Well done getting the bubble deal agreed by all when you only had about 2bb.

The guy with KK was pretty solid - he  ended up in a 5 way chop.

CANNONS TO THE RIGHT OF ME CANNONS TO THE LEFT OF ME AND STILL ON I RODE ...or to put it another way time to sort out gobby..

So here i am at the barn pub in St Albans and i am now on my sixth pint of doombar ....one thing to note about the pub is that there seems to often be a gathering of shop lifters at the front of the premises maybe trying to cash up there days work for folding . And now one of them is performing he has a see thru plastic bag with several bottles and other goodies visible thru it and he is all over the place talking absolute bollocks that makes no sence and stumbling about the pub is packed and people are filming him and his antics ,he looks like some one who 20 years ago woulld have been hansome rugged chin trendy clothes that have seen better years a sort of roger more lookie likey now he is in the outside courtyard swiging some bottle of pink wine from his bag then deciding that he wont drink and more he is pouring it out over the cobles like a priest blessing the land for a bountyful harvest then with the wine done with he gets two vape ciggaretes that glow red when he draws on them and is doing a dance in the courtyard like the pied piper of hamlyn coaxing the rats to follow him ...i thought it made him look like a dragon in china town new year street celabration with the bag of contraband slung over his arm and all this is being filmed by about six guys that are crowding the window with there smart phones.....

Its now time for me to go and i see gobby is no longer at the adjoining table but i figure he cant be far away i get up put on jacket and start to pass the table ....o do any of you guys play poker i ask  three of them chip in that they do and one of them is going to vegas in a few days,  o good i say ive got a poker story to tell you but im going for a piss now i will tell you when i come back.....i proceed to the loo and although it matters not see gobby in the loo area reviwing the film that he just took of dancing man....good i think he hasnt sodded of yet. job jone back to the table where the lads are and i re intruduce myself.....so are you ready for that poker story they all chirp up yes and i proceed ...i was in a worthwhile poker game in luton and we were down to the last two tables with the first prize being maybe 2800 ....just at that moment gobby comes back to the table and retakes his seat right in front of me ....im just telling a poker story i tell him ...o he says...so i look down at my hand and i have aces...gobby chips in   o and they got beet did they...npo i say there are three of us in the hand with raises and a all in leaving me and the other chip leader to see the flop which comes ace three nine rainbow  the other player makes a sizeable bet and i sitting with top set do what i have to do then figuring that flat calling looks to strong i go all in......the other player goese into the think tank....it should be noted that the table of lads are listening avidly to the story thus far a bit like when i tell jokes at luton poker tables.....so back to the story the other chip leader is having trouble deciding what to do and a resonable time has passed .....can i help you if you want me to i say to him .....he looks at me ....if you want i will tell you four pieces of information and if you can work out the truth you will know whether to call me or not ....other chip leader agrees to the offer of free information so i tell him and the poker table in luton the information...1/ ive nearly been shot three times   2/ i was awarded a black belt in a martial art  3/ i once had a informal chat with the queen of england  4/ive got a pair of aces in my hand .......so if you can work out which of those statements is iuntrue you will know wheather to call me or not i say.....he thinks a bit then call and i show my aces and win the hand.......the lads at the barn are like the ones in luton and want to know which was the lie to which i tell them i was bluffing as all four statments are true ...but the one that is most revalent to this moment is the one about the dear old queen....gobby is now taking a keen interest in the table wood grain ....i tell the story to the lads about how meeting the queen happened and who said what ....and then i say to the whole table you know 30 years from now just like people used to say where were you when JJFK got shot of when the twin towers were hit ,,,,if asked where were you when the queen died you can say you were in the barn watching some coke head hippie dance and listening to poker stories....gobby is still the quietest he has been all night long as he would have to be realy thick to not understand all his discredits about his tv viewing pleasure  being ruined by the queens death  were heard by me and i am professing the opposite opinion....so good luck in vegas i say and part from the 5 lads not even knowing there mate has just had his nose rubbed in it...

but then again maybe they do ...

