keep talking :D

obviously it's a nothing thing to do (you wait another 10 seconds or whatever) but you might make someone's day!

Another good one that my dad taught me. He doesn't have many good ideas so I liked this one.

When shopping in  tesco/sainsburys etc and they give you the ticket that say you have spent 2p more by shopping in tesco today so here is 2p voucher. Thanks but no thanks, anyway.

Instead of binning it/ putting it in my wallet and forgetting about it it's nice to give it to the person behind you in the queue.

Obviously I still do this when its £2 etc! I'm not that much of a nit.

It also helps if the person behind is a hot girl.

I did have one time though when it said like £2.75, so true to my morals I gave it to the person behind, and then I remembered I was getting a drink from the cigarette counter and was really gutted I had to break a £20 rather than using the voucher I had given away just seconds before.

I have a free day today, am in Nottingham. Would like to spontaneously spend the rest of the day doing something good, charity volunteering or anything. Where should I go? What should I do? Online seems to just show long term opportunities.

I used to do a similar thing at Boots - they always seem to give out vouchers for No7 makeup with the receipt so I'll give it to the nearest cute teenage girl as they love makeup.

I intend to start doing it again as soon as that court order expires.

Nice one Alex.

I've no idea off the top of my head. Maybe some of the Notts Blondes can provide some suggestions.

My car could do with a clean if you're offering......?

Seriously though try Alex Ottewell. She does loads of stuff with Emmanuel House the homeless people place in Nottingham. Pretty sure she'd be able to put you in touch with someone.

Good idea Matt, just messaged her.

I found a letter today about 6 foot from the letter box, it had obviously been dropped.

I posted it.

Little things.

Hope you managed to find something to do in Nottingham.

One of the issues about voluntary work these days is the need for some form of vetting process. I'm still in the approval process at Shaw Trust. Because their 'clients' are vulnerable adults I have to be DBS checked to make sure I have no inappropriate history with the police and I had to provide two referees. Not much scope for spontaneity there.

I was the beneficiary of an act of kindness last week though. nothing that cost the giver, but it saved me £15 on my shopping. I will pay that on to someone and hope that they in turn pay it on again.