A quick update. After 2hrs queuing and being questioned at the airport and 1hr to get my registration card at the Venetian I have managed to late reg into the $600 PLO8 tournament.

I have no idea what time I should be at but apart from struggling to see the suits I feel ok!!!

Turn around Tony. I got your back!!

Cheers Lee. Just enough to pay for another trip will do me

Well played and great updates

At the time my girlfriend (Mrs now) had the same cultural shock. I remember taking her on a boating trip and whilst queuing a Indian couple just plonked their baby on her. She held the baby startled whilst they took photos of her. They weren't used to seeing a white girl!!!

Although she moaned a plenty of all the hole in the ground toilets etc she now wants to go back so we can take our kids!!!  Her favourite was visiting a spice plantation and having the freshest vegetarian food she's ever eaten off a banana leaf.

Street food is fine if cooked in front of you. Most dishes are deep fried so no problems really. You'll need jabs (typhoid & hep A) and malaria tablets which you can buy over the counter.

Right, just under 36hrs before I fly out. Pharmacy has been mad busy with GP's moving to electronic prescriptions which has had its teething problems. High pollen counts means hay fever symptoms galore and more time needed for customers wanting advice.

Still managed to change up my £ and also get a currency card so I don't blow my load in the first few days of arriving. Just need to get a new suitcase tomorrow to bring home all the $$ or more likely gifts for the family.

Tonight's football has given me a buzz to enjoy me time in Vegas. I got demoted to the conservatory to watch the Spaniards get spanked but on a small screen. Actually enjoyed the Dutch winning even though I should hate RVP. Cesc joining Chelski seems to have dampened my hatred for him and I was made up he came on to take part in the thrashing. Saying that I've got Spain in my work sweepstake!!!

Anyway, figured this will be the same view of the screens on the strip from the distance I'll be watching and the 2nd group games should be interesting on Tuesday now.

I've started studying the mixed games I don't want to miss when I'm out there and really I have to try and register in time and delay the jet lag by playing the PLO8 @Venetian on Sunday at 5pm. Flight lands at 2.55pm so hopefully I should be at Treasure Island by 4pm ish to have a quick wash up before walking over. I know a friend who's playing there so it will be nice to meet up during the tourney. Not sure how long it will take to register or if there will be a waiting lists but I'm hopeful of getting in on the 2 day tourney. I've read on blogs and trip reviews that I shouldn't play for 2 days to allow for jet lag and time to adjust.

This is Vegas though and I want to play poker. I'm used to playing tired after a long day in work.

I remember playing cash, no sleep, work a 16hr shift and then straight to cash game again!! I don't do that now though as in my line of work being tired is a risk not worth taking,but I've done it.

I want to play as there are no decent size PLO or PLO8 tournament the rest of the week with that buy in. The smaller games at the GN et al seem to take such a large rake and the 1.5k to 10k at the Rio is too steep for me.

$600 is what I'd play in a cash game so going to try and sleep on the plane and be in half decent shape to play some decent poker. I've had little sleep this week getting work sorted so I'm looking forward to my first long haul premium economy seat and having some decent shut eye.

Might take me a bit of time getting used to adding pics etc whilst I'm out there but I'll try my best to jazz up the diary a bit. I'll probably just summarise the main hands and feel for the play on here but I'll try and post chip counts etc on my twitter poker handle @Pharmapoker

Tomorrow is goodbye to kids (party and sleepover), gym, final work invoice for GP accounts, time with Mrs then England game before bed and early transfer to Manchester.

I've just watched the Vegas scene from Hangover 3 again so I'm all giddy again  

Mrs has found my Vegas fund and was a bit aggrieved on the amount I'm planning to take!!!

You had better hope she doesn't find this thread.....

I've tried to put her in a good light in case she ever does find it!

Quite a strange week so far. NHS messed up my monthly payment at the Pharmacy so had to draw on reserve funds to cover all bills.

Related, Mrs has found my Vegas fund and was a bit aggrieved on the amount I'm planning to take!!!

Tbh the amount to most here isn't high stakes and shouldn't require a declaration at US customs. The amount is significant to her though as I've always kept my cash flow a closely guarded secret.

I'm down South at the moment and thank god for weddings and retail therapy.

I made sure I gave knowing glances during the wedding ceremony and a trip to Bluewater has made her feel we are comfortable and still trust each other. I even used her fashion know how to stock up on polo tops and hoodies so I look the part at the poker tables.

Just need to exchange the sterling to $ this week. Looks like post office or Tescos will be best for straight cash transactions as rates note as good if not using debit card.

Still finalising playing schedule but looks like Deep Stacks at Rio & Venetian will figure highly. Will try and fit a PHamous and GN mixed game in between cash games to try and build roll or satellite into a big buy in event.

One week to go...

Don't see the point Marky?

By all accounts, it's pretty decent if you are grinding the whole series.  No-one complains about the food, but Americans being Americans, the usual complaint is they would like 6x the portion size.  That prolly means it is still more than enough.

For anyone just playing the odd tourny, poker kitchen will do, or back streets to Chinatown in the break.

Getting my food brought to me wherever I'm playing is appealing, and a bit of healthy nosh to balance out the damage can't be bad.

Lord knows I'll be getting enough garbage, and alcohol over the holiday

Seen a lot of positive tweets on their food. I'm considering it for the table service. Organic food and protein shakes sounds good to me.

2 weeks to go till departure and now Stud8 tourney definitely on my wish list. May have to be Golden Nuggett though as 10k wsop a bit out of my league!

Anyway plenty of brownie points today so far.

Hungover wife can't remember anything!!

A cooked breakfast and more presents which she didn't open yesterday means I've got some extra kudos in my favour. I took a common bit of advice given to me from other poker players that when you win a touch always get the wife a present.

In fact win or lose always buy them something that way they don't ask how much you won (or lost).

Wife spent day out for her birthday so having taken the kids out and then put them to bed I late registered to the weekly stud8 tourney on stars.

I don't usually play Stud8 tourneys only cash but might give it a go in Vegas so wanted a bit of practice on blind levels.

Final tabled and when down to last 6 with slightly below average chips a very tipsy wife walks in. Now usually this is just what a guy wants on a Saturday night but not when on the final table of a online tournament with only 3 getting paid.

Much whining later I bust out 5 just short of the money.

In my life women and poker do not mix!!!

"Well we have just achieved the statistical rarity, give or take a few hours, of making Day 2 in 2 separate comps within a day."

That's a great boast to take away. Wp

Great to rail a PLO8 game. Good luck

Has anyone played the $550 8pm sats at the Rio to the next day bracelet events?

I like the idea of playing a Omaha or mixed game satellite and these look the best bet rather than stumping up 5k or 10k up front which not many can afford.

Just wondering if anyone can give me ideas on numbers or seats generated? There's loads of Texas tourneys or sats all over the place but apart from Golden Nugget/Binions schedule not many around the main strip.

Think the stud hi lo sat paid out 4 places last year. 

Cheers. Think I'll plan one or two into my schedule