MERRY XMAS YOU ALL INCLUDING VINNIE IN MADAGASGAR  GLEN IN A GLASS OF RED AT LUTON  DEAN IN BLACK CHOMPY IN A JUMPER.....

O AND LUCKY ALLAN NOT IN A KYACK

I had my Kayak and beat it Tom

SATURDAY THE 29TH THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL CHARITY POKER GAME AT THE LUTON G CASINO ,COST £100 AT 3.00PM  FOOD AT 4.30PM

details from luton g i shall be bringing all the collection of photos that i have dating back over 20 years so players can snap pics of themselves and friends...........many of the original blonde poker players are in the pics so come on down.

I haven’t seen them promoting this anywhere. Are you expecting a good turnout?

The Queens Gambit on Netflix.  Never thought I would enjoy a TV series which was themed on chess but this series is highly recommended.

Yes, another vote for this from me too.

I thought this might be the place this update, since it’s the most recent topic I can find relating to Luton G

Those of you who knew Stuart Fowles - a lovely, larger than life character who always had a joke to tell or a cheeky comment to make, and a very big heart, oh and a massive St Helens fan - I’m truly sorry to have to announce that he’s another victim of Covid. He passed yesterday, and has left behind a loving wife and a huge number of friends and colleagues who will miss him enormously.

RIP Stuart

Sorry to hear this. I didn’t know him well but he was always very friendly with me. We had a few laughs on the cash tables.  When I joined Slimming World in 2017, he said he’d done it a few years earlier. He said it was great - “...usually one or two men each week with 20-30 women - and they’re all getting fitter....”

Very motivational!

RIP Stuart.

Quite fitting that his death was announced as Breaking News.

Yes, just got my free red T Shirt for doing 50 parkruns since starting them in Oct 17. 

Haven’t improved my times since last February though.

Thanks all for your help.

Good news or bad news?  You decide.

China Mug has had problems with his PC and seems to have lost or forgotten his login / password.   He's tried the lost password facility on this site, but it doesn't appear to have worked for him.

If any Blonde Poker site administrator sees this and would like to help Tom, could they arrange for a new password to be emailed to him please.     

OTHERWISE THIS DIARY WILL CEASE.  WE WOULDN'T WANT THAT WOULD WE?

I’m loving “cistern” chapel - is this a subtle way of taking the piss?

Good stuff!

Looking forward to railing you to the FT, this evening.

Well played Sir. Good to see you in good form yesterday. Good luck for this afternoon.

Was great to see you Alan, you have not changed a bit. Maybe a shade older, & just a touch more portly, perhaps, but I never noticed.

You were very polite and it genuinely helped me.

so here i am in the lobby of the luton g its tuesday and im blown out of the poker game but have to wait to give some one a lift home so its ideal poker blog opertunity.....SO I WHENT TO THE VIC FOR DAY TWO NICE AND RELAXED AND WELL ON TIME ....AND WERE OFF , IM NOT GETTING ANY HANDS SO ASSUME THE GRIND LIKE A MOTHER POSITION , THIS ONE AND THAT ONE GET IT IN WITH THE BEST OF IT AND CRASH AND BURN AS THERE EARS BURN TO THE RATIONAL OF THE WANNA BE POKER PRO THAT EXPLAINS THAT THERE CARDS WERE SUITED OR THEY HAS IMPROVED ON THE TURN TO EVEN MORE OUTS .....AND I STAY SAFE WITH NO HANDS OR CARDS TO GET BUSY WITH .....TRULY SOME OF THE POKER PLAY IS AKIN TO A OLD FAIR GROUND RIDE LIKE THE DODGEMS WHERE THE PLAYERS ARE HELL BENT ON RUNNING INTO WHAT EVER THEY CAN .....THIS LONDON LOT MUST GET THERE MONEY A LOT EASIER THAN I DO ....THERES ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF LUTON REGS GEORGE THAT IS INTO COMPUTER SECURITY , DAS WHO IS INTO I DONT KNOW WHAT , WILLIAM THAT IS INTO TALKING A LOT ,THE DEMON CHINA MAN WHO IS INTO ANY ONE THAT IS DAFT ENOUTH TO LET HIM ,I MAY HAVE SEEN VICRAM THERE ALSO  ,AND WE PLAY ON TABLES BREAK AND SOME HOW IM STILL THERE NO CARDS TO TALK ABOUT JUST GRINDING WITH A EXTRA PORTION OF GRIND......

