Thinking of you today, Vinnie.

I'm sure that Hollie would be as proud of you as you are of her.

Jeez, 2016 is turning into a seriously bad year for deaths of heros.

I remember feeling so musically mature when I got Trilogy for Christmas. I even loved Brain Salad Surgery (still don't know what the off-colour meaning is) - one of the few who did.

Lucky Man would make it into my top 50 album tracks of all timr.

Just watched Willie Mullins talking about Min in a Racing UK interview:

Words to the effect of "Having pulled so hard for most of the race (his last one), it was impressive how he found more and ran on at the end."

Given his rep for keeping his cards close to his chest.....

Admittedly, I've only read p20, but I wasn't expecting a discourse on political focus-group groupings (?)

Then again, it's been far more entertaining & far less depressing than reading about expectations of what the world will be like with Drumpf or Hillary Clit in charge of the nuclear button.

More than a little surprised that Happy Valley hasn't been mentioned on here.

It's the long-overdue follow-up series to the 2014 series. Only six parts, but absolutely crammed with excellent acting, superb characterisations, and a plot line that you really cannot predict.

Sarah Lancaster is just superb in the lead role, but not the only actor deserving plaudits. How on earth has the director managed to get such a credible performance from a young lad of approx 8 years of age? Stunning.

It helps if you've seen the first series, of course, but Series 2 is well-worth watching in its own right. It's all there on the BBC iPlayer.

Thanks, teddybloat, for your excellent nut-shell on the combined genius of The Beatles and George Martin.

It was only after my musical tastes matured that I realised that some of their best work was perhaps the lesser known. Tomorrow Never Knows stands out for me, and I always reference it when people say things like "What did The Beatles ever contribute to modern music" (a la The Romans/modern civilisation).

There's a strong case for this song to be released in tribute to the great man. I suspect that a huge number of today's generation of music lovers will be shocked by the genius & timelessness of it - and open the door of rediscovery to The Beatles back-catalogue.

Just caught up on the first episode of BBC1's The Night Manager. It's a 6-parter with episode 2 on tomorrow at 9.00pm.

I believe that it's a contemporised Le Carre novel. In any event it's a nice little spy thriller, benefiting from a substantial budget and the exotic locations that big money brings. Tom Hiddlestone makes a diffident but credible lead, whilst Hugh Laurie has found himself another quality role, but back to his native accent.

I'll be recording the episodes I can't catch live.

Eeeeewwwwww! Second part was pretty poor. I know we're meant to suspend disbelief, allow poetic licence, etc... But there's a fkn limit, no?

Re: LRD

A positive piece in today's MoS by Joanne Hart. "Buy now and be patient" - sounds very much like your strategy Nirvana.

Just caught up on the first episode of BBC1's The Night Manager. It's a 6-parter with episode 2 on tomorrow at 9.00pm.

I believe that it's a contemporised Le Carre novel. In any event it's a nice little spy thriller, benefiting from a substantial budget and the exotic locations that big money brings. Tom Hiddlestone makes a diffident but credible lead, whilst Hugh Laurie has found himself another quality role, but back to his native accent.

I'll be recording the episodes I can't catch live.

Thanks.

In a situation like this, with these stacks and the UTG raise, what's the weakest hand you would call with - paired & unpaired?

Not sure I'd be calling very many tbh (AQ, 99-TT) but would be 3betting (5.5bb) AK & JJ+. Would call a shove with just AA & KK & cry-fold the rest. Still have 26.5bb and a chance to find a better spot before end of level 10.

Always enjoy your updates on your travels in Slovakia, and I trust that the 2nd hand children's clothes business is still providing a decent living for your mother-in-law over there?

After the false starts and poor luck you've endured to date, I hope this one gets up & running with a sprint start. (IMO this health-food/drinks-bar project is far better than the pulled-pork/BBQ meat idea). All the very best of luck to you and the other Blondes involved - you certainly deserve it for taking this project forward with Petra "invested" with the third Blacklock.

Thanks Rich. Much appreciated feedback. Thankfully you confirm my own views.

PokerBroker:

I have 2 BTL properties. The other one is in NW10, and it's a 2-bed, on which the yield is very good. It's a long term 'hold'. The one in E11 is only 1-bed, and it's not quite the best use of capital at this level of yield, hence the sale to release capital to finance a purchase (hopefully) of a 2-bed somewhere in the SE area.

I have a business relationship with a guy who has contacts at all the London Housing Associations, who are always looking for properties into which they put vulnerable people from the housing register. Depending on the , you get a fixed term contract (mine are 3-5 years) during which you get a GTD rental income at the contracted rate. My associate is familiar with the decoration, fixtures & fittings requirements. For a reasonable fee, he finds the property, works out the rental income, negotiates the purchase, then gets it fit for use. After that, the cheques/DD's just keep coming. Yes, I have to deal with broken fittings & repairs, but I am contacted via the , and I have the option of taking care of the problem myself or using their workforce.

I agree with Eso, in that the extra 3% will simply be factored into the equation for determining a workable rent. Ultimately, what BTL investors like me are looking for, are properties that will deliver capital appreciation over 15-20 years. My understanding is that I'll be able to transfer the properties into a pension 'envelope' which will help/avoid capital gains tax issues when the time comes to dispose. I have always believed strongly in property as a good long term investment, and so far these properties have not let me down.

I readily defer to the 3 posters' better understanding of the cash game, so I ask this question purely to understand better the thought processes involved here:

Which hands is the villain check/raising the river with? Surely he wouldn't risk a check behind if he had AdXd or KdXd?

His bet on ott is just over half-pot, and feels like either a 'range-finder' or a pot-builder. But then he checks the river when the FD gets there.... I'm probs just a poor cash player, but I admit I'd struggle to find a fold here.

I have a one bed BtL property in E11. I was planning to sell it in order to trade up to a 2-bed. With the change in Stamp Duty about to come into play from April, what's your view on the BtL market, specifically in London?

If I had a buyer already lined up, what's the best way of establishing 'Fair Market Value'?

Thanks for the update Ransom. Probably like most of the other readers here, I regularly check to see whether Luton Calling has shot up to the top of the Blog page... Wait, most of the others prob have some kind of sexy tekky alert.

Anyways, I specially like the Bonnie Tyler teaser. I spent at least a whole 30 seconds wondering if the reference was "It's a Heartache".