42 FOR THE MONEY .......GETTING NEAR ....GETTING A FEW HANDS .....IN THE MONEY NOW TO GET MY FIRE MANS OUTFIT AND LADDER LIKE A MOTHER.....IM GETTING A SPRINKLING OF HANDS FINAL TABLE LOOMS ....IM IN FINAL TABLE ....9 OF US ...THEN AT SAY 6 OF US A DEAL IS SUGGESTED BUT SUPER STUDENT STATES THAT HE WOULD WANT MORE THAN WHAT EVER THE COMPUTER BREAK DOWN FOR CHIPS WOULD GIVE HIM AS HE FEELS THAT HE HAS A CHANCE TO WIN THE TOP PRICE OF 24K WE DO THE DEAL OR NO DEAL CARDS ONE OF THEM IS NO DEAL WE ALL KNOW ITS HIM ......ONE OF THE PLAYERS WHO I THINK HAS A NICK NAME OF THE DOC ,I HAVE SEEN HIM OVER THE YEARS AND BEEN AT THE RECIEVING END OF NASTY SLOW ROLLS WHEN HE HAS ACES , HE DECIDES TO GO ALL IN ON MY BIG BLIND 20K / 80K ONLY ME TO LOOK AND SEE IF I WANT TO CALL HIM NEXT ONE OUT GETS 4K SOME THING I LOOK AT TTHE FIRST CARD ACE THEN VERY SLOWLY SO MOST OF THE TABLE CAN SEE SPREAD THE BOTTOM CARD ANOTHER ACE ...ALL IN AND BEATS HIS KING SEVEN OFF ......WE DO THE DEAL OR NO DEAL CARDS IM LYING IN 2ND PLACE AND THE COMPUTER SAYS TOP MAN IN SEAT ONE WILL GET 17K ME TO GET 13K NEXT 11K NEXT10K NEXT 10K OR SOME THING LIKE THAT ....BUT NO DEAL AS MR SUPER STUDENT WANTS TO PLAY ON THREE OF US LEFT AND I BUST OUT FOR 10K......NICE BUT STRAIGHT AWAY IM BEATING MY SELF UP WITH COULD I HAVE DONE BETTER,WHAT IF THIS OR THAT , ONE OF THE GUYS WATCHING THAT HAD BEEN CHATTING TO ME AND BEING FRIENDLY SAYS I SHOULD HAVE DONE A DEAL WITH THE OTHER LOW STACK TO SPLIT 2ND AND THIRD AS WE WOULD HAVE BOTH GOT 13K AND COULD HAVE PLAYED TO TAKE FIRST PLACE ......GOOD IDEA IN FACT EXELLENT IDEA SO WHY DIDNT HE TELL ME WHEN I WAS TALKING TO HIM ON THE MANY OCCASIONS THAT I WAS STILL IN THE GAME.......

STILL DROVE OUT OF LONDON SCRUFFY OLD KILBURN LOOKED A WHOLE LOT LESS LIKE 50 SKIP LORRIES HAD SPEEDED THRU IN A HURRICANE EVEN THE STRAY SHADOWS OF DOWN AND OUTS THAT GHOSTED TO AND THROW LOOK A LOT FRIENDLIER WHEN YOU HAVE HAD A DECENT SHARE AT POKER....AHHHHHHHH  HMMMMMMMMM

HAVE TO LOOK UP WHATS ON AT DTD,O NEARLY FORGOT GOT ONE OF THE LAST PERSON SEATS INTO A 500 AT READING HAPPY DAYS.....

NEXT MORNING HAD A SUPER CHILL DAY BRAIN IN TRACTION BUT RECOVERING WELL..

ASCHURCHILLSAIDITSNOTTHEENDBUTTHEBEGGINGOFTHEENDORINMYCASEITSNOTTHEENDBUTTHEBEGGINGOFTHEBEGGINGOFTHELEDGENDTHATWILLBETOMTHEPOKERSUPREMEOANDYESITISQUIETAMUSINGTOTHINKTHATAMODERATORPROBLYHASTOREADTHISTOMAKESUREITSNOTBREAKINGANYPCRULES,WATCHARICHARDANDTK

GOT A OLD HARRY AND MEGHAN UNION JACK FLAG TO USE ON MY NEXT FINAL AT LUTON G IM GOING TO CUT OUT HARRYS FACE LEAVING A HOLE THEN CROSS HIS NAME OUT AND PUT MY NAME AND FACE IN IT ,GOT TO LOVE FACE BOOK AND TWITTER

Congratulations on a great result Tom.  Loving your description of some of the Luton Regs too.

2% please. Can transfer tomorrow.

You told me in Vegas last year that I’d put on weight. That inspired me to diet and I lost 2 stone between July and January.  I’m truly impressed with your 3 stone loss.  I can hear you saying “losing weight is easy; I’ve done it several times”

On a sad personal note, Gill was made redundant 2 weeks ago, which has put a dampener on things, & saddened me more than I care to admit.

She's been at the same place 10 years or so, never missed a day through sickness or absence of any sort, works unpaid overtime regularly & generally been a good egg. Life's unfair sometimes.

It's not an immediate crisis, she's got 10 years redundancy & 12 weeks wages, so no immediate financial pressure. As it happens, today is her last day, so it's all a bit emosh right now.

Fingers crossed she gets fixed up soon. It might cause problems with our annual Vegas jaunt, too, but hopefully we can work round that.

Sorry to hear this, Have no doubt she will find something amazing and great that there is no immediate pressure.

You may not know that i am a Retail Store Manager and you see this all the time. Great when sales are flooding in but as soon as they slow down, companies start looking as cost savings (rightly so) and if it continues then they start looking at Labour savings. Obvously recently you have extreme examples of Toys are Us and Maplin. In my sector (Home Improvements) Bunnings who took over Homebase are not having the greatest of times. Makes me wonder were the thousands of people get re employed.

Maybe you should teach Gill DYM's, she could be the female Timmy next door.

Ha, not sure she'd ever "get" poker.

I was playing an online MTT one night & she asked how I was doing. "Are you winning?". (Bit like when a Lady asks "who is winning?"on the first morning of a Test Match).

I said that there had been 200 entrants, we were down to 36 now but I had a tough table.

So she said "36? Wow, how big is the table?"

"Say what?" I replied.

"36 players, how do you all fit round 1 table?"

Think it's best if she sticks to TV. We are complete opposites with TV, she loves Graham Norton & bollox like that, but I refuse to even be in the room whilst he is on.  

Mine doesn’t always get it either.  More than once, when I’ve been going out to a tournament she’s said “don’t be too late back!”

I started Park Runs in October. First run was hard work and over 33 minutes. 17 runs later and I’m now down to 26.50 and have definitely got the bug. Time reductions are getting harder each week now, but I have a goal of 25 minutes by the end of the year. 

Apart from absolute times I’m measuring progress by my finishing position in relation to the overall field size. When I started I was beating about 30% of the field. At the turn of the year I was delighted to get into the top 50% and this week was a new best, with me ahead of over 59%.